Author: KIFI

News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A Chubbuck man already facing charges for a fatal DUI crash that killed 29-year-old Lena Phelps of Pocatello last month is now facing additional felonies related to drug trafficking and illegal weapons possession.

According to court records filed Friday, Jan. 2, 25-year-old Guy Guerrero now faces three additional counts:

Felony possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver

Felony possession of a Firearm While Under the Influence

Misdemeanor Use of Drug Paraphernalia

The crash took place on Saturday, December 27, around 7 PM at the intersection of North Arthur Avenue. Initial reports indicate that Guerrero allegedly ran a red light while driving under the influence, striking a passenger vehicle carrying Phelps and a male driver.

New Evidence and Charges

The new charges come after Pocatello police discovered significant evidence at the scene of the crash at North Arthur Avenue. According to a probable cause affidavit, officers found $3,785 in cash, some of it blood-stained, hidden in a bush next to Guerrero’s Ford F250. Subsequently, a sniff search by police K9 indicated to officers that narcotics were hidden in the vehicle, leading investigators to obtain a search warrant for the truck.

Inside the vehicle, investigators reportedly seized a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and a significant quantity of THC products, including 24 two-gram vapes and THC-infused gummies.

The probable cause affidavit also indicates that Guerrero further implicated himself during a recorded jailhouse call, where he allegedly admitted to hiding the cash and instructed an associate to dispose of illicit products at another location. Authorities believe Guerrero was attempting to continue drug sales from jail to fund his legal defense and bail, per court records.

Police records also identify him as a suspect in multiple shootings, including one that took place in front of Integrity Body Arts just hours before the crash that killed Phelps and injured her male driver. While court records indicate Guerrero remains a suspect in those cases, no formal charges have been filed in connection with the shootings at this time.

Guerrero is currently being held at the Bannock County Jail on a combined bond of $550,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 7, for a preliminary hearing regarding the vehicular manslaughter and aggravated DUI charges, followed by a second hearing on Jan. 15 to address the new drug and weapons offenses.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Heads up, Idaho Falls! Starting this month, laser tag is back at the Museum of Idaho on an extended basis.

In the past, laser tag at the museum has been limited to select Museum After Dark events. However, thanks to the support of the Idaho Environmental Coalition, MOI has expanded its laser tag program and plans to offer regular sessions for ages 12 and up between traveling exhibits.

Laser tag sessions takes place inside the museum’s two-story exhibit hall, which will be cleared out as the museum prepares for its next major exhibition, Life Before Dinosaurs: Meet the Permian Monsters. Each session begins with a 15-minute introduction focused on the science of lasers and game strategy, followed by a 30-minute laser tag experience.

“Interest in Museum After Dark-style experiences for younger audiences is growing, and this expanded laser tag programming lets us offer something fun, unexpected, and perfect for pre-teens and teens,” said Camille Thomas, Director of Marketing. “That said, adults absolutely love it too. Laser tag is a great way for families or friend groups to connect. I mean, laser tag inside a museum is not something you get to do every day.”

Laser tag sessions will be available on the following dates this month:

January 10, 16, & 1

Adults looking for a night out can also attend Museum After Dark: Laser Tag, a 21+ event featuring drinks, snacks, crafts, and an hour of laser tag. This event will be held on May 16, with sessions at 6 p.m.

For more information on tickets and time slots, click HERE.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) –  The seizure of Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. military over the weekend reverberated in political shockwaves around the world.  

Maduro, the handpicked successor of Hugo Chávez, ruled Venezuela for almost 13 years.

Here in Idaho, some Venezuelan immigrants celebrated Maduro’s removal.

Local News 8 spoke with one Venezuelan immigrant who lives in eastern Idaho, who said he was only 12 years old when the dictator came to power.

During our interview, we granted anonymity to our source to protect his family who is still living in Venezuela.

“It is important to be clear that Maduro is a human rights violator on top of leading a cartel, a drug trafficking organization,” the man said. “… They have tortured, imprisoned, and killed many people in the last time. He’s also not the legitimate president of Venezuela. They lost that election. He doesn’t have the people’s support.”

Our source said he moved to Idaho to escape political violence in his homeland, where he saw people shot in the street for protesting peacefully.

“We saw police escorting armed civilians that were driving towards these protests that these people were doing right there on the street,” he said. “These armed civilians shot and killed somebody. They shot him in the head. They killed him right there. …That’s one of the things that, you know, that day I went home and I cried all night.”

A large statue in Venezuela. | Courtesy photo Venezuelan source

He also described economic opportunities as scarce.

“The working situation was difficult. Everything was difficult. There was no peace,” he said. “I had to close all my media, all my social media accounts. I stopped talking about politics at some point because it wasn’t safe.”

Maduro held onto power in Venezuela’s 2024 election, despite the opposition receiving more than 80 percent of the vote, leading to the U.S. Department of Justice to declare him “illegitimate.”

Maduro was arraigned Monday in the U.S. District Court of Southern District of New York, where he said he had been “kidnapped.”

“So some people think he’s a champion of the people. He’s not,” said the local Venezuelan man. “He’s just a tyrant.”

A beachside near the ocean in Venezuela. | Courtesy photo Venezuelan source

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Seth Ratliff

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — An 82-year-old Salmon man is dead after a rollover crash along the icy roads on US 93 in Lemhi County on Monday.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash occurred at 9:45 AM on January 5. The 82-year-old was driving northbound on US 93 in a 1999 GMC Sierra pickup when he lost control on the icy roads. The pickup went off the north side of the road, overturning into the Salmon River.

The 82-year-old driver succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The crash is under investigation by the ISP.

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News Team

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 42-year-old snowmobiler is recovering this week following a high-stakes backcountry rescue on Friday, Jan. 2.

At 11:40 a.m., Teton County Dispatch received a Garmin SOS alert from a snowmobiling party. The group reported that a member of their party had crashed, injuring his leg. The injured man’s current condition has not been released.

Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) immediately mobilized a helicopter crew to the rugged pass. While the flight team arrived and airlifted him to an awaiting Jackson Hole Fire/EMS ambulance near Togwotee Mountain Lodge, three TCSAR volunteers remained behind in the field.

However, the weather took a turn for the worse, grounding the helicopter, leaving the three volunteers stranded in the field. To bring their teammates home, TCSAR’s snowmobile team launched a secondary mission, navigating a grueling 22-mile round trip through the backcountry to extract the remaining volunteers. All teams were out of the field by 6 p.m., completing the mission in 6 hours and 20 minutes, says TCSAR.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Education:

BOSIE, Idaho (KIFI) — Students at 158 schools across Idaho will have the opportunity to explore a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetable options at no cost to the student or school with federal, state-administered grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).

The FFVP provides participating elementary schools with a wide selection of fresh fruit and vegetables during the school day, many of which they might not encounter in their regular diets. FFVP service takes place outside of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program mealtimes, meaning they’re served in addition to those programs’ fruit and vegetable offerings, helping to spotlight healthy foods as a standalone snack to explore and enjoy. 

Under the National School Lunch Act, schools with the highest enrollment of students identified for free and reduced-cost meals are given priority for participation. This ensures that the program benefits children who may have fewer chances to integrate fresh fruits and vegetables into their everyday diets.

Schools were awarded grants through a competitive application process. The grant period ran from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and all grant awards were contingent on available USDA funds.

These Idaho elementary schools received Fresh Fruit and Vegetable grants for the 2025-2026 school year:

School District
School Name
Total Award

American Falls S.D.   #381
Hillcrest Elementary School
$22,283.72

American Falls S.D.   #381
J.R. Simplot Elementary School
$24,610.82

Basin S.D.   #072
Basin Schools
$10,789.27

Blaine County S.D.   #61
Alturas Elementary School
$31,451.08

Blaine County S.D.   #61
Bellevue Elementary School
$13,892.07

Blaine County S.D.   #61
Hailey Elementary School
$17,417.97

Bliss S.D.   #234
Bliss School
$4,654.19

Boise S. D.   #001
Garfield Elementary School
$15,725.54

Boise S. D.   #001
Grace Jordan Elementary School
$27,995.69

Boise S. D.   #001
Hawthorne Elementary School
$16,289.68

Boise S. D.   #001
Hillcrest Elementary School
$20,802.84

Boise S. D.   #001
Horizon Elementary School
$30,675.38

Boise S. D.   #001
Jefferson Elementary School
$16,289.68

Boise S. D.   #001
Koelsch Elementary School
$22,354.24

Boise S. D.   #001
Morley Nelson Elementary School
$26,585.33

Boise S. D.   #001
Taft Elementary School
$21,296.47

Boise S. D.   #001
Whitney Elementary School
$32,861.44

Boise S. D.   #001
Whittier Elementary School
$34,624.39

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Bridgewater Elementary School
$34,271.80

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Fairview Elementary School
$20,520.77

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Falls Valley Elementary School
$27,784.13

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Hillview Elementary School
$28,982.94

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Summit Hills Elementary School
$33,637.14

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Tiebreaker Elementary School
$26,726.36

Bonneville Jt. S.D.   #93
Ucon Elementary School
$30,745.89

Boundary County S.D.   #101
Boundary County Junior High School*
$8,462.17

Boundary County S.D.   #101
Mount Hall Elementary School
$9,237.87

Boundary County S.D.   #101
Naples Elementary School
$5,077.30

Boundary County S.D.   #101
Valley View Elementary School
$24,681.34

Bruneau-Grand View Jt. SD #365
Bruneau Elementary School
$2,186.06

Bruneau-Grand View Jt. SD #365
Grand View Elementary School
$6,134.37

Buhl S.D.   #412
Popplewell Elementary School
$36,810.45

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Jefferson Middle School*
$53,664.28

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Lewis & Clark Elementary School
$21,578.54

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Sacajawea Elementary School
$25,739.11

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Van Buren Elementary School
$31,733.15

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Washington Elementary School
$34,694.91

Caldwell S.D.   #132
Wilson Elementary School
$24,822.37

Cambridge S.D.   #432
Cambridge Elementary School
$4,442.64

Cassia County Jt. S.D.   #151
Dworshak Elementary School
$28,418.80

Cassia County Jt. S.D.   #151
Oakley Schools
$13,398.44

Cassia County Jt. S.D.   #151
White Pine Elementary School
$36,810.45

Castleford S.D.   #417
Castleford School
$10,718.75

Challis S.D.   #181
Challis Elementary School
$11,494.45

Clark County S.D.   #161
Clark County Schools (Lindy Ross Elementary)
$3,384.87

Council S.D.  #13
Council Elementary School
$10,084.09

Culdesac Jt. S.D.   #342
Culdesac School
$4,865.75

Dietrich S.D.   #314
Dietrich School
$5,359.38

Emmett S.D.   #221
Butte View Elementary School
$16,007.61

Emmett S.D.   #221
Kenneth Carberry Intermediate School
$27,008.43

Emmett S.D.   #221
Shadow Butte Elementary School
$27,008.43

Emmett S.D.   #221
Sweet-Montour Elementary School
$2,750.21

Firth S.D.   #059
A W Johnson Elementary School
$17,417.97

Fruitland S.D.   #373
Fruitland Elementary School
$39,490.14

Future Public Charter School, Inc.
Future Public School
$25,950.66

Glenns Ferry S.D.   #192
Glenns Ferry Schools
$11,847.04

Gooding Jt. S.D   #231
Gooding Elementary School
$33,143.51

Hagerman S.D.   #233
Hagerman Elementary School
$10,084.09

Hansen S.D.   #415
Hansen Schools
$11,423.93

Heritage Academy Inc.
Heritage Academy
$10,084.09

Heritage Community Charter School
HCCS
$25,245.48

Highland Joint S.D.   #305
Highland School
$6,346.63

Homedale S.D.  #370
Homedale Elementary School
$32,861.44

Homedale S.D.  #370
Homedale Middle School*
$14,667.77

Idaho Falls S.D.   #091
A H Bush Elementary School
$21,649.06

Idaho Falls S.D.   #091
Dora Erickson Elementary School
$29,899.68

Idaho Falls S.D.   #091
Ethel Boyes Elementary School
$36,457.86

Idaho Falls S.D.   #091
Hawthorne Elementary School
$21,084.91

Jefferson Jt. S.D.   #251
Harwood Elementary School
$29,688.12

Jefferson Jt. S.D.   #251
Roberts Elementary School
$12,693.26

Jerome S.D.   #261
Frontier Elementary School
$32,508.85

Jerome S.D.   #261
Horizon Elementary School
$29,406.05

Jerome S.D.   #261
Jefferson Elementary School
$29,829.16

Jerome S.D.   #261
Summit Elementary School
$31,521.59

Kamiah Jt. S.D.   #304
Kamiah Elementary/Middle Schools
$14,597.25

Kimberly S.D.   #414
Kimberly Elementary School
$29,829.16

Lake Pend Oreille S.D.   #084
Farmin Stidwell Elementary School
$33,637.14

Lake Pend Oreille S.D.   #084
Hope Elementary School
$7,968.55

Lake Pend Oreille S.D.   #084
Kootenai Elementary School
$26,091.70

Lake Pend Oreille S.D.   #084
Southside Elementary School
$11,494.45

Lakeland S.D.   #272
John Brown Elementary School
$26,021.18

Lakeland S.D.   #272
Spirit Lake Elementary School
$19,533.52

Lapwai S.D.   #341
Lapwai Elementary School
$15,302.43

Lapwai S.D.   #341
Lapwai Jr – Sr High School*
$2,397.62

Lewiston S.D.   #340
McGhee Elementary School
$17,841.08

Lewiston S.D.   #340
Webster Elementary School
$14,315.18

Mackay S.D.   #182
Mackay Schools
$8,109.58

Marsing Jt. S.D.   #363
Marsing Elementary School
$24,681.34

Meadows Valley S.D. #011
Meadows Valley School
$5,147.82

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
Acequia Elementary School
$17,770.56

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
East Minico Middle School*
$10,084.09

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
Heyburn Elementary School
$36,105.27

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
Paul Elementary School
$31,733.15

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
Rupert Elementary School
$42,945.53

Minidoka County S.D.   #331
West Minico Middle School*
$13,398.44

Moscow S.D.   #281
West Park Elementary School
$16,712.79

Mountain View S.D. #244
Clearwater Valley Elementary School
$8,462.17

Mountain View S.D. #244
Grangeville Elementary & Jr. High
$27,784.13

Nampa S.D.   #131
Central Elementary School
$25,809.63

Nampa S.D.   #131
Endeavor Elementary School
$41,535.16

Nampa S.D.   #131
FD Roosevelt Elementary School
$40,265.84

Nampa S.D.   #131
Iowa Elementary School
$33,355.06

Nampa S.D.   #131
Lake Ridge Elementary School
$38,643.92

Nampa S.D.   #131
New Horizon Elementary School
$40,759.47

Nampa S.D.   #131
Park Ridge Elementary School
$34,130.76

Nampa S.D.   #131
Ronald Reagan Elementary School
$42,875.01

Nampa S.D.   #131
Sherman Elementary School
$33,214.03

Nampa S.D.   #131
Willow Creek Elementary School
$42,592.94

New Plymouth S.D.   #372
New Plymouth Elementary School
$28,418.80

North Valley Academy
North Valley Academy
$9,026.32

Orofino Jt. S.D.   #171
Orofino Elementary School
$24,540.30

Orofino Jt. S.D.   #171
Timberline Schools
$7,263.36

Parma S.D.   #137
Maxine Johnson Elementary School
$26,162.22

Parma S.D.   #137
West Wing
$11,776.52

Plummer-Worley Jt. S.D.   #044
Lakeside Elementary School
$11,423.93

Pocatello S.D. #025
Claude A. Wilcox Elementary School
$33,214.03

Pocatello S.D. #025
Jefferson Elementary School
$24,822.37

Pocatello S.D. #025
Rulon M Ellis Elementary School
$25,104.45

Pocatello S.D. #025
Tendoy Elementary School
$15,443.47

Potlatch S.D.   #285
Potlatch Elementary School
$16,642.27

Richfield S.D.   #316
Richfield School
$7,122.33

Salmon River S.D. #243
Riggins Elementary School
$4,654.19

Salmon S.D.   #291
Salmon Pioneer Primary School
$18,757.82

Shoshone S.D.   #312
Shoshone Elementary School
$16,360.20

Snake River S.D.   #052
Moreland Elementary School
$15,090.87

Snake River S.D.   #052
Riverside Elementary School
$18,052.64

Snake River S.D.   #052
Rockford Elementary School
$10,366.16

St. Maries Jt. S.D.   #041
Heyburn Elementary School
$22,354.24

St. Maries Jt. S.D.   #041
Upriver Elem-Jr. High School
$4,583.68

Swan Valley S.D.   #92
Swan Valley Elementary School
$2,468.13

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Bickel Elementary School
$12,058.60

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Harrison Elementary School
$23,482.53

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
I B Perrine Elementary School
$25,386.52

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Lincoln Elementary School
$23,412.01

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Morningside Elementary School
$29,053.46

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Oregon Trail Elementary School
$34,201.28

Twin Falls S.D.   #411
Sawtooth Elementary School
$32,226.77

Valley S.D.   #262
Valley School
$14,315.18

Wallace S.D.   #393
Silver Hills Elementary School
$9,167.35

Weiser S.D.   #431
Park Intermediate School
$14,244.66

Weiser S.D.   #431
Pioneer Primary School
$26,655.84

Wendell S.D.   #232
Wendell Elementary School
$28,771.39

Wendell S.D.   #232
Wendell Middle School*
$12,975.33

West Ada S.D.   #002
Chief Joseph School of the Arts
$35,188.53

West Ada S.D.   #002
Desert Sage Elementary School
$31,874.18

West Ada S.D.   #002
Frontier Elementary School
$17,488.49

West Ada S.D.   #002
Joplin Elementary School
$17,065.38

West Ada S.D.   #002
McMillan Elementary School
$15,937.09

West Ada S.D.   #002
Meridian Elementary School
$31,803.67

West Ada S.D.   #002
River Valley Elementary School
$31,874.18

West Ada S.D.   #002
Silver Sage Elementary School
$17,276.94

West Ada S.D.   #002
Summerwind Elementary School
$25,950.66

West Ada S.D.   #002
Ustick Elementary School
$28,418.80

West Bonner County S.D. #083
Idaho Hill Elementary School
$9,167.35

West Bonner County S.D. #083
Priest River Elementary School
$23,200.46

West Jefferson S.D.   #253
Hamer Elementary School
$2,538.65

West Jefferson S.D.   #253
Terreton Elem – Jr High School*
$18,546.26

West Side S.D.   #202
Harold B Lee Elementary School
$23,412.01

For more information about Child Nutrition Programs at the Idaho State Department of Education, visit www.sde.idaho.gov. To learn more about the FFVP, visit https://www.sde.idaho.gov/about-us/departments/child-nutrition-programs/school-meal-programs/fresh-fruit-vegetable-program/.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Donations are rapidly pouring in for the family of a young girl who was seriously injured during the annual Boise Potato Drop New Year’s celebration. Isabella “Bella” was attending the event with her family when an explosion occurred during the fireworks display, shattering the windows of the nearby AT&T building.

A piece of glass struck the child in the face. Bella was immediately rushed to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, where she underwent a three-hour surgery including a skin graft.

Bella’s extended family has put together a GoFundMe to help her parents cope with the unexpected medical bill as she begins the road to recovery. As of Monday, January 5th, the GoFundMe has already raised over $26K in donations.

In an update to the fundraiser, Bella’s father, Richard Ratto, expressed the family’s deep gratitude to the Idaho community, sharing that Bella is now recovering at home.

“Being able to tuck her into her own bed and let her rest in the comfort and safety of home is something we will never take for granted,” wrote Ratto. “Our feelings are overcome by the actions of our neighbors, strangers, emergency, and medical professionals. Your outpouring of love, prayers, messages, and continued support demonstrates the character that defines the community we were raised in. Your support for Bella has lifted an enormous weight from our shoulders and has allowed us to focus on being present with our daughter.”

For more information on the GoFundMe or to donate, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As the holiday lights dim and the new year begins, the Light the World Giving Machines have officially concluded their annual mission of charity. This year’s campaign saw a massive outpouring of local support.

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these “reverse vending machines”—which allow visitors to buy essential goods for those in need—drew more than 35,000 local visitors across eastern Idaho alone this season.

According to volunteers, over 32,000 individual items were donated to local and global organizations. The most popular donation item was shelter meals for the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission, providing over 2,300 meals to people in need.

While the machines have been packed away, the work is far from over. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently conducting its first-quarter audit to finalize the total dollar amount raised and will present the funds collected to their local and international charity partners this spring. Because of their sponsorship, every dollar raised will go to benefit the associated organization.

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Ariel Jensen

Local news 8 is excited to welcome the first baby born in 2026 at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

Take a look at this little bundle of joy. Meet Poppy. She was born to the proud parents, Carolyn and Jared 12:03 A.M. Poppy has three older siblings welcoming her into the family.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Friday, Dec. 2nd, that his office has reached a formal settlement with Right Now Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing following an investigation into the company’s business practices.

The Boise-based company signed an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance after the state’s Consumer Protection Division flagged a series of consumer concerns. As part of the agreement, Right Now will pay $6,500 to cover the Attorney General’s investigative fees and costs.

The settlement also mandates that the company adopt nine business rules, including:

Clear pricing in advertisements

Providing customers with hard copies of contracts before starting work

Ensuring all employees are lawfully licensed or registered

Maintaining and retaining records for any complaints received by the company

Providing prompt refunds and rebates to which a customer is entitled

Labrador says this settlement helps protect families and makes sure businesses play by the rules.

“I’m proud of the work my team in our Consumer Protection Division has done on this case to put Idaho consumers first,” said Attorney General Labrador. “This settlement safeguards the interests of families and also provides an opportunity for a business to improve their practices within the requirements of the Idaho Consumer Protection Act.”   

For more information on the settlement or to report a scam or consumer complaint, click HERE.

2025-12-19-AVCDownload

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