Abi Martin
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – Compass Academy will be open again tomorrow, May 8.
The school was closed on Thursday after a student received a general threat against the school.
The investigation by Idaho Falls Police remains ongoing.
And as an added measure of caution, officers from the Idaho Falls Police will be present at Compass Academy Friday morning.
Curtis Jackson
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (KIFI) — Investigators in Yellowstone National Park believe a mother grizzly bear is responsible for mauling two hikers on Monday, May 4, 2026.
In a news release issued on Thursday, park staff believe the female grizzly had two or three cubs in their first year of life.
A 28-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were mauled by the bear while hiking along Mystic Falls Trail.
The two hikers were airlifted to EIRMC in Idaho Falls for medical attention. The Mystic Falls Trail and the surrounding backcountry area remain closed to the public following the attack.
The Geyser Basin Boardwalk area, however, remains open to visitors.
Dylan Carder
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- The temperatures may be rising, but now is the time to think about getting your home ready for winter. Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP) is looking for homes that need to be weatherized. Typically, there is a years-long waiting list just to get the months-long process started. That is not the case this year.
“We’re looking actively for people to work on their homes,” says EICAP CEO John Radford. “We do need people’s homes to work on right now.”
The weatherization program provides assistance to eligible households to help homes be more energy efficient in order to lower energy costs. According to EICAP, over 20 percent of American households have reported reducing or forgoing necessities such as food or medicine to pay an energy bill.
Radford has seen this in his own family. “I had an aunt a few years ago. She had a $400 utility bill that went down to somewhere in the $170’s. So, if you can get $200 or $300 back a month and you’re living on the edge already, then maybe you can buy some pharmaceuticals that you need, or you can get some food that wasn’t something that you could get before.”
To start, a professionally trained auditor will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the home to determine possible areas of concern. If the home qualifies for help, a customized work order will be created. It’s not always about heat. It’s also about health.
“We’ve had at least one experience where a little gal was really sick and couldn’t find out why,” explaines Radford. “We came in, did our audit, found this heat exchanger and replaced that furnace. Within a few weeks she was back to being this happy, healthy young woman.”
Seniors are especially a concern for EICAP. Radford recalled a case where a senior citizen was still cutting wood and heating their home with their fire place. It was becoming too much physically.
“The alternative probably would have been to see them go to assisted living.” Radford adds, “So this program really saves federal tax dollars.”
The weatherization program is meant for low income households that at 200% of the poverty income guidelines. For example, a family of four with a monthly income of $5,200 would qualify. The full eligibility requirements can be found at eicap.org.
Radford says those who do not meet the financial requirements, should still come in and see what is available.
“What we don’t want to do is have people suffer and then not ask, because it’s not like we’re the only option. We can also help people get connected to other places in the community that also offer help.”
Those who need their home weatherized are encouraged to sign up now while the waiting list is so short. The full process can take a few months, so homes should be ready for next winter. People can fill out applications in person at 935 E. Lincoln Road in Idaho Falls.
Kaelyn Blessinger
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho was just recognized as a no-kill state for animal shelters by Best Friends Animal Shelter, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any animals humanely put down.
“Today we get to declare Idaho as one of the largest, one of the first in the West to achieve the goal of no kill,” Nick Lippincott, The Mountain West Regional Director of the Best Friend Animal Society, said. “Which means that, we can confidently say, based on the data we’ve received and the work they’re doing, that every shelter, is achieving the goal of saving every healthy and treatable and savable pet within their shelters.”
So, through the hard work of the many animal shelters and volunteers across Idaho, they were able to qualify. In order to be considered a no-kill shelter, an organization must achieve and maintain a 90% or more of animals leave rate; whether through adoption, return to their owner, or transfer.
A common misunderstanding is these no kill shelters have no deaths. Euthanasia is still utilized, but only for incurable medical suffering (such as severe injury, severe cancer, etc.) or dangerous behavior.
“Unfortunately a lot of times when an animal, a smaller animal, is hit by a car, they break their back or their hips or something like that,” The Director of the Blackfoot Animal Shelter, Amanda Severin, said. “That’s detrimental.”
“So it’s inhumane not to euthanize them, then let them sit here and suffer,” Stacy Davies of the Blackfoot Animal Control added.
No kill cannot be 100%. Sometimes, for an animals sake, Euthanasia is more humane than letting them suffer.
News Team
McCammon, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of McCammon has issued an immediate boil water order following a loss of pressure in the municipal water system earlier today.
According to an official Facebook post, during a regular water line repair, crews were required to shut off several valves in order to keep conditions safe and sanitary. City officials confirmed that the situation is under control, but it has led to a loss of pressure.
The City will send affected residents a boil order notice shortly.
“Thank you for your patience as we work through this unplanned inconvenience,” states the post.
News Team
UPDATED: 9:23 p.m.
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Students at Idaho State University, Brigham Young University-Idaho, and the College of Eastern Idaho are among the thousands across the nation that have lost access to Canvas after a confirmed cybersecurity incident. Canvas works as a digital platform, allowing students to submit assignments, images, videos, and take tests or exams.
The timing could not be worse, as students at ISU navigate the exams and assignments in the final days of the Spring 2026 semester. The university sent a note out to students tonight saying, “all final exams scheduled after noon today have been canceled and will not be rescheduled or counted toward final grades.”
ISU officials confirmed that Instructure, the parent company of the Canvas platform, fell victim to a “cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” ISU’s Information Technology team and Instructional Technology Resource Center are actively monitoring the situation.
Instructure provides Canvas services to thousands of K-12 schools and colleges across the nation. A report by The BYU-Idaho Scroll confirms that the breach has disrupted Canvas at other regional schools and potentially over 9,000 institutions nationwide, including: BYU, BYU-I, and the College of Eastern Idaho.
Many of the schools reported a ransom note on the homepage of their Canvas sites. The hacking group “Shiny Hunters” has claimed responsibility and is demanding ransoms to prevent further data leaks.
This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional updates as we learn new information.
Seth Ratliff
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A former Idaho Falls City Council candidate, Christopher Brunt, remains in custody on a $1 million bond following his arrest by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force last month. The arrest was part of a larger multi-agency sweep in April that Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is highlighting as a major success in the ICAC Task Force’s partnerships with local law.
Brunt was apprehended on April 8 by the ICAC unit in partnership with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, and Chubbuck Police Department.
The investigation began with a “CyberTip” from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) after Google flagged several files of disturbing content. According to court documents, the flagged material was uploaded between 2022 and 2025 from an account tied to a verified email address and a registered phone number belonging to Brunt.
RELATED: Ex-city council candidate charged with 12 counts of child exploitative material
Thursday, May 7th, Attorney General Raúl Labrador listed Brunt’s arrest as one of four significant ICAC cases handled across several counties in April:
Andrew Avelar (Canyon County)
Avelar, 29, was arrested on April 6, 2026, on two counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material. The ICAC Unit was assisted by the Nampa Police Department, Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, Boise Police Department, and Meridian Police Department.
Daniel Loretto (Canyon County)
Loretto was arrested on April 14, 2026, on three counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material. The ICAC Unit was assisted by the Nampa Police Department, Meridian Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, and Boise Police Department.
Michael Arnold Jr. (Latah County)
Arnold, 43, was arrested on April 28, 2026, on six counts of possession of child sexual exploitation material and one count of enticing a child through use of the internet. The ICAC Unit was assisted by Moscow Police Department and Probation and Parole District 2.
Labrador emphasized that these partnerships safeguard Idaho families.
“I’m grateful for the partnerships we’ve built with local law enforcement that make this work possible,” said Attorney General Labrador. “These arrests reflect the dedication of our team and the agencies working together to keep Idaho families safe.”
The charges listed above are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Seth Ratliff
UPDATE:
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A late-morning fire left a local home in ruins on Thursday, sending one resident to the hospital and leaving a firefighter with minor injuries. According to the Madison Fire Department, the home is a total loss with damages estimated to be $450,000.
The fire broke out around 11:38 a.m. at a home at 5779 W. 4500 N., in the Plano area northwest of Rexburg. Fire officials say a passerby first spotted the flames and acted quickly, calling in the emergency before helping the home’s sole occupant evacuate safely.
By the time the first responders arrived, the home was already fully engulfed in flames. As they had rushed to the scene, firefighters say the flames had already spread to a large propane tank near the house.
Courtesy Photos: Madison Fire Department
22 fire personnel battled the blaze, immediately launching a defensive attack to contain the flames and control the venting of the propane tank. Meanwhile, first responders rushed the occupant of the home to Madison Memorial Hospital for treatment.
The Madison Fire Department has confirmed that one firefighter received minor injuries during the effort.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation is currently underway. MFD Battalion Chief Ellis Johnston stresses how rapidly the fire crews responded to the scene despite the distance from the blaze.
“This incident location was more than 11 miles from our staffed station,” said Johnston. “Initial responders arrived on scene 13 minutes after being dispatched. Despite how far away this structure fire was, we managed to mitigate potential fire hazards and spread.”
In the wake of the incident, the Madison Fire Department is reminding the community that they are “always looking for local community members to become certified and join our fire department, especially in the areas of the county farther away from our main fire station.”
For more information, click HERE.
ORIGINAL:
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Firefighters and emergency crews are currently on the scene of a structure fire near the intersection of 4500 N. and 5800 W.
According to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), deputies have closed the roadway to ensure the safety of first responders as they work to extinguish the blaze. Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area to allow first responders to do their jobs safely.
At this time, there is no word on the cause of the fire or potential injuries. Local News 8 is monitoring the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
David Pace
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The entire Idaho Falls Farmers Market Board of Directors has resigned, paving the way for new leadership, the organization announced on Facebook.
This decision comes after widespread public outcry regarding the market’s former manager, who had a 2019 felony conviction for injury to a child. A protest previously planned for Saturday has been canceled following the board’s resignation.
The organization announced the former manager resigned from his position on Monday, May 4, 2026, amid significant public backlash. He was initially hired by the market in 2021 as an assistant manager and was promoted to manager a year later. The controversy sparked hundreds of online comments, including reports of violent threats against current board members and vendors.
According to a statement from the former board members, they had initially hoped to hold a meeting with vendors to address concerns and plan next steps. However, safety concerns made it clear that a public meeting at that time would not allow for a safe and orderly transition process.
The former board members stated they used the farmers market’s bylaws and attorney guidance in their decision. “On the evening of May 6, 2026, current board members resigned in succession and were replaced according to the prior election results until a new board could be seated with enough members to conduct business under the bylaws,” the former board members said in a statement. “As of now, no prior board members remain on the Idaho Falls Farmers’ Market Board.”
The former manager had been on supervised probation since his 2019 plea agreement. Court records show that he had not violated the terms of his parole during his tenure. The farmers market bylaws allow board members to resign at any time.
The Idaho Falls Farmers Market has long been a Saturday morning tradition, attracting families to the greenbelt for local goods and produce. The issue gained public awareness after a post appeared in the “Life in Idaho Falls (SE Idaho) Facebook group” on May 3, 2026. The previous board had met on Wednesday evening, May 5, 2026, to determine a path forward. The new board was selected from a list of vendors who had previously expressed interest in serving.
The Idaho Falls Farmers Market will continue as scheduled on Saturday at 9 a.m. The former board members say the “new board will be responsible for leading the organization moving forward, communicating with vendors, and determining what additional changes may be needed.”
Vendor Impact and the Path Forward
For many vendors, the Farmers Market serves as a primary source of income. Camelia Gutierrez, owner of Blue Bonnet Flower Farm, and her husband work tirelessly growing and selling quality, fresh, and dried flowers each week at the market.
She says that they, like many, felt “blindsided” by the controversy.
“We don’t agree with how it was handled. And we didn’t know. Most of the vendors, I think most of the community, nobody knew. So it was pretty shocking overall,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez, who has planted 40,000 sprouts this season to supply her wildflower booth, called the board’s resignation “the best possible move” for the community. Despite some vendors choosing to depart the market permanently, Gutierrez remains optimistic about rebuilding.
“We’re very hopeful for moving forward and rebuilding this amazing market and all the vendors and everybody involved,” said Gutierrez. “Hopefully, we can come together and move forward in a positive way and keep getting together as a community and sharing the beautiful market that we have.”
Our Commitment to Accuracy
Local News 8 is aware of the intense digital conversation surrounding this story. While rumors moved quickly across social media over the past several days, our newsroom chose to delay reporting until tonight to ensure a higher standard of journalistic integrity.
Our mission is to provide accurate context to stories rather than fueling rumors or hearsay. We spent the last several days closely monitoring the social media controversy surrounding the Idaho Falls Farmers Market, reaching out directly to stakeholders and verifying legal standings to ensure accuracy and provide a complete picture of the situation.
In addition, Local News 8 has made the editorial decision not to name the former manager at this time. Our focus remains on the actions of the board, the safety of the community, and the future of this local event rather than providing a platform for further speculation and violent rhetoric.
Max Gershon
UPDATE:
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State University Bengals have captured the Big Sky Softball Championship title, defeating the Sacramento State Hornets 16-8 in a Game 10 blowout.
The Bengals left no room for doubt, jumping to a commanding 5-2 lead in the first inning. In the 2nd, the pressure continued with another 4 runs, stretching the gap to 9-3. By the end of the 3rd, another 5-run surge effectively put the game out of reach for Sacramento State, putting ISU at 14-5.
Finally, in the 5th, Bengals ace Marley Guluskin took the mound, and the crowd erupted as the Hornets struck out for the final time.
“As that swing and miss happens…It was like a weight off the shoulders. You know, we finally did it!” said Head Softball Coach Andrew Rich. “This group is unbelievable. You can’t ask for a better group of players and a better group of just human beings.”
Watch our full interviews with the team below:
ORIGINAL:
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The stage is set for a showdown as the Idaho State Bengals face off against the Sacramento State Hornets in Game 10 of the 2026 Big Sky Softball Championship.
The Bengals enter the matchup with momentum on their side, looking to repeat the magic of their previous encounter in Game 7, where ISU overcame the Hornets in a 15-7 blowout following a massive comeback in the 4th.
Sacramento State earned its spot in today’s rematch after a 10-7 victory over the Montana Grizzlies on Wednesday. However, to keep their championship dreams alive, the Hornets must find a way to overcome the Bengals in a doubleheader.
If the Bengals win Game 10, they will officially be crowned the Big Sky Champions. If the Hornets win, they will force a decisive Game 11 tiebreaker to determine the overall winner.
The Idaho State Bengals are facing off with Sacramento State in Game 10 of the 2026 Big Sky Softball Championship. The stage is set for a rematch of Bengal’s dramatic comeback win. For more details, click HERE.
Local News 8 will provide updates on the championship action. Game 10 kicks off at 12:00 p.m. MT.
