Copyright 2023 - Lee Family Broadcasting

Tuesday 083023

 

Today voters decide on school funding.  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. 

A 31 year old Jerome woman died after the vehicle she was driving crashed into a concrete wall, telephone poll and rolled.  Police say the accident happened on U.S 91 just south of Reservation road in Bannock county just before midnight yesterday.  Travel on the road was shut down for 4 hours. 

A Boise police officer remains on the job after he was sentenced for a DUI.  Casey Hancuff was sentenced to a year of unsupervised probation.  His attorney said that his father had died shortly before his citation and that Hancuff had just discovered he has Stage 2 cancer.

 

The Boise Police officer who shot and injured a stabbing suspect in November of last year has been told his actions were justified.  Twin Falls county prosecutor Grant Loebs made that announcement last week.  The suspect, 30 year old Jeremy Waste was sentenced this month to up to 30 years in prison.

 

Idaho Power took a substantial leap toward cleaner energy with the groundbreaking of the Pleasant Valley Solar Project in Boise.  The Pleasant Valley Solar Project has a capacity of 200 Megawatts. The project will create 220 construction-related jobs.

 

An 18 year old Castleford High school student is facing charges of sexual exploitation of a child and possessing a weapon on school grounds.  Alejandro Hernandez-Sanchez is accused of enticing a 14 year old Cassia County girl to send a nude photo to him.

 

Washington state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and six other state treasurers are urging federal regulators to oppose a merger of the nation’s two largest grocery store chains.  They are warning of “significant adverse effects” if Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, is allowed to acquire Albertsons, the second largest, for $24.6 billion. They raise concerns about lower pay for store employees, the potential for layoffs, reduced ability for workers to organize and negotiate on working conditions, and consolidation and store closures leaving communities with fewer or no shopping options.

SPORTS

 

Boise State is set to begin their football season against the Washington Huskies this Saturday.  Washington enters the season as the 10th-ranked team in the nation, and the second-highest PAC-12 team.  The Broncos will travel to Seattle to face the Huskies, where Husky Stadium holds nearly 71,000 people.

 

From the soccer fields yesterday, for the boys, Burley took the win over Minico 1 to 0.  Canyon Ridge victors over Mountain Home 2 to 0 and it was Wood River 5 Twin Falls 0. 

 

For the Girls, Canyon Ridge defeated Mountain Home 5 to 3 and Twin Falls  took the win over Wood River 3 to 1

 

On the sports schedule today first for boys and girls soccer, Sugar Salem travels to snake river, Filer goes to Bliss, Declo takes on Gooding, Buhl is on the bus to Kimberly and Wendell travels to the Sun Valley Community School.

 

WEATHER

 

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. East wind 7 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Patchy smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 57. West southwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

 

Wednesday:  Patchy smoke. Sunny, with a high near 75. West wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Clear, with a low around 50. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

 

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

 

Friday:  Partly sunny, with a high near 87.

Friday Night:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.

 

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.

 

Sunday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Sunday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

 

Labor Day:  A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.

 

Monday 082823

Authorities say 43 year old Charles Christopher Holloway has been charged with first degree murder following the death of his roommate in Bellevue Thursday morning.  He is accused of shooting 40 year old Joshua Takacs.  It happened at 317 5th street just after 6 am.  Holloway was critically injured after being shot by authorities at the scene.  He is being held on million dollar bond.  At last check a go-fund-me account set up for Takacs for funeral expense was nearly 12-thousand dollars.

There were several fatal accidents over the weekend in southern Idaho.  A 34 year old male from Wendell died east of Twin Falls when he lost control of his vehicle traveling west on I-84 Saturday afternoon around 2:30. 

Five vehicles crashed killing one and seriously injuring several others just outside of Boise just before 11 Saturday morning.  That accident shut the westbound lanes down for four hours. 

Then, two people died a one-vehicle crash that occurred just past 2:00 a.m. on Saturday along golf course road in Jerome County. The westbound car was driven by a 24-year-old male from Buhl and traveling at a high rate of speed. He lost control of the vehicle, which rolled several times. The driver and his passenger, a 23-year old male from Jerome both died from their injuries.

A 30 year old Malta man died in an accident around 6:30 Friday morning in Cassia County.  Police say a 22 year old female from Rupert was westbound on I-84 when her vehicle blew a tire.  She lost control and the vehicle rolled. 

Smoke and fire damaged a Twin Falls home Friday evening.  Just after 5 fire crews were called to the home in the 800 block of Chase Drive.  The garage had flames showing.  The home suffered smoke damage.

Today is the first day Twin Falls residents can file for a seat on the city council.  There are 4 positions open.  Election will be November 7th.

Ammon Bundy has been ordered to stop making defamatory statements about St Lukes.  A Judge told him to remove videos and posts he made over the past year and a half.  Earlier he was ordered to pay the hospital 52 million dollars.  He said he has no intentions of doing that and says has legally transferred most all his assets to someone else. 

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 92. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. East wind 5 to 8 mph.

 

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 95. East wind 8 to 16 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Patchy smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

 

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 76. West southwest wind around 15 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Clear, with a low around 52.

 

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 84.

Thursday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 55.

 

Friday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

 

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 86.

Saturday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.

 

Sunday:  Isolated thunderstorms. Sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

Friday 082523

In Bellevue, one man is dead after being shot by his roommate.  The suspect is in critical condition after he turned the gun on responding police yesterday.  According to the state police and the Blaine County Sheriff’s office they were called to the 300 block of 5th street just after 6 am.

The Twin Falls county commissioners approved a 182 day moratorium on large scale energy projects.  It will allow them to review and place guidelines and regulations.  It does not have any control over federal lands such as lava ridge.

Yesterday some Idaho Republican legislators and law enforcement officers discussed potential legislation to curb employment of undocumented workers and to increase law enforcement’s search and seizure powers.  The discussions came during a public meeting of the Idaho Legislature’s Joint Committee on Federalism at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.

An Ada County judge could act within a week on a motion to disqualify Attorney General Raúl Labrador from suing the Idaho State Board of Education.  District Judge Jason Scott took no action after a 45-minute hearing yesterday.  On June 20, Labrador sued the State Board, claiming the board violated open meetings law when it discussed the University of Idaho’s proposed acquisition of the University of Phoenix in closed executive session.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $2.1 million in specialty crop block grant program funding in Idaho.  The grant program will provide funding for 16 projects in Idaho.  Projects announced to receive funding relate to bees and pollination, seed quality and health, sustainability and disease management.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of Latino students in Nampa’s school district. The group claims that the dress code policy against gang activity, which prohibits students from wearing anything that is “evidence of membership, is vague and gives school staff the discretion to ban any item they. 

Fire crews are starting to get some control over a wildfire burning on East Mountain roughly 10 miles east of Cascade. Coverage remains at 3,342 acres, at last check. The fire is burning near the East Fork of Clear Creek.   Recent rainfall of 1.5 inches kept fire activity to a minimum. Containment is up from 0% on Sunday to 6% on Thursday.

WEATHER

Today:  Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 91. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

 

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 89. East northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63. East wind 3 to 6 mph.

 

Sunday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 90. East wind around 6 mph.

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

 

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

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

 

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

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 57. Breezy.

 

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 78.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 51.

 

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 80.

Thursday 082423

Brian Kohberger’s legal team said they are waiving his right to a speedy trial.  That means the man charged with 4 student murders near the University of Idaho will not start October 2nd.  At the next scheduled court appearance on Sept. 1st the judge will hear the defense’s motion to dismiss the grand jury indictment based on arguments that the jurors did not receive proper instructions.

Last week, the State Board of Education submitted four motions designed to undercut Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s open meetings lawsuit.  A district judge will take up one of these motions this morning.  Labrador said the board broke state law when it discussed the University of Idaho’s proposed University of Phoenix purchase behind closed doors.  The board voted unanimously to endorse the $685 million purchase.

A 38-year-old man was sent to prison Monday after driving the wrong-way down a freeway and causing the death of a man in April 2022.  Tommy Ray Larkin was given a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years.  The crash killed 69-year-old Juan Berrocal-Gonzales on I-15 in Bingham County.  In court, Larkin repeatedly said he was unaware he was there to be sentenced and thought they were taking the case to a jury trial.

Eight people have been arrested by Boise police following a large scale investigation.  The charges are related to the sexual exploitation of children. Allegedly the men digitally targeted minors and tried getting children to meet with them for sexual purposes. It was found out that one suspect traveled across state lines to meet with what he believed was a minor.

It's one of the largest drug crackdowns Idaho has ever seen.  The investigation is over Methamphetamine and Fentanyl distribution.  Police say Idaho is an ideal distribution location for drug dealers due to the number of highways that lead to our cities.  During these investigations, law enforcement seized approximately 98 pounds of Methamphetamine, 21 Fentanyl pills, 531 grams of Fentanyl powder, 38 firearms, 3 bulletproof vests, and more than $121,615.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 6 mph.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East southeast wind around 6 mph.

 

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 7 mph.

Friday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.

 

Saturday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 90. East wind 3 to 8 mph.

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

 

Sunday:  Sunny, with a high near 88.

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 81.

Wednesday 082323

The western Idaho Fair in Boise had some delays in the first day of that event.  That’s because Boise was hit with ¾ of an inch of rain in 25 minutes yesterday evening.  There was a flood advisory and thunderstorm warning issued in Ada County, but was lifted before 9 p.m.

You just don’t hear this all the time.  Twin Falls County Deputies say a driver of a pickup truck reported his vehicle was submerged in the Salmon Dam reservoir at Grays landing.  The incident happened Monday morning.

One of the two splash pads in Twin Falls continues to undergo repairs.  That’s something that has been going on for most of the summer at the Sunway Soccer Complex.  Workers have been working to resurface the pad making it less slick.  They are also in the process of cleaning the pump.  The other one which is next to city hall on Main Avenue has been open throughout the season. 

Police are investigating a rollover accident that claimed the life of a 77 year old Nampa Man.  The accident yesterday afternoon just before 4 happened on State Highway 21 in Boise County.  The driver of the pickup towing a camp trailer and an ATV trailer drove off the right shoulder and struck a tree causing all three units to erupt in flames.  The driver died at the scene while his 77 year old female passenger was sent to the hospital with injuries.  The road was blocked for about 4 hours.

Good news for travelers using the Boise Airport.  Yesterday the ribbon was cut signaling the opening of the new East Parking Garage.  The site is 5 stories tall, has 1148 stalls and will increase the long term parking by 50 percent.

Fire crews are beginning to gain ground fighting the East Fire, burning about 10 miles east of Cascade.   Heavy rains dumped almost 1.25 inches of rain in the area, resulting in a 6% containment update. The blaze has been burning since August 16.

A reported road rage incident has led to a Caldwell man being arrested.  Police say 25 year Arren Hunter Trujillo has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault, injury to property and discharging a weapon into a car with someone in it.  The incident allegedly happened on Sunday.

WEATHER

Today:  Sunny, with a high near 84. Light and variable wind.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Light and variable wind.

 

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. East northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

 

Friday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.

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

 

Saturday:  Sunny, with a high near 87.

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

 

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

Tuesday 082223

 

Talks resume today between the union workers and Amalgamated Sugar Company.  On Friday the union rejected the most recent contract revision.  A strike would affect over 17-hundred workers across all of the factories and would also affect growers in Southern Idaho.

 

If you’re planning one last summer getaway for Labor Day weekend, you’re not alone.  According to new data by AAA, domestic bookings for everything from Cruises, Flights and Hotels are up 4% from a year ago, and international bookings are up 44%.  AAA says that the busiest times on the road will be Thursday.

 

An audit into the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s distribution of grant funds to help children deal with the after effects of the pandemic found that “lack of controls throughout the program” led organizations that received the grants “to use the funds for ineligible purposes and for ineligible groups.”  The release of the audit Monday comes as Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador faces three lawsuits over his demands for information from senior Health and Welfare department officials, an ex-department official and 36 organizations that received the grants.

 

Following an elevator fire at the Twin Falls county courthouse last Thursday county officials are considering some upgrades to the courthouse.  The building was constructed in 1909. 

 

After what appeared to be a salmon shark that washed up on the shores of the Salmon River near Riggins, Fish and Game offices began getting phone calls.  After investigating, officers believe someone took the picture after dropping the fish in the area as a joke.  Officials say no sharks have been observed swimming up the fish ladders lately. 

 

At last night’s Twin Falls city council meeting the decision was made to terminate the city attorney Shayne Nope.  The decision as unanimous and no reason was given.  He will receive six months’ salary and benefits. 

 

A McCall man is dead and police say they are investigating it as a hit and run.  On Saturday night just before midnight officials responded to a bike path to find a man who was badly injured.  He later died at a nearby hospital.

 

WEATHER

 

Today:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Light south southeast wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Tonight:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm after midnight.

 

Wednesday:  Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 59. South wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

 

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 86. Light and variable wind becoming north northeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

 

Friday:  A slight chance of showers before 7am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.

 

Saturday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Saturday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

 

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

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

 

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