Author: KIFI

CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 23 MAR 26 15:01 ET

By Averie Klonowski

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    SPANISH FORK, Utah (KSTU) — As extreme heat and drought conditions impacts nearly all of Utah, a seventh-generation family farm in Spanish Fork is relying on long-practiced conservation methods and a new, colorful crop to weather the challenge.

“This is a whole new ball game. This is the driest I can remember,” said Rex Larsen, owner and operator of Larsen Family Farms.

Larsen explained that the challenge of farming is that no two years are alike, but this year is particularly difficult.

“The least amount of snowpack that we’ve had. Our Spanish Fork River is about 50% normal,” he said.

For Larsen, farming is a legacy he feels compelled to continue. His family has been working on the land for seven generations.

“Barely, wheat, alfalfa, corn, pumpkins, and now tulips,” said Larsen. To protect that legacy, the family has spent years creating water conservation techniques.

“Nearly every one of our ditches is lined with concrete, so the water will stay in the ditches and go out into the field,” Larsen explained. “Most of our land is laser-leveled, so it’ll irrigate more efficiently.”

The farm also captures and recycles any runoff water.

While Larsen plans for some of his fields to remain idle, his daughter, Kara Lewis, had an idea to ensure the farm can still profit.

“We’ve planted 250,000 tulips here on our farm,” Lewis said.

She planted the seeds back in December, selecting a crop that is better suited to the current conditions.

“They are very drought resistant. They don’t like a lot of water in the spring,” Lewis said.

Using a specialized system that gets water directly to the crop rows, the family is continuing their conservative approach to watering. Larsen hopes the tulips will be ready for the public to see within a week or two, providing a way to supplement the farm’s income when other fields can’t grow anything.

Larsen said water conservation is something most farmers strive for, adapting to whatever conditions they face.

“Those years that it’s dry, you learn to conserve,” he said. “Those years that it’s wet, you learn to pivot and take what you can.”

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Southeastern Idaho health officials are sounding the alarm after a sharp, sudden rise in local HIV diagnoses.

In just the first three months of 2026, healthcare providers have diagnosed seven new cases of HIV, matching the average number of cases typically seen over an entire year for the past five years.

While the numbers are concerning, experts at Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) emphasize that advances in medicine mean HIV is both highly preventable and manageable.

“Hearing that cases are increasing can feel scary, but it really comes down to awareness,” said Rachel Mugleston, Health Strategies Program Manager at EIPH. “Getting tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is just a standard part of routine healthcare.”

Today, more tools than ever are available to prevent HIV. Prevention strategies include:

Use condoms the right way every time you have sex.

Never sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.

Using PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) medications, which your healthcare provider can prescribe.

The only way to know your status is to get tested. Eastern Idaho Public Health recommends that individuals between the ages of 15 and 65 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and more frequently for those with increased risk factors. All pregnant women should be tested at their first prenatal visit and again in the third trimester if at increased risk.

For more information on testing, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Pocatello Police Department is warning Idaho State University students to be on high alert after reports of scammers impersonating campus Public Safety officers.

According to police, the scammer or scammers are calling students by phone, claiming that “evidence” has been found in their vehicle and threatening them with an immediate investigation unless they take swift action. This typically involves a demand for payment or personal information.

“[Remember] scammers often use fear and emotional manipulation to pressure people into acting quickly,” the Pocatello Police Department shared in a public statement. “Law enforcement agencies will not demand immediate action or payment over the phone.”

If you do receive a call like this, police say to hang up immediately. Afterwards, look up the official phone number for ISU Public Safety or the Pocatello Police Department yourself and call them directly to verify if the claim is real.

If you believe you have been targeted by this scam, immediately report it to your local law enforcement agency. For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 10:25 AM

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) — An inmate who escaped from the Butte County Jail and led Idaho State Police Troopers on a car chase Monday morning is back in custody.

According to Sheriff Dave Hansen, around 10:05 a.m. Monday, Jeramie L. Rodriguez escaped the jail through a damaged section of chain-link fencing in the inmate recreation yard. Rodriguez had been arrested just the night before on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle.

“Upon being allowed access to the recreation area the following morning, Rodriguez was able to manipulate a damaged portion of the fencing, which made it possible for him to squeeze through to the outside of the contained yard area,” Sheriff Hansen stated in a news release.

Once outside, Rodriguez allegedly stole a nearby parked vehicle that had been left with the keys inside and fled the area.

The vehicle’s owner quickly reported it stolen, allowing Sheriff’s Deputies to track it using its onboard GPS.

Idaho State Police Troopers and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies found the vehicle along Old Butte Highway near Hamer. They attempted to pull Rodriguez over, but he refused to stop, leading to a short car chase.

The chase came to an end after troopers used a tire deflation device, puncturing two of the vehicle’s tires and forcing it to slow to a crawl and stop near Hamer. Rodriguez was taken into custody without further incident. Additional charges are currently pending.

In the wake of the escape, police emphasize that there is no ongoing threat to

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as we learn additional information.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Even as winter leaves and daylight stretches longer, some people find that the emotional weight of the colder months doesn’t completely disappear. For those experiencing lingering symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the transition into spring feels like a slow, uneven climb back to normal.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression triggered by a change in seasons, usually when fall starts. This seasonal depression gets worse in late fall or early winter, before subsiding with the arrival of sunnier days in spring.

“Lack of motivation and accomplishing tasks that you would normally be able to do or difficulty sleeping or maybe sleeping too much, overeating or under eating. And it can actually worsen as the seasons change. So it can it can start really manageable and mild when the seasons first kind of start and then it can progress,” Emily Smith, a licensed master social worker at Aspen Mental Health, said.

There’s also a lesser-known form of SAD that occurs in spring and summer, sometimes linked to anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia rather than fatigue.

Treatments for SAD include:

Light therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Antidepressant medication

Spending time outdoors

Vitamin D

If you’re experiencing lingering depression with persistent or severe symptoms, treatments such as light therapy, counseling, or medication may alleviate symptoms.

“If it doesn’t feel like it’s manageable on your own then it’s then time to go in and see somebody and get a little extra help just because sometimes it is too hard to to handle on your own and you just need a little extra support,” Smith said.

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KIVI Staff

By: Leslie Solis

Originally Posted 5:52 PM, Mar 20, 2026

BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — A bill that aims to restore a program allowing parents of disabled children to be paid for their work as caregivers is at a standstill inside the Statehouse.

Despite weeks of discussion and advocacy events at the Statehouse, House Bill 807 still has not received a public hearing. The proposed legislation would allow parents to be paid for up to 25 hours of caregiving work each week.

Trixie Wade knows the struggles firsthand. Her 10-year-old daughter, Harper, requires around-the-clock care, meaning someone always has to be home. This makes employment hard to maintain.

“We become a caregiving facility, not a home. We still have to keep a roof over her head… we still have to keep us fed,” Wade said. “We’re not lobbyists… we don’t have money behind us backing us.”

After making calls to Committee Chairman Rep. John Vander Woude’s office to ask when a hearing would take place, Wade says they were told the bill would not get a hearing.

“And to please stop having people contact them that we’re clogging up the phone lines for important stuff,” Wade said.

Rep. Vander Woude says it simply comes down to the bottom line, with budgets cut across the state.

“It’s a great idea… when I first looked at the bill, I liked 807… I liked the way it was structured, but it requires more spending. Unless I have a commitment from JFAC that they’re willing to spend $30 million more… then there’s no sense in moving the bill,” Rep. Vander Woude said.

Democratic Rep. Ilana Rubel has been working with these families and says the issue is not a lack of money, but rather where it is being spent.

“I just feel it’s so profoundly unfair to these families. These folks who have been working on this bill for more than 1 year… have just been so diligent… and they are in such dire need… and they’re being told to pound sand essentially,” Rubel said.

As House Bill 807 awaits a hearing, families like the Wades say they will keep advocating for change.

“Without having the discussion, how can you decide if a program is needed or not. When you’re a parent of a special needs child, you’re always hopeful… you hope that you’re seen, you hope that you’re heard,” Wade said.

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

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho House is set to debate a new bill that would introduce strict work requirements for the state’s Medicaid expansion program.

House Bill 913 would align Idaho’s Medicaid requirements with those outlined in the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Vander Woude (R-Nampa), says work requirements have been a topic of debate since Medicaid expansion was first introduced in Idaho. According to Vander Woude, the legislation is designed to bring the program back to its original intent: providing insurance specifically for the “working poor.”

Clashing Estimates on Coverage Loss

While the bill successfully passed the House Health and Welfare Committee, opponents warn that the change could strip healthcare from thousands of Idahoans.

House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) argued that while the bill is not an outright Medicaid expansion repeal, it is designed to maximize the number of people who get “tripped up” and lose their insurance.

“This is all designed to make it maximally difficult for people to get coverage, with the upshot that a lot of people are going to lose coverage,” Rubel told lawmakers. “And that’s not good for any of us who count on hospitals to continue operating and healthcare providers to still be here and working in the state.”

Rubel estimates that up to 40,000 Idahoans could lose coverage due to the change. Vander Woude argues opponents of the bill are overestimating, believing that, at most, between 15,000 and 20,000 people would lose eligibility.

How It Works: Requirements and Exemptions

Under HB 913, Medicaid expansion recipients aged 19 to 64 must complete 80 hours of work or “community engagement” per month to maintain coverage.

The bill outlines several key exemptions for individuals who are:

Under age 26 and currently or formerly in foster care

Medically frail

Enrolled in school at least half-time

Caretakers/parents of dependent children under 13, or caretakers of people with disabilities

Pregnant or receiving postpartum care

Veterans with disabilities

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Seth Ratliff

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) — Search and rescue teams successfully performed a daring high-altitude helicopter rescue Saturday to save an injured 27-year-old man stranded near the summit of McGowan Peak.

The emergency began around 4:33 p.m. on March 21, when Custer County dispatch received a Garmin SOS notification. Details surrounding the rescue are limited, but a post by the Custer County Sheriff’s Office indicates the man had been climbing or hiking in the Pahsimeroi section of the Lost River Range south of Challis, Idaho.

Faced with steep, unforgiving terrain, Challis Search and Rescue, alongside the Idaho National Guard, flew a Black Hawk helicopter to the peaks. Working in thin air, rescue crews hoisted the man from the mountainside at 9400 feet and flew him to a staging area, where he was transferred to an awaiting medical helicopter.

The man’s current condition is unknown. However, following the successful mission, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office took to Facebook to praise the seamless teamwork between the local volunteers and Idaho National Guard crews.

“We appreciate the crew of Talon 70 and Air 4! Another season of cooperation begins!” states the post.

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Danielle Mullenix

We’ll start this first full week of spring with warm temperatures and sunny skies. A pleasant start to the new season will also bring a continued run of record-high temperatures across the region, as a warming trend spills into the first half of the week.

On Monday, we’ll start the day off with temperatures climbing out of the 30s and into the 40s by 9 am. No weather hazards or impacts are expected on this day, as low clouds brush by in the early morning hours. High temperatures are expected to sit in the upper 60s this afternoon, then drop back into the 30s overnight lows. Wind gusts will peak today, generally around 15 to 20 miles per hour. Very little chance of precipitation in the region.

A small wind advisory will be in effect on Tuesday and Wednesday. The highest wind gusts are expected tomorrow, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening, reaching up to 35 miles per hour. High temperatures on both days will remain above average, in the upper 60s and lower 70s.

By Thursday, temperatures will begin to fall slowly as a minor cold front is expected to move across the region for the weekend. Slight precipitation in more mountainous areas surrounding the Island Park area, with stray showers as a possible forecast. We end the week colder than we started, with our highs in the lower 60s by Friday afternoon.

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David Pace

REXBURG, Idaho – Gov. Brad Little emphasized the recent tax relief delivered in Idaho at a Multi-County Republican Lincoln Banquet Saturday at Madison High School.

“Idaho has been leading. We’ve delivered $4.6 billion in tax relief in just the past few years,” said Gov. Brad Little. “Why? Because we believe money belongs in the pockets of the people who earned it. We’re proving something very important. Something the rest of country needs to hear. You can invest in your priorities, grow your economy, and still give money back to your citizens.”

Since he was first elected Governor, K-12 education funding has increased 70 percent, he said, while crime in the state is down 17 percent.

Republicans from six counties – Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton – gathered to hear from the state’s leaders.

“How impressive it is to participate in this, in this, Lincoln Day tonight with the six counties,” said Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke. “This community always producers top-notch educators and legislators. …It’s worth noting that we’ve had decades of good, strong Republican conservative [leadership] – but not just conservative blindly – budget-keeping, pragmatic, doing-the-right-thing year in and year out – the blocking and tackling as it were of government – and we’ve done that for years.”

The Brigham Young University-Idaho Men’s Chorus performed “The Star Spangled Banner” a capella and “Inkosi Namamandla,” a Zulu hymn from South Africa.

Messages from U.S. Senators Jim Risch, Mike Crapo and Republican data strategist Daniel Silver were also shared. 

“Let’s keep Idaho strong,” Little said. “Let’s keep Idaho free, and let’s keep the American spirit alive for generations to come.”

The Brigham Young University-Idaho Men’s Chorus performs a musical number in Zulu, “Inkosi Namamandla.”

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