ELECTIONS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HAILEY FIRE ANNEXATION VOTE
Hailey voters face a decision next month about fire protection—and how to pay for it. The November 3 ballot asks whether to bring the city’s fire service into Blaine County Fire and Rescue. The agencies already share resources, but annexation would put funding and oversight under the district. The property tax cost would rise from $13.95 to $51.44 per $100,000 of taxable value. Fire officials say that comparison doesn’t tell the whole story, because Hailey currently uses local option taxes and other revenue, too. Chief Mike Baledge says rejection would mean exploring other funding and returning to a volunteer model. Residents can ask questions tonight at 5:30 at Hailey City Hall. If approved, annexation would take effect in October 2027.
TWIN FALLS COUNTY COMMISSION RACE
How should Twin Falls County grow without losing its agricultural roots? That’s a central issue for the 2 candidates seeking County Commission Seat 1 on November 3. Republican Scott Tverdy and independent Kirk Tubbs both support updating the county’s comprehensive plan with more community input. Tverdy says development is necessary, but the county can’t keep expanding into farmland. The Castleford graduate brings farming, ranching and 20 years of school board experience. Tubbs says the county needs to plan for growth instead of reacting to it. He and his wife started Tubbs Berry Farm 21 years ago, growing it from 2 acres to 50. Both candidates say community service motivated them to run.
U.S. ATTORNEY BART DAVIS RETIRING
Idaho’s top federal prosecutor is retiring. U.S. Attorney Bart Davis announced yesterday that he’ll step down October 17. Davis is 71 and serving his second stint leading the office—just 1 year after the Senate confirmed his return. He previously held the position from 2017 to 2021. Before that, Davis spent 19 years in the Idaho Senate, including 15 as majority leader. He also helped lead the state’s 2021 redistricting commission. Governor Brad Little praised Davis for his legal judgment and decades of public service. Davis thanked his staff for their work enforcing federal law, protecting civil rights and keeping Idaho safe.
PUBLIC SAFETY & TRANSPORTATION
GOODING VEHICLE BURGLARIES
Gooding police believe most victims of a string of vehicle burglaries haven’t reported their losses. The break-ins happened near the Malad Apartments around 10:30 p.m. September 16. Based on statements from suspects, police estimate only about 10 percent of victims have come forward. Residents are asked to check for missing items and review security video from that night. Police say 2 people shown in social media photos have likely been identified. To report a theft or suspicious activity, call dispatch at 208-324-1911. Officers also remind residents to lock their vehicles and secure their belongings.
I-84 LANE CLOSURES MONDAY
A heads-up for your Monday commute: eastbound Interstate 84 will have single-lane closures and reduced speeds between Kasota Exit 201 and Burley Exit 208. Crews will resurface the roadway October 12, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., weather permitting. Westbound work was completed last year, and a larger pavement project is planned for 2030. Allow extra travel time, slow down and watch for workers and equipment.
PUBLIC LAND WILDFIRE TREATMENTS
Nearly 16,000 acres of public land in southwestern Idaho are scheduled for aerial herbicide treatments to help reduce wildfire risk. The Bureau of Land Management’s Boise District is partnering with the U.S. Wildland Fire Service on the work in Ada and Owyhee counties. Treatments are set to begin the 2nd week of October, depending on weather and fire activity. Officials say the herbicide will target invasive annual grasses that fuel wildfires, help maintain fuel breaks and support the recovery of longer-lasting native vegetation.
EDUCATION & COMMUNITY
IDAHO TEACHER OF THE YEAR
A surprise celebration for a Boise teacher brought Idaho’s top teaching honor—and a $10,000 check. Amanda Holland, a 2nd-grade teacher at Washington Elementary, was named the 2027 CapEd Credit Union Idaho Teacher of the Year yesterday. State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield presented the award in front of Holland’s students, family and colleagues. Holland was selected from 182 nominees and has spent 23 years in education. She says watching her own children’s classrooms inspired her to become a teacher. Holland says the honor validates her work to build a classroom community of kind, empathetic and thoughtful students.
CAPITOL CHRISTMAS TREE VISITS TWIN FALLS
An Idaho Christmas tree is headed to the U.S. Capitol—and Twin Falls will get a chance to see it along the way. This year’s “People’s Tree” comes from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest and is scheduled to stop in Twin Falls November 5, following a visit to Craters of the Moon. The tree will be harvested in late October, then travel to Washington under a Forest Service escort. Thousands of handmade ornaments from Idahoans will decorate it. A replacement tree was selected after the original choice, an 80-foot grand fir, showed signs of needlecast disease. This is the 3rd time Idaho has supplied the Capitol Christmas Tree, following 2003 and 2016. Tour events are free and open to the public.
THURSDAY SPORTS — HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER
BOYS SOCCER RESULTS
Sun Valley Community School and Wendell delivered big wins in boys high school soccer yesterday. The Cutthroats rolled past Kimberly 9-1, while Wendell beat Buhl 6-2. Elsewhere, a pair of shutouts: Declo went on the road and blanked Bliss 2-0, and Gooding defended its home field with a 2-0 win over Filer.
BOYS SOCCER DISTRICT MATCHUPS
District tournament boys soccer brings a rivalry matchup to Jerome tonight, as the Tigers host Twin Falls at 7:30. Jerome comes in at 11-1-2, while the Bruins are 5-6-3. Also tomorrow, Canyon Ridge hosts Thunder Ridge at 7. The Riverhawks are 7-6-2, facing a Thunder Ridge team with 11 wins. Mountain Home takes on Nampa at 5 at Ridgevue. That follows the 3 o’clock matchup between Ridgevue and Columbia. Elsewhere in district tournament play, American Falls visits Preston at 3. At 4, Blackfoot plays at Century, and Skyline faces Idaho Falls at Ravsten Stadium. Idaho Falls enters with a 16-1 record. Emmett visits McCall-Donnelly at 5, and Rigby heads to Madison at 7. And in conference action, Teton visits Sugar-Salem at 7. That’s a matchup of teams with just 1 loss apiece—Teton at 12-1, and Sugar-Salem at 11-1-2.
GIRLS SOCCER RESULTS
Kimberly’s perfect season came to an end yesterday in girls high school soccer. Sun Valley Community School edged the Bulldogs 1-0, handing Kimberly its first loss after 15 straight wins. Elsewhere, Wendell shut out Buhl 5-0, and Declo picked up a 4-1 road win over Bliss.
GIRLS SOCCER DISTRICT MATCHUPS
Twin Falls and Jerome square off this afternoon as district tournament action continues in girls soccer. The Bruins bring a 12-1-2 record into the matchup against the 10-6-1 Tigers. Kickoff is at 4:30 at Sunway Soccer Complex in Twin Falls. Then at 6:30, Canyon Ridge visits Wood River. The Riverhawks are 8-7-1, while the Wolverines stand at 11-3-2. Mountain Home faces Columbia at 7 in Caldwell, following the 5 o’clock matchup between Ridgevue and Caldwell. Elsewhere, Marsh Valley hosts a district tournament doubleheader, with Aberdeen facing American Falls at 3, followed by Malad and Snake River at 5. At 7, Rigby visits Highland in Pocatello, and Thunder Ridge plays at Madison. And in conference action, Teton visits Sugar-Salem at 5. Sugar-Salem enters that one at 13-1-1, while Teton is 8-4-1.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL
VALLEY WINS CONFERENCE TITLE
The Valley Vikings are conference champions. Valley beat Hagerman in 4 sets to claim the 2A Snake River Conference volleyball title and the number 1 seed for districts. The Vikings improved to 19-2, while the Pirates dropped to 10-3.
AREA VOLLEYBALL RESULTS
Elsewhere, Richfield swept Hansen behind 16 kills and 12 service points from Payton Ward, plus 30 assists from Allie Naylor. Castleford topped Carey 3-1. Emily Dahlstrom had 11 kills for the Panthers, and Shelby May added 18 digs. Malad swept Declo, and Dietrich also won in straight sets over Camas County.
TONIGHT’S VOLLEYBALL MATCHUPS
Crosstown rivals take the court tonight as Twin Falls hosts Canyon Ridge in high school volleyball. The Bruins enter at 21-9, while the Riverhawks are 5-9. First serve is at 6:30. Also at 6:30, Wood River visits Minico in a matchup of teams with winning records. The Wolverines are 12-9, and the Spartans are 15-11. Burley travels to Jerome, while Mountain Home looks for its first win of the season at home against Vallivue. At 7, Kimberly takes its 24-6 record to Gooding for a conference matchup. Wendell visits Buhl, and Declo heads to Aberdeen for a nonconference match. The Hornets enter at 10-9.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
TIMBERLINE HOMECOMING GAME CANCELED
Timberline High School’s homecoming football game against Kuna is canceled over concerns about student safety. The Boise School District announced Tuesday that the game, initially postponed, will not be rescheduled. Timberline will forfeit. District leaders cite recent student social media posts and ongoing concerns about student well-being. The homecoming dance will go ahead as planned, with additional security and law enforcement on hand. Officials say the indoor setting allows tighter control over access and supervision. The district is working to reschedule other postponed homecoming activities. Students needing support are encouraged to contact a school counselor or trusted adult.
COLLEGE SPORTS
FEDERAL COLLEGE SPORTS BILL
Keeping athletes in Boise could get easier under a federal bill that would change the rules across college sports. The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, which would establish national standards for athlete payments, transfers and eligibility. The measure is stalled in the House but has President Trump’s support. Boise State athletic director Jeremiah Dickey says a 1-time transfer rule would put the responsibility on schools to create an experience athletes want to stay for. The proposal would also give athletes 5 years to play 5 seasons—something Dickey says fits Boise State’s emphasis on developing players. He supports athletes getting paid, but says spending limits could help protect sports that don’t generate revenue, keeping schools from cutting one program to pay for another. Boise State has 18 sports and 363 student-athlete name, image and likeness contracts. Supporters say a national standard would replace the patchwork of rules schools now navigate when recruiting, retaining and compensating athletes.
BOISE STATE BASKETBALL MEDIA DAY
New conference, new rosters, and plenty to prove. Boise State’s basketball teams are preparing for their first season in the Pac-12, and both shared their outlook at media day.
The women are coming off a 25-9 season, but at least 10 players on this year’s roster are freshmen or sophomores. Coach Gordy Presnell says he’s excited about the group and the challenge of facing programs like Gonzaga, Oregon State and Washington State. Junior forward Libby Hutton says the Broncos want to play fast and together, while CJ Latta believes their maturity will help offset their youth.
For the men, coach Leon Rice says improving consistency starts with a roster built around tough, competitive players. Pearson Carmichael says the Broncos want to set the standard in the conference’s new chapter.
Both teams begin Pac-12 play on the road in January: the men at Utah State, and the women at Texas State.
BOISE STATE BASKETBALL TICKET PACK
Boise State basketball fans have a new ticket option for some big home matchups. The Broncos’ Elite Pack starts at $99 per person and includes 6 games at ExtraMile Arena: Butler November 8, Washington State January 13, Utah State January 27, Gonzaga February 10, Texas State February 20, and Colorado State March 3. Boise State has won 89 of its last 105 home games and will host 16 regular-season games this season. The opener is November 4 against West Coast Baptist. Season tickets are on sale now, with single-game tickets available October 21 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time at BroncoSports.com slash tickets.
BOISE STATE WOMEN’S SOCCER
Boise State women’s soccer goes for its 9th straight win tonight. The Broncos visit Fresno State at 8 p.m. Mountain Time, riding the longest active winning streak in the Pac-12 and the second longest in the nation. Fresno State is 1-10-2, and Boise State has won the last 4 meetings.
Then comes a tougher test Sunday, when nationally ranked Utah State visits the Boas Soccer Complex at 1 p.m. Both matches stream live on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
The Broncos have plenty of firepower. Mia Lane is the conference’s Offensive Player of the Week after scoring 4 goals against San Diego State and Gonzaga. And Meridian freshman Campbell Wilson has 25 points, tied for the most among freshmen nationwide. Boise State also leads the Pac-12 with 8 shutouts.
IDAHO WOMEN’S SOCCER
Idaho women’s soccer takes its stingy defense on the road today, visiting Northern Colorado to open a 2-game Big Sky road swing. Kickoff in Greeley is at noon Mountain Time. The Vandals are 7-2-3 overall and unbeaten in conference play after tying Weber State and shutting out Idaho State 3-0. Hallie Prino-Grumbach scored just 48 seconds into that rivalry win, with Georgia Whitehead and Makenna Stuart adding goals. Idaho has allowed just 6 goals in 12 matches, recording 7 shutouts. Northern Colorado enters at 3-5-2. The Vandals then visit Northern Arizona Sunday at 2 p.m. Mountain Time.
IDAHO GOLF RESULTS & UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Idaho’s golf teams are looking ahead to another tournament week after wrapping up events in Washington and Oregon. The Vandal women finished at 38 over par at the Pat Lesser Harbottle tournament in Lakewood. Zoe Newell led Idaho at 8 over, closing with an even-par 72. Diya Brar finished 2 shots behind her. Next up is the Golf Iconic Classic in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Monday through Wednesday.
On the men’s side, Idaho finished 4 over par at the OSU Invitational in Corvallis. Henrik Koglin led the Vandals with back-to-back rounds of 70 to close the tournament, while Carter Frisby finished at even par. Coach David Nuhn praised the team’s resilience and improved play off the tee. The men return to action Monday and Tuesday at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational in California.
MAGIC VALLEY WEATHER
MORNING DRIVE
Sunshine and warm temperatures today across the Magic Valley, with a high of 83. Mostly clear tonight, down to 49. Tomorrow, sunny and breezy, reaching 86, with gusts to 23 miles an hour. Big changes this weekend: a chance of showers, with highs dropping to 66 Saturday and just 54 Sunday.
AFTERNOON DRIVE
A sunny, warm afternoon across the Magic Valley, with a high of 83. Mostly clear tonight, cooling to 49. Tomorrow brings sunshine, a high of 86, and wind gusts to 23 miles an hour. Then a sharp cooldown: 66 Saturday, just 54 Sunday, with shower chances increasing through the weekend.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT
Mostly clear across the Magic Valley tonight, with a low of 49. Tomorrow, sunshine and a warm 86, with wind gusts to 23 miles an hour. Partly cloudy tomorrow night, down to 50. A sharp cooldown arrives this weekend: highs of 66 Saturday and just 54 Sunday, with increasing chances of showers.
EXTENDED FORECAST
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. East southeast wind 6 to 13 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.
Saturday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.
Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Columbus Day: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 56.
Monday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
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