Author: KIFI

News Team

The following is a new release from the Idaho Department of Corrections

KUNA, Idaho – On Saturday, January 17, 2026, an IMSI staff member, a 56-year-old corporal, was brutally assaulted by inmate Robert David Pompa. The staff member was transported to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center, where they remain hospitalized in stable condition. 

IMSI staff immediately secured the crime scene with assistance from officers from the Idaho State Correctional Institution and the Idaho State Correctional Center. The IMSI facility returned to normal status earlier today. 

Pompa is currently serving time at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution on charges of murder and battery on a correctional officer or jailer out of Madison County and burglary, aggravated battery, and unlawful discharge of a weapon out of Bannock County. Idaho State Police is investigating the incident. 

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Danielle Mullenix

Residents of Eastern Idaho can expect more patches of fog during the early mornings over the next few days. Light winds will flow through parts of the Snake River Plain and upper valleys. By the end of the week, we anticipate some changes as precipitation gradually returns to Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Additionally, a ridge of high pressure remains over the region, prolonging the air stagnation advisory into the early part of the week.

AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TUESDAY:

* WHAT…Stagnant conditions will persist due to little verticalmixing and light winds. Degraded air quality is expected throughthe early part of this week as pollutants remain trapped nearthe surface.

* WHERE…Franklin/Eastern Oneida Region and Lower Snake River Plain.

* WHEN…Until noon MST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Periods of air stagnation have led to the buildup ofpollutants near the surface. If possible, reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning and the use of residential wood-burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Check with local agencies for possible restrictions in your area.

Some dry weather and light winds are expected to continue through the middle part of next week, and we’re still looking at some warm days with cold nights across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Sunshine will be taking the forefront of our radar this Sunday afternoon, as well as Monday and Tuesday. Sunday’s forecast also calls for clear skies and high temperatures in the lower 40s in some valleys. There is a possibility of snow and wet weather returning to our area by late next week.

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Hadley Bodell

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – Over one thousand people in the community of Ammon gathered at McCowin Park for the 6th annual “Icy Inferno” where the fire department sets a massive pile of used Christmas trees from the past holiday on fire.

This year had the largest pile of Christmas trees yet, with over 500 trees burnt tonight. They were dropped off throughout the week at the McCowin Park. This year also included the largest firework show following the bonfire lighting. Almost two thousand people crowded into the park to feel the warmth of the bonfire, enjoy some good food and watch the fireworks.

Guests enjoyed many vendors offering food, hot drinks and treats. There were also raffles put on by many vendors, led by name sponsor Lookout Credit Union.

MC for the event and radio host Shaggy said, “Here is the biggest bonfire you’ve ever seen in your life, it is a ton of fun. And if that wasn’t enough, fireworks on top of that! To have a great bonfire and fireworks in the city of Ammon here in McCowin Park, what more could you want?”

Ammon Parks and Rec worked with the City of Ammon to put on the anticipated event. “It’s a cold night in the middle of January, post holidays and we kind of just get to have some fun and get together and have a good time,” said Randall Miller, Director of Ammon Parks and Rec.

The Ammon Fire Department made sure everyone kept a safe distance from the fire, and that it was both lit and put out safely.

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Danielle Mullenix

Eastern Idaho (KIFI) – Get ready for an adventure next week as award-winning Idaho filmmaker Dusty Hulet brings his riveting documentary “Bears of Durango” to screens across eastern Idaho. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience the wild drama of human-bear encounters and the quest for conservation, all through Hulet’s captivating lens.

Dusty Hulet set out to uncover the reality of what happens when wildlife and expanding communities intersect. His documentary, featured over 800 times on PBS, takes viewers deep into the mountains of Southwest Colorado to witness this dynamic firsthand.

Dusty Hulet, “Bears of Durango” Filmmaker

His nature documentary, “Bears of Durango,” explores the real-life relationship between people, researchers, and black bears in southwest Colorado. The film provides an inside look at the challenges and discoveries faced by scientists and locals as they navigate coexistence with these formidable animals.

It all started in 2011, when Colorado Parks and Wildlife set out on a groundbreaking scientific adventure to uncover why encounters between people and black bears were skyrocketing. Spearheaded by the passionate Dr. Heather Johnson, a team of dedicated wildlife researchers spent six thrilling years trekking rugged terrain, tracking bears, and unraveling the mysteries behind these escalating confrontations—all against the backdrop of Colorado’s rapidly changing landscapes.

“Bears of Durango” will screen at the Paramount Theatre in Idaho Falls this upcoming Wednesday, with additional showings in Ashton and Island Park on the 22nd and 23rd. The screenings highlight Hulet’s commitment to fostering community conversations about wildlife and land use.

To register for tickets to a screening and learn more about “Bears of Durango”, visit their official website here.

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David Pace

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea speaks with Local News 8.

BOISE, Idaho – As the Idaho Legislature kicks off for 2026, Local News 8 is interviewing the Idaho Democratic and Republican Party Chairs about their top priorities this session.

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea outlined some of the Democrat party’s goals and reacted to Governor Brad Little’s State of the State address in an interview on Friday.

“Idaho Democrats are very concerned about what we’re seeing happen with the budget and the expressed priorities,” she said. “There is a big hole in our budget because of deep revenue cuts that were made last year. And instead of, you know, patching those holes, it seems that the Republicans supermajority seems to want to roll ahead with a budget that cuts critical services.”

She cited $450 million of “permanent revenue cuts” passed in 2025 by the Republican supermajority.

“This includes a $50 million voucher scheme that is going to send dollars out the door with zero accountability to subsidize tuition at private, religious, and for-profit schools,” Necochea said. “At the same time that we have a $100 million funding gap for special education in your local neighborhood school. So it’s just not affordable.”

Necochea also listed recently discarded mental health treatment programs and cuts to therapy for children with disabilities among her chief concerns.

“These are just really crucial things that are not really optional if we’re going to have a society where everyone has a chance to succeed,” she said.

Necochea said Democrats are gearing up for a major battle to protect Medicaid expansion in the state.

“Medicaid expansion is the best investment in our budget because we put in $1 and then we get to draw down at $9, and that means we get to cover 90,000 people in Idaho who face low wages but don’t have jobs that offer health coverage,” she said.

The Idaho Democratic Chair said her party is fighting to bring down the cost of living.

“We want families who put in the work to be able to pay their utility bills, put a roof over their head and make sure their neighborhood school is strong, and it’s going to make sure that their kids are going to be set up to do the same for the next generation,” she said.

Local News 8 will continue our coverage of the 2026 Legislative session.

We are reaching out to hear from Idaho Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon next week.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration earlier this morning. This year’s celebration was a brunch in the student union building at Idaho State University.

The program included guest speakers like Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist. The guests enjoyed a breakfast buffet following the program honoring Dr. King’s legacy.

There was also a reading of the joint proclamation between the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck, announcing that next week has been named “Martin Luther King Jr. Week” and activities will continue throughout the holiday week.

Mayor Dahlquist told us it’s important the community honor his legacy. “He had so many wonderful ways for going about promoting justice and we need that in our communities today,” he said. “He promoted community activeness and serving the community and as Mayor of Pocatello, that’s something I can try to promote with our public.”

Dahlquist also said that in order to have a welcoming community, everyone needs to take part in caring for their neighbors and focusing on kindness.

“We all need to be united,” Dahlquist said. “I am the mayor for all and today is a symbol of that being the utmost important for a leader to carry out and act upon.”

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Hadley Bodell

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A small group of the Young Democrats of Bonneville protested on the Broadway Bridge today. Their signs read anti-war slogans as well as those claiming the Trump Administration is not helping those in economic distress.

One protester explained why the group gathered today, saying, “We’re out here against all those wars. We don’t want to have World War III. We feel that Trump’s actions are very reckless and he’s not doing the people any favors.”

“People are struggling in this economy right now, and we’re asking for that money to be brought to the polls instead of just trying to fight these endless wars,” he said.

Many protesters had signs reading against dictatorship, one read “Rejecting Kings Since 1776.” Today’s protest in Idaho Falls is one of many that have occured across the US over the past several weeks.

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Linda Larsen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The man convicted of second-degree murder for the 2024 fatal beating of Alejandro Parades Hutardo is the subject of a newly released video obtained exclusively by Local News 8.

Robert Wyatt Lange was sentenced to 55 years in jail with the possibility of parole after 20 years by District Judge Brendon Taylor.

In today’s sentencing, Lange addressed the court, saying, “Sorry for what happened to Mr. Hurtado. I don’t know. I had no intention of killing him in that physical confrontation. I take responsibility for it. I had no intentions of killing him. That’s all.”

The video, obtained from a public records request through Bonneville County, shows a 2025 fighting incident between convicted murderer Robert Lange and another man in the Bonneville County jail in June 2025.

This was months before Lange’s conviction in October 2025. He was found guilty for the death of Alejandro Parades Hurtado following a four-day jury trial.

The conviction stems from an aggravated battery that occurred on the evening of October 19, 2024. According to the initial police release, Alejandro Parades Hurtado was found brutally beaten with severe injuries on a sidewalk along the west side of Northgate Mile near the intersection with May Street. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.

The video was mentioned at Lange’s sentencing today, January 16th. The prosecution attempted to play the video, but technical difficulties prevented it. Local News 8 reached out to Bonneville County with a records request for the video after the sentencing.

Bonnville County Prosecutor Randy Neal spoke at Lange’s sentencing today, indicating through the video evidence that Lange’s violence did not stop once he was incarcerated. Neal said, “Robert Lange has an uncontrollable anger that potentially leads to violence, even to strangers, and he will therefore be a threat to the community for the remainder of his life, especially when he cannot recognize that what he has done is very wrong.”

Lange will serve 20 years of his sentence in the Idaho State Correctional Institution before he will be eligible for parole.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – For lots of people in the area, skiing and snowboarding are their favorite sports. For others, thanks to new technology and a group of dedicated volunteers, they’re an opportunity to forget about their disability and try something that wasn’t possible before.

Portneuf Valley Adaptive Sports (PVAS) is a new program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and empowering individuals with disabilities. They provide year-round outdoor adaptive recreational activities like biking, horseback riding, paddling, and snow sports.

Director of the Ski School, David Kriner, was approached by Barrie Hunt of Barrie’s Ski and Sports when a previous program which provided these opportunities closed its doors. They knew they had to do something. Kriner is a long-time ski instructor and advocate for adaptive sports, which made him the perfect person to help start PVAS in Pocatello.

The program is run entirely by volunteers, who were trained this week to use the specialized ski equipment. All kinds of equipment is utilized by the ski instructors depending on the students’ disability. The equipment was donated by Barrie’s and Idaho State University to help get the program underway as it celebrates its first ski season at Pebble Creek Ski Area.

“We all have a passion for skiing,” said Kriner. “And there is nothing better than sharing that passion with someone.”

For the volunteer instructors, it’s about more than teaching someone to ski.

“It’s about what I get back from the participants that come up here, a lot of them have never done anything like this before, it was never going to happen in their life,” said Frank Holden, a volunteer. “Just to see the excitement on their face and for their parents to see their kids do this, it’s amazing.”

The volunteers of PVAS are committed to giving everyone an opportunity to ski this season. As Kriner said, “People with disabilities are just people, and we don’t treat them different than we would treat anybody else.”

Kriner explained the importance of this program through stories of children he has helped to discover their passion on the ski hill.

“We had a boy come to us at eight years old who was hit by a bus as a pedestrian and paralyzed,” said Kriner. “We call it ‘forearm skiing’ so he has forearm crutches with skis on the bottom and skis on his feet. He kept training and eventually went to the Olympics. He medaled broze and silver.”

The PVAS knows that miracles can happen after injury. They’ve helped individuals who have gone on to hike to the Mount Everest Base camp in their wheelchairs, go to college, summitted the tallest mountains in the US and even win Olympic medals.

The ski instructors will evaluate each student for their abilities before choosing the correct equipment and beginning the lessons.

“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” Kriner said. “We’re officially up and going and it’s amazing the people that have come forward to help.”

Everyone is encouraged to donate to the program if possible so it can continue providing unforgettable experiences for members of the community. Kriner and his team hope to purchase more equipment and continue their mission for years to come.

PVAS is also aided by Pebble Creek Ski Patrol, who accommodates the equipment on the ski lifts and makes room for the lessons on the mountain.

The ski lessons at Pebble Creek are available for anyone with a disability, whether it’s cognitive or physical. If you’d like to volunteer for the program or sign up for a lesson, you can visit pvadaptivesports.org.

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News Team

FORT HALL, Idaho — Amid growing concerns over recent ICE operations in Southeast Idaho, Shoshone-Bannock tribal leadership is advising all members to carry valid tribal identification with them at all times.

The urgent statement from the Shoshone Bannock Tribe’s Business Council comes after confirmed ICE enforcement activities in Idaho Falls. However, leaders also said the sighting is expected due to an ICE field office in Idaho Falls, and said the move to carry identification cards is out of an abundance of caution.

In a Press Release posted on the Shoshone Bannock Facebook Page, they recognized that the report may cause concern for tribal members and their families.

“The safety and rights of our people are our top priorities,” the release said. “At this time, there have been no confirmed ICE enforcement activities on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Council is closely monitoring the situation locally and nationally to protect our membership.”

In addition to carrying a Tribal ID, members are being encouraged to have other forms of identification on hand, such as a state ID, driver’s license, or passport.

The release also offered direction on what tribal members should do if approached by an ICE agent. First, remain calm and respectful. Second, present identification, ask for the Agent’s name, record the encounter (if possible) and report the encounter to the Fort Hall Police Department’s non-emergency line at (208) 238-4000.

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