9 shifts in Idaho’s business and legal landscape this year

Idaho's business and legal environment is undergoing significant transformation driven by contentious legal battles, regulatory shifts, and large-scale investments. Legal disputes around emergency abortion access reflect a broader clash between federal mandates and state legislation, with rulings now narrowly applying only to certain hospital systems, amid fears of future rollbacks. Major corporations, including those in grocery retail and technology, are reshaping economic dynamics, as seen in the failed Kroger-Albertsons merger and energy consumption debates surrounding Meta and Micron's projects.

More than 8,000 Idaho Power customers had their power shut off July 24, 2024. Idaho Power said that was done to prevent wildfires. By Chadd Cripe

NO. 1: YOUR IDAHO POWER BILL WILL GO UP, STARTING NOW. WHAT JUST HAPPENED

Idaho Power raised its electricity rates. Here’s how much more you’ll pay. | Published January 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Palermo

St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center in 2017. The hospital is the flagship of Boise’s St. Luke’s Health System, the largest employer in Idaho. By Erin Cave

NO. 2: FEARING TRUMP WILL DROP IDAHO EMERGENCY ABORTION LAWSUIT, ST. LUKE’S SUES AG LABRADOR

The hospital system said there could be “severe public health consequences” if the Department of Justice lawsuit is scuttled and an associated injunction goes away with it. | Published January 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Blanchard

Farm land north of Lake Lowell in Canyon County, April, 24, 2024, with the reservoir and its lower dam at top. By Sarah A. Miller

NO. 3: BACK TO OUR ROOTS: AS BOISE PREPS FOR TECH INVESTMENT, OTHERS AIM FOR FRESHER BUSINESSES

Some cities in the Treasure Valley are seeing growth in tech-related industries as Micron, Facebook expand. Others are looking to boost agriculture investments. | Published February 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger

Several vacant lots remain undeveloped between W. Fairview Avenue and W. Main Street in Boise. Plans to build housing units and other mixed use properties have stalled or been cancelled. By Darin Oswald

NO. 4: BOISEANS HAVE LONG AWAITED CHANGES FOR THIS UNDERDEVELOPED PART OF TOWN. WHAT HAPPENED?

Developers, investors and city leaders have proposed sweeping changes to Boise’s West End for years, but the area is still full of dirt lots. Are those plans still alive? | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nick Rosenberger

Shoppers exit the WinCo Foods on Fairview Avenue in Boise on July 1, 2013.

NO. 5: WHAT’S THE BEST PLACE TO WORK IN IDAHO? FORBES RANKS THE STATE’S TOP SEVEN EMPLOYERS

One of Idaho’s “best employers” was also ranked among the top 100 among large employers in America. | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ashley Fredde

Idaho argued at the U.S. Supreme Court on April 24, 2024, in defense of its abortion law. The justices heard arguments as to whether federal emergency medical mandates conflict with the state’s narrow abortion exceptions. By Nicole Blanchard

NO. 6: IDAHO AG CELEBRATES END OF ‘MEDDLESOME’ EMERGENCY ABORTION LAWSUIT AS CASE IS DROPPED

“It has been our position from the beginning that there is no conflict between EMTALA and Idaho’s Defense of Life Act,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador in a news release. | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Blanchard

NO. 7: META, MICRON PROJECTS WILL GUZZLE IDAHO ELECTRICITY, LAWMAKERS SAY. WHO’S GOING TO PAY?

Idaho’s low electricity rates have drawn major investments from out-of-state companies, lawmakers say. They fear Idahoans are subsidizing those projects. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sarah Cutler

The main entrance to the emergency room at St. Luke’s Boise Medical Center on Aug. 17, 2023. By David Staats

NO. 8: EMERGENCY ABORTIONS ARE NOW ALLOWED — AT ONLY SOME IDAHO HOSPITALS, JUDGE RULES

The procedure was protected during medical emergencies at all Idaho hospitals under a previous court order. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Nicole Blanchard

Idaho-based grocery store Albertsons has many Boise locations including this one at 1219 S Broadway Ave. pictured on Oct. 14, 2022. Kroger says it plans to buy Boise’s Albertsons chain. Kroger announced that it will merge with Albertsons. By Sarah A. Miller

NO. 9: KROGER COUNTERSUES ALBERTSONS, SAYS INCOMING CEO ‘SECRETLY COMMUNICATED’ WITH DIVESTITURE BUYER

The planned merger between the two supermarket giants was called off in December. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Palermo

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.