Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

JACKSON, WYO. (KIFI) — Following overwhelming community opposition and public concern, Major League Baseball has officially abandoned the possibility of hosting a special regular-season game inside Grand Teton National Park.

In a letter sent to the Teton County, Wyoming Board of Commissioners, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred assured the board members that the league has no active plans to move forward with the venue.

“It has become clear the local community does not want us to continue evaluating Grand Teton National Park as a potential site,” Manfred wrote. “We obviously would not bring a game to a community that has concerns about the venue, and will not continue to evaluate Grand Teton National Park as a potential site.”

Initial Talks and Potential Sites

The proposal was first reported by The Washington Post, which revealed that MLB officials and members of the Trump administration had explored potential locations within the park. According to sources familiar with the matter, three separate sites inside Grand Teton were visited as possible sites for a temporary baseball stadium.

The White House, however, noted that no decisions had been made and that the National Park Service had not issued any permits.

In his letter, Manfred emphasized that the league’s preliminary site visits were standard procedure and the league had “no formal plan to play a game in Grand Teton National Park.”

“Our team was conducting initial due diligence on many potential sites when this story was reported, and we had made no decision on the feasibility of staging a game in Grand Teton National Park,” wrote Manfred. “We also had not reached the stage in our due diligence in which we evaluated environmental impact or spoke to members of the community to solicit their views—steps that would have certainly been part of any process should it have moved forward.”

MLB’s Special Events Strategy

The Grand Teton proposal was part of MLB’s broader effort to hold regular-season games in parts of the country without access to a traditional Major League Stadium—similar to the league’s “Field of Dreams” games in Iowa, the “Little League Classic” this year, played inside the Bristol Motor Speedway, and a recent game held at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2024.

Manfred pointed to these past events as proof of the league’s commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. “I believe this track record demonstrates the care in which we approach these events and alleviates any concern that MLB would pursue a project that could damage or diminish a National Park,” Manfred added.

Although no concrete plans were in place, local resistance to the proposal in the surrounding Jackson Hole and Teton County communities was immediate.

Wyoming State Senator Mike Gierau strongly criticized the proposal, stating in a text to Seattle Sports that the idea was “abhorrent,” and “a national park is to be protected for its undeveloped and scenic values.”

Tiernan Sittenfeld, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, urged the Department of the Interior to reject the idea publicly and ensure no baseball stadium is built in Grand Teton now or in the future.

Faced with strong opposition, MLB opted to abandon the possibility before developing a solid plan or environmental studies for hosting a baseball game inside Grand Teton National Park.

A full copy of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s letter is available below.

Wyoming Officials LetterDownload

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bureau of Land Management has temporarily closed a portion of the road leading to the top of Big Southern Butte.

BLM’s Idaho Falls District said recent severe rainstorms caused substantial damage to the road, including displaced boulders and significant erosion.

The agency said the gate at the base of Big Southern Butte will remain locked until repairs are completed. It’s unclear when the road will reopen.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – As the weather turns colder, several major projects in Pocatello are expected to finish by the end of October. One is the new traffic signal at the intersection of Hiline Road and Pearl Street/El Rancho Boulevard. Since July, crews have been working to transform the cumbersome four-way stop into a stoplight interchange with dedicated turn lanes and ADA-approved pedestrian accomodations.

The signalization improvement project is thanks to a $2 million Strategic Initiatives Grant through the Idaho Transportation Department. The City of Pocatello fronted the cost of the design, while the grant covers the construction with no city match. This project aligns with other Pocatello construction updates to improve walkability, accessibility and ease of transportation throughout the city limits.

With this project, vehicle traffic will move easier on Hiline Rd with designated turn lanes while pedestrian traffic will enjoy fully functional sidewalks and landings.

“We’re signalizing the intersection as well as putting in turn lanes, sidewalks, curbs and gutters,” explained Tom Kirkman, City of Pocatello Public Works Director. “We’ll have ADA curb ramps on all four corners and the whole intersection is getting repaved and reformatted.”

The curbing on all four corners will mimic the ones put in earlier this summer by Pocatello High School. They slow down traffic and give pedestians a larger space to stand before crossing the road.

Kirkman said the City conducted studies and analysis before deciding to begin construction. According to their findings, the area near Hiline and El Rancho’s intersection has always been problematic.

“It was very congested and the biggest part there is there’s no pedestrian facilities at all,” Kirkman said. “It’s adjacent to a school, so we want to get that intersection a lot more safe for everybody.”

The construction site lies between Tendoy and Syringa Elementary Schools, as well as several neighborhoods that Kirkman said the crews are working to disturb as little as possible.

“We’re trying not to disturb them, it’s a very residential area,” he said. “We’re trying to make it as painless as possible for not only the traveling public, but the people that live in that neighborhood.”

On Wednesday, September 30, crews shifted to working on the south side of Hiline Road. The north side is reopen to traffic. Kirkman said crews will work simultaneously on Pearl Street.

There are detour signs to be aware of in the area as the project progresses. Kirkman said they will likely be dynamic and could change daily. As of October 1, the detour from the south side through the neighborhood to Pearl Street took 90 seconds. Speeds have also been reduced to 20mph in the detour zones.

“I think it’s overall going to be really beneficial to that part of town, we’ve seen a lot of cars getting backed up at that four-way stop,” Kirkman said. “It’ll help with that congestion and pedestrian movements immensely.”

The project is set to complete by the end of October, contingent on a smooth construction with little to no weather delays in its last month of progress. Kirkman said a 3-4 month construction period for a traffic light is pushing the crews and is set to be a major accomplishment.

“Anytime you do something like this, you find stuff on the ground that you didn’t know was there and so a lot of times you have to adapt on the fly and make some decisions,” he explained. “It’s been a really good project with just a few hiccups along the way.”

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Curtis Jackson

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – A Shelley man was injured Thursday morning after being struck by a vehicle while leading a horse along a road northwest of Shelley, according to Idaho State Police.

The crash happened at about 7:50 a.m. near the intersection of E 1400 North and N 735 East in Bingham County.

Troopers said a 44-year-old man was walking west on 1400 North while leading a horse when he was struck by a 2022 Toyota Camry driven by a 33-year-old Shelley man.

The pedestrian was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. His condition has not been released.

Idaho State Police said impairment is not believed to have been a factor in the crash.

The road was blocked for approximately one hour while emergency crews investigated.

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Travelers parking at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport will pay more beginning Thursday, October 1.

The airport is implementing new parking rates for several lots, with the first hour free for all vehicles.

Under the new rates:

Economy Lot: $8 per day, up from $6 Long-Term Lot: $12 per day, up from $10 Short-Term Lot: $16 per day, up from $12 Hourly parking: $2 per hour, with an $18 maximum

The Idaho Falls Regional Airport says the first hour of parking remains free in all airport lots.

The airport does not currently offer parking reservations, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Travelers are encouraged to arrive at least two hours before their flights to allow time to find a parking space, get to the terminal, and check in and clear security.

International Way parking now available

The airport is also allowing parking along International Way, giving people another option while waiting for arriving passengers or watching airplanes land.

Parking along International Way is prohibited between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Drivers should follow posted signage.

The airport says a dedicated cell phone waiting lot is also in development.

More ways to pay

Passengers can pay for parking using a credit or debit card, including tap-to-pay, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. Mobile payment is also available by scanning the QR code on a parking ticket.

The Idaho Falls Regional Airport parking lots do not accept cash.

The Economy Lot remains within walking distance of the terminal, with the airport estimating the walk at about three to five minutes. A free shuttle between the Economy Lot, main parking lot, and terminal is also available depending on staffing.

Travelers with questions about airport parking can contact Idaho Falls Regional Airport parking at 208-973-1694.

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Danielle Mullenix

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Emergency medical services in parts of Jefferson County are getting an upgrade.

Central Fire District is now offering advanced life support, or ALS, ambulance services, adding two fully stocked ALS ambulances to its emergency response system.

The new service begins after decades of the Idaho Falls Fire Department being the only provider of ALS ambulance services for the Jefferson County area.

ALS Ambulance Celebrations in Rigby earlier Thursday morning

Central Fire District previously operated a basic life support, or BLS, ambulance out of its Rigby station.

BLS care can include basic airway management, patient movement, and other medical assistance. The level of service does not provide the same advanced medications and interventions available through ALS.

What ALS changes:

The new ALS ambulances give crews additional tools to treat patients experiencing serious medical emergencies.

Those capabilities include:

Advanced airway management Cardiac assistance Additional medications Pain medication Treatment for serious emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes

Roger Anderson, Chairman of the Jefferson Central EMS District, described the transition as “another level of an ability to save lives.”

For context of the advancement, Anderson gave an example of what type of situation can be remedied:

“Let’s say you had a heart attack *yesterday in Jefferson County and you needed some life-saving drugs,” Jefferson said. “[Previously] we had to wait for Idaho Falls to get here because we weren’t licensed to provide that service to them. But today we’ll be able to get there in a shorter amount of time and be able to administer those life saving drugs and procedures in a quicker, in a quicker time frame.”

For the EMS and Fire district, this celebration has been years in the making.

“We’re just so excited. I mean, this is just such a big, big deal,” Anderson said. “It’s the culmination of a lot of work and the patience of residents of Jefferson County to get to this point. And so, today’s just kind of that starting point: It’s kind of the ending point of one era and the starting point of a new era.”

Central Fire District now has two ALS ambulances operating within the district.

“We’ll be able to do airways, more IVs, TCA, some of the things that will help save lives on traumas,” Anderson said.

The ambulances will cover the Central and Roberts areas, while other departments will provide backup as needed: Idaho Falls Fire Department will now serve as a backup for ALS ambulance services, while Madison Fire Department will provide backup for the Northside.

Air Idaho Rescue also attended the launch of the new ALS service.

The transition also includes additional medical personnel. One ambulance currently has a chase medic, while medic students are assisting with the new service. The chase medic is expected to eventually transition into a ride assistant role.

The new ambulance service is part of the emergency response system involving the Jefferson Central Ambulance District, Central Fire District, and quick response units, or QRUs.

Ambulance service in Jefferson County began expanding in 2022, when Central Fire District began providing BLS ambulance services from its Rigby station.

The Roberts Fire District and residents within the district also had the opportunity to vote on ambulance services.

What’s next?

Central Fire District leaders say the next goal is to establish an ambulance service in the Ririe area, continuing the expansion of emergency medical response throughout Jefferson County.

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Idaho Capital Sun

ByLaura Guido-September 30, 2026 6:02 pm

BOISE, Idaho (Idaho Capital Sun) — Many Idaho residents recently received a fundraising appeal in the mail from U.S. Vice President JD Vance to support Idaho’s longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch in his campaign for reelection, claiming Democrats were “prepared to pour millions of dollars into Idaho” to defeat the incumbent in what Vance said is an “urgent national race.”

Independent candidate Todd Achilles, left, and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)

The letter, dated “Thursday 3:29 p.m.,” emphasizes the political past of Risch’s opponent, Todd Achilles, who served as a Democratic state legislator in Idaho and donated to Democratic candidates before launching his independent U.S. Senate campaign.

Risch and Achilles will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election.

“They know that if they can flip Idaho – a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1974 – they can strike a major blow against President Trump’s agenda,” Vance said in the letter. “Idaho remains one of the most conservative states in America, but that is precisely why national Democrats believe they can catch Republicans sleeping.”  

In the letter, Vance wrote that Risch, who serves as the chairman of the U.S. Senate’s powerful Foreign Relations Committee, “has earned a position of influence that benefits every corner of the state, and we cannot afford to lose it.”

The vice president asks that the letter’s recipients donate their “most generous contributions of $3,500, $2,000, $1,000, $500, $250, or even $100,” while pointing to high-profile efforts to elect independent candidates in Montana and Nebraska as a warning.

Nebraska candidate Dan Osborn in 2024 came within about 7 points of Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb. Fischer with support from a Democratic super PAC, Politico reported. Osborn is running again this year.

Crispin Gravatt, communications director for Achilles’ campaign, confirmed the campaign had seen the letter. 

“This is proof to us and all Idahoans that Jim Risch knows he’s in trouble and the race is competitive – and that he’s willing to do anything to win except answer directly to the voters,” Gravatt wrote in a Wednesday email to the Idaho Capital Sun. “Jim hasn’t held a town hall one time in the 18 years he’s been in the Senate, and he won’t debate the issues facing voters this cycle, but he will have the Vice President send a letter on his behalf. He is scared of conversation but he will happily fund lies and attack ads online to distract from the fact that his policies have made life more expensive and challenging for working Idaho families.” 

Risch’s campaign manager Marc Kilmer told the Sun that it wasn’t unusual for top officials to weigh in on an election for a federal post. 

“Having senior party officials send fundraising appeals is common practice in Senate races around the country on both sides of the aisle in every election cycle,” Kilmer wrote in an email.

Vance’s office could not immediately be reached for comment. 

Fundraising reports for candidates seeking federal office won’t be available until Oct. 16

The Federal Election Commission requires quarterly reports on campaign fundraising and spending. The most recent data available runs through June 30, and the next report is due Oct. 15. 

As of the most recent FEC reports, the Achilles campaign had raised nearly $700,000, and spent about $500,000. 

For the 2025 to 2026 campaign cycle, Risch’s camp had collected more than $3.3 million. 

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Curtis Jackson

SALT LAKE CITY (KIFI) — More reservations for tours of the Salt Lake Temple will become available Thursday evening after the initial release drew overwhelming interest.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced that additional Salt Lake Temple Open House reservations will be released at 6 p.m. MDT on Oct. 1. The tickets will be available through TempleSquare.org and the Temple Square app.

According to the Church, the first round of reservations generated significant demand, with 1 million reservations claimed in less than 24 hours.

Church officials say the additional release is intended to give more people an opportunity to visit the historic temple as part of the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, which runs from April 5 through Oct. 1, 2027.

The celebration will include opportunities for individuals, families and groups to participate both in person and virtually.

Organizers noted that a limited number of walk-up reservations will be available during the open house on a first-come, first-served basis, but visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets in advance.

The Salt Lake Temple has been undergoing extensive renovation and seismic upgrades since 2019. The public open house will allow visitors to tour the temple before it is rededicated.

Additional information and reservations are available through the Temple Square website and mobile app.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Inside the walls of the Bonneville County Jail, a transformational program is lifting lives and offering hope.

In the past three years, 106 individuals have earned their GED, coming out of jail better prepared for life than when they went in.

These graduates are participants in I.G.N.I.T.E., a program that is changing corrections and breaking the cycle of re-arrests.

“I started using drugs about ten years ago… after some trauma when my father passed away. I caught my second felony earlier this year,” said Abbigail McKinney.

But for McKinney, this step back is turning into a leap forward. Less than five months after entering jail, she enrolled in the I.G.N.I.T.E. program, graduated with her GED and is now back in the community.

For her, drug use was a symptom of a broken childhood.

After growing up in foster care and being rejected from numerous homes, she found herself trapped in a cycle that landed her in jail.

Nationally, over two-thirds of inmates are re-arrested within three years – men and women like Frank Addleman, who are doing everything in their power to break that cycle.

“When I was released this last time, there was no way in the world that you could convince me or tell me that I would ever have handcuffs on again,” Addleman said. “I thought I had everything under control, and I paroled out. I had a good job with good people that gave me every opportunity and got smacked right in the face with life on life’s terms.”

The problem often isn’t just lack of willpower; for former inmates looking for stability, finding housing and employment outside the jail are major obstacles.

“If you get released on a Friday night at 5:00 and you have nothing to go out to in the community, … you go back to what you know,” said Lt. Brian Johnson, the I.G.N.I.T.E. Program Director. “That’s going to the dope house and staying on couches and wherever you can… just to make life happen so you don’t end up dead on the street.”

Without housing or a pipeline to job opportunities, some feel they’re set up to fail.

Addressing that cycle of re-arrests requires building the foundation before an inmate ever walks out the door.

In Bonneville County, officials are working to break that pattern through the I.G.N.I.T.E. program.

“Our system is broken, you know, and the I.G.N.I.T.E. program is something that I’ve never experienced before,” Addleman said.

I.G.N.I.T.E. stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education.

Participants study two hours a day, working toward their GED, learning trades, or taking classes like financial management.

Current I.G.N.I.T.E. class members include Aloha Beard, Machenzie Bigler, Kierstin Morgan, Johathan Sloan, Brian Hollist, Jordan Hughes, Daniel Bartell, Jeffery Williams, Cameron Wiley and Neil Sanchez.

For Abbigail, it has changed how she views herself and her future.

“The team here is beyond just a team. They make you feel like you’re family,” she said. “They truly care about your well-being, your mental health, your addiction, what happened in the past, what’s going to happen in the future.”

While the program doesn’t remove all obstacles, Sheriff Sam Hulse says it is changing the way inmates look at staff and at themselves.

“What do we see? When we see people, which is so important,” Hulse said. “We have to see one another first as people, and then we can begin to make those changes as individuals going forward.”

Reducing recidivism is a two-part equation: preparing inmates for the real world while they’re inside, and ensuring the community is ready to receive them when they return.

More than 90 percent of people in Bonneville County Jail are released into the community in 90 days.

Programs like I.G.N.I.T.E. offer a vital first step, but lasting change requires continued help beyond the jail walls.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. These guys want the absolute best for every person who comes into this jail and through this program,” McKinney said. “It shows, and I’m just so grateful to be a part of it.”

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reports the program is succeeding, with a “significant reduction” in individuals returning to jail after completing I.G.N.I.T.E.

Today, 39 jails have adopted the I.G.N.I.T.E. program, out of 3,300 counties nationwide, meaning this spark of an educational revolution is just starting to catch fire.

Felicia Minjares, Maria Carrillo, Joshua Spence, Jeremy Clark, Christian Rourick, Sergio Elizondo, Jeffery Sanchez, Kole Abegglen, Brian Moore, and Nicholas Norby don caps and gowns as they received their high school equilvalency diplomas on September 17.

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Abi Martin

UPDATE 8:48 – Olivia has been found.

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – An Endangered Missing Person Alert has been issued for an 11-year-old girl in Pocatello.

According to the Idaho Office of Emergency Management, Pocatello Police are looking for a child named Olivia who was last seen near Eldridge Road in Pocatello.

Police say she is believed to be in danger.

Olivia is described as an 11-year-old girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the Pocatello Police Department at 208-234-6100.

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