Author: KIFI

News Team

WASHINGTON (KIFI) — On the 22nd day of the government shutdown, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson joined House Republican leadership Wednesday to address the ongoing impacts on America’s national parks.

Simpson highlighted the significant, often overlooked, autumn visitation to the parks. Challenging the notion that national parks are primarily summer destinations, he cited statistics showing that 28 million people visited in October and another 24 million in November in 2024.

“I love Yellowstone in October and in November, when you get there and see the first snowfall and things like that, it’s a great time to visit our national parks,” said Simpson. “But we have families who have been planning to visit our National Parks for years, sometimes setting aside resources, that are now canceling their visits because of the impact this shutdown could have on their vacations.”

Simpson blames Democrats for prolonged shutdown

Simpson also praised the current Republican leadership team for its efforts toward restoring “regular order”—the normal, annual appropriations process. However, he said one thing is preventing that from happening — the government shutdown. 

“We need to open this government back up,” Simpson insisted. While acknowledging that “many other issues… need to be debated and worked on,” he pointed out that those legislative functions are on hold. He quoted Chairman Bruce Westerman, noting that key leaders “can’t have hearings and that type of stuff when we’re shut down.”

“So we need to change that, we need to open this government back up.” Simpson concluded, blaming the Senate Minority Leader for the impasse. “Get rid of this stupid Schumer shutdown…and let us do our jobs.”

Simpson also argued that House Republicans provided democrats with a clean CR (Continuing Resolution)—a temporary funding bill free of major policy riders— which he said House Democrats ultimately rejected.

Idaho Dems Point Finger at “Trump Shutdown” Over Healthcare

In contrast to Congressman Simpson’s remarks, since the early days of the shutdown, Idaho Democrats have blamed the Republican-controlled government for the lapse in funding and highlighted potential consequences for Idaho families.

The Idaho Democratic Party argues that the funding expired “despite Republican control of the White House and both chambers of Congress,” claiming that Donald Trump and Idaho Republicans “refused to get serious about avoiding a shutdown.”

The Democratic response heavily focused on the potential impact on healthcare costs, stating that Democrats were in Washington, D.C. “ready to negotiate” to prevent health insurance premiums from doubling for 100,605 Idahoans and to stop 37,000 Idahoans from losing their health insurance entirely.

In September, Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea released a scathing statement, labeling the closure a “Trump Shutdown.”

“Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. With all that power, they showed they can’t lead and don’t care to,” said Necochea. “Democrats fought to protect your health care, keep premiums from doubling for more than 100,000 Idahoans, and save our rural hospitals from devastating cuts. But Mike Simpson, Russ Fulcher, Jim Risch, and Mike Crapo stood with their party and turned their backs on Idaho families,” stated Necochea.

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Ariel Jensen

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Goat Grazers are using their herds as an innovative way to help control weeds in Idaho. The Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust manages property for wildlife habitat, open space, and recreational opportunities.

For two days, they are using 70 goats to limit the amount of invasive species like cheatgrass, helping foster native plant growth, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce the risk of wildfires.

They are choosing to use goats to help them reduce the use of chemicals, which is good for the land and the animals. 

“So go to a really innovative way to help us control the weeds, primarily because it allows us to limit our use of chemicals and that aligns with our mission of stewarding the land according to best practices for ecosystem and wildlife, said Carly Flandro, communications coordinator for Sagebrush  Steppe Land Trust.

This started as a pilot program, and their first trial was last spring. Steppe Land Trust says they plan to do this twice a year here on out because it has been so effective.

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Seth Ratliff

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana (KIFI) — Effective immediately, West Yellowstone Mayor Jeff McBirnie has resigned from his position. The move follows a public outcry over a series of highly controversial posts on his personal Facebook account.

The posts, which were confirmed as authentic by the Montana-based newspaper, The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, included statements such as, “I’m ANTIFA. F Trump and his Nazi followers.”

Mayor McBirnie addressed the controversy in another Facebook post announcing his resignation. “I owe the town an apology,” McBirnie wrote. “What I posted was mean and divisive. I have clearly fallen off the tracks. I have resigned from the council. Thank you and sorry to have caused such a drama.”

McBirnie was appointed Mayor of the Town of West Yellowstone earlier this year and had been up for reelection before his resignation.

The Town of West Yellowstone acknowledged the resignation in a press release, thanking McBirnie for his “time and efforts on behalf of the community.” The Town Council is scheduled to consider appointing a successor Mayor on November 4, 2025, as outlined by the Town Charter.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Students and staff at Highland High School were forced to evacuate Wednesday afternoon after a blaring fire alarm interrupted classes, an incident that comes seven months after the school broke ground on its massive post-fire reconstruction.

According to Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 (D25), the evacuation was a precautionary measure made out of “an abundance of caution.” A preliminary investigation indicates the alarm system was triggered by a loss of pressure in the school’s water lines.

“All learners and staff are safe at the football field evacuation site and will be released back to classes as soon as possible,” D25 posted on Facebook during the event. The students and staff were able to return to the building shortly after the issue was identified.

The minor disruption comes amid the school’s ongoing recovery from a devastating fire in April 2023 that destroyed the gym, cafeteria, and music department. The district has been working to rebuild those portions of the school.

Earlier this month, the school district released a time-lapse video showing the progress of Highland High School’s rebuild. Phase one of the project is expected to be finished between January 20 and 27 of the coming year. Phase two is slated for completion in July of the same year.

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CNN Newsource

By Evan Perez, CNN

(CNN) — Attorneys for former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith rebutted claims by Republican lawmakers that investigators in the January 6 election subversion case had “wiretapped” GOP members of Congress.

Senate Republicans in recent weeks accused Smith and the FBI of “political weaponization” after the FBI disclosed 2023 court orders used to obtain phone toll records belonging to eight senators and one House member. The records covered calls over four days surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack by Donald Trump supporters on the Capitol.

The toll records do not include content, but detail time and length of calls and the telephone numbers with which the lawmakers communicated, and are a routine part of Justice Department investigations.

In a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and his Democratic counterpart, Dick Durbin, Smith’s lawyers dispute that there was any political motive in obtaining the records, which they note were disclosed in the 2024 indictment of Trump and in Smith’s report on his investigation.

“As described by various Senators, the toll data collection was narrowly tailored and limited to the four days from January 4, 2021 to January 7, 2021, with a focus on telephonic activity during the period immediately surrounding the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol,” reads the letter from Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, which was reviewed by CNN.

“The subpoena’s limited temporal range is consistent with a focused effort to confirm or refute reports by multiple news outlets that during and after the January 6 riots at the Capitol, President Trump and his surrogates attempted to call Senators to urge them to delay the certification of the 2020 election results.”

The Smith attorneys note that toll records of then-President Joe Biden were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur in the probe of his mishandling of classified documents, and in the investigation of Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who was convicted on bribery and foreign influence charges.

“Mr. Smith’s use of the toll records as Special Counsel was lawful and in accordance with normal investigative procedure,” the letter from Smith’s attorneys says.

Republican senators raised the disclosure of the toll records during a recent Senate hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi. During the same hearing, Democrats asked about possible political motives of the recent indictments brought against Trump’s perceived political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Museum of Idaho:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Museum of Idaho is excited to announce a generous $50,000 donation from Oklo, an advanced nuclear technology company developing its first commercial Aurora powerhouse in Idaho at Idaho National Laboratory. This partnership marks a major donation to the cultural and educational fabric of the region, reinforcing Oklo’s deep commitment to the Idaho Falls community.

The donation will support the Museum’s mission to inspire lifelong learning through dynamic exhibits, educational programming, and ongoing research in science, history, and archaeology. It comes during the run of Mummies of the World, a major traveling exhibit currently on display at the museum.

“After the groundbreaking for the very first Aurora powerhouse, the team celebrated by giving back to the community: a $50,000 donation to the Museum of Idaho to reflect our commitment and gratitude to Idaho Falls and its cultural institutions,” remarked Bonita Chester, Head of Communications and Media at Oklo. “We’re not just here to build essential infrastructure and deploy advanced nuclear technology. Our mission is to both enrich and improve the communities in which we operate. We couldn’t be more excited to be the newest members of the Idaho Falls community.”

Chris Sheetz, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Museum of Idaho, said: “We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation, which means so much to the Museum of Idaho’s mission. This donation will directly support the growth of our educational programs, the curation of powerful exhibits, and the development of exciting new traveling exhibitions that serve and engage our community. Partnerships like this are vital in helping us bring history, science, and humanities to our community.”

The partnership between Oklo and the Museum of Idaho began earlier this month with the unveiling of a hands-on, community mural project in the museum’s Maeck Education Center. From September 13–19, local residents participated in painting a large-scale paint-by-number mural celebrating East Idaho’s culture, landscapes, scientific achievements, and pioneering spirit in nuclear innovation.

Created by award-winning Idaho artist Rett Longmore and painted with the help of local community members, the mural brings together Idaho’s past and future in energy innovation. Featuring both the Oklo Aurora powerhouse and the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), the artwork highlights how history and innovation meet in Idaho—and how community is at the center of building what comes next.

The Aurora powerhouse is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that utilizes metal fuel and is based on the proven design and operating heritage of EBR-II, which operated in Idaho from 1964 to 1994. Oklo is sitting its first Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and is proud to have worked alongside the community to bring this vision to life—looking forward to continuing that partnership as the Aurora-INL takes shape in Idaho.

The collaboration culminated in a special reception hosted at the museum, where Oklo presented a surprise $50,000 check—underscoring the company’s intention to be a long-term partner in Idaho Falls’ cultural and educational development.

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Ariel Jensen

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A city block in Pocatello was evacuated last night, October 21, after a local woman driving under the influence crashed her pickup truck into a local bar and ruptured a natural gas line.

Around 11:30, Police say the driver, whose name has not yet been released, was drunk and lost control while driving on Union Pacific Avenue, crashing into the Bourbon Barrel Bar.

Owners of The Bourbon Barrel Bar told local news outlets that their establishment, along with surrounding buildings on the block, was evacuated for several hours while utility crews worked to secure and repair the damaged gas line. Police say, fortunately, no one was injured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation by the Pocatello Police Department, and charges against the driver are pending.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – October 19–25 marks Teen Traffic Safety Week, and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) along with the Office of Highway Safety (OHS) are working to raise awareness about the importance of safe driving habits among teens and their families.

To help promote safer driving, OHS is encouraging parents and teens to remember these four key safety tips:

Buckle up.

Avoid distractions.

Drive sober.

Be patient.

OHS promotes safe driving through several initiatives:

Backseat Driver’s Manual: Created with local students, this activity book teaches kids about safe driving and encourages family conversations. 

SHIFT Idaho: A statewide platform offering resources, materials, and community involvement opportunities focused on safe teen driving.

Parent-Teen Driving Contracts: Helps families set clear expectations and responsibilities behind the wheel.

Alive at 25: A defensive driving course that teaches young drivers how to make safe, responsible decisions.

Driver Education Partnerships: In collaboration with the Idaho Department of Education and local driving schools, OHS supports quality driver education statewide.

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Curtis Jackson

KUNA, Idaho (KIFI) — New developments in the case of the man who confessed to killing four University of Idaho students in November of 2022. The defense for convicted killer Bryan Kohberger is challenging a state request for an additional $27,330 in financial restitution, arguing that public donations have already covered the travel and hotel costs for the families of victims Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen.

The state of Idaho filed the financial compensation request last month, seeking the funds specifically to cover expenses incurred by the two families.

Kohberger’s lawyers are fighting the claim, arguing he shouldn’t have to pay because those costs were already paid for through GoFundMe donations from people across the country. They also say he can’t pay anything else — because he’s in prison for life and has no money.

Kohberger has already agreed to pay over $250 thousand in fines, plus $20 thousand to the families of his victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

RELATED: A timeline of the killings of four University of Idaho students

Kohberger pleaded guilty in July as part of a bid to avoid the death penalty, ultimately accepting a life sentence and waiving his right to appeal or contest the sentence.

A court hearing has been scheduled for November 5th to discuss and rule on the state’s request for the additional restitution funds.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) — On Thursday, October 23rd, the Jazz House Big Band will host “Swinging: The Great American Songbook” at the Frontier Center in Idaho Falls. Ticket sales will benefit the EIRMC Auxiliary and raise funds for patient care.

The show will feature a live jazz band and vocalists, showcasing jazz music from the Tin Pan Alley era all the way to Motown and 60s blues.

“I just love the music,” Steve South, one of the lead vocalists, said. “The show is traveling through time and eras by sharing songs from the 1920s to the 1960s.”

This benefit concert, sponsored by Norco, Inc., follows the opening of the Healing Garden at EIRMC and aims to provide comfort for patients at the hospital. The healing garden was sponsored by the generous donations of the EIRMC Auxiliary, and the hospital hopes to expand the garden’s amenities in the years to come.

The mission of the Auxiliary is to support hospitalized patients by assisting with lodging, travel, and duration accommodations, as well as providing stuffed animals and toys for children.

“Our goal is to provide stuffed animals and blankets to kids who are there for extended periods,” South added. “We want to help them feel comfortable in a scary place like a hospital.”

The Jazz House Big Band is East Idaho’s premier jazz group, featuring an 18-piece ensemble. Their goal is to bring jazz standards and dance music to life through timeless concerts and events in the Idaho Falls area.

They host swing dance classes on the first Saturday of every month and maintain an event calendar showcasing their upcoming concert series.

Doors will open at 6 PM, and the performance will begin at 7 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the Idaho Falls Art Council website. For more information about the Jazz House Big Band and where to purchase tickets, click here.

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