Author: KIFI

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Major changes are coming to the Snake River Animal Shelter. The shelter will now be open on Sundays.

Visitors will now be able to book private appointments to meet adoptable animals throughout the weekend. These appointments were leading to more adoptions, but the shelter says many people don’t have time to go to the shelter on weekdays.

“We do have a limited time, so it’s only 12 to 3 [p.m.] instead of longer,” said Kennel Tech, Krista Smylie. “But we do welcome anyone to come down, meet an animal and get to know one of them and go ahead and see if you want to adopt.”

Smylie says 2024 was a great year for the shelter between receiving grants and getting several pets adopted. The shelter is aiming to do even better in 2025. The extra hours on Sundays should make it easier and more likely for people to adopt cats and dogs.

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The forefront of artificial intelligence is on display in eastern Idaho. This week, the Museum of Idaho welcomed hundreds of visitors to their new exhibit on AI.

The exhibit teaches people about artificial intelligence, its uses, and controversies.

Artificial intelligence is changing rapidly and can affect people all over the world between advancing technology and spreading false information. So the museum says it’s important for everyone to understand how AI works.

“AI is here to stay and it’s here now,” said Director of Exhibitions, Rod Hansen. “And those of us, myself included, who didn’t know a whole lot about AI a year ago, we really need to be made aware.”

Hansen says the museum’s goal is to help visitors understand the basics of artificial intelligence, then decide how they want to approach it personally, with their families, and in industries.

The exhibit will be open until May 4th.

Stephanie Lucas

CANYON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher brought federal and state officials together on January 31, 2025, to curtail the 2025 wildfire season after what he calls a “devastating” wildfire season in 2024. He gave an overview of the roundtable in an interview with Local News 8.

“Last year, we burned – and I say ‘we, the state of Idaho’ – right at a million acres of wildfire that that tragically went up in smoke all over the state.”

Fulcher, currently serving on the Natural Resources Committee in Congress, says he “could see writing on the wall,” for more fires in Idaho this year.

“I can see that the Forest Service in Idaho and the Department of Interior have about a billion dollars in what’s called ‘deferred maintenance,’ and that is projects and things that have been approved they need to do, but they don’t have the resources to do it.”

‘Deferred maintenance’ refers to the fuel load clearing that Fulcher says isn’t happening in Idaho’s forests. The ‘fuel’ is from brush, dead branches, and small trees that can ignite and intensify wildfires.

Fulcher says the Forest Service “is overwhelmed” with the amount of work that needs to be done, making this “an all hands on deck” situation – even if all the parties aren’t accustomed to working together.

“There’s some fiefdoms that are out there,” Fulcher told Local News 8. “The federal entities don’t like to work with state and local sometimes. And vice versa. It’s a two-way street. But part of my motivation was just to bring everybody together, have them look left and right at the table and say, you know what, we need each other If we’re going to prevent this from happening again.”

Fulcher says he thinks some progress was made during the roundtable with multiple organizations.

“If nothing else, there was some rapport that was kind of built-in, shared some faces that were attached to a name and an entity that, you know, it just helps when you are in the middle of a crisis – and this wildfire situation is a crisis.”

Fulcher thinks there will be more meetings between organizations – albeit in a different geographic region.

“That doesn’t necessarily adhere to state boundaries, nor should it,” Fulcher said. “The Panhandle, for example, has got a different management corps that oversees that. And so we’ll want to do that probably in some different geographies just because the state is so big. But the bottom line that I just need to drive home here, is we need to understand that our federal partners in this case, they really are overwhelmed.”

Watch Rep. Fulcher’s full interview above.

Noah Farley

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)—Warmer temperatures have caused much of the snow to melt, leading to flooding in Idaho Falls and Blackfoot. That’s why some people are taking proactive measures to protect their homes and land from water.

In Blackfoot, Bingham County Public Works provides a sand pit for people to bring shovels and fill sandbags to battle the overflow.

The sand pit and bags are free to the public, but you must bring your shovels to fill the bags.

The sand pit is located at 690 W HWY 26 near the Central Transfer Station.

Seth Ratliff

ASHTON, Idaho (KIFI) – We’re just over a week away from the American Dog Derby in Ashton, the oldest dog sled race south of the Canadian border.

Originally founded in March 1917, race directors tell us they expect 1000 people to line the track in Ashton next week.

“In the musher world when they say they raced in Ashton, because it’s such a historic race, Their status goes up a little bit,” race director John Scafe told Local News 8. “That’s what everybody’s told me.”

Although the race is a more leisurely level of competition, for the teams themselves the training regiment is steep.

“Anything Else Melts Away”

Dog mushing, as a mode of travel, dates back to at least 6,000 B.C. Modern-day dog sledding crews, like the Cook family of Shelley, Idaho, proudly continue the tradition as both a sport and for fun.

“As soon as you pop that quick release that’s holding the sled back to our truck, anything else melts away and I can just focus,” said dog musher Savannah Cook. “I’m here, I’m running. It requires my presence and focus, and that’s all it matters in that moment.”

Savannah Cook always knew she wanted a dog but only stepped into her lifelong dream as a dog musher about 8 years ago. Tired of waiting at the finish line, her husband Mike now rides alongside with his own team.

“I forced us to get the last five dogs,” Mike Cook told Local News 8. “I said, ‘I’m tired of waiting at those at the lot. I’m going to go out too. So we need more dogs so that we can both run.'”

Overall, the Cooks say the experience is addictive.

“Anytime I see those snowflakes on the forecast, I’m like, oh yeah, let’s let’s go get some snow,” said Savannah.

On your mark, Get set, Mush!

The Cooks’ one-year-old dogs, the group Mike was adamant they get, just finished their first race at Wyoming’s Lone Trail Pass. But Savannah says they’ve always known their goal was to win the American Dog Derby.

“We always knew we would race it,” said Savannah. “Whether we’re competitive or we take the Red Lantern last place, we don’t care. We’re just there for it.”

Their team is set to run alongside up to 25 other dog-sledding groups along the two-day course.

The race kicks off on February 14, In Ashton. For more information, click HERE.

Ashley Chilcutt

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Are you looking for an affordable way to spend Valentine’s Day? Evie Clair will be performing live on Feb. 14 at the Romance Theater.

For the first time, she’ll be joined on stage by The Union band. Clair and her accompanist, Stephen Henderson, came to the Local News 8 studio to promote the Valentine’s concert.

“Honestly, I am so excited for this show,” Clair said. “It’s really just a bunch of us friends getting together and playing music and jamming on the stage. We’re going to be doing some of my original songs and more originals from another member of the band.”

Clair began her music career at 13 years old. She gained a following on season 12 of America’s Got Talent, advancing to the top 10. She has since gone to college, gotten married, and had a little girl.

“Being on TV, releasing albums, and doing all the things is amazing, but being a mom is like the best job I could ever ask for,” Clair said.

More concert details are listed on the poster below. You can buy your ticket HERE.

Zach Glancy

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to a farmhouse fire on the 6000 block of W 33d S in Bonneville County around 4:02 a.m. Tuesday morning.

Engine 5 arrived on the scene first and found the structure engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly began work on controlling the blaze. They were able to get the flames out by about 5:30 a.m.

No human injuries were reported. The farmhouse was used to house chickens, but Local News 8 does not know if any of them were hurt so far.

IFFD had to call in a water tender to help provide water to the engines since the property is not near any fire hydrants.

The structure is a complete loss.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.