Friday 072922

A crash in Minidoka County has claimed the life of a 48 year old Murtaugh man.  Police say the driver of a Quad failed to yield at a stop sign 800 north and 100 west and collided with another vehicle.  The accident happened just before 4 yesterday afternoon.

The federal government is pledging $401 million in grants and loans to expand the reach and improve the speed of internet for rural residents, tribes and businesses in remote parts of 11 states including Idaho.  U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said it will benefit from the ReConnect and Telecommunications Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee programs.

Another internet option is heading to about 32-thouand residents of Twin Falls, Burley and Jerome.  TDS telecommunications is working to bring Fiber Optic cable to the area.  The multiyear project will deliver up to 2 gigabyte per second download and upload speeds to the residents who sign up for the service.

Trail closures have been announced in the Salmon Challis National forest because of the Woodtick fire that has burned 1814 acres.  Meanwhile the Moose Fire has now grown to more than 40,000 acres but is 15% contained.  The residents at Camas Creek are on notice to prepare to evacuate.

The gates at magic Dam will soon be closed.  The Fish and Game said that effective yesterday; the bag and possession fish limits will be removed on portions of the Big Wood River below the dam.  The order also includes the Richfield Canal from the upstream point of diversion.

Traffic is moving again this morning after a crash that happened around midnight on I-15 in Northern Utah near the New Plymouth exit.  Traffic was being diverted for about 3 hours.

Idaho officials are looking to expand the number of participants in auctions for state lands and potentially bring in more money by allowing remote bidding.  On Aug. 13 the auction in Coeur d’Alene will be for 10 cottage sites at Priest Lake in northern Idaho and an auction near McCall.

SPORTS

Boise State University and men's basketball head coach Leon Rice have reached an agreement on a new five-year contract, director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey announced Wednesday. The agreement is subject to approval from the Idaho State Board of Education.  Rice will receive a $150,000 salary increase for the upcoming year, making his salary for the 2023 fiscal year $900,000. In the remaining four years of the contract his salary will increase by $50,000 each year. He will have the opportunity to earn up to three one-year extensions, each of which would also carry a $50,000 annual salary increase.

WEATHER

HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 9 PM MDT SUNDAY.  Temperatures up to 102 expected.

 

Today:  Areas of smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.

Tonight:  Patchy smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.

 

Saturday:  Patchy smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night:  Patchy smoke. Clear, with a low around 66. West wind 7 to 9 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

 

Sunday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Sunday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

 

Monday:  Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Monday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.

 

Tuesday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 88.

Tuesday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

 

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 86.

Wednesday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

 

Thursday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.