Author: KIFI

InvestigateWest

By Rachel Spacek / InvestigateWest 

In May, a southwestern Idaho probation officer emailed immigration authorities about a man she would meet the next day for his regular check-in. 

“His meeting has not changed and he is expected to be here tomorrow morning at

7:30 am,” Norma Naranjo, a senior probation officer for Canyon County’s misdemeanor probation department, wrote in a May 13 email to six Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. 

The following day, the man arrived a few minutes early to his appointment, and Naranjo sent another email to the agents. 

“He is here are you guys on your way?” she wrote. 

It is unclear from the emails, which are heavily redacted, if ICE agents detained the man at his probation appointment. 

Naranjo’s messages are among over 140 emails between Canyon County probation officers and ICE agents, obtained by InvestigateWest, from May to July 2026. They show how the probation department has recently coordinated with ICE’s Boise office, including by combing through its case files to compile a list for ICE of foreign-born people on probation, apparently without validating that those people are in the country illegally. People born outside the U.S. include individuals with green cards or pending asylum applications and naturalized U.S. citizens.  

While Idaho law enforcement agencies have long worked with federal immigration agents to detain undocumented immigrants who are in jail or serving their sentence on probation, immigration attorneys and advocates are concerned that Canyon County’s “foreign born list” could lead to probationers with legal status getting detained, at a time when ICE agents have arrested U.S. citizens, people with pending green card applications and people with pending asylum claims.

Jeff Breach, the director of the county’s Misdemeanor Probation Department, declined to be interviewed for this story. In an email response to a list of questions, he said the list includes “individuals whose place of birth is a foreign country — and can also include individuals that have been previously flagged with an immigration hold.” 

“Verifying and determining legal presence/status, along with any related enforcement, is within the purview of federal authorities,” Breach added.

ICE has requested a list of people that could be in the country without authorization “typically on an annual basis and across administrations,” Breach said. Steve Cushman, director of constituent services for Canyon County, said he didn’t know exactly when “those lists were first requested and provided, but it is my understanding that it goes back as far as the Obama administration.” 

Breach said the probation department, which supervises misdemeanor offenders within the county, cooperates with ICE the same as it would any local or state law enforcement agency, by providing them “information to carry out their lawful duties.” 

The county has faced criticism before for its efforts to help ICE detain people. In 2019, the Idaho Press, a local newspaper that covers the Boise area, reported the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office had a policy where staff were instructed to notify immigration officials of “all foreign born inmates” who were booked into the jail. Some of the people they flagged were U.S. citizens, according to the Idaho Press. The sheriff’s office is also facing a lawsuit from the ACLU of Idaho alleging the county and other agencies that participated in an October 2025 ICE raid racially profiled Latinos at a horse race track for immigration enforcement when they detained them, regardless of their immigration status.

Nikki Ramirez-Smith, an immigration attorney with Ramirez-Smith Law in Nampa, Idaho, said  the county’s decision to compile and send ICE a list of foreign-born people on probation is “an invasion of privacy.” 

“It’s one thing to know that someone is undocumented, it’s another thing to just start targeting every single person who was born in another country,” she said. 

The “foreign born list” 

On June 3, Naranjo emailed five ICE officers that she would speak to Breach about “the foreign born list.” 

“We are working on a procedure to keep a list current for your agency,” Naranjo wrote. “I will get back to you on this as soon as we figure something out.”

Two days later, Breach sent an email to his staff: 

“ICE has requested a list of offenders who are in the country illegally,” he wrote. “I need you to go through your caseload this month and send me a list of names of offenders who you

believe are in the country illegally. I’ll review the names and put together a list that

can be sent to ICE so that they can look into if the person is in the country illegally

and if they want to take any action.” 

Although most of the over 400 pages of emails obtained by InvestigateWest from May 1 to July 10 are heavily redacted — emails from immigration authorities appear to be redacted entirely — they show how probation officers used information in their case files to compile the list. 

“That’s everyone in my cabinet that filled out [an] intake form and stated not born in US,” wrote Brandon Black, a Canyon County probation officer, in an email back to Breach on June 8. 

Another officer, Justin Donovan, told Breach that he only identified one person under his supervision who “may be here illegally.” That man “only had an ID from Mexico during his last arrest,” Donovan said. 

Naranjo, Black and Donovan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Canyon County released to InvestigateWest a redacted version of the list, which contains information for 82 people on probation in Canyon County. It identifies the charges that people were placed on probation for, but blacks out names, addresses and dates of birth. Over half, or 54%, of the people on the list were on probation because of driving under the influence. Five people were on probation for drug-related crimes and nine people for disturbing the peace. Only seven people were identified as having an ICE hold, meaning ICE had already identified them for potential deportation. 

Between May and July, the emails show probation officers were regularly notifying ICE agents about the dates and times that certain probationers would be at their office. In some instances, probation officers asked ICE if a person who had missed check-ins was in their custody. On two occasions, officers emailed agents right before and during the appointments to verify they were coming to apprehend a probationer. One probation officer also gave ICE agents the home address and make, model and license plate of a probationer’s car. 

Breach estimated that in the last three months, ICE agents have “been present” at one or two probation appointments per month.

“All the law enforcement agencies we work with prefer to meet with offenders up in the office due to it being a controlled environment, which means it is safer for the offender, the officer, and the public,” he wrote. “There is an expectation from law enforcement agencies and the public that probation officers work cooperatively with law enforcement to ensure the safety of all parties involved.”

Asked whether the department is concerned that citizens or others with legal status might be included in the list, Breach referred to a previous statement that verifying a person’s status “is within the purview of federal authorities.”

Alycia Moss, an immigration attorney with Fennemore Law in Coeur d’Alene, said ICE agents should know if someone on the list is deportable or not, but she is still concerned they could mistarget someone on the probation department’s list. 

“ICE may still target someone if they think the conviction is a deportable or removal offense even if they [have legal] status,” she said. “Sometimes, ICE doesn’t get that right.” 

In Oregon, ICE agents arrested Juanita Avila, a 47-year-old legal permanent resident, last November. Last July, ICE agents also arrested and detained Mahdi Khanbabazadeh, a 38-year-old father who was married to a U.S. citizen and had a pending green card application, while he was dropping his child off at preschool in the Portland area. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently formed a new unit dedicated to reexamining immigrants who have green cards, according to the New York Times.

Ramirez-Smith, whose law firm is located in Nampa, Canyon County’s largest city, wasn’t surprised by how closely the Canyon County probation department was working with ICE. In previous years, Ramirez-Smith said she could often negotiate and get her client out of detention. But now ICE is quickly moving detainees out of state, leaving her little time to get clients out of detention. 

“I’m getting a lot of people picked up from probation to the point now where if they have probation, I just prepare a habeas [petition] just to get ready,” Ramirez-Smith said, referring to the process to challenge the legality of someone’s detention.

Canyon County has been a recent target for immigration authorities 

Canyon County is Idaho’s second-largest county by population, where Latinos make up about 27%. The county is an agricultural hub and one of the top five seed-producing regions in the world. Farms there rely heavily on an immigrant workforce. 

The county was also the location of a high-profile immigration raid in Wilder last October, where over 100 people were detained at a horse racetrack, a popular gathering spot for Latino families in the area. According to witnesses of the raid, local police and Canyon County sheriff’s deputies assisted ICE agents by zip-tying children and detaining people without asking about their immigration status. 

The raid shocked the community, leading to low attendance at the Wilder School District the day after the raid, according to reporting from the Idaho Statesman. The ACLU of Idaho also filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Latino families and their children, who are  U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, who were detained for four hours, alleging federal and local law enforcement racially profiled them during the operation. 

Beyond the raid, Canyon County law enforcement has for years helped ICE by agreeing to hold people in jail for up to 48 hours past their release date. In 2019, the Idaho Press reported that Canyon County jail staff emailed ICE agents when they had booked someone into jail who they suspected was undocumented — in several cases flagging people who were U.S. citizens and holding them after they had posted bond. If inmates served jail time and posted bond, staff were instructed to contact immigration officials, the newspaper reported. 

That year, Canyon County faced three lawsuits from people who alleged they were illegally held in jail, despite posting bond, because the county refused to release them due to their undocumented immigration status. The county settled with at least one man for $13,000.

In an email, Breach said the probation department does not have a written policy addressing how to interact with ICE, but instead follows a “long-standing practice” of cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies. He said the department has worked with immigration authorities since at least 2008.

ICE has relied on county and state probation departments across the country to coordinate arrests of undocumented people, according to the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Many states have passed laws barring this type of cooperation between probation departments and ICE, including Colorado and New Mexico, after probation departments were found to be flagging ICE agents about the appointment times for undocumented people.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little encouraged state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration agents in an executive order last year. Eleven Idaho law enforcement agencies have signed up to participate in a program to help with immigration enforcement, known as the 287(g) program, with some agencies receiving tens of thousands of dollars in incentive payments for their cooperation. 

In neighboring Washington and Oregon, immigration lawyers say the level of coordination happening in Canyon County would never fly, because of the states’ sanctuary laws barring local and state law enforcement from working with federal immigration agents to detain and deport people. 

“In Washington, this would never be allowed because the state has protections in place to prevent this kind of information sharing,” Aaron Korthuis, an attorney with the

Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, said in an email. “In Idaho, it’s permitted (and likely even encouraged). I think it is simply another tactic ICE has developed to identify easy and low-risk environments for the agency to detain people.”

InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Contact reporter Rachel Spacek, a Report for America corps member, at rachel@investigatewest.org.

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – One color is lighting up homes, yards, and social media across Idaho Falls this week — all in support of 18-year-old Dominic Nuñez as he continues his fight against cancer.

Dom’s favorite color is green, and community members are turning that favorite color into a visible show of support. People across the area have been changing their porch lights to green, lighting up trees and yards, wearing green, and sharing photos online using hashtags including #LightItGreenForDom, #LiveLikeDom, and #DOMinatingCancer.

The movement is also spreading through Facebook, where friends, neighbors, and community members continue to post messages of encouragement and prayers for Dominic and his family.

For Dominic’s mother, Shanna Nuñez, the outpouring has become deeply meaningful for her son and their family.

“Dom is a fighter. He always has been. He always knows his worth and is willing to show everybody,” Shanna Nuñez said.

She says Dominic has also drawn strength from the people rallying around him.

“Dom has also fed off of the community support, and it’s almost like I’m not done fighting. I don’t want to let these people down. I’m just going to keep pushing.”

That support has become especially visible this week, as green lights continue popping up across the community.

“And just seeing the community, everybody turning on their lights…there’s really no words that I can tell the community to show them exactly what they mean to us. And we’re so fortunate to live here,” Shanna said.

The idea is simple: even one green light can serve as a reminder that Dominic and his family are not alone.

A member of the community recently contacted the City of Idaho Falls about the possibility of illuminating the Idaho Falls water tower in green as part of a supportive initiative. After consulting with the city’s office, Local News 8 received a positive statement from Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw regarding Dom and the community of Idaho Falls.

“Our community has demonstrated tremendous kindness by showing Dom their love and support,” said Burtenshaw. “Our hearts go out to Dom and his family during this time.”

A parade of support

The community’s show of support will continue Saturday with a Parade of Support for Dominic Nunez and his family.

According to the event flyer, participants are encouraged to bring their cars and trucks and, if they have green rock lights or underglow, to shine them green for Dominic.

The group is scheduled to meet at the Albertsons on 25th Street in Ammon at 7 p.m., with plans to roll out at approximately 7:30 p.m. The route is expected to be shared with participants at the meet-up and will include a drive past Dominic’s home.

The event is another way for the community to show Dominic and his family just how many people are standing behind them.

A personal moment with Dom

Because of Dominic’s current condition, he was unable to participate in a formal interview for this story.

However, I was able to spend some time with Dom off-camera.

That conversation offered a more personal glimpse of the young man at the center of this community-wide show of support—and reinforced how much the people around him mean to him and his family.

Dom expressed gratitude for the green light that continues to spill through his bedroom window at night, and thanks the community for being so supportive.

For his mother, seeing that support grow throughout Idaho Falls has been emotional.

And for the community, the message behind every green light, Facebook post, and Saturday’s parade is simple:

Dominic is not alone.

To follow along and stay updated on Dom’s journey, visit his Facebook group, “DOMinating Cancer,” here.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho has been ranked the number one state to live in, according to a new study by WalletHub.

“People love being here for number one, the community, the affordability, the environment. But also I think it also is just an entrepreneurial state,” said Jessica Cardon, known as the “Knowsy Neighbor.” She is also an Associate Broker wth Manwaring Murdock Cardon’s real estate team.

Greater Idaho Falls Chamber Interim CEO Steve Hunter also said that people are attracted to Idaho’s spectacular access to the great outdoors.

“We have a lot of open area. There’s a lot of open space, and places to go, things to do. and, and the fact that our people that live here are very friendly,” Hunter said.

The study ranked Idaho 10th in the nation for affordability.

“It’s actually one of the most affordable states in the Pacific Northwest,” Cardon said. “if you lived here a long time, it may feel like Idaho has gotten very expensive, but we’re still very affordable. From the real estate perspective, you’ve got, home prices. Our average home price is about $425,000, which is far below anything you can get if you’re looking even in Boise or Salt Lake or again, [in the] Pacific Northwest.”

The Gem State ranked dead-last in property crime rates and 14th-lowest for violent crime.

“The fact that we’re ranked number three in safety, I think that’s important because you go to some of these big cities and you’re not safe or you don’t feel safe there,” Hunter said. “People feel safe. I’ve talked to people that they feel so safe, they still don’t lock their doors.”

Idaho placed 7th for its economy and boasts the eighth highest homeownership rate in the nation.  

“We also have really low property taxes. That makes a real big difference on affordability to keep those property taxes low,” Cardon said. “We also have really inexpensive utilities, some of the cheapest in nation. We’re one of the only carbon-free cities in the United States, which is really neat. So that keeps our just cost of owning a home and living down.”

The WalletHub study said Idaho has some of the lowest commute times in America, especially compared to other urban areas.

“I think we’re still very homey, very easy to to get around. you can drive just about anywhere you want,” Hunter said.

The study placed Idaho in the middle of the pack at 22nd for education and health.

“if you ask anybody, everyone loves the schools here. The teachers are wonderful,” Cardon said. “The students are wonderful. They care. So education’s a big deal.”

Hunter agreed.

“I think we have great teachers here,” he said. “I don’t think they get paid what they what they ought to.”

In spite of the ranking, affordability remains a top concern for many Idahoans. 

“In Idaho, our prices are way high. But I don’t think we’re the only state that has that problem. I think everyone has that problem right now,” Hunter said. “I think the economy has driven those prices up and the affordability. It’s really hard for younger people especially.”

But overall, Idaho offers America’s “highest median household income growth” and fourth-lowest tax rates in the U.S., according to Wallet Hub.

“Being number one in the nation is well-deserved.,” Cardon said. “There’s nobody that comes in southeast Idaho that doesn’t go, ‘This is an amazing place to live.’ We have visitors that come and say, ‘How do I move here?’ And they can’t wait.”

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A Thunder Ridge High School math teacher is back in Eastern Idaho after spending nearly a year in Washington, D.C., working with the U.S. Air Force on national STEM education efforts.

Natalie Woods was selected for the 2025-26 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship, an 11-month program that places accomplished STEM teachers in federal agencies and congressional offices. Woods served with the Department of the Air Force in its Air & Space K-12 STEM Outreach office.

Woods said one of the biggest opportunities was getting access to scientists and researchers working on emerging technology and then asking how that work could be translated into something useful for students.

“The teacher in me, the whole time I’m listening to all of these researchers and talking and questioning with them, I’m thinking, how do I bring this back to the classroom?” Woods said. “How do I make it accessible for teachers and for students so they can see this really cool, cutting-edge, fantastic science?”

During the fellowship, Woods worked on STEM outreach tied to Air Force critical technology areas, helping connect scientific concepts with real-world Air Force applications. A midyear update sent to Bonneville Joint School District 93 said she also helped deliver professional development for STEM teachers, created outreach materials and expanded her expertise in artificial intelligence and data analysis.

Woods said the fellowship was also about making sure classroom teachers had a voice in broader education conversations.

“It’s a highly competitive fellowship where they bring in 15 STEM teachers from across the country and basically they place them in federal agencies where the teachers provide the voice of the classroom experience and their expertise while they’re learning from national leaders at the same time,” Woods said.

Now that the fellowship has ended, the focus is shifting back to Eastern Idaho and what District 93 can gain from Woods’ experience.

Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme said the district sees that experience as something that can benefit more than one classroom.

“So that expertise she brings back, I think, is going to be incredibly helpful to us as a district, as we talk about what are the next steps we need to take to help every student learn the skills they need to be successful for whatever comes next in their lives,” Woolstenhulme said.

Woods has more than 35 years of experience in mathematics and science education. Before the fellowship, she taught advanced mathematics at Thunder Ridge and previously served as the school’s math department chair.

She said much of her work in Washington centered on looking at cutting-edge science and finding ways to make it accessible and relevant to teachers and students.

“How can I bring that into a classroom where it’s accessible to a teacher?” Woods said, describing the question she kept coming back to during the fellowship.

The district’s earlier fellowship update also said Woods worked with national organizations and education leaders as part of her professional development.

Woods completed the 11-month fellowship in July and is now back in Eastern Idaho, where District 93 plans to use her experience to support STEM education across the district.

Woods is also a recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

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Abi Martin

POWER COUNTY (KIFI) – A fast-growing wildfire is burning in eastern Cassia County, southwest of American Falls, prompting evacuations and warnings for people in the area.

The North Heglar Fire is currently estimated at 700 acres. The fire originated in Cassia County but has moved toward Power County, with Power County Emergency Management reporting that the fire has jumped the mountain.

Evacuations are underway in Rockland, specifically the area between Houtz Canyon and Sheep Canyon.

Fire officials have also requested evacuations from recreational areas east of Heglar Canyon.

Anyone camping in the affected area is being told to leave immediately.

Officials are also asking the public to stay away from the fire area to allow firefighters and emergency personnel to work safely.

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Curtis Jackson

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Seventh Judicial District Magistrates Commission has announced the names of eight qualified applicants seeking appointment as a magistrate judge in Bingham County. One applicant will replace Magistrate Judge Scott H. Hansen, who will retire effective Jan. 10, 2027.

According to Seventh Judicial District Trial Court Administrator Alayne Bean, the commission is scheduled to meet in Bingham County on Oct. 15, 2026, to select Hansen’s successor.

The candidates are:

Jason Chandler, Deputy Attorney General with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in Blackfoot.

W. Forrest Fischer, attorney with Moulton Law Office in Idaho Falls.

Lee J. Fisher, chief deputy prosecutor with the Elmore County Prosecutor’s Office in Glenns Ferry.

Lou G. Harris, chief deputy prosecutor with the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office in Rigby.

Jessalyn R. Hopkin, Trial Attorney III with the Idaho State Public Defender’s Office in Chubbuck.

Desiree Martin, staff attorney for the Seventh Judicial District Court in Rexburg.

N. Paul Rogers, prosecutor and private practice attorney serving with the Custer County Prosecutor’s Office, Bingham County Prosecutor’s Office on civil matters, and Rogers Law PLLC in Blackfoot.

Garrett H. Sandow, attorney with the Law Office of Garrett Sandow in Blackfoot.

As part of the selection process, evaluation questionnaires will be distributed to attorneys throughout Idaho. Members of the public also have an opportunity to provide input on the applicants through public comment questionnaires.

Questionnaires may be obtained from the county clerk’s office of any district court within the Seventh Judicial District, from the Seventh Judicial District Trial Court Administrator’s Office, or online through the district’s Judicial Vacancies webpage.

Completed public comment questionnaires must be returned to the Trial Court Administrator’s Office by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.

The magistrate judgeship became available following Hansen’s announcement that he will retire after serving on the bench. The magistrates commission will review attorney and public evaluations before making its appointment decision in October.

Additional information about the vacancy and public comment process is available on the Seventh Judicial District Judicial Vacancies webpage at isc.idaho.gov/district-7/about/vacancies.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Residents near Downey have spoken out about the new draft ordinance for Land Use and Development, stating their concerns for the integrity and fairness of the document when it comes to allowing renewable energy sources into the area. Bannock County Commissioners, Balanced Rock Power attorney Dustin Manwaring, and several locals supporting the new ordinance have discussed their reasoning why south Bannock County may be the right place for an industrial solar farm.

The History

In 2024, surrounding counties were faced with developers interested in Idaho land for renewable energy resources including solar, wind, battery storage and others. Bannock County didn’t have an ordinance in place to govern such projects and went into action drafting regulations.

Originally, a moratorium was put in place for 180 days while county commissioners and the Planning and Development Council worked to draft an ordinance. The county also held public hearings and workshops, but commissioners couldn’t agree on a particular ordinance, and ended up banning industrial solar projects all together.

Dustin Manwaring, attorney for Balanced Rock Power has had a seat at the table throughout the process for the new ordinance, and explained the last two years have been full of multiple drafts and changing decisions. He said the county decided to combine all of the land use ordinances into one, larger document for a comprehensive rewrite.

“There’s been a lot of effort at this point that has gone into this from the county’s perspective,” Manwaring ensured. “There’s been a lot of opportunity to show up and provide input.”

The public input doesn’t stop here, as the county will provide notice for future public hearings on the new 2026 Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) in the coming months.

“Not having an ordinance to me is a limitation on a private property,” Manwaring said. “It’s to say you can’t use it at all, we have some state code in place that says you can’t limit the utilities development of an energy resource.”

The Area

The area most appealing for energy resource developers in Bannock County is near Downey, adjacent to the Populus Substation. Transmission lines included in the Gateway West project run in from Wyoming and connect through Idaho to Oregon. There’s also a south and north line that comes up from Utah and connects at the Populus Substation.

Looking at a map for energy development, companies are likely to want parcels closest to the energy source.

“It’s a huge opportunity for Bannock County to do this right,” Manwaring said. “The future land use map is designated in that area to be industrial or at least light industrial and commercial district.”

He added that county commissioners, along with the P & Z Council, are looking at the future of development in Bannock County and what could bring positive growth to the area. Without a specific project in mind, the new draft ordinance serves as a guide, with regulations to ensure any future applicant abides by Bannock County development standards.

Bannock County Commissioner Jeff Hough echoed that sentiment, stating, “Bannock County is open for business, we just want it to be the right kind of business,” and said the same goes for a potential AI data center on county land.

“We intially look for robust transmission infrastructure,” said Melanie Falls, Vice President of Development at Balanced Rock Power. “But in addition, we look for relatively flat, constructible land, low impacts and conflicts, and a jurisdiction that will work with us to responsibly site the project.”

She added the land near Downey is mostly held by landowners that are ranchers and farmers who determined the land for the project is no longer viable for their operations. They instead see the long term revenue coming from the solar project as a way to continue sustaining their farmland on other properties.

The Opposition and Easing Concerns

Several local farmers in Downey have testified why they disagree with the new ordinance and feel the ban should stay in place. To read more on their story, click HERE.

Manwaring clarified the purpose of an ordinance is to protect the property owners and ease fears about their home value and rights to land use.

“Those closest to it [the development] have the most reason to be concerned and that’s fair and usually the way it is,” Manwaring said. “But that’s why we have ordinances. We have them to protect property owners and make sure that if you’re applying for a permit, that you check the boxes and that you’ve protected everybody around you.”

Many of the locals who oppose overturning the ban and rewriting the LUDO believe it’s in support of a particular project from Balanced Rock Power. Manwaring shot down that misconception, stating the rewrite doesn’t approve a particular project, it’s simply the preventive and first step in the process of ensuring each development in Bannock County is safe and catered to the county’s regulations.

The new ordinance also doesn’t automatically give permits to companies who apply with development proposals. They will be conditional use permits, much like the process one company has had to apply for in the City of Pocatello regarding an AI data center.

Another common concern among residents is the decrease in their property value should an industrial solar farm come into the area near their property.

“The facts don’t support that,” Manwaring said. “They don’t support that there’s a devaluation in land value, so they can make that accusation and we can show all day long that that is not what happens actually next to these projects.”

Idaho is also a net importer of electricity, meaning the state pulls in more power than it produces to go out across state lines. The default when it comes to these projects is that power will go where it’s needed and where it is bought and sold. It will go to the closest area first where it’s needed and out further if neccessary with a demand and purchase.

Similar backlash has occured decades ago when wind turbines suddenly became commonplace to see dotting the hills across Idaho. There have been changes to state policy over time to address public concerns such as the flashing lights on windmills at nighttime, catering to the public’s opinions on interference with their property. The same will go for the new LUDO for Bannock County when it comes to other renewable energy resources. Manwaring ensured the county is committed to public hearings and adjustments they believe are best for the county and its residents.

“We can’t be a ‘no’ county,” he said. “We’ve got to be part of the solution, if we want to have business and opportunities here. We have to figure out how to get more energy online, that’s critical to the development.”

Whether there’s a concern over wildfire danger, solar panel lifespan and removal, or others, Manwaring says the new LUDO addresses each concern in the renewable energy resources section. “The county isn’t ready for the right kind of development until you have a condition in place for each one of those concerns,” he said. “That’s where I think the county is trying to get to.”

“Currently, the estimated lifespan of a solar plant is about 40 years,” Falls said. “That’s based on today’s technology. Most ordinances provide regulations around decommissioning and have requirements so that the land is returned to its previous state.”

She explained the goal is to have a successful and useful life of the project, get the facilities removed and utilize their crews to return the land back to its original position. When asked if farmers could return the land to its original farming and ranching use following leasing to a solar plant, Falls said that it is possible.

No “Leaked” Documents

Locals opposing the ordinance also felt a sense of distrust with their county commissioners when one group discovered the draft ordinance had been shared with third party interests throughout the drafting process over the last two years. Immediately, Commissioner Hough and Bannock County made the document public.

Manwaring explained the use of the term “leaked” is incorrect in this context, ensuring that it is common practice for counties and cities to seek outside expertise from developers when drafting new ordinance.

“The ordinance was shared with a range of stakeholders in advance of broadly sharing the document with the public,” he said. “This provided early input and expertise from community members, industry and local government stakeholders. It is common practice for counties to seek input from renewable energy developers, along with other parties that have expertise.”

In Power County, the council asked Renewables Northwest to help draft their ordinance and held a workshop to hear from energy experts. Nothing about the collaboration between Balanced Rock Power and Bannock County Commissioners is unlawful.

“Even when that accusation came out, the commissioners immediately published it, to make sure if there was even an appearance of that, they’ll correct it,” Manwaring said. “There was always going to be a draft coming out, it was going to have public hearings, it would’ve corrected itself anyway. But I think they did a good job of making sure there’s just no appearance of that because it’s just been a long process.”

He added countless drafts have come out over the past two years. He said it’s become harder as time goes on to continue drafting as the county receives pressure from opposing citizens.

“It’s just very normal for a developer that has an active interest in the county to be the one at the table,” Manwaring said. “But they’re trying to bring folks in from all sides and make sure they are getting that input.”

Manwaring added on the topic of the accusations to the county commissioners that he believes they’ve done everything possible to keep the entire rewrite process fair, and correct immediately when accusations are brought up. “I don’t know what more to ask of them,” he said. “These are incredibly difficult and contentious decisions to make. They’re doing their very best to get through the process and to make it fair.”

The Project

Manwaring confirmed Balanced Rock Power’s involvement in the ordinance rewriting process, as the county has sought its expertise in renewable energy development and the company seeks to apply for a conditional use permit. Developers spend significant money in the preliminary phase before an ordinance in Bannock County is even set, including Balanced Rock.

“They want to work in ordinance so that they can get to the application phase,” he said. “There’s been other developers interested but not willing to put forth the effort, not willing to spend and invest. So there’s a lot of committment there from them from the start.”

The project, in early proposal stages by Balanced Rock, is called the Harmon Solar Project. It’s a 300-megawatt solar photovoltaic project with battery energy storage.

“It’s proposed to be on 2,600 acres of private property,” said Melanie Falls, Vice President of Project Development at Balanced Rock. “Of the 2,600 acres we anticipate a little more than half to be covered in solar panels and related infrastructure. The remaining acreage will be set aside for wildlife corridors, setbacks, utility easement and roads.”

Falls added that based on the current proposal, a lot of the project won’t be visible from neighboring property lines primarily as a result of the topography of the site and low lying nature of the solar arrays.

“Should the ordinance pass, we will also have a toolbox to work with alongside the county to further refine the location of the facilities to minimize impacts as much as possible,” she said.

Balanced Rock has a portfolio of approximately 5.5 gigawatts under advanced developments in renewable energy projects countrywide. Falls explained that each project is different depending on the jurisdiction, whether it’s private property or is near a substation, etc.

She said when working with land owners, Balanced Rock puts in front of them financial terms to give them a sense of whether or not leasing their land for solar panels would be financially worth their while. Commercial negotiations follow if a land owner is interested.

“Solar projects tend to be a passive use of land, they don’t produce much noise,” Falls said. “They have no odor and have very limited onsite activity. So long term, they’re quiet neighbors.”

Benefits to Solar Power in Bannock County

Residents in the area rightfully ask, “What benefits are there to a solar farm in my county?” There are several direct benefits provided by those involved in the ordinance writing process.

“They pay a kilowatt hour tax on the energy produced to the state of Idaho,” Manwaring explained. “It’s centrally assessed by the State Tax Commission. It comes out proportionally to the individual taxing districts in Idaho. The School District down there, the Library District, the Fire District down in the south county area will get an increased proportion coming back to them from these projects.”

Idaho has limitations that require benefits to come back to taxpayers in the form of tax relief. This means that if new funds come in from a project like the proposed solar farm and go back to a local district, they have to pass the savings on to property taxpayers.

“They can’t create a new line item in their budget and go buy something new, they have to pass on that savings to the property owner,” Manwaring explained. “It’s a significant benefit coming back in the whole to the county and to the property tax benefits.”

Secondary benefits to the project mostly include build out and overall growth to the county. The power generation from the solar farm would drive future growth of other industries in the area. It’s called co-locating a project, meaning building out a commercial or industrial district based on a neighboring development like a power-generating plant. Manwaring included more jobs and economic opportunity in the list of potential benefits to a renewable energy resource project in south Bannock County.

Talking to farmers was and continues to be a top priority for parties involved in this rewriting process. Manwaring says he’s heard all kinds of testimony, including those who wouldn’t be in the area on their property without the help of leasing their private property to a renewable energy company.

“One farmer in Power County told me he didn’t know how they would’ve made their land payment on their farm this year without that additional income,” Manwaring said.

Southeast Idaho Energy and Property Alliance (SEIEPA) and the Portneuf Resource Council are two local organizations working to pass the energy portion of the new ordinance. Board member Linda Engle emphasized several major benefits to allowing solar farm companies the ability to apply for Bannock County land.

“It preserves agricultural land for future generations, and solar power can be built on unused land and or low quality land and it brings a steady income for farmers in the area,” Engle said. “By leasing their land, it brings a reliable, long term income that in some cases will simply keep the farm alive.”

SEIEPA has 250 local residents who have already signed in support of the 2026 Land Use and Development Ordinance. Some are farmers who are struggling because their land is less productive than it once was and see leasing to solar companies as their way to stay afloat.

“The new ordinance also regulates many community concerns like safety, decommissioning, wildlife issues, fire and so on,” Engle said. “Every project will still have to have a conditional use permit evaluation.”

Engle reiterated that solar farms are quiet, non-permanent structures that could bring economic opportunities to the Downey area.

What Now?

Several weeks ago, the county planning development staff presented the latest draft of the ordinance to the commissioners. Throughout this week, the council is making technical corrections and tidy up the comprehensive LUDO document. Once the final version is ready, notice will be posted for public hearings and the draft published for everyone to see.

The Council will hold a hearing to take public comment and feedback and make recommendations. The county commissioners then have to hold a second public hearing in which the commissioners have the final say.

Bannock County is hoping to have a final ordinance approved by October of this year. According to Balanced Rock Power, their application for the Harmon Solar Project will be submitted as soon as they determine how their project aligns with the new ordinance. They will still have to seek approval for a conditional use permit from the county before any construction or further project approval processes could begin.

“As soon as the ordinance is finalized and approved, then we’ll have a roadmap of what our application needs to look like,” Falls said. “It’s hard for us to have everything pulled together until we know exactly what the requirements are.”

Balanced Rock Power wants to encourage residents to go to their website to learn more about the project. At www.harmonsolarproject.com, there is available information about the solar farm proposal as well as an email to send questions.

“We’re really interested in engaging in open and honest conversation, and we love to meet with folks who do have concerns to see if there’s a way for us to make adjustments to really address those concerns,” Falls said.

She also reiterated that approval of this new LUDO doesn’t de facto mean the Harmon Solar Project, or any other project, is automatically approved. The question at hand isn’t whether Balanced Rock is building a solar farm in Downey, rather, will the new ordinance be passed in the next few months that reopens Bannock County’s doors to industrial business ventures?

Local News 8 will continue following this story as it progresses and more details become available following public hearings for the new 2026 LUDO.

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Curtis Jackson

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, the City of Ammon will close a portion of 49th South between Ammon Road and Satire Drive.

Crews will replace a portion of the roadway they say is in disrepair.

The road will remain closed at least through August 27th or until the work is completed.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Wackerli Subaru donated school supplies and vouchers to Dora Erickson Elementary School on Wednesday.

Each teacher received a box of school supplies as well as a $500 voucher for AdoptaClass.org. The voucher will allow teachers to purchase classroom supplies without spending money out of pocket.

“We’re so proud to do that,” Chad Mahoney, the Love Promise Champion for Wackerli Subaru, said. “I’ve got a couple of teachers in my family and I know what that challenge is like and what these teachers actually have to go through.”

Wackerli Subaru has adopted Dora Erickson Elementary School for nearly five years. They say being able to support teachers helps make classroom life better and can take a huge weight off their shoulders.

“You know, it helps fill some of the gaps that we have and also provides resources for students who might need that extra help at school,” Idaho Falls District 91 Superintendent Karla La’Orange said. “We are so incredibly grateful for what Subaru does. It makes the difference for our students and it makes it easier for our teachers to work with our students, too. And it’s just a great way to start the year.”

The National Center for Education Statistics found around 94% of Idaho teachers spend out of pocket for their classrooms each year, with an average of $400 dollars spent per teacher. According to the National Education Association, between what’s provided for classrooms versus students needs, teachers often find themselves filling in the gaps with their own funds.

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Maile Sipraseuth

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (KIFI) — On National Aviation Day, an occasion dedicated to honoring the history of flight and the team members who keep the industry moving, one local ramp lead is being recognized for putting safety above all else amidst the rugged terrain of Grand Teton National Park.

Hugo Hernandez, a Ramp Lead and Crew Chief at Jackson Hole Airport, was recently recognized by American Airlines as a 2026 Safety Champion, an honor that caught the dedicated crew member completely off guard.

“I love it; it’s the best job I could have,” Hernandez said.

Whether he’s offloading luggage or helping push aircraft, Hernandez says every detail matters when it comes to safety.

Jimmy Collins, General Manager for American Airlines, said Hernandez consistently demonstrates the kind of attention to safety the airline looks for in its employees.

“Hugo is the epitome of what we look for in an employee and how they operate on the ramp,” Collins said. “He is constantly vigilant with making sure we’re following procedure and operating safely in our ever-changing environment here in Jackson Hole.”

Jackson Hole Airport presents unique challenges for aviation workers, such as weather. As the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park, the tarmac is surrounded by the towering Teton Mountains—a scenic backdrop that brings rapid, unpredictable weather shifts.

“It’s beautiful, but at a moment’s notice, we can have a storm that comes over that mountain,” Collins said.

For Hernandez, his passion for safety comes down to the people he works with.

“The people that I work with, I love my coworkers, and I love to be around them. So I want to have them safe all the time,” Hernandez said.

He considers his coworkers family.

“I love the people that work. So I feel like it’s like a whole family for me,” Hernandez said.

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