Thursday 042723
Idaho’s four-year schools will no longer be able to require job applicants to sign written “diversity statements.” After brief discussion, the State Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution banning the statements “as a condition of hiring.” The resolution goes into effect immediately, and covers Boise State University, the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Lewis-Clark State College.
Despite public support and more than 10 years’ worth of efforts to create medical marijuana programs in Idaho through bills before the Idaho Legislature and petitions seeking to qualify ballot initiatives for an election all have failed. Idaho is unique among most of its neighboring states for not having any kind of medical or recreational marijuana program in place. Utah allows medical marijuana and Oregon, Washington, Montana and Nevada offer recreational marijuana. Wyoming joins Idaho in criminalizing marijuana.
To celebrate Arbor Day, the Idaho Forest Products Commission will give away 20,000 Idaho-native tree seedlings tomorrow that were grown at University of Idaho’s Franklin H. Pitkin Forest Nursery. Locally they will be available at Home Depot, the Lincoln County Youth Center, the Idaho lands Field office in Jerome, city of Fairfield Kimberly and Filer.
With the warming temperatures there is a flood watch for much of the upper elevations surrounding southern Idaho. Snow melt will be increased in the next few days forecasters say. There is also a wind advisory from noon till 10 pm tonight for much of the Magic Valley area. Winds could gust upwards to 50 miles per hour.
A Twin Falls man is dead after falling over a fence at Federation Point along the Canyon Rim. Authorities say 38 year old Kenneth Miller died at the scene. Witnesses say he was checking on a crash site before he tripped and fell.
The cities of Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley are asking voters to decide on a local option tax that is allowed for resort and tourist communities. The 1 percent sales tax has been in effect for 10 years. It will be on the May 16th ballot.
SPORTS
From the local high school baseball diamonds yesterday, Twin Falls downed Burley 22 to 1. Kimberly said no to Buhl 8 to 7.
On today’s baseball schedule, Canyon Ridge travels to Jerome, Declo heads to Gooding and Garden Valley goes to Glenns Ferry.
For softball, Minico travels to Burley for a double header. Jerome goes to Canyon Ridge, Filer heads to Kimberly for a double header. Declo is on the bus to Gooding, Wendell takes on Melba and Glenns Ferry goes to Garden Valley.
One golf event. Kimberly will be at the 93 golf Ranch this morning.
There is a Dairymans track invite in Wendell this afternoon. Wendell, Declo, Gooding, Buhl, Kimberly and Filer will be participating.
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Breezy, with a southwest wind 5 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 22 mph becoming north northwest 8 to 13 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. East wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. East northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday 042623
One of the surviving roommates in a stabbing attack that left four University of Idaho students dead is being asked by suspect Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys to testify in his upcoming preliminary hearing a demand she is resisting, according to new court documents. Kohberger’s attorneys are asking Bethany Funke to testify as a witness for Kohberger. She is one of two people who survived the attack at a home.
As the murder trial for Lori Vallow Daybell moves on, yesterday Summer Shiflet testified that she trusted her sister, Lori when she told her she knew where her children were. But when the children’s bodies were found buried and burned in the backyard of her sister’s new husband’s house four months later, Shiflet said she “felt lied to.”
Idaho's snowpack is going to dwindle even more this week. Warmer temperatures are on the way, for some spots near-record highs are expected on Sunday. The cooler temperatures we've been seeing this March and April have really limited the amount of melting so far. That means possible flooding in the near future.
A new transit company is expected to start operation in Twin Falls soon. Following the vote for Twin Falls Downtowner LLC at Monday’s council meeting, it was decided that they will operate a fleet of on demand micro transit services for a 2 year 3 million dollar pilot program funded by the Idaho Transportation Department. Riders would schedule trips using an app.
The family of a pilot Chelsea Brittney Infanger who died when her plane collided with Gem State Processing exhaust stacks as she attempted to land at the Burley Airport in April of last year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. She was delivering UPS packages.
The Idaho Department of Corrections is looking for an inmate who walked away from his worksite in Caldwell at around 11:00 am yesterday. Ryan Michael Schow was in the correctional facility after being convicted of possession of a controlled substance and transferring/receiving stolen vehicles.
SPORTS
In a doubleheader sweep against Treasure Valley Community College of Oregon the College of southern Idaho took the win. CSI plays its final home series of the season this weekend against Utah State University Eastern. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Friday starting at 1 and Saturday at noon.
On the high school baseball diamonds yesterday, Twin Falls took the win over Minico 12 to 4. Kimberly outlasted Gooding 20 to 9. Wood River victors over Jerome 16 to 3 and Buhl for the win over Wendell 16 to 2.
In softball, in a double header, Twin Falls took the win over Minico in both games 17 to 7 and 10 to 6. Jerome outlasted Wood River 10 to 9.
For today, in Baseball, Twin Falls travels to burley and Buhl heads to Kimberly. For Softball, Wendell heads to Declo.
WEATHER
Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Breezy, with a southwest wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 21 to 26 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. Breezy, with a northwest wind 19 to 24 mph becoming east 13 to 18 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. East wind 11 to 18 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 78.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 48.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
Tuesday 042523
Roadwork has started in the area. For the Burley Rupert area ITD is replacing the I-84 interchanges in Burley and Heyburn to better serve traffic and growth in the area. The construction affects the 208 and the 211 exits. The transportation department is also widening I-84 to three lanes from the 168 exit in Jerome to the Twin Falls exit 173. Construction begins this week on a 2 and a half year project.
At yesterday’s Twin Falls city council meeting, the Idaho transportation department laid out the plan they have to this point for a new bridge across the Snake River Canyon. Officials say the study could be presented to the public this summer. It’s projected to cost 400 million dollars.
The latest update in St. Luke's lawsuit against anti-government activist, and former gubernatorial candidate Ammon Bundy includes a deposition and a default ruling in St. Luke's favor, a judge ruled yesterday. The judge's order follows months of absence on Bundy who has not been in attendance for any of the legal proceedings. Bundy announced there is a Bar-B-Que at his house tonight.
Yesterday the Idaho Supreme Court rejected a request by 30 news organizations to lift a gag order in the criminal case of Bryan Kohberger accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death. The justices said the news organizations should have brought their request to the magistrate judge who issued the gag order.
Idaho gas prices got off to a turbulent start last week, jumping six cents in three days before leveling off over the weekend. While AAA predicts that prices will continue going up ahead of Memorial Day, falling crude oil costs could calm things down this week. Today, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.64, which is six cents more than a week ago. The national average currently sits at $3.67.
The City of Hailey recently passed a city ordinance to allow for tiny homes on wheels as a new type of housing unit in the City. The homes up to 400 square feet are required to hook-up to electricity, water and waste water.
SPORTS
From the softball fields yesterday in High School play, Twin Falls took the win over Century 12 to 6 and Wendell outlasted Glenns Ferry 13 to 6.
On today’s baseball schedule, Twin Falls travels to Minico, Kimberly heads to Gooding, Wood River travels to Jerome, Burley to Canyon Ridge, Wendell goes to Buhl, Payette to Mountain Home and Filer travels to Century.
For softball games, Wood River plays Jerome, Kimberly goes to Gooding and there are 3 double headers scheduled. Burley to Canyon Ridge, South Freemont goes to Buhl and Minico travels to Twin Falls.
For Golf, Filer, Buhl, Declo, Kimberly, the Sun Valley Community School, Valley and Oakley all meet at the Twin Falls Muni. Wendell will be in Gooding at the country club.
There is one track meet set. Hansen will be part of the Fred Simpson Invite with Butte County and Arco.
WEATHER
Today: Sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 11 to 14 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Breezy, with a southwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Breezy.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 49.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 84.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Monday 042423
A head on crash south of Bellevue yesterday afternoon claimed the life of a 39 year old female from Hailey. Police say the crash happened around 3:30 pm on Highway 93 and closed the highway for about 4 and half hours. In addition to the fatality, two others were transported for medical treatment.
Some 15-hundred students will be adjusting to distant learning for the next six weeks in Pocatello after the Highland High School was damaged by fire Friday. The fire destroyed most of the school’s D building, which included the cafeteria, gymnasium, choir and band rooms. The fire also caused some water and smoke damage to other parts of the school, and the building’s electrical and gas facilities are currently off. The investigation continues into the cause.
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said the U.S. Interior Department will send $125 million to Idaho from the bipartisan infrastructure law to scores of local climate resiliency and conservation projects. It’s part of the funds from the $1.9 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law and Democrats’ 2022 climate and spending law, both of which President Joe Biden signed.
Week two of the Lori Vallow Daybell murder trial wrapped up for the week last Thursday in Boise. Court will continue today after taking this last Monday and Friday off.
A former Idaho State Police Trooper is facing charges of murder and felony domestic battery in connection to the murder of his then-wife back in 2021. According to Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, 57-year-old Daniel Charles Howard turned himself in on Friday evening for the murder of his then-wife 48-year-old Kendy Wilkins. He was put on administrative leave in 2014 without pay due to criminal charges in Kootenai and Bonner counties due to three felony charges.
Several rural counties in Idaho are set to receive a total of $26.9 million in funds from the federal Secure Rural Schools program. Idaho received the third-highest total in the U.S., behind California and Oregon.
SPORTS
Friday, Canyon Ridge was honored as an ‘ESPN Top 5 Special Olympics Unified Champion’ Banner School. The Riverhawks were chosen because the school met all the national standards of excellence in the areas of inclusion, advocacy, and respect. The honor, sponsored by ESPN and Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools, recognizes schools across the country whose efforts to support special needs athletes and participants go above and beyond what’s expected.
The Golden Eagles took the win in the final two games of the weekend series after losing a Friday doubleheader. The Golden Eagles will be off until their final series of the season on May 5-6, a four-game set at Colorado Northwestern Community College. A home series scheduled for next weekend against Community Christian College has been canceled.
The CSI softball team dropped a pair of 8-7 decisions at No. 12 Salt Lake on Saturday. The second game of a scheduled Saturday doubleheader was canceled. CSI takes a break from conference play on Tuesday, hosting Treasure Valley Community College of Oregon for a doubleheader at First Federal Field. Games are scheduled for noon and 2 p.m. Utah State University Eastern visits next weekend for a four-game SWAC series, beginning Friday afternoon.
The red-hot Boise State softball team extended its winning streak to six games on Saturday, defeating Utah State 9-1 in just five innings at Dona Larsen Park. The Broncos have picked up back-to-back mercy-rule victories over the Aggies in the first two games of the series in the City of Trees. Boise State also defeated Utah State 11-2 in five innings on Friday. The Broncos and Aggies face off in the final game of the series on Sunday at noon at Dona Larsen Park
From the high school baseball diamonds from over the weekend, Declo took the win over Wendell 10 to 5 on Saturday. For Softball, it was Pocatello defeating Twin Falls in both of their games of a double header. The score 13 to 2 and 7 to 3. From the Scott Ray Malad Tournament Bear Lake took the fin over Wendell 12 to 8 and Teton for the win over Wendell 16 to 4.
On today’s schedule for high school baseball, Monday’s Schedule American Falls travels to Declo and for softball Wendell goes to Glenns Ferry.
WEATHER
Today: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming west 21 to 26 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 16 to 21 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 58. West wind 11 to 15 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Breezy.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. Breezy.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 43.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 80.
Friday 042123
A Burley neighborhood was evacuated yesterday afternoon when a gas line was struck during by construction work on Bedke Boulevard. Officials began evacuating the area. At last check the 500 block of Oakley Avenue and Miller Avenue remains closed.
A Burley family posted on social media yesterday a break-in at their home that could have gone very bad. One homeowner was home when their dogs began to bark. The husband texted his wife that someone was breaking in after being alerted by the front door camera. Authorities arrested 28 year old Briayan Vergara who faces a long list of charges including rape, kidnapping, battery, aggravated assault resisting arrest and three counts of burglary.
Twin Falls police are searching for a man wanted in the robbery of Walgreens on Washington Street North. Police say it happened just before 8:30 last night. The suspect wasn’t armed at the time and is possibly a former employee.
After police shot and killed a man on Interstate 84 last week, a deputy remains in the hospital after being stabbed by the suspect and shot by fellow deputies. 40-year-old Jared Decker pulled a deputy to the ground and stabbed him multiple times. Two other deputies then shot and killed Decker. Durring the gunfight, deputies not only killed Decker, but shot their colleague in the leg. The bullet wound does not appear to be significant but that the stab wounds will result in long-term recovery.
The Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said police will not face any charges following the shooting of Arlo Dillon Campbell that happened near Hazelton. Authorities say the suspect shot at the police and threw homemade explosive devices at officers before he was killed by deputies.
Two men from southern Idaho have been sentenced to federal prison in two separate drug trafficking cases. 65 year old Steven Feller of Kuna was sentenced to 114 months in federal prison. He was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 42 year old Lawrence Eric Barns of Twin Falls was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
SPORTS
Idaho Fish and Game and the BLM are hoping you will help plant sagebrush to rehabilitate winter big-game habitat burned by the Badger Fire, which scorched the South Hills in 2020. The planting will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Earth Day tomorrow in the Dry Creek area directly south of Hansen. Volunteers will meet up with Fish and Game staff at the mouth of Dry Creek Road at 8:30 a.m.
From the baseball diamonds yesterday, Twin Falls defeated Mountain Home in a double header. In game one the score was 8 to 0. In the second game it was 7 to 5. Buhl took the first game in a double header over Kimberly 7 to 5. In the second game, Kimberly took the win 7 to 4.
In softball action, Buhl defeated Kimberly 3 to 1 in a double header then Kimberly for the win over Buhl 8 to 2. Jerome outlasted Burley in both of their games against Burley 8 to 7 and 10 to 8.
On today’s baseball schedule, Burley heads to Jerome, Gooding will play Cole Valley in Meridian and Wendell travels to Declo.
On the Softball schedule Lighthouse will travel to play Greenleaf Friends, Wood River goes to Minico and Kimberly to Weiser. Both of those games are double headers. Wendell and Declo will participate in the Scott Ray Malad Tournament. Declo plays Malad, followed by Wendell taking on American Falls. Then Wendell plays West Side while Declo takes on West Jefferson.
On today’s track meet schedule, Wendell, Gooding, Buhl, Kimberly and Filer will be part of the Brad Matthews meet in Declo. Jerome, Burley, Wood River, Minico and Mountain Home will be part of the pre-conference meet in Mountain Home.
There is a district 5 rodeo in Shoshone tonight at 7.
WEATHER
Friday: Scattered rain and snow showers before 7am, then rain likely between 7am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming west 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 37 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast after midnight.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before 7pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 37. Breezy.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61. Breezy.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Thursday 042023
Tonight at midnight, marks the end of public comment being accepted for the Lava Ridge wind Project with the BLM. The Biden administration has prioritized permitting 25 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2025.
A confrontation between a counter-protester, a security guard and attendees at Boise Pride on September 10th spawned two different legal claims alleging negligence from the City of Boise and the Boise Police Department. One, from Pride counter-protester Martin Bettwieser and the other from Charles Rehdorf, a private security guard hired by Boise Pride. Rehdorf’s claim says an incident starting with a protester displaying anti-Pride signs during the event and ending with Rehdorf being charged with a misdemeanor battery and use of force charge for restraining Bettwieser was the result of negligence from the Boise Police Department.
Kroger wants a judge to throw out a lawsuit from a group of consumers looking to derail its bid to buy Boise-based Albertsons. Attorneys said the consumers’ group doesn’t have legal standing to bring the suit, and said the Clayton Act does not “turn every grocery store consumer in the country into a roving antitrust enforcer.”
Scoular will break ground this month on a $20 million expansion of its feed blending facility in Jerome to meet the custom feed needs of the region’s dairy and beef producers. In its April 12 announcement, Scoular said the expansion, which is aiming for a spring 2024 completion, adds two key capabilities: A steamflaking process, which processes corn into flakes and A pellet mill to make feed pellets.
The city of Twin Falls is warning area residents of an increasing amount of Teenagers and young adults being targeted by Sextortion. The city issued a news release reminding parents to talk to their teens about online relationships and to maintain healthy communication with their children.
Idaho Governor Brad Little said that he does not anticipate a special legislative session happening after Republican and Democratic party leaders recently raised concerns about a new law that eliminates the March presidential primary election. Little signed the bill into law on March 30. Some say the elimination of the March election is the result of rushing legislation without building consensus and support.
SPORTS
The Boise States men’s tennis program has been hit with a series of penalties, including two years of probation and a $5,000 fine for violating NCAA recruiting rules. In January of 2021, the head coach of the Boise State men’s tennis team, Kristian Widen, resigned. Over a year later, the NCAA says an assistant coach on Widen's staff engaged in a “series of impermissible recruiting activities.” The NCAA report said Widen violated his responsibility as a head coach by “failing to demonstrate that he monitored his assistant coach.” The NCCAA report does not name the assistant coach, but Boise State says the assistant at that time was Ali Borhani. Boise State is not challenging the violations.
In high school baseball games yesterday, the Twin Falls JV’s took the win over Lighthouse Christian 10 to 9. It’s Burley for the win over Jerome 25 to 6.
Today’s schedule for Baseball has Canyon Ridge traveling to Preston. Glenns Ferry heads to Horsshoe Bend. Some double headers for today include Kimberly heading to Buhl, Gooding to Filer, Wood River to Minico and Twin Falls will head to Mountain Home.
For softball games, Canyon Ridge heads to Preston, Horseshoe Bend to Glenns Ferry and in Double headers, Twin Falls heads to Mountain Home, Buhl to Kimberly, Gooding to Filer and Burley to Jerome. For track and Field Glenns Ferry, Shoshone, Hansen, Lighthouse Christian and Camas County will all participate in the Barry Espil invite in Murtaugh.
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.
Tonight: A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind 5 to 13 mph becoming south southeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Breezy, with a west wind 7 to 17 mph increasing to 18 to 28 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West northwest wind 8 to 13 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 58. Breezy.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Breezy.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 61.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 67.