Author: KIFI

Maile Sipraseuth

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI)– A new affordable housing project is taking shape in Teton Valley, with construction underway on 175 Front Street in downtown Driggs. The project aims to bridge the gap in a community where average housing costs are nearly three times what typical residents can afford.

“We’re becoming a place where people come to spend their money more than make their money, which means that folks that work in our community are finding it harder and harder to live in our community,” Jerod Pfeffer, Executive Director of Teton Valley Housing, said.

175 Front Street is being developed through a collaborative effort involving Teton Valley Housing, the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, and other local partners.

Once completed, the building will provide 23 apartments for households earning between 40-80% of the area median income.

Pfeffer says the need for affordable housing in the valley is significant. Housing costs in Driggs are about three times the median income, making it difficult for many local workers to afford to live in the community where they work, leading them to live farther away and commute.

“What I hear is that it’s getting harder and harder all the time. They’re driving further to access their job,” Pfeffer said. “The trend lines here are that housing is becoming more expensive. It’s becoming a larger share of household income for people, and it’s getting more and more challenging to make ends meet while working and living in Teton Valley. “

Teton Valley Housing launched its first affordable housing unit, Depot Square, three years ago. Recently, residents moved into an affordable housing unit in Jackson. Local leaders view the projects as the beginning of more affordable housing across the valley.

“Our goal is really to keep these, as a housing authority, to keep these units permanently affordable. So not just the first family, but the family after that and then after that,” Pfeffer said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)—Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) is reminding people to ensure they and their children are up to date on vaccinations as newly diagnosed cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, increase across southeastern Idaho.

Pertussis is highly contagious and spread through the air from an infected person by coughing, sneezing, or talking. Health officials say Pertussis begins with cold-like symptoms and a cough that becomes progressively worse over 1-2 weeks. Adults and children with pertussis can develop intense coughing fits accompanied by shortness of breath, vomiting, and a “whooping” noise when they inhale.

Health officials stress that anyone experiencing breathing difficulties, especially infants and young children, should seek medical attention immediately.

Vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to prevent pertussis. Children should receive the DTaP vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age, again at 15-18 months, and between ages 4 and 6. Adolescents and adults should receive a Tdap booster at ages 11-12 and a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years thereafter. Because pertussis can be especially dangerous for infants, pregnant women are encouraged to receive a Tdap vaccine during the third trimester of every pregnancy.

For more information, contact your health care provider or Southeastern Idaho Public Health at 208-233-9080.

Click here to follow the original article.

Stephanie Lucas

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Months after a fire burned the beloved Baker Country Market to the ground, the store is officially reopening its doors.

The scene at the market today is starkly different from the February 21st fire that destroyed the popular Lemhi County landmark.

The cause of the fire was ruled an accident, sparked by wind-driven embers.

Plans to rebuild were announced by the Miller family, who own the store, and the local Amish community.

By April, dozens of volunteers finished the structure’s frame. When it came time for the roof, they had it on in a matter of hours. 

This Friday, August 14th, the new Baker Country Market officially opens to customers.

Regular hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5 PM. The store will be closed on Thursdays and Sundays.

Join Local News 8 next Monday as we take a closer look inside the new and improved local landmark.

Click here to follow the original article.

Curtis Jackson

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI)— Fire crews quickly put out a field fire in the Gibson area of Fort Hall Indian Reservation on Wednesday.

According to Watch Duty, the fire began around 10:45 a.m. in a field along Ferry Butte Road between North Bannock Road and US 91.

The fire threatened nearby homes, prompting evacuations. The fire was under control by 12:30 p.m. and burned around 30 acres. No structures were damaged, and no one was injured.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

Click here to follow the original article.

Curtis Jackson

UPDATE: According to the Madison County Sherriff’s office April Jensen has been found.

We’ll have more information as it becomes available.

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s office is looking for a woman who has been missing since Monday.

A poster shared on social media sites says April Jensen, 53, was last seen by her family on Sunday evening at her home in Rexburg. She was also seen leaving her work at the Maverik store in Rigby around 3 p.m. on August 10, 2026.

They believe she may be in a gold colored 2004 Chevy Trailblazer with license plate number ID 1M D149U

If you have any information, or have seen April, you’re asked to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 208-372-5000.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Release

Editor’s Note: The following is a news release from Yellowstone National Park.

YELLOWSTONE — Beginning Aug. 12, Yellowstone National Park will lift the fishing restrictions on rivers and streams that went into effect on July 29. The restrictions were implemented because low water flows and high water temperatures can be lethal to fish. Cooling weather and water temperatures in the forecast allow for these restrictions to be lifted. Anglers will be able to fish on most park rivers, streams and lakes daily from sunrise to sunset as specified in the 2026 Fishing Regulations booklet.

The existing full fishing closures on the Madison, Firehole and Gibbon (downstream of Norris Campground) rivers that were implemented on July 15 will remain in effect until conditions improve to protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries. These rivers run warmer due to the influence of nearby geothermal areas that increase water temperatures.

Staff will continue to monitor the water temperatures. The closures may be lifted, or additional restrictions and closures may be put in place, depending on condition assessments.

Anglers: Please fish during the coolest times of day and land fish quickly. Do not play hooked trout to exhaustion. Gently handle fish in the water as much as possible and let them recover before release. Your cooperation will protect the park’s fisheries and may prevent the need to prohibit fishing at all times of the day on some rivers and streams if conditions worsen.  

Click here to follow the original article.

Danielle Mullenix

The persistent dry weather of the past few days is finally coming to an end, as scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this Wednesday afternoon and evening. Some of these storms may feature gusty outflow winds, and localized heavy downpours will likely precede a significantly wetter outlook on Thursday.

An abnormally moist airmass will overspread eastern Idaho Wednesday evening into Thursday, bringing cooler temperatures along with showers and thunderstorms starting Wednesday evening and continuing through the weekend. Thursday and Friday will be the most impactful days. Moderate to Heavy Rain, if it were to occur over recently burned areas or urbanized locations like city centers, could lead to localized flash flooding. Flash flooding and debris flows caused by excessive rainfall are possible over the Big Rock burn scar. The chances of this will increase into Thursday as the amount of rainfall picks up for the next few days.

Expect high temperatures to still remain fairly warm today, with temperatures sitting in the upper 80s along the Snake River Plain and overnight lows cooling into the 60s. Some minor impacts from the rainstorms today could increase wind gusts into the afternoon hours, but overall temperatures will begin to cool down on Thursday and Friday into the lower 80s and 70s.

Potential impacts are expected from the thunder and rainstorms on Friday and Saturday, as the wet weather pattern will continue into the second portion of the week. Cloud coverage, on top of the residual haze from wildfire smoke, will mean continued gray skies for the next few days.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

THAYNE, Wyo. (KIFI) — A routine cleanup of a newly purchased barn led to a full-scale bomb squad response on Monday after a local homeowner made a dangerous discovery: six boxes of suspected mining explosives.

Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson said the discovery was made Aug. 10 at a home on Duffin Circle, south of Thayne. The man had been cleaning out the loft of the barn when he discovered several boxes clearly stamped with “HIGH EXPLOSIVES” and “DANGEROUS”.

The man immediately called the authorities, and Deputies from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded alongside the Teton County Sheriff’s Office/Jackson Police Department Joint Regional Bomb Squad.

“Upon arrival, bomb technicians deployed portable X-ray equipment to inspect the boxes,” stated Sheriff Johnson. “After confirming the compounds were stable, the explosives were removed and transported for further testing and final disposal.”

Sheriff Johnson says once the bomb squad tests the boxes to determine the exact contents, law enforcement will either detonate the explosives in a controlled manner, neutralize them with other compounds, or safely disperse them.

Praising the homeowner’s quick thinking, Johnson urged anyone who finds suspected explosives or vintage military munitions not to touch them and contact law enforcement immediately.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danielle Mullenix

ROBERTS, Idaho (KIFI) – A cross-country road trip usually involves a car, a suitcase, and plenty of gas. For Roberts’ Riley Mickelsen, his journey involves his Mustang named Dasher — and a much bigger goal.

Mickelsen is currently making his way north from his home in Eastern Idaho with plans to reach Canada while riding Dasher. But Canada isn’t the final destination. Mickelsen says his ultimate goal is to ride Dasher from Canada to Mexico.

The first part of the journey is taking him north from Roberts to Canada. Once Dasher and Mickelsen reach Canada, Mickelsen plans to trailer the two back home before heading south toward Mexico this fall.

Mickelsen has been documenting the adventure on social media, giving followers a front-row seat to the journey as he and Dasher make their way across America.

The daily videos are attracting plenty of attention online, with viewers following along as Mickelsen rides, travels, and works with horses along the way.

Mickelsen is a professional farrier at the Idaho Horseshoeing School in Roberts, so his journey also offers viewers a look at his work with horses — something that has helped him build a following online.

For now, the next big milestone is Canada.

If Mickelsen and Dasher make it there, they’ll have completed the first major leg of a journey that could eventually take them from the northern border of the United States all the way to Mexico.

Mickelsen continues to document the journey online as he and Dasher work their way toward Canada.

Follow Riley and Dasher’s journey: Dash­er the Mustang on YouTube

Click here to follow the original article.

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – As the Idaho Falls City Council prepares to adopt its $393.5 million budget later this month, Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw opened her office for an exclusive interview Tuesday.

She laid out some of the city’s main priorities in its Fiscal Year 2027 city budget.

“We have the library, we have the recreation, and we have parks, we have an airport, we have a sewer company, we have a power company,” Burtenshaw said. “… We have all of those other things that we do for city residents, and so it is a massive undertaking, and it is a big budget.”

RELATED | Idaho Falls unveils new $393.5 million budget for Thursday public hearing

Burtenshaw offered a sneak peak at several major projects coming to Idaho Falls.

“Widening of Rollandet, getting another North-South corridor is a big project for this next summer,” she said. “We have Sandy Downs being able to get that land graded and irrigated using impact fees. … We want to start a [fire] training center, so we’re going to get going on some of those initial plans. Then also, part of that Capital Improvement Plan includes upfitting of our fire apparatus and our EMS vehicles.”

Additionally, this year, the city is adding two new training captains to the Fire Department and a new opioid response detective and dispatcher to the Police Department. 

“This year, primarily, it reflects an increase to our public safety budget,” Burtenshaw said, “and then just generally being able to maintain the same kind of services we’ve been providing.”

Burtenshaw says a place is waiting for those who are passionate about building the community.

“Start joining committees and commissions and boards speak to the departments,” she invited. “Then pretty soon you start to realize maybe where your niche is or where you have a passion. It’s the best way to get involved, because people who have passion and take their time to learn how the city works, they’re really able to influence what happens at the city level.

You can provide public comment on the budget Thursday at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers in downtown Idaho Falls at 680 Park Avenue.

Click here to follow the original article.