Category: kifi-local-news

Devin Bodkin

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 3, 2026

By Devin Bodkin, IdahoEdNews

POCATELLO, Idaho — Turns out the key to discovering a new type of dinosaur might be a weird toe in an Idaho museum. 

Or a skull in Switzerland. 

Idaho State University paleontologists are examining whether these and other fossils represent one or more previously unidentified dinosaur species. They’ve laid their research out in a new study that has scientists rethinking long-confusing plant-eating Jurassic dinosaurs known as ornithopods. 

It’s a possible breakthrough for dinosaur enthusiasts — and a lifelong ambition for ISU geosciences professor L.J. Krumenacker, who co-authored the study.  

“Naming a new dinosaur is a childhood dream for me,” Krumenacker told EdNews.

ISU professor L.J. Krumenacker holds bones that might help identify a new dinosaur species. (Courtesy of Idaho State University)

Playing detective: A tell-tale toe bone

Paleontologists are basically detectives, but their suspects have been dead for 150 million years. They piece together Earth’s history from scattered leftovers. 

Those leftovers can spark a hunch — but naming a new dinosaur demands evidence.

At least that’s how it’s played out for Krumenacker, who has long questioned a toe bone at ISU’s Museum of Natural History. 

The bone has been attributed to the plant-eating, beaked ornithopod Camptosaurus after its discovery in a Wyoming quarry. Camptosaurus lived during the late Jurassic period in western North America and possibly Europe.

But something about the toe bone in the museum … stuck out to Krumenacker. 

It’s long and skinny, not the typical short, stout Camptosaurus toe bone. And it’s grooved on one side. 

Ornithopod bones like these could be the key to a new type of dinosaur, researchers say. (Courtesy of Idaho State University)

This might be the toe of a different dinosaur, Krumenacker thought. 

Another bone at the museum, part of a skull, also prompted questioning with a pointy part that sticks backward. 

Discovery is exciting, but science moves carefully. Bones can be tricky to identify. They vary with age and sex. Plus, “misidentification” is a dirty word among paleontologists. It can reset research and require course corrections.

Krumenacker had his hunch, but he needed to examine more bones. 

Meeting Arky: A trip to Switzerland

The good news: More ornithopod dinosaur bones exist from the Wyoming quarry where the toe bone appeared.  

The challenge: They’re some 5,300 miles away, in Zurich, Switzerland. 

So Krumenacker did what any species-hunting paleontologist would: He booked a flight to examine a skull and skeleton scientists have dubbed Arky.   

Arky’s features differ from similar ornithopods like Camptosaurus, including skull shapes scientists haven’t seen before.

These findings are important because when scientists try to discover a new dinosaur species, they look for bones shaped differently from those of known dinosaurs.

The comparison suggested the bones might belong to a different animal. 

Krumenacker is confident they are unique. He envisions a dinosaur similar to plant eaters like Dryosaurus and Camptosaurus that would have walked on two legs, ate plants and lived during the Late Jurassic period.

He pointed to a computer sketch he created of what the dinosaur might have looked like. 

Krumenacker’s rendering of what a new dinosaur species might look like. (Courtesy of L.J. Krumenacker)

What’s next? 

TThe findings support a possible discovery, but more research is needed.

One weird bone isn’t enough to prove it’s a new species. Researchers must:

Study Arky’s skull more closely

Remove repaired parts of the fossil

Take 3D scans

Compare Arky to other dinosaur skeletons

Arky was only recently donated to the Natural History Museum of the University of Zurich, where deeper examination is possible. Krumenacker plans to return to Zurich to study the skeleton more closely and confirm if he and others have found a new species.

Time — and examination — will tell, but Krumenacker stressed the special nature of the opportunity to contribute to human knowledge and introduce something new.

Robert Gay, a study co-author and education manager at the Idaho Museum of Natural History, says a discovery would shine a brighter light on a confusing corner of paleontology — and a focus area of a couple of Idaho State researchers.

“The smaller plant-eating dinosaurs from this time in North America have confused scientists for nearly 200 years,” said Gay, adding that the researchers’ fossils are “frustratingly fragmentary” but show that there’s much more to learn.  

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David Pace

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with a revised quote from Rep. Jerald Raymond, at the lawmaker’s request.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Senate passed a bill today that could jeopardize the future of Harriman State Park, according to the nonprofit organization Friends of Harriman State Park.

“In 1977, our family gave the ‘Railroad Ranch,’ now Harriman State Park, including over 11,000 acres of pristine wild lands to the people of Idaho. The family did so on the condition that the property would be managed by personnel chosen on the basis of merit, not politics,” said Averell Harriman Fisk, grandson of Averell Harriman, in a statement.

The Idaho Senate voted 21 to 14 Monday to pass Senate Bill 1300 that would require the directors of the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Transportation Department to be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation.

“The gift is currently under threat by a bill pending in the Idaho Legislature. For years, Harriman State Park has been enjoyed by our family and millions of visitors,” Harriman continued. “It must be protected from political whims. It must be protected for the people of Idaho.”

The bill would break the agreement that Idaho made with the Harriman family when they gave their Railroad Ranch to the state nearly 50 years ago, said Rep. Jerald Raymond, whose district includes both Harriman and Island Park.

“The Senate journals are very clear that the director was not to be a political appointee,” Raymond said.

According to Friends of Harriman State Park Board Chair Charlie Lansche, if the agreement is breached, it puts the park at risk.

“If that happens, the land could revert back to the family. If that happens, you know, Idaho, the people of Idaho lose 11,000 acres of pristine park in the greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and that’s a huge chunk of public land to see privatized,” Lansche said. “There’s no guarantee that that would actually happen. There would no doubt be litigation that would be very costly for the state to defend.”

The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation was created with the formation of Harriman State Park, and since that time, the director has been appointed by a bipartisan commission based on qualifications and experience.

“They wanted to keep politics out of the professional management of Harriman Ranch State Park,” said Charlie Lansche, Board Chair, Friends of Harriman State Park. “… and this has worked really well for a long time.”

Senate Bill 1300 originated in the Senate State Affairs Committee and is sponsored by Senator Doug Okuniewicz, R- Hayden. Local News 8 reached out multiple times to Senator Okuniewicz to learn about his position and reasons for promoting the bill, but we did not receive a response prior to publication.

Eastern Idaho legislator Sen. Mark Harris joined the majority, voting in favor of the bill. Senators Van Burtenshaw, Kevin Cook, Dave Lent, Doug Ricks, James Ruchti, and Julie VanOrden voted against it.

“The state of Idaho can’t afford to lose that as a state park,” ” Raymond said. “It would just be devastating to us.”

Currently, 250,000 people visit the park each year, said Friends of Harriman State Park Vice President Mary Noonan.

“I can’t even imagine the number of kids that have caught their first fish here, seen their first elk, families that have had reunions here – its magic is indescribable,” she added. “And, you know, my dad used to always say, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’”

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Middle East stands at a historic crossroads following a series of massive U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday. The strikes, which claimed the life of Iran’s Supreme Leader and many of Iran’s top leaders. It left a sudden power vacuum in a nation that has been under the strict control of the Islamic Republic for 47 years.

While the world waits with bated breath to see who will fill that void, members of Idaho’s Iranian community are grappling with a complex mix of celebration, relief, fear, and uncertainty.

For nearly five decades, the U.S. Department of State has labeled the Islamic Republic the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Yet, even with the regime’s top leadership gone, many members of Idaho’s small Iranian community tell Local News 8 they are still too terrified to speak on camera, fearing retaliation against family members still living in the region.

Maxidahome Real-estate group CFO and former Boise Mayoral Candidate, Max Mohammadi, grew up in Iran, but has lived in Idaho for decades. Mohammadi says this is a bittersweet moment, and he is grappling with his Iranian upbringing and what’s best for his Idaho community.

“It’s such a confusion and such a confused state of mind, if you will, as I’m trying to decipher where and how I align myself,” said Mohammadi. “On the one hand, I like to see what has happened. I do like what has happened. People here in our community congratulated each other. But at the same time, I’m a creature of peace, and I don’t like to compromise my principles about where I stand.”

While the future is unclear, others in the Gem State view the military escalation with skepticism. At the College of Western Idaho, student Joscalynne Whipkey questions the timing of the intervention.

“I think it is a way to distract from Trump’s involvement in obscene files as well as a way, because he’s seen his ratings and he’s seen how bad he’s doing it with Americans,” argues College of Western Idaho student Joscalynne Whipkey. “

As the dust settles in Tehran, the global community remains on edge. The next few days will be critical in determining what comes next for Iran.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Gas prices in Idaho are on the rise, and while increases are typical this time of year, experts say tensions involving Iran are adding extra pressure to the market. Analysts warn prices could climb past the three-dollar mark in the coming days as global oil markets react to growing instability overseas.

Oil prices recently moved higher after concerns grew that conflict in the Middle East could slow or block shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for crude oil coming out of Iran. The strait is one of the most important oil transit chokepoints in the world.

Short term, Matthew Conde with AAA Idaho says drivers could see prices rise five to ten cents per day.

While gas prices typically trend upward in the spring due to increased travel demand and the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, Conde says the situation involving Iran has accelerated that seasonal climb.

“When there is a shortage anywhere in the world, we’re also interconnected that it’s only a matter of time before it affects the global market. And so there may be a peak for a while. If things resolve fairly quickly, then it may it may be short lived. But regardless of that, the overall trend heading into the spring is that upward trend,” Conde said.

The silver lining for Idaho drivers is that some of the geopolitical risk had already been factored into oil prices, helping prevent what could have been a sharper spike. Gas in Idaho is still about 20 cents cheaper than it was this time last year and the state currently ranks #14 most expensive fuel markets in the country.

Experts say seasonal demand combined with global uncertainty means drivers should be prepared for prices to continue climbing in the weeks ahead.

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Seth Ratliff

CALDWELL, Idaho (KIFI) — A 60-year-old Caldwell woman will spend the next 15 years in prison for trafficking Meth in southern Idaho.

Kimberly Lee Freeman received the 180-month sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford, followed by a court-ordered three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.

The sentencing stems from a series of drug sales from 2023 to 2025. According to court records, Freeman sold 192 grams of methamphetamine to an individual for $1,200 on December 27, 2023. Nearly a year later, on November 18, 2024, she sold an additional 226 grams of the drug to the same person in exchange for $1,300.

On January 27, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Freeman’s home. Upon her arrest, Freeman admitted to investigators that several ounces of methamphetamine were hidden inside her purse. A subsequent search of the bag uncovered 190 grams of the drug.

In a news release, U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the City-County Narcotics Unit (comprised of the Caldwell Police Department and Canyon County Sheriff’s Office), the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Idaho State Police, which led to the charges.

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KIVI Staff

By: KIVI Staff

Originally Posted 11:07 AM, Mar 02, 2026

LATAH COUNTY, Idaho — On Friday, Feb. 27, a federal jury decided that a TikTok influencer is liable for $10 million in damages after the defendant wrongfully accused a University of Idaho professor of being involved in the 2022 Moscow murders.

During its deliberation, the jury concluded that Ashley Guillard made “false statements” that Department Chair and Associate Professor of History, Rebecca Scofield, “orchestrated the murder of four students at the University of Idaho” and “had an inappropriate romantic relationship with a student.”

According to court records, Guillard used TikTok tarot card readings to falsely accuse Scofield of being involved in the killings and further alleged that the professor had an inappropriate relationship with a student. Those claims spread widely online and drew millions of views.

A federal judge previously ruled those videos were defamatory but left the question of damages up to a jury. Ultimately, the jury awarded $3.5 million in damages for the false statements about an inappropriate relationship with a student and $6.5 million for the allegations related to the murders of four University of Idaho students.

In a statement, Scofield responded to the jury’s verdict by saying, “I want to thank the jury for their time and attention to this case. The judge had already ruled as a matter of law that the statements were false. The $10 million verdict reinforces the judge’s decision and sends the clear message that false statements online have consequences in the real world for real people and are unacceptable in our community. The murders of the four students on November 13, 2022, was the darkest chapter in our university’s history. Today’s decision shows that respect and care should always be granted to victims during these tragedies. I am hopeful that this difficult chapter in my life is over and I can return to a more normal life with my family and the wonderful Moscow community.”

Judge for the United States District Court for the District of Idaho, Raymond E. Patricco, presided over the case. The defendant, Ashley Guillard, represented herself throughout the proceedings.

ALSO READ | Court orders Bryan Kohberger to pay $3,000 to Idaho murder victims’ families

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — If you’re thinking about running for local office, today’s the day. The filing period for candidates running for county or local offices in Idaho is now underway.

Candidates have until March 13th at 5 p.m. To get their names on the May 19th ballot. State and federal candidates, though, are already locked in, and the race for governor is now taking shape.

Idaho Governor Brad Little will be facing several challengers in May’s Republican primary election:

Office

Governor
Mark Fitzpatrick (Republican)Justin R. Plante (Republican)Sean Calvert Crystal (Republican)Ethan Giles (Republican)Lisa Marie (Republican)Daniel C. Fowler (Republican)Ron James (Republican)Terri Pickens (Democrat)Maxine Durand (Democrat)Chanelle Torrez (Democrat)Jill C. Kirkham (Democrat)Melissa-Sue Robinson (Libertarian)Paul Sand (Libertarian)Pro-Life (Constitution)John R. Stegner (Independent)

For a full list of the Federal and State Candidates, click HERE.

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Bailee Shaw

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Falls couple is stranded in Dubai during a service trip after Iranian retaliatory strikes paralyzed air travel across the Middle East. The regional instability follows major attacks by the United States and Israeli forces that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Devere and Toni Hunt arrived in Dubai on February 26th, after a tour and service trip to India. They planned to spend a few days in Abu Dhabi before heading home. However, the atmosphere shifted instantly on Saturday while they were visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Courtesy: Devere and Toni Hunt

The Hunts describe hearing several loud booms, and within minutes, their phones lit up with emergency alerts.

As Iranian forces targeted major hubs like Dubai for hosting U.S. Military Bases, flights across the region were disrupted, with nearly 2,000 flights canceled throughout the region, according to the Associated Press.

Speaking from their hotel, the Hunts described a city on edge.

“I don’t think we’ve gone more than just a few hours without some type of incoming missile or Patriot response,” said Devere Hunt. “We’ve heard constantly the booms, we’ve seen some of the debris falling.”

Courtesy: Devere and Toni Hunt

For now, the couple is playing a waiting game, repeatedly booking and adjusting flights as the situation evolves. Despite the chaos, the Hunts praised the local hospitality and persistence in the face of uncertainty.

“In the meantime, we’ve just been told to shelter in place,” said Toni Hunt. “The hotel staff has been so nice and has taken care of us so well. We feel safe. I mean, it’s just unsettling to hear the booms and know what they are.”

U.S. citizens affected by the situation are encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which allows the Department of State to contact citizens in case of emergency.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The hiring cycle for the Idaho Falls Police Department has officially started. IFPD is encouraging individuals who have never served as police officers to apply for its entry-level Police Officer positions.

The department says these positions are continuously open and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

New officer test prep will be on April 11, at 8 a.m. at the Idaho Falls Police Complex, and new officer testing will be on April 25.

Those interested in serving the Idaho Falls community are encouraged to begin the application process early to ensure they meet all requirements ahead of testing dates.

To be eligible, candidates must present the following requirements:

1.  United States citizenship (this is a POST Certification requirement).2.  21 years of age by date of hire.3.  High School Diploma or GED equivalent (copy of transcripts required).4.  A valid driver’s license.5.  The ability to successfully complete all testing requirements.6.  Good written and oral communication skills.7.  The ability to function on a day-to-day basis with limited supervision.8.  Certified by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards Training (POST) Council within one year of employment.9.  Successful candidates must pass a thorough background investigation.10.  Successful candidates must pass medical, polygraph and psychological examinations (after a contingent offer of employment).

Click HERE for more information.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — If your daily commute includes Grizzly Avenue, you may want to adjust your travel plans for the next week. Starting today, March 2nd, Idaho Falls Public Works crews are beginning a culvert replacement project at the Battle Creek Canal, which is set to affect traffic throughout the week.

From Monday through Wednesday, drivers can expect only minor lane closures with limited impact on travel times.

However, on Thursday at 6:30 a.m. Grizzly Avenue will be completely closed to all through traffic between Claredot Drive and the Skyline High School parking lot entrance. The closure will allow teams to excavate the roadway and install a new culvert pipe, designed to channel water beneath the asphalt.

Idaho Falls Public Works expects the road to remain closed until Friday afternoon. During this time, motorists will be detoured around the area using Skyline Drive and West 17th Street. While detour signage will be posted throughout the area, Pancheri Drive will remain fully open, and residents will be able to access their homes via Claredot Drive.

Public Works urges drivers to plan ahead, allow for extra travel time, and exercise caution when navigating near construction equipment. For more information about the project, contact the City of Idaho Falls Street Division at (208) 612-8490.

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