Your Daily Briefing – 12/24/2024

Fire ripped through a local gas station and convenience store over the weekend. Fire crews were called to the Sinclair Anderson camp located at the Kimberly turnoff from I-84 Saturday morning to find the store filled with smoke and flames. The owners, who have an apartment above the convenience store were able to escape unharmed. The first floor was heavily damaged. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Twin Falls County sheriff’s office has taken ownership of a new boathouse that will be at the Centennial Waterfront Park. A 115-thousand-dollar donation from the Janice Seagraves Family foundation was used to fund the purchase. The boat has already been used twice: once for a recovery of a drowning victim in June and another time last month for when a paraglider went into the water.

The United States Attorney’s Office is speaking out in support to the five-year-old victim of assault, and her family, at the Fawnbrook Apartments in Twin Falls. The United States Attorney’s Office further encourages community members in Twin Falls and throughout Idaho to remain calm and supportive, to pay close attention to the facts that have been released by law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney, and to avoid spreading false rumors and inaccuracies.

Starting next year, foster children and their families will be able to visit the Idaho State Museum for free. Health and Welfare and the Idaho State Historical Society are partnering to provide free passes. Foster families will receive the passes, which are reusable for unlimited entrance.

An Idaho Department of Corrections Corporal who was shot by a Boise Police Officer during an ambush is suing Boise Police. Early March 20 officers transported inmate Skylar Meade to Saint Alphonsus for medical treatment for self-inflicted wounds. As IDOC officers were exiting the hospital with Meade and Nicholas Umphenour opened fire on the officers. During the chaos, an Officer shot IDOC officer Christopher Wilske who was not seriously injured. Now Wilske is suing Boise for $500,000.

SPORTS

Three outdoor recreation sites in southwest Idaho are set to receive upgrades, thanks to a new grant program aimed at improving public lands. The Foundation for America’s Public Lands awarded $565,000. The funding will benefit the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey, the Ridge to Rivers trail system and the Wilson Creek Travel Management Area.

Idaho Fish and Game has euthanized a mountain lion, after it killed a pet cat in Ketchum earlier this month. Fish and Game says the lion attacked the cat inside a fenced backyard. Because the lion entered a fenced yard and killed a pet, officers decided to set a trap at the home, to protect local residents and their pets.

As the high school basketball teams take a holiday break, here is how the media poll is looking for local teams. First for the boys, in the 3 A class, Declo takes the first-place spot. Ambrose is 2^nd and Westside is 3^rd. Wendell is ranked 4^th. In the 2 A class, Valley is ranked second. Kamiah is in the 1^st place spot. Lakeside is 3^rd ranked followed by Kendrick and Butte County. In the 1A class, Rockland is 1^st followed by Carey in 2^nd and Dietrich taking the third ranked spot.

For the girls, in 5A rankings, Pocatello is in first followed by Middleton and Blackfoot. Burley is ranked 4^th followed by Mountain Home in 5^th. In the 2A class, Raft River is ranked first, followed by Oakley in 2^nd. Prairie, Lapwai and Butte County round out the top 5. In 1A it’s Deary in 1^st, followed by Rockland and Leadore. Carey is in 4^th place followed by Salmon River.

WEATHER

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. East wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Tonight: Rain before 2am, then rain and snow. Low around 31. East wind 8 to 16 mph becoming west in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Christmas Day: Sunny, with a high near 40. West wind 10 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 40 percent chance of snow after 11pm. Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. West wind around 6 mph becoming southeast after midnight. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Thursday: Snow before 11am, then rain likely. High near 41. South southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Rain likely before 5am, then snow, possibly mixed with rain. Low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 8am. High near 43. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday Night: Rain, mainly after 11pm. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday: Rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday: Rain. High near 50. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night: Rain and snow. Low around 30. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Monday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly sunny, with a high near 40.