Registration open for Pocatello’s “Run with the Big Dogs”

News Release

POCATELLO, Idaho — Leash up, lace up, and get ready to run—registration is now open for the 29th Annual “Run with the Big Dogs,” happening Saturday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m. This year’s event will take place at Centennial Park, located at South Grant Avenue and Idaho Street.

Hosted by the Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter, this tail-wagging community favorite features a 2K walk/run and a 5K run, perfect for runners, walkers, and their four-legged companions.

Registration is $40 per participant. Sign up before April 3 to snag an official Run with the Big Dogs T-shirt. Dogs who join in on the fun will receive a bandana and a “doggy bag” packed with fun freebies (while supplies last). Participants can register online or in person at Pocatello Animal Services, 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs.

“It’s wonderful to see so many members of the community come out to support the shelter,” said Sarah Moore, Pocatello Animal Services Assistant Manager. “This incredible event brings people and their dogs together to make a real difference for animals in need, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter.”

The event is more than just a run, it’s a celebration. Enjoy vendors, raffles, a silent auction, splash pools for pups, and refreshments for both humans and their furry friends.

Proceeds from the Run with the Big Dogs directly support shelter animal adoptions, helping more pets find their forever homes.

Ready to join the pack? Register at pocatelloshelterfriends.org/run-with-the-big-dogs. For more information on Pocatello Animal Services or to view adoptable pets, visit pocatello.gov/animal or like the department on Facebook at facebook.com/PocatelloAnimalServices.

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Idaho Power urges safety ahead of Spring yard work for Safe Digging Month

Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— As warmer weather arrives and outdoor projects ramp up, Idaho power companies are reminding residents that April is Safe Digging Month and encouraging everyone to take precautions before starting yard work or outdoor activities.

With many people preparing to dig for landscaping, fencing, or home improvement projects, Idaho Power stresses the importance of calling 811 at least two business days before digging. The free service marks underground utility lines, helping homeowners avoid hitting buried power lines or cables, incidents that can lead to serious injuries, costly repairs, and power outages.

“there are lots of things that are vital public services that have infrastructure underground,” David Eskelsen, a spokesman for Rocky Mountain Power, said.

According to a press release, Idaho Power stresses to check for overhead power lines and other nearby electrical equipment, and stay at least 10 feet away from them as power lines are energized and dangerous, be especially cautious when using ladders or other tall equipment.

Families are also encouraged to talk with children about outdoor safety. Keeping kites, drones, and other airborne objects away from power lines can prevent dangerous situations.

Tree trimming is another area of concern. Idaho Power advises against attempting to prune trees near power lines, noting that only trained, line-clearing professionals should handle that work. If a tree appears to be interfering with power lines, residents are encouraged to contact the company directly through their website.

“I think the most common interference and trouble that we experience is with tree trimming and trees in proximity to power lines,” Eskelsen said.

Other seasonal safety tips include checking sprinkler systems to ensure water does not spray onto power lines, as water can conduct electricity and inspecting outdoor extension cords for damage caused by winter weather.

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Teacher gets the surprise of a lifetime after changing students’ lives through music

Fox13

Originally Published: 01 APR 26 14:46 ET

By Nate Larsen

Click here for updates on this story

    WEST JORDAN, Utah (KSTU) — At Oakcrest Elementary in West Jordan, the sound inside the gym said it all. A roar of cheers and dozens of students on their feet, all excitement for one person: Music teacher Scott Knight.

It’s not every day an elementary school teacher gets that kind of reaction. But for Knight, it’s well earned. For the past five years, he’s been turning after-school musicals into something much bigger — giving students a place to grow, perform, and find confidence both on and off the stage.

Parents say what he’s built goes far beyond a typical school production.

Eric Dryer, the nominator, described being “amazed” at how Knight transforms a group of students into a full-scale performance, often lasting hours and involving dozens of kids. But the real impact, they say, isn’t just what happens on stage — it’s what happens within each student.

Some children discover talents that their families never knew they had. Others find the confidence to step out of their shell for the first time. Students themselves say the experience is something special.

They talk about the excitement of performing, the nerves, and the pride that comes after, when a room full of strangers suddenly knows their name.

For Knight, that transformation is exactly why he started the program. He says he’s seen firsthand how musical theater can change lives by giving students who may struggle in the classroom a chance to shine in a completely different way.

That dedication is what led to a surprise celebration as part of the FOX 13 Dream Team, powered by Mountain America Credit Union.

In front of his students, Knight was honored for his impact. He was presented with a director’s chair, along with additional gifts and experiences to support his program. He also received a $1,500 donation to help continue building opportunities for his students.

The moment was emotional, but for Knight, the focus quickly returned to the kids. He says seeing students grow in confidence and discover who they are is the most rewarding part of the job. And judging by the reaction inside that gym, the feeling is mutual.

Scott Knight’s story is a reminder of what can happen when a teacher goes above and beyond — creating not just performances, but lasting impact.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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District 31: State budget-writer faces rematch with ‘traditional-values’ former lawmaker

Sean Dolan

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 31, 2026

By: Sean Dolan

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of candidate profiles Idaho Education News will publish ahead of the May 19 primary election. We’re highlighting competitive races impacting education policy. Click here to see our Elections webpage featuring a list of all candidates and much more. Click here to see your voter information. Follow our elections blog for breaking news and insights.

RIGBY, Idaho — Voters in District 31 will settle a debate in May.

Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby, and former legislator Karey Hanks both claim they best represent the interests of citizens in Fremont, Clark, Jefferson and Lemhi counties.

“I’ve watched my opponent’s voting record and his votes do not reflect our values in East Idaho and in District 31,” Hanks told EdNews.

But Furniss, a Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee member seeking a fifth term in House Seat B, said Hanks’ voting record is more aligned with the Idaho Freedom Foundation.

“She pretty well follows their suggestions to the tee,” Furniss told EdNews. “I don’t. I vote for the constituents.”

The two have history.

Rod Furniss and Karey Hanks

Hanks was first elected to the Legislature in 2016, and Furniss won his first term in 2018 when he beat her in the primary.

They were both elected in 2020 in District 31. Hanks represented House Seat A and Furniss represented House Seat B.

They voted similarly on social issue bills — both supporting a bill to ban critical race theory in public schools — but often had different views on budget bills. Hanks said she voted against budgets if she felt there were enhancements beyond what was necessary.

After they served together for one term, Hanks lost primary elections in 2022 and 2024, when she faced Furniss for a second time.

Now, the two will let voters decide who is the true representative of their interests.

Incumbent: Rod Furniss

Occupation: Insurance agent
History of elected service: Four terms in the House. Elected 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024
Campaign website: rodfurniss.com

 

 

School facilities funding has been a big issue in District 31, home to Salmon School District.

Voters in Salmon shot down 12 bonds before approving a $20 million bond in 2024 to replace a crumbling building

Furniss over the past couple of years has worked to make it easier for districts to pass bonds and find funding to build schools.

Idaho has one of the toughest thresholds in the country to pass bonds, a 66.7% supermajority. Furniss said that makes it very difficult for districts to build schools. Six districts ran bonds last year. They all failed.

In 2024, Furniss proposed a House joint resolution to lower that threshold to 55% in election years with statewide races. It didn’t get traction in the Legislature.

Furniss continued working on school facilities funding the next year. He supported a bill that created a $50 million fund for rural school funding. Districts could submit applications based on need. After the bill passed, a state panel approved $9 million for Salmon.

“This bill helped those smaller schools,” Furniss said. “If we have surpluses, we should probably put some more money in that to make sure our small schools are taken care of.”

Furniss has also focused on increasing child care options in Idaho. Last year he co-sponsored HB 243 to deregulate child care and allow facilities to set their staff-to-child ratios. It passed.

He said child care is a crucial part of Idaho growth.

“Some of the larger child care facilities didn’t really like that bill,” Furniss said. “But at the end of the day, it allowed more [parents] to enter into the business and have children in their home, so that we can have more child care.”

Fundraising – 2026 election cycle to date

Rod Furniss

Beginning cash balance: $17,128
Total contributions: $14,476
Total expenditures: $13,277
Ending cash balance: $16,537

Karey Hanks

Beginning cash balance: $15,861
Total contributions: $21,076
Total expenditures: $4,783
Ending cash balance: $20,274

Source: Idaho Sunshine, as of March 31

Furniss last year opposed HB 93, which created the $50 million Parental Choice Tax Credit.

He said there is no accountability in the quality of education that private schools have to provide and he doesn’t like that it is a tax credit.

“I’m opposed to how we set that up. I want to be able to regulate it. I want to be able to see it. I want to be able to account for the money,” he said.

On social issues like the transgender bathroom bill the Legislature passed last week, Furniss said he opposes any male using a female restroom and is opposed to any male playing female sports.

“I really have strong feelings that way, and I feel for the people that have that condition,” Furniss said. “I believe it’s a real condition, but I just also want to protect those young girls, or even any girl or any woman, from having to have that situation.”

When EdNews asked Furniss which bathroom Nikson Mathews should use, a bearded transgender man who testified against the bill, Furniss asked if he has “male parts or woman parts.”

“You tell me what he has and I’ll tell you what bathroom he goes in,” he said.

Furniss said he wants Idaho to remain Idaho.

“I want it to be a place where my children can raise their children with the same values that I had,” he said.

Challenger: Karey Hanks

Occupation: School bus driver
History of elected service: Two terms in the House. Elected 2016 and 2020.
Campaign website: kareyhanks.com

 

 

Hanks, the mother of seven children and 19 grandchildren, said she has a vested interest in preserving Idaho’s traditional values, such as parental rights and gun rights.

“I love Idaho the way it is, and we have outside interests that are trying to influence and change us into a Washington-, an Oregon- or a California-type state,” Hanks said. “We’ve got to stand up and nip these things in the bud and say, ‘No, we’re not going to do that.’”

Hanks said she is focused on being responsive to her constituents and helping people. While in office, she said she participated in parades, hosted booths, attended events and responded to emails, texts and phone calls.

She drives a school bus, helps out on the family farm, serves in her church, served in the Boy Scouts and started the Fremont County Patriots to keep residents informed on issues.

On school choice, Hanks said she’s noticed that not all children fit the public school model. She homeschooled five of her kids for at least one year and said parents should be able to make decisions for their kids without government interference.

“I feel that we need to focus on children and not necessarily systems,” she said.

Candidate scorecards

Idaho Freedom Foundation, Freedom Index Lifetime Scores

Furniss: 55.9% Freedom, 16.5% Spending
Hanks: 97.8% Freedom, 96.8% Spending

Idaho Children are Primary, Kids Matter Index

Furniss: 73% (2025)
Hanks: 40% (2021)

Her campaign website says she wants to protect children from the “woke” agenda. In an interview, Hanks said teachers who have pride flags in their classrooms can subliminally promote an agenda that children don’t need to be exposed to.

Schools, she said, should focus on reading, writing and arithmetic.

“I know that there was some DEI-type agenda trickling in in some of our districts, and, you know, we just need to nip that in the bud,” she said. “We need to be teaching the basics to our kids.”

She’s also concerned about porn in libraries and said we must protect kids from sexual material at a young age. As kids get older, parents should be responsible for that. On the transgender bathroom issue, Hanks said she doesn’t want to go into a bathroom with a “biological male.”

“We’re being pushed and nudged into things that we never — five or 10 years ago — we never would have thought something like this would be an issue,” she said.

On the budget process, Hanks said she is glad the Legislature has shifted to the “maintenance” and “enhancements” process, where agency budgets are split into base spending and additional spending requests. She voted against three budget bills for the Idaho State Police, while Furniss voted in favor.

Hanks said she felt there was additional funding in those bills that she didn’t think was necessary, but she supports law enforcement and appreciates what they do.

The two legislators in 2022 also voted differently on a massive omnibus bill during an extraordinary session in September. The bill, among other things, appropriated $410 million in ongoing education funding. Hanks opposed the bill.

When asked if she takes vote suggestions from the Idaho Freedom Foundation, Hanks said she does not. 

“I voted similarly to some of what the Idaho Freedom Foundation did, just because, you know, ‘Freedom Foundation,’” Hanks said. “They’re trying to promote lower budgets, things like that.”

Hanks said she has always tried to protect Idaho values and stand up for its citizens.

“My record shows that I serve the people of our district,” she said.

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WYDOT to close Teton Pass Thursday for avalanche control

News Team

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Heads up for drivers heading over the Teton Pass. The Wyoming Department of Transportation will close the pass tomorrow, Thursday, April 2nd, at 10 a.m. For avalanche control.

There will be no parking between the closure gates after 8 p.m. Today.

WYDOT says poor visibility, winter driving conditions, and rising avalanche hazards could even force an earlier closure. The agency is asking backcountry travelers to stay clear of avalanche terrain north of the highway while crews are working.

For more information or updates on the closure or road conditions, click HERE for Wyoming 511.

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‘We can now say, without a doubt’: Sheriff’s office confirms Ted Bundy as killer of 1974 victim

ABC4

UPDATED: 10:55 AM

By: Sorina Trauntvein

Posted: Apr 1, 2026 / 10:16 AM MDT

SPANISH FORK, Utah (ABC4) — The Utah County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed Ted Bundy to be the killer in the case of a teenager murdered in Utah County more than 50 years ago.

On Halloween night, more than 50 years ago, a family saw their loved one alive for the last time.

Laura Ann Aime, 17, was celebrating the holiday at a party in Utah County on Oct. 31, 1974. When she left, she reportedly told others at the party that she was going to buy a pack of cigarettes.

However, Aime never returned to the party or made it home that night.

“Laura didn’t live with the family at the time,” Aime’s niece, Tara Stucki, told ABC4.com last year. “She was kind of a free spirit and was off with friends at the time.”

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 11, 1974, Aime was found down an embankment just off American Fork Canyon Road by hikers. She was reportedly strangled, raped, and murdered.

While investigators have their beliefs, her homicide has remained truly unsolved for 51 years.

For the past few decades, investigators have believed that Aime was kidnapped and murdered by Bundy. He was studying law at the University of Utah at the time, and Aime is believed to have been his third victim in the Beehive State.

Aime’s niece, Stucki, stated that Bundy “approached [Aime] multiple times before” and “kind of stalked her before taking her.” However, when he confessed to several homicides in Utah, he struggled to remember whether Aime was among his victims.

Ted Bundy is one of the most notorious serial killers in history, attacking and murdering dozens of women across the western United States, striking in Utah, Washington, Florida, and Colorado. He was convicted of three murders and reportedly confessed to killing 30 women.

Shortly before Bundy’s 1989 execution in Florida, Detective Dennis Couch with the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office visited him and recorded the audio of their conversation. Bundy admitted to murdering two women in Utah: Nancy Wilcox, a 16-year-old student at Olympus High School who disappeared on Oct. 1, 1974, and Debra “Debbie” Kent, who disappeared from Viewmont High School on Nov. 8, 1974.

He reportedly could not remember meeting Aime when questioned about her. He said the same of the daughter of the Midvale Police chief, Melissa Smith, who was murdered in October 1974. Bundy outright denied killing another suspected victim, Nancy Baird, who disappeared from a gas station in July 1975 and was never found.

On the day of Bundy’s execution, Detective Couch received a call from the Raiford Prison warden in Florida, who stated that he also confessed to murdering a young girl named Susan Curtis. The 15-year-old had disappeared while attending a youth conference at Brigham Young University in 1975.

Marcos Ortiz contributed to this story with his years of dedicated reporting.

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City of Nampa holds memorial service for late Mayor Rick Hogaboam

KIVI Staff

By: KIVI Staff

Posted 8:50 AM, Mar 31, 2026

NAMPA, Idaho (KIVI) — The City of Nampa said goodbye to Mayor Rick Hogaboam on Tuesday as neighbors gathered at the Ford Idaho Center to honor his life and legacy.

A changing of the guard at Hogaboam’s casket marked the beginning of a memorial centered around faith, family, and public service.

“Today is the most difficult thing I have ever had to do as a mother,” Hogaboam’s mother, Michong Chong, said. “No mother should ever have to see their son go before them.”

Chong told service goers that the loss is still hard to understand.

“He told me how much he loved new job as a mayor,” Chong said. “He was so excited. To make a better place to live, anyway he could.”

Former Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling was among those invited to the stage as the service turned from music to personal tributes.

“Your dad would want you to know how much he loved you. He was so proud of you, each and every one of you,” Kling said.

Before he became mayor, Hogaboam served as senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Fellowship in Nampa. Those closest to him say his life in public service shaped how he led.

ALSO READ | ‘A sign of life’: Nampa teens plant memorial trees at West Park to honor the late Mayor Rick Hogaboam

“He used to be our pastor when he first moved to Idaho,” friends Randy and Sue said.

A photo from his office offered a glimpse into how Hogaboam viewed the job, showing a countdown clock reminding him exactly how much time he had left to serve his community as mayor.

The memorial turned deeply personal when Hogaboam’s 13-year-old son, Ezra, stepped forward to read Psalm 23.

Tuesday night’s service made it clear that Hogaboam will be remembered not just for the office he held, but for the people he led, served, and left behind.

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Gov. Little signs trans bathroom criminalization bill amid statewide rallies

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little has signed a new bill into law criminalizing the use of public bathrooms not matching biological sex. The new law marks a sweeping expansion of the state’s existing trans bathroom ban.

While the 2023 law already mandates that Idaho schools regulate bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex, the newly signed law expands those restrictions to state-owned buildings and other public spaces. 

House Bill 752 will create criminal charges for any individual who “knowingly or willfully” enters a bathroom or locker room that does not correspond with their biological sex. The bill introduces strict criminal consequences. A first-time violation is classified as a misdemeanor, while a second offense would be a felony.

The bill was quickly signed after reaching the Governor’s Desk on Monday afternoon, March 30th.

Polarized Senate Debate

This bill has been one of the most talked-about — and controversial — of the session, with strong feelings on both sides of the aisle.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ben Toews (R-Pocatello), defended the legislation during Senate hearings, framing it as a measure designed to keep women and girls safe and keep biological men out of areas designed for women.

“Actually, what we are trying to solve here is not targeting any group of people or one person. It’s dealing with sexual predators and very real issues,” Toews told lawmakers in the Senate hearing.

Critics argue it targets transgender people and could lead to harassment or discrimination. The law takes effect July 1st, 2026.

Protests and the Trans Day of Visibility

The Governor’s signature arrived just as advocates gathered across the state for Trans Day of Visibility. Rallies in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello served as both a celebration of the community and a protest against a legislative session many described as a “direct attack” on their rights.

“Trans folks in Idaho are under attack,” said Hannah Pearson-Kleinheider, a non-binary resident at the Idaho Falls rally. “Even if people don’t really think about us all the time, we’re here. So we’re going to still keep being here.”

The rallies coincided with the passage of another piece of legislation affecting transgender Idahoans, the “Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.” The bill would require educators and mental health professionals to disclose information to parents if a child is questioning their gender identity. The bill has passed both the Idaho House and Senate and is headed to Governor Brad Little’s desk.

Advocates like organizer Leah McNeal expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of children in unsupportive homes. “Forcibly outing a child… it’s going to have catastrophic effects,” McNeal said. “I worry about the mental health of some of these kids.”

Evelyn Byrd, another attendee in Idaho Falls, said she came to push back against “harmful recent legislation” and to help others feel safe within the community. Byrd encouraged those outside the LGBTQ+ community to set aside internet-based assumptions and engage in direct conversation.

Despite the political tension, organizers emphasized a theme of “trans joy.” In Idaho Falls, volunteer de-escalation teams monitored the event, which remained peaceful and focused on resilience.

“We wanted to give my community a place to kind of celebrate who we are in spite of the things that are happening,” Mcneal said. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to stay strong.”

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West Yellowstone IMAX theatre demolished, leaving behind mixed local reaction

Danielle Mullenix

West Yellowstone, MT (KIFI) – A longtime staple in West Yellowstone is now gone, leaving behind memories—and a wave of emotion from the community. The Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, widely known for its family-friendly atmosphere and iconic IMAX screen, closed its doors permanently in January and began to undergo demolition on March 26. Today, little remains of the building that once stood as a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors.

The theatre, which first opened in 1994, had been a go-to destination for decades, offering everything from educational documentaries about nearby Yellowstone National Park to major blockbuster films. Its closure and demolition have left many in the community feeling a deep sense of loss.

In the days following the demolition, residents took to social media to share their reactions. Many expressed heartbreak and nostalgia over the loss of a place tied to family memories and local culture.

One user wrote, “I will always cherish the fun of seeing a huge IMAX movie right outside of Yellowstone,” while others added, “This breaks my heart,” and “A huge bummer for families and kids that are local who need something to do socially.”

Demolition site of the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, March 2026

At the same time, some community members expressed gratitude for the theatre’s decades-long run. One post thanked the owners, saying, “Thank you to the amazing family who sacrificed everything to create and keep IMAX open for so many years. We appreciate all your dedication.”

According to Town Manager Dan Walker, the site will soon see new development. Plans are in place for an expansion of the Buffalo Crossing RV Park, which will take over the former theatre’s location.

IMAX Sign as of March 2026

IMAX Sign as of 2014

Local News 8 has reached out to the theatre’s previous owners and the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce for further comment. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

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Idaho law enforcement continue vocal opposition as ICE legislation heads to State Senate

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Law enforcement groups throughout the state are sounding off in opposition to Senate Bill 1441 as it advances in the Idaho Senate.

The controversial bill would require each law enforcement agency in Idaho to enter into section 287(g) programs with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requiring agencies to participate in the jail enforcement model, warrant service officer model, and task force model – in which local law enforcement would search for illegal immigrants in the community and take action against them.

“That was the intention, to make sure that cooperation with ICE and communication with ICE is governed by agreements that are set forth by the federal government – these 287(g) agreements,” said Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, “and that we don’t see that cooperation differing from jurisdiction to jurisdiction – that we create the general rule with the exceptions.”

Agencies that choose not to participate would be required to submit their reasons in writing to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and the Idaho State Fraternal Order of Police have stood consistently against the proposed legislation.

Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell, whose organization represents 2,800 law enforcement personnel in Idaho, said law enforcement resources in the state are already stretched without adding the additional programs, responsibilities, and training these agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would require.

“We heard from the sheriffs and some of the chiefs even, since versions of this bill have been introduced, is that everybody has the desire to work with ICE and mitigate immigration issues – illegal immigration issues,” Lovell said. “But we want to be able to maintain the ability to not work for them, you know, work with them, but not work for them and be able to still maintain all the things that [we]’re responsible to take care of in the community.”

Lovell is concerned that asking local law enforcement to perform federal roles could endanger police officers, troopers, and deputies. 

“When you stretch these resources so thin, then it makes it a safety issue for officers on the street,” he said. “It’s a safety issue for the community because 911 calls still happen, crashes still happen, incidents still happen that aren’t necessarily related to illegal immigration – and if they are, there’s already processes in place and methods to deal with it right now.”

The revised bill states that “participation in such models and programs shall be required only to the extent that the necessary resources for participation are reasonably available to the law enforcement agency.”

Anthon was clear that the intent of the bill is to encourage local cooperation with ICE authorities.

“Cooperation with ICE  is something we expect from our local jurisdiction, and provide reasonable accommodations if for certain jurisdictions it just doesn’t work,” Anthon said.

Most sheriff offices and police departments in the state already openly cooperate with ICE authorities, law enforcement officials said.

Lovell said that requiring agencies to state reasons in writing and report to the Department of Homeland Security if they are unable to participate in any ICE 287(g) programs adds additional layers of bureaucracy to local law enforcement.

“Some of those models for smaller agencies, for small police departments – even larger police departments that are still trying to maintain staffing and take care of all the other 911 calls and issues in their community,” he said. “They may not have the resources to just jump into that agreement.”

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-3 to send the bill to the full Idaho Senate, reversing its 6-5 March 16th decision to table a similar bill.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, and Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell discuss the impacts of Senate Bill 1441 on illegal immigration and law enforcement in Idaho.

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