Your Daily Briefing – 05/22/2026

NEWS

🗳 PRIMARY TURNOUT

About 30% of Idaho’s registered voters turned out for Tuesday’s primary election, and Twin Falls County saw even stronger numbers with roughly 38% casting ballots in several competitive local and legislative races. Historic averages are around 25%.

🏛 STATE TRADE MISSION

Governor Brad Little is highlighting Idaho’s recent trade mission to Japan, calling it a success for boosting jobs, investment, and global partnerships. State leaders met with major companies in semiconductor, aerospace, AI, and food technology industries.

🏫 KIMBERLY SCHOOL VOTE

Kimberly voters overwhelmingly rejected both a nearly 58-million-dollar school bond and a plant facilities levy this week. School leaders say the levy loss will delay maintenance projects.

⚖ TRANSGENDER BATHROOM LAWSUIT

A lawsuit challenging Idaho’s transgender bathroom ban in public schools is expected to end after the student group suing over the law dropped the case. The move came after a Boise High School transgender student involved in the lawsuit died by suicide earlier this year.

🚔 IDENTITY THEFT CONVICTION

A man still not identified by authorities has been convicted in Idaho of stealing the identity of a boy killed in 1977. Prosecutors say he used the child’s identity for 25 years to collect nearly 283-thousand dollars in government benefits.

🚨 TWIN FALLS SHOOTING SUSPECT

A Twin Falls man accused in last month’s shooting and police chase that triggered a shelter-in-place is now in custody. Thirty-two-year-old Jacob Bellus turned himself in and is being held on a 500-thousand-dollar bond.

🚓 POCATELLO DRUG SEIZURE

Idaho State Police seized large amounts of fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and marijuana after a pursuit near Pocatello. Troopers say the driver, a 40-year-old man from North Dakota, led officers through a construction zone before spike strips stopped the vehicle near Fort Hall.

🚧 CENTENNIAL PARK ROAD REOPENED

The grade down to Centennial Park in Twin Falls is back open after a semi-truck jackknifed yesterday afternoon, blocking both lanes for nearly two hours while crews cleared the roadway.

🚗 100 SAFEST DAYS OF SUMMER

Idaho transportation officials are calling on drivers to make this the “100 Safest Days of Summer” as the busy travel season begins. The stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day sees Idaho’s highest number of fatal crashes.

🌉 THIRD SNAKE RIVER CROSSING

The Idaho Transportation Board has approved nearly 5 million dollars more for planning the proposed third Snake River crossing in the Magic Valley. Transportation officials say the funding keeps the environmental study moving forward as leaders work to address growing traffic on the Perrine Bridge corridor.


SPORTS

🏐 SOUTHERN IDAHO VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY

The Southern Idaho Volleyball Academy 17U Black team is headed to AAU Nationals in Orlando after winning the Idaho Classic in Boise. The roster features top athletes from across the Magic Valley, and the team is now asking for community support to help get them to nationals next month.

🥎 GREAT BASIN SOFTBALL AWARDS

Burley and Twin Falls cleaned up in the 5A Great Basin Conference softball awards after both teams made strong runs to the state tournament this season. Twin Falls senior Braylin Iverson earned Conference Player of the Year after a huge season at the plate and in the field. Burley sophomore Ady Olmos was named Pitcher of the Year for the second straight season, while Bobcats coach Bethanie Phillips picked up Coach of the Year honors.

⚾ BOISE HAWKS

The Boise Hawks picked up a 7 to 4 win over the Ogden Raptors Thursday night at Memorial Stadium. Brandon Nigh led the way with a three-run homer and four RBIs as Boise used a big fifth inning to pull away and secure the victory.

🏟 BOISE STATE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Boise State Athletics is launching a new Sports and Entertainment Group to bring more major events to Albertsons Stadium and ExtraMile Arena year-round. The new department will oversee concerts, special events, ticketing, and fan experiences as Boise State continues expanding beyond college sports.

🏃 NCAA WEST FIRST ROUND

Boise State and the University of Idaho are sending athletes to the NCAA West First Round next week in Arkansas. The Broncos qualified 14 athletes, including Mountain West champions Kaiya Robertson, Alex Thompson, and Raekwon Weatherspoon. Idaho also punched three tickets to regionals, led by Big Sky champion Constanze Paoli in the steeplechase and sprinter Keenan Kuntz competing in both the 100 and 200 meters.

🏆 BIG SKY HALL OF FAME

Two University of Idaho legends are headed to the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame. Former Vandal football coach Dennis Erickson and track and field standout Jackie Ross Mattox were selected as part of the conference’s 2026 Hall of Fame class.


WEATHER

🌤 MAGIC VALLEY FORECAST

Good morning! We’ll start with some clouds today but expect sunshine by this afternoon with a high around 76. Clear and cool tonight near 46. Sunshine sticks around through the holiday weekend with highs climbing into the mid to upper 80s by Memorial Day. Then cooler, breezy weather moves in Tuesday, with a slight shower chance Wednesday.

🌥 TODAY

Mostly cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming north northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

🌙 TONIGHT

Mostly clear, with a low around 46. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable.

☀ TOMORROW

Sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northwest from 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon.

🌙 TOMORROW NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the evening.

🌤 SUNDAY

Mostly sunny, with a high near 86.

🌙 SUNDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.

🇺🇸 MEMORIAL DAY

Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

🌙 MONDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.

🌬 TUESDAY

Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. Breezy.

🌙 TUESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. Breezy.

🌦 WEDNESDAY

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

🌙 WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with a low around 42.

☀ THURSDAY

Sunny, with a high near 73.

Terry "Tdub" West
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