The Gem State Brief

Curated by Locus Lectorum

November 27, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

✍️ By Our Members

Idaho Tax Collections Update

"Idaho Tax Collections Update" — What does another tax collections miss mean for Idaho? (GSB Staff)

Salmon hatchery oxygen pump goes belly up

Riggins | November 24 | KTVB

The Rapid River Fish Hatchery operated by Idaho Fish and Game near Riggins suffered an oxygen pump failure resulting in the loss of 1.2M salmon, approximately a third of this location's annual production.

Idaho Falls protesters angered by cuts in federal funding for mental health services

Idaho Falls | November 22 | East Idaho News

Hundreds rallied in Idaho Falls on Saturday in protest of proposed federal cuts to mental health services. A significant number of protesters were mental health peer support specialists whose jobs will be affected by the cuts.

Governor Little says legislature faces difficult budget decisions

State Capitol | November 24 | Idaho Capital Sun

Idaho's state budget is projected to face at least a $60 million shortfall in the current fiscal year, potentially as high as $300 million depending on the impacts of the Federal Big Beautiful Bill. Governor Little cautioned lawmakers that they would likely face difficult funding decisions, especially related to Medicaid funding in the coming years.

This story is the latest in a series, view the full thread here → 🧵


More details emerge about illegal immigrant who fatally struck girl in crosswalk

Boise | November 24 | Daily Fly

ICE has released details on Elvin Elgardo Ramos-Caballero, the man who hit and killed an eight-year-old girl in a crosswalk on November 11th. He was ordered removed from the country in 2016, he subsequently received a driver's license in Oregon, a sanctuary state.

New Plymouth bar total loss after fire

State Capitol | November 20 | KTVB

More than 80 personnel from 15 different fire departments responded to the blaze consuming the Double Diamond Bar in New Plymouth on Monday. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Highway 30 was partly closed through Tuesday as the fire was finally brought under control.

Micron contractor cut from Boise project, hundreds laid off

Micron | November 24 | Boise Dev

Exyte, a major contractor on Micron's Boise expansion, had their contract terminated by Micron in September, prompting Exyte to lay off more than 200 employees involved in the project. It is likely a significant number of the laid off employees will be reabsorbed by other contractors on the project.

Nampa to raise water rates in 2026

Nampa | November 20 | KTVB

Nampa will be raising domestic water rates by approximately 10% in 2026. Council members say that municipal water pipe maintenance has been put off too many times and the maintenance required now requires the higher rates.

Highlights & Insights

"The Mayflower Compact" - Only three paragraphs long, this incorporation of government laid Christian foundations for Plymouth in 1620; Plymouth would celebrate the inaugural Thanksgiving the following year.

🏛️ Apologetics Fact

Recent headlines have reported that NASA has discovered evidence of life on Mars. However, what was discovered is rocks with iron deposits. While these iron deposits could have been made by living creatures in the past, there are a multitude of other processes that can produce iron deposits without requiring life--a fact NASA freely admits. Indeed, a host of natural patterns COULD have been created by life (EG: a sand dune COULD have been created by humans with shovels thousands of years ago instead of the wind), but that doesn't mean life is a good explanation for them. This is a rather standard case of the media grasping for headlines without meaningful understanding of the material.

🗣️ Quote

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shone unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all praise." — William Bradford

🏅 Person: Hugues of Payens (~1070-1136)

A French knight born sometime around 1070, Hugues traveled on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1104 and witnessed the regular attacks and massacres on Christian pilgrims and travelers who ventured outside the safety of the walls of Jerusalem. In 1119 he proposed the foundation of an order of monastic knights to protect pilgrims to King Baldwin II of Jerusalem. Taking vows of poverty and chastity, Hugues, along with 8 other knights were the founding members of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, or as the order later became known, the Templars. As the first Grand Master of the order, Hugues spent the rest of his life in war against the Muslim raiders surrounding Jerusalem or traveling throughout Europe in raising support for Christians living in the Holy Land, finally dying in 1136.

📕 Book: The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels

The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels is an in-depth look at the impact hydrocarbons have had on human civilization and our continued dependence on that energy source if human flourishing is the highest goal. A well-researched book with plenty of clapbacks for those seeking to push back against the green wing of our society.

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.