1+ day, 3+ hour ago (1181+ words) When Alex Adams stepped into his role leading the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in June 2024, he immediately announced a laser focus on foster care. Adams, nominated by President Donald Trump in March and last month confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Administration for Children and Families assistant secretary, is now taking a similar approach to his federal position. On Monday, the federal administration announced the launch of "A Home for Every Child," an initiative to bring up the ratio of foster children to foster homes to 1-to-1. "Our Home for Every Child initiative nationally is really modeled off of what we did here in Idaho," Adams said in an interview Wednesday in Boise. As the state Health and Welfare director, Adams focused on policies to improve recruitment and retention of foster families as well as to prevent children from…...

5+ day, 15+ hour ago (1038+ words) A new report issued this month by a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization shows the Idaho Legislature reduced state revenue by a combined $4 billion through a series of five income tax cuts passed since 2021. The new report also shows that wealthy Idahoans in the top 1% of earners " those with an annual income of $738,300 and above " benefited the most from the income tax cuts. The report, "2025 Update: Idaho's String of Income Tax Cuts Continues to Jeopardize Investments in Public Services," was published by the Boise-based Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy. "Beyond that, those are also dollars that we don't have available to use to respond to in times during a recession," Knighten said. The report was issued just as the state of Idaho is grappling with 3% budget holdbacks, revenue shortfalls and a projected state budget deficit of $58.3 million for the current fiscal year…...

1+ week, 3+ day ago (198+ words) The hospitalization of an Ada County infant with suspected botulism is believed to be linked to a national recall of an infant formula, Idaho health officials say. The case is the only one in Idaho that state officials believe is linked to the recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition's infant formula. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is investigating the source of the contamination. The recalled formula was available in stores throughout Idaho, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced in a news release Wednesday. According to the release, parents should stop using any ByHeart infant formula products immediately and should wash items and surfaces that may have touched the formula using hot soapy water or a dishwasher. Infant botulism is a rare, serious illness. Symptoms, which usually start as soon as 18 hours after digestion but can take up…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (645+ words) The Idaho Vandals are in the first year of a rebuild, maybe a reconstruction or a renovation. No matter which term you choose, the reality is that ex-Vandal and current New Mexico coach Jason Eck left last year. Eck revitalized the program into a contender each of his three years, and frankly, he took some of the Vandals" top talent with him. This is Thomas Ford Jr."s first year at the helm of the program. I mentioned last week that he is building a brand new culture. That is not something that happens overnight " it will take time. It is incredibly easy to see one down year and say, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" However, if you view this year as a complete failure, you are surely mistaken. Ford"s multi-year plan is to build the…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago (1088+ words) This article is part of an InvestigateWest series called "Guarded by Predators," exposing rape and abuse by Idaho's prison guards and the system that shields them. The entire series can be found at investigatewest.org/guarded-by-predators. Calls for reform are mounting after revelations of widespread sexual abuse inside Idaho women's prisons as state officials, lawmakers and advocates demand accountability from the Department of Correction. In a letter to Gov. Brad Little, the Southwest Idaho Chapter of the National Organization for Women condemned the state's "shameful" failure to protect incarcerated women from sexual abuse and harassment by prison staff. Prompted by InvestigateWest's reporting published last month, the group urged Little to order an independent investigation into complaints uncovered by reporters. The letter urges Little and Correction Director Bree Derrick to "immediately ensure the safety of the women in its custody" and…...