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Two Magic Valley residents — a refugee-turned-advocate and a child of immigrants — are sharing their personal stories as part of a community storytelling event called “Becoming Idaho.”

Chandra Upreti, director of the Twin Falls office of the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, is a refugee himself. He said his parents fled their home country of Bhutan when he was only 6 months old. After leaving Bhutan and before arriving in the United States, Upreti and his family lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for nearly 17 years.

Idaho State Police says it is investigating a single‑vehicle rollover that happened Thursday afternoon on State Highway 22, west of Dubois.

Some public school leaders are preparing to cut their budgets if lawmakers keep state funding flat next school year — even though K-12 is exempt from nearly statewide cuts. Budget-setting lawmakers this month advanced a $2.77 billion public school funding bill for 2026-27. It’s roughly the same amount the state appropriated this school year. And so far, brick-and-mortar public schools have been shielded from proposed spending cuts that apply to most state-funded agencies and institutions. 

Eighth graders from Rigby Middle School proved they are the masters of the machine this week, taking home the top prize and $1,500 for their school’s STEM programs at the Idaho Environmental Coalition’s (IEC) first-ever Ecobots Challenge.

“Our students worked very hard to prepare for this competition and their hard work paid off,” Rigby Middle School coach Lingpei Zou said. “The Ecobots Challenge not only strengthens students’ coding skills but also encourages them to deliver presentations that highlight their reasoning, teamwork, challenges and more. It is truly a valuable learning experience for all of us.”

Two people were injured Monday evening in a head‑on collision on State Highway 39 near Vollmer Loop in Power County, according to the Idaho State Police.

Following Idaho’s adoption of federal tax changes under the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” the Idaho State Tax Commission has released updates for the 2025 tax season. While some benefits will be automatic, officials warn that certain taxpayers may need to wait several weeks to claim new deductions.

The City of Idaho Falls is planning improvements along Woodruff Avenue from Meppen Canal to U.S. 26 (Yellowstone Avenue) to enhance safety and improve traffic flow. The proposed project will address existing roadway conditions and make targeted upgrades to support continued growth and mobility in the area. Community members are invited to learn more about the project and share their feedback at an in-person public open house.