Author: KIFI

Ariel Jensen

UPDATE: 10:00 AM, April 24, 2025

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – In a midmorning update, the local police confirmed that the boil order affecting parts of Rexburg has been lifted.

“Water sample test results have been returned clean,” said the Rexburg Police Department on its Facebook page.

The boil order, the result of a pressure loss caused by a waterline rupture on 2nd E ruptured over the weekend, affected homes and residences in the area between Fairview Avenue and South Millhollow Road.

UPDATE: 5:00 PM, April 23, 2025

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Parts of Rexburg remain under a boil order after a waterline on 2nd E ruptured over the weekend. According to representatives from the City of Rexburg, they are still awaiting the results of a water test, which could take up to 24 hours.

The City of Rexburg anticipates they’ll be able to either lift the boil order at 10 AM on Thursday, April 24, or provide an update on their progress to the community.

UPDATE:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – As of 11:50 AM Wednesday, Parts of Rexburg remain under a boil order after a waterline on 2nd E ruptured over the weekend.

A Water Sample Test has been taken, according to the Rexburg Police Department.

“The test takes a full 24 hours until a result can be given,” said Rexburg PD in a post on Facebook. “The Boil Advisory will remain in effect until we have a final result. We will send another update tomorrow.”

ORIGINAL:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)—As of Wednesday morning, Parts of Rexburg remain under a boil order after a waterline on 2nd E ruptured over the weekend.

Crews worked overnight to restore water pressure and place a temporary fix on Tuesday. However, according to the City of Rexburg, a larger issue was discovered while attempting to fix the line. This issue created the need for an urgent repair, says the city.

“Due to the loss of pressure, a boil order advisory was placed in effect for those who have lost pressure,” writes the public works department. “Please note that the advisory can not be lifted until such time that water pressure returns, has been tested, and adequately determined to be safe. See the Boil Order Below for more information.”

Local News 8 will update this story as the boil order is lifted or changes occur.

The boil order is currently affecting the area between Fairview Avenue and South Millhollow Road.

Public Works Crews are requesting that residents continue to limit water use to prevent further contamination and flow of water in the system.

For more information, click HERE.

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Kailey Galaviz

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Luca Stricagnoli is an Italian guitarist known for his unique style and one-of-a-kind triple-neck guitar.

His talents have allowed him to perform all around the globe. Now, he’s bringing his tour to Idaho Falls at the Colonial Theater Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased HERE.

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Ashley Chilcutt

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — It’s official. BYU-Idaho is requiring an age cap for its approved student housing. Students 26 years and older are no longer eligible to live in student-approved housing complexes and will now be required to live in community housing. That’s according to BYU-Idaho’s website.

As part of our ongoing effort to support students and meet the needs of a growing campus, BYU-Idaho is updating its Approved Housing Eligibility Policy, effective Fall 2025.

This change is designed to align with recent updates to the Church’s General Handbook and YSA guidelines, enhance the student residential experience, and ensure suitable housing is available for all students.

This official change comes after updates to the university’s website were made without final approval. If you are a student affected by this policy change, the University recommends exploring community housing options, planning ahead and finding a roommate.

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Seth Ratliff

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – A 42-year-old woman from Billings, Montana, is now in custody after allegedly stealing a 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL450.

An officer with the Rigby Police Department was patrolling traffic along highway 20 when a driver in a white SUV, later identified as Kerry L Lira, sped past, traveling 83 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone.

According to Rigby PD, the officer activated his patrol vehicle’s emergency lights, but the SUV accelerated to 130 mph and turned west on Menan Lorenzo Hwy, then south on 4100 E.

The officer lost sight of the SUV but spotted fresh tire tracks into a driveway as he searched the area, reports Rigby PD. A white SUV was discovered parked in the backyard, on the grass of the adjacent residence.

Rigby PD says the officer was able to contact the homeowner, who confirmed they did not own the vehicle, and it shouldn’t be parked on the grass.

The driver, Kerry Lira, was discovered hiding in the trunk of the SUV. According to law enforcement, Lira ignored several verbal commands to exit the vehicle, and a Deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was called to unlock the SUV with a Big Easy unlock kit.

As Lira was being arrested and restrained in the back of a patrol vehicle, law enforcement officers say the 42-year-old woman leaned down and bit the arresting officer’s forearm.

The 42-year-old was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail for Felony Eluding an officer, Battery of a peace officer, Possession of a stolen vehicle, and Resisting and Obstructing an officer.

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News Team

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Emergency responders are reporting damage to a “very large gas line” in the area of S 2nd E and the Crestview Subdivision in Rexburg.

“The immediate area at risk has been evacuated,” writes the Rexburg Police Department on its Facebook page. “We are asking residents within the subdivision to stay inside your (their) home.”

COURTESY: Rexburg Police Department

Rexburg police say no other actions are necessary at this time. There is no current estimation for how long repairs will take.

2nd E is currently closed to traffic south of the temple to the water tower, according to Rexburg PD.

The cause of the damage has not been released at this time. This is a developing story, Local News 8 will update with more details as they become available.

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Seth Ratliff

ARIZONA (KIFI) – The jury has reached a verdict in Lori Vallow Daybell’s Arizona murder conspiracy trial. Vallow Daybell has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

The court has immediately entered an aggravation phase, meaning the state will present arguments to justify a harsher punishment in sentencing.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Governor Brad Little is taking steps to minimize wildfire risk through increased management of Idaho’s federal forests.

Tuesday, the governor issued a new executive order, the “Make Forests Healthy Again Act,” directing the Idaho Department of Lands to expand its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to increase management activities and reduce fire risk in Idaho’s federally managed national forests.

“For too long, millions of acres of national forests in Idaho have remained totally untouched, creating a tinderbox of fuel that threatens communities, air quality, and the environment,” Governor Little said in a written statement highlighting the order. “The State of Idaho has led the country in standing up programs to help our federal partners increase the pace and scale of active management on federal ground.”

Governor Little’s action complements a March 1 executive order from President Donald Trump, aimed at revitalizing rural communities, cutting red tape to streamline timber production, and improving forest health.

According to a report by the National Interagency Fire Center, Idaho had more than 1,400 wildfires in 2024, burning nearly 1 million acres.

Under the Biden administration, there were only two small areas in national forests in Idaho where IDL could assist the federal government with expediting on-the-ground management activities, writes Governor Little’s office.

“The work we’ve done is making a difference. However, under the previous administration, we were limited in the extent we could help. That has changed under the Trump administration,” Governor Little said.

Little office says that with the Trump administration’s actions and the “Make Forests Healthy Again Act,” millions more acres of national forests could be authorized for treatment to reduce fire risk and improve forest health.

Trump administration officials have expressed support for Governor Little’s executive order.

“I commend Governor Little for acting quickly to fix our national forest emergency. Americans rely on Idaho’s productive and abundant forests, and this executive order will go a long way towards strengthening the timber industry in the state and minimizing harmful pests, disease, and risk of fire,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said

To track the progress on Idaho’s collaboration with the federal government, click HERE.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) warns people to watch for any invasive species that may be hitchhiking on watercraft this spring.

Cole Morrison, section manager of ISDA’s invasive species, noxious weeds, and grasshopper/Mormon crickets division, said aquatic invasive species are often brought in on boats coming into Idaho’s waters from out of state.

Morrison said even a handful of Quagga mussels, Zebra Mussels, Asian clams, or New Zealand mud snails can cause devastating problems for Idaho’s economy and ecosystem.

“They don’t have any natural predators or natural controls in the way of diseases that might suppress the population here, so they come in and they reproduce out of control,” said Morrison. “…And then even once these things die… they will still remain. Even though they’re dead, they’re still going to cause problems. That stops up water supply, and that’s a huge concern for Idaho agriculture, our partners at Idaho Power, [and] they have impacts on our ecosystem.”

Morrison said Quagga mussels pose a particular set of problems by filtering natural waterways and making them uninhabitable for native fish and plant life, and even causing algae blooms, which make water hazardous for humans and pets.

But the ISDA says simple boat maintenance, like pumping bilges and ballasts and inspecting fishing gear, can stop the spread of invasive species.

“If we make sure that all of our boats are clean, drained and dry, we’re going to do go a long way to make sure that none of these guys are moving around,” said Morrison.

The ISDA is manning boat check stations around Idaho to catch aquatic critters coming from out of state before they make it to Idaho waters. Boaters are required by law to stop at check stations, and ISDA agents will inspect and wash boats for free.

For more information on invasive species, boat check stations, and Idaho laws about watercraft inspections, you can visit the ISDA’s Invasive Species of Idaho website.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) awarded JR Simplot Company the ‘Adopt-A-Highway Group of the Year Award for Southeast Idaho’ on Friday, in recognition of the company’s hard work keeping their stretch of adopted road clean.

In 2005, Simplot adopted a two-mile stretch of US Highway 30, and, since then, employee volunteers have picked up trash twice a year and average about 1,600 pounds of litter cleaned up annually.

According to ITD, the Adopt-A-Highway program saves the State about $750,000 annually on cleaning costs, and volunteers have picked up around 5.5 million pounds of trash around Idaho since the program launched 35 years ago.

For more information on the Adopt-A-Highway program, you can visit the Idaho Transportation Department website.

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