Tuesday 032823

Twin Falls sheriff deputies arrested a 23 year old man after discovering he had over one million dollars’ worth of drugs in his car.  On Sunday authorities stopped Jorge Morales Martinez of Chihuahua Mexico on Pole line Road near Parkview drive.  He faces trafficking charges involving Heroin, Meth and Fentanyl. 

Jerome’s former mayor Gerald Ostler passed away Friday.  The 88 year old also was the counties Coroner for a time. 

A Forest Service employee has been missing for two weeks after setting out on his snowmobile in Boise County.  Tyler Beyer left his Lowman home on Sunday, March 12, by snowmobile. On Monday, the Lowman Ranger District reported that Beyer didn't show up for work.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little vetoed a major property tax bill yesterday, calling on the Idaho Legislature to get the property tax issue right.  The Idaho Senate had already advanced a counter proposal that will be sent to the Idaho House of Representatives today.  Little opposed a section of the bill that would eliminate the March election date local school districts.

The Idaho Senate yesterday voted to pass a bill criminalizing gender-affirming healthcare for minors, one month after the state House passed similar legislation.   Doctors prescribing hormones or blockers could be charged with a felony and face prison time.

25 year old Dylan Wormsbaker of Twin Falls has passed away after spending a week in the hospital, following a motorcycle crash.  The incident happened at the intersection of Martin Street and Shoup Avenue West in Twin Falls.

Low-income renters in Idaho have less affordable housing options than in previous years, according the Idaho Asset Building Network.  The group says Idaho has 38 affordable rental homes for every 100 households with extremely low incomes a decrease from 2022 when there were 42.

Traffic on I-84 just outside of Jerome was slowed yesterday morning after an axle caught fire on a semi truck trailer.  Westbound traffic was diverted while crews worked to douse the flames. 

SPORTS

Soldier Mountain is giving ski and snowboarding enthusiasts two extra Saturdays this season to take advantage of the slopes.  Those days are April 1st and 8th, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The Mountain has more than 70 inches of snow at mid-mountain and 80 at the top.

Due to mandatory avalanche warnings on Howell Canyon Road, Pomerelle will be closed today.

In a facebook post, the managers of Pomerelle said the avalanche danger is NOT at Pomerelle. They plan to reopen tomorrow.

Minico High School is in search of a new boy’s basketball coach.  After four years, Brady Trenkle will step back from coaching and will focus on his role as Athletic Director. The Spartans made two state tournament appearances under Trenkle, and won the Great Basin title this past season. Minico won the consolation bracket at state in 2019.

The college of Southern Idaho Womens Basketball Season is over after the eagles lost their game in the final four Sunday.  Northwest Florida State took the win 69 to 56.  CSI finished their season with 31 wins and 3 losses.  This season was just the second time in program history the Golden Eagles made it to the semifinal round of the National Tournament.

From High School baseball yesterday there is one game to report.  Glenns Ferry defeated Idaho City 14 to 1.  In softball Glenns Ferry took the win over Idaho City 25 to 2. 

On today’s Schedule, first for Baseball, Filer travels to Declo. Burley goes to Minico.  Wood River heads to Twin Falls, American Falls travels to Wendell and there is a double Header scheduled as Gooding travels to Kimberly. 

On the softball schedule, Filer plays Declo, American Falls meets up in Wendell for a double header and Capital travels to Jerome for a double Header.  Other double headers include Pocatello traveling to Burley and Minico going to Kimberly. 

There is one Golf Meet with Declo, Hagerman, Oakley, Wendell, Gooding and Filer traveling to play at the Rivers Edge. 

WEATHER

Today:  A 20 percent chance of snow before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. East northeast wind 13 to 18 mph.

Tonight:  A slight chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday:  Rain and snow, becoming all rain after noon. High near 45. East northeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. West southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday:  A chance of snow before noon, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a west southwest wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Thursday Night:  A 30 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Breezy.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Saturday:  A chance of rain and snow showers before noon, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night:  Rain showers likely before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday:  A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 41.

Monday 032723

Two people died after a head on crash yesterday afternoon just before 5 in Bingham County.  Police say the accident occurred on I-15 and closed all southbound lanes for about three hours. 

Gov. Brad Little signed a bill allowing execution by firing squad, making Idaho the latest state to turn to older methods of capital punishment amid a nationwide shortage of lethal-injection drugs.  The Legislature passed the measure March 20 with a veto-proof majority. Under it, firing squads will be used only if the state cannot obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections.

A new bill designed to provide for a “tightly regulated system” of medical cannabis was introduced Friday morning in the Idaho House of Representatives.   Under the new Idaho Medical Cannabis Act, patients with a significant medical condition would be eligible for a medical cannabis card that would be valid for up to one year before renewal.

Republican legislative leaders missed their nonbinding target to wrap up Idaho’s 2023 legislative session on Friday.  Despite the late date, the Idaho Legislature has not yet passed most of the 2024 fiscal year state budget. The state’s largest budgets the K-12 public schools budgets and the Medicaid budget that has now been rewritten twice have not been taken up yet.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little will have the final say in whether Idaho’s presidential primary election is moved to late May. If passed into law, the bill would move Idaho’s presidential primary election back on the calendar from its current date on the second Tuesday in March until the third Tuesday in May.

Starting today, St. Luke’s Magic Valley and Wood River medical centers will require the use of guest badges.  Those arriving for lab testing, diagnostic imaging, other outpatient procedures and all visitors will need to obtain a guest badge upon entry.

Idaho’s unemployment rate fell slightly for the month of February, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.  Unemployment fell one tenth of a percent for an overall total of 2.6%.

The drought in Idaho could be over soon. Last month, most of Twin Falls and Cassia counties were listed as being in a severe drought, despite snowpack being well above normal. That has now been changed to moderate.

SPORTS

Saturday The College of Southern Idaho women’s basketball team faced off against No. 5 seed Blinn College. CSI capitalized with 36 bench points and shot 46.7% from the field to win 79-64 at the Rip Center in Lubbock, Texas.  CSI’s win over Blinn extends their winning streak to 19 games as they move one step closer to capturing their first national title.

On to High school baseball from Saturday, where Twin Falls, Burley, Jerome, Minico and Mountain participated in the Bucks Bag, tournament in Boise.    It was Meridian 11, Minico 1.  Mountain Home 10, Nampa 5, Borah 8, Twin Falls 6.  Burley 14, Nampa Christian 5 and it was Fruitland 9, Jerome 3

In softball action, Jerome, Gooding, Twin Falls, Burley and Canyon Ridge participated in the WTP Tourney, Caldwell.  It was LaGrande 17, Twin Falls 1 Then, Mountain View 12, Twin Falls 5.   Boise 18, Canyon Ridge 3.   Owyhee 21, Canyon Ridge 3.  In the second game, Owyhee 12, Burley 3. Then  Emmett 11, Burley 5.  In another double header it was  Gooding 9, Borah 7 in the first game then  Kuna 18, Gooding 2.  Then Kuna 10, Jerome 1.  Then Nampa 13, Jerome 3.

WEATHER

Today:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West southwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. East wind 11 to 17 mph.

Tuesday:  A 20 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 47. Breezy, with an east wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tuesday Night:  A chance of rain and snow before midnight, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 17 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Wednesday:  Rain and snow likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. East wind 11 to 16 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  A chance of rain before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday:  A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday Night:  A chance of rain and snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 48.

Friday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Saturday:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night:  Rain and snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday:  A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 45.

Thursday 032323

A 27 year old Buhl man died yesterday morning when the car he was driving collided head on with a Semi Truck hauling straw bales.  Police say the accident on US 30 happened just outside of Buhl around 9:30 am. 

A bill to provide state-funded private school grants appears dead for the 2023 session.  The abrupt move could also bring the Legislature’s protracted debate over school choice to a grinding halt.

Governor Brad Little vetoed HB 133, a bill that would have allowed parents to teach their kids to drive. On the same day, House Representatives tried to override the veto, but the vote 39-29, was not enough to overturn the governor's decision.  The Idaho transportation Department estimated the cost to the state would have been $96,000.

Documented Norteno gang member Ethan Alamaraz will spend 32 years in prison for first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated assault.  Almaraz was arrested on a felony warrant in October of 2021 after being indicted by a grand jury for his role in a Caldwell gang homicide that occurred on September 17th, 2021.

Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1129 into law, adding another $125 million to improve broadband infrastructure throughout the state as part of his “Idaho First” plan. A total of $225 million in new funding for broadband expansion in Idaho could be added if approved.

The Idaho House of Representatives unanimously voted to pass a bill that would establish a process to shield the home addresses and telephone numbers of judges and their families from public disclosure.    If passed into law, it would allow judicial officers to submit an application to have public agencies exempt their street address and telephone number and those of their family members from public disclosure.

22 year old Angeleah Cryts of Twin Falls is facing grand theft charges following multiple burglaries reported in Twin Falls and Filer.  In one of the burglaries, a safe containing 10-thousand dollars was missing along with documents, handgun and tools.  Some items were found after being advertised on facebook marketplace. 

SPORTS

Head Coach of the College of Idaho Men’s Basketball team Colby Blaine is now the newly named NAIA Men’s Basketball National Coach of the Year.  Coach Blaine took the team to a national title last weekend.   The Yotes beat Indiana Tech, 73-71, in Saturday’s NAIA championship.  The championship marks the second one in program history, first since 1996 when the school was known as Albertson College and took home a NAIA Division II Championship.  College of Idaho finished the 2022-23 season on a 36-game-win streak after losing their first contest of the season.

On today’s high school baseball schedule it’s the bucks bag tournament in Boise with Twin Falls, Burley, Jerome, Minico and Mountain Home Participating.  Minico plays Caldwell at Ridgeview at 10:30.  Minico then plays Ridgevue at 1.  Mountain Home takes on Nampa Christian at Timberline at 10:30.  Then, Mountain Home plays Century and Jerome takes on Vallivue.  Twin Falls plays Blackfoot at 1 at Skyview.  Twin Falls then plays Skyview at 3:30.  Burley plays Homedale at 3:30 in Nampa, Burley then plays Nampa at 6.  Filer takes on Marsing at 1 in the Nyssa Oregon Tournament. 

WEATHER

Today:  Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. South southeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tonight:  Rain showers likely before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Breezy, with a southwest wind 8 to 13 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday:  A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy, with a west wind 26 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 24. Breezy, with a west wind 21 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

Saturday:  A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy, with a west wind 22 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Breezy.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 20.

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28.

Tuesday:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday:  A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday 032223

Idaho’s Joint Finance And Appropriations committee has advanced Governor Brad Little’s recommendation to bolster the rainy day funds and pre pay the fire suppression fund.  $61.7 million will go the rainy day funds 68.7 million will go to the wildfire fund.

The Idaho House of Representatives narrowly killed a bill Tuesday that would have eliminated registered voters’ ability to sign sworn affidavit to verify their identity and vote in elections. It would have repealed a section of Idaho law that allows registered voters to provide their name and address and complete a signed, sworn affidavit attesting to their identity instead of presenting photo identification.

In a 32 to three vote, the Senate cleared the way for a tax relief bill sending it on the governor’s desk.  It would provide up to 355 million in property tax relief.

The judge in the Lori Vallow Daybell murder case has dropped the death penalty option.  The defense filed a motion said there was late discovery given past the deadline.  Mental status and media saturation was also part of the request. 

The city of Twin Falls agreed to renew its minimum revenue guarantee with SkyWest for the second quarter of 2023.  Under the agreement, SkyWest must earn $188,775 from operating its daily service from the Magic Valley Airport to Salt Lake City. Any amount that revenues fall short, the city and the county will split evenly.  Airport Director Bill Carberry said he anticipates writing a check for almost the full $200,000.

A federal judge paused the Biden administration’s waterway protections in Texas and Idaho as Republicans across the country challenge the environmental regulations as vague and argue the rules would create economic burdens.   Roughly half of all U.S. states are taking part in lawsuits challenging the rule.

The possibility of a third crossing for the Snake River Canyon is being discussed by Twin Falls, Jerome and the Filer highway district.  The cost of a third crossing is expected to reach in the hundreds of millions of dollars. 

SPORTS

The college of Southern Idaho Golden Eagle mens basketball season is over.  The Number 1 Ranked Team lost to the Number 2 ranked Vincennes university of Indiana in the second round of the NJCAA championships 75 to 70 in Hutchinson Kansas last night.  The Golden Eagles, playing for the first time in 19 days since loosing to Snow College in the Region 18 Tournament in Twin Falls ended the season with  29 wins and 2 losses. 

In local high school baseball games from yesterday, Wendell took the win in the first game of a double header over Firth 15 to 5.  In the second game, Firth took the win 14 to 8.  Columbia overpowered Mountain Home 13 to 3.  The only local softball game was cancelled with Mountain Home and Columbia. 

There are no local high school baseball or softball games on today’s schedule.

WEATHER

Wednesday:  Snow showers likely before noon, then scattered rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 44. East wind 9 to 16 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 30. South southwest wind around 8 mph.

Thursday:  Rain and snow showers likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. Light and variable wind becoming west 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night:  Rain and snow showers likely before midnight, then a chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south southwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Breezy. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Breezy. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday:  A slight chance of snow showers before noon, then a chance of snow after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 38.

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

Monday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Tuesday:  A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday 032123

A complicated property tax overhaul is headed to Gov. Brad Little’s desk.  After an hour’s debate, the Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 292 which promises up to $355 million in immediate property tax cuts.  The bill promises to provide about $100 million to schools. It would also eliminate the March school election date. Last week, school districts asked for $1 billion in ballot measures; about $275 million of the proposals passed.

Mountain Rides will start up their shuttle service between the Wood River valley and Twin Falls next month.  The company discontinued service in January.  Now they will be using a van instead of a bus and will run only when a ride is booked. 

Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1129 into law today, adding another $125 million to improve broadband infrastructure throughout the state as part of his “Idaho First” plan. Another $100 million is nearing legislative approval, for a total of $225 million in new funding for broadband expansion in Idaho.

Idaho drivers continue to see savings at the pump as economic fears drive down the cost of crude oil.  Today, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $3.62, which is five cents less than a week ago, seven cents less than a month ago, and 74 cents less than a year ago.

A complicated property tax overhaul is headed to Gov. Brad Little’s desk.  After an hour’s debate, the Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 292 which promises up to $355 million in immediate property tax cuts.  The bill promises to provide about $100 million to schools. It would also eliminate the March school election date. Last week, school districts asked for $1 billion in ballot measures; about $275 million of the proposals passed.

Idaho is poised to allow firing squads to execute condemned inmates when the state can’t get lethal-injection drugs, under a bill the Legislature passed Monday with a veto-proof majority.  Firing squads will be used only if the state cannot obtain the drugs needed for lethal injections.

The Ada County Coroner has identified the man involved in a suspicious incident on Interstate 84 this past weekend.  25-year-old Victor Lindsey of Twin Falls died at the scene after allegedly exiting a moving vehicle.  A 23-year-old Twin Falls woman was the driver.  The incident occurred Sunday morning on eastbound I-84 in Boise.

SPORTS

Tonight the college of southern Idaho will take on a team that can match history with the eagles.  They will play Vincennes college of Indiana.  The 5:30 game will be the Eagles first game since March 2 where they lost to Snow College in the Region 18 tournament.  Yesterday, 15th-seeded Vincennes College rolled to a 70-57 win over No. 18 Trinity Valley Community College of Texas in the opening round of the 24-team tourney in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Only a handful of high school baseball games on schedule for today.  For Baseball, Wendell travels to Firth for a double header while Columbia visits Mountain Home.  For Softball, Mountain Home travels to Columbia for a double header.

WEATHER

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 6 to 15 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night:  A chance of rain before midnight, then rain and snow. Low around 31. Blustery, with an east northeast wind 18 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Wednesday:  Rain and snow showers likely before noon, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 44. East wind 9 to 15 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  A 20 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West southwest wind 11 to 14 mph.

Thursday:  A 50 percent chance of rain after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday Night:  Rain likely before midnight, then a chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Friday:  A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. Breezy.

Friday Night:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. Breezy.

Saturday:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 37.

Saturday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Monday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 42.

Monday 032023

Police are investigating what they are calling a suspicious incident that happened yesterday morning just east of Boise in the eastbound lanes of I-84.  Authorities say a 23 year old woman from Twin Falls was driving when her passenger a 25 year old male also from Twin Falls, opened his door and exited the vehicle while it was in motion.  He died at the scene.   

A 16 year old Idaho Falls girl won a ticket to the next rounds of American Idol on national TV last night.  Paige Anne is headed to compete in Hollywood after performing Pink’s hit What About Us.   Before she sang, she shared her specialty Sour Patch Snow Cones with the three judges.  Judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie approved of Paige Anne’s audition, while Katy Perry said she was not ready.

A few Idaho state senators from both major political parties said in a committee hearing that they can’t support an existing bill to criminalize all gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth but the committee’s Republicans were open to supporting an amended version.  Committee members who support the intent of the bill said they’re concerned about allowing medical care that might permanently change a minor’s body.

Two different organizations representing young people in Idaho announced they have filed lawuits challenging a new law that Gov. Brad Little recently signed that eliminates student IDs as an acceptable form of identification for voting.  Before Little signed the law, current student IDs were accepted at the polls.

Idaho gas prices have dipped slightly this week, and the Gem State recently fell out of the Top Ten for most expensive fuel now at #11.  Idaho’s average price for a gallon of regular is $3.64 per gallon, which is four cents less than a week ago.  The national average is $3.46 per gallon, which is a penny less than a week ago.  Meanwhile, the cost of crude oil has plummeted by more than 10% this week. 

Traffic was backed up on I-84 west of Mountain Home just after midnight Saturday.  Police say a 34 year old female from Mountain Home died when she lost control and her vehicle overturned.

SPORTS

Since mid-January, the College of Idaho men's basketball team has been tabbed as the best in the land. The Yotes made it official Saturday night, taking down Indiana Tech 73-71 to win the NAIA National Championship. This year's run under Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year Colby Blaine has been nothing short of remarkable. The Yotes only lost their first game of the season back in November 2022, and ended the title campaign on a 36-game winning streak.

With spring approaching, Saturday was the last day of operations at Magic Mountain. The resort posted on Facebook it’s closing due to various reasons, including a family emergency and no water at the lodge.

From the local baseball diamonds on Saturday on the High school level, Olympus defeated Burley 8 to 0 in the St George Utah tournament.  Then Burley defeated Murray 7 to 6.  Gooding took the win over South Fremont 9 to 8.  Canyon Ridge took the win over Caldwell 13 to 12.  Marsh Valley outlasted Kimberly 13 to 7.  Twin Falls took the win over Highland 10 to 9.  Twin Falls defeated Rocky Mountain 3 to 1.  Columbia were victors over Minico 9 to 2. In a double Header Homedale defeated Filer 12 to 2 and 21 to 3.  Wood River took the win over Vallivue in their first game 11 to 1.  Vallivue turned it around for the win in the second game 5 to 4.

In softball games Saturday, Canyon Ridge 17 over Caldwell 4.  In a double header Homedale took the win over Filer 8 to 6 then Filer took the win over Homedale 21 to 16.  In another double header Century defeated Jerome 18 to 4 in the first game.  Then Jerome turned it around and defeated Century 16 to 15 in game 2.  Gooding defeated South Fremont 4 to 3. 

WEATHER

Monday:  Showers. High near 45. Light and variable wind becoming west 9 to 14 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. West southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Tuesday:  A slight chance of rain and snow showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. West southwest wind around 11 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday Night:  A chance of rain and snow showers before midnight, then snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday:  Snow showers likely before noon, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Wednesday Night:  A chance of rain and snow showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday:  A slight chance of snow showers before noon, then a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Friday:  A 50 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 44.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 39.