Wednesday 072623

Without actually naming businesses, President Joe Biden recently took aim at grocery consolidation.  Kroger hopes to buy Albertsons in a $24.6 billion deal. Biden said that the Ag Department will make sure large corporations cannot artificially raise food prices through price fixing and price gouging.

The State Board of Education’s hired attorney wants a judge to toss Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s open meetings lawsuit against the board.  Labrador’s arguments against the State Board and its closed-door meetings to discuss the University of Idaho’s plans to acquire the University of Phoenix needlessly undermine the people’s trust in government the board attorney said.  A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for Aug. 3.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources won’t be shutting off the water for hundreds of groundwater users pumping off the Eastern Snake Plan Aquifer in Idaho at this point in the summer.  Last week, Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Gary Spackman found that there was no water demand shortfall for surface water users.

Bryan Kohberger's defense team was required to submit an alibi for the defendant for the night that four students at the University of Idaho were murdered. That deadline was Monday, but court documents show Kohberger has chosen to remain silent.

A federal judge on Tuesday vacated the military conviction of Bowe Bergdahl, a former U.S. Army soldier who pleaded guilty to desertion after he left his post and was captured in Afghanistan and tortured by the Taliban.  The ruling from the U.S. District Judge says that the military judge, failed to disclose that he had applied to the executive branch for a job as an immigration judge, creating a potential conflict of interest.

Planned Parenthood bought advertising space at six different billboard locations throughout western Idaho.  The billboards are a direct response to an increasing number of Idaho patients who are unsure if they can legally leave the Gem State for an abortion procedure. The billboards state it is legal. 

WEATHER

Wednesday:  Patchy smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 94. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. South southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 61. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 93.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Saturday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

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

Sunday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 60.

Monday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

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

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Tuesday 072523

More than a year after anti-government activist Ammon Bundy and his supporters swarmed a Boise hospital, prompting a shutdown that diverted ambulances to other hospitals, a jury ordered Bundy, his associate Diego Rodriguez and a network of groups to pay $52.5 million in damages.

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.7% in June, slightly above May's 2.6%, according to the Idaho Department of Labor.  Total employment increased by 1,058 to 938,529 while unemployment increased by 720 to 25,717.   Twin Falls experienced decreases of 0.2%.

People driving through Meridian may have recently noticed cameras fixed to traffic signals or streetlights.  The cameras capture and read the license plate of the vehicles driving through. The cameras are also connected to the National Crime Information Computer that helps identify wanted out-of-state plates. 

Idaho mountain climber Braydan Duree of Kuna died after falling about 50 feet from a jagged peak in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park.  His body was recovered by a helicopter.

Thursday, a judge will consider a motion on modifying release orders of Jerome County Prosecuting Attorney Brad Calbo is faces felony charges while in Oregon last month.  The victim works in the Jerome County Judicial Annex, and as a condition of his release from jail, Calbo was ordered to stay away from the victim’s place of employment, meaning Calbo has essentially been locked out of his job.

New court documents show 54-year-old Jeffery Noble from Meridian allegedly harassed and threatened five councilmembers and the Caldwell mayor between 2019 and this month.  Police arrested Noble on July 19^th.

This morning recovery efforts continue after a man who went underwater Sunday on Lucky Peak Reservoir. 35 year old Rodolfo Gomez Thomas had jumped into the water without a life preserver after his daughter had flipped over in an innertube and was experiencing a panic attack.

WEATHER

Today:  Patchy smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 92. West southwest wind 9 to 13 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 64. West northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 92. South southwest wind 8 to 18 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Saturday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Saturday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Sunday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

Sunday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Monday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Monday 072423

A Head on crash in Minidoka County has claimed the life of a Kimberly man and sent another driver to the hospital by air ambulance.  Police say the accident happened Saturday afternoon just after 2 on Highway 25.  A Hay Hauler was westbound driven by a 41 year old Heyburn man when a 68 year old man driving a cargo truck crossed over the center line crashing head on.

The civil case against Ammon Bundy is in the hands of the jury.  Prosecutors say that in March of 2022, Bundy organized protests in front of St. Luke's Hospital to protest a baby being taken from his mother.  It was reported that the protests cost St. Luke's nearly $1.5 million.  The jury decides what Bundy must pay.

A fire involving two homes in Caldwell Friday hospitalized two men.  The fire on Red Robin Way started around 2:30 p.m. A vehicle was also damaged.

The Magic Valley Arts Council awarded over $44,000 in prize money during the Art & Soul of the Magic Valley Awards Ceremony on Friday, July 21 in Twin Falls City Park.  The 13th anniversary of this community-wide arts appreciation contest had 209 participants. Prize winner and recipient of $15,000 is Glendale, AZ artist LeAnn Hileman.

The families of two transgender teens, who are suing Idaho officials in federal court over a new law that would ban transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming care, have made a new motion in the lawsuit.  On Friday, the families filed for a preliminary injunction a move that asks the court to prevent the ban from going into effect until the lawsuit is settled.

E-commerce giant Amazon will soon open its first delivery station in Idaho Falls that will create over 150 new jobs.  An opening event for the facility will be held at 11 a.m. today in Idaho Falls.

Idaho government officials pledge to be transparent about how government agencies are spending millions of lawsuit settlement dollars to help combat opioid addiction.  The State has received $26 million from opioid settlement funds. Less than half of those funds went directly to the state, $8 million was set aside for cities and another $5.8 million was directed to seven regional health districts.

WEATHER

Monday:  Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. South wind 7 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. South southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tuesday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 93. West southwest wind 11 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

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

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

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 93.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 61.

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

Friday 072123

The most recent Jobs Report for small businesses reveals concerning trends impacting Main Street businesses throughout the United States.  Suzanne Budge, the Idaho state director responsible for monitoring hiring measurements said that wages are not regarded as the primary concern in Idaho. Idaho reached just under $25 an hour last year.  Despite raising wages, small businesses are struggling to find qualified workers due to issues of inflation, lack of access to the workforce, and supply chain problems.

Before the pandemic, lawmakers spent three years trying to rewrite Idaho’s school funding formula. Now, state superintendent Debbie Critchfield wants to finish the job in barely six weeks.  She and her State Department of Education senior team seek a formula that’s simpler, more responsive to local needs and aligned with the state Constitution’s mandate of a thorough, uniform system of public schools.  With this year’s $2.7 billion K-12 budget as the launching point, she wants to build next year’s numbers around a new formula.

A grand jury in Twin Falls has indicted 38 year old Jeffrey Michael Tyler who is accused of child sex crimes.  The alleged acts happened between December 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023 in Twin Falls County.

Time for another Twin Falls city budget for next year.  Through August 21^st, the city council will focus on things like a healthy, a safe and accessible community along with a responsibility.  The budget for the next fiscal year is projected at $88,400,548 which is an increase of nearly 10 million dollars from this fiscal year.   The taxes per $1,000 in value will remain at $4.78.

Attorneys representing Chad Daybell were expected to appear in court yesterday to argue motions ahead of their client's upcoming murder trial in 2024, before the hearing was abruptly canceled.  Daybell's legal team submitted a request for all exhibits, transcripts, and materials from the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, who was found guilty of murdering her children.  That caused Judge Steven Boyce to vacate the hearing.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game denied Colorado Parks and Wildlife's request to use the Gem State as a resource to reintroduce gray wolves back into Colorado.  They wanted to start trapping wolves in the gem state. 

WEATHER

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. East southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Friday Night:  Clear, with a low around 68. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Saturday:  A slight chance of thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. Southeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Saturday Night:  A slight chance of thunderstorms before 1am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 6 to 11 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

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

Monday:  A slight chance of thunderstorms after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Monday Night:  A slight chance of thunderstorms before 1am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 92.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Thursday 072023

Idaho ended the 2023 fiscal year June 30 with a $99.1 million budget surplus, money which will be swept into the property tax reduction package the Idaho Legislature passed earlier this year.  The $99.1 million surplus will be combined with $205 million in funding already earmarked for property tax reductions through House Bill 292 to total about $300 million in property tax reductions.

Look for more state police on Idaho roads through the end of the month.  In the last 10 days 15 people have died from crashes.  The latest fatality happened last night around 9 when a 39 year old man was killed in Bear Lake County when he lost control and crashed into a barrier.

Idahoans can weigh in on the state’s new plan to maintain and overhaul roads and other transportation infrastructure.  The ITD is asking for comment on its seven year draft Idaho plan which includes more than 1,000 projects that add up to $4.85 billion.

Due to drought conditions in North Idaho and warmer than normal temperatures across the state, most of North Idaho and southwest Idaho is at elevated risk for wildfire through September.  Thanks to a cool, wet spring, most of Idaho experienced a slower start to the fire season without a lot of significant acres burned.

More than 5,000 Idahoans can expect to see their federal student loans forgiven in the coming weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Education.  The Department and the White House said it will provide $39 billion in automatic loan relief to 804,000 federal student loan borrowers. The plan was announced two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to strike down the Biden administration’s student debt relief program.

City leaders from across the northwest filled the Boise Depot yesterday for the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit to discuss potential Amtrak service expansion through region.  Amtrak shut down the Pioneer Route connecting Portland to Salt Lake City by way of the Treasure Valley in 1997.

A decomposed body found the night of Thursday, July 13, in the Boise River in Eagle was that of a Boise man who was reported missing earlier this year.  Officials identified the body as that of 65 year old Eric Jorgensen. 

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Calm wind becoming south southeast 5 to 7 mph in the evening.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Friday Night:  Clear, with a low around 64. Northwest wind around 8 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

Saturday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. East southeast wind 6 to 14 mph becoming west in the afternoon.

Saturday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Sunday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Monday:  Partly sunny and hot, with a high near 97.

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

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62.

Wednesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.

Wednesday 071923

A warning has been issued by the Idaho Attorney General’s office.  A sextortion scammer recently impersonated the Idaho Internet Crimes against Children task force.  The scammer attempted to obtain personal information and enroll the victim in a court issued second chance program.  The AG’s office is asking anyone who receives one of these emails to contact the ICAC unit.

Several accidents in Idaho yesterday claimed the lives two people and police are looking for witnesses for a third.  A motorcyclist died along U.S. 12 in Idaho County when the female victim collided head on with a semi.  Another head on crash along highway 39 in Bingham County claimed the life of a 29 year old Pocatello man.  Police in Meridian are looking for witnesses to an accident that happened along the freeway near McDermott road.  A car flipped over a barrier and overturned just before 6 yesterday morning. 

Idaho Governor Brad Little has appointed Paul Woods to the tax commission.  Woods is founding and managing partner of Magic Valley Bioenergy.

The Idaho Lottery presented the largest single dividend to schools yesterday.  $82-million is a 12.3 percent increase from last year thanks to lottery sales hitting $422 million.

The community of Stanley could receive some funding through the Stanley workforce housing economic development imitative presented by Representative Mike Simpson.   Money would be used for up to 80 employees and their families.  The funding package heads to the floor of the U.S. house.

Idaho Governor Brad Little is looking for names in order to appoint a new state Public Defender Position.  The new position is the result of property tax relief legislation. It provides property tax relief by reducing county property taxes by the annual amount counties spent on public defense and transferring the ongoing cost of providing indigent public defense to the state.

In a recent survey, students in Idaho say they aren’t going to college at least right away.  Instead, many are choosing to go straight into the workforce, travel, volunteer, attend a trade school or join the military.  47% plan to go to college. 

WEATHER

Today:  Widespread haze before 7am. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96. South southwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable.

Tonight:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West northwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming southeast after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm.

Friday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Southeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Friday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63.

Saturday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.

Saturday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 101.

Sunday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70.

Monday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

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

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 97.