News, Sports & Weather 11/06/2024

As part of yesterday’s conservative red wave, Republicans were poised to expand their supermajority in the Idaho Legislature based on unofficial results from the 2024 general election.  Idaho Republicans were on the verge of gaining five legislative seats and adding to the GOP’s robust supermajority.   Idaho Democrats, meanwhile, were looking at coughing up five legislative seats and seeing their influence in Boise diminished again.

In one of the most closely watched elections in Idaho, the Proposition 1 ballot initiative that sought to end closed party primary elections and bring ranked-choice voting to general elections, was defeated. 69.6% of Idaho voters voted against Proposition 1, while 30.4% of voters voted for it, with 33 of Idaho’s 44 counties fully reporting.

Idaho voters approved a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution to ban noncitizens from voting in Idaho elections.  Unofficial election results showed 64.8% of Idaho voters supported the constitutional amendment proposed by the Idaho Legislature this year while 35.2% of voters opposed.

As we come on the air the district 26 seat is still up in the air.  Laurie Lickley is leading.  House seat 26A not declared with Mike Pohanka leading.  Jack Nelson leads in the 26B race.  The Twin Falls School District Levy passed.  The rock creek fire protection levy passed.  The Hansen school levy passed.  The Jerome School Levy is still up in the air. 

A 33-year-old woman from Twin Falls was killed early yesterday morning when a semi-truck crashed into her vehicle.  It happened on I-84 between Jerome and Twin Falls.   Her car was in the right lane and had broken down.  The crash caused the semi to go sideways blocking all lanes both east and westbound.  The 63-year-old truck driver was arrested and charged with felony vehicular manslaughter.  The section of freeway was closed for 6 hours.

The Jerome chamber of commerce has a new director.  Kevin Williams will join the chamber.  He has spent 12 years in sales.

A 75-year-old Mountain Home woman was seriously injured yesterday when she was struck by a car while she was crossing in a crosswalk in Mountain Home.  It happened around 6:30 on American Legion Boulevard.

SPORTS

Boise State earned the highest College Football Playoff ranking in program history as the selection committee placed the Broncos No. 12 in the first rankings of the 2024 season. The Broncos’ previous high, No. 19, was achieved on three occasions, most recently in the final poll of the 2019 season.
This season, the Broncos have one of the nation’s top offenses, ranking third in the nation with 45.8 points per game and fourth-nationally with 509.1 yards per game. The defense averages an FBS-high 4.75 sacks per game and records 8.7 tackles for loss per game, ranking fourth in the country.

After a record-setting regular season, the Idaho women’s soccer team in Moscow begins postseason play this week at the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Missoula, Montana. The No. 2 seeded Vandals begin their Big Sky Tournament title defense on Nov. 8 in the semifinals against the winner of Wednesday’s quarterfinal match between Eastern Washington and Portland State.

Last night, the district 4 all-star volleyball game was held.  It was where the best athletes in the area got to showcase their talents amongst the best.

It’s back for a second year.  The Idaho Bowl will feature the best.  The top middle school football players in the state will train with coaches to improve their games and abilities and then will compete in a bowl game to highlight their talents.  Athletes from 69 different schools in the state competed as 5,000 people showed up on gameday and 11,000 watched online in 2024.

WEATHER

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 41. South southwest wind around 6 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Light and variable wind.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 46. Light and variable wind.

Thursday Night:  Clear, with a low around 24. Calm wind.

Friday:  Sunny, with a high near 50.

Friday Night:  Clear, with a low around 27.

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 53.

Saturday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of rain before 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

Sunday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Veterans Day:  Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Monday Night:  A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Tuesday:  A slight chance of rain and snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

News, Sports and Weather 11/05/2024

Today Idahoans are heading to the polls to make their voice known.  In order to vote you will need a valid drivers license, ID card, passport or federal ID.  You must be at least 18 years old, be a US citizen and an Idaho resident for at least 30 days.  It it may be well into Wednesday before Idahoans know the outcome of a statewide ballot issue like Proposition 1 or the closest legislative races.

A serious crash on I-84 happened just before 5 am.  Crews are on the scene that reportedly involves a car and a semi-truck.  Traffic is being diverted around mile marker 171.  Both the Eastbound and Westbound lanes of travel are affected.

In a first for the country, Idaho’s Southwest District Health Department has banned the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations. The regional health department covers six counties along the Idaho-Oregon border, including Adams, Washington, Payette, Gem, Canyon and Owyhee counties.

The Idaho Supreme Court yesterday heard arguments about whether the judgment of former Idaho legislator’s conviction should be vacated.  42-year-old Aaron von Ehlinger was convicted of raping a former intern. He was sentenced to at least eight years in prison, with another 12 years or the possibility of parole, for a total of 20 years in prison.

1666 Idaho Power customers were without power yesterday evening after a vehicle crashed into a power pole.  It happened around 5 pm.  The incident happened along Addison and 3500 East.  The vehicle left the scene.  Power was restored around 7:30.

The last of the three men charged with possession of a large amount of meth has been sentenced.  27-year-old Wilson Fontes Mendivil of Mexico was driving a BMW sedan when police found 20 pounds of meth and 4.5 pounds of fentanyl inside.  Yesterday he was set to prison for at least 7.  Defense attorneys argued the traffic stop was illegal. 

Finally done.  That’s what residents along Hankins Road are saying after crews wrapped up a year long project of replacing the water line.  The city hopes the project solves waterline issues and makes water service more reliable for homes and businesses.  The project cost about $5-million. 

SPORTS

Boise State women’s basketball used a strong second half to cruise past Eastern Oregon, 87-57, in the first regular season game of the season.  Leading 36-25 at halftime, Natalie Pasco drained four 3-pointers in the third quarter as the Broncos expanded their lead to 27 entering the final frame. Elodie Lalotte added to the onslaught, scoring 12 of her team-high 18 points in the second half. Boise State will host Colorado on Sunday, Nov. 10, in ExtraMile Arena. The game will tip off at 2 p.m. MT

Five Vandals scored in double figures, and the Idaho men’s basketball team shot 51 percent from the field to help earn its first win of the 2024-25 season with a 96-60 victory over Northwest University on Monday night inside the ICCU Arena. Idaho will face its first regular season test when they host 2024 Big West Tournament runner-up UC Davis at ICCU Arena on Thursday, Nov. 7. The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.

The Idaho State Bengals ladies opened the 2024-25 season with a 91-52 win over Arizona Christian University. The Bengals had five players score in double digits as the Orange and Black took the lead early and held onto it for four quarters. The Bengals travel to Berkley to take on the CAL Bears Thursday, Nov. 7 at 12:00 PM.

With volleyball season in the books, the 5A Great Basin All-Conference selections have been announced.  Josie Pruecil is the Great Basin Player of the Year as she helped lead the Bruins to a conference championship and a 5A state championship as the 8th seed.  Holly Ottley was named Coach of the Year for the Minico Spartans.

The Twin Falls Bruins won the 5A title as the 8-seed.  The season may be over, but there is still time to see your favorite senior players one last time.  Tuesday is the 2024 senior All-Star game, as the best senior athletes in the area will be on the court for the last time in their high school threads.  There will be four teams split up into the red, blue, green, and yellow teams, as each team will get to play three games.

WEATHER

Today:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 23. West southwest wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 40. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night:  Clear, with a low around 22. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south after midnight.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 44. South wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  Clear, with a low around 24.

Friday:  Sunny, with a high near 48.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Sunday Night:  A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Veterans Day:  Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

News, Sports & Weather 11/04/2024

Idaho’s early voting turnout has already exceeded the total ballots cast in the May primary, with high participation expected to continue through tomorrow. Any absentee ballots that have not been turned in yet will need to be dropped off in person at an official ballot drop box or at your local county elections office.  Polls will open at 8 a.m. tomorrow.

Look for more lane closures between Jerome and Twin Falls this week.  Crews are working on reseeding the median and restriping on I-84.  According to the ITD, construction will continue until August of 2026. 

Ada County Sheriff’s Office is looking to the public for help in identifying a teenager abducted by serial killer Ted Bundy. On Sep. 2, 1974, Bundy abducted a young female hitchhiker from I-84 on the outskirts of Boise.  During a confession with Idaho investigators before his execution in 1989, Bundy said the girl seemed to be a runaway, possibly making her way to Montana. He thought she was running away from the Boise area.

A semi-truck was hit by a train 15 miles north of Paul.  It happened a little after 3 pm Saturday at Highway 24 and 3150 East.  The driver of the semi-truck attempted to cross the railroad tracks while an oncoming train was approaching police say.

A man has been arrested after leading police on a high-speed chase. Police in Caldwell said that 29-year-old Wyatt Tripp was driving a car with illegal tint when they tried to make a stop Friday around 8:00 p.m.  He accelerated through city streets at a high-speed and turned off his car lights. This caused another driver to hit the car.  Tripp was on parole for eluding law enforcement and grand theft.

Residents in Hansen are being told to continue to boil the water as crews continue to make repairs.  It all started on Monday October 28th.  Over the weekend more repairs were made. A new 72-hour boil water advisory was issued.  Crews will excavate a valve cluster on Main Street South today, which will mean more interruptions.

The Idaho Capitol’s official Christmas tree is set to be cut Nov. 25 in downtown Boise.  That day, the tree will be moved to the front of the Idaho State Capitol Building to become the official 2024 state Christmas tree, and a planned lighting ceremony will follow later.

SPORTS

Boise State continued to climb the national polls after a dominant 56-24 win over San Diego State. The Broncos have been ranked No. 12 by the Associated Press and checked in at No. 14 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. This is the highest Boise State has been ranked in the AP Poll since the final poll of the 2011 season, when it was No. 8.

The 12th-ranked College of Southern Idaho Men’s Basketball Team upset third-ranked Daytona State 89-81 on Saturday, the final night of the Idaho Central Credit Union Invitational. CSI, 2-0, hosts the Battle for the Boot Tournament this week.

The 11th-ranked College of Southern Idaho Women’s Basketball beat fourth-ranked Eastern Arizona 66-58 Saturday in the Idaho Central Credit Union Invitational. CSI, 2-0, goes on the road to Florida this week.

The 2024-25 Idaho men’s basketball season tips off on Monday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. when the Vandals open year two under head coach Alex Pribble against Northwest at the ICCU Arena.

The first round of matchups for state football kicked off Friday.  Six teams locally competed.  In 5A play number 5 Minico defeated No. 12 Emmett 40 to 6.  Spartans will head to No. 4 Bishop Kelly for a rematch from earlier this season, this time an elimination game.

No. 8 Twin Falls defeated No. 9 Lewiston 31 to 9.  The Bruins will take on top-seeded Skyline in Idaho Falls next weekend in the quarterfinals.

In 4 A play,7th ranked Buhl defeated 10th ranked Marsh Valley 38-15.  The Indians will travel to No. 2 Homedale next weekend in a quarterfinal matchup.

In 2-A play, Hagerman defeated Raft River 50-26.

In 1A action Dietrich defeated Challis 54-6.  Garden Valley defeated Shoshone 32-8.  Indians season comes to an end after first playoff appearance since 2000.

WEATHER

Today:  Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 48. West southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Tonight:  A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph.

Tuesday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a west-northwest wind 14 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 23. West southwest wind 6 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 40. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night:  Clear, with a low around 18.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 43.

Thursday Night:  Clear, with a low around 21.

Friday:  Sunny, with a high near 47.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51.

News, Sports & Weather 11/01/2024

Governor Brad Little and State school superintendent Debbie Critchfield are encouraging school districts to adopt policy’s that restrict the use of cell phones in schools.  The Phone Free Learning Act” hope schools will have a policy in place by the end of this school year and offers districts that adopt a policy a $5,000 one-time award.

The Idaho Transportation Department has closed State Highway 24/ U.S. Highway 30 under Interstate 84 at Exit 211 until approximately 7 p.m. on Monday. The work is part of the ongoing construction to rebuild the Heyburn Interchange, which is expected to last until late 2026.

At least three school districts in the state say they will be closing on Tuesday.  Boise, West Ada and Kuna Schools say they will not have classes.  Under Idaho law, school buildings must be available as polling places on Election Day, and although schools have remained open in the past, the anticipation of a high voter turnout this year has led to the decision to close schools.

Several levies will be on the ballot Tuesday.  The rock creek fire department is asking for a 2-year levy and would provide 1.3 million dollars for improvements.  Twin Falls voters will decide on a 7-point 2-million-dollar levy for additional teachers and armed security guards.  The Hansen school district seeks 290-thousand a year for two years.  Jerome is looking for 1.75 million dollars to start an in-district bus program.  Camas County has a 225 thousand dollar and another 75-thousand-dollar levy. Gooding seeks 759-thousand dollars.

The Idaho fish and game department reports a rather amazing story.  They said a small black bear cub walked over 120 miles in a 2-week period.  It started its trek north of Salmon and ended near the wood river middle school.  Jerome fish and game captured the cub and returned it to its home.

In eastern Idaho, a local pastor’s home burned to the ground early yesterday morning.  It happened in Island Park.  The home was a camp trailer.  The pastor said everything he owned was in the trailer.  This morning officials say it was a total loss. 

SPORTS

For the first time in program history, Boise State women’s soccer has claimed sole possession of the Mountain West Regular Season Championship. Boise State women’s soccer lost to No. 25 Utah State 2-0, but were still able to own the title with the help of a 0-0 draw in the Wyoming at Colorado State match.

In college volleyball, the Idaho Vandals dropped a road match in straight sets at Sacramento State, last night at the Nest. The Vandals return to Memorial Gym for their final two home games of the year welcoming Montana State Thursday and Montana Saturday for Senior Day.

The College of Southern Idaho Volleyball Team defeated North Idaho College 25-23, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19 Thursday to break a tie with the Cardinal for the fourth spot in the upcoming Region 18 Tournament. CSI, 9-16 overall and 4-6 in conference play, will take on the top seed in the Region 18 Tournament next Wednesday.

The College of Southern Idaho will host the Battle for the Boot Men’s Basketball Tournament Nov. 7-9 at the CSI Gymnasium. This true bracketed tournament will feature some of the top teams in the country and tickets are now available to all fans to purchase. The Vandals return to Memorial Gym for their final two home games of the year welcoming Montana State Thursday and Montana Saturday for Senior Day.

The state tournament football games are underway today. Shoshone will travel to play Garden Valley, Buhl hosts Marsh Valley, Challis travels to play Dietrich, Raft River is on the road to play Hagerman, Emmett is on the road to Minico and Lewiston travels to play Twin Falls. Tomorrow Glenns Ferry will head to Kamiah.

Volleyball state tournament games continue today. Hagerman and Butte County will meet in Jerome. Kimberly and Fruitland will play in Lake city.

Twin Falls and Bonneville will be at the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls. Oakley and Troy will play in Jerome. Wood River and Columbia will be in Idaho Falls.

WEATHER

Today:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South southeast wind around 10 mph.

Tonight:  Showers likely after midnight. Snow level 5800 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. South wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday:  Showers. Snow level 5800 feet. High near 45. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday Night:  Rain showers likely before midnight, then rain and snow showers likely. Snow level 5600 feet lowering to 5000 feet after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. West southwest wind 8 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday:  A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy, with a west-northwest wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. new snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. Blustery.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night:  A chance of rain and snow, mainly after midnight. Snow level 5200 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday:  A chance of rain and snow before noon, then a slight chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

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

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 20.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 46.

News, Sports & Weather 10/31/2024

Early voting for the 2024 general election ends tomorrow in Idaho.  Until then, early voting is offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.  Every Idaho county offers some form of early voting or in-person absentee voting.

Early voting is turning into a popular thing in southern Idaho.  According to the numbers, in Twin Falls County they are recording the most in person ballots ever.  In Jerome County the clerk’s office expects 2000 people to cast a ballot. 

Idaho Gov. Brad Little appointed the Republican nominee in a North Idaho race to the Idaho Legislature.  Little appointed Rep. Cornel Rasor of Sagle, to serve as a state legislator representing North Idaho’s Legislative District 1 in the House Seat B position, In September, four-term state Rep. Sage Dixon, of Ponderay, stepped down from the legislative seat to accept a regional director position for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

A group pushing for private school choice has sunk more than $50,000 into a spendy Idaho Senate race in West Boise.  All told, the Idaho Federation for Children has spent more than $85,000 in next week’s general election. This same PAC — tied with the American Federation for Children, a pro-school group — spent more than $300,000 in the May GOP primary, and helped to unseat two school choice opponents.

A handful of states, including Idaho, are throwing their support behind Utah’s lawsuit that questions whether the Bureau of Land Management can hold onto nearly 18.5 million acres of public land within the state’s borders.  Utah’s lawsuit argues that the BLM can’t indefinitely hold onto land without giving it a designation, like a national monument, national forest or wilderness area. Those 18.5 million acres are what the state calls “unappropriated land” — they’re still leased for grazing, recreation and mineral extraction, but have no designation.

Weather forecasters are calling for quite a change.  The latest information shows that snow is expected above 7-thousand feet in Blaine County.  Up to 10 inches could fall starting this morning and continuing through Noon tomorrow.  The majority of the white stuff could fall in the Sawtooth and Stanley basin and the Sun Valley region.

SPORTS

The stage is set – following two months of roller coaster regular season action, the top teams in six classifications seek history in the 2024 Idaho high school football state championships. The 6A bracket features seven SIC squads after Borah and Highland claimed the final at-large spots. No. 1-ranked Rocky Mountain and No. 2 Eagle earned first-round byes and await opponents in the quarterfinals. Eight matchups get underway at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the 5A state playoff bracket. SIC frontrunners Bishop Kelly and Vallivue host Pocatello and Bonneville respectively, while Emmett visits Minico and Nampa travels to the ICCU Dome to face top-seeded Skyline. Postseason play kicks off with a pair of Friday afternoon affairs between Shoshone and Garden Valley, and North Gem and Tri-Valley. The Titans wrapped up the regular season with a 70-0 win over Horseshoe Bend in Week 9.

Idahoans are one step closer to having professional soccer teams to root for. Boise Pro Soccer won Ada County’s bid to develop part of Expo Idaho into a state-of-the-art, mixed-use sports park, which is slated to become the future home of those teams.  For nearly a decade, Les Boise Park has only been used for concerts during the Western Idaho Fair. Boise Pro Soccer plans to turn 27 acres into a sports park featuring several fields for various sports and a stadium. The stadium is set to become the home to two professional soccer teams, a Division Three men’s team and a Division One women’s team.

No. 15 Boise State returns to The Blue for the first time in nearly a month to face a battle-tested San Diego State squad Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Albertsons Stadium. The Broncos took control of the Mountain West standings and upped their status as the Group of Five favorite for the College Football Playoff with a crucial and strenuous 29-24 win over UNLV last week on the road.

WEATHER

Thursday:  Rain and snow, becoming all rain after noon. High near 46. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. West wind around 6 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.

Friday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. East southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.

Friday Night:  A 40 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. East wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday:  Rain likely, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Saturday Night:  A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Sunday:  A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

Monday Night:  A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday:  A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.

News, Sports & Weather 10/30/2024

A small fire at Walmart in Twin Falls yesterday afternoon caused the store to be evacuated.  The Twin Falls fire department was called to the scene just after 3.  When they arrived, they found that an employee and put out the fire using an extinguisher and a kitchen hood fire suppression system.  The fire was contained to the deli’s fryer area.  The store reopened just before 4.

One of the biggest political battles in Idaho is playing out over the state’s Prop 1.  It’s a ballot measure to end the Republican party’s closed Primary and institute ranked choice voting in general elections.  Proponents say it will lead to more representative government, and to candidates with broader appeal winning races. Opponents say it will confuse voters or reduce the power Republicans have over Idaho politics.  So far nearly a million dollars has been spent in advertising between the two sides.

Yesterday morning, Twin Falls Sheriff deputies investigated an accident involving a semi-truck and a van.  According to social media posted by the sheriff’s office, the accident involved a hazmat spill.  It happened at 3800 East and 3200 North.  A photo on the Sheriff’s Facebook page indicated the semi-truck struck the side of the van. The van was loaded with lawn care chemicals. 

The Shoshone Falls grade and Dierkes lake park in Twin Falls is closed.  Crews are making road improvements.  There is no public access and all facilities are closed during the re-construction.

The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole denied Idaho’s longest-serving death row inmate Thomas Creech’s latest request for a clemency hearing.  This week, the commission voted five to one, denying the hearing, and one member recused themselves.

The wild horses gathered from burned Idaho rangelands in the Sands Basin and Four Mile Herd Management Areas will be available for public viewing at the Bureau of Land Management Boise Wild Horse Off-Range Corral on Pleasant Valley Road on Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  There were 74 wild horses gathered from BLM-managed public rangelands burned by the Jump and Paddock fires in August 2024.

SPORTS

Tomorrow the College of Southern Idaho Women’s Basketball team hits the hardwood to start another season.  CSI finished 28-6 a season ago and claimed their fourth straight Region Championship.  They won a game at the NJCAA National Tournament before losing in the second round.

The Wendell boys’ soccer team has returned following their state playoff games in Post Falls.  With them, they had some hardware.  The first-place trophy for 4-A and the banner declaring the team champs for the season.  Cesar Murralles was the game winning goal scorer. 

Tomorrow, six Magic Valley volleyball teams are hoping to win in state tournament games.  The playoffs run tomorrow through Saturday.  This is the first year the tournament expanded to three days. Each team will play one match on Thursday, then the field will be pared down to four teams on Friday before the traditional Saturday championship session.  The 2A and 1A state tournaments will take place in the Magic Valley in Jerome and Canyon Ridge. It marks the first time the event has come to this area since 2020. The 5A and 6A state tournament will head to the Mountain America Center in Idaho Falls.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny, with a high near 50. South wind around 7 mph.

Tonight:  A chance of rain and snow after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday:  Rain and snow, becoming all rain after noon. High near 48. South wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Friday:  A chance of rain and snow before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36.

Saturday:  A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.

Saturday Night:  A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Sunday:  A slight chance of rain and snow before noon, then a slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday Night:  A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday:  A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

News, Sports & Weather 10/28/2024

The Twin Falls Police Department has since assumed responsibility for the investigation with the Blackfoot Police Department of a newborn girl who was found dead in the Safe Haven Baby Box at Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot on Sunday Oct. 13. The safe haven baby box program offers an option for parents to relinquish their newborns without prosecution.

The Idaho State Police are warning residents of a new wave of phone scams targeting residents. Callers are posing as law enforcement officers, using false claims of DNA test requirements and threats of arrest to coerce payments.  One victim received a call stating they had missed a required appointment, which had allegedly resulted in a warrant for their arrest.

Two people were killed in a crash yesterday afternoon just before 3 just north of Hollister along Highway 93.  Two Eagle residents were northbound when the vehicle they were in drove into the southbound lane.  The SUV collided head on with a semi-truck.  The road was closed for about 4 hours.

Following a major water showdown this spring, Idaho farmers have reached a potential agreement over a new water mitigation plan that could protect farmers from having their water shut off during growing seasons, state.  State leaders outlined the potential agreement during the Idaho Legislature’s Natural Resources Interim Committee meeting in Boise.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture is planning a second round of treatment in the Snake River in November to target invasive quagga mussels. This second round of treatment comes just one month after the department treated 8.5 miles with Natrix.  The treatments are a part of an effort to eradicate quagga mussels.  The current river access closure from Hansen Bridge to Yingst Grade will remain in place until further notice.

Customers enrolled in the City of Twin Falls’ Trash and Recycling Collection program can discard leaves, clippings, and small yard debris on their regularly scheduled pick-up day.  There will be no additional cost.

Idaho gas prices are falling.  According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.37, which is four cents less than a week ago and 53 cents less than a year ago.  Meanwhile, the national average currently stands at $3.13 per gallon.

SPORTS

FOX Sports announced that the television network and kickoff time for Boise State’s Nov. 9 football game against Nevada moved to a six-day selection. The FOX Sports network and kickoff time for the Broncos-Wolf Pack game will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 3.  Boise State’s game against Nevada will be the 46th meeting between the two programs. The Broncos hold a 31-14 edge in the all-time series and have won 17 of the last 19 meetings.

Today in Buhl, it’s the magic valley all-star senior soccer game that will officially wrap up the soccer season.  Both the boys and girls will play at the same time for their own games as the rosters will be split from the north and south. Both games are set to start at 5:00 p.m. from Buhl High School.

On Friday, the CSI basketball season officially kicks off.  The number 12 ranked men will host Yavapai in the Idaho Central Credit Union Invitational.  It will be a two-game weekend.  They finished the last season 23-9, were Region-18 runners-up, but missed out on the NJCAA Tournament.

With a playoff game on the line, Twin Falls rose to the challenge on Saturday. While the 2-2 score might suggest a draw, it was the Twin Falls Bruins who were credited with the win. The Twin Falls Bruins got it done in the shootout by posting six goals to the Hillcrest Knights’s five. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Bruins.  Twin Falls’ victory bumped their record up to 14-6. As for Hillcrest, their loss dropped their record down to 17-4.  As of now, neither Twin Falls nor Hillcrest have any future games scheduled.

WEATHER

Today:  A slight chance of rain and snow showers before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Southwest wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 51. South wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday Night:  A slight chance of rain and snow showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday:  A chance of rain and snow before noon, then a chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night:  Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday:  A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Saturday:  A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Your Daily Briefing – 10/28/2024

A semi-truck fire and collision yesterday afternoon closed down the freeway outside of Jerome for about 5 hours.  State police say it happened at milepost 170 when a freightliner when a tire blew.  The semi struck a concrete barrier and overturned striking 2 other vehicles.  The semi then exploded in flames.  The drivers of the other vehicles were taken by ambulance for treatment.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into a fatal crash near Rupert Friday.  It happened on Highway 25 at milepost 52.  A 37-year-old Burley man was westbound in a semi-truck when he attempted to avoid hitting a pedestrian.  The second trailer on the truck ended up striking the 60-year-old man. 

Idaho will receive more than $20.8 million to upgrade water infrastructure in the state through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021.  The funds will be distributed through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

Twin Falls police are continuing their investigation into reports of Shots fired Friday night.  The reports centered around Capri drive just after 11 pm.  So far, no damage to nearby property was found and there were no reported injuries.  Reports indicate three to eight shots were fired. 

Bryan Kohberger’s attorneys filed a new motion to strike the State’s notice of intent to seek the death penalty.  Kohberger’s defense argues that executing Kohberger via lethal injection or firing squad, the two execution methods available in Idaho, would violate his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

Governor Brad Little is celebrating strong student interest in the second round of LAUNCH grants, which opened just weeks ago.  Round two of LAUNCH applications opened on Oct. 1, and more than 5,100 students already have started their applications.

The City of Twin Falls said the Hankins Pressure Zone Project will be completed by November 1 weather permitting. This year-long infrastructure improvement project split the City’s water pressurization into two zones to create consistent water pressure for thousands of residents and businesses in southeast Twin Falls.

SPORTS

The CSI Men’s Soccer Club finished their first ever season on a positive note as they battled #17 Snow College to a 1-1 draw.  The CSI Women’s soccer club was defeated by #5 Snow College in their final game of their inaugural season Saturday afternoon, 4-0. The Golden Eagles hung tough with the top team in the Scenic West, conceding just one lone goal in the first half, in the 18th minute.

Following a bye week, the Boise State Broncos beat UNLV in Las Vegas 29-24 on Friday and with that win, jumped two places in the Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll.  The Broncos next game is on The Blue, hosting San Diego State on Nov. 1, kickoff at 6:00 p.m.

The Idaho women’s vandal soccer team couldn’t overcome a slow start at Northern Colorado in the regular season finale on Sunday, falling 1-0 to the Bears.

In Moscow the Idaho vandals took the win over Eastern Washington 38 to 28 in that college football game.   The Eastern Washington offense opened the second half with a 16-play, 7:48 drive to the one-yard line with the chance to take the lead, but a fourth-down throw to the flat was sniffed out and stuffed for a loss.  The 11th-ranked Vandals kept the Eagles at arms’ length the rest of the way for the 38-28 victory at the Kibbie Dome Saturday evening.

In local high school football games over the weekend, the Carey Camas County game was a forfeit.  Valley for the win over Notus 58 to 22.  Castleford over Hansen 42 to 9.  Canyon Ridge downed Columbia 23 to 13.  Buhl outlasted Filer 48 to 23.  Glenns Ferry defeated Murtaugh 40 to 12.  Kimberly defeated Gooding 49 to 0.  Wood River trampled Jerome 58 to 8.  It was Mountain Home 18 to Burley’s 15.  Hagerman defeated Raft River 42 to 6.  Dietrich ran past Shoshone 46 to 6.  Minico downed Twin Falls 7 to 6.  Declo defeated Wendell 56 to 7. 

The high school football brackets were released yesterday, and Kimberly, Declo, Valley and Carey lead a dozen Magic Valley teams into the Idaho High School Football State Championships.  The first round is set to begin this coming weekend.

In state soccer games for the boys, Wood River defeated Blackfoot 5 to 0.  Century downed Twin Falls 2 to 1.  It was the Sun Valley Community School 4 Weiser 1.  Thunder Ridge 3 Canyon Ridge 2.  Vallivue 3 Wood River 1.  Wendell 1 CDA Charter 0.  Sun Valley Community School 2 Bonners Ferry 1. 

For the girls, Buhl took the win in overtime 1 to 0.  In 2 overtimes it was a tie with 2 each for CDA Charter and the Sun Valley Community School.  Twin Falls took the win over Wood River 3 to 1 Sugar Salem over Buhl 4 to 0 In Two Overtimes it was Twin Falls and Hillcrest with 2 each.  Marsh Valley over the Sun Valley Community School 2 to 0. 

WEATHER

Monday:  A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. West southwest wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Monday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 33. West wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. West wind 11 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 51.

Wednesday Night:  A slight chance of rain and snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday:  Rain likely, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night:  Rain likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday:  A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Saturday:  A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 46.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 25.

Sunday:  Sunny, with a high near 46.

News, Sports & Weather for October 25th

Robert Lange has been charged with second-degree murder of Alejandro Paredes-Hurtado who was beaten and left on an Idaho Falls Street last Saturday. In court the judge raised Lange’s bond from $100,000 to $150,000.  Allegedly the victim was punching a car window. When the suspect told him to stop, he allegedly came toward him.

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