Author: KIFI

News Team

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — A Blackfoot home was severely damaged, but the residents escaped without injury after a fast-moving fire gutted their garage Tuesday afternoon.

The Blackfoot Fire Department reports that the blaze began around 12:21 p.m. Fortunately, the department says a quick-thinking neighbor, who spotted the flames and alerted the residents. Thanks to that timely warning, everyone inside the home evacuated safely before emergency crews arrived.

As they arrived on the scene, firefighters found the attached garage completely engulfed in flames. Responding with multiple engines, the fire crews established an attack line to the garage to battle the main body of the fire. At the same time, a second crew entered through the front door to conduct a search and prevent the fire from spreading further into the home.

While the most severe structural damage was contained to the garage, the fire breached the kitchen, and the remainder of the residence sustained significant smoke and heat damage.

Firefighters gained the upper hand on the blaze by 1:04 p.m., containing damage mostly to the garage with some fire damage to the kitchen and smoke and heat damage to the rest of the home. At this time, there is no word on the estimated cost of damages.

The fire, which began on the northeast side of the garage, is still under investigation.

In the wake of the blaze, the surrounding community has responded to the resident’s time of need. According to a GoFundMe page shared on the Life In Blackfoot Facebook group, the family is unable to live in the house as a result of the fire and is trying to “figure things out” for their 4 children and great-grandchild.

As of Wednesday morning, community members have raised over $1500 for the fundraiser. For more information, click HERE.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – From ripping up furniture to running away in a fearful frenzy, thunderstorms are starting to roll in, which may cause distress in our furry friends.

When the howling winds and booming thunder move in, we aren’t taken by surprise, but experts say our animals cannot comprehend what this is, and that makes them very anxious. And that anxiety can be dangerous for their well-being.

“We have to be sure that we’re keeping them indoors, because a lot of times when they get scared, they will flee and run away. And a lot of pets go missing during storms,” Lead Veterinary Technician at Broadway Veterinary Clinic, Kylee Abel, stated.

According to local veterinarians, there is a way to keep your pet calm through these terrifying times.

If you know your pet will react poorly to the weather, you can bring them to your vet for some prescription anxiety medication that can help ease their stress.

There are also various calming vests available in stores or online that could give your pet the sensation of a hug, to help them feel more secure.

If neither of those is doable, it is recommended to keep them in a quiet room, far away from the sounds of the storm. You can put on some music, the TV, a sound machine, whatever you think they’d prefer. As a way to comfort them.

Why are dogs scared of thunder?

Many pets are afraid of loud noises; coupled with their sensitive hearing, physical discomfort from static electricity, and the inability to fully understand what is going on can trigger the “fight or flight” response.

Sensory Overload – Since animals have much more sensitive hearing than humans, the boom of thunder can be deafening and terrifying for them

Static Electricity – Static electricity builds up during storms, which can cause painful, tiny shocks to animals. This often leads them to hide in areas with low static, like bathtubs or toilets.

Barometric Pressure Changes – Pets can feel the pressure changes in the atmosphere, sending off signals to them that something dangerous is approaching

Unpredictable flashes – the bright lightning flashes are sudden and unexpected, which can be very scary for animals

Lack of understanding – Animals do not understand what the noise is or why there are flashing lights and howling winds. This makes thunderstorms terrifying and unknown for pets.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Firearms continue to rank as the leading cause of death for children nationwide. In Idaho — a state where hunting and sport shooting are a major part of life for many families — local firearm experts are emphasizing that simple steps at home can prevent life-altering tragedies.

According to Kwaid Garrett, the shop manager at Guns and Gear in Idaho Falls, responsible gun ownership starts with properly storing guns unloaded, locked away, and out of children’s reach.

“It’s very, very important that as an adult you need to do your part, go to training classes, and actively participate in how to use your firearm properly,” said Garrett. “In turn, it’s going to be a safer community. You’re going to be more knowledgeable. You’re going to have the ability to relay better information to your kids and to family members that might be running into situations where their kids are curious about firearms.”

Key storage tips

Garrett recommends using a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) or biometric safe to secure your firearms, as it’s an efficient way to practice securing your firearms correctly while having quick access to protection.

“They’re opening faster. They’re giving you access to the firearms faster, while also maintaining a level of security that makes it a lot trickier for children and for burglars and anybody that is trying to rob you, it makes it a little bit easier for you to get access to it and harder for them,” Garrett said.

Here are some tips to storing firearms:

Unloaded: Always make sure a firearm is unloaded, with no ammunition in the chamber or magazine, before placing it in storage.

Locked away: secure guns in gun safes with ammunition in a separate, locked container and out of reach.

Use combination locks and safes or safes that use biometric security, such as fingerprint locks.

Talking to your kids about guns

According to Safekids.org, talking to your children and their caregivers is another important step into keeping your kids safe from gun accidents.

“It’s crucially important because children are exceptionally curious and, with a lack of education on how to be safe and how to store firearms properly. Kids, just with their curiosity, want to get into things and they want to explore,” Garrett said.

Teach children that firearms shown on television or in video games are very different from real guns and can cause serious harm.

Communicate to babysitters, grandparents, and caretakers about gun storage and guns in the home.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Fire Department:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to a brush fire reported at approximately 1:50 p.m. today near the railroad tracks off North Haroldsen Drive that threatened nearby structures and businesses.

Upon arrival, crews encountered multiple spot fires and burning debris across a dry grass area, creating rapidly changing conditions and challenging access. The fire is believed to have been caused by metal work at the scene, which produced sparks that ignited nearby dry grass.

Courtesy: Idaho Falls Fire Department

The fire burned an estimated 150 yards in length and approximately 800 feet in width, extending from a fence line toward the railroad tracks. Due to the presence of multiple spot fires, the total affected area remains an estimate.

Fire crews deployed a robust response, including two Type 3 brush trucks, one Type 6 brush truck, one tactical tender, three Type 1 engines and a ladder truck. Dispatch coordinated with the railroad to halt train traffic in the area during suppression efforts.

Crews were able to quickly contain the fire and remain on scene to monitor conditions, extinguish hot spots and prevent rekindling due to continued wind. No significant property damage has been reported.

“This was a fast-moving fire in a complex area to access, and our crews executed a strong, coordinated response,” said Idaho Falls Fire Chief Johan Olson. “They did an outstanding job stopping the fire before it could impact nearby businesses or cause significant loss. With the unusually dry conditions we’re experiencing, we urge the public to treat current conditions more like mid-summer. Please use extreme caution with anything that could create sparks around dry vegetation.”

The Idaho Falls Fire Department reminds residents that increased heat, wind and dry conditions significantly elevate fire risk. Avoid activities that may produce sparks near dry grass, and report any signs of fire immediately.

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Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — If you drive by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Idaho Falls, you’ll notice it has a new illuminated 10-foot-by-5-foot bronze cross on its tower.

The previous cross, made of wood and covered in aluminum, used to sit atop the building. But because of the strong winds in the area, church leaders decided to affix the new cross directly to the tower instead.

The church took down the old cross in 2020 due to safety concerns after the wood began to rot.

The new cross cost the parish more than $14,000, an amount the church raised in only about two weeks. David Macfarlane, on the Building and Grounds Committee, says that shows how excited parish members were to see the project completed.

Macfarlane says he also feels the cross helps advertise what the church is about.

“Oh, it’s a thrill to have the ability to tell people without having to go out, stand on a street corner with a wobbly sign saying, here we are.”

Macfarlane also hopes the cross will do more than light up the sky. He hopes it will increase membership and help distinguish the church from others on the same block.

“Because without a cross, there’s no real identity. This will be definite. It will be obvious.”

Macfarlane says, like many congregations, their numbers have been struggling. He hopes the new cross will help draw more people in.

“Hopefully that’ll build a little bit of our membership, And if they’re curious, they come on inside. I think it will at least get them to pay attention to it.”

He also notes the church’s location and how not having a cross may have impacted passersby.

“We have two other churches on this street. So we have the Methodist and the Presbyterian, and here we are. And this looked like a school building without a cross.”

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News Team

UPDATE:

CARIBOU COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A threat against North Gem High School in Bancroft, that led to an evacuation and large police response on Wednesday, has been confirmed as a hoax. The Custer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in an official Facebook post that there was no actual danger to students or staff after a thorough sweep of the property.

According to Caribou County Sheriff Adam Mabey, the threat originated from an out-of-state number.

“Caribou County Sheriff’s Office received a call in our communications center of a threat towards the North Gem School District,” explains Sheriff Adam Mabey. “The threat was specific in that there may be explosives involved and weapons.”

Law enforcement responded quickly, ensuring the students and staff were safely evacuated as a precaution before conducting a sweep of the school. Out of an abundance of caution, school was canceled for the remainder of the day.

Local law enforcement worked alongside school officials throughout the afternoon to ensure all students were accounted for and safely reunited with their parents.

“We removed the children from the school to a location of safety. The school faculty went through the process of contacting the parents so they could meet at the reunification site. Parents were contacted individually to be advised on whether their children were going to be coming home on the bus or if they needed to get them at the reunification site,” explains Mabey.

While the Sheriff’s Office has found no actionable threats to the school or the community, the investigation into the incident is ongoing. Making a hoax bomb threat is a felony, which, according to the FBI website, “those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison,” in addition to potential state and local charges.

Local News 8 is monitoring this developing story. We will provide updates on-air and online as new information becomes available.

ORIGINAL:

CARIBOU COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — North Gem High School in Bancroft was evacuated, and students were dismissed for the day on Wednesday following an unconfirmed threat received against the building. Local law enforcement remains on-site for further investigation.

The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office and Idaho State Police (ISP) are currently on the scene conducting a sweep of the building, according to the Idaho Enterprise News.

Lt. Todd Orr from the Idaho State Police confirmed that a school has been evacuated as a precaution and all students are safe. The Caribou County Sheriff’s Office has stated it will release additional details later today.

Local News 8 is monitoring this developing story. We will provide updates on-air and online as new information becomes available.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 13 MAY 26 12:24 ET

By Sahana Patel

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    MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIVI) — The Gunfighter Skies Air Show returns to Mountain Home Air Force Base this weekend after eight years. Crews have been planning for nearly two years and taking from lessons learned from past tragedies.

Air Show Director Anthony Mountain said the road to this weekend was not without obstacles.

“We’ve worked through a fair amount of challenges, including a no-notice deployment that happened recently, and just to see how the team and the base has come together to put on a great show has been the best part,” Mountain said.

Maintenance crews have been working around the clock to ensure every aircraft is ready for takeoff, with teams prepared to make repairs at a moment’s notice if something goes wrong during the show.

Hannah Brian, director of operations for the Fighter Generation Squadron, said her team will be visible throughout the event.

“You’ll see us out there fixing [aircraft] and launching them, but they’re there sitting ready to go and doing all the preparation to make sure that everything goes smoothly,” Brian said.

Safety for spectators is also a top priority. Senior Master Sergeant Jesse Mitchell, the air show maintenance deputy, said aircraft positioning is carefully managed to protect the crowd.

“We keep all of our aircraft at a perfectly safe distance so even if something does happen, the crowd will never be involved in any of those incidents,” Mitchell said.

First responders and emergency teams will be stationed across the base throughout the weekend. Officials say past incidents continue to shape how they prepare for large-scale events.

During the base’s last air show in 2018, a hang glider died after crashing onto the runway. In 2003, a Thunderbirds jet crashed during the show, though the pilot ejected safely just one second before impact.

Mitchell said those events directly inform current planning.

“We can go through and learn everything that we can from those incidents. In one of our plans that we have right now is we’re going to have a helicopter on static; that’s a Life Flight helicopter,” Mitchell said.

Deputy Fire Chief Justin Hatch said new requirements are now in place as a result of past incidents.

“Now, for air shows, we’re required to have trucks stationed on the flight line on the ramp so we can reach anywhere on the airfield within 60 seconds,” Hatch said.

Even as the air show takes center stage, the base’s operational mission continues. Brian said her team is balancing the event with ongoing military responsibilities.

“We still have a mission to do, and we’re recovering from a deployment. We’re working through reconstituting our fleet, so my focus has really been just to make sure that that is still ongoing throughout the duration of the air show,” Brian said.

The Gunfighter Skies Air Show takes place Saturday and Sunday at Mountain Home Air Force Base. You can find details on the event here.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello will hold a public hearing this Thursday, May 14, to address a massive proposal that could transform a long-dormant area into an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Data Center.

Arizona-based Lex Developments has applied for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) to construct a $2.26 billion Artificial Intelligence (AI) campus at 1800 River Park Way—the site of the former Hoku polysilicon plant, as first reported by the Idaho State Journal. If approved, the project would repurpose the area into a high-capacity data hub.

Environmental Concerns: Water and the Aquifer

The proposal has sparked significant pushback from residents, particularly within the Life In Pocatello Facebook group. With Idaho facing an ongoing drought emergency and declining levels in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, several residents have voiced concern about the tremendous amount of water AI data centers use to cool massive server banks.

However, Lex Developments’ permit application seeks to address these fears directly. The company proposes using a “closed-loop liquid cooling” system, which they claim reduces water usage by 80-95% compaired to the “evaporative cooling” method used by older AI-data centers.

According to the document, the system works like the coolant in a car’s engine, circulating continuously in a sealed and self-contained system, so that the “facility’s ongoing potable water demand for cooling is dramatically reduced compared to traditional methods.”

Public Hearing Details

The City of Pocatello had already scheduled a public hearing regarding the project ahead of the online backlash, as required under Idaho State Code. In an official Facebook post, city leadership emphasized the importance of public testimony.

“There is a lot of information currently being shared regarding potential development proposals in the community, and public input is an important part of the process,” states the post. “Thank you for being part of the conversation…We encourage residents to attend, listen, and share their comments respectfully.”

For more information on the public hearing and how the process will work, click HERE.

HE 5.14.26 Agenda PacketDownload

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News Release

The following is a news release from the College of Eastern Idaho:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Graduates crossed the stage Tuesday night as College of Eastern Idaho celebrated its largest graduating class in college history during the 2026 Commencement Ceremony held at the Mountain America Center.

A total of 626 students earned degrees or certificates during the 2025-2026 academic year, reflecting CEI’s continued growth across eastern Idaho.

Families, friends, faculty, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate graduates earning associate degrees, technical certificates, apprentices, and workforce training credentials as they prepare to enter the workforce or continue their education.

“What an unparalleled privilege it has been to watch our students grow, persevere, and step confidently into what comes next,” said CEI President Dr. Lori Barber. “Tonight’s graduates represent the future of Eastern Idaho, and we are incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished.”

The commencement ceremony featured remarks from CEI Board of Trustees Chair Park Price, Idaho State Board of Education Representative Cindy Siddoway, CEI Student Senate Vice President Samuel Enrique Sanchez Santos, and CEI President Dr. Lori Barber.

Since becoming a community college in 2017, College of Eastern Idaho has experienced rapid growth in enrollment, academic programs, and workforce training opportunities. The college continues to expand pathways for students through affordable and accessible education designed to meet the needs of eastern Idaho communities and industries.

The event was sponsored by Mountain View Hospital and Idaho Falls Community Hospital.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 12 MAY 26 17:12 ET

By Joey Martin

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    JEROME, Idaho (KIVI) — A small green farm stand in Jerome County is giving neighbors a taste of modern homestead life — and it runs entirely on the honor system.

Lydia Harbaugh and her husband Jeff have operated An Enchanted Homestead for the last two years, selling what their family doesn’t use from their working homestead.

“This is our little farmstand: An Enchanted Homestead,” Harbaugh said.

The operation started simply, with surplus eggs and homemade natural remedies.

“When we started this, it was just to share our abundance of eggs and natural remedies because all these things are things that our family uses, so I just made extra to share with our community,” Harbaugh explained.

The stand has since grown to include a wide range of homestead products, from fresh-baked breads and sweet treats to preserves and all-natural remedies made from ingredients grown and raised on the property.

“Fire cider — it’s spicy, and it’s a good decongestant, and it’s done using hot peppers that we grow, turmeric and other spices. Tallow balms using tallow from home-raised animals. Dandelion and cayenne salve, great for pain. Our elderberry syrup — this is also very popular — it’s like Christmas in a jar,” Harbaugh said.

Every item on the shelves is labeled with a price and an information card explaining ingredients and how to use the product.

“There are all these things that have information cards that people can take pictures of so that they know it has the ingredients and how to use them,” added Harbaugh.

Jose Juarez, who works in the area, stops by the stand as often as he can.

“Good pastries, zucchini bread if you like zucchini bread. My wife likes the artisan bread and the sourdough bread that she bakes, so we’ll stop and get that and then, of course, the fresh eggs,” Juarez said.

The stand is stocked daily and open seven days a week. Harbaugh said customers can find it at 450 South, 500 West in Jerome, Idaho.

“We’re open every day, Monday through Friday from 2 through 8 p.m. and then Saturdays and Sundays 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.,” Harbaugh said.

There are no cashiers and no card readers — just a cash box, a QR code for PayPal, Cash App and Venmo, and a notebook for customer notes.

“This is our little checkout station. We have the cash box, QR code for PayPal and Cash App and Venmo, and a little notebook where people leave me the best notes. It is the honor system, and knock on wood, so far we have not had issues,” Harbaugh said.

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

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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