Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of December 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
- Unfavorable weather has so far prevented area ski resorts from full and consistent operations. Lookout Pass and Silver Mountain, in Shoshone County, both had delayed openings and have since experienced intermittent closures due to inconsistent weather. Schweitzer, in Bonner County, currently has one lift operating. Idaho ranked No. 10 nationally for total annual skier visits. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital is expanding services with the opening of a new 17-bed rehabilitation unit at their Post Falls campus. This will raise the capacity at the Post Falls campus, which is shared with Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest, to a total of 47 intensive medical rehabilitation beds. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- The Coeur d’Alene Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve Phase 1 of the Coeur Terre development. Phase 1 will include 595 housing units in a mix of age-restricted apartments, single family lots and multifamily apartments. Across all phases, which will be built out over multiple decades, Coeur Terre will include 2,800 total housing units along with commercial spaces and two public schools. 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
- Two north central power providers – Clearwater Power Company and Idaho County Light & Power – were selected among eight statewide wildfire resilience projects by the Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources. Program funding will enable Clearwater Power Company to install fire-resistant mesh wrap on 2,150 power poles and Idaho County Light & Power will use the funds for right of way expansion and vegetation reduction. Work will occur between 2026-2027. Source: Idaho Capital Sun
- Arnzen Super Drug is now under the ownership of St. Mary’s Health & Clearwater Valley Health. Arnzen Super Drug operates pharmacies in Cottonwood, Kamiah and Orofino. Source: Idaho County Free Press
- A significant wind event that occurred throughout north central Idaho on Dec. 16 – 18 resulted in a vast amount of regional school closures and extensive power outages due to fallen trees and downed power lines. Local utility companies worked around the clock for nearly a week to restore basic services. Source: Clearwater Power Company and Avista
- The University of Idaho was awarded a $1.25 million grant from the National Science Foundation to enhance an existing mineral database and make the data easier to analyze while also strengthening the mining workforce. Source: University of Idaho
- The Rural Crisis Center Network opened a new facility in Lewiston to provide counseling services and a safe space for people experiencing a mental health crisis for up to 24 hours. Source: Lewiston Tribune
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
- The Idaho Water Resource Board voted to approve 38 infrastructure grants across the state totaling $22.9 million. Southwestern Idaho received about 20% or $4.3 million, including the following entities and associated awards: Boise City Canal Company – $108,400, King Hill Irrigation District – $2 million, Valley Soil & Water Conservation District – $1 million, Adams SWCD – $89,430, Eagleson Park Water User Association – $19,000, Mountain Home Irrigation District – $754,976, Boise Project Board of Control – $20,000, Boise Valley Irrigation Ditch Company – $95,794, City of Boise – $109,444 and Water District 65 – $100,261. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Micron announced that come February 2026, the Crucial consumer product will no longer be available. The company is concentrating on its core enterprise and commercial segments while its two new fabrication plants are in design and construction stages at its Boise campus. Source: KTVB News
- Blue Cross of Idaho announced it will consider a change in headquarters from its 1997-built Meridian compound. The company anticipates this will be a long process before finding the right company to take over the space. Source: KTVB News
- The city of Boise hosted a ribbon cutting for the newly constructed Denton Apartments on the Boise Bench area. The affordable-housing, four-story complex has 190 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom layouts. Source: Idaho Press
- The College of Western Idaho (CWI) trustees approved the transfer of ownership for the Ford Idaho Center facility and its 90-acre site from the city of Nampa, whose council had previously approved the transfer. Source: Idaho News 6
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
- American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines and United Airlines are offering seasonal winter flights out of Friedman Memorial Airport from Dec. 18 to April 6. Flights will be available from Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
- Redox Bio-Nutrients is expanding with a larger warehouse and laboratory in Burley. The expansion will be nearly 22,000 square feet of space with plans to be completed in Spring 2026. Source: KMVT
- Valley High School is working on a new agricultural facility. The new facility is planned to be completed in Spring 2026. Source: KMVT
- Twin Falls Canal Company has begun working on more than nine miles of High Line Canal. This project will take the next five to eight years to complete in order to improve the canal’s efficiency. 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
- The Pocatello Fire Department purchased the former auto detail shop on Clark Street to store various tools and vehicle mounted equipment. There are also plans to convert some rooms to offices. The $710,000 property was bought using funds from the wildland deployment program. Source: Idaho State Journal
- The Caribou Medical Center opened a new Longevity and Wellness Clinic on Dec. 1. The clinic focuses on alternative therapies such as massage therapy, laser therapy and cosmetic treatment administered by onsite estheticians. Source: The News Examiner
- The Pocatello Regional Airport has plans to expand its flights to Salt Lake City by adding a second daily round-trip flight in May of 2026. Source: KIFI News
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
- Antares Industries opened an office in Idaho Falls. They are a private nuclear energy technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of advanced, transportable fission microreactors for military and commercial energy applications on Earth and in space. A $40 million strategic partnership with Idaho National Laboratory over multiple years is for building the first test reactors and developing a 200-acre campus for nuclear testing. Antares also aims at being the first privately funded advanced reactor that produces electricity inside the U.S. by 2027. Source: Post Register
- Oklo, Inc., a firm building its first advanced nuclear reactor, the Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory, has contracted with German firm Siemens Energy to design the power conversion system for the project. The agreement allows Siemens to initiate engineering and design, expedite procurement of long-lead components and initiate the manufacturing process for the power conversion system. Source: Idaho Business Review
- The U.S. military plans to build a fleet of small, transportable refineries to produce critical minerals for weapons manufacturing, aiming to reduce reliance on Chinese-controlled supplies. The first pilot project, developed with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Perpetua Resources, focuses on refining antimony — essential for bullet primers and not produced in the U.S. since the 1960s. Funded with $30 million, the Army’s pilot refinery can produce seven to 10 metric tons of antimony trisulfide annually and can be expanded. The INL will test and potentially operate the facility for the Army. If successful, similar refineries could be built for other strategic minerals like tungsten, rare earths and boron. Source: Reuters
- Since fall 2024, total public school enrollments have decreased by nearly 100 students, or 4.7%, in parts of rural eastern Idaho. These school districts include Challis, Mackay, Butte County, Salmon and South Lemhi. By comparison, traditional public school enrollment statewide declined 1.2% since last fall. Source: Idaho Education News
- The Idaho Water Resource Board approved $23 million in Aging Infrastructure Grants. Awards include: Last Chance Canal Co. – $487,000, Farmers Land and Irrigation Company – $180,000, Teton Island Feeder Canal Co. – $124,054 and Southeast Idaho Canal Co. – $221,415. Source: Idaho Business Review
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.
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The U.S. Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.