Author: KIFI

Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A week after the U.S. military successfully ousted Nicolás Maduro, Congressman Russ Fulcher had high praise for the plan’s execution. Speaking with Local News 8, Rep. Fulcher praised the “complete coordination” of the Venezuelan mission before pivoting to highlight his legislative priorities for this upcoming session.

“I just have to tell you, it’s an incredibly impressive operation,” said Congressman Fulcher. “First of all, we just have to understand there’s no other entity on the planet that can pull that off the way they did. Complete coordination across all branches of the military, plus the intelligence community, multiple different groups in the intelligence community.”

Fulcher also gave his take on what the U.S. actions in Venezuela could indicate on the world stage.

“Regardless of what you think about the action itself, the fact that it got pulled off the way that it did has put China on notice. They’re there. I guarantee you they’re looking at Taiwan a little bit differently right now. Russia is looking a little bit differently at Cuba right now.”

Fulcher outlined his reasons for support on the actions taken, citing Maduro’s past interactions with drugs and the United States.

“We have to understand, too, that this is a narco terrorist that has been in the crosshairs for the United States since Barack Obama’s era. And that’s where this bounty initiated,” said Fulcher. “It got elevated during the Biden era. It’s just wasn’t until now that something actually got done about it. But this guy is a bad human being, and we’ve got incredible evidence that says so, and I think everyone pretty much agrees on that. He pretty much took a country to its knees, and in the process, exported countless tons of narcotics illegally into the U.S. and other places, profited off of it and the lives and deaths of Americans.

Fulcher also affirmed his support for President Trump, saying, “I think the president was justified in this action because at the end of the day, what was he doing? He was protecting American lives. This person [Maduro] had been identified and charged many years ago. And it took a long time to get him, but they got him.”

Priorities for next legislative session

Beyond the military operation in Venezuela, Rep. Fulcher spoke about his priorities in the next congressional session, highlighting concerns over health care.

“Are we going to increase the subsidies to try to keep a broken system going, or are we going to do some meaningful reform? And the meaningful reform has to take place. And that’s where I stand,” Fulcher said, explaining why he does not want to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. “And how that works,” he continued, “is you’ve got to re-insert market forces again. You’ve got to give the patient the control of the money directly over their health care decisions.”

“And that’s what we’re attempting to do,” he continued. “But it’s incredibly complicated, and I’m not trying to sidestep that decision in front of us. But that’s why it hasn’t been fixed – is because it’s so difficult to fix. But that’s the next challenge, and that’s what we’re working on right now.”

Congressman Fulcher also addressed Idaho Governor Brad Little’s recent announcement that the State of Idaho will receive close to $1 billion over five years to improve rural healthcare through grants from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act.

“Well, I fought for that, and I’ll tell you why,” said Congressman Fulcher. “Because the existing system tends to favor the large urban blue state populous. I mean, that’s just how that is designed. And that was part of the – that’s part of the problem of the Affordable Care Act. The rural systems and much of Idaho is in that, is left behind just by virtue of how that system is designed. And so we fought for that in a big way. And we know that we have to keep our rural health care system healthy and reinsert some support there, because that’s not where those dollars naturally flow.”

“So that was the purpose behind that legislation,” he continued. “And the Big, Beautiful Bill. And I think it’s going to help. We’ve got a good system in Idaho, but we are lacking in a lot of the rural spaces. And this is going to help that.”

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Erin Bingham has been appointed to fill the District 32 House Seat B vacated by Wendy Horman, Governor Brad Little announced today.

Bingham appeared as the top nominee selected by the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee earlier this week, in accordance with Idaho Law. The newly selected Representative currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Bingham Ventures, a family-operated development organization, where she supports their financial management and the company’s commitment to community-minded development.

“I am deeply honored and grateful to be selected by Governor Little to represent my Idaho Falls community at home and in the Idaho Legislature,” Bingham said. “I sincerely appreciate Representative Wendy Horman for her years of commitment to our state and look forward to building on her legacy of service. I am thankful for this incredible opportunity and am excited to get to work.”

Bingham will complete the remainder of Wendy Horman’s term, which ends Nov. 30, 2026.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is celebrating a federal court decision ending a years-long freeze on the state’s birth certificate policy. Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Raymond E. Patricco granted the state’s motion to dissolve a 2018 injunction, effectively allowing Idaho to require that birth certificates reflect an individual’s biological sex at birth, A.G. Labrador announced today.

The ruling allows the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to enforce the policy for the first time since 2018.

“For years, Idaho was blocked from enforcing common-sense policy and law requiring birth certificates to reflect biological sex recorded at birth,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Birth certificates aren’t symbolic documents that are subject to how an individual may feel, they’re legal records used in medicine, public health research, and identification. Idaho can now enforce our law protecting accurate vital records, while treating all Idahoans equally under the same amendment process.”

Policy Background and Legal Challenges

The legal battle traces back to 2018, when a federal judge issued an injunction forcing Idaho to allow transgender individuals to change gender markers on their birth certificates to match their gender identity. While Governor Brad Little signed House Bill 509 in 2020 to codify the biological sex requirement, the 2018 injunction prevented the enforcement of the biological sex policy.

The turning point came in October 2025, when Labrador filed a motion to dissolve the injunction based on two landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings:

Trump v. CASA — In which the Court ruled that federal courts cannot issue universal injunctions affecting people beyond the parties in a lawsuit.

United States v. Skrmetti — Where the Court ruled that laws like Idaho’s do not discriminate based on transgender status because they apply equally to everyone.

The parties filed a joint stipulation agreeing to dissolve the injunction, which Judge Patricco ordered on January 8, 2026.

The Amendment Process

Under the now-enforceable law, the process for amending a birth certificate is standardized for all Idahoans. If requested within one year, individuals must provide the state a notarized affidavit declaring that the information on the birth certificate was incorrectly recorded. After one year, all corrections will require a court proceeding to demonstrate fraud, duress, or a “material mistake of fact.”

AG Labrador says this process applies equally to all Idahoans seeking to amend any biological fact on their birth certificate.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO/UTAH (KIFI) — Nearly 39,000 cases of frozen potato products are being pulled from shelves in Idaho, Utah, and 24 other states after reports of “clear hard plastic fragments” found in the food.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, McCain Foods USA Inc. has initiated a voluntary Class II recall for two specific frozen potato brands: Ore-Ida Tater Tots and Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrels.

The recall, which began on December 3, 2025, impacts the following specific batches:

Brand
Item Number
Packaging
Batch Codes

Ore-Ida Tater Tots
OIF00215A
30lb clear unlabeled poly bags
1005479808, 1005480444

Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrel
1000006067
6/5lb clear unlabeled poly bags
1005482717, 1005485660

Food service providers and Idahoans are directed to check their freezers immediately. If the code on the back of the packaging matches those listed above, do not eat the product. The FDA directs consumers to discard the frozen product immediately or return it.

Other States affected include:

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Florida

Hawaii

Iowa

Illinois

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Mississippi

Montana

Nebraska

New Mexico

North Dakota

Nevada

Oregon

Texas

Washington

Wisconsin

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — As part of an ongoing effort to make city government more accessible to the public, the Idaho Falls City Council has changed the start time of its regular meetings. On Thursday, Jan. 8, City Council voted to move regular City Council meetings from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The new meeting time will take effect immediately, beginning with the next scheduled City Council meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and participate in discussions that impact the community.

“We want all residents have the opportunity to participate in the decisions that shape our community,” said Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw. “Changing the time of City Council meetings will increase the Council’s efficiency and effectiveness, especially on nights with long agendas. In addition, the new time should make it easier for people to attend the meetings in person or follow along on the livestream.”

City Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the City Annex Building, 680 Park Ave. In addition to regular meetings, the council holds Work Sessions to discuss upcoming topics and projects. Work Sessions are typically held on the Monday of Council Meeting Week at 3:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Both City Council meetings and Work Sessions are designed to be accessible to all residents. They are open to the public, livestreamed with closed captioning and Spanish interpretation and can also be watched later through archived videos on the City’s website.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — High winds have forced the City of Idaho Falls to postpone the demolition of the historic 1937 water tower. Originally scheduled to begin Friday morning, the demolition is now slated to start this coming Monday.

Today, crews have assembled a large crane to dismantle the 89-year-old structure, starting from the bowl. The entire project is still expected to wrap up by early February.

The original tower was shut down in October, following the completion of the new, million-gallon tower directly across the street, doubling the city’s water storage capacity.

“This project is an important investment in the reliability and resiliency of Idaho Falls’ water system,” said Chris Fredericksen, Idaho Falls Public Works director, in a press release. “By replacing the 89-year-old tower, we are ensuring safe, reliable water service for our community for generations to come.”

While the tower is being removed to make way for modern infrastructure, the city will preserve specific portions of the original structure. However, most of the materials are slated to be recycled.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A rash of influenza cases in Idaho is raising alarm bells around the state.

Corbin Bunnage, a physician assistant at Sterling Urgent Care, says this is the worst flu season he’s seen in decades.

“It’s been one of the worst flu seasons that we’ve had in 30 years,” Bunnage said. “In such a brief period of time, we went from having almost no flu cases to just being one of the worst in Idaho in the entire country.”

On the three-day weekend following Christmas, Sterling Urgent Care treated 180 patients, and 1/3 tested positive for influenza, he reports.

“We’ve had, I think the most recent CDC estimates is 11 or 12 million cases that we’ve had, and most of those have come just within the last six weeks,” Bunnage explained.

Corbin Bunnage discusses the rising number of influenza cases across eastern and southern Idaho.

Eastern Idaho Public Health’s Health Strategies Program Manager Rachel Mugleston confirmed that three local individuals have died from influenza in Public Health District 7 this season.

“It’s definitely an upward trajectory of these influenza-like illnesses across the state,” Mugleston said.

Last year, 87 Idahoans died of influenza, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports. The DHW has designated all of southern Idaho as “very high” for influenza transmission.

“Primarily, right now we’re seeing H3N2, which is influenza A,” Mugleston explained.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has designated all of southern Idaho as “very high” for influenza transmission.

This year’s virus has been particularly widespread because it mutated to develop a subclass K variant, commonly known as the super flu.

Bunnage said that as vaccination rates have declined, disease transmission is up.

Experts still recommend receiving the flu vaccination to help protect against this year’s super flu variant.

Vaccines are available at Eastern Idaho Public Health offices located in Bonneville, Custer, Clark, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties.

You can visit Eastern Idaho Public Health’s website for more information, to schedule an vaccination appointment or to call one of their local offices.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has designated Idaho “Very High,” it’s highest rating, for influenza transmission.

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News Release

The following is a news release from Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson’s Office:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson–Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee–highlighted the inclusion of $13,000,000 in funding for the State and Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG) for the cities of American Falls, Bellevue, Fort Hall, and Rigby Idaho, at his request through Community Project Funding (CPF) in H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026.

“During this pivotal time for water in Idaho, I am proud of the resources provided for water infrastructure projects and the impact they will have in our neighborhoods,” said Rep. Simpson. “As Idaho’s only appropriator, it is my honor and responsibility to advocate for Idaho and ensure our state’s priorities are heard. I am proud of the collaborative effort with my office and the cities of American Falls, Bellevue, Fort Hall, and Rigby to produce meaningful results for our communities.”

“The City of American Falls is preparing to move forward with a much-needed, citywide drinking water project to modernize aging infrastructure, improve water efficiency, and position our community for responsible growth. This project is critical to the long-term health and reliability of our water system, but it carries a cost that is difficult for a small city like ours to take on alone. For that reason, we are respectfully requesting $2 million in federal support through Community Project Funding. We are grateful to Congressman Simpson for considering this request. His support would help ease the financial burden on our residents and allow us to move forward with work that is essential to the future of American Falls. This investment would benefit not only today’s residents, but generations to come,” said Gilbert Hofmeister, Mayor of American Falls

“Our city faces issues with growth, water usage, and undersized lines. The American Falls Drinking Water Project will correct these issues—but at a high cost. The work has to be done, and it has been a struggle finding enough funding for this vital project while keeping up with the other demands of a city. We thank Congressman Simpson for being an ally to us in Congress to get a significant share of taxpayer monies returned to this area to help cover the cost of upgrading our water system,” said Scott Dalling, American Falls Water Superintendent.

“On behalf of the City of Bellevue, as Mayor of our community, I would like to extend my deep gratitude and appreciation for Congressman Simpson’s leadership in advancing $4,000,000 in Community Project Funding towards the City’s public drinking water system improvements project. The funding will be used to bring the City’s drinking water system back into regulatory compliance with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, providing long-term, reliable drinking water services to Bellevue. These funds will help offset the exorbitant costs of the required improvements ensuring affordable drinking water services to those who live, work, and recreate in our community. Thank you for representing the great state of Idaho, and small communities like ours,”said Chris Johnson, former City of Bellevue mayor and current public works director.

“On behalf of the City of Bellevue, I extend our community’s deepest gratitude to Congressman Mike Simpson for his leadership in securing $4,000,000 in Community Project Funding for critical improvements to Bellevue’s public drinking water system. This funding will enable the City to bring its drinking water infrastructure back into compliance with Idaho Department of Environmental Quality regulations—ensuring long-term, reliable, and safe drinking water for all who live, work, and recreate in Bellevue. These federal dollars will significantly reduce the financial burden of necessary upgrades, helping us maintain affordable water services for our residents and businesses. We are sincerely thankful for Congressman Simpson’s continued commitment to representing the great state of Idaho and supporting small communities like ours. His advocacy makes a lasting difference,” said Mayor Christina Giordani, City of Bellevue.

“Access to safe and reliable drinking water is essential to the health and safety of our Tribal members. The Sheepskin Water Tank Replacement Project addresses long-standing infrastructure needs and will help in improving water pressure, storage, and fire protection for our growing community. We’re profoundly thankful to Representative Mike Simpson for his steadfast support and advocacy throughout this process and for his continued efforts to advance critical infrastructure projects that directly benefit the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes,” said Donna Thompson, Chairwoman of the Fort Hall Business Council.

“The City of Rigby is very excited about the STAG funding announcement. The funding will greatly assist in making much needed improvements to the City’s water facilities. We are grateful to Congressman Simpson’s office for assisting us with this opportunity. This investment in our community will help us be better prepared for our future needs and growth,” said Mayor Richard Datwyler, City of Rigby.

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News Team

BURLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that President Dallin H. Oaks will formally dedicate the newly built Burley Idaho Temple this Sunday, January 11, 2026.

To accommodate the local membership of the faith, the Church will broadcast the 10:00 a.m. MST dedication ceremony to all congregations within the temple district.

The Burley Idaho Temple becomes the newest addition to the Church’s significant footprint in Idaho. The new house of worship represents the 11th temple announced, under construction or in operation, in the Gem State, which is home to nearly half a million members of the faith.

Prior to the dedication, the public had the opportunity to tour the house of prayer in a two-week temple open house, which concluded in late November. Once dedicated, the Burley temple joins an expansive global network of over 380 temples in various stages of development or operation. Following the dedication, the building will be closed to the general public and used exclusively by faithful members of the LDS Church. For more information, click HERE.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS/POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) —The City of Pocatello officially welcomed new Mayor Mark Dahlquist and City Council Members Dakota Bates, Stacy Satterfield, and Ann Swanson during the City Council meeting on Jan. 8, 2026.

Mayor Dahlquist, a lifelong resident of Pocatello, brings extensive experience in leadership and management to the role. From 2007 until 2025, he served as Chief Executive Officer of NeighborWorks Pocatello, where he focused on housing, community development, and neighborhood revitalization. Before that, he spent 17 years in leadership and management positions with Farmers Insurance.

After the ceremony, Dahlquist said, “To make our community the very best it can be. Just remember to be involved. Volunteer being advocates for the community. We all together will make this community rise and be the very best it can be.”

The City also recognized the three City Council members who were sworn in following the November election.

In Idaho Falls Mayor-elect Lisa Burtenshaw officially began her term, taking the oath of office alongside elected City Council members during a ceremony at the City Council Chambers.

In addition to Burtenshaw, Brandon Lee was sworn in to City Council Seat 1. Jim Francis and Jim Freeman, who were reelected to Seats 4 and 6, also took the oath to begin their new terms.

Burtenshaw’s term begins following her election in December 2025. She succeeds outgoing Mayor Rebecca Casper, who served the city for 12 years and leaves a legacy of dedicated public service.

“I am honored to serve the residents of Idaho Falls and to begin this next chapter with such a dedicated City Council,” Burtenshaw said. “I look forward to engaging with our community, listening to their ideas, and working together to make Idaho Falls a great place to live, raise a family and grow a business.”

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