STATE & LOCAL NEWS

Medicaid Overhaul Input Now Open

Idahoans can now weigh in on the state’s shift to managed care for Medicaid. A statewide survey is open through December 31, and Health and Welfare is hosting listening sessions — including a virtual meeting on February 3 and an in-person session in Gooding on March 10. Officials say public feedback will help shape the new system.

Hagerman Man Killed in US-30 Crash

Idaho State Police say a 57-year-old Hagerman man died Friday morning in a single-vehicle crash on US-30 near milepost 185 in Gooding County. Troopers say his pickup scraped a guardrail, over-corrected, crossed into eastbound lanes, and rolled onto private property.

Major Cuts Coming to Mental-Health Services

Idaho’s Medicaid contractor, Magellan, plans major cuts to mental-health services December 1, eliminating peer support and the Assertive Community Treatment program for people with severe mental illness. Providers warn the cuts—driven by state budget shortfalls—could lead to more crises, homelessness, and higher costs in jails and hospitals.

Boise Standoff Ends in Arrest

Boise Police say a barricaded man is in custody after a five-hour standoff yesterday near Americana Boulevard. Officers used drones, pepper balls, a flashbang and tear gas before the suspect finally surrendered from a travel trailer. Several nearby streets and two homeless shelters were briefly locked down, but no serious injuries were reported.

Retro License Plates Break Records

Idaho’s new retro license plates are a smash hit—selling more than 18,000 since June, making them among the fastest-selling specialty plates in state history. The black-and-white throwback design brings in $70 per plate, sending funds to the Idaho Potato Commission and Idaho’s highway system. Sales have already generated nearly $1 million for transportation and major support for potato research.

Health Experts Warn About Kratom Risks

Health experts are warning about the growing dangers of kratom in Idaho as overdose deaths and poison control calls rise. The unregulated herbal product, sold in vape and convenience stores, contains opioid-like compounds and newer lab-made versions can be several times stronger than morphine. Idaho has no statewide regulations, leaving potency and labeling largely unchecked.

SPORTS

4A State Championship: Kimberly Falls Short

The Kimberly Bulldogs came up just short in the 4A State Championship, falling to Homedale 29–21 and finishing as the state runner-up. Kimberly struck first on a McRaye Bruning touchdown, but Homedale answered quickly and later took the lead after a dropped punt. The Bulldogs battled back with a late score and two-point conversion, but the Trojans’ offense proved too much down the stretch.

Carey Repeats as 1A Milk Bowl Champions

The Carey Panthers are back-to-back 1A Milk Bowl champions, beating Tri-Valley 40–20 on Saturday. The Panthers’ defense locked in after halftime and sealed Carey’s ninth state title.

Magic Valley Basketball Spotlight: Gooding & Filer

As we continue our look at Magic Valley varsity basketball, we stop in Gooding and Filer!

Gooding:
The Gooding Senators boys boast athletic guards, stronger post play, and sharper ball control — making them a true 3A dark horse this winter. The Gooding girls lean on tough defense and balanced scoring, led by a seasoned senior guard guiding the offense.

Filer:
Over in Filer, the Wildcats boys bring length, speed, and an aggressive, turnover-creating defense — with a standout sophomore group boosting their depth. And the Lady Wildcats remain one of the conference’s toughest defensive squads, setting the pace with pressure and rebounding as they chase another postseason run.

CSI Men & Women Stay Red-Hot

The College of Southern Idaho continues to roll on the hardwood.
The 15th-ranked CSI men won their seventh straight, knocking off Laramie County 79–63. Ben Thornbrue added 19 points and three blocks as the Golden Eagles improved to 7–0.

The 16th-ranked CSI women stayed perfect too, outlasting No. 9 Shelton State 69–64 to win the Battle for the Boot. CSI forced 18 turnovers and moved to 8–0. Both teams host the ICCU Invitational this weekend.

Idaho State Thumps Vandals in Moscow

Idaho State closed its season with a statement win, knocking off Idaho 37–16 in Moscow — the Bengals’ first road victory over the Vandals since 1981. The defense delivered one of its best performances of the year as the Bengals finished 6–6, winning four straight to cap a perfect November.

Boise State Dominates Colorado State

Boise State dominated Colorado State 49–21 on the Blue, piling up over 500 yards of offense and forcing four Ram turnovers. The Broncos now head to Utah State for Friday’s regular-season finale.

Idaho Women Roll Past CSUN

The Idaho women stayed red-hot Sunday, steamrolling CSUN 89–56 for their fourth straight win and a 5-1 start — their best since 2016. Idaho has topped 80 points in four straight games and now heads to California for the UC Irvine Tournament.

Boise State Women Extend Home Win Streak

Boise State women’s basketball pushed past UC Riverside 67–56 behind 19 points from Natalie Pasco. Boise State has now won 20 straight nonconference home games. Up next: North Dakota at the Paradise Jam on Thursday.

WEATHER

Partly sunny and breezy today with a high of 47 and gusts over 30 miles an hour. Tonight drops to 23 under mostly clear skies. Looking ahead — mostly sunny Tuesday with a high of 42, mid-40s to upper-40s Wednesday, and a bright, mild Thanksgiving topping out near 52. Light rain chances return Friday, and a slight chance of snow moves in for the weekend.

Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a west-northwest wind 15 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. South southwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Light and variable wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the evening.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 48.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30.

Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Friday: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 45.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.
Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 32.