Author: KIFI

Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — From a distance, you might assume it’s a giant potato—this is Idaho, after all. But upon closer inspection, the massive object parked on Broadway Monday wasn’t a spud, but a 26-foot-long peanut on wheels

The iconic Planters Nutmobile paid a visit to the Albertsons parking lot in Idaho Falls on Monday, drawing a crowd of curious locals and snack enthusiasts alike.

The Nutmobile isn’t just a rolling advertisement; it’s a mobile classroom and a full-time job for a select group of recent college graduates. These “Peanutters” sign on for a year-long cross-country tour, handing out samples and sharing the history of the uniquely American snack.

The full-time drivers of the giant legume are recent college grads who sign on to take the nut mobile on a cross-country tour, promoting Planters products along the way by giving out free samples and educating the public on the history of the uniquely American snack. 

“It’s something people aren’t expecting to see in their hometown,” said driver Adleigh Mayes. “In Idaho Falls, people see it and think it’s awesome. It’s a lot more special than just seeing a picture online.”

For more information on the Nutmobile’s next stop or to sign up as a driver, click HERE.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On July 17, 2024, Fred King was riding his motorcycle down Broadway when his life changed in an instant. An oncoming car struck King, destroying his bike and severing his leg. If it weren’t for Jake Allred, who had taken the Stop the Bleed classes, King may not be standing here today.

Allred was driving by when he witnessed the aftermath of the collision. While several bystanders rushed to help, Allred arrived with a specific set of skills. Years earlier, after witnessing another accident, he decided to enroll in Stop the Bleed, a national program that trains civilians to handle life-threatening trauma.

It turns out, the instructor who originally taught Allred how to save a life was Fred King’s own niece. That afternoon on Broadway, the lesson came full circle as Allred applied those skills to save his instructor’s uncle.

Uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death following a traumatic injury. While others tried to help King with makeshift tourniquets, Allred had exactly what was needed.

“They had a couple of makeshift tourniquets on Fred, but I had a professional one,” Allred recalled. “I was able to, without thinking, prep the tourniquet correctly. And help it get on…that’s because of the stop the bleeding classes that I’ve taken before.”

A tourniquet is a strap-like device that can go on arms and legs to prevent bleeding from wounds. Classes like Stop the Bleed teach their students how to use these properly.

Nearly two years after the accident that nearly took his life, Fred King is back on his motorcycle.

“I got a few that tell me, you got to give up riding them Harley’s. But should I have to?” Fred said. “You know, look what happened here. And I don’t think I can say is riding is part of my life, and I’m fortunate enough and, that big rider up in the sky said I’m going to give you another chance at this.”

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Saturday evening house fire that sent one resident to the hospital is now being investigated as a potential arson, according to the Madison Fire Department. The investigation comes as firefighters urge residents to remain vigilant about fire-related activities as local resources are being stretched thin by an unusually demanding spring season.

The fire broke out around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th, at a home along Rosewood Dr. in Rexburg, according to the Madison County Fire Department.

At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th, the Madison County Fire Department responded to an early evening structure fire at a home at 164 Rosewood Dr., in Rexburg. As they arrived on the scene, the fire crews found smoke pouring from the eaves of the home and heavy smoke inside.

The department says its crews immediately made their way inside the home to begin an offensive fire attack and found fire in four separate locations, both upstairs and downstairs. Responding in force, the department called three engines to the scene, where a team of 16 battled the blaze as officers from the Rexburg Police Department assisted.

While no firefighters were injured, one resident was transported to Madison Memorial Hospital. Their current condition has not been disclosed. Officials estimate the fire caused roughly $400,000 in damage.

In the wake of the fire, Madison Fire Department Battalion Chief David Ivey is urging the public to be “especially mindful.”

“This spring, Madison Fire Department has been especially busy, so we ask the public to beespecially mindful about fire-related activities, whether that’s controlled burns or recreationalfires,” said David Ivey, Battalion Chief of C Shift at Madison Fire Department.

The department stresses that fires of this magnitude require all on-duty personnel to respond; the department must then rely heavily on off-duty staff to cover additional emergency calls in the area. In light of the increased fire activity, the Madison Fire Department is actively seeking local community members to join its ranks.

“Madison Fire Department would like to take this opportunity to remind the community that we arealways looking for local community members to become certified and join our fire department,” stated the department in a news release.

For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A local man will spend more than a decade in federal prison after being convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, LSD, and Psilocybin mushrooms in eastern Idaho. U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Monday that Kacey Franklin James has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.

The sentence stems from the findings of a 2023 Idaho State Police investigation. In October 2023, the investigators executed a search warrant on James’ Pocatello home, where they found a cache of illegal substances, including;

2.5 pounds of methamphetamine

1.23 pounds of MDMA

7.53 grams of LSD

Psilocybin mushrooms and various other illicit substances

Along with the drugs, officers also recovered 14 firearms, including one reportedly stolen and two short barreled shotguns that were not properly registered to James.

In January, a jury found James guilty of three counts of Possession with Intent to distribute, two counts of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and one count of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense.

Monday, May 11, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill sentenced James to 192 months in federal prison, ordered him to pay a $500 fine, and imposed a five-year term of supervised release following his prison sentence.

In a news release, U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho State Police, along with the assistance of the BADGES Task Force, which led to the charges.

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Seth Ratliff

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Five Idaho men, including four from eastern Idaho, were sentenced to combined decades in prison last month on individual child exploitation charges.

The sentencings, handed down across multiple counties, bring an end to multiple investigations that began with “CyberTips” from tech platforms and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Key Sentencings and Case Details

The following individuals were sentenced in April 2026 for their roles in the possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM):

Defendant
County
Total Sentence
Fixed Time

Zachary Gilbert, 40
Bannock
70 Years
30 Years

Nathan Selig, 43
Bonneville
30 Years
5 Years

Benjamin Roach, 28
Bonneville
18 Years
3 Years

Jason Malone, 39
Bannock
10 Years
2 Years

James Mansfield, 65
Oneida
10 Years
2 Years

Zachary Gilbert

Zachary Gilbert, Courtesy Bannock County Jail

The most severe sentence was handed to Zachary Gilbert, a repeat offender who, according to the AG’s office, was already on probation for a 2003 rape conviction.

The sentence stems from a CyberTip sent to the ICAC Unit in 2024, indicating that Gilbert had downloaded child pornography from an online platform. At the time of his arrest, Gilbert was prohibited from accessing the internet under the conditions of his parole.

Despite a ban on internet access, investigators found Gilbert used a neighbor’s Wi-Fi and fake email accounts to download CSAM. On April 27th, Judge Rick Carnaroli sentenced him to 70 years after Gilbert pleaded guilty to 11 felony counts. He will also be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Idaho law.

Jason Malone

Jason Malone, Courtesy Bannock County Jail

Malone was apprehended during a June 2024 traffic stop after investigators linked him to a Google account under a fake name that had uploaded 8 images containing child pornography, according to court documents. The documents indicate he later admitted to viewing the material up to 20 times.

He was originally charged with 8 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child by Possession of Sexually Exploitative Material (Child Pornography). In February, he pleaded guilty to 2 counts in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

District Judge Robert C. Naftz sentenced Malone to a total unified sentence of 10 years, with two years fixed and eight years indeterminate. He will also be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Idaho law.

Nathan Selig

Nathan Selgi, Courtesy Bonneville County Jail

In August 2025, Selig was arrested after investigators recieved a CyberTip from Microsoft Bing, flagging an image Selig had uploaded for containing child pornography. The investigators discovered later six videos of explicit content hidden in desktop folders on Selig’s computer. After pleading guilty to three counts of possession, Judge Brendon Taylor sentenced Selig to 30 years.

Benjamin Roach

Benjamin Roach, Courtesy Bonneville County Jail

According to court documents, Roach was flagged by eight separate CyberTips from various electronic service providers for uploading and sharing videos containing child pornography between 2024 and 2025. While originally facing 21 counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child by Possession of Sexually Exploitative Material, Roach pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution. Judge Whyte sentenced him to 18 years in prison. He will also be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Idaho law.

James Mansfield

In Oneida County, 65-year-old James Mansfield was sentenced by Judge Cody L. Brower to 10 years in prison. The Attorney General’s Office reported that investigators uncovered approximately 1,300 images of CSAM stored on Mansfield’s cloud account. Upon his release, he will also be required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Idaho law.

AG Labrador Touts ‘Relentless Work’

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador touted the sentencings as a major victory for the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit in “protecting Idaho families from child predators.”

“These sentences reflect the relentless work of our investigators, prosecutors, and the growing network of law enforcement partners across Idaho who share the goal of protecting kids from those who would exploit them,” Labrador said in a statement.

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Seth Ratliff

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding a runaway juvenile, 16-year-old Stetson Reeves, who has been missing for two days.

Reeves was last seen on May 9, 2026, at around 2:30 p.m in Sugar City. He was wearing camouflage pants, an unknown-colored shirt, and sunglasses.

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, please contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 208-372-5001.

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Danielle Mullenix

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — Big changes are coming to a major intersection in Island Park. Installation of the area’s first traffic signal is underway at the intersection of U.S. 20 and Yale-Kilgore Road, America’s longest main street.

Crews were given the green light Monday to begin installing the new light, a project designed to improve safety and keep traffic moving in the area.

The traffic signal marks a significant change for Island Park, coming after years of public input and traffic data highlighted the need for safety upgrades. The Idaho Transportation Department expects the installation to take about two weeks, with the majority of the work occurring off the roadway. However, drivers should anticipate periodic lane reductions and short traffic stops as the lights are being installed.

For more information on the project and long-term planning for the US-20 Island Park corridor from Ashton to the junction of State Highway 87, click HERE.

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Maile Sipraseuth

CUSTER COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A hiker is recovering after being caught in an avalanche near Mount Borah on Sunday, May 10th. The injured individual was rescued and airlifted to a hospital for immediate medical care.

The Custer County Sheriff’s Office received a call just before 2:45 p.m. regarding an injured hiker in the area. Search and rescue crews responded after learning the hiker had been caught in an avalanche and suffered multiple injuries.

The Idaho National Guard’s Talon 96 helicopter team performed a hoist rescue to reach the hiker. Crews were able to airlift the person to an ambulance waiting in Mackay for medical care. Life Flight Network then transported the hiker to a hospital for further treatment.

The Sheriff’s Office is now reminding people heading into the backcountry this season to be prepared.

“As the recreation season goes in to full swing, we would like to remind everyone to be prepared, travel in groups and carry a device such as a Garmin to help notify us in case things go wrong,” stated CCSO in a Facebook post.

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Maile Sipraseuth

CUSTER COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State University community is mourning Scott Robbins, a student and Meridian native, who lost his life in a kayaking accident earlier this month.

According to the Custer County Sheriff’s Office, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Robbins became trapped under logs while kayaking with a group of friends on Marsh Creek.

RELATED: Kayaker dies after becoming trapped in Marsh Creek

Despite the rapid response of his group, who worked to recover him and perform CPR, and the efforts of emergency responders, Robbins was unable to be revived.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Robbins had worked as a lead guide for Adventure Idaho Rafting in the summer of 2025. The company described him in an Instagram post as one of its biggest personalities.

Scott Robbins, Courtesy Adventure Idaho via Instagram

“If you knew Scott, you probably heard him before you saw him. He was the guy sprinting toward the camera, yelling something ridiculous through a megaphone, turning strangers into friends, and making every trip more alive,” states the post.

His former coworkers also expressed their grief through the post, saying, “Our hearts are with Jeff, Stephanie, and the entire Robbins family. Thank you for raising such an extraordinary son.”

While at school, Robbins studied Finance and Marketing. Fellow students at the university described him as a “kind, well-loved friend and peer” who loved the outdoors.

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KIVI Staff

By: Allie Triepke

Originally Posted 9:04 PM, May 09, 2026

NAMPA, Idaho — Kaylee Jade Dahlia Day, held at Franz Witte, highlighted a newly bred flower created in Goncalves’ memory while raising funds and awareness for the Kaylee Goncalves Foundation, also known as ‘Murder Has a Name.’

The flower features bright pink and purple tones and was developed by Oregon dahlia hybridizer Rosie Cooper-Vert.

“I felt it in my heart, and I knew it was going to be a beautiful day,” said Kristi Goncalves, Kaylee’s mother.

Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle were killed in the 2022 University of Idaho murders in Moscow. Since then, the Goncalves family has become vocal advocates for victims and their families.

The foundation aims to help families find answers in violent crime cases by helping fund DNA testing and other forensic resources when law enforcement agencies may not have the financial means available.

“Murder is not a friendly word. Murder is a hard word to talk about,” Kristi Goncalves said. “But that’s the truth, and that’s how we got here, Kaylee being murdered.”

She said the family hopes donations will help provide answers to others waiting for progress in investigations.

“Every penny donated is going to that cause, to help family after family after family find answers,” Goncalves said. “Not having those answers for seven weeks was far too long. I can’t imagine how families feel when they’ve waited years.”

The Goncalves family said Saturday’s event also served as a reminder of the support surrounding their mission.

“This is what community looks like,” Steve Goncalves said. “People planned all this, organized this, and worked on signs and artwork.”

RELATED | ‘Everlasting hug’: Community creates quilt in memory of Kaylee Goncalves

Cooper-Vert said all proceeds from Kaylee Jade Dahlia sales are being donated directly to the foundation.

“Over 200 were sold over the winter, so Kaylee Jade will be seeing sunrises and sunsets all over the nation,” Cooper-Vert said. “It’s pretty amazing to think that she might be in places she dreamed to be.”

For more information and ways to donate, check out the Kaylee Goncalves Foundation.

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