Author: KIFI

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – On Tuesday night, the Idaho Falls School District 91 released a statement regarding a potential concern about student safety. An individual on the sex offender registry reportedly made comments about observing children in their neighborhood.

The area of concern is north of Broadway St. and south of Grandview Dr., between Skyline Dr. and Bellin Rd. The Idaho Falls Police Department is investigating the situation. District administration is sharing this information with parents and guardians, along with a few reminders about student safety.

Parents are always welcome to drive their students to school. For students who continue to ride the bus, D91 administrators will monitor bus stops in the affected area in the morning and afternoon for the rest of the week. Administrators are encouraging families and neighborhoods to work together to plan for additional precautions throughout the upcoming break. They also encourage families to discuss safety practices with their students and remind them to take precautions, especially outside school hours and on weekends.

Students should walk in groups or pairs whenever possible.

Students should be alert to what is going on around them.

Students should not speak with, approach, or follow adults they do not know.

If you observe suspicious activity near or around a school, a bus stop, or your neighborhood, you should note the following information and then call 911:

Describe the suspect, noting approximate height and weight; color, length, and style of hair; presence of facial hair; distinctive clothing; or other markings.

Record the license number, color, make, and model of a vehicle, if present, as well as any identifying marks on the vehicle.

The Idaho Falls School District 91 administration will work closely with the Idaho Falls Police Department to address concerns and keep parents informed. A good way to monitor your neighborhood is to visit the sex offender registry, click here.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — With holiday travel in full swing, the Idaho State Police is urging drivers to secure their loads after a close call on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

This morning, ISP released photos on social media of an incident that took place in Idaho Falls. A large piece of wood fell from a moving vehicle and impaled the windshield of an SUV. The wood narrowly missed the two occupants inside.

“Thankfully, no one was injured — but this could have ended very differently,” ISP stated in a Facebook post. “What falls off your vehicle can become life-threatening to someone else in seconds.”

With more travelers on the road and winter weather adding to driving hazards, police are urging everyone to double-check their vehicles before departing. “This is why load securement matters. Whether you’re hauling for work or towing on the weekend, take the extra time to properly secure your load,” states the post.

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An east Idaho man has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a multi-county search ended in a shootout with Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies. The incident, which began as a physical domestic dispute and vehicle theft in Madison County, ended in a deputy-involved shooting near 95th E, leaving the suspect with life-threatening injuries.

Initial Incident and Early Morning Pursuit

The incident began late Tuesday night, December 16, when the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reported a man involved in a physical domestic dispute had stolen a vehicle. Requesting assistance from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office just after 3:30 am, authorities believed that the suspect was likely armed and had expressed an intent to commit “suicide by cop.”

Bonneville County Deputies had first encountered the stolen vehicle around 11:00 p.m. near S. Ammon Rd. and 49th S. At the time, the deputies were unaware of the incident in Madison County, but spotted the driver was traveling at high speeds with no headlights. As the deputies attempted to perform a traffic stop, the driver sped away, and the pursuit was called off due to safety reasons.

The search intensified at 5:30 a.m. when Madison County officials tracked the suspect to the area of 17th St. and Ammon Rd. Deputies in the area spotted the vehicle traveling northbound on Ammon Rd. The driver reportedly showed no regard for the rules of the road, driving through the center island of a roundabout at Lincoln Rd. and nearly striking several other motorists. BCSO says Deputies attempted to get behind and stop the vehicle, but lost sight of it, weaving in and out of traffic in the dark.

Moments later, an unmarked patrol unit spotted the vehicle in the City of Ucon. The driver continued to weave into oncoming traffic with no lights on.

The Deputy followed the vehicle on N. Yellowstone to County Line Rd. where the vehicle turned east, until more patrol cars could get to the area. As the vehicle approached 95th E., a deputy successfully executed a PIT maneuver, which turned the vehicle off the side of the road and into the gutter.

The Shooting and Ongoing Investigation

As his car came to a stop, BCSO says the man immediately began firing at officers. Two deputies returned fire. BCSO says whether or not the driver was struck by his own fired rounds or rounds from a deputy is under investigation.

BCSO says deputies provided immediate on-site medical aid until Idaho Falls Ambulance personnel arrived. The suspect was taken to East Idaho Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. No deputies or bystanders were injured during the exchange.

In accordance with standard protocol, Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse requested assistance from the East Idaho Critical Incident Team to investigate the incident. The Bingham County/Blackfoot Police Investigations team is leading the investigation with assistance from multiple area agencies.

The identities of the suspect and the deputies involved have not yet been released. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

ORIGINAL:

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Bonneville County deputies are investigating what they call “a critical incident” along North County Line Road.

A one-mile stretch between 95th East and 85th East, along the Jefferson County line, is closed while investigators process the scene.

Authorities say the area is secure and there is no threat to the public.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes until the road reopens.

This is a tri-county investigation including Bonneville, Bingham, and Jefferson counties. We are told Bingham County is leading the investigation, although the incident occurred in Bonneville County.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more details are released.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– About 25,000 Idahoans may be forced to give up their health insurance as federal subsidies expire, leaving many unable to afford sharply higher premiums.

According to a brief by KFF, those with higher incomes and insurance are not immune to these new, expensive medical costs, and 44% of adults in the U.S. say that it’s very or somewhat difficult for them to afford their healthcare costs.

Healthcare agents like Sandi Herrin, owner of Heritage Health Advocates in Idaho Falls, sees this issue firsthand.

“I’ve had more people upset and crying and literally I’m hugging people, trying to walk them through this process as they try to make those decisions. It’s something I’ve never experienced before,” Herrin said, “and there’s a trend happening where people are having to make a decision between health care and just cost of daily living, buying groceries, affording housing and paying their rent.”

In Idaho, many residents are already planning to drop their health insurance, particularly those under the Affordable Care Act.

According to USA Today, Idaho’s insurance enrollment officials fielded a surge of calls and online chats when the state kicked off enrollment on Oct. 15, and state officials project that 25,000 Idaho residents will cancel their health insurance because expiring federal subsidies will make them pay a larger share of the plan’s price tag.

One of the most vulnerable groups that may be affected to these ACA cost increases are older, retired Americans.

“The hard part is where you have a population of people who are not yet on Medicare. They’re not quite eligible, but they’re retired. So they’re bringing in maybe Social Security, using their pension to survive and to live. But they’ve got still think of health care because they’re not of Medicare age yet. And so we have to bridge that gap. And usually that’s done through the Affordable Care Act,”

As pandemic-era subsidies end, those who earn more than four times the federal poverty level must pay the entire monthly premium to maintain ACA coverage.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls firefighters are celebrating the conclusion of the Fill the Ambulance Toy Drive, which successfully delivered hundreds of toy donations for local children and their families. Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) and Idaho Falls Firefighters IAFF Local 1565 extended a heartfelt thank you to the community for their support.

Throughout the drive, Idahoans donated new, unwrapped toys in support of two vital local organizations: the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho (RMHC) and the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission. Thanks to the incredible turnout, the RMHC says they have enough toys to support families through 2026, while the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission was able to fulfill wish lists for every child they serve.

“The Toy Drive and Light Parade were a huge success again this year, thanks to all of the help from the Idaho Falls Fire Department,” said Deborah M. Chessey, Development and Community Manager for RMHC of Idaho. “We received enough to get us through all of 2026, and the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission was able to fill their wish lists for all of their children.”

The toy collection efforts culminated with the RMHC’s 5th Annual Toy Drive Light Parade and Ugly Sweater Car Show on December 13th.

In a news release, the IFFD and IAFF Local 1565 recognized the extensive network of supporters who contributed, including the dedicated firefighters who volunteered their time, the local businesses that served as collection points and offered incentives, the media partners who amplified the message about the drive, and the various organizations that provided valuable time or financial support.

“Each played an important role in helping the community’s generosity reach those who need it most,” states the release. “Above all, IFFD and IAFF Local 1565 thank the community members who showed up, donated, and helped make a difference. Their willingness to give is what ultimately made this year’s Fill the Ambulance Toy Drive a great success.”

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News Release

The following is a news release from the BLM:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Field Office, in coordination with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, has temporarily closed the Stinking Springs area near the South Fork of the Snake River to all motorized vehicles and human entry to support wildlife survival rates. The annual closure began Dec. 15 and continues until May 1, 2026.

“Increasing human activity in the Stinking Springs area creates additional stress on the mule deer that winter there, requiring them to deplete their supply of stored winter fat more quickly,” said BLM Upper Snake Field Manager John Reffit. “We appreciate the public’s help every year in avoiding this area to help protect these animals.”

In addition, the annual Egin-Hamer Area Closure will go into effect Jan. 1, with restrictions lasting until April 1, 2026, south of the Egin-Hamer Road, and until May 1, 2026, north of it. This temporary closure also restricts human entry to BLM-managed public land to protect wintering deer, elk and moose. A detailed map is available online.

The seasonal closures apply to BLM-managed public lands in the vicinity of Stinking Springs and Egin-Hamer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service also enacts similar winter closures on nearby National Forest lands. Visitors are encouraged to check with agency offices before planning travel in these areas. For more information, contact the Upper Snake Field Office at 208-524-7500.

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News Team

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Rexburg Police Department is urgently asking the public for help finding a missing at-risk 22-year-old.

Police are searching for Beckett McVey of Rexburg, who has a history of mental health issues. Concerned family members have requested a welfare check, and officers have been unable to locate or make contact with the individual.

Anyone with information to help police locate Beckett and complete the welfare check is asked to call dispatch at 208-372-5001.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Local farmers could be receiving a post-holiday bonus, as the Trump Administration rolls out a temporary $12-billion Farmer Bridge Payment program.

Announced a week ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the one-time payments are being made in “response to temporary trade market disruption and increased production costs.”

“These relief payments are going to go a long ways to help farmers who are up against it right now financially. It’s really tough in farm country right now for a lot of crop farmers,” said Idaho Farm Bureau Federation spokesman Sean Ellis. “Almost all prices for crops that I can think of that we grow in Idaho are down and some of them are down substantially.”

“I’ll give you an example. What it cost for Idaho farmers to grow 100 pounds of russet potatoes right now is about $8 to $9 total. On the open market, they’re getting about $2. So that gives you an idea of how much and how far underwater they are,” he continued.

Eligible farmers include producers of “corn, wheat, chickpeas, lentils, mustard, peas, canola, safflower and barley,” according to a United States Department of Agriculture news release.

$1 billion of the $12-billion fund will cover payments for “specialty crops and sugar.”

The Trump Administration blamed farmers’ tight economic conditions on policies implemented by the Biden Administration that resulted in  “record-high input prices and zero trade deals.”

The deadline for farmers to verify their acreage for eligibility in the program is 3 PM on Friday, December 19.

“The plan we are announcing … ensures American farmers can continue to plan for the next crop year,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a release. “With this program serving as a bridge to the improvements President Trump and Republicans in Congress have made, it will allow farmers to leverage strengthened price protection risk management tools and the reliability of fair trade deals so they do not have to depend on large ad hoc assistance packages from the government,” she continued.

Farmer Bridge Assistance payments will roll out on February 28, 2026. 

For more information on how to qualify, visit the USDA website or email farmerbridge@usda.gov.

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Ariel Jensen

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Idahoans in Pocatello have the opportunity to meet and discuss current issues with their local representative during a special Table-to-Table Legislative luncheon today, Dec. 16.

Tickets are currently on sale for $33 for individuals and $55 for a pair. During the event, legislators will move around the room “table to table,” with a set amount of time allocated at each table for brief discussions with attendees. When the timer goes off, they will move on to the next table.

The event is designed to ensure every attendee has dedicated time to voice concerns and ask questions.

The luncheon will take place at the Purpose Center / Purpose Tea at 224 N. Main St, Pocatello, ID 8320,4, United States.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Idaho Falls:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Traffic will be temporarily detoured Friday, Dec. 19, beginning around 6:30 p.m. through approximately 9:30 p.m., as the City of Idaho Falls welcomes the public to the UTV Holiday Light Parade and the Stones Kia Firework Show.

The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. starting at Freeman Park and will follow a new scenic route designed to help reduce traffic impacts. This year, the route will travel along the east side of the Idaho Falls Riverwalk to the Pancheri Bridge before returning along the west side of the Riverwalk to Freeman Park. Leaving Pancheri Drive open this year is expected to ease overall traffic congestion. Residents can view the map that shows the updated route and suggested viewing areas here.

To ensure the safety of participants and spectators, several intersections and roadways will be temporarily impacted as the parade progresses. Closure times will vary, and traffic impacts are expected to occur between approximately 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. as the route is prepared, the parade moves through the area, and roads are reopened.

The following locations will be impacted:

Broadway Street westbound closed at Memorial Drive

Broadway Street eastbound closed at River Parkway

U.S. 20 eastbound lane adjustments over John’s Hole Bridge

U.S. 20 eastbound off ramp and westbound on ramp at Fremont Avenue/Riverside Drive closed during the event

A small number of homes near Freeman Park may experience limited access while the parade passes. Residents will still be able to access their homes but are asked to wait for breaks in the parade for entry or exit. Letters have been sent to residents that may be affected by the parade.

Pancheri Drive will remain open to vehicle traffic during the parade. However, UTVs will travel along the sidewalk adjacent to Pancheri Drive as part of the route. Drivers traveling near the parade route should expect increased traffic and pedestrian activity and are asked to slow down, remain alert, follow posted signage, and avoid the area if they are not attending the parade or visiting a local business.

The city appreciates the public’s cooperation and patience during the event and looks forward to welcoming the community to the UTV Holiday Light Parade and the Stones Kia Firework Show.

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