Top News
Seven people are dead after a fiery crash involving a tour van and pickup last night on U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake. Police say both vehicles caught fire. The highway remains closed as the investigation continues.
Payette Police are investigating a suspected double homicide after 18-month-old twins were found dead yesterday in a home on North Ninth Street. Autopsies are scheduled for today.
Javier Ortiz Lara, Jose Noel Ortiz Salas, and Anthony Dean Wilson have been indicted for allegedly plotting to kill the Teton County sheriff and a magistrate judge. A grand jury also charged them with drug trafficking.
A Twin Falls man, 23-year-old Corbin Hawker, faces nine felonies after allegedly printing lottery tickets without paying while working at a convenience store. He’s also charged with felony drug possession after meth was found during a probation check.
A Kootenai County woman is suing Ryan Mai and Rymo Cattle Company of Filer, saying Mai’s 2021 sexual assault derailed her ranching career. Mai, now a registered sex offender, served six months in jail.
Elections
Idaho’s May 20 election is packed with local decisions:
- Buhl seeks a $650,000 school levy
- Filer schools are asking for a $4.2 million bond
- Castleford has a $200,000 supplemental levy
- Burley voters will decide on a $450,000 library override levy
Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Education & Advocacy
Some Idaho educators say the 2025 Legislature’s school budget falls short—offering pay raises but no new funding for special ed, tech, or operations. Some leaders call it one of the worst sessions in memory for public schools.
The U.S. Justice Department has terminated over $50 million in federal grants to National CASA, the child advocacy group. CASA of Twin Falls says services aren’t yet impacted, but long-term cuts could affect training and resources.
Local Crime & Safety
Twin Falls crews responded to two injured B.A.S.E. jumpers near the Perrine Bridge Wednesday. One man and one woman were rescued from the canyon hours apart and taken to St. Luke’s with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Politics & Government
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is again pushing to add a third federal district judge to ease court backlogs. Idaho’s population has tripled since its last judgeship was added in 1954. The new bill is part of a national effort to create 63 new judgeships.
Sports – High School Baseball
3A South East Idaho Conference Tournament:
- Malad (Top seed) beat Declo 12-3. Malad jumped to a 7-0 lead in the first inning. Declo’s Dodge Edgar had two hits.
- Declo (2-16) faces Soda Springs at 11 a.m. today in an elimination game.
- Wendell (No. 2) dominated Soda Springs 23-2 in four innings. Julian Ponce hit two home runs. Wendell (8-13-1) faces Malad at 1 p.m.
Sports – High School Softball
- Wood River (No. 3) shut out Minico (No. 6) 11-0 in six innings. Paityn Nelson had two homers and struck out nine in a complete game. Wood River (13-12) visits Burley Monday at 4:30 p.m.
- Jerome (No. 4) beat Mountain Home (No. 5) 12-2 in five innings. Sawyer Garrard homered. Jerome (14-11) will face Twin Falls Monday at 5 p.m. Mountain Home is eliminated.
College Sports
- CSI Softball swept USU Eastern 5-4 and 7-5. Rilyne Keck and Lexi Crowley homered. CSI (34-14) wraps up the regular season today at noon with Sophomore Day celebrations.
- CSI Baseball dropped Game 1 of the Region 18 Tournament to USU Eastern 7-3. Home runs by Mack Evans and Kason O’Neil. Game 2 is today at 1 p.m.
- Boise State Softball beat Utah State 7-1. Olivia Bauer allowed just one run in six-plus innings. Leah McAnally hit a three-run homer. Boise State (31-20) plays again tonight at 6.
Weather Forecast
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 78°F. Light east-northeast wind.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46°F. Wind shifting southeast overnight.
Saturday: Sunny and warm, high near 82°F. Winds 5–9 mph.
Saturday Night: 30% chance of showers and storms before midnight. Low around 44°F with gusts up to 29 mph.
Sunday: 30% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms. High near 57°F.
Sunday Night: 20% chance of showers. Low around 40°F.
Monday: 30% chance of afternoon showers. High near 64°F.
Monday Night: 20% chance of showers before midnight. Low around 44°F.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, high near 69°F.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, low around 47°F.
Wednesday: Sunny, high near 77°F.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, low around 52°F.
Thursday: Sunny and warm again, high near 81°F.
- Newly launched law firm says it will represent those ‘inappropriately targeted’ by Trump - May 2, 2025
- Warrant issued for man accused of impersonating nurse, working with disabled patients - May 2, 2025
- Man sentenced to 53 years in prison in hate crime murder of 6-year-old Palestinian-American boy - May 2, 2025
