Author: KIFI

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Family Services Alliance of Southeast Idaho honored Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner with their prestigious’ ‘2025 Partner of the Year’ award for his work with vulnerable communities in the Pocatello area.

The Partner of the Year award recognizes Coroner Danner’s service as co-president of the Southeast Idaho Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force, his fundraising efforts for area nonprofits benefiting survivors of violence and human trafficking, his commitment to accessible suicide prevention resources, and his day-to-day work with families experiencing crisis and tragedy.

“I’m grateful, I’m appreciative–it wasn’t expected,” said Coroner Danner. “…I don’t think anybody does anything for the awards, I do it because it’s the right thing to do; I do it because I believe in what they [the Family Services Alliance] do.”

For more information, you can visit the Family Services Alliance of Southeast Idaho website.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Aid for Friends is approaching the date of their thirteenth annual ‘Splish and Splash’ fundraiser event, scheduled for August 1, to raise money for Pocatello’s homeless shelter.

The event will be held at the Ross Park Aquatic Complex; a ticket to the fundraiser includes admission to the pools and waterslides, dinner, and entry into raffles for prizes like a television, date night passes to local hotels, and more. All proceeds from the event will go to supporting Aid for Friends shelter operations.

“This shelter belongs to the community; we want the community to be part of everything that goes on here at the shelter,” said Tami Moore, shelter manager for Aid for Friends. “We need the community support, and as we have increased our beds, it takes more money, it takes more supplies, it takes more case management time… we are unable to continue the increase until we’re able to get the money that we need to continue the stuff that we do here.”

Tickets to the Splish and Splash fundraiser are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

Aid for Friends is also asking for donations of gently-used or new swimsuits so shelter guests can also enjoy the swimming fundraiser fun on Friday, August 1, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Swimsuit donations can be dropped of at the Aid for Friends shelter at 209 E Lewis St in Pocatello. For more information on the Splish and Splash fundraiser, you can visit the Aid for Friends website or find them on Facebook.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — Work to improve and repair the Mack’s Inn Bridge on US-20 through Island Park will begin on Monday. Crews are customizing handrails, repairing guardrails, and installing concrete railings to improve safety for multiple uses in this popular location.

These efforts are expected to be completed by Thursday of next week. If needed, finishing work will resume the week following but will not be in effect through the weekend.

One lane of traffic will remain open in each direction throughout this project, with the lane nearest the bridge closed one side at a time. Turning movements at businesses and river access will be monitored and allowed to be made as normal.

Drivers can expect to see large equipment on site to correctly locate a sewer line near the bridge. Travelers and recreationists are urged to observe lower speed limits and stay engaged while driving. Be aware of workers and equipment very near open travel lanes.

 Updates for this project and others across Idaho can always be seen on the Idaho 511 app or at 511.idaho.gov.

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News Release

The following is a press release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Beginning Monday, the Interstate 15 northbound rest stop north of Blackfoot will be closed for maintenance. Crews will be repainting, replacing sidewalks, and landscaping. Work will continue until Monday, July 28.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is issuing a warning to all water enthusiasts, urging them to “be safe on the water.” In a recent press release, Sgt. Bryan Lovell highlighted a concerning trend, highlighting how deputies have responded to at least six water rescue events in just the past week.

Local News 8 has covered several of these incidents, including a rescue where a Utah family’s minivan plunged into the Snake River near the Fall Creek Campground. Only a day later, on July 15, first responders safely rescued two men whose boat overturned in the Snake River just below the falls near downtown Idaho Falls. Fortunately, all individuals involved in these specific incidents escaped with only minor injuries.

However, the Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that some of these six cases involved not only individuals new to water recreation but also highly experienced boat operators. While emergency responses from BCSO and its partner agencies have led to successful rescues without serious injury or fatality, some were “very close calls” that could have had tragic outcomes.

“With Palisades and Ririe Reservoirs and the Snake River being very busy this time of year, it’s important to plan for emergencies and safety before you recreate,” the release stated. “Idaho waters and weather conditions can change quickly, catching the unprepared by surprise.”

They’re reminding water enthusiasts that warm temperatures and sunny skies don’t eliminate the risk of cold water exposure, or excuse you from wearing a life jacket.

“Too often, BCSO Deputies rescue people who ignored basic safety practices because they were confident in their abilities, but suddenly (find) themselves underprepared in an unexpected emergency,” stated the release.

Before you head out on the water, BCSO is asking that you take a moment to:

Ensure you have proper safety gear and equipment.

Know the weather and water conditions beforehand.

Operate within your skill level.

Do not underestimate potential hazards both on and just below the water’s surface.

Be courteous to others using the waterways, whether from a boat or the bank.

Inform family and loved ones of your planned location and estimated return time.

For more safety and outdoor information across Idaho, including resources for safe recreation, click HERE.

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Maggie Moore

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Southeast Idaho’s Desert Eagles RC Club is inviting you to a unique fundraiser this Saturday, July 19th, where you can aim a paintball gun at their model radio-controlled airplanes for a good cause.

For just $3, you’ll get 10 shots to test your accuracy on RC planes in flight. All proceeds will go to the Veterans Mobility Corp, an organization that refurbishes electric wheelchairs and donates them to deserving disabled veterans right here in Southeast Idaho.

There will also be flight demonstrations, a remote control airshow, a drawing for RC planes, and the grand prize: A chance to ride in a full-sized Stearman donated by James Hoff.

The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the RC Club field, located just north of Andrus Trucking headquarters, directly off I-15 at Exit 113.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Get ready for a day of excitement, delicious food, and incredible local talent! The first-ever Summer Celebration at the Falls Event is happening today, July 18, on the downtown Idaho Falls Riverwalk.

Put on by the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and Visit Idaho, the event organizers promise a full day of fun under the summer sun. Attendees can look forward to a fantastic lineup including:

The Chamber enthusiastically shared on Facebook, “We have a variety of vendors, a rib special from our friends at Snow Eagle, live music with performances from a selection of local singer-songwriters, and fun games for all ages.”

The Summer Celebration goes until 6 PM.

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News Release

The following is a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Idaho):

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Jack Edward Newsom, 43, of Pocatello, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Newsom to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

According to court records, Newsom was arrested on May 8, 2024, when police officers executed a search warrant on his home and a fifth-wheel trailer parked in a storage facility. The officers seized 48.9 grams of fentanyl powder and a half a pound of methamphetamine from the residence in addition to a pound of marijuana, half a pound of methamphetamine, 79.6 grams of fentanyl powder, and 237 fentanyl pills from the fifth-wheel trailer. The warrant was executed after a months-long investigation in which law enforcement bought three and a half pounds of methamphetamine from Newsom on five occasions between February and April 2024.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the BADGES Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a federally funded High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) partnership between the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, the Pocatello Police Department, the Chubbuck Police Department, and the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The US Senate approved the Trump administration’s $9 billion rescission package on Thursday, which aims to cut $1 billion in federal funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), a financial backer for NPR, PBS, and local public affiliates like Idaho State University’s KISU radio station.

The proposed cuts will be brought before the House of Representatives on Thursday before being officially enacted, but KISU general manager Jamon Anderson said they are already planning for the potential of losing one of their main sources of funding.

“The impact of the loss of CPB funding is going to be big, it’s going to be huge,” said Anderson. “I think we’ve got funding in place for this current fiscal year, but we’re going to spend the next 11 months really trying to increase the amount that we’re getting from some of those other areas with the goal of continuing on with increased business support and, of course, donations.”

Anderson said federal funding through CPB accounts for around 25% of KISU’s annual budget. Other sources of financial support for the station include local business backing, listener donations, and a small amount from student fees through the university.

The pull-back of federal funding, Anderson said, is likely to interfere with KISU programming, including broadcasting for ISU athletics, for which KISU is the exclusive outlet, and their 24 volunteer-produced shows.

However, Anderson said the real repercussions of the funding cut will be felt by the students who take advantage of KISU resources for class experience, and the people who rely on the public radio station for news, music, and the over 8,000 free public service announcements offered by KISU using CPB funding.

“I start to think about the folks that will be impacted,” said Anderson. “The employees, the students, the educational and nonprofit communities in our area, and we always hope to rebuild and, of course, make that support up in other areas but I think we have a long road ahead to make that happen.”

For more information, you can visit the KISU website.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Transportation Department announced the painting of the final lane markers on the I-86/I-15 ‘Flying Y’ system interchange earlier this week, signaling the end of the three-year-long update project on the busy stretch of interstate.

In a press release, ITD said the project is all but finished except for shoulder work and landscaping in the area around the interchange, and the conclusion of the project is thanks to the planning of ITD engineers and the hard, year-round work of crews and project leads of contractors ‘Sundt-Cannon Joint Venture.’

“It’s an amazing process, three years of construction, 24/7, and all the way through the winter; it’s been a massive undertaking,” said Justin Smith, public information officer for ITD District 5. “Not only that, but keeping traffic moving while rebuilding the entire interchange has just been something amazing to watch play out, and watching the contractors working, the community interacting with us, it’s been really gratifying to see the project coming to this conclusion.”

Throughout the $112 million rebuild, crews built 8 new bridges, laid 116,000 tons of asphalt, and excavated around 1 million cubic yards of dirt.

ITD has produced a short documentary chronicling the project from start to finish. It can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF6Kyu85DGs

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