Middleton motorcyclist dies after crashing north of Council, then getting hit by pickup

A Middleton man's family has been notified about his death. According to Idaho State Police, Jonathan Yorgason, 48, was riding a motorcycle on Highway 95, eight miles north of Council, when he crashed. Yorgason fell off his motorcycle and landed on the road. ISP says a driver in a pickup then hit him. Yorgason died at the scene. This happened around 10:53 p.m. Wednesday. Highway 95 was blocked in both directions for around four-and-a-half hours. The crash remains under investigation.
KBOI-TV CBS 2 Boise

Fire officials discuss firework safety for July 4th

Independence Day looks a little different this year since many firework shows canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Merdian and Boise fire officials are reminding people how dangerous illegal fireworks can be to the community. Ariel fireworks are a common cause to range fires, similar to the fire in 2016 at Table Rock. Fire officials recommend double-checking you are purchasing safe and sane fireworks. “We want to remind people to only buy safe and sane fireworks from the fireworks stands here in the Ada County,” Meridian Fire Marshall, Joe Bongiorno says. Although safe and sane fireworks are legal, they still have the potential to cause damage. “Those sparklers that kids like, the metal rod can burn up to over 1,000 degrees, so burns can happen quickly,” Bongirono says. The best place to use these fireworks and minimize potential damage is on the pavement.
KIVI-TV Today's 6 News Boise

Idaho Falls man arrested after reportedly fleeing burning house with propane torch

An Idaho Falls man was arrested early Monday morning after he was caught fleeing a house that had twice been set on fire. Jeremy Lee Baker, 18, had a propane torch in a backpack when he was stopped by an Idaho Falls Police Department officer. He denied starting a fire in the house. According to the probable cause affidavit, the Idaho Falls Fire Department had responded to 110 W, Elva St. around 7:45 p.m. Sunday. The patrol officer who arrested Baker had been patrolling the area due to the suspicious nature of the fire. The house was not occupied, and did not have electricity or gas. At around 1:45 a.m. Monday, the officer saw smoke coming from the house and responded. The affidavit states that as he approached the house he saw a man later identified as Baker inside.
Idaho State Journal

Idaho passes 6K, hits record for new COVID-19 cases in one day: 365

Idaho is reporting a total of 6,117 confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases. According to the state's COVID-19 website, there were 365 new cases on Tuesday; 341 new cases were confirmed and 24 were probable. That blew the previous record out of the water by over 100 new cases, set last week. The state has reported over 200 cases every day for the last several days. Ada County holds the most number of cases with a total of 2,169, which is 35% of the state's cases. Idaho has reported 92 virus-related deaths. The largest number of cases are among people ages 18-29 at 2,097 cases, which is 34% of the state's cases. Cases of hospitalization are at 330, with 116 of those cases being admitted to ICU. Healthcare workers account for 509 of those cases, which is about 8% of all cases.
KBOI-TV CBS 2 Idaho