📰 NEWS
🏛️ FOSTER CARE PROTECTIONS
Idaho lawmakers are considering additional protections for children in foster and residential treatment facilities. A state review found 13 of 19 recommended improvements have been completed, including unannounced inspections and a new youth bill of rights. Lawmakers say the remaining recommendations, including stronger abuse investigations, will be a focus when the Legislature returns in January.
🏠 PUBLIC HOUSING WORK REQUIREMENTS
Only one Idaho public housing authority has joined a federal effort considering work requirements for housing assistance. Pocatello’s housing authority joined the HUD coalition in May, while others remain skeptical. Twin Falls, Jerome and Buhl housing officials say most of their clients are elderly, disabled or already working.
🚑 RURAL COMMUNITY PARAMEDICS
Idaho could use federal rural health funding to expand community paramedics statewide. The program helps patients manage chronic conditions and avoid unnecessary ER visits. A Magic Valley program already serves Twin Falls, Jerome and Gooding counties, and state leaders hope to expand the model into more rural communities.
🍎 BACK-TO-SCHOOL HUNGER CAMPAIGN
The Idaho Foodbank is launching its Back-to-School Month Campaign, helping students who may not have enough to eat. About 18 percent of Idaho children experience food insecurity. Last year, the Foodbank provided more than 80,000 weekend food backpacks and helped over 23,000 households through school pantries.
⛽ IDAHO GAS PRICES CLIMB
Gas prices are climbing again in Idaho. AAA says the statewide average is now $4.35 a gallon, up five cents from last week and 34 cents from a month ago. Idaho now ranks seventh-highest in the nation for gas prices, while the national average has dropped to just above four dollars.
🚔 BUHL COUNCILMAN ARRESTED
A Buhl city councilman is facing charges following a fight last week. Police say 41-year-old Cortlin Runyan was arrested after allegedly stomping on another man’s head during a fight behind TJ’s Lounge. Runyan claimed self-defense. He also allegedly had a controlled substance when booked into the Twin Falls County Jail.
📷 JEROME DROPS FLOCK CAMERA FUNDING
Jerome will not fund Flock Safety cameras next year after the City Council removed $14,000 from its 2027 budget. Police Chief Duane Rubink says the license plate reader network has helped speed up investigations, but privacy and data concerns remain. Rubink says the department could ask the council to reconsider the cameras next year.
🔫 ARMED CITIZENS AND ACTIVE SHOOTER RESPONSE
Three armed citizens who confronted the August 1st Twin Falls mass shooter are being hailed as heroes, including 35-year-old Jordan Salinas. But firearms experts warn the new “Idaho Shoots Back” motto shouldn’t encourage untrained people to engage. Experts say escaping is the safest option, with confronting a shooter a last resort.
🎡 JEROME COUNTY FAIR
The Jerome County Fair is underway with rodeo action, carnival rides, food and plenty of family fun. This year’s theme is “Stars, Stripes and Summer Nights,” celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Tonight is Patriot Night at the rodeo, featuring a military flag presentation and a planned flyover by four F-15s. The fair continues through Saturday.
🦠 TOXIC ALGAE WARNING
The Idaho Humane Society is warning people to watch for toxic blue-green algae in lakes and reservoirs. Algae can make people sick and can be deadly to dogs. Five Idaho waters currently have health advisories, including Brownlee, Hells Canyon and Horsethief reservoirs.
🔥 WILDFIRE SMOKE IMPACTS SOUTHWEST IDAHO
Wildfire smoke continues to impact parts of southwest Idaho. Mountain Home is seeing some of the heaviest smoke, while Boise and Nampa are experiencing unhealthy air quality. Officials say smoke may settle into low-lying areas overnight and during the morning hours.
🏆 SPORTS
🏈 IDAHO’S TOP HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVERS
As we head toward a new high school football season, some of Idaho’s top receivers are ready to make an impact. Kimberly senior Joe Barrett is one to watch here in the Magic Valley. Barrett caught 66 passes for more than 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and has committed to Air Force. Other standouts include Capital’s Elliot Schrack, Fruitland’s Joel Philpot, and Wallace’s Hank Larson, who piled up more than 1,300 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns last year.
🐾 KIMBERLY EYES CHAMPIONSHIP RETURN
The Kimberly Bulldogs enter 2026 with some unfinished business after falling to Homedale in last year’s 4A state championship game. Head coach Joe Dille returns plenty of experience, including Air Force commit Joe Barrett, senior center Brandon Elizondo and running back Monroe Whitten. Kimberly has won its conference three straight years, but faces a tough early schedule. And circle September 11th — that’s when Homedale comes to Kimberly for a championship rematch.
🏈 IDAHO STATE FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGE
Idaho State football got its first live scrimmage of fall camp in last night, practicing under the lights inside the ICCU Dome. Head coach Cody Hawkins says the Bengals are past the early-camp rust and are now fine-tuning for the season. Quarterbacks Isaiah Si’esu’e and Kepa Niumeitolu had strong showings, while Wyatt Horton broke loose for an 80-yard touchdown run. Idaho State opens the season August 29th at home against VMI.
🎾 VANDAL TENNIS ACADEMIC HONORS
The University of Idaho tennis teams are serving up success in the classroom. Both the Vandal men and women earned ITA All-Academic Team honors. The men posted a program-record 3.82 GPA during the spring semester, while the women finished with a 3.65. Idaho also had 12 individual players earn ITA Scholar-Athlete honors, recognizing student-athletes who maintained at least a 3.5 GPA.
🏐 CSI VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR SEASON
The CSI women’s volleyball team is getting its young roster ready for the season. The Golden Eagles beat Montana Western in five games during a preseason scrimmage Monday. Head coach Andria Harshman has just five returning players, with 11 freshmen joining the roster. CSI scrimmages the College of Idaho Friday before opening the regular season August 20th in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
🌤️ WEATHER
🌫️ SMOKE, HEAT, THEN COOLER WEATHER
Patchy smoke sticks around today, with mostly sunny skies and a hot high near 94. Tonight, mostly cloudy with a low around 65. Tomorrow, expect more patchy smoke and mostly cloudy skies, with a high near 90. Cooler weather arrives Thursday and Friday, with highs near 80 and a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
☀️ TUESDAY
Patchy smoke. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
🌙 TUESDAY NIGHT
Patchy smoke. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.
🌫️ WEDNESDAY
Patchy smoke. Mostly cloudy and hot, with a high near 90. West southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
🌙 WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Patchy smoke before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south after midnight.
🌦️ THURSDAY
A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
🌧️ THURSDAY NIGHT
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then a chance of showers after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
⛈️ FRIDAY
A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
🌙 FRIDAY NIGHT
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
🌤️ SATURDAY
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.
🌙 SATURDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
☀️ SUNDAY
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
🌙 SUNDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
☀️ MONDAY
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.
- Your Daily Briefing – 08/11/2026 - August 11, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 08/10/2026 - August 10, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 08/07/2026 - August 7, 2026
