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MSPC: Chris Cargill on Ed Tax Credit cap, legislative session">MSPC: Chris Cargill on Ed Tax Credit cap, legislative session

MSPC: Chris Cargill on Ed Tax Credit cap, legislative session">

The Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit has reached its participation cap weeks ahead of the official deadline, with 12,497 students currently enrolled in the program. Chris Cargill, president of the Mountain States Policy Center, shared these figures during an interview on Newstalk 107.9 with hosts Neal Larson and Julie Mason, noting that the enrollment volume effectively represents the fifth-largest school district in the state.

According to Cargill, the program’s application window was reopened in May after initial funds remained available. He attributed this surplus to participating parents requesting only the specific amounts needed for their educational expenses rather than the full $5,000 maximum allowed under the law. This responsible use of funds allowed additional families to access the program before the $50 million state cap was reached.

Cargill addressed common criticisms of the program, specifically regarding its impact on the state budget and its demographic reach. He argued that the tax credit provides a financial benefit to the state treasury, as the $5,000 credit is several thousand dollars less than the $8,000 to $9,000 typically spent per student in the public K-12 system. Furthermore, he challenged the perception that the credit only benefits high-income earners, stating that median household incomes for participants in similar programs elsewhere usually fall between $60,000 and $80,000 annually.

Looking toward the future, Cargill indicated that while the demand for the program is high, legislative expansion may face significant hurdles. He suggested that the 2027 legislature might revisit the program, but predicted the debate would be as contentious as the initial passage of the bill. Beyond tax credits, Cargill noted that upcoming legislative sessions will likely address Idaho’s education funding formula, which has not been updated since the 1990s, as well as ongoing discussions regarding property tax reform.

The Mountain States Policy Center will host a policy luncheon on Thursday, October 8, in Idaho Falls to discuss these topics further. The event is scheduled to feature Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador as a guest speaker. The organization continues to monitor participation data as a benchmark for future policy recommendations.

7.21.2026 – Republican Unity Tests | Abortion Messaging Fight | Media-Driven Leftward Shift">7.21.2026 – Republican Unity Tests | Abortion Messaging Fight | Media-Driven Leftward Shift

7.21.2026 – Republican Unity Tests | Abortion Messaging Fight | Media-Driven Leftward Shift">

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Neal and Julie bounced between politics, public culture, and a surprisingly sticky public-health story, with Neal opening on what he sees as a familiar Democratic Party problem: letting the far-left “drive the bus,” even as Republicans struggle with unity and factional infighting. The conversation widened into how modern media environments can shift people’s values and voting behavior—especially around abortion and LGBTQ issues—along with Neal’s warning that pro-life messaging can’t let “privacy” framing obscure what’s actually at stake. The show wrapped with concern that some local GOP organizations may be slow-footing clear public organizing against Idaho’s abortion-related ballot push, which Neal argued should be an all-hands priority.

Along the way, they detoured into local Idaho Falls traffic developments and a spirited listener back-and-forth about zipper merges and roundabouts, plus a handful of lighter moments (including Neal’s family prank “for rectal use only” stickers and a throwback to the Howard Dean scream). In hour two, they dug into the cyclospora/Taylor Farms/Taco Bell scare and the whiplash of a reported false positive—prompting listeners to call and share how it changed their behavior (and one memorable call describing a brutal two-week illness). The episode also hit national headlines: skepticism about DHS leadership missteps and business-lobby pressures on immigration enforcement, a reality-check on NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric about arresting Benjamin Netanyahu, and renewed attention to far-left influencer Hasan Piker praising Mao—underscoring a recurring theme that extremes often skate by without real accountability.

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## 2. Highlights

– Neal’s blunt take on party unity: unity matters, but not if it means “unifying around mushiness” or abandoning core principles.
– A candid discussion of shifting religious/political identity—why Neal thinks social media’s nonstop messaging is reshaping views on abortion and culture issues.
– A long, surprisingly compelling cyclospora segment: reported false positive fallout, Taco Bell traffic drops, and a listener describing a two-week sickness and 10-pound weight loss.
– Idaho Falls traffic talk goes viral on the text line: zipper merges, roundabouts, and why “beating six cars” rarely saves real time.
– Neal and Julie question whether DHS leadership is ready for prime time, especially under pressure from business groups seeking illegal-labor workarounds.
– A pointed critique of political grandstanding: Mamdani’s “arrest Netanyahu” talk gets dismantled as legally unserious—and symptomatic of authoritarian instincts.

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Construction on mainline U.S. 20 between Rigby and Idaho Falls nears completion">Construction on mainline U.S. 20 between Rigby and Idaho Falls nears completion

Construction on mainline U.S. 20 between Rigby and Idaho Falls nears completion">

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – As you travel on U.S. Highway 20, you may have noticed a smoother ride on sleek new asphalt.

Crews have been working on mainline U.S. Highway 20 since May to resurface the roadway for years to come.

“We’re almost done with the main line from Idaho Falls to Rigby,” said Idaho Transportation Department Engineering Apprentice Payton Hubbard. “Then we’ll do a couple fixes, and then we’re going to start working on the off and on ramps.”

45,000 vehicles travel the highway every day in summer between Idaho Falls and Rigby – making it the busiest stretch in the area.

Construction professionals with HK Contractors, engineers, inspectors and material testers have been working nights only – leaving the lanes open in the day to minimize disruption to the high flow of traffic.

But working at night increases the level of complexity for the project.

“I’d say the biggest difficulty is the traffic that does go through there going at high speeds,” Hubbard said. “Sometimes they don’t follow the traffic control, dropping it down to 60 mph.”

Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman Sky Buffat says crews have “resurfaced 60 lane miles – 15 miles in each direction, twice over, one lane at a time.”

The resurfaced highway is rated to last for 25 years, provided it is chip sealed in two years, followed by additional treatments every seven years, Buffat explained.

The total cost is approximately $15 million.

The project’s next phase involves resurfacing all the exit ramps from Rigby to Idaho Falls, which is expected to continue for the duration of the summer.

One dead after House Fire in Pocatello">One dead after House Fire in Pocatello

One dead after House Fire in Pocatello">

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – One person is dead after a house fire in Pocatello on Tuesday night.

According to the Pocatello Fire Department, crews responded to a structure fire at 1935 S. 5th Avenue shortly after 8 p.m.

Firefighters arrived quickly and were able to contain the fire to a single home. However, an adult was found dead at the scene.

The Pocatello Fire department said additional information will be released after the investigation progresses and the victim’s next of kin have been notified.

The Pocatello Fire Department is also asking the public to avoid the area while investigators continue their work.

Local News 8 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.