📰 Magic Valley News Update | Tuesday

🌫️ Air Quality Alert Across the Magic Valley

Wildfire smoke continues to impact much of Southern Idaho, with unhealthy air quality expected through tomorrow.

🚫 Open burning is prohibited in:

Twin Falls County
Jerome County
Blaine County
Cassia County
Minidoka County

Officials encourage everyone—especially children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions—to limit outdoor activity.

🔥 Wildfire Update

👨‍🚒 Blaine County firefighters quickly stopped a roadside grass fire near Highway 75 and Countryside Boulevard after sparks from a mowing crew ignited dry grass.

Meanwhile, the BLM has closed public lands surrounding the Tartar Fire near the Idaho-Oregon border through August 17 while firefighting and recovery efforts continue.

🚨 Be Ready to Evacuate

Following several recent wildfires, the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to stay prepared.

Officials recommend:
✅ Sign up for emergency alerts
🥫 Keep at least 3 days of food
💊 Pack medications
👕 Have clothing and essential supplies ready

Dry weather, heat, and wind continue to increase wildfire danger.

📷 Twin Falls License Plate Reader Changes

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks is proposing changes to the city’s license plate reader program after privacy concerns.

Changes include:
🔒 Ending nationwide access to camera data
📝 Revising how images may be used
❌ Withdrawing an $88,400 expansion request

The City Council is expected to revisit the issue during its August 24 budget meeting.

⚖️ Kohberger Wants Guilty Plea Withdrawn

Bryan Kohberger, convicted in the University of Idaho murders, is asking the court to withdraw his guilty plea.

He now claims:

He is innocent
His attorneys coerced him into pleading guilty

Kohberger is currently serving four consecutive life sentences without parole.

👮 ISP Seeking Additional Victims

Idaho State Police are asking for the public’s help in a cold case involving Jose Buenaventura Aguilera, recently indicted in connection with the 2016 sexual assault of a 15-year-old in Caldwell.

Anyone with information or who believes they may be a victim is encouraged to contact Idaho State Police.

❤️ New Crisis Response Team

Blaine County law enforcement has launched a new crisis co-response team pairing police officers with behavioral health clinicians.

The goal is to:
🤝 Connect people in crisis with treatment
🏥 Reduce unnecessary ER visits
🚔 Reduce jail bookings

⚾ Sports

🏆 Burley Green Sox Win Another State Title!

The Burley Green Sox are back-to-back Single-A State Champions!

⚾ Burley defeated the Lewis Clark Cubs 7-0 in the championship game.

⭐ Jake Redder threw a complete-game shutout with 9 strikeouts.
💥 Ike Redder drove in 4 runs.

Burley now advances to the regional tournament in Casper, Wyoming, beginning August 7.

💔 Cowboys Fall at State

The Twin Falls AA Cowboys saw their season end with a tough 6-5 loss to Coeur d’Alene.

Twin Falls carried a lead into the final inning before the Lums rallied. The Cowboys loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t complete the comeback.