MAGIC VALLEY NEWS
Monday, November 9, 2026
Magic Valley News
I-84 CLOSURES | Overnight closures near Twin Falls begin Wednesday
Drivers traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 near Twin Falls will want to plan ahead, with a week of overnight closures beginning Wednesday.
The Idaho Transportation Department says eastbound lanes will close nightly from 8 p.m. until 6 the following morning, starting November 11th and continuing through November 18th.
Traffic will be detoured onto State Highway 25, which reconnects with I-84 near Hazelton.
The closures are needed for repairs to the Vinyard Bridge, which crosses over the interstate.
And while the freeway will reopen during the day, Vinyard Bridge itself will remain completely closed around the clock until repairs are finished in December.
Transportation officials are encouraging drivers to allow extra travel time, especially during the overnight hours.
MURTAUGH CRASH | Burley woman killed in head-on collision
A head-on collision near Murtaugh over the weekend has left one woman dead and three others injured.
Idaho State Police say the crash happened just before 6 Saturday morning on Highway 30, near milepost 247 in Cassia County.
Investigators say a Hyundai Elantra driven by a 23-year-old Burley man crossed the center line and slammed head-on into an SUV driven by a 58-year-old Burley woman.
The woman died at the scene, while her 23-year-old female passenger was taken to a local hospital.
The Hyundai’s driver and his 21-year-old male passenger, both from Burley, were airlifted to a hospital.
A third vehicle struck debris from the crash, but its driver was not injured.
Highway 30 was completely shut down for about six hours while emergency crews worked the scene.
Idaho State Police continue to investigate what caused the crash.
FILER SCHOOL SAFETY | Schools return to normal after potential threat
A potential school threat in Filer prompted a precautionary security response Friday morning, but police say students and staff were never in danger.
The Filer School District placed all of its schools under a Hall Check after police received information about a possible threat stemming from a disturbance at a nearby store.
School administrators were immediately notified, and surrounding communities were also placed on alert while officers investigated.
Following a threat assessment, Filer Police determined the threat was not credible, and all schools returned to normal operations.
District officials say the safety of students and staff remains their top priority and thanked local law enforcement for its quick response.
Police are encouraging anyone with additional information about the incident to contact the Filer Police Department at 208-326-4123.
KIMBERLY SCHOOL SAFETY | Armed staff policy draws statewide attention
A Magic Valley school district is getting statewide attention for its approach to protecting students from school shootings!
Kimberly Superintendent Luke Schroeder and sixth-grade teacher Brad Carlson presented the district’s armed staff policy to more than 60 school trustees and administrators gathered in Boise.
The policy allows specially trained employees to carry firearms on campus, but only after passing a psychological evaluation, physical agility test and 40 hours of training.
Those employees must also complete 16 hours of firearms training every year.
Carlson, a former police officer and Army veteran, says the goal isn’t to turn teachers into gunfighters, but to stop threats before they reach students.
The presentation raised questions about firearm safety, the possibility of students gaining access to weapons and training costs, which average about a thousand dollars per employee.
Kimberly’s policy is already gaining traction, with the Marsing and Homedale school districts recently adopting similar measures.
District officials emphasize that locked doors, cameras and other security measures remain the first line of defense.
TWIN FALLS SENTENCING | Man sentenced to 15 years in child sexual abuse case
A 22-year-old Twin Falls man is headed to prison after being sentenced in a child sexual abuse case.
Court records show Joel Garcia was sentenced last month to a unified 15-year prison term, with five years fixed and the remaining 10 years indeterminate.
That means Garcia must serve at least five years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.
Garcia reached a plea agreement and pleaded guilty in August to a charge involving causing or allowing a child under the age of 16 to witness sexual conduct.
Judge William Hancock also extended a no-contact order protecting the victim for 30 years, meaning Garcia is prohibited from having contact with the victim until 2056.
BUHL COUNCILMEN | Charges dismissed against one councilman as another faces arraignment
One Buhl city councilman has had his criminal charges dismissed, while another is scheduled to appear in court today.
Court records show 49-year-old Ryan Loos reached a plea agreement after being charged with marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest following an incident in April.
Under that agreement, Loos completed a marijuana education course and 16 hours of community service.
A judge dismissed the charges on October 16th.
Meanwhile, fellow Buhl City Councilman Cortlin Runyan is scheduled to be arraigned in district court today.
Runyan faces unrelated charges of aggravated battery, possession of a controlled substance and introducing contraband into a correctional facility.
Those charges stem from an arrest on August 6th.
The charges against Runyan remain pending.
CASSIA COUNTY CLERK | Republicans to select three nominees for interim appointment
The Cassia County Republican Central Committee will meet Thursday, November 12, to select three nominees to temporarily fill the county clerk’s position, which became vacant after the death of Joseph Larsen. County commissioners will choose the interim clerk. Theresa Forthun, who won the November 3 election, will take office in January.
Applicants must be qualified electors, have lived in Cassia County for at least one year and be affiliated with the Republican Party. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 206 of the county courthouse at 1459 Overland Avenue in Burley. Forthun won the election with 77.6 percent of the vote.
SUN VALLEY OPENING | Resort announces Thanksgiving opening and mountain upgrades
Ski season is just around the corner, and Sun Valley Resort has announced Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, as opening day for its 91st winter season!
Skiers and snowboarders can hit the slopes beginning at 9 that morning, weather permitting.
And there’s plenty new this year!
The resort has added another 50 acres of newly graded terrain on Bald Mountain, bringing recent improvements to 140 acres.
Two new high-speed chairlifts, the six-passenger Lookout Express and four-passenger Christmas lift, are scheduled to open in December.
Sun Valley has also upgraded its snowmaking system to improve coverage across the mountain.
And the improvements come ahead of another major international event.
The world’s top alpine ski racers will return to Sun Valley in March for the 2027 FIS Ski World Cup Finals.
Resort officials say the new lifts, expanded terrain and return of World Cup racing make this one of Sun Valley’s most exciting seasons in recent history.
Opening day confirmed by Sun Valley Resort for Thursday, November 26, at 9 a.m., conditions permitting.
Idaho News
PROPOSITION ONE | Idaho abortion debate continues after ballot measure fails
Idaho voters have spoken on abortion rights, but the debate over the state’s abortion laws is far from over!
Proposition One failed in last Tuesday’s election, with nearly 56 percent of voters rejecting the measure, leaving Idaho’s strict abortion ban in place.
Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon says the results show strong support for the state’s existing abortion restrictions. Pro-life organizations are celebrating the outcome as a major victory.
But supporters of Proposition One say their fight isn’t finished.
Organizers are now urging Idahoans to contact state lawmakers and push for changes that would allow abortions when a mother’s health is at risk.
The Idaho Medical Association, which remained neutral on the ballot measure, is also calling for a health exception, warning that the current restrictions are making it harder to recruit and retain physicians.
Meanwhile, anti-abortion groups say they’ll continue working to strengthen existing laws.
Election results remain unofficial until they’re certified later this month.
EARLY VOTING | Idaho records more than 290,000 early and absentee ballots
More Idahoans are casting their ballots before Election Day, and new numbers show just how popular early voting has become!
According to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, more than 290-thousand voters cast early or absentee ballots in last Tuesday’s election. That’s nearly 40 percent of all ballots cast, and about 100-thousand more than in the 2022 election.
Republicans accounted for 59 percent of early and absentee voters, while Democrats made up about 18 percent and unaffiliated voters accounted for another 22 percent.
Older Idahoans were also much more likely to vote early, with voters 45 and older accounting for nearly 80 percent of those ballots.
Secretary of State Phil McGrane says early voting patterns also help explain why some Democratic candidates initially appeared to be leading on election night before Republican candidates pulled ahead as more votes were counted.
State officials are still analyzing overall voter turnout.
NATIONAL GUARD RECORDS | Judge orders Idaho Guard to produce records in D.C. detention case
The Idaho National Guard has been ordered to turn over records involving the detention of a woman outside her Washington, D.C., home earlier this year.
A Superior Court judge has ordered the Idaho National Guard, D.C. National Guard and Department of Defense to produce documents related to the May 8th incident, or explain why those records cannot be provided.
The woman, Anna King, is a former Army captain and decorated combat veteran who claims National Guard members detained her without explanation or a warrant.
She’s filed a three-million-dollar claim against the Idaho National Guard, alleging injuries and emotional distress.
King also faces misdemeanor assault charges stemming from an earlier encounter. She’s pleaded not guilty.
Attorneys are seeking additional records to determine why Guard members were allegedly ordered to detain her.
As of last week, 27 Idaho National Guard troops remained deployed in Washington, D.C.
King’s criminal trial is scheduled for July of next year.
BOISE SHOOTING | Man arrested after 15-year-old shot during ding-dong-ditch prank
A teenage prank in Boise took a dangerous turn over the weekend, leaving a 15-year-old boy hospitalized with a gunshot wound.
Boise Police say a group of boys was playing ding-dong-ditch Saturday evening, ringing a doorbell and running away, at a home on West Bunkerhill Street.
Investigators say when the boys returned to the home, 45-year-old Darin Young chased after them and fired a gun, striking one of the teenagers.
The other boys drove their injured friend to a hospital in Meridian.
Police say the 15-year-old initially suffered serious to critical injuries, but they were not believed to be life-threatening.
Young was arrested following the investigation and booked into the Ada County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery.
No other injuries were reported.
BOISE DATA CENTERS | Mayor proposes six-month moratorium on large new facilities
Boise could soon put the brakes on massive new data centers, as concerns grow over their impact on Idaho’s power and water supplies!
Mayor Lauren McLean is proposing a six-month emergency moratorium on new data centers larger than 100-thousand square feet or requiring more than 20 megawatts of power.
The Boise City Council is expected to vote on the proposal tomorrow.
City officials say these facilities can consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, generate around-the-clock noise and create additional environmental concerns.
McLean says the temporary ban is intended to protect local resources while the city evaluates how to regulate future development.
The proposal comes as several large-scale data center projects are being considered across Idaho, including a massive four-million-square-foot facility south of Boise.
Existing data centers would not be affected, and Boise currently has no pending applications that meet the proposed restrictions.
If approved, the moratorium would remain in effect for six months.
Magic Valley Sports
PREP FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS | Five Magic Valley teams advance to state semifinals
Five Magic Valley high school football teams are headed to the state semifinals following a big weekend of playoff action!
Rockland ended Castleford’s season with a 62-14 victory. Quarterback Xavier Parrish battled through a nose injury, throwing for 323 yards and seven touchdowns while running for another score.
Rockland now faces Carey, which held off Salmon River 42-36.
In 2A, Hagerman defeated Kamiah 42-30, while Oakley rolled past Wallace 58-36. Those two teams will meet in the semifinals.
Raft River dominated Butte County 44-14 and will travel to Prairie.
Declo punched its ticket Saturday, beating Logos 31-6. The Hornets face Melba Friday night at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello.
Meanwhile, Kimberly’s season ended with a 52-27 loss to Weiser, and Twin Falls fell to Hillcrest 37-27.
PREP SOCCER HONORS | High Desert Conference announces all-conference selections
The high school soccer season may be over, but the honors are still rolling in for some of the Magic Valley’s top players!
The 4A High Desert Conference has announced its boys and girls All-Conference selections, recognizing standout athletes from eight area schools.
On the boys’ side, Bliss earned three selections with Eduardo Marez, Junior Espinoza and Turekhan Turniyazov.
Buhl’s honorees include Daniel Caliz, Ruben Cervantes Estrella, Neryk Garcia-Barajas and Elias Cruz.
Declo placed Konnor Hodge and Nygel Hogan on the list, while Diego Hernandez represented Filer.
Gooding’s selections include Jovany Del Toro, Hugo Rios and Angel Ocarranza, with Hayden Johnston representing Kimberly.
Sun Valley Community School earned four selections with Tommy Hovey, Huxley Flood, Calvin Stoddard and Quinn Parmenter.
Wendell also placed four players on the list: Edgar Tena, Miguel Lima, Jafry Bush and Alexander Hurtado.
On the girls’ side, Kimberly earned four selections with Reagan Hufstetler, Anna Hanchey, Hannah Fisher and Cassidy Johnson.
Sun Valley Community School’s honorees include Brynley Gage, Torin Vandenburgh, Rylee Miller and Lucy Jones.
Wendell placed Jillian Hester, Leah Guillen, Stephanie Muralles and Yelitza Morales on the list.
Declo’s selections include Amerie Ewell, Jettah Chatburn and Brelyn Ewell.
Buhl is represented by Pemberley Kimball, Lauren Hirsch and Tenley Johnson.
Filer earned two selections with Makenna Slade and Dalia Farfan, while Madi Fisher represents Bliss and Sarai Lopez rounds out the honors for Gooding.
CSI WOMEN | Golden Eagles improve to 4-0 with win over Treasure Valley
The College of Southern Idaho women’s basketball team is off to a perfect start under new head coach Brendan Wheeler!
The sixth-ranked Golden Eagles rolled past Treasure Valley Community College Saturday night, 80 to 54, to wrap up the CSI Invitational in Twin Falls.
CSI shot 48 percent from the field, knocked down 10 three-pointers and dominated inside, outscoring Treasure Valley 30 to 12 in the paint.
Emma Whitaker led the Golden Eagles with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Navaeh Davenport added 15 off the bench.
Cassie Brooks and Ella Chesta-Carty chipped in 10 points apiece, and Sanaa Hayes pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.
CSI also finished with 22 assists and outrebounded Treasure Valley 48 to 40.
The Golden Eagles improve to 4-and-0 and will return to action November 19th against Cochise College in the Golden Eagle Classic in Twin Falls.
Idaho College Football
BOISE STATE FOOTBALL | Broncos beat Colorado State, climb in rankings as College GameDay returns
Boise State football is making national headlines after a record-setting performance over the weekend!
The Broncos rolled past Colorado State Saturday night, 64 to 38, extending their winning streak to eight games.
Quarterback Max Cutforth, filling in for injured starter Maddux Madsen, threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns while adding another score on the ground.
Running back Dylan Riley finished with 300 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, just one yard shy of the school record.
The Broncos piled up 669 yards of total offense and secured their 29th consecutive winning season, the longest active streak in major college football.
The victory also moved Boise State up to number 17 in the Associated Press poll and number 18 in the Coaches Poll.
And there’s more excitement ahead!
ESPN’s College GameDay is returning to Boise for the first time in 16 years this Saturday, broadcasting live from 7 until 10 in the morning.
The Broncos, now 8-and-1, host Oregon State Saturday afternoon at 4.
IDAHO STATE FOOTBALL | Bengals fall to Montana State in triple overtime
Idaho State football came up just short in a triple-overtime thriller Saturday, falling to Montana State 28-26 at the ICCU Dome in Pocatello.
The Bengals led 20-13 late in the fourth quarter before the Bobcats tied the game and forced overtime.
Both teams traded field goals through the first two overtime periods, but Montana State converted a two-point attempt in the third overtime to secure the victory.
Idaho State quarterback Jordan Cooke threw for 318 yards and added a rushing touchdown.
Tommy Poe caught nine passes for 100 yards, while Chedon James added nine receptions for 79 yards.
Defensively, Jackson Irwin led the Bengals with 13 tackles, while Dekker Hagler added 12.
Idaho State actually outgained Montana State 410 to 332 in total offense.
The Bengals fall to 6-and-4 overall and 3-and-4 in Big Sky Conference play.
Next up, Idaho State travels to Missoula to face Montana Saturday night, with kickoff set for 8:30 on ESPN2.
IDAHO VANDALS FOOTBALL | Idaho beats Eastern Washington 62-31 for fourth straight win
The University of Idaho football team put on an offensive show Saturday, rolling past rival Eastern Washington 62 to 31 at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow!
The Vandals piled up 650 yards of total offense, their most in a game since 2019, while scoring the most points ever against Eastern Washington.
Quarterback Joshua Wood had another outstanding performance, throwing for 315 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 107 yards and two more scores.
Israel Carter added 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Nolan McWilliams led the receiving corps with 86 yards and a score.
Idaho has now won four straight games and five of its last six, improving to 5-and-5 overall and 5-and-2 in Big Sky Conference play.
The victory also brings the rivalry’s Che-Scow Cup back to Moscow.
Next up, the Vandals host UC Davis Saturday for Senior Day, with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Mountain Time.
Idaho College Basketball
BOISE STATE MEN | Broncos top 100 points again, defeat Butler 100-81
Boise State men’s basketball is off to a red-hot start, reaching the 100-point mark for the second straight game!
The Broncos knocked off Butler Sunday afternoon at ExtraMile Arena, 100 to 81, improving to 2-and-0 on the season.
Aginaldo Neto led the way with a career-high 25 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Spencer Ahrens added a career-high 24 points.
Dovydas Butka recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Pearson Carmichael added 14 and Damari Wheeler-Thomas chipped in 12.
Boise State connected on 17 three-pointers and led by as many as 26 points in the second half.
It’s the first time since the 2013-14 season that the Broncos have scored at least 100 points in back-to-back games.
The Broncos are now averaging 116 points per game and will look to keep that momentum going Wednesday night when they host Oakland at ExtraMile Arena.
IDAHO STATE MEN | Bengals fall to Air Force on the road
Idaho State men’s basketball put together its strongest offensive performance of the young season Sunday afternoon, but came up short against Air Force, falling 89 to 82 in Colorado Springs.
The Bengals led 42-41 at halftime and built a seven-point advantage in the second half before the Falcons rallied to take control down the stretch.
MaCarhy Morris led Idaho State with a season-high 22 points, while Malachi Johnson recorded the team’s first double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Ike Palmer added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The game featured six ties and seven lead changes, with both teams finishing with 46 rebounds.
Head coach Ryan Looney says his young team is learning from a difficult early-season road schedule that should help prepare the Bengals for Big Sky Conference play.
Idaho State wraps up its four-game road trip against Seattle University, with tip-off scheduled for 8 p.m. Mountain Time.
IDAHO STATE WOMEN | Bengals host Cal Poly tonight after holding Westminster to 30
Idaho State women’s basketball returns to the court tonight, hosting Cal Poly at Reed Gym in Pocatello.
The Bengals are coming off a dominating 79-30 victory over Westminster Friday night, holding the Griffins to their lowest point total against Idaho State since 1978!
ISU allowed just two points in the third quarter, while senior Aspen Caldwell led five Bengals in double figures with 15 points.
Freshman Jazzy Wilkerson recorded her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bengals are now 1-and-1 on the season and face an undefeated Cal Poly team that’s opened the year with two straight victories.
Idaho State has won five consecutive meetings against the Mustangs and leads the all-time series 5-to-1.
Tipoff tonight is set for 7 o’clock at Reed Gym, with the game streaming on ESPN Plus.
IDAHO VANDALS MEN | Six score in double figures in 108-69 win over Lincoln
The University of Idaho men’s basketball team put on an offensive show Sunday afternoon, cruising past Lincoln University of California, 108 to 69, at ICCU Arena in Moscow.
The Vandals came out firing, hitting their first eight shots and jumping to a 19-to-3 lead in the opening four minutes.
Hudson Ward led Idaho with a career-high 17 points, while Kase Wynott added 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Kristian Gonzalez and Seth Joba each scored 12, while TJ Wal and Diego Trejo-Delgado chipped in 10 apiece.
Idaho shot nearly 65 percent in the first half, building a 59-33 lead at the break.
The Vandals finished with 26 assists, and 13 of their 14 available players scored in the victory.
It’s Idaho’s first 100-point performance of the season.
The Vandals return to action Friday night when they host Cal Poly before traveling to Nevada next Wednesday.
IDAHO VANDALS WOMEN | Idaho faces Washington State tonight in Battle of the Palouse
The University of Idaho women’s basketball team looks to keep its perfect start going tonight when the Vandals travel to Pullman to face rival Washington State.
Idaho is off to a 2-and-0 start following an impressive 86-75 road victory over Gonzaga Friday night.
Hope Hassmann led the Vandals with a career-high 28 points, while Ana Pinheiro added a career-high 26.
Keanna Salave’a dominated the boards with 14 rebounds, and freshman Jacey Boesel chipped in 12 points.
The defending Big Sky Conference champions are looking for their second straight victory over Washington State after beating the Cougars 87-85 last season.
Washington State enters tonight’s matchup at 0-and-2, while Idaho looks to remain unbeaten.
It’s the 45th meeting between the two rivals, with the Cougars leading the all-time series 28-to-16.
Following tonight’s game, Idaho returns home Sunday to host Walla Walla at 2 in the afternoon.
Magic Valley Weather
MORNING DRIVE
A beautiful start to the workweek across the Magic Valley! Mostly sunny skies today with a high near 66. Tonight, clearing skies with a low around 38. Tomorrow, plenty of sunshine and a high near 62. And looking ahead to Veterans Day Wednesday, sunny skies with a high near 66. More sunshine continues through the rest of the week!
AFTERNOON DRIVE
A beautiful Monday afternoon across the Magic Valley, with mostly sunny skies and highs near 66! Tonight, clouds give way to clearing skies, with lows around 38 and a few wind gusts up to 23 miles an hour. Tomorrow, sunshine continues with a high near 62. Veterans Day Wednesday looks sunny and mild, with highs near 66!
EVENING / OVERNIGHT
A mild evening across the Magic Valley! We’ll see some clouds early tonight, then clearing skies overnight with temperatures dropping to around 38. Winds could gust up to 23 miles an hour. Tomorrow brings plenty of sunshine with a high near 62. And looking ahead to Veterans Day Wednesday, sunny skies and a high near 66!
EXTENDED FORECAST
Tuesday — Sunny, with a high near 62. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night — Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south southeast after midnight.
Veterans Day — Sunny, with a high near 66.
Wednesday Night — Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 66.
Thursday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.
Friday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Saturday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Saturday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Sunday — A 30 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 59.
- Your Daily Briefing – 11/09/2026 - November 9, 2026
- Teacher’s aide arrested in connection with NYC jogger’s murder: Police - November 9, 2026
- South Texas bracing for more flash flooding; governor bolsters emergency response - November 9, 2026
