📰 NEWS

🌾 H-2A VISA EXPANSION

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is backing new legislation to expand the H-2A farm worker visa program. The bill would let year-round agricultural employers, including Idaho dairies, hire legal foreign workers year-round instead of only for seasonal jobs.

⚖️ TWIN FALLS COURT SENTENCINGS

A Twin Falls man has been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison for a deadly DUI crash that killed 30-year-old Jose Malagon last year. Prosecutors say Edgar Antonio Venegas was intoxicated and driving nearly 70 miles an hour when he ran a stop sign, then fled the scene.

A 61-year-old Twin Falls man has been sentenced to three to six years in prison after secretly recording teenage girls in a dressing room. Shawn Satterthwaite must also register as a sex offender and was ordered to pay restitution.

🚔 BOISE GREENBELT HOMICIDE

Boise Police Department has identified the victim in this week’s Greenbelt homicide as 25-year-old Jordan Harbst. Detectives are asking anyone who was near the Boise River Greenbelt between the evening of July 5 and the morning of July 6 to contact police with any information.

👩‍⚖️ PAYETTE TODDLER DEATH CASE

New court filings show Payette’s Andrea Shaw had sued the American Academy of Pediatrics, claiming vaccines caused her twins’ deaths. Prosecutors allege the toddlers died from suffocation. Shaw has pleaded not guilty, and a bond hearing is set for July 14.

💵 IDAHO TAX REFUNDS

If you’re still waiting on your Idaho state tax refund, there’s good news. The Idaho State Tax Commission says funding has been restored. Record-breaking refunds temporarily drained the state’s refund account, creating a backlog. The remaining 10,500 refunds should be issued by the end of the week, with most direct deposits expected by July 15.

🔥 CLAREMONT FIRE

Evacuations have been scaled back as firefighters gain ground on the Claremont Fire in the Boise Foothills. All evacuation areas are now at Level 1 “Get Ready” status after crews made significant progress strengthening containment lines overnight.

✈️ BOISE AIRPORT UPGRADES

The Boise Airport is receiving $74 million in federal grants for major upgrades. The funding will help rebuild a 40-year-old runway, add new runway lighting, and expand aircraft parking areas as the airport continues to see record growth.

🏆 SPORTS

⚾ TWIN FALLS AA COWBOYS

The Twin Falls AA Cowboys split their first two games at the Pathway Utah Tournament. After a 7-5 loss Tuesday, the Cowboys bounced back yesterday with a big win over Ghost Utah. Hoyt Murray stayed hot at the plate, driving in three runs with a bases-clearing triple, while Jaxson Kasel struck out 10 batters in a complete-game effort. Today, Twin Falls wraps up pool play against the Park City Hitmen at 1 o’clock, looking to build momentum heading into bracket play tomorrow.

🏀 CWI ATHLETICS

The College of Western Idaho is laying the groundwork for intercollegiate athletics, but fans will have to be patient. School leaders say each team must be backed by a five-million-dollar endowment before competition begins. Rodeo and men’s and women’s basketball are considered the leading candidates, while football isn’t expected anytime soon. CWI says the goal is to build a self-sustaining athletic program without taking money away from academics.

🏄 WAKE IN THE SNAKE

Wake in the Snake returns today to the River’s Edge Golf Course Marina in Burley, with competition beginning at 9 a.m. Now in its 28th year, the wakeboarding event features 55 riders across 10 age divisions, including separate boys’ and girls’ grom divisions for riders 10 and under. Spectators get in free and can enjoy wakeboarding, food trucks, kid activities, raffles, and more along the banks of the Snake River.

🌤️ WEATHER

☀️ HOT AND SUNNY

Plenty of sunshine and another hot day today with a high around 92. We’ll cool down to about 60 overnight under mostly clear skies. Tomorrow gets even hotter with sunny skies and a high pushing 97. The weekend stays dry and hot too, with highs climbing into the upper 90s, near 99 on Saturday.

📅 EXTENDED FORECAST

Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.

Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 68. West northwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming south southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.

Sunday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Monday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 96.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 94.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 65.

Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 95.