Author: KIFI

Ariel Jensen

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) –  Dozens gathered in Pocatello on Monday afternoon to march in honor of Martin Luther King Day. This is a longstanding tradition at Idaho State University that brings the campus and Pocatello community together in a march and a day of service.

All were welcome to join the event, which began at 12:30 p.m. at the Reed Gym parking lot. From there, the group marched to the Jensen Concert Hall within the Stephens Performing Arts Center.

“You know, there’s something bigger than ourselves. And it has to do with less than who we are and what we are as a community, but how we can show up and be kind to one another and really dream about bigger things. Dreams are free. They don’t cost anything. And I think we really need to celebrate that now,” said Dr. Matt Daily, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students at ISU. 

The march ended at Jensen Concert Hall, and the event transitioned to a formal program featuring remarks from ISU President Robert Wagner. The ceremony included a live musical performance and a curated panel discussion focused on the significance of the civil rights movement and its modern applications.

Later this week, on January 21, the Bengal community is invited to participate in a service project in the Pond Student Union from noon to 1 p.m. Students will be making cards for residents at the Veterans Home and other local care facilities. 

From January 22nd to 24th, the Bengal Movie Theater will feature several screenings of the historical drama Selma. Evening showings are scheduled for 7 p.m., with an additional matinee on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets are free for ISU students, $2 for faculty, staff, and children under 12, and $3 for the general public. 

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 19 JAN 26 13:53 ET

By Amy Nay

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    SNOWBIRD, Utah (KSTU) — A Draper woman living with multiple sclerosis has reached new heights thanks to a local group.

“It is a great feeling. I mean, it just wipes out the whole feeling you have about yourself as being somebody who can’t do anything,” said Maggi Welliver, 75, after skiing for the first time with the help of Wasatch Adaptive Sports.

“When I first started with them,” Welliver said, “I started cycling, and then when winter came, my instructor, who I trust with my life, said we need to go skiing, but I said, ‘Uh, I’ve never been a big skier.’”

Her trust in the instructors and what she calls her new family she found at the nonprofit gave her the confidence to try and to discover a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in years.

“I’ve been in a wheelchair for … over 20 years, and what I have is chronic progressive multiple sclerosis,” Welliver said. “So slowly I’ve been getting to this position in my life. And it’s OK, it’s OK,” she said, describing a gradual decline since her diagnosis three decades ago.

Wasatch Adaptive Sports connects people with physical disabilities to adaptive outdoor programs. They were able to expand offerings this season after a $100,000 donation match from Utah outdoor brand KUHL helped the nonprofit reach a $500,000 fundraising goal. That support, Welliver said, made experiences like skiing at Snowbird and reaching the top of Hidden Peak possible for people who might otherwise never try. It was Welliver’s daughter who encouraged her to look into ‘WAS’ and what they offered.

“What made it really special is I was able to ski with my daughter, and she just cried and said never in her wildest dreams thought she’d be on the slope with me, so now I want to ski with everybody,” Welliver said.

On the slopes, she said she doesn’t feel defined by her disability.

“I don’t feel disabled. I feel able to do most anything I want to do. It’s just different,” she said, adding that adaptive skiing has changed her perspective.

“It just really opens you up to feel good about yourself,” she said. When asked why that matters, Welliver replied, “It’s pretty important because it’s easy to fall into ‘poor me’ and give up.”

She urged others in similar situations to take the first step.

“It doesn’t cost you anything. You just have to step out and take advantage of it,” she said. “Just try it. I mean, it’s scary, but you can do it.”

Her advice for anyone starting is simple: “Start slow and just keep building on that. You can do it, and it’s all about accommodations and that’s life. It’s just what you do in life.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 19 JAN 26 13:55 ET

By Mya Constantino

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    OREM, Utah (KSTU) — Nearly every month, a group of Utah men come together in an unexpected place to talk about mental health while building connections and finding support.

We all need someone to lean on. For men across the state, that’s exactly what they’re finding once a week inside the Costco food court in Orem.

“Like, in my darkest moments and things when I’ve been sad, they’re just there to listen,” said Jaxon Smith, the group’s organizer. “It’s something that men don’t have an outlet to where they can express their emotion or feel like they won’t be judged.”

Smith started the Men’s Mental Health Community Club two months ago, continuing a tradition of hanging out at the food court with his friends a couple of times a week, just to hang out.

“The idea just popped in my head of let’s just invite everybody, and let’s get all the boys together,” Smith explained.

Now, the club is a space for men of all ages to get together, eat, and share stories.

“Just creating a low-pressure environment where you can open up about feelings, if you want to, but really you’re there just to connect,” said Smith.

Jaxon said creating a space like the Men’s Mental Health Community Club matters.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of 2022 survey data found that 26.1 percent of men said they lack social or emotional support compared to 22.3% of women. The CDC added that as of 2023, men are about four times as likely to die by suicide compared to women.

Luke Christensen is a member of the Costco group, showing up to deal with the stresses of school and deadlines.

“When you’re in a group, and you feel included, then it’s easy to just feel welcomed and have that sense of belonging,” Christensen shared, “and that can really help soothe the stress.”

Although the group started at Costco, Smith plans to take it to other locations across Utah.

“People want to help make a change and help men understand that it is OK to show emotion,” said Smith, “and that you’re not any less of a man if you do.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Two drivers walked away uninjured after a fiery early morning crash between two semi-trucks forced the closure of I-15 north of Idaho Falls. According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the flames from the ensuing diesel fire were enough to melt portions of the asphalt. A timeline for repairs has not yet been determined.

The Idaho State Police says the two-vehicle crash took place around 5:49 AM, near milepost 125 along southbound I-15. A 55-year-old man from Alberta, Canada, was driving south in a 2024 white Volvo semi-truck. Just ahead, a 25-year-old man from Monteview, Idaho, was traveling southbound in a white Kenworth semi-truck.

ISP says the Volvo rear-ended the Kenworth at milepost 125, where both semis came to a stop. As a result of the crash, the Volvo blocked both southbound lanes as the cab of the semi-truck caught fire.

Idaho Falls Firefighters rushed to the crash, extinguishing the fire; However, a portion of the roadway was damaged after diesel fuel from the trucks melted the asphalt.

Both southbound lanes were closed for around four hours as ITD and ISP investigated and worked to clear the scene. The left lane has since been reopened, while the right lane remains closed as crews work to clear the wreckage.

Fortunately, ISP says both drivers were wearing their seat belts and were not injured in the crash, which remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — One lane has reopened following an accident involving a vehicle fire in Osgood.

Idaho Falls Fire was called to the crash around 5:45 a.m. on Monday near milepost 125 in the Osgood area.

According to the Idaho Department of Transportation, a portion of the roadway was damaged after diesel fuel from the trucks melted the asphalt. A timeline for repairs has not yet been determined.

According to the Idaho State Police, no injuries have been reported.

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Seth Ratliff

KUNA, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Department of Corrections staff member has been hospitalized following a brutal assault by a convicted murderer at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution over the weekend.

On Saturday, January 17, 2026, the 56-year-old staff member, whose name has not been released, was attacked Saturday morning by inmate Robert David Pompa. Following the assault, the corporal was transported to Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise for treatment. IDOC officials have confirmed that the staff member is in stable condition.

“IMSI staff immediately secured the crime scene with assistance from officers from the Idaho State Correctional Institution and the Idaho State Correctional Center. The IMSI facility returned to normal status earlier today,” IDOC officials wrote in a news release Saturday.

The suspect, Robert David Pompa, is currently serving a 27-year sentence for a litany of violent felony convictions. In 2021, Pompa was charged with beating and killing a fellow inmate at the Madison County Jail. He later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Court records also indicate that Pompa was charged with battery on a correctional officer in early 2022 while being held at the same county facility.

The Idaho State Police have assumed the lead in the investigation into Saturday’s attack. No further details regarding the specific nature of the corporal’s injuries or the circumstances leading up to the assault have been released at this time.

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Danielle Mullenix

Residents of Eastern Idaho can expect more patches of fog during the early mornings over the next few days. Light winds will flow through parts of the Snake River Plain and upper valleys. By the end of the week, we anticipate some changes as precipitation gradually returns to Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Additionally, a ridge of high pressure remains over the region, prolonging the air stagnation advisory into the early part of the week.

AIR STAGNATION ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON MST TUESDAY:

* WHAT…Stagnant conditions will persist due to little verticalmixing and light winds. Degraded air quality is expected throughthe early part of this week as pollutants remain trapped nearthe surface.

* WHERE…Franklin/Eastern Oneida Region and Lower Snake River Plain.

* WHEN…Until noon MST Tuesday.

* IMPACTS…Periods of air stagnation have led to the buildup ofpollutants near the surface. If possible, reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning and the use of residential wood-burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Check with local agencies for possible restrictions in your area.

Some dry weather and light winds are expected to continue through the middle part of next week, and we’re still looking at some warm days with cold nights across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Sunshine will be taking the forefront of our radar this Sunday afternoon, as well as Monday and Tuesday. Sunday’s forecast also calls for clear skies and high temperatures in the lower 40s in some valleys. There is a possibility of snow and wet weather returning to our area by late next week.

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Hadley Bodell

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) – Over one thousand people in the community of Ammon gathered at McCowin Park for the 6th annual “Icy Inferno” where the fire department sets a massive pile of used Christmas trees from the past holiday on fire.

This year had the largest pile of Christmas trees yet, with over 500 trees burnt tonight. They were dropped off throughout the week at the McCowin Park. This year also included the largest firework show following the bonfire lighting. Almost two thousand people crowded into the park to feel the warmth of the bonfire, enjoy some good food and watch the fireworks.

Guests enjoyed many vendors offering food, hot drinks and treats. There were also raffles put on by many vendors, led by name sponsor Lookout Credit Union.

MC for the event and radio host Shaggy said, “Here is the biggest bonfire you’ve ever seen in your life, it is a ton of fun. And if that wasn’t enough, fireworks on top of that! To have a great bonfire and fireworks in the city of Ammon here in McCowin Park, what more could you want?”

Ammon Parks and Rec worked with the City of Ammon to put on the anticipated event. “It’s a cold night in the middle of January, post holidays and we kind of just get to have some fun and get together and have a good time,” said Randall Miller, Director of Ammon Parks and Rec.

The Ammon Fire Department made sure everyone kept a safe distance from the fire, and that it was both lit and put out safely.

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Danielle Mullenix

Eastern Idaho (KIFI) – Get ready for an adventure next week as award-winning Idaho filmmaker Dusty Hulet brings his riveting documentary “Bears of Durango” to screens across eastern Idaho. Audiences will have a rare opportunity to experience the wild drama of human-bear encounters and the quest for conservation, all through Hulet’s captivating lens.

Dusty Hulet set out to uncover the reality of what happens when wildlife and expanding communities intersect. His documentary, featured over 800 times on PBS, takes viewers deep into the mountains of Southwest Colorado to witness this dynamic firsthand.

Dusty Hulet, “Bears of Durango” Filmmaker

His nature documentary, “Bears of Durango,” explores the real-life relationship between people, researchers, and black bears in southwest Colorado. The film provides an inside look at the challenges and discoveries faced by scientists and locals as they navigate coexistence with these formidable animals.

It all started in 2011, when Colorado Parks and Wildlife set out on a groundbreaking scientific adventure to uncover why encounters between people and black bears were skyrocketing. Spearheaded by the passionate Dr. Heather Johnson, a team of dedicated wildlife researchers spent six thrilling years trekking rugged terrain, tracking bears, and unraveling the mysteries behind these escalating confrontations—all against the backdrop of Colorado’s rapidly changing landscapes.

“Bears of Durango” will screen at the Paramount Theatre in Idaho Falls this upcoming Wednesday, with additional showings in Ashton and Island Park on the 22nd and 23rd. The screenings highlight Hulet’s commitment to fostering community conversations about wildlife and land use.

To register for tickets to a screening and learn more about “Bears of Durango”, visit their official website here.

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David Pace

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea speaks with Local News 8.

BOISE, Idaho – As the Idaho Legislature kicks off for 2026, Local News 8 is interviewing the Idaho Democratic and Republican Party Chairs about their top priorities this session.

Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea outlined some of the Democrat party’s goals and reacted to Governor Brad Little’s State of the State address in an interview on Friday.

“Idaho Democrats are very concerned about what we’re seeing happen with the budget and the expressed priorities,” she said. “There is a big hole in our budget because of deep revenue cuts that were made last year. And instead of, you know, patching those holes, it seems that the Republicans supermajority seems to want to roll ahead with a budget that cuts critical services.”

She cited $450 million of “permanent revenue cuts” passed in 2025 by the Republican supermajority.

“This includes a $50 million voucher scheme that is going to send dollars out the door with zero accountability to subsidize tuition at private, religious, and for-profit schools,” Necochea said. “At the same time that we have a $100 million funding gap for special education in your local neighborhood school. So it’s just not affordable.”

Necochea also listed recently discarded mental health treatment programs and cuts to therapy for children with disabilities among her chief concerns.

“These are just really crucial things that are not really optional if we’re going to have a society where everyone has a chance to succeed,” she said.

Necochea said Democrats are gearing up for a major battle to protect Medicaid expansion in the state.

“Medicaid expansion is the best investment in our budget because we put in $1 and then we get to draw down at $9, and that means we get to cover 90,000 people in Idaho who face low wages but don’t have jobs that offer health coverage,” she said.

The Idaho Democratic Chair said her party is fighting to bring down the cost of living.

“We want families who put in the work to be able to pay their utility bills, put a roof over their head and make sure their neighborhood school is strong, and it’s going to make sure that their kids are going to be set up to do the same for the next generation,” she said.

Local News 8 will continue our coverage of the 2026 Legislative session.

We are reaching out to hear from Idaho Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon next week.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) hosted their annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration earlier this morning. This year’s celebration was a brunch in the student union building at Idaho State University.

The program included guest speakers like Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist. The guests enjoyed a breakfast buffet following the program honoring Dr. King’s legacy.

There was also a reading of the joint proclamation between the cities of Pocatello and Chubbuck, announcing that next week has been named “Martin Luther King Jr. Week” and activities will continue throughout the holiday week.

Mayor Dahlquist told us it’s important the community honor his legacy. “He had so many wonderful ways for going about promoting justice and we need that in our communities today,” he said. “He promoted community activeness and serving the community and as Mayor of Pocatello, that’s something I can try to promote with our public.”

Dahlquist also said that in order to have a welcoming community, everyone needs to take part in caring for their neighbors and focusing on kindness.

“We all need to be united,” Dahlquist said. “I am the mayor for all and today is a symbol of that being the utmost important for a leader to carry out and act upon.”

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