Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A delegation of Idaho state representatives, city leaders, and farmers is traveling to Washington, D.C. next week, hoping to secure crucial federal funding for new water storage projects, including the potential rebuilding of the Teton Dam, in an effort to combat the state’s ongoing water troubles.

The need for Federal Support

The trip comes on the heels of Senate Joint Memorial 101, a measure that strongly encourages state and federal officials to explore and fund water storage projects across the Gem State and reverse the rapid decline of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.

On Monday, Nov. 17, the group of nearly 20 Idahoans, including State Senator Kevin Cook and State Representative Ben Fuhriman, plans to meet with Idaho’s Congressional delegation—Congressmen Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher, along with Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch—to discuss the need for federal support for new water storage infrastructure.

Senator Cook emphasized that while SJM 101 unanimously passed the Idaho House and Senate earlier this year, it lacks teeth without federal support. “There’s no law. It is a strong encouragement to the state and federal officials to do something,” Cook stated, stressing how crucial support from Idaho’s representatives is. He explains the memorial specifically asks officials to utilize existing plans for reservoirs and dams and “get moving forward… because we can’t exist where we’re at.”

Looking back at the 2024 Curtailment

Curtailment Order, 2024

The move is fueled by the 2024 curtailment crisis that threatened Idaho’s agricultural industry. While farmers, supported by Idaho Governor Brad Little and Lt. Governor Scott Bedke, spearheaded a new water use agreement—requiring groundwater users to supply 205,000 acre-feet of recharge for the aquifer— Cook says it pales in comparison to the estimated 1.4 to 2 million acre-feet of water that leaves the state during spring runoff.

Drawing on his experience growing up on a farm in Utah, Cook stressed how important it is to capture, use, and save all the water you can.

“When we had drought and the water was really not good, the snowpack was low. We just had this little stream coming down the river. And so we worked very, very hard to capture every drop,” said Cook.

Potentially Rebuilding the Teton Dam

One of the main proposals of SJM 101 is the reconstruction of the Teton Dam, nearly 50 years after its catastrophic failure in 1976. The original collapse killed 11 people and an estimated 16,000 livestock, devastating parts of Madison and Fremont counties and further south.

Teton Dam failure, 1976 (KIFI)

Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill, who is set to join the delegation on its trip to D.C., is a vocal advocate for the rebuild, pointing to the area’s massive population growth. Since the dam collapsed in 1976, the population of Rexburg alone has grown from around 3,000-4,000 to over 40,000.

Mayor Merrill tells us that if the dam was needed for water storage 50 years ago, that need has only become more obvious today.

“We still need water storage. We still need more recreation areas. We need flood control. We need power generation,” Mayor Merrill said. He acknowledged the community’s lingering “trepidation” but assured that any rebuild would prioritize safety: “We, of course, want to be sensitive to that and address that and make sure that… the engineering is done correctly and the construction is done correctly.”

Ahead of the D.C. trip, the delegation is collecting signatures from Idahoans, petitioning their federal representatives to actively support and fund the proposed storage projects. For more information or to sign the petition, click HERE.

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Curtis Jackson

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)—The Lemhi County Sheriff’s office said a woman died following a boating accident on the Salmon River on Monday. November 10, 2025.

According to a Lemhi County Sheriff’s news release, Arlen Obrien, 76, and Judy Obrien, 75, of Carmen, were fishing when their drift boat lodged on some rocks. While trying to get the boat off the rocks, they fell overboard. It’s estimated they were in the water for nearly 10 minutes before reaching the riverbank.

The sheriff’s office received a call around 4:23 p.m. about the accident and was told CPR was being performed on the female victim. They were located approximately three miles upstream from the Tower Creek boat launch.

The Sheriff’s office said Judy was unresponsive when emergency responders arrived and continued life-saving measures. She was pronounced dead after arriving at Steele Memorial Medical Center. They said she died from accidental drowning.

Neither of them was wearing a lifejacket. The boat was recovered on Tuesday by the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office and Salmon Search and Rescue.

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Seth Ratliff

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities in Lemhi County have launched an investigation into a suspicious death after an out-of-state fisherman discovered human remains along the Salmon River Road earlier this week.

The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office received the report on Monday, November 10th, around 1:10 p.m.

According to a news release, the fisherman, who was feeling cold after fishing in the rugged Salmon River Canyon, spotted the remains while climbing up a hillside to warm up. The man then led deputies to a rural portion of the roadway.

Deputies located the remains approximately 60 yards up the hillside, situated along the side of a brushy, rocky ravine. The remains reportedly appeared to have been exposed to the elements for several years.

In addition to the remains, deputies located several key pieces of evidence nearby, including a firearm and a handwritten note. The contents of the note have not been released by the LCSO as the investigation is active and ongoing.

The remains and all collected evidence were initially transported to the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office before the remains were released to the Lemhi County Coroner.

The identity of the deceased is not confirmed at this time and is pending further investigation, including forensic analysis.

The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating this incident and stressed that further details will be released to the public as soon as more information becomes available.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Last week, the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children task force arrested two Idaho men in separate cases for alleged sexual exploitation of a child, Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced today.

On Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, 46-year-old John McGraw of Idaho Falls was charged with 10 counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material. The Idaho Falls Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pocatello Police Department assisted the ICAC Unit with the arrest. 

The following day, the ICAC Unit, with the assistance of the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 61-year-old Lesley Marcum of Nampa. Marcum has been charged with 5 counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material.

“Two more arrests—from Idaho Falls to Nampa—prove our statewide partnerships are working,” said Attorney General Labrador. “These coordinated efforts to remove threats from our communities are protecting Idaho families. The ICAC Unit and our partner agencies will not stop fighting to keep Idaho’s children safe from exploitation.”

The AG’s office encourages anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials who wish to find more information and helpful resources, click HERE.

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Curtis Jackson

The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Arts Council.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (News Release)—The Idaho Falls Arts Council (IFAC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gray Augustus as its new Executive Director. Augustus joins the organization following an accomplished tenure with Teton Toyota, where he served as Director of Marketing, and brings a strong record of civic involvement and passion for the arts to his new role. 

“Gray’s leadership experience, business acumen, and deep roots in the Idaho Falls community make him an ideal choice to guide the Arts Council into its next chapter,” said Jason Littlefield, Chair of the IFAC Board of Directors. “He understands the vital role that the arts play in our region’s cultural and economic vitality.” At Teton Toyota, Augustus became well known for his community-minded engagement, helping to forge partnerships that supported local nonprofits, schools, and cultural events throughout eastern Idaho. His transition to the Idaho Falls Arts Council represents both a continuation of that community focus and a commitment to advancing the arts as a cornerstone of regional life. “I’m honored to join the Idaho Falls Arts Council and build on its incredible legacy,” said Augustus. “The arts inspire connection, creativity, and pride in our community. I look forward to working with the talented staff, board, and supporters to expand the reach and impact of the Arts Council’s programs.” 

The Idaho Falls Arts Council oversees management of the Willard Arts Center, the Carr and Hall Galleries, and the Colonial Theater, offering year-round performances, exhibitions, and educational programs. Augustus will succeed Brandi Newton, who left the organization this summer after twelve years. 

The Idaho Falls Arts Council is a private nonprofit organization which owns and operates: ARTitorium on Broadway, The Colonial Theater, and the Willard Arts Center. The mission of IFAC, in cooperation with other arts organizations, is to educate our community and enrich its quality of life by promoting, advocating, and presenting a broad spectrum of visual and performing arts in eastern Idaho. 

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Baby nutrition company ByHeart has voluntarily recalled two batches of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, on November 7, 2025, the FDA informed ByHeart of approximately 83 reported cases of infant botulism across the United States since August 2025. Among these cases, 13 infants had reportedly consumed ByHeart formula at some point. The FDA has not found any direct connection between infant formula and the reported cases, and there is no historical evidence of infant formula being a cause of infant botulism.

What is infant botulism?

According to Cleveland Clinic, Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness in babies under one year old. It may start with mild signs like constipation or a weak cry but can progress to muscle weakness and breathing problems.

Symptoms include:

Choking when trying to feed

Constipation

Weaker suck or poor feeding

Eyelid drooping (ptosis)

Lack of facial expressions, being unable to lift their head, or other signs of muscle weakness or paralysis

Weaker crying

Weakness or decreased muscle tone, especially starting at the top of their body and limbs, making your baby feel “floppy” and keeping them from reaching or grabbing

Bowel movement changes, like not pooping for days or even weeks at a time

Causes of infant botulism

Infant botulism happens when a baby swallows spores from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The spores can survive in harsh conditions and, once inside the baby’s gut, turn into active bacteria that make a harmful toxin. This toxin spreads through the bloodstream and affects the baby’s nerves, causing the symptoms of botulism.

The most common way babies get Clostridium botulinum spores in their gut is from honey.

For more information on the recall, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Teton County first responders successfully juggled a series of three simultaneous emergencies Wednesday morning, despite being stretched thin by multiple calls across the region. The chaotic morning began with a serious head-on crash on Highway 33, which quickly escalated as crews were pulled away to handle two urgent medical transfers from Victor and Driggs.

Teton County Fire & Rescue crews initially responded to the serious two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 33. One person had to be taken by ambulance to the Madison Memorial Hospital in Rexburg. The crash blocked the roadway for approximately two hours while TCFR, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho Transportation Department worked together to investigate and clear the scene.

While responders were focused on the initial crash, a medical emergency call came in from Victor, Idaho, for Air Idaho to transport a patient to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. At the same time, another call came in from Teton Valley Hospital in Driggs for a priority patient transfer, also to EIRMC.

First responders emphasized that mornings like this severely strain their limited resources, noting that crews typically consist of only six to eight responders per shift, a number often challenged by long drive times across the valley.

Following the busy morning, the group issued a plea on social media, urging the community to help emergency vehicles navigate the busy county roads. They reminded the public, “With narrow streets and two-lane highways, it can be difficult for our responders to navigate traffic. If you see lights and hear sirens, please slow down, pull to the right and yield to the emergency vehicles.”

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Seth Ratliff

ARIMO, Idaho (KIFI) — A small earthquake was reported early Wednesday morning, while residents of southeast Idaho slept.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake registered a magnitude of 2.9 and struck at 2:44 AM on November 12. The epicenter was located around 15 miles west-southwest of the town of Arimo.

While this morning’s tremor was small, seismic activity is not uncommon in this part of the Gem State. Since the beginning of 2025, the area near Arimo has experienced significant seismic activity, with 177 earthquakes recorded, including those with magnitudes reaching up to 3.8. Over the last year, Idaho has officially documented a total of 973 earthquakes, highlighting the state’s ongoing tectonic movement. However, most residents will not notice or feel earthquakes with a magnitude under 2.0.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On this day, in the year 1993, the story goes that four bachelors in a Chinese university dorm were lamenting how they were single. It was hard for them, being so alone when all they wanted was to be loved.

They looked at a calendar, and saw the date, November 11th, which appeared as 11/11.

There was a “1” for each of them, surely it was a sign.

They decided to celebrate single life instead of regretting it, and the impromptu holiday spread, through the university and into wider Chinese culture.

It was originally known as Bachelor’s Day, now known as Single’s Day.

Many stores do promotions and sales for the holiday, and it’s actually the biggest day for e-commerce out of the year, world wide.

People also celebrate by throwing blind date parties, and ironically, it’s now also a day to celebrate relationships.

More than 4000 couples got married in Beijing on this date in 2011.

That’s a lot, especially compared to the city’s average of 700 marriages a day.

We’re not sure whether it’s “Single’s Day”, with the apostrophe on the inside, or “Singles’ Day,” with the apostrophe on the outside.

The former suggests the day belongs to each single person individually, while the latter implies it belongs to all singles collectively, a day to be alone, together.

We’ll let you decide.

Sources for this story:

TheFactSite

Time

Shipixy

BBC

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Hadley Bodell

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet came to Colonial Theatre tonight in Idaho Falls, and the audience was treated to a holiday-spirited show.

People flocked to the theater downtown to watch the classic Christmas ballet. Talmi Entertainment is a country-wide touring dance production. They tour for two months and do 70 shows of The Nutcracker. Some days, they even have two or three shows.

Dancers in the production come from all over the world, including Ukraine and Japan. The story of The Nutcracker originated in 1816, written by E.T.A. Hoffman. It has since been re-written and re-imagined countless times. Tonight’s version was choreographed by Viktor Davyduik.

Dancer Mariia Molotsiian performs the roles of Snow Queen and Mrs. Stahlbaum in the production. She commented on the ballet, saying, “Everyone is so professional. There are a lot of people working with this company and we have a lot of crew people helping us to make the show perfect.”

Judging by the relentless applause, the audience found it perfect too. Molotsiian said the best part of traveling in the ballet is how she gets to see a new theater and a new crowd with a different atmosphere every day of the tour. She also said The Nutcracker is something special because people begin to feel the Christmas spirit as soon as they watch the ballet.

More information about Talmi Entertainment’s traveling ballet can be found at nutcracker.com.

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