Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) — Tagg-N-Go is once again turning up the thrills for a goodcause. SCAREWASH, the company’s annual haunted car wash, returns from October 24–30, running each night from 7 to 9 p.m. All proceeds will support a local child battling cancer.

From haunted encounters to eerie effects, SCAREWASH puts a Halloween twist on the usual wash while helping families in need. Admission is $7 for members and $25 for non-members.

Co-founders Quinn Allgood and Conner Atkin created SCAREWASH in memory of Allgood’smother, who passed away from breast cancer in 2013. Since then, it has grown into acommunity tradition, with 100% of profits going directly to local individuals and families battlingcancer.

“My mom passed away from breast cancer.” Quinn Allgood, co-founder, states, “Conner and Iboth know what it feels like to go through trials and to be lifted by our communities, and wewanted Scarewash to do the same for others.”

Each October, SCAREWASH raises funds to ease financial burdens while offeringencouragement and hope to those fighting similar battles. This year, all funds raised at the Idaho Falls location will be donated to two-year-old Cohen Leckington, a brave young boy who is battling B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Every dollar raised will go straight to Cohen and his family—100% of the funds will benefit him.

Per his doctors’ orders, he and his mom are now living in Utah to stay close to the hospital during treatment. His dad and little sister remain in Idaho while his dad works and travels back and forth. Cohen’s treatment plan will last about three years, with frequent hospital visits and ongoing care.

Three Utah Tagg-N-Go locations are also participating in this year’s haunted car wash event, including locations in Saratoga Springs, St. George, and Cedar City.

For full event details, participating locations, to nominate someone who needs support, or to make a donation online, click here.

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News Team

UPDATE: The manhunt for a murder suspect is over.

16-year-old bobby g. Jackson is in custody in Pocatello around 2:30 am Friday morning.

Police say there is no further danger to the public regarding this incident.

Original post:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Blackfoot Police are investigating a homicide and are asking the public for help locating a suspect.

Officers responded to reports of a deceased individual on the south end of Blackfoot on October 23rd.

At this time, the death is being investigated as a homicide.

Investigators say they have identified a possible suspect connection and are searching for 16-year-old Bobby G. Jackson.

Jackson was last seen wearing blue Levi’s, a light plaid jacket, cowboy boots, and a dark t-shirt. Authorities warn Jackson is considered extremely dangerous and may be armed.

It is currently unknown whether Jackson is traveling on foot or in a vehicle. Jackson was last seen near the intersection of Highway 91 and Riverton Road at approximately 12:30 p.m.

Residents are urged to lock their doors and remain vigilant. Residents are also encouraged not to approach him and to contact 911 immediately if they see him.

If you have any information, call the Bingham County Emergency Communication Center non-emergency line at 208-785-1234 and report the sighting to dispatch. 

No further details regarding the deceased individual or the homicide investigation will be released at this time, as the investigation remains active and ongoing.

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Seth Ratliff

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has released new video footage, compiled from body camera and drone perspectives, detailing the events of the August 19th shooting death of 35-year-old Talon Sessions.

This release follows a decision made over a month ago when both the Bonneville County and Bingham County deputies involved were cleared of any wrongdoing. Bingham County Prosecutor Ryan Jolley concluded that the deputies were justified in their actions after a thorough investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force.

RELATED: Deputies cleared in Shelley officer-involved shooting, Prosecutor says deadly force was justified

The incident that ultimately led to the officer-involved shooting began with an attempted 4-wheeler theft at a home near Shelley at just before 11:00 p.m. on August 19th. According to the initial 911 reports, the homeowner confronted the suspect, later identified as Sessions, in an exchange of gunfire that left both the homeowner and Sessions wounded before Sessions fled the scene.

According to Prosecutor Jolley’s report, deputies located Sessions lying in the brush west of the property shortly after arriving. The video footage shows Sessions holding a revolver as law enforcement approached. Though he initially appears to struggle, he then shifted position and repeatedly attempted to raise the weapon toward the deputies.

Deputies yelled multiple times for Sessions to drop the weapon, show his hands, and surrender, even offering medical help and warning the man they had a K-9 unit on the way. Despite this, Sessions ultimately raised the revolver and pointed it directly at the deputies. In response, six deputies from both counties then fired a total of 30 rounds, killing Sessions.

The newly compiled footage features portions of the 911 calls received by Bingham County Dispatch, in addition to the on-the-ground body camera and aerial drone video. According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell of the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the video is intended to supplement and provide additional context to the prosecutor’s earlier review of the incident.

To view the video, click HERE. Editor’s Note: This video contains graphic content and may be disturbing or inappropriate for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

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News Team

UPDATE:

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — The Fort Hall Police Department has released an update informing the community they’ve located the missing car and thanking the public for their help.

ORIGINAL:

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) —The Fort Hall Police Department is actively asking the public for help in locating a missing vehicle and has announced that a reward is being offered for information leading to its discovery and recovery. The department has not specified the reason for the search or the nature of the crime associated with the vehicle.

The car in question is a Dark Gray 2014 Chevrolet Cruze bearing the Idaho license plate 4BI282U. Authorities have shared photos of the car on social media, but noted the vehicle may look different from the images as the chrome trim around the doors has been removed.

Police issued a strong public safety warning regarding the vehicle. “If located, DO NOT attempt to recover the vehicle and contact the FHPD IMMEDIATELY,” the department wrote on Facebook.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the dark gray Chevrolet Cruze is asked to contact FHPD Dispatch at (208)238-4000, or email information to CI Sweat at Cody.Sweat@sbtribes.com

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Noah Farley

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho universities and colleges are planning to reorganize, eliminate programs, and reduce their staff after Governor Brad Little made 3% budget cuts permanent.

Governor Brad Little signed executive order 2025-05 in August, which implements a 3% reduction in general fund spending and prepares for upcoming tax cuts by the Trump administration.

The governor asked Idaho’s colleges and universities to submit new budget plans for 2026-27 that reflect a 3% cut in their budgets—including Idaho State University.

ISU has to cut $3 million from its budget. In documents made public last week, ISU says the budget cuts will likely include a reduction in staff, but says their commitment to students, their success, and Idaho’s workforce and economy remains unshakable.

Local News 8 has reached out to Idaho State University for further comment and we are waiting to hear back. 

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Ariel Jensen

LAVA HOT SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) — A popular Idaho tourist attraction is shutting down for a time to renovate and upgrade the facility.

The hot pools at Lava Hot Springs are getting a facelift. Managers say they’re making it better for visitors. The hottest hot pool is the one under construction.

“So that pool was done in the early 1980s, and there is no foundation structure under to support the earth moving all the time. So that pool was buckling and failing. The steps were moving steps, broke off, and it was just falling into itself,” said Tyson Koester, Executive Director of the Lava Hot Springs Foundation.

Managers tell us the hot pool area is tightly confined for the majority of the construction. As a result, they had to use special tools and equipment to keep this project going.

“We run two and a half million gallons a day of water through this facility. So there are no valves, there’s no on and off,” said Koester. “So, it’s how do we control the water? What do we do with the water to get the facility back open, and also do water where we need to put the supporting foundation, and for the new pool?”

Despite the challenges of working with moving water, they plan to open the four other pools by November 7th, but the hottest pool is not expected to be open for another seven months.

“That’s a big project. It’s, you know, state of the art. It’s not an easy task. We’ve got a great team on it, and hopefully we can provide a product that will last for a long time and there’ll be some great improvements for ADA access,” said Koester.

They plan to have a grand re-opening once the first phase of renovations is complete in November.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An exciting new service is coming soon to the Idaho Falls Regional Airport. The airport is adding another nonstop seasonal flight from Idaho Falls to Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The flight will be operated by United Airlines.

“This adds even more travel options and convenience for our passengers heading east and beyond,” the airport posted to social media.

The news comes a little over 6 months after the airport added a similar service by American Airlines. Commenting on the addition in April, Idaho Falls Regional Airport Director Ian Turner said it was a route “the Idaho Falls Regional Airport has been after for a number of years.”

The new service is expected to start in May 2026.

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News Team

AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO (KIFI) — American Falls Joint School District #381 is celebrating a major achievement by a group of local educators. The American Falls Early Learning Collaborative has earned first place in the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) statewide “Shark Tank” competition at the Early Learning Collaborative Symposium.

The collaborative’s presentation was recognized by judges as the most fundable project due to its creativity and passion for strengthening early learning opportunities in the community. The winning presentation was delivered by team members Abi Hawker, Whitney Lankford, and Kim Jackman.

In addition to securing the top prize overall, the American Falls team also received the award for Best Display for their visually appealing presentation materials.

D381 says the judges assessed presentations on six key areas: presentation quality, impact on children and families, systems-building through the Six Buckets Framework, collaboration and partnerships, response to judges’ questions, and innovation and creativity. The American Falls team achieved the highest total score, with judges specifically praising their strong impact narrative and powerful examples of community collaboration.

Reflecting on the recognition, Abi Hawker shared, “This recognition really belongs to our entire community. The American Falls Early Learning Collaborative is successful because so many people—schools, parents, businesses, and organizations—work together to give every child the best possible start in life.”

The American Falls Early Learning Collaborative is a joint community effort supported by several local preschools, including Hillcrest Preschool, St. John’s Preschool, Baby Bee Daycare and Preschool, Buttercups Learning Center, and American Falls Head Start.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello is celebrating the newest addition to the Pocatello Fire Department’s arsenal. Next week, the city is hosting a traditional push-in ceremony next week to officially welcome the department’s new tractor-drawn aerial (TDA) ladder truck, designated Truck 1.

“This new aerial truck represents a major investment in public safety and emergency response,” said Pocatello Fire Chief Ryan O’Hearn. “We’re excited to show the community what it can do and to carry on a proud fire service tradition with this ceremony.”

The welcoming event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 29th, at 5:15 PM at Pocatello Fire Department, Fire Station #1, 408 E. Whitman Street

The event will include brief remarks from city officials, a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and an open house, giving community members a chance to explore the station, meet their local firefighters, and see Truck 1 up close.

The celebration will culminate in the time-honored push-in ceremony. This unique fire service tradition dates back to the days of horse-drawn fire equipment when firefighters had to physically push the heavy apparatus back into the bay. Today, PFD says it symbolizes the commitment of firefighters to protecting the community and formally placing the truck into service.

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News Release

The following is a press release from Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s Office:

BOISE, Idaho — Attorney General Raúl Labrador filed a motion for summary judgment asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s Defense of Life Act. The motion reveals that Dr. Stacy Seyb, the physician bringing the challenge, never understood Idaho’s law nor read the January 2023 Idaho Supreme Court decision clarifying the state’s abortion laws when he transferred pregnant women out of state.

Dr. Seyb, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at St. Luke’s Health System, sued Idaho, claiming the state’s abortion restrictions are unconstitutional. But his own deposition testimony undermines his claim because he referred patients out of state without learning what Idaho’s laws allow. He admitted he didn’t understand Idaho’s law, which permits physicians to perform abortions when the doctor, in good faith medical judgment, believes an abortion is necessary to prevent the woman’s death—without requiring certainty or imminence.

Dr. Seyb testified he never read the Idaho Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Planned Parenthood v. State that clarified doctors may use “good faith medical judgment” without “objective certainty” or requiring death to be “imminent.” He also claimed that he received no training on the Defense of Life Act from St. Luke’s. When asked how close to death a woman must be before he can perform an abortion, he testified: “I wish someone would answer that for me”—even though the Idaho Supreme Court answered that question a year before he airlifted patients out of state.

“The Idaho Supreme Court told doctors in 2023 they have broad clinical judgment to provide necessary care,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Dr. Seyb did not educate himself on what Idaho law permits, which is required of every doctor in Idaho. His patients suffered from his lack of understanding, not because of our laws.”

The case is Seyb v. Members of the Idaho Board of Medicine, pending before Judge B. Lynn Winmill in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho.

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