Your Daily Briefing – 07/01/2025

🧑‍⚖️ CRIME & JUSTICE

🔪 Bryan Kohberger Plea Deal
Bryan Kohberger will plead guilty to killing four University of Idaho students in a deal to avoid the death penalty. The family of victim Kaylee Goncalves responded, “We are beyond furious at the State of Idaho… They have failed us.” A plea hearing is set for tomorrow.

🚨 Firefighter Ambush in Coeur d’Alene
Authorities say 20-year-old Wess Roley ambushed and killed two firefighters battling a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene. He was later found dead with a firearm nearby. The victims were Battalion Chiefs John Morrison and Frank Harwood. A third firefighter was injured and is recovering.

🏴 Flags at Half-Staff
Governor Brad Little ordered all U.S. and Idaho state flags flown at half-staff to honor the fallen firefighters. Flags will remain lowered until the day after their memorial service.

🚧 LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE & SAFETY

🔥 Brush Fire on I-84
A fire near Twin Falls was sparked by a disabled truck’s hot driveline. Winds pushed flames over a mile, but BLM and local crews quickly contained it. Officials urge drivers to check vehicles and trailers to prevent fires.

🌉 New Snake River Bridge Plans
The Idaho Transportation Department is exploring a third bridge over the Snake River Canyon to ease Twin Falls traffic. At a packed public meeting, officials presented four possible sites:

Near State Highway 46, close to the Ken Curtis Bridge at Clearlake Grade
On Highway 93, at the bend southward toward Nevada
A companion span adjacent to the existing Perrine Bridge
A site east of the current Perrine Bridge

🚫 “Everyone is Welcome” Signs Banned
A new attorney general opinion states Idaho schools can no longer display “Everyone is Welcome Here” signs. Under House Bill 41, ideological banners are banned in K–12 public schools starting today.

🛠️ Twin Falls Roadwork Begins July 8
Street repairs begin in northwest Twin Falls. Roads in Zone 5 will be resurfaced using chip sealing. Drivers should expect dust, loose gravel, lane closures, and parking restrictions. Full details at TFID.org.

🧟‍♀️ LORI VALLOW DAYBELL CASE

💌 “Still in Love with Chad”
In a jailhouse interview on her 52nd birthday, Lori Vallow Daybell said she still loves Chad Daybell and believes they’ll both be exonerated. She denied knowing her children were buried on Chad’s property and claimed the legal system and media distorted the truth.

⚾ SPORTS ROUNDUP – LEGION BASEBALL

🧢 Twin Falls Cowboys AA
Fairfield Expos beat the Cowboys 7–2. Hoyt Murray and Nolan Lehew each drove in a run. Cowboys (11–8) host Reno at 4:30 and Lewis-Clark at 7 this Thursday at CSI.

🔥 Buhl Tribe A
Swept Jerome Cyclones A, 8–1 and 11–1.

Game 1: Remington Higley struck out 10
Game 2: Alex Espinoza drove in 3
Next: Host Post 4 Razorbacks July 9 at 5 and 7

🐶 Kimberly Dogs B
Crushed Burley Green Sox B, 8–1 and 10–1

Colt Taylor: 4 hits, 8 strikeouts
Kimberly (14–0) hosts Buhl B Tuesday at 5
Burley (12–8–1) visits Cowboys B Tuesday at 4 and 6

🐄 Twin Falls Cowboys B
Rallied past Minico Storm B, 12–10 and 7–4

Kamden Richter: 5 RBIs
Cowboys (18–4) host Burley Tuesday
Minico (10–4) hosts Reno Aces Thursday

🐱 Filer Cats B
Swept Hub City Hitmen B, 13–3 and 17–7

Hudson Miller: 6 hits, 4 RBIs
Filer (7–13–1) visits Twin Falls Hawks B Tuesday at 5 and 7

⛳ GOLF – ALBERTSONS BOISE OPEN

🏌️ Extended Through 2028
Albertsons is extending its title sponsorship of the Boise Open through 2028.

Dates: August 14–17 at Hillcrest Country Club
Nearly $40M raised for charity since 1990
Concerts: Darius Rucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Brothers Osborne
Thursday–Saturday tickets are sold out
Sunday tickets (incl. Junior Day) still available starting at $10 — all proceeds go to local charities

🌤️ WEATHER FORECAST

🌡️ Today (Tuesday)
Hot and sunny, high near 99°F
Isolated showers and storms after 3pm
Winds: West 5–8 mph
🌙 Low tonight: 65°F with a 20% chance of rain

☀️ Wednesday
Partly sunny and hot, high near 95°F
Gusts up to 21 mph
🌙 Night: Mostly cloudy, low 65°F

⛈️ Thursday
High near 89°F
Chance of storms after noon (30%)
🌙 Night: 30% chance of showers, low around 60°F

🇺🇸 Independence Day (Friday)
Partly sunny, scattered showers and possible storms
High near 83°F
🌙 Night: Partly cloudy, low around 54°F

🌞 Weekend Outlook