CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
AMBULANCE THEFT IN MERIDIAN
Meridian Police are still searching for the suspect who stole and crashed an ambulance near St. Luke’s Meridian. Gasoline was poured at the scene, but no fire was started. The building houses administrative space leased by DHS.
MURPHY VERDICT STANDS
Cassia County Prosecutor McCord Larsen is asking the public to respect the jury’s not guilty verdict in the Jim Murphy murder trial. Murphy was cleared in the 2014 death of his wife, Whitney. Larsen says there’s no credible evidence supporting alternate suspect claims.
SAINT ALPHONSUS SHOOTING REVIEW
The Valley County Prosecutor says a Boise Police officer was justified in shooting IDOC officer Skylar Meade during a chaotic response to gunfire at Saint Alphonsus last March. The incident remains under review by the Critical Incident Task Force.
CANFIELD MOUNTAIN AMBUSH
Coeur d’Alene Fire Engineer Dave Tysdal has retired following injuries from the 2025 Canfield Mountain ambush. Tysdal was one of three firefighters shot while responding to the intentionally set wildfire.
STATE POLITICS & POLICY
RECESSION CLAIM SPARKS DISPUTE
A dispute is brewing at the Idaho Statehouse after top budget writers claimed on TV that 26 states are in a recession but couldn’t provide a source. Rep. Ben Fuhriman is calling the claim “fear mongering” as lawmakers debate spending cuts and whether to tap Idaho’s rainy day fund.
MEDICAID CONSULTANT REVIEW
The Idaho Legislature is considering hiring its own consultants as the state prepares to shift Medicaid to private managed care by 2029. Lawmakers say the contract could total five billion dollars and want a second set of eyes on it. The proposed consultant would cost about two hundred thousand dollars.
E-VERIFY BILL ADVANCES
The Idaho Senate has approved a bill requiring state and local governments and certain large contractors to use E-Verify to confirm work authorization. The bill passed 27-to-7 and now heads to the House for consideration.
SCHOOL CHOICE TAX CREDIT
Governor Brad Little signed an executive order opting Idaho into a new federal scholarship tax credit program created under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The move expands school choice, allowing tax-credit donations of up to seventeen hundred dollars to support student scholarships.
ENERGY FAST-TRACK AGREEMENT
Governor Brad Little joined Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in signing a new agreement with the Trump administration to fast-track energy and infrastructure projects in Idaho by aligning state and federal permitting timelines.
LOCAL PROJECTS & COMMUNITY
TWIN FALLS CANAL UPGRADE
A $30 million state-funded canal project in Twin Falls is helping stop water loss during this dry winter. Crews are installing a long-lasting liner to keep more water flowing to Magic Valley farms.
MCCALL HOUSING QUESTIONS
A plan to build workforce housing in McCall using hospital district tax dollars is drawing legal questions. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office is reviewing whether the project is constitutional, as some residents push for a public vote.
PAID PARKING AT BOISE TOWNE SQUARE
Shoppers at Boise Towne Square Mall will notice a new paid parking section. Most parking remains free, but preferred spots now cost two-forty-five for the first hour, with additional hourly fees. The mall says ten percent of net proceeds will go to the Idaho Food Bank.
I-84 NIGHT CLOSURES
Nighttime closures are underway on I-84 near Heyburn at Exit 211 through February 28th. Traffic will detour using the on- and off-ramps from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. as crews build a new bridge.
SPORTS
GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL STATE
Six Magic Valley teams opened state tournament play, finishing 1-and-5 on day one.
In 5A at Mountain View, Pocatello topped Jerome 58-46. The Tigers drop to the loser’s bracket to face Columbia.
In 4A at Skyview, unbeaten Sugar-Salem rolled past Kimberly 60-44. The Bulldogs now take on Fruitland. Also in 4A, Bear Lake defeated Filer 43-29. The Wildcats face Weiser in a loser-out game.
In 2A at Columbia High, Oakley dominated Liberty Charter 52-12 to advance to the semifinals against Lapwai and in 1A at Owyhee, Mackay beat Dietrich 59-51, while Nezperce upset Carey 47-42. Carey moves to the consolation side against Dietrich.
BOYS DISTRICT ACTION
In 3A district action, fourth-seeded Declo pulled off a stunner, upsetting top-seeded Wendell in the final minute to punch their ticket to the district championship game. Wendell led 31-27 at halftime, but the Hornets finished strong and will now play for the title next Thursday.
In 4A district play at Highland in Pocatello, Canyon Ridge fell to Highland 61-55.
On the boy’s district schedule tomorrow night, Mountain Home, 5-and-17, heads to Twin Falls to take on the Bruins, who come in 15-and-6. Tip-off is at 6. Then at 7 in Burley, Minico, 10-and-12, faces the Bobcats at 11-and-10 in another district matchup.
For the girls at state tonight, Filer, 17-and-5, takes on Weiser at 2 at Skyview. Jerome battles Columbia at 5 at Mountain View. Dietrich and Carey meet at 7 at Owyhee and Kimberly faces Fruitland at noon at Skyview.
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Boise State softball fell to 15th-ranked Arizona 11-2 in a run-rule game at the DeMarini Invitational. The Broncos are now 6-and-6 and play at Santa Clara today.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The Idaho Vandals women made it eleven straight, rolling past Portland State 86-66 in Moscow. Idaho improves to 22-and-5 overall, 13-and-1 in conference play. Kyra Gardner led the way with 17 points, while Ana Pinheiro added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Vandals are back home tomorrow at 2 p.m. to host Sacramento State.
The Idaho men’s basketball comeback fell short in Portland, dropping a 77-67 decision to Big Sky leader Portland State. Isaiah Brickner led the Vandals with 22 points as Idaho falls to 14-and-13, 6-and-8 in conference play. The Vandals wrap up the road trip Saturday night at Sacramento State.
Idaho State snapped a nine-game skid last night, knocking off Montana 73-69 in Pocatello. Gus Etchison had a career night with 29 points, including a buzzer-beating dunk before halftime. The Bengals improve to 11-and-17 overall and 4-and-11 in Big Sky play.
Idaho State women controlled Montana from start to finish in a 71-54 road win at Dahlberg Arena. Piper Carlson led the way with 19 points as the Bengals shot nearly 53 percent from the floor and dominated the boards 39-21. ISU improves to 18-and-8 overall, 11-and-4 in Big Sky play.
WEATHER
Partly sunny today with a high near 37. Winds out of the west-northwest up to 14 miles an hour. Clear and cold tonight, dropping to around 20. Clouds build Saturday with a high near 45. Sunny and warmer Sunday, 53. Rain moves in Tuesday with highs in the low 50s.
Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 37. Light and variable wind becoming west northwest 9 to 14 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 20. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.
Saturday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 45. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. East wind around 8 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53. East wind 8 to 13 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 30.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 40.
Tuesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain before 11pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 51. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday: A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
