The following is a statement from Idaho Power in response to an comments made by Frank VanderSloot during an interview with EastIdahoNews.com:

Idaho Power participated with other water users over a period of 11 months in developing an Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer Ground Water Management Plan which was submitted to the state last week, at the request of the Governor. Groundwater users also submitted a plan. Water users reached alignment on many details during weeks of discussion, although a handful of fundamental differences remain. Idaho Power’s goal has always been to work with other stakeholders to identify long-term solutions that work for all water users. We all need water, and nobody wants to see farmers’ pumps shut off.

Idaho Power was not involved in the Idaho Department of Water Resources Director’s decision to issue curtailment orders earlier this year, nor was Idaho Power involved in the negotiated settlement between irrigators and the state to avoid water shutoffs. Contrary to what some others have said, Idaho Power does not benefit when irrigators can’t pump water. Many of these farmers are also our customers. Irrigation pumps account for a significant amount of electricity use, in addition to being vital to the state’s overall economy.

Idaho Power does have a strong interest in this issue. Hydropower is the backbone of our system. It’s Idaho Power’s lowest-cost energy source, crucial to keeping rates 20–30% below the national average for our more than 640,000 customers. The water that fuels our 17 hydroelectric power plants comes from melting snow, upstream reservoir releases, irrigation return flows, and springs fed by the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA). During the summer, when our customers use the most energy, that aquifer provides approximately 40% of the water to our crucial dams in Hells Canyon. Water is a limited resource — one that is under growing pressure as more people and businesses flock to our state. We expect electricity demand to grow 5.5% per year over the next five years. That’s one reason Idaho Power is among the many partners working with the state and other water users to monitor and improve the health of the ESPA.

It is vital that all stakeholders develop a viable long-term water management plan that respects our State Constitution and the prior appropriation doctrine.

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — A 33-year-old prisoner at the Idaho prison complex south of Boise was indicted on a murder charge by an Ada County grand jury after he was accused of a fatal beating on his cellmate.

James M. Johnson, already serving time at the Idaho State Correctional Center on several prior felony convictions, was indicted last week with a first-degree murder charge in the death of fellow prisoner Milo Warnock, the Ada County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Grand jury indictments are sealed until the suspect is served with a warrant and makes their first court appearance.

Warnock, 45, died less than an hour after an in-custody assault in December, the Idaho Department of Correction previously announced. Warnock’s family is pursuing a lawsuit related to his death from multiple blunt-force injuries and has awaited charges against the alleged perpetrator for nearly nine months.

The Idaho State Police investigated the attack on Warnock. After Warnock’s death, Johnson was transferred to the complex’s maximum security prison, where he remains today, according to prison system records. His prison sentence for his prior convictions, which included possession of a controlled substance, grand theft and fraud out of Bannock County, were set to be satisfied in February 2025.

Warnock was serving up to 10 years in prison following his second DUI conviction since 2013, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting. He could have been released after two years in prison but was moved to a more secure area of the prison after breaking rules related to receiving his prescribed medication, his mother, Kathy Warnock, previously told the Statesman.

Before his death, Milo Warnock told his family he was having trouble with his new cellmate, having stated that the man was “mentally disturbed” with “a pattern of escalating behavior,” the Statesman previously reported. The Warnock family is seeking almost $500,000 from the prison system, several of its employees and the prison’s health care contractor.

If convicted of Warnock’s murder, Johnson could be sentenced to the death penalty or life in prison. He faces no less than a decade in prison. Johnson’s next appearance in court is scheduled for Sept. 18, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Oregon Ducks did not play up to their potential on Saturday in a 24-14 win over the Idaho Vandals. What were the biggest takeaways from Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel in today’s press conference and how do they plan to get better moving forward?

Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel admitted that there “is a lot to clean up” in the aftermath of the Duck’s 24-14 win over Idaho on Saturday. Gabriel said, “It starts with me.” He mentioned the three sacks that Oregon allowed and said he has to do a better job of getting the ball out.

Gabriel also reiterated that his hand “feels good”. He said he has been icing it and is “ready to roll”. Gabriel injured his hand on a helmet during Saturday’s game, but it doesn’t appear to be an issue going forward.

In response to fans saying Oregon should have won by more than the margin they did, Gabriel noted that there were “a bunch of missed opportunities.” The Ducks had two 4th down conversations fail and multiple penalties had drives going backwards. “You have to get better”, Gabriel says.

Dillon Gabriel said that it has been a “fiery” week of practice and that the Ducks are looking to turn what they struggled on into a strength heading forward.

Watch Gabriel’s interview below.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel is one of the most hyped-up transfers nationwide and with good reason. He has been good numbers at every stop. Gabriel is in his first year in Eugene after spending the last two years at Oklahoma. Before Oklahoma, Gabriel spent three seasons at UCF. 

Heading into this season, Gabriel has tallied 125 passing touchdowns and 26 interceptions in his five seasons in college football. After seeing Bo Nix transfer from Auburn to Oregon and be phenomenal the last two seasons, fans have high hopes for the same with Gabriel. Gabriel opened the season as the Heisman trophy favorite. He is currently the front-runner with odds of +800 on DraftKings sportsbook. 

For Dillon Gabriel, being at Oregon is a golden opportunity to flourish. He has great talent and great coaching staff around him. Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein helped get the best of Bo Nix last season and there’s no reason to think he can’t do the same with Gabriel. 

Oregon has a date with the Boise State Broncos on Saturday night at Autzen Stadium. Coming off a disappointing offensive performance against Idaho, this is a great “get right” spot for the Ducks.

While Boise State dazzled in their first game by putting up 56 points and rushing for 371 yards, the Bronco’s defense allowed 45 points to Georgia Southern. Georgia Southern put up 461 total yards and put a real scare into the heavily favored Broncos.

The Ducks have a great opportunity to get the Broncos at a time when they have not yet figured out the defensive side of the ball. Oregon will look to put the Idaho game behind them with a good performance against Boise State. 

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