Author: KIFI

Par Kermani

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Rigby Police Department is asking for the public’s help identifying the owner or operator of a vehicle believed to be connected to an ongoing criminal investigation.

According to police, the incident under investigation occurred at Rigby South Park. Investigators are attempting to identify and speak with the owner and/or operator of the vehicle regarding the case.

Anyone who recognizes the vehicle or has information that could assist investigators is asked to contact the Rigby Police Department at (208) 745-1951, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at (208) 745-9210, option 7, or submit a tip through the Rigby Police Department’s Facebook page.

Police ask anyone providing information to reference Case Number 02-2026-01699.

The request was sent through the official Rigby Police Department Facebook page, however they request that community members refrain from posting names or personal information in social media comment sections and instead provide information directly to investigators.

All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Par Kermani

ALPINE, Wyo. (KIFI) — Crews with the Town of Alpine Public Works Department are working to repair a water main break on Lodge Lane.

According to the Town of Apline social media page, residents on Lodge Lane and portions of Greys River Road are experiencing a temporary loss of water service while repairs are underway.

Officials did not provide an estimated time for service restoration but said crews are working to restore water service as quickly and safely as possible.

Residents affected by the outage are encouraged to monitor Town of Alpine communication channels for the latest updates.

Local News 8 will continue to follow this story and provide updates at LocalNews8.com as more information becomes available.

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Par Kermani

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to be vigilant after an elderly woman narrowly avoided losing $25,000 in a sophisticated scam.

According to the sheriff’s office, the woman was convinced by scammers to withdraw $25,000 in cash from her bank, hide the money inside magazines and package it to look like a birthday gift. She was then instructed to ship the box and pay an additional $200 for expedited delivery.

Officials say the woman’s son learned what was happening and worked with the shipping company to recover the package before it reached the scammers.

Madison County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office warns that scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to target victims, including:

Keeping victims on the phone for extended periods of time

Creating a false sense of urgency to pressure quick decisions

Convincing victims not to discuss the situation with family members, bank employees, or law enforcement

Officials encourage residents to remain cautious and verify any suspicious requests before sending money or sharing personal information.

The department is also encouraging people to talk with older family members, friends and neighbors about common scams and warning signs. They also warn the public to never mail or ship cash, be cautious of anyone demanding secrecy or immediate action, and contact a trusted family member or law enforcement agency before sending money in response to an unusual request.

Officials say a simple conversation could help prevent a significant financial loss.

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News Team

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — The high-profile preliminary hearing for 23-year-old Tyler Robinson is scheduled to resume in a Utah courtroom today, where a judge will ultimately determine if there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial for the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Thursday’s hearing has now ended. You can watch the recorded proceedings in the video player above.

According to CNN, Utah prosecutors are expected to play portions of a videotaped statement by Robinson’s roommate today. Court documents identify the roommate as Robinson’s romantic partner, making them a pivotal witness in the state’s case. Messages sent between the pair on the day of the shooting allegedly contain a confession from Robinson.

RELATED: Read texts police say Kirk shooting suspect and former roommate exchanged, which prosecutors could use as key evidence

On Wednesday, day three of the hearing, Judge Tony Graf ruled that 20 minutes of the 37-minute interview can be played in court. This decision followed a request from Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, to have the interview played in its entirety, according to CNN.

While the defense and prosecution debated which portions of the tape should be admitted, Jeffrey Neiman, the attorney representing the Kirk family, advocated for full.

“The Kirk family believes strongly that if the evidence is being admitted in this preliminary hearing, it should be made public for the world to see. No redactions,” Neiman told the court. “This court has tools at its exposure, uh tools at its disposal to make sure the defendant receives a fair trial. You’ll use them if you find that you need to. That’s it, Your Honor. To not be transparent here. To not be open, to not let the world see what happened, will create doubt and distrust in the judicial system. And that’s not what anybody wants. That’s not what any of us believe should happen here. And we’d ask the court to consider the position of the family in making its ultimate decision.”

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, ID (KIFI) – It will be a hot day, with temperatures expected to reach near 90 degrees this afternoon. With drier conditions, fire danger will increase throughout Thursday and into early next week. The forecast for Thursday also indicates lingering chances of thunderstorms from the Arco area to Idaho Falls, with gusty winds possible as temperatures rise.

Clouds will clear from the region this morning, allowing plenty of sunshine early Thursday, a precursor to the hot conditions later in the day. Due to the hot and dry weather, a heat watch will be in effect for much of Eastern Idaho.

Temperatures in the Snake River Plain will climb to around 90 degrees by late afternoon, with minimal precipitation expected, aside from a few stray thunderstorms near the ridges of the Arco Desert and Mud Lake area. Wind gusts may peak around 20-25 mph, with slightly higher gusts in the Craters of the Moon area. Overnight lows will drop back to the 50s across the region.

Friday will be even warmer, with low to mid-90s expected throughout the area. High winds are expected to increase to 15-25 mph, and dry conditions will keep the fire risk elevated for the weekend.

The heat will continue to build over the weekend, with high temperatures reaching well into the 90s and potentially approaching 100° on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Be sure to wear sunscreen and turn on your box fan to stay cool.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Museum of Idaho recognized George Washington Wednesday with a U.S. 250th anniversary commemorative event.

At a special showing of “Young Washington” at the Centre Twin Theater, Idaho Falls City Council President and award-winning U.S. history teacher Jim Francis explored the complexities of America’s first president.

He offered an insightful look at George Washington the man – as a general, Commander in Chief, slave owner, and monument in U.S. history.

“Who was he as a human being, as a leader who made mistakes sometimes, and who was he as this monument we’ve built up as our founding father?” Francis asked.

Francis cited five historical statements made about George Washington. 

“George Washington married one of the richest women in the colonies, making him one of the richest men in the colonies,” Francis related. “Her name, Martha Custis, a widow who owned thousands of acres of land around Williamsburg, 300 slaves, hundreds of head of cattle, hogs and sheep.”

He quoted John Adams, who described Washington’s characteristics in 1807, “Handsome face, tall, graceful, gift of silence, self-command, great fortune.”

Author Ron Chernow, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography “Washington: A Life,” wrote, “Two people seemed to coexist inside George Washington’s breast. One was the political militant who mouthed republican slogans; this Washington thought his troops would fight better if motivated by patriotic ideals. … This Washington was also the Virginia planter who felt little in common with the scruffy plebeians around him.”

“George Washington was a flirt and in love with Sally Fairfax, his best friend’s wife,” Francis said, quoting another statement.

Finally, “At the age of 21, George Washington single-handedly touched off the Fourth War that soon led to the Seven Years War, which we teach as the French and Indian War,” Francis shared.

The Museum of Idaho’s Film Series was paired with its fascinating historical exhibit “Declaration: 250 years of US” – which offers a look at artifacts, historical documents, and facsimiles at the heart of the Revolutionary War. 

“It explores America’s founding and the basic tenets of the Declaration,” said Museum of Idaho Marketing Director Camille Farac. “One thing that I really enjoy is a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence. So that’s an exact replica, and it’s hand-engraved [and printed] in 1833. Another cool one is the Declaration of Independence with edits – so Thomas Jefferson’s edits – scribbled onto it.”

The exhibit also contains artifacts from Independence Hall, a cannonball from the War of 1812, and Continental Army and British Army uniforms.

You can catch the “Declaration: 250 years of US” exhibit this summer through February 2027 – only at the Museum of Idaho.

“Washington crossing the Delaware” is featured in the Museum of Idaho’s “Declaration: 250 Years of US” exhibit this summer.

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Par Kermani

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Jefferson County residents are being urged to avoid outdoor burning after county officials issued a burn ban due to extreme dry conditions and an increased risk of wildfires.

The burn ban took effect July 6 and will remain in place through Sept. 30.

During the ban, all outdoor burning is prohibited, including brush piles and debris burning. Agricultural burning may still be allowed but must receive approval from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality before any burning takes place.

Officials at the Central Fire District say the restrictions are necessary because of heightened wildfire danger across the region and are asking residents to help prevent human-caused fires by complying with the ban.

Residents are also encouraged to report any unauthorized burning to local authorities.

The burn ban was issued with the support of the Jefferson County Commissioners and will remain in effect through the end of September unless conditions warrant changes.

Officials are reminding the public that dry vegetation, hot temperatures and windy conditions can quickly turn a small fire into a fast-moving wildfire.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – A Pocatello woman was enjoying her night at the weekly festival in the historic downtown area when suddenly her Chihuahua, Gizmo, was stolen from her by a young girl.

Angela Benningfield is offering $1,000 for the return of her emotional support dog.

On June 24, Benningfield and her niece were sitting near Lookout Point’s pavillion enjoying the live music. She allowed two boys, whom she says were around 16 years old, to play with and hold her dog during the concert.

“I was going to leave and they asked to hold my dog one more time, and I felt like they were, in hindsight, holding me up,” Benningfield recalled. “My niece and I proceeded to walk over to the side of the library to go to my car and another girl about 16 came up behind me and asked to hold my dog.”

Benningfield said she was worried the girl would think she was prejudiced if she allowed the boys to hold her dog but not her, so she complied. As soon as the girl got hold of Gizmo, she unclipped his leash and took off running, even losing her two Crocs shoes in the process.

Benningfield recalls the girl running quickly down the sidewalk in front of the Marshall Public Library towards Pocatello High School and into a nearby alleyway. She tried to catch her, but said the boys from earlier were shouldering her and pushing her out of the way, leading Benningfield to believe the teenagers were working together to steal her dog.

When she couldn’t catch up, she resorted to yelling at onlookers to follow the girl with Gizmo.

“People who followed her said they believed she got into around a 2000 extended cab Chevy Silverado, burgundy in color,” she said. “Please, if you see my dog Gizmo, you can contact me at 208-671-1458.”

Gizmo is Benningfield’s emotional support dog, and she claims to have had him since he was a 7-week-old puppy, making the loss much harder. “Gizmo is very special to me,” she said. “I would really like to get him back, and if anyone knows where my dog is or the girl’s name that has my dog, I have the thousand dollar reward.”

Post on Facebook with Gizmo (left) and Crocs shoes left behind by the alleged dog thief (right)

Benningfield also said she’s learned a lesson through this experience.

“I’ve learned a valuable lesson not to let anybody hold your dog, pet your dog,” she explained. “Keep your dog safe.”

Gizmo is microchipped, so she is hopeful he could be found by a veterinarian. Police lieutenant Akilah Lacey said he recommends getting your dogs microchipped.

“Our dogs are part of our family, but unfortunately, by law, they are property,” Lt. Lacey explained. “We will go and research it just like as if it was a stolen vehicle or stolen jewelry or whatever it may be.”

Lt. Lacey said they will do all their due digilence in dog theft cases– checking with local animal control officers and the humane society to ensure the dog isn’t in a shelter, and then treating it as an investigation like any other crime.

“Finding any witnesses, cameras, neighbors, all that stuff to see what we could find,” he said. “We know that if you’re like me, your dogs are your family. So I know the stress would be absolutely horrible, but we won’t give up, they’re just so important to people.”

The Pocatello Police Department confirmed that even if a case says “inactive” in their system, that doesn’t mean they’ll give up on finding a lost or stolen dog. He also said sometimes civil cases can come up regarding dog theft, adding to the complications and moving parts of a case, however the PPD will treat it as any other crime.

If you know anything about the case of Gizmo, please contact Angela Benningfield via Facebook or by phone at 208-671-1458.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A local security guard is on leave following a verbal altercation with a woman that was caught on camera and has quickly gone viral online.

@alyssa.bratcher

Happy 4th of July to us, where this mall security officer, “Hansen,” lit his own fuse and became more explosive than fireworks! 🧨 Grand Teton Mall encounter at the entrance. My girlfriend and I decided to take some lighthearted and funny photos, but apparently, this man didn’t seem to like it. He told us we were going to get “banned” when we were simply minding our own business and proceeded to curse and yell at us just for asking why we couldn’t take pictures at the mall. I’m not sure if it was an act of homophobia or simply just rage for no good reason. Unacceptable lash-out behavior for someone who shouldn’t have this position for a job. His backup arrived and said his officer was in the wrong, and we did file a report. A minute and 15 seconds into this video is where he crosses the line, luckily we got it on video. I wanted to share and make this public for anyone who may have encountered him – he is unsafe and dangerous; hopefully, you won’t. Stay safe, everybody! Let’s make this known, and share too. #grandtetonmall #idahofalls #security #KnowYourRights

♬ original sound – Alyssa Bratcher

The incident took place at the Grand Teton Mall, where a woman and her girlfriend claim they were confronted by security for taking “lighthearted and funny photos.”

The confrontation gained widespread attention after shopper Alyssa Bratcher posted a video of the incident to TikTok, referring to the security officer involved as “Hansen.”

In the footage, “Hansen” can be heard shouting at the women, and at the end of the clip, he appears to attempt to force his way past and grab Bratcher’s phone.

The video was posted with the caption, in part, “…My girlfriend and I decided to take some lighthearted and funny photos, but apparently, this man didn’t seem to like it. He told us we were going to get ‘banned’ when we were simply minding our own business and proceeded to curse and yell at us just for asking why we couldn’t take pictures at the mall.”

Bratcher questioned the guard’s motives, adding, “I’m not sure if it was an act of homophobia or simply just rage for no good reason.” According to Bratcher, additional security personnel eventually arrived and stated the officer was in the wrong.

The video has struck a chord online, with the TikTok video currently generating 544.5K views.

Security Experts Weigh In

Grand Teton Mall’s security is run by Professional Security Consultants. Local News 8 reached out to Bratcher and Professional Security Consultants for comment, but has not received a response.

However, the behavior displayed in the video has drawn criticism from local security professionals. Cesilio Silveira, of Gem State Security in Idaho Falls, reviewed the footage with Local News 8 and noted it was not handled professionally.

“The biggest thing is when you watch it, you could tell it was handled, not professionally,” Silveira said.

However, Silveira also cautioned the public against rushing to final judgments based solely on a short internet clip, noting that the viral video only captures a snippet of the total interaction. According to industry research, social media algorithms systematically push high-emotion, conflict-driven content to the top of users’ feeds—a phenomenon often referred to as the “algorithm of outrage.”

“The biggest issue is we’ve only seen one side of the video, and they’re taking the correct steps on that with the investigation, reviewing the entire incident, because there’s always more to this story,” Silveira added. “I hope the appropriate steps are taken by the company, the mall, and law enforcement if they need to see fit with that option.”

Official Response and Next Steps

The Grand Teton Mall is privately owned by retail real estate company GGP. In a statement to Local News 8, Claudia Ilagan, Public Relations Manager for GGP, confirmed immediate action was taken.

“We are aware of the incident involving a third-party security officer and a shopper at Grand Teton Mall and are taking the matter very seriously. The officer was removed from duty and a review of the incident is now underway by the security company. Regardless, his behavior does not reflect the standards we expect of those entrusted with maintaining a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for our guests. We appreciate the patience and support of our shoppers, tenants, and community as we complete this process.” – Claudia Ilagan

The Idaho Falls Police Department confirmed to Local News 8 that, as of publication, the Bratcher has not filed an official police report.

Local News 8 will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — With temperatures expected to reach the upper 90s and climb above 100 degrees in the coming weeks, the City of Pocatello is opening three cooling shelter locations to help residents stay safe during extreme heat.

The cooling shelters will open Friday, July 10, and remain available for 45 days. City officials say they will evaluate weather forecasts at the end of that period to determine whether the program should be extended.

The shelters will be located at City Hall, the Marshall Public Library and Pocatello Animal Services.

City Hall, located at 911 N. 7th Avenue, will be open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visitors will have access to bottled water, charging outlets and indoor space to escape the heat. The City Council Chambers will also be available when not in use for meetings.

The Marshall Public Library, located at 113 S. Garfield Avenue, will serve as a cooling shelter during its regular operating hours. The library is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The library is closed Sundays.

Pocatello Animal Services, located at 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs, will also be available during normal business hours. Officials say residents may bring their pets with them while using the cooling station, providing an option for those who do not want to leave animals behind. The facility is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sundays.

City officials are encouraging residents to take advantage of the cooling shelters when needed and to check on neighbors, family members and friends who may be more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, including older adults, young children and people without access to air conditioning.

“As temperatures rise, we want to make sure everyone has a safe, comfortable place to cool off,” Mayor Mark Dahlquist said. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of these cooling shelters if needed and to help spread the word so those who could benefit know these locations are available.”

More information is available through the City of Pocatello.

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