TOP STORIES
WENDELL SHOOTING
One man is dead and another is in custody after a shooting in Wendell yesterday afternoon. Gooding County deputies say 38-year-old Cesar Mikeas Padilla Aguilar shot and killed a man in the NAPA parking lot near Fifth Avenue West and Idaho Street.
SCHOOL BUS CRASH UPDATE
Idaho State Police confirm one juvenile student involved in a head-on school bus crash on State Highway 25 near milepost 43, about two miles west of Paul, has been flown by air ambulance to a hospital in Utah for treatment. It happened just before 7:15 yesterday morning. Seventeen students were on board. One bus driver had to be extricated, and both drivers were flown by air ambulance to hospitals. Four students were injured. The Minidoka School District says all students were reunited with their family.
WILDFIRE RESILIENCE FUNDING
Idaho Power is among eight utilities statewide selected for a new wildfire resilience program. The Governor’s Office awarded a total of three-and-a-half million dollars, with Idaho Power using its share to underground power lines in and near Ponderosa State Park in Valley County.
GAS PRICES DROP
Idaho drivers are getting some early holiday cheer at the pump, as the state’s average gas price drops below three dollars for the first time since January of 2024. AAA Idaho says today’s average is two ninety-nine a gallon, after back-to-back twelve-cent weekly drops, with prices now matching this time last year.
PROPERTY TAX DEADLINE
Saturday is the deadline for Idahoans to pay at least the first half of their 2025 property taxes. Because December 20 falls on a weekend, late payments after December 22 will face penalties and interest.
IDAHO SKI INDUSTRY BOOM
Idaho ski resorts continue to set records. A new Ski Idaho economic impact report shows skier visits have topped two million every year since 2020, with a near-record 2.4 million visits last winter. The industry generated more than one billion dollars in economic output and supports over 7,600 jobs statewide, with nearly half of all skiers visiting from out of state.
HOLIDAY SHIPPING DEADLINES
If you’re mailing holiday gifts, time is running out. The U.S. Postal Service says most ground and first-class mail deadlines are December 17, with Priority Mail by December 18. FedEx ground deadlines have passed, while UPS and FedEx overnight services run as late as December 23 or 24 for delivery by Christmas Day.
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL RESULTS
In varsity boys’ high school varsity basketball action, Canyon Ridge defeated Burley 61 to 51. Sun Valley beat Glenns Ferry 78 to 41, Rimrock rolled past Hansen 63 to 21, and Dietrich earned its first win of the season, knocking off Oakley 54 to 33 after leading 23–14 at halftime.
Looking ahead in varsity boys play, Burley faces Thunder Ridge Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Preston Holiday Tournament.
In varsity girls’ basketball, Filer picked up a 50–29 win over Gooding.
MAGIC VALLEY BASKETBALL TONIGHT
It’s a full night of boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball around the Magic Valley, with every game tipping off at 7:30 tonight.
On the boy’s side, Kimberly is on the road at Jerome in a non-conference matchup. Kimberly comes in at one-and-four, while Jerome is still searching for its first win at oh-and-four. Twin Falls also hits the road for a non-conference game at Pocatello, with the Bruins at three-and-six and Pocatello four-and-three. In conference play, Murtaugh visits Shoshone. Murtaugh is two-and-seven, and Shoshone comes in at oh-and-nine.
On the girl’s side, Wendell travels to Buhl for a non-conference matchup. Wendell enters at four-and-six, while Buhl is oh-and-nine. Jerome is on the road at Burley in a conference showdown, with Jerome at four-and-two and Burley seven-and-two. Carey heads to Castleford for conference play, Carey four-and-one and Castleford three-and-five. Valley is at Hagerman tonight, with Valley four-and-four and Hagerman three-and-five. Richfield travels to Hansen in conference action, Richfield five-and-three and Hansen four-and-one. Mountain Home is on the road at Minico, Mountain Home seven-and-three, Minico oh-and-five. And Raft River visits Oakley in a big conference matchup, Raft River seven-and-three, Oakley six-and-one.
CSI MEN’S BASKETBALL
Twice was nice for the College of Southern Idaho men, as the Golden Eagles knocked off Eastern Arizona 66–54 on the road yesterday. Ben Thornbrue led CSI with 15 points, as CSI improves to 13–1 and will host Treasure Valley on December 30th.
VANDAL ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
Idaho Vandal Athletics is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame. Fans and alumni can nominate former athletes, coaches, teams, staff, or contributors at GoVandals dot com slash HOF, with the deadline set for February 1st.
IDAHO STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Idaho State men’s basketball is back home at Reed Gym, hosting Montana Western Thursday night at 7, then UC Davis Sunday afternoon at 4. The Bengals are riding a strong non-conference run, ranking second in the Big Sky in NCAA NET and leading the league in scoring defense.
ILLEGAL MOOSE KILLING
Two men from Washington are facing felony charges after illegally killing a moose near the Idaho–Washington border. Idaho Fish and Game say the men only had a Washington tag, and the animal was wasted and not salvageable after being killed near Twin Lakes in late November.
WEATHER
TODAY
Cloudy early with a slight chance of rain before late morning, then turning mostly sunny with a high near 57. Rain moves in late tonight, becoming windy and wet Wednesday with rain mixing with snow and strong gusts. Cooler, unsettled weather continues through the weekend.
Today: A 20 percent chance of rain before 11am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
TONIGHT
Rain, mainly after 11pm. Low around 42. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
WEDNESDAY
Rain before 2pm, then rain and snow likely. High near 56. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 18 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Partly cloudy, with a low around 29. West northwest wind 6 to 13 mph becoming south southwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 24 mph.
THURSDAY
Snow likely before 11am, then rain. High near 45. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Thursday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39.
FRIDAY
Rain likely, mainly after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.
Saturday Night: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34.
Sunday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50.
Sunday Night: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
MONDAY
A 40 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.
