Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The official results are finalized for the Bingham County 2025 municipal elections, confirming a tight victory for Scott D. Stufflebeam, who narrowly secured the position of Blackfoot Mayor. Stufflebeam won with 55.59% of the local vote.

In a nail-biting contest for the Blackfoot School District 55 Trustee for Zone 1, Taryn J. Shoyo clinched the victory by a razor-thin margin, earning 85 votes to opponent Kevin Callahan’s 83.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As the final tallies are processed from Idaho Falls’ municipal election, the results show two City Council seats have been secured, while the highly contested Mayoral race and City Council Seat 2 are officially heading to a runoff election.

In the tight mayoral race, Jeff Alldridge took a narrow lead going into the runoff with 5,599 votes, or 47.17%, while Lisa Burtenshaw secured 5,537 votes, or 46.65%. Alldridge and Burtenshaw will now face off in the final runoff election scheduled for December 2, 2025.

Local News 8 caught up with Jeff Alldridge at a celebration event held at Guns N Gear in Idaho Falls as the results were finalized.

“We’re in the lead!” Alldridge excitedly told reporters to cheers of applause. “All we have to do now is the runoff. The top two. Here we go. So all we have to do is finish it out!”

Local News 8 also met with Lisa Burtenshaw at Smitty’s diner during a celebratory event.

“Well, I just super want to thank everybody who came out to support tonight and people who have supported me throughout my campaign…” said Burtenshaw. “We’re just going to gear up and get our vision and our message out there, and we’re going to work hard towards the December 2nd election.”

Idaho Falls City Council Elections

In the race for the Idaho Falls City Council seat 2, candidates Brandon Lee and Teresa Dominick head to a runoff election after neither candidate received the necessary simple majority to secure the seat. Lee ended the night with 3,671 votes, or 33.08%, with all precincts reporting. Meanwhile, Dominick trailed in second place with only 2,276 votes, or 20.51%.

Voters delivered decisive victories in two other council races, ensuring incumbents Jim Francis and Jim Freeman will retain their seats.

City Council Seat 4: Incumbent Jim Francis secured re-election, capturing 6,848 votes

City Council Seat 6: Incumbent Jim Freeman will also return to the council, earning 7,642 votes

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Two drivers fortunately walked away without injury after a late-afternoon crash Tuesday at the intersection of Broadway and Park Avenue near the Celt in downtown Idaho Falls.

According to the Idaho Falls Police Department, the incident took place around 5:00 PM. Police say the first driver was traveling westbound on Broadway and attempted to turn left onto Park Avenue but failed to yield to oncoming traffic. The turning vehicle was struck by a car traveling in the opposite direction.

The force of the impact sent the second vehicle careening into a nearby light pole.

The driver cited for failure to yield has not been publicly identified. Neither driver was transported for injuries. The incident blocked traffic along a section of Broadway for about an hour as crews cleared the scene.

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Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — As engineers continue to assess the damage and necessary repairs on Riverton Road Bridge, the Idaho Department of Transportation has taken further steps to restore the flow of traffic along Interstate 15 near Blackfoot.

After a tanker truck crash late Thursday night, October 30th, that critically damaged a support pillar, ITD partially reopened the interstate to single-lane traffic underneath the bridge. Now, as of Tuesday, ITD has shifted lanes to provide travelers with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane, separated by a temporary median, spanning I-15 between Exit 89 and Exit 93.

In the days since the accident, ITD’s contractor, Cannon Builders, put up temporary support structures made of wood and concrete to allow vehicles to safely pass underneath.

Looking ahead, ITD engineers anticipate the southbound lane underneath the structure will remain a single lane. They also expect that the Riverton Road Bridge will not fully reopen until next spring as extensive repairs are conducted.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Two people were hospitalized after a cement truck driver reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing a significant multi-vehicle collision at the busy intersection of 17th Street/Pancheri Drive and Yellowstone Highway this afternoon, November 4th.

The crash took place around 3:52 p.m., according to the Idaho Falls Police Department. Police say the cement truck was traveling southbound on Yellowstone Highway when the driver allegedly lost control, failing to maintain its lane as it entered the intersection.

The truck first struck two vehicles waiting in the northbound turning lane: a Dodge Dakota and a Ford F150, which were preparing to turn left onto Pancheri Drive. The impact then sent the cement truck into a Toyota Avalon in the inside northbound lane. This led to a chain reaction, pushing the Avalon into a Dodge Dart, which subsequently hit a dark-colored SUV.

The drivers of the Dodge Dakota and the Toyota Avalon were taken by ambulance to local hospitals. IFPD spokesperson Jessica Clements reports their injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.

The driver of the cement truck told IFPD officers he had been drowsy and had fallen asleep at the wheel. The investigation is ongoing. Traffic was heavily impacted, with roadways remaining blocked for just over two hours before reopening.

The driver of the cement truck told IFPD that he was drowsy and fell asleep at the wheel. The investigation into the crash is being handled by IFPD and is ongoing at this time. Roadways were blocked for just over two hours and are now open and clear again.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls Police and Fire are currently on the scene of a multi-vehicle crash involving a cement mixer that has completely closed the intersection of 17th Street (Pancheri) and Yellowstone Highway.

The incident was first reported at 3:52 p.m. Traffic is heavily impacted, and IFPD is strongly encouraging drivers to avoid the area and seek alternate routes immediately.

At this time, there is no information available regarding the cause of the crash or any potential resulting injuries.

IFPD confirms they will issue a public update once the roadway has been successfully reopened. Furthermore, because the crash occurred on Yellowstone Hwy., the Idaho State Police may assume responsibility for the following investigation, and IFPD noted they will share further details as the situation develops.

This is a developing news story. Local News 8 will provide an update as we learn more information from investigators and first responders.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The ongoing federal government shutdown, on the edge of becoming the longest ever, has created a severe national emergency. Federal workers are going unpaid, SNAP recipients are set to only receive partial benefits this month, and the financial fallout is pushing local food banks to a crisis as they struggle to serve both affected employees and low-income families.

41.7 million people rely on SNAP benefits every month. Amid the ongoing shutdown, many are turning to food assistance.

Federal workers were also laid off, furloughed, or working without pay at the beginning of the shutdown.

According to Reuters, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that food assistance benefits will be distributed once the government shut down ends, despite a court order for his administration to make payments by Wednesday.

In Southeast Idaho, food banks are feeling the effects of the government shutdown.

“We do know that some people haven’t been getting paid that do have government jobs. This is like their second or third paycheck that they haven’t been paid. So they’re coming in a little bit more often. We suggest our clients come in twice a month, but they can come in as often as they need. And some people have been coming in weekly just because they’re just not making it right now” Kori Ellis, President of The Giving Cupboard, said.

The Idaho Falls Community Food Basket has also seen an uptick in demand for food, which is affecting the amount of food left on the shelves.

“We just finished our month-long October food drive. The food collected typically carries us through the cold winter months and into spring. That food is now being used twice as fast and will not sustain us as long as we projected. We have seen an increase in donations as we are facing this uncertain time, and we are doing all we can to meet the increased need. We are scrambling to keep up,” Ariel Jackson, Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket, said.

Both The Giving Cupboard and the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket said that there has been a dramatic increase in traffic since the last week.

“We saw a drastic increase between the week before last to last week, almost like a 40% increase in the amount of people that are coming. And I expect that that might keep going higher as the weeks go on, unfortunately, until the government shutdown gets taken care of,” Ellis said.

“We have seen double our regular number of families daily since the middle of last week. We are currently serving more than 100 families per day. We have seen twice the number of brand-new families in the last week as we typically see in a month,” Jackson said.

Nonetheless, both food banks are staying strong amidst the government shutdown and will persist for families that need help.

“I mean, it’s hard to gauge what’s going to happen. We hope obviously the shutdown will get taken care of as soon as possible. If it doesn’t, we’re in good financial shape. And we’re in good inventory shape, so people don’t have to worry that they are going to come here and there’s not going to be enough food,” Ellis said.

“For 45 years, Community Food Basket has been providing emergency food supplies to families facing crisis and we will continue to do that for as long as we can. This community is amazing at stepping in and stepping up when the need calls. We may have to give out a little less or different items than we typically provide, but we have absolute hope that our community will continue to do their best to support our efforts just as [we] will continue to do its best to support those who are struggling in our community,” Jackson said.

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Seth Ratliff

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Jefferson School District 251 announced Tuesday afternoon that Harwood Elementary will be closed on Wednesday, November 5th, due to flooding caused by a minor pipe break.

This closure only affects Harwood Elementary students. All other D251 schools will operate on a regular schedule.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — After a multi-month tagging spree targeting local businesses, the Rexburg Police Department announced Tuesday morning, November 4th, that the suspected vandal is now in custody.

The alleged tagger was taken into custody on Monday, November 3rd, and has been charged with felony Malicious Injury to Property. The arrest concludes an investigation spanning the last three months, during which the tagger allegedly defaced more than an estimated 35 local businesses, causing significant damage and frustration to property owners.

Following the arrest, the RPD took to social media to thank the community for its help in finding the suspected tagger.

“With the public’s help, Rexburg Police were able to identify and obtain an arrest warrant for the suspect in the numerous recent ‘domo’ graffiti cases which have been reported throughout town,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Along with the many businesses and individuals who were victims, we want to thank everyone who gave us tips and helped identify this individual.”

Police have not released the name of the individual at this time, pending further investigation. RPD says additional details may be released as they become available.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department:

AFTON, Wyoming (WGFD) — A multi-year investigation recently wrapped up in Lincoln County on Sept. 24  when Rodney Gilstrap of Idaho Falls, Idaho, was sentenced on multiple wildlife-related charges following an appeal filed in August 2024. The charges stemmed from Gilstrap falsely claiming to be a Wyoming resident beginning in 2018 and then illegally killing deer, elk, and pronghorn in western Wyoming. 

Afton Game Warden James Hobbs began this investigation in 2019 after receiving anonymous tips from the public that Gilstrap was claiming to be a Wyoming resident for the purpose of obtaining resident hunting licenses but was living and working in Idaho Falls. Shortly after receiving this information, Hobbs and Wyoming wildlife investigators began an investigation into Gilstrap’s background in which Gilstrap committed multiple wildlife related crimes from 2018-21. These crimes occurred in multiple Wyoming counties including Lincoln, Sublette and Teton.

Through the course of this investigation, game wardens partnered with the Idaho Fish and Game and search warrants were served at Gilstrap’s residence in Idaho Falls on March 18, 2022. During the execution of these search warrants, officers recovered four large mule deer heads/antlers, two bull elk heads/antlers and one buck pronghorn head/horns. These animals were killed in Wyoming using resident licenses that Gilstrap illegally obtained or were killed without any license. Officers later identified the locations where each of the animals were killed. This revealed that these animals were killed in Wyoming, and allowed officers to identify the counties in which each animal was illegally taken.

Gilstrap was later charged with 22 wildlife crimes in Lincoln, Sublette and Teton counties. In Lincoln County on May 1, 2023, Gilstrap was charged with the following:

Ten counts of making false statements and one count of accessory to making a false statement to procure Wyoming resident general deer, elk, black bear, archery and fishing licenses between Sept. 2018-Sept. 2021.

Four counts involving the intentional killing of a buck mule deer without the proper licenses between Sept. 2018-Sept. 2021.

One count involving the intentional killing of a bull elk without the proper license in October 2018, and one count of killing a bull elk without an elk special management permit.

In Sublette County on May 30, 2023, Gilstrap was charged with the following: 

One count of making a false statement to procure a Wyoming resident pronghorn license in May 2018.

One count involving the intentional killing of a buck pronghorn without the proper license in September 2018.

In Teton County on July 14, 2023, Gilstrap was charged with the following:

One count involving the intentional killing of a bull elk without the proper license in October 2020, and one count of failing to properly tag a bull elk.

One count involving the intentional killing of a bull elk without a license in September 2021. 

On August 1, 2024, Gilstrap accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to procure Wyoming resident deer and elk licenses, and three counts of killing deer and elk without the proper licenses. Gilstrap was sentenced to 540 days in jail with 519 days being suspended and was sentenced to serve 21 days in jail, 3 years of unsupervised probation during which he is required to pay $10,000 in restitution to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and $17,905 in fines. Additionally, Gilstrap received an 18-year suspension of his game and fish privileges in Wyoming and all member states of the Wildlife Violator Compact, and forfeited all of the heads/antlers previously seized from Gilstrap and in possession of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Gilstrap is not allowed to  hunt antlers in Wyoming during his probationary period and shall be a law-abiding citizen. With Gilstrap’s guilty pleas in Lincoln County the other 16 charges in Lincoln, Teton, and Sublette County were dismissed.

Following Gilstrap’s guilty pleas on August 1, 2024, his lawyers filed an appeal in Lincoln County District Court. Gilstrap’s lawyers argued the following:

Did the trial court abuse its discretion in sentencing Gilstrap to jail terms to be served on three counts of taking an animal without a proper license? 

Did the trial court error in its W.R.Cr.P. 11(e) advisements and procedure to such a degree that constituted procedural conduct prejudicial to Mr. Gilstrap?

Did the State introduce prejudicial error by arguing that jail time has been appropriate in similar cases?

Did the court abuse its sentencing discretion in prohibiting shed antler hunting during the term of Gilstrap’s probation?

On June 10, 2025, Lincoln County District Court Judge Joseph Bluemel affirmed the judgement and sentence entered on August 1, 2024.

Following a Sept. 18 filing of a motion for sentence reduction/modification by Gilstrap’s attorneys, Gilstrap’s motion was denied by Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Gregory S. Corpening on Sept. 24. Gilstrap will report to the Lincoln County Detention Center on Nov. 7, and serve his jail sentence on a modified, work-release schedule and will finish his 21-day sentence in September 2026.

This case shows the extent some poachers will go to circumvent Wyoming’s residency process to obtain over-the-counter general deer and elk licenses that nonresidents must have a minimum of 4-8 preference points to draw. Not only that, but Gilstrap killed four large buck mule deer over a 4-year period, ranging in antler size from 180-220 inches, and three large bull elk at the expense of Wyoming’s law abiding hunters. The buck mule deer Gilstrap illegally killed would have been a once-in-a-lifetime harvest for most of Wyoming’s legal hunters.

Solving this case would not have been possible without the help of concerned citizens reporting Gilstrap’s illegal activity. The collaborative work between the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Lincoln, Teton, and Sublette county attorney’s offices was essential to resolving these crimes. 

Wildlife crimes can be reported by calling your local game wardens, calling 1-877-WGFD-TIP (1-877-943-3847) or 307-777-4330 for out-of-state calls. You can also report wildlife crimes via text by sending the keyword WGFD followed by your message to 847-411. Detailed tips allow the Game and Fish to promptly follow-up and investigate reported wildlife crimes with greater success and are greatly appreciated. 

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is issuing an urgent warning following a significant uptick in jury duty scams hitting the area. In the last day alone, BCSO deputies have received multiple reports concerning this scam, though thankfully, no one has yet reported falling victim.

How the Scam Works

This aggressive scam involves callers tricking recipients into believing they have missed jury duty or a court date and must pay a fee immediately to avoid arrest. Victims are then coerced into paying over the phone via credit card, or through non-traditional methods like money cards purchased at retail stores, cryptocurrency, or money transfer apps/QR codes. Scammers send seemingly legitimate documents via text message, often labeled with official-sounding names like “United States Courts” or “Office of the Attorney General.”

In the most recent string of scams, there are several details BCSO says the public should be aware of:  

In recent reports, the fraudster has impersonated Law Enforcement or Federal Court Personnel, even referencing the United States Courthouse in Helena, MT.

A new element involves demanding victims deposit cash, cryptocurrency, or “US Digital Currency” into a supposed “Secure Federal Terminal System” or “FDIC Trust Account” to prevent arrest. No court system processes payments this way.

The fake documents contain lengthy, complicated language, official-looking logos, seals, and signatures. However, they lack any actual victim or court hearing information, and the referenced government entities are typically not linked on real court paperwork.

“Immediately be Suspicious”

BCSO emphatically reminds the public that Deputies, police officers, or any court or federal office will never initiate a phone call demanding payment via credit card, cryptocurrency, or money cards to satisfy a warrant, fine, or jury duty issue. Official transactions related to court matters are handled directly through court offices, usually requiring in-person contact at the courthouse.

“If you receive a suspicious call claiming you have missed a court hearing or have a fine related to something you are not already aware of, immediately be suspicious of the source of the call,” states SGT. Bryan Lovell in a news release. “Be especially suspicious if you are instructed to pay a fine or penalty using cryptocurrency, digital cash apps, or money cards.”

BCSO also reminds area residents to remain cautious and never share their personal financial information over the phone to unknown or unverified sources. If you are unsure the person contacting you is a legitimate county official, you can always contact your local public safety dispatch or court offices to verify.

If you have fallen victim to this type of scam and suffered a financial loss, report the incident immediately to your local Law Enforcement and to the federal Internet Crime Complaint Center website. To find more information about this and other scams, click HERE.

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