POLITICS & POLICY
Governor Brad Little issued his first veto of the year, rejecting the Medical Freedom Act. He says it limits schools’ ability to protect students from contagious illnesses. Critics, including the Idaho Freedom Foundation, are calling on lawmakers to override the veto.
After Governor Little signed House Bill 83 into law, a federal judge temporarily blocked it following a lawsuit by the ACLU. Hundreds rallied at the Capitol Sunday in support of Idaho’s immigrant community, calling the bill harmful and unconstitutional. A hearing is set for April 10.
FIRE & EMERGENCY
A semitruck caught fire Saturday evening at Traveler’s Oasis near Eden after a portable stove exploded inside the cabin. The driver suffered burns to his arm but survived. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, but the truck was a total loss.
MILITARY & SERVICE
Over 300 airmen from Idaho’s 124th Fighter Wing deployed to Southwest Asia Saturday for a 6-month mission supporting U.S. Central Command. Governor Little praised their service, calling it a proud chapter in Idaho’s legacy of defending the nation.
HEALTH & VETERINARY
Senators Mike Crapo and Tina Smith reintroduced the Veterinary Workforce Act, aiming to boost rural vet numbers by making student loan repayments tax-exempt. Supporters say it’s vital for ag states like Idaho, where vets are essential to the cattle and dairy industries.
CRIME & SAFETY
A protest outside the Meridian Tesla dealership turned violent Saturday when a man hit a counter protester with his car. 70-year-old Christopher Talbot was arrested and charged with aggravated battery.
Kaden Skinner has been sentenced to up to 14 years in prison for rape in Twin Falls County. As part of a plea deal, other charges were dropped. He’ll pay court fees and remain under a no-contact order until 2039.
The Cassia County Sheriff’s Office is warning of a Facebook Marketplace scam involving a man named Kevin Nelson, falsely claiming to sell goods from Coleman Equipment Yard in Oakley. The business is fake.
COMMUNITY & ADVOCACY
LGBTQ+ activists rallied at Five Points in Twin Falls over the weekend for transgender rights, pushing back against recent laws and policies. Organizers say the goal is visibility, support, and solidarity.
SPORTS
Twin Falls swept a doubleheader, beating Borah 7–5 and Capital 14–5. Ryker Rex led Game 1 with three hits and two RBIs, while Cameron Reyes earned the win in relief. In Game 2, Cooper Thompson went 3-for-5 with five RBIs, including a two-run homer, and Jordan Bingham struck out six for the win. The Bruins host Wood River Monday to open conference play.
In 3A, Wendell took down Soda Springs 8–3 in their SEIC opener. Julian Ponce pitched 3 ⅔ innings of one-hit ball and drove in four runs. Gunner Jones struck out eight in relief, and Chip Houser and Adrian Nava each added two hits. Wendell heads to Gooding tomorrow.
Wendell softball dominated Bear Lake 19–4 in just three innings. Macie Bird crushed a two-run homer in the first, leading the Trojans’ 18-hit performance. Tyree Sears and Audra Bunn each had three hits, while Breanna Comstock struck out five in a complete game. Wendell’s now 7–2 and heads to Gooding tomorrow.
The College of Southern Idaho split Saturday’s doubleheader with USU Eastern, dropping Game 1, 9–0, before bouncing back with an 8–0 shutout. Jack Ryan led Game 2 with a three-run homer, and Bryce Intagliata pitched over five scoreless innings for the win. CSI moves to 25–15 and visits Salt Lake CC later this week.
CSI softball swept USU Eastern Saturday, winning 13–0 and 10–7 to go 4–0 on the weekend. Emerson Fuller tossed a two-hit shutout in Game 1, while Alyce Archuleta stayed hot at the plate, hitting a grand slam in Game 2. CSI is now 21–12 overall, 14–2 in conference, and heads to North Idaho later this week.
ENVIRONMENT & WATER SAFETY
Watercraft inspection stations are now open across Idaho, including Centennial Park, as part of efforts to stop the spread of invasive mussels like quagga and zebra. All boaters must stop for inspection. Idaho law also requires out-of-state watercraft to be decontaminated and display an invasive species sticker. For more info, call the ISDA hotline at 1-877-336-8676.
WEATHER
Scattered showers and storms Monday with a high near 51. Rain and snow mix possible Monday night, low around 32. A slight chance of showers midweek, then sunnier and warmer heading into the weekend—highs climbing into the 60s by Sunday.
Monday: Scattered showers before 9am, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 51. South southwest wind 5 to 14 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Monday Night: Scattered rain showers before 9pm, then scattered rain and snow showers between 9pm and 3am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3am. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tuesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind around 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West southwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Wednesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers between noon and 3pm, then a slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Friday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 34.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
