STATEHOUSE WATCH
EDUCATION & PUBLIC SAFETY BILLS
Several education and public safety bills are moving at the Idaho Legislature. The House passed a bill restricting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. Lawmakers are also considering a required daily moment of silence in schools, removing the statute of limitations on certain felony sex crimes, foster care safety protections, and a Senate-passed bill requiring public employers to use E-Verify.
TAX COMMISSION FUNDING
JFAC approved more than $3.3 million in added funding for the Idaho State Tax Commission, partly to implement federal tax changes signed by President Donald Trump.
NATIONAL GUARD TUITION
Idaho’s budget committee rejected a $190,000 request to restore tuition assistance for Idaho National Guard members, citing budget concerns. Lawmakers could still revisit the funding before the session ends.
CAMPAIGN SHAKEUP
State Rep. Don Hall is ending his re-election campaign due to health issues but will finish his current term. Hall endorsed Grayson Stone to succeed him in the Magic Valley district.
INMATE REIMBURSEMENT BILL
A bill would raise state reimbursement for housing inmates from $55 to $80 a day. Twin Falls County says it costs over $110 daily per inmate. The proposal remains in the House.
PUBLIC SAFETY
AVALANCHE NEAR ISLAND PARK
One person was killed in an avalanche near Island Park yesterday after a group of four was caught in the slide. Three others survived. Authorities are urging winter recreationists to use extreme caution in the backcountry.
STOLEN AMBULANCE & DHS INCIDENTS
Police are searching for a suspect who stole a Canyon County ambulance, crashed it into a DHS and ICE office in Meridian, and fled with a gas can. Meanwhile, Boise Police are investigating vandalism at another DHS and ICE building over the weekend; it’s unclear if the cases are connected.
DESERT RESCUE
Friday, search crews found a missing man alive in a remote desert area southeast of Mountain Home after his vehicle was spotted in a creek bed. He was airlifted to safety.
BAKER COUNTRY MARKET FIRE
A brush fire destroyed the Baker Country Market near Salmon Saturday night. The family-owned Amish store was a total loss, with damage estimated at $1.2 million.
FATAL CRASH IN CANYON COUNTY
Two Nampa men were killed early Saturday in a single-vehicle crash in Canyon County. Police say their car left the road, hit a canal bank, a tree, and a shed.
SPORTS
IDAHO GIRLS STATE TOURNAMENT
Big weekend at the Idaho Girls State Basketball Tournament — three local teams brought home consolation hardware.
In 5A, Jerome edged Bishop Kelly 37 to 34, led by Sawyer Garrard with 12.
In 4A, Kimberly topped Weiser 62-56 behind Taya Plew’s 29 points.
In 1A, Carey rolled past Rockland 49-26.
In 2A, Oakley fell to Butte County 53-46 in the third-place game.
DISTRICT BOYS ACTION
Minico stunned Burley 54 to 53. The Bobcats now host Mountain Home Tuesday at 7 in an elimination game. Over the weekend, Twin Falls rolled past Mountain Home 80 to 28.
Games on tap tonight — Hansen at Camas County at 6. Buhl travels to Filer at 7. Kimberly is at Gooding at 7. And Castleford takes on Richfield at Camas County at 7:30.
CSI ATHLETICS
Fourth-ranked CSI rallied from 11 down to beat North Idaho 81-77. Ace Reiser led with 26 points. The 26-and-2 Golden Eagles host USU Eastern Thursday and number one Snow College Saturday to wrap the regular season.
Seventh-ranked CSI women dominated North Idaho 85-52. Ashley Garner had 22 and 14 boards, and Eva Birkeland and Calyn Wood combined for 27. The 25-and-3 Golden Eagles host USU Eastern Thursday and Snow Saturday.
CSI Baseball keeps rolling — sweeping Big Bend 24-3 and 10-1 for their 12th straight win, now 12-5 overall. The Golden Eagles pounded out big hits all day and host Prairie Baseball Academy next week.
Meanwhile, CSI Softball shut out Southern Nevada 9-0 in five innings. Marissa Mauger was strong in the circle as the Eagles improved to 8-6.
BOISE STATE
Boise State softball lost a heartbreaker Sunday, falling to 10th-ranked Stanford 3-2 after giving up three runs in the seventh. The Broncos led 2-0 late and head to the Wooo Pig Classic to face Kansas next.
Boise State women rolled past San Jose State 71-48 Saturday. Tatum Thompson led with 25 points as the Broncos improve to 22-6 and host San Diego State next.
The Boise State men swept the Spartans 84-69 — Drew Fielder scored 20 — and they’re back home tomorrow night against Wyoming.
IDAHO VANDALS
The Idaho men outpaced Sacramento State 86-80 for their third straight season sweep. Biko Johnson led the Vandals with 25 points as Idaho improves to 15-13 overall.
The Vandal women also rolled past the Hornets 75-60 — Hope Hassmann scored 22 and Debora Dos Santos added a double-double. Idaho hosts Northern Arizona and Northern Colorado next at home.
IDAHO STATE
Idaho State softball swept the final day of the UNLV Rebel Classic, beating Valparaiso 9-1 and Merrimack 6-0. The Bengals improve to 8-7 and head to the Oregon Classic next weekend.
Idaho State men completed the Montana sweep, beating Montana State 91-76. Gus Etchison exploded for 36 points and eight assists as the Bengals win their second straight.
The ISU women battled but fell at Montana State 67-61, despite double doubles from Piper Carlson and Kacey Spink.
WEATHER – MAGIC VALLEY
We’re mostly sunny today with a high near 57. Clouds build tonight with a slight chance of rain.
Tuesday looks wet — rain likely all day with highs near 49 and breezy at times. We could see a rain and snow mix Wednesday morning before clearing out. Sunshine returns Thursday with highs back in the low 50s.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Light and variable wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight.
Tuesday: Rain. High near 49. West wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night: Rain. Low around 41. Southwest wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday: A chance of rain, mixing with snow after 8am, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 30.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 54.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 51.
