NEWS
IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD CLAIM
A military veteran has filed a $3 million legal claim, accusing members of the Idaho National Guard of assaulting her outside her Washington, D.C. apartment in May. Retired Army Captain Anna King had signs outside her home reading “Troops Out” and criticizing the National Guard. King says the detention left her with serious injuries, including a wrist injury requiring surgery.
NAMPA MURDER CASE
An 18-year-old accused of intentionally running over a 19-year-old woman in a Nampa parking lot appeared in court yesterday. Alissa Huerta is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Jade Ramirez. Police say video shows Ramirez being struck and pulled underneath Huerta’s car following an altercation. Huerta is being held without bond, with a preliminary hearing August 6th.
BOISE RESTROOM POLICY LAWSUIT
A lawsuit challenging the Boise School District’s restroom policy for transgender students will move forward. An Ada County judge denied the district’s request to dismiss the case, which was filed on behalf of a Boise High student under Idaho’s 2023 restroom law. The ruling does not decide the merits of the lawsuit. A jury trial is scheduled for June of 2027.
AIR QUALITY ADVISORY
An Air Quality Advisory is in effect for much of southern Idaho because of wildfire smoke. Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including Twin Falls, Jerome, Gooding and Cassia counties. Open burning is prohibited, with conditions expected to improve today.
WILDFIRE DISASTER EMERGENCY
Governor Brad Little has declared a wildfire disaster emergency as extreme fire conditions strain resources across Idaho. The declaration brings additional state resources to firefighting efforts, including the Big Grass Fire in Owyhee County. Little has also authorized Idaho National Guard personnel and equipment to assist crews battling the fire.
BIG GRASS AND HAT FIRES
Two major Idaho wildfires continue burning. The Big Grass Fire has topped 301-thousand acres and is just 15-percent contained, while the Hat Fire has burned more than 44-thousand acres and is 89-percent contained.
IDAHO CRIME REPORT
Idaho State Police has released its 2025 Crime in Idaho report, showing decreases in nearly every major crime category statewide, including violent and property crimes. Governor Brad Little says the numbers show Idaho remains one of the safest states despite rapid population growth.
SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX
Rock Creek Fire in Kimberly is partnering with the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office to bring a Safe Haven Baby Box to the Magic Valley. The box would allow parents in crisis to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn. The project is expected to cost between 15- and 20 thousand dollars, with donations now being accepted.
JEROME CHIP SEALING
The City of Jerome will begin chip sealing several streets Tuesday, August 4th. Drivers along Victory Lane, Peters Way, West Yakima and West Avenue G should move vehicles off the street by 10 p.m. Monday. Work will also include the RV dump area off Brockman.
KUNA CITY TREASURER MISSING
The city of Kuna is mourning City Treasurer Jared Empey, who is believed to have died in a climbing fall on Mount Jefferson in Oregon. Authorities say the 37-year-old was attempting a solo summit when witnesses saw a climber fall into steep terrain. Crews have recovered Empey’s gear but have not yet located him.
TWIN FALLS CITY PARK
Twin Falls City Park is getting a major makeover, and so far, taxpayers haven’t had to foot the bill. Phase Two is funded by 250-thousand dollars in federal grants and includes a new custom playground with a 22-foot-tall structure, 14-foot slide, climbing features, swings and ADA-accessible equipment. Parks and Recreation says installation should be finished by the end of August. The project also includes a new tot lot and a future plaza between the park and library.
SPORTS
BOISE STATE STADIUM DONATION
Boise State Athletics has landed another major gift for its North End Zone Project. Boise entrepreneurs Eric and Christina Sonner have committed $2.5 million toward the expansion of Albertsons Stadium. The project will add premium seating, expanded hospitality areas and upgraded fan amenities as the Broncos prepare for their move to the Pac-12. Eric Sonner is the founder and CEO of Boise-based Data Airflow.
NORTH END ZONE EXPANSION
Boise State’s North End Zone expansion is nearly finished and will soon welcome athletes, fans and community events. Football players will begin using the new club and dining area when fall camp starts Monday, with all Bronco athletes getting access this fall. The space will also host corporate events, galas and other gatherings throughout the year. The expansion will be ready for Boise State’s first home football game in September.
BANANA BALL IN BOISE
Banana Ball is just days away from taking over the Blue at Boise State. Albertsons Stadium now has an orange baseball diamond painted over its iconic blue turf ahead of the Texas Tailgaters and Party Animals matchup July 31st and August 1st. It’s Banana Ball’s first-ever stop in Idaho, and the ticket lottery is already closed.
CSI SIGNS REGGIE LARSEN
The CSI men’s basketball team is bringing an Idaho standout back home. The Golden Eagles have signed 6-foot-5 guard Reggie Larsen for the 2026-27 season. The former Preston High School star spent last season at Salt Lake Community College, shooting 43 percent from three. Larsen was the 2025 Idaho Statesman 5A Player of the Year after leading Preston to a state championship, including a 39-point performance in the semifinals.
CSI ACADEMIC HONORS
CSI athletics is getting it done in competition AND in the classroom. Five Golden Eagle programs earned national academic recognition for the 2025-26 school year. Men’s cross country and distance track led the way with a 3.63 team GPA, while men’s soccer posted a 3.55. Women’s cross country and track finished at 3.48, volleyball at 3.36, and the all-girls cheer team at 3.24.
IDAHO STATE FALL CAMP
Idaho State football opened fall camp yesterday with a helmets-only practice inside the ICCU Dome. It was the first of 17 practices, plus a scrimmage, before the Bengals open the season August 29th against VMI. Yesterday’s practice focused on fundamentals, with players moving into shells Friday and full pads coming next week. Quarterback Jordan Cooke says there’s plenty of excitement after a hard-working summer, while defensive lineman Beau Jaques says increased depth has created more competition across the roster.
IDAHO MOUNTAIN BIKING
Idaho is celebrating 35 years of lift-served mountain biking this summer. Brundage and Schweitzer helped pioneer the sport in 1991, and today seven Idaho resorts offer regular lift-served riding. That includes Sun Valley, where Bald Mountain features six lift-served flow trails covering nearly 15 miles and dropping 3,400 vertical feet. Pomerelle also gets in on the action August 1st and 2nd with the Pomerelle Pounder, while Soldier Mountain offers lift-served biking August 16th.
WEATHER
MAGIC VALLEY FORECAST
Sunny, hot and a little smoky across the Magic Valley today. Look for a high near 98, with patchy smoke developing late this afternoon. Tonight stays mostly clear with a low around 64. Tomorrow, we heat up to around 100 with patchy smoke during the day. Even hotter Saturday at 103, before cooling down to around 90 on Sunday.
THURSDAY
Patchy smoke after 4 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
THURSDAY NIGHT
Patchy smoke before 2 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 64. North northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm.
FRIDAY
Patchy smoke between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph after midnight.
SATURDAY
Patchy smoke between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Sunny and hot, with a high near 103.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Patchy smoke after 11 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
SUNDAY
Patchy smoke before noon. Sunny and hot, with a high near 90.
SUNDAY NIGHT
Clear, with a low around 60.
MONDAY
Sunny, with a high near 88.
MONDAY NIGHT
Clear, with a low around 59.
TUESDAY
Sunny and hot, with a high near 92.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Clear, with a low around 61.
WEDNESDAY
Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
- Your Daily Briefing – 07/20/2026 - July 30, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 07/29/2026 - July 29, 2026
- Your Daily Briefing – 07/28/2026 - July 28, 2026
