Author: KIFI

Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Legislature passed more than 350 laws during its 2026 session, bringing sweeping changes to everything from transportation to school AI policies. The vast majority of these laws officially take effect tomorrow, July 1.

Local News 8 has compiled the following breakdown of the most talked-about laws going into effect tomorrow.

House Bill 752 – Restricting restroom/lockeroom access by biological sex

Commonly known as the “bathroom bill,” House Bill 752 makes it a crime to knowingly use a restroom, changing room, or locker room that does not align with a person’s biological sex. However, earlier this month, a judge issued a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking a section of the law regarding single-use restrooms and multi-use restrooms where no single-use option is available. The rest of the law will take effect on July 1.

RELATED: Federal Judge halts Idaho law enforcing restroom access by biological sex

House Bill 664 – Semi-Truck Speed Limits

A new law allowing semi trucks to travel the freeway at 80 miles per hour goes into effect in Idaho on July 1. House Bill 644 states semi-trucks can travel at the same speed as passenger vehicles on interstate highway – up to 80 mph when the posted speed allows it. The bill’s text claims, “Research has shown that speed variance (differences in speed between vehicles) causes more accidents than absolute speed, with a 10 mph difference creating as much as a 227% increase in interactions. When variances in speed occur at excessive speeds, such as on interstate highways, the severity of crashes increases dramatically.”

RELATED: Speeding up: Semi trucks in Idaho can travel at 80 miles per hour starting July 1

Senate Bill 1227 – AI in K-12 Education

This bill addresses the rapid rise of AI in K-12 education, directing the State Department of Education to build a statewide framework for responsible AI use. Additionally, local school districts and public charter schools must now adopt formal policies governing how both students and staff can use AI tools.

House Bill 516 – Teachers Union Restrictions

This law heavily restricts how teachers’ unions interact with school district resources. It prohibits unions from using a school district’s payroll system to automatically deduct member dues, holding union meetings on district property, and bars teachers from using paid leave for legislative advocacy.

House Bill 895 – Data Center Water Restrictions

This law places restrictions on future data centers to be designed for the non-consumptive use of water, or uses water for such purposes from a municipal water district, or water and sewer district system, to “help ensure that Idaho’s limited water rights resources will continue to be available for existing uses, such as agriculture and industry.”

House Bill 538 – Protection for Short-Term Rentals

Starting July 1st, local governments face new limits on how heavily they can regulate short-term rentals like Airbnbs and Vrbos. The law aims to protect “the private property rights of Idaho homeowners by ensuring the right to rent their property is maintained.”

RELATED: Idaho Senate passes bill limiting local regulations on short-term rentals

House Bill 37 & House Bill 803: Firing Squad Executions

Passed in 2025 but officially taking effect July 1, HB 37 establishes a firing squad as Idaho’s primary method of execution. A companion law passed in 2026, HB 803, ensures that the identities of all firing squad members will remain strictly anonymous.

RELATED: Idaho DOC releases detailed firing squad execution protocols ahead of July 1 transition

House Bill 681: No Statute of Limitations for Child Abuse

This law removes the statute of limitations for two major offenses: aggravated lewd conduct with a child and the production of child sexually exploitative material. Prosecutors can now bring charges against perpetrators at any point in time, no matter how many years have passed since the crime.

House Bill 696: Prison Staff Sexual Misconduct

This legislation amends and expands the state’s legal definition of prohibited sexual contact between correctional staff and inmates. The changes are designed to eliminate legal loopholes and make it easier to prosecute prison workers accused of sexually abusing incarcerated individuals. The legislation was in response to InvestigateWest’s reporting that found few Idaho prison workers accused of sexually abusing incarcerated women were ever charged.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls residents are being encouraged to celebrate Independence Day by helping local families facing food insecurity.

The City of Idaho Falls and the Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls are partnering for an online giving campaign called “25,000 in 25 Hours,” with a goal of raising $25,000 to support the food bank’s services across eastern Idaho.

The fundraiser begins at noon on July 3 and continues through 1 p.m. on July 4. Donations can be made through the Community Food Basket’s Venmo account or website.

City officials say the campaign is part of local efforts to recognize America’s 250th anniversary while encouraging community members to give back.

“America 250 is a celebration of our nation’s history, but it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the values that continue to bring us together,” Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw said. “Whether you can give $2.50 or $2,500, every contribution is meaningful and will make a difference.”

According to the Community Food Basket, all money raised during the 25-hour campaign will go directly toward providing food assistance to individuals and families in eastern Idaho.

Executive Director Ariel Jackson said community donations are critical to meeting the growing need for food assistance.

“Even small donations can have a big impact — just $1 can be turned into $4.80 worth of food helping provide meals to families in our local community,” Jackson said.

The Community Food Basket relies on donations and community support throughout the year to stock its shelves and provide resources to local residents.

Donations can be made beginning July 3 through the Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls Venmo account or on the organization’s website.

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Curtis Jackson

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)—Yellowstone Bear World was closed for a time Tuesday afternoon after receiving a bomb threat.

The threat was reported at around 1 p.m. Owners evacuated around 300 guests to the parking area while Madison County Sheriff’s deputies searched the area. No devices or explosives were found, and the park was reopened shortly after 3 p.m.

On Sunday, Zoo Idaho received a similar threat and was closed for two days. It reopened Tuesday morning.

The FBI reported it has been investigating several bomb threats towards zoos and aquariums around the United States in recent months.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — More than three years after a fire heavily damaged Highland High School, the next phase of the school’s rebuild is nearing completion.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 says construction remains on schedule for students and staff to move into the first phase of the new campus following winter break on Jan. 4, 2027.

Construction crews have also started work on a new six-court tennis complex and parking lot across Bench Road. The courts will be used by Highland High School student-athletes and the community through a partnership between School District 25 and the City of Pocatello.

The rebuild follows an accidental electrical fire in April 2023 that damaged about 75,000 square feet of the school.

The first phase of the project, set to open in January, includes six classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen and commons area, along with a multi-level gymnasium, weight room, indoor track, wrestling room, locker rooms and athletic offices.

Additional facilities are expected to open in July 2027, including choir, band, orchestra and drama classrooms, as well as performing arts spaces.

“This project has always been about restoring more than a building,” Superintendent Dr. Douglas Howell said. “Highland is a place where generations of learners have built friendships, discovered their passions, and created lifelong memories. Every milestone brings us closer to welcoming learners and staff back into a campus that honors that legacy while providing exceptional learning spaces for the future.”

While the first phase is set to open after winter break, construction will continue on the remaining portions of the campus, including performing arts spaces and music and theater classrooms.

The district says the full rebuild remains on schedule for completion by August 2027, allowing students to begin the 2027-28 school year in the finished campus.

Those interested in following the project’s progress can find updates, renderings and time-lapse videos on the district’s Highland High School rebuild website.

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News Team

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The former President of the Portneuf Valley Soccer, Cristie Stone, has been charged with Felony Grand Theft following an investigation into the organization’s finances.

Stone served as the President of the PVSC from 2020 until late 2024. The charges, filed by the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, came after an internal forensic audit uncovered significant financial irregularities.

The Accusations and Timeline

According to the criminal complaint filed on June 16, 2026, Stone is accused of one count of grand theft involving more than $219,000 from the PVSC between March 1, 2022, and December 30, 2024.

The investigation began on February 25, 2025, when the Pocatello Police Department received a call from a PVSC finance administrator about possible fraud in the organization. An incident report from the PPD says the financial administrator was reconciling multiple existing copies of financial records in QuickBooks and similar software in October 2024 into one single record. That’s when she noticed the PVSC would be reporting a loss for the first time in her memory. This led to her gathering transaction data from the organization’s bank accounts.

The administrator flagged over 16 suspicious transactions at Idaho Central Credit Union between January 2023 and April 2024. She also found suspicious transactions from their Citizens Community Bank account from August 2023 to January 2025, totaling $219,884.38 between both accounts.

The incident report says that after the transactions were discovered in October 2024, “the Board of the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club met several times regarding these transactions and specifically asked Cristie Stone about these transactions, what they were for, and substantiating documentation that these were legitimate expenses. [The financial administrator] reported that Stone offered varying explanations and alleged that her personal credit card had been linked to the PVSC checking account by mistake and that she had not noticed.”

It was also reported that the Soccer Club Board called an emergency meeting on February 25, 2025, with the “intent to restrict or remove Stone as Club president.”

Investigators served a search warrant to ICCU to gain access to the transaction history. Further investigation determined that the funds had been transferred from a PVSC account into a personal ICCU credit card account belonging to Stone.

Internal Audit Uncovers Discrepancies

The PVSC Board of Directors publicly announced the investigation in a news release on June 17. According to the board, leadership took decisive action after discovering initial financial discrepancies, immediately retaining an independent forensic accounting firm to review the club’s financial records and transactions.

The findings of that audit were subsequently handed over to Bannock County Prosecuting Attorney Ian Johnson for evaluation and legal action.

“Because the matter is under review by the Prosecutor’s office, PVSC will not make comments on individuals, evidence, or potential legal proceedings,” PVSC President Mary Keller said in the release. “PVSC recognizes that all parties are entitled to due process and will not engage in further public discussion that could interfere with the investigative process.”

What Happens Next?

Stone’s formal arraignment is scheduled to take place on July 7, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. at the Bannock County Courthouse. If she’s found guilty, Stone faces up to 14 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5000.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As in all criminal cases, charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law.

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Curtis Jackson

ALPINE, Wyo. (KIFI) — A man escaped serious injuries after his truck rolled down an embankment and into the Snake River along U.S. Highway 89 on Monday.

According to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the driver was heading south in a Ford F-250 when he lost control, crossed into oncoming traffic, struck a car hauler semi, and crashed through a guardrail. The truck then rolled two to three times down the embankment before landing in the river.

Courtesy: WHP

Officials say the driver was wearing a seatbelt, which likely saved his life. He managed to get out of the vehicle before emergency crews arrived and suffered only minor scrapes and bruises.

Courtesy: WHP

The crash occurred near mile marker 124 on U.S. 89, causing traffic delays.

The driver was cited for failing to maintain his lane.

Courtesy: WHP

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE: The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reported that Jordin Elain Achord has been located and is safe. Deputies made contact with her in the Ammon area after receiving a tip from the community. No other details have been released.

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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bonneville County Sheriff is looking for 34-year-old Jordin Elain Achord who was reported missing by her family on June 28. The family has not heard from her since June 12th, but friends has last contact with her on June 20th in Idaho Falls.

Achord is described as having Hazel eyes and blond hair, 5’5” tall, and approximately 130 pounds. She may be traveling in a 2010 Black Ford Escape with Idaho License Plate 8BVC69U. 

If you have seen Jordin or know of her whereabouts, you’re asked to contact the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office at 208-529-1200.

Courtesy: Bonneville County Sheriff

Tips and information about this and other cases can also be made anonymously online through East Idaho Crime Stoppers at www.IFcrime.org or through the P3tips app on your mobile device. 

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News Team

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KIFI) — In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of Idaho’s and West Virginia’s laws allowing schools to maintain women’s and girls’ sports teams for biological females and determine eligibility based on biological sex.

Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that neither Title IX nor the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prevents schools from maintaining distinct teams for biological females, nor do they require legally mandated exceptions for transgender athletes.

The Court concludes that “separate sports teams for biological males and biological females are reasonable given the inherent physical differences between the sexes,” Kavanaugh wrote. “…In virtually all competitive sports, forcing female athletes to compete against males can undermine competitive fairness. …Allowing only biological females to play on women’s and girls’ teams can reduce the risk of physical injury and ensure fair competition.”

However, in her dissenting opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote, “The majority is wrong to suggest that the term ‘sex’ in Title IX “cannot plausibly be interpreted to refer to anything other than biological sex. Title IX makes room for individuals to live in the gender they choose; it cares not just about sex assigned at birth but also about individuals’ ability to match (or not) their gender presentation to their gender identity.”

The ruling hung its interpretation of Title IX on the historical context of the civil rights statute. The majority opinion stated that the term “sex” cannot plausibly be interpreted to refer to anything other than biological sex, adding that the ordinary meaning of the word at the time of enactment was not gender identity, particularly in the sports context.

The battle begins in Idaho

The lawsuit was filed after The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act passed the Idaho Legislature in 2000, requiring only biological women to participate in women’s and girls’ sports.

The law was sponsored by State Rep. Barbara Ehardt, (R)-Idaho Falls, a former collegiate basketball player and Division I coach.

Challenged by Lindsey Hecox, a transgender athlete who played soccer and tried out for Division I track and cross-country, the case Little v. Hecox advanced this year to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was combined with a similar lawsuit, West Virginia v. B.P.J.

In an exclusive interview with Local News 8, following the ruling, Ehardt said, “Title IX was upheld on a 9-0 vote. I think that’s important to note. It was a 6-3 dissent on basically how equal protections may be worked. But essentially this is going to allow the states and the 27 states who’ve decided to protect opportunities for girls and women to continue to do that – Idaho, of course, leading the way.”

The American Civil Liberties Union challenged her assertion.

“The decision we got today is a very disappointing result for transgender girls, who just want the same opportunities to participate in school sports that cisgender girls have at the same time. It’s a narrow, disappointing result,” said ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Projects Senior Counsel Joshua Block. “The folks that passed these laws in West Virginia and Idaho and other states across the country, pass these laws with the goal of pushing transgender girls and transgender people in general out of public life.”

Idaho leadership applauds High Court decision

Following the ruling, Idaho Governor Brad Little applauded the high court’s decision, calling it “a historic moment for common sense.”

“Idaho was the very first state to ban men from participating in women’s sports with the passage of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” said Little. “We are leading the nation in supporting generations of women and men who fought hard to uphold Title IX protections and keep girls and women safe.”

Governor Little went on to thank the Idaho Legislature and Representative Barbara Ehardt, who originally introduced Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act in 2020. He praised Ehardt “for her leadership on this issue of great importance to female athletes across Idaho and the nation.”

Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke echoed the governor’s sentiments, calling the decision a “resounding victory for fairness in women’s sports and for every young woman in Idaho.”

“The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act is about protecting the integrity of women’s athletics and ensuring that decades of progress under Title IX aren’t quietly undone,” said Bedke. “The Supreme Court has now made clear that states have not just the right, but the responsibility, to defend that principle. I’m proud that Idaho led the nation on this issue and I want to thank my former colleagues in the Legislature for their courage in passing this law while I was Speaker in 2020. Idaho will keep standing for women and girls in athletics.”

Attorney General Raúl Labrador, who requested that the U.S. Supreme Court review the case after taking office in January 2023, similarly welcomed the Supreme Court’s validation.

“Today’s decision is a victory for common sense, fairness, and the countless girls and women who dedicate themselves to athletics,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Idaho led the nation by becoming the first state to protect women’s sports, and I’ve never wavered in defending that law. The Supreme Court has now confirmed that states can preserve fair competition and protect the opportunities that generations of women fought to secure. Every parent can rest assured that our law protects their daughters competing in Idaho.”

Idaho’s transgender community reacts

Proponents for Idaho’s transgender community reacted to the ruling on social media.

“The Supreme Court acknowledged that transgender youth deserve dignity and respect. We believe dignity cannot exist alongside policies that exclude young people because of who they are,” Transgender Idaho wrote in a statement. “School sports are about far more than competition—they foster confidence, teamwork, leadership, and belonging. Excluding transgender youth from these opportunities does not protect children; it isolates them.”

They disputed the Supreme Court’s majority view that transgender females have an inherent advantage over biological women in sports.

“Research continues to show that athletic performance is complex and influenced by many factors. Transgender women who undergo gender-affirming hormone therapy experience significant reductions in testosterone, muscle mass, and strength, and there is no broad scientific consensus that all transgender women have an inherent advantage across every sport or level of competition,” the group stated. “It is also telling that these laws overwhelmingly target transgender women while largely ignoring transgender men. This reflects longstanding stereotypes about gender and reinforces harmful misconceptions about transgender women, despite evidence showing they are far more likely to experience harassment and violence than to pose a threat to others.”

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Max Gershon

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — A summer trip that started with an unexpected Instagram message turned into the experience of a lifetime for Rigby graduate Lauren Burnside.

The former Rigby High School basketball standout helped Team USA win a gold medal at an international tournament in Spain, representing not only the United States but also her hometown.

Burnside said she almost didn’t believe the opportunity was real when she first received the invitation.

“At first I was kind of like, ‘Is this even real?’ I had to look into it,” Burnside said. “But I love to travel, and being able to combine basketball and travel together… I just thought it was such a cool opportunity.”

The opportunity had come once before. Last year, Burnside had to turn it down because it conflicted with her local basketball season. When she received another invitation this spring, she decided she couldn’t pass it up.

As the only player from Idaho in the tournament, Burnside said wearing the USA jersey carried extra meaning.

“It was cool because I wasn’t just representing the U.S., I was also representing Idaho and my small town of Rigby,” she said. “I think that made it really personal to me.”

She also noticed the attention her PhD Hoops USA Team received throughout the tournament.

“It was interesting. People have kind of a love-hate relationship with the U.S. We’d play some teams and after the game they’d ask for pictures with us just because we were from the U.S. Even walking around in our USA jerseys people would look at us. It was really interesting to see how people reacted to where we were from.”

The experience wasn’t without challenges. Burnside said adjusting to Spain’s summer heat was one of the biggest obstacles.

“The second I stepped foot into our practice gym… the heat wave hit me,” she said. “I was like, this is definitely not what we’re used to. It was definitely a big adjustment.”

After dominating the early rounds of the tournament, Team USA found itself trailing by 15 points in the championship game. But Burnside said the team never lost confidence.

“We were down by like 15… after halftime we kind of switched gears,” she said. “The gym was so loud, and most of the teams were cheering against us. I think it was motivation because we were like, ‘We can’t let that happen.'”

Her squad completed the comeback to capture the gold medal.

“I think the medal and the trophy are just a physical emblem of what we accomplished,” Burnside said.

While the championship was the highlight of the trip, Burnside says the friendships and life lessons she gained may be even more valuable.

“The thing that we all connect through is basketball,” she said. “I made friendships that I’ll probably keep my whole life, and I think that really helped settle me going into college.”

Burnside will now begin the next chapter of her basketball career this fall as a freshman at Central Washington University, bringing with her international experience and a gold medal earned on the world stage.

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David Pace

MERIDIAN and IDAHO FALLS (KIFI) – The Idaho GOP is pushing for the elimination of all property taxes in the state.

Delegates at the State GOP Convention adopted the plank by approximately an 80 percent margin on June 19 in Meridian. 

“It’s now an official part of the Republican platform. The Idaho GOP calls for the elimination of property taxes,” said Brian Almon, a delegate at the convention and Legislative District 14 chairman.

Article I, Section II, Subsection C of the newly-adopted Idaho GOP platform states, “We believe Idaho’s tax structure should be predictable, fair and balanced. Property tax is an inherently unjust tax that converts privately owned property into government collateral and threatens homeownership. We support the elimination of property taxes in Idaho and their replacement with revenue sources that do not place a lien on a citizen’s home.”

The plank was proposed by Scott Herndon, a previously-elected State Senator from north Idaho who recently won a GOP primary to advance to November’s ballot.

The measure supports eliminating property taxes for both private residences and businesses.

Supporters and skeptics caution that the lost revenue would need to be made up with higher sales or income taxes to continue providing essential services.

Idaho schools rely on property taxes for more than $400 million in annual revenue, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission as reported by IdahoEdNews.

Each year, the City of Idaho Falls receives $35 to $40 million from property taxes, about 10 percent of the city budget.

“If they just want to get rid of themselves or property taxes and move on and not have any of those taxes, it would be devastating,” said Idaho Falls City Councilman John Radford. “We wouldn’t be able to have our police force. We wouldn’t be able to have our ambulances, and our parks and rec department would all be gone. Our general fund is how we get things, those essential services paid for and property taxes fund those things.”

Almon agreed the change would require major changes to Idaho’s taxing structure.

“The critics of eliminating property taxes worry that it would blow holes and budgets for cities and counties and schools,” Almon said. “… Property taxes are unique in that they’re local taxes. They’re the taxes that support your schools, counties, cities, fire departments, police departments, cemetery districts, library districts, etc. How those can be then shifted to the state level without losing the ability of citizens to weigh in on their local taxing districts’ budgets? I’m looking forward to seeing that debate.”

State Rep. Barbara Ehardt, (R)-Idaho Falls, sponsored legislation this year that would eliminate some property taxes, but not those on businesses or secondary residences. 

“My proposal is eliminating property tax for primary place of residence only,” Ehardt said. “It would cost the state the equivalent of $932 million. I just want to offset that. We could raise the sales tax from 6% to 7.75% to make up that difference.”

The bill has not advanced out of the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Bonneville County GOP Central Committee Chairman Michael Colson said the plank’s adoption will spark important discussions.

“This is something that helps start the conversation on an issue that is important to Idahoans that own their homes and are afraid of losing their homes,” he said.

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