Your Daily Briefing – 01/19/2026

STATE & POLITICS

Idaho’s top budget committee delayed a vote Friday on next year’s revenue projection, giving lawmakers more time to review a $5.8 billion estimate that comes in higher than Governor Brad Little’s number. The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is now expected to take up the issue today at the State Capitol.

Lawmakers are also warning Idaho faces a shortage of roughly 1,400 doctors compared to the national average. They’re urging increased investment in medical training programs, even as they work to balance what’s shaping up to be a tight state budget year.

A corporal at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution is hospitalized but stable after being brutally assaulted Saturday by inmate Robert David Pompa. Pompa is serving time for murder and has a history of assaults on corrections staff.

CIVIL RIGHTS & COMMUNITY

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day — and Idaho Human Rights Day. The Idaho Human Rights Commission is hosting a public commemoration at noon in the State Capitol rotunda, along with a service project through Serve Idaho collecting diapers and letters for seniors.

EDUCATION

New state reading results show just over 57 percent of Idaho K–3 students are reading at grade level this fall — a drop of about 2.4 percent from last year. State officials say the decline reflects a tougher new speaking assessment, not a loss in learning.

Locally, Twin Falls charter schools ranked among the state’s top performers. Murtaugh placed among the top ten public schools statewide at 70.7 percent, while Hagerman Virtual School ranked in the top ten online schools at 57.9 percent.

HEALTHCARE

Seven Idaho hospitals made Forbes’ list of Top Hospitals, including St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls. The hospital earned five stars for overall care and value — one of just 253 hospitals nationwide to receive that top rating.

COMMUNITY HELP

A family of four in Filer lost everything in a house fire last week, but community support is growing. Clothes Helpers in Twin Falls is collecting clean clothing, blankets, and gift cards. Donations are accepted Wednesdays and Thursdays at First United Methodist Church.

TRANSPORTATION

Friedman Memorial Airport has released a draft environmental review for a proposed new 84-foot air traffic control tower. Construction is targeted to begin in 2027, with public comments accepted through February 13.

SPORTS

High School Basketball

Burley claimed the rivalry win over Minico, 59–53, led by 22 points from Nash Gillette and 18 from Ryker Page. The Bobcats will head back to Minico for the rematch on February 3.

Elsewhere over the weekend, Murtaugh edged Hagerman 46–42. Wood River topped Ontario 56–34. Gooding beat Buhl 50–38. Richfield slipped past Hansen 60–57. Shoshone knocked off Glenns Ferry 53–47, and Valley handled Raft River 65–42.

Friday’s scores had Grace over Raft River 56–35. Liberty Charter beat Oakley 59–37. Carey edged Challis 39–36. Valley topped Camas County 44–36. Wendell rolled Ambrose 52–36. Soda Springs beat Declo 56–48. Gooding JV topped Hansen 64–45, and Filer edged Marsh Valley 52–51.

On the girls’ side, Hagerman beat Victory Charter 45–33. Preston routed Minico 67–34. Wendell handled Declo 49–32. Pocatello beat Burley 63–57, with Burley set to play at Jerome on Wednesday. Other finals saw Butte County over Murtaugh 53–34, Carey beat Challis 67–42, Malad blew past Wendell 69–18, and Oakley topped Gooding 61–34.

Tonight’s Games

On the boys’ slate, Butte County plays at Raft River at 5 p.m. in a non-conference matchup. At 7:30, Hansen is at Castleford in conference play, while Richfield travels to Shoshone for a non-conference game. On the girls’ side, Glenns Ferry visits Hagerman tonight at 7:30 in conference action.

COLLEGE SPORTS

The 11th-ranked College of Southern Idaho men rolled past 23rd-ranked USU Eastern 84–62 Saturday, pulling away in the second half. Ace Reiser led the way with 27 points, six rebounds, and six steals. Cooper Kesler added 20 points, Kobe Kesler scored 13, and Guygustone Kasenga dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and four blocks. The Golden Eagles are now 19–1 overall and 5–0 in conference play, hosting CNCC and Salt Lake this week.

On the women’s side, ninth-ranked CSI dropped its first conference game, falling 77–71 to USU Eastern despite a double-double from Savannah Stoker. The Golden Eagles are 18–2 overall and 4–1 in league play and also host CNCC and Salt Lake this week.

More College Notes

CSI indoor distance track opened its season Friday at Idaho State, with five Golden Eagle women already posting NJCAA national qualifying times. Both the men and women compete again this weekend at the Lauren McCluskey Memorial Meet in Moscow.

Boise and Sun Valley native Samantha Smith continues to make national waves. After playing in the NCAA soccer title game for Stanford, she finished a career-best 12th in a World Cup Nordic sprint in Germany and is in strong Olympic contention ahead of team selections this week.

Boise State snapped a four-game skid with a 79–73 win over Colorado State. The Broncos play Wyoming Monday. The Lady Broncos rolled Utah State 76–60 and host Fresno State Tuesday.

Idaho’s men beat Weber State 75–67 in Ogden, while the Vandal women rolled Weber State 95–76. Idaho State’s men fell to Eastern Washington 84–66, while the ISU women bounced back with a 66–57 road win and return home Thursday.

WEATHER

Dense fog lingers into early afternoon with a high near 30. Patchy fog returns tonight with lows around 23.

Tuesday brings more morning fog and a high near 31, with skies gradually clearing midweek. Highs climb from the mid-30s Wednesday to the mid-40s by Sunday, while overnight lows stay in the low to mid-20s.

Today features areas of dense fog before 2 p.m., otherwise cloudy and calm. Tonight brings patchy dense fog after 8 p.m. with cloudy skies.

By midweek, conditions turn sunnier and warmer — with mostly sunny skies Wednesday through Sunday and highs steadily rising toward the mid-40s.