Idaho Falls City Council approves 2026 budget

KIFI on September 1, 2025

News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls City Council has approved the city’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget, resulting in a balanced financial plan that outlines how public funds will be invested in essential services, infrastructure and community growth.

The City’s $389.6 million budget provides authority to fund all services and operations across 11 departments, from daily programs and staffing to major infrastructure and facility improvements. This budget sets the maximum spending limit, and supports essential services including public safety, utilities, the airport, library, parks and recreation and other resources residents rely on. About 16 percent of the budget, or $52 million comes from property taxes, while the remainder is covered by utilities, fees, grants, and other revenue sources. 

“This budget is more than numbers on a page—it is a roadmap for how we will meet the needs of today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” said Mayor Rebecca Casper. “We are committed to fiscal responsibility, supporting our workforce, and ensuring that city residents continue to receive the high-quality services they depend on.”

Key highlights of the approved budget include:

•    A strong emphasis on public safety, with funding to sustain 12 firefighter positions previously supported by a federal SAFER grant, ensuring emergency response levels are maintained even after federal dollars expire. The budget also provides resources for facilities and equipment upgrades to keep pace with a growing population. 

•    Pay and benefit adjustments across all departments to help the city recruit and retain employees in a highly competitive labor market. These investments strengthen Idaho Falls’ ability to reduce turnover and ensure residents are served by experienced, well-trained staff.

•    Investments in technology and infrastructure, with $111.4 million for capital projects across the city, including a major Idaho Falls Regional Airport terminal expansion, utility system upgrades, and facility improvements, along with the replacement of the city’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Together, these investments address current needs, improve efficiency, and position Idaho Falls for long-term growth and resilience.

The budget also reflects community priorities identified in the City Council’s strategic plan. These priorities support investments in power, fiber, water, sanitation, parks, etc. to ensure Idaho Falls continues to grow while meeting the needs residents value most. These plans are informed by the results of the National Community Survey conducted earlier this year. This comprehensive survey of residents was designed to gauge citizen satisfaction with city services and quality of life.

The budget was adopted on Aug. 28 following a public hearing held on Aug. 14, where residents were invited to provide input and feedback.

“Our goal is always to balance the city’s core responsibilities with creative vision for improvement and innovation,” Casper said.

The 2026 Budget Book, a comprehensive financial document that outlines the City’s planned revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, is now available online for residents to review. It offers a detailed look at how funds are allocated across city departments, upcoming capital projects, staffing investments and key initiatives that support Idaho Falls’ growth and quality of life.

View the 2026 Annual Budget Book https://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4593

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Idaho Falls Police, Anheuser-Busch team up for 9/11 memorial stair climb

KIFI on September 1, 2025

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — In a moving tribute to the heroes of 9/11 and our local first responders, the Idaho Falls Police Department and Anheuser-Busch are hosting their annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb from today through September 11.

Police, firefighters, and Anheuser-Busch employees will honor the 343 firefighters, 60 police officers, and 8 paramedics who lost their lives by climbing 2,071 steps—matching the 110 floors of the Twin Towers.

Donations from the event will support three vital local charities: the Chaplains of Idaho, the Greater Idaho Falls Police Foundation, and the Idaho Falls Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6 – Officer Wellness Fund.

To pledge your support or make a donation, click HERE.

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Freudenthal Hospice earns SHPBest ‘Superior Performer’ caregiver award

News-Press NOW on September 1, 2025

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A local hospice provider has been recognized by Strategic Healthcare Programs as a ‘Superior Performer.’

Freudenthal Hospice received an overall caregiver and family experience score that ranked in the top 20% of all eligible SHP clients for 2024.

The annual SHPBest award program was created to acknowledge hospice providers that consistently provide high-quality service to families and caregivers of patients receiving hospice care.

The 2024 recipients were determined by reviewing and ranking the overall CAHPS Hospice caregiver experience score for more than 1,800 hospice providers.

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Antique malls provide savings and nostalgia

News-Press NOW on September 1, 2025

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — For those looking to save money while having a nostalgic, hands-on shopping experience, antique malls are a popular destination.

Antique malls are a common part of the landscape in and around St. Joseph. Familiar shops like the Jesse James Antique Mall, Black Katt, Hunterland and the recently closed St. Joseph Auction and Antique Mart have served the community for decades.

Rose Mary Seuell, who retired in 2009 from a local company, went to work for an antique mall as a side job, and then decided to buy the shop that’s now known as Hunterland Antiques Downtown.

“We have around 50 booths here,” Seuell said. “A lot of them followed us from the other location when we moved downtown in 2019, and it is common for vendors to have booths in more than one antique mall.”

The vendors are the secret to these malls. They rent booths from the owners, maintain the booths, pay rent and then give a percentage (usually around 10%) of their sales to the owners.

The owners help oversee the booths in the big shop, but the vendors also help the owners in regard to customer service and maintenance.

“We like for them to keep their booths clean and to keep a consistent eye on their booths and their merchandise,” Seuell said. “We’re fortunate here, because our vendors work well together and they keep their booths spotless.”

One vendor, Richard Vanderhoef, said he started as a collector and specializes in antiques and older collectibles.

“I have been a vendor here since 2019, and I have four booths at Hunterland,” Vanderhoef said. “Right now, you can save a lot of money on items that are used, and that keeps things out of the landfill.”

Customers usually like the idea of saving money and of the nostalgia of recapturing the hands-on experience of shopping in person while supporting local businesses. This rings true for collector and antique mall customer Robert Mata.

“I think a lot of it reminds me of shopping with my dad as a kid and going to garage sales,” Mata said. “I think supporting local businesses is great, and having places like this where you can walk in and touch the items and even see some of the history of the area in the items available is great for the community.”

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KRDO13 takes a dive with professional high diver on final day of state fair

KRDO on September 1, 2025

Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Watch KRDO13’s Bradley Davis follow up a superb professional diver with a less-than-perfect one of his own in the chill morning hours before the final day of the state fair.

Professional diver JaRon Williams is part of the All American High Dive show performing at the state fair. It’s his first time performing in about three years, but the time off didn’t stop him from spending a couple of hours with KRDO 13 showing off his moves ahead of the fair’s final day.

“My favorite part is probably when the high diver pops out of the water, and he gets the relief from the crowd that he’s okay, and they’re super excited that he successfully made it through the dive,” Williams said.

The fair opens at 11 a.m. with “Sensory Friendly Day,” with sensory-friendly hours from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with smaller crowds, quieter sounds, and dimmer lights.

The All-American High Dive Show has performances during both sensory and standard hours. You can catch shows at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m.

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Construction mishap leads to building fire in Yuma

KYMA on September 1, 2025

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A construction mishap led to a power outage and a building fire in Yuma.

Around 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the Yuma Fire Department responded to Arizona Avenue near 20th Street after reports of downed power lines.

Upon arrival, crews discovered that an excavator had accidentally struck a power line, damaging both the line and a nearby power pole, causing a temporary outage in the area.

The situation then escalated.

While on scene, crews located flames in a nearby building but were able to quickly put them out.

Investigators confirmed the fire was caused by the severed and still-energized power line.

No injuries were reported.

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Group of dedicated volunteers continue to help endangered wildlife

KYMA on September 1, 2025

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A group of dedicated volunteers from Yuma is steadily working to help wildlife amid the ongoing drought.

We shared how they’re donating their time to help keep our desert habitats alive.

Nearly every day, the volunteer group from Yuma hauls truckloads of water across the desert, bringing relief to wildlife facing increasing threats from extreme dry conditions.

Yosie Hyink, an Officer for the AZ Game & Fish Department, said, “Our region here around Yuma has been in a state of extreme drought. As a result, our wildlife are suffering because habitat conditions are so poor.”

The team refills water catchments for animals like deer, bighorn sheep, and raptors.

Volunteer Cosimo Ingrande shares, “Hauling water and seeing the animals actually go and drink the water, it makes all the effort worthwhile.”

Volunteer Doug Beach says it’s hard work but it’s absolutely necessary.

“We’re definitely making a difference. To survive in the desert for animals whether it’s birds, deer, mice, sheep, or anything, it’s very difficult for them to survive and water is a key component,” Beach shared.

But hauling thousands of gallons of water deep into the desert isn’t a one-person job.

“It just comes down to we need a lot of help down here. It really does. Anyone who loves the outdoors, just come down, we could use the help,” Ingrande explains.

It’s also costly.

Many of the water catchments are located far off-road, and getting to them falls on the department’s budget which isn’t funded by general tax dollars.

If you’d like to help donate water, click here.

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Yuma locals plan for Labor Day travel

KYMA on September 1, 2025

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Labor Day is coming up on September 1 and locals are planning their travels.

Labor Day weekend is considered one of the busiest periods for travelers.

Hotels, car rentals and airplanes tend to be cheaper around this time, leading to crowding in airports and highways.

Many celebrate the national holiday that honors the dedication of American workers by traveling to spend time with their loved ones.

As Labor Day approaches, many locals are heading in and out of Yuma to spend quality time with their family and friends. The gas stations are seeing lower prices this Labor Day weekend.

“In Arizona, they’re a lot better than California. That’s where were headed,” says Bob Sprigs, a Yuma local who was on his way out for the holiday, and was taking advantage of the gas prices here in Yuma.

Gas prices in Yuma are lower than this time last year. According to AAA, prices are 40 cents cheaper.

Locals share where they’re traveling and what the holiday weekend means to them.

“Yeah with family, do a barbecue on Labor Day,” says Paul Pacheco, Yuma local.

For locals like Pacheco, Labor Day is more than just a day off, its a day of recognition.

“It celebrates the workers, working people, I’ve been a union worker in the past so, it is kind of an important holiday for me,” says Pacheco.

Other locals express gratitude for people who work, with Juan Villalobos stating, “I’m glad to all those hard working people that do really tough jobs for all of us.”

Remember to travel safely and enjoy the day off whether your spending time with family and friends or just sitting at home.

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New Athletic Band ready to rock MoWest sports

News-Press NOW on September 1, 2025

Kyle Schmidt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A new sound will be heard on Missouri Western State University’s campus.

The marching and pep band moved into the athletics department and will be led by first-year hire Adrian Lowry.

“The idea being that we’re going to reform it, we’re going to grow it, and if we get back to the point where we can have a marching band that’s respectable and big enough, to make a significant impact, then we’ll do it,” Lowry said. “We’re just not there right now, we don’t have enough people to do that and to do it correctly, and that’s our goal.”

Already, the group has nearly doubled, with 40 members coming from all over. The band allows students, faculty, staff and even community members to join.

“I remember how big the marching band used to be, watching from the stadium club in elementary school… To see it drop to what it had was frustrating,” drummer for the rock group Tucker Holden said. “So when they had this idea to bring it under athletics and to revitalize it and to build something new to start with a clean slate rather than disband it entirely, you can never be mad about a second chance at life.”

Currently, Lowry said the team has around 85 performance opportunities, which include every sport at MoWest besides golf and tennis.

“Normally, marching bands in college play on the high end 15 or 20 times,” Lowry said. “Basketball pep bands play a little more, but nobody plays 85, and you still have all of three sports to add.”

MoWest’s spring athletic schedule is not finalized yet, but Lowry said the performance total will go up to over 100 once the schedule is released. The group will also perform at campus events, community events and Downtown.

Athletic Bands is an umbrella for many smaller ensembles. The rock group has rotating players filling in each instrument needed. The unique part about the group is student athletes can join as well.

“Music after high school doesn’t have to be just for music majors, and that’s what we’re trying to go for here,” Lowry said. “Give people that opportunity to make music at a high level in front of crowds and crowds of people.”

Captain of Athletic Bands and trumpet player Hanna Summers bought into Lowry’s mission within minutes.

“After I had that first phone call with Adrian, I was locked in,” Summers said. “He pitched it in such an excellent way and I was just really looking forward to it.”

Summers felt the open arms from the athletic department, feeling the athletes have embraced this new idea, saying, “It feels like we’re inside the family now.”

Lowry’s short-term goal is to put out a product that people can be proud of and to surprise people.

Long term, he wants to continue to build the program, gather more people, more equipment and more performance opportunities.

“We do want to bring in people from other places, but we also want to keep the ones we have here,” Lowry said. “If we can provide something that nobody else provides, regionally that I know of, no one else is providing this opportunity.”

To sign up, visit the Athletic Bands website and click the register tab.

“It’s going to allow for something that Missouri Western’s never seen before, and a lot of other colleges have never seen before,” Holden said. “I wouldn’t be shocked if we execute this correctly; other schools are going to start taking notice and they’re going to start doing what we’re doing now.”

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Graves presents medals to WWII Veteran’s family

News-Press NOW on September 1, 2025

News-Press NOW

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Congressman Sam Graves presented military recovered service medals to the family of a Northwest Missouri veteran.

U.S. Rep. Graves, R-Mo., presented the medals to the family of William Edgar Taul for his role in WWII.

Taul served in the Army beginning in 1944. His military service records were lost in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis in 1973. However, Graves was able to obtain several medals for his service.

“I’m grateful for all of our veterans in North Missouri,” said Graves. “It’s an honor to be able to present these medals to Mr. Taul’s family so they can always remember his service to our nation.”

The medals consisted of the Bronze Star Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge 1st Award and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.

Taul’s grandson, Ryan Wright and Taul’s daughter and son-in-law, Peggy and Barry Boulware, were presented the awards.

Veterans or their family members are encouraged to reach out to Graves’ office if they are trying to obtain earned service medals.

Grave’s office is also available to assist in accessing Veterans Affairs benefits.

Those in need of assistance are encouraged to call 816-792-3976.

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