AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, the City of Ammon will close a portion of 49th South between Ammon Road and Satire Drive.
Crews will replace a portion of the roadway they say is in disrepair.
The road will remain closed at least through August 27th or until the work is completed.
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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Wackerli Subaru donated school supplies and vouchers to Dora Erickson Elementary School on Wednesday.
Each teacher received a box of school supplies as well as a $500 voucher for AdoptaClass.org. The voucher will allow teachers to purchase classroom supplies without spending money out of pocket.
“We’re so proud to do that,” Chad Mahoney, the Love Promise Champion for Wackerli Subaru, said. “I’ve got a couple of teachers in my family and I know what that challenge is like and what these teachers actually have to go through.”
Wackerli Subaru has adopted Dora Erickson Elementary School for nearly five years. They say being able to support teachers helps make classroom life better and can take a huge weight off their shoulders.
“You know, it helps fill some of the gaps that we have and also provides resources for students who might need that extra help at school,” Idaho Falls District 91 Superintendent Karla La’Orange said. “We are so incredibly grateful for what Subaru does. It makes the difference for our students and it makes it easier for our teachers to work with our students, too. And it’s just a great way to start the year.”
The National Center for Education Statistics found around 94% of Idaho teachers spend out of pocket for their classrooms each year, with an average of $400 dollars spent per teacher. According to the National Education Association, between what’s provided for classrooms versus students needs, teachers often find themselves filling in the gaps with their own funds.
Click here to follow the original article.JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (KIFI) — On National Aviation Day, an occasion dedicated to honoring the history of flight and the team members who keep the industry moving, one local ramp lead is being recognized for putting safety above all else amidst the rugged terrain of Grand Teton National Park.
Hugo Hernandez, a Ramp Lead and Crew Chief at Jackson Hole Airport, was recently recognized by American Airlines as a 2026 Safety Champion, an honor that caught the dedicated crew member completely off guard.
“I love it; it’s the best job I could have,” Hernandez said.
Whether he’s offloading luggage or helping push aircraft, Hernandez says every detail matters when it comes to safety.
Jimmy Collins, General Manager for American Airlines, said Hernandez consistently demonstrates the kind of attention to safety the airline looks for in its employees.
“Hugo is the epitome of what we look for in an employee and how they operate on the ramp,” Collins said. “He is constantly vigilant with making sure we’re following procedure and operating safely in our ever-changing environment here in Jackson Hole.”
Jackson Hole Airport presents unique challenges for aviation workers, such as weather. As the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park, the tarmac is surrounded by the towering Teton Mountains—a scenic backdrop that brings rapid, unpredictable weather shifts.
“It’s beautiful, but at a moment’s notice, we can have a storm that comes over that mountain,” Collins said.
For Hernandez, his passion for safety comes down to the people he works with.
“The people that I work with, I love my coworkers, and I love to be around them. So I want to have them safe all the time,” Hernandez said.
He considers his coworkers family.
“I love the people that work. So I feel like it’s like a whole family for me,” Hernandez said.
Click here to follow the original article.The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Zoo:
IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park is preparing to unveil a major new experience this fall, inviting visitors to step into the Islands exhibit, an immersive new space unlike anything the Zoo has offered before.
Scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 3, the Islands exhibit represents one of the most significant additions to the Idaho Falls Zoo in recent years. Designed to bring wildlife, play, education and conservation together, the new exhibit will offer visitors opportunities to explore, discover and see the Zoo in a whole new way.
The Islands exhibit will feature new animal habitats, interactive experiences and spaces designed to engage visitors of all ages. While many of the details are still being kept under wraps until opening day, the experience is built around a conservation message the Zoo hopes visitors will carry with them long after they leave.
An Island With a PurposeAt the heart of the Islands exhibit is a conservation challenge facing wildlife around the world: habitat fragmentation.
As natural habitats become smaller and more divided, wildlife can have fewer places to find the food, water, shelter and space they need to survive. The Islands exhibit invites visitors to consider what happens when those essential resources become limited and what that can mean for wildlife.
“We want people to have fun, see incredible animals and have a great experience, but we also want them to leave thinking about something they may not have thought about before,” said Idaho Falls Zoo Director David Pennock.
Rather than relying solely on traditional signs and displays to explain conservation, the Islands exhibit is designed to let visitors discover the message through the experience itself. Animals, interactive elements, visual storytelling and play will introduce the concept in ways that encourage visitors to explore and make connections of their own.
Inside the Islands exhibit, visitors will encounter animals and environments that demonstrate why essential resources matter and how dramatically life can change when those resources become limited.
That approach reflects the Idaho Falls Zoo’s mission as an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility, where animal care and welfare, conservation and education remain central to the visitor experience.
A Community Investment
Bringing the Islands exhibit to life required more than construction and creativity. It required a community willing to invest in the future of the Idaho Falls Zoo.
The project was made possible through the generosity of donors, sponsors and community partners who helped fund the development, design and construction of the new exhibit. No taxpayer dollars were used in the creation of the Islands exhibit.
“The generosity of our donors has helped make this vision possible,” said Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm. “This is an investment not only in the Zoo, but in the educational and conservation experiences we can provide to our community for years to come.”
For generations, the Idaho Falls Zoo has brought families face to face with wildlife while creating opportunities to learn about the natural world. The Islands exhibit builds on that tradition while taking a fresh approach to how those connections are made.
Visitors will be able to experience the Islands exhibit for themselves when it opens to the public Thursday, Sept. 3.
Additional details about the animals, interactive experiences and grand opening will be announced on the Idaho Falls Zoo’s social media channels as opening day approaches.
Click here to follow the original article.IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 30-year-old Rigby woman was hospitalized Tuesday after police say she ran a stop sign north of Idaho Falls, leading to a two-vehicle crash.
According to the Idaho State Police, the crash happend around 4:30 p.m. at the intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road.
The Rigby woman was driving northbound on N 3900 E in a silver 2018 Honda Odyssey. As she approached the intersection, ISP says she failed to yield at a stop sign and was struck by a white 2026 Ford F250 pick-up traveling eastbound.
The 59-year-old driver of the Ford was wearing his seatbelt and did not sustain any reported injuries. However, ISP says the 30-year-old Rigby woman was not wearing her seatbelt and was rushed by ground ambulance to a local hospital.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Idaho State Police investigated a two-vehicle injury crash. The crash occurred at the intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road, north of Idaho Falls.
The intersection of N 3900 E and County Line Road was blocked for around three and a half hours as crews worked to investigate and clear the scene.
This crash is under investigation by Idaho State Police.
Click here to follow the original article.By: Riley Shoemaker
Originally Posted 2:21 PM, Aug 18, 2026: For updates, click HERE.
PAYETTE, Idaho (KIVI) — Andrea Shaw, the Payette mother charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her 18-month-old twins, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.
Shaw appeared in court wearing an orange-and-white striped jail uniform and handcuffs. Her husband, Nate Shaw, and other family members sat in the courtroom.
Before the hearing began, attorneys met behind closed doors with Judge Kiley Stuchlik for about 10 minutes.
Shaw pleaded not guilty to both first-degree murder charges and requested a jury trial. The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 11, 2027, and is expected to last three to four weeks. The court reserved time through Feb. 12.
A status conference is scheduled for Oct. 15, followed by a pretrial conference on Dec. 8.
After Tuesday’s hearing, Shaw’s defense attorney, Joe Filicetti, told Idaho News 6 he believes Shaw is innocent.
“I don’t believe she’s guilty. I think she’s a good human being. I think she loved her twins,” Filicetti said. “I think when those twins died, I went to the memorial service. That was not a mother who murdered her children.”
Shaw was indicted in June, more than a year after Dallas and Tyson Shaw were found dead in the bed they shared at the family’s Payette home in May 2025.
Prosecutors allege Shaw smothered the twins. Her defense disputes that account, arguing the children became seriously ill after receiving routine vaccinations in the days before their deaths.
Filicetti said Tuesday that the defense is not arguing that vaccines alone explain the twins’ deaths.
“This is not just vaccines bad and here’s a death. That’s not what the case is about,” Filicetti said. “There are a number of other things going on in the lives of these kids.”
Filicetti also pushed back on the conclusion that the fact both twins died at the same time means their deaths were homicides.
“That does not mean that you get to just say mathematically because two kids died, it must be…must be homicide or murder, and that’s our position,” Filicetti said.
Filicetti said defense medical experts are examining samples from the twins and that he expects experts for the defense to challenge the state’s conclusions about how the children died.
Court documents filed in support of Shaw’s request for a lower bond detail the defense’s account of the days leading up to the twins’ deaths. Shaw’s husband said in an affidavit that the boys developed fevers and other symptoms after receiving vaccinations at a doctor’s appointment. The defense has also submitted an affidavit from a physician who questioned whether the twins’ deaths were caused by smothering.
Shaw remains held without bond after the judge revoked her initial $2 million bond. In July, the judge denied the defense’s request to release Shaw on a reduced bond while the case proceeds.
Click here to follow the original article.ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – Elk activity is about to pick up across the Greater Yellowstone area as the annual elk rut approaches, bringing a reminder for visitors — and an opportunity for Island Park hunters to weigh in on potential future hunting changes.
Yellowstone National Park says the elk mating season, commonly known as the rut, will soon begin. The park is warning visitors to use extra caution around elk, which can become unpredictable and aggressive during this time of year.
Yellowstone says people have been severely injured by elk and reminds visitors to stay at least 25 yards away from elk at all times.
If an elk charges, the park recommends getting inside a vehicle or behind a tall, sturdy barrier as quickly as possible.
The increased elk activity comes as Idaho Fish and Game looks ahead to the 2027 and 2028 hunting seasons and asks hunters for input on potential changes.
One proposal being considered would increase elk harvest opportunities in the Island Park Elk Zone.
Fish and Game is also considering options to increase mule deer harvest in the Island Park Deer Management Area, which includes Units 60, 60A, 61, 62 and 62A. The agency says some wildlife populations in the area are above management objectives, prompting officials to consider potential changes to harvest opportunities.
No changes finalized yetIdaho Fish and Game emphasizes that these are potential options, not final hunting regulations.
Hunters can review the proposed options and provide feedback through August 31 at 11:59 p.m. MDT. Fish and Game will consider that feedback as it develops its recommendations.
Formal proposals for the 2027 hunting seasons are expected to be released in February 2027, followed by additional opportunities for public input.
For visitors heading into Yellowstone and the Island Park area to see elk during the coming weeks, wildlife officials stress the importance of giving the animals plenty of space.
For hunters, the current feedback period offers an early opportunity to help shape what future seasons could look like.
Idaho Fish and Game’s survey and information on potential 2027 hunting options are available on the agency’s website here. To find the specific Island Park options, click here.
Click here to follow the original article.AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – The Mayors’ Scholarship Fund has evolved into one of the most influential scholarship programs in the greater Idaho Falls region – awarding 850 students $850,000 over two decades – while encouraging students in Districts 93 and 91 to pursue higher education in Idaho.
Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner spoke Tuesday to educators, engineers, and local leaders about ‘The New Atomic Age’ arriving in America and the need to grow Idaho’s burgeoning nuclear workforce.
The event was a fundraiser for the Mayors’ Scholarship Fund at the Brickyard Event Center.
Idaho State University student Chloe Barron is a Mayors’ Scholarship Fund recipient, who said the financial support enabled her to continue pursuing her dreams of studying nuclear engineering.
“Nuclear engineering is incredibly challenging,” Barron said. “It requires a strong foundation in mathematics, science, but it also requires people who are willing to carefully solve difficult problems, and understand their decisions have consequences far beyond a classroom or laboratory.”
Barron has persevered in spite of challenges during her university studies. After withdrawing from the university for a year to face medical challenges, she lost $13,000 in recurring funds and scholarships for college.
“I was beginning to feel like there was nothing that I could do, and I had worked so hard to get back to school, but then I couldn’t afford to return without the financial support,” Barron said.
Barron took her case to the Mayors’ Youth Scholarship Committee, and they determined to continue supporting her.
“They believed in me when it would have been easy to look at my situation and decide that their scholarship could no longer support me,” she said. “Instead, they chose to invest in me again. That decision was the reason I was able to come back to school.”
Wagner said the laboratory needs people of all talents and abilities – from Ph.Ds to those who have completed high school education.
“We hire people all across skills, disciplines, high school graduates, community college, two-year degrees, trade school certificates, you know, bachelor’s degrees, masters degrees – the entire spectrum,” Wagner said.
Hosted by Ammon Mayor Brian Powell, the event addressed Idaho’s critical position powering the future of nuclear energy and the unique opportunities available to area students at Idaho National Laboratory.
Idaho State Board of Education Chief Government Affairs Officer Brennan Summers moderated the forum.
The Scholarship’s Executive Director Leslie Pincock said having a community that believes in students and helps them in access the right tools and education needed to succeed in their future careers is what the program is all about.
“It’s that confidence that we can instill in the young people that are growing up in this community that will not only help them succeed in whatever chosen field that they have eventually, but it will also give them the desire to stay in this community,” Pincock said.
You can learn more about the Mayors’ Scholarship Fund here to find out how you can apply starting November 1, 2026, for the next round of funding.
Click here to follow the original article.BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — State leadership and advocacy groups are reacting after a U.S. District Judge ruled key portions of Idaho’s near-total abortion ban unconstitutional, blocking major parts of the law from being enforced.
In an 81-page decision, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled that the 14th Amendment protects a “narrow but fundamental right to abortion” when a pregnancy threatens a woman’s life, physical health, or poses a severe risk of self-harm.
“By banning health-preserving abortion, Idaho attempts to deny this fundamental right on the basis that the threat of harm comes from a fetus, which depends on the woman for survival,” Winmill wrote. “But a pregnant woman’s health is not a state resource to be allocated at the legislature’s whim.”
Reactions to the DecisionThe Christian-based Idaho Family Policy Center (IFPC)—which originally drafted Idaho’s abortion restrictions, known as the Heartbeat Law and the Defense of Life Act—quickly denounced the decision.
However, the organization highlighted that the court order denied attempts by abortion advocates to expand legal access in cases involving pregnancies with twins or triplets or for babies with disabilities.
“It’s important to recognize that the civil cause of action in the Heartbeat Law still remains in effect—meaning that any physician who performs an abortion that is prohibited by the Heartbeat Law can still be liable for breaking the law,” said Blaine Conzatti, president of the Idaho Family Policy Center. “And doctors should take note: The IFPC Legal Center stands ready to hold doctors accountable who illegally perform abortions.”
On the campaign trail, Idaho Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terri Pickens argued the ruling illustrates why further action is needed at the ballot box, pointing to the upcoming Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act initiative.
“While I appreciate Judge Winmill’s ruling that doctors should be allowed to save women’s lives by providing abortion care–in a narrow set of circumstances likely to be debated and eventually prescripted by the same legislators who bully librarians, outlaw science in classrooms, and attack public school teachers–this moment highlights just how deeply into our personal decisions state government has reached,” stated Pickens.
Pickens urged residents to take their concerns to the voting booth, noting that Idaho’s attorney general has already signaled plans to appeal Judge Winmill’s ruling.
Click here to follow the original article.IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—Idaho Falls Police are investigating a two-car accident with injuries at the intersection of First Street and Evergreen Drive in Idaho Falls.
The accident is blocking a portion of First Street, and police are asking drivers to avoid the area.
No other details are available.
This is a developing story and will be updated when we get more information.
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