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Budget cuts loom, but saving a dollar today could cost Idahoans much more in the future. This week, Sen. Julie Van Orden, Sen. Jim Woodward, Ivy Walker with Idaho Voices for Children, and Nampa mother Trixy Wade discuss proposals to decrease Medicaid costs.

• EDUCATION BUDGET: One day after legislative budget-writers asked state superintendent Debbie Critchfield to plan for cuts to public schools, the first-term Republican has turned down the request. Her letter follows memos this week from the co-chairs of JFAC asking state agencies to deliver plans for current fiscal year budget cuts up to 2%, on top of the 3% cuts that Gov. Brad Little made through an executive order last year that excluded K-12 schools. [🔗 Idaho Education News]

• DOWNWINDERS: The Radiation Exposure Screening and Education Program clinic from St. George Regional Hospital is holding public meetings 10:30 am - 2 pm Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Nampa Public Library to explain recent changes to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• HISPANIC AFFAIRS: Rep. Bruce Skaug, the deciding vote that stopped introduction of a bill to eliminate the Idaho Commission for Hispanic Affairs last week, said his opposition was to the bill taking effect immediately and that he would in fact vote for a bill to close the agency with some transition time. [🔗 NewsTalk KBOI]

• PRISONS BUDGET: Idaho incarcerating its prisoners in out-of-state facilities and county jails has led to skyrocketing costs for the Idaho Department of Correction, which would have had to temporarily furlough its entire staff to comply with the governor's mid-year three percent budget holdbacks. [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]



• CHILDCARE: There are millions in federal grant funds available to add more childcare services in rural Idaho, but only if the Idaho Legislature decides to spend it amid calls to focus on fraud investigations. [🔗 Valley Lookout / BoiseDev]

• IMMIGRATION: A federal judge largely rejected the state’s move to dismiss a lawsuit from the ACLU of Idaho challenging a 2025 immigration law. The law created new state-level crimes of “illegal entry” and “illegal re-entry.” [🔗 Idaho Capital Sun]

• PRIMARY SEASON: Rep. Lori McCann announced Saturday in Moscow that she plans to run for the Senate seat in the same district. [🔗 Lewiston Tribune]

• WIND STORM: The University of Idaho is working to preserve significant trees on campus that were damaged by December’s historic wind storm. Students are part of the preservation efforts, which include two trees planted in 1911 by U.S. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. [🔗 Moscow-Pullman Daily News]

• JUST FOR FUN: The Idaho Transportation Department rejected 852 personalized license plates in 2025. Some were heartfelt and creative, but others were a bit bold. The denials range from seemingly innocent to controversial references. [🔗 KTVB]

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