Author: KIFI

Max Gershon

EAST IDAHO (KIFI) — A recent nationwide analysis of 129,825 fatal crashes by ISelect has revealed a trend: US highways, are the site of the most deadly accidents across in Idaho. The data shows over the past five years there have been 1,071 fatal crashes recorded statewide. Here’s the breakdown by road type where fatal crashes occur: State highways: 35%, U.S. highways: 40%, Interstates: 24%, Local streets: 1%.

This finding challenges the common perception that high-speed interstates pose the greatest risk. State highways often feature a mix of higher speeds, frequent access points, intersections, varying traffic types (including pedestrians, cyclists, and slower vehicles), and less separation between opposing lanes—factors that can elevate crash severity compared to controlled-access interstates.

According to the analysis, the top 10 roads in Idaho with the highest number of fatal crashes over the five-year period are:

Rank
Idaho Roads
Total Crashes

1
US-95
84

2
I-84
81

3
US-20
56

4
I-15
38

5
SR-55
35

6
US-93
31

7
US-30
24

8
US-12
20

9
SR-75
18

10
US-26
18

Local News 8 spoke with Sky Buffat from the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) about why state and U.S. highways see more fatal crashes than interstates. She explained that these roads serve as “lifelines” for communities across the Gem State.

“They are lifelines, I-15 connects Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Those are daily travel for many people in our area,” the official noted. “U.S. 20 is a major artery and lifeline, because they’re the most heavily used… This is what connects all of our communities. It’s where people live, work, play, all of it. It does fall to reason that they with us have the traffic, which gives the propensity for there to be crashes.”

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Seth Ratliff

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A weekend excursion turned tragic in the Big Hole Mountain range after a 63-year-old man lost his life in a snowmobile crash.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, January 11. At around 3:00 PM, Teton County Idaho Search and Rescue (TCISAR) received an urgent call for help involving a snowmobiler who’d crashed into a tree.

Sending out a ground and short-haul helicopter team, TCISAR transported him to an awaiting ambulance. Despite the rapid response and the life-saving measures performed by volunteer rescuers and emergency medical personnel, the man succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

“We do wish to express our deepest condolences to his friends and family,” TCISAR wrote in a post on Facebook. The identity of the victim has not yet been released.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities in Bannock County have released the identity of the 51-year-old man killed on Tuesday after his vehicle struck a detached semi-trailer on US Highway 30.

Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner has identified the man as Bradley Bassett of Pocatello, noting that Bassett’s next of kin have been notified. “My thoughts are with Bradley’s family and friends during this time of loss,” Danner said in a statement.

RELATED: Driver killed after striking disconnected semi-trailer on US 30

The accident took place on January 13, 2026. A 2024 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling eastbound when the truck’s single trailer disconnected from the cab and came to a rest in the middle of the highway, completely blocking the westbound lane.

Bassett, who was traveling westbound in a silver Mercury Grand Marquis, slammed into the stationary trailer.

The exact cause of the mechanical failure that led to the trailer’s disconnection has not been released. The crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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Megan Lavin

EDITORS’ NOTE: To ensure full transparency, Local News 8 notes that business owner Claudy Lavin is married to a member of our reporting team. KIFI provides no formal advertisement or endorsement for Idaho Falls Junk Removal, and this segment was selected purely for informational purposes.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Today is National Organize Your Home Day, and if you’re not sure where to start, Local News 8 talked to a local junk disposal expert to give you a few pointers.

Claudy Lavin is the owner of Idaho Falls Junk Removal, and he says a lot of people don’t get rid of things, simply because they don’t know how. Paint is one example.

“So one of the things you need to do to dispose of paint is got to make sure that it’s dried out. So you can either open the can and let it sit out to dry out, or you can use kitty litter so that it helps dry it out. That way we can properly dispose of it at the transfer station,” says Lavin.

But, he reminds us that’s not your only option with paint. “If you don’t feel like drying out your paint, another thing you can do is donate it to Habitat for Humanity.” 

If you have bigger areas in sight, he says tackling big items that take up large real estate can make a big difference–like appliances that no longer work, exercise equipment you’re no longer using, or old furniture. Once those are gone, it can really breathe new life into a space.

Claudy’s final tip: he says to go room by room, or go by category if you don’t know where to start. And, if you feel overwhelmed–call in the professionals–that’s what they’re there for. He says people don’t just enjoy the extra space, but that they often feel like a mental weight has been removed–not just the items themselves.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A massive network outage at Verizon Communications, the nation’s largest wireless provider, has disrupted phone and internet services for hundreds of thousands of people across the United States on Wednesday.

According to the tracking site Downdetector.com, more than 177,000 people reported service failures nationwide, including dozens of reports across southeast Idaho.

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Verizon confirmed the technical difficulties and apologized for the lapse in service.

“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly,” the company stated. “We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.”

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Fox13

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 9:07 a.m. MST

By: Michael Martin

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SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — Salt Lake City police have arrested one man in connection with last week’s shooting outside a Salt Lake City church in which two people were killed and six injured.

Ryan Daniel Toutai, 32, was arrested on Tuesday and faces a charge of obstruction of justice.

According to court documents, following the shooting, detectives discovered multiple people with gunshot wounds in the church’s parking lot, and additional victims arrived at area hospitals with gunshot wounds.

Police had said they found multiple used cartridge casings and a handgun at the scene, along with a blue Los Angeles Dodgers baseball hat. Video obtained by police allegedly show Toutai wearing a Dodgers at the church.

During a police interview, Toutai claimed he had taken an Uber to the church and that he was inside when he heard gunshots from the parking lot. Toutai denied any involvement with the altercation and denied having any knowledge of what happened. He also denied having a firearm or seeing anyone with a gun that night.

When asked what happened to his Dodgers hat, Toutai told police he didn’t know.

Multiple witnesses allegedly gave a description of one of the suspects involved that matched Toutai, and officers also received numerous tips that Toutai was involved in the shooting and had a confrontation with another man in the parking lot.

After seizing Toutai’s phone, police said a search revealed video that showed him with a gun similar to the one found at the shooting scene. Additional videos allegedly showed Toutai driving a car with one of the other men involved in the altercation.

The man seen with Toutai in the video allegedly later showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound.

Police added that videos taken by witnesses also show Toutai walking toward the church with the other man and a third man, who was also shot during the altercation.

When interviewed by police again on Tuesday, Toutai gave the same statement claiming to be inside the church, and only walking out when gunshots were heard. After telling Toutai that his hat was found at the scene and videos showed him in the lot leading up to the shooting, detectives informed him that further false statements could result in obstruction of justice charges. Toutai continued to deny any knowledge of the gun or how his hat ended up at the church.

Court documents also state that when Toutai was arrested Tuesday, they found a loaded handgun underneath the seat of the vehicle.

Investigators say they are asking the court to hold Toutai without bail due to his reported involvement in the Tongan Crip Gang and his frequent travels between Utah and California.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho had a strong presence at U.S. Supreme Court proceedings for the case Little v. Hecox on Tuesday.

State Representative Barbara Ehardt, of Idaho Falls, received one of four Idaho tickets to view oral arguments in person before the U.S. Supreme Court.

As the sponsor of the ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports Act’ that was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Idaho, she had a near-front row seat as the case unfolded in Washington, D.C.

“Just – even not referencing my own legislation – just sitting in the Supreme Court of the United States was almost overpowering to me,” Ehardt told Local News 8 in an exclusive interview. “It has such significance. Then to add the fact that we were sitting there to hear the legislation that I authored and started in 2018, not done until 2020 when I brought it, it was just phenomenal.”

In 2020, transgender athlete Lindsey Hecox sued the state of Idaho in order to be able to participate on Boise State women’s track and cross-country teams.

Coed teams are allowed, but the 2020 law barred transgender individuals from participating in girl’s sports.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho Foundation provided a statement about Lindsey Hecox’s position on the case.

“In 2025, Lindsay ended her participation in any women’s athletic programs covered by H.B. 500 to prioritize finishing her degree and her personal safety and wellness,” said Rebecca De León, American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho communications director, in an emailed statement to Local News 8.

“As a result of this, her attorneys are arguing that the Court should rule her case legally moot,” she continued. “In West Virginia v. B.P.J., the U.S. Supreme Court will address a challenge to a nearly identical law. No matter what the Supreme Court decides in these cases, we are committed to defending the rights of all women and girls, including transgender women and girls.”

During the Tuesday’s arguments, Ehardt said she was ”a little bit upset” with how three female justices – Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elaine Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – characterized her legislation.

“I never once put the word transgender in there,” Ehardt said. “… Their side really, they were arguing against having a definition of sex. They did not want to have sex defined, and instead they basically wanted guidelines – ‘What are some of the characteristics of, you know, being a female?’

“I’m thinking to myself, oh my goodness,” she continued, “and Justice Roberts then basically said that if we don’t define sex, then how shall we know if we’re discriminating?”

Ehardt said she sat next to U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) during the proceedings.

Outside at a rally supporting the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador and U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson also addressed crowds.

“The simple reality of this case is that we’re talking about simple biology,” Labrador said. “There are men and women, and Title IX and equal protection should allow boys to participate in boys sports, and girls to participate in girls sports, and should allow girls to have the safety and security of knowing that they’re going to be safe in their spaces, they’re going to be safe in their sports, and that they’re going to be protected by the law and by the Constitution.”

Simpson stated that his work desk prominently displays a mug that emblazoned with the motto, “Watch women’s sports.”

“I shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t be here. This is nonsense,” Simpson said. “We’re before the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, arguing for common sense. That’s all we want is common sense. Men should not be playing in women’s sports. That’s the truth. That’s what the signs out there are saying. …Women have the right to compete against other women without men in the competitive process.”

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in the controversial case by late June.

Rep. Barbara Ehardt attended the U.S. Supreme Court hearing over her law on Tuesday for Little v. Hecox in Washington, D.C.

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News Team

TETON COUNTY, Wyoming (KIFI) — Two injured backcountry skiers are recovering this evening after crews from Teton County Search and Rescue rushed to their aid in separate incidents this week.

Both calls involved skiers who had injured their lower legs while in the backcountry, leaving them stranded.

The first incident took place on Monday, January 11, around 3:40 PM. TCSAR crews received an alert from a woman who’d been injured while skiing in the Do-It Chutes area. Crews found her stranded in a timbered chute several hundred feet above Hwy 22.

Using both a short-haul helicopter team and skiers on the ground as backup, TCSAR volunteers were able to package and haul the patient to an awaiting ambulance with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS within around 3 hours of the initial alert.

The second incident happend on the following day, Tuesday, January 12, around 10:28 AM. A man had injured his lower leg while skiing in the Black Canyon area of Mount Elly.

Once again, TCSAR crews responded using both a helicopter team and skiers on the ground as backup on the top of the Teton Pass. The man was stranded about 400 feet below the summit of Mount Elly, which required the volunteers to land in an open field of snow uphill from the scene. Rescuers worked alongside the man’s skiing partners to carry him up the slope to the aircraft, which then transported the patient and the rescue team directly to the TCSAR hangar in Jackson.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A big day for Idaho State University as work begins on a major renovation! Tuesday, school leaders broke ground on major renovations to the Roy F. Christensen Complex, the future home for ISU’s nationally recognized physician assistant program and its Medical Laboratory Science program.

ISU says the PA program is the only one of its kind in Idaho, and the move will provide more space and modern labs for students. The medical laboratory science program will also relocate from Leonard Hall, which has been under construction for the past three years. 

University leaders say this project is all about preparing future healthcare professionals with the best possible training environment. 

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 13 JAN 26 17:42 ET

By Barclay Idsal

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    BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — Ferocious, elusive, and tenacious— in many ways, the wolverine is synonymous with the western persona.

Now, Zoo Boise visitors will be able to interact with this new personality in the form of 11-year-old Laura, who is named after the daughter of the iconic Marvel superhero.

Laura came to Zoo Boise from Zoo Montana and has moved into her newly renovated wolverine habitat located next to the carousel. Inside, Laura will be able to play on climbing structures and cool off in “cold-weather features.”

“Wolverines are iconic Idaho predators that few people have the chance to see up close,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Sara Arkle. “We’re thrilled to welcome Laura and introduce our community to a species that is powerful, elusive, and incredibly important to Idaho’s wild places.”

Wolverines are one of the rarest mammals housed in Zoos across the nation.

“Laura’s arrival is a milestone for Zoo Boise and a testament to our care and conservation focus,” said Zoo Director Gene Peacock. “She represents an opportunity for our community to learn about a unique and engaging species while giving back globally. As with all our animals, her presence also supports our mission: every guest who visits helps protect wildlife worldwide.”

The natural range for wolverines includes all the states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado), in addition to areas of Canada and Alaska.

An especially interesting aspect about Wolverines is that, unlike many of their mammal counterparts in similar regions, Wolverines give birth to “kits” during the coldest and darkest parts of winter. Wolverines typically dig deep caves within snowbanks to house their offspring, which are colored white to blend in with the snow.

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