🏫 SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY HEALTH — Youth Vaping Concerns

Hundreds of Idaho school trustees are urging lawmakers to tax nicotine vapes and pouches the same as tobacco — and direct part of the revenue to school health education. Blaine County leaders say youth vaping is widespread, with twelve percent of Wood River High students reporting recent use.

🚨 MISSING JUDGE FOUND — Bannock County Recovery

Bannock County officials say missing former district judge William Woodland was found dead yesterday on South Putnam Mountain following a community tip. Woodland had been missing since Sunday.

🚗 PERRINE BRIDGE CRASH — Traffic Backup

A two-vehicle collision near the Perrine Bridge yesterday morning sent one man to the hospital. Police say a car hit a truck at a red light, causing the car to overturn. Rush-hour traffic was blocked for about an hour.

🔥 RUPERT AREA HOUSE FIRE — Grease Fire Destroys Home

A grease fire southwest of Rupert destroyed a home yesterday morning. Fire crews arrived to find the house, a shop, and nearby propane tanks fully engulfed before containing the blaze within an hour.

🏠 HOUSING POLICY — New Nonprofit Launches

A new nonprofit, the Gem State Housing Alliance, launched to push for more affordable housing across Idaho. The group aims to simplify local development rules and encourage smaller starter homes. Leaders say outdated zoning codes and high land and infrastructure costs keep builders — and first-time buyers — out of the market.

🎓 COLLEGE OF IDAHO CHANGES — Majors Cut, STEM Added

The College of Idaho is cutting its theater, communication arts, and philosophy majors while adding new STEM programs. Officials cite shifting student demand, though some students worry the move signals a drift away from the school’s liberal-arts identity.

🐕‍🦺 ISP K-9 UPGRADES — Fentanyl Detection Added

Idaho State Police K-9s are now certified to detect fentanyl, adding to an existing list of meth, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana. Nine teams are deployed statewide, and handlers carry Narcan for both themselves and their dogs.

🎁 SHOP WITH A COP — Jerome Event Returns

Jerome-area law enforcement and Walmart host the fifth annual Shop with a Cop this Saturday. Officers will help about sixty children pick and wrap gifts for their families thanks to more than twenty-five thousand dollars raised. Each family also receives gas and grocery cards.

⚖️ TWIN FALLS SENTENCING — Murder Case

A Twin Falls man, Juan Hernandez-Quiroga, was sentenced to twenty years to life for the 2022 shooting death of Jose Gallardo Eslava. He received an additional five years for destroying evidence.

🏀 SPORTS — MAGIC VALLEY HOOPS & COLLEGE ROUNDUP

⭐ Girls Basketball — Burley Dominates

Burley crushed Century 56–17 and now preps for Borah at the Hillcrest Title One Tournament.

🔵 Twin Falls vs. Canyon Ridge — Bruins Take Round One

Twin Falls beat Canyon Ridge 62–53, powered by a huge third quarter. They meet again January 2 at TFHS.

🐾 Hansen Comeback — Lighthouse Christian Falls

Lighthouse Christian lost 28–24 after Hansen stormed back behind strong play from Peyton Bevacqua and Aspyn York.

📊 Other Boys’ Scores

American Falls 57–36 over Kimberly • Butte County 53–41 over Carey • Firth 52–51 over Declo • Sun Valley 60–39 over Shoshone • Filer 56–50 over Mountain Home • Sugar-Salem 56–51 over Gooding • Valley 67–22 over Glenns Ferry • Hagerman 55–53 over Raft River

📊 Girls’ Scores

Butte County 60–33 over Carey • Gooding 51–46 over Wendell • Firth 52–25 over Declo

🗓️ Tonight’s Boys Action — 7 p.m. Start

Dietrich at Challis • Jackpot at Richfield

🗓️ 7:30 Games — Key Matchups

Jerome at Canyon Ridge • Gooding vs. Wendell (both undefeated) • Buhl at Wood River

🗓️ Girls’ Games — 7:30 Tip

Buhl at Declo • Kimberly at Filer • Hagerman at Glenns Ferry • Canyon Ridge at Highland • Pocatello at Madison • Oakley at Murtaugh • Castleford at Rockland • Valley vs. Shoshone

🦅 CSI & COLLEGE SPORTS

🏐 CSI Volleyball — Akishige Named All-American

CSI libero Hazuna Akishige earned second-team NJCAA All-American honors after leading the Scenic West in digs per set and repeating as Region 18 Libero of the Year.

🏀 CSI Women — Perfect Start

CSI women’s basketball is 13–0, led by Savannah Stoker, the new Scenic West Player of the Week after averaging 18 points, six boards, and three steals over three wins.

🏀 Idaho Vandals — Road Test at Notre Dame

Idaho men’s basketball, now 9–1, visits Notre Dame today for just their second meeting ever.

🐅 Idaho State Bengals — Road Swing

Idaho State women’s basketball heads to BYU on Thursday and Cal Poly on Saturday. Tasia Jordan leads the team at 15.8 PPG.

🌤️ WEATHER — Mild and Sunny Stretch Ahead

Mostly cloudy this morning, then turning sunny with a high near 62°F. Tonight stays mostly clear, low around 38°F. Sunshine continues Thursday and Friday with highs in the upper 50s. Weekend looks mild in the mid-50s. Rain returns Monday night into Tuesday.

Today: Mostly cloudy → sunny, high 62.
Tonight: Mostly clear, low 38.
Thu: Sunny, high 59.
Thu Night: Partly cloudy, low 37.
Fri: Sunny, high 58.
Fri Night: Clear, low 34.
Sat: Mostly sunny, high 57.
Sun: Mostly sunny, high 55.
Mon Night: Rain chances return.

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Benjamin Reed