Author: KIFI

Tucker Robertson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Transportation Security Administration said on Facebook that an inert mortar was found in one Idaho Falls Regional Airport passenger’s checked bag. 

The Idaho Falls Regional Airport was evacuated on January 11. Officials said it was evacuated because of a suspicious device, but they didn’t say what.

On Friday, Idaho Falls Public Information Officer Eric Grossarth confirmed that the mortar was the device that prompted the evacuation.

If you plan to fly, just remember explosives are not good flight companions and are prohibited, inert or otherwise.

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) –  In light of Tuesday’s [Jan. 28] house explosion, people might be wondering about safely operating propane tanks in their homes.

Most people living in residential areas use natural gas in their homes, however, a lot of houses in rural locations use propane. 

Idaho State Fire Marshal Knute Sandahl is reminding homeowners how to protect the gas lines in their houses.

“One of them is to have the propane piping below ground, which would protect it from any physical damage,” said Sandahl.

The second method would require a little work.

“Build a small roof, if you will, or some type of structure that would protect the regulator and the piping from any type of slope snow slide,” said Sandahl.

The fire service is seeing new homes are being built with the propane service on the gable end of the home, which prevents any issues with snow slides.

However with the older homes, very often it’s on the slope side of the houses.

“So what we want to do is protect them. We have had a couple of instances where snow slides have caused fractures of the pipe coming into the house and it fills up the lowest part because propane is heavier than air and it’ll fill up in there. And once it finds an ignition source, it could result in a fuel explosion,” said Sandahl.

News Team

The following is a press release from the Wyoming Department of Transportation.

Wyoming (WYDOT) – The Wyoming Department of Transportation has scheduled a closure of US 191/189 through Hoback Canyon for Sunday, February 2, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. for avalanche mitigation. Additional closures may be necessary depending on weather conditions. Reduced visibility, winter driving conditions, and increasing avalanche hazard may force an earlier closure. 

Dial 511 or go to www.wyoroad.info for updated weather and road conditions. Sign up for automated email and text alerts with 511 notify at www.wyoroad.info. 

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Downtown Idaho Falls became the scene of protest Saturday afternoon as people in southeast Idaho gathered to voice their concerns about current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Broadway Bridge with homemade signs, each with a message denouncing ICE enforcement taking place across the county. Several drivers on the road honked and cheered in support of the protest.

“I think right now there’s a lot of blame and negative [talk] on immigrants,” said protester Jennifer Vidales. “People fail to realize that we’re people. We’re out here, we’re family members, we go to school, we’re neighbors. I think that’s really important to what our message today is.”

The protest’s organizers worked with the City of Idaho Falls and the police department so everyone would be safe. Protesters were instructed to avoid violence, especially if people of opposing views tried to anger them.

“We want to take a stand against systemic racism and unjust immigration policies,” said Shantelle Duran, one of the protest’s organizers. “We invite the community to stand with us and show support for our neighbors who are likely to be targeted under increased ICE raids and detentions.”

Protesters say this demonstration is only the first step.

“We’re going to keep fighting. I’m going to keep fighting,” said Vidales. “I’ve always cared for immigrant rights. I’m an immigrant advocate and I will continue to use my voice as much as I can for those who can’t.”

CNN Newsource

By Jessica MacAulay, Ben Payne

Click here for updates on this story

    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Emergency crews are responding to an explosion in Northeast Philadelphia after a small medical jet crashed in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Cottman Avenue, Philadephia police confirmed to CBS News Philadelphia.

The plane was going from Philadelphia to Springfield, Missouri, leaving the Northeast Philadelphia Airport when tragedy struck.

Two people were aboard the plane, according to police. It’s unclear at this time if they were ejected or able to escape. There are several injuries reported on the ground, police added.

Multiple rowhomes on fire

Multiple homes are on fire in the area of Cottman Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard following the crash, fire officials said.

Police sources told CBS News Philadelphia’s Chief Investigative Reporter Joe Holden that parts of the plane hit cars in the area. Some businesses near the Roosevelt Mall are on fire, sources said.

The area, where the crash happened, especially near Cottman and Roosevelt Boulevard is a densely residential neighborhood and packed with rows of rowhomes.

Neighbors in the Northeast Philadelphia area have called CBS Philadelphia reporting their homes shook when the plane went down.

It’s unclear at this time what led to the crash or where the plane was coming from and heading toward. The status of those who were injured was also not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.

Please note: 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.

Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Two new concerts were announced Monday coming to the Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre, also known as ‘The Port,’ this summer.

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band will perform on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Billy Currington will perform on Saturday, July 12, 2025.

Tickets for The Port are available via ETIX on Friday, February 7, 10 AM, Mountain Times.

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Little Feat and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are joining forces on the road for the first time with their Dirty Feat Tour.

As evidenced by a 2025 Grammy Award nomination for its 2024 album Sam’s Place (Best Traditional Blues Album), the legendary Little Feat continues to build on a deep, 50-plus-year history with no end in sight. Utilizing a combination of elite musicianship and brilliant, idiosyncratic songwriting to create a repertoire that transcends all boundaries, Little Feat has always been about the songs and musicianship—as its honest and durable legacy illustrates. California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country and rockabilly mixed with New Orleans swamp boogie led to a powerful sound that has kept the audience dancing for decades. Songs like “Dixie Chicken,” “Spanish Moon,” “Fat Man in the Bathtub,” and “Feats Don’t Fail Me Now” display a continuous thread of excellence that embraces the qualities of exploration that make up Little Feat and its music, while honoring their brothers that began this journey decades ago: Lowell George, Richie Hayward, and Paul Barrere. Little Feat is in stellar form with its current lineup:  Scott Sharrard (lead guitar, vocals); Tony Leone (drums, vocals), founder Bill Payne (keys, vocals), Fred Tackett (guitars, vocals), Kenny Gradney (bass) and Sam Clayton (percussion, vocals).

The Grammy-, CMA- and IBMA-Award-winning Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, currently on its ALL THE GOOD TIMES:  The Farewell Tour celebrating nearly 60 years of music making, remains one of the most accomplished bands in American roots music. The group’s current lineup is one of the most compelling in the group’s storied history, featuring founding members Jeff Hanna (lead vocals, guitar) & Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica, vocals); Bob Carpenter (keys, vocals)—a member since 1980; Jim Photoglo (bass, vocals); Jaime Hanna (guitar, vocals); and Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin, vocals). NGDB played its first gig in 1966 in Southern California as a jug band and by 1969 had become a cornerstone of the burgeoning country-rock community. The band’s career breakthrough came in 1970 with the release of “Mr. Bojangles,” a folksy Top 10 pop hit that brought roots music to the national forefront. In 1972, NGDB released the first of three groundbreaking Will The Circle Be Unbroken records, collaborating with many of the best bluegrass, country, and folk artists in the world. The band has recorded 16 Top 10 U.S. Country hits, highlighted by three #1’s: “Fishin’ In The Dark,” “Modern Day Romance,” and “Long Hard Road.” NGDB’s most recent recording is the critically acclaimed album, Dirt Does Dylan. 

Billy Currington

Billy Currington has spent nearly two decades topping the country charts, parlaying his rich, emotion-laden tenor and unerring song sense into some of the format’s most memorable hits. Across multiple Platinum-certified albums, the Georgia native has tallied 12 No. 1 singles, including 4X Platinum hit “People Are Crazy,” 4X Platinum “Good Directions,” 4X Platinum “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” plus Double-Platinum “Do I Make You Wanna,” Platinum “We Are Tonight,” and more. Equally skilled at delivering upbeat summertime anthems as well as exploring the complexities of life and love with a poignant ballad, Currington has recently released new songs “Everything Is Changing,” “City Don’t” and “Anchor Man.” For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.billycurrington.com.

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—A high avalanche danger has been issued by both the Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center and the Sawtooth Avalanche Center for most area mountains in central and eastern Idaho, southern Montana, and western Wyoming.

Keith Richey, coordinator for Fremont County Emergency Management, said heavy snowfall and strong winds are rapidly adding weight to weak layers in the snowpack and creating very dangerous avalanche conditions. He urges people to avoid traveling on and underneath slopes steeper than 30 degrees.

The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center posted on its website that slabs 1 to 3 feet in depth will react to a skier’s or snowmobile’s weight. Natural avalanches are possible in wind-loaded mid- and upper-elevation terrain and low-elevation terrain where the snowpack is saturated from rain. Traveling in, near, or under avalanche terrain is not recommended for Monday.

Curtis Jackson

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI)—Idaho State Police are investigating a three-vehicle crash that blocked US 91 north of Shelley Monday morning.

Idaho State Police said a 44-year-old Shelley woman driving a 2018 Ford Explorer was traveling north when it veered into the southbound lane, hitting head-on a 2000 Pontiac Grand Am driven by a 17-year-old Idaho Falls girl.

The Grand Am came to rest on the north shoulder. The Explorer spun around, came to rest facing south, and was hit in the rear by a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by a 51-year-old Idaho Falls man.

The drivers of the Explorer and the Grand Am were taken to the hospital. Their conditions are unknown.

The road was blocked for a couple of hours.