Wednesday 032223

Idaho’s Joint Finance And Appropriations committee has advanced Governor Brad Little’s recommendation to bolster the rainy day funds and pre pay the fire suppression fund.  $61.7 million will go the rainy day funds 68.7 million will go to the wildfire fund.

The Idaho House of Representatives narrowly killed a bill Tuesday that would have eliminated registered voters’ ability to sign sworn affidavit to verify their identity and vote in elections. It would have repealed a section of Idaho law that allows registered voters to provide their name and address and complete a signed, sworn affidavit attesting to their identity instead of presenting photo identification.

In a 32 to three vote, the Senate cleared the way for a tax relief bill sending it on the governor’s desk.  It would provide up to 355 million in property tax relief.

The judge in the Lori Vallow Daybell murder case has dropped the death penalty option.  The defense filed a motion said there was late discovery given past the deadline.  Mental status and media saturation was also part of the request. 

The city of Twin Falls agreed to renew its minimum revenue guarantee with SkyWest for the second quarter of 2023.  Under the agreement, SkyWest must earn $188,775 from operating its daily service from the Magic Valley Airport to Salt Lake City. Any amount that revenues fall short, the city and the county will split evenly.  Airport Director Bill Carberry said he anticipates writing a check for almost the full $200,000.

A federal judge paused the Biden administration’s waterway protections in Texas and Idaho as Republicans across the country challenge the environmental regulations as vague and argue the rules would create economic burdens.   Roughly half of all U.S. states are taking part in lawsuits challenging the rule.

The possibility of a third crossing for the Snake River Canyon is being discussed by Twin Falls, Jerome and the Filer highway district.  The cost of a third crossing is expected to reach in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

SPORTS

The college of Southern Idaho Golden Eagle mens basketball season is over.  The Number 1 Ranked Team lost to the Number 2 ranked Vincennes university of Indiana in the second round of the NJCAA championships 75 to 70 in Hutchinson Kansas last night.  The Golden Eagles, playing for the first time in 19 days since loosing to Snow College in the Region 18 Tournament in Twin Falls ended the season with  29 wins and 2 losses. 

In local high school baseball games from yesterday, Wendell took the win in the first game of a double header over Firth 15 to 5.  In the second game, Firth took the win 14 to 8.  Columbia overpowered Mountain Home 13 to 3.  The only local softball game was cancelled with Mountain Home and Columbia. 

There are no local high school baseball or softball games on today’s schedule.

WEATHER

Wednesday:  Snow showers likely before noon, then scattered rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 44. East wind 9 to 16 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 30. South southwest wind around 8 mph.

 

Thursday:  Rain and snow showers likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Light and variable wind becoming west 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night:  Rain and snow showers likely before midnight, then a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south southwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

 

Friday:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

 

Saturday:  A slight chance of snow showers before noon, then a chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

 

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

 

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

 

Tuesday:  A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.