The City Club of Idaho Falls

Building Community Through Philanthropy with Mary Lynn Hartwell At the City Club of Idaho Falls Annual Meeting, Mary Lynn Hartwell, recipient of the 2026 John D. Hansen Award, reflected on a lifetime of service, leadership, and philanthropy in Eastern Idaho. Drawing on her experiences with United Way, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Falls Arts Council, and countless community initiatives...

Idaho’s Primary Election Process & Participation Featuring Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane What drives voter participation in Idaho? How secure are our elections? And how is outside money shaping Idaho’s political landscape? At City Club of Idaho Falls, Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane delivered a data-driven look at Idaho’s primary election system, voter turnout trends, election se...

In this City Club of Idaho Falls forum, veteran statehouse reporters Kevin Richert (Idaho Education News) and Clark Corbin (Idaho Capital Sun) break down the 2026 Idaho legislative session—one defined by deep budget cuts, intense policy debates, and a shifting political climate. Corbin opens with a clear takeaway: this was a “budget-driven session,” shaped by years of tax cuts and new fiscal press...

The City Club of Idaho Falls forum, “When Cuts Cost More,” highlighted the growing strain on Idaho’s mental health and crisis response systems following Medicaid and program cuts. Sheriff Sam Hulse and DeVere Hunt emphasized how reduced services—especially peer support and regional behavioral health coordination—are increasing pressure on law enforcement, jails, and emergency departments. They und...

Rethinking Education for a Changing Economy Description: At a recent City Club of Idaho Falls forum, Senator Dave Lent explored how Idaho’s education system must evolve to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world. Drawing on history, economic trends, and his own experience growing up in eastern Idaho and working at the Idaho National Laboratory, Senator Lent discussed how today’s public educatio...

In this City Club of Idaho Falls forum, journalist and podcast host Heath Druzin explores how Christian nationalism is shaping politics in Idaho and across the United States. Drawing from his reporting for the podcast Extremely American , Druzin defines Christian nationalism as a political movement seeking an explicitly Christian form of government, distinct from personal faith or patriotism. He d...

What happens when doctors must consult lawyers before treating patients? In this compelling City Club forum, Bingham Memorial Hospital CEO Jake Erickson and OB-GYN Dr. Heather Pugmire explain how Idaho’s healthcare system is being reshaped by physician shortages, hospital closures, and growing uncertainty in medical decision-making. Their conversation offers a rare, firsthand look at how policy, a...

December’s City Club of Idaho Falls Forum featured Todd Achilles, former Idaho legislator, U.S. Army veteran, and Independent candidate for the U.S. Senate. In this wide-ranging conversation, Achilles discussed his call for greater political cooperation, his concerns about economic concentration, and his belief that independence in Congress can help restore trust in American institutions. He also...

November 13th's forum on Migrant Labor and Idaho's Economy. We had Zak Miller CEO of Farm Bureau, Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen, and a recorded message from Rep. Mike Simpson. Idaho agriculture depends on a workforce few people ever see — and even fewer understand. In this City Club forum, industry leaders break down the data, the challenges, and the policy realities behind Idaho’s...

Dr. Wagner shared his vision for "Creating Access and Impact Through Opportunity and Collaboration," emphasizing the importance of partnerships, adaptability, and innovation in higher education. ​ He highlighted ISU's commitment to serving diverse student populations, fostering community impact, and addressing workforce needs through strategic initiatives like enrollment growth, acad...

The Idaho Falls City Club kicked off its 18th season with a compelling forum titled “When the Funding Fades: Public Broadcasting’s Future,” featuring Jamon Anderson, General Manager and Director of Programming at KISU-FM. The forum, held on September 18, 2025, addressed urgent funding challenges facing local public radio stations after recent federal funding cuts and highlighted essential roles th...

At the City Club of Idaho Falls’ Annual Membership Meeting, Dr. Rick Aman delivered a thoughtful and forward-looking presentation on the concepts of Futuring and Ikigai . Drawing from his decades of leadership in education, Dr. Aman encouraged organizations to look beyond traditional strategic planning and instead envision their preferred future —one shaped by resilience, adaptability, and clarity...

Keith Esplin and Roger Warner of The Eastern Idaho Water Rights Coalition spoke to the City Club audience on Thursday about water in Idaho. This timely panel will offered a deep dive into how water rights, groundwater use, and recharge efforts have shaped agriculture, industry, and community development across the region. The program also examined the recent 2024 Stipulated Agreement and what it m...

We hope you enjoy the Conversion we had with Wendy and Dave. Tune in to the 2025 Legislative Recap! Hear key insights on school choice, healthcare, and more.

Jenny Davidson delivered a powerful presentation on the vital role of community libraries. More than just buildings, libraries serve as meeting spaces for veterans and civic groups, provide internet access for those without it, and offer a place for seniors to gather when community centers are unavailable. They are hubs for learning, hosting programs and seminars that enrich our communities. Liter...

On Dec. 19, The City Club of Idaho Falls hosted Representative Wendy Horman and Rod Gramer for a debate on the legislation she is proposing giving tax credits for parents who choose private or homeschooling for their children. Gramer argued that the proposal is comparable to school vouchers and could impose additional financial strain on public schools, which the state supreme court has already de...

The City Club of Idaho Falls extends a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Lori Barber, President of CEI, for her inspiring presentation. She shared her journey to CEI and her vision for the college, highlighting its invaluable contributions to our community. We appreciate her time and the great audience who came out to listen and support her! We hope you enjoy listening to this podcast.

Dr. Farnsworth, President of the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) in Boise, gave a fantastic presentation, sharing insights on Idaho’s efforts to educate doctors, strategies to retain them, and the factors contributing to their departure. It was a fascinating and informative program, and we hope you enjoy listening! Click here if you would like to see a slide show of his presentation.

On Sept 19th City Club hosted Adrian Gallo, Climate Program Manager at the Idaho Conservation League. Adrian has a degree in soil science and geology. He had a lot of really great insights on the energy and conservation issues facing us today. A few things he pointed to was: • Brief overview of modern environmental policy success stories. • Current status of our climate, energy, and environmental...

City Club's annual evening meeting was held June 26th. Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Debbie Critchfield, spoke to our audience on her vision for public schools. She was very well spoken and gave a great presentation. We hope you enjoy listening for the first time or relistening.

Stephanie gave an insightful presentation on Idaho's water crisis on Thursday, May 16th. Her expertise and resources provided valuable perspectives, and she adeptly addressed the numerous questions from our well-attended meeting. we hope you enjoy this podcast of the meeting. The slides should be available here on our website.

How much thought have you given the old & renewed areas of downtown Idaho Falls? Do you want a more walkable city? Do you know how urban renewal and development works? Lee Radford, Chair of the Idaho Falls Redevelopment Agency, gave an enlightening presentation on Urban Development. His insightful program showcased the dedication and planning efforts of the Redevelopment Agency for the local c...

The City Club was privileged to host Dr. Ken Krell on Thursday, March 28th, as he delivered a compelling presentation on the impacts of Long COVID. His program provided valuable insights and thought-provoking perspectives. While Dr. Krell's speech stands on its own merit, a PowerPoint presentation is also available, link below, containing supplementary information for those interested. We trus...

On February 22nd, the Idaho Secretary of State, Phil McGrane, addressed the City Club audience on the topic of Election Integrity. During this event, he unveiled the newly launched IdahoVotes.gov website. As you listen to this podcast, please note that the Secretary of State references this website during his presentation, offering a live demonstration rather than a traditional PowerPoint. This up...

Youseff Ballout is the Director at INL of Reactor System Design and Analysis Division. He gave a very good presentation on the ins and outs and whys of using Nuclear reactors. It was educational and fascinating. At this link are the slides that he presented in his speech. It doesn't include the video. That is the blank slide. https://www.ifcityclub.com/past-events-slides/