Good morning, Lewiston.

Dye Hard Disaster Relief will host its second annual backpack drive on August 16 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Department of Social and Health Services in Clarkston + the drive will offer free school supplies to assist students and families ahead of the academic year.

A fire caused major damage to a duplex at 802 and 804 20th Street on July 30—firefighters fought the blaze for six hours, treated one civilian for smoke inhalation, and estimated damage at $400,000 while the cause remained under investigation.

A Lewiston woman running a daycare at a private home was charged with felony injury to a child after a former employee reported in February 2024 that a two-year-old was spanked hard enough to leave a red handprint and that staff were told to hide the injury by using an ice pack, with a preliminary hearing set for August 20.

The Annual Return to Riverside country music festival will take place in Potlatch on Saturday at Lions Club Park, with gates opening at 11:00 a.m. and tickets costing $35.

Dale Watson—known as the father of Ameripolitan country music and a 2022 headliner—is set to perform along with other acts as the event pays tribute to the old Riverside dance hall where legends once played.

A state official said nearly 60% of Idaho driver’s licenses and state ID cards are now REAL ID compliant Star Cards after increased demand ahead of TSA’s May 7 enforcement.

Lisa McClellan from the Idaho Transportation Department noted 921,000 Idahoans have chosen the Star Card—drivers can still use other approved IDs to meet federal requirements.

Starting August 11, contractors will block the north end of the Heller Bar boat ramp on the Washington side of the Snake River for construction; from August 18 to 20, the concrete ramp and part of the access area will be closed to remove a gravel bar that obstructs river traffic — rafters can load rafts at the gravel beach south of the ramp or use alternative launches such as Asotin Slough, Couse Creek access or Church Camp.