Growth in the Treasure Valley isn’t knocking at the door anymore—it’s in the living room. We sit down with Simplot CEO Garrett Lofto to connect two stories that matter here: how a people-first, innovation-driven company feeds the world, and how a business-led coalition can help our region move smarter and faster. From farm roots to the C‑suite, Garrett shares the leadership principles that powered his journey—listening, curiosity, and investing in strong foundations—and applies them to a challenge affecting every family and employer in the valley: congestion that steals time.

We lay out the stakes plainly. I‑84 has finite capacity left, and each incident ripples through commerce and daily life. If we keep doing more of the same, gridlock spreads and talent looks elsewhere. So we map out options instead of silver bullets: a southern alternative route to pull freight and through-traffic around the core, Highway 16 as a stronger north–south connector, and a serious look at rail along existing corridors from the Boise Depot through Meridian to Nampa and Caldwell. Rail is a long game, but flat terrain and preserved right-of-way make phased planning plausible—especially if we learn from places like Salt Lake City, where sustained business advocacy and smart funding built durable ridership.

Keep Idaho Moving, now housed at the Boise Metro Chamber under CEO Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, gives this effort a home and momentum. Our goal isn’t to dictate projects; it’s to collect data, align stakeholders, help agencies win studies and funding, and keep the public focused on outcomes that matter: safety, reliability, and time with family. We also preview conversations with ITD District 3, ACHD, and COMPASS to dig into constraints, forecasts, and what near-term wins look like. The message throughout is practical and urgent—right-of-way only gets more expensive, and every month we wait narrows future choices. If we act early and together, we can protect what we love about this place while making room for who’s coming next.

If this resonates, follow the series, share it with a neighbor, and leave a review so more locals can join the conversation. Your insight can shape the routes we take—literally.

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Why does this week matter in Idaho politics? Because the decisions being made right now will shape the future of our state—often without most people ever hearing about them.

On this episode of Ever Onward, Matt Todd and Tommy Ahlquist sit down with Idaho Senate President Pro Tem Kelly Anthon to break down what’s really happening inside the Capitol during one of the busiest stretches of the legislative session.

From the reality of reviewing 1,000+ drafted bills to the challenges of balancing rural and urban priorities, Kelly shares a candid look at leadership, the legislative process, and what it actually takes to move policy forward in Idaho.

The conversation also dives into education, online learning, banking and ESG concerns, and why staying engaged as a citizen matters more than ever.

If you want a clear, grounded perspective on Idaho politics—this is a conversation worth listening to.

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What’s actually happening inside the Idaho Capitol this session? In this episode of Ever Onward, Tommy Ahlquist and guest co-host Matt Todd sit down with Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle for a candid, in-the-moment conversation recorded during one of the most intense stretches of the legislative calendar.

They break down the real priorities driving this year’s session — budget pressure, tax cuts, spending constraints, Medicaid cost growth, and the ongoing property tax debate — along with how rapid turnover among legislators is reshaping committee leadership and decision-making. Speaker Moyle shares how experience, institutional knowledge, and negotiation shape outcomes behind the scenes, and why the learning curve for new lawmakers matters more than most voters realize.

The conversation also tackles the modern political environment: social media misinformation, AI-driven narratives, out-of-state money in Idaho races, and why long-form discussion may be the only way to restore context and trust. They also dig into state vs. local control tensions, revenue sharing, and the continued controversy around property tax structure and HB 389.

Direct, unfiltered, and wide-ranging — this episode offers a ground-level view of Idaho governance, leadership under pressure, and what it takes to keep the state moving forward.

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