AGP Executive Report

Local Sports: Athletic Club Boise dominated possession but couldn’t finish, falling 2-1 to One Knoxville SC after late goals in both halves. Idaho Athletics & Community: USU kicked off its Pac-12 move with a month of events and a $2 million matching campaign for Aggie Nation support. Youth Sports Spotlight: Carey’s McKenzie Hennefer became the first athlete in school history to compete at Nike Outdoor Nationals, running 400 hurdles after qualifying via a 300-hurdle state run. Performing Arts: Wood River Rep opens its season with “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” a ’50s prom musical featuring tight harmonies, quick costume work, and a big choreography push. Independence Day Fun: Sky Elements is mapping drone light shows across the holiday weekend, with many cities pairing aerial displays with fireworks. Travel & Recreation: Boise’s Ridge to Rivers trail system highlights 200+ miles of connected foothills recreation for hikers, bikers, and dog walkers. Big News Beyond Arts: The Supreme Court upheld states’ ability to bar transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s school sports, including Idaho.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment: KALEO announced UK and Europe dates for its “Way Down We Go” tour celebrating the 10th anniversary of A/B, with tickets going on general sale at 10am today; the Icelandic rock band will hit major arenas across Scandinavia, the UK, and beyond. Local Community & Culture: Pocatello’s Neon Fest will relight the historic Chopstick Cafe neon sign, permanently installed downtown as part of the city’s ongoing vintage neon preservation push. North Idaho Fire Safety: Hayden Lake unveiled a new Smokey Bear fire-danger sign at Sportsman Park Road and Hayden Lake Road, tied to the Firewise program that now involves about 350 homes. Sports & Coaching: Boise State hired former BYU associate head coach Will Voigt, while Utah State added Robyn Leighton as an assistant softball coach. Outdoor/Family Fun: Grand Targhee won a Forest Service-approved 694-acre expansion, and TimberJam returns Sept. 12 at Starlight Mountain Theatre.

Community Schools: Emmett’s community school coordinators keep learning going after the bell, but the district is urging residents to push Congress to save a federal full-service community school grant that’s set to end early. Wedding Season Marketing: Bombay Sapphire’s “Step Into The Blue” is turning bridal moments into a cocktail kit and ceremony-to-reception “something blue” campaign. Civic Fun & Local Arts: Haines Art Confluence hosted a free square-dance calling session, while Gem County’s 4th of July celebration at the former Emmett mill promises a county-record fireworks show plus live music. Idaho Talent Spotlight: Madison High student Hunter Ericksen was named Idaho Student Journalist of the Year, earning a national-competition portfolio. Sports & Community Work: Idaho State athletes launched AthleteCrew in Pocatello to match student-athletes with flexible local jobs. Big National Sports Policy: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Idaho’s transgender athletes ban in women’s and girls’ sports, triggering fresh reactions across the sports world. Arts & Entertainment: Prime Video released a new trailer previewing Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2.

Arts & Community Calendar: Boise and North Idaho are gearing up for America’s 250th with local celebrations, including a Kootenai County America250 event Friday and Sandpoint’s Lions Club Fourth of July lineup. Local Arts Spotlight: Pend Oreille Arts Council named painter Connie Scherr its 2026 Artist of the Year, with a free July 3 reception at the POAC Gallery in Sandpoint. Idaho Water & Daily Life: Boise passed an ordinance that can limit water use as drought pressures irrigation and lawns across the state. Sports in Idaho: Boise State’s women’s soccer goalkeeper Sydney Smith is setting records as the Broncos push in the Mountain West Tournament, while Boise State also unveiled a Kellen Moore statue outside Albertsons Stadium. College Sports Shake-Up: The rebuilt Pac-12 officially kicked off, with Boise State among the new full-time members, and the league’s basketball tournaments returning to Las Vegas. Local Governance & Schools: A coalition filed a grievance against Lake Pend Oreille School District over plans to relocate Lake Pend Oreille High School.

Idaho Supreme Court Sports Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court kept in place Idaho and West Virginia bans on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports, a decision Idaho Gov. Brad Little called a “historic moment for common sense,” while activists and LGBTQ groups vowed to keep fighting. Community & Arts Funding: FUNDSY awarded Boise Contemporary Theater $103,500 for its “Setting the Stage” capital campaign, and FUNDSY’s giving now shifts to expanding the Nampa Family Justice Center. Local Events for America 250: Orofino’s Farmers Market is hosting a Patriotic Pie Bakeoff & Celebration July 2, and Riggins is gearing up for Bingo, a July 4 picnic, and Border Days July 2-4. Outdoors & Recreation: AARP announced $160,845 in Community Challenge grants across Idaho, including Orofino for disc golf baskets and trail signage. Boise State in Pac-12: Boise State officially joined the Pac-12, setting up major athletic changes ahead. Idaho Outdoors News: A Meridian angler landed a potential record brown trout on the South Fork Snake River.

Idaho Supreme Court Sports Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Idaho’s ban on transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports, clearing the way for states to enforce similar rules; Idaho Gov. Brad Little celebrated while advocates warned about impacts on trans youth. Local Reactions: Idaho lawmakers and community groups responded across the state as the decision reverberated beyond athletics. Boise State Football & Pac-12: Boise State announced an 11-foot statue for former QB Kellen Moore, and the Broncos head into their Pac-12 era with big revenue goals and conference expectations. Potato Bowl Family Moment: Meridian’s Peg McGee got a surprise visit from her grandson, Vandals tight end Trent Cowan, ahead of the Potato Bowl. Fourth of July Plans: Coeur d’Alene is gearing up for America 250 celebrations with a larger American Heroes Parade and major expected crowds. Idaho Arts & Events: Pocatello’s Neon Fest returns with relighting ceremonies for historic downtown signs, including the Chopstick Café sign. Sports Spotlight: Mountain View freshman Lexy Halladay earned a second Gatorade Idaho Athlete of the Year award.

SCOTUS Girls’ Sports Ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, clearing the way for states to bar transgender girls and women from school female teams; the 6-3 decision also backed West Virginia, and Idaho officials and supporters hailed it as a win for fairness while opponents vowed to keep fighting. Local Arts & Community: BYU-Idaho’s Center Stage is rebranding to BYUI Live!, with the first official event set for Sept. 18 featuring Lauren Daigle. Film & Theater: Frontier Cinema in Emmett marked its 110th year, keeping its small-town, one-screen movie tradition alive. Music on Campus: Idaho State University announced a free Independence Day-week concert on the Quad featuring American Idol alum Paige Anne, plus a movie schedule update at the Bengal Theater. Idaho Outdoors & Safety: A new study links lowering Utah’s legal alcohol limit to fewer driving fatalities, and a separate piece explores whether high-performance tires can improve real-world safety.

Outdoor Economy: Idaho’s recreation and outdoors sector is a jobs engine, supporting nearly 5,000 positions in 2025, with skiing facilities, RV parks/campgrounds, and marinas among the biggest contributors. America250 Events: Gem County and Moscow are gearing up for the 250th with Declaration readings, community band performances, fireworks, and special library screenings tied to the America250 “United We Read” program. Local Arts Hit by Storm: Meridian’s Fine Art Festival was disrupted by a lightning-and-flooding storm that damaged artwork and forced some artists to abandon the show; local businesses are stepping in with help like discounted refurbishing and frames. Community Culture & Play: Boise’s new board game pub, Chits & Chats, is drawing big crowds ahead of its finalized grand opening, while Innovia Foundation grants are pushing pickleball court upgrades in Kellogg. Sports & School Spotlight: Lexy Halladay adds another Gatorade Idaho Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year honor, and Boise State gymnastics is moving into the Mountain West for the inaugural season. Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on transgender teen athletes’ eligibility, with Idaho among the states involved.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Spotlight: BYU-Idaho is rebranding its long-running “Center Stage” series as BYUI Live!, aiming to bring more family-friendly live entertainment to campus. Museum Access: The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho is offering free admission to active-duty U.S. military personnel and families through Sept. 5 as part of the Blue Star Museums program. Local Music & 250th Celebrations: Pocatello’s Independence Day plans are getting bigger for America’s 250th, and the Pocatello Municipal Band concert has been rescheduled to Sunday at Ross Park. Art Feature: Boise artist Kimberly Bennett Porter is spotlighted for “Solitude and Space,” with work tied to Basque cultural heritage and Jaialdi. Sports & Community Pride: Mountain View’s cross country program is “quietly making noise” as it heads to the Nike Northwest Regional, while Idaho Falls angler Dylan Smith reclaimed the state catch-and-release lake trout record at 43.25 inches.

Idaho Arts & Entertainment Picks: Cartoon & live comedy in Boise: New Yorker cartoonist Hilary Campbell brings her graphic memoir “The Joy of Snacking” to Boise with a book signing and a New Yorker Cartoon Workshop. Holiday fun in Boise: Glide on Grove returns as a free, Rockefeller-style synthetic ice rink around the holiday tree at Grove Plaza. Local food culture: Wepa Cafe in Garden City expands from Puerto Rican roots into a broader Latin American menu with new Peruvian, Cuban and Colombian dishes. Campus tech meets daily life: University of Idaho rolls out food delivery robots across Moscow, turning sidewalks into a new kind of student experience. Sports spotlight with Idaho ties: Rathdrum hosts the Iron Wood Classic, featuring top U.S. track-and-field stars Valarie Sion and Jordan Geist. Community events: Boise Bar Walk is back as a charity bar crawl for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Idaho.

Halloween season in Boise: Nasstive Entertainment is bringing back-to-back “Halloweekend” bar crawls, starting with the Boise Zombie Crawl (Oct. 31–Nov. 1) with check-in at Silly Birch and drink-coupon maps for more than 10 participating bars. Local arts in Meridian: A new Meridian City Hall exhibit, “Heaven on Earth,” runs in the Initial Point Gallery through Nov. 3, featuring three local artists across painting, ceramics and fiber art. Music spotlight: Khruangbin’s Outlaw Field show delivered a hypnotic, persona-driven set, while Boise also welcomed Bay Area brothers returning for a one-night Treefort Music Hall stop. Film night in Boise: The Idaho Film Foundation’s “Troll Storm” screening includes a post-show conversation with star Tanya Gersh. Community food win: Shay’s Pie Place in Chubbuck is turning local support into a sweet new business after winning a Pocatello contest with 800+ pie samples. Sports + heart: Boise State will honor volleyball player Kayly Pau’s cancer journey with orange uniforms and a leukemia awareness night as Mountain West play begins.

Local Arts & Culture: The Idaho Botanical Garden broke ground on a 10-acre expansion in southeast Boise, rolling out in three phases with the first expected to finish by summer 2026. Public Art: Boise Airport picked local illustrator Chad Otis to design a vinyl mural for the new consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC), with artwork planned for multiple public-facing spots for 3–5 years. Community Creators: Sawtooth Reindeer in Carey is drawing visitors with an up-close, education-focused reindeer farm run by Eric and Shaylin Heywood. Music & Festivals: Treefort Music Fest keeps building momentum with a second wave of 2025 artists, including neo-soul act Remi Wolf and hometown fave Built to Spill, plus more lineup and ticket details. Outdoor & Recreation: Titan Forged Siegeworks brought medieval siege engines to the Intermountain West, showcasing hand-built trebuchets and other historically inspired machines. Sports & Fun: Hoopfest 2026 is underway, with HUB Northwest chasing an eighth straight title as other top teams push into Sunday semifinals.

Aerial Arts Comeback: Circus Vision Collective is back in Boise at Tumble Time Gymnastics after a sudden shutdown, offering flying trapeze and aerial fitness for kids through adults. Local Art Spotlight: Capitol Contemporary Gallery’s August show “Free Range” pairs oil landscapes by Linda Williams with abstract work by Lin Freeman Long. Mushroom Boom: Boise Mushroom Company is teaching locals how to cook, grow, and use culinary and medicinal mushrooms, from grow bags to tinctures. Community Markets: Melba’s weekly farmers market is growing with kid-led booths and a Bayer Fund donation. Idaho Events Calendar: Hyde Park Street Fair returns Sept. 12–14 at Camel’s Back Park, and the Turkey 5K brings a downtown Boise run-and-festival tradition for Boise Rescue Mission and City Light. Outdoor Thrills: Vertical View in Meridian adds a 50-foot, four-level ropes course with 80+ obstacles and a free fall. Food & Dining: North Italia opens in Meridian at The Village at Meridian with scratch-made pasta and a Boise Art Collective mural. Sports & Fundraising: Boise State athletes are trying to raise $2 million to save disbanded baseball and swimming/diving programs. New Business in Chubbuck: Silver and Sage Studio launches as a photography studio and event venue, while a privately financed pickleball complex aims to anchor a future downtown.

Treefort 13: Boise Weekly’s on-the-scene guide spotlights the festival’s big energy and “must-see” picks, including Filmfort and a Joywave stop at Treefort Music Hall. Boise Concerts & Festivals: Khruangbin lands at Outlaw Field (May 29), while Stanley’s Sawtooth Valley Gathering leans into live music across seven stages despite a snowstorm. Film & Horror: Idaho Film Society ramps up an October horror lineup, plus “Misophonia” premieres Nov. 22 at The Egyptian Theatre. Local Arts Spotlight: Boise artist Mitsuko Lili shares “Kitten in the Garden,” and the Basque Museum’s “Running of the Bars” returns July 12 ahead of Jaialdi. Community & Outdoors: Bogus Basin’s Mountain Coaster keeps summer rolling, Ridge to Rivers opens the downhill-only Sideshow Trail, and Boise Goathead Fest gears up to fight invasive puncture vines. Sports & Family Fun: Treasure Valley Triathlon debuts in Boise, roller derby returns with the Mashed Potato Bash, and the Bailey Glasser Twilight Criterium hits July 9.

Boise State Women’s Basketball: Assistant coach Cody Butler was suspended after a Washington lawsuit alleged sexual abuse and harassment from his earlier coaching years, leaving the Broncos to keep playing while questions swirl around when he’ll return. Mountain West Tournament Run: Boise State kept its momentum, beating Wyoming 79-71 to reach the championship game, one win from another NCAA trip. Idaho Arts & Community: The Idaho Shakespeare Festival opens its 50th season with “Macbeth,” while Boise muralist Andie Kelly is using Meta Quest 3 tech to plan her work. Local Festivals: Emmett’s 91st Cherry Festival is underway with music, contests, vendors and carnival rides. Music & Records: The Record Exchange marks Record Store Day with special releases and community celebration. Sports Stars (High School): Owyhee’s Logan Haustveit and Cole Valley Christian’s Lauren Colson were named Idaho Press Sports Stars Athlete of the Year. Health & Safety: Idaho Whitewater Association donated 15 life jackets to Gem County’s river safety program.

Idaho Arts & Community: Sandpoint rolls out new downtown parking rules and fees starting July 1, with locals able to buy annual permits and visitors paying $4 an hour after the first two free hours—an update that has local business owners worried about foot traffic. Native Arts & Culture: Arlee Celebration Powwow candidate Camille Whitworth-Zahir is campaigning for Jr. Miss Salish, sharing her lifelong Fancy Shawl dancing roots and community involvement. Parks & Public Life: Twin Falls unveiled plans to expand Vista Bonita Park with a dog park, sports fields, and a bigger walking path. Music & Film: Idaho Public TV’s “Idaho in Song, Volume 2” spotlights the state’s history through music, including Native voices and Idaho originals. Sports as Community: The Idaho Foodbank and Athletic Club Boise teamed up for World Cup watch parties that mix soccer fandom with food donations. Local Entertainment Calendar: Bonner County’s June 26 event roundup includes live music stops, rodeo action, and community gatherings. Education & Tech: The University of Idaho announced new AI degree options starting this fall at Moscow and Coeur d’Alene.