Author: KIFI

CNN Newsource

By Matt Gephardt

Click here for updates on this story

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL, KSL-TV) — Utahns are losing millions of dollars to fraudulent contractors who are taking the money but then walking off the job. Now, the state has formed a task force to protect consumers from contractor scams.

The KSL Investigators have reported on contractors leaving their clients high and dry several times in our continuing “Cited but not Shut Down” series of reports – including a fencing contractor who abandoned several jobs, a deck builder who abandoned several jobs and a landscaper who was paid and then abandoned several jobs.

These are just three of the scores of complaints regularly sent to Get Gephardt by frustrated viewers dealing with contractor issues. State regulators hear complaints, too.

The Utah Division of Professional Licensing received over 2,100 construction complaints in 2024. It says more than 1,000 complaints have been processed in 2025 – and counting.

Newly released data shows Utahns reported a staggering $32 million in construction fraud losses over the last three years, according to the Utah Commerce Department.

“We’ve seen a surge in reporting of construction fraud,” said Margaret Woolley Busse, executive director.

She said the losses are particularly brutal for people building new homes, where the average loss per consumer is $302,000.

“We have a new task force that is going to be focused on the construction fraud problem that we have here in Utah,” Busse said.

Fraud is already a crime in Utah, but victims have long lamented that police tend to treat construction fraud as a civil matter, telling folks their recourse is filing a lawsuit.

One of the biggest changes with the new task force is that the state is assigning a prosecutor to go after bad contractors.

“We are putting together a very coordinated effort to stop this construction fraud,” Busse said.

Part of that effort includes working to stop scams before they happen. The task force is also putting together tools like contract templates, tips to hire good builders, and free guides on avoiding rip-offs.

Please note: 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.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Release

The following is a press release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Idaho Falls recognizes City Attorney Michael Kirkham with both pride and a deep sense of gratitude for his outstanding service to the city as he takes judicial office as a Bonneville County magistrate judge. Kirkham’s legal expertise, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the City of Idaho Falls have been hallmarks of his extraordinary tenure. His contributions have played a vital role in shaping sound municipal governance and protecting the interests of the community.

Kirkham has served the City of Idaho Falls for more than 11 years. He began as the assistant city attorney in 2014 and was appointed as the city attorney on Dec. 1, 2023, following the retirement of longtime City Attorney Randy Fife.

“Mike’s service to the city has been nothing short of exceptional,” said Mayor Rebecca Casper. “His thoughtful counsel and steadfast integrity have earned the trust and respect of his colleagues and community alike. While we are excited for him and the next chapter in his career, he will be deeply missed — both personally and professionally.”

Kirkham’s official transition date is still being finalized, but city officials have already begun outlining the next steps and establishing a timeline for leadership transition.

The position of Idaho Falls city attorney has been posted and is available on the city’s website on the Career Page. The city hopes to announce Kirkham’s successor by early October. “The city attorney is critical to the operations of every city department, so we will be working to fill this position without delay,” stated Mayor Casper.

“It has been an incredible honor to serve the people of Idaho Falls,” said Kirkham. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside dedicated public servants who care deeply about this community. My time with the city has shaped me both personally and professionally. I am extraordinarily grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the community.”

The City of Idaho Falls extends its heartfelt congratulations to Kirkham on this well-deserved appointment and thanks him for his many years of distinguished service.

Click here to follow the original article.

Stephanie Lucas

CHEYENNE, Wyoming (KIFI) – If Wyoming residents are wondering about the enforcement of fair hunting practices in their state, the Wyoming Game and Fish Law Enforcement Report was just released.

Using 2024’s statistics, Game and Fish reports on the number of times law enforcement action was taken against hunting violations, which included over 240 in the Jackson region and 3,102 across the state.

There’s also a list of the top ten violations documented in 2024. Number one is fishing without a license, followed by trespassing on private land at number two.

If you’re in a reading mood, there’s a collection of memorable stories from Wyoming Game and Fish in the report, including one about two elderly hunters who went way over the limit and shot 7 elk in 12 hours last November.

One of the hunters didn’t even know he’d shot three of the extra elk himself. According to the report, he’d just assumed the caliber of his rifle was high enough that when the elk did not go down immediately, he must not be hitting the elk due to his age and physical inability, so he kept taking shots at more elk. Unfortunately, the three elk he hit were left to waste.

There’s also a Nebraska man who was fishing without a license but had a stolen van, plus a Wyoming social media personality caught releasing live fish into Sloan’s Lake without permission, and a woman running a packing-and-outfitting operation on national forest land without a license, and more.

If you’d like to check out the information for yourself, there’s a link to the report here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Sam Ross

DOWNEY, Idaho (KIFI)– The Bannock County Fair officially opens Monday, August 4, kicking off a week of classic fun. This year’s fair is jam-packed with live music, a wide variety of food, 4-H animal shows, rodeos, and the annual parade on Wednesday, August 6.

A new attraction this year is the brand new Exhibit Hall. It will showcase beautiful hand-sewn quilts, crafts, and artwork. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new hall will take place on opening day, Monday, August 4, at 5 p.m.

For a full schedule of events and to view the 2025 Fair Book, visit the Bannock County website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Downtown Idaho Falls will be getting a new on-street paid parking system in October.

The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation says it will bring the system to the Business Improvement District in two phases. The first phase will start in October 2025. The new parking system will be managed through an app called PARK SMARTER. 

IFDDC hopes the new system will “improve parking availability and turnover for customers.” The funds the parking system makes will be used for parking infrastructure, maintenance, and public improvements. 

“We understand that parking is a vital part of the success of our downtown, and our goal is to create a more efficient and user-friendly system,” said IFDDC Executive Director, Kerry Hammon. “By encouraging turnover of on-street parking, we can ensure that customers can more easily find a place to park, which ultimately supports our local businesses and the entire downtown economy.”

IFDDC shared the following.

Key Details of the New Parking System:

Several bike racks are located throughout the BID for individuals who choose to use alternative transportation. 

Implementation:

Phase I will begin in October 2025, covering the area from Broadway north to (but not including) D Street, and from Yellowstone Avenue west to Memorial Drive.

Phase II will expand the system south of Broadway and is scheduled for next year. Phase II also includes upgrades to the parking lot permit process and pay stations, as well as the installation of wayfinding signage in the parking lots managed by IFDDC, as funding allows.

Hours of Operation: Beginning in October, on-street paid parking will be enforced Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Parking will remain free on evenings, weekends, and federal holidays.

Rates: On-street parking rates will be tiered: $1 for the first hour, $2 for the second, $2 for the third, and $10 for the fourth. The maximum on-street parking time will be four hours. These proposed rates were discussed with the Idaho Falls City Council on Monday, July 28, 2025. Click HERE to watch the City Council presentation.

How to Pay: On-street parking will primarily be managed through the PARK SMARTER app. For those without a smartphone, five physical pay stations are located in four downtown parking lots:

• Broadway Plaza surface parking lot behind Smokin’ Fins

• Capital Avenue parking lot (between A and B Street)

• B Parking Lot behind Channel Blend

• A Parking Lot (2 pay stations), behind Idaho Mountain Trading

The PARK SMARTER app will alert the user when their on-street parking time is about to expire and allow the user to add more time directly from the app, up to the 4-hour maximum.

The parking spaces in the center of Constitution Way will be changed to metered parking via the PARK SMARTER app, and new signage will be added.

Free parking remains available between the railroad tracks and Yellowstone Avenue. Pedestrians are encouraged to use the pedestrian beacon at the intersection of Yellowstone and B Street when crossing Yellowstone. 

Free on-street parking for individuals with disabilities displaying a legal placard will continue.

The 20-minute loading and unloading zones will remain available for quick trips and deliveries by both the public and the service industry.

Click here to follow the original article.

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — People had fun in the sun over the weekend at the Bonneville County Fair Board’s Community Focus Days.

Several vendors provided goods for sale ranging from food, custom made boxes, spices, and personalized clothing.

Wild One Clothing Co. & Hat Bar let people pick out a cowboy hat and decorate it however they wanted. The assortment of embellishments gave customers a chance to make all kinds of combinations.

“Sometimes I’m always questioning, like it’s not something I would pick, but once we actually put it on the hat, it just pulls it together, and then it ends up being one of my favorites,” said hat stylist Haley Scholes.

The event also featured a car show with several vintage cars. Some of the cars’ owners poured years of effort into perfecting. One person we talked with said he worked for eight years on a truck his father once owned. He plans for his own kids to inherit the truck someday.

Information on upcoming events at the Bonneville County Fairgrounds can be found here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abi Martin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —Three people were arrested in Idaho Falls after Bonneville County deputies served a search warrant Saturday morning as part of an ongoing drug investigation.

Authorities say the SWAT team moved in just after 7 a.m. on the 800 block of Masters Drive after learning there might be armed subjects inside.

Five adults were removed from the home and detained while deputies searched the property. Deputies found small amounts of fentanyl and meth, along with drug paraphernalia.

33-year-old Rachel Anaya was booked on two felony counts of possession.

29-year-old Adrian Rheader and 47-year-old Robert Aragon were booked for the misdemeanor of frequenting a place where drugs are used.

The investigation is still ongoing, and two other people may face charges.

Click here to follow the original article.

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Dozens of volunteers came together August 2, 2025, to landscape a new home for medically retired veteran, Chris Byers.

“It makes someone feel blessed and loved for sure,” Byers said.

In 2012, Byers was on his third deployment in Afghanistan when he stepped on an improvised explosive device. The explosion led to Byers losing both of his legs below his knees. It also gave him a traumatic brain injury and tinnitus.

“It took about four or five years to really become used to it. After that, it’s just daily life,” Byers said.

Byers now wears prosthetics and maintains an active lifestyle, but his current home has two levels, which can cause him a lot of pain—and sometimes even worse—just to get around his own home.

“Being in prosthetics doesn’t come without its injuries,” said Byers. “If one of those injuries does come along, I’m out of my legs for a week or two, and all that housework…you fall behind.”

That’s why Byers and his family are getting a new custom-built house through Homes for Troops. The new one-story house will be specially accessible and make Byers’ daily life much easier.

“Being in a place like this, I won’t have to fall behind anymore,” Byers said. “I can just jump in my wheelchair and still accomplish everything.”

Thanks to the help of the volunteers, the new house’s once empty yards are now covered in new grass.

Byers says the new home should be finished by mid-to-late September. He’s very grateful to everyone helping make this dream of his a reality. He and his family are excited to start this new chapter in their lives.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho’s wildland firefighters and other critical support staff will receive one-time bonuses of up to $5,000, Governor Brad Little announced Friday.

“Our firefighters have done an incredible job so far this season of keeping fires small. As we enter the busiest and most dangerous part of our wildfire season here in Idaho, and it is important we signal our strong support for the brave men and women who put their own safety on the line every time they head out for a fire so the rest of us can stay safe,” said Governor Little in a news release.  “These bonuses are a meaningful way to say thank you to our brave Idaho firefighters and the staff who back them up.”

The $1 million in bonuses were approved by the state legislature as part of the governor’s KEEPING PROMISES agenda. Little says the bonuses will ensure the state of Idaho can retain and recruit fire staff as part of a broader plan to invest in improved preparedness at the Idaho Department of Lands, the state’s wildland firefighting agency.

More than 300 employees who participate in crucial fire-related roles will benefit from the bonuses.

According to the release, foremen who are permanent employees will receive the largest bonus of $5,000. Permanent fire wardens, assistant fire wardens, fire cache storekeepers, and fire dispatchers will receive $3,000. Permanent red-carded staff will receive $2,000. Returning seasonal firefighters will receive $1,500, and first-year seasonal firefighters will receive $1,000.

“On behalf of the people of Idaho, I want to extend a sincere thank you to all our state employees involved in our wildland fire program, whether they are on the front lines or supporting our firefighters in other critical ways that help keep our people, lands, and communities safe,” Governor Little said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)– Hamlet Homes is celebrating the grand opening of its brand-new Alpine Heights model home in Rexburg with a ribbon-cutting and a little something extra. As part of the celebration, Hamlet Homes had a surprise for the Rexburg Soup Kitchen.

“We actually got connected through the local Rexburg Chamber of Commerce. They connected me with David Merrell, who’s the founder of the Rexburg soup kitchen, and on a phone call, he happened to mention he had an immediate need of a trailer. And we thought instead of just trying to raise money for the trailer, we would buy them a trailer,” said Tami Ostmark, VP Marketing and Owner of Hamlet Homes.

In the middle of the ceremony, a truck pulled up carrying a brand-new, fully wrapped, enclosed trailer. This is to assist them in picking up and delivering food donations. 

There were many shocked faces in the crowd, but especially those involved in the Rexburg Soup Kitchen.

“We were shocked in a very good way. We had no idea that this was happening. It feels like Christmas to us. We are a small soup kitchen. We have been moving canned goods and donations around one little carload at a time in the back seat of our cars. And to get something like this changes everything for us,” said Margo Merrill, co-founder of the Rexburg soup kitchen.

The soup kitchen will be closed for a couple of weeks because of the Madison County Fair that starts August 13th, 2025. This is because the soup kitchen shares a building with the fairgrounds.

They will reopen on September 3rd and be back to their normal hours. 

Click here to follow the original article.