Author: KIFI

Par Kermani

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– Unseasonably warm and dry conditions have led to a historic early opening at the Blackfoot Golf Course.

General Manager Preston Hafer announced that the course officially opened its back nine to the public on Tuesday, Feb. 3, marking the earliest opening in his memory.

“It’s been a weird winter here,” Hafer said. “We haven’t had any snow at all. We’ve been getting a lot of phone calls to see if we’re open… people are itching to get out and play”.

The course is currently operating on a limited schedule as staff monitors weather patterns:

Due to lingering moisture in the turf, the course is currently restricted to walking only. Motorized golf carts are not yet permitted on the grounds.

The early opening provides a rare winter revenue stream for the city-owned facility. In previous years, heavy snow often delayed the season until April.

Beyond the financial boost, the lack of snow cover has allowed the maintenance crew to begin course improvements much earlier than usual. Hafer, who served as the course superintendent for four years before becoming general manager, said the early start allows the team to get “ahead of the game” for upcoming summer tournaments.

Blackfoot is not alone in its early start. Several other regional courses, including Riverside in Pocatello, Sage Lakes and Pine Crest in Idaho Falls, and courses in Rexburg, have also opened or plan to open this week.

While the clubhouse is currently bustling with season pass sales and equipment audits, Hafer warned that the season remains at the mercy of Idaho weather.

“In the forecast, it looks like we’re supposed to get some snow,” Hafer said. “As long as the course is playable, we’ll allow people to come out”.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Aslett Clean World Foundation in Pocatello formed to carry on the legacy of Don Aslett, founder of the beloved Museum of Clean. Following his passing, the foundation has plans to expand the museum building into a community center filled with all kinds of experiences for guests.

The foundation held an open house this afternoon at the Museum of Clean library for community leaders and guests to hear about the plans of the foundation. Their mission is to continue inspiring guests through the vibracy and uniqueness of the Museum of Clean while carrying forward the opportunities the building provides.

Samantha Stoddard, Executive Director for the Clean World Foundation, stated “What we’re trying to do as an organization with the foundation is to carry on that legacy that Don created, for future generations to come. We’re really trying to create spaces for families and children in our community, and be a place that is a mecca of good things.”

Currently, only three of the five floors of the Museum of Clean building are in use. The foundation hopes to partner with local businesses to fill the unused floors with fresh ideas and new experiences for guests. Idaho Coffee Company, through local business Glean Coffee, has already set up a mini market within the museum.

Leaders of the foundation spoke about large companies like Micron and the possibilities their technology may bring to the experiences of the building. Because of this expansion project, the building will be renamed within the next couple of months. Rather than simply the Museum of Clean and the Children’s Discovery Museum, the building will serve as a melting pot within the community for adults and youth alike.

The property contains a large event center, which the foundation plans to renovate and turn into a fully functional event space with a sound system, so that local businesses can rent the space. They compared the vision for the campus to that of JUMP in downtown Boise-a hotspot for every kind of event and a local place for children to go for educational, artistic and cultural enrichment.

“The purpose is so that we can invite other organizations and opportunities into the building and it can really have a lot of other aspects, not just one thing,” said Stoddard. “We are asking for the community’s help in the renaming of the space so that it can really be a little more conducive to the overall objective of the building.”

The foundation hosts the beloved “Touch-a-Truck” event for children in the community, which will be hosted this year on June 9th. They will also host their second annual Potato Festival on August 22nd.

If you’re interested in helping to rename the Museum of Clean building, you can visit museumofclean.com and navigate to the renaming survey.

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Par Kermani

BLACKFOOT, IDAHO(KIFI) – Tucked away at Blackfoot Animal Shelter 15 tiny Chihuahuas are waiting for their forever home. Only 15 remain from the oriignal 46 dogs, recently pulled from a severe hoarding situation, arrived at the facility completely unsocialized and paralyzed by fear.

For shelter technician Nigel Worley and his team, the mission isn’t just about finding them houses—it’s about undoing years of trauma.

“None of them are vicious. If anything, they’re terrified,” Worley said, while holding one of the dogs named Cosmo, who still trembles at the sight of a leash. “But once they learn that they can trust a human, then they’re full of love. And that’s all that they want”.

While a recent group of 17 puppies was adopted in just three days, these hoarding survivors require a much slower, more dedicated approach.

Every Saturday, volunteers arrive specifically to sit with the “scared ones,” providing the companionship necessary to build confidence.

Worley emphasizes that the shelter’s primary challenge isn’t just the animals, but the lack of education among owners.

“99% of dogs and cats are good animals. It’s the people that make the mistakes,” Worley said. “Adopting animals is a lifetime commitment… it’s not just a fad”.

Senior dogs also experience a lot of age discrimination according to Worley who has been at the shelter for over two years.

“So there’s age discrimination. People come in and say that dog’s too old, I want something young. We had them in here the other day. They wanted a dog that was eight months old or younger” Worley said

The shelter remains open for adoptions without appointments, encouraging families to bring their current pets for “meet and greets” to ensure a permanent fit. Adoption fees are $160 for dogs and $110 for cats, covering all essential medical care including spaying, neutering, and microchipping.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Rexburg is once again talking about a new police station. 

Rexburg police have outgrown their building, and the city is making adjustments to reduce the cost for a new one by about $3.9 million including interest.

The current facility has only one interview room, insufficient evidence storage and limited space for training and education.

But the proposed new station would be 27,000 square feet, more than double the department’s current 11,000-square foot footprint.

“We’ve felt a lot of support as we’ve continued through the planning process of building a new police station,” said Rexburg Police Chief Joshua Rhodes. “We understand it is an increased cost to the members of the community, and it’s our goal to continue to provide the best services possible and keep Rexburg the safest community.”

In the last local election, the police bond got the majority vote, but not the super-majority required for a bond in Idaho.

Last month, people living in Rexburg were asked to take a survey to find out why the bond failed.

The top three reasons were that some people thought the tax impact was too high, the city should seek to reduce existing debt, and the city should take a phased approach to the project.

Matthew Nielson, Rexburg’s Chief Finance Officer, tells Local News 8 that the city has no general obligation debt, but there is debt from school bonds and library bonds.

“With the new ordinance that would put this on the ballot, you know, the things that we’re really trying to address is we’re trying to reduce the initial cost, which reduces the impact on property tax. And then we’re trying to defer when it would take effect so that all of these other bonds that are impacting your property tax could have expired or removed, right? And so we’re trying to reduce the tax impact on the resident,” said Nielson.

In its February 4th meeting, the Rexburg City Council voted unanimously to put the police bond on the May 19th ballot.

“We will continue to do the best we can to be fiscally responsible as we go through the design process and move this project forward,” Rhodes said.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – Idaho Falls Regional Airport will soon be getting a major upgrade, thanks to $12 million in federal funding secured by Congressman Mike Simpson. This money, part of the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, will help start the airport’s terminal expansion project.

Congressman Mike Simpson said the airport expansion is important as Idaho Falls continues to grow. He believes the project will help serve the community better, support local jobs, and make the city more attractive to travelers and businesses.

“As Idaho Falls continues to grow, it is essential that the airport grows with it,” said Rep. Simpson. “Expanding the Idaho Falls Regional Airport will better serve the Idaho Falls community, support local jobs, and enhance the city’s status as a top destination for travelers and economic opportunities. I have been a steadfast supporter of our local airports, and I am pleased that this funding will facilitate these necessary improvements.”

Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw said the $12 million is a key investment for the airport’s future. She said it will help the airport handle more travelers, work more efficiently, and improve the experience for everyone who flies in and out of Idaho Falls.

“This $12 million in Community Project Funding is a vital investment in the future of the Idaho Falls Regional Airport,” said Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw. “As our city grows, this funding ensures the airport can meet increasing demand, improve efficiency, and provide a better experience for travelers. We are grateful for Representative Simpson’s support in helping IDA remain the regional airport of choice for Eastern Idaho and a gateway for economic growth in our community.”

This funding would be used for Phase 1 of IDA’s terminal expansion. Phase I of this project, baggage expansion, will provide the necessary space for outbound baggage operations and additional space for future operations. It will improve safety by providing adequate space to load baggage carts and by improving operational efficiency with a new conveyor system. This expansion also provides additional ticket queueing and counter space to accommodate additional air service and will provide a second-level space for future passenger hold areas. This phase will also provide alterations to existing space to allow for the future expansion of the security screening checkpoint, which is the next constrained space in the terminal building.

While some people criticize these kinds of federal projects, supporters say Community Project Funding is a way to make sure Idaho tax dollars are used for local needs, not sent to other states. The airport expansion has strong support from the Idaho Falls community.

Congressman Simpson is the only member of Congress from Idaho on the appropriations committee, giving him a unique ability to bring money back for projects like this.

The Idaho Falls Regional Airport Terminal Expansion Project is now officially funded and will begin soon. The project was signed into law by President Trump as part of the 2026 federal budget.

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Danielle Mullenix

Rigby, ID (KIFI) – Congratulations are in order for the Rigby High School choir, which has been selected to perform alongside the legendary rock band Foreigner at the Mountain America Center. This exciting opportunity follows the annual competition for local high schools, hosted by 94.9 and 104.5 “The Pick,” where students had the chance to submit their covers of iconic 80s songs.

The school choir received exciting news yesterday afternoon when local radio DJ Shaggy from 94.9 “The Pick” made the announcement. The students will take the stage at the Mountain America Center to deliver an incredible performance of the classic rock ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

The Rigby High School choir will also receive a generous $500 donation in support of their program.

Foreigner, a legendary rock band and a proud member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will be performing at the Mountain America Center on Wednesday, March 25. Join them for an unforgettable evening of classic rock hits. With 10 multi-platinum albums, 16 Top 30 singles, and more than 80 million albums sold globally, Foreigner remains one of the most celebrated rock bands in history.

To purchase tickets, you can visit Ticketmaster, visit in person at the Bingham Healthcare Box Office, or visit the Mountain America Center website here.

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David Pace

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to adopt the federal tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

In a 59 to 9 vote, the Idaho House agreed to implement the federal tax cuts in Idaho as part of its annual tax conformity bill House Bill 559.

The tax cuts include no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, a $6,000 deduction for seniors and a permanently doubled child tax credit.

Republicans argued the measures will spur job creation and put more money back in the hands of working Idahoans to further stimulate the economy.

“John F. Kennedy, when he talked about taxes, he said that one of the single largest barriers to full employment was higher taxes,” said Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Jason Monks R-Meridian. “… Do we want to reduce these taxes for people who are working for people who are earning overtime? People who are working overtime are people getting paid by the hour. These aren’t our high corporate executive jobs. People who are making a living by receiving tips – these are our working class individuals. So are we going to increase their taxes, give them less incentive to work, or are we going to give them more incentive to work?”

Democrats argued that every penny cut from the state budget by adopting these cuts will take away from vital services.

“When we pull hundreds of millions of dollars out of the amount of money we have, particularly when we’re already in a hole, this is going to come dollar for dollar – penny for penny – out of police, teacher pay, special ed, road and bridge repair, water and infrastructure projects, Meals on Wheels. colleges and universities,” said Minority Leader Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise. “Tuition is going to go up. Fewer kids are going to be able to go to college. It’s coming already out of nursing care for people with disabilities, coming out of critical mental health care for people having mental health crises.”

The estimated total cost of the tax cuts in Idaho is $155 million this fiscal year and $175 million in fiscal Year 2027.

Two exceptions to the federal legislation were not included in Idaho’s legislation – bonus depreciation and research and experimental expenditures from 2022-2024.

The bill is co-sponsored by east Idaho legislators Rep. David Cannon, R-Blackfoot, and Senator Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg.

The legislation now advances to the Idaho Senate for further consideration.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Bonneville County has officially taken over the issuance and inspection of all electrical and plumbing permits, a move supporters of the decision say will speed of the processing times to obtain those permits.

As of Jan. 20, the county began processing these permits in-house. No other county has joined Bonneville but Jefferson county is in the process of making a similar change.

Previously, builders were required to coordinate with the state for electrical and plumbing inspections while simultaneously working with the county for structural permits.

Naysha Foster, Bonneville County Planning and Zoning Director, said the change was sparked by community members seeking a more efficient alternative to the state’s processing times.

Under the new system, Bonneville County will employ its own inspectors who are dedicated specifically to the local area, rather than relying on state inspectors who often cover multiple counties. Officials noted that this dedicated local oversight is expected to significantly reduce wait times for project inspections.

“We can probably turn a permit around within a few days. And then do the inspections within a few days, or at least 24 hours, 48 hours at the time the the inspections been requested through our permitting portal. So the applicant would, go through the process of applying for the permit, and then they would also, schedule an inspection through that same permitting portal.” Foster said

Contractors and residents are now required to submit all new permit applications through the Bonneville County online permitting portal. Work started without the necessary local permits will be subject to double fees, according to county notices.

For projects with permits issued prior to the Jan. 20 cutoff, the State of Idaho will continue to handle any remaining inspections until those specific projects are finalized. All new construction projects moving forward must go through the Planning and Zoning Dept in Bonneville County.

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Curtis Jackson

VICTOR, Idaho (KIFI)— The City of Victor announced Tuesday they will move forward in constructing its own wastewater treatment facility.

In a news release sent by the City Clerk, Michelle Smith, on Tuesday, it said the decision came after mediation with the City of Driggs on a shared wastewater system “did not produce a viable path forward.”

The Victor City Council decided to separate from the Driggs treatment facility back in March 2025. Following comments and outcry from city residents about the treatment plant’s cost and location, City leaders said they would seek to negotiate with Driggs on a regional solution. But after several meeting, city leaders decided to move forward with its original plan.

“Council remains committed to transparency, environmental stewardship, and constructive engagement with our residents and neighbors,” the news release said. “To that end, the City has engaged an engineering firm with the stated intent of building a Class A facility, ensuring treated water will meet or exceed the highest standards.”

You can read the full news release here.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A high-speed chase on I-15 ended at the Broadway off-ramp in Idaho Falls near the former Shari’s Restaurant on Tuesday afternoon.

Idaho Falls Police spokeswoman Jessica Clements said around 2 p.m., Idaho State Police stopped a white SUV was stopped on I-15 between the Hells-Half Acre Rest Area and Shelley exit. Suddenly, the vehicle sped away north on the Interstate. The trooper then chased after them, requesting help from Idaho Falls Police.

Clements said the vehicle took the Broadway exit and crossed the intersection, running through a fence near the Idaho Falls welcome sign and came to rest on the sidewalk just outside the Shari’s building.

Clements said police quickly arrested the driver and a passenger. They are calling it a drug investigation even though they haven’t said if any illegal drugs have been located.

An SUV is searched after a high speed with Idaho State Police on Feb. 3.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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