Month: April 2026

Hadley Bodell

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Former City Treasurer of American Falls, Deana England, has been arrested for grand theft with a total of $278,057.98 lost in city money.

England was originally hired by the City of American Falls as City Clerk in May 2019. She was later appointed to City Treasurer in February of last year. England was in charge of collecting utility payments for water, sewage, and garbage at City Hall.

According to court documents, she was terminated from her position on November 17, 2025. Earlier that month, city officials were informed of potential discrepancies involving payments at a multi-unit apartment complex.

Court documents say the investigation found payments were made in full with adjustments for vacancies at the complex. While deposits reflected the total number of checks, there were portions of money missing.

The investigation determined England was responsible for making identical monthly adjustments since July 5, 2023. The total documented loss identified was over 275 thousand dollars.

England entered the vacancy adjustments, generating the memos and adjusting the deposit records. The pattern of each monthly transaction showed consistent cash shortages. During an interview with a power county peace officer, England allegedly admitted to falsifying the vacancies. Court documents reveal she claimed to have used the money for her personal medical expenses and never paid it back.

At this time, Power County officials say no other city employee assisted her in committing grand theft.

England’s arrangement has been scheduled for May 8th, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

A criminal charge is an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Par Kermani

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI)— Skyline High School remains shuttered on Friday as the Idaho Falls School District 91 awaits final safety certification following a cooling system failure that released foul odors and raised health concerns. As of Friday night, the school district said a decision regarding school on Monday has not yet been made.

District 91 Awaits Safety Sign-Off

The closure has forced D91 to reschedule or relocate school events, including tonight’s United Prom, which has been moved to Eagle Rock Middle School.

According to D91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange, this morning, an industrial hygienist conducted a preliminary walkthrough of the building, which determined that air quality readings were within recommended levels while the air systems were disabled. During the closure, they replaced all air filters and turned on general ventilation; however, the air conditioning system remains completely disabled.

Superintendent LaOrange emphasized that the building will remain off-limits to students and stall until D91 receives a written certification that the building is safe.

“The safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are continuing to closely follow the recommendations of the hygienist as we move forward. We are grateful for their expertise and the work of the D91 Maintenance team,” said LaOrange.

Before the school’s water tank was drained and dried, samples of stagnant cooling water were collected for testing. The district expects those results by the end of next week. In the meantime, the administration is calculating lost instructional hours and working with staff to determine if the academic calendar must be adjusted.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 24 APR 26 14:47 ET

By KIVI Staff

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    BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — A married Boise couple who wrote a manifesto that included a “kill list” have been found guilty by an Ada County jury of a combined 122 counts of stalking, witness intimidation, and threats involving multiple victims.

According to the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office, 43-year-old Daniel Harms and 39-year-old Lynn Harms sent an email to thousands of recipients that included a 277-page manifesto, which they referred to as a “kill list.” In the document, the couple calls for killing several persons, including members of Table Rock Church, a church that the Harms previously attended. The documents also called for the deaths of police officers and public officials.

The document included a direct command to its recipients that states: “Go. Hunt. Kill.” followed by the names and addresses of the targeted individuals.

The manifesto was also posted on various social media platforms.

Twenty of those named in the manifesto obtained civil protection orders. However, those orders were repeatedly ignored. The couple is said to have sent certified mail to the victims following the orders and continued to post the manifesto to social media.

In court, 20 victims testified to that harassment, saying it resulted in psychological and emotional harm.

“This case involved repeated, deliberate, malicious threats by the defendants that had more than 20 victims fearing for their lives,” said Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennetts. “The jury’s verdict reflects the seriousness of that conduct and the impact it had on the victims involved. Protections for victims exist for a reason, and violations of them will be prosecuted.”

Daniel and Lynn Harms represented themselves throughout the case.

Ada County Judge Cynthia Yee-Wallace revoked bail for the couple and has ordered psychological evaluations.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 20. The defendants face up to more than 200 years in prison. They are being held in Ada County Jail.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 24 APR 26 14:36 ET

By Lorien Nettleton

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    TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIVI) — The breakneck pace of growth in Southern Idaho has seen more and more open spaces transform into subdivisions, but one couple has a different vision for the future of their land.

Melody and Charlie Lenkner, who have owned a 330-acre property south of Twin Falls since the 1980s, chose to donate their land to the Magic Valley Land Trust rather than sell it to developers.

The parcel, located at the base of the South Hills, will become the Cottonwood Canyon Nature Preserve.

“Several developers have approached us to buy it because they’re purchasing land all around it. We [realized] would be rolling over in our graves if we saw that… if we heard in our little graveyard that it turned into a development,” said a laughing Melody Lenkner.

“It’s really a way of keeping a little piece of what used to be,” added Melody.

The property is covered in sagebrush, with Cottonwood Creek forming a canyon and a pond through the center of it all.

The couple wanted the land preserved as a place where the public could gently interact with wildlife.

“And I guess in the back of our minds, we have that as an idea. So bless the land trust, that they have taken that responsibility on,” Melody Lenkner said.

Charlie Lenkner seconded the sentiment, saying, “It’s like a godsend as far as our aspirations.”

Karl Ruprecht, a board president of the Magic Valley Land Trust, has visited the property the past couple of years to prepare the land for its future as a preserve.

“And really, what we found— it’s a nice oasis in the desert,” explained Ruprecht. “It attracts a surprising amount of wildlife.”

“Lots of mule deer, coyotes, badger, river otter, wood rats, kangaroo rats, two kinds of skunks, porcupine— they’re a pretty big variety of stuff is out here— so that’s really neat,” Ruprecht said.

The Magic Valley Land Trust has helped landowners secure conservation easements on 15 properties, mostly farming properties with scenic or historic value, to protect them from being developed into subdivisions. However, the Cottonwood Canyon Nature Preserve will be different.

“We are going to own and manage it with public access so the people of the Magic Valley can enjoy it indefinitely,” added Ruprecht.

“My whole life growing up there in southern Idaho, I have gotten so much benefit from— you know— the canyons, the parks in the canyons, and the public land,” Ruprecht said.

“The Magic Valley is growing so quickly right now, and there are a lot of wonderful things that come with that,” said Ruprecht. “We want people to live here and have great places to live, but it’s also important to preserve a few of the special places. And they’re going to become more and more valuable as the population grows.”

A few things need to get ready before the preserve can open to the public, including parking and gates. Ruprecht expects it to be open to the public within a year. “It’s just going to be a quiet, peaceful place to walk on trails and observe wildlife.”

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Seth Ratliff

UTAH (KIFI) — After a while, even a crocodile needs a check-up. For Bill, a 61-year-old Siamese crocodile at Utah’s Hogle Zoo, a recent trip to the doctor was one appointment he couldn’t swim away from.

In early 2025, herpetology experts noticed a concerning change in Bill’s health. The nearly 400-pound reptile was experiencing a decreased appetite, noticeable weight loss, and unusual abdominal bloating.

Concerned for their resident senior reptile, the Hogle Zoo team mobilized for a massive undertaking: transporting the large, armored predator to the University of Utah Health for advanced diagnostic imaging.

According to a Facebook post by Zoo staff, moving a senior crocodile is no small feat.

“Pursuing a transport and CT scan required a significant, highly coordinated effort, calling for expertise across the zoo and carrying inherent risks, particularly for an aging animal like Bill,” the zoo shared in a recent update.

To ensure his safety, Bill’s care team spent weeks practicing a detailed plan. On the day of the move, it took a team of over 20 people using specialized tools to safely restrain Bill, focusing on controlling his powerful head and body. He was given a mild sedative to keep him calm during the commute.

Courtesy: Utah’s Hogle Zoo Facebook

Once at the University of Utah radiology department, Bill became perhaps the most unusual patient of the year. Under the leadership of Dr. Edward Quigley, professor of radiology, the team performed a full-body CT scan.

According to Zoo staff, the scan revealed several gastroliths—stones located in Bill’s stomach.

“Crocodilians naturally swallow stones, both in their natural habitat and in human care, to help with digestion,” explains the post. “Given Bill’s age and current condition, the team is thoughtfully weighing the pros and cons of a stone-removal procedure, with decisions guided by his overall well-being and quality of life.”

For now, Bill is back at the zoo, and staff says he is recovering well from the excitement. He has been reunited with his habitat mate, Hillary, in the Small Animal Building, where guests can once again visit one of Utah’s most resilient senior residents.

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