Author: KIFI

Dylan Carder

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)- The Idaho High School Activities Association voted 10-0 on Wednesday to update its policy regarding transgender students in girls’ sports. The change to Rule 11-3, which included one abstention, aligns the association with the state’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.

The move brings association policy into compliance with Idaho Code Title 33, Chapter 62. The previous version of the rule followed federal executive order #14201, which was signed Feb. 5, 2025.

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act requires athletic teams sponsored by public primary or secondary schools and public institutions of higher education to be designated based on biological sex. This also applies to any school or institution whose teams compete against public schools. Teams must be categorized as males, men or boys; females, women or girls; or coed or mixed.

Under the law, any athletic team or sport designated for females, women or girls is not open to students of the male sex. The update to Rule 11-3 was designed to ensure the Idaho High School Activities Association complies with these specific state requirements regarding transgender student participation.

Disputes regarding a student’s sex must be resolved by the school through a health examination. The institution must request that the student provide a health examination and consent form or a statement signed by a personal health care provider. This document must verify the student’s biological sex.

Health care providers may verify biological sex as part of a routine sports physical examination. According to the statute, the provider may rely only on the student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels to make the verification.

The Idaho State Board of Education will promulgate rules for schools and institutions to follow regarding the receipt and timely resolution of sex disputes. These rules must remain consistent with the requirements for health care provider verification.

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Dylan Carder

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)- The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare announced the contract for the Idaho Wednesday’s Child recruitment program will end on Sept. 30. Internal state teams will take over recruitment and intensive services for foster children starting Oct. 1.

The program has operated for more than 25 years in partnership with Eastern Washington University and other community organizations to find homes for children in foster care. The state is reorganizing how it manages these cases to modernize recruitment practices and address safety concerns related to public profiles.

The program website will stop accepting inquiries for youth on Aug. 24. The Family Resource and Training Center, which has operated the program for the past 10 years, scheduled the site to close on Sept. 1. Families are encouraged to complete inquiries as soon as possible to ensure they are processed before the end of the month.

Jean M. Fisher, administrator of the Division of Youth Safety & Permanency, said the landscape of foster care adoption has changed. In a letter to community partners, Fisher noted that advances in technology and social media have increased risks for youth featured in public profiles.

“The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is in a position to innovate practices for child-specific recruitment while demonstrating fiscal responsibility,” Fisher said. The department has already adjusted how it manages cases by having permanency workers coordinate earlier with family services staff.

The state also added a Family Find team to help identify previously unknown relatives or connections for children in care. These changes aim to achieve timely placement for children who cannot return to their homes. During the transition, the state will use the AdoptUSKids website to ensure recruitment efforts for waiting children continue.

Internal Youth Safety & Permanency team members will begin providing recruitment services on Oct. 1. The Department of Health & Welfare will also develop an updated website for children and families while the current platform remains unavailable.

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David Pace

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Salmon community celebrated a ribbon cutting for a new Salmon Two Rivers K-8 public school Wednesday, marking the completion of a $28 million project years in the making.

Gov. Brad Little attended the ceremony along with local lawmakers and school officials.

After 20 years and 13 prior attempts to pass a school bond, voters approved a $20 million bond to fund the school in May 2024.

Salmon is the only school district in the state to support a school bond since 2024.

“They tried to pass the bond in 13 times. But what you heard today were all the people that were part of it. They went out and solicited support from all the businesses,” Gov. Little said. “R&M Steel, it’s an enormous gift that they’ve given to this school in the steel for the structure, the superstructure.”

The gap to reach the total cost was filled after a massive community fundraising effort – combined with additional state funds from House Bill 338 and House Bill 521 – totaling $8 million to bring the project to completion.

The district provides education for 600 students, with up to 425 spots available at the new school, said Salmon School District 91 Superintendent Jill Patton.

“Thank you, thank you for supporting us. Thank you for the time and effort everybody put in to make this happen,” Patton said. “And thank you for the ongoing commitment, because every single time [the patrons] pay their taxes, they are showing support for our schools. We appreciate that.”

The new building features 30 classrooms and a beautiful gymnasium and playground area.

The new school comes after years of discussion over aging school facilities in Salmon and across Idaho.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – An Arizona woman was injured when her car rolled on US 20 near the Idaho National Laboratory site on Tuesday morning.

Idaho State Police said the 67-year-old woman was driving west in a 2025 Toyota Camry. Troopers said she lost control of the Camry, went into the eastbound lane, off the right shoulder, and rolled.

The crash occurred at 9:22 a.m. at milepost 278 on US 20 in Bingham County.

The woman was wearing a seatbelt and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Community Food Basket announced that their Executive Director, Ariel Jackson, will be stepping away from her role August 21st.

She has been the Executive Director for over 6 years and has been a part of the organization for nearly 9 years. She is now relocating to Boise.

“We are deeply grateful for Ariel’s leadership, creativity, and the heart she brought to this organization,” said Callie Hatch, Board Chair of the Community Food Basket. “The foundation she helped build will continue to serve this community well.”

The Community Food Basket Board of Directors confirmed that a transition is already underway to find their next Executive Director.

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Par Kermani

HEISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Crews are making progress on the Big Rock Fire near Heise, with containment reaching 22% Wednesday morning.

The fire remains at 2,199 acres with 278 personnel assigned to the incident.

Fire officials said the Big Rock Fire continues to stay within its existing perimeter, with crews achieving partial containment along the northern flank above Cress Creek. Overall fire activity has also decreased.

Crews are continuing to reinforce and widen fire lines north of Kelly Canyon and on state endowment lands to the north. Firefighters are also working to secure South Snake River Road and Heise Road while moving farther uphill to remove hazardous trees and extinguish hot spots.

Although active fire behavior has decreased, officials said heat and smoldering material remain throughout the burned area, with some juniper trees occasionally torching.

One helicopter is assigned to the fire Wednesday afternoon to assist with bucket drops.

Crews are also inspecting the Cress Creek Trail to remove hazards and determine what repairs may be needed.

Firefighters thanked the community for its continued support and understanding as crews work to secure more of the fire’s perimeter Wednesday.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is joining attorneys general from 16 other states in calling on Congress to pass the “STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act”. The legislation that would expand states’ ability to investigate and prosecute Medicaid recipient fraud.

“Every year, criminals steal billions from a program meant to protect our most vulnerable citizens by lying their way onto Medicaid rolls,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Federal law currently ties investigators’ hands unless the fraud comes from a provider, letting recipient fraud go unchecked.”

Labrador joined South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson and other state attorneys general in a letter urging the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and Senate Committee on Finance to pass the Stop Fraud in Medicaid Act.

Under current federal restrictions, State Medicaid Fraud Control Units can use federal funding to investigate and prosecute fraud committed by Medicaid providers, but not fraud committed by Medicaid beneficiaries or recipients.

The proposed legislation would expand that authority to include recipient fraud.

“The STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act gives Idaho and other states the authority to run down beneficiary fraud with the same force we already use against dishonest providers,” said Labrador “I will keep fighting to protect this program for the Idahoans who truly need it.”

According to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reported that Medicaid Fraud Control Units recovered $4.64 for every dollar spent by states and the federal government during fiscal year 2025.

Nearly $2 billion was recovered through criminal and civil cases during that fiscal year, according to the Attorney General’s Office. Those convictions also resulted in 900 individuals and entities being excluded from federal health care programs.

Supporters of the legislation argue expanding the authority of state Medicaid Fraud Control Units would help states recover additional taxpayer money and protect the Medicaid program from fraud.

Attorneys general from Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and West Virginia signed onto the letter.

More information on medicaid fraud can be found at idaho.gov.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— Federal and state agencies will implement Stage 1 fire restrictions across central and eastern Idaho starting this Friday, August 7. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and Idaho Department of Lands ordered the restrictions due to very high fire danger and dry conditions on rangelands and forested lands.

The restrictions are intended to decrease the chance of preventable human-caused wildfires on federal, state and private lands.

Other participating agencies include the Fort Hall Agency BIA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. According to fire management officials, the order applies to forestland and rangelands at all elevations.

In central Idaho, the restrictions cover portions of Custer County north and east of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, excluding the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness. The order also applies to all lands in Lemhi County that are not designated as federal wilderness.

Areas under restriction in eastern Idaho include the Big Desert, Caribou and Centennial zones. These zones encompass lands in Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Clark, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Madison, Power, Oneida and Teton counties.

Under the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions, the following acts are prohibited on state and federally managed or protected lands, roads, and trails:

Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site and in a permanent concrete or metal fire ring, or on private land, and only within an owner-provided structure.

Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building, or designated recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.

The following are exemptions to the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions:

Persons with a written permit that specifically authorizes the otherwise prohibited act.

Persons using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels. Such devices, including propane campfires, may be used only in an area cleared of flammable material.

Persons conducting activities in those designated areas where the activity is specifically authorized by written posted notice.

Any federal, state or local officer or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

All land within a city boundary is exempted.

Other exemptions unique to each agency.

Private landowners may use fire structures on their own land if the improvement is made of permanent metal or concrete. Such structures must have a clearance of 10 feet on all sides that is free of any flammable vegetation. This exemption does not include metal fire pans. Private landowners are also permitted to use charcoal or propane barbecues on their own property if the coals are disposed of properly. Devices solely fueled by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fuels, such as propane campfires, are allowed if used in areas cleared of flammable material.

Other exceptions include persons with a written permit for a prohibited act and those using stove fires that feature a chimney at least five feet long and a spark arrester with a maximum mesh screen opening of one/four inch.

Metal fire pans are permitted within a quarter-mile of several river segments, including the Salmon River, the Middle Fork of the Salmon River and the Selway River. Fire pans are also allowed on the Snake River from Hells Canyon Dam to Lewiston and on the South Fork of the Snake River from Palisades Dam to Mike Walker Boat Access. These pans must be made of durable metal, measure at least 12 inches by 12 inches and have a three-inch lip. Users must elevate the pans to prevent scorching the soil and must carry out all ash in a sealed container.

The restrictions will remain in effect until fire management officials determine there has been a significant change in fire danger.

Officials advise visitors to check with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the BLM Idaho Falls District or the Idaho Department of Lands for specific local updates before traveling.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Kids crawled through police cruisers, jumped on motorcycles, explored a Bear Cat, and learned about tasers at the Idaho Falls Police Department’s National Night Out celebration Tuesday at Tautphaus Park.

The event offered kids and adults an opportunity to meet and interact with the men and women putting their lives on the line every day to serve and defend our community.

“When policing was first invented, they were on foot. They walked the neighborhood. They knew everybody. They knew their kids. They knew their lives. They knew their struggles, and it was community policing,” said Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson. “That’s what we’re striving to be more like, so that there’s a more intimate relationship, because that allows us to get the bad people and put them in jail and serve the the folks of Idaho Falls, make it safe and make a positive difference.”

Members of the community were able to interact with officers, tour vehicles, watch a drone, and check out special police equipment like the Bomb Squad’s robot.

They also came face to face with Skadi, the department’s highly-trained, bomb-sniffing dog.

Officers from patrol, the bomb squad, dispatch, Crime Scene Investigators and SWAT team were on hand to answer questions and have fun with the community.

“We’ve got K9s – so bomb-sniffing, drug-sniffing dogs, apprehension dogs – drones, motorcycles, fingerprinting, even drinks and hot dogs,” said Deputy Chief Jeremy Galbreaith.

Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw issued a proclamation declaring Tuesday “Idaho Falls Community Policing and National Night Out Day.”

“The one word for community policing to always hold onto is trust, because it’s about building the trust between the police and citizens,” said Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis. “When they trust each other, it’s a proactive way of preventing crime, and that’s the most important thing to get to.”

The city is divided into four beats, he explained, allowing officers to build relationships with local residents, and come to know the region and organizations that operate there.

“When the public has a concern or they know something’s going on that can be headed off before it gets bad, then they go to somebody they trust,” Francis said. “They know, because it’s an officer who’s there on a regular basis and often you can head it off before it becomes a serious problem.”

National Night Out is all about building those relationships of trust. The event is held the first Tuesday of every August.

The celebration provides an excellent opportunity to thank those in police uniforms who keep us safe and serve with honor, courage, integrity, trust and excellence every day.

“To enforce the law, you have to be courteous and also educate the public on what it is that the law is all about,” Galbreaith said. “So it’s a partnership more than anything else.”

A young man sticks his head out of the Bear Cat Tuesday at National Night Out.

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