Your Daily Briefing – 01/21/2026

STATE POLITICS & POLICY

Medicaid Cuts Proposal
Governor Brad Little is proposing $45 million in Medicaid cuts that would eliminate funding for home and community-based services, including Meals on Wheels. Providers warn the cuts would impact thousands across Idaho.

Highway Funding Bill
House Majority Leader Jason Monks introduced a bill to expand Idaho’s STARS program, boosting highway project reimbursements up to $100 million. The proposal cleared committee unanimously, with concerns raised about future state revenue.

Bike & Pedestrian Law Changes
State Rep. Brooke Green has introduced a bill to tweak Idaho’s new bike and pedestrian law, allowing grant-funded projects and narrowing criminal penalties. The proposal now heads to a public hearing.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

New Pedestrian Safety Signals
The City of Twin Falls begins installing new pedestrian safety signals today at Second Avenue South and Second Avenue East on Hansen Street. Solar-powered flashing beacons will alert drivers to people in crosswalks.

New Housing Development
The Jerome City Council has approved plans for Ellie’s Landing, a new 27-home development on the north side of town. Construction must begin within one year.

PUBLIC SAFETY & CRIME

Pedestrian Crash in Jerome
A 70-year-old woman was hit by a car at a Jerome intersection yesterday morning and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police are reminding motorists to watch for pedestrians, especially in foggy conditions.

Child Pornography Case
A Twin Falls man has pleaded guilty in a child pornography case. Matthew J. Fuller admitted to five felony charges and faces up to 30 years in prison on each count.

ECONOMY & CONSUMER

Gas Prices Hold Steady
Idaho gas prices remain low despite the cold. According to AAA Idaho, the statewide average is $2.78 a gallon — down 25 cents from a year ago.

AGRICULTURE & ACHIEVEMENT

National Farming Honor
A Magic Valley farm is again tops in the nation. Twin Falls-area farmer Rylee Reynolds won the National Wheat Yield Contest with irrigated winter wheat producing 228 bushels per acre — the second-best mark in the contest’s 10-year history.

EDUCATION

School District Budget Cuts
The Blaine County School District is cutting about 16 positions to address a budget shortfall tied to declining enrollment and rising costs. The cuts take effect July 1.

SPORTS — HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS

Girls Basketball: Kimberly vs. Filer
The Kimberly Bulldogs girls turned in one of their best performances of the season last night, rolling past rival Filer 65–38. It was a special night before tip, with senior Ashlyn Hammond presenting her cancer awareness project and both teams honoring those impacted by cancer. On the court, the game was tight early, but Kimberly built an eight-point halftime lead and then blew it open in the second half, outscoring Filer 38–19. Brooklyn Verwey led the Bulldogs with 17 points, Taya Plew added 15, and both just missed double-doubles with eight rebounds each.

Girls Hoops – Other Finals
Castleford beat Hansen 48–42, Gooding topped Buhl 67–43, Hagerman edged Glenns Ferry 54–50, Dietrich got past Richfield 49–42, and Valley rolled Shoshone 60–17. Carey also cruised at Camas County, winning 54–11, while Oakley defeated Murtaugh 46–22.

Boys Hoops – Tuesday Results
Twin Falls knocked off Burley 57–45, American Falls beat Buhl 71–51, and Carey edged Camas County 48–46. For Burley, Nash Gillette led the way with 16 points, and the Bobcats are back in action Thursday on the road at Wood River.

SPORTS — TONIGHT’S GAMES

Boys Games
High school hoops take center stage tonight around the Magic Valley and Wood River. A big early matchup tips at 6:30 in Hailey, where 9-and-2 Murtaugh meets equally tough Sun Valley Community School in a key conference showdown. At 7, Declo heads up to Aberdeen looking to build momentum against the winless Tigers. Then it’s a busy 7:30 slate — Richfield travels to Dietrich in a battle of conference rivals, Raft River visits Glenns Ferry, Shoshone and Hagerman square off in what should be a tightly matched game, Gooding heads north to take on Kimberly, and Valley plays at Oakley.

Girls Games
On the girls’ side, everything tips at 7:30. Thunder Ridge is at Canyon Ridge, Burley travels to Jerome in a big conference clash, Minico heads to Mountain Home, Dietrich plays a non-conference game at Wendell, and one of the best matchups of the night has red-hot Filer on the road at Wood River in Hailey.

SPORTS — BOWLING

Valley Bowling Tournament
Eleven Magic Valley schools and 108 bowlers competed in a three-game singles tournament with lanes assigned at random. Trevor Wakley Jr. led the boys with a 687 series, while Jennifer Nuzio topped the girls at 581. In all, 13 boys rolled 500 or better, and 17 girls finished over 400 in a strong showing across the valley.

SPORTS — COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Boise State Men
Boise State picked up its second straight win, knocking off Wyoming 81–65 on Tuesday night. Andrew Meadow led the Broncos with 21 points, as Boise State pulled away early and cruised to the 16-point road victory.

Boise State Women
Boise State women’s basketball is back home tonight, hosting Fresno State at ExtraMile Arena with a 6:30 tip. The Broncos bring a four-game conference win streak into the matchup.

Idaho Vandals
Idaho Vandals men’s basketball is back home tonight, hosting Sacramento State Hornets men’s basketball at ICCU Arena. Tip is set for 6 p.m.

Idaho State Bengals
Idaho State Bengals men’s basketball hit the road for Big Sky play, opening a tough Montana swing Thursday night at Montana State Bobcats men’s basketball, then wrapping up Saturday at Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball.