Author: KIFI

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho’s annual statewide giving campaign, Idaho Gives, is back, encouraging donations to nonprofit organizations across the state.

The campaign began Monday and runs through Thursday, May 7.

Organizers say hundreds of Idaho-based nonprofits are participating this year, representing a wide range of causes, including housing, education, community services and the arts.

Several events are also taking place across eastern Idaho as part of the campaign, giving residents opportunities to connect with local organizations and learn more about their work.

Idaho Gives is designed to raise both funds and awareness for nonprofits serving communities throughout the state.

A full list of participating organizations and events can be found on the Idaho Gives website.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Multiple food trucks located at The Yellowstone Food Village for years are facing uncertainty as the site prepares to close, with no confirmed reasoning.

Some of the vendors have already left, and others in the area plan to relocate by the end of the week. According to vendors at the site, they were told they must “vacate” the property by Oct. 1.

“We’ve run into some news lately that Bonneville County will be either shutting this down or selling it,” said Delbert Kirkham, owner of Thai Food Plus. “And we’re kind of in limbo trying to figure out what they’re going to do.”

Without a lot of answers, many of the vendors are looking for a new place to call home. However, Kirkham hopes the vendors can remain at the site.

“It would do nothing but benefit us being small businesses as we are,” Kirkham said. “You can’t get much smaller than what we are, but we’re all together, it’s a hometown feeling here. The whole family’s here, and they do enjoy it. And we would like to stay.”

While Kirkham waits to get more answers, he remains optimistic about staying on the site.

“I’m sure they have some good reasons,” Kirkham said. “But we have some good reasons to stay.”

In September 2025, the Bonneville County Commissioners announced they would end the lease for the Idaho Innovation Center on September 30, 2026. The food village is next to the Idaho Innovation Center and manages the lot.

County leadership said that, while the Idaho Innovation Center has provided valuable contributions to the community for many years, the County’s significant financial investment in the facility is no longer aligned with its economic development goals to unify and strengthen efforts across the broader community.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — It is one of Idaho’s biggest nights in journalism, where top journalists from across the Gem State gathered to learn who took top honors at the Idaho Press Club Awards.

Local News 8 received 17 awards across multiple categories including General Excellence in television which includes overall excellence in news coverage, storytelling, and production.

Local News 8 earned the top spot for Best Morning News program in its division, and multiple individual journalists from the Local News 8 team were recognized for their reporting.

Ariel Jensen received the top spot in Best Live Shot for division, while Seth Ratliff took home the top spot in Serious Feature Report in Division B for his coverage on Jensen’s Grove late last year. Hadley Bodell gave Local News 8 name recognition in the Student category as well as the TV category.

Local News 8’s full list of all seventeen awards included:

Television

General Excellence – Division B

1. Seth Randal, Kalvin Pike & Staff – KIFI, Local News 8

Best Morning News Program – Division B

1. Jeff Roper, Kailey Galaviz, Maggie Moore – KIFI – Local News 8 at Noon

Spot News Report – Division B

3. Ariel Jensen – KIFI Local News 8 – Rigby Plane Crash

Best Live Shot – Division B

1. Ariel Jensen – KIFI Local News 8 – “You can’t park here!”

Watchdog

3. Seth Ratliff, Chris Nestman – KIFI, Local News 8 – Local News 8 Investigation: Pocatello Police had previous interactions with Victor Perez before fatal shooting

Serious Feature Report – Division B

1. Seth Ratliff – KIFI, Local News 8 – Blackfoot City Council to address new agreement to fill Jensen Grove

2. Max Gershon – KIFI, Local News 8 – Hanukkah in Idaho

3. Doug Long – KIFI, Local News 8 – Ligertown 30 Years Later

Light Feature Report – Division B

2. Stephanie Lucus, Kabrun Sharp – KIFI, Local News 8 – History of Spooky Basements

3. Ariel Jensen – KIFI, Local News 8 – Stronger Than Steel

Sports News Story – Division B

3. Will Syslo – KIFI, Local News 8 – High School Football Preview Series: Skyline High School

Weathercast – Division B

2. Michael Coats – KIFI, Local News 8

3. Jeff Roper – KIFI, Local News 8

Crime Report – Division B

2. Jeff Roper – KIFI, Local News 8 – Facebook Scam Steals Thousands from Rancher’s Customers

Government / Political – Division B

2. Stephanie Lucus, Seth Ratliff – KIFI, Local News 8 – Seven Arrested for Voter Fraud

Rookie Of The Year –

2. Hadley Bodell – KIFI Local News 8

Student

General News Report

2. Hadley Bodell – KIFI Local News 8 – Hour of AI in Eastern Idaho Classrooms

You can find the full list of winners at https://idahopressclub.org/awards/best-of-2025-award-winners/.

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Par Kermani

MONTPELIER, Idaho (KIFI)— An open house has been set for the Montpelier, Idaho, Temple beginning Thursday, Sept. 10, and a dedication is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 18.

The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the timeline with public tours being held from Sept. 10 through Saturday, Sept. 26 not including Sundays.

A dedication will be held Sunday, Oct 18 at 10 a.m with a rebroadcast at 2 p.m. According to the press release “the session will be broadcast to all units in the Montpelier Idaho Temple district.”

The temple will be the eighth in the state, joining temples in Boise, Burley, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Pocatello, Rexburg, and Twin Falls.

With 482,000 Latter-Day Saints in the state of Idaho, additional temples are also planned according to officials.

The Teton River Idaho Temple in Rexburg is currently under construction, while temples in Caldwell and Coeur d’Alene have been announced.

Church officials say temples differ from meetinghouses, where weekly worship services are held. Temples are considered houses of the Lord, where sacred religious ceremonies take place.

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CNN

Originally Published: 04 MAY 26 11:00 ET

Updated: 04 MAY 26 12:22 ET

By John Fritze, CNN

(CNN) — The Supreme Court temporarily restored telehealth and mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone on Monday, responding to an emergency appeal that warned of potential chaos for patients who had appointments to access the drug.

The “administrative stay” is far from a final decision but rather maintains the status quo for a few days while the court reviews emergency appeals filed Saturday by the drug’s manufacturer and the maker of a generic version. The order puts on hold a decision from the conservative 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals that reinstated a nationwide requirement that the medication be obtained in person, undermining access to the method of abortion that has grown more widespread since the court overturned Roe v. Wade.

Justice Samuel Alito’s order staying the 5th Circuit ruling lasts through May 11, and Alito requested a response in the cases by Thursday.

Danco Laboratories, the maker of mifepristone, told the Supreme Court in its appeal that the 5th Circuit order “injects immediate confusion and upheaval into highly time-sensitive medical decisions.” GenBioPro, which makes a generic version of the drug, said in its own appeal that the lower court’s decision risked “abruptly cutting off access for patients nationwide.”

The fast-track case puts the drug and the issue of abortion back on the high court’s docket less than two years after the justices rejected a similar challenge – a decision that allowed the drug to remain widely available. Alito handles emergency appeals rising from the New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, women have been able to obtain mifepristone – one of the two drugs in the medication abortion regimen – through telehealth appointments. The Biden administration finalized rules that ended the requirement that the pills be obtained through an in-person doctor’s visit in 2023, a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe.

As conservative states have responded to the Supreme Court’s decision by banning or severely limiting access to clinic abortions, medication abortions have become more common. Medication abortions accounted for more than 60% of abortions in the US in 2023, according to Guttmacher Institute research.

A CNN analysis of mifepristone data shows that the drug is overwhelmingly safe and has fewer reported side effects than Viagra or penicillin.

Louisiana sued last year alleging that the Biden-era regulation undermined its own abortion ban. A federal district court in April declined to restrict access to the drug until the Food and Drug Administration completed a safety review of the medication.

“Big abortion pharma claims they need an emergency stay because they will lose massive amounts of money if they can’t kill more babies quickly and efficiently by mail without medical oversight,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement Monday. “The administrative stay is temporary, and I am confident life and the law will win in the end.”

The Supreme Court reviewed the issue once before, in 2024, and it unanimously rejected a lawsuit challenging the FDA’s regulation. But the court resolved that dispute by concluding that the doctors and anti-abortion groups that had challenged access to the drug did not have standing to sue. That technical, narrow decision meant that future challenges were almost guaranteed to reach the justices again.

CNN’s Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional details.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Par Kermani

Rexburg, Idaho (KIFI) — Rexburg City police found a child alone at a local apartment complex and have safely reunited her with her family.

According to the Rexburg City Facebook page, officers found the child around 10 a.m. at the Mesa Falls Apartments. Initially, the department was unable to identify her or find her parents.

However, after asking the community for tips in a social media post, the department confirmed the child has been located and reunited with her family.

The department also thanked the public for helping assist in the search.

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Danielle Mullenix

Island Park, ID (KIFI) – A proposed subdivision near Henry’s Lake is back under review as a developer appeals a denial from county officials—and time is running out for the public to weigh in.

DK Land LLC, a development group based in Dillon, Montana, is appealing the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to deny the Caldera Flats subdivision.

Photo by Chris Boyer

The proposed Caldera Flats subdivision would bring 32 residential lots to about 160 acres near Henry’s Lake. The project was previously denied by the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission in July of 2025, but the developer, DK Land LLC, has since filed an appeal—putting the decision in the hands of county commissioners.

At the center of the appeal is whether the county made the right call in denying the project.

Supporters of the subdivision argue that the proposal complies with the Fremont County development code and say property owners should be allowed to build if regulations are followed.

Opponents, however, point to concerns about protecting rural character, wildlife habitat, and environmentally sensitive land in the Island Park area.

Public Input Deadline

Before commissioners make a decision, the public still has a chance to weigh in.

Fremont County officials say written comments can be submitted to Planning and Zoning, which will be included in the official record reviewed during the appeal process. Written comments for consideration by the BOCC may be submitted in person or by US mail at the Fremont County Clerk’s office, 151 W. 1st North, Suite 12, St. Anthony, ID, 83445, no later than noon, May 4th, 2026. 

After the comment deadline, the Fremont County Board of Commissioners will review the full record, including staff findings, public testimony, and submitted evidence.

A public hearing is expected later this month, on May 20th, where commissioners could:

Uphold the original denial

Reverse the decision and allow the project to move forward

Or send the application back for further review

The Caldera Flats proposal highlights an ongoing debate in Fremont County—balancing growth and development with the preservation of open space and sensitive areas in Island Park.

As the appeal moves forward, this month’s upcoming deadline marks one of the final opportunities for community members to have their voices heard. The outcome could shape not only the future of the Caldera Flats project but also how Fremont County balances growth and development with the protection of its rural character and natural resources.

To submit a comment, click here. If you are interested in following the appeal process of the Caldera Flats subdivision, visit the Fremont County website here.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, ID (KIFI)– The Idaho Falls Farmers Market is back for the season, bringing local vendors and community members together every Saturday from May through October – rain or shine. 

Located along Memorial Drive in downtown Idaho Falls, the market features more than 130 local vendors, farmers, ranchers, and artisans from across eastern Idaho.

Vendors and customers say the market is about more than shopping – it’s about supporting the local community and small businesses. 

“The community support is really amazing,” Casey Etheredge, owner of Ethers Edge said. “It’s so important for the community to support these small businesses because without the community support, we wouldn’t have the farmers market. We wouldn’t have all this amazing stuff happening every Saturday.”

Visitors can shop for fresh fruits, and vegetables, locally made food, flowers, handmade crafts, and other products throughout the market.

“We really love supporting local vendors, local folks, small businesses,” Jacob Hackman, customer said . “I think that’s the backbone of our economy. This is an opportunity for us to get together as a community and support the local vendors.” 

For vendors, the weekly market also creates opportunities to connect with both local residents and tourists visiting eastern Idaho. 

“The farmers market allows me to interact with so many people,” Chris Salmond, owner of Burger Smith said. “It’s kind of like a mini fair. A large amount of people come out, we get to see tons of tourists, and it’s a wonderful experience.” 

Vendors also say the market helps strengthen community connections beyond business sales. 

The Idaho Falls Farmers Market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will run through October in downtown Idaho Falls.

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Curtis Jackson

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI)-Firefighters were called to a wildfire burning near Palisades Reservoir on Friday afternoon. 

Fire crews were called around 5 o’clock to the 4700 block of Swan Valley Highway, about 10 miles west of Alpine. 

Swan Valley firefighters say the fire is burning in heavy timber and is just over an acre in size. 

Some nearby structures are threatened, but they feel they can keep them safe. 

Crews from several agencies are assisting Swan Valley crews in fighting the fire. 

They said the fire was human-caused from a burning slash pile, a pile of debris left over from a logging operation.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A nationwide protest called “May Day Strong” brought together a small group in Idaho Falls.

Organized through social media, the post described the protest as a “day of action” focused on workers’ rights and economic issues.

“We’ve become more and more of a corporatist society and and more of an oligopoly and oligarchy. And so as that’s starting to rise, the worker is being left behind. And it’s important to remember the worker and and to remember that together we’re strong collectively.” said Chance Marshall a May Day Rally Speaker.

In Idaho Falls, a few dozen people gathered at the Japanese Friendship Garden to take part in the demonstration.

According to the group’s website, organizers are calling for policies that include higher taxes on the wealthy, opposition to immigration enforcement by ICE, an end to war efforts, and limits on what they describe as unchecked federal power.

The local event included speeches and music as participants voiced their concerns and shared messages tied to the national movement.

Similar events were held in cities across the United States as part of May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day.

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