Author: KIFI

News Team

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — What began as a routine traffic stop by a Shelley police officer quickly escalated into a significant criminal investigation and recovery of a missing teen. In the early morning hours of August 6, the officer pulled over a vehicle for multiple traffic violations, and during the stop, a K9 unit was deployed, according to a recent press release. The K9’s “free sniff” of the vehicle indicated the presence of drugs, leading to a probable cause search.

During the search, officers found several pieces of drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine and fentanyl. They also discovered a state-issued ID card belonging to a missing juvenile from Wyoming. The driver of the vehicle admitted to officers that the missing teen was alone at a local Airbnb.

Upon arriving at the Airbnb to conduct a welfare check, officers located and detained 33-year-old Russell Raudman, who was found behind the residence near an open window. The 17-year-old girl was found safe inside the Airbnb. During an interview with detectives from the Bingham County Joint Investigations Division, the teen confirmed she was a runaway and told investigators she had engaged in sexual activity with Raudman in another jurisdiction.

Detectives executed a search warrant on the Airbnb and a vehicle belonging to Raudman. All evidence was turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the alleged criminal activity occurred for further investigation and potential prosecution.

“We commend our graveyard shift officers for their proactive work and attention to detail during what began as a routine traffic stop,” the Shelley Police Department stated in the release. “Their efforts led to the recovery of a missing juvenile and the initiation of a serious criminal investigation.”

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News Release

The following is an urgent news release from Eastern Idaho Public Health:

EASTERN IDAHO (KIFI) — Eastern Idaho Public Health has reported a case of measles in an adolescent in Eastern Idaho. The adolescent was an international traveler who was unvaccinated against measles. This child was seen by a healthcare provider for symptoms of measles and was not hospitalized. The investigation is ongoing as EIPH is working to identify more details surrounding this case.

The case has self-isolated during the contagious period and is no longer contagious. EIPH does not expect exposure to the public, outside of household contacts who are currently being monitored for potential infection.

Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease. The virus can easily spread through the air and can survive in the air up to two hours after an infected individual has left. About one in five unvaccinated people in the United States who have measles is hospitalized. Individuals who have received the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles in the past, or are born before 1957 are considered immune to the measles virus.

If you suspect that you or someone in your family has measles, it is important to stay home to prevent the spread of measles to others.

“Typical initial symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after those symptoms, a characteristic rash appears,” said Rachel Mugleston, RN, Health Strategies Program Manager at Eastern Idaho Public Health. “Measles is highly contagious and can be spread for four days before and four days after the rash appears.”

Although measles is considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age. Eastern Idaho Public Health encourages everyone to check their vaccination records with their primary care provider. The best way to protect you and your family from infection is through up-to-date vaccination for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR). The measles vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after receiving two doses.

If you believe you may have been exposed to anyone with measles, contact your health care provider and monitor yourself for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Public health officials will observe those known to have been exposed to the infected individual.

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News Team

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho State Police are investigating a fatal wrong-way crash that happened last night, August 6th, on I-86 near American Falls.

Around 8:55 PM, an 81-year-old man from Oregon was reportedly driving a Honda Civic westbound in the eastbound lanes at mile marker 40. The Honda crashed head-on into a Volkswagen SUV. The man died at the scene.

The driver of the Volkswagen, a 35-year-old woman from California, was transported to a local hospital. Her current condition is unknown.

The westbound lanes of I-86 were closed for about four hours as crews investigated the scene and cleared the wreckage.

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Max Gershon

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) — In a surprising turn of events, the Idaho Falls Education Association (IFEA) voted against ratifying a proposed salary and benefits agreement, prompting the Idaho Falls School Board to reassess its approach to negotiations. The decision has raised concerns about the negotiation process and the upcoming school year.

The tentative agreement, reached after months of discussions and 42 hours with a federal mediator, offered a $35.3 million compensation package, including an average 4.4% salary increase for certified staff. Notably, this proposal was put forward by the IFEA itself, making the rejection unexpected for the School Board.

Board Chair Hillary Radcliffe expressed disappointment but reaffirmed the district’s commitment to collaboration. “While we are disappointed that the agreement was not ratified, we are committed to working with IFEA to reach an agreement,” Radcliffe said. “The Board is looking forward to a strong and smooth start to the school year and continuing to serve the students of Idaho Falls School District.”

The Board is now focused on understanding the reasons behind the rejection, suspecting it may reflect broader concerns among teachers about the negotiation process. Despite the setback, their priority remains clear: supporting educators while ensuring high-quality education for all students in Idaho Falls School District 91.

As the new school year approaches, the Board and IFEA are expected to resume negotiations to secure a sustainable agreement. District officials emphasize their dedication to fostering a positive environment for both teachers and students.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson visited the site of the Teton Dam Wednesday afternoon, August 6th, 2025.

Simpson is looking into ways to improve Idaho’s water storage.

The Teton Dam collapsed on June 5, 1976, as it was being filled up for the first time.

Waves of water flooded Rexburg, Wilford, Sugar City, and other communities.

11 people died, and homes and businesses were destroyed causing hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

There was a discussion on rebuilding the Teton Dam, but the visit was really just a chance for Congressman Mike Simpson to learn about water resources for the state.

He met with the Idaho Farm Bureau to learn what our options are.

“We’re here at the Teton Dam site talking about the need for additional water storage in the state of Idaho, potentially looking at and studying the Teton Dam, what it would take to potentially rebuild that. But of course, other options as well, because there’s many other options when it comes to water storage in the state,” said Braden Jensen, Director of Government Affairs, Idaho Farm Bureau.

“It was interesting to listen to water users, the Farm Bureau, and others about the need for water, particularly in Southeast Idaho. We live in a high plains desert. We need to store as much water as we can. That’s what the Teton Dam originally was all about. Unfortunately, it broke. But there are a lot of things that we can do,” said Simpson.

The congressman got to learn about the history that took place here 49 years ago.  

“I think it’s a good idea for me to do what the people of Idaho with the state legislature and what the people of this region want to do. If there was a great deal of concern, I know it’s been advocated by some people who represent this area, and stuff they wouldn’t be advocating if people in this area didn’t think it was a good idea, or they will learn that they don’t think it is. So, yeah, there are still feelings from that. And from the Teton Dam,” said Simpson.

People do not want to see history repeat itself. Local News 8 spoke with a few locals who said the rebuild of the Teton Dam can be a good thing if done properly.

At this time, a date has not been set for making a decision.

Right now, Simpson is just gathering information from the Idaho Farm Bureau.

Local News 8 asked Siimpson if this would affect his concept from 2021 to breach dams on the lower Snake. He said the rebuilding of the Teton Dam would not affect salmon.

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CNN Newsource

By Danya Gainor, CNN

(CNN) — An active-duty Army sergeant was taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion of opening fire at his workplace on the sprawling Fort Stewart military base in Georgia, wounding five of his fellow soldiers, authorities said.

The suspect, identified as Sgt. Quornelius Samentrio Radford, 28, was subdued by nearby soldiers after he began shooting with a personal handgun, striking coworkers, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commanding general of the 3rd Infantry Division.

All five soldiers are in stable condition, Lubas said at a news conference Wednesday. Radford’s motive is not known.

The shooting is among at least 262 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It comes within days of shootings at a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper and a neighborhood bar in rural Montana that left multiple people dead.

Here’s what we know:

A disagreement with a coworker

Radford had a disagreement with one of the shooting victims on Tuesday, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the case. He followed that coworker to a maintenance area and shot him in the chest before shooting four others.

It’s unclear what the disagreement was about.

Other soldiers “prevented further casualties” by tackling Radford before police arrested him, Lubas said.

“Soldiers in the area that witnessed the shooting immediately and without hesitation tackled the soldier, subdued him. That allowed law enforcement to then take him into custody,” he said.

The suspect’s father, Eddie Radford, told The New York Times that he hadn’t noticed any unusual behavior by his son recently, and didn’t know what might have motivated the shooting.

He said his son had complained to the family about racism at Fort Stewart and had been seeking a transfer, according to the Times, which did not publish any specifics.

Fort Stewart declined to comment on the racism allegation and whether Radford had requested a transfer. “The circumstances that led to the events today are currently under investigation,” a spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division told CNN.

CNN has reached out to Eddie Radford for additional information.

The suspect had a previous DUI arrest

Radford, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, joined the Army in 2018 as an automated logistical specialist and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, the US Army said. His role involved handling supplies and warehouse operations.

Lubas said Radford had not deployed to a combat zone and had no known behavioral incidents in his military record. However, the general acknowledged that Radford had been arrested for driving under the influence in May – an arrest that his chain of command was unaware of prior to the shooting.

The DUI arrest “was unknown to his chain of command until the event occurred, and we started looking into the law enforcement databases,” Lubas said.

Radford was out on bond in the DUI case, according to online court records for Liberty County, Georgia. He was scheduled to be arraigned on August 20.

Personal handgun used in shooting

Radford used a personal handgun – not a military weapon – in the shooting, Lubas said.

The firearm is a 9mm Glock that the suspect bought in Florida in May, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the case. The gun was recovered at the scene along with numerous shell casings, the official said.

Authorities are unsure how Radford got the gun through the base’s high security before carrying out the shooting at his place of work.

“At our gates, we have armed guards and protective equipment,” Lubas said. “We’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of duty.”

Carrying personal firearms on base is typically prohibited by military regulations.

The shooting was at suspect’s place of work

The US Army’s Fort Stewart trains and deploys active and reserve Army units.

Law enforcement was dispatched to the incident at 10:56 a.m. ET, according to a social media post from Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield. Less than ten minutes later, the base was locked down.

At 11:09 a.m., emergency personnel were sent to treat the five soldiers who were shot.

While all five soldiers are in stable condition, three of them required surgery, Lubas said, confirming that the shooting did include Radford’s coworkers.

Radford was apprehended at 11:35 a.m., the Fort Stewart social media post said.

The lockdown of the “main cantonment area” was lifted 35 minutes after that, according to the post.

Since the shooting, Radford has been interviewed by the Army Criminal Investigation Division and now sits in pretrial confinement as he waits for a charging decision by the Office of the Special Trial Counsel, Lubas said Wednesday afternoon.

The Fort Stewart community

In addition to military training grounds, Fort Stewart is home to thousands of families who live on base with their family members assigned there. The base supports more than 10,000 people, including soldiers, family members and Army civilian employees, according to the Army.

The shooting happened in an area of the base that houses the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, also known as the Spartan Brigade.

The brigade was first constituted in 1917 in North Carolina, and entered combat during World War I, according to an archived Army webpage. Though the Spartan Brigade was disbanded before World War II due to Army reorganization, several of its units participated in key American maneuvers during the war.

In 1963, the Spartan Brigade was reconstituted and has since been positioned in Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout Africa for military strikes, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts.

In 2016, the Army chose the Spartan Brigade to convert to the 15th Armored Brigade Combat Team, a modernized tank brigade, according to the page and Army press releases.

Following Wednesday’s shooting, authorities said they’d prioritize the well-being of the victims and community at Fort Stewart.

“Our primary focus is first on caring for our injured soldiers and their families and also supporting the soldiers of the Spartan brigade,” Lubas said. “All of the families of the victims have been notified, wrapping our arms around them and ensuring we provide them all the support that we can.”

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Mark Morales, Elizabeth Wolfe, Tori B. Powell, Jo Parker, Maureen Chowdhury, Aditi Sangal, Elise Hammond, John Miller, Natasha Bertrand and Amanda Musa contributed to this report.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho State University (ISU) and the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) are making it easier for students to continue their education in the Gem State. The two institutions have announced a new partnership to streamline the credit transfer process, ensuring students who start at CEI can seamlessly transition to ISU to complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

This collaboration is designed to align course content and credits at both schools. This allows students to map out their entire educational journey from the very beginning.

“Early in their educational journey, they can map out where they’re going,” said Angela Sackett, CEI’s Vice President of Academics and Student Affairs. “So that transfer to ISU after they spend the first two years with us here at College of Eastern Idaho goes seamlessly.”

Meeting Workforce Needs in High-Demand Fields

The new initiative will initially focus on degrees in high-demand fields like healthcare, education, and engineering. This focus aims to address critical workforce shortages in the region.

“This collaboration is driven by our shared vision of empowering citizens in eastern Idaho with greater access to higher education, fostering innovation, and supporting the development of a highly skilled workforce,” said Robert Wagner, President of Idaho State University. “Clear articulation pathways and seamless transfer opportunities support student mobility and access while increasing opportunities to meet the workforce needs of our communities.”

CEI President Lori Barber echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the benefits for students.

“When we collaborate, everyone wins, especially the students,” Barber said. “This collaboration with Idaho State University opens doors for our students, especially in critical fields like nursing, and ensures they can pursue their dreams close to home and at an affordable cost. It’s about meeting students where they are and helping them go further than they imagined.

This new partnership builds on an existing 20-year relationship between the two schools, taking their collaboration to the next level to better prepare students for a successful future. The ultimate goal is to directly respond to the needs of industry partners, ensuring graduates are ready to step into critical roles in the next five to ten years.

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News Team

UPDATE — 12:30 PM, August 7:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As of 10:30 p.m. on August 6, firefighters successfully stopped the spread of the Lava Trail Fire, which burned 91 acres west of Idaho Falls. The fire is not yet fully contained, and crews will continue to work on extinguishing hot spots over the next several days.

Multiple agencies responded to the fire, including the Idaho Falls District BLM, Idaho Falls Fire Department, Bonneville County Fire, U.S. Forest Service – Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the BIA, and the Idaho National Laboratory.

While the highway closure has been lifted, fire officials warn that smoke may still be visible and could impact the road. Drivers are asked to slow down and use caution in the area to ensure the safety of the crews working to put out the remaining fire in the lava flows.

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department has confirmed the lanes are blocked in both directions along Highway 20 from US-26 to the Bingham/Bonneville County line as crews work to battle the Lava Trail Fire. According to the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire website, the blaze has now grown to an estimated 110 acres.

Drivers are being advised to use alternate routes and expect delays.

ORIGINAL:

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) — A wildfire is currently burning along Highway 20 between Idaho Falls and INL. The call came in around 3:47 p.m., according to Chris Burger with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

The fire is burning south of the highway and is currently estimated at 15 acres or more, according to Watch Duty. Crews from the BLM, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Forest Service, along with Idaho Falls Fire, are all on the scene.

Drivers in the area are reporting that Hwy 20 West of Idaho Falls has been closed due to the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. This is a developing situation, and Local News 8 will provide updates as they become available.

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News Team

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County authorities have now identified the man killed in Tuesday’s late-night crash that may have involved street racing. Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez has identified the driver as 27-year-old Brady Merriweather of Idaho Falls.

“At this time, our office is extending our deepest condolences to the family of this young individual,” said Sanchez in an email.

The incident occurred on August 5 at a gas station parking lot near the 400 block of West 17th Street, where police found Merriweather’s car, a 2018 Infiniti Q50, had crashed into a concrete wall separating the gas station from the Spider’s Web tattoo parlor. The 27-year-old was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, but died from his injuries this morning despite the best efforts of EMS and medical personnel.

Witnesses reported that a 2018 Infiniti Q50, driven by the man, appeared to be racing a light-colored truck. The two vehicles were reportedly traveling east from Pancheri Drive onto 17th Street.

The Idaho Falls Police Department is continuing to investigate and is asking to speak with the driver of the truck to better understand the events leading to the crash. Anyone with information about the truck or its driver is encouraged to contact the IFPD. For more information or the non-emergency dispatch line, click HERE.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 27-year-old Idaho Falls man is dead following a late-night crash that may have involved street racing. The incident occurred last night, August 5, at a gas station parking lot near the 400 block of West 17th Street.

According to a press release from the Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD), first responders were called to the scene at 10:46 p.m. Witnesses reported that a 2018 Infiniti Q50, driven by the man, appeared to be racing a light-colored truck. The two vehicles were reportedly traveling east from Pancheri Drive onto 17th Street.

At this time, police believe the man lost control of his Infiniti, which left the roadway and crashed into a concrete wall separating the gas station from a neighboring business, Spiders Web.

Upon arrival, Idaho Falls Police and EMS personnel worked to extricate the driver from the wreckage and provide life-saving care. He was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, but died from his injuries this morning despite the best efforts of EMS and medical personnel.

The Idaho Falls Police Department is continuing to investigate and is asking to speak with the driver of the truck to better understand the events leading to the crash. Anyone with information about the truck or its driver is encouraged to contact the IFPD. For more information or the non-emergency dispatch line, click HERE.

The department extended its condolences, stating, “The Idaho Falls Police Department offers our sincere condolences to the family and friends who are grieving the loss of their loved one today.”

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On your mark, get set, go! The Great Snake River Triathlon is set to race into Idaho Falls’ Snake River Landing Saturday, August 16, 2025. Organizers from Tri Peaks Epic Events are expecting a wide range of both amateur and professional triathletes from across the Gem State, Oregon, Wyoming, Montana, and more to push their limits in the sprint and Olympic distance races, which include swimming, biking, and running.

“The Great Snake River Triathlon will be our biggest event of the year with over 200 participants! One of the biggest draws of the GREAT SNAKE RIVER TRIATHLON is the advantage of having a river current assist with the swim portion of the race,” said Tri Peaks Epic Events co-owner Bryan Magleby. “We expect this race to continue to grow significantly in future years!”

The Rexburg Rush Triathlon, the final Tri Peaks Epic Events triathlon of 2025, will take place on September 20, 2025, in Rexburg. For more information on both events, visit www.TriPeaksEvents.com.

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