Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little has signed Senate Bill 1250 into law, officially blocking the release of crime scene photos of the victims of the 2022 University of Idaho murders and similar future tragedies.

The legislation aims to close a loophole in public records requests that could have allowed sensitive images of the deceased to become public. The bill, which unanimously passed the Idaho House and Senate, was championed by the family of Kaylee Goncalves, one of the four students killed in the November 2022 attack.

“This change will help protect grieving families from the additional pain of having sensitive photos released that should remain private,” wrote Governor Little on Facebook. “I applaud Alivea and the Goncalves family for their incredible advocacy in the face of immense tragedy.”

According to the bill’s statement of purpose, the law explicitly prevents images of deceased crime victims from being disclosed through public records requests. The Goncalves family applauded the passage in an interview with NewsNation.

“It was long overdue, not personally for this case, but just for victims of rights in general in Idaho and, you know, other states,” Kaylee’s sister, Alivea Goncalves, told NewsNation Thursday.

The new law will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Unsettling Kohbergher DMV Footage Surfaces

Kohberger Caught in Casual Conversation With DMV Worker About Murders He Committed (Storyful)

The signing of the bill coincides with the release of security footage involving confessed killer Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty in June 2025 to the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

The video, captured on November 18, 2022—just five days after the murders—shows Kohberger at a Pullman, Washington, DMV office. He was there to switch his white Hyundai Elantra’s registration from Pennsylvania to Washington plates, after investigators say his car was spotted driving past the victim’s King Rd. home multiple times on November 15th.

The nearly 15-minute video, sent to Storyful by the Washington State Department of Licensing, shows Kohberger speaking with a local DMV employee. After telling Kohberger how safe she typically feels in Washington, the employee brings up to the local impact of the killings.

“I really like it though; I like how small, quiet, and I would say safe [it is],” the employee tells Kohberger. “But the whole Moscow thing kind of makes it feel a little less [safe].”

Kohberger remains “stony-faced,” offering brief responses as the clerk unknowingly discusses the very crime he had committed just days before.

Kohberger was arrested over a month later, at his parents’ home in Pennsylvania. He was later sentenced to life in prison on July 23, 2025, as part of his plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

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Kaeden Lincoln

By: Kaeden Lincoln

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 26, 2026

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed a bill instructing the Idaho Department of Education to develop a statewide framework for integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms.

The framework will serve teachers just as much, if not more, than students, said State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield.

Critchfield once asked a classroom of fourth graders if they use AI every day. All of them raised their hands, she told reporters after the bill signing ceremony.

“The surprised group in the room were the adults,” Critchfield said. The framework the Idaho Department of Education develops, she said, should “force adults to catch up with kids.”

Before Little signed Senate Bill 1227, the state had no guidelines for AI use in schools. The law is open-ended so it can adapt over time.

“We didn’t tie down the bill,” said Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls. Cook, a software engineer, sponsored the bill in the Senate.

The law requires the framework to be “human-centered,” transparent and safe.

By “generative AI,” the bill means chiefly text, image and video generation, according to the bill’s own definition.

It excludes AI models that “have the primary goal of classifying data, such as those in automated vehicles.”

“You can make the argument that the AI genie is out of the bottle,” Little said. “Nobody’s putting that genie back in the bottle.”

Little referred to Moore’s Law, an observation made by former Intel leader Gordon Moore in 1965, which essentially proposed that semiconductors, the computer component that enables AI to “think,” would shrink to half their size every two years.

“Everybody thought it wasn’t going to happen,” Little said of Moore’s Law, “and it just continued to happen.”

Idaho Governor Brad Little after signing an AI education bill on March 26, 2026 at the Idaho Capitol. (Kaeden Lincoln/IdahoEdNews)

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Danielle Mullenix

We are expecting a warm-up into the weekend across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming, with possible record highs climbing back into the 70s by Sunday. Friday will start with a light breeze and cooler air, but turn into blue skies by the afternoon. This will be followed by another cold front on Monday, which should bring some scattered showers to the region. This is accompanied by another complete pattern change with the pattern turning cooler and wetter for the second half of next week.

We start Friday morning with high clouds drifting through southeastern Idaho. High temperatures today will range from the upper 50s across the central mountains and eastern highlands to the low 60s across most of the Snake River Plain and Magic Valley. Highest wind gusts will be around 15-20mph. Partially cloudy conditions for the bulk of the region, with blue skies spilling into the afternoon hours. Lows will settle back down into the lower 40s and 30s overnight.

Quiet weather will be the continuous throughline for our weekend forecast, with winds decreasing each day and temperatures rising. High temperatures for Saturday begin climbing back up into the 60s and 70s fairly quickly, with dry weather remaining consistent. Sunday temperatures remain in the upper 60s and low 70s with wind gusts climbing back up into the 25-35 mph range.

The next cold front will arrive by Monday afternoon, so expect to dress for cooler, wetter weather by the top of next week.

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Dylan Carder

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce is celebrating a century of helping business grow in the area. Thursday night, the chamber held its annual Farmer Merchant Banquet at Madison High School.

Around 500 people filled the gym to celebrate the milestone and raise money for future chamber events. The event honored some of the outstanding businesses and leaders in the Rexburg and Sugar City area with prizes and awards.

This year’s banquet also celebrated the Chamber’s 100th anniversary. Chamber Chairman of the Board, JC Weber says it is “a big deal for any organization to make it 100 years.” The Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1926 on Main Street where the Key Bank is today.

With 100 years under its belt, Weber believes the future of the Chamber will be “bigger and better.”

“We have continual growth. We are so excited to see the growth in all of those that are coming to this area.” Weber reports the Chamber is seeing record membership this year.

Weber is a lifelong resident of Rexburg. He says his business has seen the benefits of Chamber membership.

“When I bought the Circle of Love from by parents six years ago, they said the number one thing you need to do is be part of the Chamber of Commerce. You only get out of something as much as you are willing to put in.”

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Heise Hot Springs opened its summer pool this week for Spring Break, and kids are soaking in the sun and welcoming the warm weather.

“We noticed a lot of schools are out, so we’ve opened it up from 12 to 8 P.M. every day,” said Heise Hot Springs General Manager Sam Wilson. “Then that includes our water slide. It’s free all week too. So everyone come and have fun!”

The resort expects the crowds to continue on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m just here for Spring Break, and I really like the slide because it’s just fun. It’s really long to go on,” said Jalaine Jagielski, a swimmer at Heise.

Gabe Radford agrees with her assessment.

“I think the slide’s probably the funnest part about it,” he said.

His cousin Jackson Karraker likes the big pool.

“I think that Heise, like, you just get to have fun. You don’t have to do certain things,” he said. “I mean, you do, but, like, it’s just pretty fun, I guess.”

Kaizlee Brooke is a major fan of the resort.

“We can go on the diving board, and the slide is really here,” she said. “Why I’m here is because Spring Break is out for my school. It’s just really fun, and it’s one of my favorite places to go swimming.”

Her sister Mayleigh Brooke  enjoys the hot pool next door as well.

“My favorite part about Heise Hot Spring is the slide, the extra extra pools, the other pools, the diving board and meeting new friends that you don’t know,” she said.

The summer pool features 95-degree water. It will also be open most Saturdays throughout April and May.

For those who prefer putting to swimming, the golf course is ready for business as well.

On Memorial Day weekend, the Heise’s resort officially opens full-time – adding the zip line, camping, snack bar and pizza to the mix.

For more up-to-date information on pool availability, you can visit Heise’s Facebook page.

Cousins Jackson Karraker and Gabe Radford make a splash at Heise Hot Springs.

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Fox13

Originally Published: 26 MAR 26 14:15 ET

By Spencer Burt

Click here for updates on this story

    GRAND COUNTY, Utah (KSTU) — It just couldn’t moooooo-ve.

Multiple police agencies and local volunteers stepped up Wednesday to save a cow whose lack of fear got the best of it.

The animal stepped into a cattle guard and got stuck, according to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. Cattle guards are metal grates that act as a barrier when a road goes through a fence on open range land. Cows and other hoofed animals tend to avoid the guards because the spaces between the bars are just wide enough for their hoof or foot to get stuck, while small enough to allow cars and trucks to drive over them.

However, the cow in question ignored that and apparently stepped on the grate with reckless abandon, falling in.

Sheriff’s deputies worked with Utah Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Land Management to rescue the stuck cow. Some ranchers even volunteered to help.

The crew took an excavator and attached a heavy-duty chain to its bucket. That chain was then connected to some towing straps and a long piece of cloth, which they roped around the animal to lift it out.

“Situations like this don’t always have a positive outcome, so we’re grateful this one ended well,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a social media post.

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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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho —To remove sand and debris from roadways, the City of Idaho Falls Street Division will begin sweeping residential streets on Monday, March 30.

The sweeping schedule is divided into zones, with each zone anticipated to be completed in one day. A map of the zones will be updated with upcoming dates as the sweeping begins and can be found here.

Residents are encouraged to move cars and trucks from the street on their scheduled sweeping day to help crews complete their work efficiently.

Once residential roads are cleared, they will move to larger roads and freeways. Then the sweeping will fall into a routine of scheduled street sweeping until October.

The first zones to be swept are zones B12 and B13, from 1st street to 17th street, between Holmes Avenue and St Clair Road.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho is solving its labor shortage one excavator at a time. Through the ICONIC program, a collaboration between the Idaho Transportation Department and the Department of Labor, residents are trading their resumes for steering wheels. By combining two weeks of high-tech simulation with hands-on machinery operation, the program is transforming career-changers into certified operators in just one month.

“There’s more money going into heavy construction projects than ever before,” one program official said. “And because of an aging workforce, we don’t have enough workers who are going into the trades.”

The program offers real-world training led by industry veterans. Out of 78 applicants, only six were selected for the current four-week academy.

For many students, the academy is a lifeline in a tightening job market.

“I was on the job search… it’s kind of tough out there,” said student Jeffrey Stevens. “I’ve learned a lot of skills in just three weeks. We’re learning about safety and vehicle maintenance because these machines are very expensive. I’m looking forward to full-time employment.”

The program specifically targets individuals looking for a career pivot. Among the six selected is Jahaira Lopez, the only woman in the current group. Lopez moved to Idaho from Orlando, Florida, with a background in construction and a goal to master the industry’s largest machinery.

“For me, where I was at in life, this was an amazing option,” Lopez said. “The achievement is just as good as a four-year or two-year degree. It’s just an honor to be selected.”

The curriculum begins with two weeks of high-tech simulations before students are permitted to operate actual machinery. By the end of the month, students earn industry-recognized certifications in equipment operation, as well as traffic control and flagging.

Instructor Chase Arnold said, “Everyone’s getting a chance to get on the machines and learn the basic stuff. The more time they already have in machines, the more confident they can be on the job and operate them safely.”

Officials say the program is a direct solution to the state’s labor shortage, proving that in Idaho’s growing economy, the only requirement for success is a willingness to get dirty.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Facing a system operating at over 100% capacity, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) has begun transferring hundreds of incarcerated men to a private facility in Arizona.

On Thursday, IDOC officials confirmed that 120 inmates have already been moved to the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Complex. According to a news release, IDOC intends to transfer an additional 200 men in the coming weeks as the state grapples with a lack of bed space that has spilled over into local county jails.

IDOC Director Bree Derrick emphasized that while sending Idahoans out of state is not the preferred option, it is currently the only viable way to manage a prison population that is pushing the state’s infrastructure to the limit.

“These out-of-state transfers are not a long-term solution, but they are a necessary step to responsibly manage our population and strengthen partnerships with county jails,” said Bree Derrick, Director of the Idaho Department of Correction.

The overcrowding has created a bottleneck in the justice system, often leaving individuals who belong in state prisons stuck in local county jails that aren’t equipped for long-term housing. To help mitigate this issue, IDOC recently contracted with Jefferson, Bonneville, and Adams counties to house nearly 200 inmates locally.

“By working together, we can ensure individuals in our custody are placed safely and securely while supporting public safety across Idaho,” said Derrick.

IDOC says it recognizes that out-of-state transfers can be challenging for individuals and their families. To minimize the impact, the department says it uses a specific screening process for those being sent out of state.

“Our priority is to ensure those in our custody are placed in safe, secure environments while we continue working toward long-term solutions here in Idaho,” states the news release. “Individuals selected for out-of-state transfers are carefully screened, including for medical needs, and are chosen based on institutional needs, sentence length, security classification, and available bed space.”

IDOC says individuals sent out of state early in their sentence are expected to return to Idaho custody well before their release dates. Returning inmates will also receive priority opportunities for local programming and reentry services to support their reintegration into society.

“IDOC will continue exploring solutions—including partnerships and contracts—that balance system capacity, public safety, and the needs of local communities,” states the release. For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) is pushing back against what it calls a “deliberate attempt” by out-of-state political forces to resurrect a controversial immigration enforcement bill that died in a Senate committee.

The backlash follows reports that Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, allegedly contacted Idaho’s executive and legislative leadership on March 17 to pressure them to resurrect House Bill 659.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks to Tennessee Safe Task Force members and Tennessee National Guard Soldiers, Photo Date: 10/01/2025 (MGN)

The bill, which would mandate that all local law enforcement enter 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had died in the Idaho Senate’s State Affairs Committee just the day before.

Following the alleged call from D.C., the Senate State Affairs Committee pressed forward this week reintroducing printing three draft pieces of legislation.

State Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, (R)-Rupert, presented draft bills regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an Idaho Refugee and Illegal Alien Accountability Act. State Senator Lori Den Hartog, (R)-Meridian, presented a third draft bill on Federal Immigration Detainers.

An “Affront to Democracy”

In a scathing letter to the Idaho Legislature, Idaho Sheriffs’ Association President Dave Hansen denounced the move to bypass the State Affairs Committee’s March 16th decision. He labeled the immigration mandate redundant, costly, and a violation of local control.

“For leadership to try to resurrect the bill because they didn’t like the committee’s answer after fair debate is disingenuous,” Hansen wrote. “Idaho law should be written by Idahoans, rather than driven by pressure from Washington, D.C.”

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue becomes the 84th President of the National Sheriffs’ Association. Photo Date: June 27, 2024.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, a former president of the National Sheriff’s Association, was equally blunt about the legislative overreach. Watch our complete interview with Sheriff Donahue below.

“Pick a side. Get off the fence,” Donahue said in an interview with Local News 8. “We are either for conservative values and local control, or you want to piecemeal it out at your discretion when it feels good or when you’re in a campaign. You’re political posturing. Why does the legislature feel they should mandate that sheriffs do the federal government’s job?”

What is the 287 (g) Program

ICE 287(g) Program Map courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 287(g) program delegates limited federal immigration enforcement authority to designated local officers, allowing them to identify, process, and detain illegal aliens with pending criminal charges. 

According to ICE’s website, the program operates under three main models:

Jail Enforcement Model: Identifies removable aliens already in local custody.

Task Force Model: Allows officers to exercise immigration authority during routine duties.

Warrant Service Officer (WSO): Authorizes local officers to execute ICE administrative warrants.

While several Idaho counties have already opted into these programs voluntarily, the ISA stresses that many have chosen not to opt into the program due to the financial and manpower costs involved.

“We don’t have the facilities. We don’t have the manpower. We don’t have people that we can put out on task forces,” explains Donahue.

The Hidden Cost of Mandates

Supporters of HB 659 argue that ICE reimburses the costs for training and equipment. However, Sheriff Donahue argues those promises ignore the reality of a national police shortage.

“[Supporters] say ‘they’re going to give you cars,’ ‘they’re going to give you overtime.’ Yeah, they would. But I still have to send my people out for training,” Donahue explained. “I have to take commissioned patrol officers off the streets. I can’t just reach into a bucket and hire some more patrol officers. It takes a year and $100,000 to get somebody trained through the academy and onto the road.”

Redundancy: A Solution in Search of a Problem?

The ISA stresses that Idaho sheriffs already partner regularly with federal authorities. According to President Hansen, sheriffs currently share booking information, honor lawful detainers, and coordinate transfers effectively.

“Any claim that Idaho sheriffs are failing in this responsibility is false and misleads the public,” Hansen wrote.

“There is not one example in the state of Idaho where a jail or a sheriff’s officer or a police officer, a chief of police, has not answered the call of ICE or any of our federal partners, such as DEA, ATF, FBI. We work in concert with them,” echoes Sheriff Donahue.

Beyond the financial impact, the ISA argues the bill contradicts the core Idaho value of local control. The legislation would not only mandate participation in the current 287(g) program but also force local agencies to join “any future program or successor” created by the federal government.

“You are bringing a solution to a problem that does not exist in Idaho,” Donahue warned. “What if the next federal administration doesn’t want to enforce ICE? We would be caught between the federal and state governments. Who do we answer to, and who sues us first?”

The ISA concluded its letter by urging lawmakers to reject any “rushed or opaque” attempts to repackage the bill, insisting that any policy of this magnitude must include the input of the officers responsible for carrying it out.

Local News 8 has reached out to Governor Little for comment on the alleged call from Stephen Miller and how that is impacting the legislative process. We’ll provide further updates as we receive a response.

The Idaho Sheriff’s Associtation full letter to the members of the Idaho Legislature is included below.

ISA Letter in response to HB659Download

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