Author: KIFI

CNN Newsource

By Alaa Elassar, CNN

(CNN) — We’ve moved to Live Updates for coverage of this developing story. Follow the latest here.

Multiple victims have been injured in a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday, according to police.

The shooter is down and there is no ongoing threat to the public, according to the Grand Blanc Township Police Department. The church is currently on fire.

Police are urging the public to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continue.

Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, Michigan.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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News Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — Communities worldwide are mourning the passing of Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former world-renowned heart surgeon. President Nelson passed away peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City shortly after 10 p.m. MDT on Saturday at the age of 101, according to the Church.

Nelson became the prophet and leader of the global faith on January 14, 2018, after serving as an Apostle for the Church since April 7, 1984. His time as President was marked by a commitment to global engagement and unprecedented growth.

Legacy of Global Outreach and Historic Expansion

During his tenure, President Nelson visited 32 countries and U.S. territories, connecting with Latter-day Saints and government and religious figures. He spoke conversationally in 11 languages, underscoring his emphasis on global unity. A key theme of his leadership was the exponential increase in temple construction, with 200 new temples announced worldwide, a historic number for the Church.

His efforts to build relationships extended beyond his own faith. In March 2019, he held a notable meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, which he described as a “cordial, unforgettable experience.”

Courtesy: The Vatican

“His Holiness, he was most gracious and warm and welcoming,” President Nelson said of his visit with Pope Francis. “What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving, and capable leader.”

President Nelson also established a significant relationship with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), meeting with its leaders multiple times, most recently in June 2021, to promote civility and racial harmony.

Courtesy Photo: President Russell M. Nelson shakes hands with Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, May 17, 2018. The Rev. Amos C. Brown, NAACP board member, far left, and NAACP chairman Leon W. Russell, far right, looks on.

In a speech to the NAACP’s annual convention in Detroit in July 2019, President Nelson emphasized unity: “We don’t have to be alike or look alike to have love for each other. We don’t even have to agree with each other to love each other.”

Distinguished Medical Career

Courtesy Photo: Russell M. Nelson in 1982. He was a world-renowned heart surgeon for many years before being called to be an Apostle in 1984.

Before his call to full-time Church service, Dr. Russell M. Nelson was a world-renowned pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery. His distinguished medical career includes performing the first open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955. He was also a key figure in developing a compact artificial heart and lung machine, an advancement that saved untold numbers.

His professional leadership included serving as president of the Society of Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association.

“I think a surgeon is in a unique position to understand one of God’s greatest creations — the human body,” President Nelson once said, reflecting on his career, linking his medical expertise to his faith.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, who was called as an Apostle on the same day as Nelson in 1984, praised his character: “All of us who have worked with Russell M. Nelson… have marveled at his extraordinary modesty for a man of his great accomplishments… And [we] have marveled at his gentleness. He is just the gentlest and sweetest person you could ever hope to associate with.”

President Nelson is survived by his wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren.

A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Nelson’s funeral. Local News 8 will provide updates on the funeral arrangements as details become available.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Friends of Marshall Public Library held their seasonal book sale on Friday.

The organization provides support to the library through seasonal events, such as the book sale, all for the benefit of the library and its patrons.

“We purchase things and pay for programs that fall outside the scope of the general library budget,” Linda Davis, Vice President, Friends of Marshall Public Library, said. “In addition, we support by volunteering. If we’re asked. Sometimes we’ve hosted author signings here or whatever they need, whatever they ask us for, we try to fill that need.” 

Donated books are either used in the library or sold at the ‘Friends of Marshall Public Library’ store.

The books are rotated monthly and sold for two dollars each. 

The book sale continues Saturday at the Marshall Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls area is celebrating the 60th annual Emotion Bowl, where Idaho Falls High School and Skyline High School football teams play against each other.

“I’m going for the Skyline Grizzlies,” said Idaho Falls resident Stephanie Lamb. “Because my nephew plays on the team over there. I think they’ve got a great chance. They’ve done really good. Been working really hard.”

“I’m an alumni from Idaho Falls High School. My dad went to Idaho Falls High School. A lot of my family went to Idaho Falls,” said Idaho Falls Resident, Sadie Despot. “So we’re big Tiger fans over here.” 

Several local businesses show their support for either school by painting on their windows.

“Through the decades, we’ve always enjoyed letting the students paint the windows, if they’ve asked us. Whether it’s Skyline and/or [Idaho Falls],” said Idaho Falls resident Ken Despot.

The Emotion Bowl dates back to when Skyline High School split off from Idaho Falls High School in 1966. The rivalry over the game has been going strong ever since, but that makes it all the more fun for the community.

“It’s such a long-time, ongoing rivalry that they have. It’s just really important to everybody around here,” Lamb said.

“I just love the tradition of the whole thing,” said Sadie Despot.

“You’re just out there enjoying these young people who put so much effort into their craft, into football, into their sport,” Ken Despot said. “And just the rivalry itself is amazing.”

Since both schools share their football field, whichever team wins gets to paint the goal posts their school colors.

“We hope to see those goalposts turn orange sometime soon,” Sadie Despot said.

The Emotion Bowl kicks off Friday night at 7 p.m. at Ravsten Stadium.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – It’s officially spud harvest season, and drivers are being reminded to be cautious on the roads.

Local drivers can find themselves stuck behind farming equipment on the road as it moves slowly. 

Potato truck crashes are common during this time of year.

Local News 8 has already reported on two potato truck crashes this year.

Area police say the best way to avoid a crash is to just be patient.

“With slow traffic ahead of you, be patient. Make sure you’re being safe in what you’re doing. If you’re impatient and you’re trying to pass that slow moving vehicle or farm equipment and you can’t see all the way around it, you’re adding risk to your travels. You’re adding risk to yourself and the people in your car. So, take your time, be patient, wait for a good spot, a safe spot to get around where you can adequately see down the road,” said Sgt. Bryan Lovell, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

If you do find yourself behind farming equipment on the road and you want to get ahead of it, it is recommended that you keep a distance between you and the truck so you can better see ahead. 

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Curtis Jackson

Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the loss of a beloved guest from her former talk show. Tayt Andersen, who appeared on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ multiple times, passed away at age 19 following complications from cancer and a recent infection. Tayd lived in Rigby when he appeared on the show.

Born with half a heart, Tayt underwent 12 surgeries before age 9 and found comfort in Ellen’s show during recovery. Ellen shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, recalling how Tayt jokingly called her his girlfriend, and she lovingly called him her boyfriend.

His family says Tayt died peacefully on September 26, surrounded by love. They described him as joyful and resilient, and said goodbye with his favorite movies and books.

Ellen, visibly emotional, said, “He brought joy and laughter into every room. I will miss him.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-tayt-battle-cancer.

We dove into our archives and found a story when Tayt first met Ellen. You can watch that in the video above.

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Sam Ross

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (IDFAPA) recently received an $80,000 donation from AgWest Farm Credit to support renovations to the IDFAPA’s Southeast Idaho ‘The Village’ headquarters.

IDFAPA is a non-profit organization that serves 16 counties across Southeast Idaho by providing support to children as they transition into foster or adoptive families.

“A lot of them come with nothing or very little,” said Jacque Burt, president of IDFAPA and director of The Village. “We provide them right off the bat a suitcase, clothing, new socks, new underwear, toys, comfort items and stuffies, things like that… they’ll come back after they’ve had a growth spurt or change of season, or just want to pop in and visit with us. They’ll come back and shop again and they’re welcome to. We’re just always a resource for those children and for those families that foster them.”

IDFAPA is currently renovating the building which previously housed Kirkham Auto Parts to make room for The Village, a multi-use space with a clothing closet for foster children and teens, family meeting spaces, classrooms, offices for case workers, and more.

Burt said the community of Blackfoot has come together in a major way to support the Village’s expansion-including AgWest’s $89,000 donation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently donated $65,000 to the IDFAPA. Local contractors donated materials and labor to renovate the building’s frames and electrical work for free-other businesses are supplying HVAC and plumbing updates for a fraction of what they usually cost.

“We’re just really grateful, we absolutely could not do what we do without our community,” said Burt. “We are willing to drive the bus, but we can’t do all of the jobs-we need other people in there with us- and this community has wrapped around my foster children; I could have never predicted how much they would love these kids.”

To learn more about how IDFAPA serves the Southeast Idaho community, visit their website at: www.idfapa.org.

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Sam Ross

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The Power County Senior Center has full freezers thanks to a 1,200-pound donation of meat from local businesses.

American Falls area businesses, including Direct Communications, Snake River Farms, 5 Star Trucking, and many more, worked with the Power County 4-H/FFA Fat Stock Sale Committee to purchase locally raised pigs and cows during the Power County Fair auction.

The meat was processed and delivered to the Power County Senior Center to support their daily meals to area seniors and the center’s Meals of Wheels program.

“We really appreciate these donors that have given us the meat, because it really helps with our budget,” said Nancy Davis, director of the Power County Senior Center. “That’s our biggest part of our budget is the meat that we have to purchase, where the meat [cost] is so high anymore.”

The Power County Senior Center supports between 25-50 people during their daily, in-house meal service and as many as 20 local seniors through their home deliveries.

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Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A number of employees at Melaleuca got off work early Thursday to help with their third annual Snake River cleanup. Their goal is to provide walkers with a better view of the Snake River at Freeman Park in Idaho Falls.

Parks and Rec leaders said that this is a project they’ve been trying to do for a while now, but didn’t necessarily have the resources. 

Every year, Melaleuca, as an organization, has come and done a volunteer project for the city of Idaho Falls and, specifically, the Parks and Recreation Department,” PJ Holm, Idaho Falls Park and Rec director, said. “It is one of our largest groups of volunteers that come out every year. We’ve had a couple of groups that have come out, that are usually in the 50s and 60s and up to maybe 100. When you’re seeing almost 200 or over 200 folks come out from an organization. I mean, what a magical experience to be able to see and to be able to have come out in the community and, and help make our community a better place.”  

“We do this every year,” Jerry Felton, with Melaleuca, said. “We come down to the Idaho Falls River Walk. We’ve adopted about two and a half miles. our team members come out, we volunteer and work with the city, and we clear out a ton of brush so that all the community, when they come down and they’re walking up and down the way here, they can actually see the beautiful views into the river area.”

“And really, our goal is to beautify the Riverwalk, right?” Jamie Reynolds, a Melaleuca employee, said.  “Thousands of locals come and they enjoy this place. They do family photos, they recreate here. And we want to be able to allow them to see the river, be able to go down and sit and fish, and just enjoy the beauty that’s in this area.”

If you’re interested in doing something similar, whether it’s with your coworkers, family or friends. Idaho Falls Parks and Rec says you can contact their volunteer coordinator found on their website idahofallsidaho.gov.

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News Release

The following is a news release from Idaho Fish and Game.

POCATELLO, Idaho (News Release)—Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts planning to visit the western portions of the Bear Lake Plateau, specifically the Merkley Mountain/Mahogany Ridge areas and/or the Bear Lake State Park (IDPR-managed State Lands at the Utah border) in early October, should be aware that low-flying helicopters will be applying herbicide within Game Management Unit 76.

This aerial spraying effort aims to control invasive annual grasses, particularly cheatgrass, which threaten native plant communities, big game habitat, and increase wildfire risk.

Cheatgrass typically goes dormant in late summer to early fall, just before autumn rains begin. This timing is critical, as the herbicide being used also contains a pre-emergent, and treatment effectiveness will substantially improve if application occurs before seeds germinate. For the treatment to work best, rainfall would follow within a couple of weeks to help carry the herbicide into the soil. The optimal application window is between late August and early October.

Spraying is scheduled to begin on October 1 and could continue through October 9, depending on suitable weather and wind conditions. The helicopter conducting the treatments can be identified by large sprayer booms extending from each side of the aircraft.

Treatment areas are depicted on the map. The entire treatment is expected to be completed over 3-4 days, covering approximately 3,500 acres in total.

Helicopters and ground crews will be staging at various locations near the treatment zones. For public safety, hunters and recreationists are asked to avoid active spray zones while work is underway.

“Areas targeted for treatment are within priority habitat for greater sage grouse and an important migratory corridor and winter range for elk and mule deer. Treatment goals are to reduce fire risk and intensity, increase native vegetation abundance/diversity and improve wildlife habitat,” said Houston Kimes, Regional Farmbill Biologist. According to Kimes, “annual grasses, like cheatgrass, are highly competitive, which can negatively impact native forb and grass growth. By reducing cheatgrass on this landscape, we hope to reduce the likelihood and intensity of wildfires, while also increasing beneficial forage for wildlife and livestock and improving landscape resiliency.”

This project is a collaborative effort involving Idaho Fish and Game, the U.S. Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge, Idaho Parks and Recreation, Natural Resource Conservation Service and private landowners.

For more information, contact Houston Kimes at the Southeast Regional Office at 208-232-4703 or Dave Price at USFWS, 208-380-6062.

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