Author: KIFI

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A Pocatello church is dealing with thousands of dollars in damage after someone vandalized the building on Monday.

According to Pastor Nathan Abbate of Calvary Chapel, someone gained access to the church between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. after the building’s front doors were accidentally left unlocked.

Abbate said the vandal caused extensive damage throughout the church, including all three floors. Highland High School, located across the street, stores band equipment inside the chapel. Several instruments were reportedly damaged beyond repair.

Extensive damage to Calvary Chapel in Pocatello. Courtesy: Pastor Nathan Abbate

The vandal also smashed televisions and poured oil over the church’s sound booth equipment, which church leaders say could be costly to replace.

In addition to the property damage, racist slurs were written on the sound booth and on the carpeting inside the building.

Upstairs, the suspect removed ice cream from a freezer and dumped it on the floor. Other food items were also thrown around several rooms, according to church officials.

Cleanup crews are cleaning and repairing the damage.

The Pocatello Police Department responded to the church around 7 p.m. on Monday. Lt. Akilah Lacey said the vandalism remains under investigation.

Investigators have collected fingerprints from items inside the church as they work to identify a suspect.

The church does not have security cameras. Calvary Chapel is asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity or seen someone entering the building between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday to contact the police.

Abbate said he cannot think of a reason someone would target the church or write the racist messages, but the congregation is now left dealing with significant property losses.

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Fox13

Originally Published: 20 OCT 26 13:39 ET

By Jeff Tavss

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    SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — The State of Utah has filed a lawsuit against Kalshi, claiming the prediction market company is actually illegal gambling in which residents have lost millions.

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown announced the filing during a briefing Tuesday.

In the lawsuit, Utah claims that prediction event contracts offered by Kalshi are “indistinguishable” from sportsbook bets offered by online gambling companies. It alleges Kalshi “took in billions of dollars in bets,” focused mainly on sports.

The state shared data from Kalshi showing nearly 33,000 Utahns had verified accounts with the company as of February, and that residents had lost between $36 million and $66 million through transaction fees and betting losses.

Over the summer, Brown hinted at a possible lawsuit after a federal judge ruled the state could block prediction market companies from operating in Utah due to the state’s constitutional prohibition against gambling.

The new lawsuit accused Kalshi of advertising its betting activity as being legal in all 50 U.S. States despite Utah’s ban.

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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Seth Ratliff

FRANKLIN, Idaho (KIFI) — After intruders broke into a family-owned farm in Franklin County early Saturday morning and released nearly 1,500 mink, farm owner Jeff Hobbs says the majority of the animals have either returned or been recovered with the help of the local community.

The intruders broke into a single barn holding approximately 1,800 mink just north of the Utah-Idaho border. A security camera installed on the facility captured at least one masked suspect.

Masked suspect sets off alarm on Hobbs family mink barn. Courtesy, Challis Hobbs

By the time the Hobbs family managed to resecure the barn, only about 300 mink remained inside.

However, community members quickly rallied to assist the family in recovering the missing animals.

“Got the situation contained for the most part,” said Hobbs. “100 people showed up to help; 80 percent were gathered up by noon.”

Courtesy Hobbs Family

“Our family has been farming for four generations, and it is heartbreaking to see animals suffer and die because of these actions,” said Hobbs wife. “But in the middle of such a difficult day, our community showed up for us. Nearly 100 people came together to help rescue these animals, and we are incredibly grateful for the kindness and support we’ve received.”

Despite the massive community effort, many of the mink did not survive. Several were struck by vehicles on nearby roads, while others died from heat and lack of water.

Courtesy Hobbs Family

“These animals depend on us for food, water, and care,” said the Hobbs. “What kind of person turns more than a thousand animals loose knowing they could be run over, starve, or die from dehydration? There is nothing humane about that. The people who did this are responsible for the suffering and deaths of these animals.”

The Hobbs family is now focused on caring for the recovered mink, though Hobbs noted that several animals are suffering from health issues caused by stress and exposure.

“Those responsible for this attack are terrorists, plain and simple,” said Challis Hobbs the Executive Director of Fur Commission USA. “The federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) treats qualifying attacks intended to damage or interfere with animal enterprises as federal terrorism offenses.”

No group has taken credit for the release, and no arrests have been made. But the Hobbs family says they are coordinating closely with investigators on potential leads, after obtaining additional footage of a possible suspect vehicle.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to remain on the lookout for remaining mink.

If you spot a mink, FCSO urges you to report the sighting by calling Franklin County Dispatch at 208-852-1234 (ext. 2) with the location and any helpful details.

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News Team

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center on Thursday evening after a deer vs. motorcycle crash in Bonneville County.

According to Sergeant Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened around 7:19 p.m. in the 8000 East block of E. Sunnyside Road, near Peterson Hill and the landfill.

Deputies say a man was driving the motorcycle with a female passenger when they collided with a deer.

The female passenger was seriously injured and was airlifted to EIRMC. The driver escaped serious harm and was taken to the hospital by deputies.

The woman’s current condition has not been released.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – As Idahoans statewide grapple with housing prices, the Gem State Housing Alliance organized a panel of experts Monday at The Waterfront at Snake River Landing to dive into one of the region’s most pressing economic issues.

The panel discussed ways to increase the supply of housing in the region to stabilize costs and make it more affordable.

“The demand for housing has skyrocketed, and that has really just upped the price of homes across the state,” said the alliance’s Advocacy Director Hollie Conde. “We know that there are a lot of contributing factors to the cost of housing, right – labor costs, lumber cost, lending, land costs is a big one and, of course, the laws.”

The rising cost of construction materials, impact fees and regulations raise price tags for home owners and builders alike.

“I have seen the prices increase and increase, and I really am frustrated about how it is working, and then how we can make it better for our future children and those people around us?” asked Idaho Home Builders Association President Todd Webb.

Lenders also recognize the unsustainability of current market pressures.

“When I look ahead for five years, my biggest concern is just the price and the monthly payments not going to keep up with …  our local wages aren’t going to be able to support that,” said Idaho Central Credit Union Loan Officer Trina Batte.

Panelists emphasized that young people starting out may have to adjust their expectations when purchasing a first home.

“This year, probably about 25 percent of my business has been first-time home buyers. And there’s probably another four of those who simply gave up, because they decided, ’We’ll wait. We’ll just keep renting,’” said Julie Anglesey, Berkshire Hathaway Silver Hawk East Idaho broker owner. “So that’s the hard thing, or they have a choice. They can stretch their budgets. They can compromise in location or condition.”

The housing alliance advocates for building more middle housing options to help fill the gap.

“When we talk about middle housing, it’s somewhere in between that apartment building and that single family detached house,” Conde said. “So duplexes, townhomes. fourplexes, fiveplexes, cottage courts right where you have a bunch of really smaller homes that are clustered around a courtyard.”

One local legislator is concerned about the difference between average income and average home costs.

“Right now, the average individual qualifies for about $300,000 to $320,000,” said State Rep. Erin Bingham, (R)-District 32. “Yet in Bonneville County, our average sales price of a home is about $430,000. So, as you can see, we have a gap.”

Seventy-two percent of Idahoans want legislators to find solutions for housing affordability, according to a 2025 poll by the Gem State Housing Alliance.

The group advocates for free market solutions and estimates that government permits compose 25 to 40 percent of the price of a home.

“We need more housing supply,” Conde said, “But we need kind of a specific type of home, right, that is more affordable without having to put in complex subsidies or get money from the federal government to make those projects pencil.”

Participants recommended “local reforms in zoning, minimum lot sizes, setbacks, parking minimums, and regulations such as sprinkler requirements, while maintaining safety.”

They also discussed “property tax reform and indexing the homeowners exemption to home prices.”

Idaho faces a shortage of about 60,000 homes, Conde shared.

The Gem State Housing Alliance is holding community conversations statewide to compile and advocate for policy reforms.

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Curtis Jackson

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Another state record was caught in an Idaho river.

Idaho Fish and Game reports Benjamin Smith of Thatcher caught a brown trout that was 31 inches long on Aug. 28.

It was caught in the Bear River in Franklin County.

Smith’s catch beats Caroline Langdale’s recent record by 0.5 inches. She caught a similar brown trout on the South Fork Snake River in May 2026.

“The only thing more surprising than a brown trout over 30 inches is how quickly the previous record fell,” an Idaho Fish and Game news release said. “Given how rare a fish of this class is for Idaho, most anglers should have expected the previous record to stand for quite a while.”

The wildlife agency said the Bear River is best known for its native cutthroat trout, but is also home to rainbow and brown trout.

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Curtis Jackson

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Jefferson County man was killed in a car crash early Monday morning.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported that Richard Smith, 75, died in a single-car accident at 2579 Highway 33. The accident happened at 5:12 a.m.

Smith was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. No other details have been released.

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Sean Dolan

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (IdahoEdNews) — Teachers in Bonneville School District will soon be required to sign a form certifying that they are either a biological male or female.

District leaders say the new requirement will ensure compliance with state law governing public school bathroom usage. Multi-occupancy school restrooms must be designated for either males or females and only members of those biological sexes are allowed to enter, as required under Senate Bill 1100, passed in 2023.

“As a public school district, we have a responsibility to comply with Idaho law, regardless of our individual perspectives about it,” Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme wrote in a letter to employees on Thursday.

Woolstenhulme asked the school board to establish a “consistent process for employee verification.”

Trustees on Wednesday night approved a resolution(opens in new tab) directing the superintendent to create a form that district employees must sign certifying their biological sex, as defined in Idaho code:

“Male” means an individual who has, had, will have, or but for developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident, would have the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization.

“Female” means an individual who has, had, or will have, or but for developmental or genetic anomaly or historical accident, would have the reproductive system that at some point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.

Idaho law — as established through 2024’s House Bill 421 — also declares that in human beings there are only two sexes, male and female. It was sponsored by Rep. Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, and Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa.

“An individual’s sex can be observed or clinically verified at or before birth; Rare disorders of sexual development are not exceptions to the binary nature of sex; In no case is an individual’s sex determined by stipulation or self identification,” Idaho law states.

Scott Woolstenhulme, superintendent of the Bonneville School District

In Woolstenhulme’s letter, he said employees provided information during the hiring process “without necessarily being asked to verify that it aligns with these specific statutory definitions.”

“That creates a practical challenge for the district,” he wrote. “We are responsible for following state law, but we cannot make assumptions about an employee’s biological sex based on names, appearance, or other personal characteristics.”

The most “appropriate and respectful” approach, he wrote, is to ask employees to verify their own information using the definitions in Idaho law.

The draft form attached to the resolution indicates that the forms will be individualized for each employee and include the “biological sex” currently recorded by the district. The employee would then have to indicate if that sex is accurate. If not, they would check a box for male or female.

“Human Resources will contact employees who report an inaccurate designation to clarify the information and discuss next steps,” the draft form states. “These communications will be handled confidentially in accordance with applicable law.”

The form then includes a box to indicate if an employee would like HR to contact them.

By signing the form, the employees have to acknowledge that they understand they can only use restrooms and changing facilities that correspond with their biological sex.

“Employees who have questions about their individual circumstances or need to discuss possible accommodations can contact our Human Resources confidentially,” Board Clerk Samantha Williams told EdNews.

District could review medical documentation

According to the resolution, the district will keep certifications, discrepancies and accommodation requests as confidential personnel records. That includes medical records.

“Medical documentation, when obtained, shall be maintained separately from ordinary personnel records to the extent required by law. Access shall be limited to personnel with a legitimate administrative need to know,” the resolution states.

Law has brought legal challenges

The Boise School District recently settled a lawsuit over Senate Bill 1100.

As EdNews reported last month, the district’s insurer paid $34,000 to a former student who encountered a transgender classmate in the girls’ bathroom at Boise High School. She argued that the district violated SB 1100.

In May, Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that plaintiffs had dropped a lawsuit against SB 1100.

A Boise High student club called the Sexuality and Gender Alliance challenged the law, arguing that it would “categorically exclude every transgender student across Idaho from every school restroom and other sex-separated facility matching their gender identity.”

In his press release announcing the end of the legal challenge, Labrador stated that he defended Idaho’s right to “protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms.”

Labrador’s announcement left out the fact that one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, 16-year-old May Pollard, died by suicide in January. Her parents spoke to NBC News in July.

“There is a huge amount of animosity, every single day, thrown at trans kids,” Joseph Pollard told NBC.

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Maile Sipraseuth

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – A new student-led food truck is bringing authentic Cajun-inspired cuisine to Rexburg and the Brigham Young University-Idaho campus.

Po’ Boyz Co. is serving up a flavorful menu that includes traditional Po’ Boy sandwiches, Cajun pasta, jambalaya, crisp hush puppies, and a variety of other Southern favorites.

According to the business’s social media, the food truck will be located at the former site of Offroad Grill, in the Hart Gym parking lot on the BYU-Idaho campus.

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at the Hart parking lot on Monday, Oct. 19, at 11:15 a.m. to introduce the new food truck to the community. Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill will be in attendance to mark the grand opening.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – On Monday afternoon, the city of Pocatello will unveil an honorary street sign in recognition of Judge Sergio Gutierrez, the first Latino district court judge.

Gutierrez Avenue will replace the previous designation of Cesar Chavez Avenue.

The unveiling ceremony will take place at noon at S. 8th Avenue and Red Hill Road, across from the Pond Student Union Building. Community members are invited to attend and join the City in recognizing Judge Gutierrez and his legacy.

Judge Gutierrez was born into a migrant farm worker family, he earned his GED, then worked in the fields of Idaho before graduating from Boise State University, and becoming an attorney. Early in his career, he worked with the Idaho Migrant Council and Idaho Legal Aid Services, advocating for migrant farm workers and underserved communities. He once stated that his dream was to help other’s achieve their American Dream.

The designation is honorary, and existing street names and addresses will remain unchanged.

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