Author: KIFI

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Wednesday, the Bonneville County Commissioners officially partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to begin repairs on Bear Creek Road. This agreement paves the way for reopening full access to popular recreational spots like Calamity Campground and the Snake River Boat Club, as well as numerous summer homes, which have been hampered since a 2023 landslide closed a section of the rural roadway.

Since the landslide, access to these areas has been limited to a two-track dirt road, making it impossible for trailers and larger vehicles to pass. The upcoming repairs will restore normal traffic access to the area.

“We are extremely grateful to the Forest Service representatives and their shared desire to assist Bonneville County residents in regaining access to this beautiful recreation area,” stated Commissioner John Walker after signing the agreement. He also extended special thanks to Idaho’s legislative representatives, Congressman Mike Simpson, Senator James Risch, and Senator Mike Crapo, for their support.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Forest Service will provide up to $825,000 in reimbursement to Bonneville County for the repairs specifically addressing the landslide area. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $1,000,000.

Bonneville County is planning to begin accepting bids from qualified contractors in July 2025.

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Phillip Willis

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — After months of detours and delays, the 17th Street bridge in Ammon is now open to 3 lanes of travel. According to the City of Ammon, the remaining lanes are expected to be open ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Earlier this month, Ammon City Administrator Micha Austin told Local News 8 to expect the bridge to be open ahead of Independence Day, clarifying that the City is not directly associated with the project. According to Austin, everything has been handled at the state level by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) and its contractor, Keller Associates.

Even though the bridge is partially open, the contractor will still be performing work with lane closures. City officials are asking travelers to please use caution while driving through the construction zone.

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CNN Newsource

By Hannah Rabinowitz, CNN

(CNN) — The Justice Department has charged a man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at a group of people demonstrating in Boulder, Colorado, in support of Israeli hostages with committing hate crimes.

The indictment comes days after a federal judge in the state said the department could proceed with hate crimes charges against the man, Mohamed Sabry Soliman. He was already facing two such charges.

On June 1, prosecutors say, Soliman hurled Molotov cocktails at the group, injuring at least eight people. Investigators say he planned the attack for a year and was driven by a desire “to kill all Zionist people.”

Soliman, an Egyptian national, is now facing a total of 12 hate crimes charges, the Justice Department said Wednesday, some of which carry a potential sentence of life in prison.

As part of the indictment, prosecutors revealed new allegations of a handwritten note they allege law enforcement found in Soliman’s car after the attack.

“Zionism is our enemies untill Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from ourland,” the note read, according to court documents. Soliman also described Israel as a “cancer entity,” documents show.

Once in custody, investigators say, Soliman said he had intended to kill people at the demonstration and that he “decide[d] to take [his] revenge from these people,” and “search[ed] the internet looking for any Zionist event.”

Soliman has not yet entered a formal plea in the case.

In a recent hearing, Soliman’s defense attorney David Kraut argued that Soliman sought to target the protesting group because of their political views – their assumed support for the nation of Israel and the political movement of Zionism – and not because members of the group were Jewish. An attack motivated by someone’s political views is not considered a hate crime under federal law.

The judge acknowledged there may be holes in the prosecutors’ case, but said that at this stage, the government gets the benefit of the doubt on questions about evidence.

This story has been updated with additional details.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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News Release

Idaho/Wyo. (KIFI) — Fire managers have raised the fire danger rating to “high” across Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge due to dangerously dry conditions that allow fires to start easily and spread rapidly. This elevated risk comes as the 2,200-acre Horse Fire continues to burn in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, currently 20% contained.

Fire managers say even though things still look green, it’s the dry, dead timber on the ground that’s fueling wildfires.

To mitigate the risk of wildfires, fire managers strongly advise against building campfires. Consider dressing in layers for warmth instead of relying on a fire.

If you do choose to have a fire in areas where it’s allowed, consider the following guidelines:

Never leave a campfire unattended.

Keep a shovel and a water bucket close by.

Use several gallons of water to fully put out your campfire.

Employ the “drown, stir, feel, and repeat” method until all ashes are cold to the touch.

Break apart charred logs and cover all remains with dirt.

This year alone, 19 unattended campfires have been discovered in the Teton Interagency Fire area. Individuals responsible for a campfire that sparks a wildfire can be held liable for the suppression costs.

As the Independence Day holiday approaches, fire managers are reminding park visitors that fireworks are strictly prohibited in Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and the National Elk Refuge.

For more information, safety tips, and current restrictions, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

MOOSE, Wyo. (KIFI) — A group of four were arrested yesterday after allegedly drag racing high-end luxury sports cars on Teton Park Road, a scenic and heavily used corridor within Grand Teton National Park. The incident, which happened around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, reportedly involved the group using both lanes of the roadway, creating a significant hazard for other park visitors.

“This kind of behavior is unsafe, irresponsible, and completely unacceptable in a national park,” said Grand Teton Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “It puts visitors, staff, and wildlife at serious risk.”

Stopping the alleged drag racers required a coordinated effort from park law enforcement. A total of twelve law enforcement rangers were involved, initiating traffic stops throughout the park to apprehend and arrest the four individuals.

The National Park Service emphasizes that speed limits within Grand Teton National Park are in place for a reason. “Grand Teton is home to a wide range of wildlife, including bears, moose, elk, and bison that often cross roads unexpectedly,” said the Park Service. “Slower speeds also support safe recreation in an area that welcomes millions of visitors each year.”

Grand Teton National Park urges all visitors to recreate responsibly by:

Obey posted speed limits.

Be alert for wildlife, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Use pullouts for sightseeing and photos.

Follow park rules and respect the safety of others.

The incident remains under investigation, and further charges may be filed.

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Seth Ratliff

PHOENIX, Arizona (KIFI) — Convicted killer Lori Vallow Daybell, often referred to as the “Doomsday Mom,” has filed a motion demanding a new trial in Arizona. She was recently found guilty of conspiring with her deceased brother, Alex Cox, to attempt the murder of her niece’s former husband, Brandon Boudreaux.

In a 13-page document, Vallow Daybell argues that the court violated her Fourth Amendment rights by compelling her to attend court while ill. She also alleges a “lack of impartiality/abuse of discretion” by Judge Justin Beresky.

Throughout the trial, Vallow Daybell was reprimanded multiple times. At one point, she was removed from the courtroom after starting a shouting match with Judge Beresky during her cross-examination of Brandon Boudreaux. The judge had attempted to warn her against introducing details about her “good and kind nature,” which could have opened the door to discussions about her previous murder convictions. Vallow Daybell accused the judge of yelling at her and confronted him, leading to her being removed from the courtroom by a deputy.

In her filing, Vallow Daybell alleged the court’s actions show a lack of impartiality, arguing that “any attempt to present the Defendant’s case was met with threats of informing the jury about Defendant’s prior convictions.”

On Monday, June 9, Judge Beresky authorized the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office to use “any means necessary, including force,” to ensure Vallow Daybell’s presence, as she appeared reluctant to attend the trial. Her new motion sheds light on this, as she claims in court documents to have been suffering from a viral “infection” since May 30th.

Vallow Daybell claims that a jail-ordered health evaluation was made “without her knowledge,” but the testing “came back with an infection in need of antibiotics for treatment.”

“Judge Beresky still ordered defendant to defend herself at trial, knowing she was too ill to proceed,” she argued in the documents.

This marks Vallow Daybell’s latest attempt to overturn a conviction. Her attorney in Idaho recently filed an appeal with the Idaho Supreme Court to overturn all charges, including three murder convictions. In May, Judge Beresky denied a motion for a new trial following her conviction for conspiring to kill her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, citing no evidence of misconduct or partiality.

Vallow Daybell’s second Arizona trial concluded on June 13, 2025, less than two weeks ago. Her motion for a new trial comes just a month before her scheduled sentencing, on July 25, 2025.

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Max Gershon

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)—Residents of Blackfoot are raising concerns over a proposed expansion called Honeybrook 4. The expansion is expected to build 52 new townhouses in the next 1-2 years.

As of 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24th, the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended the expansion to the City Council.

The concerned residents highlighted issues like water and traffic. One said, “[Real Estate] Developers have been eager to use the people of Blackfoot.” According to Collin Hunter, the developer of the expansion, the rental price of these townhouses can reach up to $2,500.

The overall feeling from residents in the area is that they do indeed want growth, but they do not feel that their voices and requests are being heard.

The townhouses would be built on the east side of town, off of Lawrence Lane.

Editor’s note: This story was updated from its original version.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Health officials in Idaho are urging caution as the CDC continues to confirm increasing Measles cases across the United States. Over the weekend, neighboring Utah was added to the list as public health officials announced the state’s first confirmed measles case, the latest in over a thousand cases in 36 states.

The CDC identified that 95% of these cases were from people who may have been unvaccinated. The Gem State has been listed in the top 10 States with the highest rates of children who have not received a measles vaccine or whose vaccination records are not up to date. 

“I know it’s been steadily declining throughout the past year. And so the main data that we have is for vaccinated school kids. It does show that about 20% are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. So that decline has just been occurring. You know, after COVID, we’ve seen those declines in all vaccines,” said Esmeralda Quintero, Nurse Manager for Eastern Idaho Public Health.

Quintero encourages everyone to check their vaccination records. If they don’t know how to do that, give Eastern Idaho Public Health a call to get answers on protecting against measles. For more information, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a press release from the City of Pocatello:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — As the 4th of July holiday approaches, the Pocatello Fire Department reminds all residents to celebrate safely and responsibly. Following the recent wildfire on West Clark Street, fire danger in our area is undeniable.

We encourage everyone to enjoy the spirit of the 4th of July responsibly. Only “Safe and Sane” fireworks like sparklers, fountains, and poppers are allowed within city limits and only in designated areas. You can check out the City of Pocatello website for a map outlining where fireworks are allowed and where they are prohibited due to increased fire danger.

Click the link to see map: pocatello.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2750/2024-Pocatello-Chubbuck-Firework-Zones-Map-PDF

The recent fire on West Clark Street serves as a stark reminder of how quickly and easily a spark can ignite a devastating wildfire in our dry conditions. This incident underscores the importance of adhering to all fire safety guidelines and local regulations.

The use of illegal aerial fireworks includes rockets, Roman candles, mortars, and any that leave the ground, is strictly prohibited in Pocatello due to their high fire risk. Aerial fireworks can easily ignite dry vegetation, rooftops, or other flammable materials and are a leading cause of wildfires and structure fires during the 4th of July holiday.

We urge all residents to adhere to the following safety tips:

Use only Safe and Sane fireworks in permitted areas

Keep water or a hose nearby

Light fireworks away from homes and dry grass

Always supervise children

Soak used fireworks before disposal

Let’s keep this Independence Day fun and fire-free. Thank you for doing your part to keep Pocatello safe.

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Linda Larsen

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A Semi-truck rollover is blocking traffic along milepost 390 of Highway 26, near the Palisades Reservoir. The accident happened around 1:59 PM on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, and is expected to cause delays for several hours.

The driver of the semi-truck escaped without injuries. However, one eastbound lane is currently closed as crews work to remove the overturned vehicle.

The driver escaped without injuries; However, a single lane of traffic heading eastbound is closed and expected to remain blocked for several hours as the semi is removed.

According to Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal, the truck was hauling produce, so there is no risk of hazardous material spills. While the exact cause of the single-vehicle rollover crash is still under investigation, Crystal suspects that speed may have been a contributing factor.

The accident remains under investigation. Watch for alerts on traffic delays and construction at https://511.idaho.gov/#:Alerts.

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