NEWS
COURTS & PUBLIC SAFETY
TWIN FALLS — GRAND JURY INDICTMENT
A Twin Falls grand jury has indicted Justin James on charges including aggravated battery, domestic battery, attempted strangulation, rape and kidnapping. According to court documents, the charges stem from 2 incidents involving the same woman. James allegedly tried to run her over outside a bar in May. He’s also accused of assaulting her at a home in Kimberly, where investigators say he restrained, sexually assaulted and threatened her with a handgun. Prosecutors are seeking an enhanced penalty on an aggravated battery charge. His district court arraignment is scheduled for October 19.
FRUITLAND — WONDRA HEARING
Attorneys for Stacey Wondra are asking a judge to limit public comments in the case involving 5-year-old Michael “Monkey” Vaughan. The defense argues comments by Vaughan’s family and investigators could influence potential jurors. Wondra has pleaded not guilty to murder, kidnapping and destruction of evidence charges in Michael’s 2021 disappearance from Fruitland. Michael’s body has never been found. A hearing is scheduled for tomorrow at 1:30. The judge will also consider whether an apology letter Wondra wrote to the family can be used at trial. His trial is set to begin March 29.
CALDWELL — POLICE CAMERA EXPANSION
Caldwell is expanding its police camera network after the city council voted 4 to 1 last night to approve a $6.7 million, 10-year contract with Axon. The agreement increases license plate readers from 45 to 65 and upgrades drones, body cameras and Tasers. The money was already allocated in the police budget. Police say the cameras have helped solve 185 crimes. Councilmember Diana Register voted against the contract, citing privacy concerns and calling for public input. Mayor Eric Phillips also opposed the camera expansion. The council did not hold a public comment period on the agreement.
ELECTIONS & CIVIC PARTICIPATION
IDAHO — PROPOSITION 1 FUNDRAISING
Supporters of Idaho’s Proposition 1 are leading opponents in fundraising and spending. Through September 29, the main PAC backing the abortion rights initiative raised about $4.9 million, compared with $2.5 million for the main opposition PAC. Together, they’ve spent about $1.3 million. The measure would repeal Idaho’s abortion bans and establish protections for reproductive healthcare, including contraception and IVF.
IDAHO — NOVEMBER ELECTION DEADLINES
Idaho voters can start preparing for the November 3 election now. Absentee ballots are available, with requests due by 5 p.m. October 23. Early voting can begin October 13, depending on your county, and ends October 30. You can also register at the polls on Election Day. Check your registration and local voting information at VoteIdaho.gov.
TWIN FALLS — COMMUNITY SURVEY
Twin Falls wants residents’ feedback on city services and quality of life. Randomly selected households will receive a community survey by mail. An online version opens later for all residents. Watch TFID dot org for details. Responses will help guide city priorities and budget decisions.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
IDAHO — GAS PRICES DROP
A little relief at the pump this morning. AAA says Idaho’s average gas price dropped 4 cents this week to $4.95 a gallon. Twin Falls is averaging $5.05. Idaho still has the nation’s 7th-highest gas prices.
IDAHO — SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
Idaho ranks number 2 nationwide for small business growth, according to the Idaho Daily. The report shows the state added nearly 1,600 businesses, a growth rate of about 3.5 percent, with Pocatello leading the way statewide.
HEALTH & WATER RESOURCES
IDAHO — MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES HONORED
Two Idaho mental health providers are being honored for helping restore services for people with severe mental illness. Laura Scuri of Boise and Ric Boyce of Chubbuck pushed lawmakers to temporarily restore funding for mobile treatment and peer support programs. The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Idaho will present them with its Kathie Garrett Impact Award Friday in Boise.
IDAHO — NEW WATER YEAR
Idaho’s new water year is underway, but last year’s conditions still matter. Boise finished with above-average precipitation, yet warm temperatures meant more rain than snow. Water remaining in reservoirs, soil and groundwater will help determine supplies as the next winter approaches.
TUESDAY SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
KIMBERLY GIRLS — CONFERENCE TITLE SHOWDOWN
Kimberly’s girls are still perfect—and a conference title showdown is next. The Bulldogs beat Buhl 14-0 on senior night, improving to 15-0 with 1 regular-season game remaining. They’ll face Sun Valley Community School tomorrow for the 4A High Desert Conference championship.
GIRLS SOCCER — AREA RESULTS
Elsewhere in girls soccer, Declo shut out Gooding 5-0. Wendell blanked Filer 2-0, with Mia Guillen and Jeily Jimenez each scoring. Sun Valley Community School beat Bliss 5-0. Brynley Gage scored twice, with Rylee Miller, Carolyn Fleming and Lucy Jones adding a goal apiece.
GIRLS SOCCER — DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
It’s win or go home today as the 5A District 4 girls soccer tournament opens. Number 3 Canyon Ridge faces number 6 Minico, while number 4 Jerome meets number 5 Burley at 6. Top-seeded Twin Falls and number 2 Wood River have first-round byes. The Bruins play the lower remaining seed Thursday at 4:30 at Sunway. Wood River faces the higher remaining seed at 6:30. The district championship is October 12, with the winner advancing to state.
BOYS SOCCER — AREA RESULTS
On the boys’ side, Wendell edged Filer 3-2 behind 2 goals from Edgar Tena and another from Jefferson Gutierrez. Declo and Gooding finished tied at 2. Sun Valley Community School defeated Bliss 8-3, and Buhl beat Kimberly 9-2.
BOYS SOCCER — DISTRICT TOURNAMENT
The road to state begins today in the 5A District 4 boys soccer tournament. Number 4 seed Burley hosts number 5 Minico at 6 in an elimination game. The winner visits top-seeded Wood River Thursday at 4. Also Thursday, number 2 Jerome hosts number 3 Twin Falls at 7:30. The semifinal winners meet for the district championship October 12, with an automatic state tournament berth on the line.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN — SENIOR NIGHT WIN
Lighthouse Christian celebrated senior night with a conference volleyball win. The Lions beat Dietrich in 4 sets during their pink-out game, improving to 11-4. Lighthouse took the first 2 sets 25-21 and 26-24, dropped the third 25-19, then closed it out 25-21.
CAREY — SWEEP OF HANSEN
Carey swept Hansen 3-0. Emily Dahlstrom had 7 kills and 12 points for the Panthers, while Madison Hoskins added 13 assists.
RAFT RIVER — RALLY OVER RICHFIELD
Raft River rallied after dropping the opening set to beat Richfield 3-1, clinching the fourth 27-25. Richfield’s Payton Ward had 24 kills. Kendra Fuchs added 9 kills and 24 service points.
VOLLEYBALL — OTHER AREA RESULTS
Elsewhere, Castleford swept Camas County, Murtaugh swept Sun Valley Community School, and Valley swept Oakley—all 3-0. Declo defeated Wendell in 4 sets, 3-1.
VOLLEYBALL — TODAY’S SCHEDULE
Six matches are on today’s high school volleyball schedule. Twin Falls hosts Minico at 6, with the Bruins coming in at 21–8. At 6:30, Gooding visits Filer, Buhl heads to Kimberly, and Mountain Home travels to Bishop Kelly. Filer enters at 24–10, while Kimberly stands at 23–5. Wood River visits Burley at 7, and Jerome takes on Canyon Ridge at 7:30 to wrap up the night.
CSI RODEO
CSI — THIRD STRAIGHT MEN’S RODEO WIN
Make it 3 straight rodeo wins for the CSI men. The Golden Eagles scored 930 points at Utah State Eastern in Price, Utah, over the weekend, extending their lead atop the Rocky Mountain Region standings.
CSI claimed 4 of the top 5 spots in the men’s all-around. Ruger Smith won with 300 points, followed by Trey Smith in 2nd and Aidan Zunino in 3rd. Britt Wells finished 5th. Ruger and Trey also tied for 1st in steer wrestling.
Isaiah Florendo placed 2nd in saddle bronc, with teammate Makarty Larsen 3rd. Sean Mahoney took 2nd in bareback riding.
CSI carries a 365-point lead into the final rodeo of the fall season this weekend at Utah Valley University—the team sitting just behind the Golden Eagles in 2nd.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
IDAHO FOOTBALL — NATIONAL HONORS
A dramatic finish has Idaho football collecting national honors. The Vandals stunned top-ranked Montana State 35-34, beating a number 1 team for the first time in program history and snapping the defending FCS champions’ 19-game winning streak. Joshua Wood threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Jezioro on the final play, then ran in the winning 2-point conversion. Wood earned Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week honors. Jezioro finished with 147 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Cruz Hepburn led the defense with 13 tackles. Stats Perform and the Pop-Tarts Bowl both named Idaho their national team of the week.
BOISE STATE — ARENA VOLLEYBALL MATCHES
Boise State volleyball is headed back to ExtraMile Arena for 2 more matches. The Broncos host Utah State October 22 at 6 p.m. for Staff and Teacher Appreciation Night, then face Colorado State October 24 at noon for the Halloween Spiketacular. Boise State went 6-2 during its first 8 home matches at the arena, including a September 24 matchup with Gonzaga that drew 2,290 fans, the largest volleyball crowd in Idaho history. The Broncos are 10-6 overall and sit 4th in the conference.
IDAHO STATE — WOMEN’S GOLF TITLE
A championship drought is over for Idaho State women’s golf. The Bengals erased a 3-stroke deficit yesterday to share the Bradley Coyote Creek Invitational title in Illinois—the program’s first tournament win since 2000. Idaho State shot a final-round 308 to tie host Bradley at 929 atop the 9-team field. Andrea Chin led the Bengals with a tie for 4th, Sarah Chen tied for 6th, and Kaylie Parola tied for 9th—her 3rd straight top-10 finish. The Bengals wrap up their fall season next week at the Golf Iconic Invitational in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
COLLEGE SPORTS — ATHLETE PAY & TRANSFER BILL
Big changes could be coming to college sports in Idaho. The Senate passed a bill that would let schools pay athletes up to forty-nine million dollars a year and require repeat transfers to sit out a season. Boise State and Idaho athletic directors welcome the transfer limits. The House still needs to act.
WEATHER
RADIO FORECASTS
AM DRIVE
Sunshine today with a high of 83 and light winds. Mostly clear tonight, down to 52. Sunny skies stick around through Friday, with highs in the low to mid-80s. Then a big cooldown: 69 Saturday, just 58 Sunday, with a chance of showers starting Saturday night.
PM DRIVE
Sunshine for your drive home, with today’s high near 83. Mostly clear tonight, down to 52. Tomorrow brings more sunshine and a high of 82. We’ll stay warm through Friday, reaching 85, before a weekend cooldown. Highs drop to 69 Saturday and 58 Sunday, with shower chances starting Saturday night.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT
Mostly clear overnight, with a low of 52 and winds becoming light. Sunshine returns tomorrow, with a high of 82. Clear tomorrow night, down to 50. We’ll warm to 85 Friday before a sharp weekend cooldown—69 Saturday and just 58 Sunday, with a chance of showers starting Saturday night.
EXTENDED FORECAST
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 83. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 50. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming south after midnight.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 82.
Thursday Night: Clear, with a low around 50.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 69.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 36.
Columbus Day: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.
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