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Christina Lords

@christinalords.bsky.social
1.8K followers 389 following 283 posts

Lover of cheeseburgers, Diet Coke and all cuddly/fuzzy/go woof things. Editor-in-chief of IdahoCapitalSun.com. UI alumna. Excel advocate.

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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 3h
Came home to find Neko settling in with his reading materials for the eve. You, too, can find everything you need to cast your ballot for the Nov. 3 general election at VoteIdaho.gov (and our @IdahoCapitalSun voter guide, of course!).🤣🤓😻 #blackpanther #voteidahodotgov #midtermseason #wakandaforever
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Reposted by Christina Lords
Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 21/08/2026
The transfer is expected to close in early 2027.
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho Power to sell its Oregon service territory for $154 million to Eastern Oregon utility • Idaho Capital Sun
After serving Oregon for more than a century, Idaho Power will transfer its service territory to the Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
“By banning health-preserving abortion, Idaho attempts to deny this fundamental right on the basis that the threat of harm comes from a fetus, which depends on the woman for survival,” the judge wrote. “But a pregnant woman’s health is not a state resource to be allocated at the legislature’s whim."
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Frankly, I don't like the person I become when I can't get the NYT Connections in the morning.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
After we reported on a legal claim filed by a D.C. woman who says Idaho National Guard members injured her while detaining her, we heard from some of you asking about how long and how many Idahoans had been deployed there. Here's our follow up:
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho National Guard members have been deployed in D.C. since February • Idaho Capital Sun
Idaho National Guard members have been deployed in Washington D.C. since February. Idaho officials didn't publicly announce the action.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
This may have been the last opportunity for Idaho voters to legalize cannabis. A separate ballot issue approved by the #idleg, called House Joint Resolution 4, would amend the Idaho Constitution to allow only the Legislature – and not voters – to have the authority to legalize any drug. #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Medical cannabis initiative fails to qualify for Idaho’s general election ballot • Idaho Capital Sun
Idaho Secretary of State’s Office said medical marijuana ballot initiative failed to meet the total signatures and legislative districts.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
The initiative would legalize abortion until fetal viability or in cases of emergency — essentially re-establishing the abortion rights Idahoans had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. The initiative also protects access to contraception and IVF. #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Initiative to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban qualifies for November’s general election ballot • Idaho Capital Sun
The voter initiative seeking to end Idaho’s strict abortion ban has officially qualified to appear on ballots in the November general election.
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Reposted by Christina Lords
Murphy Woodhouse @murphywoodhouse.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Photos from Boise’s Claremont Fire
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
“Due to the presence of unexploded military ordnance remaining from the area’s historic use as a military training site, there are sections of the reserve that Boise Fire personnel cannot safely access,” the Boise Fire Department said, noting that the fire is in the area of the Military Reserve.
idahocapitalsun.com
Boise Foothills wildfire grows to 2,000 acres, public asked to leave Ridge to Rivers Trail System • Idaho Capital Sun
The U.S Wildland Fire Service – Great Basin is referring to the wildfire in the Boise Foothills as the Claremont Fire.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
🎶"I hear her howlin' down below...Idaho, oh, Idaho..."🎶
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
🚨Reminder that all Idaho polls are open until 8 p.m. local time tonight! Voting absentee? Make sure it's in the hands of your election clerk TODAY. Our voter guide has info on how to find your polling place and how to find your sample ballot so you can feel prepared before you head into the booth! 🚨
idahocapitalsun.com
Voter Guide: 2026 primary election • Idaho
From Idaho Capital Sun | Accountability reporting for the 208’s political landscape
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
I got to go behind the scenes in Boise State's special collections and archive to see the boxes and boxes and boxes that make the Andrus papers for this story, and my cold, dead nerd girl heart grew three sizes that day. 🤓 #idpol #idleg
idahocapitalsun.com
Share your ‘Cece story’: Boise State’s Andrus Center will host ‘History Harvest’ for book project • Idaho Capital Sun
Idahoans are encouraged to bring items and memories associated with former Gov. Cecil Andrus to a Boise State University event in November.
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Reposted by Christina Lords
Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 14/05/2026
If you want to vote without showing up to the polls on Election Day on Tuesday or via an absentee ballot, this week is your final chance. idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/friday-i…
idahocapitalsun.com
Friday is the deadline to early vote in Idaho ahead of 2026 primary election • Idaho Capital Sun
If you want to vote without showing up to the polls on Election Day on Tuesday or via an absentee ballot, this week is your final chance.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
WEEEOOOHWWWEEEOOOOH! ALERT! ALERT!
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
As you consider your support during this year's @idahogives.bsky.social campaign, might I suggest a donation for our small but mighty Idaho Capital Sun? This is our first year participating in this wonderful event that boosts nonprofits around our state! We're hoping to reach new readers. 💞 🌟⛰️
idahogives.org
Support Idaho Capital Sun | Idaho Gives 2026
I’m ready to support Idaho Capital Sun on May 4, 2026 during Idaho Gives 2026. Learn more about Idaho Capital Sun and all the other organizations participating in Idaho Gives 2026.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
I'm very proud of the accomplishments of the @idahocapitalsun.com in 2025, including the launch of our most ambitious writing and audio project yet: Howl, a deep dive into the reintroduction of wolves back into Idaho and the West. I work with the best of the best; I don't take that for granted.
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho Capital Sun wins 13 Idaho Press Club awards at annual banquet • Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho Capital Sun took home 13 awards — including seven first-place finishes — in the Idaho Press Club’s Best of 2025 Awards contest.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
New from @pfannyyy.bsky.social this morning:
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Please take a look and share w/ your peeps! We answer all kinds of voting-related questions, including how to request an absentee ballot, how to find campaign finance information, how to find your voter registration status, how to find where to vote, how to look at your sample ballot, and more!!
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
If you're interested in state politics and policy coverage in Idaho, do I have a deal for you! 😇💞
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Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 01/04/2026
The U.S. Justice Department sued Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane on Wednesday, and asked a federal judge to force him to turn over the full voter data, which includes partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers. #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Trump administration sues Idaho election official to force him to turn over sensitive voter data • Idaho Capital Sun
The U.S. Justice Department sued Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, seeking to force him to turn over sensitive voter registration data.
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Reposted by Christina Lords
andreashaw07.bsky.social @andreashaw07.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
@christinalords.bsky.social of @idahocapitalsun.com shares this photo from Boise. @statesnewsroom.com #nokings
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
This year, state lawmakers are pushing for deeper, across-the-board state government spending cuts — including to Medicaid disability services — after approving years of tax cuts that have reduced the state’s revenue by more than $4 billion. From @pfannyyy.bsky.social :
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
McGrane wrote the DOJ revealed in a separate federal lawsuit filing that sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, were shared from federal systems “to unauthorized persons.” “That development reinforces the importance of careful stewardship of sensitive voter information."
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Zuiderveld voted against the funding after criticizing the Idaho Military Division for not finding somewhere else to cut. “Where could they have cut besides that?” Zuiderveld asked. “...To me it feels kinda like we are being gaslit because they are angry they have to cut on a lot of these things.”
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Soon after the cuts were announced, providers and the Idaho Sheriffs’ Association warned the cuts would risk public safety, and providers said the cuts would drive up other costs even more. And. Eastern Idaho crisis centers are seeing demand spike after the cuts. From @pfannyyy.bsky.social:
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
“A youth bill of rights is extremely concerning to me,” Rep. Burgoyne said. “Currently, children don’t have rights, because all their rights are vested with the parent, and I think it’s extremely important that we keep those rights with the parent.”
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Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 18/02/2026
As a minor under 18 who didn’t have parental consent to get treatment, the hotline operator told him they had to end the call due to an Idaho law passed in 2024. #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
988 ended his call. Now an Idaho teen is pushing for a fix to state’s parental consent law. • Idaho Capital Sun
An Idaho teen had his call to the 988 hotline end because of Idaho's parental consent law. He's now urging lawmakers to change the law.
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Reposted by Christina Lords
Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 14/02/2026
Here's a crash course on what the 5% state budget holdbacks advancing in the #idleg will mean for you and your families based on the dogged reporting our @idahocapitalsun.com staff busted out this week. What we found is that these cuts could affect nearly every Idahoan in some way. #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Legislative notebook: Budget committee sends funding cuts to full Idaho House, Senate floors • Idaho Capital Sun
This week, we did something a little differently than we ever have before at the Idaho Capital Sun. After spending the last five years, day in and day out, covering as many Idaho legislative committee...
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Meanwhile, the fire suppression fund IDL relies on to fight fires is nearly empty. The IDL director said there's about $1.2 million in the wildfire suppression fund. That isn't enough to even pay for the state’s up-front contracted aircraft costs, let alone pay the bills for an entire fire season.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
New 1% and 2% budget cuts that the Idaho Legislature’s budget committee approved for most state agencies on Feb. 6 could force the Idaho Department of Water Resources to cut funding for 15 of the 93 stream gages funded through the department’s trustee and benefits program.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
The Idaho DEQ still has not recovered from budget cuts implemented in response to the Great Recession of 2008, Director Jess Byrne told us. “For perspective, funding for statewide water monitoring today is less than 50% of what we spent on the same activities 20 years ago,” Byrne said.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
We're continuing our #idleg state budget cuts coverage all week, and I wanted to draw your attention to this one. Pardons and Parole Executive Director Christine Starr told the Sun the estimate of $620,000 in more prison costs as a result of parole and pardon cuts is conservative.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
“Considering...budgetary constraints and the Tax Commission’s ongoing efforts to support the Legislature and Governor, we recommend full transparency by including these estimated administrative costs in the fiscal note for this year’s conformity language. Your consideration is greatly appreciated.”
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
New info that our Laura Guido tracked down today: The tax commission previously estimated it would cost the agency an additional $555,000 this fiscal year to conform to the changes for the current tax year. That cost wasn't included as part of the bill, and may require a supplemental budget request.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
We're continuing our state budget cuts coverage this morning. "Idahoans could wait months for their refunds, while the state would be on the hook for millions in interest payments due to the delays, according to a memo to lawmakers from the Idaho State Tax Commission." #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho Tax Commission anticipates long delays in issuing tax refunds if budget cuts go into effect • Idaho Capital Sun
Amid proposed budget cuts, Idahoans could wait months for tax refunds, while the state might incur large interest payments due to the delays.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
One more budget post out of me today and I'll quit my yappin' (at least until tomorrow): Wolff told legislators if they implemented Little’s plan and restored funding for $13 million worth of cuts made last week that Idaho would still end fiscal year 2027 with an estimated surplus of $184 million.
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho Gov. Little’s budget director asks JFAC to restore funding for some services that were cut • Idaho Capital Sun
Gov. Brad Little's budget chief warns new cuts will delay tax returns, keep children in foster care longer and lead to fewer firefighters.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
The lawsuit claims officers sorted people into groups, partly on assumptions of their immigration status based on their skin tones. “Law enforcement used racial epithets for Latinos and, in denying some Latino detainees water, they said ‘that’s what you get for being here,’” the lawsuit alleges.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
This week, we're thinking about coverage a little differently at the @idahocapitalsun.com. We're diving deep into the state budget and how cuts, some that are already in place, and additional cuts now being considered by the Legislature, will affect state agencies and the Idahoans who rely on them.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
“I was in there begging for help. I really want to change my life; I really wanted to quit drinking,” Twin Falls resident Eric Taylor, a graduate of the program, said. “I was offered mental health court and I accepted, and I put my all into the program and it really changed my life.”
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
JFAC’s co-chairs, Sen. Scott Grow and Rep. Josh Tanner, both Republicans from Eagle, said the new cuts are necessary to make room to comply with the tax cuts President Donald Trump championed in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
I know it's late on a Friday night, but there's some important info in this story to check out before you go into full weekend mode.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
We've got the latest on the state budget situation here: The Idaho Legislature’s new memo indicates a 2% budget cut would represent a $55 million funding reduction for the K-12 public school system, while a 2% cut would represent a $19.9 million cut for the Division of Medicaid.
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho public schools, Medicaid program now told to plan for new state budget cuts • Idaho Capital Sun
A 2% budget cut would represent a $55 million cut for Idaho's K-12 public school system, and a $19.9 million cut for Medicaid.
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Reposted by Christina Lords
Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 29/01/2026
Under a new bill introduced Wednesday, the Idaho Legislature would ban local policies in more than a dozen cities that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
New Idaho bill would ban cities from banning LGBTQ+ discrimination • Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho Legislature could ban local policies that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
Budget committee co-chair Grow said Friday’s deadline for agency directors to identify new cuts represents a quick timeline. But Grow said tax conformity has a big impact on the state budget, and he wants to understand the revenue impact before JFAC moves forward.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
This is actually what our founders meant by the ol' "Don't tread on me." business.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
We've updated this story after the Idaho Senate and Idaho House minority leaders released statements regarding our reporting. “This memo doesn’t build trust; it reads like a gag order,” Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow said. #idleg #idpol
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Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 14/01/2026
Facing a tough budget year, the Idaho governor did not recommend providing a pay increase for state employees, who will also see higher health insurance costs. #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
Idaho state employees likely not to see raise amid increasing health care costs • Idaho Capital Sun
Leaders of the Idaho committee that makes state employee pay recommendations said they aren’t sure whether the committee will meet this year.
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Idaho Capital Sun @idahocapitalsun.com · 14/01/2026
As part of the governor’s recommendation for $22 million in extra Medicaid cuts, he says the state could remove dental coverage for adults, and home and community-based services, which are meant to help people with developmental disabilities live outside of institutional settings. #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
To cut Medicaid budget, governor says Idaho could remove disability, dental services • Idaho Capital Sun
To balance the state’s budget, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s plan says the state could cut Medicaid services for dental care and disabilities.
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Christina Lords @christinalords.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Our @idahocapitalsun.com reporter Laura Guido has created the most comprehensive guide I think I've ever seen on to how to follow the Idaho Legislature, and it has tools to help you be more engaged with lawmakers and the legislative process. I hope you'll check it out! #idleg #idpol
idahocapitalsun.com
New to state politics or need a refresher? Here’s our Idaho legislative session 101 guidebook. • Idaho Capital Sun
The workings in the Idaho Capitol may seem confusing or removed from everyday life, but decisions made there have a real impact on Idahoans.
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