Author: KIFI

Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Intermountain Gas customers will see a rate increase in their next monthly bill.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission approved a proposed settlement on December 30, 2025, two days before the increase is to take effect on January 1, 2026.

IPUC said the average residential customer will see an increase of $2.45, or 6.02 percent. Businesses could see an increase of $4.42, or 2.46 percent.

The monthly residential charge will also increase by $3.00 to $11.00. For businesses, it will increase $8.00 to $23.00

Intermountain Gas initially requested a $4.69 increase for residential customers and $9.26 for commercial customers. But IPUC felt the increase would be burdensome for customers and settled for the lower increase.

Intermountain Gas sought the rate increase to cover operating and maintenance costs, which they said had increased by an average of 5.4 percent since the utility’s last rate change.

You can read the formal documents and approval at puc.idaho.gov/case/Details/7525.

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Danielle Mullenix

This New Year’s Eve, Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming are full of fun celebrations to welcome 2026. There are several ways to be involved in the community this evening, including concerts and book reading events. See the list below for some of the December 31st events:

December 31st, 2025, New Year’s Eve Events:

New Year’s Eve: Arrival from Sweden, the Music of ABBA – (Idaho Falls, ID) A renowned tribute band, founded in 1995, meticulously recreates the sound and stage presence of the legendary Swedish group ABBA. Touring globally, they perform ABBA’s hits with impressive authenticity, often considered the closest experience to the original. Notably, they are the sole tribute band to have received an unreleased ABBA song.

Heads and Tails Distillery’s Midnight Masquerade – (Idaho Falls, ID) Guests can step into the shadows of New Year’s Eve for an evening of mystery and revelry at Heads & Tails Distillery. The Midnight Masquerade, beginning at 9 pm, invites attendees to don their most beguiling masks and immerse themselves in an atmosphere of elegant intrigue.

A $100 ticket grants you exclusive access to this sophisticated affair, including a commemorative Glencairn glass to take home, a signature welcome drink to start the night, gourmet passed appetizers, and the luxury of bottomless bubbly as we count down to midnight.

Jazz House Big Band New Year’s Eve Bash – (Menan, ID) The Jazz House Big Band is partnering with the East Idaho Community Big Band to host a New Year’s dance. The event will take place at the Menan Town Hall. Admission prices are $10 per person and $18 per couple, with discounts available for large families. Light refreshments will be provided.

A Novel New Year: Turn the Page at Midnight – (Rigby, ID) Get ready to ditch the heels and sparkle for something more comfortable this New Year’s Eve: cozy PJs and a stack of books at “A Novel New Year: Turn the Page at Midnight.” This event offers an escape—no judgment, no crowds, and no obligation to be “on.” It promises pure, unadulterated bookish bliss. Attendees can join a local romance bookstore for a till-midnight read-a-thon designed for booktroverts. The event provides a cozy, low-pressure environment where the only “fireworks” are the spicy scenes on the page.

New Year’s Eve Dinner & Celebration at the Idaho Falls Country Club – (Idaho Falls, ID) Visitors are invited to the Idaho Falls Country Club Bellhouse Restaurant from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm on December 31st for live music, drinks, and food. Reservations can be made by calling (208)-523 -5757 ext. 2. The event is open to the public.

The 3rd Annual Glitz & Glamour New Year’s Eve Ball – (Riverton, WY) This event will take place at 307 Bar & Grill, featuring a dinner buffet and live music by Cowboy Hippie. Guests can enjoy complimentary champagne and fireworks at midnight. Dinner will be served from 6 to 8:30 PM. The dress code is semi-formal, and tickets cost $50 per person, available at 307 Bar & Grill. Attendees are encouraged to dress up, show up, and ring in the New Year in style.

Firework Safety

If you plan to stay home and use fireworks on New Year’s Eve, first responders have essential safety reminders to help keep your celebrations safe. Fireworks should only be lit in an empty lot or driveway, ensuring you’re clear of your house and any nearby structures. Sparklers are the most common cause of injuries, so never stick smaller fireworks in your pockets. When disposing of fireworks, wait until the area is clear of debris, and keep a bucket of water nearby to soak spent fireworks.

Authorities urge everyone to celebrate responsibly and take extra precautions to prevent beginning 2026 in the emergency room.

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David Pace

The Idaho State Capitol in Boise. | File photo

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho will be ringing in the new year with eight new laws on the books on January 1st. 

The measures passed in the 2025 Legislature will cover a range of issues – from changes to how property taxes are assessed to anti-SLAPP legislation.

Senate Bill 1001 protects freedom of speech by allowing courts to quickly throw out Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known as SLAPPs. The measure aims to protect individuals’ rights to speak out on issues of government and community interest.

House Bill 354 and Senate Bill 1216 change how property taxes are assessed.

Under the new laws, if the value of a home goes up more than 10 percent in a year and the homeowner would like to appeal that decision, the county assessor must provide the burden of proof for the increase.

In the past, it was up to the homeowner to prove the home’s value had not exceeded 10 percent in the previous year.

Additionally, the property tax on electric utilities is being replaced with a tax based on kilowatt hours sold.

Lawmakers also expanded breast cancer screening coverage for “magnetic resonance imaging, contrast mammogram imaging and people at higher risk for breast cancer,” according to the law.

The new laws are among 340 pieces of legislation that passed in Idaho last year.

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Curtis Jackson

ROBERTS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police are looking for help in identifying the driver of a pickup involved in a hit-and-run crash that occurred on December 16.

That crash happened around 8:01 p.m. on I-15 near milepost 134 near Roberts.

ISP said they are looking for a white Ford pickup with silver running boards, a black toolbox in the bed, and a front push bar. The pickup had an Idaho license plate, beginning with ‘1J’ and may have damage to the passenger side of the truck.

Dashcam footage of the crash was released by ISP.

If you witnessed the crash or have information that could help in their investigation, contact Trooper Summers at 208-510-7376.

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Curtis Jackson

The following is a news release from the Idaho Lottery.

BOISE, Idaho – Check your Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle tickets Jefferson and Kootenai Counties!  One lucky player in Jefferson County and another in Kootenai County who purchased their Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle ticket there could be starting the year off as Idaho’s newest millionaires.  

The Idaho Lottery has confirmed the retail locations for the top prize-winning tickets from the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle draw last night. Ticket 125579 was sold at an Idaho Lottery retail location in Jefferson County.  Ticket 326200 was sold from Idaho Lottery retailer location in Kootenai County.

In addition to the top prizes, the Idaho Lottery has also confirmed the $100,000 winning ticket was sold in Payette County. The $100,000 winning number is 271072.  The $50,000 winning ticket was sold in Bannock County. The winning number for the $50,000 prize is 056134.

Players have 180 days from last night’s draw to claim prizes in the game.  The $1,000,000 prizes, the $100,000 prize, the $50,000 prize, and any $1,000 prizes must be claimed at Idaho Lottery Headquarters in Boise. No one has come forward yet to claim any of the top four prizes.

To check their tickets for winning numbers, players can visit idaholottery.com, call the winning numbers hotline at 208-334-4656, use the Idaho Lottery’s mobile app, or visit an Idaho Lottery retail location.

All prizes of $1,000 and higher must be claimed at Lottery Offices in Boise.  Lottery Offices are open from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, except observed holidays.  The Lottery will be closed to celebrate New Year’s Day but will reopen on January 2, 2026.

This year’s version of the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle returned over $1,700,000 to the Idaho Lottery’s beneficiaries, Idaho public schools and the State’s Permanent Building Fund.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Local officials are hoping people can feel confident that any unused prescriptions collected at take-back events will be destroyed safely and responsibly.

Eastern Idaho Public Health has purchased and transferred a drug incinerator to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. They said it will provide law enforcement with a secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible way to dispose of medications and illegal drugs.

The incinerator will provide disposal for all eight counties in Eastern Idaho Public Health’s jurisdiction: Bonneville, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton. It will be housed and operated by the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

Eastern Idaho Public Health has partnered with local law enforcement on safe drug disposal initiatives, including National Drug Take Back Day, since 2019. Law enforcement agencies interested in using the incinerator can contact Lt. Zeb Graham at the sheriff’s office.

Officials said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to prevention, public safety and community well-being.

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Danielle Mullenix

We continue to observe dry northwest winds as we wrap up the final days of 2025. A high-pressure ridge will remain in control through the middle of the week, keeping conditions dry overall. However, we’ll occasionally see high- and mid-level clouds drifting through the region.

On Tuesday, sunshine takes the spotlight as temperatures rise slightly, with afternoon highs near 36 degrees. Winds will remain light from the north-northeast at approximately 5 mph, resulting in a calm but agreeable day.

Wednesday will bring slightly more cloud cover, especially in the afternoon and evening, but dry weather will continue. High temperatures will climb to approximately 40 degrees, and winds will be light, starting from the east-northeast at around 5 mph before becoming calm later in the day.

By Thursday, the pattern begins to shift as high pressure weakens and wetter weather approaches from the west. Skies will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of rain and snow developing during the afternoon. Highs will top out near 39°. That chance for mixed precipitation continues into Thursday night, mainly before 11 PM, with mostly cloudy skies and overnight lows falling to around 29°. The probability of rainfall during this period rises to approximately 30%.

Looking ahead to Friday, there remains a chance of rain and snow, with highs in the lower 40s.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho grass and plants normally lie dormant under the snow this time of year; however, this warm weather is causing some confusion, even for our plants. 

Some people are reporting that their tulips and irises are starting to pop up.  Homeowners are wondering if they need to start mowing their lawns. Gardening experts are telling people not to worry and just let nature take its course. 

“Just be patient. It’s winter, and January is usually the coldest time of the year around here. Stay off the lawns. No heavy traffic on lawns. And try not to water anything. Just wait and be patient,” said Sheri Ellis, owner of Four Seasons Garden Design.

Ellis says do not water or mow your lawn right now, as that will cause it to grow more. She says there is a risk of damage to early-blooming ornamental trees and shrubs, but nothing can be done about it until spring. 

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE:

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – The owner of a mobile home in Swan Valley that went up in flames yesterday is speaking out today. Dwayne Christiansen says he and his son did enter the side of two connected mobile homes that was not on fire because they were trying to retrieve items that could be saved. 

After the items were out, Christiansen says he used a ladder to climb on the roof with some tools to separate the materials connecting the two mobile homes. Christensen claims foam or water from the fire hoses caused him to fall off the roof.

Fire Chief Travis Crystal says at that point, an altercation ensued, and Christiansen punched one of the firefighters in the face. 

Christensen says he doesn’t recall punching anyone but may have fallen on someone.

Fire Chief Crystal told Local News 8 that Christiansen was warned to stay away from the burning mobile home, but he refused.

“They said, you can’t go in there. And said heck I can’t, I said, I’m gonna go save some stuff,” said Christiansen. “And I grabbed my bear head, my lion rug – ha, to me that’s irreplaceable, you know – and a computer, and threw some suitcases out. Tracen, my kid, and another guy who was with him, helped carry them out. They [Tracen and friend] got a bunch of guns out, and all I think they said 57 guns. They’re collectors. And they took them and pulled all those out. And then we called it good, cause you know, pretty much good because they got what they pretty much wanted out of there, I guess.”

According to the Swan Valley Fire Department, they were called to a trailer house fire on Monday afternoon, where they found flames coming from a bedroom window.

The fire started around 12:50 p.m. at 3481 Swan Valley Highway. Firefighters quickly arrived. But as they started fighting the fire, the homeowners tried to go back into the burning trailer to recover items. Firefighters had to physically stop them.

Crystal said the homeowners attempted to re-enter the buildings several times after being told to stay back for their own safety.

Fire Chief Travis Crystal said two mobile homes were joined together. Crystal said at one point, one of the homeowners climbed a ladder and was on the roof with an ax, trying to keep the fire from spreading to the attached house. Firefighters were attempting to spray water on the buildings at the time. There are conflicting reports on whether or not the man was knocked off the building or if he jumped.

When he was on the ground, he was restrained by firefighters. Chief Chrystal says that during that altercation, one of the firefighters was punched in the face. The firefighter was treated on the scene and released. The homeowner who was on the house is being treated at a local hospital for injuries he sustained in the fall.

Bonneville County officers are contacting all parties, including eyewitnesses, to determine what happened.

After their investigation is complete, they will talk with the prosecuting attorney to determine if any charges will be filed.

“In all of my 26 years as a firefighter, I’ve never had someone try to impede firefighting efforts like this by causing a physical disturbance and assaulting a firefighter,” Travis Crystal, Swan Valley Fire Chief, said.

The fire caused $100,000 damage to the structure and another $30,000 for the contents.

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