Month: April 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Pocatello Animal Services is bouncing back from a recent outbreak of Canine Parvovirus, which spread to four puppies and prompted the shelter to close for quarantine and cleaning on April 25.

Animal Services leaders say they were forced to euthanize the four infected puppies to stop the virus from spreading, but, after diligent testing and disinfection, the disease has been contained and the shelter reopened with increased precautions on April 25.

“We are actively monitoring all the rest of the puppies in our care, and all of the dogs in general,” said Sarah Moore of the Pocatello Animal Shelter. “We’re testing them with parvo SNAP tests daily, just to make sure that we’re on top of anyone who might start showing symptoms of it and keep them well-isolated.”

Animal Services is also limiting the number of volunteers allowed in the shelter until they are sure the disease has been completely suppressed–they said they hope to return to normal operations in the next week.

Now, Moore said, the problem comes in keeping the shelter animals from going stir-crazy as they’re sequestered to their kennels in an added precaution against causing a resurgence in parvovirus.

“They’re spending a lot more time in their kennels than usual, and a lot more than we would like,” said Moore. “We also are limiting how many toys we’re distributing amongst the dogs, because everything that goes into a dog’s kennel needs to get cleaned–it’s another point of possible contamination between one dog to another–so we’re really limiting how much the dogs are getting.”

Moore said the community can help quell the dogs’ boredom–the shelter is asking for donations of ‘chews’: items like bully sticks, beef cheek rolls, etc. which can provide a source of entertainment and also be eaten, eliminating the need for the toys to be disinfected and passed to other pets.

Donations of toys and chews will be accepted at the Pocatello Animal Shelter at 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs in Pocatello.

The shelter is also open for adoptions, with safety measures added to preserve the health of the shelter pets and visitors. For more information, you can contact the Pocatello Animal shelter by calling (208) 234-6156, or by visiting their website.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The State of Idaho and President Trump’s administration have signed an agreement that could have major impacts on the state and the future of nuclear energy in the nation.

According to recent news releases, the U.S. Department of Energy and state officials agreed to a targeted waiver of the 1995 Settlement Agreement, which established milestones to remove legacy waste at the Idaho National Lab site while allowing continued energy research and development at the lab.

The agreement limits the amount of spent nuclear fuel entering the Site to 55 metric tons and requires DOE to report annually on the amount received, according to the INL

The waiver will allow additional spent nuclear waste to be brought into the site for critical research on a high-burnup nuclear fuel cask from a commercial nuclear power plant. According to the INL, this research will provide data to support licensing for the extended storage of spent fuel at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states.

In a press release commenting on the agreement, Governor Brad Little supported the collaborative effort between the state and national partners. Gov. Little said the effort showcases the commitment to advancing nuclear energy research while upholding the goals of the original agreement.

“We are proud to support innovation in nuclear energy that will support national security and energy independence into the future,” Governor Brad Little said.

In the years since the original agreement, the state has made major strides to dig up and remove radioactive and hazardous waste buried for decades in unlined pits at an eastern Idaho nuclear facility that sits atop a giant aquifer.

According to the Idaho National Lab, modern commercial nuclear fuels are more efficient, lowering costs for utilities and customers. To ensure safe long-term storage, the nuclear industry and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission require performance data for nuclear fuel. This information is crucial for over 70% of dry storage facilities to renew their licenses and maintain safe storage.

The waiver enables INL to address a national need not envisioned when the Settlement Agreement was established three decades ago, while supporting the national commitment to energy independence, according to the INL.

The INL says this research will help sustain the current U.S. nuclear reactor fleet, which produces nearly 20% of the nation’s electricity, and reinforces Idaho’s critical role in supporting the U.S. nuclear industry.

“As the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, we look forward to utilizing our unique facilities and expertise to support this critical national need. We are thankful to the Department of Energy and the state of Idaho for entrusting us with the safe and secure execution of our vital mission,” INL Director John Wagner said.

For more information on the 1995 Settlement Agreement, click HERE.

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