Month: March 2026

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The intersection of Lincoln Road and 35th East became the center of another walkout sweeping the state Friday as District 93 students staged a protest against current immigration enforcement policies. The demonstration drew both community support and heated opposition.

Dozens of students gathered at the roundabout, waving flags and hoisting handmade signs to support the local immigrant community. This latest action follows a similar demonstration held last month on the Broadway Bridge, which drew sharp words from some community members.

Many critics have dismissed these student-led movements, characterizing them as excuses to “skip class” or suggesting the participants didn’t understand the nuanced issues they were protesting. When asked by Local News 8 about these critics, the student protesters fired back.

“I don’t care what people say… we understand what’s going around,” said protestor Alexander Munoz. “We’re all still kids, [but] we understand what’s going on in the world.”

Reports of Conflict and Traffic Disruptions

Throughout the demonstration, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office received several complaints throughout the afternoon, primarily from motorists alleging that protesters were backing up traffic and blocking the roadway.

Several of the student protestors claimed drivers threw ice or other objects at them as they passed. However, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says they have not received any reports confirming this.

Administrative and Legislative Fallout

The walkouts have placed school administrators in a difficult position. Following last month’s protests, D93 Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme said if students left school for any protest, regardless of the reason behind it, the district would be required to report the absence to the office. After notifying the parents, it’d be up to them whether or not they would excuse their child’s absence.

This localized tension reflects a larger battle happening at the Idaho Statehouse. Last week, the Idaho Legislature briefly considered House Bill 794, a controversial measure that would have mandated that all protest-related walkouts be classified as unexcused absences.

The bill was deadlocked in the House Education Committee following a 7-7 tie. Opponents of the legislation were outspoken in their concerns that the bill would infringe on free speech rights and parents’ right to excuse their children from school. 

RELATED: Idaho House committee deadlocks on bill punishing student protests

“This is an assault on parental rights,” Rep. Chris Mathias, D-Boise, told the assembled lawmakers. “And unless we can articulate a significant state interest in this restriction … this is not going to withstand constitutional scrutiny.”

District 93 students protest in Ammon on Friday.

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Kevin Richert

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 6, 2026

By Kevin Richert, IdahoEdNews:

BOISE, Idaho — After an hour of debate — a wide-ranging airing of fiscal issues — the House Friday easily passed an immediate spending cut.

The 2026 Idaho Rescissions Act, Senate Bill 1331, cuts this year’s general fund spending by $131.3 million. Most of the cuts were already in place; Gov. Brad Little cut 3% from most agency budgets last summer. But the bill also includes an additional $15.3 million in cuts, beyond Little’s recommendations.

The cuts would affect the current budget year, which ends June 30. Legislative supporters say the additional cuts provide more breathing room in a tight 2026 budget as lawmakers turn their attention to next year’s budgets.

House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian (Brandon Schertler/Idaho EdNews)

“It’s a crappy bill that we have to vote on,” said House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, minutes before the House vote.

K-12 is exempt from all of this year’s cuts. The Legislature’s cuts also leave Medicaid, prisons and Idaho State Police untouched. Higher ed is subject to the cuts, however, and is bracing for a disproportionately large share of the hit.

Friday marked the House’s first vote on a spending bill — eight weeks into a 2026 session dominated by budget issues. Lawmakers used the noon-hour debate as a vehicle to discuss years of tax and spending decisions.

Opponents questioned the need for the additional cuts, especially when the state has $1.3 billion in various reserve accounts. Critics also said the Legislature has put itself in a budget box, after passing $450 million in tax cuts and credits a year ago. “That is extremely frustrating to me,” said Rep. Lori McCann, R-Lewiston.

House conservatives said the cuts were past due. Rep. Joe Alfieri, R-Coeur d’Alene, said the cuts didn’t go far enough. Rep. Clint Hostetler, R-Twin Falls, said the cuts reverse years of “irresponsible spending decisions.”

McCann rose to object, saying Hostletler was maligning other lawmakers. Hostletler walked his comment back, slightly. “We are moving back in the right direction.”

Rep. Ben Fuhriman, R-Shelley (Sean Dolan/Idaho EdNews)

Another opponent, Rep. Ben Fuhriman, R-Shelley, said his trust in the complicated  process used by legislative budget-writers has “eroded.”

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is working on two sets of budget bills. First, 10 far-reaching “maintenance” budget bills would roll this year’s spending into next year — but the bills include Little’s 3% cuts and an additional 2% cut from the Legislature. Second, the committee will work on “enhancement” bills that could reverse some cuts.

Furhiman noted that JFAC has deadlocked on restoring $190,000 in scholarships for Idaho National Guard members, leaving him skeptical about the enhancement process. “I’m just supposed to vote for this and trust that this is what we’re going to do?”

JFAC’s House co-chair defended the process.

Rep. Josh Tanner noted that JFAC approved the National Guard scholarships Friday. And he said the committee is responding to concerns about cuts to community colleges and career-technical education, with plans to restore spending.

The 2026 cuts are a hedge, as state tax collections lag behind projections. “We’re really pretty thin on the bottom line right now,” said Tanner, R-Eagle.

Despite the lengthy debate, Friday’s House vote wasn’t close.

The budget bill passed on a 48-22 vote, a marked departure from Monday’s narrow 18-17 Senate vote to pass the measure. And while four of JFAC’s 10 Senate members opposed the bill — and two debated against it — JFAC’s 10 House members generally held the line. Only two of these 10 lawmakers opposed the cuts: Reps. James Petzke, R-Meridian, and Brooke Green, D-Boise.

Senate Bill 1331 now goes to Little’s desk.

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News Team

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Victor filed a lawsuit against the City of Driggs on Thursday, alleging years of contract breaches, environmental pollution, and financial mismanagement regarding their shared wastewater treatment agreement.

The complaint, filed in Teton County Court, claims Driggs failed to operate its treatment plant in compliance with state and federal standards, effectively turning the facility into a “perennial polluter.” Victor officials argue these failures have forced their residents to absorb higher costs of a facility that could not meet legal standards, leaving the city with no choice but to pursue its own $35 million treatment plant.

Background and Lawsuit

Victor and Driggs initially entered into the Inter‑City Agreement in 2011. Under the agreement, Driggs would accept, convey, and treat Victor’s wastewater at Driggs’ upgraded wastewater treatment plant, which was to be “of sufficient size and capable” of treating anticipated flows from both communities in accordance with federal and state water‑quality requirements.

Victor alleges that Driggs repeatedly violated EPA permit limits, overbilled for debt service and maintenance, and failed to conduct required independent audits until 2024. The lawsuit also accuses Driggs’s leadership of breaching a confidential mediation agreement by leaking details to the media to damage Victor’s reputation.

“Driggs has repeatedly failed to meet its obligations under the wastewater agreement, and Victor is taking this step to protect our residents and our aquifer,” said Will Frohlich, Mayor of Victor.

“Confident with our legal position…”

In response, Driggs Mayor August Christensen expressed deep disappointment, suggesting that Victor is using the lawsuit to fund its new facility.

“The City of Driggs is confident with our legal position and will let the case play out in the court, which will likely take multiple years,” said August Christensen, Mayor of Driggs. “As mayor of Driggs, I am very disappointed with the City of Victor’s chosen path to fund a new wastewater treatment plant through a lawsuit against the City of Driggs, especially after multiple efforts where Driggs extended significant accommodations to address their concerns. This almost certainly severs the long-term partnership with our community neighbor for future endeavors.”

Despite the pending litigation, Mayor Christensen confirmed Driggs will continue to treat Victor’s wastewater for the near term while proceeding with its own facility upgrades.

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