Author: KIFI

Sam Ross

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) — Demolition crews have started to tear down portions of the Pine Ridge Mall in preparation for renovations to turn the mall into an open-air retail space.

The upcoming ‘Pine Ridge Shopping Center’ is slated to have some of the mall’s current tenants, like Hobby Lobby and CAL Ranch, and welcome new stores like the long-awaited Target.

The mall’s owners, Arizona-based development company SimonCRE, have yet to release any information regarding the completion date of the new retail area.

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Curtis Jackson

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — The University of Idaho announced Tuesday it will end talks with the University of Phoenix.

The university said it will ask its Board of Regents, which is made up of the same members as the Idaho State Board of Education, on Thursday to approve a termination agreement. If passed, the discussions will end on purchasing the online university. The University of Phoenix agrees to pay a termination fee of $17.24 million, with credit from the $5 million already paid for the extension agreement in June 2024.

U of I officials began discussing the purchase of the University of Phoenix in the spring of 2023. “U of I saw an opportunity to expand its reach to adult learners and learn from UOPX’s advanced technology and online student support systems to better serve Idahoans,” a U of I news release released Tuesday. “UOPX also partners with industries to deliver workforce training in ways U of I hoped would further benefit Idaho.”

The two universities signed an extension agreement in June 2024 after legal challenges around open meeting laws from the Idaho Attorney General’s office and the Idaho Legislature about the process pushed the first agreement deadline.

“Although we continue to see great value in University of Phoenix, it has become cost prohibitive, and potentially distracting to our other work, to continue conversations,” U of I President Scott Green said. “We respect the University of Phoenix and wish them all the best. We appreciate their commitment to these conversations, and we learned many things we may be able to incorporate into our work.”

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Environmental Coalition:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Crews with the Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) have completed the demolition of the high bay roof and walls of the Submarine 1st Generation Westinghouse (S1W) naval reactor prototype plant, using explosives to carry out this key phase of work. The effort, overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM) and ICP contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition (IEC), marks significant progress in reducing the footprint at the Naval Reactors Facility (NRF) located on the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site.

This carefully planned demolition followed extensive efforts that began in 2022 to safely remove contaminated and hazardous materials from the historic building. The ICP crew also removed the S1W’s defueled reactor vessel in March 2025, which was disposed of in a nearby on-site disposal facility in accordance with federal and state regulations.

The S1W demolition project has maintained an accelerated pace, completing work ahead of schedule and under budget.

Mike Swartz, IEC’s senior manager over demolition projects, commends the effort of these crews who worked hard to reach this significant milestone.

“This milestone represents the professionalism and dedication from every member of our team,” said Swartz. “Their ability to safely and efficiently execute complex work like this demolition will allow us to successfully complete our mission at NRF.”

While EM and IEC are responsible for managing demolition of the S1W and other historic reactor vessel prototypes at NRF, acting ICP Manager Nick Balsmeier recognizes the importance of an effective partnership with the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program.

“I am incredibly proud of IEC and their team, and grateful for support from our partners at Naval Reactors,” said Balsmeier. “It is the collective effort that will allow DOE to continue meeting our cleanup commitments and enable a strong future at the INL Site.”

In the coming months, demolition crews will remove the remaining debris, recycling the material to the extent practicable. The project anticipates completing the S1W demolition project in Fall 2025.

The S1W reactor prototype plant, located at the INL Site’s Naval Reactors Facility, after construction was complete in 1951.

The S1W is a defueled naval nuclear propulsion plant prototype and supported the development of the USS Nautilus, which was launched in 1955 as the world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine. S1W was built to simulate a submarine hull, with a nuclear reactor compartment surrounded by more than 300,000 gallons of water to mimic ocean-like conditions. 

David Honabach, a former student and staff instructor at the S1W, reflected on the significant role the S1W and the Naval Reactors Facility played in proving a new technology that propelled the development of the U.S. nuclear navy fleet.

“When you go all the way back…you can look at the challenges that we had. And you could look at where we were as a nation and what we were trying to solve. For S1W…we were really trying to convince the military and the nation, as nuclear power technology was becoming available, how to convert from diesel to nuclear power. Proving that that was capable, proving that it could fit into a submarine hull,” said Honabach.

In addition to providing critical research and development, the S1W served as a training ground for thousands of prospective students. Honabach also provided insight into training and how the S1W developed a skilled and competent force of nuclear submarine operators.

“From the Navy side, it was really about the training of students. We recognized that there was a significant number of students that went before us. And we recognized the importance of being trained and qualified on a land-based prototype before we actually went, in our case, to a submarine,” he said. “We understood that that was absolutely critical in order to obtain our submarine warfare qualifications and to be able to be a productive crew member once you got to your first submarine.”

Honabach’s experience is recorded as part of a collection of oral histories archived in the Library of Congress and represents a broader effort by the Naval Reactors Program and the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office to memorialize the historic mission at NRF.

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News Release

The following is a press release from the Portneuf Medical Center:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Portneuf Cancer Center invites previous and current patients of the center and their families to a survivor barbecue on Saturday, June 7 from 12-2 pm at the Portneuf Wellness Complex Pavilion 4. This event celebrates Cancer Survivors Month, which recognizes the resilience of survivors and those who support them on their journeys.

Barbecue attendees will get to reunite with doctors and staff, mingle with fellow survivors, play yard games and enjoy lunch. Portneuf Cancer Center doctors and leadership will be barbecuing.

“We are excited to welcome survivors and their families to this barbecue,” said Brandi Sargent, RN, director of Portneuf Cancer Center. “Our team has the privilege of building close relationships with our patients during treatment, and so we love getting a chance to reconnect and celebrate their strength and accomplishments.”

Portneuf Cancer Center offers care and services located all under one roof: medical oncology, radiation oncology, infusion therapy, financial counselors, social work and cancer nutritionists. This level of care provides patients with the opportunity to receive treatments close to home.

For more information about Portneuf Cancer Center, click HERE.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — If you spot flames in the area near the Home Depot in Pocatello on Tuesday, don’t be alarmed, Pocatello firefighters are taking part in a live training in an active fire.

The live Burn and Learn Training began Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025, at around 8 AM and will last unt 5 PM at 4335 Hawthorne Road, across from Home Depot.

According to the Pocatello Fire Department, the training provides firefighters with critical hands-on experience.

“These exercises allow fire investigators to study how various materials burn, examine fire patterns, and understand the development of a fire from ignition through extinguishment. This hands-on training is crucial for improving accuracy in identifying fire origins and causes critical in arson investigations and fire prevention efforts,” said the department in a post on Facebook.

Drivers near the area are being asked to use caution as intermittent smoke may create issues with visibility. If possible, people are being asked to take alternate routes and avoid the area if you have a respiratory condition.

For any questions or concerns, contact the Pocatello Fire Department HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The race to fill the vacant Pocatello City Council seat may be heading into the final stretch. After considering seventeen applications for the position, on Tuesday, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad announced his pick to fill vacant Seat #4, Dakota Bates.

Bates will be considered for the role in the upcoming regular City Council meeting on June 5, 2025. If confirmed by the City, Bates’s seat on the City Council would be effective June 5, 2025, and he would fulfill the unexpired term through December 2025.

According to a report by the Idaho State Journal, Bates says he plans to use his experience with nonprofit work and running Hannah’s Place, a local family and children’s therapy clinic, in the role.

The seat has been vacant since mid-April, following the resignation of former City Council representative Josh Mansfield, who left to pursue a law degree at BYU.

Since Mansfield announced his resignation, Mayor Brian Blad has reportedly received 17 applications for the vacant seat. The list of potential new City Council members has been narrowed to six candidates.

Thursday’s meeting is scheduled to start at PM. To watch the proceedings online, click HERE.

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Maggie Moore

Jackson, WYOMING (KIFI) – The National Museum of Wildlife Art has a new exhibit for the month of June. 32 life size elephant sculptures built by indigenous artists in India are here as part of The Great Elephant Migration.

The Great Elephant Migration started their journey across the United States in 2024 in Rhode Island, moving around the United States before ending their journey in Los Angeles next month.

Aubrey Baker, the exhibition manager, says the elephants’ migration across the United States is to “share their coexistence message with the world while amplifying indigenous knowledge.”

About half of the herd arrived in Jackson back in May, but it took a long time for the herd to get here. The Great Elephant Migration reached out to the National Museum of Wildlife Art back in 2024.

Madison Webb Stanko, the chief marketing officer for the museum, said “our curatorial team, our board and our staff were extremely excited about this opportunity. The elephant’s message of coexistence is one that really resonates with our mission and our vision.”

Each elephant is sculpted in India out of an invasive weed called Lantana Camara. Which means that with each elephant sculpted, more of the Asian Elephants’ habitat is restored. Each sculpture is modeled after a real elephant that lives in the Nilgiri Hills of India.

While elephants may not be native to Wyoming, the museum felt like the exhibit’s message of coexistence was just as important in Jackson.

“The message of coexistence is one that is extremely relevant to the Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, because every day we are interacting with elk, bison, grizzlies, all the way down to grouse and marmots. It is a smorgasbord of wildlife, and so that message of coexistence really hits home,” Webb Stanko said.

After the herd has made all of its stops around the U.S., each elephant will be sold to raise money for conservation non-profits.

“It’s a better way to think about coexisting, to live among wildlife, and to share space,” Baker said.

The Great Elephant Migration will be in Jackson until June 20, and there will be a farewell event for the exhibit on June 22.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — According to real estate company Redfin, there are nearly 500,000 more sellers than buyers in the United States. With supply rising above demand, there are questions about the prices of houses being too high (due to volatile interest rates), recent spikes of demand over supply that are finally balancing out, and other causes of economic instability.

In Idaho, according to Redfin, 14.4% of home in Idaho sold above their listed price. That’s down 2.2 points year over year. There were 30.8% of homes that had price drops from their listed price, which is up from 29% in April last year. This indicates at least a small movement in the direction the rest of the nation is leaning.

As it stands, the average sales price for a house in Idaho is $470,000. In the area that spans from Blackfoot to Rexburg, that number looks a bit closer to $440,000.

“Right now, nationwide, prices are high, interest rates are high, so that’s a bad combination for buyers,” says Carissa Coats, spokesperson for the Greater Idaho Falls Association of Realtors. However, not everyone agrees with Coats’ sentiment.

“Time is not on your side right now. Sell earlier rather than later, and it’s really important to price your home correctly for the current market and not use comps that are outdated because you don’t want your home to sit,” says Chen Zhao, Redfin’s Head of Economics Research.

With more people moving in than moving out, Coats believes Idaho is a bit ahead of the curve with demand also increasing compared to other locations. But volatile interest rates that can rise at any moment are an increasing concern for many realtors. When interest rates rise, the loans taken out when purchasing a house can become unaffordable when it was previously within budget.

It’s a waiting game. If sellers get desperate to sell, they’ll lower prices to get buyers. If buyers get desperate to purchase a home, they’ll pay for one at a higher price. If a seller lowers their prices, all other sellers lower theirs, but when bought from, the pressure to lower the prices is lessened. With interest rates causing problems, forcing people to break contracts on homes they can no longer afford, realtors have a tricky road to navigate.

“Those open houses, you’re going to see a lot more of those. Not just on weekends, we’re going to see them on weeknights. You’re going to see a lot more on social media postings. You’re going to see a lot more fliers in your mailbox. You may even see more realtors knocking door to door, just to get the word out for their sellers, because word of mouth is better than any advertising. But its been a while since realtors have had to do those kinds of things,” says Coats.

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Michael Coats

CENTRAL IDAHO — Early Tuesday, June 3, seismic activity continued northwest of Stanley as several quakes struck northwest of the town, the latest in an ongoing series observed in the area since Saturday.

Shortly after 1:30 AM, a 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck, representing the largest quake in the area since the seismic activity began.

The early morning activity was followed by two more quakes, measuring 3.5 and 3.9, just before 6 AM. The activity persisted, with a 3.9 magnitude tremor around 7:06 AM, and a smaller 2.5 magnitude quake at approximately 7:58 AM.

UPDATE:

CENTRAL IDAHO (KIFI) – Two separate magnitude 3.6 quakes struck within three minutes of each other Monday evening, the latest and largest so far in a series of quakes near Stanley.

The latest sizeable quakes struck around 8:23 PM and 8:26 PM. The epicenters were roughly 9 to 10 miles northwest of the town of Stanley.

There have been at least 20 quakes over a magnitude of 2.0 since Saturday. Most earthquakes under a magnitude 3.0 are rarely felt by people.

This area is no stranger to earthquake swarms or larger quakes.

The last major earthquake to hit was a magnitude 6.5, on March 31, 2020.

If you felt the latest sizeable quake, you can report your experience to the USGS at https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000qhjl/dyfi/intensity

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Madison County man is now in custody, facing charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. Rexburg Police Detectives arrested Jackson Johansson on Monday, following an investigation that began with a tip from the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

The tip alleged that a Kik messaging account was being used to share and trade explicit materials of children. According to the Rexburg Police Department, detectives obtained search warrants and successfully identified Johansson despite his attempts to conceal his identity online.

Johansson has been booked into the Madison County Jail.

Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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