Wednesday 081022

Sixteen Idaho cities have rejected a combined $700,000 in federal coronavirus rescue money, and one city that accepted $550,000 might have to return it if it doesn’t approve spending it.  It’s a small part of the $5.74 billion Idaho received in the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act. Hansen is leaving the most on the table at about $276,000. But Mayor Joe Ratto said he wants to give it another look now that it’s clear the money could be used for infrastructure projects.

The U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge this week to bar Idaho from enforcing its near-total abortion ban while a lawsuit pitting federal health care law against state anti-abortion legislation is underway.   Meanwhile, the Republican-led Idaho Legislature is asking for permission to intervene in the federal case, just as it has done in three other abortion-related lawsuits filed in state courts.

Idaho State Police is investigating a fatal vehicle collision yesterday afternoon just after 2 on eastbound I84, in Minidoka County.  A 2006 Ford Focus was traveling eastbound, driven by a 49-year-old woman from Lynnwood, Washington, where the driver lost control. The vehicle rolled multiple times.

Governor Brad Little and 14 other governors recently sent a letter to President Joe Biden expressing their disagreement with proposals from the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Education that may require institutions receiving federal funding to allow biological males to access women and girls’ locker rooms, bathrooms, and dorms.

The Idaho Army National Guard will hold a sendoff event for the families and friends of deploying 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team Soldiers at 10:15 this morning on Gowen Field.  More than 600 personnel from the Idaho National Guard’s largest unit will deploy to Southwest Asia.

Lights and Lasers is returning for their fifth year, but they’ll be moving.  Organizers say the event will be at Idaho Central Legacy Fields, In Filer, to create more space.

SPORTS

2021 NJCAA second-team All-American Kylie Baumert will finish her collegiate softball career at Boise State.  Baumert hit .433 over two full seasons at the College of Southern Idaho.. Baumert played prep softball at Twin Falls High School.  She has two years of softball eligibility remaining and chose the Broncos over Cal State Fullerton and Oregon State.

As we continue to look at the fall high school football programs locally, we turn to Twin Falls.  Ben Kohring returns for his third season as head coach.  He was an assistant coach for 13 years.  Kohring has taken the Bruins to the 4A playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but hasn’t been able to get out of the first round yet.   After starting 7-1 a year ago their lone loss coming by seven points to eventual semifinalist Pocatello, the Bruins dropped their regular season finale to Minico 26-19.  Twin Falls hit the road for the opening round of the playoffs, where they fell to Bishop Kelly 49-21, ending their season at 7-3 overall.

WEATHER

Today:  Scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight:  Scattered showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Southwest wind 7 to 13 mph becoming east after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

 

Thursday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. East wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east after midnight.

 

Friday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. East wind 7 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.

 

Saturday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91.

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

 

Sunday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

 

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Monday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

 

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 91.