Author: KIFI

Dylan Carder

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- The Early Learning Collaborative in Idaho Falls is working to expand access to quality child care and eliminate financial barriers for local working families. Organizers aim to ensure no child is turned away from center-based or home-based care due to a family’s inability to pay.

Sponsored by the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, the collaborative has been operating since approximately January. The initiative brings together boots-on-the-ground child care providers, non-profit partners and community groups to coordinate early education services and improve program availability.

The organization held a community open house Wednesday at United Way of Eastern Idaho. The gathering allowed local leaders, educators and state officials to review ongoing initiatives aimed at expanding child care resources.

Child care providers in Idaho Falls face severe capacity constraints, leaving many parents on waiting lists. High enrollment costs often exceed monthly family earnings, prompting some parents to leave the workforce entirely. Katie Francis with the United Way of Idaho Falls highlighted how child care expenses directly impact employment choices.

“Right now the barrier is so huge because the cost of a child care seat, it’s sometimes easier to just stay home because the cost of the care for my one or two kids, I don’t even make enough to cover that,” Francis said.

Financial support programs play a critical role in keeping care accessible for local families. The Idaho Child Care Program provides grants to lower-income households to help cover child care fees. At the YMCA of Idaho Falls, approximately 60% of participating families receive financial assistance or subsidies through state programs and organizational support.

Julie Heaton from Small World daycare expressed concern about potential funding reductions to grant programs.

“Our biggest concern is that as monetary funds decrease, then less people are able to get the grant money needed to help – especially those who are in the lower income area – to meet the needs of those kids,” she said.

To elevate early education standards, child care providers rely on specialized training initiatives. Facilities across Idaho Falls use Idaho Stars to assist staff members with certifications and program improvements. Grant funds and stipends also help cover teacher wages while they complete professional development courses. Organizers hope these investments in training will reduce staff turnover rates and improve overall instruction for young children.

The collaborative gathers local facility directors and community organizations once a month to address shared challenges and prevent service duplication. Francis emphasized that local feedback guides these efforts.

“We make all of our decisions based upon the input of our community, and that’s what the collaborative does,” she said.

The monthly meetings allow leaders to discuss safety, curriculum and staff resources.

Francis added, “It gives us an opportunity to bring together the people who never get to meet. Everybody gets together and share resources… Those are conversations we never get to have.”

Members of the collaborative are also engaging with lawmakers to recommend policy adjustments. Organizers hope to adjust eligibility requirements for assistance programs so more working parents qualify for financial aid.

Francis stressed the group’s constructive approach when speaking with officials, “So our hope is really first that they listen and to are willing to take into consideration some of the things that we are offering.”

“As a suggestion, we really believe in coming to the table with solutions, not just problems,” she said.

Learn more about the Idaho Falls Early Learning Collaborative and resources available here.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Fourth graders in District 93 got first hand experience of life on the Pioneer Trail without having to leave campus. From sawing wood, making fires, to shooting wild game; these students had a hands-on experience to their education.

“They’re just kind of mimicking chores that were done on the trail,” Pioneer Trails Mobile Museum Co-Owner Gary Bruesch said.

Gary and his wife, Linda, were motivated to create the mobile museum by the growing decline in history education.

“This is actually part of their fourth grade social studies curriculum,” said Linda Bruesch, co-owner of Pioneer Trails Mobile Museum. “Social studies usually ends up towards the bottom of the list unfortunately. So this is a way students can learn their social studies, their Idaho state history, and key people to Idaho history through hands-on experience.”

The Pioneer Trails Mobile Museum gives the kids this field-trip experience, without leaving the campus grounds. Linda and Gary hope to expand their lessons to more schools across the region, offering children the chance to get outside and participate in their history.

“I think we can learn from our past,” Gary said. “This are a lot of skill sets that these kids don’t have because they play video games. So today they’re learning to tie knots, saw wood, strike a match, and light fire with rubbing two sticks together.”

Stepping into the life of a pioneer, even for just one day, can help children see them as real people and better understand their lives.

If you are interested in learning more about the Pioneer Trails Mobile Museum, here is the link to their website.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Pebble Creek Ski Area saw a dusting of snow for the first time this season on Monday, with hopes to open the mountain in mid-December. This is the first season Pebble is included in the Indy Pass, and crews have worked on mountain improvements all summer for guests to enjoy.

Coming off of a disappointing season last year, the staff at Pebble Creek is determined to have a better ski and snowboard season. Throughout the summer, crews replaced the ramps on all three lifts at the ski hill. They also installed new carpeting in the lodge and new picnic tables on the deck.

“As always, we had tons of lift maintenance and inspections that we got done; we also added restraint bars on the Aspen chairlift,” said Dana Barrow, Assistant General Manager at Pebble Creek. “Each chair will have a bar to pull down for safety.”

The Aspen Lift serves the students who come for lessons at the mountain, making it even more important that newcomers have safety bars on the lift. Crews also installed new, larger trail maps at the top of the Skyline lift. Barrow said the old signs were fading and in need of replacement.

“We also did a major expansion on Pebble Lane, which most people call the cat tracks,” she said. “We widened them quite a bit and then recontoured them so there’s a more consistent downhill slope throughout them.”

Barrow added that the team feels excited and accomplished about what they were able to improve upon in the warmer months. The mountain will continue offering lessons for people of all ages and abilities. Portneuf Valley Adaptive Sports will have their sophomore season at Pebble Creek, providing athletic experiences for disabled athletes.

Pebble hopes to open by mid-December, if not by Christmas week, as long as the weather complies. Barrow said they’ll begin making snow as early as they can, another weather-dependent facet of the mountain.

The snowfall on Monday was a small dusting, but Barrow says even getting that early moisture on the mountain ground is essential.

“It’s perfect because it will melt into the ground and then the ground is saturated and freezes a lot easier than dry ground,” she said. “When the snowfall comes up, it’ll stick and stay right on that ground, which is just what we want.”

Forecasters are predicting a record-breaking El Niño this season, so temperatures may stay above average for ski resorts. In spite of the stark weather outlook, staff at Pebble Creek are determined and hopeful for a better season than last year, no matter what the winter brings.

“We are excited to have a better season than last year. Surely it’s bound to be better,” Barrow said. “We will just be happy with an average season at this point, but really, we’re hoping for big snow, lots of guests and lots of fun skiing and snowboarding back up here.”

This is the first year Pebble Creek is included in the Indy Pass – a season pass to multiple ski resorts around the region. Pebble is hopeful it will bring in more skier and snowboarder traffic on the weekdays.

“They will be limited to weekdays during the peak season, just because we don’t have enough room to accommodate everybody,” Barrow said. “But it will be really fun to show people from all over our mountain.”

Barrow said being part of the Indy Pass should allow Pebble to remain open seven days a week, which is their goal. The mountain consistently hosts school programs during the week, but adult visitation dwindled last season. With more out-of-state skiers traveling to see new mountains with their Indy Pass, it’s possible Pebble Creek sees record-breaking numbers every day of the week during this season.

“It’s going to be a fun year up here; we’re going to make up for lost time that we didn’t get to enjoy last year,” Barrow said.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – This weekend, the Mountain America Center will turn into the Women’s Expo, a two-day event where women can connect, discover, shop, and get inspired.

Eighty-five vendors will offer everything from new cars to handbags to perfume.

“We think that this is a great way to reach out to our community as well as October is breast cancer awareness,” said Steele Lake Specialty Surgical Center Manager Abra Wasia. “We really feel that it’s important to go out and get your breast cancer screenings.”

Women of all ages are invited to attend the fourth annual Women’s Expo. Guests can mingle with other women at the various sponsor booths and will receive a passport that can be turned in for prizes.

“Every person that comes in, they get a passport. They’ll go around to every single booth. They’ll get a signature, and then at the end they’ll actually turn in the passport for a ticket,” Wasia said. “Then the ticket goes in a drawing for baskets. I’ve heard that there’s 50 baskets that they’re going to be giving away.”

The first 250 women to visit each day will receive a free swag bag.

Admission is $5. The Expo runs from noon to 6 PM on Friday and 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday at the Mountain America Center, where you can network with business owners and meet women from across the region.

“We’re really excited to connect with the community,” said McKenzie Hart, a physician assistant at Steele Lake.

Learn more about the event in the video above.

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David Pace

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – The controversial Caldera Flats subdivision on Henrys Lake Flats continues to move forward after Fremont County Commissioners voted 3-0 to deny a request Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, to reconsider their approval of the project.

However, the Henrys Lake Flats Coalition, a new non-profit organization, responded Tuesday they will “seek judicial review” of the commissioners’ July decision to overturn an earlier Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission decision denying the development.

The implications

The controversy centers on a project to turn 160 pristine acres north of the Island Park Cemetery into 32 single-family homes on minimum five-acre lots.

The project is owned by Doug and Kevin Button, of DK Land LLC.

Hundreds of Island Park residents protested development on the flats, with 500 showing up at a previous Planning and Zoning meeting – most in opposition.

The history

The Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission initially denied the application for the subdivision on May 28, 2026.

They cited that the project’s “density of subdivisions does not adequately protect agriculture, wetlands, or wildlife on this particular property; and the proposed subdivision is not consistent with the policies 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of the Comprehensive Plan.”

But in a 2 to 1 vote in July, Fremont County Commissioners Rick Hill and Mark Chandler overrode that decision.

“The development code says you can have a subdivision in that zone. They felt like if we say you can have a subdivision and you follow our rules, your subdivision should be approved,”  Fremont County’s Planning and Building Administrator Tom Cluff said this summer. “There’s a property rights element that they felt was important, that whatever other concerns we have don’t outweigh that.”

Commission Chairman Blair Dance disagreed, stating the application should be sent back to Planning and Zoning for further consideration.

The Nature Conservancy, adjacent property owners, the Island Park Volunteer Fire Department and others then requested the commissioners review their decision.

“The wildlife that use the flats are a special treasure in Island Park – moose, elk, deer, pronghorn, grizzlies and black bear – per from Fish and Game,” said Jean Bjerke, a Henrys Lake Flats Coalition board member. “This is a case where what could be lost will be gone forever.”

Wetlands on the property are also at risk.

“It is a wetland area, and when you put homes on wetlands, they tend to be destroyed. You can’t go back on them if they fail,” said Loy Schroeder, former Fremont County Planning and Zoning Chairwoman, in July. “It has antelope that have their babies there. It has elk. It has long-billed curlew that nest on it.”

She’s concerned about the impact on the Henry’s Fork world-class fishery.

“The Henry’s Fork that runs through the adjacent property – within less than a quarter of a mile from the Button property – stands to be contaminated,” she said.

Taking it to the courts

The Henrys Lake Flats Coalition, formed in August, seeks to protect the flats’ “wildlife, habitat, natural resources and open spaces.”

The coalition’s board consists of Teri Ehresman, Bjerke, and Leanne Yancey.

“In deciding to seek Judicial Review, the board believes the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission was correct in making the decision to deny the application,” the coalition stated in a news release. “The P&Z Commission spent time after receiving public comments on the proposal. They scheduled a ‘work meeting’ the following week to further compare the Fremont County Development Code and Comprehensive Plan with the application. They carefully studied the documents before reaching the decision that the application did not comply with county rules. We support the P&Z decision.”

The petition for judicial review must be filed within 28 days in the Seventh District Court. Those wishing to support the coalition’s efforts can contribute online here.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Bryan Kohberger’s upcoming Thursday hearing regarding his petition for post-conviction relief has been vacated and will be rescheduled for a later date. Additionally, court dates set for a status conference and an evidentiary hearing regarding Kohberger’s attempt to withdraw his guilty plea next June have also been called off.

Thursday’s proceedings were originally set to address a defense motion seeking to disqualify Judge Steven Hippler, who presided over Kohberger’s original trial and sentencing. Kohberger’s new legal defense team argues that Judge Hippler made biased remarks during sentencing.

During the 2025 hearing, Judge Hippler characterized Kohberger’s actions as “grotesque acts of evil” and said he was “unable to come up with anything redeeming about Mr. Kohberger.” The comments came after Kohberger pleaded guilty to the brutal 2022 murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The plea agreement spared Kohberger from the death penalty, resulting instead in four consecutive life sentences without parole, plus an additional 10 years.

The State of Idaho responded on Oct. 7, 2026, pushing back against the effort to remove the judge. Prosecutors argued that previous judicial rulings and sentencing statements do not legally demonstrate bias under state law.

Citing the 1998 Idaho Supreme Court ruling in State v. Beam, prosecutors noted that “the ‘very nature of sentencing … requires a trial judge to form strong opinions and convictions’ regarding the defendant.”

State prosecutors maintain that Judge Hippler remains fully qualified and well-positioned to impartially oversee Kohberger’s post-conviction proceedings.

to_Petitioners_Motion_to_Disqualify_Judge_for_Cause_Pursuant_to_IRCP_Rule_40b_or_in_the_AlterDownload

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A busy intersection south of Idaho Falls is back open after being closed for over two months.

The intersection of 5th East (Holmes Ave) and 49th South (Township Rd.) has reopened with a new traffic light.

The new light was added to reduce crashes at the intersection. According to news release from the City of Idaho Falls, between 2018 and 2023, there were 17 crashes near the intersection, one of which resulted in multiple deaths.

The new intersection includes designated left-turn lanes, ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps, and sidewalks.

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Danielle Mullenix

EASTERN IDAHO (KIFI) – What starts as a message in a group chat can quickly become a much bigger problem… especially when threats, bullying, or sexual violence are treated like jokes.

A recent investigation involving alleged controversial social-media messages and death threats connected to Boise’s Timberline High School is raising difficult questions about student safety, accountability, and what happens when harmful behavior moves from a private conversation to a wider audience.

For Eastern Idaho families, the situation also reminds them that conversations about online behavior, respect, and reporting concerns should start before something happens — not after.

The Timberline investigation drew widespread national attention after alleged messages circulated online. The fallout included student protests, a canceled homecoming football game, and a petition of over 9,000 signatures calling for accountability.

One alleged message reportedly referenced the so-called “Cornell 7” case, a separate sexual assault investigation that has sparked broader conversations about campus culture and responsibility.

The situations are different, and the messages connected to Timberline remain part of an ongoing investigation. But both have spotlighted a question Eastern Idaho families and schools cannot afford to ignore: What should someone do when they see something online that could put another student at risk?

The Latest on the Timberline Investigation

As of October 14, Boise Police are still investigating the reported threats involving Timberline High School students.

According to Idaho Education News, police have completed initial essential interviews, preserved immediately available evidence, and requested that additional evidence be preserved. Investigators say they are continuing to review evidence as it becomes available and may interview additional witnesses. The department has not announced whether the incident meets the legal requirements for criminal charges.

Students told KIVI, Local News 8’s sister station in Boise, that the messages were troubling, particularly because they allegedly involved people they see at school every day.

“It’s really surprising. You wouldn’t expect that from your peers and people you go to school with every day,” Timberline junior Siena Caldwell told KIVI. “It’s scary, honestly, having those kinds of things being said.”

One alleged message circulating in connection with the Timberline case reportedly referenced the Cornell investigation, further connecting the local controversy to a broader national conversation about sexual violence and accountability.

Because the investigation involves students, officials have said they can only share limited information publicly.

The Boise School District has also begun its own investigation after police gave district officials the go-ahead. The district has said it will conduct a threat assessment and investigate potential policy violations, including those involving Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.

How Eastern Idaho families & students can take action

Idaho Falls Police Department spokesperson Jessica Clements says parents should not dismiss threatening or harmful statements simply because they come from young people.

“We definitely should not just chalk things up to just kids being kids,” Clements said.

That means taking a closer look at what young people are seeing, sharing and saying online — including in private chats that adults may not normally see.

Parents can start with a few practical steps:

Talk about what crosses the line. Make it clear that threats, harassment and sexual violence are not harmless jokes just because they happen online or in a private group chat. Make it easier for kids to speak up. Let children know they can come to you if they see something concerning, even if they are worried about getting a friend in trouble. Ask what they would do. Talk through how they would respond if a classmate shared a threatening message, targeted another student, or encouraged others to join in. Take concerns seriously. Avoid brushing off a report because the student involved seems unlikely to behave that way or because someone claims it was only a joke. Know who to contact. Students can report concerns to a trusted adult, school administrator, or law enforcement. Idaho also has a statewide student safety reporting program.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bryan Lovell said threats of violence can prompt a law enforcement investigation, even when they are made online.

“If you start talking about threats of violence, expect that there’s going to be an investigation,” Lovell said. “Expect law enforcement to come knock on your door after hours, early hours, outside of school, or at school.”

Lovell also encouraged parents to keep open communication with their children about what is appropriate—both online and in person.

Clements also stressed that threatening statements should not be treated as jokes or brushed aside.

“Those are not things that we should take lightly or make light of,” she said.

University of Idaho emphasizes prevention and bystander responsibility

One of the most important decisions students can make is what they do after seeing a concerning post or message.

Sharing screenshots or reposting allegations can spread harmful content further, expose students to additional harassment, and make it harder to separate verified information from rumor.

Instead, preserve relevant information when it is safe to do so, avoid engaging with or spreading the content, and report it to a trusted adult, school official, or law enforcement. If a threat appears credible or someone may be in immediate danger, seek help right away.

University of Idaho Dean of Students Blaine Eckles said creating a safe school or campus environment is a shared responsibility — including for students who are not directly involved.

“Students have responsibility in creating a safe campus experience for everybody, even if they’re not actively involved in a situation,” Eckles said. “We want to arm students with tools on how to do that because nobody likes conflict.”

At the University of Idaho, incoming students under age 24 are required to complete safety education training, Vandal Care, which covers topics including hazing, sexual violence, alcohol, and drugs. Eckles said the goal is to give students tools to respond when something does not seem right, even when speaking up may feel uncomfortable.

See, Tell, Now!: The quickest way to report a safety concern in Eastern Idaho Student Life

Students, parents, and community members do not have to wait for a situation to escalate before speaking up.

Idaho’s See, Tell, Now! Student Threat Reporting System provides a way to report potential safety concerns, including threats, bullying, harassment, intimidation, and cyberbullying. The program says its tipline is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained technicians evaluate tips and screen reports before sending them to the appropriate school contacts. Tips involving serious or imminent danger are routed through the assigned dispatch center.

Mike Munger, manager of the Idaho School Safety and Security Program, said reporting concerns can help officials connect schools with resources before a situation escalates.

“We as a system are able to get resources into the places that they need to be, maybe earlier and at a less extreme level,” Munger said. “And really, that’s the goal.”

Using the Tip-line:

Online: Visit SeeTellNow.org and select “Report a Tip” to complete the reporting form. By phone: Call 888-593-2835. Through the app: See, Tell, Now! also offers reporting apps for Apple and Android devices. If your school is not listed: Select “School Not Enrolled” in the school field and include your school’s name in the description of the tip.

Preventing Crisis through Communication

No single conversation can prevent every threat or harmful online interaction. But parents, students, schools, and community members can help create an environment where concerning behavior is taken seriously and reporting it is encouraged.

For Eastern Idaho families, that starts with talking openly about online behavior, making sure students know where to turn for help, and reinforcing that reporting a threat is not the same as spreading a rumor.

As Jessica Clements put it: “Always report it,” she said. “The best way to make sure it gets into the right hands is to be the person that makes that call.”

If something seems concerning, don’t assume someone else will handle it. Speak up, get help, and make sure the information reaches someone who can act.

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Seth Ratliff

JACKSON, Wyoming (KIFI) — The Teton County Sheriff’s Office and community are coming together to support a longtime first responder who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last week.

55-year-old Bart Churches was hospitalized after his motorcycle hit a black bear on Highway 31 near Swan Valley last Thursday, according to Idaho State Police. Churches, a 24-year veteran detention officer with Teton County, remains in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

To support him and his wife, Renae, through his long recovery process, colleagues at the Sheriff’s Office launched an online fundraiser.

“Anyone who knows Bart could tell you that riding his motorcycle, specifically his Harley-Davidson, is one of his favorite hobbies and is something he and his wife Renae have enjoyed doing together for years,” the Sheriff’s Office shared in a statement. “There is no pressure to donate, but we knew the community would be asking where and how to help, because Bart has been a member of this community for so many years.”

As of Wednesday, October 14, the community has raised more than $14,000 toward Churches’ medical care and recovery. In a Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office relayed Renae’s message of gratitude following the outpouring of support.

“His wife Renae has asked us to extend her sincere appreciation to everyone who has reached out, offered support, and who responded to help Bart the day of and days following the collision,” states the post. “She is so grateful to her family of coworkers at Whole Foods along with both the administration and individual employees at the Sheriff’s Office for the wrap around of supports.”

For more information, or to contribute to the fundraiser, click HERE.

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David Pace

POCATELLO and REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – As the conflict in Iran stretches into its seventh month, politicians on both sides of Idaho’s key U.S. Senate race are weighing in on the fight impacting prices at the pump across America.

Local News 8 spoke with the two leading candidates recently on foreign policy and issues close to home.

‘Everybody wants this over as soon as possible’

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, (R)-Idaho, currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

In a September interview with Local News 8, he defended President Trump’s decision to enter the war, but issued a call to bring it to a close.

“The president had to make a decision at the time that he did. He had information in front of him, which I know because I saw the same information, that caused him to take the action that he did against Iran to stop them from having a nuclear weapon,” Risch said. “Decades from now, when this information is made public, when it is no longer classified, people will see and understand. Vast numbers will agree that the president had no choice but to take the action that he did. Obviously, everybody wants this over as soon as possible.”

‘There’s no path to win’

Independent candidate Todd Achilles is challenging Risch in the race for U.S. Senate.

Achilles, who previously represented Boise for two years in the Idaho Legislature, served as a tank commander during Operation Desert Storm.

“We all agree that Iran with nuclear weapons is an unacceptable risk. But if we’re going to do something against Iran, let’s make sure we do it the right way. The problem is the current action,” Achilles said. “There’s no clear objectives. There’s no path to win. Unfortunately, it seems that we’ve really just emboldened the Iranians rather than getting them to step back. So we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us. We’ve got to get our allies involved. We got to keep the Strait of Hormuz clear., and we need a real plan to how we resolve this in a way where the Iranians don’t get nuclear weapons.”

At Home in Idaho

The candidates also responded to questions about the top concerns facing Idahoans today.

“Two things – Congress isn’t working. Frankly, it’s an embarrassment, and there’s a rigged economy,” Achilles said. “It’s too hard to get by, and my kids don’t have a chance at the American dream. So those are the two things I hear from Idahoans across the political spectrum, and that’s what I’m focused on.”

“I think anybody watching TV right now would say it’s gas prices. Look, it’s affordability. That includes housing. It includes food,” Risch said. “But, gas is the thing that people are most concerned about.”

With the November 3 election less than three months away, voters will make the final selection between the two frontrunners, independent Natalie Fleming and Libertarian Matt Loesby.

You can watch our full interviews with both frontrunners in the U.S. Senate race below.

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