MAGIC VALLEY & SOUTHEAST IDAHO HEADLINES
CHILDREN INJURED DURING WINDSTORM
Two young children were injured when a tree fell on them while they waited for a school bus south of Twin Falls during powerful windstorms yesterday morning. Deputies say winds brought down the tree and power lines just before 7 a.m. One child was flown by Air St. Luke’s, the other taken by ambulance. Wind gusts topped 68 miles per hour.
HIGH WINDS CAUSE WIDESPREAD DAMAGE
High winds wreaked havoc across the Magic Valley and southeast Idaho yesterday, triggering dozens of crashes, rollovers, and power outages. Idaho State Police say nearly a dozen incidents were reported along I-15 with gusts up to 65 miles per hour flipping semis and blocking roads. Winds also knocked down power poles, damaged buildings, flooded the Buhl Library, and left thousands without electricity as crews worked to restore service.
PLEA DEAL IN QUADRUPLE HOMICIDE CASE
The suspect in a quadruple homicide case in Cassia and Minidoka counties has signed a plea deal. 56-year-old Benjamin Naylor will receive two consecutive life sentences, with two additional life sentences running concurrently, after pleading guilty to four counts of murder. The case will be sentenced in Cassia County, with restitution to be determined.
OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS FOR IDAHO HEALTH EXCHANGE
Open enrollment has ended for Idaho’s health insurance exchange, with more than 120,000 Idahoans signed up — a 3 percent increase from last year. However, officials say thousands are dropping coverage due to rising costs, as enhanced federal tax credits are set to expire at year’s end. State leaders warn affordability concerns could lead to tens of thousands more losing coverage in the coming months.
UNEMPLOYMENT TAX RATES TO DROP
Governor Brad Little says Idaho employers will see a 7-and-a-half percent drop in unemployment insurance tax rates in 2026. The reduction is expected to save businesses about 11 million dollars statewide, with the base rate falling to one of the lowest levels on record. Employers will receive updated tax notices by mail next week.
GEOTHERMAL LEASES APPROVED
The Bureau of Land Management has accepted winning bids on 17 geothermal parcels in Idaho, covering about 68-thousand acres and totaling more than 1-point-3 million dollars. Once finalized, revenues will be shared between the U.S. Treasury, the state of Idaho, and Blaine, Camas, Cassia, and Owyhee counties.
SPORTS
GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
The Kimberly Bulldogs girls had their hands full last night, falling to state powerhouse Mountain Home 66–44. Kimberly battled back to tie the game late in the second quarter, but a late Tigers run before halftime opened a ten-point lead that Mountain Home carried through the second half. Brooklyn VerWey led the Bulldogs with 14 points, followed by Ady Osborne with 13 and Avery Beard with 12.
BOYS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCORES
On the boys’ side, Mackay knocked off Carey 49–44, Murtaugh edged Oakley 39–37, Rockland beat Raft River 58–44, Hagerman rolled Glenns Ferry 61–30, and Minico topped Canyon Ridge 69–58. Valley lost a tight overtime game at Sun Valley Community School 64–61. Buhl outlasted Jerome in overtime 68–66, Declo beat Firth 46–35, and Murtaugh completed the sweep over Oakley with that two-point win.
THURSDAY HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS PREVIEW
It’s a busy Thursday on the high school hardwood across the Magic Valley and beyond, starting this afternoon with tournament play. At three o’clock, Gooding is on the road at the Parma Holiday Tournament, taking on Owyhee JV, while at the same time Kimberly is over in Preston for the Indians Classic, facing Star Valley out of Wyoming. Later in that same Preston tournament, Burley tips off against Thunder Ridge at 4:40.
Conference action tonight includes Raft River at Sun Valley Community School with a 6:30 start. Then at 7:30, Wood River visits Buhl, Camas County is at Twin Falls Christian Academy, Mountain Home heads to Wendell, and Twin Falls Christian Academy also hosts Camas County in another non-conference matchup.
GIRLS GAMES AROUND THE REGION
On the girl’s side, the afternoon tips off at 4:30 with Gooding facing Nampa Christian at the Parma Holiday Tournament, while Twin Falls takes on Mountain Ridge of Utah at the East Idaho Holiday Shootout in Rigby. At six o’clock, Carey meets unbeaten Salmon River at the Nyssa Christmas Tournament, Declo is on the road at Nampa Christian, and Camas County visits Twin Falls Christian Academy. The seven o’clock hour is packed, with Oakley at Butte County, Valley traveling to Grace, and Lighthouse Christian JV at Water Springs. Conference games later tonight include Richfield at Dietrich and Castleford at Hansen. Wrapping things up at 7:30, Highland from Pocatello visits Jerome, Buhl travels to Kimberly, Idaho Falls is at Minico, and Canyon Ridge heads to Thunder Ridge for conference action.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The 10th-ranked College of Southern Idaho women pushed second-ranked Chipola to the wire on the road, but came up short 63–56 in non-conference play. Savannah Stoker led the Golden Eagles with 23 points. CSI is now 14-and-1 and opens conference play in January.
Boise State women opened Mountain West play with a 70–63 loss at New Mexico. The Broncos fought back from an early deficit and led late, but the Lobos pulled away in the fourth quarter at The Pit. Libby Hutton led Boise State with 17 points, while Natalie Pasco added 16.
WEATHER
UNSETTLED PATTERN CONTINUES
Snow mixes with rain today, turning to rain this afternoon with a high near 46 and light winds. Rain chances stick around tonight. Friday stays wet and breezy with highs in the mid-50s, then rain and snow return late Friday night. The weekend remains unsettled with scattered rain and snow and highs in the 40s.
Today: Snow before 2pm, then rain. High near 46. South wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to around 47 by 5am. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 8 mph in the evening.
Friday: Rain. High near 54. Light and variable wind becoming west 12 to 17 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night: Rain before 11pm, then rain and snow likely between 11pm and 2am, then snow likely after 2am. Low around 31. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 9 to 14 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday: A chance of snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Saturday Night: A chance of rain and snow, mainly after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday: Rain. High near 49. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Sunday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday: Rain likely, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Monday Night: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Tuesday: A 30 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 49.
Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Wednesday: A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 53.
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