Author: KIFI

Doug Long

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Six finalists are vying to become the next music director and conductor for the Idaho Falls Symphony, with guest conductor Shizuo Z. Kuwahara taking the podium as the first candidate to lead the orchestra this season.

Kuwahara—who often goes simply by “Z”—brings a wealth of international experience to Eastern Idaho. His career features performances at the famed Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, alongside appearances across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America.

Born in Amsterdam to Japanese parents, Kuwahara became a U.S. citizen in 2002. Last Friday at the Frontier Theater, he showcased that global perspective to a packed house alongside guest pianist Kara Huber. Kuwahara noted that the concert’s theme closely mirrors his own personal journey to America and the blending of diverse musical traditions.

“I came from Amsterdam, I am Japanese, and I became American in 2002,” Kuwahara said. “Melting pot, this idea of American music is kind of like me; it’s all mixed. I think that by coming to be part of this concert is to experience what that means as individuals.”

He also commended the local arts scene for thriving during a period when many arts organizations across the country are facing financial and operational headwinds.

“You see a lot of orchestras folding or merging, but meanwhile, Idaho Falls is growing, and the orchestra is so optimistic about the future,” Kuwahara said. “I really want to be part of this magical moment and make a difference in this community. That’s why I’m here.”

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Seth Ratliff

YELLOWSTONE (KIFI) — Yellowstone National Park has received the largest single private donation in National Park Service history, a $105 million investment dedicated to the park’s long-term stewardship goals.

On Monday, NPS, alongside its official philanthropic partner Yellowstone Forever and Blackstone Infrastructure portfolio company Tallgrass, announced the creation of the Conservation and Stewardship Fund.

“This is a transformational investment in Yellowstone National Park,” Lisa Diekmann, President & CEO of Yellowstone Forever, said in a Local News 8 conversation. “It gives us the ability to meet urgent needs today while building enduring support for the research, education, stewardship, and visitor infrastructure that will protect this park for generations to come.”

“More than 120 years ago, President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of Yellowstone’s iconic gateway, enshrining the promise that our National Parks exist for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This historic $105 million investment honors that legacy, bringing together the best of American enterprise and conservation to expand access to Yellowstone and inspire the next generation to experience America’s great outdoors. We’re grateful to Blackstone, Tallgrass, and Yellowstone Forever for their partnership and extraordinary commitment.”

The historic contribution will fund three priorities essential to Yellowstone’s long-term stewardship:

Conservation & Scientific Research Visitor Experience & Infrastructure Expanding opportunities specifically for Wyoming students and community members to experience Yellowstone

As part of the package, the donation establishes the Tallgrass WYld Yellowstone Initiative, named after the energy operator with more than a decade of operations in the Cowboy State.

“Yellowstone is one of America’s great natural treasures, and we feel a profound sense of responsibility to protect it for future generations,” said Sean Klimczak, Blackstone’s Global Head of Infrastructure. “This historic gift reflects our belief that infrastructure investment can and should be a force for good, helping us invest in Yellowstone’s future and the growth of the communities that surround it.”

Yellowstone Forever President and CEO Lisa Diekmann called the gift a “transformational investment.”

It gives us the ability to meet urgent needs today while building enduring support for the research, education, stewardship and visitor infrastructure that will protect this park for generations to come,” said Diekmann.

According to a news release announcing the gift, the National Park Service will retain full authority over park management decisions, and projects supported through the fund will be consistent with applicable laws, policies, and park priorities.

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Bailee Shaw

UPDATED:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Multiple crashes are on Interstate 15 caused traffic delays Monday morning, with several lanes blocked near Blackfoot and Idaho Falls.

Idaho State Police said a crash just north of Blackfoot involved a hit-and-run when a car hit a semi-truck. It happened at milepost 95 just after 2 a.m.

Police said a car passing the semi drifted into the truck’s lane hitting the semi. The collision caused it to hit the southbound guardrail, then cross the median and hit the cement barrier and guardrail in the northbound lanes.

The semi-truck driver from Rupert was wearing a seatbelt and suffered only minor injuries. The northbound lanes were blocked for nearly four hours, while the southbound lanes were closed for nearly six hours.

Another crash affected traffic just south of Blackfoot near milepost 89. It happened shortly after 5 a.m. Police have not released any details about what happened. It has been cleared.

A third crash happened around 5:20 south of Idaho Falls near milepost 108 by East 1250 North. It blocked the northbound lanes and the Shelley exit for a time. No other details have been released.

Local News 8 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Early voting is underway in several Eastern Idaho counties today. The counties participating include Ada, Bingham, Bonneville, Cassia, Elmore, Fremont, Gooding, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Oneida. This means that registered voters can visit their county’s election office now to cast their ballots, instead of waiting until Election Day on November 3.

Idaho residents can register to vote early or request absentee ballots by 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23. To request one, visit voteidaho.gov.

A reminder: If you vote early, you cannot vote on Election Day.

COUNTY EARLY VOTING STARTS Ada Oct. 19 Adams Oct. 19 Bannock Oct. 13 Bingham Oct. 19 Blaine Oct. 13 Boise Oct. 19 Bonner Oct. 19 Bonneville Oct. 19 Camas Oct. 19 Canyon Oct. 19 Caribou Oct. 13 Cassia Oct. 19 Clark Oct. 13 Clearwater Oct. 13 Custer Oct. 13 Elmore Oct. 19 Franklin Oct. 13 Fremont Oct. 19 Gem Oct. 13 Gooding Oct. 19 Idaho Oct. 13 Jefferson Oct. 19 Jerome Oct. 19 Kootenai Oct. 19 Latah Oct. 19 Lemhi Oct. 19 Lewis Oct. 13 Lincoln Oct. 13 Madison Oct. 19 Minidoka Oct. 19 Nez Perce Oct. 13 Oneida Oct. 19 Owyhee Oct. 13 Power Oct. 14 Teton Oct. 13 Twin Falls Oct. 13 Valley Oct. 19 Washington Oct. 13

Some counties will not offer Early Voting. Instead, people can request an Absentee Ballot. They include Bear Lake, Benewah, Boundary, Butte, Payette, and Shoshone counties.

For questions and the next steps related to the early voting process, use the voteidaho.gov website. On this site, voters can:

Register to vote Check their voter registration Request an absentee ballot and track its progress (request received, ballot mailed, voted ballot received) Find their polling location View their sample ballot https://voteidaho.gov/on-the-ballots/ View the Idaho Voter pamphlet and other election-related information Check for various deadlines (pre-registration, absentee ballot request, absentee ballot return) Click here to follow the original article.

Kaelyn Blessinger

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – This isn’t your typical rodeo, the Snow Roadeo ditches the horses and cowboy hats for heavy equipment and winter-themed obstacle courses.

Every year, snowplow operators in eastern Idaho win big at these competitions, putting their winter weather skills to the test.

“It’s the opportunity to sharpen our skills and have a good understanding of our equipment and its dimensions,” Jed Gregersen, one of the 2026 National Roadeo Tandem Axle winners and long-time ITD Equipment operator, said.

Every year, the Idaho Transportation Department challenges their operators in regional competitions, to find the best of the best to compete on a national scale.

“We come together for a state competition,” said Kyler Fullmer, the 2025 National Roadeo Loader winner and long-time ITD Equipment Operator. “That’s the top four candidates from each district. So there’s 24 competitors in the state competition. And then if you win that, the top four in the state competition will move on to nationals. Nationals this year there was approximately 330 competitors.”

Despite such step competition from around the U.S. Eastern Idaho is regularly on top.

“East Idaho as a district has won five out of the six last state competitions,” Fulmer said. “We’ve also won five of the state national competitions in the last six years. Coincidence? I think not.”

Every winter, snowplow operators work to clear roads of snow and ice, keeping our communities moving. And when drivers need help, these crews are often the ones who come to the rescue.

“Every time we get a phone call and we’re at home, it’s always something important,” Fullmer said. “It’s always somebody else struggling or somebody having a hard time. And it really is something to be the guy who goes and saves a person’s day.”

The National Snow Roadeo gives operators a chance to showcase their skills and put them to the test. But for these crews, it’s about more than the competition. It’s about getting better at a job that helps people every day.

“And that does help us, encourages us to do better there as incentive,” Gregersen said. “But in our real life jobs, that helps us in our skills and trying to be better and better all the time.”

For the Idaho Transportation Department, the real value goes beyond trophies or titles.

It’s about the people behind the machines, workers who take pride in serving their communities, even if they’d never brag about their hard work.

“They’re never gonna, you know, speak to egotistical of themselves at all,” Sky Buffat, the Idaho Transportation Department Public Informations Officer, said. “That’s actually one of the highlights of character of our people. It’s not someone who is overly proud that does this job and chooses to serve citizens of our state the way that our people do.”

So when the snow moves in, you can count on this crew who have worked hard on their skills and represents Eastern Idaho on the national scale.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Hundreds of people gathered with their signs at the Broadway Bridge in Idaho Falls, encouraging voters to cast their ballots early.

“Today, we’re basically trying to get people to register to vote. We’re trying to get people out to the polls to actually make a change, elect people that we believe will do better than what we currently have,” Organizer Miranda Armenta said.

Attendees also went to protest the Trump Administration’s actions.

Armenta hopes this rally can spark more local political participation.

“I’m just hoping for more people to sign up with local organizations. That’s what’s happened in past times, we get people at meetings, and we organize more. The organizing doesn’t ever stop at the bridge. It starts here. This is the starting point,” Armenta said.

For more information about ‘No Kings’ rallies, click HERE.

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Hadley Bodell

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – Hundreds of painted pumpkins and award-winning large pumpkins were on display at McCowin Park for the 15th annual Ammon Pumpkin Walk. For the first time this year, the City of Ammon partnered with Kneaders to host pie-eating competitions.

Local businesses and families decorated groups of pumpkins, painting them and setting them up with other Halloween decor. There were also several entries for the largest pumpkin award. The 2026 winner is Brandon Crain from Shelley. His pumpkin weighed in at a whopping 1,281 pounds.

Not only is Crain’s pumpkin the 2026 largest pumpkin walk winner, it’s a record-breaking pumpkin for all the years. It is now the pumpkin to beat.

Crain’s 1,281lb pumpkin at the Ammon Pumpkin Walk, 2026

Organizers chose to partner with Kneaders to try hosting a pumpkin pie eating contest at the event, which Recreation Director Randal Miller said was a huge success.

“This is the new thing we’re trying this year, it seems to be going very well,” Miller said. “We’re happy to partner with Kneaders to make it happen.”

Every half-hour, six brave volunteers competed to eat the most pumpkin pie filling out of a pie crust within three minutes. They also had to do it with no hands!

Children and adults compete in the pumpkin pie eating contest at McCowin Park, Darnell the winner is on the right wearing red, 2026

Thirteen-year-old Darnell won two of the rounds of pie-eating. He said at first he was trying to eat the whole pie, then the judges said it was only the filling, and Darnell was off to the races.

“I just ate the filling and drank the water, just kept going, kept being determined,” Darnell said. “I felt way more full [in this round] I felt like I was about to drop out.”

Darnell said he doesn’t even like pumpkin pie. He much prefers apple or blueberry pies. He said he joined the competition because he was hungry and it was “free pie.”

All the pumpkin displays will stay up through Halloween. Miller said to come enjoy all the decorations while the weather is nice.

“It’s free to come, these are all from local organizations, some are from schools and non-profits. They come and make this place what it becomes, it’s just a fun thing to do in the Halloween season,” Miller said.

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Seth Ratliff

BEND, Ore. (KIFI) — Authorities have identified the 25-year-old teacher killed in the tragic shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School as Megan Lambert, a graduate of Boise State University.

Police identified Lambert during a press conference Friday following the attack.

Police also identified the 5-year-old child killed in the shooting as student Rhoam Summer. Two other victims, aged 8 and 11, sustained injuries; their names are being withheld out of respect for their families’ privacy.

Lambert, Summer, and the two other victims were shot and killed Thursday after police say 16-year-old Griffin J. John II forced his way into the school. Another 7-year-old child and a second teacher were injured and rushed to a local hospital.

Lambert graduated from Boise State University in May 2023 with a degree in elementary education after attending the university since August 2019. On her LinkedIn page, she shared her passion for teaching and her commitment to supporting young learners.

“I began my experience in youth programs in high school and have been on this path ever since,” Lambert wrote. “My desire to make an impact in children’s lives has helped me strive to be the best educator throughout my college experience.”

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Dylan Carder

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (KIFI) — The documentary film “399 Forever” is now available on Amazon Prime Video, detailing the life and legacy of Wyoming’s famous Grizzly 399.

Directed by independent filmmaker Alex Stavrou and acquired for worldwide distribution by Buffalo eight Distribution, the film examines the intersection of wildlife conservation, human development and tourism through the story of the renowned bear.

Grizzly 399 spent nearly three decades in Grand Teton National Park, where she raised 18 cubs during her lifespan. In 2020, she gained widespread attention after emerging from hibernation with quadruplets. She frequently brought her cubs near roads and developed areas around Jackson Hole, Wyo., using public spaces to protect her young from male grizzlies.

On Oct. 22, 2024, Grizzly 399 was killed in a vehicle collision south of Jackson. Her death prompted international coverage and highlighted ongoing challenges in managing grizzly bear populations alongside expanding human activity.

The documentary focuses on the community of photographers, wildlife guides, conservationists, local residents and fans who followed Grizzly 399. Wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen is among those featured in the project. “No wild animal in history has ever been so loved, by so many,” Mangelsen said.

Filmmaker Stavrou directed the project, marking his documentary directorial debut. Stavrou began filming to document Grizzly 399 during what became the final year of her life, concluding with a candlelit vigil attended by hundreds of residents following her death.

“I started making this film because I was fascinated by how one bear could captivate the human imagination,” Stavrou said. “But what I discovered was something far more profound – the immense beauty and immeasurable pain of a question conservationists have wrestled with for generations: How do we, as humans, learn to embrace the wild without endangering it?”

The documentary also includes interviews with Savannah Rose, Bo Welden, Evan Watts, Kristin Combs, Anna Knaeble, Dr. Chris Servheen and grizzly attack survivor Shayne Burke.

“399 Forever” has received Best Documentary honors at multiple film festivals and screened for more than 500 people at the Center for the Arts in Jackson Hole. Proceeds from community screenings have supported local conservation initiatives focused on reducing human-bear conflict.

Timed with the digital release, Wyoming Whiskey is releasing a second edition of its limited Queen of the Tetons whiskey bottle. Proceeds from the sales will support grizzly bear education, conservation and research efforts.

The release coincides with ongoing evaluations by federal officials regarding management policies for grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act.

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Seth Ratliff

BEND, Ore. (KIFI) — Officials from the Bend Police Department, Bend-La Pine Schools, and Deschutes County Behavioral Health Services will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. PT on Friday to provide updates on Thursday’s fatal shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School.

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Local News 8 will carry the live stream from Bend affiliate KTVZ in the player above.

According to police, a 16-year-old gunman entered Silver Rail Elementary at approximately 1 p.m. Thursday and opened fire inside a special education classroom, killing three children and a teacher. Another 7-year-old child and a second teacher were injured and rushed to a local hospital.

At a press conference Thursday night, Police chief Mike Krantz confirmed that a community member, later identified as Kaylub Giamanco, saw the shooter entering the building, followed him inside, and intervened.

RELATED: Hero Father Saves Lives in Bend School Shooting, President Trump Praises Bravery

Giamanco, a 36-year-old carpenter with a concealed carry permit, was driving home for a lunch break when he heard gunshots and saw the suspect enter the building. According to reports by KTVZ, Giamanco went inside and fatally shot the gunman before responding officers arrived on the scene.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the 16-year-old shooter or a potential motive. It remains unclear whether the gunman had any prior connection to the school.

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