Your Daily Briefing – 01/22/2026

STATE GOVERNMENT & COURTS
Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice G. Richard Bevan told lawmakers yesterday that violent threats against judges and court staff are increasing statewide. Speaking at the Capitol, he cited recent incidents and urged legislators to carefully consider stronger courthouse security.

Democrats are urging a pause on Idaho’s Parental Choice Tax Credit, citing accountability concerns. More than 4,600 applications are already in, and the law’s constitutionality goes before the Idaho Supreme Court tomorrow.

LEGISLATURE & STATE POLICY
An Idaho bill introduced this week would protect public employees who speak with lawmakers. Sponsor Rep. Dustin Manwaring says the bill would block retaliation against employees who communicate in good faith with the Legislature, boosting transparency. The proposal comes amid new agency coordination rules from Governor Brad Little’s office.

State Senator Ben Adams of Nampa has introduced a proposal to amend Idaho’s constitution to protect public lands transferred from the federal government. If approved by lawmakers, the measure would go before voters.

ECONOMY & EDUCATION
A new LendingTree study shows childcare costs are straining families averaging more than twenty-eight thousand dollars a year for two kids. In Idaho, parents earn far less than what’s considered affordable.

College enrollment in Idaho has reached a 10-year high, with about 47,000 students enrolled statewide, up nearly 9 percent from last year. Community colleges are driving growth, accounting for more than half of all enrollment gains, as students seek affordable, career-focused education.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE
Contractors with the City of Twin Falls will begin downtown sewer line rehabilitation today. Vortex Services will use trenchless pipelining through March, with intermittent downtown alley closures and traffic controls in place. Affected businesses and residents will be notified.

COURTS & CRIME
A Singaporean man involved in a deadly 2024 crash near Jerome will avoid jail time after a plea deal. Ping Zhou pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and will serve probation. Prosecutors said the victim’s family agreed to show mercy in the case.

EDUCATION & HEALTH
A Boise teacher is suing her school district, claiming a years-long mouse infestation in her classroom led to serious health problems. Michelle Chung says she developed Lyme disease and has spent more than eighty thousand dollars on treatment. She alleges the district failed to address the issue and later restricted her from school property.

SPORTS – HIGH SCHOOL & COLLEGE

Girls Basketball
Big finish in girls basketball last night, as Burley stunned Jerome 69 to 67 in a wild one on the road. The Bobcats were down four with just 15 seconds left, but Jocelyn Lloyd took over — scoring the final six points, including three clutch free throws with just a tenth of a second left after being fouled on a three-point try. Burley pulls off the comeback, tightening up the race for second place in the Great Basin, and they’ll host Twin Falls on Friday.

Other girls scores — Thunder Ridge rolled Canyon Ridge 66 to 18… Mountain Home beat Minico 65 to 29… and Filer topped Wood River 37 to 25.

Boys Basketball
Sun Valley knocked off Murtaugh 71 to 57… Declo cruised past Aberdeen 61 to 23… Hagerman edged Shoshone 48 to 43… Gooding beat Kimberly 54 to 47… Valley outlasted Oakley 57 to 45 in overtime… and Dietrich defeated Richfield 54 to 46.
The Raft River at Glenns Ferry game scheduled for Wednesday night was postponed.

Tonight’s High School Schedule
It’s a full slate of high school basketball across the Magic Valley tonight, with tip-offs set for 7:30. On the boys’ side, Filer travels to Buhl… Hansen heads to Camas County… Rockland visits Dietrich… Canyon Ridge goes to Highland… Jerome plays at Minico… Mountain Home visits Twin Falls… and Burley heads to Wood River.

Girls varsity action tips off Wednesday night at 7:30 with Thunder Ridge at Canyon Ridge… Burley at Jerome… Minico at Mountain Home… Dietrich at Wendell… and Filer on the road at Wood River.

College Basketball
Boise State women picked up their fifth straight win, beating Fresno State 60 to 52 at ExtraMile Arena. Libby Hutton led the Broncos with a career-high 25 points and nine rebounds. Boise State is now 15 and 5 and heads to Grand Canyon this weekend.

CSI freshman Ace Reiser earned NJCAA National Player of the Week after leading wins over Snow and USU Eastern. He averaged over 25 points and helped keep the Golden Eagles fifth in the nation. CSI hosts Colorado Northwestern today and Salt Lake Saturday.

The Idaho women are on the road tonight at Sacramento State. The Vandals are 13 and 5, tied for their best start in a decade. Debora Dos Santos is this week’s Big Sky Player of the Week.

WEATHER
Today: Cloudy early, then mostly sunny, high near 28.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, low around 23.