Local News

Your Daily Briefing – 07/10/2025

twest

🔪 CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY

  • Four people were found dead in Minidoka and Cassia counties on Tuesday. Authorities have arrested 56-year-old Ben Naylor of Burley, who they say acted alone. The victims’ names and ages have not yet been released as the joint investigation continues.
  • Jerome Police responded to a stabbing late Tuesday night involving intoxicated co-workers. 24-year-old Antonio Bautista Hernandez was hospitalized with stab wounds; 25-year-old Marco Antoni Hernandez Bautista was treated at the scene. Four others—42-year-old Juan Moreno, 21-year-old Andres Trejo, 37-year-old Rafael Custodio, and 31-year-old Luis Carbajal Najera—were arrested for obstruction.
  • Authorities have located the hiker mistaken for fugitive Travis Decker in the Sawtooth National Forest. The man matched Decker’s description but cooperated fully and was ruled out. Search efforts in the forest have ended, but the $20,000 reward for Decker’s capture remains active.
  • The Power County Sheriff’s Office has identified human remains found in 2022 along the Fort Hall River as Lesiah Olivia Pickett, a missing woman from Spokane. Pickett vanished in 2019 and was last seen in southeast Idaho. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office.
  • Some tense moments in Murtaugh as Dallas Stephenson was missing for nearly 24 hours. The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office says the young man, who has cognitive delays, was found safe last night after a large search effort.

🧠 AI & GOVERNMENT

  • Idaho’s new state HR chatbot is raising eyebrows after it wrongly claimed the state has over 700,000 employees. Officials say the real number is about 23,500 and blame the error on vague wording. AI tools are being tested, but state leaders stress careful rollout and transparency.
  • Southwest District Health is seeking public input as it plans future facilities and services across six rural Idaho counties. An anonymous survey is open this summer, with a master plan expected in 2026. Details at swdh.id.gov.
  • Canyon Ridge High School removed a display of foreign flags to comply with Idaho’s new law banning political, religious, or ideological banners in public schools. The display honored refugee students’ home countries. The district is now developing a protocol for future flag use.

⚾ SPORTS

  • The Magic Valley shined both on the field and in the classroom this spring:
    • Canyon Ridge baseball earned the 6A academic state championship with a 3.69 team GPA, competing hard in a tough division.
    • In 4A, the Kimberly Bulldogs softball team took the academic state title with a 3.78 GPA and capped off their season with an impressive 27-4 record and a second-place finish at state.
  • Boise State dominated the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Mountain West teams, landing a conference-best 21 players, including 10 on the first team.
    • Standouts Kage Casey and Jayden Virgin-Morgan earned All-American honors, while key returners like Maddux Madsen and Latrell Caples also made the first team.
    • The Broncos had players recognized on all four teams, showing depth across the board.
  • In American Legion baseball:
    • Burley A edged Minico A 2-1 in a tight defensive battle.
      • Jase Murphy homered early for Minico.
      • Burley responded with a Jacoby Roe RBI single and a Gaige Funk RBI double.
      • Ike Redder held Minico hitless after entering in relief, and the Green Sox defense sealed the win with a key double play and tag at home.
      • Burley A (now 26-4) hosts Twin Falls Hawks A for a doubleheader Saturday at 5 and 7 p.m.
      • Minico A wraps up their regular season at 11-10.
    • In Buhl, the Tribe split a twin bill with the Post 4 Razorbacks:
      • Buhl took Game 1, 4-3, behind Chase Craner’s complete game and clutch hits from Deegan Prince and Blayden Lowry.
      • Post 4 bounced back in Game 2, 6-2, scoring three insurance runs in the seventh.
      • Espinoza went 3-for-3 with an RBI for Buhl, who visits Post 65 Dragons A Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.

☀ WEATHER

  • Today (Thursday): Sunny, with a high near 86°F. West northwest wind 13 to 18 mph, gusts up to 31 mph.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, low around 61°F. West southwest wind 9 to 17 mph, gusts up to 30 mph.
  • Friday: Sunny, high near 89°F. West northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, gusts up to 21 mph.
  • Friday Night: Mostly clear, low around 60°F. Winds shifting southwest after midnight.
  • Saturday: Sunny and hot, high near 92°F. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
  • Saturday Night: Clear, low around 62°F.
  • Sunday: Sunny and hot, high near 95°F.
  • Sunday Night: Clear, low around 66°F.
  • Monday: Sunny and hot, high near 95°F.
  • Monday Night: Clear, low around 63°F.
  • Tuesday: Sunny and hot, high near 95°F.
  • Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, low around 62°F.
  • Wednesday: Sunny and hot, high near 96°F.
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