Author: KIFI

News Team

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Heads up for drivers heading over the Teton Pass. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will close the pass tomorrow, Thursday, April 2nd, at 10 a.m. For avalanche control.

There will be no parking between the closure gates after 8 p.m. Today.

WYDOT says poor visibility, winter driving conditions, and rising avalanche hazards could even force an earlier closure. The agency is asking backcountry travelers to stay clear of avalanche terrain north of the highway while crews are working.

For more information or updates on the closure or road conditions, click HERE for Wyoming 511.

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ABC4

UPDATED: 10:55 AM

By: Sorina Trauntvein

Posted: Apr 1, 2026 / 10:16 AM MDT

SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Ted Bundy to be the killer in the case of a teenager murdered in Utah County more than 50 years ago.

On Halloween night, more than 50 years ago, a family saw their loved one alive for the last time.

Laura Ann Aime, 17, was celebrating the holiday at a party in Utah County on Oct. 31, 1974. When she left, she reportedly told others at the party that she was going to buy a pack of cigarettes.

However, Aime never returned to the party or made it home that night.

“Laura didn’t live with the family at the time,” Aime’s niece, Tara Stucki, told ABC4.com last year. “She was kind of a free spirit and was off with friends at the time.”

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 11, 1974, Aime was found down an embankment just off American Fork Canyon Road by hikers. She was reportedly strangled, raped, and murdered.

While investigators have their beliefs, her homicide has remained truly unsolved for 51 years.

For the past few decades, investigators have believed that Aime was kidnapped and murdered by Bundy. He was studying law at the University of Utah at the time, and Aime is believed to have been his third victim in the Beehive State.

Aime’s niece, Stucki, stated that Bundy “approached [Aime] multiple times before” and “kind of stalked her before taking her.” However, when he confessed to several homicides in Utah, he struggled to remember whether Aime was among his victims.

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in history, attacking and murdering dozens of women across the western United States, striking in Utah, Washington, Florida, and Colorado. He was convicted of three murders and reportedly confessed to killing 30 women.

Shortly before Bundy’s 1989 execution in Florida, Detective Dennis Couch with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office visited him and recorded the audio of their conversation. Bundy admitted to murdering two women in Utah: Nancy Wilcox, a 16-year-old student at Olympus High School who disappeared on Oct. 1, 1974, and Debra “Debbie” Kent, who disappeared from Viewmont High School on Nov. 8, 1974.

He reportedly could not remember meeting Aime when questioned about her. He said the same of the daughter of the Midvale Police chief, Melissa Smith, who was murdered in October 1974. Bundy outright denied killing another suspected victim, Nancy Baird, who disappeared from a gas station in July 1975 and was never found.

On the day of Bundy’s execution, Detective Couch received a call from the Raiford Prison warden in Florida, who stated that he also confessed to murdering a young girl named Susan Curtis. The 15-year-old had disappeared while attending a youth conference at Brigham Young University in 1975.

Marcos Ortiz contributed to this story with his years of dedicated reporting.

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KIVI Staff

By: KIVI Staff

Posted 8:50 AM, Mar 31, 2026

NAMPA, Idaho (KIVI) — The City of Nampa said goodbye to Mayor Rick Hogaboam on Tuesday as neighbors gathered at the Ford Idaho Center to honor his life and legacy.

A changing of the guard at Hogaboam’s casket marked the beginning of a memorial centered around faith, family, and public service.

“Today is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do as a mother,” Hogaboam’s mother, Michong Chong, said. “No mother should ever have to see their son go before them.”

Chong told service goers that the loss is still hard to understand.

“He told me how much he loved new job as a mayor,” Chong said. “He was so excited. To make a better place to live, anyway he could.”

Former Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling was among those invited to the stage as the service turned from music to personal tributes.

“Your dad would want you to know how much he loved you. He was so proud of you, each and every one of you,” Kling said.

Before he became mayor, Hogaboam served as senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa. Those closest to him say his life in public service shaped how he led.

ALSO READ | ‘A sign of life’: Nampa teens plant memorial trees at West Park to honor the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam

“He used to be our pastor when he first moved to Idaho,” friends Randy and Sue said.

A photo from his office offered a glimpse into how Hogaboam viewed the job, showing a countdown clock reminding him exactly how much time he had left to serve his community as mayor.

The memorial turned deeply personal when Hogaboam’s 13-year-old son, Ezra, stepped forward to read Psalm 23.

Tuesday night’s service made it clear that Hogaboam will be remembered not just for the office he held, but for the people he led, served, and left behind.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little has signed a new bill into law criminalizing the use of public bathrooms not matching biological sex. The new law marks a sweeping expansion of the state’s existing trans bathroom ban.

While the 2023 law already mandates that Idaho schools regulate bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex, the newly signed law expands those restrictions to state-owned buildings and other public spaces. 

House Bill 752 will create criminal charges for any individual who “knowingly or willfully” enters a bathroom or locker room that does not correspond with their biological sex. The bill introduces strict criminal consequences. A first-time violation is classified as a misdemeanor, while a second offense would be a felony.

The bill was quickly signed after reaching the Governor’s Desk on Monday afternoon, March 30th.

Polarized Senate Debate

This bill has been one of the most talked-about — and controversial — of the session, with strong feelings on both sides of the aisle.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ben Toews (R-Pocatello), defended the legislation during Senate hearings, framing it as a measure designed to keep women and girls safe and keep biological men out of areas designed for women.

“Actually, what we are trying to solve here is not targeting any group of people or one person. It’s dealing with sexual predators and very real issues,” Toews told lawmakers in the Senate hearing.

Critics argue it targets transgender people and could lead to harassment or discrimination. The law takes effect July 1st, 2026.

Protests and the Trans Day of Visibility

The Governor’s signature arrived just as advocates gathered across the state for Trans Day of Visibility. Rallies in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello served as both a celebration of the community and a protest against a legislative session many described as a “direct attack” on their rights.

“Trans folks in Idaho are under attack,” said Hannah Pearson-Kleinheider, a non-binary resident at the Idaho Falls rally. “Even if people don’t really think about us all the time, we’re here. So we’re going to still keep being here.”

The rallies coincided with the passage of another piece of legislation affecting transgender Idahoans, the “Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.” The bill would require educators and mental health professionals to disclose information to parents if a child is questioning their gender identity. The bill has passed both the Idaho House and Senate and is headed to Governor Brad Little’s desk.

Advocates like organizer Leah McNeal expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of children in unsupportive homes. “Forcibly outing a child… it’s going to have catastrophic effects,” McNeal said. “I worry about the mental health of some of these kids.”

Evelyn Byrd, another attendee in Idaho Falls, said she came to push back against “harmful recent legislation” and to help others feel safe within the community. Byrd encouraged those outside the LGBTQ+ community to set aside internet-based assumptions and engage in direct conversation.

Despite the political tension, organizers emphasized a theme of “trans joy.” In Idaho Falls, volunteer de-escalation teams monitored the event, which remained peaceful and focused on resilience.

“We wanted to give my community a place to kind of celebrate who we are in spite of the things that are happening,” Mcneal said. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to stay strong.”

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Danielle Mullenix

West Yellowstone, MT (KIFI) – A longtime staple in West Yellowstone is now gone, leaving behind memories—and a wave of emotion from the community. The Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, widely known for its family-friendly atmosphere and iconic IMAX screen, closed its doors permanently in January and began to undergo demolition on March 26. Today, little remains of the building that once stood as a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors.

The theatre, which first opened in 1994, had been a go-to destination for decades, offering everything from educational documentaries about nearby Yellowstone National Park to major blockbuster films. Its closure and demolition have left many in the community feeling a deep sense of loss.

In the days following the demolition, residents took to social media to share their reactions. Many expressed heartbreak and nostalgia over the loss of a place tied to family memories and local culture.

One user wrote, “I will always cherish the fun of seeing a huge IMAX movie right outside of Yellowstone,” while others added, “This breaks my heart,” and “A huge bummer for families and kids that are local who need something to do socially.”

Demolition site of the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, March 2026

At the same time, some community members expressed gratitude for the theatre’s decades-long run. One post thanked the owners, saying, “Thank you to the amazing family who sacrificed everything to create and keep IMAX open for so many years. We appreciate all your dedication.”

According to Town Manager Dan Walker, the site will soon see new development. Plans are in place for an expansion of the Buffalo Crossing RV Park, which will take over the former theatre’s location.

IMAX Sign as of March 2026

IMAX Sign as of 2014

Local News 8 has reached out to the theatre’s previous owners and the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce for further comment. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Law enforcement groups throughout the state are sounding off in opposition to Senate Bill 1441 as it advances in the Idaho Senate.

The controversial bill would require each law enforcement agency in Idaho to enter into section 287(g) programs with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requiring agencies to participate in the jail enforcement model, warrant service officer model, and task force model – in which local law enforcement would search for illegal immigrants in the community and take action against them.

“That was the intention, to make sure that cooperation with ICE and communication with ICE is governed by agreements that are set forth by the federal government – these 287(g) agreements,” said Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, “and that we don’t see that cooperation differing from jurisdiction to jurisdiction – that we create the general rule with the exceptions.”

Agencies that choose not to participate would be required to submit their reasons in writing to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and the Idaho State Fraternal Order of Police have stood consistently against the proposed legislation.

Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell, whose organization represents 2,800 law enforcement personnel in Idaho, said law enforcement resources in the state are already stretched without adding the additional programs, responsibilities, and training these agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would require.

“We heard from the sheriffs and some of the chiefs even, since versions of this bill have been introduced, is that everybody has the desire to work with ICE and mitigate immigration issues – illegal immigration issues,” Lovell said. “But we want to be able to maintain the ability to not work for them, you know, work with them, but not work for them and be able to still maintain all the things that [we]’re responsible to take care of in the community.”

Lovell is concerned that asking local law enforcement to perform federal roles could endanger police officers, troopers, and deputies. 

“When you stretch these resources so thin, then it makes it a safety issue for officers on the street,” he said. “It’s a safety issue for the community because 911 calls still happen, crashes still happen, incidents still happen that aren’t necessarily related to illegal immigration – and if they are, there’s already processes in place and methods to deal with it right now.”

The revised bill states that “participation in such models and programs shall be required only to the extent that the necessary resources for participation are reasonably available to the law enforcement agency.”

Anthon was clear that the intent of the bill is to encourage local cooperation with ICE authorities.

“Cooperation with ICE  is something we expect from our local jurisdiction, and provide reasonable accommodations if for certain jurisdictions it just doesn’t work,” Anthon said.

Most sheriff offices and police departments in the state already openly cooperate with ICE authorities, law enforcement officials said.

Lovell said that requiring agencies to state reasons in writing and report to the Department of Homeland Security if they are unable to participate in any ICE 287(g) programs adds additional layers of bureaucracy to local law enforcement.

“Some of those models for smaller agencies, for small police departments – even larger police departments that are still trying to maintain staffing and take care of all the other 911 calls and issues in their community,” he said. “They may not have the resources to just jump into that agreement.”

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-3 to send the bill to the full Idaho Senate, reversing its 6-5 March 16th decision to table a similar bill.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, and Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell discuss the impacts of Senate Bill 1441 on illegal immigration and law enforcement in Idaho.

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Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Lottery is bringing back its annual “Scratch for Schools” fundraiser to Southeastern Idaho, and this year’s event is set to be the largest yet. A record number of schools will participate across two days of high-energy competition aimed at raising money for public education.

Yesterday, 64 schools gathered at Idaho State University Extension in Idaho Falls, inside the Bennion Student Union multi-purpose room.

Today, another 53 schools will take part at the Pond Student Union Ballroom on ISU’s campus in Pocatello at 4 p.m.

Statewide, the Idaho Lottery is hosting 11 events with more than 514 schools registered to participate. This year marks the 25th anniversary of “Scratch for Schools,” a program that has returned more than $2.1 million to support public education and classrooms across Idaho.

Funds raised through the event can go towards a variety of classroom needs, including playground equipment, library books, and classroom technology.

In addition to the competition, organizers say the event is designed to be fun and visually exciting. Nearly 200 participants, including administrators, teachers, PTO members, and staff, will take part at each event, often dressed in costumes to show school pride.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Falls’ Walmart storefront is getting a new look. The remodeling began last Sunday, March 29th.

A representative for the Walmart Corporation says their goal is to improve convenience by making checking out easier. This change includes moving more staff to the checkouts that can offer assistance.

The remodeling is expected to conclude in mid-April. The store will remain open as the remodeling continues.

Details are limited on what these improvements will look like for sure, but Local News 8 will monitor and keep you up to date.

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Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings are gearing up to defend their NCDChockey Mountain Division title as the 2026 playoffs begin.

The quest for back-to-back championships begins tonight as the Spud Kings face off with the Grand Junction River Hawks. Puck drop is set for 7:05 for game one of the best-of-5 Mountain Division semifinals.

Despite entering the postseason on home ice, the Spud Kings are still looking for a little momentum. The Spud Kings finished the season dropping their last two games with a 5-2 loss to the Utah Outliers and a 4-2 loss to the Rock Springs Miners.

That being said, the Spud Kings did enough throughout the rest of the regular season to finish second in the Mountain Division.

This season, the Spuds won 6 of 9 against the River Hawks and have won each of the last four. 

In their last matchup, which was just 11 days ago, they beat Grand Junction 5-1, thanks to goals from Santino Canevari, Sam Grimaldi, Bookie Warshaw, Hunter Whisenand, and Andrew Schmidt. 

The Spuds have already punched their ticket to the big stage, thanks to their cup win out in New Jersey a season ago. That means win or lose in the division playoffs, the Spuds already have one of the four spots locked up in the Division Cup. 

Make sure to download the Local News 8 APP for score updates throughout the game.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — After a tremendous winter season of giving, the Light the World Giving Machine presented checks to local nonprofits in Pocatello Tuesday morning.

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the machines work as “vending machines in reverse”, allowing people to donate various items in a simple purchase, such as meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, school materials, and livestock.

Over 48 days (from November 15th to January 1st), more than 95,000 people visited the machines. 78,000 donations were made across Pocatello, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls. 

The total donations raised in Pocatello was $960,534.

Care USA – $177,032

Right to Play – $189,345

Bannock Youth Foundation – $151,970

Bright Tomorrows – $125,050

Aid For Friends – $120,680

United Way of Southeastern Idaho – $119,488

South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) – $76,969

All of the money raised for these nonprofits is a wonderful showcase of the care within the community. This money could be life changing for so many people. The nonprofits are very grateful for all donations.

The Light the World will present Idaho Falls’ numbers on Thursday, April 2nd.

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