Author: KIFI

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – After a long setback, Habitat for Humanity is clearing trees and old buildings from 11.5 acres of land in preparation for the construction of affordable housing.

The project was finally greenlit to use government funds a year past the proposed groundbreaking.  Karen Lansing and Randy Hubbard of Habitat for Humanity anticipated they would be able to begin building back in March of 2022 when the location was confirmed.

“This is a bigger project than Habitat Idaho Falls has ever done, so we have to ramp up all aspects of our organization, which includes fundraising and grant writing,” said Karen Lansing, Habitat for Humanity Executive Director.

The land is next to the Butte Soccer Complex. For now, Ernest Drive ends in a road block, but past that road block is a dirt road that passes through the middle of the planned neighborhood. Trees and grass will soon be transformed into a residential area with craftsman-style homes.

According to the Habitat for Humanity website, the project seeks to “put God’s love into action” and attempts to empower families to build a new life. Those who qualify based on financial readiness, an interview process, and do at least 300 hours of “sweat equity” will be able to own a home. 

“We’re looking for as much community support as we can get, and if you’ve got any questions, you can call our main office and inquire about what we’re doing out here,” said Randy Hubbard, Head of Construction.

For more information or the office number, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE: 5:27 PM

The following is a press release from the Idaho State Police:

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police is investigating a two-vehicle fatality crash that occurred on Thursday April 24, at 1:55 p.m., on southbound I-15 at milepost 74.5, north of Pocatello.

A 2000 Subaru Legacy, driven by a 48-year-old male out of Inkom, was driving southbound on I15 when traffic slowed.  The Subaru then struck the back of a 2019 Audi A6, driven by a 60-year-old male out of Idaho Falls and was also occupied by a 59-year-old female passenger out of Idaho Falls.

The driver of the Subaru was not wearing a seatbelt and succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash.  The occupants of the Audi were wearing seatbelts and were transported to a nearby hospital.

The southbound lanes of I-15 were blocked for approximately three hours to allow emergency responders to assist those involved.

Idaho State Police was assisted by Chubbuck Police Department, Fort Hall Police Department, Fort Hall Fire Department, and the Pocatello Fire Department.

This incident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

UPDATE: 4:53 PM April 24, 2025

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho State Police is investigating multiple crashes along I-15 between Fort Hall and Pocatello.

The crashes temporarily blocked traffic on all southbound lanes Thursday afternoon.

No information on the cause of the crash or possible injuries has been released at this time. Local News 8 is heading to the scene and will update this developing story with more information as the details become available.

ORIGINAL:

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Transportation Department is reporting multiple crashes along I-15 between Fort Hall and Pocatello. All southbound lanes of traffic have been blocked, according to ITD 511 alerts.

ITD and first responders are telling drivers to prepare to stop, drive with extreme caution, and follow the posted detour.

No information on the cause of the crash or possible injuries has been released at this time. Local News 8 is heading to the scene and will update this developing story with more information as the details become available.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Westside Players are racing against time this season to raise enough money for much-needed repairs to their 90-year-old theater, the Warehouse.

The historic warehouse-turned-theater has been a home for Pocatello’s Westside Players since the dinner theater started out of the building in 1986. Since then, the volunteers that make up the cast and crew have run hundreds of shows, but revenue from years of ticket sales has not been enough to keep up with the mounting repairs needed for the building’s infrastructure.

“Unfortunately, things are going awry with some of the stuff in this building,” said Karen Suess, vice president of the Westside Players board of directors. “We had already decided we were going to replace this stage as a big project coming up because the stage has been here for 38 years, and there’s so many coats of paint and lacquer and wax and who knows what else on the stage that we can hardly even staple anything into it anymore. So we were going to start this big project, then the heaters went out.”

Suess said five of their decades-old heating units kicked the bucket last October, plunging the backstage areas into the cold and stretching thin the theater’s already limited seasonal funds.

Two months ago, the Westside Players’ board decided to take action, and established their ‘Spotlight Campaign’–a fundraising drive to collect money to replace the building’s heating system and give the players a new stage to continue their popular performances.

Suess and her colleagues set the Spotlight Campaign’s goal at $30,000, enough for state-of-the-art industrial heaters and a new stage. But Suess said the fundraising campaign is about more than preserving the building, it is about maintaining a space for people to do what they love and continue a tradition of local entertainment.

“We are the oldest dinner theater in town–people have been coming here for years, and it’s a place where people can come together [and] have fun,” said Suess. “If you’re in the production, you become family. And if you’re the audience, you just enjoy good entertainment. We have people who have been coming here forever… we are a fantastic source of community and of entertainment, and we don’t want it to die.”

Along with the ongoing Spotlight Campaign, the Westside Players are hosting a ‘Spotlight Gala’ on May 3 featuring local entertainment, food, and drinks, with ticket proceeds going to building repairs.

For more information on the Spotlight Campaign, how to donate, and the upcoming fundraiser gala, you can visit the Westside Players website.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Zoo opened for its 2025 season Thursday, April 24.

Visitors are excited to see over 90 different animal species.

Dozens of volunteers helped clean the zoo the weekend before to get the zoo ready for opening day.

Now that the zoo is open, it will also provide special events and education programs to promote wildlife education and conservation.

The zoo’s hours and ticket prices can be found here.

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News Team

The following is a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will be holding an open house event at the new Special Housing Unit (SHU) addition to the Bonneville County Jail April 25th and 26th from 10am to 2pm each day. With the finishing touches nearing completion, the Sheriff’s Office team wanted to provide an opportunity for our community to tour the facility and learn more about how the jail serves our area. BCSO Deputies work hard to maintain a safe environment and facilitate available resources based on a wide variety of individual inmate needs.  

     This new addition significantly expands the ability of the jail to manage inmates with medical, mental health, and other developmental needs. The expanded space includes additional medical facilities and monitoring technology to help increase the effectiveness of inmate care. Staff breakroom, training, and exercise areas were also added adjacent to the new housing units to help Deputies maintain their own mental and physical wellness needs.

     The BCSO Team is excited to meet with our community and answer questions about the facility. As the SHU prepares to become operational, the hiring of new Deputies and staff is also underway. This open house is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a Law Enforcement career to explore what our Detention Deputies do and the career paths available right now. For more information about starting your career with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, visit www.BonnevilleSheriff.com/join/ to fill out the online application and contact a Recruiting Deputy!

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)-Irving Middle School in Pocatello is celebrating a major milestone, an entire century of serving students.

Irving Middle School saw its first students all the way back in 1925.

Since then, thousands of young people have passed through the doors of the now historic building.

Irving Middle School’s Principal says this year is a time for students and staff of past and present to reflect on all the lives touched by the school.

“100 years of 700 kids a year. Man, that’s, that’s a lot of kids that have come through these halls and have been impacted by teachers, administrators, coaches,” Stuart Johnson said. “I really love just the thought of of 100 years of kids coming through here and to know the stories of some of those kids.”

Irving Middle School hosted a ‘100 year celebration open house’ on Wednesday night.

The open house included school tours, stories from former staff and alumni, and student made displays explaining the school’s history through the decades.

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Ashley Chilcutt

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Education is hosting a series of educator career fairs throughout the state, and they were in Idaho Falls Wednesday night.

People from the department were on hand to answer applicant questions about certifications and among other requirements.

School Principal Bryan Jensen said it was nice to meet with applicants and help them learn about what makes their district a good place to work.

“We take every opportunity we can to brag about our town and try to attract people there, because it’s a wonderful place to live,” he said. “I originally came thinking i would teach here a year or two, and I’ve been in Caribou County for 29 years now.”

There are a few more career fairs happening around the state. If you didn’t get a chance to attend the fair you can always check with the school districts to learn how to apply.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Preschool students in Pocatello got to boogie on the dance floor today in brand new footwear courtesy of some of the city’s bravest men and women.

The Pocatello Fire Department hosted their annual ‘Sock Hop’ event at Head Start Preschool. Firefighters outfitted each of the 156 students in brand-new socks donated by the Pocatello Firefighters’ Union.

While the kids got a chance to test out their new socks on the dance floor, fire leaders see the event as a way to give back to people in the area.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited to be patrolling in its new fleet of cars.

In total, they have five new Tahoe cars. Their cars are essentially their office, and deputies say they are excited for the upgrade.

Many law enforcement agencies travel out of state to order new cars, but the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited that its big expense went back into its community. All their new cars came from Taylor Chevrolet in Rexburg.

The old cars were silver, and now they’re black.

Some of the deputies feel the new color is doing a better job of standing out to other drivers. 

“They do stick out a little better. I haven’t heard anything from the community if they stick out better than the silver. We’ve just been doing a transition from the silver to the black, ” said Chief Deputy Vince Kaaiakamanu with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “So, I haven’t really heard anything, but me personally, I think they do stick out a little better. 

A new feature that the patrol cars have is that all lights now sync up. They believe people will respond better when seeing these lights.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A fence and a shed were engulfed in flames Wednesday afternoon at a home on Joan Avenue in Idaho Falls.

Neighbors noticed a dark plume of smoke rising from the area around 1:15 PM and came to help. Eyewitnesses say they worked together, tossing buckets of water and using garden hoses to help as best they could.

The Idaho Falls Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:19 PM and quickly put the fire out.

“A shed caught on fire, a fence caught on fire, and it looks like a tree caught on fire as well,” said Robert Joseph Hall of the Idaho Falls Fire Department.

Three fire engines responded to initial reports, with another one on the way. A ladder truck was also called out.

“We also had three ambulances show up, and a Battalion Chief,” said Hall.

Hall says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The owners of the shed and shared fence, who wished to remain anonymous, spoke to Local News 8.

“It’s devastating to have half your stuff gone. But we’re lucky that the house isn’t on fire and that we can still go in the house.” – said one of the homeowners.

“I built that shed many years ago, it’s been there a long time. Twenty… twenty-five years?” – said the other resident.

The neighbors on the other side of the shared fence say they had recently planted raspberry bushes, which were also lost to the flames.

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