Category: kifi-local-news

News Release

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho – Idaho State Police provided an update on the fatal crash on Highway 20 near Yellowstone on Friday.

ISP tells Local News 8 that, of the 14 occupants in the Mercedes van, the driver was licensed in California. The passengers included 12 individuals of Chinese nationality and one of Italian nationality. The group was traveling to Yellowstone National Park on an excursion organized by Ctour Holiday LLC, a large-scale receptive tour operator that provides international travel services.

Next-of-kin notifications are ongoing and coordinated with appropriate local and international authorities. Due to the international nature of those involved, the process is complex and will take additional time.

As part of the investigation, the deceased will be transported to the Ada County Coroner’s Office for autopsy and formal confirmation of identity. This step is essential to ensure accurate identification and documentation.

ISP troopers continue to work closely with Ctour Holiday LLC and remain in contact with the Consulates of China and Italy as the investigation progresses.

Due to privacy considerations, no information regarding the medical status of the injured will be released.

Additional updates will be provided as information is verified and becomes available.

(The following is from a press release from Idaho State Police)

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As fire season is coming up, Governor Brad Little has declared May as Wildfire Awareness Month.

Governor Little urges Idahoans to do what they can to protect themselves, their property, and the community from wildfires.

The Idaho Department of Lands says it is working with state, federal, tribal, and local partners through the Gem State to teach people how to prevent and prepare for wildfires.

“Fire is part of the Idaho landscape, but it doesn’t recognize boundaries,” said IDL Director Dustin Miller. “It will race across forests, fields and neighborhoods without hesitation. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to do our part to prevent wildfires before they start and prepare in advance.”

For more information and to see the status of active wildfires in Idaho, visit here.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho is presenting a new exhibit to the public, “Unity, Dissonance, and the Spaces Between.”

The exhibit’s pieces reflect on topics like belonging, isolation, and “the invisible spaces that shape human relationships and our place in the natural world.”

“We hope that people from all over the state will come and think about what it means for them to be with other people, the meaning that that creates in their life, and how art can, demonstrate that for us here in the museum,” said Boise State University Director of University Art, Fonda Portales.

This is meant to be more than a typical gallery viewing experience. It will also have interactive tours meant to encourage conversations.

“We hope that people come away having interacted with the art and gained both a relationship with the art and the museum, but also with each other, that it ends up being kind of a relationship building thing,” said Art Museum of Eastern Idaho’s Developmental Director, Amy Thompson.

The opening coincides with the Idaho Falls Artwalk, so visitors will have even more opportunities to enjoy art together. The exhibit will run through July 12.

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Stephanie Lucas

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) – Seven people are dead after a fiery two-vehicle crash on Thursday evening, May 1, on eastbound U.S. Highway 20 near Henry’s Lake.

Idaho State Police responded to the crash at milepost 399 just before 7:15 p.m. The collision involved a Dodge Ram pickup and a Mercedes passenger van, both of which caught fire after the crash.

Seven people died because of the crash. Six were occupants of the van, and the driver of the pickup. The van had 14 occupants and was reportedly transporting a tour group.

Emergency medical personnel responded to the scene. Due to the severity of the injuries, one air ambulance and additional air and ground resources were dispatched.

The Fremont County Coroner’s Office will release the names of the deceased after the next of kin have been notified. That office will also determine the cause and manner of each death.

U.S. Highway 20 is open Friday morning after the crash.

ISP is leading the investigation with assistance from local and regional partners. The cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time.

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News Team

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI)-Part of U.S. Highway 20 near mile marker 399 has closed due to a major crash, according to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office asks drivers to avoid the area, and to plan on significant delays.

Lanes in both directions are closed North of Henrys Fork to the Montana state line, which is milepost 399 to 406, according to the Idaho Transportation Department 511 page.

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — May 1 is National Law Day, and the College of Eastern Idaho has been found guilty of giving its students an excellent opportunity to learn about the Judicial Branch.

Judges visited the college to teach the students about what they do in a week, as well as the court system in the 7th District and Bonneville County.

The speakers say its important for everyone to learn how the constitution and court system work.

“People might form opinions about what’s happening in the courts or what should or shouldn’t happen. And so, Law Day is a great opportunity to educate yourself so you kind of know what’s really going on and kind of just get to see it from the inside,” said State of Idaho Public Defender’s Office 7th District Public Defender, Jordan Crane.

Judges also visited BYU-Idaho today and made similar presentations. 

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Seth Ratliff

The following information comes from a U.S. Marshals Service press release:

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) — The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) task force in Colorado successfully arrested a 37-year-old illegal immigrant in Denver Thursday afternoon, after he had evaded authorities in Idaho.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, in March, 37-year-old Guillermo Alejandro-Morales resisted arrest by the U.S. Border Patrol and Idaho State Police. Morales then allegedly eluded law enforcement in a pursuit ending in Washington.

On March 28, 2025, the First Judicial District Court for Kootenai County in Coeur d’Alene issued an arrest warrant for Alejandro-Morales, charging him with Eluding. On April 15, 2025, the U.S. District Court in Coeur d’Alene also issued an arrest warrant for Alejandro Morales, charging him with Assault on a Federal Officer. 

After Alejandro-Morales evaded arrest, the Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Corrections, U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations, and the USMS task forces in Coeur d’Alene and Spokane worked collectively to attempt to locate him in the Post Falls and Spokane areas. 

Investigators learned he fled the region soon after his encounter with Idaho law enforcement. The USMS Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force later developed information that Alejandro Morales fled to Denver.

Coordinating investigative efforts, the USMS task force in Denver ultimately located Alejandro-Morales and developed an arrest plan to safely take Alejandro-Morales into custody.

“As a result of extensive investigative work by many law enforcement agencies from various jurisdictions, a dangerous illegal immigrant fugitive wanted for Assault on a Federal Officer and Eluding Police in north Idaho was safely apprehended in Colorado,” said United States Marshal for the District of Idaho Brent Bunn in a press release. “We appreciate the great working relationship we have with all our law enforcement partners, working together to keep our communities safe.” 

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Spud King’s hometown and venue are proudly welcoming home Idaho Falls’ junior hockey team, the winners of the Dineen Cup, in a “royal fashion.”

According to a post on the Mountain America Center’s Facebook page, the event will include “food trucks, a beer garden, a DJ, fan pictures with the Dineen Cup and Mountain Division trophies, and a full-out welcome home celebration for your IDAHO FALLS SPUD KINGS!”

The event kicks off at 6 PM at the Teton Auto Group Plaza at the Mountain America Center. Fans are being asked to wear their best Spud Kings gear and bring their best signs.

Local News 8 will be streaming the event live on Facebook starting at 6:00 pm.

Mayor Rebecca Casper reads Idaho Falls Spud Kings Day proclamation.

The celebration comes after the Idaho Falls Spud Kings defeated the South Shore Kings 2-1 to claim the Dineen Cup. The win marks the first time in the Spud King’s 3-year history that the Idaho Falls team has won the cup.

In recognition of the Spud King’s achievement, Mayor Casper has officially proclaimed Thursday, May 1, 2025, as Idaho Falls Spud Kings Day. You can read the full proclamation below.

The City of Idaho Falls and Mountain America Center are encouraging fans to wear their favorite Spud Kings merch and bring signs to celebrate the team.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — In honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, Governor Brad Little is directing all state and national flags to be lowered to half staff on May 4, 2025.

Every year, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the official national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. The 2025 Honor Roll includes 70 firefighters who died in 2024 and 70 who died in previous years, including former firefighter/EMT Kent B. Gilbertson of the Boise Fire Department.

Gilbertson passed away from colorectal cancer in 2022 at the age of 57. According to his memorial wall, the doctors presume his illness was “tied to his 30 years of service as both a career and volunteer firefighter in Idaho and North Dakota.”

“During his career, Kent served on Boise Fire Department Truck #7 and the technical rescue team, earning the honor of Firefighter of the Year,” said his wife in his memorial wall.

To learn more about Gilbertson and the many other honored firefighters, click HERE.

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Sam Ross

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI)—Soda Springs’ famous carbonated geyser is under repair after a pump failure and valve malfunction led to two different sets of problems for the city landmark on Tuesday.

On April 29, the City of Soda Springs announced the world-famous man-made geyser would be out of commission after a problem with the pump caused the geyser to stop working. The pump was replaced on Wednesday, but a valve malfunction is now causing the geyser to spray a six-foot jet of water nonstop.

City workers are investigating the problem and said they hope to have it returned to its normal schedule of dormancy and hourly eruptions soon.

For more information, you can visit Soda Spring’s city website.

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