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Here's a look at the latest headlines from around the Magic Valley, across Idaho, and beyond. Plus, we've got a busy weekend ahead for local sports fans! 🏈🏐
Some good news out of eastern Idaho. An AMBER Alert issued for a missing 14-year-old girl from Pocatello has been cancelled after authorities confirmed she was found safe.
The girl, identified as Jayleen, was reported missing from the Park Avenue area early Tuesday morning. Police initially believed she had been abducted and asked the public to help locate her.
Authorities have confirmed she is safe, but no additional details about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance have been released.
A heartbreaking end to the search for a missing 78-year-old woman in Blaine County.
Authorities say Susan Wilhelm of Hailey was found deceased late Wednesday morning after a four-day search involving law enforcement officers, search-and-rescue teams, and community volunteers.
Wilhelm was reported missing Sunday from Hailey's Woodside neighborhood. New surveillance footage showing her walking near Alturas Elementary School helped direct search crews toward Water Gulch Road.
A search-and-rescue K-9 team eventually picked up her scent and led crews to her body in a group of willow trees.
Approximately 130 volunteers and 50 law enforcement and search-and-rescue personnel assisted in the search.
Blaine County authorities are thanking everyone who helped and asking the community to keep Wilhelm's family in their thoughts. ❤️
Drivers traveling Highway 46 south of Wendell can breathe a little easier this morning. The highway has reopened following a crash involving two semi-trucks Wednesday afternoon.
Idaho State Police say the collision happened around 4:45 when a northbound tractor-trailer failed to yield to traffic ahead and struck another semi.
The driver responsible for the crash suffered minor injuries. The roadway was closed for more than two hours before reopening, and traffic is now moving normally.
A major irrigation project is moving forward in Southern Idaho, and it could mean significant savings for local farmers while helping protect the region's water supply.
After five years of planning, construction is underway on a $30 million project involving the Magic Valley Groundwater District and Minidoka Irrigation District.
The project will bring water from the Snake River to farmland currently dependent on deep groundwater wells.
Plans include a new pumping station and nine miles of pipeline capable of delivering 36,000 gallons of water per minute.
Officials say the project could replace as much as 15,000 acre-feet of groundwater pumping every year when surface water is available.
Farmers could also see lower electricity bills by shutting down expensive deep-well pumps.
The Idaho Water Resource Board is covering half the project's cost through a grant, with construction expected to wrap up in April of next year, just in time for irrigation season.
An Idaho State Police trooper is being recognized for quick thinking and potentially lifesaving actions following a serious pedestrian crash near Lewiston.
Authorities say a 38-year-old Lewiston man was struck by two northbound vehicles along Highway 95 Monday afternoon.
Trooper Dan Smith was the first emergency responder to arrive and found the man suffering from a severe leg injury.
Smith immediately applied a tourniquet to control the bleeding and provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived.
The victim was transported by ambulance before being airlifted to another hospital. He remains hospitalized.
Idaho State Police Captain Mike Mooney praised Smith's quick thinking and composure, saying his actions provided critical care when every moment mattered.
Another trooper, Riley Urquidi, was also recognized for helping coordinate the emergency response.
A significant reporting error in northern Idaho left more than 2,300 early-voting ballots out of the unofficial election-night results in Latah County.
Election officials discovered that 2,343 ballots had been counted by voting machines but were never transferred into the state's election reporting system.
A complete recount of the paper ballots, overseen by the Idaho Secretary of State's Office, confirmed that none of the election outcomes changed.
The closest issue involved a Moscow School District facilities levy, which passed with 60.34% of the vote, just above the required 60% threshold.
The updated county total stands at 18,104 ballots cast.
Latah County Clerk Julie Fry acknowledged the reporting error should never have happened. The updated results are expected to go before county commissioners for certification today.
Idaho high school seniors have an important deadline approaching if they're planning to attend college or pursue career training.
The priority application deadline for the Idaho Launch scholarship program is November 30th.
Eligible students can receive up to $8,000 toward tuition and fees for programs preparing them for careers in high-demand fields.
The scholarship covers 80% of tuition and fees, up to the $8,000 maximum.
College of Southern Idaho says approximately 800 students used Idaho Launch during the past semester. Popular programs include nursing and radiologic technology, along with prerequisite courses.
The program is also encouraging nontraditional students to explore technical training opportunities.
Applications are open now, with a final deadline of April 15th.
Students can learn more and apply at NextSteps.Idaho.gov/Launch.
Amazon's drone delivery service promises faster packages, but some residents in Nampa and Meridian say the convenience comes with a whole lot of noise!
Less than two weeks after launching drone deliveries from its Nampa facility, Amazon is already facing complaints about frequent flights over residential neighborhoods.
Nampa officials say they've received at least two dozen inquiries from residents. Some have compared the sound of the drones to flying lawnmowers.
One woman reportedly counted 39 drones passing over her home in less than 50 minutes!
Amazon says it is listening to residents and considering adjustments to flight paths to reduce the number of drones flying over certain neighborhoods.
The company maintains its drones generally operate above 200 feet and meet federal aviation requirements.
City officials are reviewing complaints to determine whether Amazon is complying with its operating permit.
Residents remain divided. Some appreciate the convenience, while others aren't thrilled about hearing drones buzzing overhead throughout the day.
It's win-or-go-home time for five Magic Valley high school football teams, and the stakes couldn't be higher!
Tomorrow night, top-ranked Hagerman hosts fourth-ranked Oakley in a highly anticipated 2A semifinal matchup at 7 p.m.
The Pirates have won eight straight games, while Oakley enters riding a five-game winning streak. Hagerman won their earlier meeting by just six points, so this one could be another thriller!
Also Friday, third-ranked Raft River travels to Lewiston to take on second-ranked Prairie at 6 p.m. Mountain Time.
Trojans running back Treyce Ward has been a major force this season, rushing for more than 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns.
In 3A action, Declo meets Melba Friday night at 8:15 inside the ICCU Dome in Pocatello. Declo's defense has allowed just 12 points over its last four games.
And Saturday afternoon, two-time defending 1A state champion Carey takes on undefeated Rockland at 3:45 p.m., also in Pocatello.
Five local teams. Four semifinal games. One victory away from a shot at a state championship! Good luck to all our area teams! 🙌
The College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles are headed to nationals!
CSI received an at-large bid to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament Wednesday, earning the 12th overall seed.
The Golden Eagles finished the season with a 22-8 record and took second place in the Region 18 Tournament.
Several players are also receiving postseason recognition. Emerson Heatwole was named Libero of the Year and earned First-Team All-Region honors alongside Emma Pannell.
Vivian Goto earned Second-Team recognition, while Laura Grasel was named to the Third Team.
Head Coach Andria Parker was also named Co-Coach of the Year.
The Golden Eagles will open tournament play Wednesday, November 18th, at 6 p.m. Mountain Time in Hutchinson, Kansas.
CSI is chasing something special: the program's 13th national championship! 🦅
The Boise State women's soccer team is heading to the conference championship match for the third consecutive year!
The second-seeded Broncos shut out third-seeded San Diego State 2-0 Wednesday night in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals.
After a scoreless first half, Cindy Conner put Boise State on the board in the 49th minute. Madie Donovan added another goal in the 61st minute.
Goalkeeper Ava de Leest recorded eight saves and earned her 12th shutout of the season.
Boise State improves to 15-2-2 and will face the winner of Utah and Gonzaga in Saturday's championship match.
Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time, with the game streaming on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
The Boise State men's basketball team is putting up some incredible numbers early this season!
The Broncos rolled past Oakland 111-79 Wednesday night at ExtraMile Arena, marking the third consecutive game they've scored more than 100 points.
That's the first time in program history Boise State has accomplished that feat!
Aginaldo Neto led the way with 25 points, tying his career high. Damari Wheeler-Thomas added 23 points and six assists, while Dovydas Butka finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
The Broncos shot nearly 57% from the floor, connected on 14 three-pointers, and forced 23 Oakland turnovers.
Boise State is now 3-0 and averaging an impressive 114 points per game.
Next up is a road matchup Sunday against 25th-ranked Nebraska. Tipoff is at 11 a.m. Mountain Time.
Bronco Nation, it's time to get up early and make some noise!
ESPN's College GameDay is returning to Boise State this Saturday for the first time since 2010!
The three-hour live broadcast will take place at DeChevrieux Field, just west of Albertsons Stadium, ahead of Boise State's showdown with Oregon State.
The show begins at 7 a.m., with gates opening at 4:30 a.m. Admission is free, and no tickets are required.
Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey is encouraging fans to show up early, wear their blue and orange, and help set a new College GameDay attendance record.
The first 50 fans in line will receive exclusive ESPN prize packs.
There's also a College GameDay scavenger hunt running through Friday afternoon, offering fans a chance to win premium seating and merchandise.
Set those alarms, Bronco fans! It's going to be an exciting Saturday morning! 🧡💙
The Idaho State women's soccer team's season came to a heartbreaking conclusion Wednesday in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
The sixth-seeded Bengals battled third-seeded Northern Arizona to a 1-1 tie through regulation and two overtime periods before falling 3-2 in a penalty-kick shootout.
Northern Arizona scored first early in the second half, but Gracie East answered with the tying goal in the 71st minute.
Goalkeeper Aliya Garrett kept the Bengals in the game with eight saves during 110 minutes of action.
Northern Arizona converted three penalty kicks to Idaho State's two to advance.
The Bengals finish their season with a 4-9-6 record, making their first Big Sky Tournament appearance since 2023.
The Idaho State Bengals are getting ready for a challenging Saturday night matchup against Montana in Missoula.
Head Coach Cody Hawkins says his team is preparing for a tough environment, including a hostile crowd, a late kickoff, and one of the nation's most explosive offenses.
The Grizzlies feature an elite quarterback, a record-setting running back, and an All-American receiver.
Hawkins also says Montana has made defensive adjustments in recent weeks, becoming more aggressive with quarterback pressure and man-to-man coverage.
The Bengals are keeping practices shorter while maintaining intensity as they work to improve execution in critical situations.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. Mountain Time, with the game being played in front of a national television audience.
The University of Idaho women's soccer team is moving on in the Big Sky Tournament after a dramatic victory over Utah Tech!
The Vandals defeated the fifth-seeded Trailblazers 4-2 in a penalty-kick shootout Wednesday after the teams played to a 2-2 tie through regulation and double overtime.
Idaho jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first half, with Mia Boltz and Quinn Mueller scoring just 72 seconds apart.
Utah Tech fought back with two goals of its own, including a late penalty kick that forced overtime.
After 110 minutes, the match went to penalty kicks, where freshman Kailiey King delivered the winning shot to keep Idaho's championship hopes alive!
The Vandals now face top-seeded Weber State in Friday's semifinal. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. in Missoula.
The University of Idaho men's basketball team is looking to keep the momentum going when it hosts Cal Poly Friday night in Moscow.
The Vandals enter the matchup with a 2-1 record following Sunday's impressive 108-69 victory over Lincoln.
Hudson Ward led Idaho with a career-high 17 points, while Lapwai native Kase Wynott contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Six Vandals scored in double figures in the victory, and Idaho reached the 100-point mark for the first time this season.
Cal Poly comes to Moscow featuring Hamad Mousa, who scored 30 points against nationally ranked Arizona earlier this month.
Friday night's game tips off at 7 p.m. Mountain Time inside ICCU Arena, with coverage available on ESPN+.
Thursday is shaping up to be a beautiful day across Southern Idaho, with plenty of sunshine and afternoon temperatures climbing to around 65 degrees!
Clouds will increase tonight, with overnight lows dropping to around 37.
Friday brings another relatively mild day, with partly sunny skies and highs near 65. However, hold onto your hats! Winds could gust as high as 28 miles per hour.
Rain moves into the region late Friday night, with an 80% chance of showers. Saturday will be noticeably cooler, with a high near 51 and a chance of lingering morning showers.
Here's a look at the extended forecast:
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, because a cooler and wetter weekend is on the way!
📻 Stay connected with Kat Kountry 106 for the latest Southern Idaho news, local sports, weather updates, and everything happening across the Magic Valley!
Have a great Thursday! 🎶