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The Gem State Brief
Curated by Locus Lectorum
✍️ By Our Members
They Want You Dead
"They Want You Dead" — A video covering the reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death, the extremes of the progressive left, and a call to action for Christians around the world. (Isaac Kronz)
"GSB's Experience at the Charlie Kirk Vigil" — A reel explaining the full context behind the fight that took place at the Charlie Kirk Vigil last Wednesday night. (GSB Staff)
"Charlie Kirk Prayer Service at the Capitol" — Scenes from the second, far more peaceful, Charlie Kirk vigil at the Capitol on Friday. (GSB Staff)
Meridian High teacher fired for posting a video celebrating Charlie Kirk's assassination
Meridian | September 11 | Idaho News 6
Annika Rutz posted a celebratory video which included her saying, "I'm not saying I wish death upon someone, but that's what I'm f— saying for this motherf—, piece of f— s—, I hope he's dead." West Ada School District promptly followed up with a post on social media communicating they have "terminated" Rutz for violating district and school policy.
Medicaid still $60 million over budget after cuts
State Capitol | September 12 | Idaho Capital Sun
Despite cutting provider reimbursement rates by 4% just 3 weeks ago, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare projects it still will need an additional $60 million to pay providers in fiscal year 2026 (which runs through June of 2026). Medicaid administrator Juliet Charron says that increased utilization from the traditional Medicaid population (rather than low income earners) has been the primary driver of the additional costs.
This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵
Lawsuit filed against Idaho School Choice Bill
State Capitol | September 17 | Idaho Ed News
A coalition has filed a lawsuit against HB 93 -- the new state law that creates a tax credit of $5,000 per child for students enrolled in private or home school. The coalition is arguing that the law violates the Idaho Constitution's requirement for the state to maintain a thorough system of free public schools. Upon announcement of the lawsuit, bill sponsors re-affirmed their stance that the law is entirely constitutional.
This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵
Tort claim filed against Boise School District over transgender student in bathrooms
Boise | September 16 | KTVB
A family has filed a tort claim against the Boise School District claiming that it violated a state law by allowing a biologically male student to use the girls' bathroom. Since 2023, Idaho state law has required students to use restrooms based on biological sex. The law is currently the subject of a separate lawsuit, Roe vs. Critchfield, which was filed in 2025. In that lawsuit, the Boise High School Sexuality and Gender Alliance's request for an injunction against the Idaho law was denied.
Man shot on Sand Hollow Road in road rage incident
Sand Hollow | September 15 | Argus Observer
A man was shot and killed on Sand Hollow Road on Monday morning. According to the limited information released, two vehicles came to a stop and the driver of one of the vehicles shot the other driver with a handgun. Sheriff Andy Creech stated the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident. The alleged shooter is in custody and is cooperating with police.
Snake River quagga mussels population down 50%, but more treatments needed
Twin Falls | September 12 | KMTV
The latest testing by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture shows that the population of the highly destructive invasive quagga mussels is down 50% from 2023. The affected length of river has also been halved since last year. However, ISDA's goal is complete eradication, and treatment will begin again this month. The treatment has been controversial due to impact on natural wildlife in the river, though state officials maintain it is necessary to preserve Idaho's irrigation infrastructure.
This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵
Attorney General whistleblower lawsuit dismissed
State Capitol | September 15 | Idaho Capital Sun
A whistleblower lawsuit brought by a fired attorney against Idaho AG Raul Labrador's office has been dismissed by a district judge. The judge stated that "no rational juror could find the Plaintiff had proven any of her claims." The Plaintiff's legal team indicated they would be appealing the decision to the Idaho Supreme Court.
This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵
Bureaucratic 'incentives' fall short
Boise City Council | September 12 | BoiseDev
Boise City Council examines why recent affordability incentives have not resulted in more housing, debates adding more requirements and an alternative menu of options.
Highlights & Insights
📖 Other Recommended Read
"The American Restoration: Fixing Agriculture in America" - A first hand analysis of the various economic and political forces that make most regenerative farming unprofitable and how to fix them.
🏛️ Apologetics FactA clay seal containing the name "Asaiah" was recently unearthed by an archeology team in Jerusalem. The seal was dated to the 6th century BC and aligns with the Biblical references to Josiah's attendant Asaiah (described as "the" king's attendant) in both 2 Kings 22 and 2 Chronicles 34. | 🗣️ Quote"In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousand fold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are thereby ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations." — Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn |
🏅 Person: Francis Marion (1732-1795)Branded the 'Swamp Fox' by Banastre Tarleton, Francis Marion led a group of irregular troops in a succession of daring guerilla style campaigns that frustrated the British and kept them from consolidating their hold on the Carolinas in the latter half of the Revolutionary War. In spite of his inferior numbers, Marion's mastery of sudden movements, knowledge of the local area, and cultivation of local intelligence sources led to victory in numerous conflicts and today form part of the military doctrine for the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment. | 📕 Book: The Caine Mutiny Herman Wouk's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of a minesweeper in the Pacific during WWII draws on his own personal experiences aboard similar vessels during the war. Worthy of its place among the great novels of the Second World War, the Caine Mutiny's greatest strength is in the exceptionally well-developed characters that populate its pages. Whether it is the callow youth faced with a man's responsibility for the first time, or the preening intellectual whose loyalty and courage is constantly challenged in his own mind, every character gives the reader a unique view into the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by a warship's crew at sea. |
Non-AI Generation Disclaimer: All elements of the Gem State Brief (headlines, summaries, highlights, insights, original articles/videos, etc.) are produced exclusively by members of the Locus Lectorum book club (learn about each member here), not AI. This is news by humans for humans.