Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

A beautiful wrap-up to the weekend will bring warmer temperatures and sunny skies as we jump into the final week of February. We’re tracking mostly sunny skies for the remainder of Sunday afternoon, with high temperatures in the mid- to upper 40s and light winds around 5 mph. Overnight, lows will drop to around 19° as partly cloudy skies set in for the Snake River Plain.

We will continue to see drier, warmer weather through the start of Monday morning and into the afternoon. The forecast will begin to change, however, on Monday night, when a fresh winter system arrives in the region, bringing a greater chance of rain and snow in the mountainous areas. This system is expected to remain in place until Wednesday.

Highs across this region this Sunday are above average, generally expected to be in the 40s, and with small precipitation chances of less than 10%. Wind gusts could reach the teens this Sunday afternoon, but nothing above the 20s is expected.

Some moisture will start to work into portions of areas above 6000 ft by Monday afternoon, after 3 pm. This increases the region’s chance of snowy conditions in the first half of next week, with dry conditions returning on Thursday and continuing through the remainder of the weekend.

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News Team

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Firefighters are currently on the scene of a massive structure fire at a local landmark. The Salmon Volunteer Fire Department reports that the Baker County Market is completely engulfed in flames.

Courtesy: Lemhi Live (est. 2017)

Crews arrived at the structure on 7 North Baker Rd. to find the Market aggressively burning. Three to four fire trucks are currently on-site battling the blaze.

Residents are being told to avoid North Baker Road to allow emergency vehicles clear access to the scene.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown. There has been no official word on injuries or whether anyone was inside the market when the fire broke out.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to update this report as the Salmon Fire Department provides new information.

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Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– This weekend’s Home Improvement Expo in Pocatello was the place to find inspiration if you’ve been putting off your next house projects. Day two of the expo brought hundreds of patrons through the doors of the Mountain View Event Center, where local vendors showcased products and services designed to upgrade everything from the inside and outside of your home, even aid for when you hurt yourself working on projects.

Local News 8 spoke with several local vendors at the event and asked why events like this are important.

Dave Johnson with Bath Fitter says the expo allows businesses to introduce themselves directly to potential customers.

“It’s a way for us to get out and have people see our company, know who we are and explain what we do. It’s a great chance to interact with people and find out what their needs might be,” Johnson said.

Brenda Capmull of Anthem Broadband says the event provides a great opportunity to show customers that her company is locally owned and operated.

“It’s a really great way to be forward-facing with customers and answer any questions they might have,” Capmull said. “A lot of residential customers don’t know that we’re a local company, so it’s nice to put a face to the name.”

The expo also served as an important platform for newer businesses trying to establish themselves in the community.

Brian and Alicia Nelson of Naughty Pines Woodworking said the event has been a great way to gain exposure.

“We’re a relatively new business here in town, and it’s about getting out in front of people, It’s a good way to do it.” Brian said, “Some people aren’t on Facebook and social media, so this is a way to get in front of those people.”

The event continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., giving homeowners one more chance to connect with local experts and gather ideas for their next project.

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Seth Ratliff

BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a stark reminder regarding gun safety this week following a shooting incident involving a child and an adult victim.

The incident took place on February 18. According to a BLCSO Facebook post, the child involved did not live at the home where the shooting took place. Fortunately, the victim’s injuries were non-life-threatening.

While specific details surrounding the incident are limited, the BLCSO is emphasizing the importance of gun safety, especially when children are living in the home.

Gun Saftey in the Home

To prevent similar accidents, the National Rifle Association provides the following for gun ownership in households with young children:

Make sure all firearms cannot be reached by anyone who should not have access to them without your consent. Store guns so they are not accessible to unauthorized persons, especially children. 

Keep ammunition securely stored where a child or any other unauthorized person cannot reach it. 

Talk to your child about guns and gun safety. By removing the mystery surrounding guns, your child will be far less curious about guns and more likely to follow safety rules. 

Make sure your child understands the difference between a toy gun and a real gun, and the difference between “pretend” and real life. 

The National Children’s Hospital adds that if you choose to keep a gun in the house, it is important that it is unloaded and locked in an area such as a safe, and the ammunition is stored and locked in a separate location.

For more information, click HERE.

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David Pace

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho industry leaders are speaking out about the importance of undocumented immigrants to the state’s labor force and economy.

“We have a significant dependance on a workforce that’s here without status. That’s not unique to Idaho industries,” said Rick Naerebout, Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO.

A new landmark study is highlighting the importance of foreign-born labor to Idaho’s agricultural, hospitality, dining and construction industries.

“You look at agriculture, construction, hospitality – there’s a certain portion of that workforce that’s here without status, and we really need to create visa programs for these individuals to come into country, and be able to fill these jobs and have a system that’s functional,” Naerebout said.

Pew Research Center estimates approximately 40,000 undocumented immigrants live in Idaho.

Idaho’s dairy sector, ranked third in the nation for milk and cheese production, is particularly vulnerable, as up to 90 percent of workers in the industry are foreign-born.

“There’s been an ongoing discussion and dialogue about labor, the lack there of labor in the greater economy and specifically in the ag economy,” Idaho Farm Bureau Federation CEO Zak Miller. “So we commissioned a study to just find out what it would look like if a portion of the undocumented workers that are in the state of Idaho were removed, and what the downstream effects would be on the economy of Idaho.”

If 28,725 undocumented individuals were removed from Idaho, the state would lose $5.1 billion in gross state product and $397.8 million in tax revenue – similar to the economic losses from the Great Recession in 2007 to 2009, the study states.

“In addition to removing over 25,000 jobs of individuals that are here without status, you would cause an additional 27,000 jobs to be lost, so a total of about 55,000 jobs would be lost in the state of Idaho,” Naerebout said.

One in five jobs in Idaho are in agriculture, construction, hospitality and dining, and those jobs directly support 35% of all jobs in the state, according to the study.

“We’re not afraid of the data because we believe when you have data, pragmatic and logical people can come up with real solutions,” Miller said. “Our real solution that we find from the data is that the system needs to be fixed, it needs to be updated, and everyone should have access to a legal workforce.”

We’ll continue to follow the impact of immigrants on Idaho’s economy in the weeks to come.

You can watch our full interview with Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO Rick Naerebout on foreign-born labor below.

You can also watch our interview with Idaho Farm Bureau Federation CEO Zak Miller below.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Simplot Games are the pinnacle athletic event in Pocatello every year, with athletes coming from around the world to compete. The athletes train for months for their several moments racing under the lights in the ICCU Dome. For Jackson Laird, an unexpected turn of events led to his first race of the games becoming the talk of the tournament.

Laird is a senior from Weiser, Idaho and has enjoyed every second of his first Simplot Games. He came to compete in the 60 meter dash, but on Thursday evening, he was in for a surprise.

“I forgot that Simplot rules has a rule against certain spikes that aren’t allowed on the track, and I didn’t take mine out,” said Laird. “So the ref called me aside, told me I couldn’t run unless I had my flats, and my flats were across the arena, so I knew I wouldn’t make it.”

Laird didn’t have time to run across the arena for his other shoes, so he was forced to make a devastating decision: forfeit his event or run barefoot. He said the decision was easy, because as soon as the ref suggested he run shoeless, he knew he had to try.

“I honestly expected to get splinters and stuff, but it wasn’t that bad actually. It felt pretty good,” Laird said. Not only did he walk away with his feet in tact, but he won his race and set a new personal record. After running consistent races at over 7.3 seconds, Laird finished with a 7.19 in his barefoot blitz. He said he couldn’t believe it when he looked up and saw the time.

“I couldn’t believe it, it was a really big PR for me so I was really happy about that,” he said.

The Simplot Games journey doesn’t end here for Laird. On Saturday, he’ll compete in the boys 60 meter dash finals race. Following his unexpected barefoot PR, Laird said he’s anxious to run in spiked shoes again.

“Honestly, I’m a little worried for tomorrow to see if hopefully I can beat my time in spikes, because if not, it’s a little embarrassing,” said Laird. He will run the final race with the spikes in his shoes, but not the needle spikes, so that he doesn’t get disqualified by the Simplot Games.

The standout from Weiser High School is looking forward to his race, since he proved he can run even faster with no shoes.

“Honestly, I’m looking for another PR because I mean if I can run barefoot and run a time like that, I’m anxious to see what I can run with spikes,” he said.

Laird hopes to continue his track career after he graduates high school. The race on Saturday at the ICCU Dome will begin at 12:30pm.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Following Idaho’s adoption of federal tax changes under the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” the Idaho State Tax Commission has released updates for the 2025 tax season. While some benefits will be automatic, officials warn that certain taxpayers may need to wait several weeks to claim new deductions.

According to a news release, the Tax Commission has successfully updated its internal systems to reflect the newly increased standard deduction.

For those who have already filed or are planning to take the standard deduction, no further action is required. The system will automatically apply the larger amount, meaning early filers will not need to file an amended return to receive the benefit.

Meanwhile, taxpayers planning to claim specific “conformity deductions” are being told to hold off on filing. The Tax Commission is currently updating forms to accommodate the Enhanced Senior Deductions, Qualified Tips from Wages, Car Loan Interest, Overtime Compensation.

Systems and forms for these specific deductions are expected to be ready by mid-to-late March. The Tax Commission plans to release detailed instructions on how to claim these items at that time.

For more information or to make payments, visit tax.idaho.gov or (208) 334-7660 in the Boise area or toll-free at (800) 972-7660. The deadline to file 2025 income taxes is Wednesday, April 15.

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Ariel Jensen

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — One of Idaho’s most prominent agricultural manufacturers is cutting back its workforce. In a letter posted to the official Spudnik Facebook page, the company confirmed it is reducing its workforce in response to low commodity prices and rising input costs that have “created sustained challenges across agriculture.”

While the company’s official statement did not specify the number of positions eliminated, a source close to the company told Local News 8 that approximately 100 employees were let go. The layoffs reportedly affected multiple departments across the Blackfoot-based company.

In the letter, which began circulating on social media Friday afternoon, leadership pointed to a cooling market as the primary driver for the reduction.

Courtesy, Spudnik via Facebook

“Over the past decade, we grew significantly to meet customer demand and support the farmers who rely on our equipment,” states the letter. “Recently, however, low commodity prices and rising input costs have created sustained challenges across agriculture, reducing purchasing activity and overall demand. Based on current conditions, we expect 2026 to remain difficult for the industry.”

The manufacturer stated it is cutting factory output to “protect the long-term strength of the company,” which has been a staple of the Idaho potato industry since 1958.

The company does say its Human Resources team is available to mitigate the impact on affected families.

“Our Human Resources team is available to assist affected employees with resume support, unemployment guidance, and benefits transitions,” states the letter. “We are grateful to our employees, customers, and the community for their continued trust since 1958.”

Local News 8 has reached out to Spudnik’s leadership and HR department for further clarification on the exact number of local jobs lost. While the company has not yet returned calls for a formal interview, local reports suggest several affected workers are preparing to speak out regarding the sudden nature of the announcement.

We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a “reckless” motorcyclist who fled from an attempted traffic stop on Valentine’s Day.

On February 14, a deputy attempted to stop a green motorcycle for reckless driving within the City of Rexburg. The rider refused to yield, leading to a brief chase. Shortly after, the deputy called off the pursuit to ensure public safety.

MCSO has released a short video clip on Facebook of the suspect fleeing. The footage shows the motorcyclist heading south along S 2nd East, passing by the east side of the BYU-Idaho campus in the area just north of the Rexburg, Idaho LDS Temple.

If you recognize the motorcycle or have dashcam footage from that area on February 14, contact Madison County Dispatch at (208) 356-5426 and reference Case #260456.

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News Release

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

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The City of Idaho Falls is planning improvements along Woodruff Avenue from Meppen Canal to U.S. 26 (Yellowstone Avenue) to enhance safety and improve traffic flow. The proposed project will address existing roadway conditions and make targeted upgrades to support continued growth and mobility in the area. Community members are invited to learn more about the project and share their feedback at an in-person public open house.

The public open house will be held Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Idaho Falls Fire Station 6, 2767 Spitfire St., Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401. During the open house, residents will be able to review the proposed improvements, ask city staff and project representatives questions and leave comments on the project.

Those unable to attend the open house may submit comments by email to ifengr@idahofalls.gov. Public comments will be accepted at the open house or via email through Monday, March 2.

Key improvements for the project include:

Resurfacing the roadway between Meppen Canal and Lincoln Road to remove ruts and damaged pavement, providing a smoother drive.

Reconstructing and widening Woodruff Avenue between Lincoln Road and U.S. 26 to better handle traffic volumes.

Adding new turn lanes at the Lincoln Road and U.S. 26 intersections to improve traffic flow and reduce delays.

Installing new sidewalks along the corridor to improve pedestrian access and safety.

Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring or summer of 2028 and is expected to be completed in the fall or winter. However, that schedule is subject to change depending on project funding.

ADA and Title VI accommodations are available with 48 hours notice. Please contact Clifton Koon at Keller Associates, TTY/TDD 711 or (800) 377-3529 to use Idaho Relay.

Public input is an important part of the process, and the city encourages residents to attend the open house to learn more about the project and provide feedback. This project is part of the City of Idaho Falls’ ongoing efforts to invest in transportation infrastructure and improve safety, mobility, and connectivity for all roadway users.

To learn more about the proposed improvements, click here.

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