Current News Coverage
Denying ties to land sale, billionaire Tull donates $1.5 million to Teton County, Idaho, sheriff
Jackson Hole News & Guide, 10-17-25
After Teton County, Idaho, trimmed its public budget and cut nonprofit funding, a private foundation announced plans to inject new money into law enforcement.
The Teton Ridge Ranch Foundation, founded by billionaire Thomas Tull, is donating $1.5 million over three years to the Teton County Sheriff’s Foundation, a nonprofit set up to support the Teton County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office.
The Teton Ridge Ranch Foundation has also supported other projects in Teton Valley.
...
While Siddoway and Wilcox were talking to Tull’s foundation in late August, the Teton County (Idaho) Board of County Commissioners was tangling over funding. The board kept most departments’ budgets flat, but approved raises for the Sheriff’s Office on a 3-0 vote. Republican Commissioners Ron James and Brad Wolfe supported the Sheriff’s Office budget, as did Democratic Commissioner Dan Powers. In a separate vote, the commissioners voted 2-1 to decrease funding for social service nonprofits with Powers voting against.
At the same time, commissioners were debating a letter to the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners opposing the auction of “Driggs 160,” the 160-acre parcel of state trust land that borders Tull’s estate.
READ MORE
Idaho Business Review, 10-16-25
Forestry management is the goal of a recently established research institute by one of Idaho’s post-secondary schools.
At a Glance:
-
University of Idaho launches Forest Innovations Institute to improve forestry management
- Partnerships with landowners, industry, and tribal governments will drive applied research
- Focus areas include tree genetics, forest modeling, pests, and sustainable operations
- Supports workforce development and hands-on training for future forestry professionals
The Forest Innovations Institute (FII) looks to partner with public and private forest landowners and industry folks to develop solutions in management forested areas through things such as tree physiology and genetics, fore modeling, silviculture, forest pests and pathogens, harvest operations and economics and policy.
READ MORE
Everyday States, 10-16-25
...
Idaho: Gem State’s Fire Gem Shortage
Idaho has emerged as a significant wildfire hotspot, experiencing a 180% increase in burned acreage from 2020 to 2024 compared to the previous five-year average, according to the Idaho Department of Lands. The state’s unique position between the Great Basin and Northern Rockies creates complex weather patterns that produce extreme fire conditions with little warning. Recent analysis shows that Idaho’s fire season has expanded by 45 days, with significant fires now occurring as early as April and extending into October. The 2024 Rabbit Foot Fire demonstrated the state’s new fire reality, consuming over 75,000 acres in sagebrush country that historically experienced only small, manageable blazes. Invasive cheatgrass has fundamentally altered fire cycles across southern Idaho, creating continuous fine fuels that allow fires to spread rapidly across previously natural firebreaks.
READ MORE
University of Idaho Launches Forest Innovations Institute to Advance Forestry Research
DailyFly, 10-14-25
MOSCOW, ID – The University of Idaho has announced the creation of the Forest Innovations Institute (FII), a new interdisciplinary research center aimed at tackling the challenges facing modern forestry. The institute will work with landowners, industry leaders, and government agencies to apply cutting-edge science and technology to sustainable forest management.
Dennis Becker, dean of U of I’s College of Natural Resources, said the institute will focus on topics including tree genetics, forest health, fire modeling, and the economics of forest management. “FII will engage broadly with public and private landowners, industry partners, tribal governments, nonprofits, and universities on a regional and even international level,” Becker said. “Our goal is to ensure that forestry research is both innovative and grounded in real-world needs.”
...
Dustin Miller, director of the Idaho Department of Lands, said the institute’s creation comes at a critical time. “As demand for wood and wood products continues to grow, advancements in forestry research and technology are essential to maintaining a sustainable supply of wood and fiber,” Miller said.
READ MORE
Shoshone County secures additional fire mitigation funding
Coeur d'Alene Press, 10-14-25
WALLACE — Shoshone County is preparing to launch fire mitigation projects across the region after securing grants from state and federal sources.
The Idaho Department of Lands recently announced it received a $7.5 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the U.S. Forest Service, the largest mitigation grant the agency has ever received, to support work along Shoshone County’s Interstate-90 corridor.
During a meeting with the Shoshone County commissioners last Tuesday, Fire Mitigation Director Bill McLeod announced the county also received three additional state-funded grants totaling nearly $1 million for further mitigation efforts.
READ MORE
Fallen wildland firefighter honored in Grangeville procession
KLEW, 10-7-25
Wildland firefighters in Grangeville held a procession last week to honor Isabella Oscarson, a fallen firefighter who was laid to rest over the weekend.
Oscarson, a 26-year-old crew module leader with the Idaho Department of Lands, was killed by a falling tree during a prescribed burn in the Nez Perce Clearwater forests on Sept. 26. She was originally from Minnesota and began working out of Kamiah earlier this year.
Flags in Idaho were lowered through the weekend in her memory. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said her courage, service, and compassion touched lives across Minnesota, Idaho, and beyond.
READ MORE and WATCH STORY
IDL announces $7.5M project in Shoshone County
Coeur d'Alene Press, 10-7-25
The Idaho Department of Lands was recently awarded a landmark grant to complete a wildfire mitigation project throughout Shoshone County.
According to a press release from IDL, the $7.5 million Community Wildfire Defense Grant from the U.S. Forest Service is the largest received by the agency and will fund the Shoshone I-90 Hazardous Fuels Project.
The project will target 18,890 acres of high-risk forestland along the Interstate 90 corridor and treat 1,275 acres of private property. It will benefit communities in the Silver Valley, including Kellogg, Wallace, Mullan, Pinehurst, Kingston and Cataldo, a press release said.
READ MORE
IDL Shared Stewardship Coordinator Honored
Posted Oct. 7, 2025
IDL Shared Stewardship Coordinator Honored by National Association of State Foresters (NASF)
Ara Andrea received the 2025 Joe Mafnas Current Achievement Award for Partnerships at the 2025 NASF national meeting. She was recognized for excellence in bridging federal, state, and local agencies to collectively work towards Idaho's "No Boundaries" initiative.
"This award meant so much to me because the nomination was written up by those who work most closely with me, here at IDL—and by partners from other agencies that work non-stop to build our cross-boundary projects," said Ara.
Ara Andrea receiving the award
|
