NEWS

SUPREME COURT: Birthright Citizenship

A constitutional law professor at the College of Idaho says the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold birthright citizenship reinforces more than 150 years of legal precedent. The 6-to-3 ruling struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to limit automatic citizenship for some children born in the United States.

IMMIGRATION: ICE Arrests in the Magic Valley

ICE agents were out in force in the Magic Valley yesterday, making arrests in both Jerome and Burley. According to our investigation, most of the arrests took place after warrants were served for not showing up to court dates.

Yesterday, observers with Indivisible Twin Falls County observed another ICE-chartered flight leave Joslin Field in Twin Falls yesterday afternoon with 34 deportees. This is the 20th flight recorded since April 2, with a total of 257 persons deported since May 12 from the Twin Falls facility.

TWIN FALLS: GoFundMe for Mohammadullah’s Family

A GoFundMe has been launched to help the family of 4-year-old Mohammadullah, who was struck and killed while crossing Pole Line Road near Costco in Twin Falls on June 22.

Donations will help cover funeral expenses, medical bills, and provide support for the family.

Fundraiser: Honoring Mohammadullah’s Bright Spirit

PAYETTE: Former Woman Charged in Deaths of Twins

A former Payette woman has been charged with 2 counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her 18-month-old twins. 23-year-old Andrea Shaw was arrested yesterday, more than a year after the children were found dead in their Payette home.

CUSTER COUNTY: Defamation Lawsuit Dismissed

A Custer County judge dismissed Michael Boren’s defamation lawsuit against Gary Gadwa and other critics of Boren’s Stanley-area airstrip, citing a lack of activity in the case.

MOUNTAIN HOME: Pastor Back in Court

Gregory Wayne Jones, a Mountain Home pastor accused of sexual assault, was back in court yesterday. A judge approved a technical update to the charging document and denied the defense request for mediation. Jones returns to court July 27.

TWIN FALLS: Sentencing in Child Sexual Abuse Material Case

A 31-year-old Twin Falls man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, with 8 years fixed, after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. Eduardo Ortega was sentenced yesterday in Twin Falls County.

BOISE: St. Luke’s Hospital Expansion Milestone

St. Luke’s celebrated a major construction milestone in Boise, topping out its new $1.1 billion hospital expansion. The project will add 80 hospital beds and 7 operating rooms, and is expected to welcome its first patients in 2030.

NEW IDAHO LAWS

LICENSE PLATES: Registration Stickers End

Starting today, Idaho drivers will no longer need registration stickers on their license plates. You’ll still need to renew your vehicle registration on time, but plates are now permanent and only need to be replaced if they’re damaged or no longer readable.

STATE LAWS: Hundreds Take Effect Today

Hundreds of new Idaho laws take effect today. Among the biggest changes: firing squads are now the state’s primary execution method and semi-trucks can travel up to 80 miles an hour where posted.

HOUSE BILL 752: “Bathroom Bill”

House Bill 752 makes it a crime to knowingly use a restroom, changing room, or locker room that does not align with a person’s biological sex. A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking parts of the law, including single-use restrooms and multi-use restrooms without single-use options, but the rest of the law will still take effect.

HOUSE BILL 664: Semi-Truck Speed Limits

House Bill 664 allows semi-trucks to travel at the same 80 mile-per-hour limit as passenger vehicles on Idaho interstates, citing research on reducing crash severity from speed differences.

SENATE BILL 1227: AI in K-12 Education

Senate Bill 1227 requires the State Department of Education to create a statewide AI framework and mandates formal policies for AI use by students and staff in schools.

HOUSE BILL 516: Teachers’ Union Restrictions

House Bill 516 prohibits unions from using district payroll systems to deduct dues, holding meetings on district property, and using paid leave for legislative advocacy.

HOUSE BILL 623: School Moment of Silence

House Bill 623 requires all public schools to start each day with a 60-second moment of silence for reflection, prayer, or other activities, with no staff suggestions on how to use it.

HOUSE BILL 822: Gender Change Notifications

House Bill 822 requires teachers, healthcare providers, and childcare staff to notify parents within 72 hours if a minor requests new pronouns or a name change, and prohibits them from assisting in a gender transition without parental consent.

FIRE RESTRICTIONS: Sawtooth National Forest

Stage 1 fire restrictions take effect today across the Sawtooth National Forest’s Minidoka Ranger District. Campfires are limited to approved fire rings at designated sites, and violations could bring fines or jail time. The restrictions are expected to remain in place through October.

BOISE: New E-Moto Rules Take Effect

Boise has approved new rules for high-powered electric motorcycles, or e-motos, effective today. The vehicles are now banned from sidewalks, bike paths, and the Greenbelt, and riders must follow Idaho’s registration, licensing, and insurance laws to operate them on city streets.

SPORTS

SUPREME COURT: Idaho Transgender Athlete Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Idaho’s ban on transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, clearing the way for the state’s 2020 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act to finally take effect after years of legal challenges. Idaho was the first state in the nation to pass a law like it. Governor Brad Little called the ruling “a historic moment for common sense,” saying it protects opportunities for female athletes and upholds Title IX protections.

LEGION BASEBALL: Burley Green Sox Stay Hot

The Burley Green Sox continue to dominate Legion A baseball. Yesterday, Burley swept Buhl in a doubleheader with 10-0 and 5-0 shutout victories. Mack Haynes and Braxton Warr each threw complete-game gems, holding the Tribe scoreless all day. The defending state champions are now 21-and-5 on the season and have won 15 of their last 16 games as they prepare for another busy stretch this week.

CSI MEN’S BASKETBALL: Five Players Head to Division One

The College of Southern Idaho men’s basketball program is sending 5 more players to the Division One ranks. Jalen Lyn is headed to the University of Arkansas Little Rock, Ace Reiser to Utah State, Cooper Kesler to Lafayette, Gerry Guerrero to Canisius, and Charlie Dimmock to the University of Denver. The Golden Eagles are coming off a remarkable 34-and-3 season that included conference, region and district titles, plus an appearance in the NJCAA national championship game.

BOISE STATE: Kellen Moore Statue Coming

Boise State is honoring Bronco legend Kellen Moore with a permanent bronze statue outside Albertsons Stadium. The quarterback who led Boise State to a 50-and-3 record will also be recognized with orange hash marks at the 11-yard line on the Blue Turf. The statue is expected to be installed during the upcoming football season.

CSI BASEBALL: More Golden Eagles Head to the Next Level

More College of Southern Idaho baseball players are headed to the next level. Trey Purser signed with Colorado Mesa, Will Grizzle is headed to the University of San Francisco, Crew Secrist will play at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, and Jackson Gardner is bound for Utah Tech. They join 5 other Golden Eagles already committed after helping CSI finish 43-and-14 and win the Scenic West Athletic Conference regular season title.

BOISE STATE: Kaiya Robertson Earns Mountain West Honor

Boise State’s Kaiya Robertson has been named the Mountain West Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Robertson finished her Bronco career with a perfect 4.0 GPA, 5 conference titles, and All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track and field. She’ll also receive a $2,500 postgraduate scholarship.

WEATHER

MAGIC VALLEY FORECAST

Keep an eye on the sky today. There’s a 50 percent chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 and 5, with a high near 79. Skies clear out tonight. Tomorrow looks sunny and warmer with a high of 84, then the heat builds into the holiday weekend with sunshine and highs climbing into the 90s.

Author
Recent Posts

Stalk Me

Terry "Tdub" West

I am an award-winning broadcaster and voice over artist with nearly 30 years of experience. I know the truth about the One Ring, how to gank a demon, The Doctor’s name, and the Death Star’s one weakness. I am a father, writer, broadcast professional, and Voice Over Talent.