Pocatello spring cleanup event set for Saturday

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Community Beautification Council is looking for volunteers in Pocatello and Chubbuck to join in on the ‘Community-Wide Spring Cleanup’ on Saturday, May 3.

During the annual event, volunteers are assigned areas of the city to clean up trash and debris left over from winter–all volunteers will be provided with free gloves and trash bags, and people who show up to clean up will also get a complimentary breakfast at the start of the event.

The Community-Wide Spring Cleanup is organized by the Community Beautification Council, a committee of the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce. The Beautification Committee will hold a ‘pre-cleanup’ kickoff in Historic Downtown Pocatello on Tuesday, April 29.

The Community-Wide Spring Cleanup will start on Saturday, May 3, at 8:30 am at the NeighborWorks Pavilion in Caldwell Park in Pocatello.

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Mountain America Center announces homecoming celebration for Dineen Cup Champions

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Spud King’s home venue is set to welcome home Idaho Falls’ junior hockey team, winners of the Dineen Cup, in style.

Thursday, May 1, the Mountain America Center is inviting you to cancel all existing plans and celebrate the Spud Kings in a “royal fashion.”

According to a post on the Mountain America Center’s Facebook page, the event will include “food trucks, a beer garden, a DJ, fan pictures with the Dineen Cup and Mountain Division trophies, and a full-out welcome home celebration for your IDAHO FALLS SPUD KINGS!”

The announcement comes only a day after the Idaho Falls Spud Kings defeated the South Shore Kings 2-1 to claim the Dineen Cup. The win marks the first time in the Spud King’s 3-year history that the Idaho Falls team has won the cup.

The celebration kicks off at 6 PM at the Teton Auto Group Plaza at the Mountain America Center. Fans are being asked to wear their best Spud Kings gear and bring their best signs.

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Idaho State Police wear denim Wednesday to raise awareness of sexual assault

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO (KIFI) – On Wednesday, April 30, some members of the Idaho State Police will change their uniforms temporarily in support of an important nationwide initiative.

Throughout April, ISP has been involved in various activities and initiatives to raise awareness during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These efforts will come to a head on Wednesday, as the ISP joins individuals and organizations nationwide in participating in Denim Day.

“Sexual violence affects every community, every demographic, and every corner of our state,” said Colonel Bill Gardiner, Director of the Idaho State Police. “As Idaho’s statewide law enforcement agency, we are committed not only to responding to these crimes with professionalism and compassion, but to thoroughly investigating and enforcing the laws designed to stop this violence.”

Denim Day, which originated from a 1999 Italian Supreme Court case, is recognized annually as a visible symbol of protest against erroneous attitudes about sexual assault. In a show of support for survivors and to reinforce the importance of consent, ISP professional staff will wear denim as part of their uniform to highlight the agency’s commitment to ending sexual violence.

“Denim Day gives us a straightforward but powerful way to show our support for survivors, promote prevention efforts, and reaffirm the fundamental importance of respect and dignity for every person,” said Gardiner.

“ISP encourages Idahoans to learn more about Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the importance of supporting survivors. We also invite you to join us by wearing denim to show your support. Together, education, support, and action can help build safer communities across our state,” said ISP in a press release.

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“American Revolution Experience” opens at the Idaho Falls Public Library

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Old Fort Hall chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is excited to share a new innovative exhibit taking a look into the birth of the United States.

The traveling exhibit will be open from April 28th, 2025, at 10 AM through May 10th, 2025, at 9:00 PM.

“The innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation,” according to the Idaho Falls Public Library website.

The Daughters of the American Revolution “… was founded in 1890 to promote Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism across the United States,” according to the group’s website.

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the library and will be available to the public during the library’s normal operating hours.

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Cross-continental hiker stops in Idaho

Noah Farley

WARM RIVER, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman from Brisbane, Australia, has stopped in Idaho during an amazing hiking trek across the American continents.

Lucy Barnard started hiking in the most southern end of Argentina in 2017. Since then, she’s traveled all the way up to Warm River, Idaho. Her goal is to make it up to the furthest northern reach of Alaska. That would take her over 9,000 miles of travel.

Barnard originally started her journey on a whim when she was on vacation in Argentina. She learned some men had walked the full length of that country, but no women had yet.

“And it just got under my skin a little because I felt like back then hiking and walking couldn’t be that difficult,” Barnard said. “But that’s been a hard and long lesson.”

Since then, Barnard has traveled through beautiful countries like Chile, Peru, and Mexico. She loved seeing the culture, dancing, and art in South America. She says she has a great appreciation for hiking trails here in the United States.

“There is such a strong community, and I really felt helped by the trail through the United States, where it’s the first time I’ve just felt like people understand what I’m doing, and have really been able to get behind me,” she said.

Barnard says she has a strong social media community, where many people have given her encouragement, and she’s been able to give people confidence to travel like she has.

You can learn more about Lucy Barnard, her journey, and her dog, Wombat, here.

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Idaho Transportation Dept. to unveil plans for continued highway widening projects

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is hosting two open houses to share preliminary plans for upcoming construction to widen I-15 to three lanes from Northgate Pocatello to Blackfoot and replace highway interchanges.

ITD says the end goal is to add three lanes in both directions to the 51 miles of interstate between Pocatello and Idaho Falls.

The project will be completed in three separate, smaller phases: the first phase includes widening I-15 from 5th Avenue in Pocatello to Northgate Pocatello, phase two will be widening from Northgate to Exit 93 in Blackfoot, and during the final phase, crews will widen the highway from Blackfoot to Exit 116 in Idaho Falls.

ITD will host open houses in Blackfoot and Fort Hall to collect public input on their plans to move into phase two of widening the highway through Blackfoot and replacing both highway interchanges on the stretch of interstate.

“We want comments on that from the community so we can adjust whatever plans that we need to adjust,” said Justin Smith, public information officer for ITD’s District 5. “…We’re bringing preliminary plans for comment, there’s still opportunity for their input to change what we’re looking at or to improve what we’re looking at.”

Smith said they are waiting to secure funding for the project from the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds, part of Governor Brad Little’s ‘Leading Idaho’ program. After collecting public feedback and securing funding, construction on the project could begin as early as 2030.

The ITD open houses will be Wednesday, April 30, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Blackfoot Community Center in Blackfoot, and Thursday, May 1, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center in Fort Hall.

For more information, you can visit the Idaho Transportation Department website.

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Bonneville County Transfer Station to close for maintenance

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —   If you have extra trash from spring cleaning, now may be the time to take it to the dump in Bonneville County.

The transfer station will be the week of May 12th until May 16, 2025, for necessary maintenance, according to the Bonneville County office of Emergency Management.

During that time, household waste can still be taken to the Peterson Hill landfill on Sunnyside Road.

Tires, old refrigerators, air conditioners, used motor oil, and lead-acid batteries can still be dropped off at the transfer station.     

While metal and cardboard will be accepted at the Bonneville County Hatch Pit, 3690 Recycle Rd, Idaho Falls. The hours of operation at the Hatch Pit are Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and closed on Sundays.

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Spud Kings win the Dineen Cup

Seth Ratliff

WAYNE, New Jersey (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings have defeated the South Shore Kings 2-1 and claim the Dineen Cup.

The win marks the first time in the Spud King’s 3-year history that the Idaho Falls team has won the cup.

Local News 8’s Will Syslo will have the full breakdown tonight on SportsLine.

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Pocatello Animal Shelter reopens after Parvovirus scare – Remaining puppies healthy

Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Animal Shelter is reopening its doors after a health scare.

“Pocatello Animal Services is pleased to report that all ten puppies remaining in our care have continued to test negative for the parvovirus,” said Pocatello Animal Services in a press update. “Following extensive disinfection and containment measures, the shelter is safe to reopen.”

The news comes after four puppies tested positive for canine parvovirus, an incredibly contagious virus common among dogs too young to be vaccinated.

Unfortunately, the four dogs had to be euthanized to prevent the spread of the virus to the rest of the shelter. Pocatello Animal Services says they’ve been working diligently to disinfect all affected areas and implement strict isolation protocols to contain the virus and ensure the safety and well-being of the animals at the shelter.

The shelter will resume normal business hours starting Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

While the shelter is reopening to the public for adoptions and other services, volunteer activities will remain suspended until further notice out of an abundance of caution.

“The ten puppies are still under evaluation and will not be immediately available for adoption,” said shelter directors in the release. “We anticipate they will be ready for adoption in the near future once they are cleared by our shelter veterinarian.

“We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience, understanding, and support as we worked to manage this situation.”

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I-15 Police chase ends near Blackfoot

Curtis Jackson

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police stopped a pickup on I-15 near the south Blackfoot exit 89 after a high-speed chase that started near Pocatello on I-86 milepost 59.  

The chase ended around 11:30 a.m. Monday, just north of the exit. 

It’s unknown why police were chasing them.  

ISP and Bingham County deputies are also searching spots along the Interstate for items that may have been thrown out of the pickup. 

This is a developing story and will be updated as we get more. 

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