Idaho
Idaho Falls man named coach of the year in fast-growing sport – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS — In just two years of competing at a varsity level, the Idaho Falls Lady Eagles girls’ lacrosse team has jumped from the bottom of the league to the top. And things got even better for the club recently when head coach Dominic Gonzalez was named Idaho girls lacrosse coach of the year.
Gonzalez has been coaching the Lady Eagles for around five years, according to Idaho Falls Youth Lacrosse board member Ben Josephson, during which time the sport has seen a massive jump in popularity.
Lacrosse, Josephson said, has long been popular on the East Coast but is somewhat new in the Pacific Northwest.
“Lacrosse is, kind of, a niche sport. But it’s getting just bigger and bigger out here,” he said.
The sport’s growth among girls has been significant in recent years, Josephson said. Just a few years ago, the Eagles had just one girls team, a high school squad, which competed at the JV level.
Last year, the club fielded three teams, including a varsity team. And while things did not go well in that inaugural varsity season, they went according to expectations. The Lady Eagles lost more than they won, according to Josephson, and finished at or near the bottom of their league, which includes 14 teams primarily based in the Treasure Valley.
“But we knew we had to go to the varsity level to get more competitive,” he said.
This year, their second playing varsity lacrosse, the Lady Eagles finished fourth in the league. They also, once again, had one of their players accept a scholarship to play college lacrosse — Dominic’s daughter, Gemma Gonzalez, who signed to play at Eastern Oregon University.
RELATED | Local lacrosse team set for state championship run this week
The sport’s recent growth makes it a prime option for girls looking to earn an athletic scholarship, according to Josephson. And with that popularity spike hitting Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Montana, that makes Idaho Falls a potential hub for the sport.
Josephson foresees future tournaments in the Idaho Falls area which draw teams by the dozens from the region.
There is also some hope, though in the distant future, that the sport will become a state sanctioned sport, overseen by the IHSAA with teams representing all or most of the state’s high schools.
“We’re not in positions — we just couldn’t pull it off right now, we don’t have enough kids at this point,” Josephson said. “We’re just in a continual growth mode, especially with our younger kids.”
Part of that growth is at the middle school level, where the Lady Eagles saw their own massive jump in competition this season.
The middle school team, Josephson said, is coming off a great season, and is in position to become the top varsity team in the state in the much nearer future.
But, as Josephson said, the sport as a whole is in a growth period. Local teams are doing their part to spread awareness, including hosting free camps.
The Idaho Falls Eagles will host their free camp on June 11 and 12, at Taylorview Middle School, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The camp is free and open to all boys and girls under 18 years old.
Asked what makes playing with the Eagles great for kids, Josephson said it is all about the community and culture built in their program.
“Our program is built on culture,” he said. “Our older girls are mentoring our younger girls — we have juniors or seniors who will take younger girls, freshmen, under their wing. It’s just really a sense of community.”
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The Idaho Transportation Department has quite a few large projects happening around the state. One of those is the replacement of the I84 interchange to Burley and Heyburn. The work began in 2024, and a new step in the progress begins this week.
There will be a number of bridge and ramp closures that will affect traffic on Interstate 84 this week while crews work. The closures will also impact access and traffic on State Highway 24, Centennial Drive, Highway 30, and State Highway 25 in the area.
Part of I84 Will Close This Week in Southern Idaho For Bridge and Ramp Work
The Idaho Transportation Department shared an update and the details of the closures today on social media. Drivers should be cautious and pay attention to signs regarding traffic changes during the closures, which are expected to last through Friday, May 15th.
Beginning on Monday evening, at 6 PM, crews closed Interstate 84 at exit 211 to work on the new bridge. Traffic in the area should use exit 211 to bypass the closure. Work should be finished by 7 AM on Tuesday, but it could still affect the morning drive for some travelers.
READ ALSO: 5 Injured in Southern Idaho Head-on Collision
On Tuesday, the Exit 211 on and off ramps will close intermittently while crews repave SH24. Centennial Drive will also close at some point during this work. The ramps will alternate closures for 6 to 8 hours, and work is expected to continue through Friday. The social media post shares suggestions on alternate routes for drivers during the closures.
Lane reductions are expected to last through June on State Highway 24. Details on the project can be found on the ITD website.
36 of the Worst Idaho License Plate Rejections From 2025
We have to admit that we don’t understand all of these, but the ones that we do really make us question why someone would want these on their car. This isn’t even all of them – we were sent 28 pages with 25 to 30 submissions on each page of rejected personalized plates from 2025.
Gallery Credit: Credit N8 Bird
There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
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