🏛️ STATE POLITICS & POLICY
💊 Medicaid & Rural Healthcare
As Idaho’s 2026 legislative session begins, healthcare is shaping up to be a major budget issue. About 7,600 Magic Valley residents rely on Medicaid expansion, and advocates warn thousands could lose coverage if it’s rolled back. A community forum called “Behind the Exam Room Door” will explore how state policy is affecting rural hospitals, providers, and access to care.
💰 State Revenue Outlook
A key legislative committee narrowly recommended a $5.8-billion revenue projection for Idaho’s next fiscal year, slightly higher than the governor’s estimate. The figure will guide lawmakers as they build a balanced budget amid rising costs and past tax cuts. Economists told legislators Idaho’s economy remains healthy, but revenue growth is slowing to more normal levels after pandemic highs.
🎓 Parental Choice Tax Credit
More than 3,300 families have already applied for Idaho’s new Parental Choice Tax Credit program, which offers up to $5,000 per student — or $7,500 for students with qualifying disabilities. Applications are first-come, first-served through March 15.
🚧 TRANSPORTATION
🛣️ I-84 Construction Near Jerome
Construction continues on Interstate 84 near Jerome as ITD widens the highway toward Twin Falls. Drivers should expect ongoing lane closures, traffic shifts, and reduced speed limits. Nighttime closures remain in place at the South Jerome Interchange for demolition and bridge work.
🏫 EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY
🔐 PowerSchool Data Breach
A massive PowerSchool data breach has affected dozens of Idaho districts — including Jerome. Hackers accessed sensitive student and staff records last winter, prompting a nationwide class-action lawsuit. Jerome School District chose not to join the suit but says PowerSchool has increased security and is offering free credit monitoring to anyone concerned.
🚔 CRIME & COURTS
⚖️ Twin Falls Felony Case
A Twin Falls man faces two felony lewd conduct charges after police say a child was exposed to pornography. Sixty-two-year-old Scot Roberts is set for his first court appearance Friday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for January 23.
🌲 PUBLIC LANDS & WILDLIFE
🦌 South Hills Road Closures
The BLM Burley Field Office is closing several South Hills roads to motorized travel through March 15 to protect mule deer winter range and sage-grouse habitat. The closure includes Dry Creek, Dry Gulch, Cherry Spring, Indian Springs south of Foothills Road, and North Cottonwood Creek.
🏀 SPORTS
🏫 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL — RESULTS
🏀 Boys Varsity
Carey topped Castleford 54–32, Dietrich edged Camas County 49–52, Sugar-Salem beat Filer 56–50, and West Side slipped past Declo 70–64.
🏀 Girls
Mountain Home beat Burley 71–64 in overtime — Ady Olmos led Burley with 26. Carey routed Castleford 77–33, Kimberly rolled past Buhl 56–20, Mountain Home again beat Burley 71–64, Oakley handled Glenns Ferry 59–23, Hagerman cruised over Shoshone 48–6, Jerome nipped Twin Falls 44–42, Raft River topped Valley 48–38, Richfield beat Hansen 37–27, and Rigby overwhelmed Canyon Ridge 75–21.
📅 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL — SCHEDULE
🕖 Tonight (Boys)
Ontario, Oregon travels to Wood River for a non-conference game at seven o’clock. Seven-thirty starts follow with Gooding at Buhl, Minico at Burley, Richfield at Hansen, Twin Falls at Jerome, Hagerman at Murtaugh, Glenns Ferry at Shoshone, Kimberly at Snake River (non-conference), and Raft River at Valley.
🕠 Tonight (Girls)
Ontario, Oregon is also at Wood River at five-thirty. Victory Charter visits Hagerman at six-thirty. At seven-thirty, Wendell is at Declo in conference play, and Minico travels to Pocatello for a non-conference matchup.
📅 Saturday (Girls)
Butte County at Murtaugh at two-thirty, Challis at Carey at five o’clock, and two seven-thirty games: Wendell at Malad (conference) and Gooding at Oakley (non-conference).
⛷️ WORLD-CLASS SKIING
🏔️ Sun Valley World Cup Finals
Sun Valley has officially been selected to host the FIS World Cup Finals again in 2027. The finals returned to the Wood River Valley last year for the first time since 1977, bringing the world’s top skiers — and thousands of fans — back to Bald Mountain. Stars like Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin competed in 2025, with Vonn earning silver in the Super-G and Shiffrin winning gold in the Slalom.
🦅 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
🔥 CSI Golden Eagles
Big night for CSI basketball. The 11th-ranked Golden Eagle men knocked off unbeaten and top-ranked Snow College 84–76 to stay perfect in Scenic West play at 4–0. CSI rallied after trailing at the half, dominated the paint with 11 blocks, and got huge performances from Ace Reiser with 24 points and Cooper Kesler off the bench with 20. The Golden Eagles are now 18–1 overall and host USU Eastern tomorrow.
On the women’s side, CSI forced 25 turnovers and cruised past Snow 72–49. Savannah Stoker led the way with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and six steals. The Golden Eagle women are also 18–1 overall and 4–0 in conference. Both teams host USU Eastern tomorrow.
🏀 Idaho vs Idaho State
Idaho State topped rival Idaho 76–68 at Reed Gym, its 10th straight home win over the Vandals. Jamison Guerra led with 21 points, and the Bengals’ second-half defense and rebounding carried them to victory.
Idaho’s women blew out Idaho State 81–68 in the first round of the Battle for King Spud. Ana Pinheiro led with 14 points, Debora dos Santos had a double-double, and the Vandals now hold a seven-point lead in the rivalry series.
🔵 Boise State
Boise State looks to snap a four-game skid tonight, hosting Colorado State at Extra Mile Arena. Tipoff is 8:30, with the series all tied at 18 wins apiece.
🌤️ WEATHER — MAGIC VALLEY
🌫️ Forecast Overview
Watch out for dense fog this morning around the Magic Valley, then we’ll clear out with a high near 40. Fog returns late tonight with temps dropping to the low 20s. The weekend looks bright and quiet — mostly sunny, highs in the low 40s. Next week stays dry with plenty of sunshine and highs climbing into the mid-40s.
📆 Detailed Forecast
Today: Widespread dense fog before 11am. Otherwise, cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming east around 6 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Areas of dense fog after 11pm. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 23. Light and variable wind.
Saturday: Areas of dense fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 42. Light and variable wind.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 23. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22.
M.L. King Day: Sunny, with a high near 42.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 46.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 44.
- Your Daily Briefing – 01/16/2026 - January 16, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 01/15/2025 - January 15, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – January 14, 2026 - January 14, 2026
