CALL THE KAT KOUNTRY 106 REQUEST LINE! (208) 436-KATT
CALL THE KAT KOUNTRY 106 REQUEST LINE! (208) 436-KATT
Idaho State Police are looking for a semi-truck driver who continued eastbound after striking a motorcycle rider lying in the roadway on Interstate 84 near Heyburn Thursday morning.
Troopers say the crash happened around 9:37 a.m. near milepost 211 in Minidoka County. A 23-year-old man from Redmond, Oregon, was riding a Kawasaki motorcycle when he struck a trailer being pulled by a Ford F-350 driven by a 42-year-old man from Dingle, Idaho.
The motorcyclist crashed and came to rest in the roadway, where he was struck by a semi-truck. The driver of that semi continued eastbound and has not been identified. Authorities have not released a description of the truck.
The motorcycle rider was flown to a local hospital. His condition has not been released. Eastbound traffic was blocked for approximately three hours while emergency crews responded.
An unusual problem knocked out electricity for thousands of Idaho Power customers in Twin Falls Thursday morning. Birds entering a transformer caused an outage that began around 9:15 a.m.
The outage affected approximately 8,300 customers across a large area extending from the Snake River south to Addison Avenue. Six Twin Falls schools and the College of Southern Idaho were among those affected.
Idaho Power confirmed the cause, and electricity was restored around 10 a.m., roughly 45 minutes after the outage began.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office says a rumor about a student bringing a gun to a Shoshone school was unfounded.
Deputies investigated and determined that the misunderstanding began after an unrelated, nonemergency visit by sheriff's office personnel earlier in the day. As word spread, the purpose of that visit was misunderstood.
Officials emphasized that reports involving student safety are taken seriously. The sheriff's office also encouraged community members to verify information with school officials or law enforcement before sharing rumors.
Drivers traveling Interstate 84 near Twin Falls should prepare for intermittent daytime lane closures beginning Monday, October 19.
Crews will begin paving near the Twin Falls Interchange at Exit 173, with work expected to continue into early November. Weather conditions could affect the schedule.
Motorists should watch for construction activity and trucks frequently entering and leaving the work zone. Officials remind drivers not to follow construction trucks off the highway into restricted work areas.
Two voting-rights organizations say Idaho's voter identification and registration requirements are making it more difficult for some eligible residents to register.
Babe Vote and the League of Women Voters of Idaho point to state laws enacted in 2023 that eliminated student IDs as acceptable identification. They say students who move frequently or don't drive can face challenges gathering residency documents and traveling to a DMV to obtain a free state ID.
Older adults may encounter similar obstacles when trying to obtain identification, particularly if they need birth certificates or documentation of name changes.
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane says young voter registration remains consistent and points to expanded online registration options. Supporters of the laws argue that the requirements strengthen identification security, and a judge upheld the laws in 2023.
Residents can find registration information, check their voter status, and locate their polling place at VoteIdaho.gov.
Idaho officials say the invasive quagga mussel population near Twin Falls remains small and confined, but the threat to the Snake River has not disappeared.
State Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt told lawmakers that this year's monitoring found eight mussel larvae, while divers also discovered adult mussels. Officials say the affected area appears smaller than in previous years.
The state has used copper-based treatments each year since the mussels were first detected in 2023. This year, divers also targeted hard-to-reach cracks in the river's rock formations.
Although the treatments can kill fish and other aquatic life, officials say fewer fish died this year. Continued monitoring is planned, with water sampling expected to resume when temperatures warm up next year.
Unchecked quagga mussels can clog pipes and threaten drinking water systems, irrigation infrastructure, and recreation.
A 50-year-old New York woman arrested at a Kimberly bank is facing additional charges in Pocatello in connection with an alleged $11,000 withdrawal from a couple's home equity loan account.
Investigators say Kimberly Irene Schwartfigure used a fake passport and impersonated the account holder's wife at Lookout Credit Union on March 18. Authorities allege she made two withdrawals totaling $11,000.
She was arrested the following day at a D.L. Evans Bank branch in Kimberly after employees flagged another attempted withdrawal.
In a separate case, Schwartfigure later pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of a controlled substance. A Twin Falls County judge suspended a prison sentence on October 8 and placed her on five years of probation.
She is currently being held in the Bannock County Jail, with bond set at $125,000 in the Pocatello case. Prosecutors are also seeking a persistent-violator enhancement based on previous felony convictions. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 27.
A newly released Idaho State Police Fiscal Year 2026 Toxicology Report found that more than four out of five adult samples submitted for drug testing contained at least one drug. Nearly half contained multiple drugs.
Cannabis-related compounds were detected most frequently, followed by amphetamine and methamphetamine. Those substances, together with cocaine and its breakdown product, accounted for more than 63% of the drugs reported.
Among adult DUI samples tested for alcohol or other volatile substances, 82% had an alcohol concentration of at least 0.08.
ISP cautions that the report reflects blood and urine samples submitted to its laboratories for DUI and other investigations. The findings do not represent all DUI cases or overall drug use throughout Idaho.
Idaho State University is receiving a $499,465 federal grant to help eligible pregnant women, new mothers, and their families access fresh fruits and vegetables in underserved southeastern Idaho communities.
The Maternal Produce Prescription Program will serve eligible participants in low-income and medically underserved communities within Idaho Public Health District 6.
Participants will receive produce prescriptions, vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, and nutrition education.
ISU's Institute of Rural Health says the initiative will also strengthen connections among healthcare providers, community organizations, and local food suppliers. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Friday night means football across the Magic Valley, with an unbeaten team looking to keep its perfect season alive and several one-loss teams facing important matchups.
3 p.m. kickoff
7 p.m. kickoffs
Raft River enters the weekend unbeaten at 7-0, putting its perfect record on the line against Valley. Carey and Salmon River should also provide an intriguing afternoon matchup, with both teams carrying 6-1 records into their 3 p.m. meeting.
Six Magic Valley soccer teams will compete in postseason play-in games Saturday, with a victory earning a place in the state tournament and a loss ending the season. All six games begin at 1 p.m.
Four local teams have already secured state tournament berths as district champions: Wood River's boys, Twin Falls' girls, Sun Valley Community School's boys, and Kimberly's girls.
Twin Falls' boys and Canyon Ridge's girls narrowly missed the at-large cut under this year's MaxPreps composite ranking system.
District volleyball action delivered several strong performances Thursday as teams continued their push toward postseason success.
In 5A, top-seeded Twin Falls swept Burley in three sets, winning 25-14, 25-20, and 25-17. Siena Billings led the Bruins with 12 kills, while Danica Brecht added nine. Ivie Bohrn finished with 36 assists and 13 digs.
Second-seeded Wood River also swept Minico. Burley will visit Minico Saturday at noon.
In 4A, Filer swept Gooding behind 10 kills apiece from Keyana Montreal and Jillian Price. Addie Shank recorded 29 assists and six digs, while Brekk Bowman added nine kills and 11 digs.
In 2A, Valley swept Sun Valley Community School. Hagerman defeated Murtaugh 3-1, led by a huge performance from Addison Bingham, who recorded 23 kills, 13 aces, and 15 digs. Addi Chizum contributed 50 assists and 15 digs, while Ava Chizum added 23 digs.
Oakley edged Raft River in a five-set battle. Kinslee Matthews finished with 13 kills, 17 digs, and four blocks, while Kayzlie Beck handed out 32 assists. Shoshone swept Glenns Ferry.
In 1A, Carey swept Dietrich, Castleford defeated Lighthouse Christian 3-1, and Camas County beat Hansen 3-1.
Idaho State rallied from a 10-6 deficit in the deciding set Thursday night to defeat Northern Colorado 3-2 at Reed Gym.
The Bengals won the final set 17-15, improving to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in conference play. It was their first meeting with Northern Colorado since the Bears defeated ISU in last season's Big Sky tournament championship match.
Annelie Wilson led four Bengals with double-digit kills, recording 13 kills and 12 digs. Mia Walsh added 12 kills and 17 digs, Jaydin Watts had 11 kills, and Gracie Vohs contributed 10.
Kadence Marsh stepped into the setting role and delivered 37 assists and 12 digs. Aspen Boice anchored the defense with 25 digs as Idaho State recorded 92 digs, its most in a conference match this season.
The Bengals will host Montana on Thursday, October 22, at 7 p.m.
Boise State couldn't finish the job Thursday night, surrendering a two-set lead in a five-set loss to Washington State at Bronco Gym.
The Broncos took the first two sets 25-22 before Washington State responded with consecutive 25-19 wins. The Cougars then won the deciding set 15-8.
Azlynn Tittmann led Boise State with 18 kills, while Sydney Dreves added 17 kills and 13 digs. Tehya Maeva recorded 26 assists and 14 digs, and Melia Barlow led the team with 15 digs and three service aces.
Boise State falls to 12-7 overall and 4-2 in Pac-12 play. The Broncos will try to bounce back Saturday when they visit Gonzaga in Spokane at 1 p.m. Mountain Time.
Boise State running back Dylan Riley has been named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America Second Team after an impressive first half of the season.
The junior leads the nation with 835 rushing yards and 998 all-purpose yards. He has scored seven touchdowns and surpassed 100 rushing yards four times, including a career-best 206-yard performance against Memphis.
Riley is also the only FBS player this season with three runs of at least 70 yards. He recently delivered 227 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in Boise State's win over Fresno State.
The 23rd-ranked Broncos are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 play. They have the weekend off before visiting Washington State on October 24, with kickoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Mountain Time.
Idaho State soccer recorded a 2-0 shutout of Montana in Missoula Thursday, earning its first Big Sky victory of the season.
Syleena Hogan scored in the eighth minute, ending the Bengals' scoring drought that dated back to September 20. Emma Casenave added her first career goal in the 70th minute, just 14 seconds after entering the match. Saydree Cooke provided the assist.
Goalkeeper Aliya Garrett made three saves for her fifth shutout of the season. Idaho State outshot Montana 11-9 and improved to 3-7-4 overall and 1-2-2 in conference play.
The Bengals travel to Portland State on Sunday, October 18, at 2 p.m. Mountain Time.
The Idaho Vandals overcame a six-point deficit in the fourth set Thursday to defeat Portland State 3-1 at Memorial Gym.
After dropping the opening set 26-24, Idaho took the next two sets. The Vandals then rallied from an 18-12 deficit in the fourth, with Kiana Greer delivering a kill and a service ace for the final two points.
Greer led Idaho with 14 kills and five aces. Alaina Armstrong added 13 kills, Sarah Sullivan had 12, and Keira Kleidon anchored the defense with a match-high 23 digs.
The Vandals host Northern Arizona Saturday, October 17, at 7 p.m. Mountain Time. Fans are encouraged to wear pink for Idaho's annual Spike Out Cancer night.
It was a tough road trip for the College of Southern Idaho's soccer teams, with both the men's and women's squads suffering one-goal losses to North Idaho.
The CSI men fell 2-1 to the eighth-ranked Cardinals. Jakob Hollon scored on a late penalty kick, but the comeback fell short. Goalkeeper Lasse Brier made eight saves.
The Golden Eagles will look to snap a three-game losing streak Saturday against Pacific Northwest Christian in Kennewick, Washington. CSI won the teams' September meeting 6-0.
The CSI women lost 1-0 in their first match as a nationally ranked team. North Idaho scored late in the first half, and the Golden Eagles couldn't find an equalizer despite putting six of their 12 shots on goal. Avery Charlesworth made six saves.
Both CSI teams will be back in action Saturday against Pacific Northwest Christian.
The Idaho women's golf team has completed its fall season, while the men's team has one more tournament scheduled this month.
The women finished the Golf Iconic Classic in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at 27-over par. Zoe Newell led Idaho at 3-over, followed by Diya Brar and Ella Kozak at 7-over each.
The women's team returns to competition February 8-10 at the Mountain Classic Matchplay in Palm Springs, California.
The men finished the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational at 31-over par, posting their best team round on the final day. Brae Rogalczyk led the Vandals at 2-over, highlighted by a bogey-free round of 69.
The men's next event is the Monterrey Collegiate Classic in Mexico, October 26-27.
The weekend forecast looks beautiful across the Magic Valley, with sunshine and mild temperatures giving residents a great opportunity to get outside.
☀️ Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70 degrees. East winds around 10 mph. Mostly clear overnight, with temperatures dropping to around 34.
🌞 Saturday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high near 72. East winds around 6 mph. Mostly clear Saturday night, with a low around 39.
🌤️ Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 70. Clear overnight, with a low around 42.
☀️ Monday: More sunshine and a high near 70. Partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 45.
🌦️ Tuesday: Cooler weather arrives, with a 20% chance of showers and a high near 62. The chance of showers increases to 40% Tuesday night.
🌧️ Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57 and a 40% chance of showers.
🌦️ Thursday: Partly sunny, with a 30% chance of showers and a high near 56.
Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts! Temperatures are expected to fall into the 50s by the middle of next week.
📻 Stay connected with Kat Kountry 106 for the latest local headlines, high school sports, college sports updates, weather, and everything happening across the Magic Valley!