Month: June 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A new report is raising concerns about health insurance coverage for Idaho and Wyoming’s youngest residents.

According to a report from Idaho Voices for Children, Idaho ranks among the five states with the highest rates of uninsured children younger than 6 in the nation.

“We’re seeing even higher rates of uninsured kids across the state. And primarily in this report, we’re focusing on children younger than six years old because it’s such a critical time in their early childhood for their physical, cognitive and emotional development,” Ivy Walker, policy associate for Idaho Voices for Children, said.

The report found Idaho’s uninsured rate for children under 6 increased from 5.8% in 2022 to 7.9% in 2024.

The number of uninsured children in that age group also increased during the same period. In 2022, an estimated 7,900 children younger than 6 were uninsured in Idaho. By 2024, that number had climbed to 10,700, a 36% increase in two years.

“The data that we’re seeing is just confirming what we were really fearing since the Medicaid unwinding started,” Walker said.

Idaho was one of the first states in the nation to begin reviewing Medicaid eligibility after federal pandemic-era protections expired.

Walker said the issue may be especially challenging in rural areas.

“We have seen from previous reports that there is a higher percentage of children who are covered by Medicaid in Idaho’s rural counties than in our urban areas,” Walker said.

The findings come from a report by Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families, which examined health insurance coverage trends for young children across the country.

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Par Kermani

BURLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — As drought conditions and water shortages continue to impact southern Idaho, some farmers are turning to new technology to help stretch every drop of water.

Producers in the Mini-Cassia region are using soil moisture sensors that provide real-time data about moisture levels underground, helping them make more informed irrigation decisions.

The project, now in its third year, involves farmers in the East Cassia, Minidoka and West Cassia soil and water conservation districts.

According to the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission, several farmers using the sensors discovered they had been overwatering their crops and were able to reduce sprinkler rotations after monitoring soil conditions more closely.

“It’s been really insightful to see what the soil moisture conditions are,” East Cassia farmer Jason Webb said. “It’s been a good tool for us.”

The sensors, made by Soiltech, are buried several inches below the surface and measure soil moisture, humidity and temperature in the plant root zone. Farmers can track the information through an app on their smartphones or computers.

Photo by Soiltech

The technology comes at a critical time for many producers facing reduced water supplies. An AT&T-Soiltech case study found irrigators using soil moisture sensors reduced water use by about 10%, according to the conservation commission newsletter.

University of Idaho Extension Irrigation Specialist Emily Bedwell said the sensors can help producers better understand how much water is available in the root zone, where crops absorb moisture. Different crops also have different water needs throughout the growing season.

Photo by Soiltech

The Mini-Cassia moisture monitoring project began in 2024 when local conservation districts partnered with growers to test whether the technology could improve irrigation management. Twelve farmers signed up for the project and 52 sensors were purchased. At the conclusion of the three-year project, participating growers will keep the equipment.

Officials say conserving water is becoming increasingly important as drought conditions continue and water supplies remain tight across parts of southern Idaho.

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