Author: KIFI

News Team

YELLOWSTONE (KIFI) — A 29-year-old solo hiker is recovering at a local hospital after a bear attack on the Turbid Lake Trail in Yellowstone National Park. The incident, which happened Tuesday afternoon, marks the first bear-related injury in the park this year.

The man, who has not been identified, was reportedly hiking alone in the Pelican Valley Bear Management Area when he encountered the bear. According to a statement from the National Park Service (NPS), the hiker deployed bear spray as the animal made contact. Despite this, the hiker suffered significant but non-life-threatening injuries to his chest and left arm.

Park medics responded and assisted the hiker out of the backcountry. He was then transported by ambulance to the Lake Medical Clinic before being flown to a nearby hospital for further care.

This is the first time a bear has injured a person in Yellowstone since a grizzly injured a solo hiker in May 2021 on the Beaver Ponds Trail near Mammoth Hot Springs.

The hiker initially believed the bear to be a black bear. However, due to the location and the animal’s described behavior and size, park officials suspect it may have been a grizzly bear, according to the release. Bear management staff are reportedly attempting to confirm the species through DNA analysis.

The Turbid Lake Trail has been closed to the public until further notice while park staff conduct sweeps to ensure no other hikers are in the area.

In its official release, Yellowstone National Park emphasized that because the encounter was a “defensive reaction by the bear during a surprise encounter,” no management action will be taken against the animal. This is a common policy when a bear’s actions are deemed a natural response to being startled.

Stay Safe, Stay Bear Aware

Park officials are using this incident to remind visitors to be “Bear Aware” when in the park. They provided the following essential safety tips:

Carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Hike in groups of three or more people.

Make noise to avoid surprising a bear, especially in areas with low visibility.

Stay alert and watch for fresh signs of bear activity, such as tracks or scat.

Maintain a distance of at least 100 yards (91 meters) from bears at all times.

Do not run from a bear.

Avoid hiking at dawn, dusk, or at night, as this is when grizzlies are most active.

The incident remains under investigation, and no further details have been released at this time.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little addresses Idaho’s job market, education, energy, and plans for the future of Idaho during “Lunch With The Governor” hosted by The Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. The Governor also voiced his sympathy for the recent death of Charlie Kirk.

“Increasing personal income is the most important thing, because that means our kids are going to have the income they need to make a better life for themselves or for their families. And so we shouldn’t get away from that,” Gov. Little said.

Gov. Little also addressed the importance of education and Idaho’s job market.

“There’s a certain group of our children that are always going to have the opportunity to go into higher education, but it has gotten, over time, less affordable,” Gov. Little said.

Gov. Little also believes that the future of Idaho is in nuclear energy.

“I am pretty optimistic that some of the advances that this country has in nuclear energy is going to be fabricated right here (in Idaho),” Gov. Little said.

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CNN Newsource

By Matt Stiles and Gillian Roberts, CNN

(CNN) — Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer, Tyler Robinson, allegedly texted his roommate the day of the shooting and discussed his rifle, possible motive and other details on the planning surrounding the event, according to charging documents released by Utah County officials on Tuesday.

Robinson’s roommate told police about a note left by Robinson under the keyboard, which read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.” Police say they found a photo of the note.

In the court filing, prosecutors described the roommate as “a biological male who was involved in a romantic relationship with Robinson.” Robinson’s roommate provided their text messages to police, according to the documents.

The roommate was alerted to the note by a text from Robinson, which led to the following exchange, and which CNN transcribed from the charging documents:

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Summer is almost over, but splashing in fun and learning water safety will go on.

A local couple has brought a year-round British swim lesson program to Idaho Falls. 

“Water safety doesn’t stop. You might find yourself at a hotel pool or even in the wintertime around water. And so it’s just something that we progressively want to work on, kids becoming safer. And yeah, like summer is going to be here before you know it. And so wouldn’t it be great if they were confident before we even get those nice in 90-degree days again?” said Kyla Dnaos, Deck ambassador.

Kyla and her husband Joshua Dnaos are local school teachers who wanted to bring the education of swimming to Idaho. 

Kyla says drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children. 

They want to make sure everyone has the tools needed to be safe near water.

“Many of us like to go ice fishing or cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. Sometimes we’re not sure if there’s water under us, if we’re crossing a creek or even possibly a pond or a lake. And swim skills always need to be in there. It’s almost like having a car seat in your vehicle. They’re skills that we need to have in the back of our mind to ensure that we’re safe no matter what the situation is,” said Joshua Dnaos, Aquatics Manager.

The British swim program started in London and made its way to America. Ironically, all the London swim programs are now in the U.S.

For more information on how to join, check out this link here.

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Seth Ratliff

JACKSON, Wyoming (KIFI) — A hauler truck driver was hospitalized early Tuesday morning after their vehicle veered off Wyoming Highway 22 on the Teton Pass.

The incident occurred around 12:03 a.m. According to Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, the truck left the roadway and came to rest on the edge of a steep embankment, approximately 100 feet below the roadway.

When Jackson Hole Fire/EMS arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. The truck had been hauling three cars, including an electric vehicle, which can create “unique fire hazards when damaged,” says fire crews. Fearing the fire would spread into the surrounding brush and trees, firefighters worked quickly to contain the blaze.

Meanwhile, sheriff’s deputies located the driver on a steep slope. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS medics immediately began treating the individual, and a search and rescue team then used a wheeled litter carrier and ropes to carefully lower the driver to the Parallel Trail below.

From there, the driver was transported to a nearby parking lot, where an Air Idaho Rescue helicopter was waiting. The driver was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for further treatment.

In the wake of the incident, a Teton Interagency Fire wildland engine was dispatched to check for hot spots, and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS continued to assist with debris removal and fire suppression efforts throughout the day. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

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News Team

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) — After three months of silence, the famous Soda Springs Geyser is once again erupting. A mechanical failure had sidelined the world-famous man-made geyser, a popular attraction for both residents and visitors.

The geyser, which typically erupts every hour on the hour, stopped working on April 29 due to a pump problem. City officials announced on June 3rd that the issue was more serious than initially thought, requiring a complete replacement of the geyser’s mechanical and valve systems.

According to city staff, the past three months involved a concentrated effort to source and secure the necessary parts for the rebuild. The work culminated in a full replacement of the geyser’s controls.

To celebrate the successful completion of the repairs, the City of Soda Springs held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, marking the geyser’s official return to service.

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News Team

The following is a news release from the city of Pocatello:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Construction is underway on the Monte Vista to Pocatello Creek Road Pathway Project, located on the east side of Interstate I-15 in Pocatello.

The project is progressing steadily with current work including excavation, backfilling, and the construction of retaining walls at both the north and south ends of the pathway. Crews are also making improvements to the storm drainage system and installing new Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible ramps along Monte Vista Drive.

This multi-use pathway is being developed to operate independently of vehicle traffic, significantly increasing safety and accessibility for both pedestrians and cyclists. It is designed to connect to Pocatello’s existing pathway network and will enhance mobility between nearby residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. This phase also marks a major step in establishing direct pathway connectivity between the Idaho State University campus and the Portneuf Wellness Complex.

The project is expected to be completed by late 2025, with minimal impacts to nearby traffic and property access anticipated during construction.

Funding for the project is provided through a Transportation Alternatives Program Grant, administered by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council. The required 7.34% local match is being fully funded by community nonprofit partners, including the Portneuf Health Trust and the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, resulting in no financial burden to the City of Pocatello.

For project updates and additional information, visit projects.pocatello.gov.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Bridle Up Hope, a non-profit equestrian-based therapy and self-esteem building program, is hosting ‘A Night of Hope’ fundraiser event with food, live music, and an appearance from national rodeo star Amberley Snyder on Wednesday, September 17.

The Night of Hope event will be Bridle Up Hope’s first major fundraiser event since organizers brought the international organization to Pocatello in 2022.

“We are looking for support from the community to help girls, women, and horses of Bridle Up Hope,” said Lana Davies, program director for Bridle Up Hope in Pocatello. “Through support of a fundraiser, those funds are going to go into our scholarship fund to help girls and women who can’t afford the program to be able to participate in a life-changing experience.”

Proceeds from the fundraiser will help women and girls pay the tuition for the program, which includes self-esteem and therapy curriculum based on the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” combined with horse care and riding activities to help participants overcome challenges and develop goals.

Guests at the fundraiser event will have the opportunity to interact with the horses and past and present participants of the Bridle Up Hope program. Mastercraft Pool and Spa is also sponsoring a visit from Amberley Snyder, a national rodeo star who has won multiple titles in breakaway roping despite being paralyzed in a car accident in 2010; Snyder’s story was portrayed in the Netflix film “Walk.Ride.Rodeo” in 2019.

The Night of Hope event will be on Wednesday, September 17, at The Hive in Chubbuck from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For ticket information, you can visit Bridle Up Hope Pocatello’s Facebook page.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The League of Women Voters of Pocatello set up voter registration stations at the Pond Student Union building and Eli M. Oboler Library at Idaho State University in honor of National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday.

The League’s annual outreach event aims to provide an accessible opportunity for university students and staff to register to vote in time to make it to the polls this fall.

“In today’s world, everyone needs to have a voice,” said Susan Carter, member of the League of Women Voters Pocatello. “The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization whose main goal is to educate voters on the choices they have and to make sure that they get out and have their voices heard.”

The League of Women Voters is also hosting a Pocatello city candidate forum on September 29 where candidates for mayor and city council will be asked questions submitted by residents.

For more information on the upcoming forum and how to register to vote, visit the League of Women Voters Pocatello website or vote.gov, the official government website for online voter registration.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Pocatello Regional Airport is scheduled to conduct a triennial live emergency exercise tomorrow, September 17th, from 9 AM to noon. This full-scale drill, mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration, is designed to evaluate and enhance the communication, coordination, and response capabilities of various agencies in the event of an aircraft emergency.

Pocatello residents and people in the surrounding area should expect to see emergency lights, sirens, and increased activity in and around the airport during the drill. Airport management is asking the public not to be alarmed, as this is only a controlled training.

The exercise will involve a simulated aircraft incident, where volunteer actors will play the roles of injured passengers to create a realistic training environment. As part of the drill, fire crews, law enforcement, and medical responders will transport the simulated victims to Portneuf Medical Center.

Airport management has confirmed that all scheduled commercial flights and regular airport operations will continue as normal and will not be impacted by the drill.

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