News Team
With so many questions still remaining about health insurance premiums possibly spiking, Local News 8 invited insurance broker Trevor Bangerter to our studio.
Bangerter is the the local chapter president for National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals, which is a national organization that advocates for broker and insurance consumer rights.
Chris Nestman
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —With the government shutdown approaching the two week mark, one of the biggest holdups in congress focuses on whether to extend the Biden-era tax credits for health insurance.
At the moment, the tax credits are set to expire. The average American who uses marketplace plans could see their insurance premiums more than double.
Local News 8 spoke with several insurance brokers about what they’re seeing for their clients, including insurance broker Brian McKellar with the Buckner Company.
“No, there’s an individual, she cuts hair,” McKellar said. “I know her well; she doesn’t make a ton of money. I’m pretty sure she supports her kids, too. She was paying $82. Hers is going to go to $292 if I don’t make any changes.”
That’s just one of several examples McKellar has seen over the past few days.
The reason for these increased costs is two fold. First, the amount of tax credits someone receives to help pay for insurance costs is cut dramatically. And second, those that make 400% or more over the poverty line no longer receive any tax credit at all.
“Either way, it’s costs that’s going to increase on these families, whether it’s in terms of deductible costs like risk costs or just premium cost,” McKellar said.
At a time when costs for everything are going up faster than wages, many insurance brokers, including McKellar, think that if the tax credits are not extended, many people will simply take the risk and go without.
“There’s 100,000 Idahoans that depend on this, and 30% is what they’re saying is going to probably drop coverage. Based on the analysis that I’m seeing right now, it could be true,” McKellar said.
McKeller has been contacting Idaho’s congressmen about the issue and urging them to find a solution for several weeks now.
You can follow some of McKellar’s thoughts and discussions about his interactions with Idaho’s congressional delegation on his social media page.
Stephanie Lucas
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – An expected plea agreement in the case of Robert Flores has been postponed.
RELATED: What we know about the man involved in the Econo Lodge standoff
Robert Alan Flores Jr.
Flores is accused of shooting at Idaho Falls police officers during a standoff at the EconoLodge Motel on Broadway Avenue in Idaho Falls in April 2024. No officers were hit during the incident. They did return fire, injuring Flores.
He was expected to change his plea to guilty today; however. Flores has asked for more time to discuss the details of the plea agreement with his attorney. A status hearing has been scheduled for November 18.
If an agreement is not reached soon, the case could go to trial in the spring. A judge has placed it on his trial calendar for May 11, 2026.
Maile Sipraseuth
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– A 21-year-old woman from Blackfoot, Kaylanee Orr, tragically died on October 10 following a fatal accident during a hunting trip with relatives.
According to the Fremont County Coroner, Orr died from a gunshot wound. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, which occurred Friday evening in a remote area of Fremont County.
Fremont County Sheriff Bart Quayle described the situation as “the most tragic nightmare this family (or any family) can imagine.” In a statement sent to Local News 8, Quayle confirmed that emergency personnel and investigators responded swiftly and worked on the scene for several hours.
“Every indication leads us to believe this was a traumatic accident that has devastated this poor family,” Quayle said. “While we perform our due diligence, pursuing the truth and facts, we’re mindful of the extreme grief this family feels.”
He added, “If I can buy them a few days to simply process and grieve, I feel it is appropriate. Our deepest condolences are offered to those grieving at this time.”
Orr was a graduate of Snake River High School and served a mission in New Zealand for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her faith was the foundation of her life, according to her online obituary.
In the wake of her passing, a Spotfund campaign organized by Amanda Graff has raised over $20,000 of its $30,000 goal to help cover funeral expenses.
As the investigation remains ongoing, authorities are asking for the public’s patience and understanding out of respect for the family’s mourning process.
News Team
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department has released new details regarding a tense, hours-long standoff that unfolded last night, October 13, at an apartment complex near the intersection of Lomax Street and Wabash Avenue.
RELATED: Standoff ends peacefully: Idaho Falls woman in custody after SWAT response
Police took 56-year-old Wendy Burke of Idaho Falls into custody following the incident. Burke was arrested on two outstanding warrants out of Bingham County—one felony and one misdemeanor—as well as additional charges including Assault on Certain Personnel, Resisting and Obstructing Officers, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
Welfare Check Sparks Dangerous Encounter
According to IFPD, officers were called to the area around 3 p.m. to perform a welfare check at an apartment in the 600 block of Lomax Street. The caller was concerned that Burke may have been harmed by a man staying in the residence, saying she hadn’t been seen in some time.
When officers arrived, they found the man in question outside the apartment. He spoke with the officers but reportedly seemed evasive, claiming he worked at the residence but did not live there.
Due to the nature of the welfare check and concern for Burke’s safety, officers entered the apartment, calling out her name and repeatedly identifying themselves as police. During the search, an officer opened a closet door and found Burke inside, holding what appeared to be a handgun and pointing it directly at him.
Fearing for his life, the officer backed out of the apartment, and IFPD secured the surrounding area. They then called the IFPD SWAT team to the scene.
At this point, the officers learned of Burke’s outstanding arrest warrants.
As SWAT arrived on the scene, they called over a PA system for Burke to exit the apartment and surrender. When she did not respond, they deployed an irritant gas, similar to tear gas, into the apartment.
Shortly afterward, Burke exited the apartment and surrendered without further incident.
Fake Gun, Real Charges
After being read her Miranda rights, Burke told investigators she had hoped police would shoot her because she “did not want to go to jail.” She also admitted the weapon she pointed at the officer was not real but a toy gun, which she had left on the bed.
Officers later recovered the item—a wooden and metal toy replica that looked realistic, but was non-functional.
While conducting a further search of the apartment, officers also discovered a .22 caliber rifle hidden in the bathroom. The firearm had not been there during the initial welfare check, and officers believe Burke may have retrieved the weapon before she was taken into custody.
Because Burke is a convicted felon and legally barred from possessing firearms, officers obtained a search warrant to seize the rifle. The warrant was approved, and the weapon was recovered.
Burke was evaluated and medically cleared by emergency personnel at the scene before being transported and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Ariel Jensen
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Five people are recovering tonight after a crash early Tuesday morning in front of Lowe’s on 17th Street in Idaho Falls.
According to the Idaho Falls Police Department, the crash happened around 8:13 a.m. and involved a grey Ford Expedition traveling west in the inside lane. The SUV was carrying an adult and four children.
At the same time, a white truck was also heading west in the outside lane. Witnesses say the truck suddenly swerved across traffic to attempt a U-turn in order to assist a motorist with a broken-down vehicle.
To avoid hitting the truck, the driver of the Expedition swerved and struck a light pole on the side of the road. All five people inside the Expedition were transported to the hospital as a precaution.
The driver of the truck was cited for making an unsafe lane change, according to IFPD.
News Release
The following is a news release from the Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane:
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Early voting for the November 4, 2025, local elections begins as early as today in some counties in Idaho and runs through October 31. To see if early voting is offered in your area and to find your county’s schedule, visit voteidaho.gov/election-information or contact your local elections office.
“Early voting is now underway in many Idaho counties ahead of the November 4 local elections. Whether you vote early, absentee, or on Election Day, I encourage every eligible Idahoan to participate. Local elections play a critical role in shaping our communities,” said Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane.
Any eligible resident of a county may vote at any early voting location in that county. If you are not yet registered to vote, you can register and cast your ballot at early voting by bringing an accepted form of photo ID and proof of residence. For many voters, a current Idaho driver’s license will meet both requirements.
Before heading to the polls, check your sample ballot at VoteIdaho.gov. Not every Idahoan will have something on their ballot this November. Local taxing districts operate on different schedules, and their boundaries don’t always follow neighborhood lines. You might have an election, even if your next-door neighbor does not. More information about the upcoming election can be found at VoteIdaho.gov.
CNN Newsource
By Clare Duffy, CNN
New York (CNN) — Instagram is further cracking down on what millions of young people can see on the platform, aligning its “Teen Accounts” safety settings with the guidelines for PG-13 movies.
The Meta-owned platform launched teen accounts last year, its most dramatic effort yet to protect young people following years of criticism from parents and lawmakers over the app’s impact on teens’ mental health and well-being. The settings implemented default privacy protections and content limits for many of Instagram’s teen users, restricting posts related to violence, cosmetic procedures or self-harm.
Tuesday’s update goes a step further. Instagram will not promote and may even hide posts featuring strong language, or those which could encourage “harmful behaviors” such as content featuring risky stunts or marijuana paraphernalia, the company said.
Teens also won’t be able to follow accounts that regularly share age-inappropriate content. If they already follow such accounts, they will no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send or receive direct messages from them or see that account’s comments under other posts. Instagram will block a wider range of search terms for teens, such as “alcohol” and “gore.” And Meta’s AI chatbot “should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie,” the company said.
“Just like you might see some suggestive content or hear some strong language in a PG-13 movie, teens may occasionally see something like that on Instagram – but we’re going to keep doing all we can to keep those instances as rare as possible,” Meta said in a blog post.
The update follows a series of reports calling into question the effectiveness of the “teen accounts” protections. One study published earlier this month by a group of online safety and child advocacy organizations, for example, found that nearly 60% of 13- to 15-year-olds using Instagram’s teen accounts settings reported seeing “unsafe content and unwanted messages” within the last six months. Meta disputed the report, calling it biased and telling Time magazine that it ignored teens who have positive experiences on the platform.
Reuters and the Wall Street Journal also reported earlier this year that Meta’s AI chatbot would flirt and engage in romantic or sexual roleplay with young people. In response, the company said it was updating how its chatbot can interact with teens and limiting the AI characters young users can interact with on its platforms.
It also comes as a growing number of states and countries move to restrict or outright ban access to social media for some teens. Denmark’s prime minister announced last week that the country will ban social media for children under 15, although parents would have the option to approve its use for teens 13 and up.
Meta said the changes are a response to parents who have asked for clearer guidelines and more control over their children’s experiences on Instagram.
“We decided to more closely align our policies with an independent standard that parents are familiar with,” the company said.
The Motion Picture Association, which distributes film ratings, distanced itself from Meta’s announcement in a statement on Tuesday.
“The Motion Picture Association was not contacted by Meta prior to the announcement of its new content moderation tool for Instagram Teen Accounts,” Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin said. “We welcome efforts to protect kids from content that may not be appropriate for them, but assertions that Instagram’s new tool will be ‘guided by PG-13 movie ratings’ or have any connection to the film industry’s rating system are inaccurate.”
Meta’s new content restrictions will be automatically applied to all users under 18, although teens can return to the previous settings with their parent’s permission if they have their accounts linked. (Previously, 16- and 17-year-olds could opt-out of all teen accounts’ protections without permission; they’ll still be able to do so for the default privacy settings.)
Meta says it uses artificial intelligence to estimate the ages of users, regardless of the birthdate they sign up with, in an effort to identify teens who might be intentionally skirting the protections.
Tuesday’s update will also allow parents whose accounts are linked to their teen’s to turn on a more restrictive setting called “Limited Content,” which will filter more types of posts and remove the child’s ability to see, leave or receive comments under posts. The setting will also restrict the types of conversations teens can have with AI, starting next year.
The restrictions will roll out gradually to teens in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada starting on Tuesday, and to the rest of the world in the coming months.
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Danielle Mullenix
RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Thursday morning, Rigby High School teacher Laron Johnson received the surprise many educators only dream of: he was named the 2026 Idaho Teacher of the Year. The prestigious award was presented by the Idaho Department of Education and sponsored by the CapEd Credit Union.
Johnson was chosen from a pool of over 200 nominees of the most esteemed educators in the Idaho education system. After sitting in his classroom, it’s no wonder why.
After 28 years in the Jefferson School District, Johnson has taught thousands of students, building a reputation for his incredibly engaging teaching style and his genuine desire to connect with every person who walks into his classroom.
“I’ve had 9,000 kids, for goodness sake,” Johnson said, reflecting on his long career. “It’s cool to be kind of in a dad mode for that many.”
Rigby High School Principal Bryan Lords believes Johnson’s impact comes down to the deep relationships he forges, paving a way to success.
“The relationships he builds with students in class are what make those kids want to go back and take more classes,” Principal Lords told Local News 8. “Plus, he makes them feel like they’ve been heard. As kids are becoming adults, they don’t always get that. He gives that to them. And when he tells them he loves them, they know it and they feel it.”
Over his nearly three decades as an educator, Johnson has taught a variety of classes, including history, economics, and personal development. He says his greatest passion is for using historical events to enlighten young minds about the past.
Students Rowan Reese and Joshua Squires agree that Johnson has made a profoundly positive difference in their school experience.
“I look forward to coming to Mr. Johnson’s class because he really brings, like, everything,” said Reese. “He’s super nice. He calls everyone his friend. He makes sure he really greets everyone with kindness.”
Squires added, “He teaches things that surround the curriculum to build you up.”
Mr. Johnson’s lessons encourage students not just to accept education, but to explore it with curiosity, creativity, and a genuine love for learning.
As the newly named 2026 Idaho Teacher of the Year, Laron Johnson will now serve as the state’s representative in the National Teacher of the Year program. The program, which began in 1959, “focuses public attention on excellence in teaching that has a real impact on the students of Idaho.” For more information, click HERE.
News Team
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Jason Chad Fleming, the man arrested September 11, 2025, for Felony Lewd Conduct with a Minor, has had his preliminary hearing pushed back to November 12, 2025.
The preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for October 8, but was changed to the 12 due to a scheduling issue with a witness.
Jason is currently facing two counts:
Count 1: Felony Lewd Conduct with a Child under the age of 16
Punishable by up to life in prison, and up to a $50,000 fine
Count 2: Felony Sexual Abuse of a Child under the age of 16
According to court documents, the 6-year-old victim told investigators that 19-year-old Jason Fleming had touched his genitals. He also told the detectives that after the molestation, Fleming said they had to wash their hands because they were “dirty.” Fleming and the victim then prayed together.
When Fleming was questioned, he admitted to touching the victim, as well as masturbating in front of them.
Fleming is out on bond after his parents put up $250,000. The conditions of the bond include a No Contact Order (NCO) for the victim, as well as any minor children, which has forced Fleming to find a new place of residence. The NCO is in place for a period of 3 years from September 12. The bond was reduced to $75,000, with the extra $175,000 returned to Fleming’s parents.
