Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of October and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.
Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho
NORTHERN IDAHO
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties
Regional news
- Home sales and prices increased year over year in the Inland Northwest, including in Kootenai County. Year to date single family sales in Kootenai County were 1,892 at the end of September (a 4% increase over 2024) while median prices climbed to $547,250 for a 3% year over year increase. Source: Journal of Business
Kootenai County
- A new affordable housing development is opening in Post Falls. ’The Arc’ features 38 single family homes priced at $375,000, with resale limitations designed to ensure long-term affordability. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The City of Rathdrum is moving forward to approve the Solara subdivision, which is expected to include 436 residential properties and 21 industrial lots. The Rathdrum Planning and Zoning Commission moved to recommend approval to the city council. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Shoshone County
- Shoshone County secured a $7.5 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the U.S. Forest Service to support fire mitigation projects. The county has identified more than 18,000 acres of high-risk forestland and 1,275 acres of private property for fire mitigation risk work. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2353
NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties
Regional news
- The region reported an average of 17 weekly initial unemployment insurance claims in September 2025, this decreased from 20 in August 2025 and increased slightly from 15 in September 2024. The region averaged 144 weekly continuing claims during the month of September, which was flat with August 2025 and increased from 89 in September 2024. While initial claims remain very low, the higher level of continuing claims compared to last year, suggests that it may be taking claimants longer to secure new jobs. Claims data is available at lmi.idaho.gov.
- St. Joseph Regional Medical Center plans to merge operations with Valley Medical Center and Lewiston Orthopedics by the end of 2025. The combined entity will have over 800 employees in Lewiston. Source: Lewiston Tribune
- PotlatchDeltic will merge with Rayonier and will adopt a new company name prior to the transaction’s closing in the first half of 2026. PotlatchDeltic owns 642,000 acres of timberland in northern and north central Idaho, as well as a plywood mill in St. Maries. Source: PotlatchDeltic
- The University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College reported strong enrollment during the fall of 2025. Compared to the fall of 2024, University of Idaho enrollment increased 2.6% to 10,849 students and Lewis-Clark State College increased by 4.3% to 4,045 students. Sources: University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College
- The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Pierce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly completed student barracks building. The $15 million building covers 18,000 square feet and can house up to 180 students and trained personnel. Since opening in 2014, the academy has graduated more than 2,400 at risk Idaho high school students. Source: DailyFly
Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2256
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties
Regional news
Ada County
- Idaho Gov. Brad Little and officials with the Nampa and Meridian Irrigation District broke ground on a $20 million upgrade to the Ridenbaugh Diversion Dam on the Boise River. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
Canyon County
- The College of Western Idaho (CWI) received its first National Science Foundation award in the amount of $862,435. Source: Idaho Business Review
Valley County
- The Mountain Community Center District, a recreation district, is on the ballot for voters of districts in both Adams and Valley counties. Source: The Star-News
Regional openings
- Middleton School District hosted a ribbon cutting and open house for its new Middleton Career Campus: Construction. Source: Idaho Education News
Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2172
SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties
Regional news
- A new Shoshone Falls overlook is planned in Jerome County. The project has not been fully funded yet but is planned to begin breaking ground this fall. Source: Magic Valley Times-News
- Cassia County’s new office building has broken ground on the new 30,000 square foot facility, which will bring all of the county’s services under one roof. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months. Source: KMVT
Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2364
SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties
Regional news
- Construction began on a six-acre plot in Chubbuck to build a five-story pickleball complex. The complex will include 10 courts and will host local tournaments. Construction is slated to finish by early 2026. Source: Idaho State Journal
- United Way of Southeastern Idaho, Bannock County and various local businesses launched the “KIDS First Coalition.” This program will focus on a tri-share model where employers, the local government and employees will each share the cost of child care. This program aims to make child care more accessible for the workforce and to retain employees who might otherwise have to leave the labor force due to costs. Source: KIFI News
- The Bureau of Land Management have approved the relocation of 1,500 feet of natural gas pipeline currently along the Snake River. The new pipeline will replace the aging infrastructure with a six-inch diameter subterranean pipeline. Source: Power County Press
- The City of Pocatello held a ribbon-cutting for the now renovated Recycling Services Facility. The facility was acquired by the city in August of 2024 after the old facility was slated to close. Upgrades include warehouse improvements, public drop-off areas and interior renovations. Source: Idaho State Journal
Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-236-6715
EASTERN IDAHO
Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties
Regional news
- The Idaho National Laboratory was awarded $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF) program. The TCF program supports commercialization of grid resilience, nuclear reliability, modeling and simulation. Source: Idaho National Laboratory
- A groundbreaking was held for the new Oklo, Inc. Aurora power-generating facility at Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls. The sodium-cooled fast reactor project will supply energy to support rising AI-driven electricity demand nationwide. The power plant reportedly will create 370 jobs through the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Reactor Pilot Program. Source: Oklo Inc.
- Phased closures of campgrounds, restaurants and visitor’s centers began at Yellowstone National Park this month. Seasonal closure of park roads begins Nov. 1, while some campgrounds and restaurants have already closed for the season. The road connecting the north and northeast entrances is open year-round for activities like snowmobiling and snow coach tours. Source: U.S. National Park Service
- In the region’s largest county, Bonneville, homes are staying on the market a week longer on average than a year ago. Although mortgage interest rates are declining, this is generally not as much of a motivator for current local home buyers. Increases in home sales have not followed suit. Source: Realtor.com
- Custer County year-over-year home prices have increased by 25%. Many of these homes are listed as large land acreages, like cabins and ranches, whose demand has followed gains in popularity. Teton County has just eclipsed the $1 million mark for median home listing prices for the fourth time in five years. Source: Realtor.com
Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
208-696-2347
This Idaho Department of Labor project is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor for SFY26 as part of a Workforce Information grant (41%) and state/nonfederal funds (59%) totaling $860,595.
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