Author: KIFI

Maile Sipraseuth

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI)– Students at Alpine Academy in Chubbuck got to learn leadership, STEM and team building skills during their 5th annual Leadership Day.

“I think that they like that they’re at a school where we want them to develop skills of working together and being strong,” Fitness and Health Instructor Marcy Jordan said.

For eighth grader Arizona Funke, the event is something students look forward to each year.

“I love, like, just we get to do it every year and improve each time,” Funke said, “And just with our friends to compare everything. Keep a good pace.”

Part of that challenge led students outside to a custom obsticle course run by Grit League.

“They love to have fun. And they want to be pushed and challenged. And they want a little bit of freedom to do it,” Todd Hatch with Grit League said.

Jordan said the course gives students an opportunity to build more than physical strength.

“It’s really awesome because they get the opportunity to work with each other,” Jordan said, “We do a lot of team-building stuff, but specifically on this obstacle course, it’s kind of like challenging themselves.”

For the students, that combination of fun and competition is part of what makes the experience memorable.

“I like to do it with my friends so we can kind of just take it off and keep a good pace together,” Funke said.

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Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Parks & Recreation Department added a remote-controlled lawn mower to its equipment fleet to help crews safely maintain steep slopes and hard-to-reach terrain across the city.

The equipment allows department employees to operate the machinery remotely rather than riding or walking on steep or uneven ground. City officials said the mower will be used to maintain levees, steep trails, stormwater basins and areas at the Nordic Center where traditional equipment is difficult to operate.

The department relies on part-time seasonal employees, many of whom are students returning to school at the end of the summer season. The addition of the remote-controlled mower will help full-time crews maintain green spaces efficiently with fewer seasonal staff members.

Parks & Recreation Director Anne Butler noted that the equipment offers practical safety and efficiency advantages for city crews. “The remote-controlled mower gives our crews another way to safely and efficiently maintain areas that can be difficult to reach with traditional equipment,” Butler said. “It’s another much needed opportunity to take advantage of new technology and will help our team throughout the year.”

City officials said the mower supports the Environmentally Resilient vision outlined in Pocatello’s Comprehensive Plan 2040, which emphasizes protecting local natural resources while maximizing municipal resources.

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KIVI Staff

By: Joey Martin

Originally Posted 5:10 PM, Oct 06, 2026

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIVI) — Low water levels at American Falls Reservoir are providing a rare look at a piece of Idaho history, giving visitors the chance to walk through the foundations of a community that moved an entire town uphill nearly a century ago.

“We’re in American Falls — not the American Falls that most people know — but the original American Falls,” Celia Klassen, a local Power County historian, said.

American Falls dates back to the 1880s as a bustling agricultural community along the river. Between 1925 and 1926, the construction of the American Falls Dam forced the entire town to move uphill.

The relocation included roughly 340 homes, 46 businesses, three hotels, five churches, a school, an auditorium and a hospital. The Bureau of Reclamation compensated landowners for their property, but for the most part, residents were responsible for moving their buildings.

“They did it in really interesting ways. It was right at that time between vehicles and horses and carts still,” Klassen said. “People went and salvaged steam tractors and they just lifted them up. If they were brick, they took all the bricks off, piled them up, moved the building and put all the brick back on.”

Unlike many communities lost to dam construction in the West, the original American Falls townsite continues to reappear when water levels lower. Visitors can walk among the foundations for themselves.

“This was the Oneida elevator. People would have driven their grain carts right under there,” Klassen said.

For lifelong Idahoans like Kent Rudeen, walking the same ground as previous generations puts the passage of time into perspective.

“I probably imagine my grandfather delivered grain here in the 19-teens,” Rudeen said. “And I know for a fact that my dad told me he was born in a house down by the river in 1922.”

Now there are plans to make the site more accessible. The Bureau of Reclamation is planning a new access road.

Supporters hope it will help more people experience this piece of Idaho history.

“It will be huge for tourism,” Klassen said. “This is a rare thing we have here.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – In Idaho Falls, waiting at a railroad crossing can sometimes feel like an exercise in patience. But this weekend, local trains are worth getting excited about and perhaps taking a longer stop.

The Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society is bringing its annual Railshow back to Idaho Falls, giving families and railroad enthusiasts a chance to see model trains, detailed layouts, and railroad memorabilia all in one place.

The event features model railroad displays in multiple scales, along with swap and dealer tables where visitors can buy, sell, and trade railroad-related items.

Organizers say the Railshow is designed for more than just longtime train enthusiasts.

Families can check out LEGO displays and activities, while younger visitors can play with BRIO trains. The event will also include videos, contests, and prize drawings throughout the weekend.

One highlight is the Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society’s ever-changing model railroad layout, giving visitors a chance to see detailed miniature railroad scenes in action.

Railshow 2026 Event Information

When:

Saturday, 9 am-5 pm. Sunday, 10 am-2 pm.

Where: Idaho Falls Recreation Center, 520 Memorial Drive

Admission: $5

Children 10 and under: Free

Whether you’re a lifelong railroad fan or simply looking for a family-friendly activity, organizers say there’s something for everyone at this year’s Railshow.

For more information, visit the Eagle Rock Railroad Historical Society’s Railshow website.

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Kevin Richert

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on October 6, 2026

BOISE, Idaho (IdahoEdNews) — Boise school officials have called off homecoming activities at Timberline High School, as police investigate an online threat targeting a Timberline student.

According to an online petition, members of Timberline’s football team went on the Snapchat social media platform and “called for a female student to be raped and killed.”

On Tuesday, Boise School District and Timberline officials said all homecoming events have been postponed, except for the homecoming dance, which was scheduled for Saturday. Originally, district officials had planned to postpone the homecoming football game, which had been scheduled for Thursday. But on Tuesday evening, the district canceled the game, which Timberline will now forfeit.

“Given the seriousness of the circumstances involving recent student social media posts and ongoing concerns about student safety and well-being, we believe cancellation is the most responsible decision,” Superintendent Wendy Johnson, district Area Director Shelley Bonds and Timberline Principal Chad Wright said in an email to district families and staff. “Our priority is ensuring students and staff are safe and supported while providing the Timberline school community time to process what has occurred.”

On Tuesday afternoon, in a separate email to Timberline families and staff, district and school leaders said “growing concerns over student safety” factored into their postponement decision.

“This is not a decision made easily or lightly,” Johnson, Bonds and Wright wrote. “Homecoming is so much more than one game, one parade or one dance, it is a celebration of current, future and past students and the families, educators and community who support them. However, given the heightened emotions, threats of violence, and the simple need to pause, reflect and process, we believe it is not only the prudent decision, but the right one as well.”

An “additional police presence” is on site at Timberline, district officials said in a question-and-answer page on the reported threat.

Boise school officials have called the reported threat “disturbing.” However, the district and the Boise Police Department have said little about the case — which began to unfold Friday, when school officials contacted Boise Police’s school resource officer unit.

“With an active investigation and the potential involvement of minors, we are limited to what we can share,” Johnson, Bonds and Wright said in a Sunday evening message to Timberline parents and staff. “While respecting privacy limits, we want to be as open, honest and transparent as possible to assure you that there is zero tolerance for the type of behavior and language attributed to any member of our school community. This is not who we are and we will not be defined by the actions of a few.”

“Officers have been in contact with the Boise School District as part of the ongoing investigation,” Boise police said in a statement Monday. “We do not have additional details to share at this time.”

Boise police had no new information on the investigation, spokeswoman Haley Williams said Tuesday afternoon.

The online petition calls for the expulsion of the unidentified students who made the threat, and had urged the Timberline community to boycott the homecoming game. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 11,000 people signed the petition.

“This incident is not just about a single event but highlights a pattern of behavior that needs immediate attention and resolution,” the petition said.

While the petition calls on school administrators to take “immediate and decisive action,” district officials are deferring to the police department. They say Boise police have asked them “to pause any internal action … so as not to jeopardize” the investigation.

“The district will begin the formal investigation once law enforcement informs us that we may proceed,” Boise district officials said on its question-and-answer page. “Even if the police investigation does not lead to criminal charges, the district’s investigation continues independently. The laws governing criminal behavior and school policies are separate and distinct. A situation that does not meet the legal threshold for criminal charges may still constitute a violation of school policy, which carries different standards and potential administrative outcomes.”

Boise police are asking anyone with information on the case to call (208) 377-6790.

Boise district statement

Here is the district’s full statement from Tuesday evening:

After careful deliberation, the Boise School District has decided to cancel this week’s Homecoming football game between Timberline and Kuna, which we announced earlier today would be postponed(opens in new tab). The game will not be rescheduled, and Timberline will forfeit the game.

Given the seriousness of the circumstances involving recent student social media posts and ongoing concerns about student safety and well-being, we believe cancellation is the most responsible decision. Our priority is ensuring students and staff are safe and supported while providing the Timberline school community time to process what has occurred.

As announced earlier today, the Homecoming Dance will proceed as scheduled. Student Council expressed a desire to keep the dance, and we have determined that this tradition can continue with additional security measures. Security personnel, our School Resource Officer (SRO), and additional law enforcement will be present. The dance will take place in a controlled indoor space without spectators, allowing for more closely managed access and supervision than a football stadium.

We recognize the disappointment this cancellation brings to our football players, band members, cheerleaders, other student groups, and the many families and supporters who were looking forward to celebrating together. We appreciate the time, effort, and school spirit our students, coaches, advisers, and staff have invested in Homecoming.

We are working to reschedule all other postponed Homecoming activities and will share an announcement when further information is available.

Thank you for your understanding as we work through this difficult time together. Students who need support are encouraged to reach out to a school counselor or trusted adult.

Sincerely,

Chad Wright, Timberline PrincipalShelley Bonds, Area DirectorWendy Johnson, Superintendent

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Bailee Shaw

School is canceled today for students at Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy in Fort Hall, due to an installation of a water line.

The school says they will provide updates later today on whether classes will resume tomorrow.

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Danielle Mullenix

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Portneuf Health invites the community to its 27th annual “Brake for Breakfast” this Wednesday morning for its annual event raising awareness about breast cancer screening.

The free drive-thru event begins at 6:15 a.m. and will continue until 10 a.m. or while supplies last.

Participants can drive through the Portneuf Medical Center campus to pick up breakfast, breast cancer education, and even a special gift. The event is designed to make it easier for women to get information while heading to work, school, or other morning activities.

Raising awareness about breast cancer screening

Portneuf Health says the event is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is intended to remind women about the importance of routine clinical breast exams and mammograms.

According to the American Cancer Society, roughly one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

Routine mammograms can help detect abnormal breast tissue that may be cancerous, sometimes before symptoms appear. Portneuf Health says early detection can lead to better treatment options and a higher survival rate.

Portneuf Health says women at average risk should begin yearly mammograms at age 40. Women 55 and older should receive a mammogram every one to two years, with screening continuing as long as they are in good health. The hospital recommends talking with a primary care provider about individual breast cancer risk.

How to schedule a mammogram

Women who would like to schedule a mammogram with Portneuf Health can call 208-239-1500 or visit Portneuf.org/mammo.

EVENT DETAILS

Brake for Breakfast

What: Breakfast, breast cancer education, special gift

When: Wednesday, October 7

Time: 6:15 a.m. to 10 a.m., or while supplies last

Where: Portneuf Medical Center, Pocatello

Cost: Free

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Water in Idaho is in short supply and the coming El Niño could make next year even worse.

State Representative Britt Raybould, (R)-Rexburg, recently graduated from Boise State University with her Ph.D. in public policy and administration.

“We just don’t have as much water as we’re used to having, and I think that lack of just the total amount of water is going to be something that is a challenge for all water users in Idaho – not just in East Idaho,” Raybould said.

Her dissertation centered on the competing water rights demands in the Colorado River Basin, which holds valuable lessons for Idaho water users facing similar pressures of scarcity.

Raybould met with farmers and policymakers at College of Eastern Idaho Tuesday to discuss key takeaways and solutions for water users as limited resources are increasingly strained by drought.

“This year was a tough water situation. We came off of one of the lowest-ever snowpacks that we’ve had in the state,” said Adam Young, a wheat, alfalfa and barley farmer in Bingham County. “We came off of I believe it was the warmest winter and early spring that we’ve had on record. There were a lot of concerns that came with that. There were a lot of real struggles. There were things that had to be, that had to be managed or had to be shifted to be able to make it through the year.”

Young said next year is likely to again face higher than normal temperatures, impacting the snowpack.

“When you face multiple years of low snowpack or drought conditions, it’s a very difficult thing to face,” he said.

This pattern of drought pressures water users across the state – particularly those with junior water rights.

“We have to take into account as well that prior appropriation is in Idaho’s Constitution,” Raybould said.  “So we need to be respectful of the fact that when someone has a water right, we need to the best of our ability and the system’s capacity to fulfill that right. But we also need to look for avenues that we maybe haven’t considered before that help us find a balance during times of scarcity.”

This year, “Snake River flows approached the minimum required by a 1984 Swan Falls agreement for the first time,” she presented.

Implementing any changes to address less water requires the convergence of three factors, she shared:

“A problem you can’t ignore – reservoirs falling, a looming shortage.” “A fix that works – one that is affordable, legal and doable.” “Political will – enough of the right people willing to say yes.”

One solution involves addressing users’ fears that if they conserve water, they could lose some of their water rights.

“This is one of the hidden secrets in water policy that we need to spend more time on. It’s how can we encourage conservation while ensuring that people don’t lose that water right, because that’s important,” Raybould said. “I don’t want people to feel like there is a consequence for having done the right thing by the water system as a whole.”

She urged water users to work collaboratively and see each other’s perspectives to make the hard decisions while facing declining water levels.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – 2026 is looking to be a record year of bear encounters in southeast Idaho and western Wyoming, with Idaho Fish and Game receiving multiple calls each day regarding bear activity in the area. Officials say this is likely due to the dry weather conditions and low food sources this year, drawing bears into areas they normally avoid like neighborhoods and campsites.

Zach Lockyer, Regional Wildlife Manager for the Southeast Region of Idaho Fish and Game, said the early spring frost hit lots of the berry crop in Idaho, making it unavailable for animals like bears this fall. Bears are currently in hyperphagia, when they maximize all their calorie intake before hybernation.

“They’re venturing further into odd places to find food because there’s not as much forage for them on the hillside,” Lockyer said. He added bears are easily habituated, and if they get one taste of human food or open garbage, they will return for more.

Idaho Fish and Game states human safety is their priority, and whether it means trapping and relocating a bear or euthanizing it, they will take the necessary steps for safety. Last week, a family of black bears broke into a home in Salmon, severely injuring two individuals. Lockyer says if bears are breaking into structures, it’s driven by food.

“When people are in close proximity, the bear might be defending that food, or defending young that it’s concerned about,” he said. The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office confirmed there was a sow and two young bears involved in the Salmon bear attack. “A female with young is always going to be protective of the young, there’s potential for an attack if she feels threatened.”

Lockyer echoed sentiments of stories past, stating traveling in groups on the trails, making noise and protecting and closing all food sources are the best ways to stay viligant in bear country. He said to clean up after yourself and ensuring food isn’t accessible.

“Secure food items inside hard sided structures so it’s not available, clean that barbeque grill at home, getting rid of all attractants for a bear will go a long way,” Lockyer said.

Idaho Fish and Game says it’s extremely risky to feed bears on the trails or near residences. The animals will lose the fear factor with humans and become comfortable approaching for snacks. Two bears have already been euthanized this year in Grand Teton National Park because of their comfortability with humans.

“We want people to see them and enjoy them from a distance, they’re good at taking care of themselves, so enjoy from a distance,” Lockyer said. “They don’t need your food.”

This year will also prove interesting because of when the bears will go into hybernation. Some years, bears hybernate as early as November or December, but Fish and Game says it all depends on snowfall. With the lack of food, it’s possible bears will roam a little later into the winter months this year.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) has been quietly under construction in Bannock County for the last two years, as the county commissioners debate topics including how to potentially allow renewable energy resource projects into the county. Previously, the LUDO was a total of eight separate documents, while the new, finished version combines the documents into a simplified single code. Residents have the opportunity to review this document and propose changes to Bannock County at the end of the month.

Tristan Bourquin, Assistant Planning Director for Bannock County, stated in a press release the old documents were “outdated land-use rules,” and they have gone “line by line to clean up.” Bourquin added the efforts of the last years have been to update the land-use requirements as well as eliminate any overlapping regulations due to the separate documents.

There are several key changes to the code in the new LUDO document, including the elimination of an outright ban on renewable energy resources. Debate sparked over solar energy coming to Bannock County near Downey months ago, as commissioners discussed rewriting the ban ordinance. The new LUDO requires energy projects to obtain a Conditional Use Permit, similar to the process Lex Developments has been completing to put a data center in Pocatello.

To get a Conditional Use Permit, the development company must go through a rigorous application process, adhere to the “strict safeguards” outlined in the ordinance, and the projects will be further discussed by residents at public hearings.

Public Information Officer for Bannock County, Emma Iannacone, outlined several other major changes residents should be aware of in the new document. These include removing open space requirements to allow property owners full use of their land and adjusting minimum lot size requirements in certain areas to align with their intended uses.

Residents have already voiced concerns over their intentions when buying agriculturally-zoned land in Bannock County, only to have it neighboring a potential large-scale project if the new ordinance is adopted. Commissioners and contributors to the updated LUDO report that they have strict guidelines for any developments looking to come to Bannock County.

Before the draft document is final, Bannock County will host public hearings to incorporate public opinion on the proposed changes. The Planning and Development Council Hearing will be held at Chubbuck City Hall on Thursday, October 29 at 6 p.m. During the hearing, the Advisory Council will review the document, accept public testimony limited to three minutes per person, and then issue a formal recommendation of the suggestions to the Board of Commissioners.

Residents can also submit written testimony of less than two pages by October 21. They can be sent by email to development@bannockcounty.gov or mailed to the Planning and Development Services Office.

Bannock County also issued a tentative meeting notice of the Board of County Commissioners Hearing for Thursday, November 19 at 11 a.m. at the Bannock County Courthouse. At this meeting, the commissioners will review the Council’s recommendations, accept more public testimony, and evaluate the newest draft for potential adoption, revision, or denial.

Local News 8 will continue updating this developing story as Bannock County confirms or changes the tentative commissioners’ hearing date.

To view the new Land Use and Development Ordinance Document, visit bannockcounty.gov/ourfuture.

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