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A major courtroom battle over the failed merger between Kroger and Boise-based Albertsons is heating up, with billions of dollars potentially at stake.
Former Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen testified in a Delaware court that the proposed merger was “doomed from the beginning.” His comments mark a dramatic shift from the company's earlier efforts to combine the two grocery giants.
McMullen blamed federal regulators under the Biden administration for blocking the deal in late 2024. Albertsons, however, argues that Kroger failed to do enough to secure regulatory approval and repeatedly proposed solutions regulators would not accept.
Albertsons is seeking a $600 million termination fee, along with additional damages, interest and costs. The company's total claims could reach $9.3 billion.
A federal judge blocked the merger in December 2024, and Albertsons walked away from the agreement the following day. The trial continues this week in Delaware.
The case could have significant financial consequences for both companies and remains a major development for the grocery industry, including Albertsons' home state of Idaho.
Idaho is directing a major investment toward improving healthcare access in rural communities, with several projects expected to benefit the Magic Valley.
Governor Brad Little announced that the state has awarded $186 million in first-year funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding is part of a nearly $1 billion federal investment planned over five years.
Among the local initiatives, more than $1.2 million will help establish medication treatment units in Twin Falls and Bonneville counties for people struggling with opioid addiction.
St. Luke's Health System is receiving nearly $1.6 million for a mobile screening program designed to bring lung cancer screenings and heart-health testing to rural communities, including Twin Falls County.
The Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind in Gooding is also receiving nearly $900,000 to support a mobile pediatric hearing clinic.
The overall goal is to improve access to affordable medical care, attract healthcare professionals to rural areas and reduce the long distances some Idaho residents must travel to receive treatment.
For families across Southern Idaho, the projects could mean greater access to screenings, treatment and specialized healthcare services closer to home.
Two polls are presenting very different outlooks for Idaho's U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Jim Risch and independent candidate Todd Achilles.
A survey released by Achilles shows Risch leading by six percentage points, with eight percent of voters still undecided.
Polling commissioned by Risch's campaign tells a different story. A late-September survey placed the incumbent ahead 49% to 24%.
Differences in polling methods and candidate lists may help explain the gap. The Achilles survey did not include all four candidates in the race, making direct comparisons difficult.
Idaho also has relatively little independent political polling, leaving voters with limited information beyond surveys commissioned by the candidates themselves.
Risch is seeking a fourth six-year term in the U.S. Senate, while Achilles is hoping to pull off an upset in a state that traditionally votes Republican.
With Election Day approaching on Tuesday, November 3, voters will ultimately decide which picture more accurately reflects the race.
A legal battle over water rights at Idaho National Laboratory could have far-reaching consequences for water management across the state.
The federal government is suing Idaho, arguing that state officials do not have the authority to shut off water to the federal nuclear research facility or regulate its federal water rights.
The dispute began after Idaho water officials issued an order in May that could cut off water to users whose rights were established after October 1900.
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is fighting the federal lawsuit. The state has filed a countersuit arguing that federal facilities should follow the same Idaho water laws that apply to farmers, ranchers and other water users.
The Department of Energy holds water rights totaling 35,000 acre-feet annually. Federal officials warn that a water shutoff could threaten nuclear safety, energy research and national defense projects conducted at the laboratory.
Governor Brad Little says Idaho will continue working with federal officials toward a solution while protecting the state's water resources.
The case puts state authority, federal operations and Idaho's water management policies at the center of a closely watched legal dispute.
The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld the dismissal of a decade-long lawsuit challenging the state's public defense system, although the legal dispute may not be over.
In a 3-to-2 decision Wednesday, the justices ruled that there was insufficient evidence to show that problems with Idaho's former county-based system would continue under the new statewide system launched in 2024.
The lawsuit was originally filed by the ACLU in 2015. It argued that Idaho was failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide adequate legal representation to people who cannot afford an attorney.
The majority focused on whether the lawsuit had established sufficient grounds to continue under the new system. Two justices dissented, arguing that the state's reforms had not yet been proven effective.
The ACLU called the decision disappointing and says some Idahoans still spend months in jail without access to an attorney.
Importantly, the court did not declare the new public defense system constitutional. Instead, it found insufficient grounds for the existing lawsuit to proceed.
The ACLU is reviewing its options for what comes next.
Drivers traveling through downtown Jerome should prepare for another road closure beginning Monday, November 2.
Lincoln Avenue will be closed at Main Street for approximately one week as construction continues on the city's Downtown Construction Project.
Motorists traveling near the Buchanan Street area should expect detours and possible delays.
City officials are reminding drivers to follow posted detour signs, use caution around construction crews and allow additional time to reach their destinations.
The closure is expected to last about a week, so drivers should plan alternate routes while work continues.
The road to an Idaho high school football state championship continues Friday, with nine Magic Valley-area teams preparing for playoff action.
With the postseason underway, every game carries added pressure: win and advance, or see the season come to an end.
Friday's schedule includes Oakley hosting Idaho City at 6 p.m., while Raft River welcomes Grace at the same time.
At 7 p.m., Buhl hosts Ririe, Castleford takes on Hansen, Kimberly meets Gooding, and Twin Falls welcomes Bonneville. Minico travels north to face Sandpoint, while Wood River visits Emmett.
On Saturday, Richfield hosts Deary at 11 a.m.
The opening round brings several intriguing matchups, including a Magic Valley showdown between Castleford and Hansen. Kimberly and Gooding also meet for the second consecutive week, this time with playoff survival on the line.
Several Southern Idaho eight-man football players finished the regular season with outstanding individual performances.
Castleford senior Connor Parish rushed for 325 yards on 18 carries against Richfield and also intercepted two passes on defense.
Hagerman's Will Mavencamp accounted for five touchdowns against Raft River. He threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns while adding 104 rushing yards and two more scores as the Pirates claimed the Snake River Conference championship.
Butte County's Cooper Williams put together another remarkable performance, rushing for 336 yards and six touchdowns on just 10 carries against Grace.
Murtaugh edged Glenns Ferry 30-24 in double overtime, with sophomore Owen Hunsaker scoring the winning touchdown before the Red Devils' defense secured the victory.
Hagerman's Adam Nelson also finished the regular season with 19 sacks, the most in Idaho across all classifications.
The postseason now puts the spotlight on teams looking to turn strong regular seasons into championship runs.
Boise State fans will welcome a familiar face back to Albertsons Stadium Saturday night when former Broncos quarterback Kellen Moore returns for the team's matchup against Texas State.
Moore will raise the Blue Chaos flag before kickoff, and an 11-foot bronze statue honoring the former quarterback will be unveiled at halftime.
Moore went 50-3 as Boise State's starting quarterback from 2008 through 2011. He threw 142 touchdown passes and became the program's first Heisman Trophy finalist.
Now in his second season as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Moore returns to the school where he built his legacy.
The statue will eventually stand outside the northeast corner of Albertsons Stadium.
Saturday's game will also be Boise State's first Blue After Dark game, with fans encouraged to wear black. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m., with national television coverage on The CW.
The Boise State men's basketball team returns to ExtraMile Arena tonight for a 7 p.m. exhibition matchup against Bismarck State.
The Broncos enter the contest following an impressive 109-91 exhibition victory over Washington.
Aginaldo Neto led the way with 29 points, while Spencer Ahrens contributed 19. Dovydas Butka recorded his second consecutive double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Boise State has scored 191 points across its two exhibition games and shot at least 50% from the floor in both contests.
The roster features eight newcomers, including former Summit League MVP Damari Wheeler-Thomas.
The Broncos are preparing for their first season in the Pac-12 after five consecutive 20-win seasons under head coach Leon Rice.
Boise State volleyball begins a two-match road trip tonight against San Diego State.
The Aztecs enter the matchup with a 13-6 overall record and an 8-1 conference mark, placing them second in the Pac-12. San Diego State also defeated Boise State earlier this season, giving the Broncos an opportunity to even the score.
The Broncos will then face Texas State Saturday at 11 a.m., looking to complete a season sweep of the Bobcats.
Freshman Azlynn Tittmann continues to make an impact, recording double-digit kills in six consecutive matches. Sydney Dreves is also helping lead the Bronco attack.
Boise State leads the Pac-12 with 11 three-set sweeps and ranks first in the conference in digs.
Both matches will stream live on the Pac-12 YouTube channel.
The University of Idaho women's soccer team travels to Portland State this afternoon after a dominant 4-0 victory over Southern Utah.
Makenna Stuart scored twice in the Senior Day win, while goalkeeper Paula Flores made four saves to earn her 26th career shutout, extending her school record. The victory marked Idaho's ninth shutout of the season.
The Vandals now face a Portland State team that enters the matchup with a 3-12 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Big Sky play. The Vikings have lost three straight games.
Today's match begins at 2 p.m. Mountain Time. Idaho will then travel to Missoula to face Montana on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Idaho State Bengals head to St. George, Utah, Saturday for a first-ever meeting with Utah Tech.
Head coach Cody Hawkins says the team has renewed energy after snapping a three-game losing streak. With four regular-season games remaining, the Bengals are hoping to build on that momentum.
Idaho State will face a Utah Tech team coming off a road victory over Cal Poly. Utah Tech forced six turnovers in that game, making ball security a key concern for the Bengals.
Hawkins says quarterbacks Jordan Cooke and Davis Harsin are both capable of leading the offense. Improved preparation and confidence have also helped strengthen the Bengal defense.
Idaho State will look to make it two wins in a row against the Trailblazers.
The University of Idaho men's and women's cross-country teams travel to Flagstaff, Arizona, for the Big Sky Cross Country Championships.
All 11 conference schools will compete for championship honors.
The men's team will send 10 runners into the eight-kilometer race, led by veterans Tyler Graff and Zac Knapp. Freshmen Miles Lechtenberg and Koda Vandahlen will make their postseason debuts.
On the women's side, nine Vandals will compete, including senior Constanze Paoli, who has earned a victory in Montana and recorded a personal-best performance in Oregon. Senior Mary Nakamura is also coming off a personal best.
The men's race begins Friday at 11 a.m. Idaho time, followed by the women's race at noon.
The NCAA West Regionals are scheduled for November 13 in Sacramento.
The Magic Valley is starting Thursday with frosty conditions, but sunshine should return during the day, bringing temperatures close to 60 degrees.
Clouds move in tonight, with overnight lows around 42 degrees.
Friday will be mostly cloudy with a high near 59 and a 30% chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Friday night also carries a 30% chance of rain, with temperatures dropping to around 40 degrees.
Saturday should remain relatively mild, with a high near 59 and a 30% chance of showers. Patchy fog is possible before noon.
The weather picture changes Saturday night, when showers and possibly a thunderstorm are expected. The chance of precipitation rises to 90%, with new rainfall amounts generally between one-tenth and one-quarter of an inch, although higher totals are possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday looks cooler and wet, with showers likely, a 70% chance of precipitation and a high near 48 degrees.
Conditions should improve early next week. Monday is expected to be sunny with a high near 50, followed by mostly sunny skies Tuesday and Wednesday with highs in the middle 50s.
🌧️ The takeaway: Enjoy Thursday's sunshine, prepare for possible Friday showers, and keep the rain gear handy for Saturday night into Sunday.