Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little has signed a new bill into law criminalizing the use of public bathrooms not matching biological sex. The new law marks a sweeping expansion of the state’s existing trans bathroom ban.

While the 2023 law already mandates that Idaho schools regulate bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex, the newly signed law expands those restrictions to state-owned buildings and other public spaces. 

House Bill 752 will create criminal charges for any individual who “knowingly or willfully” enters a bathroom or locker room that does not correspond with their biological sex. The bill introduces strict criminal consequences. A first-time violation is classified as a misdemeanor, while a second offense would be a felony.

The bill was quickly signed after reaching the Governor’s Desk on Monday afternoon, March 30th.

Polarized Senate Debate

This bill has been one of the most talked-about — and controversial — of the session, with strong feelings on both sides of the aisle.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ben Toews (R-Pocatello), defended the legislation during Senate hearings, framing it as a measure designed to keep women and girls safe and keep biological men out of areas designed for women.

“Actually, what we are trying to solve here is not targeting any group of people or one person. It’s dealing with sexual predators and very real issues,” Toews told lawmakers in the Senate hearing.

Critics argue it targets transgender people and could lead to harassment or discrimination. The law takes effect July 1st, 2026.

Protests and the Trans Day of Visibility

The Governor’s signature arrived just as advocates gathered across the state for Trans Day of Visibility. Rallies in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello served as both a celebration of the community and a protest against a legislative session many described as a “direct attack” on their rights.

“Trans folks in Idaho are under attack,” said Hannah Pearson-Kleinheider, a non-binary resident at the Idaho Falls rally. “Even if people don’t really think about us all the time, we’re here. So we’re going to still keep being here.”

The rallies coincided with the passage of another piece of legislation affecting transgender Idahoans, the “Pediatric Secretive Transitions Parental Rights Act.” The bill would require educators and mental health professionals to disclose information to parents if a child is questioning their gender identity. The bill has passed both the Idaho House and Senate and is headed to Governor Brad Little’s desk.

Advocates like organizer Leah McNeal expressed grave concerns regarding the safety of children in unsupportive homes. “Forcibly outing a child… it’s going to have catastrophic effects,” McNeal said. “I worry about the mental health of some of these kids.”

Evelyn Byrd, another attendee in Idaho Falls, said she came to push back against “harmful recent legislation” and to help others feel safe within the community. Byrd encouraged those outside the LGBTQ+ community to set aside internet-based assumptions and engage in direct conversation.

Despite the political tension, organizers emphasized a theme of “trans joy.” In Idaho Falls, volunteer de-escalation teams monitored the event, which remained peaceful and focused on resilience.

“We wanted to give my community a place to kind of celebrate who we are in spite of the things that are happening,” Mcneal said. “We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to stay strong.”

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Danielle Mullenix

West Yellowstone, MT (KIFI) – A longtime staple in West Yellowstone is now gone, leaving behind memories—and a wave of emotion from the community. The Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, widely known for its family-friendly atmosphere and iconic IMAX screen, closed its doors permanently in January and began to undergo demolition on March 26. Today, little remains of the building that once stood as a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors.

The theatre, which first opened in 1994, had been a go-to destination for decades, offering everything from educational documentaries about nearby Yellowstone National Park to major blockbuster films. Its closure and demolition have left many in the community feeling a deep sense of loss.

In the days following the demolition, residents took to social media to share their reactions. Many expressed heartbreak and nostalgia over the loss of a place tied to family memories and local culture.

One user wrote, “I will always cherish the fun of seeing a huge IMAX movie right outside of Yellowstone,” while others added, “This breaks my heart,” and “A huge bummer for families and kids that are local who need something to do socially.”

Demolition site of the Yellowstone Giant Screen Theatre, March 2026

At the same time, some community members expressed gratitude for the theatre’s decades-long run. One post thanked the owners, saying, “Thank you to the amazing family who sacrificed everything to create and keep IMAX open for so many years. We appreciate all your dedication.”

According to Town Manager Dan Walker, the site will soon see new development. Plans are in place for an expansion of the Buffalo Crossing RV Park, which will take over the former theatre’s location.

IMAX Sign as of March 2026

IMAX Sign as of 2014

Local News 8 has reached out to the theatre’s previous owners and the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce for further comment. Updates will be shared as more information becomes available.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Law enforcement groups throughout the state are sounding off in opposition to Senate Bill 1441 as it advances in the Idaho Senate.

The controversial bill would require each law enforcement agency in Idaho to enter into section 287(g) programs with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requiring agencies to participate in the jail enforcement model, warrant service officer model, and task force model – in which local law enforcement would search for illegal immigrants in the community and take action against them.

“That was the intention, to make sure that cooperation with ICE and communication with ICE is governed by agreements that are set forth by the federal government – these 287(g) agreements,” said Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, “and that we don’t see that cooperation differing from jurisdiction to jurisdiction – that we create the general rule with the exceptions.”

Agencies that choose not to participate would be required to submit their reasons in writing to the Department of Homeland Security.

The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association and the Idaho State Fraternal Order of Police have stood consistently against the proposed legislation.

Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell, whose organization represents 2,800 law enforcement personnel in Idaho, said law enforcement resources in the state are already stretched without adding the additional programs, responsibilities, and training these agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would require.

“We heard from the sheriffs and some of the chiefs even, since versions of this bill have been introduced, is that everybody has the desire to work with ICE and mitigate immigration issues – illegal immigration issues,” Lovell said. “But we want to be able to maintain the ability to not work for them, you know, work with them, but not work for them and be able to still maintain all the things that [we]’re responsible to take care of in the community.”

Lovell is concerned that asking local law enforcement to perform federal roles could endanger police officers, troopers, and deputies. 

“When you stretch these resources so thin, then it makes it a safety issue for officers on the street,” he said. “It’s a safety issue for the community because 911 calls still happen, crashes still happen, incidents still happen that aren’t necessarily related to illegal immigration – and if they are, there’s already processes in place and methods to deal with it right now.”

The revised bill states that “participation in such models and programs shall be required only to the extent that the necessary resources for participation are reasonably available to the law enforcement agency.”

Anthon was clear that the intent of the bill is to encourage local cooperation with ICE authorities.

“Cooperation with ICE  is something we expect from our local jurisdiction, and provide reasonable accommodations if for certain jurisdictions it just doesn’t work,” Anthon said.

Most sheriff offices and police departments in the state already openly cooperate with ICE authorities, law enforcement officials said.

Lovell said that requiring agencies to state reasons in writing and report to the Department of Homeland Security if they are unable to participate in any ICE 287(g) programs adds additional layers of bureaucracy to local law enforcement.

“Some of those models for smaller agencies, for small police departments – even larger police departments that are still trying to maintain staffing and take care of all the other 911 calls and issues in their community,” he said. “They may not have the resources to just jump into that agreement.”

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted 6-3 to send the bill to the full Idaho Senate, reversing its 6-5 March 16th decision to table a similar bill.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, and Idaho Fraternal Order of Police President Bryan Lovell discuss the impacts of Senate Bill 1441 on illegal immigration and law enforcement in Idaho.

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Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Lottery is bringing back its annual “Scratch for Schools” fundraiser to Southeastern Idaho, and this year’s event is set to be the largest yet. A record number of schools will participate across two days of high-energy competition aimed at raising money for public education.

Yesterday, 64 schools gathered at Idaho State University Extension in Idaho Falls, inside the Bennion Student Union multi-purpose room.

Today, another 53 schools will take part at the Pond Student Union Ballroom on ISU’s campus in Pocatello at 4 p.m.

Statewide, the Idaho Lottery is hosting 11 events with more than 514 schools registered to participate. This year marks the 25th anniversary of “Scratch for Schools,” a program that has returned more than $2.1 million to support public education and classrooms across Idaho.

Funds raised through the event can go towards a variety of classroom needs, including playground equipment, library books, and classroom technology.

In addition to the competition, organizers say the event is designed to be fun and visually exciting. Nearly 200 participants, including administrators, teachers, PTO members, and staff, will take part at each event, often dressed in costumes to show school pride.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Falls’ Walmart storefront is getting a new look. The remodeling began last Sunday, March 29th.

A representative for the Walmart Corporation says their goal is to improve convenience by making checking out easier. This change includes moving more staff to the checkouts that can offer assistance.

The remodeling is expected to conclude in mid-April. The store will remain open as the remodeling continues.

Details are limited on what these improvements will look like for sure, but Local News 8 will monitor and keep you up to date.

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Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings are gearing up to defend their NCDChockey Mountain Division title as the 2026 playoffs begin.

The quest for back-to-back championships begins tonight as the Spud Kings face off with the Grand Junction River Hawks. Puck drop is set for 7:05 for game one of the best-of-5 Mountain Division semifinals.

Despite entering the postseason on home ice, the Spud Kings are still looking for a little momentum. The Spud Kings finished the season dropping their last two games with a 5-2 loss to the Utah Outliers and a 4-2 loss to the Rock Springs Miners.

That being said, the Spud Kings did enough throughout the rest of the regular season to finish second in the Mountain Division.

This season, the Spuds won 6 of 9 against the River Hawks and have won each of the last four. 

In their last matchup, which was just 11 days ago, they beat Grand Junction 5-1, thanks to goals from Santino Canevari, Sam Grimaldi, Bookie Warshaw, Hunter Whisenand, and Andrew Schmidt. 

The Spuds have already punched their ticket to the big stage, thanks to their cup win out in New Jersey a season ago. That means win or lose in the division playoffs, the Spuds already have one of the four spots locked up in the Division Cup. 

Make sure to download the Local News 8 APP for score updates throughout the game.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — After a tremendous winter season of giving, the Light the World Giving Machine presented checks to local nonprofits in Pocatello Tuesday morning.

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the machines work as “vending machines in reverse”, allowing people to donate various items in a simple purchase, such as meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, school materials, and livestock.

Over 48 days (from November 15th to January 1st), more than 95,000 people visited the machines. 78,000 donations were made across Pocatello, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls. 

The total donations raised in Pocatello was $960,534.

Care USA – $177,032

Right to Play – $189,345

Bannock Youth Foundation – $151,970

Bright Tomorrows – $125,050

Aid For Friends – $120,680

United Way of Southeastern Idaho – $119,488

South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) – $76,969

All of the money raised for these nonprofits is a wonderful showcase of the care within the community. This money could be life changing for so many people. The nonprofits are very grateful for all donations.

The Light the World will present Idaho Falls’ numbers on Thursday, April 2nd.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments tomorrow, April 1, in the landmark case Trump v. Barbara, a legal battle challenging President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.

In anticipation of the hearing, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that Idaho has joined 23 other states in an amicus brief supporting the executive order. Labrador is urging the high court to overturn current interpretations and restore what he calls the “original understanding” of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.

Interpreting “Subject to the Jurisdiction thereof.”

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, Courtesy Photo.

In an op-ed published on his official website, Labrador argued that the current interpretation of the clause—which grants automatic citizenship to nearly anyone born on U.S. soil regardless of their parents’ legal status—is legally flawed.

Labrador argues that the “original understanding” requires more than just physical presence to lead to citizenship, asserting that parents must be lawful residents or domiciled in the United States for their children to be born citizens.

The legal battle centers on the exact phrasing of the Fourteenth Amendment. The clause reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

Labrador emphasized that the phrase “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” creates a specific legal condition that current interpretation ignores.

“That second phrase matters. It was added deliberately, and it means something. When the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified in 1868, its primary purpose was clear: to constitutionally protect the citizenship rights of freed slaves after the Civil War,” wrote Labrador. “Senator Lyman Trumbull, who drafted the related Civil Rights Act of 1866, explicitly stated that the citizenship provision excluded ‘persons temporarily resident in [the United States] whom we would have no right to make citizens.'”

Labrador ended his op-ed calling on the Supreme Court to “provide clarity on this fundamental issue.” To read his complete op-ed, click HERE.

ACLU argues SCOTUS already settled the Issue

The Supreme Court case is the result of a class action lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union to block Trump’s executive order. The ACLU and its partners are representing “Barbara”—a pseudonym for a Honduran citizen suing on behalf of her family and others in similar circumstances—to block the executive order.

The ACLU argued in its filings that withholding citizenship from future children born in the United States would create a distinct, unauthorized nationwide class of individuals.

In a legal brief filed in October 2025, the ACLU maintained that the Supreme Court already settled the issue of birthright citizenship over a century ago in the case United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

That 1898 case revolved around a San Francisco man born to Chinese citizens. After a trip to visit his parents in China, Wong Kim Ark was denied re-entry into the United States on the grounds that he was not a citizen. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled 6-to-2 that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment automatically made him a U.S. citizen, establishing the current interpretation of the clause, argues the ACLU.

Attorneys for the Trump administration, however, argue that Wong Kim Ark has been misinterpreted for decades. They argue that the 1898 ruling applied specifically to children of parents who were granted authorization to reside in the U.S. at the time of birth—a distinction they claim does not extend to those in the country illegally.

The highest court is set to hear oral arguments starting at 10 a.m ET (8:00 am MST).

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Fox13

Originally Published: 31 MAR 26 16:51 ET

By Ben Winslow

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    FARMINGTON BAY, Utah (KSTU) — A recent scientific find by University of Utah researchers could help combat the problem of toxic dust blowing off the exposed Great Salt Lake bed.

They have found a freshwater reservoir underneath the lake’s salty playa, in an area between Antelope Island and Farmington Bay. It started when scientists observed “islands” of the invasive plant phragmites in the exposed lake bed.

“They require a lot of fresh water and the question was that Great Salt Lake has salty water, so how [does] this phragmites grow on the salt water because they require a lot of fresh water?” University of Utah geology and geophysics professor Michael Zhdanov told FOX 13 News.

Using helicopters and specialized equipment to send electromagnetic pulses into the ground, they were able to confirm the existence of a freshwater reservoir. The research, recently published in Scientific Reports, offers promise for a threat to surrounding communities. As the Great Salt Lake declines due to water diversions, drought and impacts from a changing climate, strong winds pick up dust and blow it into nearby communities.

The lake bed has naturally-occurring toxins, like arsenic, that are typically covered by water. The University of Utah is conducting other research on the impacts of the dust on the environment and human health. But Professor Zhdanov said this could help provide a new water source to help reduce the impact of the dust.

“This, we believe, is one of the most important and firsthand applications of this, but this requires more work because we need to cover the entire Great Salt Lake. We need to find exactly how much, where it’s located, and then make some educated decision where to drill and how to use it,” he said.

It remains unknown the extent of the reservoir. But more broadly, the techniques used to find the freshwater reservoir could be used in other parts of the world to help discover new sources of water.

The Utah Department of Natural Resources funded some of the research as part of its efforts to reverse the Great Salt Lake’s declines. The U. will seek additional funding to expand the research to other parts of the lake.

For Dave Foerber, a Kaysville-area birder who came out on Monday to look at the migratory birds on the Great Salt Lake, it was interesting research. But he believed there was a broader work that must be done.

“It’d be better if we could get some more water in the lake,” he told FOX 13 News. “That’d be the best thing.”

This article is published through the Great Salt Lake Collaborative, a solutions journalism initiative that partners news, education and media organizations to help inform people about the plight of the Great Salt Lake—and what can be done to make a difference before it is too late. Read all of our stories at greatsaltlakenews.org.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 31 MAR 26 14:34 ET

By Tim Vandenack

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    OGDEN, Utah (KSL) — An Ogden man charged in the death of his 4-month old daughter has been sentenced to about seven months jail.

Nicholas James Horsley, 28, pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to reduced charges of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony, and endangerment of a child, a third-degree felony, in connection with the Dec. 27, 2024, incident that led to the death of his daughter. Judge Craig Hall sentenced him on March 18 to 210 days of jail, with credit for 148 days already served, and placed him on probation for four years.

Horsley also received suspended prison sentences of one to 15 years on the aggravated child abuse charge and zero to five years on the child endangerment charge. Sentencing documents say Horsley is to serve his remaining jail time “on electronic monitoring” but don’t specify where he’s to serve it.

Horsley was originally charged with child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony, but pleaded guilty to reduced charges as part of a plea deal. The plea deal doesn’t specify exactly what happened to Horsley’s daughter, but says medical scans show the girl “had sustained a catastrophic brain bleed, which was caused by nonaccidental abusive head trauma.” The girl’s mom had reported that the girl was “responsive and normal” before Horsley took her to another room.

The child endangerment charge stemmed from the presence of marijuana in Horsley’s home when authorities were called to the scene. “While investigators were on scene, the couple’s 18-month-old toddler was observed reaching for a pile of marijuana on the coffee table and had to be encouraged to leave the marijuana alone,” court documents state.

Horsley was ordered to get therapy “with a particular focus on boundary setting, victim empathy and parenting skills.” The two sides reached accord that the “sentencing matrix” in the case calls for 105 days of incarceration, according to the plea deal.

“Nick presents with an intellectual disability alongside symptoms of anxiety and depression. These conditions, supported by diagnostic history, appear to have influenced his functioning and may help explain aspects of the behavior underlying the current allegations,” reads a mitigation report in the case prepared by his lawyer. It said he has used marijuana “to regulate emotions” but no longer uses the drug “and understands the importance of sobriety moving forward.”

Horsley’s partner and the mother of the girl who died defended the man in a statement to the court as part of sentencing.

“I am not saying that the way things played out should have happened or that we should have let things get as bad as they did, but I am saying that we tried. Nick loves all the kids with all his heart and would do anything for them even today and I know he is not the monster people are trying to make him believe he is,” she wrote.

Weber County Attorney Christopher Allred said some “evidentiary issues” with medical examiners factored in reducing the charge Horsley faced from child abuse homicide to aggravated child abuse. According to a spokeswoman from Utah State Courts, “the child was also seriously ill at the time of death, which the attorneys acknowledge could have contributed to the death.”

The sentence, Allred said, was consistent with recommendations from state probation and parole officials. Hall asked prosecutors if they would seek additional jail time, “and the prosecution responded that they were not,” said the court spokeswoman.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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