Idaho

Grateful Magic Valley growers and irrigation entities praise ISDA's quagga response

Published

1 year ago

October 2, 2024

Grateful Magic Valley growers and irrigation entities praise ISDA's quagga response

TWIN FALLS COUNTY, Idaho — After the announcement of quagga mussels detected in the Snake River last year and again this September, a coalition of major agricultural commodity organizations voiced their support for the Idaho State Department of Ag’s aggressive treatment plan. The risk to agriculture warrants swift action, they say.

Quagga mussels were first detected in the Snake River near Twin Falls in September 2023. Within a week ISDA had put in place a plan to treat the river to eradicate the mussels.
Constant sampling of water bodies in the state has led to the detection, this year, of more larval veligers of the mussel, indicating the presence of adults.
Given the acute threat a widespread infestation of quagga mussels could have on agriculture in the region, ISDA is responding with an aggressive plan to once again treat the Snake River early this October.

(Below is the transcript from the broadcast story)

Overnight temperatures are dropping, and for most farmers the harvest has been in high gear for weeks.

“The next month will be really extreme. It’ll take us about a month to dig all our sugar beets,” said farmer Larry Hollifield.

For Hollifield, the next few weeks are the final push for the season.

“Yeah, this is the heart of it right here, when you start making your money and deliver and everything to get what you need,” Hollifield said. “So hopefully the bills pay themselves.”

After the announcement of quagga mussels detected in the Snake River last year and again this September, a coalition of major agricultural commodity organizations voiced their support for the Idaho State Department of Ag’s aggressive treatment plan.

“Last year it was real panic when they announced that,” Hollifield said. “That is, gosh, something you’re just scared of. It’s been on the radar for a long time and you’re just hoping it would never show up.”

“This structure is critically important,” said Jason Brown of the Twin Falls Canal Company, as he showed me around Milner Dam.

When the Milner Dam was completed in 1904 it kicked off a transformation of South-Central Idaho, allowing the desert to be irrigated.

“Milner Dam diverts water to three irrigation organizations that irrigate over 500,000 acres, and that’s substantial,” Brown said.

Brown said the canal company has had a lot of conversations with industry peers in other states where quagga mussels have taken hold.

“They’re clogging pipes are clogging pipes, and I’ve heard stories that instead of trying to get them out of the pipes they just pull the pipe out and put a new pipe in,” Brown said.

As soon as quagga gets a foothold, it’s no longer about getting rid of them, it’s about trying to keep water flowing in spite of them.

“If they were to take root in these types of structures, it would cost thousands to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars for maintenance and repair,” Brown said. “How that would impact the economy would be significant.”

“Nothing would grow in this valley without water. We’re in the middle of the desert — the heat and everything was just annihilate everything if we didn’t have irrigation. So that’s required to grow any crop we do,” Hollifield said.

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Idaho

Gas prices expected to exceed $3 as the Iran conflict prompts supply shortages

Published

50 minutes ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Gas prices expected to exceed as the Iran conflict prompts supply shortages

BOISE, Idaho — AAA is warning Idaho gas consumers that pump prices will likely rise as the conflict in Iran disrupts oil and gas supply chains worldwide.

The ongoing turmoil in the Middle East will likely push the price for a gallon of regular gasoline past the $3 mark over the coming days.

“On one hand, the crude oil market had time to account for some financial risk in the Middle East as forces mobilized, but a supply shortage somewhere affects the global picture,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “If tankers can’t move products through the region, there could be ripple effects.”

On Monday, March 2, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.97, reports AAA, which is 12 cents more expensive than it was a month ago but 20 cents less than this time last year.

State / Price: 1 gallon of regular gasoline

Washington / $4.37
Oregon / $3.92
Nevada / $3.70
Idaho / $2.97
Colorado / $2.89
Montana / $2.82
Utah / $2.74
Wyoming / $2.73

In terms of the most expensive fuel in the nation, Idaho currently ranks #14. However, buying a gallon of regular gas in neighboring states such as Oregon and Washington could cost a whole dollar more. In contrast, gas prices in Utah, Montana, and Wyoming are anywhere between 15 to 24 cents cheaper than fuel in the Gem State.

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Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on March 1, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on March 1.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 1 drawing

Day: 7-2-3

Night: 2-7-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 1 drawing

Day: 4-7-9-3

Night: 8-7-7-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from March 1 drawing

03-06-07-33-41

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from March 1 drawing

10-11-12-35-56, Bonus: 04

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Idaho

Idaho politicians respond to Trump authorizing U.S military force in Iran

Published

2 days ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Idaho politicians respond to Trump authorizing U.S military force in Iran

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched major strikes in Tehran, with President Trump calling for an Iranian regime change.

RELATED | Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, reportedly killing hundreds

President Trump authorized the U.S military operation without congressional approval, a decision that Democrats in Congress are arguing is unconstitutional.

RELATED | Trump’s Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea says Democrats are “demanding answers and accountability on behalf of the American people, who are being dragged toward another open-ended war they do not support.”

Necochea says her greatest concern lies with American troops, contractors and civilians who she says “did not choose this conflict.”

“Idaho has thousands of active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and military families who live with the consequences when leaders make reckless choices,” she says.

However, not all lawmakers share Necochea’s sentiments.

Idaho Republican representative Mike Simpson commends President Trump’s “decisive action” in Iran.

Idaho News 6

“Iran was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully through negotiations but chose not to,” Simpson said in a post to Facebook. “I commend President Trump for taking decisive action against a regime responsible for decades of terror. May God protect our men and women in uniform on this vital mission.”

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