Thursday 012623

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador this week questioned the legality of what he called a “dangerous” and “suspect” LGBTQ+ rights policy that’s already in place at about a third of Idaho’s school districts and charters.   That policy came into the limelight when attendees at a Jan. 9 Caldwell School Board meeting threatened board members over the draft of a potential policy, which would establish rights regardless of sexual orientation.  Labrador said this proposed policy appears to violate Idaho law.

Police say a 20 year old Boise man died yesterday evening when he stepped into traffic along I-84 just after 6 last night near Boise.  He was eastbound and was struck by a car.  He died at the scene.  Traffic was blocked for about 3 hours for the investigation.

State superintendent Debbie Critchfield spelled out a few of her budget priorities Wednesday, deviating slightly from Gov. Brad Little’s blueprint. Critchfield and Little agree on K-12 spending goals. But Critchfield wants several items that didn’t make the cut with Little such as a boost in career-technical programs; learning materials to help reverse pandemic-related learning loss; money to offset the rising cost of bussing and mandatory training for local school trustees.

Legislation has been introduced that would ask voters to change the state’s constitution to make it harder to get initiatives on the ballot.   If approved, it would ask voters to change the Idaho Constitution so that lawmakers could reenact tougher ballot initiative rules that were thrown out by the Idaho Supreme Court in 2021.  The tougher ballot initiative rules would require signature gatherers to get 6% of voters in each of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts within a short time span.

A bill that would remove the legal requirement for couples to obtain a marriage license from their respective county recorder’s office will be printed for the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee to consider.  Supporters say if approved couples won’t need to ask the state for permission to get married. 

SPORTS

A new leader for the Minico Spartins Football team is set to take the helm next fall.  That’s because Keelan McCaffrey who has been the head coach for the last five years will take over as head football coach for Centennial High school in Boise.  Minico went 38-13 and reached the playoffs in each of McCaffrey’s five seasons. Minico won the Great Basin Conference the past two seasons and reached the 4A state semifinals in 2022.

A new three acre park will be built in Twin Falls after local manufacturer Chobani donated 250-thousand dollars.  The new park is being called the Pole Line Eastland Trailhead Park.  The new facility will include a large parking lot, public restrooms and an outdoor fitness area.  The city has also set aside an additional 600-thousand dollars for the park although the total development cost hasn’t been finalized. 

In local games from yesterday on the high school level first for boys basketball, Burley defeated Minico 46 to 40.  It was Rockland 48 to Richfield 32.  For the girls, Murtaugh defeated Carey 48 to 28 and it was Oakley taking the win over Valley 56 to 37.

On today’s schedule, for the girls, Dietrich travels to Camas County, Hagerman goes to Richfield, Twin Falls travels to Wood River, Canyon Ridge to Jerome, Declo boards the bus to play Kimberly,  Minico heads to Mountain Home, and Burley goes to Preston.

For the Boys, Dietrich travels to Camas County, Oakley goes to Glenns Ferry, Valley visits Hansen, Lighthouse Christian travels to Murtaugh, Hagerman goes to Richfield and Castleford is on the bus to Shoshone.

WEATHER

Today:  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Tonight:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

 

Friday:  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. West southwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Friday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

 

Saturday:  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Saturday Night:  A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

 

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 25.

Sunday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4.

 

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 16.

Monday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 1.

 

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 18.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3.

 

Wednesday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 23.