Author: KIFI

Sam Ross

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The American Falls Reservoir is starting autumn on the low side, being only 3% full. The low water levels have exposed some of the American Falls’ history and highlighted issues with supplying water to the area.

Brian Stevens, Operations Supervisor for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which operates the reservoir and connected dam site, said the reservoir water levels have dipped over the past few days to only a small fraction of what the site can hold.

“The primary reason why American Falls is so low is because of irrigation,” Stevens said.

The reservoir first filled up in 1926 after the original dam was completed. With less water in the reservoir, you can see the foundations of the original American Falls townsite, which was moved in 1925 to make way for the incoming water.

Since then, the dam and reservoir have been a powerhouse of southeast Idaho irrigation.

“America Falls supplies irrigation water to southern Idaho. Which is, approximately 1 million acre-feet of area irrigated lands that American Falls provides water for.” Stevens said. 

The water is allocated to irrigation districts based on yearly contracts and their specific needs. This year, the need has been great, but nature’s supply has been lacking.

“Natural flow has been relatively low this summer and fall, and so we’ve had a large draw on the reservoir system due to irrigation demand being about what it was last year, but with lower or less natural flow in the system. And so we’ve seen a bigger drop in the reservoir system this year than we did last year,” Stevens said.

The Bureau of Reclamation monitors the reservoir on a daily and sometimes hourly basis. They say the only thing to do to get water levels in the reservoir back up in time for farmers next season is to pray for rain.

“We’re hoping that we get really good precipitation, during the fall and winter and spring time frame to really bolster the irrigation supplies for next year,” Stevens said.

As of Tuesday, Palisades Reservoir is at 11% full. The whole Upper Snake River system is at 23% of capacity. That includes Jackson Lake, Palisades, Grassy Lake, Island Park, Ririe, American Falls, and Lake Walcott.

To see the Upper Snake River reservoir storage graph click here.  

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News Release

The following is a news release from Portneuf Health.

POCATELLO, Idaho (News Release)—Portneuf Health invites the community to participate in its 26th annual Brake for Breakfast activities as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This fun, free drive-thru event will begin at 6:15 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1 at Portneuf Medical Center. Breakfast, information, and gifts will be available until 10 a.m. or until supplies run out. 

According to the American Cancer Society, roughly one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Routine mammograms are performed to detect abnormal breast tissue that may be cancerous, sometimes before any symptoms appear. While there is no cure for breast cancer, early detection can lead to better treatment options and a higher survival rate.

The purpose of Brake for Breakfast is to raise awareness about breast cancer and remind women to schedule routine clinical breast exams and mammograms. Women considered to be at average risk for breast cancer should begin yearly mammograms at age 40. Women 55 and older should get a mammogram every one to two years. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health. Consult your primary care provider about your risk of developing breast cancer.

Our Brake for Breakfast event is designed for today’s on-the-go women. On your way to work, school or other morning activity, drive through our campus and pick up breakfast, breast cancer education and a special gift.

To schedule your mammogram, call 208-239-1500 or visit Portneuf.org/mammo today.

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Curtis Jackson

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI)—A routine traffic stop in Rigby on Monday night led to the discovery of a significant quantity of illegal drugs and the arrest of a 16-year-old male juvenile, according to the Rigby Police Department.

At approximately 9:05 p.m. on September 22, a Rigby Police officer observed a car fail to signal while turning from East Short Street onto South Clark Street. During the stop, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered a black backpack containing 74 grams of suspected marijuana, 43 flavored THC vape cartridges, 21 grams of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, scales, plastic baggies commonly used for drug distribution, and $306 in cash.

Rigby Police display items found in a car on Sept. 22, 2025.

The juvenile driver was taken into custody and is facing multiple charges, including Felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, Misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms).

Due to his age, the juvenile’s name has not been released. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office assisted Rigby Police during the traffic stop.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Police are investigating a crash involving at least two cars at the intersection of 17th and Ashment on Tuesday afternoon.

Police have not reported whether anyone was injured.

It was reported around 2:40 p.m.

The crash has caused traffic to back up on 17th Street.

A car ends up on it top at 17th and Ashment in Idaho Falls on Sept. 23, 2025.

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Curtis Jackson

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) – A hiking trip on Diamond Peak ended in tragedy last Saturday when a 52-year-old woman fell and disappeared from sight while descending the mountain with two companions. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the incident around 3:10 p.m. on September 20.

According to the sheriff’s office, the group was navigating steep and unstable terrain when the woman lost her footing. One of the hikers attempted to reach her but was unable to do so due to the hazardous conditions.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Search and Rescue teams responded swiftly, but the terrain was too hazardous for a ground recovery. Sheriff Dave Hansen requested aerial assistance from 2 Bear Air Rescue, a specialized team based in Flathead County, Montana. The crew arrived and successfully extracted the two uninjured hikers.

At approximately 8:00 p.m., the rescue helicopter located the missing woman, who was confirmed deceased. Due to darkness and fuel limitations, her recovery was postponed until the following morning. At 9:00 a.m. on September 21, 2 Bear Air Rescue returned and removed the victim from the mountain.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office extended its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and expressed gratitude to 2 Bear Air Rescue for their critical role in the operation.

“Without their expertise and equipment, this mission would have taken significantly longer and posed greater risks to everyone involved,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.

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News Release

The following is a news release from AAA Idaho.

BOISE, Idaho (News Release) — Patient drivers wanted.  That’s AAA’s message after new research confirms that 96% of drivers have taken aggressive actions behind the wheel over the past year.

Unfortunately, aggression has deadly consequences.  According to the Idaho Transportation Department, 49% of all crashes last year involved aggressive driving, with 75 deaths.

“Having a ‘me first’ approach to driving can lead to reckless behavior.  And when people try to ‘get even’ with another risky driver, no one wins,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde.  “In today’s world, courtesy and keeping your cool are more important than ever.”

AAA research – key findings

AAA compared its latest research with results from a previous study from more than a decade ago, revealing a shocking increase in aggressive driving behavior:

Cutting off other drivers is up 67%

Honking out of anger is up 47%

Making an angry gesture is up 12%

On a more positive note, tailgating is down 24%, and yelling is down 17%.

The top offenders

Drivers under age 60

Drivers with a household income of $100,000 or more

Men and women are equal offenders when it comes to aggressive driving, but men are more likely to engage in violent behavior

Aggressive driving also finds its way into other behaviors, with 82% of the driving population admitting to red light running at least once in the previous year.  68% reported passing in the slow lane, 66% reported honking the horn to indicate displeasure with someone, and 65% glared at another driver.

“As soon as we decide that our time or convenience is more important than someone else’s, dangerous things can happen,” Conde said.  “We all deserve to use the roads safely and reach our destination without a bunch of stress and frustration.”

Interestingly, AAA survey respondents acknowledged that the type of vehicle also influenced their behavior, with sports cars, big trucks and motorcycles being viewed as more “aggressive” vehicles.

Keep calm and drive on

Respondents use several strategies to stop themselves from driving aggressively, including:

Thinking about the potential consequences (69%)

Letting other vehicles pass (57%)

Listening to music, podcasts, or audiobooks (49%)

Cursing under their breath (30%)

Focusing on breathing (25%)

Drivers who felt threatened by others used these and other techniques to de-escalate the situation:

Avoid eye contact (45%)

Let someone else go first (45%)

Take another route (33%)

Situations affecting aggression

AAA’s research points to a variety of environmental factors that determine how aggressively some people drive.  For example, some drivers were much safer during inclement weather or when they had their kids in the car.  And some drivers were more aggressive during rush hour or when they encountered unexpected traffic.

“It’s totally reasonable to take extra precautions to protect your kids but remember – everyone on the road is someone’s child,” Conde said.  “A friendly wave and a smile can go a long way in keeping the roads safe for all.”

82% of respondents reported experiences where they felt threatened by other drivers.  AAA urges drivers to take deep breaths and not react.  If the situation continues, call 911 or go to a public place.  Never drive home.

“Aggressive driving is contagious, but so is courtesy,” Conde said.  “As drivers, we get to make our own choice on which attitude will prevail.”

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News Release

The following is a news release from Rosemark Women Care Specialists.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (News Release) — Rosemark Women Care Specialists is proud to announce the expansion of its Potomac facility, marking an exciting new chapter of growth and enhanced patient care. As part of this expansion, services previously provided at the Taylor Crossing location will transition to the Potomac facility, located at 3450 Potomac Way, Idaho Falls, Idaho. 

This move reflects Rosemark’s continued commitment to leading the way in women’s health care by providing comprehensive, patient-centered women’s healthcare in an environment designed for convenience, comfort, and excellence. 

One Location, All Services Under One Roof

With the expansion, patients will now enjoy a larger, state-of-the-art facility where nearly all women’s health services are available in one place. The Potomac location will house: 

Bone Density Scans & Ultrasounds 

Med Spa Procedures & Services 

On-site Lab Resources 

IV Therapy 

Non-Stress Tests 

Comprehensive Gynecological Care & Treatments 

Bladder Testing 

This unified approach eliminates the need to travel between multiple locations, ensuring patients have one location to visit, one phone number to call, and one trusted team to guide their care. 

Expanded Access and Care

The new space is designed with patients in mind, allowing for greater provider availability, including same-day and urgent care needs. With all providers and services under one roof, patients can expect fewer delays, more collaboration among providers, and an improved overall healthcare experience. 

Commitment to Our Community

“Rosemark has been dedicated to serving women in our community for over 3 decades,” said Britni Burnside, Director of Clinical Operations at Rosemark. “By expanding our Potomac facility, we are not just growing our physical space, we are growing our ability to care for women at every stage of life, in a way that is seamless, supportive, and comprehensive.” 

Celebrating the Transition Together

To celebrate this exciting milestone, Rosemark will be engaging with the community through the upcoming Women’s Expo that will be held at the Mountain America Center on October 17-18, 2025, and an open house that will be held at the 3450 Potomac Way facility on October 30, 2025 between the hours of 4:00pm – 7:00pm. These events will provide opportunities for patients and the community to tour the expanded facility, meet providers, and learn more about the enhanced services available. 

Looking Ahead

While the Taylor Crossing location will close as part of this transition, patients can rest assured that the same compassionate providers and staff will continue to deliver exceptional care at the Potomac Facility. Rosemark is committed to making this transition smooth, simple, and reassuring for all patients. 

About Rosemark Women Care Specialists

Rosemark Women Care Specialists has been serving women in eastern Idaho with excellence in obstetrics, gynecology, and women’s health for over 30 years. With a team of dedicated providers and advanced resources, Rosemark is committed to empowering women with the care, support, and knowledge they need to thrive. 

For more information about the expansion, services, or upcoming events, please visit Rosemark.net or call 208-557-2900. 

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Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Pocatello Police department claims multiple scams in town have been reported. One scam that’s been making the rounds in Pocatello is the ransom phone scam.

“They’ll call a father or mother or grandparents, and say, ‘hey, we’ve abducted your child and you have to pay us ransom money to get the child back,'” said Pocatello Police Department Lieutenant Josh Hancock.

The ransom scam is where the scammer will claim to have your loved one hostage. Recently, they have begun to use artificial intelligence to generate fake images, audio, and video to make the hoax look more believable.

“People are using the internet to contact specific people within the community, and they’re using, some type of AI information to gather information on people,” Hancock said.

Unfortunately, this is not the only scam method infiltrating Pocatello.

The Pocatello Police Department has found something called a romance scam, where scammers will pretend to be a romantic interest and request gift cards and money.

They have also seen a serious scam where scammers will impersonate an officer, and claim that there is a warrant out for their arrest and the only way to avoid jail, is to pay.

“Just slow down. Just be really cautious of scams because it’s. It’s pretty bad right now,” Hancock said.

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Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Nuclear power continued to be a big topic in eastern Idaho Monday afternoon as Senator Jim Risch spoke with the Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce after the groundbreaking at the INL. 

Senator Risch started the roundtable discussion by saying the nation is experiencing “a tremendous nuclear renaissance” and that President Trump is “all-in on nuclear.”

In light of the groundbreaking at the INL today, Local News 8 asked Senator Risch if there will be ways in the future to streamline the licensing process for both new and updated nuclear plants.

One issue is that licensing a nuclear plant can take anywhere from five to 15 years.

And complaints that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in charge of licensing, is understaffed.

“The complaint is correct that it’s taken way too long. The complaint that they’re understaffed is a complaint I hear from every single federal agency.” Risch said.  “Okay, so I could have predicted that if you just said, if you’d asked me, what do you think they’re complaining about, that they’re understaffed, they’ve got the staff to do the work. They are committed to do the work. And as you know, Trump is tough when it comes to making the people do things. So, we are committed to shortening the time.”

We also asked Senator Risch if he could share more details about what’s happening within the NRC to streamline the agency and if it would be helpful to have separate groups within the NRC to process the licensing for each type of reactor, like boiling water reactor, pressurized water reactor, molten salt reactor, and so on.

“I can tell you this, they are doing their best to consolidate within agencies. One is when possible, because there are tremendous number of agencies that are duplicating each other and nobody ever checked on it,” Risch responded.

Senator Risch spoke with members of the chamber about a wide variety of topics, including tariffs, inflation, farming, and his thoughts on water storage in eastern Idaho.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A new nuclear power plant meant to benefit Idaho, and the entire country, is being built on federal land at Idaho National Laboratory.

“We are experiencing a real…nuclear renaissance, not only here in America, but on the entire planet,” said U.S. Senator Jim Risch.

Ground was broken at INL for a new fast fission power plant on Monday, September 22, 2025.

“They will be building a sodium-cooled fast reactor that will be very capable of sustaining fuel cycle through recycling,” said INL Director John Wagner.

INL is working with Oklo, an advanced nuclear technology company, to build the Aurora Powerhouse, which is designed to deliver plenty of carbon-free energy faster than before.

Several officials say nuclear power is the energy for our country’s future.

“Those of us who have been a governor of this great state have all embraced in recent decades what is done here at the lab and the fact that nuclear energy is so important to the world,” said Risch.

Nuclear power does not produce greenhouse gases, so it benefits the environment. This new power plant will also help the United States in the artificial intelligence race. Since AI needs lots of power to run and improve, this power source will help tremendously.

“Everybody throughout Idaho is going to benefit by what happens here,” Risch said. “Not just by reputation, but by the economics that it is going to continue to generate for the state of Idaho.”

Oklo says the power plant project is expected to create almost 400 construction jobs and around 80 long-term jobs to operate the facility.

The Aurora Powerhouse is expected to start commercial operations in late 2027.

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