Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Drivers across eastern Idaho can expect more delays this summer as the Idaho Transportation Department begins a series of scrub seal projects designed to extend the life of several major highways.

Work is scheduled to begin today, June 29, and will continue through mid- to late August as crews move through several roadways throughout the region.

The projects will take place on one roadway at a time in the following order:

U.S. Highway 26 from Swan Valley to the Wyoming state line

State Highway 31 over Pine Creek Pass from Swan Valley to Victor

The intersection of SH-31 and SH-33 in Victor

SH-33 from Newdale to Sugar City

The U.S. 20 Sugar City half interchange

U.S. 20 south of St. Anthony

SH-47 from Ashton to Warm River

U.S. 20 on Ashton Hill

Each section of roadway is expected to take approximately one week to complete.

“Surface treatments like this are essential for long-term performance of a roadway,” ITD Materials Engineering Manager Mark Hayes said in a release. “Especially considering budgetary constraints, preserving our existing transportation system is vital, and scrub sealing is a great way to help ensure that.”

Construction crews will generally work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some Saturday work possible. The department says all work and traffic control will be suspended July 3 through July 5 for the Independence Day holiday.

Motorists should expect lane reductions, cones, and active crews in active work zones. Because many of the affected highways serve popular recreational destinations, transportation officials are asking drivers to plan ahead and be patient.

Photos courtesy of the Idaho Transportation Department

Unlike traditional chip seal projects, scrub sealing uses a process that works oil into the pavement before applying fine crushed gravel. The treatment fills cracks and surface weaknesses, helping extend the roadway’s lifespan while reducing future maintenance costs.

After the material is applied, crews remove excess gravel, compact the surface with rollers, and add a final oil treatment to help create a smoother driving surface and reduce loose rock.

ITD tested the treatment west of Idaho Falls in 2024 and says the project proved successful, with no vehicle damage claims reported despite Idaho’s varying weather conditions.

Drivers can find updated information on project locations, traffic impacts, and delays through the Idaho 511 app and at 511.idaho.gov.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abi Martin

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Zoo Idaho was evacuated this morning following the report of a possible bomb threat.

The Pocatello Police Department is on scene and actively investigating this report. Out of an abundance of caution, all visitors and staff were safely evacuated from the facility.

People are being asked to avoid the area while law enforcement conducts its investigation.

Zoo Idaho posted on their Facebook Page that they will be closed for the remainder of the day. Pocatello City officials have also told Local News 8 that the Zoo will be closed Monday, June 29.

Pocatello Municipal Band’s concert at the Ross Park Bandshell has also been cancelled for tonight. City officials say they will work to reschedule the event.

Click here to follow the original article.

David Pace

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KIFI) – The U.S. Supreme Court released a consequential decision Thursday in Monsanto v. Durnell for America’s agriculture industry.

“This is a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court. They ruled 7 to 2 in favor of Monsanto,” said Snake River Sugarbeet Association Executive Director Samantha Parrott.

The case centered around John Durnell, a Missouri man who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He argued the cancer was caused by spraying parks with Roundup for almost two decades in his neighborhood.

Durnell filed a “failure-to-warn” claim, stating “Monsanto should have included a cancer warning on Roundup’s label,” court syllabus states.

He sued Monsanto in 2019 and was awarded $1.25 million in damages by a Missouri jury. 

However, in a 7-2 decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority that federal law overrides “Durnell’s state law failure-to-warn claim because the claim would require Monsanto to add a cancer warning to Roundup’s label.”

Parrott called the ruling a victory for farmers.

“The court case is not about whether Roundup causes cancer or not. That’s not what this ruling is about. It’s just simply about who has the authority to determine what goes on those pesticide labels,” Parrott said. “Our opinion is that it should be EPA that is the law of the land, and that we have the federal government making this decision, and so that we don’t have a patchwork of states having different requirements in each state.”

Since 1974, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Roundup for use as a herbicide.

“Because EPA has repeatedly concluded that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer, the agency has not required a cancer warning on Roundup’s label,” Kavanaugh wrote in the court’s decision. “Importantly, EPA’s regulations require a pesticide manufacturer such as Monsanto to use the EPA-approved pesticide label—here, the Roundup label without a cancer warning—unless and until EPA approves or requires a different label. Moreover, to ensure ‘[u]niformity’ in labeling, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)’s preemption clause prohibits States from imposing any pesticide labeling requirements that are ‘in addition to or different from’ the federal labeling requirements.”

In opposition to the ruling, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch in her dissent.

“The Court misunderstands FIFRA’s requirements, misinterprets the scope of FIFRA’s preemption, and ultimately leaves Durnell without a remedy for the significant harms he has suffered,” she wrote.

Deep Idaho Roots

Monsanto’s parent company, Bayer AG, owns a mine in Soda Springs that is a major employer in the region.

“It’s the country’s only elemental phosphorus mine,” Parrott said. “That is basically the beginning ingredient in Roundup. We’re really proud that’s here in Idaho, and it provides lots of jobs in that rural community.”

She emphasized that the herbicide is essential for improving yields and fighting weeds in agriculture, and that no trace of glyphosate is found in the final sugar product produced by sugarbeet growers in Idaho.

“It’s safe to use it when you use it as directed. Our farmers jump through a lot of hoops to ensure that they are applying this product correctly, and our farmers would not do anything that would harm the consumer,” Parrott said. “The same product that they grow on their farm, they feed to their family too. So I just really hope that folks can trust our farmers.”

Local News 8 has reached out to individuals opposing herbicide use and companies selling both conventional and organic products, and will update this story as additional information is received.

Tune in tonight for our 10 PM broadcast.

Click here to follow the original article.

Abi Martin

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) – One man was injured after a hard helicopter landing at the Teton County Airport Friday Morning.

According to Teton County Fire and Rescue, crews were dispatched to the airport at approximately 10:23 a.m. When they arrived, they found that a helicopter attempting to land had made a hard landing.

There was no fire, and everyone on board was able to get out of the aircraft on their own. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the hard landing has not yet been released.

The Teton County Airport is a general aviation airport and does not offer commercial airline service.

Because of that, Federal Aviation Administration regulations do not require the airport to have dedicated aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel on site.

However, Teton County Fire and Rescue said it remains committed to providing the best emergency response possible despite its limited resources.

Click here to follow the original article.

Hadley Bodell

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – The City of Blackfoot is celebrating its 125th anniversary this weekend with “Celebrate Blackfoot,” a two-day event program at Jensen’s Grove. The weekend includes a vendor fair, family activities, a car show, barbeque and fireworks show.

“I love Blackfoot, it’s been a wonderful place to live and raise my family,” said Bonnie Moon, the mastermind behind the pioneer settlement stations at Celebrate Blackfoot. “We should be so grateful for our nation and for all those people that sacrificed for our good. So come out and celebrate America 250 and Blackfoot 125.”

The pioneer settlement stations are near the Kids Zone at Jensen’s Grove. Everything is free at the settlement, giving kids a hands-on experience of the life of pioneers who travelled thousands of miles to settle Blackfoot.

“It’s important to remember those who came before us, they built everything that we have. They had to walk a thousand or over a thousand miles to get here until the trains came,” Moon explained. “They sacrificed so much, they didn’t just do it for themselves, they did it for their children and grandchildren and we need to remember that.”

Kids can take a ride in a handcart, practice catching fish, carry water on a shoulder yoke, gather eggs and wash clothing for candy prizes. The interactive activities are only possible because of all the youth volunteers through the Just Serve program.

In Bingham County, if youth complete 30 hours of service, the county commissioners award them a service medallion. Several of the volunteers at the Celebrate Blackfoot pioneer settlement were gaining five hours of community service.

Moon said she’s been doing pioneer stations with younger kids for between 10 and 15 years. But at the anniversary celebration this weekend, where the city is expecting 8,000 visitors, the scale is new and different for the Moon family and volunteers.

“That’s why we’ve got so many helpers and it’s wonderful because nobody can do it alone, there’s a good 20 people helping out most of the time,” she said.

The event this weekend is also a hub for local organizations to connect with the community, including local non-profit Bless Blackfoot. They take donations for essential and non-essential items like shoes, clothing and household items for people in the area to get for free.

“There are no qualifications to be blessed by our organization,” said Krista Allman, vice president of Bless Blackfoot. “We help anybody who has any need.”

“We like to come out in our community because we love Blackfoot, it’s why we do what we do, so Celebrate Blackfoot was perfect,” said Amber Hare, secretary of Bless Blackfoot. “We’re here to raise awareness and we also have our fundraisers to thank our supporters on social media.”

Bless Blackfoot is currently looking for a place to call their own to help meet the needs of community members. Currently, they work out of a local storage unit.

“It’s getting trickier to meet the needs of everybody who has needs,” Allman added. “So we’ll do this raffle to try to earn a little money so that we can get moved into a space and our events will be easier to set up.”

If you’re interested in donating or volunteering with the non-profit, visit their website blessblackfoot.org. To receive help from Bless Blackfoot, their website can also connect the community with resources and provide assistance.

The festivities this weekend culminate with the Liberty Fireworks Show at 10 p.m. at Jensen’s Grove in Blackfoot on Saturday, June 27.

Schedule of Events

FRIDAY

12 p.m. – Vendors Open

5 p.m. – Smoke-N-Wings BBQ Competition

5 p.m. – Burn Out Competition at Tadd Jenkins Auto Group

8 p.m. – Zumba Party

SATURDAY

8 a.m. – Pilates and Yoga Class

10 a.m. – Open Ceremony and Vendor Open, Car Show, Kids Business Fair

11 a.m. – R/C Car Races

11 a.m.-4 p.m. – Historical Tours at the Idaho Potato Museum, Corn Hole Tournament

2 p.m. – Car Show Awards

10 p.m. – Liberty Fireworks Show

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho law enforcement has issued an endangered missing person alert for a local man and is urging the public to be on the lookout.

Eric Vineyard, 37, was last seen checking out of the Country Inn & Suites in Idaho Falls on Wednesday, June 24.

Police believe Vineyard may be experiencing a manic episode and fear for his safety. Authorities advise the public not to approach him if located, but to contact law enforcement immediately. He was last seen wearing a baseball jersey with the number 23, white Jordan shoes, and a straw hat.

If you have any information regarding Eric Vineyard’s whereabouts, or if you spot him, please do not approach him. Contact the Pocatello Police Department immediately at (208) 234-6100.

Click here to follow the original article.

Par Kermani

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Volunteers spent Friday building tables for 4-H exhibitors at the Eastern Idaho State Fair, helping prepare for this year’s event while supporting youth agriculture programs.

Employees with Bingham Ag Services partnered with the Hall Foundation on Friday to build tables that will be used by 4-H exhibitors during the fair. The tables are destined for the poultry barn, where youth participants display their birds throughout the event.

Organizers say the project is an investment in the next generation of agricultural leaders.

“The Eastern Idaho State Fair affects the counties that we serve, and a lot of people come to the Eastern Idaho State Fair,” said Burke Higley, president of Bingham Ag Services. “We just saw an opportunity to help them out and to help out our community and help out the kids that are involved in 4-H.”

Bingham Ag Services worked with the Hall Foundation and fair officials to identify projects that could benefit communities throughout the company’s service area. Higley said the tables were selected because they would directly support youth exhibitors while also allowing employees to participate in a hands-on service project.

Store Manager Ashlei Peterson said supporting 4-H is especially meaningful because of the lessons the program teaches young people.

“I think it teaches kids a lot about responsibility to take care of your animal and to show your animal,” Peterson said. “If you don’t put in the work, then you’re not going to get your ribbon and your prizes. It just teaches them how to be responsible.”

Peterson said Bingham Ag Services regularly works with 4-H families through its farm store and was eager to find another way to support local youth outside of the business.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair is scheduled to run Aug. 29 through Sept. 6 in Blackfoot, bringing together thousands of exhibitors, visitors and agricultural producers from across the region.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Release

The following is a news update from the Idaho Transortation Department:

ISLAND PARK –Work to install a traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 20 andYale-Kilgore Road in the Elk Creek area of Island Park resumes tonight and will continueinto next week.

Crews had been working to get the signal installed earlier this spring when it wasdiscovered that a piece would need to be fabricated for poles to be placed. That piece is now ready for installation.

Work tonight and Friday, June 26, will be conducted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Nighttime trafficon both US-20 and Yale-Kilgore Road will be held for approximately 15 minutes at a timeonly when signal poles are being hoisted into the air.

Striping operations that must be completed during daytime hours will begin on Tuesday,June 30th. Traffic will be temporarily reduced to one lane as needed while paint is applied.

The new Island Park signal is expected to become operational on Wednesday, July 1, inadvance of an influx of recreational traffic for the Fourth of July holiday. Crews and trafficpersonnel will then monitor it to determine if changes to the signal timing need to be made.US-20 will be prioritized and green lights for Yale-Kilgore will last for one minute.

Drivers are asked to stay aware and be patient through work zones and new traffic patterns.More information regarding work zone effects can be found on the Idaho 511 app and at511.idaho.gov.

Click here to follow the original article.

Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings are at the center of a new lawsuit following their offseason move to the North American Hockey League.

According to a report by JuniorHockey.IO, the United States Premier Hockey League filed a lawsuit on June 22, 2026, in the Delaware Court of Chancery, claiming the Spud Kings and three other former mountain division teams secretly planned their departure to the NAHL while still under league contracts.

The report specifically names Spud King’s former General Manager, Erik Hudson, along with East Idaho Hockey Inc. President Kevin Greene. The lawsuit alleges that during his role as general manager, Hudson was privy to sensitive information as the only non-member invited to attend Executive Committee meetings.

“The lawsuit alleges that Hudson sat in these meetings, absorbing confidential blueprints, all while simultaneously conspiring to move his team to a direct competitor,” states the report.

The league is seeking more than $1 Million in damages and is petitioning the court to prevent the four teams from competing in the NAHL while the case moves forward. The Spud Kings previously competed in the NCDC, the top tier of the USPHL.

The lawsuit calls the future of the Spud King’s 2026-27 season into question, even while the team is actively announcing its new roster. Thursday, the team’s Instagram page announced the Spud Kings had Chase Buehler.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has reached out to current Spud Kings management for comment and is actively attempting to contact former management. Updates will be provided as they become available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho drivers will have new license plate options and significant changes to vehicle registration requirements beginning July 1, 2026. These updates include eliminating physical registration stickers and removing the mandatory 10-year license plate replacement cycle, aiming to offer convenience and cost savings.

The elimination of registration stickers, passed through House Bill 533 during the 2026 legislative session, is projected to save approximately $300,000 annually in materials and production costs for the Idaho Transportation Department. These savings will be reinvested to enhance DMV services for Idaho residents. Drivers will no longer need to apply new stickers for renewals, nor pay sticker fees for replacement registration documents, while still being required to maintain active vehicle registration.

Two new license plate designs will be available to Idaho drivers. ITD updated the Idaho Agriculture plate, which features a sunrise over farm fields, grazing cattle, and Idaho crops. Its tagline is “Harvest the Future.” Proceeds from this specialty plate support “Idaho Ag in the Classroom” with agricultural education and outreach.

The second option is a new standard white-and-black Idaho plate, which offers high-contrast lettering for improved readability and a minimalist design. Both plate options can be obtained at county offices and through the Idaho Transportation Department’s DMV portal.

Although registration stickers will no longer be required, drivers must still carry active vehicle registration and present related documents if requested by law enforcement. Law enforcement agencies can use multiple electronic systems to verify a vehicle’s current, valid registration status. ITD has informed local, state and other jurisdictions about this change, noting that law enforcement agencies nationwide can access the department’s database to confirm registration.

Drivers are not required to remove any registration stickers currently on their license plates. After July 1, 2026, individuals can choose to remove existing stickers if they prefer.

House Bill 577 eliminated the requirement to replace license plates every 10 years, allowing plates to remain in use as long as they are readable and legible. This change allows car owners to delay replacement costs until new plates are genuinely needed. A license plate will require replacement if it is stolen, damaged to the point it cannot be properly displayed, or is no longer clearly legible. The base fee to replace license plates is $11.80.

Click here to follow the original article.