Author: KIFI

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A proposed Idaho Falls ordinance would require alcohol servers and security staff to complete a new “Approved Server Training Program,” but at least one city council member says he’s concerned the law, as written, goes too far in punishing workers.

Under the ordinance, current employees would have to be certified by June 1, 2026. New hires would have 60 days from their start date to complete the training. Certifications would be valid for three years, after which employees would be required to take the course again to stay in compliance.

Businesses that hold liquor, beer, or wine licenses would be required to ensure their staff is certified, keep records of those certifications, and present them to law enforcement upon request. Copies of employee certificates would also have to be submitted when applying for a new or lapsed license.

City Council Member John Radford said he supports the idea of training but believes local bar and restaurant owners have legitimate concerns about how the ordinance is structured.

“We did have, at our last City Council meeting, probably five or 10 of the owners come and speak to it, and they overwhelmingly wanted us to find a better solution,” Radford said “All of them said, yes, they’re in favor of training, but the burden of how this was written currently just didn’t meet their needs.”

One of the major areas of concern is the penalty for violating the training requirement. The ordinance makes individual servers, managers, or security personnel who fail to comply guilty of a misdemeanor. 

“We think that the training burden is one. Number two is the misdemeanor is pretty harsh for a judgment call,” Radford said. “You can train people, but ultimately you don’t know that someone comes into your bar that hasn’t already had more drinks than you served them.”

Council members and business owners are expected to continue discussions in the coming months over how to balance safety with less burden on businesses.

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Seth Ratliff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 43-year-old Menan man is recovering this afternoon after being injured in a rollover crash along State Highway 33 Tuesday morning, March 17.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash took place around 11:20 AM near milepost 32. The man was reportedly driving north in a 1995 Buick LaSaber when his vehicle drove off the east side of the road and rolled.

The man was fortunately wearing his seatbelt and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The crash is still under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal has officially thrown his hat into the ring for District Judge in Idaho’s Seventh Judicial District, setting the stage for the region’s first contested judicial election in over a decade.

Neal’s campaign to unseat incumbent District Judge Steven Boyce marks the first time in 14 years that a judge’s seat has been challenged in the district.

District Judge Steven Boyce

Judicial elections take place every 4 years, and the race will involve residents of District 7, which serves Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton counties.

In his announcement, Neal emphasized the importance of the democratic process in the judicial system.

“The Idaho Constitution states that district judges are to be elected by the people,” Neal explained. “It is not a true election if people don’t have choices. Elected judges are more directly accountable to the people in the community.”

Neal brings four decades of public service to the race, beginning his career in law enforcement before transitioning to law. He has served as the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney since his election in 2022.

His opponent, Judge Boyce, was appointed by Governor Brad Little to the 7th Judicial District in 2019 and has served in the position since. Before becoming a district judge, Boyce served as a magistrate judge for Bonneville County from 2017 to 2019 and had practiced law for over 20 years.

Prosecutor Neal says his platform centers on ensuring the community and victims have a clear voice in the courtroom.

“I believe that the community and the victims must be heard in the courtroom,” Neal added, “Along with efforts at rehabilitating offenders, there must be accountability and proportionate consequences, especially in those cases involving child victims and gun violence.”

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

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Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — A 34-year-old Idaho Falls school teacher is facing multiple felony charges after an investigation by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Benjamin Simms was arrested on Thursday, March 12, following allegations that he recorded videos of himself molesting a 4-year-old child.

Simms has been charged with 1 count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and 1 count of Lewd Conduct with a Child Under 16.

At the time of his arrest, Simms was a K-3 music teacher at American Heritage Charter School in Idaho Falls. Local News 8 has reached out to American Heritage for comment and will provide more details as we receive a response.

However, investigators and Idaho AG Raúl Labrador emphasize that the charges are not connected to his work at the school, and they’ve found no evidence that any students were victimized.

“Last week, investigators in my ICAC Unit arrested a man employed with a charter school in Idaho Falls. At this time, we have found no evidence of any student victims,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners across eastern Idaho who helped with this arrest and share our commitment to keeping Idaho families safe.”

Investigation Background

The investigation began in early January after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a “cybertip” from Snapchat. The social media platform flagged an account for uploading 15 files containing suspected child pornography.

According to court documents, five videos involved an adult man molesting a child later identified as 4-years-old.

Investigators traced the IP addresses used by the account to a local medical facility and Simms’ residence in Shelley, Idaho. Detectives then used social media and law enforcement databases to identify Simms as the man in the illicit videos.

On March 12, ICAC investigators, working in partnership with several local law enforcement agencies, obtained a search warrant for Simms’ home and took him into custody. While in custody, Simms admitted to investigators that he had created lewd videos of the child, according to court documents.

Simms was subsequently charged and booked into the Bingham County Jail. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 8:30 AM.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little signed the 2026 Budget Rescissions Act into law late Monday night without fanfare, narrowly beating a deadline to approve the sweeping budget cuts detailed in Senate Bill 1331. The legislation imposes a 4% reduction across nearly all state agency budgets.

The act adds a 1% cut on top of the Governor’s previous 3% state budget reduction mandate, reflecting the Governor’s Enduring Idaho Plan promises for state agencies to “tighten their belts.” While the belt-tightening is widespread, Idaho’s public schools, Medicaid, the Idaho Department of Corrections, and the Idaho State Police will avoid the additional cuts per the Governor’s request.

In a statement released Tuesday, Gov. Little defended the move as a necessary step to maintain a balanced budget.

“Idahoans expect their state government to operate efficiently and effectively, and the balanced budget we approved for the current fiscal year delivers on both fronts,” Little said in a statement to IdahoEdNews on Tuesday. “I appreciate my partners in the Legislature for working closely with my office to right-size state government to match the taxpayers’ means while minimizing the impact of spending reductions.”

A Thin Margin and Sharp Criticism

The path to the Governor’s desk was narrow. The bill cleared the Idaho Senate by a razor-thin 18-17 vote after a more comfortable 48-22 victory in the House. Idaho Democrats and holdouts from Little’s own party are labeling the cuts as irresponsible.

Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise) pinned the blame on the $450 million revenue reduction passed by Republicans in 2025. Wintrow argued that the current shortfall was an avoidable, self-inflicted crisis.

In a statement released Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow (D-Boise) took aim at the $450 million in revenue reductions Idaho Republicans passed in 2025, calling the shortfall now forcing cuts to essential services across Idaho a Republican-created problem.

“Republicans created this crisis when they cut more than $450 million in revenue in 2025 after years of tax breaks that favored the wealthiest Idahoans,” Wintrow said. “We have more than $1.7 billion in reserve funds built for moments like this. What Idaho does not have is a governor willing to make that choice when it matters most.”

Eyeing the Midterms

House Democratic Leader Ilana Rubel echoed Sen. Wintrow’s sentiment, warning that the “devastating blow” to infrastructure and healthcare would have real-world consequences. Rubel specifically highlighted the recent elimination of Assertive Community Treatment, which she linked to four recent deaths in the state.

As the state grapples with the projected revenue shortfalls and subsequent budget cuts, Rubel signaled that the budget battle would be a focal point of the upcoming November midterm elections.

“Idaho families are paying the price for failed GOP leadership,” Rubel said. “It is past time for change. This November, Idahoans have the opportunity to elect leaders who will truly fight for working people.”

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Seth Ratliff

ROBERTS, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Roberts has officially lifted its drinking water advisory today, after laboratory testing confirmed the water supply is safe to drink.

The warning was originally issued on Saturday, March 13, after the city’s water system suffered a significant loss of pressure. The City traced the issue to a series of power fluctuations and outages that caused the backup generator to cycle rapidly. This “on-and-off” activity eventually tripped a breaker, cutting power to the main water pumps.

With the “all-clear” given, Roberts residents may now safely use the water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. In a news release, the City thanked the public for their patience and cooperation.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published 1:48 AM, Mar 16, 2026 and last updated 5:09 PM, Mar 16, 2026

By: Victoria Rodriguez, KIVI

BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — A bill that would have required local law enforcement agencies across Idaho to seek cooperation agreements with federal immigration officials is no longer moving forward this session.

Lawmakers on the Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee voted 5–4 Monday morning to hold House Bill 659 in committee, preventing it from advancing to the Senate floor.

The bill, sponsored by Dale Hawkins, would have required police departments and county sheriff’s offices to apply for partnerships with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement through the federal 287(g) Program. The program allows trained local officers to assist with certain immigration enforcement duties under ICE supervision.

Supporters argued the proposal would create a more consistent statewide approach to immigration enforcement.

“There’s no major cost to this. It’s actually a revenue generator, and I think 287(g) can help solve some of these problems,” Hawkins said during the hearing.

But several law enforcement leaders testified against the bill, including Canyon County Sheriff, Kieran Donahue, who said requiring local agencies to participate would shift federal responsibilities onto local law enforcement.

“Right now, the system is working. It’s been working for decades,” Donahue said. “This is a solution looking for a problem. We don’t have a problem.”

Donahue argued the proposal would require sheriffs and local officers to take on duties typically handled by federal authorities.

“The sponsors of this bill wanted the legislative body to mandate that a constitutional officer — the sheriff — or other local law enforcement officers do the job of the federal government,” Donahue said. “I contend the federal government should do their job. I do my job every damn day.”

Other law enforcement leaders and community members echoed those concerns, arguing the mandate could strain already limited staffing and resources and potentially expose agencies to lawsuits.

Some residents also spoke about the possible impact on trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities.

“As a Boise resident, I don’t want our local police policing people’s immigration status. Being undocumented is not a crime,” said Mary Brown during public testimony.

Leaders from smaller departments also raised concerns about community relationships.

Homdale Police Chief, Jeff Emiler said trust between law enforcement and Hispanic residents in his community has already declined in recent years.

“Thirty-four percent of Homedale’s population is Hispanic,” Emiler said. “Over the last three to four years we’ve seen the trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the Hispanic community erode to the point where it’s almost nonexistent.”

He warned that requiring local agencies to participate in immigration enforcement partnerships could further damage that trust.

“If we force this upon local law enforcement agencies, it’s going to cause those communities to not report crimes,” Emiler said.

Donahue said he related to those concerns, noting Canyon County faces similar dynamics.

“I thought he had a great perspective on that rural community with a very high Hispanic, Latino population — same as my county,” Donahue said. “It’s a continual erosion of that relationship.”

The Idaho House passed the bill earlier this month on a 41–27 vote, but Monday’s committee decision means the measure will not move forward this legislative session.

READ MORE | Idaho House passes bill requiring local law enforcement to seek ICE agreements

This story 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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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Friends of the Marshall Public Library are celebrating 30 years by bringing back seasonal book sales.

The first sale is coming up on Friday, March 20th, and Saturday, the 21st, at the Marshall Public Library’s community room.

“From sci-fi to historical fiction to mysteries and hobbies, there are hundreds of books tochoose from in all genres and all reading levels,” said the Friends of the Marshall Public Library in a news release.

Books start at just 25 cents, with hardcover books sold for two dollars, and paperbacks will go for just one dollar. 

This year, shoppers can also enter raffle baskets to celebrate the 30th anniversary.

“For every $30 spent at our book sales, you will earn a raffle ticket to enter to win one of our fabulous prize baskets,” said the release. “All raffle baskets have been generously donated to, and created by, both local businesses and FOMPL board members.”

All proceeds support library programs, equipment, and community resources.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A local man faces a new felony charge after allegedly claiming to have a bomb during a weekend altercation at the Bourbon Barrel Bar.

Bret Kynaston has been charged with felony false reporting of explosives in a public or private place. At the time of the incident, Kynaston was already out on bond for several felony drug charges stemming from a separate case last October.

Details of the Incident

According to court documents, on March 14, officers from the Pocatello Police Department responded to a call around 12:30 AM. The caller reported a suspicious man walking out of the bar who claimed to be carrying a bomb.

Officers found the man matching the caller’s description walking one block north of the bar. The man, later identified as Kynaston, reportedly admitted to an earlier argument with a group at the bar after they accused him of using a marijuana vape pen.

Kynaston told police that he later encountered one of the men from the argument in the bathroom. Seeing him, Kynaston said he shoved his hand into his front jacket pocket, rolled it into a fist, stuck out the end of a cigarette, and said: “I have a bomb”.

According to court documents, two people overheard Kynaston’s threat, leading to a short fight before Kynaston left the bar and was stopped by the officers.

Kynaston was taken into custody and transported to the Bannock County Jail. Because he was out on bond for prior felony drug offenses at the time of this arrest, his bond has been set at $50,000.

Kynaston’s preliminary hearing has been set for March 25th at 9:45 AM. In his separate court case, he initially pleaded guilty to all charges. However, a change of plea hearing has been set for March 30th at 8:30 AM.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: March 17, 2026, at 3:50 PM

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — An early morning accident on U.S. 33 turned deadly Tuesday after a driver struck an elk and was thrown from the vehicle.

According to Teton County Fire and Rescue, the accident occurred shortly after 7:00 AM near mile marker 119. The driver, a 35-year-old Rexburg man, was traveling east on U.S. 33 in a 2003 Ford F150 pickup.

His truck struck an elk in the roadway, and the driver lost control as the Ford rolled off the right shoulder of the road. TCFR says their crews arrived on the scene to find the driver had been thrown from the vehicle and died of his injuries at the scene.

The driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

While the victim’s identity has not yet been released, TCFR issued a statement saying, “Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and those close to the victim.”

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