Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

ISLAND PARK, ID (KIFI) – Continuing the spirit of America’s 250th birthday festivities, residents of Island Park gathered near Mesa Falls this afternoon to witness the historic dedication of a new obelisk monument for the long and winding city.

Island Park has unveiled a new monument: an obelisk with engravings on all four sides depicting the city’s history, from Native American accounts to modern-day travel along “America’s Longest Main Street.”

The Island Park Historical Society unveiled the monument, an engraved obelisk standing beautifully against the south side of Sawtell Peak, at the historic Mesa Falls Highway 20 turnoff across from Harriman State Park during a ceremony that kicked off an afternoon of America 250 celebrations.

The monument is thoughtfully designed to introduce visitors to the history of Island Park and what is known as “America’s Longest Main Street”, preserving the stories that have shaped the small but mighty community for generations.

“This should stand as a historical overview, providing the public with an introduction to the history of ‘America’s Longest Main Street’,” said Island Park Historical Society Archivist Allison Orme Giacoletto. “It’s our identity. Our history is our identity, who we are. It should provide a background kind of context for how we got here, why we’re here, and why it is the way it is.”

Island Park Historical Society President Mel Bingham said he hopes the monument serves as a lasting reminder of both the area’s heritage and the freedoms celebrated during America’s semiquincentennial.

“I hope that even this obelisk and the work we do today may help us all think of the freedoms that we have and the opportunities and the beauty of this area,” Bingham said.

The monument dedication was the first part of a full day of activities commemorating America 250, Idaho’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Following the ceremony, visitors gathered at Harriman State Park’s Ranch View Shelter for historical exhibits along the Railroad Ranch, community fellowship with patriotism reflected through each pair of sunglasses on the sunny Island Park day, and a free ice cream social sponsored by the Island Park Historical Society.

Guests also had the opportunity to join a nationwide reading of the Declaration of Independence near the new monument at 4 p.m., led locally by Jim Smith.

Island Park Historical Society organizers said the day’s events were designed to celebrate not only America’s 250 years of history but also Island Park’s unique role in the country’s heritage, encouraging residents and visitors alike to reflect on the community’s past while preserving it for future generations.

To learn more about the history of Island Park, visit the Historical Society of Island Park’s Facebook page here.

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News Team

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — The high-profile preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, 23, is scheduled to resume in a Utah courtroom today, where a judge will ultimately determine if there is enough evidence for him to stand trial for the murder of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.

Wednesday’s hearing has now ended. Watch the recording in the video player above.

Tuesday marked the second day of the multi-day proceedings, which saw prosecutors introduce critical new surveillance footage from the Utah Valley University campus, recorded the day of the shooting.

According to prosecutors, the video tracks Robinson’s movements across campus, including footage of him walking with a distinct limp in a parking garage stairwell. Investigators also highlighted an encounter hours after the shooting, around 12:30 a.m., when Robinson’s vehicle allegedly made brief contact with a police officer working campus security while attempting to turn onto a restricted road.

The courtroom was filled with emotional family members and high-profile figures. According to CNN, Kirk’s parents and widow were in attendance but left the courtroom when the defense began describing a video of the shooting. Robinson’s family was also present, as well as Donald Trump Jr., a close friend of the late activist.

Robinson surrendered to police the day after the shooting. While he has not yet entered a formal plea, he faces multiple severe charges, including aggravated murder. Prosecutors have already signaled their intent to seek the death penalty if the case goes to trial.

Editor’s Note: This story was adapted from an original on-air broadcast report with the assistance of AI. All content is thoroughly reviewed and verified for accuracy by the Local News 8 editorial team.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Aalo Atomics has ambitious goals, aiming to become the leading source of nuclear power for AI data centers.

“We’re exclusively focused initially on how to mass produce nuclear reactors and provide power to AI data centers,” said Aalo Atomics President and Chief Technology Officer Yasir Arafat. “Once we can build many of these and can bring the cost curve down per unit, then it’s going to open up other markets like industrial applications, desalination, or powering small towns or communities.”

The Aalo-X Critical Test Reactor reached criticality twenty minutes after midnight on the Fourth of July. As the fourth U.S. nuclear reactor to sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction since June, it advances a remarkable track record of success for nuclear energy.

It’s the third reactor to go critical at Idaho National Laboratory in one month, exceeding President Donald Trump’s goal for three reactors to reach the milestone by the nation’s 250th birthday.

Aalo Atomics’ future reactors would supply power to data centers without burdening the grid.

“In the next five years alone, we would need to add at least 100 GW for just AI data centers along in this country,” Arafat said. “That is a tremendous amount of energy.”

Aalo is planning to build a second reactor, the Aalo Pod, and a data center next door. Ground has already been broken for the additional reactor’s construction, and Aalo anticipates it will be generating 10 megawatts of electricity by July 4th next year.

“We want to take that electricity and connect to a co-located, co-build AI data center – just to see how a co-located data center and nuclear can live together,” Arafat said. “How do we deal with some of the harmonics that can exist from data center usage back to a spinning turbine nuclear reactor?”

The company built its entire reactor and facility in less than eight months.

“This reactor was designed at full scale to our 30 Megawatt thermal, 10 Megawatt electric full-powered system, so that whatever we learn from the Critical Test Reactor is directly applicable to our commercial system,” he said.

The new reactor is located adjacent to the Materials and Fuels Complex at Idaho National Laboratory.

Aalo has major plans to scale the technology and expand its manufacturing in the future.

“So right now, we have a 40,000-square-foot facility,” Arafat explained. “Over the next three years, we want to expand that to 1,000,000-ft² of manufacturing capability in this country. Honestly, this would be the largest commercially-run and operated manufacturing facility for nuclear ever in this country.”

Aalo Atomics is at the heart of the U.S. Nuclear Renaissance – pairing advanced nuclear reactors with America’s expanding thirst for electricity.

“We want to make nuclear ubiquitous – meaning be able to apply anywhere, any location where there’s a need for reliable 24/7 clean energy,” Arafat said.

Aalo Atomics President & Chief Technology Officer Yasir Arafat stands in front of the Aalo-X Critical Test Reactor three days after it achieved criticality on the Fourth of July.

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Maile Sipraseuth

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) – With summer in full swing, school might be the last thing on the minds of parents and students. However, local school districts are already looking ahead to August, facing a tough hiring market as they do so.

The Teton Valley School District is currently preparing for the upcoming school year by recruiting teachers, bus drivers, custodians, and other vital support staff. But in this region, filling those roles is easier said than done.

Teton Valley School District’s Superintendent Brian Ashton says hiring s has become increasingly difficult, particularly for classified staff (bus drivers, custodial staff, etc.), because of funding limitations, the region’s high cost of housing and competition from higher-paying jobs in nearby Jackson Hole.

“It comes down to one simple thing: the state does not fund what it takes to actually run a school district,” Ashton said. “It funds a good portion of our teachers, but much less [for support staff]. I think only about 30% of our classified staff is paid for through the state.”

To bridge the gap, many current employees are pulling double duty.

“We have some custodians that also drive bus. We have paraprofessionals that also drive bus, and do both,” Ashton said, “So it is a challenge.”

As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable in Teton Valley, Ashton says nearly 10-15% of the district’s employees now commute from Rexburg or Idaho Falls.

The district also competes with employers in Jackson Hole, just an hour away, where the tourism-driven economy often offers higher wages.

“The wages are not as high as we would like them to be. And relative to the economy here, the hourly wage is pretty high because we are so close to Jackson in a tourist economy. So even though it’s significantly better, than in some of the other counties, it’s still lower than what they can do if they work hourly somewhere else,” Ashton said.

While recruiting teachers can also be challenging in a rural district, Ashton said alternative certification programs have helped fill classroom vacancies by allowing professionals from other career fields to become licensed teachers.

“We definitely have teachers who enter the profession through alternative certification,” Ashton said. “Without it, we would be in a bad spot.”

Ashton says that the ability to maintain staffing levels is dependent on voter support for this November’s supplemental levy.

“We will need their support in November to make sure that the supplemental levy goes through so that we can continue the level of service that we’ve been able to offer,” Ashton said.

Those interested in applying for a position at Teton Valley School District can apply HERE.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Former Portneuf Valley Soccer Club President Cristie Stone appeared in court for the first time on July 7 since the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office filed criminal charges on June 16.

The charges stem from an internal audit of the soccer club’s financial statements, which court documents allege uncovered a string of suspicious transactions traced to Stone and her ICCU account.

RELATED: Former Portneuf Valley Soccer Club President charged with Felony Grand Theft

Stone is accused of embezzling almost $220,000 from the soccer club account, which was linked to her personal credit card with Idaho Central Credit Union. According to the incident report, when the soccer club board pressed Stone about the transactions, she claimed not to have noticed the two accounts were linked.

During the arraignment this afternoon, Stone’s defense attorney Richard Block waived the reading of the criminal complaint. Judge Eric Hunn stated the charge for felony grand theft is punishable by 1-14 years in prison and/or a $5000 fine.

Judge Hunn then set Stone’s preliminary hearing date for Tuesday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Cousins. Stone is not currently in custody as she awaits her hearing date.

Stone has not entered a plea, and her counsel declined to comment at this time.

This is an ongoing investigation and case; Local News 8 will provide additional details as the case develops.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — To celebrate Independence Day and commemorate America 250, The Community Food Basket and City of Idaho Falls set an ambitious goal to raise $25,000 in 25 hours. While the final tally fell short of the initial target, organizers and volunteers are calling the event a major victory for local families.

Donors across the region stepped up to contribute a total of $13,458.53. Every dollar raised will go directly to providing food for those in need over the summer.

“People are hungry all year long,” Ariel Jackson, the Executive Director for the Community Food Basket, said. “And summers are tough. There’s not a lot of food drives happening. There’s a lot of people traveling, and kids are home eating breakfast and lunch, and people’s food bills tend to triple. And so we really needed to bring a truck of food in at this time of year so that we can get make sure those kids are fed, make sure our seniors are fed in their homes, and that families can have dinner together.”

When schools close for the summer, families lose access to free or reduced-price school meal programs, causing household grocery expenses to skyrocket. To combat this, the Community Food Basket is leveraging the fundraiser’s proceeds to purchase a truckload of food so they can provide for a community in need.

The impact of these community donations will stretch far. Jackson says that every dollar that comes in can turn into $4.80 worth of food.

“This was our second sort of drive that we’ve done around 24 hours,” Jackson said. “This community always amazes us. When it seems like something is impossible, we ask, and people band together and really support what we do here, which is making sure bellies are full.”

For those who missed the 25-hour window, the Community Food Basket is still accepting donations and non-perishable food items throughout the summer. For more information, click HERE.

The next big food drive they have coming up is in October, where they will try to fill their warehouse with 100,000 pounds of food for the Holiday season.

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News Team

UPDATE:

JACKSON, Wyo (KIFI) — The Teton County, Wyoming, Coroner has released the names of the deceased after a deadly multi-vehicle accident involving an overturned dump truck and an asphalt spill on the Teton Pass yesterday.

Nicholas Czernichew Besobrasow, 66, of Tetonia, Idaho, and David Thomson Page, 57, of Mammoth Lakes, California, and Jackson, Wyoming, were the two people who died as a result of the accident.

Four other people were injured in the accident.

“This was a complex and tragic incident,” said Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Incident Commander Chris Stiehl. “Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and we wish a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured.”

ORIGINAL:

JACKSON, Wyo (KIFI) — A devastating multi-vehicle collision involving an overturned dump truck and an asphalt spill has forced the complete closure of Teton Pass this afternoon, Tuesday, July 7. The crash has claimed the lives of two people and left four others injured.

According to the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT), the incident occurred just before noon near mile marker 7 on the Wyoming side of the pass, above Wilson. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has blocked eastbound traffic starting at mile marker 155 near the state line.

First responders arrived at the site to find a large section of the roadway completely blocked by multiple disabled passenger vehicles and an overturned dump truck that had spilled asphalt across the lanes. Multiple agencies are currently on the scene.

WYDOT

Teton County, Wyoming, Coroner Brent Blue confirmed that two people died as a result of the crash. Jackson Hole Fire/EMS confirms that four additional victims were injured and were transported by ambulance to St. John’s Health (formerly St. John’s Medical Center) in Jackson.

“This was a complex and tragic incident,” said Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Incident Commander Chris Stiehl. “Our deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and we wish a full and speedy recovery to those who were injured. We are grateful for the professionalism and coordinated efforts of all the agencies that responded.”

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is currently on the scene investigating the cause of the crash. Specialized recovery crews and hazardous materials response personnel are also working to clear the disabled vehicles and manage the asphalt spill.

The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) estimates the pass will remain closed until between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM tonight. ITD and WYDOT are directing travelers to avoid the Teton Pass area until the road officially reopens, allowing emergency responders to safely complete their investigation and clear the debris.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Seth Ratliff

PLANO, Idaho (KIFI) —The late June shooting that claimed the life of a 49-year-old Plano woman has been determined an accident after her father unintentionally fired the gun, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced in an update Tuesday.

Investigators confirmed that Scott Perrenoud was performing maintenance on a weapon on June 28 when it discharged, striking his daughter, Lesa Perrenoud. Other family members inside the home witnessed the shooting, according to deputies.

On June 28, 2026, at approximately 5:30 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a shooting at a residence located at 4021 N. 5725 E. Upon arrival, emergency responders found Lesa Perrenoud, 49, unconscious and suffering from a gunshot wound, and immediately began lifesaving efforts.

Perrenoud was flown by air ambulance to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where she later died from her injuries.

The Sheriff’s Office has now confirmed that its investigation is complete. The case file will be forwarded to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office for review to determine if any legal action is appropriate.

“The Madison County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Lesa Perrenoud during this difficult time,” the agency said in the release.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Fire crews in Madison County have gained the upper hand on the nearly 1,300-acre Maze Fire. As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, firefighters have successfully contained approximately 25% of the fast-moving blaze.

The Madison Fire Department (MFD) first responded to the fire around 3:35 p.m. Monday at 9029 W. Highway 33, west of Rexburg. As they arrived, MFD says crews discovered a rapidly growing brush fire that had began at the Sportsmans Club Gun Range and called in support from surrounding counties.

The “Maze Fire” is currently being managed under a unified command by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Madison Fire Department. Around 80 firefighters from multiple agencies worked the scene Monday night supported by multiple enginees along with ground and air support.

An initial evacuation order was issued around 7:20 p.m. Monday, affecting between 15 and 40 residences, according to volunteers on scene with the American Red Cross. However, the order was lifted later that night as crews gained control of the blaze.

According to U.S. Wildland Fire Service, after a grueling night battling the flames, bulldozers and ground crews completed the initial containment line around 1:00 a.m. Tuesday.

Today, crews are focusing on reinforcing those lines, extinguishing hotspots near the perimeter, and working their way deeper into the interior of the burned area. Resources from the US Forest Service, the BLM Great Basin Unit 3 out of Idaho Falls, and multiple cooperating local agencies remain on the scene assisting with the effort.

According to the USWFS, full containment is estimated by 6:00 p.m. tonight.

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Seth Ratliff

Originally Published: 07 JUL 26 00:18 ET

Updated: 07 JUL 26 12:54 ET

By Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN

(CNN) — An Idaho mother who claimed her toddler twins died last year shortly after being vaccinated is now facing murder charges after prosecutors accused her of suffocating the children.

Andrea Shaw was charged with two counts of first-degree murder last week for the May 2025 deaths of her 18-month twins. If convicted, she could face life in prison or the death penalty.

Shaw’s attorney said the children’s deaths were the result of a medical issue, not a crime.

“She believes the cause of death to be the vaccine. She’s not a doctor. I’m not a doctor, but the doctors I’ve consulted say that it’s a vaccine-related death,” attorney, Joe Filicetti, told CNN affiliate KIVI.

Though medical authorities have long said that routine childhood vaccines are safe and effective, anti-vaccination groups — including one founded by the Health and Human Services secretary — have seized on the twins’ story in their efforts to challenge the acceptance of routine childhood vaccines recommended by medical authorities.

The Payette Police Department announced Shaw’s arrest last week. She is being held on a $2 million bond, court records show.

“She’s been in town for 14 months. She didn’t run. She’s not going anywhere. There’s absolutely no reason for $2 million bond in this case,” Filicetti told KIVI.

Shaw’s arrest was “the result of a lengthy and thorough investigation conducted by the Payette Police Department,” police said in a statement on Facebook. The department declined to make any additional comments about the facts or evidence of the case, only saying additional information will be provided as the judicial process proceeds.

Days after the death of her twins, Shaw and her husband, Nathaniel Shaw, appeared on an internet show produced by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group founded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has not been affiliated with the group since December 2024 according to the Associated Press.

Anti-vaccination groups have seized on the twins’ story in their efforts to challenge the acceptance of routine childhood vaccines recommended by medical authorities.

Shaw said she did not previously hold anti-vaccine views. She described her twins, Dallas and Tyson, as being “normal, perfect, happy little babies,” the day before receiving their shots. The twins were born prematurely and spent 77 days in the NICU. Dallas loved “Strawberry Shortcake” and Tyson loved Lightning McQueen from the movie “Cars,” she said.

Shaw teared up as she spoke about the days after her children received routine medical vaccines for Hepatitis-A, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and the flu. She described finding her babies laying on their bellies in their crib, cold to the touch.

“They looked as if they had gone in their sleep; they were in their sleeping positions,” Shaw told the host of the program.

The twins’ father described police as being “disrespectful” and seeming to be suspicious upon their arrival.

“They constantly were trying to pin me and Andrea against each other, trying to get us to say, ‘Well, I think she did it,’ or ‘I think he did it,’” Nathaniel Shaw said during the May 2025 interview.

“It was just straight to interrogation: ‘We know one of you guys did it,’ without having any proof, without even having an autopsy done, and they were just very adamant that we had done it,” he added.

Andrea described her second day of police interrogation after the children had died.

“They said that it wasn’t medical and that they figured asphyxiation and that I had supposedly had a postpartum overwhelming blackout and done it to my children,” Andrea Shaw said. “It made me feel crazy.”

Shaw has joined Children’s Health Defense and others in a lawsuit accusing the American Academy of Pediatrics of racketeering for its role its “central role in an enterprise that has defrauded American families about the safety of the childhood vaccine schedule for several decades,” according to the Associated Press reporting.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said the lawsuit is part of a larger campaign targeting the institution and its “use of science-backed evidence in vaccine policy,” in a court filing, AP reported. The academy has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

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