📰 Thursday's Southern Idaho News & Sports Update | Kat Kountry 106

☀️ From a major restoration project at Minidoka National Historic Site to important election deadlines, road closures, and a busy week of high school state tournaments, here’s what you need to know today.

🚧 ROAD CLOSURE: Railroad Crossing Shuts Down Tonight

Drivers near the junction of State Highways 25 and 24 will need to plan an alternate route beginning tonight.

The railroad crossing will close in both directions at 8 p.m. Thursday for replacement work scheduled to continue through Monday, October 26.

Crews will replace concrete, repair the ground beneath the crossing, and install new pavement to improve the rough roadway. The Idaho Transportation Department says this is the final crossing scheduled for these improvements following similar projects in Buhl and Wendell.

Motorists should allow extra travel time and prepare for detours.

🏛️ Minidoka Historic Site Receives $5 Million Restoration

A major investment will help preserve an important and difficult chapter of American history right here in Southern Idaho.

Historic buildings at Minidoka National Historic Site near Jerome are receiving a $5 million restoration. The project will focus on a root cellar, mess hall, and barracks where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined park staff, local officials, and Friends of Minidoka on Wednesday to highlight the work.

Friends of Minidoka has also secured $650,000 in grants for new exhibits and a digital mapping project identifying historic barracks and individual living quarters. The organization is working to raise another $100,000, with completion targeted for spring 2028.

More than 13,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at Minidoka between 1942 and 1945 after being forcibly removed from their homes without due process or criminal charges.

Karen Hirai Olen, who was born at the camp in 1943, hopes visitors will learn what families endured and remember that such an injustice should never happen to anyone else.

🗳️ IMPORTANT: Idaho Absentee Ballot Deadline Is Tomorrow

Idaho voters planning to vote absentee in the November 3 general election have an important deadline approaching.

Requests for absentee ballots must reach the county clerk by 5 p.m. local time Friday, October 23. Voters must already be registered to request an absentee ballot.

Requests can be submitted through VoteIdaho.gov or through the county clerk's office. If you're mailing a request, make sure it arrives by the deadline.

Friday is also the deadline to register in advance. Eligible voters who miss that deadline can still register at their polling place on Election Day.

This year's ballot includes races for governor, attorney general, all 105 Idaho legislative seats, and three congressional seats, along with statewide ballot measures and local contests.

Visit VoteIdaho.gov to check your registration, find your polling place, or review a sample ballot.

🚨 Filer Motorcycle Crash Sends One Person to Hospital

One person was flown to the hospital following a crash involving a motorcycle and a backhoe in Filer Wednesday afternoon.

Idaho State Police say the collision happened around 2:30 p.m. on North 2600 East, north of 4000 North.

According to a trooper at the scene, the backhoe was turning left when the motorcyclist attempted to pass on the left and went off the roadway.

Idaho State Police and the Twin Falls County Sheriff's Office responded. The road was closed while emergency crews worked at the scene.

The injured person's condition has not been released, and the crash remains under investigation.

⚖️ Heyburn Man Sentenced in Child Sexual Exploitation Case

A Heyburn man has been sentenced to 30 years to life after pleading guilty to six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

Caden Pharis was sentenced Tuesday, with the sentences running concurrently. He originally faced 30 charges following his arrest in February.

Investigators searching his home found electronic devices containing nearly 200 videos of child sexual abuse material. According to arrest records, numerous videos showed Pharis participating in the abuse, and many were produced using his devices.

The court also ordered Pharis to have no contact with the children involved.

🏫 Blaine County Begins Search for Next School Superintendent

Blaine County residents will have an opportunity to help shape the search for the district's next superintendent.

Current Superintendent Jim Foudy plans to retire at the end of the 2026–2027 school year after more than 30 years in education.

The school board has hired HYA Associates, the same firm that assisted with the district's previous superintendent search.

Community focus groups and public forums are scheduled for November 10 through 14. Residents will also be able to complete a survey describing the qualities they want in the district's next leader.

The board hopes to begin interviews in early January and announce its selection by the February 9 board meeting.

🏘️ Buhl Plans for Growth While Protecting Its Small-Town Feel

Buhl has adopted a new comprehensive plan to guide development over the next decade.

Approved in September, the plan is the city's first comprehensive update since 2017. It reflects two years of community input and focuses on affordable housing, downtown economic development, transportation, and preserving Buhl's small-town character.

Residents expressed a desire for more affordable housing options and a stronger downtown business district.

Local business owner Lee Thompson says competing with nearby Twin Falls can be challenging, but customers appreciate being able to shop closer to home.

The plan does not establish specific projects or policies. Instead, it will serve as a guide for future decisions by city leaders.

🎓 University of Idaho Enrollment Dips, but Law School Sets Record

The University of Idaho reports 12,275 students enrolled this fall, down about 1% from last year.

Undergraduate enrollment declined 3.4%, with international undergraduate enrollment dropping nearly 22%. Graduate enrollment also slipped slightly.

However, the university's College of Law is moving in the opposite direction. Total law school enrollment climbed more than 10% to 553 students, and the school welcomed its largest incoming first-year class ever.

The percentage of freshmen returning for their second year remained steady at just over 77%, as university leaders continue to emphasize student retention.

🚂 Caldwell Railroad Quiet Zone Still on Hold

Caldwell residents are still waiting for relief from train horns, about two months after the city's new railroad quiet zone was expected to take effect.

The city spent more than $200,000 installing raised medians at seven crossings to prevent drivers from going around lowered gates.

Federal regulators have delayed approval because of a gap in the median at Ustick Road. The opening allows irrigation crews to access a ditch road, but federal inspectors questioned whether it was too close to the tracks.

The city has submitted updated measurements that it says demonstrate the crossing meets safety standards. There is no timeline for a decision.

Even if the quiet zone is approved, train engineers could still sound their horns in emergencies or when they identify a hazard.

🚔 Meridian Police Investigate Two Deaths

Meridian police are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after finding two people dead inside a home Tuesday afternoon.

Officers responded to a residence on North Christian Avenue around 1:48 p.m. for a welfare check following concerns that included a possible domestic violence incident.

Investigators say preliminary evidence indicates a husband fatally shot his wife before shooting himself. The circumstances remain under investigation.

Police encourage anyone facing abuse or threats of violence to take them seriously. Anyone who believes they or someone else is in immediate danger should call 911.

⚽ HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Magic Valley Teams Begin State Soccer

The chase for state soccer championships begins today, and seven Magic Valley-area teams are ready to compete.

In Sandpoint, Twin Falls enters the 5A girls tournament as the top seed. The Bruins have scored 73 goals this season while allowing fewer than half a goal per game. Wood River also enters the field after a 4–1 play-in victory over Skyview.

On the boys side, defending state champion Wood River opens against Columbia. The Wolverines have won 10 straight matches, outscoring opponents 64–7 during that stretch. Jerome is also in the tournament after a 7–0 play-in victory over Moscow.

The 4A girls tournament takes place at Twin Falls High School, where Kimberly faces Teton. The Bulldogs are 17–1, with 88 goals scored and just five allowed. Hannah Fisher leads Kimberly with 25 goals.

At Burley High School, Sun Valley Community School faces Fruitland in the 4A boys tournament. Wendell also begins state play against Sugar-Salem as the Trojans pursue their second state title in three years.

Good luck to all our local teams! 🏆

🏐 Kimberly, Filer and Valley Earn State Volleyball Seeds

The Magic Valley will have plenty to cheer for as the state volleyball tournaments approach.

Kimberly enters the 4A tournament as the No. 1 seed with a 29–6 record. The Bulldogs are unbeaten in eight matches against teams in the 4A state field. The last time Kimberly held the top seed, in 2022, the Bulldogs won their only state volleyball championship.

Filer earned an at-large berth and the No. 4 seed after finishing 26–13. The Wildcats move up from the No. 7 seed they held last year.

In 2A, Valley takes the No. 2 seed and a 23–2 record into the state tournament at Madison High School. The Vikings are pursuing the program's first state volleyball championship.

Two more local teams face win-or-go-home matches Saturday at 1 p.m. Hagerman hosts Grace, while Murtaugh hosts Garden Valley. The winners advance to state, and the losers see their seasons end.

🦅 CSI's Emerson Heatwole Earns National Volleyball Honor

A Kimberly native is receiving national recognition for her performance on the volleyball court.

CSI sophomore Emerson Heatwole has been named the NJCAA Defensive Player of the Week, adding a national honor just one day after receiving the conference's weekly defensive award.

Heatwole recorded 35 digs and 11 assists across seven sets against No. 2 Salt Lake last weekend, including 25 digs and nine assists in Saturday's four-set victory.

She now has 342 digs this season and 447 for her CSI career, putting her within reach of the 500-dig milestone.

The 11th-ranked Golden Eagles host in-state rival North Idaho College on Friday and Saturday.

🏀 Idaho Women Picked Second in Big Sky Preseason Polls

The defending Big Sky champion Idaho women's basketball team has been picked to finish second in both the conference coaches and media preseason polls.

The Vandals received two first-place votes from coaches and three from the media after winning last season's regular-season and tournament championships.

Head coach Arthur Moreira returns six players, including three starters, and adds eight newcomers.

Returning guard Hope Hassmann, last season's conference tournament MVP and a first-team all-conference selection, has also earned preseason all-conference honors.

Idaho State was picked seventh by coaches and sixth by the media.

The Bengals host the College of Idaho for an exhibition Friday before opening their regular season November 3 at BYU.

🏈 Idaho State Looks to Bounce Back Against Portland State

The Idaho State Bengals are looking for answers on offense as they prepare to host Portland State on Saturday, October 24.

The Bengals have lost two straight games, and head coach Cody Hawkins says the team's last two performances were the worst consecutive offensive outings of his tenure in terms of points and yards.

The quarterback situation remains unsettled. Hawkins has praised Jordan Cooke for staying engaged and supporting his teammates after being replaced last week.

One bright spot is Juice Mason, who has scored a touchdown in three straight games. Hawkins says getting Mason more opportunities needs to be a priority.

Portland State brings a challenging offense with multiple quarterbacks and several different looks. The Bengals will need a better performance on both sides of the ball to get back on track.

🏈 Boise State Connections Across Sunday's NFL Schedule

Former Boise State players and coaches will be featured throughout Sunday's NFL schedule.

• 🇫🇷 7:30 a.m. Mountain: Kellen Moore's New Orleans Saints face Pittsburgh in France on NFL Network.
• 🐴 2:05 p.m.: Kage Casey and JL Skinner's Denver Broncos visit Arizona on CBS.
• 🏴‍☠️ 2:25 p.m.: Ashton Jeanty and the Las Vegas Raiders host the Rams on FOX.
• 🦁 2:25 p.m.: Ahmed Hassanein and Detroit host Green Bay.
• 🌲 6:20 p.m.: George Holani, DeMarcus Lawrence, and the Seattle Seahawks welcome Kansas City for Sunday Night Football on NBC.

All times are Mountain. It's a full day of football for fans following Boise State connections!

🔥 Could the Olympic Torch Return to Idaho?

Boise is considering hosting a stop on the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

The proposed agreement would have the city help coordinate the relay, including traffic control, medical services, security, and cleanup. Boise could also nominate local residents to carry the torch, subject to Olympic approval.

The city says the agreement would have no fiscal impact. No relay date has been announced, but the 2028 Games are scheduled to open July 14.

The Olympic flame last visited Boise in January 2002 ahead of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. That relay passed through Caldwell, Nampa, and Meridian before a celebration at Boise's Grove Plaza, then continued to Twin Falls the following day.

🌦️ SOUTHERN IDAHO WEATHER: Enjoy the Warmth Before the Wind

Today brings mostly sunny skies and a high near 74 degrees, with a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

Showers are expected tonight, with a low around 45.

Friday brings a significant change. Expect cloudy skies, likely showers, and a high near 50 degrees. West winds could gust as high as 32 miles per hour, with a 70% chance of precipitation. A few showers could linger Friday evening before conditions improve.

The good news? Sunshine returns for the weekend!

• Saturday: Mostly sunny, high near 54. Overnight lows near 32, with patchy fog possible.
• Sunday: Sunny, high near 59. Overnight low around 35.
• Monday: Sunny, high near 62.
• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 60.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, high near 59.

Enjoy today's warmer weather, but keep the umbrella and a jacket handy as cooler, windier conditions move in Friday.

📻 Stay connected with Kat Kountry 106 for your Southern Idaho news, local sports, weather updates, and the stories that matter to our community.

🌐 Visit our website for more local coverage and the latest updates throughout the day.