Category: kifi-local-news

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Women athletes and students gathered tonight at Reed Gym on the Idaho State University Campus to play games and enjoy freebies and smoothies. The event was a collaboration between students and ISU Recreation and Wellness.

Laney Forsmann is a graduate student at ISU in the Human Performances and Sports Studies program and a graduate teaching assistant who organized this event for the ISU womens’ community. She says events like these are essential to helping female students feel a sense of belonging in the gym.

“I want to create a community for us here where we feel heard,” she said. “And we can just embrace each other in leadership positions.”

This event comes just days after the women of Team USA brought home an outstanding six gold medals in the Winter Olympics. Forsmann says role models like the women Olympians are also essential for women in sports.

“We can do anything that men can, and I just think that every once in a while we need a voice or we need one person to step up and take that role,” Forsmann said. “It’s so inspiring to see other girls do these big things because you feel inspired to do the same when you see that.”

One of the most exciting parts of the event was the opportunity for students to blend their own smoothie, while biking! Campus dining provided recipes for attendees to follow which were then blended using pedaling power.

Forsmann is part of a special group of female students working towards an inspiring community for women athletes. Tonight’s event capped off the February events put on by groups at ISU for women at the university. However, ISU Recreation and Wellness has fitness classes every week ranging from yoga to rock climbing.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — For Paralympic gold medalist Hunter Woodhall and Olympic champion Tara Davis-Woodhall, the Simplot Games changed their life when the two first met as high school athletes, sparking a marriage that would lead them to international fame.

This past weekend, the couple returned to their roots to mentor a new generation. While they came to inspire hundreds of high schoolers, the weekend’s most enduring moment involved a 5-year-old boy named Joel.

Joel, a spirited youngster who shares Woodhall’s journey as a double amputee, arrived at the track with a singular mission: to meet his hero. Born without shin bones or bones in his feet, Joel underwent a double amputation to gain mobility. On Saturday, he stood in the stands sporting a new pair of prosthetic running legs.

“When we saw him immediately, it was just so overwhelming,” Woodhall said.

Recognizing a kindred spirit, Woodhall brought Joel down from the stands to the track. The introduction quickly escalated when officials announced a 30-minute break in the scheduled races. Seizing the opportunity, Woodhall challenged the 5-year-old to a spontaneous dash.

In a move that brought the arena to a standstill, the Paralympic champion and the preschooler lined up. As the crowd cheered, Joel sprinted ahead, crossing the finish line first to officially “beat” the fastest man in the Paralympic world.

For Woodhall, the loss was his most meaningful second-place finish. He praised the boy’s “courage, grit, and excitement for life,” noting that the encounter was just as inspiring for the mentors as it was for the youth.

As the Woodhalls left the arena where their own story began, they left behind more than just advice for high school athletes. They left a young boy with the unwavering belief that he belongs in the fast lane.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— February is Career and Technical Education Month, a nationwide celebration highlighting the power of hands-on learning to prepare students for high-wage, high-skill and in-demand careers.

At College of Eastern Idaho, more than 20 CTE programs are helping students gain practical experience while meeting the workforce needs of eastern Idaho.

“It really kind of builds off of some of the academics. But really, what makes it unique is that it is applied hands on learning,” said Matthew Taylor, dean of Health Sciences.

According to ACTE, 71% of Idaho technical college completers obtained employment related to their CTE training.

“When you really look at both local and national trends, they’re both pretty similar,” Taylor said. “And what people want, meaning both students and employers, is they want job-ready applicants. So a student wants to go through a training that gives them the skills, ability and knowledge to go into the job field. And employers want to hire people who are prepared in that way. And so really, CTE programs are well positioned and they’re designed to deliver those things.”

CEI offers programs across trades, technology, healthcare, and business: Automotive Technology, Heavy-Duty Diesel, Welding Technology, Energy Systems Technology, Mechatronics, Cybersecurity, Information Technology Services, Business Management, Legal Studies & Paralegal, Digital Media Specialist, and a wide range of healthcare pathways. CEI’s new Dental Hygiene program is also scheduled to begin enrolling students for Fall 2026.

Their most enrolled program is their nursing program.

“Health sciences and healthcare fields are always going to have really high enrollment,” Taylor said. “Our nursing program is continuously full and at capacity. Students really like that, and other fields such as welding or the auto tech programs are also seeing a lot of demand.”

For more information on their programs, visit https://www.cei.edu/academic-programs.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– A group of local barbers are cutting more than just hair; they are snipping off some of the burden that comes with being a new parent. Oley’s Barber Shop in Idaho Falls is offering haircuts in exchange for donations to the Nest Pregnancy Care Center. The Nest offers programs like one-on-one education, prenatal care, life skills, and more.

From being raised by a single moms, or having been a single fathers themselves, the group of barbers says they have first-hand experience in the challenges parents face. They are hosting a free haircut event where people can do a little good, feel pretty good, and leave looking good too.

“As someone who’s a younger parent myself, and was raised by a single parent who was my mom..I just know the struggles, and know what everyone’s kind of up against that way,” said Cole Tremelling, Barber at Oley’s Barbershop. “And the smallest little bit can help. So, if all I can do is provide a haircut and, you know, it’s going to fold or go tenfold towards somebody or ten other people in the community. All because I did one haircut, then that’s the least I can do.”

The event is this Saturday, February 28th, from 10 A.M to 6 P.M. at Oley’s Barbershop on 366 N. Holmes Avenue in Idaho Falls.

Donations as low as a dollar will be accepted in exchange for a haircut. Oley’s will also be accepting diaper donations.  If you come in and make a donation but don’t have time to get your haircut, they will give you a voucher to come back at a later date. For more details on the event, visit https://www.oleysbarbers.com/ or check out their Facebook post below.

Address: 366 N Holmes Ave, Idaho Falls, ID 83401

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Republican leaders in Wyoming and Idaho praised President Trump’s 2026 State Of The Union address praising the administrations first-year achievments on economy, securing the southern border, and providing relief for working families.

“Under Republican leadership, Idahoans have more opportunity, more freedom, and more money in their pockets,” said U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho). “In 2025 alone, we secured the border, delivered record tax relief for working families, killed the Lava Ridge project, and reined in the wasteful federal spending that fueled inflation.”

Rep. Mike Simpson praised the administration’s leadership after four years of previous policy failures. Simpson highlighted the enactment of what he called the largest tax cut in American history and the introduction of “Trump Accounts,” a new investment program for American children.

“We now have the most secure border in American history, regulatory reform, and our servicemembers and veterans are being taken care of,” Simpson said. “Crime is plummeting, inflation is down, and we’re no longer reliant on countries that hate us.”

In Wyoming, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said, “Republicans promised safety and prosperity for our nation, and we’ve delivered. The border is now secure. Gasoline prices are at a five-year low. Jobs are coming back to America. Wages are up. Things are more affordable.”

Barrasso shared a story of meeting Wyoming sailors on a Navy destroyer near Iran who told him the administration’s policies had saved their fathers’ jobs in the coal and power plant industries back home.

“Tax returns are going to be even higher for this year than they were last year as a result of the Working Families Tax Cuts law,” Barrasso added. “That’s what it means to make America safer and more prosperous.”

Looking ahead Idaho Senator Jim Risch noted the victories the White House has produced in the past year but also added “Our work is not over. I am committed to achieving even more for Idaho in the year ahead by partnering with my Senate colleagues to lower costs, ensure election integrity, and unleash American nuclear energy.”

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea issued a response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Wednesday, accusing the administration of neglecting working families while criticizing Gov. Brad Little for “banking on” the president’s momentum to launch his own reelection campaign.

“Trump had nearly two hours on that stage and offered nothing that would lower rent, cut premiums, or bring prices down, because he doesn’t want to. He wants noise. He wants distractions,” Necochea said.

The chair also connected the national address to Little’s reelection announcement, which coincided with the speech.

“As Trump ranted in Washington,” said Necochea, “Brad Little tried to ride the moment by launching his reelection bid. He is banking on Trump because he cannot defend a record of giveaways for insiders and budget failures that force cuts, threaten public safety, and make life harder and more expensive for Idaho families.”

The Idaho Democratic Party criticized the President over “the ditch” Trump has driven the economy into, citing rising household costs, which include groceries and utility bills. Safety concerns criticizing the “Republican Big Ugly Bill” for increasing ICE’s budget while allegedly taking $1 trillion from working people.

She further accused the administration of “reckless decisions,” ranging from attempts to privatize Social Security to foreign policy moves such as attempting to take control of Greenland.

Necochea concluded her statement by breaking down what Democrats will be focused on this coming election season.

“We will lower costs, protect Medicaid and Social Security, and stop the cuts that threaten essential services and public safety. Republicans are fighting for Trump. Democrats are fighting for Idaho, and we’re ready to win this November,” she said.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 29-year-old Idaho Falls man is facing serious felony charges after he led sheriff’s deputies in a foot chase during an attempted traffic stop.

On Feb. 24, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryker Thomas Masson on multiple Felony Warrants for Probation Violations, stemming from previous drug-related charges.

Around 4:45 pm, a deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle Masson was riding in near Broadway and Skyline Drive after recognizing him. Masson fled the vehicle from the passenger side and ran on foot to a nearby alleyway.

Deputies caught up to him when he stopped running. During the chase, officers recovered needles believed to be drug paraphernalia and other items Masson had discarded.

A deputy involved in the initial stop lost his footing while chasing Masson and fell on a concrete curb, breaking his arm. An Idaho Falls ambulance responded to the scene, and the deputy was transported to a hospital for treatment.

Masson was booked on the two outstanding felony warrants and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

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Emma Epperly

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on February 25, 2026

By: Emma Epperly

Newly released grade-level reading test scores show some hiccups in the rollout of Idaho’s new reading test given to students in grades K-3.

School districts across Idaho are figuring out what works best for testing young students, from headphones to the number of test takers at a time, to what device kids use.

In Boundary County, only 11% of kindergartners scored reading at or above grade-level this fall, the lowest in the state.

That’s due in part to the protective cases on iPads that prevented the testing software from accurately capturing voices,  said Andrea Fuentes, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment at the district.

Scores improved when the district switched students to touchscreen Chromebooks.

The new Idaho Reading Indicator, was given for the first time in October.

The test was redesigned after Istation, the previous test provider, merged with Amira. The old test was multiple choice, while on the new test students read a passage off of a device, which then records and analyzes their response with an AI algorithm.

Idaho Ed News reached out to school districts with variances in proficiency to see if they ran into issues implementing the test. The issues they reported largely had to do with how to administer the test.

“I would say that the rollout was not very smooth for most districts,” said Susan Luke, administrator at Compass Charter.

Still, the Idaho Department of Education says it is confident the scores are an accurate measure of proficiency for most students.

“We have compared them to other school years, and for the most part, they are very similar,” said Kacy Proctor, IRI coordinator at IDE. “Do we have room for improvement? Yes, but it’s the first year of administration.”

More on the fall 2025 statewide results here.

Districts report hardware, testing group size issues

For Boundary County, equipment made an impact on scores, but likely just in kindergarten, Fuentes said.

Students scored proficient or higher in Boundary County at:

11.2% Kindergarten

39.2% First grade

51.4% Second Grade

61.8% Third Grade

Scores improved after teachers fixed the iPad issue.

Gooding: Hindered by iPad tabbing and test-group size

At Gooding Elementary, students from kindergarten through second grade also struggled to take the test on iPads for a variety of reasons, said Principal Brandee Sabala.

The new test is web-based, not in an app like Istation, so students were accidentally clicking out of the tab. They would also rotate the screen, another unforeseen issue.

The largest problem, Sabala said, was getting younger students to speak loudly and clearly enough to register with the program.

“We just found that really difficult for the younger grades to do,” Sabala said.

Students scored proficient or higher in Gooding at:

26.6% Kindergarten

25.3% First grade

39.1% Second grade

71.6% Third grade

While test scores statewide are historically lower in the fall due to learning loss over the summer break, Sabala said the spread between grades in previous years has been narrower.

During training from the state on the test, Sabala was told Amira’s voice detection ability was similar to Amazon’s Alexa speakers, so teachers could test a whole classroom at once if kids were spread out.

But in Gooding, they found it was in students’ best interest to test groups of four to six in the back of a classroom. Teachers then found a quiet activity for the other students during that time.

“It has just been a management thing for teachers,” Sabala said.

About Amira

Istation has been Idaho’s test provider since 2016. In 2024, as Istation merged with Amira Learning, the combined company was selected to administer the Idaho Reading Indicator for another 5 years.

The 2025-26 year is a pilot year, so Amira will not receive any funds, but for each following year the company will be paid $650,000.

Learn more about Amira here.

Learn more about standardized tests here.

Compass: Preparation produced results

When Susan Luke, K-12 administrator at Compass Charter, learned that the new Amira test would require a large speaking component, the school began practicing with iStation’s little-used speaking portion.

That led to the idea of purchasing headsets with microphones for all students to help the program better capture students’ voices.

“That has made a big difference in the accuracy piece,” Luke said.

The school tests half of a class at a time while the other half does a digital assignment. Students from kindergarten through second grade used iPads while third graders used Chromebooks. Luke plans to transition second graders to Chromebooks in the spring after they have learned more keyboarding skills.

Students scored proficient or higher at Compass:

62.6% Kindergarten

75.8% First grade

88.3% Second grade

89.1% Third grade

While the physical gear did help, Luke also attributes the school’s above-average scores to its curriculum, which includes reading throughout the day and focuses on choral reading over students silently reading to themselves.

Teachers also focus on reviewing skills as they build upon them. Those skills include a heavy focus on learning norms at the start of the school year, including digital ones like “think before you click,” Luke said.

Luke agreed with other educators that having Amira only available in a web browser was “unhelpful.”

Luke said that IDE did a good job of addressing issues this fall, but thinks the test scores weren’t as accurate as they could be.

West Ada: Helped by new equipment, teacher training

In West Ada, the state’s largest school district, students completed a practice assessment in September.

Then staff worked out bugs, like having to restart computers or issues with headphones, ahead of the assessment reported to the state in October, said Rhonda McDonough, chief academic officer of teaching and learning.

All students used headphones and the majority used laptops, a small number used Chromebooks.

“We don’t want the equipment to be the variance,” McDonough said.

The district bought 8,845 headsets for this school year for $173,986. Each headset cost $19.50. Some students muted and unmuted their microphone during the test, impacting the results, which led the district to spend an additional $6,500 for capsules to cover the mute button.

The district guidance is to test whole classes at once unless a student has an accommodation that requires small group assessment.

Like other districts, West Ada is in the learning stage, McDonough said. The team met with Amira directly and department of education leaders to learn more about analyzing their data, especially in the new system.

“I think we’re at an advantage because we have such a huge data set,” McDonough said.

Students scored proficient or higher in West Ada:

66.5% Kindergarten

81% First grade

74.4% Second grade

80.3% Third grade

The district rolled out its own phonics curriculum last year for Kindergarten teachers, based on the science of reading research.  Last spring, that resulted in IRI scores over 80%.

McDonough attributes high first grade scores this fall to that program, which has since been rolled out to teachers and interventionists for first and second grades.

IDE: It’s “a learning year”

Overall, the challenges that schools faced this fall are an expected part of rolling out a new exam, said Proctor, who coordinates the exam for the Idaho Department of Education.

Hardware issues like headphones and the number of students being tested at once can make an impact, Proctor said.

“I would say the biggest thing we’ve noticed is districts changing headphones,” Proctor said of things that improved scores.

While Amira says that any group size can be tested with or without headphones, schools have reported that students remain calmer in smaller groups, she said.

Five to seven students seems to be the sweet spot, she said.

One positive to the small group is that teachers can test over a handful of days, Proctor said.

Statewide, the biggest drop in scores was for kindergarteners.

“We can attribute that to many things, one, we’re asking kindergartners to speak,” Proctor said. “Kindergarteners are very shy and maybe they’ve never been away from their parents before.”

The new test also took away the guessing element of multiple choice, she noted.

“The most important thing for school districts to know is that it’s our first year of implementation,”  Proctor said. “It’s really important to take our first year as kind of a learning year.”

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Ryan Suppe

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on February 25, 2026

By: Ryan Suppe

Some public school leaders are preparing to cut their budgets if lawmakers keep state funding flat next school year — even though K-12 is exempt from nearly statewide cuts.

Budget-setting lawmakers this month advanced a $2.77 billion public school funding bill for 2026-27. It’s roughly the same amount the state appropriated this school year. And so far, brick-and-mortar public schools have been shielded from proposed spending cuts that apply to most state-funded agencies and institutions. 

But stagnant funding is effectively a reduction amid increasing costs to operate public schools — costs for utilities, employee insurance, computer software, classroom supplies, fuel and other items affected by inflation.

“The cost of doing business has outpaced state funding,” said Republican state superintendent Debbie Critchfield. “Even a flat budget is a cut.”

Public school advocates have pointed to state savings accounts as an option that could spare K-12 from cuts. But Idaho’s $1.3 billion stockpile of reserve funds remains mostly untouched as Republican Gov. Brad Little and the GOP-dominated Legislature consider other ways to balance the budget amid a revenue shortfall. The governor and legislative leaders argue these savings should be used only in a recession.

This means school leaders will have to cover increasing costs by cutting their own budgets, leaning on local reserves or asking property taxpayers for higher supplemental levies.

State superintendent Debbie Critchfield shakes hands with Idaho School Boards Association President Jason Sevy at the ISBA Day on the Hill on Feb. 16. (Sean Dolan/EdNews)

School leaders hope to counter ‘held-harmless’ messaging from the Statehouse

The Bonneville School District is planning staff cuts to make up a projected shortfall estimated at $5 million to $6 million. The shortfall is tied to increasing costs for utilities, food and employee health insurance, according to Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme. 

“We are cutting our budget. I think that’s probably true of almost every district in the state,” Woolstenhulme told a group of public school trustees last week.

Scott Woolstenhulme, Bonneville School District superintendent

Woolstenhulme was a panelist for a workshop on “overseeing budget reductions” hosted by the Idaho School Boards Association. The advocacy group, composed of trustees from across the state, gathered in Boise for ISBA’s annual “Day on the Hill.” 

Part of the workshop focused on how districts and charter schools could implement cuts in ways that minimize effects on students. The other part focused on how trustees will explain to patrons why cuts are necessary — particularly as state leaders paint a rosier picture of K-12 funding ahead of this year’s election.

Brick-and-mortar public schools are exempt next fiscal year from 5% budget reductions affecting most state agencies, including colleges and universities. The proposed cuts — including 3% from Little and an additional 2% from budget-setting lawmakers — come after state revenue underperformed over the last year, while $453 million in tax cuts and credits took effect. The Legislature passed the GOP-backed tax cuts, and the governor signed them into law. 

During his State of the State address last month, Little touted a 70% increase in state support for public schools since he took office in 2019. And he promised to protect “classroom funding” from the budget cuts. Legislative leaders have also said they’re pushing to hold the K-12 budget harmless. 

“My message to the Legislature has been very simple: Don’t you dare cut public education,” Sen. Kelly Anthon told ISBA members last week. The Rupert Republican is the Senate’s president pro tem.

Critchfield said she’s “thrilled” that state K-12 funding isn’t going backward. Her top priority this legislative session is keeping the public school budget flat, and she’s been successful for the most part. 

Still, public schools won’t be immune from the impact of the state’s tightening budget: 

The $2.77 billion public schools bill, which the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) approved on Feb. 13, represents an $18 million increase, or 0.7%. But it doesn’t account for cuts that could come later in the legislative session, including a $33 million reduction to virtual public schools and the state’s online learning platform. 

K-12 will get about $24 million less through the state’s attendance-based formula, which distributes funds based on “support units.” The metric essentially represents the cost to operate a classroom, and next year’s calculation assumes a small enrollment decline. Fall enrollment this school year was down 1%.

Public schools that aren’t on the state’s employee insurance plan won’t be fully funded for benefit cost increases. While schools that participate in the state plan will get an additional 14.4%, those on a non-state plan will get 10.8%. The unfunded benefits total $9 million statewide, although the local effects will depend on how much each district’s insurance costs change. Some could be higher or lower than 10.8%. 

Budget cuts to other state agencies likely will trickle down to K-12. Taking 5% from the Division of Career Technical Education, for instance, could defund 164 CTE programs in public high schools, according to the governor’s office. 

And the K-12 budget doesn’t include an increase in discretionary funding, which public schools use for operating costs.

Anne Ritter, a trustee at Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School and former West Ada school board member, said during last week’s workshop that local leaders will have to explain these “whys” to their parents and staff. 

“I don’t think a lot of people think that a ‘held-harmless’ budget is something that’s difficult for all of us to deal with,” she said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, R-Rupert, speaks to reporters on Jan. 8, at the Idaho Press Club’s legislative preview. (Sean Dolan/EdNews)

School operations funding remains flat amid inflation

Along with Bonneville, administrators in the Coeur d’Alene, Nampa, Middleton, Kellogg and Grangeville school districts have said in recent weeks that they’re weighing budget cuts and/or increased supplemental levies. 

Some administrators pointed to static state discretionary funding. Public schools won’t see an ongoing increase in discretionary funding for the second consecutive school year under JFAC’s proposed budget. 

Schools typically use state discretionary dollars for operating costs like utilities, maintenance, supplies and other expenses affected by inflation. They also use it to supplement employee pay and benefits when state funding falls short of their staffing needs.

“Flat isn’t really flat,” Stephany Bales, executive director of community relations for the Coeur d’Alene School District, told EdNews by email. “We’d still be looking at budget reductions as inflation and operating costs (i.e., insurance) increase.”

The last time lawmakers made a permanent increase to discretionary funding was an additional $47 million ahead of the 2024-25 school year. Since then, inflation is about 3%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. 

The Nampa School District will have to make “significant cuts” if discretionary funding is flat again, said Matthew Sizemore, Nampa’s director of community and media relations. On top of increasing power and gas prices, software costs are up between 5% and 10%, he said by email. 

“And none of the products we buy for supplies have gotten any cheaper,” he added.

Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, addresses the audience at the Idaho School Boards Association Day on the Hill on Feb. 16. To her left is Sen. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, and Quinn Perry, deputy director of the ISBA. (Sean Dolan/EdNews)

But what about the 70% increase to public schools since 2019? 

The 70% increase to public schools since 2019 was largely driven by targeted investments — facilities, teacher pay and literacy — and local leaders have limited flexibility to spend this money.

The $1 billion that districts got for facilities two years ago can be spent only on capital building projects, and $78 million in annual literacy money must support improving reading outcomes.

“They’re not fungible,” Critchfield said. “There’s no flexibility within the categories.”

A school district in the Treasure Valley, for instance, can’t use money earmarked for literacy to pay its bill from Idaho Power, which increased its rates 7.5% this year. 

Previous state increases also fulfilled needs that local taxpayers had covered. Last year, districts requested $234 million in bonds and levies during the May and November elections. That was a 67% decrease since the record-setting March 2017 election when districts asked for $715 million.

And the state has yet to address a glaring hole in local budgets: an estimated $100 million gap between what districts spend on special education and what they get from state and federal governments. Grangeville’s interim superintendent, Amanda Bush, said last week that local funds cover 75% of the newly created district’s special education costs. 

For Critchfield, this problem traces back to a familiar foe: the state’s antiquated school funding formula, which hasn’t had a major upgrade since 1994. “How we do the funding has not kept pace with what the actual day-to-day operations of a school look like,” she said. 

There won’t be any major formula changes this legislative session. But in the short-term, Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking worries that a flat K-12 budget will shift the burden to fund public schools back onto property taxes — the “most onerous tax of all,” she said.  A Boise Democrat and longtime JFAC member, Ward-Engelking has pushed Republican leaders to cover schools’ increasing costs using state reserves. 

“We’re not using this bucket of money, but districts are going to have to run more levies,” Ward-Engelking told EdNews. “It’s a cost shift.”

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 29‑year‑old Ryker Thomas Masson on Tuesday after he attempted to run from a traffic stop near Broadway and Skyline Drive.

Deputies pulled over a vehicle around 4:45 p.m., and Masson, who was riding in the passenger seat, immediately got out and took off on foot. Deputies recognized him and were aware he was wanted on two felony probation‑violation warrants tied to previous drug‑related cases.

Deputies chased Masson through an empty lot and into a nearby alley, where they deployed a Taser while repeatedly ordering him to stop. He eventually complied and was taken into custody. During the chase, officers saw Masson throw several items, including a needle believed to be drug paraphernalia, which were later recovered.

Additional Bonneville County deputies and Idaho Falls Police officers responded to assist. During the chase, a deputy from the initial stop slipped and fell onto a concrete curb, breaking his arm. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Masson was also taken to the hospital for a medical check before being booked into the Bonneville County Jail on his two outstanding felony warrants and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.

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