AGP Executive Report

Midair Navy Crash in Idaho: Two U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic-warfare jets collided during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show at Mountain Home Air Force Base; all four crew ejected safely and were evaluated by medical personnel, and the incident is still under investigation. Local Politics: Idaho Legislative District 29 is set for a primary rematch of sorts, with Rep. Tanya Burgoyne facing challenger Jennifer Miles, while District 32B’s race pits appointed Rep. Erin Bingham against Brian McKellar. AI in Real Life (Not Food): Northern Arizona University culinary students say they’re using AI for tasks like inventory counts, but they’re skeptical about letting it near actual cooking. Tech Supply Chain Watch: A new report highlights helium’s rising importance—and scarcity—because it’s used in semiconductor manufacturing and other high-precision work. Community & STEM: Physics Day at Lagoon drew thousands of students across the region for hands-on science activities.

AI in the real world: Culinary students at NAU say they’re using AI for chores like counting pantry supplies, but they’re wary of letting it touch accuracy in the kitchen. Idaho practical lifehacks: A ZIP-code guide is pushing frost-date planning as the key to safer planting and longer harvests. Public health + compliance: A Nigerian public health researcher is urging a data-driven, safer approach to e-waste management in the U.S., tying enforcement to worker exposure reduction. Wildfire funding friction: Northwest fire officials warn new USDA conditions could slow critical wildfire work. Local Idaho community: Mountain Home’s Gunfighter Skies air show returns after years away, with a big STEM expo for kids. Environment watch: Our Gem reports a completed heavy-metal risk assessment for Lake Coeur d’Alene and the Spokane River, with next steps prioritized. Wildlife alert: Himalayan wolf-dog hybrids are emerging as a new threat to people and endangered wolves.

Community & STEM Spotlight: Mountain Home’s Gunfighter Skies air show roared back after an eight-year gap, drawing hundreds Saturday to the base for warbirds, aerobatics, and a Thunderbirds finale—plus a kid-focused STEM expo with flight simulators, 3D printing, and VR. Science Education: Lagoon’s Physics Day kept the momentum going, with thousands of students from Idaho and nearby states measuring ride forces and building roller-coaster models. Tech & Health in the Spotlight: A new Ghost in the Shell series trailer points to a July 7 Prime premiere, while a separate report highlights how youth mental health is showing signs of recovery—especially among LGBTQ young people. Idaho Higher Ed: University of Idaho named Brian Kane dean of the College of Law, as enrollment climbs. Local Policy Watch: Sandpoint mayor proposes banning kratom sales in city limits. Space & Nature Notes: Northern lights may be visible Saturday night in parts of Idaho, and a study flags new wolf-dog hybrids in the Himalayas.

Tech & Business Climate: Colorado’s tech leaders are sounding the alarm, arguing red tape is pushing startups and investors away—an open letter and a 77-page “honest assessment” are now aimed at state officials. Idaho Higher Ed: University of Idaho has named Brian Kane dean of its College of Law, starting July 31, as enrollment climbs and the school expands across Boise and Moscow. Local Governance & Health: Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm is proposing a city ban on kratom sales, citing labeling and youth health concerns. Science & Community: A new Grow and Gather craft festival in North Idaho blends shopping with hands-on learning like pottery, wool spinning, and garden starts. Weather & Safety: Northern Lights may be visible Saturday night across northern states including Idaho after a forecast G1 geomagnetic storm. Wildlife Research: A new study finds Idaho bighorn sheep lost much of their historical genetic mixing with desert lineages as habitat fragmented. AI & Power Debate: Pocatello’s proposed AI data center drew a packed, four-hour public hearing over power use and heat impacts.

Education Research Spotlight: Idaho State University doctoral student Scott Snell won the Kole-McGuffey Award for Excellence in Educational Research, earning his Ed.D. in educational leadership and focusing on leadership development and role transitions in higher education. IDAHOBIT in Action: Ahead of Sunday’s IDAHOBIT, Catholics and community groups in dozens of cities are holding prayer services, with Idaho’s Attorney General joining events tied to the day. Community + Learning: A new Grow and Gather craft festival in North Idaho blends shopping with hands-on demos like pottery, wool spinning, and garden starts. Health Policy Flashpoint: A report highlights how some midwives assisting home births are breaking the law in states where licensing rules are stricter. Idaho Tech Debate: Pocatello’s proposed AI data center drew a packed, four-hour public hearing with more than 100 testimonies and major questions about power demand. Local Military Returns: Mountain Home Air Force Base brings back its air show after eight years, featuring the Thunderbirds and a free STEM expo.

Boise State Facilities Planning: Boise State has hired MMQ Group to run feasibility studies for upgrades to Albertsons Stadium and ExtraMile Arena, with a summer finish targeted; the work would look at everything from concourses, restrooms, and concessions to premium seating and “back of house” concert/event space. Air Safety & Infrastructure: The Trump administration says eight airports—including Pocatello, Idaho—will get major air traffic control upgrades worth $835M+ to replace aging towers and radar approach controls. Idaho Wildlife, Community Science: Idaho Fish and Game is recruiting volunteers to monitor milkweed and monarchs this summer, aiming for 1,000 surveyed patches and offering a June 2 training webinar. Space Power Tech: L3Harris says it has finalized the design for NASA’s next-generation deep-space radioisotope power source (Next Gen RTG). Local Governance: A Buhl pool reopens June 9 after last year’s closure due to staffing shortages. National Legal Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily preserves access to the abortion pill via mail and telemedicine while litigation continues.

Rainbow Bridge Update: ITD will hold a public meeting May 21 (4–7 p.m., Cascade) on the new SH-55 bridge design and what happens to the aging 1933 Rainbow Bridge, citing deterioration, narrow lanes, and safety limits. Stibnite Fight: Conservation groups asked a federal judge to pause early work on Perpetua Resources’ Burnt Log Route tied to the Stibnite mine, arguing it could harm water and protected fish while their lawsuit plays out. Abortion Pill Access: The U.S. Supreme Court let the abortion pill mifepristone keep moving through telemedicine and mail for now, restoring a 2023 FDA rule while Louisiana’s challenge continues. Insurance Clarity: A nonprofit is mapping how homeowners insurance rate approvals differ state-by-state, spotlighting why Idaho’s process can feel opaque during premium spikes and non-renewals. Idaho Water: The Idaho Water Resource Board approved a Mountain Home Plateau sustainability program and set aside $8 million to shift toward surface water and stabilize aquifers. Local Tech/Education: CWI’s River District Project got $2.165M in federal funding to support programs at the Micron Academic Center.

Idaho Education & Workforce: College of Western Idaho’s River District Project just landed a $2.165M funding boost from Rep. Mike Simpson, aimed at getting the Micron Academic Center ready for classes by Fall 2027—with permits secured and steel work already underway. Eye Health Gap: A new survey finds many Idahoans are skipping routine eye care, with 22% saying they didn’t visit an optometrist in the past year and many unaware exams can flag bigger health issues. Weather Watch: El Niño odds are climbing fast—now an 82% chance it forms soon and a 96% chance it’s in place this winter—raising alarms for an extreme Southern California rainy season. Tech & Industry: Work Optional rebranded and opened new HQ in Eagle, mapping a path from AI automation to applied robotics by Q4 2027. Semiconductor Pipeline: U of I and Hiroshima University launched a four-year MESA pathway starting August 2026 to feed the semiconductor workforce. PFAS Testing: Boise State researchers unveiled a portable PFAS detector for near real-time water checks.

Teton Pass Chaos: An earthen embankment collapsed on Wyoming’s Teton Pass, triggering major disruption and a fast rebuild effort after WYDOT had already been monitoring the risk. Idaho Bridge Update: In North Idaho, ITD is temporarily restricting pedestrian access on the Long Bridge while crews investigate deterioration and plan repairs. Rare Earth Push: Bayan Mining and Minerals signed a “mine-to-magnet” MoU with US Critical Materials to advance rare-earth processing tied to Montana’s Sheep Creek project—aimed at strengthening U.S. supply chains. AI in Pocatello: Residents get a chance to weigh in Thursday on a conditional-use permit for a proposed AI data center in Pocatello. Weather Volunteer Drive: The National Weather Service is hosting a virtual Skywarn spotter class for Idaho volunteers. Public Health Watch: Idaho Matters discussed a rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, with WHO stressing the general public risk remains low. Local Politics: Primary races and county commission contests are heating up across Idaho ahead of May 19.

AI in Retail: Albertsons rolled out an AI “Intelligent Quality Control” tool to standardize produce inspections at distribution centers, starting with strawberries and grapes. Advanced Nuclear in Idaho: Oklo says it’s partnering with Idaho National Laboratory to use INL’s Prometheus AI platform for advanced reactor and fuel design work tied to its Pluto system. Drone Security: INL is part of a new UAS/counter-UAS alliance aimed at improving national security testing and readiness. Critical Minerals: NevGold pushed a near-term antimony-gold Mineral Resource Estimate narrative as U.S. defense supply risk grows after China’s antimony restrictions. Local Workforce & Education: Treasure Valley Community College is set to open a $13.8M healthcare facility to expand nursing training. Idaho Outdoors & Planning: Idaho Fish and Game moved 34 elk to reduce crop damage, while the Forest Service is defending a north Blaine County thinning project amid wildfire and beetle concerns. Community Spotlight: Ammon students earned a shot at National History Day in Washington, D.C.

Idaho Education & Facilities: Payette School District is asking voters for a $1.95M levy to modernize its 50+ year-old high school dome and fix outdated, non-ADA-friendly classrooms and athletic spaces. Aerospace & Earth Science: NASA and USGS are mapping Western minerals from about 65,000 feet using high-altitude aircraft, with Idaho among the states in the survey. Wildlife Management: Idaho Fish and Game moved 34 nonmigratory elk from Big Willow Creek to the Panhandle in an “experimental approach” after reported crop damage topped $1M; three elk died during transport. Politics: A first-time Idaho legislator, Mike Veile, faces former lawmaker Chad Christensen in House District 35A’s May 19 primary. Space Science: U of Idaho researcher Matthew Hedman helped confirm Uranus’s outer μ ring is mostly water ice. Tech & Power in Idaho: TerraVolt signed a natural gas supply deal to run an onsite power plant for a planned AI data center campus in southeast Idaho. Nuclear Industry: New molten-salt reactor measurements from ORNL aim to speed safer reactor design and licensing.

AI Hardware Push: Micron is sampling 256GB DDR5 RDIMMs built for AI servers, aiming to boost capacity and cut power use—an efficiency play for data centers. Early Childhood Learning: Lovevery launched a screen-free “Math Skill Set,” pitching better math scores through hands-on play. Health Care Expansion: Encompass Health plans a 50-bed inpatient rehab hospital in Post Falls, targeting opening in 2028 to serve Kootenai County’s growing demand. Idaho in Space: Boise State’s bone-mimicking experiment is headed to the ISS to study how microgravity and vibration affect living tissue. Education Milestones: Lewis-Clark State College will award its first master’s degree at Friday’s commencement. Policy & Rights: A 23-state coalition, including Idaho, filed a Supreme Court brief backing Louisiana’s effort to block mail-order abortion pills. Outdoors Regulation: The Trump administration is easing hunting and fishing rules across federal lands, including national parks. Weather & Water: Utah’s cloud-seeding debate continues as drought and “water bankruptcy” concerns grow, with effectiveness still uncertain. Cybersecurity Watch: Canvas users are still dealing with fallout from a recent Instructure incident.

Post Falls Rehab Hospital: Encompass Health says it will build a 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Post Falls, aiming to open in 2028 and serve stroke, brain/spinal injuries, amputations, and complex orthopedic cases—bringing more specialized rehab care closer to Kootenai County. Idaho in Space: Boise State researchers are sending engineered “bone” structures with living cells to the ISS to study how microgravity and vibration affect bone aging. Cyber & Privacy: A Canvas/LMS disruption tied to a ShinyHunters hack is back in the spotlight, while a separate report highlights how AI-powered road surveillance is spreading faster than state privacy rules. Geology & Energy: Pioneer Minerals reports new LiDAR-defined structural features and a major NE-trending fault at its Springfield project, and Transatlantic Mining says a muon imaging survey at Monitor helped flag new copper targets. Campus Milestones: Lewis-Clark State College will award its first master’s degree at commencement, and BYU-Idaho is partnering with the Smithsonian to deploy cameras along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Green Cities, Real Growth: A new Nature Cities study of 2,475 big cities finds economic growth is increasingly decoupled from fossil-fuel emissions—about 2,000 cities show prosperity alongside lower fuel-linked pollution. Idaho Lab Strain: CDC testing cuts are leaving Idaho more exposed, after the agency paused key specialized diagnostics once used for fast action on rare threats. Wildfire Forecast: Federal fire outlooks warn the West is set up for above-normal significant wildfire risk this summer, with dry conditions and low snowpack stacking the odds. Health Shockwaves: A ProPublica report describes newborns dying from severe bleeding after parents reject a vitamin shot at birth—fueling renewed debate over medical misinformation. Local Idaho Justice Tech: The Kaylee Goncalves Foundation launches “Murder Has a Name,” pushing access to advanced DNA tools for stalled cases. Data Center Power Deal (Southeast Idaho): CalEthos/TerraVolt signs a natural gas supply agreement for an AI data center campus, aiming to keep power reliable without raising local ratepayer costs. Campus Cyber Disruption: Idaho State University disables Canvas access over security concerns, adding pressure during graduation season.

In the last 12 hours, Idaho- and region-adjacent coverage skewed toward health, public policy, and science/tech. Spokane Public Radio reported that North Idaho’s Panhandle Health District is moving away from some CDC guidelines and aligning more with “Make America Health Again,” emphasizing holistic medicine and chronic-disease prevention. InvestigativeWest also reported on conditions inside an Idaho prison transfer, describing women moved to a minimum-security facility who were instead placed in a segregated “hole” unit with near-constant confinement. Other health-related items included a report about babies bleeding to death after parents reject a vitamin shot given at birth, and a broader consumer-health policy angle via the American Kidney Fund’s “Living Donor Protection Report Card,” which says some states have made progress while others have “little to no progress,” creating barriers for living kidney donors.

Several science/technology and infrastructure stories also appeared in the most recent window. Oregon officials recommended increasing fees for radioactive-material shipments, prompted in part by expected Hanford waste shipments through Northeastern Oregon; the Energy Facility Siting Council is set to consider the fee changes. A separate explainer weighed the case for “advanced nuclear reactors,” describing how next-generation designs (including small modular reactors) are marketed as safer and more efficient, while noting the broader context of government support and the economics of keeping aging power plants online. Idaho’s tech-and-industry ecosystem showed up through business and manufacturing coverage: Root Inc. reported its best quarterly net income ever, and the I-90 Aerospace+ Corridor Conference & Expo previewed networking around aerospace, quantum/nuclear topics, and advanced manufacturing.

Beyond health and energy, the last 12 hours included community and local economic developments. Charlie’s Produce scaled back its warehouse expansion plans in Spokane, moving forward with a smaller facility and cold-chain features like refrigerated loading docks and air filtration/ripening-room controls. There was also coverage of local cultural/community infrastructure, including a feature on Little Free Libraries in the Inland Northwest, and a business/innovation item about a Spokane Valley biotech launching a probiotic odor eliminator product (BioScentrix) with a planned Kickstarter campaign.

Older items from the 12 to 72 hours and 3 to 7 days range add continuity and context, but the evidence is more scattered. For example, multiple stories in the broader week touch on education and AI—Idaho’s public-private push to bring AI education into K-12 classrooms is described in detail in the most recent set, while other coverage discusses AI’s impact on work and legal-tech career paths. On the policy side, there’s also continuity in debates over federal funding and state implementation tactics (including Medicaid-related uncertainty and hospital risk from Medicaid cuts), and in transportation/infrastructure planning (such as I-90 expansion-related ramp closures and detours). However, because the most recent 12-hour evidence is dominated by health, prison conditions, radioactive-shipment fees, and energy/AI explainers, the overall picture for Idaho Sci-Tech Network is less about a single major breakthrough and more about a busy mix of governance, public health, and applied technology developments.

In the last 12 hours, Idaho-focused coverage skewed toward practical, local impacts and education/technology themes. A report on Washington gas prices uses Spokane-area examples to show how higher fuel costs are changing family routines—while also suggesting tourism could increase in Spokane despite the sticker shock. In Idaho itself, a GasBuddy update shows statewide prices averaging about $4.43/g, up week-over-week, reinforcing the broader “cost pressure” narrative. Education and AI also featured prominently: coverage describes Idaho’s push to bring AI education into K-12 classrooms statewide (via a public-private partnership involving Microsoft, Micron, INL, and Stukent), alongside a separate piece highlighting Idaho teens building an AI tool to help farmers save water and grow smarter.

Several other last-12-hours items point to ongoing policy and systems issues beyond Idaho’s borders but with relevance to the region’s institutions. A consumer watchdog analysis says Medicaid cuts could put hundreds of hospitals at high risk of closing or cutting services, tying the financial outlook to access to care. Another piece focuses on cybersecurity for industrial systems (IIoT/OT), emphasizing how increased connectivity can expand attack surfaces and create infrastructure risks. There’s also administrative/healthcare systems coverage: an update says NPE contractors will take over Medicare DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals starting May 8, including Idaho in the Palmetto GBA jurisdiction list.

On the Idaho civic/operations front, the most concrete local development in the last 12 hours is Adams County’s plan to use vote tabulators after polls close on May 19. The article emphasizes that voters still mark paper ballots and that the tabulators scan and secure ballots in locked bins, with an opportunity to correct “overvotes,” and that the devices are not voting machines (paper trail remains). The same time window also includes community and culture coverage—such as a farewell/transition for “Biz Buzz” on EastIdahoNews.com and a local martial arts seminar—though these read more like routine community features than major statewide developments.

Looking across the broader 7-day window, there’s continuity in themes of technology governance, healthcare policy, and infrastructure planning. Earlier coverage includes Idaho’s unemployment rate dipping to 3.6% in March, plus multiple items tied to abortion-pill access and Medicaid policy uncertainty (including discussions of telehealth availability in Idaho). There’s also sustained attention to energy and grid coordination: an “EDAM” market update (CAISO/PacifiCorp) describes day-ahead electricity coordination across the West, and other items discuss distributed energy resources and microgrids. However, the evidence in the most recent 12 hours is comparatively sparse on Idaho-specific science/industry breakthroughs—aside from the AI-in-agriculture and K-12 AI education items—so the overall “big story” of this period is more about cost pressures, election administration, and AI adoption than a single major new Idaho scientific or industrial milestone.