Author: KIFI

Curtis Jackson

HEYBURN, Idaho (KIFI) — A pedestrian was killed late Monday night, March 9, 2026, after being hit by a pickup on Interstate 84 near Heyburn.

Idaho State Police said the crash happened around 10:30 p.m. near mile marker 207. Troopers reported a 44‑year‑old man from Sebring, Florida, was walking east in the westbound lanes when he stepped into traffic.

A white 2013 Ram 2500, driven by a 22‑year‑old woman from Jerome with a 21‑year‑old passenger from Declo, struck the man. He died at the scene.

The two people in the pickup were not hurt and were both wearing seatbelts.

The westbound lanes of I‑84 were blocked for about two and a half hours during the investigation.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 4:11 PM, Mar 08, 2026

By Steve Dent:

BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — The Idaho Challenged Athletes Foundation hosted its three-day winter sports weekend in Boise, where adaptive athletes had the chance to compete in sled hockey at Ice World, skiing at Bogus Basin, and a pair of activities at the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse.

Idaho News 6 has been to the clinics for downhill and cross country skiing, as well as sled hockey so we went to check out the adaptive athletes trying out the biathlon.

“I have fibular hemimelia… it is where one of my cells copied wrong and all the other cells copied off that one, making my leg gone.”” said Jackson Lang.

Lang participated in all three days, and Jackson praised Idaho CAF for bringing all the adaptive athletes together and making it easy for them to connect to each other and mentors.

“Thank you for all the fun stuff and helping me meet people like me,” said Lang. “My favorite is the skiing because I’ve always loved skiing.”

Ty Wiberg competes on the Para Nordic and biathlon development teams. Wiberg just missed making the Paralympics this year, so he traveled from Montana to mentor the next generation of adaptive athletes.

“Helping coach any aspect is really rewarding in the sense that you get to start with somebody who may have never done the sport,” said Wiberg. “They have never tried it at all, and in a short couple of hours, you get to watch somebody excel at it.”

You could see the improvement on both ends with curling and the biathlon. This event happened inside the Idaho Outdoor Fieldhouse, and they also had a huge television in the gym that was showing the Paralympic Winter Games in Italy.

“They can watch it, and they can really see the athletes that are performing at the top of the top,” said Wiberg. “In case that is something they ever want to try to make, and they know that it is possible too.”

The winter sports weekend also included a grant on Thursday night, with 13-year-old Hailey Lopez of Twin Falls, who has cerebral palsy, receiving $2,000 for skiing equipment.

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Par Kermani

PARKER, Idaho (KIFI) — After an unseasonably dry winter, a City of Parker resident is claiming the region is currently in the grip of a modern-day Dust Bowl. He estimates that millions of cubic yards of sandy topsoil are being stripped from local farms every spring, clouding the air and burying neighboring properties.

Sailors said, “We’ve got these dust storms every spring… and it’s all from these potato and wheat farms west of town”.

The physical evidence of the erosion is literal. Sailors pointed to a neighbor’s home just 400 yards away, where the lawn has risen 2.5 inches above the sidewalks and roadbeds over the last 12 years due to accumulating windblown soil.

Sailors, who studied soil science in Colorado and Kansas, argue the solution is simple: leave crop roots in the ground through the winter.

“In other states, they leave the standing roots…” Sailors said, “because it holds the snow moisture all winter and keeps the soil erosion from doing this”.

Ron Patterson, an agriculture expert with the University of Idaho, explained that the very nature of potato farming makes the ground susceptible to the region’s 60-mph spring winds.

“Potatoes are not a crop that disturbs the soil,” Patterson said. “There’s a lot of soil disturbance in the harvesting… and the timing of when the potatoes are harvested in the fall makes that ground susceptible”.

Patterson noted that by the time potatoes are out of the ground, it is often too late in the season to plant a cover crop that can grow enough to stabilize the soil before the winter freeze. While equipment exists to plant directly into stubble for other crops like wheat or barley, the cost is often prohibitive for many local operations.

“The farmers are aware of it. It’s their money that’s blowing away in the wind,” Patterson said, noting that conservation is a long-term versus short-term economic struggle. “If they don’t have the economic ability to purchase the equipment… then that’s a bit of a challenge”.

Patterson added that while the dust is a nuisance, the windblown topsoil is actually a high-quality nutrient boost for the residential yards it lands in.

Sailors remains undeterred by the economic hurdles, stating he is willing to be a “pariah” with the farming community to save the soil. He plans to bring the issue before a city meeting this week.

“I just think it’s a crime,” Sailors said. “I think everybody could work together and find a way to not destroy our topsoil”.

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Seth Ratliff

CASSIA COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The man charged with killing four people across two southern Idaho counties is set to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Monday, Benjamin Naylor was sentenced to four consecutive and concurrent fixed-life terms in state prison, the Cassia County and Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices announced. The move comes after Naylor pleaded guilty to the charges in late December in a bid to avoid the death penalty.

RELATED: Quadruple murder suspect, Benjamin Roy Naylor, pleads guilty, avoids death penalty

“This outcome allowed the defendant to take accountability for his actions, which is an important part of our pursuit of justice,” said Cassia County Prosecuting Attorney McCord Larsen. “Four consecutive and concurrent fixed-life sentences mean Benjamin Naylor will spend the rest of his natural life in prison. That is a certainty. And certainty, for these families, has value.”

The charges stem from a killing spree that spanned the two southern Idaho counties. On July 8th, 2025, Naylor shot and killed Kelly and Donna Jenks of Burley, then went on to kill Angelica Medina and Dennis Mix during a Schizophrenic episode.

More than two dozen people were in the gallery of Monday’s sentencing hearing, including several members of the victim’s families.

Naylor will spend the remainder of his natural life in prison with no possibility of parole. As part of the sentencing, Naylor will also have to pay restitution to the victim’s families and civil penalties.

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Kevin Richert

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 9, 2026

By Kevin Richert and Ryan Suppe:

BOISE, Idaho — A bill that would recognize professional experience outside the classroom on the career ladder is heading to the full House. 

Currently, career-technical educators must receive four years of proficient evaluations before they can move up the career ladder, the state’s salary funding model. The bill would allow CTE instructors and professional support staff to move up the ladder with years of experience outside of schools. 

“It’s going to help us retain these critical educators,” said Rep. Soñia Galaviz, D-Boise.

Rep. Soñia Galaviz, D-Boise

Galaviz is co-sponsoring the bill with Rep. Shawn Dygert, R-Melba. 

The House Education Committee unanimously voted Monday to send the proposal to the full House. The committee advanced a replacement for the original bill, House Bill 816, after a “technical error” needed correcting. 

The bill would apply to CTE instructors and licensed professional staff like school psychologists, therapists counselors, social workers and nurses. 

Teresa Fritsch, a retired school psychologist and board member for the National Association of School Psychologists, told the committee that the bill would help pay and recruit psychologists amid a “critical shortage.”

“If there were more school psychologists in public schools, they would be able to provide more support to families and their students, particularly in our rural districts,” Fritsch said. 

House Education took action on two other bills Monday: 

Charter transportation. The committee unanimously approved a bill to make a narrow change to the state’s transportation funding program, allowing one charter school to collect an increased busing reimbursement. 

Galaviz wants to close a funding loophole for Anser Charter School in Garden City. Anser’s share of state transportation funding is based on its first foray into busing, a small grant-funding program for physical education.

“Now they have a full busing system, and they are underfunded,” said Galaviz, who is sponsoring the bill.

Anser gets about a 50% funding match from the state. Most school districts and charter schools get 70% to 90%. 

House Bill 815 now heads to the full House. 

DOGE cleanup. The committee also approved a bill from the DOGE Task Force that would eliminate “obsolete, outdated and unnecessary” sections of state law. 

The Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 1291.

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Seth Ratliff

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — The Albertsons grocery store on Buffalo Way in Jackson, Wyoming, was evacuated Monday afternoon after police were forced to subdue a person experiencing an alleged mental health crisis.

Details surrounding the incident are limited at this time.

The Jackson Police Department responded to the scene at approximately 12:30 PM following reports of a person armed with a knife inside the building. As police arrived, the person began to harm themself, and the officers fired several non-lethal rounds to subdue them.

The individual in crisis was then rushed to St. John’s Health for medical treatment.

While the Jackson Police Department has confirmed that there is no ongoing threat to the public, the grocery store remains closed for further investigation.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — In a swift and controversial move, the Idaho House Health and Welfare Committee voted 10–6 on Monday to introduce a bill that would repeal Medicaid expansion, effective January 1, 2028. The decision followed less than 20 minutes of debate centered around rolling back the 2018 voter-approved initiative.

Idaho Medicaid Expansion Background

Idaho voters approved Medicaid expansion through a 2018 ballot initiative. The policy extended Medicaid coverage to Idahoans who earn less than 138% of the federal poverty level, around $22,025 annually for a single person, or $45,540 for a family of four in 2026.

Based on data from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, of the 89,000 to 90,000 people on medicaid expansion, 48% were working in 2025. Last year, Governor Brad Little signed into law House Bill 345, requiring Idahoans on Medicaid expansion to prove that they work.

The Argument for Fiscal Control

The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jordan Redman (R-Coeur d’Alene), framed the repeal as a necessary step recommended by the Idaho Department of Government Efficiency. Redman argued that the program no longer reflects its original intent to provide healthcare to the “working poor” and the most vulnerable due to significant enrollment growth.

“I believe that oftentimes this can actually hold people back from their full potential,” Redman told lawmakers, after voicing concerns from employers in his district that workers are turning down raises to avoid hitting the “benefit cliff.”

Rep. Lucas Cayler (R-Caldwell) echoed these sentiments, warning that the program would eventually “blow out” the state budget. “There are entirely way too many people—able-bodied adults who are not working—participating,” Cayler said. “This is a problem that we need to address now and not kick the can down the road.”

The “Will of the Voters”

Opponents were quick to point out the human and democratic costs of the repeal. According to Idaho Voices for Children, the move would leave the approximately 90,000 Idahoans enrolled in Medicaid expansion without health insurance and no clear backup plan.

“Idahoans voted for their neighbors to have healthcare—61% approved Medicaid expansion,” said Hillarie Matlock, Policy Director at Idaho Voices for Children. “Ignoring that and taking coverage away goes directly against the will of the voters.”

In response to similar concerns brought up in committee, Rep. Redman argued voters did not have accurate information to know how the expansion would affect the state.

The Cost of Medicaid Expansion

While supporters argue the repeal saves the state money, House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel (D-Boise) and financial analysts argue it would actually cost the state in the long run.

Ruble pointed to a study by the Department of Health and Welfare showing $80 million in savings across corrections and behavioral health. Idaho also receives approximately $1 billion in federal funds annually, which support 9000 jobs, Rubel says would be lost without the program.

“I take great issue with the fundamental premise that has brought this, which is this notion that it will somehow save our state money and help our budget,” said Rubel. “This would put us in the hole. It would be a net loss of at least $20 million.”

According to a study by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, Medicaid expansion also generates neary $47 million in tax revenue for the state, while Idaho’s Medicaid actual expenditures went down by 0.4 percent from FY 2019 to 2024 when adjusted for inflation.

While the projected state cost for Medicaid expansion in FY 2026 is $91 million, Idaho Voices for Children estimates a repeal would actually cost the state $143 million as costs shift back to other General Fund programs.

The bill now moves to the House floor for further debate.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 60-year-old woman faces a potential 40-year prison sentence in connection with an illegal massage parlor.

On March 6, a jury found Xue Fang Lu, 60, guilty of felony Interstate Trafficking of Prostitution and felony Procurement of Prostitution. The charges stem from Lu’s illicit massage business operated out of the Fairbridge Inn in Idaho Falls from March until May 2024.

The Idaho Falls Police Department led the investigation, utilizing digital forensics support from the Idaho Office of the Attorney General and the Idaho Transportation Department.

“Law enforcement agencies throughout Bonneville County are committed to working together to keep these kind of illegal activities from getting a toehold in our community,” Neal said.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, 2026, and Lu could face up to twenty years in prison on each count.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 09 MAR 26 11:57 ET

By Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — Juanita Sibert has lived to see more than a century of American history — and on Saturday, she celebrated 109 years of it with cake, ice cream, and the people who love her most.

Born March 7, 1917, in Marland, Nebraska, Sibert blew out her candles surrounded by family and community members who gathered in Caldwell to mark the milestone.

When asked the secret to her long life, Sibert kept it simple.

“Well, I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke. I lived a healthy life,” Sibert said.

The Sibert family sold their farm and ranch in Nebraska and moved west to Idaho in October of 1946. Today, her legacy spans four generations across Idaho and Wyoming, with more than 50 living descendants.

“I come from a big family,” Sibert added.

Sibert recalled a moment when someone once read the lines of her palm and made a prediction that has since proven difficult to argue with. “I don’t know where the line is myself, anyways, he said, ‘My gosh, you are going to live forever.”

Her granddaughter, Mietta Sibert, said watching her grandmother’s life unfold across more than a century of change has been nothing short of remarkable.

“I look at it, and I’m blown away — from no phone, to a flip phone, to Bluetooth,” Mietta Sibert said.

Mietta said her grandmother has remained joyful throughout it all — a quality reflected in Juanita’s longtime nickname, “Happy.”

“Just learning about her stories and the impact and life that her family has built around her has been tremendous. Most people don’t survive past 89, 90, and for her to just keep on going, I think it’s her strong connection with family and friends and just love, pure love and joy,” explained Mietta Sibert.

Juanita said one thing she has learned throughout this century is to never stop laughing and to enjoy time with family.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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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Danielle Mullenix

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — What began as a spiritual journey to the Holy Land quickly transformed into a desperate mission for survival. Alicia Ramos, an Idaho Falls pastor, is finally home after being caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Ramos was part of a group of 117 women pastors from across the United States. As the only representative from Idaho, she found her pilgrimage abruptly interrupted by the sound of sirens and falling bombs.

As the conflict intensified, her group traveled by bus through danger and even walked to the border in Egypt, all to make it back to her family. Ramos says she quickly realized their pilgrimage had turned into a test of their courage.

“Is it safe? Is it wise that we keep going?” Ramos recalled asking. “…But there was just this clear consensus across the board that we were supposed to be there.”

Faith Amid Conflict

While explosions echoed above, the pastors didn’t scramble in panic. Instead, they turned to their faith.

“As much as it was alarming to hear it, the calm and the peace that was over everyone on our trip, there wasn’t like a scrambling, running, to the bomb shelters,” said Ramos. “There was just this calmness.”

With airports shuttered by Iranian retaliatory strikes, the group’s mission shifted from ministry to evacuation.

“What do we do next? We’re in the middle of Israel with the 117 women now – how do we keep everyone safe?” Ramos recalls. “How are we going to get out of here? The airports are shut down.”

Ramos says in the middle of chaos — inside bomb shelters while sirens echoed above — the group made a decision. Instead of panicking, they prayed. She believes those hours of worship helped them find the peace and focus needed to begin mapping out their journey to safety.

“Even though there were still alarms going off, it was decided that the best option was for us to pray, and make our way across Israel, out of Israel, and into Egypt.”

Eventually, the pastors were evacuated from the Galilee region by bus. But even that escape was dangerous. The final leg of their escape required the women to turn off their phones for security and cross into Egypt on foot.

“I think, honestly, when we were told to turn off our phones, my biggest thought was my family back home,” said Ramos. “I feel like – to some extent – our families back home were working through much more difficulty than we were here.”

The Long Road to Idaho Falls

While Ramos was navigating the border, her husband was 6,000 miles away in Idaho Falls, caring for their five children, all under the age of ten, and waiting for word that his wife was safe.

“It’s a war. You never know how long this is going to last,” said Ramos.

Late Friday night, her family’s fears quickly dissolved. After days of uncertainty, Ramos finally stepped through the airport doors — greeted by those who had been waiting for her the entire time.

“It was a relief. Just the comfort of being home,” said Ramos. “I have five young kids at home, so they were definitely excited to see their mom.”

Ramos mentions that she is still processing everything that occurred during those chaotic days abroad. One thing she will never forget is how ordinary bomb shelters are for families in Israel. Experiencing this reality firsthand has given her a new perspective on the daily challenges people there face.

“This is their normal, you know, it almost becomes like just kind of a routine to them,” said Ramos. “They would come hop-johnson into the bomb shelters, and there was still joy in their hearts because this is just their life.”

Ramos confirmed that all 117 women from the delegation have returned safely to the United States.

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