Eastern Idaho health officials urge residents to check measles vaccination status after Teton County case

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Eastern Idaho Public Health is encouraging residents to verify their measles vaccination status after a vaccinated adult in Teton County contracted the virus.

The case marks the 10th reported measles case in Idaho this year and the second in eastern Idaho. Health officials say the individual was vaccinated but had close contact with a known measles case during that person’s infectious period.

The case has prompted questions from residents about vaccine effectiveness and whether they are protected against the highly contagious virus.

“If you receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, that is 97% effective in preventing measles,” Eastern Idaho Public Health Health Strategies Manager Jordan McAdam said “So it is still the best way to prevent measles infection in both children and adults.”

McAdam said breakthrough infections can occur, but they are uncommon. According to Eastern Idaho Public Health, about 2% to 3% of people who receive the recommended two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine may still contract measles.

“One of the bigger misconceptions about measles right now is that vaccinations maybe aren’t important or aren’t needed even by healthy people, which is incorrect,” McAdam said. “It is the best way to prevent measles spread in both healthy people and in immunocompromised people, and in infants and children who may not have been vaccinated yet.”

How to check your vaccination status

Health officials say residents who are unsure whether they received the MMR vaccine can check their records through the Docket app, which provides access to Idaho immunization records.

People who grew up outside Idaho may need to contact their former health department, healthcare provider or school district to obtain records.

According to Eastern Idaho Public Health, people who have received the MMR vaccine, previously had a confirmed measles infection or were born before 1957 are generally considered immune to measles.

What to do if you were exposed

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

Health officials are also asking people to call ahead before visiting a clinic or doctor’s office if they suspect they have measles.

“I would say it’s extremely pertinent if you think you are exposed to measles and you are going into a doctor to check, which you should definitely call beforehand,” Eastern Idaho Public Health Information Officer Brenna Christofferson said. “If you do have a positive case of measles, measles is a highly contagious virus.”

Measles can spread through the air and remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. About one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles in the United States is hospitalized.

Symptoms include fever and a rash that typically begins on the head before spreading to the rest of the body. Additional symptoms may include cough, runny nose, red eyes and tiny white spots inside the cheeks.

Anyone with questions about measles can contact Eastern Idaho Public Health’s epidemiology hotline at (208) 533-3150.

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Frontier Credit Union donates $800K to Blackfoot nonprofits for buildings

Kaelyn Blessinger

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Frontier Credit Union donated $800,000 to two non-profits, The Blackfoot Community Food Pantry (Community Dinner Table) and The Village, so they can purchase their building.

“They’re making an $800,000 donation and we’ve already paid $100,000,” Jacque Burt, the President of Idaho Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, stated. “So we just have another $100,000 to go and we will own this. And once we own this building and we’ve got all our renovations done, then we are self-sufficient. So no matter what happens in the economy or in the world or whatever, we will still be able to have our doors open.”

Burt said this gives both organizations stability in maintaining their building without having to spend much-needed donations on it.

“We just thought it was a great opportunity to step in,” Dan Thurman, the CEO of Frontier Credit Union stated. “We got to make a big impact, help them make an even bigger impact in the community. And we’ll be opening a branch in the middle of this building as well.”

According to Feeding America, almost 13%, over 6,000 people, in Bingham county experience food insecurity. The Blackfoot Community Food Pantry hopes to continue providing meals for those in need across the community.

“We feed probably between 250 to 300 people every Tuesday night during the winter,” Jackie Young, President of the Community Dinner Table, said. “And we give out between 180 to 200 food boxes every Wednesday here at the pantry.”

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare states that there are over 1,000 children in Idaho who are currently in foster care.

The Village provides various resources for the foster children and their foster care-takers in the Southeast Idaho region.

“We provide for about 350 children here in southeast Idaho in foster care,” Burt said. “They can come into the store and shop for free. They can come in and get clothing and toys and shoes and things like that that they didn’t already have. And so really, it’s easing that transition for them to be able to just have their basic needs met.”

Once these two nonprofits own their building, they can focus even more of their resources on the needs of the community.

“I love this community, and I love what these nonprofits are doing in this community,” Thurman said. “And it is really inspiring how they came together and the things that they’re doing and the impact that they’re having. Trying to help lift people up. And so for us to be a part of that and be able to contribute in any way is awesome.”

To find out about upcoming events with these nonprofits, check out these links:

Blackfoot Community Dinner’s website

Idaho Foster and Adoptive Parent Association

The address for the nonprofits is 250 W. Judicial St. Blackfoot, ID 83221

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WATCH LIVE: President Trump addresses the nation tonight

Curtis Jackson

WHITE HOUSE (KIFI) – President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a primetime address Thursday evening.

Sources tell ABC News he will discuss detailed information he recently received from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence related to the 2020 election.

Sources tell other news agencies, he plans to concentrate on voting machine security and alleged Foreign influence elections.

Election integrity has been one of Trump’s core talking points since he lost the 2020 Presidential contest.

The speech is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. MT.

You can watch the address below once it begins.

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Power restored after failed transformer sparks widespread outage on ISU lower campus

Hadley Bodell

UPDATE 4:50 PM: As of 4:50 p.m. power has been restored to ISU campus.

ORIGINAL:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – A transformer failure near the Rendezvous building knocked out power to several buildings of Idaho State University’s lower campus on Thursday afternoon.

The outage began just after 2:00 p.m. on July 16, with ISU Public Safety broadcasting a campus-wide emergency alert shortly after at 2:30 p.m.

Idaho Power and ISU Facilities Services are currently on-site investigating and making repairs. While work is actively underway, university officials warn that there is no clear estimate for the return of power; however, it could remain off for several hours.

“At this time, we ask that staff and faculty check on any sensitive equipment or materials that may be impacted by the lack of power,” said the university in an updated alert. “Students should coordinate with their instructors for any impact to class or research activities.”

The following buildings are currently impacted by the power outage:

POND Student Union Building

Physical Science Complex

Public Safety

McIntosh Manor

Business Administration

Liberal Arts

Early Learning Center

Lillibridge Engineering Building

Fine Arts

Museum Building

Grounds

Shops

Student Health

Dental Hygiene/Science

Administration Building

Frazier Hall

University Courts

Many of the impacted facilities are on the lower campus or near the ISU Quad. Noted buildings on campus not included are Turner Hall, Rendezvous, Reed Gym, and other upper campus structures.

This is a developing story and Local News 8 will update this article as new details become available.

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Heatwave triggers emergency fishing closures on select rivers in Yellowstone 

Seth Ratliff

YELLOWSTONE (KIFI) — Extreme summer heat has forced park officials to issue emergency, full-time fishing closures on three of Yellowstone’s most iconic rivers.

Effective Wednesday, July 15, all fishing is temporarily banned on the Firehole, Madison, and Gibbon rivers, including all of their tributaries. The restrictions come as water temperatures climb to 86°F, which park biologists warn is lethal to trout. The National Park Service (NPS) confirmed they have already received multiple reports of dead fish along the Firehole River over the past week.

Coupled with high air temperatures, the National Park Service says these conditions are lethal to trout. In the past week, the NPS has received several reports of dead fish in the Firehole River.

The closures will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and will remain in effect until conditions improve. Park staff will continue to monitor water temperatures daily. Depending on how the weather behaves, the NPS may lift the bans or enact further restrictions.

Currently, there are no restrictions on fishing other park lakes, rivers, and streams due to high water temperatures and low river flows.

Currently, there are no temperature-related restrictions on other park waters. Anglers are welcome to fish the following areas as long as they follow standard park rules:

Yellowstone Lake

All other lakes within the park boundaries

All other rivers and streams not explicitly listed in the closure notice

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Mountain America Center to Host Second Annual Summer Market Days This Weekend

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Mountain America Center will host its second annual Summer Market Days on Friday and Saturday, bringing more than 100 vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and family-friendly activities to Idaho Falls.

The free community event returns after its debut in 2025 and will feature small businesses, artisans, boutiques, food vendors and local organizations from across the region.

Some vendors include Wild West Hat Bar, Castaway Ceramics, Thor’s Chocolate, Idaho at Heart LLC, Melissa K. Hillman Fine Art and Turtle Island Turquoise.

Visitors will also find specialty food and dessert vendors, including Jocelyn’s Brownies, Caramel Tree, Sweet Talk Bakery, Cook’s Cotton Candy, Buttercrunch and Bite Me Protein Cookies.

Several community organizations will also participate, including the Community Food Basket, Idaho Falls Area Humanitarian Center and Champ’s Heart.

Organizers say this year’s event will offer an expanded vendor footprint and additional activities for attendees.

A new addition is a special edition of Alive After 5 on Friday evening in partnership with the Idaho Falls Civitan Club. While the indoor market will close at 6 p.m., food trucks, a beer garden and outdoor attractions will remain open during the concert from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Guests can also explore Adventureland, an outdoor attraction. The area is designed to resemble a campground and will feature Toyota vehicles, RVs and trailers, outdoor recreation equipment and interactive activities.

Activities include a free basketball hoop trailer available throughout Friday, side-by-side off-road rides from noon to 3 p.m. Friday and a free 32-foot rock climbing wall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Additional displays will include kayaks, paddleboards and off-road gear.

Food trucks scheduled to attend include Pinoy Streets Fry N Grill, Wiki-licious, Taqueria El Pollo Loco Jr., Copacabana, Rose Marie’s Gluten Free, The Corn Dog Company and The Grub Shack.

Burger Smithy is scheduled for Friday, while 208 Food Hub is scheduled for Saturday.

Summer Market Days will take place at the Mountain America Center, located at 1690 Event Center Drive in Idaho Falls.

Event Schedule

Friday, July 17

Summer Market Days: Noon to 6 p.m.

Alive After 5: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 18

Summer Market Days: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free. More information, including a full vendor directory, is available through the Mountain America Center.

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Guns vs. Hoses: Local first responders hit the diamond Friday for Make-A-Wish Idaho

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Local law enforcement and first responders are trading their badges and gear for bats and gloves this week, all for a great cause.

This Friday marks the 15th annual Guns vs. Hoses Charity Softball Game. Deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 8 will face off against the Idaho Falls Firefighters in a friendly game at Melaleuca Field.

All proceeds will support Make-A-Wish Idaho, helping grant life-changing wishes for local children.

Gates open Friday, July 17th, at 6 PM, and “play ball” begins at 7 PM. Admission only costs a donation at the door. BCSO suggests a contribution of $5 per person or $20 per family.

“This is a fantastic event where all proceeds support Make A Wish here in Idaho and fun for the whole family,” said BCSO Sgt. Bryan Lovell in a news release.

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‘Carrie On’: Carrie Getty Scheid honored with new Idaho Falls memorial art bench

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A striking, vivacious memorial to Carrie Getty Scheid adorns the banks of the Snake River in Idaho Falls.

The brand-new “Carrie On!” art bench is part of the “Art You Can Sit On” sculptures Scheid championed starting in 2005, while she was leading the Idaho Falls Arts Council.

Scheid was a powerhouse in the community – galvanizing interest in the arts, culture, music, civic involvement, politics, animals, education and more.

“She knew how to get things done, and there was no project that was too big,” said retired Hartwell Corporation Insurance Executive Mary Lynn Hartwell. “There was no idea too big – nothing that she didn’t think we could accomplish.”

After arriving in Idaho Falls in 1994 from New York, she was a driving force behind the restoration of the Colonial Theater, the establishment of College of Eastern Idaho, successful fundraising for Snake River Animal Shelter, and the renovation of the Frontier Arts Center for the Performing Arts.

“She has a circle of friends that all really wanted to make sure that Idaho Falls was a culture and arts center,” said Idaho Falls Arts Council Executive Director Gray Augustus.

She was awarded the Mayor’s Choice Award in August 2025.

Scheid died after a courageous battle with cancer on October 21, 2025.

Her friends and family commenced work on the tribute last August to memorialize her legacy for years to come.

Designed by local artist Carrie Wildman and presented by her friends “the Steel Potatoes,” the memorial bench captures the dynamic commitment to growth, community and vibrancy embodied by Carrie Scheid.

“Carrie was a very, very special friend. I learned a lot from Carrie,” Hartwell said with emotion. “I like to tell people that I’ve always been a bit of a procrastinator, and Carrie would always just look at me and say, ‘Just do it. You know, all you have to do is make that phone call. Take the next step.’”

“It’s amazing when you make that phone call how many people respond, because people really are just waiting to be asked to help,” Hartwell continued.

The memorial’s five trees are accompanied by a Mountain Bluebird, two dogs in honor of Scheid’s favorite pets, a cat and a steel potato.

The bench is a place where people can play, ponder and reflect on Carrie Scheid’s legacy and the beautiful community she helped to build.

The new “Carrie On” memorial bench honor Carrie Getty Scheid’s decades-long legacy to the arts and the Idaho Falls community.

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911 Call of ‘Banging and Blood’ Leads to Police Standoff in Jackson; Man in Custody, Woman Hospitalized

Seth Ratliff

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — A 47-year-old Jackson Hole man is in custody, and a 24-year-old woman has been hospitalized following an early afternoon emergency call that led to a police standoff on South Milward Street.

Details regarding the active investigation remain limited, but local authorities assure the community that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The 911 Call and Police Response

Just after 12:40 PM, the Jackson Police Department (JPD) responded to a 911 call from a home on the 500 block of South Milward Street. According to an official news release, the caller alerted dispatchers to “a significant amount of blood and banging on walls.”

As they arrived on the scene, the officers discovered a 24-year-old woman suffering from visible injuries and blood on her body. She was immediately transported to St. John’s Health, accompanied by a police officer and a detective. The severity of her injuries and her current medical condition have not been released.

After attending to the victim, officers learned that a 47-year-old man was still inside the residence. The man had barricaded himself in a bedroom and refused to respond to police commands.

In response, JPD established a secure perimeter around the home with assistance from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. Police Chief Michelle Weber took command of the scene, directing the man to exit the building.

Eventually, the man allowed officers to enter the room and was taken into custody without further incident.

Ongoing Investigation

The 500 block of South Milward Street remains closed to the public and is being treated as an active crime scene. JPD says detectives are currently working to determine the appropriate criminal charges.

“The JPD and Town of Jackson would like to express sincere appreciation to the Teton County Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS for their swift support during this incident,” said the department in the release.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional updates as we learn new information.

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Five-vehicle crash shuts down U.S. Highway 20 near Ashton

Abi Martin

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police is investigating a five-vehicle crash that temporarily shut down U.S. Highway 20 north of Ashton on Wednesday afternoon.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating a two-vehicle crash that had happened earlier that day.

A Dodge Ram that towing a trailer moved into the eastbound passing lane to give emergency crews space. At the same time, a Honda Odyssey slowed down while traveling westbound. A Tesla was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the Honda.

Investigators say a GMC Sierra towing a flatbed trailer, also moved into the eastbound passing lane, where it sideswiped both the Honda and the Tesla. This caused the Tesla to rotate clockwise before coming to rest perpendicular across the westbound lane.

A Subaru Ascent swerved into the passing lane while attempting to avoid the Tesla and struck the Dodge Ram.

A passenger who was under the age of 18 in the Honda was taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital and later released.

The highway was blocked for approximately three and a half hours while emergency crews responded and cleared the scene.

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