Author: KIFI

News Team

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (KIFI) — Grand Teton National Park officials and health authorities are working to contact hundreds of visitors who may have been exposed to rabies from a bat colony found at Jackson Lake Lodge. The potential exposure window is believed to be between May 5 and July 27.

The National Park Service discovered a bat colony in late July, residing in the attic space above several rooms at the popular Jackson Lake Lodge. Health officials are now attempting to reach guests from 38 U.S. states and seven countries who stayed in the affected rooms.

According to Wyoming State Health Officer Alexia Harrist, the primary concern is for individuals who had direct physical contact with bats. “The way that rabies is spread is through the bat’s saliva,” Harrist told Wyoming Public Radio, the outlet which broke the story, “either through a bite or a scratch.”

While the risk is reportedly low for those without direct contact, health officials emphasize that rabies is nearly always fatal if not treated promptly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for anyone with potential exposure, which includes a series of vaccinations.

For more information, contact the Grand Teton Lodge Company, HERE.

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News Team

ALPINE, Idaho (KIFI) — A small wildfire, sparked by a lightning strike, is burning near Palisades Reservoir, having consumed about a quarter of an acre. Fire crews from the Swan Valley Fire District, Bonneville County, the Forest Service, and the BLM are on the scene, according to Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal.

Crystal notes the fire can only be reached by boat or helicopter, and no structures are currently threatened.

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News Team

MADISON COUNTY, Montana (KIFI) — The Horn Fire near Highway 87 at the Idaho-Montana border is now 50% contained at 2800 acres. The evacuation warning for people in Madison County, Montana, was lifted on Saturday, allowing residents to return to their homes.

Fire officials have determined the fire was caused by a lightning strike.

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News Team

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho State Police (ISP) has launched a new webpage for the public to access records related to the 2022 Moscow homicide investigation. This action follows the complete resolution of the case, after Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders of four University of Idaho students and was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year.

The murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin shook the small college town of Moscow, initiating a months-long, multi-agency investigation. Bryan Kohberger was arrested on December 30, 2022, and later charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. According to ISP, extensive investigation created a large volume of records that are now being made available to the public.

ISP-generated police reports are currently available. To view these records, click HERE. As more records are reviewed and approved for public release, ISP says they will be added to this online folder.

Despite the extensive nature of the online records available, ISP has clarified that only its own records will be included on the site. Records from other law enforcement and partner agencies—such as the Moscow Police Department, Latah County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI—are maintained by those organizations. ISP is directing that individuals making requests for additional records make their request to the respective custodian agency.

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE:

TREMONTON, Utah (KIFI) — Two Tremonton Garland police officers were shot and killed Sunday night while a Box Elder County Sheriff’s deputy and a police K9 were injured, all while responding to a domestic disturbance in Tremonton, Utah.

The incident began around 9:02 PM on August 17, 2025, when multiple 911 calls were made from a home in the area of 700 N. 200 E. in Tremonton. Two officers from the Tremonton Garland Police Department responded to the home. As the first officer spoke with the caller, a man came out of the residence with a gun and opened fire, striking and killing both officers.

A Box Elder County Sheriff’s deputy, who was on the way to assist, arrived at the scene, and the man fired into the deputy’s vehicle, injuring both the deputy and the police service dog. Both were taken to a hospital and a specialty veterinary clinic and are in fair condition.

According to a statement from the Brigham City Police Department, bystanders convinced the suspect to put down his weapon, and he was taken into custody by other responding officers. He was booked into the Box Elder County Jail on charges of aggravated murder. The Weber County Attorney’s Office is leading the homicide investigation.

Due to the violent nature of the incident, a SWAT team was called to clear the home and ensure there was no remaining threat.

The Brigham City Police Department released a statement saying, “Tragedies like these rock an entire community, state, and even nation. These officers and their families served theirs every day, and they will forever be remembered as heroes. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tremonton Garland Police Department, Box Elder County Sheriff’s Office, and the families of those involved. We are grateful for the swift response from multiple agencies from Box Elder, Weber, and Cache Counties.”

ORIGINAL:

TREMONTON, Utah (KIFI) – Two police officers were killed in a shooting Sunday night in Tremonton, Utah.  A Sheriff’s deputy and a K9 were also injured in the shooting.

It happened when the officers responded to a domestic disturbance call at a home on 700 North and 200 East around 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Police said after the officers arrived at the home, a man with a gun came out and shot two officers.

Other responding officers soon took the suspect into custody.

The deputy and K9 are expected to be okay.

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Noah Farley

UPDATED 10:38 a.m. Aug 18:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Monday, August 18, is Back to School Night for School District #91, but it comes as the district and the Idaho Falls Education Association are still working on a contract.

In July, the Education Association said they were not happy with the budget D-91 presented to them.

Jake Snarr said the Education Association is trying to set up another meeting with D-91 to discuss contracts and budgeting. They are not planning to strike. Teachers will still be working when the new school year starts on Wednesday.

“Essentially, it was just a number that they put across the table. It was about $35.3 million. They’re saying that they’re okay with anything that we do within that $35.3 million, but it’s up to us to figure out where all that money goes,” said IFEA negotiator, Jake Snarr.

D-91 said the board proposed a different approach to the budget this year with a new method meant to let the Education Association decide how the money would be distributed.

“Giving that to the teachers to allocate in a way that they think would best meet their teachers’ needs,” said D-91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange. “So it is different, but it is still a proposal and one that has been used effectively in other districts.”

The organizations had another hours-long meeting on August 1, where D-91 reached a tentative wage agreement with teachers.

IFEA later voted to reject the proposal. On August 13, dozens of teachers and supporters gathered outside the Idaho Falls School District Office to express that they don’t feel valued or supported.

“We’ve made a number of proposals related to both financial and non-financial items,” Snarr said. “What we’re hearing from our members is both of those things are important. Through [these] negotiations, we have worked as a team to do what we can. But ultimately, this decision is up to our members.”

With a new school year upon us, D-91 and the teachers’ union are expected to resume their negotiations and try to come to a new agreement.

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Abi Martin

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — A man is dead following a fatal car accident in Fort Hall yesterday. The accident occurred yesterday at approximately 10:30 am on Highway 91 near the area of Moccasin Drive in Fort Hall.

The victim has been identified as Michael Joe Lee,  a 39-year-old from Idaho Falls, who succumbed to his injuries on scene. Two other passengers are in critical condition, but are stable at this time. 

This accident remains under investigation. 

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Curtis Jackson

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – A driver was trapped in his car with powerlines around him after he didn’t make a curve on a street in Rigby.

Rigby Police said the 44-year-old man was driving north in a 2019 Subaru on South Clark Street when he failed to make the curve, knocking a power pole down and causing the power line to arc, which ignited dried grass between Clark St. and U.S. 20 around 12:50 p.m.

Police said the fire spread to nearby evergreen trees and threatened a nearby business.

The driver was able to escape through the passenger side door with help from officers.

Power was out for several businesses along East Main and Clark Street along with traffic lights at State and Main.

Rigby Police said they are continuing to investigate the accident.

Courtesy: Rigby Police

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Seth Ratliff

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Correction:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Correction is searching for an East Boise Community Reentry Center resident who walked away from the facility.

Jancee Peirsol, IDOC #117373, was last seen at East Boise Community Reentry Center at 4:08 p.m. Friday. 

Peirsol, 32, is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 175 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. She was wearing ​black pants, black shirt, and was carrying a gray backpack. 

Peirsol’s record includes convictions for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Burglary, and Grand Theft in Ada County and Eluding a Police Officer in Elmore County. She was eligible for parole on Dec. 21, 2025. Her sentence was scheduled to be satisfied on June 20, 2033.

Anyone with information about Peirsol’s whereabouts should call 911.

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Ariel Jensen

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– It has been a very emotional past few days for parents and students enrolled at Bingham Academy High School in Blackfoot. The school is closing its doors due to a lack of enrollment, and it reportedly may not reopen.

Shaunna Cox is a parent of two students who were meant to attend Bingham Academy this year.

“It’s been rough. I wish that there could have been more notification so that we could have had time to get our kids set up for another school. I had already went and purchased everything for their school year,” said Cox. “It would have been nice to know ahead of time, but I understand that they were trying to save the school themselves. My daughter has tourette’s, so finding a social place for her where she can go in and be able to relax and get educated it’s hard.”

Bingham Academy High School predominantly serves students with disabilities. Many of the parents told us they are too heartbroken to appear on camera. Some say sending their child to public school is just not an option.

The school board shared the news at a meeting where few parents attended. A lot of parents say they learned of the news through word of mouth and now are scrambling to find a new school. Many of the parents tell us they don’t hold any ill will toward the school. They say they know the board tried to save the school, and they tell us those hurting the most are the children involved.

“At this school. I have never felt more accepted than anywhere else. I’ve been to multiple different schools, and because of my disability, it’s been really hard. But this school, they accept me and they love me,” said Shaunna Cox, a student going into her junior year of high school.

The principal has made parents aware of the closure, but the school has not yet made the official announcement. It’s expected they will do so at the next school board meeting on Wednesday, August 27th.

Many parents are reaching out to donors, asking them to save the school. They say they are hoping for a miracle.

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