Idaho

The Unhailed, Underappreciated Emergency Responders

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2024

People see the Idaho Transportation Department logo and seem to have an automatic response, for better or worse. They’re the ones causing construction delays, needing to get the snow off the road already, or taking too long whatever they’re doing. They don’t do anything right and never will. Their flashing orange lights could just as easily be the mailman.

It’s not likely that you think of ITD as being the ones to first call 911, the ones to keep you from freezing or assess injury at the side of the road. They’re not your emergency responders. But then again, yes, they are.

All across Idaho, there is no one that travels the over 12,000 lane miles of highways and interstates more continually than the guys behind the blue and orange ITD logo. The likelihood that they’ll be there when an accident or emergency occurs is higher than anyone else. The police and ambulance have to be called in. ITD is already there.

Earlier this summer, when two crop duster planes collided and crashed alongside US-26 near Arco, an ITD striping crew was there, becoming the first to assess the pilots. Also this summer, when a motorcycle crashed on Interstate 15 near Dubois, part of the ITD maintenance crew was there, already working the roads they consider their own. The story is similar in the case of many accidents across Idaho over the years.

“We spend so much time on the road, that nine times out of ten, we’re the first on scene when anything happens,” Idaho Falls area foreman Jared Loosli said. “And we’re not just going to pass by and leave.”

In the instance of a recent multi-fatality accident near the I-15/ US-20 interchange, Loosli and his crew were called in immediately to assist the Idaho State Police. Most people don’t realize that when state troopers get called out, ITD is almost always called out too.

“We have great foremen for ITD here in Idaho,” ISP Lieutenant Marvin Crane said. “We have personal relationships with them, and they never say they can’t do something. They’re always asking, ‘What do you need?’ and getting things done within minutes.”

“It does affect you,” Loosli stated, also noting that the worst incident he’s ever been a part of happened to one of his own guys.

“The first thing I’m thinking about is my crew,” Ashton/ Island Park foreman Ryan Wright added. “At that point, there are no traffic devices, there’s not time and it’s not the priority. It’s just our guy in the middle of everything trying to help.”

Very recently, Driggs/ St. Anthony Foreman Lucas Richins witnessed what all ITD foreman prioritize and fear the most. An ITD maintenance worker was hit after a distracted driver ran through a roadblock while powerline repair work was being done on SH-33.

So not only are ITD employees unhailed first responders, they’re also the underappreciated workers putting their lives on the line every day. Earlier this year, three of Loosli’s crew were removing hazards from I-15 when a semi grazed the side of their vehicle, damaging the rear end and taking off the driver’s side mirror. A mere two inches would’ve changed the outcome of that incident entirely.

What is it that keeps the guys in yellow working in these risky situations and responding to emergencies, knowing full well that public opinion is often negative and even rude?

“These are small communities,” Mackay/ Challis foreman Jeremy Johnson noted. “When we go out on a call, it could very well be our own friends and families. We’re thinking of keeping them safe in everything we do.”

“When I’m doing something myself, I can see the progress and know that I’m making things safer for everyone,” Wright shared. “I actually love to go out plowing. I love what I do.”

“It’s really a mentality,” Loosli says. “You either have it or you don’t honestly. People complain because they drive by and see four guys standing around. But we know why, we see the bigger picture and the process. The 30 seconds people see isn’t the story of the whole 10-hour day at all.”

“On instinct, I’m thinking about what I could have done, how could this have been prevented?” Richins said. “But then the biggest thought becomes frustration. We’re here trying to help and to serve. When we close a road, the whole point is to keep people safe. Driver awareness is so negligent that it really is frustrating. It’s dangerous.”

Adding to the dangerous nature of the job is the reality that the ITD fleet are not considered emergency vehicles, and ITD signage is too often not respected like a true stop sign. Multiple layers of striped road blockades or orange traffic barrels somehow don’t always keep people out.

“We don’t enjoy closing a road or causing delays,” Richins emphasized. “We do it and we have to because it is the safest way. People need to be patient and have respect.”

“I don’t need to be liked,” Wright added. “I’m still here to do a job and to protect people.”

So maybe the next time you barely notice the flashing orange lights of an ITD vehicle alongside the road, want to scream in standstill construction traffic or at being stuck behind a plow, you’ll slow down and think too that those folks in bright yellow are also the ones who will be there before anyone else can. They could be the difference between freezing after sliding off the road or staying warm until the tow truck gets there. They could be the one to help make sure that your own family and friends across our tight knit Idaho communities are given emergency support in time to matter.

It’s even highly likely that they will be.

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Idaho

What Idaho AARP Members Are Saying: Highlights from the 2025 Survey

Published

9 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

What Idaho AARP Members Are Saying: Highlights from the 2025 Survey

AARP regularly surveys members across the country to better understand their experiences and concerns. The 2025 AARP Member Opinion Survey offers an important snapshot of what matters most to members here in Idaho—and the results highlight key challenges around financial security, health, independence, and staying connected

VIEW THE ENTIRE SURVEY HERE

Financial Security and Retirement

Economic concerns remain front and center for Idaho members. Ensuring the future of Social Security is the top economic issue, with many also worried about inflation and the rising cost of everyday necessities like groceries, utilities, and insurance. More than six in ten members are concerned about the security of their retirement plans and having enough money to retire. While many hope to retire around age 70, most expect it may take longer.

Fraud and Online Safety

Fraud continues to affect Idahoans directly. Nearly one in five members report being a victim of fraud or a scam in the past two years, and more than half are concerned about online security and privacy. Members also express concern about keeping up with technology and the growing role of artificial intelligence in daily life.

Health and Independence

Health care costs, Medicare benefits, and staying mentally sharp rank among the most common concerns. While only a small share report recent memory loss, the vast majority say maintaining mental sharpness is extremely important. Physical health and chronic conditions are also top worries for many members.

Housing and Caregiving

Most Idaho AARP members own their homes, yet many are concerned about being able to remain there as they age. Long‑term care affordability is a significant issue, especially as one in five members serves as a family caregiver. Many also worry about their ability to support a loved one in the future.

Staying Connected

While few members report recent isolation or loneliness, many are concerned about staying socially connected as they grow older. Access to technology remains uneven, with nearly three in ten Idaho members lacking high‑speed internet—creating challenges for communication, services, and online safety

Why This Matters

The 2025 survey reinforces what AARP Idaho hears every day: members want to age with financial security, good health, independence, and connection. These insights help guide AARP Idaho’s advocacy, education, and community work—ensuring we stay focused on the issues that matter most to Idahoans as they age.

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Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Mega Millions, Pick 3 on Feb. 13, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

February 14, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on Feb. 13.

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Feb. 13 drawing

34-40-49-59-68, Mega Ball: 01

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 13 drawing

Day: 0-4-8

Night: 0-7-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 13 drawing

Day: 8-2-7-7

Night: 2-2-4-8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Feb. 13 drawing

06-18-21-35-39, Lucky Ball: 12

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from Feb. 13 drawing

05-06-12-17-39

Check Idaho Cash 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.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

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

Weather balloons soar 100,000 feet to help NWS keep tabs on Idaho’s atmosphere

Published

1 day ago

February 13, 2026

Press Room

Weather balloons soar 100,000 feet to help NWS keep tabs on Idaho’s atmosphere

BOISE, Idaho — The National Weather Service (NWS) has many tools to keep everyone in Idaho informed about the forecast, but one device goes above all the others— literally.

Reaching heights of 100,000 feet above sea level, twice a day, every day, NWS sends weather balloons sky high to help track a number of statistics.

“They track the temperature, the humidity, and they are able to use their GPS circuitry to track wind direction and speed,” said Wasyl Hewko, a hydrometeorological technician who oversees balloon launches. “We want to get data not necessarily horizontally like we do for weather observation, but we want to get the vertical profile of the atmosphere.”

During the winter months, Hewko’s scheduled launches happen daily at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. MT.

Check out the hydrogen-hauled weather tracker:

This National Weather Service tracker climbs 100,000+ feet

This isn’t a solo effort either. At the same time, across the world, hundreds of balloons are launched from 900 different sites— live tracking and building a visual guide of what the world’s atmosphere and weather patterns look like in real time.

Hewko says the ultimate goal is to build “a three-dimensional profile of the atmosphere [with] all this information worldwide.”

“This is the one time where the world is holding hands, I guess, as far as that goes, you know— everyone is in it to get this information, so we can have accurate forecast models,” added Hewko.

What’s especially fascinating is that as the weather balloon gains altitude, the density of the atmosphere decreases, which allows the balloon to grow to “an incredible size,” explained Hewko.

Ultimately, the balloon pops, but before it does, it can grow to be approximately the size of a two car garage.

If you want to see the balloons take flight, you can go to Sondehub.org to find out exactly where the launches take place on any given day.

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