Your Daily Briefing – 08/27/2025

Education

A week after Jerome schools rolled out a new bussing system, parents remain frustrated. At last night’s board meeting, dozens voiced safety and communication concerns, saying kids are still left without rides despite updated forms. District leaders insist fixes are underway, but parents say accountability is lacking.

Local Business

In-N-Out Burger is coming to Twin Falls. The chain confirmed it will replace the recently closed Outback Steakhouse at Blue Lakes and Fillmore. Construction will take eight to nine months once it begins, though no opening date has been set.

Politics & Justice

Idaho’s reformed public defense system is back before the state Supreme Court. Attorneys for the ACLU argue reforms still fail to guarantee adequate legal counsel for low-income defendants, while the state contends its new Office of the Public Defender meets constitutional requirements.

A federal judge has denied a preliminary injunction against Idaho’s restroom privacy law, House Bill 264, keeping it in effect while a lawsuit proceeds. Attorney General Raúl Labrador praised the ruling, saying it protects students, while plaintiffs argue it forces them to be outed on campus.

Energy & Environment

The Bureau of Land Management is taking nominations for Idaho public lands in a geothermal lease sale set for October 2026. The deadline to submit is October 1st of this year.

Opponents of the Lava Ridge wind project are celebrating a delay in a proposed 285-mile power line. Federal regulators told Great Basin Transmission its filing was deficient, citing questions after Lava Ridge’s cancellation.

State Government

Idaho’s new DOGE Task Force is reviewing state laws and citizen tips to cut government inefficiencies. Lawmakers are also weighing changes to Medicaid expansion, citing high costs.

Idaho used $2.3 million in Social Security benefits from foster children to cover care costs between 2021 and 2025. That’s now changing: Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams has ordered survivor’s benefits conserved for children’s future needs, starting July 2026.

Community

Centennial Park in Twin Falls closes Sept. 2 for paving work, reopening briefly Sept. 11–14 before closing again Sept. 15 until further notice.

Sports

The Twin Falls–Canyon Ridge soccer rivalry didn’t disappoint. The Bruin girls broke through in the second half for a 1–0 win, while the Canyon Ridge boys answered back with a 2–1 victory, led by Ethan Williams and Wasumba Bolemo.

Other girls’ soccer: Sun Valley blanked Bliss 6–0, Filer and Declo tied 4–4, Kimberly topped Buhl 5–0, Wendell beat Gooding 6–1, Burley edged Blackfoot 3–2, and Jerome tied Skyview 3–3.

Boys’ soccer: Wendell shut out Gooding 7–0, Filer rolled Declo 9–0, Shelley blanked Minico 8–0, Wood River and Idaho Falls tied 1–1, Kimberly and Buhl finished 4–4, and Jerome routed Skyview 8–0.

Volleyball: Murtaugh Red Devils beat Dietrich in four sets. Murtaugh took the first two 25–17, Dietrich won the third 25–17, but Murtaugh closed out the fourth by ten.

Elsewhere: Lighthouse Christian swept Hansen 3–0, Pocatello edged Twin Falls 3–2 and swept Burley 3–0, Middleton beat Canyon Ridge 3–0, Liberty Charter outlasted Glenns Ferry 3–2, Filer blanked Declo 3–0, and Carey slipped past Sun Valley 3–2.

Football

NFL rosters are set for Week One, and Boise State is well represented with 11 former Broncos active. Khalil Shakir returns for Buffalo, rookie Ashton Jeanty begins with the Raiders, Cedrick Wilson joins the Saints, and veterans like Ezra Cleveland, John Bates, and DeMarcus Lawrence round out the list. Last year, 12 Broncos played in the NFL, five reaching the playoffs.

Boise State football kicks off 2025 tomorrow at South Florida. Ranked #25, the Broncos and Bulls face off for the first time at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, kickoff 3:30 p.m. MT.

The Idaho Vandals named six team captains for 2025: Nate Azzopardi, Dylan Layne, Joshua Wood, Sam Brown, Jake Cox, and Zach Krotzer. A mix of veteran leadership and new energy.

Weather

Showers and possible thunderstorms today with a high near 74°F. Tonight partly cloudy with a low around 57°F. Tomorrow brings a slight chance of storms, otherwise mostly sunny, high 81°F. From Friday through Labor Day: dry, sunny, highs in the 80s, clear nights in the 50s.