Author: KIFI

Seth Ratliff

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office has officially closed a nearly seven-year-old missing persons investigation after investigators positively identified human remains discovered late last year using DNA evidence.

The case began on November 8, 2019, when the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Springdale (Arkansas) Police Department regarding Bobby Lee Rodriguez. Rodriguez had last been seen on September 30, 2019, near Wagonhammer Spring south of North Fork, Idaho.

According to investigators, a taxi driver dropped Rodriguez off at the location, with Rodriguez telling the driver he was meeting a relative who was camping nearby. Rodriguez was carrying a boxed firearm, which he claimed was intended as a gift for that relative.

A Lemhi County Sheriff’s Deputy immediately canvassed the area surrounding Wagonhammer, speaking with residents and local businesses to gather possible information about Rodriguez. However, no one in the area had seen Rodriguez or anyone matching his description.

While the Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office maintained contact with the Springdale Police Department and periodically checked to see if any new information had developed, the case eventually ran cold.

The breakthrough came six years later, when a fisherman on the Salmon River, west of North Fork, Idaho, discovered human remains while climbing a hillside to get warm.

The man led law enforcement to the remains, where investigators uncovered a rusted shotgun with a spent hull in the chamber and a note that suggested that suicide may have been a factor.

The Lemhi County Coroner’s Office took custody of the remains, which were recently confirmed to be those of Bobby Lee Rodriguez through a DNA match with a relative. LCSO states that no evidence of foul play was uncovered during the multi-jurisdictional investigation.

“The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend its deepest condolences to the family of Bobby Lee Rodriguez,” the office said in a news release.

The Lemhi County Sheriff’s Office expressed its gratitude to all of its state, regional, and Federal partners who had a hand in bringing this case to a close.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – The Idaho Falls Arts Council proudly presents an unforgettable evening with Cheyenne Jackson—celebrated Broadway star, acclaimed film and television actor, and renowned recording artist—live on stage in Idaho Falls. Experience the excitement of the “Mid Life Torso Tour” as it arrives at the Colonial Theatre on Thursday, March 12th, offering local audiences a rare opportunity to see Jackson’s exceptional talent live on stage.

Famed for his powerhouse vocals and charismatic stage presence, Jackson has enthralled audiences worldwide. His impressive Broadway résumé features starring roles in hits such as “Xanadu,” “Finian’s Rainbow,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Into the Woods,” and “Aida.” On television, he’s a familiar face from acclaimed series like “30 Rock,” “American Horror Story,” “Glee,” “Call Me Kat,” and “Julie and the Phantoms.” He has also appeared in major films, including the Oscar-nominated film “United 93” and “The Green”, and the beloved “Descendants” series on Disney.

Cheyenne Jackson’s concerts are a dazzling blend of Broadway classics, pop favorites, and heartfelt personal storytelling, creating an evening that is both intimate and electrifying. Audiences can expect emotional depth, quick wit, and vocal brilliance—an extraordinary chance to experience the magic of a Broadway-caliber artist up close.

Don’t miss this exclusive Idaho Falls performance! Tickets are available now at idahofallsarts.org or in person at our ticket office: 498 A Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402. Click here for a direct link to tickets.

For an exclusive, behind-the-scenes treat, don’t miss Cheyenne Jackson live on the Local News 8 Noon show the day of the concert! Get a front-row seat to an exciting sneak peek as he shares stories, surprises, and a taste of the spectacular performance awaiting Idaho Falls that night.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho lawmakers are considering legislation to make Kratom illegal—a major development for advocates pushing for stricter regulation of the substance and its use.

House Bill 864 could classify Kratom as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, Idaho’s most restrictive drug category. If enacted, all forms of Kratom would be added to the Schedule 1 list, effectively prohibiting and criminalizing its sale and use.

The bill also equips the Idaho State Police to test for Kratom’s chemicals, whether natural or synthetic, should they become illegal. Under these provisions, Kratom’s entry into the supplemental market in Idaho would not just face barriers—it would be fully prohibited.

If the bill passes, even simple possession would become a criminal offense. Anyone found with Kratom—including products purchased legally before the law’s enactment—would be guilty of a misdemeanor, facing up to one year in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both.

Kratom is a plant-based substance indigenous to Southeast Asia, primarily used to relieve muscle pain, boost alertness and energy, and reduce stress. Currently, it is sold without specific regulation in Idaho and many other states.

Although Kratom is widely available and sold as an herbal supplement in smoke shops and convenience stores across Idaho, many doctors warn that it can carry health risks.

Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez has reported six Kratom-related deaths in the past year alone and believes restrictions are necessary.

“I strongly believe Kratom should have more warning labels and restrictions, and not be so readily available,” Sanchez said. “You can’t drive down the street without seeing advertisements everywhere. People don’t truly know what Kratom is or what it does—the benefits and the dangers—so it shouldn’t be advertised as openly as it is.”

The Idaho State Affairs Committee voted on March 10th to advance the proposal, but for now, Kratom remains legal.

If lawmakers approve House Bill 864 and it is signed by Governor Little, the distribution of Kratom in Idaho could change dramatically.

Local News 8 will continue to monitor this bill’s activity.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho National Laboratory:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho Operations Office has approved a key safety document for the MARVEL microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory. The approved document, called a Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA), marks a major milestone toward building and operating the microreactor for research, development and end-user demonstrations.

MARVEL, the Microreactor Applications Research Validation and Evaluation project, is a sodium-potassium-cooled microreactor developed at INL to produce 85-100 kilowatts of thermal energy and approximately 20 kW of electricity.

The PDSA outlines a dry initial criticality configuration, a near zero-power experiment that will generate essential data on reactor physics behavior. This configuration is a foundational step on the pathway to full power operation.

The approval reflects the culmination of extensive safety calculations and engineering analyses that define the safety basis for MARVEL’s initial criticality. The PDSA affirms that the reactor can operate safely under this configuration and paves the way for final safety documentation and full assembly of the reactor.

“This is more than just a regulatory requirement — it’s a blueprint for the future of advanced nuclear,” said INL’s Abdalla Abou-Jaoude, MARVEL microreactor lead. “By receiving approval for our safety documentation, we are now able to share this template with developers to learn from our process and streamline their own timelines.”

“This is a pivotal moment,” added John Jackson, national technical director for the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy’s Microreactor Program. “We’re proud to play a leading role in helping to make microreactors commercially available.”

The approved PDSA builds on a 2024 version and incorporates updated modeling, lessons learned and a risk-informed methodology — an approach that uses risk analysis to guide design decisions and enhance safety. MARVEL’s approach has already influenced other DOE-authorized reactor projects such as Pele, the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment and the Versatile Autonomous Lightweight Kilowatt-class Reactor Experiment, commonly known as VALKRE. 

Researchers will conduct the dry criticality experiment at INL’s Transient Reactor Test Facility, a DOE-authorized research facility that supports a variety of reactor experiments. The next phase includes engagement with DOE-Idaho and project stakeholders to finalize the safety basis for full reactor assembly and fuel loading. This phased approach is designed to identify and address potential issues earlier in development.

The MARVEL team encourages the public and stakeholders to follow progress via INL’s social media channels and the MARVEL project webpage.

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Seth Ratliff

CHEYENNE, WY (KIFI) — Governor Mark Gordon has signed Wyoming’s “Human Heartbeat Act,” the state’s strict new abortion ban. The legislation, also known as HB 126, prohibits abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which usually happens around 6 weeks before many women even know they’re pregnant.

According to the Bill’s text, violators face felony charges punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. While the legislation includes narrow exceptions to protect the life or physical health of the mother, critics say it lacks exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest.

HB 126 reached the Governor’s desk after passing with significant majorities in both the Wyoming House and Senate. Despite his signature, Governor Gordon expressed skepticism regarding the law’s ability to withstand inevitable litigation. In a statement released on Facebook, Gordon described the act as a “well-intentioned but likely fragile” effort, warning that it risks ending in a protracted court battle rather than becoming “lasting, durable policy.”

“The solution I had hoped for is to put the issue before a vote of the people of Wyoming, from whom, according to Article 1 of our Wyoming Constitution, all governmental power derives,” wrote Gordon.

Legal Challenges on the Horizon

Several groups in Wyoming have already signaled their intent to challenge the ban in court. Julie Burkhart, president of Wellspring Health Access—Wyoming’s only abortion clinic—labeled the ban an “attack on Wyomingites’ constitutional freedom to make their own health care decision.”

“Every day that this law is in effect means people in our state will face even greater barriers to abortion care — and some may be denied this care altogether,” said Burkhart in a statement to ABC. “With so many across Wyoming already struggling to access reproductive health care, restrictive policies like these take us further in the wrong direction.”

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Danielle Mullenix

Ashton, ID (KIFI) – Upper Valley emergency responders in Eastern Idaho are getting a new training opportunity thanks to a partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD). Drivers traveling along Highway 20 may see law enforcement and emergency response vehicles around vacant properties located just south of the Tri-State Tire building.

An agreement between ITD and the Upper Valley Special Response Team now allows state-owned properties along U.S. Highway 20 to be used for emergency services training.

On Wednesday, March 11, the team will host its first training exercise near Ashton. The Upper Valley Special Response Team includes emergency responders from Fremont County, Madison County, and Teton County.

ITD has been purchasing properties along Highway 20 between Chester and Ashton as part of early planning for a future four-lane divided highway. The agency says these acquisitions are made when sellers are willing and when design plans are sufficiently finalized, with approval from the Federal Highway Administration.

Before the buildings are demolished, they will serve a new purpose: realistic training environments for emergency responders.

Officials say the Upper Valley Special Response Team will use several of the homes along the corridor for monthly training exercises until they are eventually demolished. Road construction for the highway project is currently anticipated to begin around 2031.

Fremont County Sgt. Colter Cannon says the opportunity will significantly improve how teams prepare for emergencies.

“This opportunity for us is huge,” Cannon said. “We’ve formerly had to train in schools, but being able to work in actual houses and different layouts with all of our gear will help the team so much in the long run.”

ITD says that more information about the Highway 20 project between Chester and Ashton is available on the agency’s website.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho lawmakers are moving ahead with spending cuts this year, even as they continue working on next year’s state budget.

Last week, the House approved a bill that cuts about $131 million from this year’s state budget.

Most of those cuts were already happening. Governor Brad Little ordered 3% cuts for most state agencies last summer, but lawmakers added about 15 million more in cuts on top of that.

These cuts apply to the current fiscal year, which ends June 30th.

Lawmakers say the goal is to free up some breathing room as they deal with a tight budget and start working on next year’s spending plans.

With a range of costs on the rise, local K-12 school leaders, such as in the Bonneville School District, have been gearing up for budget cuts. The Bonneville district already planned to cut their budget, and higher education is likely to take an even bigger hit.

There has been some legislative pushback. Lawmakers have pointed out the state is about $101.3 billion in reserve funds, leading them to question why cuts are happening now. Others argue the state helped create the budget pressure after passing about $450 million in tax cuts last year.

Some conservatives have said the cuts are long overdue. Budget leaders also say the tax collections are coming in lower than expected this year, so they’re trying to be cautious. Despite the debate — and there was a lot of back and forth on the statehouse floor — the vote ended up not being close at all. 

The House passed the bill (48 – 22).

The Senate had already approved it earlier in the week, so now the bill is on Governor Brad Little’s desk for his signature.

Parental choice programs have not been affected, the $50 million for those tax credits are already in place, and they’ve been upheld by the Supreme Court. 

You can find more information on local education on idahoednews.org.

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Par Kermani

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The historic Romance Theater served as a backdrop for a community gathering Tuesday night designed to bridge the gap between Rexburg’s past and its future leadership.

The “Lighting the Way” ceremony, which local officials hope to establish as an annual tradition, provided a public forum to recognize outgoing city council members and introduce newly elected leaders to the community.

Mayor Jerry Merrill said the event is intended to give residents a chance to connect personally with those shaping the city’s direction.

“We wanted the public to have the chance to be able to visit with them and get to know them a little bit better,” Merrill said. “We also want to make this an annual event to honor several citizens each year for all of the good work that they do here in Rexburg.”

City Councilman Colin Erickson, noted that public recognition is a vital part of fostering a culture of volunteerism.

“Anytime you can look at them and give them a pat on the back and thank them for being part of that service is a great thing,” Erickson said.

The evening also served as a kickoff for a season of historical remembrance. Erickson highlighted the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Teton Dam flood, an event that remains a defining moment for the region. He noted that the recovery efforts half a century ago were fueled by an outpouring of service from across the country.

The city is planning a “Flood 50” celebration on June 5 to commemorate the milestone.

Beyond the formal presentations, the event featured a variety of local talent, including a Hispanic dance group. Local students also took the stage, with fourth graders performing the Idaho state song and the Madison High School Vocal Spectrum singing the national anthem.

The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Fill the World with Love,” a song Merrill described as Rexburg’s “adopted anthem.”

“We’re just grateful for the good community that we have and everybody that’s in it and contributes to it,” Merrill said.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho House has approved a controversial memorial calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

House Joint Memorial 17 passed Tuesday with a 44–26 vote. It now moves to the Idaho Senate, where a similar proposal, House Joint Memorial 1, died in committee during the previous legislative session.

RELATED: Controversial proposal to challenge same-sex marriage moves to Idaho House floor

The Argument for State Sovereignty

The Memorial’s sponsor, Rep. Tony Wisniewski (R-Post Falls), argues that the court’s ruling overstepped the state’s sovereignty and “ultimately resulted in a violation of religious rights of individuals and companies.”

His points were echoed in committee by Idaho Family Policy Center Policy Analyst Edward Clark, who argued that the Obergfell decision represents a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

“By seizing authority that was not enumerated to the federal government, and altering the definition of marriage. In the Obergefell decision, the US Supreme Court violated the Constitution,” Clark told lawmakers. “The state of Idaho has a moral obligation to stand for truth and biblical marriage.”

The memorial references Idaho’s Constitution, which was amended in 2006 to define marriage as between one man and one woman. However, in 2014, a federal judge ruled the amendment was unconstitutional, legalizing gay marriage in Idaho a year before it was legalized nationwide, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.

“Political Chopping Block”

Opponents have blasted the move as a direct assault on settled civil rights and a contradiction of the Idaho Republican Party’s “small government” values. House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) issued a sharp rebuke following the vote, accusing the Republican supermajority of hypocrisy.

“They claim to stand for freedom and limited government, yet they keep using government power to target LGBTQ+ Idahoans, strip away rights, and interfere in deeply personal decisions,” Rubel stated.

“The bill’s sponsor has claimed that the constitutional protection of same-sex marriage ‘debases’ marriage and is ‘abhorrent’ to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. That rhetoric is offensive and dangerous, and it has no place in a state where every person should be treated equally under the law.”

What Happens Next?

Even if the Idaho Senate passes the memorial, same-sex marriage will remain legal in Idaho under current federal law.

If passed, the measure would formally state that the Idaho Legislature rejects the Obergefell decision and urges the Supreme Court to reverse it. However, the Supreme Court is under no obligation to respond to or act upon a state memorial.

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