Month: August 2026

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Gas prices are officially a dollar higher than last year at an average cost of $4.49 a gallon across the Gem State.

Only 17 states saw a price increase this week. Despite being one of the seventeen states that went up, Idaho’s ranking fell a rank, from 7th down to 8th for the most expensive fuel in the country.

“The market is under a lot of pressure right now. Upward pressure. And that’s going to move prices higher at least in the short term,” Matthew Conde, the Public and Government Affairs Director for AAA, said. “There are no immediate signs that we’re going to change course right now. Unfortunately, we’re on this pattern. We saw a seven-cent jump last week. We saw another one this week. So continuing to move on that upward trend.

Gas prices continuing this upward trend could put a strain on travelers; however, AAA believes there won’t be much strain for long. The American Automobile Association (AAA) found people will not travel as frequently or as far once summer comes to a close.

“The kids are back in school. The weather starts to get a little bit rougher,” Conde said. “People start reducing their long trips to more of like weekend getaways that are closer. So if demand starts to go down, that could provide a little bit of a relief.”

Even if there is a decrease in demand, crude oil prices remain high. The cost of a barrel of crude oil is $85 a barrel, which is $20 more than a year ago.

Idaho’s gas prices have been among the highest in the country, mainly due to distribution.

“We’re often in the top ten here in Idaho,” Conde said. “A lot of it has to do with how our distribution is spread out across the West, and so it takes a little bit longer for a tanker truck to get to some of the places in the West than it might in the East.”

The prices may be high, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your weekend getaway. AAA has a few tips to help save some money on your trips.

“It’s miserable for everybody,” Conde stated. “But you know, one of the things that we always say is try to think like a delivery driver. Make sure you’re bundling your trips wherever possible and avoid that traffic congestion as much as you can. And then from a practical standpoint, make sure those tires are properly inflated and that you don’t have anything heavy in the back of your vehicle that you don’t need.”

Although the future costs of gas prices remain uncertain, we will continue to monitor them and keep you informed on how to save some much-needed gas mileage.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Paul Baker, the former CEO of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, publicly denounced allegations Monday by a local podcast about his actions and financial management at the Chamber.

In a statement released through his attorney, John Malek, Baker “denied these allegations and any suggestion of financial wrongdoing or other misconduct,” calling recent claims made on the IFAF Podcast “false and defamatory.”

Baker stepped down from his position as CEO in July after public scrutiny regarding his ties to Cristie Stone. Stone, the former Portneuf Valley Soccer Club president, was charged in June with felony grand theft following an internal audit that uncovered financial irregularities.

On recent episodes of the IFAF Podcast, hosts Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan openly speculated about Baker’s potential involvement with the soccer club’s finances, his relationship with Stone, and his oversight of Chamber funds.

According to Malek, Baker initially held back from taking public action to protect the Chamber’s standing.

“[Baker] exercised restraint in an effort to protect the important work and reputation of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and to avoid unnecessarily escalating an ongoing public dispute,” states Malek.

However, according to Malek, the “false and defamatory” allegations have continued. Baker is now calling for a full retraction, a public apology, and a formal correction from the podcast hosts.

In response to an email from Local News 8, IFAF Podcast and its hosts Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan provided a statement categorically denying any wrongdoing.

“Despite repeatedly calling our reporting and commentary ‘false and defamatory,’ Mr. Baker has yet to identify a single actual statement made on IFAF that is false, much less defamatory,” state Nelson and Morgan. “Nor has he addressed the substantive concerns that have been raised. Instead, he has chosen to attack the people raising them.”

The hosts added that if Baker believes specific details were reported incorrectly, he is welcome to provide facts to correct them. “Until then, we will not be intimidated by vague legal threats or deterred from speaking about matters of legitimate public interest,” the statement read.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors released a statement in July that “to date, the Board has not found any evidence that Chamber funds have been misappropriated.” The Chamber’s finances are currently undergoing an independent audit by the accounting firm WIPFLI.

Baker’s attorney said his client appreciates those in the community who have extended him support and is looking at available legal remedies to respond to the attacks.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Local News 8 has reached out to both Malek and the hosts of the IFAF Podcast for comment, and will provide further updates and coverage as they respond.

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 22-year-old man charged with second-degree murder made his first court appearance Monday following a fatal Sunday afternoon shooting in Rigby. Prosecutors revealed during the hearing that the suspect, Tristin John Chase, was allegedly holding a two-year-old child in his arms when the shots were fired.

Chase faces the felony charge in connection with the death of 43-year-old Rafael Valles of Cedar Creek, Texas. During the arraignment, Judge Faren Eddins set Chase’s bond at $750,000.

According to court documents, officers with the Rigby Police Department responded to a report of shots fired involving two men on Ashlyn Way shortly after noon on Sunday.

As police arrived at the scene, an officer found a woman holding a child and crying loudly, while another woman attempted to perform CPR on Valles. Noting blood pooling from under Valles’ neck, the officer immediately took over life-saving measures. However, the officer was unable to locate a pulse and found Valles was not breathing.

“Though additional life-saving measures were provided…Valles passed away at the scene,” states the release from the Rigby Police.

Witnesses inside the residence told police they saw Chase shoot Valles before running into a nearby parking lot with the gun. The department alerted neighboring agencies and initiated a search for the suspect.

The probable cause affidavit paints a picture of the events leading up to the fatal encounter. Court records show officers reviewed text exchanges from earlier that morning between Chase and his Ex.

Around 10:02 a.m., the woman had texted Chase accusing him of forcing himself on her the night before and stating, “I’m going to the cops for a restraining order and to tell them… I want you out of my life,” according to court documents.

According to court records, the child’s grandmother told police Chase had allegedly “forced” his way into the home the night before and made her daughter, his child’s mother, go to dinner with him. The woman told police there were times Chase had “forced himself” on his Ex.

Another text message from 10:27 a.m. shows Chase demanding Valles’ phone number and threatening violence, writing: “I’m gonna make sure this fool n its pain,” and threatening to go to Valles’ Airbnb and “shoot it up.”

The grandmother told investigators that Valles had come to the residence after being unable to reach her daughter for two hours. She told police an argument broke out outside and moved indoors.

According to court documents and Ring doorbell footage timestamped at 11:57 a.m., Chase entered the home carrying his toddler daughter in his left arm and pulled a handgun from his waistband. Valles followed closely behind, kicking the door open as he entered.

The women told police Valles attempted to grab the handgun to protect the people in the home. Two shots were fired shortly after. The grandmother immediately grabbed the child from Chase’s arms and confronted him before Chase ran on foot. Audio from the Ring camera captured screams of “Call 911!” and a woman shouting, “Mom, he’s dead!”

While fleeing the scene, Chase called one of the women at the residence. According to court documents, an officer took over the phone to negotiate his surrender.

During the recorded call, Chase appeared panicked, stating he was “freaking out,” driving around to catch his breath, and considering ending his own life to avoid prison.

Chase claimed to police that Rafael had aggressively approached him while he was holding his daughter, kicked the door open, and tried to hit him. He admitted to discharging the weapon but claimed it was an accident or self-defense.

“I didn’t even (explicative) mean to shoot, I don’t even know how my gun shot,” Chase told the officer, adding, “It was not my fault that it happened.” Afterwards, Chase fell silent before briefly hanging up and calling back.

Officers eventually persuaded Chase to return to town, where he was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop near the 300 block of West 1st South in Rigby, just before 1 p.m.

“This is a very active, ongoing investigation and further details may be released at a later time,” the Rigby Police Department said in a press release. “Our condolences go out to Mr. Valles’ family and loved ones.”

Chase is currently being held at the Jefferson County Jail awaiting his next court appearance on Sept. 3.

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. Local News 8 will continue to provide updates throughout the afternoon.