The Connector: Idaho Daily News

It's opening day of Treefort 2026 and we have a guide of what you need to know... particularly about parking and closures; plus we'll tell you about a proposal that would have Idahoans negotiate the cost of medical procedures directly with their doctors and medical providers.

The bill that would criminalize the use of sex-segregated bathrooms by transgender people is coming close to becoming law; there's an effort to make certain that door-to-door political canvassers are residents of Idaho; and the Boise Police Department is trying to do something about its overtime dilemma.

Lawmakers at the Idaho Capitol are cutting budgets left and right; kids in the City of Boise will be able to ride public buses for free this summer... and next; and it's two days and counting until Treefort 2026.

A memorial service has been scheduled to remember the late Nampa Mayor Rick Hogaboam; there was a lot of emotional testimony - both pro and con - regarding kratom at the Capitol Thursday; and Bogus Basin is set to say goodbye to what turned out to be an unfortunately warm winter season.

The mayor of Nampa died unexpectedly Wednesday night. Mayor Rick Hogaboam suffered what was described as a "medical emergency" while he was speaking at a public gathering in Eagle; cities hoping to access the state's insurance program are out of luck: and two very separate bills surfaced at the Statehouse Wednesday - one about drivers who speed (but don't pay the fines) and another about drivers w...

Idaho lawmakers are hoping to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education; Governor Brad Little has signed a package of more budget cuts; and lawmakers have decided to nix a bill that would have set up a state program to deal with the growing problem of rats in the Treasure Valley.

Emotions ran deep during a hearing on InVitroFertilization at the Statehouse Monday; yet another bill has triggered yet another debate over immigration Monday; and another measure has surfaced regarding facilities for transgender people.

The bill targeting Boise's Pride Flag is one step closer to being on the governors desk. With 165,000 spring breakers expected to flow through the Boise Airport this week, we'll hear what unpaid TSA workers have to say about that: we have a report from this year's Idaho Women's Day March; and we've got the latest on yet another anti-vax bill at the legislature.

There is yet another "library bill" at the Idaho Capitol; a fair amount of lawmakers are putting their foot down saying "no" to cuts to Health and Welfare; there's a new effort to make it illegal to stay in the left lane of traffic; and wait till you hear what one legislator said at the end of his committee meeting Thursday.

We'll tell you about a much sought-after change for the Idaho suicide prevention hotline; at the Capitol there's a proposed measure on how Idaho does (or doesn't) collect sales tax from yard sales; Idaho gas prices have jumped 33-cents in just one week; and there's very good news for the University of Idaho women's basketball team.

Legislation blocking cities from developing more starter homes is on life support in the Idaho Senate, The Idaho House has again approved calling on the US Supreme Court to overturn the ruling affirming a right to same-sex marriage, the region's outdoor recreation economy forges into headwinds, and Boise State and Idaho basketball pushing for conference championships.

Idaho lawmakers introduce a bill to repeal voter-approved medicaid expansion, the search for Boise State University's next President resumes, a March presidential primary could return to Idaho, and homes destroyed by wildfire have a greater impact on pollution levels that previously thought.

Budget cuts ready for the Governor's signature, but lawmakers have spared some Idaho medicaid programs from cuts, plus how the cost at the gas pump fuels many Idahoans' overall view of the economy. And, AC Boise debuts with a win!

Tech company Hewlett Packard is preparing to pull out of Boise, legislation targeting Boise's display of the LGBTQ advanced, Idaho and the Coeur D'Alene Tribe have reached a water rights agreement ending years of litigation and negotiation, plus, why references to the 1987 movie  The Princess Bride  were made on the Idaho Senate floor this week.

The debate over whether Idaho students should be allowed be excused to attend a demonstration came to a head at the Statehouse Wednesday; there's another anti-kratom bill at the Capitol; and our neighbors to the north are about to turn their clocks ahead...but they're going to do it for the very last time.

You'll want to hear about a new survey of Treasure Valley voters. They have plenty to say about housing; the Idaho Legislature is, once again, weighing in the landmark Supreme Court ruling to legalizes gay marriage; and while it's common courtesy not to linger in the left hand lane while you're driving... should it be against the law?

There's yet another proposed cut to the state budget; now that they're not producing pennies anymore, what should Idaho merchants do about making change? And we're about to hear more about something called "Keep Boise Cool."

Should Idaho public school teachers be compelled to read Bible passages to their students? Should Idaho public school students continue to be allowed to leave their class to participate in political demonstrations... or even to testify on a bill? And in the wake of a gold medal win for the ages, Idaho living legend Hilary Knight is burning up the ice... now in her day job.

There was an emotional hearing concerning Kratum at the Statehouse Thursday; legislators debated whether the state should be telling how local schools provide recess; and today's the deadline for would-be legislators to officially file their Idaho candidacy.

Protesting or disrupting a religious service could become a crime in Idaho under a bill moving through the statehouse, a beloved Amish market near the town of Salmon has burned to the ground, public lands at the center of a hearing with President Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, and lawmakers chip away at Idahoan's ability to vote by affidavit.

We report on the backlash after a man testified before a legislative committee in brownface; we'll tell you about a new bill that concerns so-called "medical neglect;" they're debating about the future of the Boise Library system; and we'll tell you how it's not too late to celebrate Chinese New Year in a big way.

There's an emotional effort to try to restore the ACT program which brings much needed services to Idahoans with severe mental illness; how much should Idaho pay counties to "house" its excess inmates? And we have the latest on Idaho's snowpack and drought status.

Should a moment of silence be required in Idaho public school rooms? Lawmakers are debating the fate of that tiny sticker that goes on your license plate each year (or two); and McCall police say they need some help to take care of the rowdys during their Fourth of July celebration.

Idaho Schools won't be forced into a uniform starting date each fall, the search continues for a suspect police say tried to burn down a St. Luke's Medical System building in Meridian after crashing a stolen ambulance through its front doors, and communications failures led to a friendly-fire shooting of a state corrections officer during a prisoner escape from a Boise hospital in 2024.

A new proposal would insist on more state oversight of refugee resettlement programs; McCall officials are considering tighter security for their Fourth of July celebrations: and Badger, a specially trained police dog got some face time with lawmakers at the Capitol on Wednesday.