Author: KIFI

Kaelyn Blessinger

CLIFTON, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho veteran represented the Gem State at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games and will be bringing home a gold medal for his trivia knowledge.

U.S. Navy veteran Joseph Moscynski of Clifton competed in a wide range of events, including bocce ball, table tennis, disc golf, bowling, cycling, shooting and trivia.

The entire competition took place in Detroit, Michigan, which helped Moscynski ace the trivia competition since he grew up in Michigan for part of his childhood.

“Trivia was at the Henry Ford Museum, which I used to visit as a kid,” Moscynski said. One question asked competitors to identify Lake Gitche Gumee, another name for Lake Superior. For Moscynski, questions like that came naturally because of his connection to the state. “Over half the questions were easy because I grew up here.”

However, Moscynski said bringing home a gold medal was not his only victory. One of the most memorable parts of the competition was the friendship and camaraderie he shared with fellow veterans from across the country.

“Basically, no matter how old we were or when we served, we all got basically the same experiences, just from a different view,” Moscynski said.

When he returns to Idaho, Moscynski hopes his experience will encourage more Idaho veterans who use wheelchairs to get involved in adaptive sports and participate in future competitions.

“Hopefully we can kick-start and get more people involved,” Moscynski said. “I know there’s more people that I’ve met in Idaho that would be great. So we just got to get them interested in the games.”

The 2027 National Veterans Wheelchair Games are set to take place in Orlando, Florida, where Moscynski plans to return and defend his trivia title.

For more information about the games check out the link to their website.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State University is hosting one of the biggest events of the year in Pocatello, the Idaho International Choral Festival (IICF). The event brings elite choirs from around the world together for concerts, rehearsals, Idaho exploration, and free performances.

Since 1999, the IICF has brought people and cultures together through music every three years. The five days of the festival are spent singing, learning from other choirs, and doing activities in the Pocatello area.

“They love making music with other musicians. We are a non-competitive festival, so they’re not competing against each other,” said Barbara Kurtz, Executive Director of IICF. “They’re singing their own songs but also singing together, and they always say they enjoy that camaraderie and relaxed atmosphere.”

The festival also enlists the help of host families in Pocatello who open their homes for the week for international traveling singers. This is the first year a choir from Kazakhstan has participated. Seventeen volunteers help to make the events happen all week, including multiple concerts at Jenson Grand Concert Hall.

The festivities kick off on Wednesday, July 15, with the opening ceremonies at Pebble Creek Ski Area. Each choir will perform one number, and the mayors of Pocatello and Chubbuck will attend. Singers in the choirs will even be able to ride the chairlift up the mountain and hike back down.

Some of the choirs will also perform at Goranson Hall in the Fine Arts Building on campus. Tickets are still available at the door or online. From Wednesday through Friday, there will be nightly concerts at both venues starting at 7. Saturday evening will have the Gala Concert to finish off the incredible week of music.

“They’ll do things like swim at Ross Park and visit the Natural History Museum, do some of the touristy stuff,” Kurtz said. “But they spend most of their days rehearsing with the choirs.”

Kurtz also described the groups as “elite” and “prestigious” choirs, making the Idaho International Choral Festival a unique opportunity to see a world of talent in one place.

“How many people in Pocatello have ever heard a Kazakhstani song? You’ll hear it at their concert,” she said. “They sometimes also dress in their native costumes depending on the performance.”

A regional high school honor choir featuring students from different towns across Idaho also joined the festival. Kurtz described this week as the highlight of many of those high schoolers’ summers. The ISU Alumni Choir is also part of the festival.

For the team behind the massive week of events, the reward is getting to listen to beautiful music from around the world every night.

“I would love everybody in our area to come and just chat with them, come to the concert, stay after for a little bit and actually talk to them, ask them about their country and they can ask you about ours,” Kurtz said. “It’s a special opportunity that is rarely possible for us here in Pocatello.”

All proceeds made from ticket sales go back into helping the festival continue for years to come. The next one will be in 2029 at ISU.

For more on ticket sales and prices, visit idahointerchoralfest.org/tickets

Participating Choirs 2026

Boys’ Choir DAGILĖLIS (Lithuania)

Chorus of Change (Kazakhstan)

Huaxia Chinese Chorus of New Jersey (USA)

Spring Women’s Choir (California, USA)

Salt Lake Chinese Choir (Utah, USA)

ISU Alumni Chamber Choir (Idaho, USA)

High School Honor Choir (Idaho, USA)

Schedule of Events/Concerts

Wednesday, July 15

9:30-10:30 AM: Opening Welcome Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting (Free, media only, please) – Pebble Creek Ski Area.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Thursday, July 16

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Outdoor Concert (Free, bring your own lunch) – ISU Quad.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Friday, July 17

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Outdoor Concert (Free, bring your own lunch) – ISU Quad.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Saturday, July 18

7:00 PM: Gala Concert – Jensen Grand Concert Hall, Stephens Performing Arts Center.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Ammon man is behind bars after allegedly pointing a firearm and threatening a group of teenagers at a local park on Monday night.

Shane Sutton, 37

Shane Sutton, 37, was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault following the incident at McCowin Park.

Around 11:15 p.m., Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a disturbance near the pickleball courts at McCowin Park.

According to court documents, Sutton confronted a group of teenagers gathered in the area about fireworks going off in the park and the situation quickly escalated.

Sutton allegedly yelled, “I will f*@$%ing kill you,” before grabbing a handgun from his waistband, cocking it, and pointing the weapon directly at the group, the teens told investigators.

Video of the incident quickly spread on social media, showing the Sutton brandishing the firearm before leaving the scene in a utility truck. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Deputies located Sutton a short time later at a gas station on N. Woodruff Avenue. He was taken into custody without further incident and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.

On Tuesday, July 14, Sutton was formally arraigned in Bonneville County Court, where a judge set his bond at $75,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 28, 2026, at 1:00 p.m.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Organizers behind Idaho’s failed medical cannabis ballot initiative say problems with a professional signature-gathering firm may have contributed to the measure falling short of qualifying for the November ballot.

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office announced Tuesday that the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act did not meet the state’s requirements to appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. According to the office, the initiative failed to submit enough valid petition signatures both statewide and across the required number of legislative districts.

RELATED: Idaho abortion initiative qualifies for November ballot; Medical Cannabis measure falls Short

In a statement released Tuesday, the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho said it was “shocked” by the outcome and is reviewing the state’s findings county by county.

According to a statement from the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho, “we were intentional about bringing in reinforcements in the final weeks of the effort, which resulted in submission of approximately double the required signatures to qualify and submissions in all 44 Idaho counties.”

According to campaign officials, they hired a professional signature-gathering firm to oversee the signature-gathering process to ensure it was done “lawfully and completely.” As the campaign progressed, they saw signs of “disorganization” with the vendor’s signature-gathering process.

“When concerns were raised, we were assured that legal requirements, including requirements related to reporting and residency, were being followed and signatures were on pace to surpass the threshold,” the statement said.

In recent weeks, the campaign faced setbacks, including a dispute over petition signatures in Minidoka County.

According to reporting by the Idaho Capital Sun, campaign organizers argued signatures submitted on the filing deadline should have been counted, while county officials said the petitions were delivered after the clerk’s office had closed for the day.

Campaign organizers said they believe the problems stemmed from the initial vendor hired to collect signatures, stating, “The Secretary of State’s letter describes missed deadlines, circulator documentation and payment disclosures, and petition materials prepared incorrectly or submitted late. We believe every statement made in the letter originated with our initial vendor.”

The Secretary of State’s Office has not announced any changes to its determination. However, the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho said it is reviewing “every legal and procedural remedy available” as it evaluates its next steps.

The campaign was launched by family members and friends of a longtime Idaho physician who died of brain cancer in 2024.

RELATED: Idaho’s Medical Marijuana debate: Voters push for medical access as lawmakers dig in

“She did not have alternatives to opioids for her treatment,” the statement read, “and while recovering from an operation outside of Idaho, was recommended cannabis. It brought relief to her nausea and allowed her to sleep for the first time in weeks. That kickstarted her personal (and later her family’s) dream to bring this medicine to Idahoans who could use it in their hardest trials in a dignified, legal way.”

The organization said it is not granting interviews while it reviews the state’s findings and potential legal options.

READ: STATEMENT FROM THE NATURAL MEDICINE ALLIANCE OF IDAHO

Yesterday the Secretary of State’s office issued its final determination that the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act will not appear on the November 2026 ballot. We share the disappointment of the many thousands of Idahoans who worked for, signed and believed in this effort. They deserve to know exactly why we fell short.

Organizers of this effort are friends and family members of a beloved philanthropist, pediatrician, and long-time Idaho resident who lost her life to brain cancer in 2024. She did not have alternatives to opioids for her treatment and, while recovering from an operation outside of Idaho, was recommended cannabis. It brought relief to her nausea and allowed her to sleep for the first time in weeks. That kickstarted her personal (and later her family’s) dream to bring this medicine to Idahoans who could use it in their hardest trials in a dignified, legal way. The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho was created because we believe patients with serious and painful conditions deserve an alternative to prescription opioids. Polling shows 83% of likely Idaho voters agree. Because the people behind NMAI are not campaigners or experienced in petition drives, we hired a professional signature gathering firm to do what we could not do ourselves and trusted it to do the job lawfully and completely.

NMAI organizers oversaw this effort actively and in good faith. As the campaign progressed, we saw signs that our original signature gathering vendor’s operation was disorganized, but when concerns were raised we were assured that legal requirements, including requirements related to reporting and residency, were being followed and signatures were on pace to surpass the threshold. It appears that our confidence was misplaced. The Secretary of State’s letter describes missed deadlines, circulator documentation and payment disclosures, and petition materials prepared incorrectly or submitted late. We take every claim in that letter seriously and no one wants answers more than we do. We believe every statement made in the letter originated with our initial vendor. None of our concerns extend to the second firm we brought in late in the drive, whose work was professional throughout. NMAI has zero tolerance for signature fraud or prohibited conduct and will cooperate fully with any review.

All of this said, we are still shocked that the initiative did not qualify for the ballot. NMAI was intentional about bringing in reinforcements in the final weeks of the effort, which resulted in submission of approximately double the required signatures to qualify and submissions in all 44 Idaho counties. These are real Idahoans, all across the state, who expressly asked for the opportunity to vote on this issue. Our third party validation prior to submission indicated significantly higher validity than was returned, and we will be reviewing the findings county by county. 

For all the heartbreak, this effort is also a demonstration of what makes Idaho’s system work. The citizen initiative exists so ordinary people can bring lawmaking directly to their neighbors, and tens of thousands of Idahoans engaged in exactly that. We also believe in the rigor Idaho law demands of this process. Those safeguards exist so Idahoans can trust that every measure reaching the ballot belongs there, and our commitment to that principle has not wavered. To everyone who signed, volunteered, donated, and shared their stories with us, thank you. You did everything right. We are examining every legal and procedural remedy available, and whatever comes next, the need remains. The demand Idahoans expressed through this campaign is not going away. Idahoans deserve the right to make their own healthcare decisions and a government that trusts them to do so.

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Par Kermani

VICTOR, Idaho (KIFI) — The Victor City Council has appointed Council member Sue Muncaster to serve as mayor following the resignation of Mayor Will Frohlich in June.

The council voted 3-0 on July 8 to appoint Muncaster, who will serve the remainder of the current mayoral term through 2027.

RELATED: Victor mayor announces resignation amid recall effort

“No one would disagree that the toxicity and divisiveness in our country right now is a real problem. And I believe local is where you can make change,” Muncaster said.

Muncaster’s first priority in office is aligning Victor’s future with the rest of Teton Valley using comprehensive, collaborative planning.

“The timing is such that Victor, Driggs and the county are all starting to redo their comprehensive plans, and I really want it to be more of a collaborative effort where we’re planning for the whole valley,” Muncaster said.

Victor parting ways with Driggs to build their own wastewater plant has been an ongoing concern among residents in Victor.

Victor will work with Driggs to build a shared wastewater treatment plant.

Muncaster is also prioritizing development, while also acknowledging affordability concerns in town.

She highlighted an upcoming housing project in Victor designed to improve affordability through a public-private partnership. The development features workforce requirements specifically targeting firefighters, teachers, and healthcare workers.

“The idea is to push density into the city so that there’s not as much sprawl in the county,” Muncaster said.

“Residents deserve confidence that their government is focused on solving problems, delivering services, and preparing Victor for the future,” said Acting Mayor Stacy Hulsing. “The Council believed Sue’s experience, collaborative leadership, and understanding of the challenges before us make her the right person to provide that leadership. This appointment allows the City to stay focused on the work that matters most to our residents.”

According to the city, Idaho law requires city councils to fill mayoral vacancies by appointment rather than through a special election.

City leaders said appointing a current council member would help maintain continuity as Victor continues work on several major projects, including wastewater planning, infrastructure improvements, housing affordability and an update to the city’s comprehensive plan.

Muncaster has served on the Victor City Council since 2021. Her background includes work as an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, communications consultant and community advocate. She most recently served as executive director of the Teton Leadership Center and currently serves on the board of the Teton Regional Economic Coalition.

Following her appointment, Muncaster said her priorities include improving communication with residents, supporting city staff, rebuilding trust with regional partners and addressing issues related to growth, infrastructure, affordability and quality of life.

“Our job is to run the City efficiently while helping heal a divided community,” Muncaster said in a staement. “Victor needs leadership that welcomes debate before decisions are made, communicates clearly after decisions are made, and helps the community move forward once lawful decisions have been reached. Criticism of elected officials comes with the job. Harassment of public employees does not. Our staff and consultants deserve accountability, but they also deserve respect.”

Muncaster’s appointment creates a vacancy on the Victor City Council. The city said it will announce an application process and timeline for filling the open council seat in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit victoridaho.gov

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Dozens of veterans and supporters rolled into Idaho Falls Tuesday as part of the 17th Annual Tribute to Fallen Soldiers Motorcycle Ride, a cross-country journey honoring the nation’s fallen service members and supporting Gold Star families.

“Our mission really is to remind these families that we have not forgotten them,” said Executive Director Warren Williamson.

The annual ride spans 24 days and travels from Eugene, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., with stops in communities across 18 states.

During Tuesday’s stop in eastern Idaho, riders honored Marine Lance Cpl. Dustin Birch and Army Staff Sgt. Shawn Stoddard, both of St. Anthony.

Air Force veteran David Mashburn, who served for 33 years, said participating in the ride is his way of honoring those who never made it home.

“It actually means everything,” Mashburn said. “I spent 33 years in the Air Force. I was deployed numerous times and I always made it back home to my family. So the people we do this for, they gave everything for this country.”

For Mashburn and many others, the ride has become an annual tradition.

“I’ll do it until I can’t lift a leg over a motorcycle,” Mashburn said.

Before departing Idaho Falls, riders gathered for the National Anthem before continuing on to Billings, Montana.

The riders are accompanied by a ceremonial flame that remains lit throughout the journey. The flame will travel with the group until it reaches Arlington National Cemetery, where it will be extinguished during a closing ceremony on Aug. 2.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho voters will decide a reproductive rights initiative this November after organizers gathered enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot, while a medical marijuana initiative failed to garner enough signatures.

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office announced Tuesday that the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act met the state’s signature requirements and will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, general election ballot.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, organizers submitted 75,478 valid signatures across 20 legislative districts. Idaho law requires initiatives to collect signatures equal to at least 6% of registered voters in at least 18 legislative districts.

Arguments from Supporters

Supporters say the proposed measure would establish a right to reproductive freedom and privacy, including access to abortion before fetal viability. After viability, abortions would be allowed in cases of a medical emergency. Under the proposal, the state would be prohibited from penalizing patients, healthcare providers, or others who assist someone in performing an abortion.

The certification marks a major milestone for supporters, who will now shift their focus to convincing voters ahead of the November election.

Arguments from Opponents

Opponents have launched a counter-campaign to defeat the measure. A newly formed political action committee, Too Extreme for Idaho, announced its “Stop Prop 1” campaign on Monday. The group released a poll conducted by the firm Peak Insights, which surveyed likely Idaho voters and found that 52% oppose the proposition, 41% support it, and the remainder are undecided.

“Stop Prop 1 will be a strong, multi-million-dollar media and grassroots campaign to communicate our perspective on Prop 1,” said campaign representative Dee Sarton.

Opponents argue that the initiative goes too far, claiming it would allow abortions late into pregnancy, expand the definition of who can perform the procedure beyond licensed physicians to other healthcare professionals, and allow minors to access abortion without parental consent.

Medical Cannabis Initiative Fails to Qualify

Meanwhile, a separate effort to legalize medical cannabis in Idaho failed to qualify for the ballot.

The medical cannabis campaign faced setbacks in recent weeks, including a dispute over petition signatures in Minidoka County. According to reporting by the Idaho Capital Sun, campaign organizers argued signatures submitted on the filing deadline should have been counted, while county officials said the petitions were delivered after the clerk’s office had closed for the day.

READ MORE: Medical Cannabis Backers Say Signature Gathering Problems Sank Idaho Ballot Initiative

Next Steps For Voters

Supporters and opponents now have until July 20 to submit arguments for inclusion in Idaho’s voter pamphlet. The pamphlet, which will be mailed to voters before the election, will include the full text of the initiative along with selected arguments for and against the measure.

Local News 8 has reached out to Idahoans United for Women and Families and opponents of the initiative for comment on the measure’s certification. We have also contacted the Idaho Medical Cannabis Coalition and the Natural Medicine Health Alliance Idaho regarding the medical cannabis initiative’s failure to qualify for the ballot. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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News Team

UPDATE: BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI)—The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office released new details Tuesday about a boating accident that left a woman with life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened Saturday on Bear Lake.

According to the Sheriff’s office, a woman in her mid-30s was riding on an inflatable tube being pulled by a boat when she was struck by the boat’s propeller. The injuries were so severe that both her legs had to be amputated.

Deputies said bystanders on the beach quickly applied tourniquets, action they said saved her life.

Family members told deputies the woman is now in stable condition. No additional details were released as the family requested privacy.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI) — A chaotic weekend on Bear Lake left one person with life-altering injuries following a severe boating accident on the Idaho side of the lake.

The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident on social media, but has not released details on what caused the accident. Deputies confirmed in the post that the victim was lifeflighted from the scene. The accident was so severe that it required the double amputation of the victim’s legs.

The accident happened as local emergency crews were responding to multiple incidents, including rescuing passengers from a separate sinking boat.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.

The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.

However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.

The proposed ordinance would:

1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.

2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.

3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.

4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.

“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”

But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.

“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”

At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.

“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.

But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.

“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”

The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.

Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.

For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.

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Par Kermani

MACKAY, Idaho (KIFI) — Two people were killed Monday morning in a crash on U.S. Highway 93 near Mackay, according to Idaho State Police.

The crash happened around 10:12 a.m. near milepost 104.

Idaho State Police said in a statement that a 2022 Allegro motorhome driven by a 73-year-old man from Oak View, California, was traveling southbound on U.S. 93 when a 2000 GMC Yukon entered the highway from North 4100 West.

According to investigators, the driver of the Yukon, a 61-year-old man from Challis, failed to yield and collided with the motorhome.

The driver of the Yukon and a 58-year-old female passenger from Arco died at the scene.

The motorhome driver was not injured.

Troopers said all occupants involved were wearing seat belts.

U.S. 93 remains blocked in both directions as crews work to clear the scene. Drivers can check current road conditions and closures at 511.idaho.gov.

Idaho State Police is investigating the crash.

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