AGP Executive Report

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Spotlight: Starbelly Sacred Arts Festival: The Treasure Valley’s Starbelly School of Dance is reviving the spirit of Goddess Fest with a new Starbelly Sacred Arts Festival kicking off June 13-14 at Expo Idaho in Garden City, blending dance, spirituality, and community performances. Local Music: Lizzie Rose Music Room: Jason Ricci brings his award-winning jazz/funk/blues harmonica and vocals to the Lizzie Rose Music Room Friday, June 12 (doors 7 p.m., show 7:30). Pop Culture & Film: Gus Van Sant’s next project: Nicholas Galitzine is set to play male supermodel Hoyt Richards in a new Gus Van Sant movie, with plot details still under wraps. Gaming: Helldivers shakeup: Jason Momoa has exited Sony’s live-action Helldivers adaptation, though the film remains on track with a November 2027 release as casting searches continue. Sports-to-Entertainment: Boise State on a cover: Boise State is featured again on the EA Sports College Football 27 cover, keeping the Broncos in the gaming spotlight.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment: Interpol announced its first album in four years, This Mirror Weighs a Ton, due Aug. 28, plus a North American tour running Aug.–Oct. Idaho Pop Culture: Jason Momoa has exited Sony/PlayStation’s Helldivers movie adaptation, leaving the 2027 release date intact while the studio searches for a new lead. Local Music & Community: A Libby children’s choir won first place at a national music competition in Coeur d’Alene. Idaho Sports Spotlight: Bonneville’s Carter Bowen earned East Idaho Sports baseball Player of the Year after a standout senior season. Idaho Outdoors & Travel: Boise is pitching itself as an “Outdoor USA” destination for groups, leaning on easy access to nature and trails. Idaho Tech/Science with a creative angle: A privately developed nuclear reactor at Idaho National Lab reached “critical” for the first time, a step toward future deep-space power.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Spotlight: Boise’s new Bluebird Social opened along the Greenbelt with free live music, food trucks, and a packed summer events calendar—an easy new hangout for families and neighbors. Pop Culture & Film: Jason Momoa has exited Sony’s Helldivers movie, leaving the studio hunting for a replacement star ahead of its 2027 release. TV & Live Performance: A Pullman couple, Tracy Skaer and Brad Byers, is set to debut on America’s Got Talent with a high-danger sword-swallowing act. Sports (Women’s Hockey): Elite Olympian Hilary Knight is headed to the PWHL’s Detroit expansion team via a sign-and-trade involving Las Vegas. Community & Outdoors: Boise’s “Outdoor USA” pitch gets a boost as Visit Boise spotlights how the city’s nature access makes it ideal for group adventures. Local Sports Notes: Mead girls basketball coach Quantae Anderson stepped down; KC Ahrens takes over.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Spotlight: Boise’s dog trail-running scene is getting international shine—Zen Pet Care Services won the 2025 Global Recognition Award and the Pet Innovation Award for Dog Walking Service of the Year, thanks to GPS-tracked off-leash hikes and personalized fitness plans. Local Culture & Community: Gem State Comic Con kept growing in 2026, breaking its admissions record with 54,124 sales over three days and pulling in more out-of-state fans, vendors, and celebrity guests. Music & Performance: Stephen Wilson Jr. dropped “Preacher’s Kid,” a rock-leaning, Americana-tinged single about faith and small-town life, and he’s lining up festival dates in the UK/Ireland plus more U.S. shows. Idaho Sports on the Arts Wire: Post Falls Music Academy is sending 23 students and three instructors to perform at Carnegie Hall this summer, capping its 15th anniversary season with a hometown preview before the NYC recital. Big National Watch: The Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on gun laws and transgender athlete bans, with Idaho’s case in the mix.

Boise Community Spotlight: Zen Pet Care Services, Boise’s dog trail-running company, just racked up major pet-industry honors—winning the 2025 Global Recognition Award and the Pet Innovation Award for Dog Walking Service of the Year, thanks to GPS-tracked trail runs and custom fitness plans for dogs of all ages. Local Sports & Talent: Filer High quarterback Tristan Rea committed to the College of Idaho after a standout season, and East Idaho Sports named Century’s Ethan Hansen and Soda Springs’ Cole Garbett top track athletes. Idaho Arts & Events: Twin Falls kicked off Market on Main with dozens of vendors and live music, while Coeur d’Alene’s Pride in the Park marked its 10th year with hugs, drag, and community booths. Community & Culture: Rupert hosted the fifth annual Fights on Fremont boxing event, bringing 60 amateur fighters and 31 bouts to the home crowd. Civic Watch: Caldwell recall organizers say they’re canceling the effort after failing to reach signature goals. National Court Watch (Idaho impact): The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule soon on major cases including Idaho’s transgender athletes ban.

Idaho Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule soon on “culture wars” cases, including Idaho’s ban on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, alongside gun-rights disputes—decisions that could ripple into school athletics statewide. Local Pride & Community: Coeur d’Alene’s Pride in the Park marked its 10th year with hugs, music, vendors, and church booths welcoming LGBTQIA+ neighbors, while Twin Falls held its annual Pride festival with drag, musicians, and community vendors. Sports & School Spirit: Boise State is exploring upgrades to Albertsons Stadium as a monster truck event drew 20,000, and Idaho’s college scene continues to lean into film and performance with Screen on the Green returning this summer. Arts & Entertainment Calendar: Twin Falls’ Market on Main kicked off for the season with live music and dozens of vendors, and Rupert hosted Fights on Fremont, a growing amateur boxing showcase drawing athletes from across the region. Tech & AI in the Region: Microsoft data shows Vermont near the bottom for AI tool use, with higher adoption in places like Chittenden County—an angle on how tech habits vary by community.

Community Pride: Coeur d’Alene’s 10th annual Pride in the Park brought drag, music, vendors, and a “Free Mom Hugs” moment that turned City Park into a feel-good gathering. Downtown Markets: Twin Falls kicked off Market on Main for the summer, filling Main Street with 46 vendors, live music, and local business buzz every Saturday through Aug. 8. Outdoor Movies: Moscow’s University of Idaho Screen on the Green returns with free Thursday night screenings from June 18 to Sept. 3, including “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Grease,” “The Iron Giant,” and “Project Hail Mary.” Local Arts & Community Events: Baker City’s Barley Brown’s marks 28 years with two days of music June 12–13, and Southern Idaho Pride’s Pride festival drew crowds with “paint the town” rainbow-themed fun. Sports & School Spirit: Idaho-area fans also get a college sports boost with UI’s summer film series and regional athletics updates, plus a reminder that propane grill safety matters as summer cookouts ramp up.

Idaho Home Safety Reminder: A new Idaho-focused warning urges homeowners to lock cars in public lots, keep garage codes private, and use alarms/cameras as deterrents after reminders that break-ins can happen fast. New Idaho Crime Thriller Release: Gary Helzer’s Where Losers Live, Heroes Die drops as a suspenseful novel about three military veterans pulled into organized crime and high-stakes conflict in the Bahamas. Local Arts & Community: Twin Falls’ 16th annual Art and Soul of the Magic Valley kicks off with art across 65 venues and online voting, while Kuna unveils an America 250 mural at the VFW building. Music & Festivals: Baker City celebrates 28 years of Barley Brown’s with two days of music, and the Dirty Turkeys bring high-energy punk to Dolores. Sports Spotlight: The Idaho Bowl returns for a third year, bringing Magic Valley middle school football talent to Boise. Court Watch (Idaho): A federal judge weighs how Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban will be enforced as attorneys argue it could endanger trans people.

Music History & Local Culture: Nor’Wester ’76’s 50-year legacy is back in the spotlight after a North Idaho riot derailed the planned sets from bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Heart. Community Events: Lewiston’s Elks Lodge #896 kicks off a Flag Day run-up with a flag retirement ceremony and Quilts of Valor, while Twin Falls’ 16th annual “Art and Soul of the Magic Valley” opens with art across 65+ venues and online voting. Public Art: Kuna unveiled an America 250 mural at the VFW, and Spokane’s Downtown Spokane Partnership announced “Vintage Alley,” bringing neon signs and large-scale murals to Railroad Alley. Outdoor & Arts Calendar: Pocatello’s Edson Fichter Nature Area hosts guided bird walks, and Everett’s Sorticulture festival returns for a three-day garden fair. Idaho Spotlight: Salmon’s baseball program wins its first state trophy, and Idaho Falls esports players earn a shot at a national championship in Florida.

Sun Valley Forum: The 11th Sun Valley Forum will honor Maggie Baird, founder of Support + Feed, with its 2026 Resilient Leadership Award on June 17, presented by Carole King, as the event adds Microsoft and The Wilderness Society as Platinum Partners. Idaho LGBTQ+ rights: A new podcast episode spotlights how Idaho’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws—like the trans athlete ban and bathroom restrictions—are pushing at least one family to consider leaving the state, with Supreme Court action expected soon. Esports in Idaho Falls: The XP League Idaho Falls team earned a shot at a national esports championship in Florida for ages 7–17, with the community rallying to support travel and participation. Arts in the Wood River Valley: Friedman Memorial Airport’s spring-summer terminal art show opens with works selected from 114 submissions by 53 artists, aiming to capture the feeling of spring in Idaho’s valleys. Outdoor/angling: Idaho Fish and Game’s “Tag, You’re It” program lets anglers earn rewards up to $200 for certain tagged catches. Screening & streaming: Prime Video shared first-look details for “Batman: Caped Crusader” season 2, including a July 31, 2026 release date.

Theme Park Watch: Silverwood Theme Park’s new owners aren’t changing prices or rides this summer, park leaders say, promising “Silverwood” stays its own Idaho-style brand. Arts & Film: Inspiration Point Center for the Arts hosts filmmaker Karen Day’s opera documentary “Aria: Opera on the Edge” (June 18). Theater in Idaho: BYU-Idaho Theatre brings “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” to Snow Drama Theatre (June 9 onward). Music & Community: 103.5 KISS FM is giving away free gas Friday in Boise, with a Boise Music Festival ticket for participants. Pride in the Inland Northwest: Boise residents push back against a state rule limiting Pride flags on government property, while Coeur d’Alene and Spokane-area communities plan Pride in the Park events. Sports Spotlight: WSU lands 2027 WR Malachi Garlington; Idaho’s Charlee Stewart earns top softball honors in the Magic Valley. Outdoors: Idaho’s Free Fishing Day is June 13, with hundreds of trout stocked statewide.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment: The Village Improvement Society is hosting a free community screening of the Broadway musical Suffs at the Colonial Theater in Idaho Falls on June 4, inviting attendees to wear white as the story spotlights the women’s suffrage movement and civic action. Community & Culture: Pace for Peace’s fourth bi-annual 5K at Ann Morrison Park brought Boise runners together to raise funds for refugees in Idaho and Sudan, with music and food following the race. Outdoor Fun (family-friendly): Idaho’s Free Fishing Day is set for June 13, with Fish and Game staff and volunteers helping first-timers—no license required, and kids 13 and younger fish free—plus tips for making a kid’s first trip a success. North Idaho Arts/Grants: Coeur d’Alene’s arts commission launched a visual arts grant program, adding new support for local creators. Sports (local pride): The Rams claimed a state trophy and marked their best finish in years, while Idaho athletes and teams continue to rack up honors across the state.

U.S. Senate Race: Idaho veteran and former state legislator Todd Achilles is challenging Sen. Jim Risch, pitching himself as an independent focused on fixing Congress’s dysfunction and debt. Community Arts Funding: Coeur d’Alene’s Arts Commission launched “Arts Spotlight: Visual Arts,” a new grant program with $15,000 available for 2026-27 projects. Local Music & Markets: Twin Falls kicks off summer with “Market on Main” and the long-running “Twin Falls Tonight” free concert series. Arts Spotlight in Action: Elk River Marine veteran and artist Tonya Delphous is pushing toward the Top 5 in Colossal’s People’s Artist competition, aiming to turn a win into a low-cost community art space. Community Building Outdoors: Wilder Wednesdays returns to Garman Hill in rural Canyon County, pairing live music and local vendors with a community-first mission. Idaho Public TV: “The Teton Dam Disaster” documentary debuts as part of Idaho Experience, using fresh interviews and long-buried archives. Local Journalism: The Clearwater Tribune’s editor won a regional SPJ award for records-based reporting. Public Safety/Local News: Boise County is searching for a missing man after his vehicle was found near the Payette River.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Picks: Live comedy: Brandon Berman and Harrison Forman’s viral blindfolded dating show UpDating is adding a 21-city 2026 live tour, mixing audience participation with “raw” romance onstage. Music: Margaret Glaspy announced her new album I Am Both (produced with Joe Henry) and shared the studio track “Michigan.” Idaho community events: Kamiah’s Rhythms on the River returns with five free summer concerts at Riverfront Park (starting June 13). Local arts & culture: Ruskin Group Theatre is staging Samuel D. Hunter’s Grangeville, a phone-and-video-driven story of estranged half-brothers reconnecting. Sports as culture: Idaho Falls hosts the Miss Idaho and Miss Idaho Teen 2026 competition June 10–13, with public events at the library and a talent showcase. Sports betting tie-in: Kalshi is promoting Stanley Cup Final trades with a $10 bonus code available in Idaho.

Budget Battle Over Safety Probe: Congress is set to debate cutting the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s budget by more than 40% as investigators dig into the Longview, Washington pulp-and-paper mill implosion that killed 11 and tainted the Columbia River. Local Arts & Community: Nauvoo’s new Crazy Iguana opens with Tex-Mex, murals, and a family-built vibe, while Plains High School student Kiara Brown won a VFW patriotic art honor for “Not Forgotten.” Idaho Sports & Events: Boise State’s path in a revamped Pac-12 is getting attention as the conference reboots, and Nampa’s Snake River Stampede announces key 2026 changes ahead of June 16–20. Treasure Valley Watch: Idahoans are weighing reactions to a new Caldwell LDS temple, with traffic and growth concerns topping the conversation. Tech From Idaho: A new report spotlights Idaho-based Micron’s AI surge toward a $1T valuation, tied to a late push from Nvidia.

Tech & Idaho Economy: Reuters reports Micron’s leap toward a $1T valuation was fueled by Nvidia’s push into AI memory—turning Idaho-made chips from a commodity into specialized, co-designed high-bandwidth memory for data centers. Local Business Tools: Treasure Valley Web Guide launched a Boise-focused platform to help companies compare local web design agencies and understand pricing before they hire. Arts & Community Learning: In Rigby, students and community members gathered (with Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl joining by video) for “Salvaged Pages,” using survivor testimony and diaries to teach about the Holocaust. Music: Mastodon announced its 2026 North American “Poisonous Weapons” tour, with Deafheaven and Alcest on support dates, plus a new single, “Your Ghost Again.” Sports & Idaho Pride: Century’s Tiden Lynn won state tennis singles after a match-point comeback moment, while local conference awards rolled in across the Magic Valley. Outdoors: Idaho’s Free Fishing Day and stocked-trout guides highlight easy summer starts for families.