Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Two men, one from Pocatello and the other from Utah, have been sentenced to several months in federal prison after being convicted in separate and unrelated cases involving fentanyl distribution in eastern Idaho.

Thursday, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced that 32-year-old David Erik Traversa, of Utah, and 38-year-old Casey Steven Evans, of Pocatello, were sentenced to 156 months and 60 months in federal prison, respectively, for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it.

Traversa’s case began in May of 2024, when officers initiated a traffic stop and arrested an unnamed individual carrying 200 fentanyl pills, according to court documents. Police discovered two hotel room keys during the stop and subsequently applied for and were issued a search warrant to investigate the hotel rooms.

David Erik Traversa

Courtesy Bannock County Jail

According to court documents, in the search of the rooms, officers found Traversa overdosing, and immediately began lifesaving measures, transporting the 32-year-old by ambulance to a local hospital, where he received treatment for the nonfatal overdose.

Throughout their search, law enforcement discovered multiple fentanyl pills and drug paraphernalia used to package the drugs for distribution. While treating him, hospital staff also discovered a black drawstring bag holding over 500 fentanyl pills attached to Traversa’s genitals. According to court documents, including the drugs seized in the traffic stop, on his person, and in the hotel room, the 32-year-old possessed 84.42 grams.

Traversa pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2024. In this week’s sentencing, Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also ordered the Utahn to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

Casey Evan’s case also began in May of 2024, when law enforcement officers stopped a blue Range Rover.

Casey Steven Evans

Courtesy Bannock County Jail

During the traffic stop, the officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle and discovered a black metal safe in the trunk containing 107.94 grams of fentanyl pills and a loaded handgun, according to court documents. Upon further search of the vehicle, the officers found another loaded handgun on the front passenger floor.

The Pocatello man pleaded guilty to the charge in February 2025. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Evans to serve five years of supervised release following his 60-month prison sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott praised the efforts of the BADGES Task Force, which is funded by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. This task force includes the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho State Police, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Chubbuck Police Department.

The information above comes from Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville School District 93 is partnering with the Summer Food Service Program to ensure that no child goes hungry during the summer. Meals will be provided at no cost to all children ages 1 to 18.

Meals will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

Cloverdale Elementary School Cafeteria – 3999 Greewillow Lane, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Breakfast 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM

Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Hillview Elementary Playground – 3075 Teton St., Ammon, ID 83406

Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sugar Mill Park – 895 25th E, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Tiebreaker Park – 3000 East Backhand Dr., Ammon, ID 83406

Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Ucon Elementary – 10841 N 41st E, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Lunch 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Meals will be served from June 2 to June 26, 2025, on Mondays through Thursdays.

The Summer Food Service Program will also include children in Pocatello and surrounding areas. For a full list of the Pocatello/Chubbuck locations, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As the iconic game show aired Thursday, an Idaho Falls woman finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of competing on The Price is Right.

To achieve her dream, Catherine Skelton got tickets for three different studio recordings of the decades-old game show earlier this year. It was only on the third taping that she was told to “come on down” and join her fellow contestants and host Drew Carey on the floor.

“You have to act kooky again and crazy. And you just have a lot of fun,” Skelton said about the experience.

Local News 8 invited Skelton to “come on down” and join Jeff and Kailey at Noon to talk about how she did on the show. Watch the full interview above.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The dry, windy summer weather substantially increases the risk of wildfires in Southeast Idaho during the warmer months, and the Pocatello Fire Department is encouraging people to take precautions now to avoid sparking fires.

According to Kim Stouse, public information officer for the Pocatello Fire Department, wildfires can start in a number of different ways, including driving through tall grass, leaving campfires unattended, and even mowing the lawn late in the day when conditions are particularly dry.

The Pocatello Fire Department is getting its crew and the public ready early for the possibility of wildfires starting in the Portneuf Valley this summer.

“We’re preparing. The crews are doing training, our brush trucks are all ready to go, so when the call comes, they will be ready,” said Stouse. “We would love to see none, but, then, there’s reality–I think the biggest thing is making people aware of it.”

Stouse said people need to be mindful of potential fire risks as they travel and take part in outdoor recreation.

Some tips include making sure campfires are completely extinguished, never driving or parking vehicles in tall grass or brush, using caution when lighting fireworks or flicking cigarette butts, and staying informed by signing up for emergency notifications through Bannock County’s ‘myAlerts’ app.

For more information on summer fire safety and preparedness, you can visit the websites for the Pocatello Fire Department and the Bannock County Office of Emergency Management.

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Noah Farley

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — Shelley Joint School District No. 60 is proposing a bond to build a new high school for the next general election.

If the public votes in favor, the Board of Trustees of Joint School District No. 60, Bingham and Bonneville Counties, State of Idaho (the “District”) will be authorized to issue bonds of up to $78,640,000 to:

Build, furnish, and equip a new high school

Build, furnish, and equip a new career technical education (CTE) building

Build a new auditorium

Renovate and improve other existing school facilities

Election Day is Tuesday, May 20.

More information about the ballot for the bond can be found here.

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News Team

The following is a press release from Grand Teton National Park:

MOOSE, Wyo. (KIFI) — The National Park Service plans to improve and expand recreation opportunities at Mormon Row, one of the most photographed locations in Grand Teton National Park. This effort is part of ongoing preservation work designed to offer visitors a richer, more immersive experience at Mormon Row.

As part of the planning efforts, the park is working with Grand Teton National Park Foundation to create a safer, more accessible experience for visitors while preserving the area’s unique cultural heritage.

Proposed improvements:

Pedestrian and cycling-only area: A new pedestrian and cycling-only zone will be established in the historic district, enhancing visitors’ ability to experience the iconic views of Mormon Row and the Tetons. This change will provide a safer environment and minimize vehicle traffic.

 Expanded parking: A larger parking lot will be constructed at the southeast corner of Antelope Flats Road and Mormon Row to accommodate growing visitation while maintaining the integrity of the site. This will help manage traffic, provide parking for large vehicles, and improve access for all visitors.

Enhanced interpretation and signage: New interpretive and wayfinding signs will be installed to help visitors better understand the significance of Mormon Row. The site interpretation will provide a more thorough and accurate depiction of the community’s history and its connection to the broader history of Grand Teton National Park.

Vegetation restoration: Efforts will be made to restore native vegetation and improve the ecological health of the area, ensuring a more authentic landscape.

Improved facilities: Plans also include adding a Grand Teton Association building for visitor information and sales, as well as adding new restrooms and making walking paths easy to see and follow.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation to preserve and renew Mormon Row, a beloved site for park visitors,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “These improvements will create opportunities for visitors to connect with the history and landscape in a meaningful way.”

Some minor site improvements may begin in summer 2025, with the majority happening in 2026 or later. Updates on the project and further details will be shared with the public as the work progresses.

For more information, click HERE.

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CNN Newsource

(CNN) — Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope and has stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

He’s now known as Pope Leo XIV.

Prevost, 69, from Chicago, Illinois, is the first ever pope from the United States.

Cardinals took two days to select a new pontiff, matching the timeline from the previous two gatherings and suggesting that Prevost quickly impressed his peers during the secretive process.

Francis and Benedict XVI were both revealed in the evening of the conclave’s second day, while John Paul II, the longest-reigning pope of modern times, was selected on the third day in 1978.

‘An exceptional leader’

A leader with global experience, he spent much of his career as a missionary in South America and most recently led a powerful Vatican office for bishop appointments. He is expected to build on Pope Francis’ reforms.

He worked for a decade in Trujillo, Peru, and was later appointed bishop of Chiclayo, another Peruvian city, where he served from 2014 to 2023.

Prevost is a member of the Augustinian religious order – which he also led for more than a decade as their prior general, which has given him leadership experience of leading an order spread across the world.

Considered a highly capable and accomplished leader, Prevost most recently led the powerful Vatican office for new bishop appointments, the Dicastery for Bishops, assessing candidates and making recommendations to the late pope. He also served as the president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

While it is often said cardinal electors would always shy away from choosing a pope from the US, due to America’s outsized global political influence, Prevost’s long experience in Peru may have mitigated those fears among the electors.

“He’s somebody that, even though he’s from the West, would be very attentive to the needs of a global church,” said Elise Allen, CNN’s Vatican analyst. “You’re talking about somebody who spent over half of his ecclesial career abroad as a missionary in Peru.”

Allen added that he is seen as an apt leader in Vatican circles because “he’s able to accomplish things without necessarily being authoritarian about the way he did things.”

“Prevost is somebody who is seen as an exceptional leader. From very young, he was appointed to leadership roles,” Allen said. “He’s seen as somebody who is calm and balanced, who is even-handed, and who is very clear on what he thinks needs to be done… but he’s not overly forceful in trying to make that happen.”

Prevost earned his bachelor’s in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and went on receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago.

He was later sent to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University and was ordained as a priest in June 1982. Later in his career, he taught canon law in the seminary in Trujillo, Peru.

In an interview with Vatican News shortly after he became the leader of the Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost said: “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.”

Asked about the contributions of three women who were made members of the Dicastery for Bishops, Prevost told Vatican News: “I think their appointment is more than just a gesture on the part of the Pope to say that there are now women here, too. There is a real, genuine, and meaningful participation that they offer at our meetings when we discuss the dossiers of candidates.”

He also addressed the responsibility of combating clerical abuse, saying: “There are places where good work has already been done for years and the rules are being put into practice. At the same time, I believe that there is still much to learn.”

This is a breaking story. More details soon…

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 13-year-old female has been taken into custody after leading police on a high-speed chase early Wednesday morning. She drove a stolen pickup into a canal after taking a round-about route and intentionally ramming officer vehicles.

Just before 1 a.m., Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call for assistance from the Ucon Police Department, attempting to stop a pickup truck. The vehicle had only one working headlight as it continued south on Ammon Road, running the red light at Highway 26. The deputies and officers pursued the truck through a construction zone before turning on Iona Road. The pickup was driving through yards and residential properties.

A deputy near 25th East and Iona was able to get behind the pickup and attempt a traffic stop as it turned onto Highway 26, but broke off after a short distance as the vehicle continued traveling quickly. Officers observed the pickup turn South on Ammon Road, now with no headlights on and then into a neighborhood near Rocky Mountain Middle School.

A deputy and Idaho State Police officer located the pickup parked in the apartment complex, Meadow Creek Townhomes, at which point the driver intentionally rammed into both patrol cars and caused damage to a garage and property, forcing their way through the the two vehicles. A second deputy collided with the pickup in an attempt to keep it from leaving the complex but was ultimately unsuccessful.

The pickup returned the way it had come, back up Ammon Road towards Ucon. It drove through the construction once again in speeds exceeding 100 MPH, blowing through lights and other intersections.

The pickup continued on North Yellowstone, eventually attempting to turn onto Roh Lane. The truck failed to turn far enough and drove into the canal. Deputies and officers were able to take a female driver and male passenger into custody.

The driver, a 13-year-old female, was transported to 3B Detention Center in Idaho Falls and booked for two felony counts of aggravated battery and felony eluding, along with misdemeanor charges for leaving the scene of an accident and joyriding.

The passenger was a 15-year-old male who was released to parents. There are potential charges related to the theft of the pickup for the young man.

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Seth Ratliff

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman has been hospitalized after her car went over a cliff along the Snake River near American Falls.

Her vehicle was discovered early Wednesday at around 10:30 AM below Massacre Rock State Park by a passenger on a passing boat. It is believed that the accident happened sometime during the night on May 6, 2025, according to the Power County Sheriff’s Office.

Emergency responders from multiple departments swiftly responded, working together to safely reach and recover the victim due to the remote location of the wreckage.

“We commend the swift and coordinated efforts of all responding agencies and thank the boat passenger whose alert observation led to a successful rescue,” said Power County Sheriff Joshua Campbell in a press release.

The woman was successfully rescued and taken by Air Ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The incident is still under investigation by the Power County Sheriff’s Office. The name and age of the crash victim have not been released at this time.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – The family of the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students will be allowed in the courtroom in the high-profile murder trial, according to recently released court documents.

Several of Bryan Kohberger’s family members could be called to testify in the upcoming murder trial. Prosecutors had previously argued that Kohberger’s family should not be allowed to be present for the trial to “reduce the possibility of a witness shaping his testimony to conform with or to rebut prior testimony of others,” according to court documents.

In a new batch of rulings, Judge Steven Hippler said that “the scope of the family members’ proposed testimony is very narrow and is not necessarily tied to the testimony of other witnesses.” Under that reasoning, Judge Hippler ruled that Kohberger’s family members will be allowed in the courtroom throughout the trial.

In an additional ruling, Judge Hippler also determined that the state can examine Kohberger’s personality, but barred the state from using personality tests during the trial. He also ruled that the defense cannot be in the exam room but can watch remotely. 

Kohberger’s trial is set to start in August in Ada County. If convicted, the prosecution has announced their intention to seek the death penalty.

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