Monday 081923

The August 29 school elections are right around the corner and besides the $67 million in bonds and supplemental levies up for approval there is a recall election of two trustees in the West Bonner School District.  In Shoshone there is a 8-point 2 million dollar bond issue.  A 2/3 super majority is needed.  Castleford is asking for a 2 year 700-thousand dollar supplemental levy.  In Valley there is a 2 year 600-thousand dollar supplemental levy. 

The University of Idaho has spent more than $1.2 million in the aftermath of an off-campus quadruple homicide.  And as the university proceeds with its plan to tear down the murder scene, it will have to use some of its budget reserves to cover the costs.

Meanwhile, Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with the murders of four University of Idaho students, returned to court on Friday. It’s expected that the trial will center on DNA evidence.  The judge confirmed the trial will still take place this year.   If convicted Kohberger faces the death penalty.

It’s back to jail for Jerome county prosecutor Brad Calbo.  He was returned to the Lincoln County Oregon Jail after being arrested for violating a no-contact order at his home in Jerome last week.  His next court date is set for September 18^th.  Jerome county commissioner Charlie Howell has been quoted as saying they will hire another attorney whether Calbo bonds out or not.

Idaho officials say that a letter from federal regulators that says Idaho may have broken federal rules in how the state removed people from Medicaid this spring doesn’t paint a full picture.  Idaho’s 51% procedural disenrollment rate was the second highest in the country, just behind Texas, at 52%.

From student-led facilities to classical academies, and from new construction to expanded existing buildings, 11 new schools opening in the coming weeks will offer a diversity of contexts and instruction.  These schools add to the more than 700 schools in Idaho.  The latest local school to open is Gem Prep in Twin Falls.

Intermountain Gas said that an adjustment has been filed to reduce the rate customers are paying by 20-percent.  The Idaho PUC must approve the change.

WEATHER

Monday:  Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. High near 84. Breezy, with an east wind 10 to 15 mph becoming south 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph.

Tuesday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night:  A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 82.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 86.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 59.

Friday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Sunday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 90.

Friday 081823

Reported smoke in the elevator shaft of the Twin Falls county Courthouse caused those inside to evacuate yesterday afternoon.  The cause was the main motor that had failed.  The building is once again open but the elevator will be out of service for some time. 

Yesterday in a Gooding courtroom, a status hearing was held for Nicholas James.  He has been charged with the murder of Roger Driesel. The defense is contesting the findings of a report that their client’s mental condition is fit to stand trial.

Today the Joe Mama Car show kicks off in Jerome.  The event at the downtown city park in Jerome starts with a parade tonight from Con Paulos at 5.  The show averages nearly 400 cars a year.

The Bureau of Land Management said that the 106,000 acres of BLM-managed public lands in the Lava Ridge Wind Project area will continue being set aside from appropriation, meaning the lands cannot be sold or have mining claims filed under the public land laws for another two years.

Lamb Weston is in the process of significantly expanding french fry production capacity at its American Falls facility.  The $415 million-plus expansion project will increase capacity at the facility by about 40% and make it one of the largest frozen potato processing facilities in the world. Officials expect the $416 million dollar project to be completed by July.

Idahoans for Open Primaries is starting its signature collection drive tomorrow in hopes that a ballot initiative to end Idaho’s closed primary election will qualify to go before voters in the November 2024 general election.  Former Chief Justice of the Idaho Supreme Court Jim Jones will speak at the Boise kickoff event.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will continue to block Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” from taking effect while litigation over the law’s merits continues. The state law bans transgender women and girls from competing on female student athletic teams.

With federal student loans set to resume in October, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning Idahoans about potential scams targeting borrowers.  Some of the most common scam methods include claiming to arrange smaller monthly payments for a fee, claiming to negotiate loan forgiveness on behalf of borrowers for a fee or calling and posing as a loan servicer collecting on past due amounts and pressure borrowers to make payments over the phone.

WEATHER

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 93. South wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Saturday:  Patchy smoke. Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Saturday Night:  Isolated showers after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 67. South southeast wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday:  Scattered showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a high near 73. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday:  Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday:  A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

Wednesday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

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

Thursday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Thursday 081723

One man is dead following an officer involved shooting in Nampa yesterday.  It all started with a 911 call from St. Lukes reporting a patient had run away from the hospital.  The suspect was located in a parking lot where he charged at the officer who fired his gun.  This is the 9^th police shooting in Treasure Valley so far this year.

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador submitted his letter of resignation for his seat on the Central health District Board.  It’s effective at the end of the week.  The resignation leaves an open seat to represent Ada County.  The next appointment will be made by the Republican controlled Ada County commission.

Another person has drowned at The Drops in Shoshone.  The second incident happened Tuesday evening around 7.  This is the second time in 16 days someone has drowned in the area.  Authorities say the victim was a male teen.

Shoshone City Councilman Payson Reese died suddenly on Monday.  Reese was the Shoshone Chamber Director and had worked with the fire department.  He also organized the Lost N Lava Cowboy gathering.  He was 42.

Police are investigating an accident involving a motorcycle and a pickup that claimed the life of the cyclist.  Authorities say it happened on Caldwell Boulevard in Caldwell yesterday morning.  The victim was 62  years old and from Nampa.

Idaho Governor Brad Little has selected Annie McDevitt to be the District Judge in the fourth judicial district.  McDevitt has served the Fourth Judicial District as a Magistrate Judge since her appointment in 2018.

Idaho Fish and Game has received more reports this year of a non-native fish species in the Snake and Salmon rivers, prompting the agency to raise the alarm about potential impacts on struggling salmon and steelhead.  Officials said they’ve received numerous reports of walleye, a predatory fish from the Midwest, on the Snake River near Hells Canyon and on the Salmon River. The agency said signs point to more walleye on the way to Idaho.

WEATHER

Today:  Scattered showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy smoke. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tonight:  A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph.

Friday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Sunny and hot, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 7 to 11 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Breezy.

Sunday:  A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.

Sunday Night:  A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Monday:  A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.

Monday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Tuesday:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Tuesday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Wednesday:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

Wednesday 081623

The preliminary hearing for a north Idaho Man suspected of killing four of his neighbors has been waived.  Today’s hearing for Majorin Kaylor was vacated by the Shoshone County Court earlier this week.  He is accused of killing a family of 4 that lived next to him.  Court documents reveal Kaylor snapped after he told investigators Devin Smith exposed himself to Kaylor’s young children.  A motion hearing is set for September 13^th.

Tonight the Gooding pro rodeo kicks off with 4 days of events in the Andy James Arena.  The Gooding rodeo also hosts multiple world champions. These cowboys and cowgirls compete and are among some of the best athletes.

Today students return to schools in Twin Falls.  This year the district will be implementing two mental health care services.  School leaders say they hope to help those struggling with depression and anxiety or simply other mental health conditions in General.

Yesterday afternoon local officials cut the ribbon that signaled the re-naming of the Jerome County Judicial Annex.  It’s now going to be known as the Thomas H. Borresen Judicial Complex.  Judge Borresen served in Jerome County as a magistrate from October 1993 to October 2018.

At least 55,300 Idaho children have lost access to Medicaid health insurance since April as the state continues to disenroll people from the program after pandemic-era protections have ended, data recently released by the state health department shows.  Most of the kids that are part of the Medicaid Protection group were removed for not replying to the state’s requests for information.

The state is investigating an increase in human-caused fires as hot, dry conditions continue to present an elevated risk.  That’s what the director of the Idaho Department of Lands told Gov. Brad Little and other members of the Idaho Stand Board of Land Commissioners yesterday.  Through last week, 152 of the 198 fires reported within the Idaho Department of Lands protection area were caused by humans.  That compares to 46 fires caused by lightning.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Patchy smoke after midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight.

Thursday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Patchy smoke. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. South southwest wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 93. South southwest wind 6 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 92.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Sunday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Sunday Night:  A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 82.

Monday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Tuesday:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.

Tuesday 081523

For Idaho drivers, it’s been another week of rising gas prices, with no end in sight.  According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular in the Gem State is $4.06, which is a nickel more than a week ago and 15 cents more than a month ago.  Meanwhile, the national average currently sits at $3.85 per gallon, which is two cents more than a week ago and 28 cents more than a month ago.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch has introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate that would fully delist grizzly bears in the lower 48 from Endangered Species Act protections.  Risch introduced the Grizzly Bear Review and Resource Act shortly before Congress went on its summer recess.

After being sued Friday afternoon a second time by St. Luke’s, anti-government activist Ammon Bundy was arrested that evening on a contempt of court warrant stemming from his first lawsuit from the health system.   Bundy posted bail early Sunday morning and appeared in court in a temporary restraining order hearing yesterday to address the second lawsuit which alleges Bundy has made fraudulent property transfers to evade collection of $26 million in damages awarded to the hospital system.  At the hearing the judge ordered Bundy to not transfer any property over the next two weeks and limit their cash expenses to under $5,000.

The Cassia County fair is underway this week.  Tonight it’s the Motor rodeo.  Tomorrow morning the parade at 10:30 and the PRCA RAM rodeo hits the arena Thursday through Saturday.  Those attending are encouraged to wear purple Thursday for the Man-Up Crusade Night to create awareness about domestic violence, and wear pink on Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night for breast cancer awareness on Friday.

Two suspects in the beating death of a man in Caldwell on Aug. 1 have not been charged with murder, but they did record the beating on a GoPro, court documents say.  44 year old Jeremy Jones died on the way to the hospital after he was "pistol whipped," police say.  Court records say Kyle McGinnis and Richard Laine broke into Jones' home with a BB gun that looked like a sawed-off shotgun and began beating him over the head when he answered the door.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.

Wednesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.

Thursday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. South southeast wind 5 to 13 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 94.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 65.

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Sunday:  A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 84.

Sunday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Monday:  A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Monday 081423

If you travel on I-84 between Jerome and Burley expect some delays this week.  Construction is underway in much of the area.  In addition, the state will be seal coating from the Kimberly Hansen Exit to Ridgeway road.  Motorists will be slowed to 45 miles an hour and should expect some delays that could last 30 minutes. 

Ammon Bundy, the anti-government activist, has been arrested again in Gem County.  Bundy has had an active arrest warrant since mid-April after an Ada County judge found him in contempt of court for refusing to show up to legal proceedings for nearly a year over a civil lawsuit filed by St. Luke’s Health System.  His bail was set at $10,000. An Ada County jury sided with St. Luke’s last month, forcing him, his associate, Diego Rodriguez, and their respective business entities to pay the hospital $52.5 million.

No charges will be filed against a Heyburn Police officer who shot two dogs running along the freeway earlier this year.  Jerome Police conducted a independent investigation and said those involved were justified.

It appears that Amalgamated sugar company union workers will not strike.  A tentative agreement has been reached. Employees were unhappy with new union contracts that would freeze pensions for newer workers, have employees go through a two-tier pay raise, as well as unsanitary conditions concerning port-a-potties in 90+ degree weather.

Rescue workers were called to rescue a 50 year old female Saturday evening who had fallen while on a hike in the canyon.  It happened around 7:30 pm. 

31 year old Josue Edgar Carillo-Coranado of Gooding has been charged with 1^st degree murder following an investigation that began a year and a half ago.  On January 20, 2022, the body of then 21-year-old Edgar Leonel Torres-Ayala was found south of Wendell at 3300 South and 2093 East. 

36 year old Jedediah Mortenson of Jerome is facing 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a child.  Police found images following a cybertip from the attorney general’s office.  He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on August 18.

Two separate accidents have claimed the life of two people in the gem state.  A Rexburg man was killed following a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 20 in Jefferson County early Friday afternoon.  Then on Saturday, a 60 year old Caldwell man died when he lost control of his motorcycle near New Plymouth. 

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 93. East northeast wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 66. West northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.

Wednesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. South wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Thursday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Friday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

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

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Sunday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86.