Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The high-speed chase that captivated local social media has finally come to a gentle halt. A four-month-old goat, who became an overnight celebrity on the Life in Idaho Falls Facebook group, was safely captured by animal control officers this week.

For days, people in Idaho Falls reported sightings of the runaway kid darting through neighborhoods. The “four-hoofed suspect” proved to be a formidable challenge for local animal control officers, who were fortunately able to corral him into safety within just 20 minutes.

“Our officers were hot on the trail! This elusive escape artist zigged, zagged, and showed off some serious speed,” the Idaho Falls Animal Shelter shared in a Facebook update.

In honor of his “lightning-fast moves” and undeniable need for speed, shelter staff have officially dubbed the young goat Lightning McQueen, inspired by the popular character from Disney Pixar’s Cars.

After his whirlwind tour of the city, the shelter says McQueen is reportedly trading the fast lane for some much-needed downtime. We’re happy to report he is now safe, warm, and relaxing at the shelter,” states the update.

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News Team

UPDATE

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Joseph Haight, an 18-year-old from Blackfoot who went missing earlier this week, has been found dead alongside his Ford F150 truck in Bonneville County. The discovery comes after a missing person’s report was issued for the endangered teen.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Police have notified his family.

“We sincerely thank the public and media for their assistance in locating Joseph and his vehicle. Your support and effort were greatly appreciated during this investigation. There is no public risk related to this incident,” said Blackfoot Police Captain Wes Wheatley in a news update.

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Blackfoot Police are asking for the community’s help in finding 18-year-old Joseph Haight, who has been missing since Wednesday evening.

Joseph was last seen leaving work on January 28 at around 7:00 PM. He’s described as 5’5″, 130 lbs. with green eyes and brown hair. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, black Pants, and black boots.

According to the police, his truck, a green 98 Ford F150, was seen, and his bank card was used at Sage Hill the following day. His cell phone is not communicating with any cell service.

Police emphasize that Joseph requires daily medication, which he does not have with him. Missing these doses will lead to significant medical complications.

If you have any information regarding Joseph’s whereabouts, contact Bingham County Dispatch at 208-785-1234.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 34-year-old Bonneville County man is in custody facing multiple felony charges after allegedly threatening to shoot his roommate “in the face” during an argument over a flashlight.

Jeramie Mark Seward was booked into the Bonneville County Jail on Thursday for felony aggravated assault, felony possession of methamphetamine, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the initial incident took place on January 27 at a trailer park near 65th W. and 33rd S. A man and a woman told Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies that Seward, their roommate, became aggressive during an argument over a flashlight. According to investigators, the victims reported that Seward pointed a small shotgun at the man’s head and threatened to “shoot him in the face.”

Afterwards, the two roommates fled the trailer with their belongings and contacted law enforcement. Following their report, an investigator was able to contact Seward by phone. Although Seward initially told the deputy over the phone that the argument was strictly verbal and no weapons were involved or present in the trailer, investigators were able to obtain both a search warrant and a felony arrest warrant.

Bonneville County SWAT assembles for operation. January 29, 2026.

On Thursday, January 29, the BCSO SWAT Team was deployed to serve the warrants due to the reported presence of a firearm. Seward, who had been told by neighbors that police were at his home, eventually contacted deputies and agreed to meet them at the trailer, where he was arrested without further incident.

While deputies did not find the small shotgun described by the victims during the search of the trailer, they did uncover multiple pieces of drug paraphernalia, around 4 grams of Methamphetamine, and a small pellet gun.

Seward’s preliminary hearing has been set for February 13, 2026, at 1 PM, before Bonneville County magistrate judge Jacob Workman.

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Seth Ratliff

JEROME COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A crash on U.S. Highway 93 in southern Idaho sent two people to the hospital Friday morning.

The crash took place at around 8:00 AM at the intersection of US-93 and Golf Course Road in Jerome County. According to ISP reports, the driver of a black 2012 Ford Escape was attempting a left-hand turn onto Golf Course Road when they were struck by a blue 2022 Ford Bronco traveling southbound.

The impact was severe enough that one driver was airlifted to a regional medical facility due to the severity of their injuries, while the other was taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital. As of late Friday morning, the medical conditions of both individuals remain undisclosed.

ISP is leading the investigation into the incident, primarily focusing on determining the right-of-way at the time of the crash. Investigators are also working to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

The Idaho State Police is asking for the public’s help. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who observed the traffic signal lights at or near the time of the collision is asked to contact the ISP District 4 office at 208-324-6000.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 30 JAN 26 12:40 ET

By Steve Dent

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    CASCADE, Idaho (KIVI) — The Idaho Sled Dog Challenge canceled the 100-mile and the 300-mile Iditarod qualifier because of a lack of snow, but they were able to host the Warm Lake Stage Race.

The Warm Lake Stage Race is a two-day race where mushers and their teams run 26 miles. The course starts and ends at North Shore Lodge at Warm Lake about 26 miles east of Cascade.

“This year I want to defend I want to defend my title as first place winner,” said Caroline Nevills. “It is a really fun race, I love running this one.”

Two years ago Nevills didn’t finish, but last year she was the champion of this race. The Warm Lake Stage Race is geared more towards up-and-coming mushers and locals like Nevills who picked up the sport from her mother, Liz, as they live in Middleton.

“It’s more of a family sport, which I love it, it gets me exercise and I have a lot of fun doing this,” said Caroline, who is 18-years-old and will be going to school in Alaska next year. “It’s mom and me time essentially.”

The Warm Lake Stage Race is also a spectator friendly event as it is free to see the teams compete. They will be on the course for about two hours before finishing where they started at North Shore Lodge.

The teams had a cheering section to help see them off as sixth graders from the Ambrose School in Boise came up for the race on a field trip. Their teachers have the children read Call of the Wild, then they come up and experience it.

“I think they are just as excited as the dogs were before the race,” said teacher Grace Anderson. “Yes and it is wonderful for us to come up. This is our fourth year so we have actually been here since the start of the Warm Lake Race,” said the other sixth-grade teacher Savannah Stame.

The teachers told me it is the highlight of the year for the students, and for a while this race was in jeopardy. However, they got enough snow east of Cascade in the mountains to run the race.

“We prayed for snow and we are just happy to have a race,” said Nevills. “The dogs need the exercise, we are happy to run them and we enjoy this a lot.”

The second stage of the race will happen on Friday at 10 a.m. If you do take the detour up on your way to the McCall Winter Carnival, take it slow as the road in is covered in snow and ice. The mushers and their teams will also be at Hotel NoBo in Cascade on Saturday for a meet and greet at 10 a.m.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: 12:48 PM

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho National Guard members will see a significant drop in college financial aid as military leaders move to slash tuition assistance by 29% do comply with statewide budget cuts. The cuts are a direct response to Governor Brad Little’s order to reduce statewide spending by 3% across all agencies.

Major General Timothy J. Donnellan, Idaho adjutant general, warned the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) on Thursday that the reduction threatens recruitment and retention.

Major General Timothy J. Donnellan addresses members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

“Many of our enlistees joined the National Guard (because), one, they want to stay in Idaho, and two, because Idaho offers the state education assistance.” Maj. Gen. Timothy J. Donnellan, Idaho adjutant general and commander of the Idaho National Guard.

“I am concerned if we were to reduce it further, that we would break faith with our soldiers and airmen who have enlisted, and are willing to take that and improve their lives.”

While Major General Donnellan told lawmakers that the Idaho Military Division had been able to absorb the budget cuts, he emphasized that they cannot cut the benefits any further.

The Fiscal Impact

Currently, the state allocates $650,000 for the State Education Assistance Program. According to a state budget analyst, the Idaho Military Division plans to cut $185,900 from the program for fiscal year 2027.

In addition to the tuition cuts, the division will reduce state matching funds for federal FEMA grants and National Guard cooperative agreements, according to a report by the Idaho Capital Sun.

Courtesy: Idaho Public Television

Tuition assistance will be cut by 29% to comply with Governor Brad Little’s order to reduce statewide spending by 3%. Military leaders expressed concerns about the cuts to the Joint Finance Committee on Thursday, stating that by reducing it further, they’d break faith with the members of the Idaho National Guard.

Escalating Budget Tensions

Earlier this week, a JFAC memo directed state agencies to prepare for an additional 2% cuts for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, on top of the initial 3% reduction.

RELATED: Idaho Democrats blast new round of budget cuts amid GOP Tax Plan

The move was quickly condemned by Idaho Democratic leaders, who argue it will “take a chainsaw” to essential services. All state agencies have until the end of the day Friday to submit their plans for the additional budget cuts.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield rejected the order for budget reductions, stating in a letter to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee’s co-chairs. “The public schools budget is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It represents every one of our students, classrooms, teachers, and communities.”

RELATED: Critchfield rejects budget committee’s request to plan for cuts

State Democrats condemn “balancing the budget” on National Guard families’ shoulders’

Following the announcement of the cuts, Idaho Democratic legislators and veterans Sen. James Ruchti and Rep. Chris Mathias released the following statements in response to state budget cuts reducing tuition assistance for Idaho National Guard soldiers and airmen:

“Idaho Guard members step up to serve, and their families build their lives around the promises the state makes to them. Cutting tuition assistance pulls the rug out from under soldiers and airmen trying to get a degree, start a career, and stay in Idaho. As a veteran, I’m telling my Republican colleagues: don’t break faith with the people who wear the uniform.” – Senate Assistant Democratic Leader James Ruchti.

“Military education benefits made it possible for me and thousands of other Idahoans to earn a degree. Guard members rely on these benefits to balance service, work, and school at the same time. In a year with no recession, no pandemic, and no crisis beyond our control, I’m truly shocked JFAC leadership is choosing to cut a promise made to the people who serve our state and nation. Balancing the budget on military families’ shoulders deserves a hard pass.” – Rep. Chris Mathias.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 30 JAN 26 13:05 ET

By Mythili Gubbi

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    SANDY, Utah (KSTU) — People from all over jumped into freezing cold water on Thursday, to help raise money for Special Olympics Utah.

The polar plunge at the America First Field in Sandy was one of four events to help make inclusive sports more accessible for athletes. They called in ‘Freezin for a Reason.’

“People are willing to jump into cold water to support the mission of Special Olympics, we’re raising funds and awareness,” said Scott Weaver, President and CEO of Special Olympics Utah.

Christine and Dan do something every year to celebrate their anniversary. This year, they participated in the polar plunge.

“It’s wonderful, I used to work with people with special needs, and it’s a great cause, dear to my heart,” said Christine.

Different organizations participated too, including Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals.

“It means a lot,” said Kyle Schroeder, with Real Salt Lake and Utah Royals. “It’s not only just the funds, but the commitment to show that year round, we are here for you and we are supporting you, we’re making sure that you guys are taken care of.”

It was personal for Alicia Patrick and her son, Phoenix. “Special Olympics means so much to us,” said Patrick. “My son is autistic and they give him joy, belonging, community, friendship and they just mean everything to us.”

“We offer 17 sports, over 120 events throughout the year, all of that is free of charge to our athletes, so the funds raised here help to support the mission and the day-to-day activities offered by Special Olympics Utah,” said Weaver.

“We raise money so that everybody can feel the same joy that he gets to feel everyday,” said Patrick.

The goal is to raise $75,000. They are at about $63,000 and have two more Polar Plunge events to help meet that goal. The one in Ogden is on February 7, and there is another in Cedar City on February 21.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Ryan Suppe

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on January 29, 2026

By: Ryan Suppe

BOISE, Idaho — One day after legislative budget-writers asked state superintendent Debbie Critchfield to plan for cuts to public schools, the first-term Republican delivered her response: No. 

“I will not be recommending further cuts to the public schools budget,” Critchfield wrote in a Thursday letter to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee’s co-chairs. “The public schools budget is more than numbers on a spreadsheet. It represents every one of our students, classrooms, teachers and communities.”

Her letter follows two memos this week from Sen. C. Scott Grow and Rep. Josh Tanner, the Eagle Republicans who head JFAC. Their memos asked state agency directors to deliver plans for budget cuts up to 2%, in addition to the 3% cuts that Gov. Brad Little made through an executive order last year. 

The first memo, sent to agency directors Monday, mirrored the governor’s executive order, which exempted K-12. But the second memo, delivered Wednesday, reversed the exemption. It added the $2.7 billion public school system and the Division of Medicaid to the list of agencies that should deliver plans to JFAC. 

Grow and Tanner asked Critchfield to send them “budget reduction plans” at 1% and 2% for the current fiscal year and next fiscal year, as the co-chairs consider “options to balance the statewide budget.”

“We’re just making sure we have all the cards actually laid out,” Tanner told Idaho Education News Thursday afternoon.

He did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening on Critchfield’s reply.

In her response, Critchfield wrote that the public school budget is already “in line with the state’s fiscal reality.” Heading into the session, the superintendent reduced her budget request by $50 million, pulling back a block grant proposal that would’ve addressed about half of the state’s special education funding gap. 

Critchfield’s budget also incorporated projected enrollment decreases, which would cut K-12 funding by $22 million this fiscal year and $42 million next fiscal year. Otherwise, the budget Critchfield delivered to lawmakers is flat — essentially a cut when factoring in inflation, she wrote. 

These revisions “fulfilled the assignment,” Critchfield told EdNews by phone Thursday. She also noted that she supports Little’s budget recommendations, which include cuts to virtual schools while keeping “classroom funding” whole. 

“Both of those things will get them to a balanced budget,” she said. “You can balance the budget without coming in mid-year and making cuts to public ed.”

Click here to read Critchfield’s response to JFAC.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield speaks at a Jan. 21 JFAC meeting. (Sean Dolan/EdNews)

A 2% cut to public schools would amount to $55.1 million. 

This would feel like “going backwards” after the state’s K-12 investments in recent years, Critchfield said. And it would be felt in classrooms, particularly in the middle of a budget year. 

About 87% of public school spending is tied to teacher contracts, Critchfield said, and operational costs are rising — costs of fuel, utilities, food, classroom materials and other necessities to operate a school. 

“I know that it may sound dramatic, but … in order to break contracts, you go and declare emergencies,” she said. “It really does have impacts all the way around.”

Other state agency directors have until noon Friday to deliver their plans to JFAC.

Critchfield’s refusal to comply doesn’t mean public schools are safe. The Legislature can still cut K-12 spending. 

But the governor could also stand in the way. Lori Wolff, Little’s budget chief, said Thursday that the Republican governor’s budget plan shows there’s “a way to balance this budget without touching K-12.”

“That’s the roadmap,” she added. 

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Danielle Mullenix

We jump into the weekend with warm conditions, low clouds, and light snow showers through portions of Saturday. On Friday morning, patchy dense fog and ice are likely, with a low in the lower 20s. High pressure will bring in above-average temperatures, with cloud coverage riding in from the Northwest Pacific.

For Friday afternoon, our forecast remains mostly cloudy and a low risk of snow. Most of the snow flurries and showers will be east of the Snake River Plain. Temperatures will peak in the upper 30’s for the Snake River Plain, with a light north wind. Moisture from the high-pressure system moving inland toward us will mainly be in the form of cloud coverage, thus increasing the likelihood of a flurry mix for the weekend. Lightly scattered snow could develop later into Friday afternoon and spread across the Western Wyoming border.

Will see temperatures continue to climb into above-average numbers throughout the weekend. High pressure will dominate the forecast moving into the first week of February. A weak shortwave will arrive on Monday, bringing a dip into cooler temperatures and a slight chance of snow flurries in mountainous areas at the start of the week.

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David Pace

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) – Christian nationalism is proving to be a hot topic in Idaho.

Following The City Club of Idaho Falls’ forum on Christian nationalism Tuesday, Local News 8 reporter David Pace reached out to Idaho Pastor Doug Wilson to see if he feels the ideas presented there accurately represent his faith.

You can listen to the full, unedited interview below.

Much of Tuesday’s community forum focused on Christ Church, a Moscow-based congregation of 1,300 people that is part of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC).

“If they said, are you a Christian nationalist? I would say yes, depending on what you mean. So if you mean someone who wants an authoritarian dictatorship and missile parades and dictators with mirrored sunglasses, no, I’m not a Christian nationalist,” Wilson said. “If you’re asking whether or not I believe that America should return to her Christian roots, I would say yes.”

The faith has risen in prominence as U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth attends an affiliated church.

“One aspect of Christian theology applied to politics would be the necessity of limited government,” Wilson said. “So the first thing that would happen is that I’d want to defund 90 percent of it [the government].”

Wilson said he does support the separation of church and state – meaning that he does not believe in a state-sponsored church.

“One of the principal objections that the Christian nationalists have to the existing government is that it’s aspiring to be God. It’s aspiring to deity,” he said. “They want to film you at every traffic stop. They wanted to film you at every intersection. hey want to record every keystroke. They want to listen to every conversation – they’re aspiring to omniscience. They want to be God.”

“I’m fond of telling people, ‘If there is no God above the state, the state becomes God,” he continued. “And I don’t want the state to be God.”

His church believes in “planting churches, training ministers, planting Christian schools and teaching civics to kids.”

Today, there are more than 400 Association of Classical and Christian Schools patterned after Christ Church’s Logos School in Moscow, he said.

Wilson is a proponent of household voting – where each household has one vote, which is how his church operates.

While he has been criticized that this disenfranchises women, he clarified that single women and women who are heads of households do vote in this system and in his congregation.

Wilson addressed controversy and criticism of his teachings on race, marriage and family relations, and said these are often misquoted or taken out of context.

He said he does not, however, apologize for the teachings of the Bible.

You can view our full unedited interview above.

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