Author: KIFI

David Pace

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) — U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright touted the Trump administration’s efforts to “unleash the next American Nuclear Renaissance,” affirming his support for expanding America’s nuclear energy capacity four-fold in the next 25 years — from 100 gigawatts in 2025 to 400 gigawatts by 2050 — during his tour of Idaho National Laboratory on Monday.

“We have tremendous interest right now. Private businesses and private capital to build energy infrastructure, and most of that money is going to flow to natural gas and nuclear,” Wright said. “But anything that adds affordable, secure, reliable electricity — we’re all for.”

About 20 percent of America’s energy is currently generated by 94 nuclear reactors in the United States.

He said President Trump’s target is “aggressive and ambitious.”

“But I wouldn’t bet against it,” Wright said. “I wouldn’t bet against that target being achieved. I think it’s going to happen.”

A ‘Nuclear Renaissance’

Monday marked Wright’s final stop on a string of visits to all 17 national laboratories in the U.S. Department of Energy.

“This is ground zero for the nuclear renaissance that the Trump administration is passionate to make happen,” Wright said. “It’s been talked about for 20 years, but it’s actually happening now.”

Secretary Wright toured the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) west of Idaho Falls. He was joined by Governor Brad Little, Representative Mike Simpson, Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy Theodore “Ted” Garrish, and INL Director John Wagner.

“We need to address all avenues of the nuclear supply chain, the technology, the permitting of reactors, fuels, fuel at the end of life,” he continued. “Idaho National Lab, as I said, this is where commercial nuclear power started, and this is where that nuclear renaissance is starting, and it is essential to those efforts.”

In a press conference afterward, Secretary Wright also highlighted the Department of Energy’s goal to construct and have “multiple reactors critical by July 4th of next year.”

Nuclear company Radiant is set to begin testing a Kaleidos microreactor inside the INL’s newly repurposed Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility in April, located inside the iconic, former Experimental Breeder Reactor-II containment shell.

Wagner said the project is on track to meet that deadline and achieve criticality by America’s 250th birthday next year.

The Department of Energy also announced Monday that it is providing $11 million in funding — split between five corporations — to create new, updated packages to transport high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU). The efforts are designed to bolster America’s nuclear supply chain by providing accessible HALEU fuel to operating reactors.

AI and Nuclear: An Atomic Match

Finally, Governor Brad Little highlighted tech companies’ interest in pairing data centers with small modular reactors to meet their high energy demands.

“We’re blessed that people that are interested in AI are willing to upfront some of the costs,” he remarked. “Somebody is going to do this in the world, and somebody is maybe going to be the Chinese if we don’t do it right here. We have got to win the battle on where the next generation of power comes from.”

Local News 8 will provide continuing coverage of Sec. Wright’s visit and the confluence of AI and nuclear technology tomorrow.

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (right) and INL Director John Wagner (left) at the Materials and Fuels Complex.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Sunday worship services at an LDS church in Idaho Falls were canceled after members arrived to find that one of the building’s windows had been shot out overnight.

According to a Bonneville County public information officer, a call came in around 8 a.m. reporting broken glass at the church’s southern entrance.

Upon inspection, one of the members of the bishopric discovered a bullet inside the building.

A member of the ward leadership confirmed the discovery and said local leaders do not believe there is any ongoing threat to the congregation. However, out of an abundance of caution and due to the active investigation, church meetings were relocated for the day.

Leaders say regular services are expected to resume next week.

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Seth Ratliff

CARIBOU COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 58-year-old Blackfoot man died Saturday night after a single-vehicle rollover crash in Caribou County.

The Idaho State Police says the man was driving north along Kelly Toponce Rd with a 66-year-old male passenger in a side-by-side ATV. The driver lost control, went off the side of the road, and the ATV overturned.

Neither of the two men was wearing their seatbelts, and both were rushed by ground ambulance to a local hospital. Unfortunately, the driver succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The passenger survived with non-life-threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by ISP.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — With the holiday giving season underway, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office is urging Idahoans to remain vigilant against deceptive charity scams. Monday marks the start of International Charity Fraud Awareness Week, highlighting the threat of criminals posing as legitimate organizations to exploit generous donors.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador warns that charity scams spike sharply around Christmas, as bad actors capitalize on Idahoans’ seasonal goodwill and tradition of giving to those in need.

“The holidays, unfortunately, bring out the worst in criminals who exploit our community’s generosity,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We can’t allow scams to undermine legitimate charities or the people who depend on them. It’s up to all of us to stay informed and make smart decisions about our donations.”

The AG’s office has provided the following tips and tools to help avoid scams and make sure your donations are going where you want to help those in need.

Be wary of unfamiliar organizations that contact you for donations.

Real charities don’t demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency.

Don’t click on links in texts or emails – go to the charity’s website instead.

Don’t ever give banking information over the phone, text or email.

Verify charity registration and do your homework before donating.

For more prevention tips and research tools for charity scams, click  HERE.  

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News Team

UPDATE: Bannock County Sheriff’s office said they have found the body of former Judge William Woodland, 84, of Pocatello. He was located on Tuesday afternoon on South Putnam Mountain after a tip from a community member.

Woodland was reported missing on Sunday evening, December 7. Family said the last time they saw him was at his church services around 12:30 p.m., and then he was seen at the intersection of Lone Pine Road and Gay Mine Road.

Woodland served as a magistrate and district judge for over 20 years and retired in 2022. A family spokesman told Local News 8 he was suffering from memory loss.

“To the community, we say as a family, thank you so much for your time, for your resources, for your dedication in helping us find Bill and bring him home again,” said family member Rod Eggleston. “Honestly, the last several days have been miserable not knowing. But now we know and we know he’s at peace and the family is at peace.”

Search and Rescue crews used helicopters and have been searching the area where he was last seen.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, law enforcement is directing you to contact the Bannock County Sheriff at 208-236-7111 immediately.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Local police held their annual Cops and Kids holiday shopping event at the Chubbuck Walmart, serving 65 families in need.

This is one of the most beloved events in the community, as it establishes a strong relationship between the local law enforcement and children, all while helping those in need during the holidays. The day began with a breakfast at McDonald’s, followed by a ride for all the children in a patrol vehicle.

The fleet of cop cars rolled into Walmart with lights on and sirens blaring. The cops and the children they were partnered with were welcomed by high school cheerleaders and Benny the Bengal for high fives and cheers. The children got to pick out toys for themselves and their families. They also grabbed art supplies, clothes and winter gear with their toys.

FOP vice president Gabe Rollene said, “We’re out here giving back to the community and making sure every kid has a Christmas.” Rollene has been a part of Cops and Kids for four years, and enjoys seeing the community come together to donate to the cause.

“It’s just been awesome and it’s always great to be out here with the kids and seeing how excited they are to be part of this,” said Rollene.

Cheerleaders helped the kids and cops wrap the presents they chose from Walmart before showing them off.

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William Syslo

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State’s Reed Gym Pool hosted it’s first collegiate competition in 6 years this Saturday, December 6th. The ISU Swim club hosted Boise State, Utah State, and Weber State for the Bengal Invitational meet. The pool at Reed Gym hasn’t been completely unused since the renovation though. It has played host to numerous high school meets since the re-opening in 2024.

Swim Club President Abigail Couch is working on building up the school’s club. “I’ve been trying to really grow the club this year,” she said. “So we’ve been having practice five days a week, been trying to recruit more kids from ISU to swim on the club.” Now with the reintroduction of collegiate meets at the school, now is as good a time as any to continue building up the group.

This meet was a collaborative effort between members of the club, ISU athletics administrators, and intramural/club officials. “We kind of all worked together to organize this and hold off other club meets we’d seen or ran in the past,” said Couch. “Honestly, I’m just hoping that the swim club members that are competing here can have a good time because it’s been so long…”

The ISU swim club is certainly looking forward to hosting more meets at Reed Gym in the future.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Aid For Friends Shelter in Pocatello hosted their annual homeless encampment at Caldwell park overnight on Saturday, December 6th. Participants raised awareness and money for the shelter to continue helping the homeless population in the area by sleeping in cardboard boxes overnight at the park.

The event began with a winter weather training at a nearby church. Participants learned about winter weather safety and how to stay warm in their boxes overnight.

Throughout the afternoon, the encampment grew, with people setting up their boxes for 1-2 people. They filled them with blankets and sleeping bags to make them as comfortable as possible for the frigid night.

Aid For Friends Grants and Programs Administrator Jessica Buckley told us they’ve been doing the encampment for 19 years. The shelter was at risk of funding cuts, and they wanted to show the community and legislators what would happen if the people who use the shelter were forced into Pocatello’s local parks and streets.

The shelter estimates around 70 people living outside the shelter during the winter months. Even then, Buckley says this is an undercount because of the “invisible homeless” population.

“We want the folks that pass by to see the number of invisible homeless people in our area represented by the boxes,” said Buckley.

A local boy scout troop has been participating in the campment for years and makes the dinner each time. Those who made it through the night without bailing for warmer places got to enjoy a breakfast in the morning.

Buckley encouraged us that there is always hope and someone to help. The shelter has local partnerships with other organizations for connecting to those in need.

Donations are always welcome to the Aid For Friends shelter, both food and funds. You can learn more about how to support the cause at aidforfriendspocatello.com.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Students at Ethel Boyes Elementary are banding together around a Giving Tree to make sure no one is left behind this Christmas.

But they still need the community’s help tracking down some wish tags in a mystery known as the “Case of the Missing Christmas.” 

Seventy-one students at Ethel Boyes are hoping to have their Christmas wishes fulfilled through the Giving Tree.

“The best part about it is that all the little kids who don’t have maybe enough money or don’t have the toys that they want, people can give that to them, and they can have a wonderful Christmas,” said sixth-grader Kyla.

But the students’ efforts to ensure everyone receives a present took an unexpected twist on Tuesday.  

The Scene

Ethel Boyes was a voting location for the Idaho Falls run-off election. 

During the wait to cast ballots, it seems voters took home some tags from the Giving Tree in an effort to help fulfill those Christmas wishes. 

However, they forgot to tell the office who they were and when the gifts would be in.  

“We did have a case of the missing tags,” said School Counselor Shelley McCarney. “We do believe that we had some very kind-hearted Individuals come through our school, and they took a tag without letting us know the number.”

“We really like to know who takes it, just so we make sure those students are 100 percent taken care of and not left behind,” she added.

If you have one of the missing tags or would like to help make a child’s Christmas by becoming a sponsor, you can reach out to Ethel Boyes Elementary at 208-525-7630.

“Our goal is to have all of these kids to get a nice Christmas and to have all the things that they want,” Kyla said.

Five other schools in Idaho Falls School District 91 also have Giving Trees this year — Edgemont, Fox Hollow, Longfellow, Temple View and Theresa Bunker.

To join Santa’s elves and assist kids in your local neighborhood, call the the school’s office for more details.

Kyla, Ethel Boyes Elementary Sixth-Grader

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Animal Shelter kicked off its annual holiday pet drive today. The shelter has donation bins around Pocatello and Chubbuck, but is also accepting donations at the shelter itself.

The goal is to fill the “Kibble Cupboard,” which is available for pet parents to use at no cost. Program Coordinator Sarah Moore said the monthlong drive is all about supporting pets in need this holiday season. She said in years past, they’ve had to set up more tables in the Kibble Cupboard to hold all the donations.

Any pet parents are welcome to take the pet food they need during the shelter’s open hours. If you’re interested in donating to the Pocatello Animal Shelter, Moore told us they accept all kinds of pet food, whether it’s bagged, canned, wet or dry. They also accept open bags of pet food.

The animal shelter is open Monday through Friday from 10am — 5pm and Saturdays 11am — 5pm.

“We really would like to do as much as we can to help those pets stay in their homes with the people that they know and they love. We really don’t want anyone to have to think, ‘I can’t afford pet food. I’m going to surrender my beloved pet,'” said Moore. “And then they’d have to come to the shelter and go through all this stress and change. So by us providing pet food to keep pets in their homes, it keeps them out of the shelter and keeps everyone happy and loved.”

During a season when we’re inspired to give through giving trees and human food drives, the Pocatello Animal Shelter reminds us that pets are in need too.

Drop-off locations:

Community Animal Hospital, 833 N. 12th Ave.

Animal Shelter, 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs

City Hall, 911 North 7th Avenue

Police Department, 911 North 7th Avenue

Community Recreation Center, 144 Wilson Ave.

Marshall Public Library, 113 S. Garfield Ave.

Community & Partner Locations:

Pocatello Pet Lodge, 145 South 3rd Avenue

Pocatello Pet Lodge Too, 143 South 2nd Avenue

Shaver’s Pharmacy and Compounding Center, 235 South 4th Ave.

Tractor Supply Co., 1800 Garrett Way

Streamline Sports Physical Therapy, 335 E. Lewis St., Suite 10

Off the Rails Brewing, 228 South Main Street

PetSmart, 1880 Hurley Dr.

Atlas Rehabilitation, 4133 N. Garton Ln.

Alta Animal Hospital, 1601 Bannock Hwy

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