Author: KIFI

Par Kermani

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is advising people who use private wells near Big Springs Avenue in Island Park to boil their water after E. coli bacteria were found in multiple wells.

The advisory affects private wells in the area around Mack’s Inn and SpringHill Suites.

DEQ says residents, visitors and businesses that rely on those private wells should boil water for at least one minute before drinking it, preparing food, making ice or brushing their teeth. Bottled water may also be used.

Officials say E. coli can indicate contamination from human or animal waste and may cause illness, particularly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

In addition to the advisory for private wells, two public water systems in the area are currently under boil water orders:

Big 12 Water Association

Yellowstone RV Park at Mack’s Inn

DEQ says two other public water systems being tested are not currently under boil water orders:

Mack’s Inn/SpringHill Suites

Thompson Well

The agency is encouraging private well owners in the affected area to have their water tested for bacteria.

The advisory will remain in effect until additional testing shows the contamination has cleared.

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Par Kermani

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Drivers in Rexburg may encounter a temporary one-lane closure on a portion of Main Street today after a contractor experienced equipment issues overnight.

The Idaho Transportation Department say the affected area will be repaved tonight and is expected to be smoother than ever in time for the Fourth of July parade.

All traffic control devices will be removed from Main Street from Friday through Monday to minimize impacts during the holiday weekend.

ITD thanked the public for their patience and said crews are working to ensure construction does not interfere with Fourth of July celebrations.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — With America’s 250th anniversary just days away, the U.S. Department of Energy announced the third advanced reactor to go critical, meeting the Trump administration’s July 4 deadline.

The reactor, known as Unity and developed by Deployable Energy, successfully achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory. Criticality occurs when a nuclear reactor sustains a controlled nuclear chain reaction.

“Last week, I had the opportunity to see the Unity demonstration reactor firsthand and meet with the talented teams from Deployable Energy, INL and DOE whose work made this historic moment possible on the eve of our nation’s 250th anniversary,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. “Yesterday, we accomplished a significant milestone on a timeline many thought was unachievable. Advanced nuclear technologies like Unity will help power the next generation of American industry, strengthen our energy security, and ensure the United States remains the world’s nuclear innovation leader.”

Earlier this month, Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 reactor and Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reactor also achieved criticality through the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program.

Federal officials say the milestone marks the first time three different advanced microreactor designs have reached criticality in the United States within a single month.

The Unity project was completed under the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative, which is managed by the National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory. The program is designed to help companies test and demonstrate new reactor technologies more quickly.

Deployable Energy CEO and co-founder Bobby Gallagher credited the Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory and industry partners for helping the project reach the milestone.

“We are proud to be a part of this historic achievement,” Gallagher said.

Officials say Unity is the first project under the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative to achieve criticality and demonstrates how national laboratory resources can help accelerate advanced reactor testing and development.

Learn more about the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad

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Danielle Mullenix

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – After years of planning and construction, the curtain is drawn back tonight on a new chapter for one of East Idaho’s most beloved summer traditions. The Playmill Theatre celebrates its brand-new home in Island Park with the official opening of its 2026 season.

The opening of the new venue marks a significant milestone and realization of a long-held dream for the theater, which has entertained countless locals and visitors to Yellowstone for generations. This new venue replaces the original Playmill theater in West Yellowstone, which served audiences for many years. The modern space is designed to continue The Playmill’s legacy for years to come.

The 2026 season begins with opening night performances and features a lineup that includes Disney’s Frozen, Les Misérables, and Disney’s Newsies throughout the summer.

Playmill 2026 Inaugural Season Lineup

Excitement has been building among longtime patrons eager to experience the new space.

“I return to Playmill again and again because of the magic that’s on stage and off,” said longtime supporter Annie Dalling.

For Phillip and Catherine Richards, along with granddaughter Kyndal Baker, attending The Playmill has become a cherished tradition since its 1964 opening.

“Well, it’s always been just terrific talent and great fun,” Phillip Richards said. “We’ve been going ever since we were married,” Richards said, beaming across to his wife Catherine. The couple first saw productions at the theatre in 1969 and have been loyal patrons since.

Others say they’re looking forward to seeing how the new theater enhances the productions they’ve loved for years.

“I’m excited to see the new stage, their new space, and what they’re going to incorporate,” said Erin Madsen, joined by her husband, Aaron Madsen. “We want The Playmill to be something that everybody has to experience and see how awesome it is,” Aaron added.

The theater is prepared to welcome audiences, but Playmill officials kindly ask guests to be patient and open-minded as construction continues outside the building. Some exterior work, including landscaping and parking lot improvements, will take place over the next several weeks as crews put the finishing touches on the property. Additionally, new amenities, including a restaurant called Steakhouse 64 and the Mill Creek Mercantile gift shop, are expected to be completed later this year.

Despite the remaining work, Playmill theater owners Roger and Heidi Merrill say they are thrilled to finally open the doors to a space designed to carry The Playmill tradition into the future.

“Construction on the new building has been nonstop during the day,” Roger Merill said. “And during the day is when the problem-solving process happens. But the minute we walk into rehearsals at night, that’s when all day problems go away. We’ve been blessed with such a prepared cast. They’re ready to go, and we are to.”

“That is why we do what we do,” Heidi Merrill added. “It has nothing to do with the space or the building. It’s about what we are able to give back to the audience.”

In the spirit of this special transition year for the theatre, The Playmill has created a mini-documentary series intended to take audiences behind the magic of building the 23,000 sq ft theatre. To watch the first episode, click here.

The 2026 season begins with its opening weekend to sold-out audiences and features a lineup that includes Disney’s Frozen, Les Misérables, and Disney’s Newsies, giving audiences plenty of opportunities to experience the theater’s new home and family entertainment throughout the summer.

To see the progress of their new space at Island Park during the 2026 inaugural season, audiences can purchase tickets here.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls Community Hospital is safe and operating normally this morning after a phoned-in threat triggered a brief lockdown. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office quickly responded and assessed the situation, determining there was no imminent danger to patients, staff, or the public.

According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell, hospital staff, alerted on-site security deputies just before 8:00 a.m. after receiving a troubling phone call. The caller claimed they were heading to the hospital with the intention of causing harm.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies responded immediately, placing the facility on a temporary lockdown. Staff and patients were instructed to remain in their rooms while law enforcement cleared the building and the surrounding area.

“Working with hospital administration, deputies quickly determined there was no active threat to the facility and resumed normal operations within the hour,” said Lovell in a news release.

While the lockdown has been lifted, Lovell says deputies are continuing to work with hospital administration to investigate. As a precautionary measure, law enforcement extra deputies will be patrolling the complex throughout the day.

In a joint statement, Idaho Falls Community Hospital (IFCH) administration and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office expressed their gratitude to patients and the public for their patience and cooperation during the brief disruption. IFCH leadership also extended a special thank you to local law enforcement for their rapid response in ensuring the safety of everyone on campus.

Anyone with information about this or any other criminal activity can report tips anonymously online through East Idaho Crime Stopper at www.IFcrime.org or through the P3tips app on your mobile device. 

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Hundreds of people came together at the Brickyard Event Center to remember a local woman who saved their lives. Jenefer Mitchell passed away June 20, 2026, in a tragic car accident along Highway 26 near Ririe, Idaho.

Although Jenefer has passed on, her legacy has not, and many came out to speak about how she changed their lives.

“If you look around this room today, you’ll probably notice something,” said Jenesa Sasinouski, Jenefer’s sister. “They are softball friends, people from recovery, coworkers, friends, family, neighbors, kids she cheered for, people she argued with, people she laughed with, people from the different parts of her life. She had this incredible ability to make you feel like you matter. She believed in people long before they believed in themselves.”

Recovering from Addiction

Friends and family said one of Jenefer’s greatest passions was helping people overcome addiction and find recovery.

Jenefer believed anyone could find the courage to recover from addiction, and she fought every day to show others who struggled with addiction that they could overcome it too. She answered phone calls, gave rides, sat with people through difficult times and reminded them they were capable of more than they believed.

Anyone who hasn’t experienced addiction may struggle to understand how someone could become addicted. They may believe those who use drugs lack moral principles and willpower when, in reality, addiction is a complex disease. These substances can rewire the brain in ways that make quitting extremely difficult, but not impossible.

Most addictions affect the brain’s reward circuit, causing increased levels of dopamine to flood the brain. As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond. This can lessen the feeling of pleasure or the “high” the person once experienced. To try to regain that feeling, a person may begin using larger amounts of the substance and fall deeper into addiction.

Much like other chronic illnesses, there is no cure for addiction. However, it is treatable and can be successfully managed by people in recovery. Getting help and support and knowing you are not alone can make a difference.

Jenefer was heavily involved with The Center for Hope Peer Recovery Center.

The Center for Hope is a non-profit Community Recovery Center in Idaho Falls providing free addiction and mental health recovery support services to adults.

They offer:

Conversations and Connections Discussions

Community Support Groups

Recovery Coaching

Peer Support

Access to computers, internet, WIFI

Social Activities

QPR 90 minute suicide prevention training

Community Resource Training

Educational Opportunities

Re-entry services following incarceration

Help is always available. If you are in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis line at 988. You can speak with someone anytime.

Idaho Falls Recovery Centers:

Brick House Recovery

Beehive Rehabilitation and Counseling

The Center for Hope Peer Recovery Center

Rexburg Recovery Centers:

Stewards of Recovery

The Center for Hope Peer Recovery Center

Pocatello Recovery Centers:

Freedom Recovery Center

Hope and Recovery Resource Center

Raise the Bottom

Jackson Hole Recovery Centers:

Legacy Healing Center

Curran Seeley Foundation

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Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Legislature passed more than 350 laws during its 2026 session, bringing sweeping changes to everything from transportation to school AI policies. The vast majority of these laws officially take effect tomorrow, July 1.

Local News 8 has compiled the following breakdown of the most talked-about laws going into effect tomorrow.

House Bill 752 – Restricting restroom/lockeroom access by biological sex

Commonly known as the “bathroom bill,” House Bill 752 makes it a crime to knowingly use a restroom, changing room, or locker room that does not align with a person’s biological sex. However, earlier this month, a judge issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking a section of the law regarding single-use restrooms and multi-use restrooms where no single-use option is available. The rest of the law will take effect on July 1.

RELATED: Federal Judge halts Idaho law enforcing restroom access by biological sex

House Bill 664 – Semi-Truck Speed Limits

A new law allowing semi trucks to travel the freeway at 80 miles per hour goes into effect in Idaho on July 1. House Bill 644 states semi-trucks can travel at the same speed as passenger vehicles on interstate highway – up to 80 mph when the posted speed allows it. The bill’s text claims, “Research has shown that speed variance (differences in speed between vehicles) causes more accidents than absolute speed, with a 10 mph difference creating as much as a 227% increase in interactions. When variances in speed occur at excessive speeds, such as on interstate highways, the severity of crashes increases dramatically.”

RELATED: Speeding up: Semi trucks in Idaho can travel at 80 miles per hour starting July 1

Senate Bill 1227 – AI in K-12 Education

This bill addresses the rapid rise of AI in K-12 education, directing the State Department of Education to build a statewide framework for responsible AI use. Additionally, local school districts and public charter schools must now adopt formal policies governing how both students and staff can use AI tools.

House Bill 516 – Teachers Union Restrictions

This law heavily restricts how teachers’ unions interact with school district resources. It prohibits unions from using a school district’s payroll system to automatically deduct member dues, holding union meetings on district property, and bars teachers from using paid leave for legislative advocacy.

House Bill 895 – Data Center Water Restrictions

This law places restrictions on future data centers to be designed for the non-consumptive use of water, or uses water for such purposes from a municipal water district, or water and sewer district system, to “help ensure that Idaho’s limited water rights resources will continue to be available for existing uses, such as agriculture and industry.”

House Bill 538 – Protection for Short-Term Rentals

Starting July 1st, local governments face new limits on how heavily they can regulate short-term rentals like Airbnbs and Vrbos. The law aims to protect “the private property rights of Idaho homeowners by ensuring the right to rent their property is maintained.”

RELATED: Idaho Senate passes bill limiting local regulations on short-term rentals

House Bill 37 & House Bill 803: Firing Squad Executions

Passed in 2025 but officially taking effect July 1, HB 37 establishes a firing squad as Idaho’s primary method of execution. A companion law passed in 2026, HB 803, ensures that the identities of all firing squad members will remain strictly anonymous.

RELATED: Idaho DOC releases detailed firing squad execution protocols ahead of July 1 transition

House Bill 681: No Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse

This law removes the statute of limitations for two major offenses: aggravated lewd conduct with a child and the production of child sexually exploitative material. Prosecutors can now bring charges against perpetrators at any point in time, no matter how many years have passed since the crime.

House Bill 696: Prison Staff Sexual Misconduct

This legislation amends and expands the state’s legal definition of prohibited sexual contact between correctional staff and inmates. The changes are designed to eliminate legal loopholes and make it easier to prosecute prison workers accused of sexually abusing incarcerated individuals. The legislation was in response to InvestigateWest’s reporting that found few Idaho prison workers accused of sexually abusing incarcerated women were ever charged.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls residents are being encouraged to celebrate Independence Day by helping local families facing food insecurity.

The City of Idaho Falls and the Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls are partnering for an online giving campaign called “25,000 in 25 Hours,” with a goal of raising $25,000 to support the food bank’s services across eastern Idaho.

The fundraiser begins at noon on July 3 and continues through 1 p.m. on July 4. Donations can be made through the Community Food Basket’s Venmo account or website.

City officials say the campaign is part of local efforts to recognize America’s 250th anniversary while encouraging community members to give back.

“America 250 is a celebration of our nation’s history, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the values that continue to bring us together,” Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw said. “Whether you can give $2.50 or $2,500, every contribution is meaningful and will make a difference.”

According to the Community Food Basket, all money raised during the 25-hour campaign will go directly toward providing food assistance to individuals and families in eastern Idaho.

Executive Director Ariel Jackson said community donations are critical to meeting the growing need for food assistance.

“Even small donations can have a big impact — just $1 can be turned into $4.80 worth of food helping provide meals to families in our local community,” Jackson said.

The Community Food Basket relies on donations and community support throughout the year to stock its shelves and provide resources to local residents.

Donations can be made beginning July 3 through the Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls Venmo account or on the organization’s website.

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Curtis Jackson

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)—Yellowstone Bear World was closed for a time Tuesday afternoon after receiving a bomb threat.

The threat was reported at around 1 p.m. Owners evacuated around 300 guests to the parking area while Madison County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area. No devices or explosives were found, and the park was reopened shortly after 3 p.m.

On Sunday, Zoo Idaho received a similar threat and was closed for two days. It reopened Tuesday morning.

The FBI reported it has been investigating several bomb threats towards zoos and aquariums around the United States in recent months.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — More than three years after a fire heavily damaged Highland High School, the next phase of the school’s rebuild is nearing completion.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 says construction remains on schedule for students and staff to move into the first phase of the new campus following winter break on Jan. 4, 2027.

Construction crews have also started work on a new six-court tennis complex and parking lot across Bench Road. The courts will be used by Highland High School student-athletes and the community through a partnership between School District 25 and the City of Pocatello.

The rebuild follows an accidental electrical fire in April 2023 that damaged about 75,000 square feet of the school.

The first phase of the project, set to open in January, includes six classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen and commons area, along with a multi-level gymnasium, weight room, indoor track, wrestling room, locker rooms and athletic offices.

Additional facilities are expected to open in July 2027, including choir, band, orchestra and drama classrooms, as well as performing arts spaces.

“This project has always been about restoring more than a building,” Superintendent Dr. Douglas Howell said. “Highland is a place where generations of learners have built friendships, discovered their passions, and created lifelong memories. Every milestone brings us closer to welcoming learners and staff back into a campus that honors that legacy while providing exceptional learning spaces for the future.”

While the first phase is set to open after winter break, construction will continue on the remaining portions of the campus, including performing arts spaces and music and theater classrooms.

The district says the full rebuild remains on schedule for completion by August 2027, allowing students to begin the 2027-28 school year in the finished campus.

Those interested in following the project’s progress can find updates, renderings and time-lapse videos on the district’s Highland High School rebuild website.

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