Nursing homes in Idaho are working hard to protect their residents and staff from COVID-19, even as it spreads widely in many Idaho communities. Regulatory inspections are one way to know whether they are meeting their goal to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their facilities. Surveyors fro…

(Aug. 21, 12:30 p.m.) BOISE -- Governor Brad Little held a press conference at The Idaho Foodbank in Boise today to highlight the importance of supporting food banks and food assistance programs during the pandemic, and to provide Idahoans an update on statewide COVID-19 metrics.

(10 a.m. Aug. 19) Governor Brad Little issued a proclamation today outlining the issues to be considered by the Idaho Legislature during a special legislative session convening on Aug. 24.

(Aug. 14) Governor Brad Little’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) approved additional funds today to support community food banks and residents of long-term care facilities.

(Aug. 17) Governor Brad Little announced today the State of Idaho will participate in the Trump Administration’s new conservative plan to offer extended unemployment benefits in order to continue our economic rebound.

Moscow High School had been scheduled to host the Grangeville football boys for the fall sports season opener on the night of Aug. 28, but last night, Moscow announced that game -- and all the Bears' interscholastic fall sports -- will be cancelled due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. "Starting …

(10:30 a.m.. Aug. 14) Nimiipuu Health is continuing to see a spike in positive COVID-19 cases, NMPH said in a press release earlier this morning. Since Aug. 12, an additional nine tests returned positive. Two of those tests were from Kamiah residents. To date, a total of 838 COVID-19 tests h…

Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in Lewis County. There are now more than 300 cases of COVID-19 in North Central Idaho.

(2:30 p.m. Aug. 10) As Idahoans identify the many impacts of COVID-19, the need increases for behavioral health support, food security, housing, and other services. The Division of Behavioral Health in the Department of Health and Welfare and in conjunction with the Idaho Office of Emergency…

(Aug. 7, 4:15 p.m.) LAPWAI -- Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) has seen a surge in positive COVID-19 cases today, Aug. 7. As of 3:00 p.m., 13 COVID-19 tests were positive, with additional tests pending. All positive tests were travel related.

(11:30 a.m. Aug. 6) Governor Brad Little emphasized once again today the importance of getting Idaho students back into schools for in-person instruction while highlighting the millions of dollars the state has directed to schools for safe reopening.

Gov. Brad Little will host a press conference regarding Stage 4 of Idaho Rebounds and the safe reopening of Idaho schools at noon MT Thursday, Aug. 6, in the East Conference Room of the JRW Building, located at 700 W. State Street in Boise. The conference will be streamed to the public online.

(1:30 p.m. July 31) BOISE – Governor Brad Little reported today on the success of several programs that have supported Idaho businesses and citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this week’s article I considered several topics which are all pretty important -- masks, hand hygiene, social distancing, how to stay connected with family, how to continue with some normalcy while reducing our risk of getting sick, how to manage chronic medical conditions at home, how t…

Idaho just ended its fiscal year with a surplus nearly three times what was expected before COVID-19.

(9:30 a.m. July 24) Governor Brad Little's Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee approved an additional $40 million today to increase and improve COVID-19 testing in Idaho and an additional $10 million to equip schools with supplies needed to open safely.

(July 23, 11 a.m.) BOISE – Governor Brad Little joined public health district directors today during statewide media events to highlight the strong state-local collaboration taking place in Idaho’s response to COVID-19.

(July 20, 11:35 a.m.) RIGGINS – The City of Riggins announced earlier today that city hall and the library are now closed to the public following recent developments regarding COVID-19.

(July 20, 10:30 a.m.) As COVID-19 cases rise in the community Dr. Matthew Told, Chief Medical Officer for Syringa Hospital & Clinics, shines a light on the decision making process providers are using when testing patients. The following process is in line with CDC guidelines and focuses …

Governor Brad Little spent today at the White House meeting with President Donald Trump and Trump administration officials on topics that included cutting government red tape to support America’s economic rebound, the availability of COVID-19 testing supplies for Idaho, Mountain Home Air For…

LAPWAI - Over the last several weeks, Nimiipuu Health has hosted two COVID-19 mass testing events. The first in Lapwai on June 29 and the second in Kamiah on July 4. Between these two events, close to 400 tests were conducted. The test samples, nasopharyngeal swabs, were sent to an external …

There is a lot of COVID-19 information available through social media and other communications channels. Some of it is helpful and factual, and some of it is opinion or speculation. And some is just plain false. Idaho Department of Health & Welfare wants to help you separate the COVID-19…

(July 13, 4 p.m.) BOISE - Governor Brad Little announced that more than 10,000 Idaho Return to Work bonuses were sought for employees by nearly 2,000 Idaho businesses today – the first day of the application window opening.

GRANGEVILLE -- “We will be back next year, better than ever!” said Rachel Young of Grangeville Arts (GA).

In a Thursday morning Facebook post, Syringa Hospital announced that they need cloth masks and "would greatly appreciate anyone who is able and willing to make and donate masks."

Due to COVID-19 concerns, both Elk City Wagon Road Days in Clearwater and Kamiah Free Barbecue Days in Kamiah have been canceled.

(July 9, 11:30 a.m.) BOISE – Governor Brad Little and education leaders rolled out the new Idaho Back to School Framework today, providing guidance to local officials in their decisions about the safe reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

(July 7, 4:55 p.m.) KAMIAH -- COVID-19 testing was conducted at Kamiah Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) on Saturday, July 4. One hundred and one tests were conducted. At this time one test returned positive and 86 are still pending. The remaining test results are expected in approximately 8-10 days.

KAMIAH - The Nimiipuu Health (NMPH) Kamiah Clinic (313 3rd St.) will be conducting tests for COVID-19 on Saturday, July 4, beginning at 8:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. subject to change based on the availability of testing kits. Testing will be available for any enrolled NMPH patients or any employ…

KOOSKIA -- “We regret to inform of the cancellation of Kooskia Days 2020. With a heavy heart and much discussion, it has been decided that due to the rise in COVID-19 cases and the desire to maintain low numbers in Idaho County,” said one of the community volunteer organizers, Lara Smith. “W…

LEWISTON – Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) is reporting widespread community transmission throughout the District. Widespread community transmission means at least one person has been infected with the virus and through contact tracing we are unable to determine how or…

(June 30, 2:40 p.m.) MOSCOW  –Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) would like to acknowledge Tapped –  Taphouse & Kitchen for acting responsibly to protect the public’s health.

BOISE — June 29, 2020— The Idaho Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Idaho Broadband Grant program. Applications must be submitted via the Department’s online portal.

(June 29, 11:20 a.m.)The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare wants to make sure Idahoans have the most current information about cases of COVID-19 in their communities in light of the recent significant increases in case numbers throughout the state. Starting this week, the department wil…

LEWISTON – Public Health – Idaho North Central District (PH-INCD) has confirmed the first positive case of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) in an adult in their 20s in Clearwater County.

(June 25, 12:35 p.m.) BOISE – Governor Brad Little announced today Idaho will transition to a regional response to COVID-19, and the state did not meet metrics to move out of the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Idaho’s healthcare workers have stood ready to serve the needs of all Idahoans.

Additional program details were made available today on the Idaho Return to Work bonuses, Idaho’s approach to counteracting enhanced federal benefits that disincentivize workers returning to jobs.

An executive order signed by Gov. Brad Little, temporarily easing some unemployment insurance eligibility requirements, has allowed the Idaho Department of Labor to increase the number of unemployment insurance claims being paid.

(June 17) BOISE – Governor Brad Little announced today the formation of two new committees to create a plan for reopening public schools this fall and a plan to address the “digital divide,” a term that describes the inequity between students’ access to remote learning across Idaho.

(June 15, 11:50 a.m.) — Beginning today and for a limited time, the American Red Cross is testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies, providing donors insight into whether they have been exposed to this coronavirus. At the same time, there continues to be an urgent need for blood do…

(June 12, 3:15 p.m.) LAPWAI — The Nez Perce Tribe (Tribe) 2020 Spring General Council (GC) is scheduled to take place on June 18, 19, and 20 at the Pi-Nee-Waus Community Center in Lapwai. The event was originally scheduled to occur the first full weekend of May, but was rescheduled because o…

(June 12, 11:15 a.m.) The Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests is announcing that, effective immediately, more campgrounds are open for public use following previous closures due to COVID-19.

The Governor’s Coronavirus Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) approved today the allocation of up to $200 million for a new program that leverages federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries and gives cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the sa…

BOISE – Governor Brad Little announced today the state narrowly met criteria to enter the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan to safely and responsibly open the economy in stages, highlighting the importance of individuals strengthening their personal actions to slow the spread of COVID-1…

Idaho was given the chance to once again demonstrate our fiscally conservative values when President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress directed $1.25 billion to all the smaller states including Idaho in federal coronavirus relief dollars.

(June 8, 2020) KAMIAH – Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests officials will not be hosting any events this year for Idaho's Free Fishing Day in compliance with the State of Idaho Stay Healthy Order and U.S. Department of Agriculture policies.

(June 8, 10:25 a.m.) The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is announcing that information regarding long-term care facilities with COVID-19 cases and deaths will now be published weekly at https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ltc/.

(June 8, 10:15 a.m.) BOISE – Governor Brad Little and legislators announced today the state is leveraging federal coronavirus relief funds to cover local public safety personnel salaries, and giving cities and counties the opportunity to pass on the savings to property taxpayers.