Author: KIFI

Fox13

Originally Published: 13 APR 26 09:21 ET

By Julia Sandor

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    SYRACUSE, Utah (KSTU) — Chris Needham has always been athletic. There’s no question about that.

Moving to Utah in 2003 as a competitive speed skater, Needham was drawn to the state because of the athletic facilities and coaches. It wasn’t until a doctor’s order that he traded in those skates for sneakers.

“A little over three years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease,” Needham said.

After a visit with his neurologist for an unrelated reason, Needham said a brain scan confirmed that he had the disease, which is a disorder of the nervous system.

“I couldn’t believe it at all,” he said. “I was 42 years old. I thought there was no possible way. I was fit and healthy.”

At first, Chris thought he couldn’t outrun his diagnosis, but his doctor recommended doing just that.

Yanga Pathak has been in the field of neuromodulation for about 15 years as the Medical Affairs Manager for Abbott. She’s seen how exercise can help people with Parkinson’s time and time again.

“Parkinson’s is a progressive disorder, but when you get it early, if you start incorporating things like exercise into your treatment practice, it slows the decline that is typically associated with this kind of disease indication,” Pathak said.

Pathak added that Parkinson’s disease is usually associated with people over the age of 60, but Needham was diagnosed early.

For Chris, that means he’s been able to keep a running regimen.

“My initial exam score was high. Nowadays, I’m at a level that she wouldn’t diagnose me with Parkinson’s if she hadn’t already done so,” he explained. “I have noticed that it’s gotten better with the exercise.”

He’s doing so much better that he’s going a bit further than the extra mile.

“When I found out I was going to run Boston [Marathon] with Team Abbott, it was a very emotional moment for me. I was in my office, and I was truly overcome with emotions,” Needham said.

Abbott, the global healthcare company, is the title sponsor for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. Team Abbott is a community of runners who have faced health challenges, but like Chris, are overcoming those challenges.

Growing up in the Boston area, Needham has watched the marathon and has always heard the inspiring stories. Now, running it himself, he said it’s proof that Parkinson’s doesn’t define you.

Needham’s goal isn’t to finish first, but to inspire others.

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Jeff Roper

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – Idaho Honor Flight is taking our nation’s heroes on a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Washington, D.C., honoring their service and sacrifice.

The first mission departs September 1st and 2nd from Pocatello—and thanks to a major sponsorship from Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser), Idaho was selected from five finalists to be a part of this journey. 

Ross Carroll, is a local Navy veteran submariner and on the committee for Idaho Honor Flight and joined Jeff Roper and Megan Lavin this morning on Local News 8 to explain how veterans can apply and the need for volunteers.

Who travels and what does it cost?Veterans travel completely free of charge! Each veteran is supported by a personal guardian to ensure a safe and meaningful experience. Guardians and volunteers contribute approximately $1,000 to help cover expenses.

What’s needed right now?We’re actively looking for veterans and volunteers to register, as well as support for travel prep, event organization, and our Welcome Home reception. We’d like to partner with small businesses and corporate sponsors to be able to do 2 flights a year with 50 vets each trip. 

To get involved we need veterans, guardians and volunteers to sign up:

Visit Idaho Honor Flight at idahohonorflight.org and click “Apply to Fly” to sign up 

Please join us

The Volunteer Meet & Greet Lunch in Pocatello on Wednesday, April 29th from 11:30–2:30.AND  for the

Legacy of Honor: An Evening in the Hangar at Pocatello Airport on Saturday, June 6th— dinner,  live music, and dancing. 

Each veteran travels at no cost, paired one-on-one with a dedicated guardian.

The trip includes a chartered flight, transportation in D.C., a hotel stay with an Honor Dinner, visits to national memorials, and a flight home—all designed to create lasting memories and meaningful recognition.

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Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – A major construction project along South 5th West is now underway, bringing significant traffic impacts and delays for commuters and students across District 91.

Beginning Monday, April 13, South 5th West is closed to through traffic between 49th South and 65th South for utility installation. At the same time, the intersection at South 5th West and Sadie Lane—also known as Parkpoint Boulevard—is also closed as part of the work.

Contractors with H-K Contractors are installing a new sewer line and water main in the area on behalf of Christ Community Church. The closure is expected to last approximately eight weeks.

While access to homes and businesses within the construction zone will be maintained, through traffic will not be able to travel through South 5th West between 49th South and 65th South. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, use alternate routes, and expect delays.

Although the project is not being managed by the City of Idaho Falls, city officials say they are sharing the information to help residents prepare for delays in the area.

The construction is also affecting school transportation across the Idaho Falls School District 91. The intersection at South 5th West and Sadie Lane is a key crossing point for more than 20 bus routes, causing delays for multiple schools.

District officials say students may be picked up late or arrive at school after the bell. Schools impacted include Longfellow Elementary, Sunnyside Elementary, Eagle Rock Middle School, Skyline High School, Idaho Falls High School, and several others.

Full List of School Bus Routes Affected:

SCHOOL
AM ROUTE
PM ROUTE

AH Bush
41 (PASS/MVA)
40 (Day Treatment)

Edgemont
6 (overflow)
39

Hawthorne
8 (overflow)
38

Longfellow
28, 29, 40
28, 29

Sunnyside
30, 36, 38, 41
14

Eagle Rock
14, 28, 29, 40
28, 29

Taylorview
30, 41
22, 26

Compass
30
37

IFHS
30, 41
30

Skyline
14, 28, 29, 40
28, 29

Preschool (T/Th)
 
33

Transportation leaders warn that delays could have a ripple effect across the system, with additional impacts possible at schools such as Edgemont Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, Bush Elementary, and Erickson Elementary.

Tardies caused by bus delays during the closure will be excused, according to the district. Families may also experience delays in afternoon drop-offs and pickups.

Parents are encouraged to track their student’s bus using the My Ride K-12 app, which provides real-time updates on bus locations. Students must be assigned to a route to access the feature.

District 91 says it will continue to provide updates as construction progresses and is asking families to be patient during the eight-week project. Parents can also ensure their student is assigned to the correct route by contacting D91 transportation at transportation@sd91.org

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Hadley Bodell

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – One local organization is bringing the popular sport of pickleball to Eastern Idaho. United Voices Rising is working to fund women’s mental health therapies for survivors of sexual assault. They hosted their first annual “Pickle for a Purpose” pickleball tournament on April 11.

The tournament worked as a fundraiser for the organization and their mission. The tournament included mens, womens and mixed doubles. Each team that entered was guaranteed five games of pool and tournament play.

Players of all ages over 18 were welcome to play. Vice President of United Voices Rising and organizer of the pickleball tournament Brailey Sponsler told us she hopes to do the tournament every year.

“We have many sponsors to do raffle prizes and so it’s been awesome. And we’ve been able to generate some good little fundraising money for our programs,” said Sponsler.

United Voices Rising runs a thrift store in Rexburg where they accept donations of clothing and furniture. The UVR Thrift Store helps fund the programs the organization has to support survivors.

“I know a lot of pickleballers. And so I figured if that’s the niche we need to hone into, I know a lot of people that would love to support a good cause and play in a tournament,” said Sponsler. “And so that’s what we went for.”

They also accept monetary donations via their website unitedvoicesrisinginc.org.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— Parents and students in District 91 should plan for possible bus delays starting Monday, April 13, as a major intersection in Idaho Falls shuts down for construction.

Schools impacted include AH Bush, Edgemont, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Sunnyside, Eagle Rock, Taylorview, Compass Academy, Idaho Falls High School, Skyline, and some preschool routes.

The closure will impact the intersection of South 5th West and Sadie Lane/Parkpoint Boulevard. District officials say the disruption will affect routes serving multiple schools across the district, potentially causing late pickups in the morning and delays getting students home in the afternoon.

SCHOOL
AM ROUTE
PM ROUTE

AH Bush
41 (PASS/MVA)
40 (Day Treatment)

Edgemont
6 (overflow)
39

Hawthorne
8 (overflow)
38

Longfellow
28, 29, 40
28, 29

Sunnyside
30, 36, 38, 41
14

Eagle Rock
14, 28, 29, 40
28, 29

Taylorview
30, 41
22, 26

Compass
30
37

IFHS
30, 41
30

Skyline
14, 28, 29, 40
28, 29

Preschool (T/Th)
 
33

The district says all tardies related to transportation disruptions during the closure will be excused.

Families are encouraged to use the ‘My Ride K-12’ app to track their student’s bus in real time. The app is available for download on both Apple and Android devices. Parents can also ensure their student is assigned to the correct route by contacting D91 transportation at transportation@sd91.org

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – At the heart of Pocatello is a school bringing children and families together with a history of celebrating Jesus for 71 years. In honor of the Easter holiday, students at the Holy Spirit Catholic School performed a reenactment play of the Easter story on April 10.

In the Holy Spirit community, Easter isn’t just one day to celebrate. It’s a weeks long appreciation, including the annual play.

“We’ve been doing it for the school, this is the 71st anniversary,” said Margie Gabiola, principal at Holy Spirit Catholic School. “This is a very big tradition for our school family and for our alumni.”

Since Gabiola became principal three years ago, she has changed the play to include students of all grade levels from kindergarten to fifth grade.

“Every year there’s just some little thing that we will change just because of either the students that we want to showcase a little bit more or there’s more of a certain class and we want to provide them with a bigger part,” Gabiola said. “So the main story is always the same, but there’s elements like songs that are different sometimes.

Local News 8 spoke with the little boy cast as Jesus in the play who told us the part means the world to him.

“If He didn’t die on the cross for us, we would not get to have these amazing lives,” said Caleb, third grade performer. “If He didn’t rise again, we wouldn’t know that He’s the Messiah.”

Leadership at the school say the curriculum incorporates a lot of the fine arts, with music classes running twice a week for all grade levels. They also tell us the play is only possible because of the teachers and staff who help the students rehearse for around six weeks prior to the performance.

“To be able to continue to celebrate [Easter],” Gabiola said, “It’s a really big deal for us to keep celebrating it in our community.”

Caleb said he had a lot of fun working on the play with his classmates and attending rehearsals Wednesdays and Fridays. The experience is unforgettable for the young students.

“I’m Jesus,” Caleb said, when asked about his favorite part of playing Jesus in today’s performance. “I’m the one who died on the cross for us. It’s just an amazing feeling.”

The play concluded with a singing of the song “Alleluia, Love is Alive” by the entire cast. Parents, grandparents and siblings gathered in the chapel gave a standing ovation for the student performers. The tight-knit community of Holy Spirit will welcome everyone again in May for their Exhibition of Excellence, where students will showcase all kinds of art projects.

“We’re more than just a school,” Gabiola said. “Once you become part of Holy Spirit, you’re in a family. Who do you go for to for soccer? Who is your dentist? And so you just have this tight network and you know everybody. When you walk into the school, you should just feel this amazing warmth because everybody just cares about you.”

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls School District 91 will be expanding its online school offerings this fall to help meet growing demand for more flexible education options.

Students and parents looking to customize their education experience will have additional virtual tools available in August. 

The district will initially offer seven main courses online to students in middle school and high school.

“This fall we will be offering all of the core classes online – so English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Speech and Health,” said District 91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange. “Then second trimester, which starts right after Thanksgiving, we will be offering our full array of courses online.”

After the first trimester, it plans to expand to add Advanced Placement and other elective digital classes to the mix.

“We’ve recognized a need that our parents and community have expressed to just provide more flexibility and options for credits, for learning, and to address the unique needs of some of our students,” said Dr. Thomas Kennedy, District 91’s federal programs director.

Students in online courses will still be enrolled at their local high school or middle school, and can participate in extracurricular activities, dances, sports and clubs.

“The advantages of an online course are that students maybe might be experiencing anxiety, or some other health factors that really it’s best for them to step away from school for a trimester,” LaOrange explained. “There are other students that might want to accelerate or take more classes and earn additional credits, and they can do that. It offers some flexibility in their schedules so that they can work around scheduling conflicts or other internships.”

Middle school students can apply for the whole day online, while high schoolers can customize their schedule to take one or more digital classes at a time.

Students interested in enrolling can contact the counseling office at their high school or middle school for more information.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – After years of financial and legal issues, LA Semiconductor LLC is letting go a total of 342 employees over the next several weeks. The first wave of layoffs occured April 10 with the second set for May 1.

The semiconductor industry is responsible for over 12,000 jobs statewide, with Idaho ranking among the top ten states for semiconductor workforce. The company’s financial trouble has been documented since 2024, when they fell behind in major equipment lease payments. Semiconductor components agencies, including global chipmaker Onsemi, filed a lawsuit on this alleged breach of contract. The company was placed into a recievership in December 2024.

Court records show Onsemi has provided funding to keep the facility running. The company is still looking for a buyer amidst these substantial layoffs.

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist commented on the situation, stating “I continue to remain cautiously optimistic that a buyer will eventually be secured. The situation is the result of a contract dispute between two semiconductor companies, not a reflection of the city or our efforts.”

The mayor also explained the city has been actively working to resolve many consequential issues. “We’ve been actively working through the Idaho Department of Commerce on the seller’s behalf to explore potential tax incentives,” he said. “We still believe in the long-term viability of this facility. The city of Pocatello stands by to assist in any way.”

According to Idaho Commerce, Idaho’s semiconductor industry, including LA Semiconductor LLC, accounts for 4 percent of the national industry employment. Local News 8 spoke with Brandon Duong, an economist at the Pocatello Idaho Department of Labor, who told us they know very little about the effect of the layoffs at this time.

“They had their planned layoffs, they were sending out their WARN notice,” Duong said. “That’s something that we publish publically on our website. As far as local impact goes, if the layoffs continue, we’ll just see how it pans out in our quarterly and annual data.”

WARN stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice, a mandatory 60-day notification of termination for employees. The State of Idaho WARN Notices show LA Semiconductor LLC sent notices to their employees on February 9 of this year, with the first effective release date set for April 10.

The 342 employees affected tops the number of laid-off workers at Intermountain Packing, a company in Idaho Falls who let go 150 employees on April 3 of this year.

Local News 8 has reached out to employees affected by the layoffs and await comment. We have also contacted LA Semiconductor LLC for direct comment and await their response. This is a developing story and we will continue updating our audience as more information becomes available.

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Par Kermani

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho could be heading into a tight water year after what experts say may be one of the lowest snowpack seasons on record.

The Idaho Department of Water Resources say a warmer-than-normal winter caused much of the state’s precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, significantly reducing the region’s natural water storage.

“Probably the lowest snowpack in the history of Idaho,” said David Hoekema, a hydrologist with the agency. “We don’t have much snowpack, we’re not going to get a lot of runoff out of the mountains,”

Hoekema said the Boise Basin faces about a 50% chance of water shortages this season. In the Upper Snake River, the current supply is about 11% below typical demand, and a hot, dry summer would deepen the shortfall.

He stressed that 2026 is not yet one of Idaho’s worst drought years on record, thanks largely to stored water in reservoirs. But with limited snowmelt to refill those systems, the real concern is going into next year, when many reservoirs could be heavily depleted.

Some regions are already bracing for severe cutbacks. The Big Wood Canal Company is projected to have roughly half of its normal water supply, Hoekema said. In the Salmon Falls Tract south of Twin Falls, poor runoff and a reservoir sitting around 13% of capacity mean irrigation deliveries may have to be shut off as early as late May or mid‑June.

Around Idaho Falls and Pocatello, Hoekema expects growers to feel the squeeze as the season advances.

“We’ll get through the year, but it’s going to be really tight, especially if the summer gets hot,” Hoekema said.

Hoekema noted that recent years have already pushed Idaho’s temperatures toward record territory and said this water year may challenge a long‑standing 1934 temperature record.

At higher elevations, an intense heat wave at the end of March accelerated snowmelt by nearly two months, Snow that typically starts melting around mid‑May began disappearing in March, erasing a key buffer that usually carries irrigators into early summer before reservoirs are tapped.

Farmers are already adjusting. The irrigation season officially began April 1, but many canals are delaying diversions or working to deliver water as efficiently as possible. As natural flows drop and irrigators switch to using stored water, Hoekema said producers will need to watch their “storage accounts” closely and prioritize their most valuable crops.

“They’re going to have to really start watching that, and make sure they get the water to the high‑value crops,” he said. “They might have to cut off water supplies to alfalfa earlier this year than they typically would, or maybe have some other low‑value crops or fallow land… so they can stretch their water supplies.”

The picture is bleak across much of the West. Hoekema said Idaho has fared somewhat better than many neighboring states because of its high‑elevation mountain ranges, which captured at least some snow. But he described the broader region as facing “one of the worst droughts” in recent memory, with Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nevada and parts of California and Colorado struggling under low snowpack and heat.

“Besides Montana, we’re doing the best in a bad deal,” Hoekema said.

Residents, he added, have a role to play in stretching supplies — especially in a year when water managers want to keep as much water as possible available for agriculture, a major driver of Idaho’s economy.

In normal years, lawn irrigation supplied by canals can help recharge the aquifer. In a drought, though, Hoekema urged homeowners to cut back.

“In a drought year, you want to do everything you can to reduce irrigation to the minimum so that we can get it to the farms,” he said. “It’s probably not a bad idea to let your lawn brown out a little this year and just get water to where we need it for the economy.”

The drought is also expected to affect hydropower. Hoekema said Idaho typically relies heavily on hydroelectric dams for electricity — roughly three‑quarters of the state’s power in a typical year — but reduced river flows mean utilities will likely need to lean more on alternative sources, especially if the summer is hotter than normal.

Water officials are now watching the skies, hoping for a cooler, wetter pattern and a stronger snow year to follow. Without it, they warn, the tight water supplies facing East Idaho this season could turn into more severe shortages next year.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A new law intends to regulate and limit social media use for Idaho minors, but critics warn the state could be walking into a lawsuit.

On April 2nd, Governor Brad Little officially signed House Bill 542, the Stop Addictive Social Media Act, into law. The legislation aims to curb the influence of social media on Idaho’s youth by mandating age verification and stripping platforms of features the bill’s sponsors deem “addictive.”

New Restrictions for Minors

Under the new law, social media companies are mandated to verify the age of all users within state lines. For Idahoans under the age of 16, platforms must obtain “verifiable parental consent” before granting access. Even with parental permission, restrictions will still be in place.

Under the new law, social media companies must verify the age of every user in the state. For users under the age of 16, platforms must obtain “verifiable parental consent” before granting access.

Even with a parent’s permission, the experience for minors will change; platforms must disable or limit “addictive” features such as auto-play videos and infinite scrolling for younger users.

The bill’s sponsors framed the legislation as a necessary intervention against the destructive and addictive influence of social media on children.

“We were never faced with this type of addiction before. Social media companies, admittedly, have intentionally made their platforms addictive,” said Senate sponsor Cindy Carlson. “Why protect kids when they can make so much money off of them? It is pure evil they have been unwilling to self-regulate. An addictive user is a profitable user.”

A Unique Approach to Age Verification

Utah was the first state in the nation to enact such social media mandates, followed by 11 other states since 2023. What sets Idaho’s law apart from similar mandates is its unique approach to age verification. Rep. Crane argues that interest-based verification is more effective than traditional methods.

“What you can’t lie about is your interest,” Crane said, noting that the browsing habits of a 16-year-old differ significantly from those of a 26-year-old.

Legal Hurdles and Industry Pushback

The bill passed the Idaho House following Senate amendments, despite apparent lobbying from tech giants.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, sent a letter to Governor Little urging him not to sign the “Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act.” In the letter, Dan Sachs, vice president of state and local policy at Meta, argued that the policy was unfair to larger social media platforms and “would not accomplish the Idaho Legislature’s goal of reducing childhood social media dependency.”

Social media companies have long argued that state-specific requirements create too many technical and legal challenges.

History suggests Idaho may face an uphill battle in court. Utah’s original 2023 law was repealed and replaced after social media companies filed a lawsuit citing free-speech violations. The replacement legislation was subsequently blocked by a federal judge in September 2024.

Senator Camille Blaylock warned her colleagues that, despite her desire to support the bill, Idaho is likely walking into a lawsuit.

“There was a request to postpone the start date on this six months. It was suggested that maybe that was because these companies wanted to get their court case ready,” Senator Camille Blaylock told lawmakers. “After seeing that every state that has implemented something like this has been taken to court, and the ones that have been resolved to have lost, I think that’s probably spot on.”

The mandate applies only within Idaho’s borders, using location data to trigger the restrictions. The Stop Addictive Social Media Act is expected to take effect on July 1, pending any potential legal challenges.

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