Your Daily Briefing – 12/17/2025

LOCAL NEWS

HOUSE FIRE CAUSES HIGHWAY DELAYS
A house fire in Minidoka County caused traffic delays along Idaho Route 25 yesterday afternoon. Fire crews responded around 3:15 to a home on East Eighth Street in Rupert. No injuries were reported, though three family pets are believed lost. The highway was temporarily closed, and the cause remains under investigation.

DEADLY WENDELL SHOOTING: FIRST COURT APPEARANCE
The man accused of a deadly shooting in a Wendell parking lot has made his first court appearance. Thirty-eight-year-old Cesar Mikeas Padilla Aguilar is charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 35-year-old Matthew Bodsford at a NAPA Auto Parts store Monday afternoon. Bond was set at one million dollars, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 30.

RECORD CHECK FOR IDAHO SCHOOLS
Idaho’s Land Board presented a record 68-million-dollar check Tuesday to support K-12 public schools, funded largely by increased timber sales on state endowment lands. State officials say the distribution is the largest ever and comes as Idaho faces projected budget shortfalls in the years ahead.

KETCHUM ELECTION RESULTS CHALLENGED
A Ketchum City Council candidate is challenging the November election results in court. Perry Boyle has filed a lawsuit over how candidate names were rotated on ballots, asking for a new election. Blaine County officials say the ballots followed Idaho law and Secretary of State regulations, and the election results remain certified.

REINKE RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE
Twin Falls County Commissioner Brent Reinke has announced a run for the Idaho Senate District 24 seat, currently held by Glenneda Zuiderveld. Reinke says he made an early announcement to begin fundraising, but remains focused on his county duties as the May primary approaches.

COEUR D’ALENE TOWN HALL TRIAL UNDERWAY
The trial is underway for Paul Trouette, owner of Lear Asset Management, accused of battering several people during a chaotic legislative town hall at Coeur d’Alene High School. Prosecutors say dissent turned violent, while the defense argues Trouette committed no crimes and acted under orders from Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris.

NAMPA JOB CORPS CENTER REOPENS
After a seven-month pause tied to federal funding cuts, Nampa’s Centennial Job Corps Center is once again open and enrolling students. The free job training program for young adults resumed after a federal judge blocked efforts to shut down Job Corps centers nationwide.

SPORTS

GIRLS BASKETBALL: CAREY & WENDELL WIN
The Carey Panthers and Wendell Trojans girls’ basketball teams both picked up wins last night. Carey handled conference play against Castleford, holding Castleford scoreless through the first ten minutes to build a ten-point advantage and a 20–4 halftime lead. Castleford finished with 29 points, but Carey rolled to a 46–29 win.
Wendell and Buhl traded baskets early, tied at 14 midway through the second quarter. The Trojans sealed it at the buzzer with a 38–28 victory.

AREA GIRLS SCORES
Dietrich dominated Camas County 51–9. Jerome beat Burley 44–35. Rigby rolled past Canyon Ridge 65–19. Valley edged Hagerman 52–47. Hansen defeated Richfield 51–21. Oakley topped Raft River 51–39. Pocatello knocked off Twin Falls 53–43. Murtaugh cruised past Shoshone 55–13.

JEROME NOTES
In Jerome’s win at Burley, Ines Lucena led the Bobcats with nine points. Burley will host Twin Falls on January 7.

BOYS BASKETBALL SCORE
On the boys’ side, Jerome edged Kimberly 75–70.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TONIGHT
Boys varsity action tips off at 6:30 with Valley at Sun Valley Community School. At 7:00, Carey travels to Mackay in a non-conference matchup. The 7:30 slate includes Jerome at Buhl, Declo at Firth, Hagerman at Glenns Ferry, Shoshone at Lighthouse Christian, Canyon Ridge at Minico, Oakley at Murtaugh, and Raft River at Rockland.
Girls games all start at 7:30, with Wood River at Filer, Glenns Ferry at Idaho City, and Mountain Home at Kimberly.

CSI WOMEN WIN ON THE ROAD
The 10th-ranked College of Southern Idaho women earned a big non-conference road win Tuesday, defeating Tallahassee CC 76–69. CSI trailed by two at halftime, then took control with a dominant third quarter, outscoring Tallahassee 23–6. Savannah Stoker led all scorers with 24 points. The Golden Eagles face second-ranked Chipola College today.

BOISE STATE OPENS MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY
Boise State opens Mountain West play on the road tonight at New Mexico, followed by a Saturday afternoon matchup at San Diego State. The Broncos lead the league and rank third nationally in three-point shooting at 41 percent, while also pacing the Mountain West in scoring. Tatum Thompson was named the preseason Player of the Year.

IDAHO FOOTBALL STAFF UPDATE
Idaho Football has hired Ian Shoemaker as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, pending HR approval. Shoemaker brings nearly 30 years of experience and is known for building explosive offenses, including record-setting units at Eastern Washington and Grand Valley State. He will be introduced once the staff is finalized.

WEATHER

WINDY, WET PATTERN CONTINUES
Rain this morning with gusty west-northwest winds up to 50 miles an hour, with temperatures falling through the day. Tonight dips to the upper 20s. More rain and occasional snow chances are expected through the rest of the week, with highs mainly in the 40s and low 50s. Little snow accumulation is expected, but wet, breezy conditions will be common.

TODAY
Rain before 2pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Temperature rising to near 55 by 9am, then falling to around 40 for the rest of the day. Breezy, with west-northwest winds 23 to 28 mph, gusting up to 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

TONIGHT
Increasing clouds, low around 28. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south-southeast after midnight. Gusts up to 21 mph.

THURSDAY
A chance of snow before 11am, then rain. High near 46. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.