Monday 050123

In two separate incidences a home and a barn were destroyed by fire over the weekend.  Saturday afternoon authorities say the barn at 2600 north and 3300 east in Twin Falls burned to the ground around 3pm Saturday. Some livestock inside died.  Then just before 7 Saturday a fire gutted a home in the 600 block of South Locust in Twin Falls.  No one was hurt and the cause for both are under investigation.

The State Board of Education is reviewing the Empowering Parents program saying some of the federally funded family education microgrants may have been used to cover ineligible purchases such as clothes, TVs, smart watches or household cleaning items. The $50 million Empowering Parents grants program is designed to help low-income households cover out-of-pocket education costs. Eligible households can receive up to $1,000 per child or $3,000 per family.

Governor Brad Little is saying Idaho has delivered more tax relief per capita than any other state while stopping scammers from stealing millions from Idaho taxpayers.  Thieves try to use stolen identities to file bogus tax returns so they can try to get refunds that aren’t theirs. The Idaho State Tax Commission stopped more than $29.7 million in tax refunds going to thieves so far this year, up 607% from last year. So far, the Tax Commission has intercepted nearly 3,400 fake income tax returns.

More than a dozen school districts and after-school and child care providers will have to gather and provide information to Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador by May 17, under a court decision.  Another 19 organizations may have to provide records as well, according to the court decision.

A new water methodology order issued April 21 by the director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources has left many area farmers unsure if they will be able to water their crops and irrigate their land this year.  The new order would mean groundwater users pumping on the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer would have their water curtailed, or shut off, if they do not have a mitigation plan in place.  The curtailment notice has been put on hold pending a hearing June 6 through June 10.

Governor Brad Little proclaimed May as Wildfire Awareness Month, and as the State of Idaho actively gears up for fire season, the Governor’s administration is teaming up with loggers to better fight wildfires in Idaho.

WEATHER

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. East wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Monday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. East wind 13 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 49. East wind 10 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Breezy.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Thursday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74.

Thursday Night:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday:  A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Saturday:  A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45.

Sunday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 68.

Friday 042823

Police in Twin Falls are investigating an attempted break-in at the Twin Falls Golf Club.  Authorities say early yesterday morning just after midnight, workers were closing up the shop when they heard breaking glass.  A large rock had been thrown and a vehicle had been backed up with the trunk open.  The employee engaged in a physical altercation with a man who escaped in his car.  Police are asking anyone who has information on this case to call them.

The defense team for the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students wanted one of the victims' surviving roommates to testify on his behalf. Her attorney filed a motion to fight a subpoena for her to appear at his preliminary hearing.  Now, both sides have reached a deal.  The attorneys for one of the surviving roommates and the public defender of Bryan Kohberger, the man suspected of stabbing four University of Idaho students last November, have come to an agreement.  The roommate will be interviewed by the defense in Reno, Nev., where she currently lives.

A Burley man drowned in a canal near Hazelton after apparently falling in.  Police say the body of 62 year old James Gallegos apparently couldn’t climb out due to the canal’s high concrete walls. 

The College of Southern Idaho is having an open house tomorrow.  It’s set from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and visitors are invited to pick up a map and passport guide at either the Falls Avenue or North College Road entrances, which will show visitors the activities to do around campus.   A few of the free activities include a petting zoo and face painting, and a zip line. The Herrett Center will be giving away free passes to the planetarium, and people can pick up a child’s book at the library. The event is part of Community College Month, being celebrated by more than 1,000 community colleges across the nation.

Idaho gas prices are now back above the national average.  Today’s average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.71, which is seven cents more than a week ago.  Meanwhile, the national average sits at $3.64 per gallon, which is a nickel less than a week ago.

SPORTS

From the local baseball diamonds yesterday, Canyon ridge defeated Jerome 10 to 8.  Declo said no to Gooding 13 to 7 and Glenns Ferry took the win over Garden Valley in a double Header 15 to 1 and 10 to 6.

In Softball games, Jerome outlasted Canyon Ridge 12 to 1.  Kimberly defeated Filer in a double header 8 to 5 and 15 to 2.  Gooding took the win over Declo 3 to 2.  And Glenns Ferry defeated Garden valley in a double header 16 to 4 and 18 to 10. 

On today’s High School Baseball schedule, Minico travels to Burley, Kimberly to Fruitland, Jerome to Canyon Ridge, Genns Ferry to Declo and in double header games, Buhl plays Homedale, Mountain Home goes to Wood River and Wendell heads to Nampa Christian.

For Softball, some Double Headers are set.  Minico traveling to Burley, Buhl to Homedale and Wood River to Mountain Home.  There’s one game with Canyon Ridge heading to Jerome.

On the track meet schedule, Wood River, Burley and Canyon Ridge will be part of the Tiger Grizz invite in Idaho Falls starting at 2.  Twin Falls, Minico, Kimberly and Jerome will participate in the Skyview Invite.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny, with a high near 73. East wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 43. East northeast wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.

Sunday:  Sunny, with a high near 84. East wind 9 to 14 mph.

Sunday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Breezy.

Monday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Tuesday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Wednesday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 79.

Wednesday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51.

Thursday:  A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

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 16^th 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.