🏛️ STATEHOUSE WATCH
📚 EDUCATION & PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS
Several education and public safety bills are moving at the Idaho Legislature. The House passed a bill restricting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Lawmakers are also considering a required daily moment of silence in schools, removing the statute of limitations on certain felony sex crimes, foster care safety protections, and a Senate-passed bill requiring public employers to use E-Verify.
💰 TAX COMMISSION FUNDING
JFAC approved more than $3.3 million in added funding for the Idaho State Tax Commission, partly to implement federal tax changes signed by President Donald Trump.
🎖️ NATIONAL GUARD TUITION
Idaho’s budget committee rejected a $190,000 request to restore tuition assistance for Idaho National Guard members, citing budget concerns. Lawmakers could still revisit the funding before the session ends.
🏛️ CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP
State Rep. Don Hall is ending his re-election campaign due to health issues but will finish his current term. Hall endorsed Grayson Stone to succeed him in the Magic Valley district.
🏢 INMATE REIMBURSEMENT BILL
A bill would raise state reimbursement for housing inmates from $55 to $80 a day. Twin Falls County says it costs over $110 daily per inmate. The proposal remains in the House.
🚨 PUBLIC SAFETY
❄️ AVALANCHE NEAR ISLAND PARK
One person was killed in an avalanche near Island Park yesterday after a group of four was caught in the slide. Three others survived. Authorities are urging winter recreationists to use extreme caution in the backcountry.
🚑 STOLEN AMBULANCE & DHS INCIDENTS
Police are searching for a suspect who stole a Canyon County ambulance, crashed it into a DHS and ICE office in Meridian, and fled with a gas can. Meanwhile, Boise Police are investigating vandalism at another DHS and ICE building over the weekend; it’s unclear if the cases are connected.
🔎 DESERT RESCUE
Friday, search crews found a missing man alive in a remote desert area southeast of Mountain Home after his vehicle was spotted in a creek bed. He was airlifted to safety.
🔥 BAKER COUNTRY MARKET FIRE
A brush fire destroyed the Baker Country Market near Salmon Saturday night. The family-owned Amish store was a total loss, with damage estimated at $1.2 million.
🚗 FATAL CRASH IN CANYON COUNTY
Two Nampa men were killed early Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Canyon County. Police say their car left the road, hit a canal bank, a tree, and a shed.
🏀 SPORTS
🏆 IDAHO GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT
Big weekend at the Idaho Girls State Basketball Tournament — three local teams brought home consolation hardware.
In 5A, Jerome edged Bishop Kelly 37 to 34, led by Sawyer Garrard with 12.
In 4A, Kimberly topped Weiser 62-56 behind Taya Plew’s 29 points.
In 1A, Carey rolled past Rockland 49-26.
In 2A, Oakley fell to Butte County 53-46 in the third-place game.
🏀 DISTRICT BOYS ACTION
Minico stunned Burley 54 to 53. The Bobcats now host Mountain Home Tuesday at 7 in an elimination game. Over the weekend, Twin Falls rolled past Mountain Home 80 to 28.
Games on tap tonight — Hansen at Camas County at 6. Buhl travels to Filer at 7. Kimberly is at Gooding at 7. And Castleford takes on Richfield at Camas County at 7:30.
🦅 CSI ATHLETICS
Fourth-ranked CSI rallied from 11 down to beat North Idaho 81-77. Ace Reiser led with 26 points. The 26-and-2 Golden Eagles host USU Eastern Thursday and number one Snow College Saturday to wrap the regular season.
Seventh-ranked CSI women dominated North Idaho 85-52. Ashley Garner had 22 and 14 boards, and Eva Birkeland and Calyn Wood combined for 27. The 25-and-3 Golden Eagles host USU Eastern Thursday and Snow Saturday.
CSI Baseball keeps rolling — sweeping Big Bend 24-3 and 10-1 for their 12th straight win, now 12-5 overall. The Golden Eagles pounded out big hits all day and host Prairie Baseball Academy next week.
Meanwhile, CSI Softball shut out Southern Nevada 9-0 in five innings. Marissa Mauger was strong in the circle as the Eagles improved to 8-6.
🐴 BOISE STATE
Boise State softball lost a heartbreaker Sunday, falling to 10th-ranked Stanford 3-2 after giving up three runs in the seventh. The Broncos led 2-0 late and head to the Wooo Pig Classic to face Kansas next.
Boise State women rolled past San Jose State 71-48 Saturday. Tatum Thompson led with 25 points as the Broncos improve to 22-6 and host San Diego State next.
The Boise State men swept the Spartans 84-69 — Drew Fielder scored 20 — and they’re back home tomorrow night against Wyoming.
🟡 IDAHO VANDALS
The Idaho men outpaced Sacramento State 86-80 for their third straight season sweep. Biko Johnson led the Vandals with 25 points as Idaho improves to 15-13 overall.
The Vandal women also rolled past the Hornets 75-60 — Hope Hassmann scored 22 and Debora Dos Santos added a double-double. Idaho hosts Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado next at home.
🟠 IDAHO STATE
Idaho State softball swept the final day of the UNLV Rebel Classic, beating Valparaiso 9-1 and Merrimack 6-0. The Bengals improve to 8-7 and head to the Oregon Classic next weekend.
Idaho State men completed the Montana sweep, beating Montana State 91-76. Gus Etchison exploded for 36 points and eight assists as the Bengals win their second straight.
The ISU women battled but fell at Montana State 67-61, despite double doubles from Piper Carlson and Kacey Spink.
🌤️ WEATHER – MAGIC VALLEY
We’re mostly sunny today with a high near 57. Clouds build tonight with a slight chance of rain.
Tuesday looks wet — rain likely all day with highs near 49 and breezy at times. We could see a rain and snow mix Wednesday morning before clearing out. Sunshine returns Thursday with highs back in the low 50s.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tuesday: Rain. High near 49. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: Rain. Low around 41. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A chance of rain, mixing with snow after 8am, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
- Your Daily Briefing – 02/23/2026 - February 23, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 02/20/2026 - February 20, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 02/19/2026 - February 19, 2026
