📰 MAGIC VALLEY NEWS 📰

🚨 IMMIGRATION & LAW ENFORCEMENT 🚨

ICE Agreements Bill Advances 🚓
An Idaho House committee has advanced a bill requiring all local law enforcement agencies to apply for agreements with ICE. Supporters say it enforces immigration law, while sheriffs and police chiefs call it an unfunded mandate and an overreach.

“Brown Face” Backlash ⚖️
Idaho lawmakers are facing backlash after a man testified in what advocacy groups called “brown face” during a House Business Committee hearing on an E-Verify bill. Vice Chair Josh Wheeler allowed the testimony to continue, drawing criticism from civil rights groups demanding an apology.

💧 WATER & ENERGY 💡

Bear River Tensions 🌊
Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a tentative Bear River water agreement amid tensions over a proposed gas tax change. But Idaho Governor Brad Little says Idaho’s water “belongs to Idaho” and won’t be surrendered.

Hydropower Dispute ⚡
Governor Brad Little is condemning a federal judge’s ruling ordering Columbia River dams to generate less hydropower. He calls it a direct hit to Idaho agriculture and says Idaho will fight the decision.

🏛️ STATE POLITICS 🏛️

Medicaid Cuts in the Works 💊
Idaho lawmakers are drafting bills to cut Medicaid spending, including reducing home care services for people with disabilities and repealing Medicaid expansion. The proposals could bring major changes.

Benji’s Law Moves Forward 👶
A bill called Benji’s Law is moving forward at the Idaho Legislature following the death of a 12-day-old Nampa baby last December. The measure would require faster child welfare response times in high-risk infant cases.

District-Based City Elections 🗳️
A bill moving through the Idaho House would require Twin Falls and nine other cities over 25,000 people to elect city council members by district instead of at-large. Supporters say it improves local representation, while opponents warn it could increase costs and complicate elections.

State Superintendent Race 🎓
Former Idaho Teacher of the Year Dr. Becky Sundin is running for State Superintendent as a Democrat, challenging incumbent Debbie Critchfield. Sundin says she’s focused on supporting public schools.

🏫 EDUCATION 🏫

New Cassia Superintendent 📚
Cassia County School District has named Dr. Scott Root as its next superintendent starting July 2026. The Burley native brings decades of school leadership experience.

⚠️ HEALTH & CONSUMER ALERTS 🛒

Cottage Cheese Recall 🧀
The FDA is alerting Idaho shoppers to a recall of Great Value cottage cheese sold at Walmart. The products may not have been fully pasteurized.

💡 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 💡

Twin Falls Utility Billing Error 💧
The City of Twin Falls is correcting a utility billing software error that affected about 3,000 accounts. No extra payments were taken, and late fees and shutoffs are temporarily on hold.

🏀 SPORTS 🏀

🏆 DISTRICT TOURNAMENT ACTION 🏆

5A – Burley Stays Alive 🐾
Burley bounced back in a big way, knocking off Minico 64-50 on the road to stay alive. The Bobcats now head to the IHSAA state play-in game Saturday at 1 p.m. at American Falls High School, where they’ll face Blackfoot — a team that beat them earlier this season by seven.

3A – Declo vs. Wendell 🔥
Declo and Wendell are set for another showdown Saturday night at 7 in Wendell. The Hornets fell to Soda Springs 61-55 in overtime in the district title game, while Wendell rolled past West Side 67-44 behind the Swainston brothers. Declo already handed the Trojans one of their only losses this season — now it’s winner to state.

2A – Murtaugh State-Bound 🚩
Murtaugh is state-bound for the first time since 2011 after rallying past Hagerman 48-44. Big plays from Broxton Widmier and McCoy Jensen sealed it late. The Red Devils join Valley as District IV reps.

5A – Canyon Ridge Eliminated ❌
Canyon Ridge saw its season end with an 81-74 loss to Rigby, just days after upsetting top-seeded Thunder Ridge.

🦅 COLLEGE BASKETBALL 🏀

CSI Men 🦅
The third-ranked College of Southern Idaho men held off a tough USU Eastern squad 71-64 in SWAC play. Every time CSI built a double-digit lead, the Eagles answered — going a perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line and winning the rebounding battle. Cooper Kesler led the way with 20 points, Ace Resier added 18, and the Golden Eagles now face top-ranked Snow College Saturday with the regular season title and Region 18 hosting rights on the line.

CSI Women 👟
Sixth-ranked CSI clinched the SWAC regular season title with a 66-63 overtime win. Ashley Garner forced OT late, and Samara Morrow sealed it at the line. Savannah Stoker finished with 19 and 13 boards as CSI gets ready for Snow before hosting Region 18.

Idaho Vandals 🐺
The Idaho Vandals men rolled past Northern Arizona 78-58 in Moscow, completing the season sweep and locking up their first winning season since 2017-18. Jackson Rasmussen led with 19 points, and the Vandals close out their final home weekend Saturday against Northern Colorado at 1 p.m. on Senior Day.

The Vandal women made it 13 straight wins, cruising to an 85-57 victory at NAU. Idaho is now 24-5 overall and can clinch the Big Sky regular season title Saturday at 3:30, part of a Senior Day doubleheader in Moscow.

Idaho State Women 🐅
Idaho State women’s basketball is back in Big Sky action Saturday at Weber State. The Bengals sit at 18-9 overall, 11-5 in conference, and have won 15 of the last 17 meetings with the Wildcats. Tasia Jordan leads ISU at 15 points per game, while Kacey Spink continues to climb the record books in rebounds and steals. Weber State comes in 9-20 overall but fresh off an overtime win at Montana. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Ogden.

🌤️ WEATHER 🌤️

Mostly sunny today with a high near 55 and a little afternoon breeze. Clear and 32 tonight. We’ll see increasing clouds this weekend with scattered rain chances Saturday through Monday, highs in the mid-50s. Sunshine returns Tuesday before more rain chances by midweek.

Today ☀️: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph.

Tonight 🌙: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Saturday 🌧️: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a high near 56. South wind around 5 mph becoming north in the morning.

Saturday Night 🌧️: A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 41. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the evening.

Sunday 🌧️: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 56. Light and variable wind becoming north northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night 🌧️: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 39.

Monday 🌦️: Rain likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night 🌤️: A 20 percent chance of rain before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Tuesday ☀️: Sunny, with a high near 57.

Tuesday Night 🌙: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.

Wednesday 🌧️: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Wednesday Night 🌧️: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Thursday 🌦️: A slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

There. Every slug dressed properly. No naked headlines wandering around your rundown.

Author
Recent Posts

Benjamin Reed