Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As the chill of winter creeps into Idaho and cold and flu season begins, Eastern Idaho Public Health is taking steps to ensure

Eastern Idaho Public Health will be holding several free flu clinics for uninsured or underinsured individuals across Eastern Idaho during November.

According to a CDC report, the 2024-2025 flu season reached the highest level of severity in influenza activity since 2018. The CDC concludes that the widespread circulation of the virus reinforces the importance of annual flu vaccinations.

“Vaccination is important for protecting yourself and your loved ones from illness,” adds Eastern Idaho Public Health. “Flu viruses are constantly changing, and flu vaccines may be updated from one season to the next to protect against the viruses that research suggests will be common this year.”

EIPH doctors emphasize that while some people who get vaccinated still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness.

Clinics will be held at each of the following EIPH office locations:

St Anthony | Wednesday, November 26th 8:00 am-11:30 am

45 South 2nd West, St. Anthony, ID 83445

Dubois | Thursday, November 13th 9:00am-4:00pm

332 West Main, Dubois, ID 83423

Driggs | Monday, November 17th 8:15am-4:30pm

820 Valley Centre Drive, Driggs, ID 83422

Rigby | Monday, November 17th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

380 Community Lane, Rigby, ID 83442

Rexburg | Tuesday, November 18th, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

314 North 3rd East, Rexburg, ID 83440

Mackay Senior Center | Tuesday, November 18th, 10:00 am-2:00 pm

301 Cedar, Mackay, ID 83251

Idaho Falls | Thursday, November 20th 8:00am-5:00pm

1250 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

Salmon | Thursday, November 20th 8:30am-4:00pm

801 Monroe, Salmon, ID 83467

Challis | Tuesday, November 25th, 8:00 am-5:00 pm

610 Clinic Road, Suite A, Challis, ID 83226

For more information, click HERE.

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Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The rate of women receiving mammograms in Idaho is significantly lower than the national average, with some measurements ranking it near last. Considering that approximately 1 in 8 women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, this concerning trend is prompting Idaho doctors to speak out.

“Idaho has about average incidents of breast cancer, but the number of women who actually decide to have mammograms performed is one of the lowest in the nation. Last year, I think ranked 50th in the nation,” said Dr. Enslow, MD, a lead radiologist.

Dr. Enslow sat down with Local News 8’s Megan Lavin to explain his worries and clear up several common misconceptions that are preventing women from seeking this life-saving screening.

Major Mammogram Misconceptions

Dr. Enslow highlighted several of the most common misinterpretations or errors in thinking that are keeping Idaho women from their yearly exams.

The first and perhaps most dangerous misconception is the belief that if a woman performs self-exams and doesn’t feel a lump, she doesn’t need a mammogram. Dr. Enslow says this is false and potentially life-threatening because mammograms are designed to detect abnormalities, like early-stage cancer, long before they are large enough to be felt.

“If you can feel a lump that ends up being breast cancer, usually it’s too late,” warns Dr. Enslow.

Secondly, many women mistakenly believe that screenings are too expensive or that they will have to pay out of pocket. The reality is that screening mammograms are covered by virtually all insurance plans, says Dr. Enslow, and women should call their provider to confirm coverage for their yearly appointment.

Finally, the third misconception is that women don’t need a mammogram every year. Dr. Enslow confirms that a yearly screening for women 40 and above is considered non-negotiable by medical professionals, as consistent, annual screenings provide doctors with a necessary baseline to monitor changes over time.

The Power of Early Detection

Dr. Enslow tells us the data on early detection is clear. Catching breast cancer when it is small dramatically improves outcomes and reduces the need for aggressive treatments. Leading cancer researchers note that if cancer is caught before it is 1 centimeter in size, patient outcomes are significantly better.

“Usually, they’ll remove them with a small surgery called a lumpectomy; they may offer radiation, but usually you won’t need chemotherapy,” Dr. Enslow told Local News 8.

He stressed that when breast cancer is found early, “treatments are much more effective and much less invasive than if it’s a progressed cancer.”

Putting Fears to Rest: A Reporter’s Experience

To help remove any stigma or nervousness associated with the test, Local News 8’s Megan Lavin received her own mammogram during the interview. The appointment takes only about 15 minutes and, while she noted it was uncomfortable, she stressed that it was not painful.

Results are typically sent by mail within about a week. Dr. Enslow forewarned that many patients who have their first mammogram get called back in for follow-up images; He says this is pretty standard because there is often no prior baseline image for comparison, and it is not an automatic cause for worry.

While October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr. Enslow reminds all women 40 and above that they can and should schedule this important test year-round.

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Seth Ratliff

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — Thursday, November 13, 2025, marks the solemn three-year anniversary of the devastating murders of four University of Idaho students.

A memorial to the victims at the Mad Greek restaurant in Moscow, Idaho: Seth Randal, December 2023.

The lives of Kaylee Goncalves, Maddison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin were tragically cut short by the violent acts of confessed killer Bryan Kohberger. The victims were discovered in the off-campus residence they shared on King Road in Moscow, Idaho.

RELATED: A timeline of the killings of four University of Idaho students

The Victims: Lives Remembered

In the years since the killings, the four students have been remembered not just for the manner of their deaths, but for the lives they led and the futures they were building.

Kaylee Goncalves (left) and Maddie Mogen (right)

Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, were best friends who grew up together in North Idaho. Mogen was pursuing a degree in Marketing, and Goncalves was a senior majoring in General Studies.

Acquired Through MGN Online on 11/14/2022

Xana Kernodle, 20, from Post Falls, Idaho, was studying Marketing and had recently joined the Pi Beta Phi sorority. Her boyfriend and fellow victim, Ethan Chapin, was a 20-year-old freshman and a triplet from Mount Vernon, Washington.

In the wake of the tragedy, the University of Idaho has taken steps to honor the memory of the four students. At the Spring Commencement in May 2023, the university awarded each of the victims with posthumous degrees. Over a year after the horrific crime, the house where the murders occurred, located on King Road, was demolished on December 28, 2023.

Last year, the university established the Vandal Healing Garden on campus, a permanent memorial for the students. Marking the third anniversary of the killings, the university shared a collection of photos taken in the garden on social media, committing to keep the four students “Forever in our hearts.”

Vandal Healing Garden, Courtesy University of Idaho

State of Idaho Remembers U of I Victims

On this solemn anniversary, the State of Idaho paused to remember the victims. Governor Brad Little took to social media to express support for the victims’ families and loved ones, acknowledging the enduring impact of the killings on the entire state.

“The tragic loss of Maddie Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin shook our state to its core,” said Little. “Idahoans continue to offer our love and support to the families and many, many loved ones of these four beautiful souls.”

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A federal court has definitively dismissed a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s abortion laws, concluding that the claims lacked legal merit and could not be corrected.

The challenge came from The Satanic Temple, a national non-theistic religious and political activist organization using the figure of Satan as a symbol of rebellion. TST’s lawsuit claimed that Idaho’s abortion restrictions, enacted following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health ruling, violated the U.S. Constitution and federal religious freedom statutes. The group argued that the restrictions constituted a “taking” of pregnant women’s wombs, amounted to slavery in violation of the Thirteenth Amendment, and infringed upon the religious freedom of its members.

Legal History and Final Ruling

U.S. District Judge David C. Nye initially dismissed the case in 2024, questioning the group’s legal standing and describing TST’s arguments as “absurd” and “outlandish.”

TST appealed this decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Ninth Circuit agreed that TST lacked legal standing but remanded the case back to Judge Nye, asking for clarification on whether any amendment to the complaint could rectify the legal shortcomings.

On Monday, November 10th, Judge Nye issued his final response, dismissing the case with prejudice, meaning the plaintiffs cannot file the same claim again.

“No amendment could change the Court’s holding because the Court’s reasoning was based on the sheer unworkability of TST’s arguments as applied to the constitutional context,” wrote Judge Nye in his ruling. “TST’s efforts to shoehorn its disagreements with Idaho’s abortion statutes into constitutional claims rang of the classic phrase “trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” It simply does not work.”

State Reaction

Attorney General Raúl Labrador applauded the decision, hailing it as a significant legal victory for the state.

“Idaho’s pro-life laws protect both mothers and unborn children, and this decision confirms those protections are constitutionally sound,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The Satanic Temple’s attempt to manufacture constitutional violations out of disagreement with Idaho’s values has been rejected at every level. We’ve defended Idaho’s laws through every stage of this litigation, and we will continue protecting the right of Idaho’s elected representatives to defend life.”

60-Satanic-Temple-Decision-and-OrderDownload

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LocalNews8-Newsroom

 

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched its worldwide “Light the World Giving Machine” initiative on Wednesday and said this year’s event it’s bigger than ever.

The kiosks will be in 126 cities across 21 countries with first-time stops in places like South America, Japan, and Italy.

The Church covers all the costs so that 100 percent of every donation goes right to the charities. Since 2017, the initiative has raised nearly 50 million dollars worldwide.

East Idaho will see its own machines this holiday season allowing residents to “purchase” donations for local and international charities. You’ll have three chances to check them out.

Pocatello/Chubbuck will kick off the season on Saturday, November 15 at 11 a.m. at the ICCU headquarters.  It’s located at 4400 Central Way in Chubbuck. It will be open through November 30. 

The machines then will be in Rexburg at the Hemming Village in Rexburg, December 1st through the 14th. The Hemming Village is located at 160 W 2nd S.

The final stop will be in Idaho Falls at the Grand Teton Mall, December 15th through January 1st, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

 

Below are a list of local charities benefiting from the Giving Machines. 

Pocatello-ICCU Headquarters:</strong> November 15—30, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Aid for Friends

Bright Tomorrows Child Advocacy Center

South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA)

United Way Southeastern Idaho

Bannock Youth Foundation

Rexburg-Hemming Village: December 1—14, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP)

Family Crisis Center

Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

Idaho Falls-Grand Teton Mall: December 15—January 1, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP)

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

The Village

Community Food Basket, Idaho Falls

Friends In Service Here (FISH)

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—On this day in 1892, the Allegheny Athletic Association was desperate to beat its rival, the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, so they secretly paid $500 to a former Yale star, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger to play just one game.

Adjusted for inflation, that is over $17,000 dollars in today’s money.

Heffelfinger earned his keep, scooping up a fumble and running it 35 yards for the only touchdown of the game.

The payment was hidden in the team’s ledger as a “Game Performance Bonus”, something historians only found decades later.

Sources for this Story:

ProFootballResearchers.com — Football Chronology II

ProFootballResearchers.com — Five Hundred Reasons, Football’s First Pro: 1892

ProFootballOF.com — 1892 – Pudge Heffelfinger Becomes the First Person to be Paid to Play Football

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– After seeing a growing need in her community, Amanda Rynes decided to take action. With local food banks stretched thin and many families struggling after SNAP benefits were paused, Rynes started a small front-yard table to provide food and essentials.

“The need was obvious in the community. The local food banks have been posting a lot about how they’re really strapped right now, and that they have a lot of people with the SNAP benefits paused, having a lot of food insecurity. And then I saw the same thing happening all over the country. And so I was really inspired by other people in places that are doing the same thing,” Rynes said.

Rynes says the community support has been extraordinary and donations have been making the table possible. She admits there have been tough moments, especially seeing local children struggling with food insecurity.

“There’s been times it’s been really hard. It’s challenging to see kids coming up and knowing that there’s food insecurity for a lot of local children. But it’s also been really incredible and (I’m) really grateful that moms are willing to come out. I’ve had a lot of people reach out, they’re embarrassed to need help, and I’m just grateful that they’re willing to stop by,” Rynes said.

One person stopped by after seeing Rynes’ post on Facebook for the table, grateful.

“This is awesome. This will really help out the community. It’s special. I wish more people would do something like this,” they said.

Rynes would like to thank the community for making the food table possible.

“It’s been really impactful and kind of a faith in humanity restorer, seeing how the local community really came out to support our little table,” Rynes said.

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Maile Sipraseuth

VICTOR, Idaho (KIFI)– Victor city leaders are moving ahead with plans to build a $35 million wastewater treatment plant, ending a long-standing agreement with the city of Driggs using its wastewater treatment facility. The move has sparked debate among residents, some of whom say the city isn’t being transparent about the true costs, along with concerns about environmental issues.

Controversy stirred up in March, when the city of Victor decided to end its wastewater use agreement with the city of Driggs.

Victor is now proposing to build its own wastewater treatment plant, a project estimated to cost $35 million, to be repaid over a term of “years”.

City officials argue that continuing to use the Driggs facility would ultimately cost about the same as building a new plant. But some residents aren’t convinced, saying the long-term expenses and environmental impacts need a closer look.

One Victor resident said in public comment email, “It is irresponsible of you to subject the residents of Victor with this level of debt. I do not think your (the city’s) analysis looks at the total cost of ownership over the lifetime of the plant.”

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Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO (KIFI) – You can get your questions about Idaho’s Parental Choice tax credit answered Wednesday night at a town hall meeting in Idaho Falls.

 Idaho State Representative Wendy Horman and some guests will be on hand to explain the program, which allows parents to apply for a tax credit of up to $5,000 for each eligible student, for expenses like tutoring, homeschooling, private school, and transportation.

Students with a qualifying disability are eligible for up to $7,500.

Wednesday’s meeting will be at the Holiday Inn on 3005 South Fork Boulevard in Idaho Falls from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

A meeting in Pocatello will be held on Thursday, November 13th, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Hampton Inn on 151 Vista Drive.

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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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