CRIME & COURTS
Lori Vallow Daybell Verdict
An Arizona jury has found Lori Vallow Daybell guilty of conspiring to murder her ex-husband, Charles Vallow, in 2019—adding to her life sentences from Idaho for the murders of her two children and a romantic rival. Prosecutors said she planned to collect life insurance and marry doomsday author Chad Daybell. Vallow Daybell represented herself at trial and appeared detached throughout. Her brother, Alex Cox, allegedly shot Charles in self-defense but died months later of natural causes. Another brother, Adam Cox, testified against her, stating she believed Charles was possessed by a “zombie.” She’s scheduled for another Arizona trial in June for a separate conspiracy charge and will face sentencing for the Charles Vallow murder later.
Jerome Fatal DUI Crash
A man is facing charges after Sunday’s fatal crash in Jerome. 29-year-old Rudy Oswaldo Perez Chavez was arraigned yesterday on felony vehicular manslaughter and aggravated DUI, after being released from the hospital Monday night.
Deputy-Involved Shooting Near Filer
Body cam footage was released from a deadly deputy-involved shooting near Filer last December. A 17-year-old who stabbed his mom and brother was shot by Twin Falls County Deputy Jacob Ballard after charging him. Prosecutors ruled the shooting justified.
GOVERNMENT & POLICY
Hazmat Response Funding
Governor Brad Little signed a new law Monday allocating $8.6 million to boost Idaho’s hazmat response teams. Senate Bill 1130 updates aging equipment and supports regional teams, including Twin Falls Fire, which praised the move.
Forest Management Executive Order
Governor Brad Little signed a new executive order—the “Make Forests Healthy Again Act”—to boost Idaho’s role in managing national forests. The move expands state-federal partnerships to reduce wildfire risk and improve forest health under the Trump administration’s new forest policy.
LOCAL NEWS
Mountain Home Police Chief Resigns
Mountain Home Police Chief Johnathan Thompson has resigned following disputes with city council members and Elmore County commissioners. A March 7 meeting video revealed tensions over dispatch and animal control issues. Thompson will stay on through month’s end as the city begins its search for a replacement.
Twin Falls Event Center Committee
A new eight-member committee in Twin Falls has formed to explore building a multi-use event center. The group will meet throughout the year to evaluate development possibilities for the proposed facility.
I-84 Cleanup Crew Accident
An IDOC officer and seven inmates narrowly escaped injury when a vehicle hit their parked van during highway cleanup on I-84 near mile-marker 7. The crash happened yesterday near the Highway 30 interchange.
SPORTS
5A Softball Roundup
- Burley swept Canyon Ridge with a 10-3 win in Game 1, led by Ady Olmos, who hit a solo homer and struck out 13. Game 2 went into extras, and Burley exploded for 12 runs in the eighth to win 17-6. Olmos had three hits and four RBIs, while Taylin Beck struck out 10. Audrey Wood and Harleigh Slagle led the offense for Canyon Ridge.
- Twin Falls edged Jerome 14-13 in Game 1, powered by a three-run homer from Makenzie Hudson. Libby Torgrimson had three hits for the Bruins, while Jerome’s Emma Allen homered late to spark a comeback. Game 2 ended in a 15-15 tie due to darkness. Abigayl Hinton and Ellie Helmer each homered for Jerome, while Hudson and Molly Hodge homered again for Twin Falls.
- Wood River dominated Mountain Home, winning 10-0 and 18-8. Makinzie Nelson and Paityn Nelson each tossed complete games, while Emmalese Nilsen drove in five combined.
Upcoming Matchups:
- Burley visits Mountain Home tomorrow.
- Twin Falls and Jerome square off with Wood River in key Great Basin matchups.
Caldwell Night Rodeo Upgrade
The Caldwell Night Rodeo arena is getting a $7 million upgrade ahead of this August’s event. New features include a Jumbotron, skyboxes, and a new announcer’s box. The historic rodeo, held since 1924, continues August 10–16 and typically sells out nightly.
CSI Softball Coach Hits 800 Wins
College of Southern Idaho Softball Head Coach Nick Baumert hit a major milestone Tuesday, earning his 800th and 801st career wins as the Golden Eagles swept Treasure Valley 10-0 and 4-0. CSI’s pitchers dominated, allowing just four hits and no runs across both games. Offensively, Rilyne Keck, Kyli Carrell, and Lily Heitz each homered in Game 1, while Anslie Yazzie went deep in Game 2. CSI, now 33-14, has a bye before hosting USU Eastern May 1–2.
WEATHER
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 65°F. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 40°F. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south southwest after midnight.
Tomorrow (Thursday)
A 30% chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67°F. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 44°F. North northwest wind around 6 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.
Friday
A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73°F. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night
A 20% chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42°F.
Saturday A 30% chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69°F.
Saturday Night A 30% chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42°F.
Sunday Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 58°F. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night A 30% chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41°F.
Monday A 20% chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 61°F.
Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 42°F.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 66°F.
