Your Daily Briefing – 10/24/2025

IDAHO NEWS ROUNDUP

State Workforce Cuts Looming

Idaho’s DOGE Task Force is reviewing 381 vacant state positions and considering agency mergers or eliminations. Lawmakers plan to present the list to budget writers in November for possible funding cuts. Early targets include the State Brand Board, Honey Commission, and several conservation groups.

Teacher Charged in Lincoln County

A Lincoln County teacher, 37-year-old Wesley Naylor, faces misdemeanor battery charges after deputies say security footage showed him pushing a 13-year-old student during a classroom confrontation. He’s due in court November 4.

Flying Rock Nearly Kills Driver

A Twin Falls County driver had a close call when a rock from a farm truck’s tire shot through both the front and rear windshields of their Subaru near 4100 North and 1900 East. The driver wasn’t hurt, but deputies say the impact could have been fatal.

Police Warn of Scam Calls

Twin Falls Police are warning residents about scam calls from people pretending to be officers demanding payment or electronic signatures to avoid arrest. Police stress: they’ll never ask for money or gift cards over the phone.

Child Exploitation Arrest in Twin Falls

A 36-year-old Twin Falls man, Trenton Hill, faces 17 felony charges tied to child exploitation. Prosecutors say investigators found explicit images and Snapchat messages with minors as young as 12. Hill remains in custody on $150,000 bond with a preliminary hearing Nov. 14.

Labrador Seeks Dismissal in Abortion Lawsuit

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador has filed for summary judgment to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s Defense of Life Act. Labrador argues the plaintiff, Dr. Stacy Seyb of St. Luke’s, admitted he never read or understood the law, which allows doctors to act to prevent a woman’s death.

Election Deadline Today

The deadline to register to vote or request an absentee ballot for Idaho’s Nov. 4 Consolidated Election is today at 5 p.m. Voters can register, update registration, or request ballots at voteidaho.gov or at their county elections office.

Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to Supporting ISIS

A 20-year-old Coeur d’Alene man, Alexander Mercurio, has pleaded guilty to attempting to support ISIS and planning a terrorist attack on local churches. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison when sentenced in January.

SPORTS

State Soccer Tournaments Begin

The state soccer tournaments kicked off with mixed results for Magic Valley teams.

4A girls: Fruitland scored just 90 seconds in to beat Sun Valley 2-0; Kimberly edged Coeur d’Alene Charter 3-2 and faces Marsh Valley next.
5A boys: Twin Falls rallied from 2-0 down to stun Blackfoot 4-2 in a shootout; Wood River rolled past Nampa 5-0.
4A boys: Sun Valley topped Teton 3-2 and meets top-seed Coeur d’Alene Charter; Wendell blanked Ambrose 3-0.
5A girls: Pocatello shocked undefeated Twin Falls 2-0.
6A: Thunder Ridge defeated Canyon Ridge 2-0, sending the Riverhawks to an elimination game.

Friday Night Lights Finale

It’s the final Friday of the regular season across the Magic Valley!

Great Basin showdown: Twin Falls (6-2) visits Minico (6-2).
Kimberly vs Gooding, both 5-win teams, battle for seeding.
Burley seeks its first win hosting Mountain Home.
Elsewhere: Buhl vs Filer, Canyon Ridge vs Columbia, Declo vs American Falls.
Carey remains unbeaten after a forfeit over Camas County; Raft River vs Hagerman, Shoshone at Dietrich, Hansen hosts Castleford, Murtaugh welcomes Glenns Ferry, and Valley challenges Carey.
Jerome is on the road at Wood River.

CSI Soccer Falls to Snow College

Both CSI men’s and women’s soccer teams lost Thursday to Snow College in Scenic West play. The men fell 5-0 after two early goals; the women lost 3-0 to 15th-ranked Snow. They close the regular season at USU Eastern this weekend.

CSI Volleyball Sweeps USU Eastern

The 20th-ranked CSI volleyball team swept 11th-ranked USU Eastern in three sets Thursday. Vivian Goto led the Golden Eagles with 19 kills as CSI improved to 16-8. They host Snow College tomorrow at 1 p.m. for Sophomore Day.

Boise State Soccer Clinches Title

Boise State women’s soccer clinched the Mountain West regular season title with a 1-0 win over Grand Canyon. They’ll host the MWC Championship Nov. 2–8 as the top seed.

Vandals and Bengals Action

Idaho Vandals women’s soccer hosts Northern Colorado tonight at 6 in the Kibbie Dome — third in the Big Sky at 5-4-7, led by Sara Rodgers (four goals).
Idaho State volleyball saw its three-match streak end with a four-set loss at Montana. Abby McClain (15 kills) and Nora Waddoups (45 assists) led the Bengals.

Mountain West vs Pac-12 Legal Battle

The Mountain West Conference filed counterclaims in the Pac-12 lawsuit, seeking to affirm its termination fees and accusing the Pac-12 of breach of contract and fraud, saying it’s defending fairness and student-athletes.

Rupert Pool’s New Dome

The Rupert City Pool is getting a $2.4 million retractable dome, the first of its kind west of the Mississippi. Funded entirely by community donations — including a $1 million gift from Stan and Denise Buckley — the dome will let in sunshine in summer and protect swimmers in winter. Reopening is set for early 2026.

WEATHER

Today: Sunny High near 66°F, east wind around 6 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy Low 44°F, winds becoming south 6–9 mph.

Saturday: 30% chance of showers after noon, high 60°F, gusts to 26 mph.
Saturday Night: 70% chance of showers before midnight, low 37°F, new rain up to ¼ inch.