Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — Two Shelley men are facing serious felony drug trafficking and weapons charges following a massive drug bust on Wednesday that yielded thousands of fentanyl pills, other drugs, and over 30 firearms. The operation, led by the Bingham County Joint Investigations Division, is considered a major victory in “disrupting drug trafficking and protecting the safety and well-being of our community,” says Shelley Police.

Mugshot: Michael Schlosser, Courtesy Bingham County Jail

Michael Schlosser, who was taken into custody immediately, is facing the most serious charges, including Trafficking Fentanyl, Trafficking Methamphetamine, Trafficking Heroin, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He is also charged with Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and as a Persistent Violator.

Mark Butler is also being charged and will be summoned to court on counts of Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to Shelley Police.

What They Found

The police spent 11 hours processing the scene at 307 N Park Avenue after investigators obtained a search warrant for the home. The search uncovered a substantial cache of illegal drugs and weapons, which investigators suspected were the profits and materials used in a large narcotics operation:

Over 3,100 fentanyl pills

Approximately 10.5 ounces of methamphetamine

Multiple containers of black and brown heroin

Over 30 firearms, illegally possessed by a convicted felon

$12,000 in cash

Smaller quantities of cocaine, Xanax, marijuana, and hundreds of items of drug paraphernalia.

How the Raid Went Down

Investigators with the Bingham County Joint Investigations Division arrived at the home around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The operation was part of a coordinated and collaborative effort by detectives from the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Blackfoot Police Department, and the Shelley Police Department.

Given the criminal history of the men involved and the potential presence of firearms, the Shelley Police say they coordinated with local members of the STAR Team (SWAT) to ensure the safety of their officers and the public.

During the initial approach to the house, police deployed a Bearcat armored vehicle. All residents were safely removed and detained without incident before allowing the detectives and a drug-sniffing K-9 to begin their search, eventually uncovering the enormous stash of drugs, firearms, and cash.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 09 OCT 25 15:12 ET

By Sahana Patel

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    MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIVI) — A former volunteer at NXT Dream Center in Mountain Home is sharing her experience working alongside Pastor Gregory Wayne Jones, who faces human sex trafficking and sexual assault charges.

Whitney Owens dedicated 20 hours a week at NXT Dream Center and attended Liberty Christian Fellowship Church in Mountain Home, both organizations run by Jones and his family. Jones is currently out on a $1 million bond awaiting trial.

Court records obtained by Idaho News 6 through a public records request state that Jones used his position in the church to sexually abuse women, claiming it was part of spiritual healing. The documents also said one of the victims was 17 at the time of the alleged offense.

“He was given a gift to lead in the church, and yet he used it to take advantage of many people,” Owens said.

Owens tells me she volunteered with children alongside Jones for about a year, and looking back, she says there were red flags.

“He never asked me to get a background check. I worked with these children for 20 hours a week. And I never had a background check. And I realized how many people were working with my child at this place who never had a background check,” Owens said.

She also recalls moments during church services that didn’t sit right with her. Owens said Jones would rebuke people during sermons, including a person she believed was the main victim in the case.

“He knew that somebody was watching on the video platform,” Owens said. “He said something along the lines of, ‘How dare you criticize your spiritual father’.”

In August, Idaho News 6 spoke exclusively with a group of survivors outside the Elmore County Courthouse, where we first met Owens, who was there to show her support.

“The victims that have come forward, I am so grateful [for them] because I could see that the road that I was going down with him, opening myself up, being so vulnerable, allowing myself to be there so much of the time, not asking questions about the red flags that were there, that it could have happened to me,” Owens said.

I reached out to both the defense and the prosecutor’s office for comment, but have yet to hear back.

Jones initially pleaded not guilty and in August, tried to strike a plea deal, which the judge denied.

When asked what she would like to say to Jones on behalf of the community and for herself, Owens responded: “How dare you? You stole so many good things from all of us. And you betrayed us. And you lied to us.”

Owens said she’s moving forward one day at a time but feels this case leaves a deep wound in the entire Mountain Home neighborhood.

“I do hope that our community can come back from this and we can find a way to support our children again and provide those things for them. Our kids deserve that,” Owens said.

Jones is set to appear in Elmore County Court on December 5th.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Correction has confirmed the authenticity of a video leaked on social media earlier this year, which appeared to show convicted killer Bryan Kohberger inside his prison cell.

The video, which appears to be recorded on a cell phone pointed at a security camera, shows Kohberger in a cell, dressed in a white t-shirt and dark pants. The IDOC initially cautioned that the video could be “fake or AI-enhanced,” but has now confirmed it was a genuine breach of security policy.

In a statement first provided to our sister station, KIVI in Boise, IDOC confirmed that the individual responsible for the policy violation has been identified. The department’s investigation concluded that the video leak was a result of a policy breach by an employee, who has since left the agency.

RELATED: Viral allegedly leaked Bryan Kohberger prison videos spark IDOC investigation

The full statement from the Idaho Department of Correction is as follows:

“The Idaho Department of Correction conducted a thorough investigation into the matter of the leaked video and is pleased the individual responsible for the policy violation was identified and has since left the agency. The case was referred to the Idaho State Police which determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of conduct and will continue to enforce all policies to protect the security of inmates and staff.

Idaho law does not allow us to provide any additional details about personnel involved.

For questions about potential violations of the law pertaining to this situation, we refer you to the county prosecutor’s office.” — Idaho Department of Correction

As stated by IDOC, state police have determined that while recording and sharing security footage is a clear policy violation, there was insufficient evidence to pursue criminal charges.

The footage began circulating on social media in August, shortly after Kohberger was transferred to the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho.

Local News 8 was not able to verify the original poster due to the viral nature of the video, but obtained and modified a copy for use under fair use guidelines.

Kohberger is serving four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students: Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders as part of an agreement to avoid the death penalty.

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Max Gershon

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls City Council candidates Jordan Bardsley, Mosy Moran, Teresa Dominick, Christopher Brunt, and Brad Whipple, participated in a public forum put on by Stand Up Idaho, answering questions from residents on topics ranging from city growth and government shutdowns to public transportation.

One question that stood out was how the city council and government can better engage youth in local politics. Each candidate offered unique perspectives on this critical issue.

Christopher Brunt emphasized the importance of making young people feel heard by those in positions of power. He noted that the perception of an apathetic city council can discourage involvement at any age.

“If you knew that people in a position of power and authority had to listen to you, that would probably make it a priority to be involved,” Brunt said.

Brad Whipple took a different stance, arguing that it’s not the government’s responsibility to directly address youth engagement.

“There’s a limited amount that we can do, and it’s nice to say we’re going to solve it, but the taxpayers have to pay for it,” Whipple stated.

Jordan Bardsley shared a personal approach, drawing from her experience as a parent. She encouraged his children to participate in student government, with his oldest serving as senior class president and his youngest involved in student leadership.

“You’ve got to connect with the younger generation, with the older generation too, and bridge that gap,” Bardsley said.

Mosy Moran proposed actionable solutions, emphasizing the use of modern tools like social media and video content to reach younger audiences.

“It’s not that hard. We have the ways to do this,” Moran said, noting that creating and sharing engaging content, such as videos shot on a smartphone, is both cost-effective and immediate. He stressed the importance of practical plans to connect with youth effectively.

Teresa Dominick advocated for direct communication between council members and local schools. She suggested that each council member could be assigned one or two schools to visit regularly and engage with students.

“The Compass Academy forum has been a fantastic experience working with the students,” Dominick stated.

The full forum, featuring these discussions and more, is available on Stand Up for Idaho’s Rumble page. Stay informed and get involved in shaping the future of Idaho Falls!

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Despite a great harvest for Idaho’s agriculture industry, many farmers are struggling to make ends meet. In a stark paradox, farm income in Idaho was down substantially last year, even as the industry harvests more crops than ever.

The question is, how can a successful season still lead to financial hardship, and what can farmers do about it?

According to a USDA report released last month, the total value of agricultural production in Idaho in 2024 was $12.6 billion, a 3% increase from the previous year. Sean Ellis of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation says while 2025 looks to be a good year for yield as well, expenses are not going down.

Intermediate farm production expenses in Idaho totaled $7.2 billion in 2024, according to the USDA report, a significant 6% jump from 2023.

“The problem is the commodity prices are so low that even with the great yields, it’s still a struggle,” says Alan Clark, owner and manager of Clark Farms. “You know, you’re just barely able to make payments and things like that.”

Ellis breaks down the long and rising list of expenses facing farmers today: “Labor costs are never going to go down. And fertilizers, fuel, electricity, the cost of irrigation, just general inflation—it all adds up,” Ellis explains.

Both industry leaders and farmers agree that action is needed. For Ellis, the primary fix lies in federal policy, specifically an updated Farm Bill.

“Passing a new Farm Bill [could help],” Ellis said. “Our current Farm Bill, I believe, is seven years old. You’re supposed to have a new one roughly every five years. The current one is way outdated. So updating it, which does provide a minimum safety net for agriculture, would be a great start.”

He noted that recent legislation has offered some relief, but it is not a comprehensive solution. “If you remember that one big beautiful bill that was passed a month or so ago, there were a lot of wins for agriculture in that, but it’s not a substitute for a new Farm Bill,” Ellis explained.

On the other side, the idea of government assistance is viewed with mixed feelings. Clark acknowledges the need for a new solution but is wary of overreach:

“I think there can be government fixes, but I hate to see the government put their fingers in too many things because you don’t know where it’s going to go from that,” Clark stated.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The missing 9-year-old, Adria Huerta, has been safely located by an officer with help from the Idaho Falls community.

“Thank you to the great community members who reported sightings of Adrian that helped our officers know which direction to look for him,” stated IFPD in a release.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department is seeking the public’s help in their search for 9-year-old Adrian Huerta, who has been missing since late this afternoon, Wednesday, October 8.

Adrian was last seen around 4:30 p.m. today at the basketball court located at 1325 Hoopes Avenue.

Security camera in the area that shows Adrian this afternoon, Courtesy: IFPD

When he was last seen, Adrian was wearing a blue shirt, jeans, and orange Nike shoes. He was also seen riding a scooter. The boy is approximately 4 ft tall, 60 pounds, and has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. 

Police are asking anyone who has seen Adrian or who has any information regarding his current whereabouts to immediately call dispatch at (208) 529-1200.

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Linda Larsen

 SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 37-year-old man is fighting for his life following a horrific head-on collision between a propane truck and a passenger car this afternoon in Swan Valley.

The crash occurred just after 1:00 p.m. on U.S. Highway 26 near Fox Creek Road. The impact severely injured the driver of the passenger car, who had to be life-flighted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC). The condition of the propane truck driver is currently unknown.

Traffic and Investigation

The scene of the accident remains active, and a full accident reconstruction team is working to figure out exactly what happened, according to Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal.

As a result, a lengthy closure is expected. U.S. Highway 26 will be reduced to one lane for several hours through the Swan Valley area. Drivers are being told to prepare for major delays and consider alternate routes if possible.

Chief Crystal is urging drivers to use extreme caution when approaching the scene. A separate, secondary crash happened earlier today when a driver rear-ended another vehicle that had slowed for the initial accident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that second incident.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Heads up, Southeast Idaho, get ready to help your neighbors. Beginning next weekend, the Mountain District of the Grand Teton Council of Scouting America is hosting its annual “Scouting for Food” community drive.

On Saturday, October 18, local Scouts will be out in force, manning collection booths across the region to gather essential food items. Your donations will directly support local food banks as they prepare for the upcoming holiday season and the greater need that continues throughout the year.

“Troops and packs will man drop off locations in the community and represent scouting as we serve our community,” said Deborah McHugh, Scout Mountain district chair. “Many families rely on these generous donations of food from our community.”

The local Scout Mountain District serves the communities of Pocatello, Chubbuck, American Falls, Inkom, McCammon, Malad, and Soda Springs. Scouts will be collecting non-perishable food items at various locations throughout the day at the following locations:

Pocatello/Chubbuck – October 18, 2025, 10 am-2 pm

Idaho Food Bank – 555 S. 1st Ave, Pocatello, ID

Ridley’s Family Market – 1000 Pocatello Cr. Rd Pocatello, ID Grand Teton Walmart 4240 Yellowstone Ave Chubbuck, ID

Smith’s Food and Drug – 4845 Yellowstone Ave, Chubbuck, ID

Fred Meyer – 800 Yellowstone Ave, Pocatello, ID

Albertson’s – 330 East Benton, Pocatello, ID

American Falls – October 18, 2025, 9 am-12noon

Advantage Plus Credit Union – 465 Hillcrest Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Rockland Pharmacy – 524 Tyhee Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Bank of Commerce – 590 Tyhee Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Les Schwab – 2842 Pocatello Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Bingham Co-op

Ridley’s – 2827 Pocatello Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Ken’s Market – 548 Tyhee Ave, American Falls, ID 83211

Lava Hot Springs – October 18, 2025, 9-10:30 am

Community Center – 150 N Center St, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246

McCammon – October 18, 2025-10:30-12 noon

McCammon City Park by Family Dollar 700 Center St

Inkom – October 18, 2025-12:00-1:30 pm

Bisharat Market and Automotive – 112 Old Hwy 30 Inkom, ID

Soda Springs – October 18, 2025-10 am-2 pm

Scout House – 9 W 2nd S, Soda Springs, ID 83276

Lallatin’s Grocery – 39 W 2nd S, Broulim’s 89 W 2nd S

This year’s Scouting for Food drive is co-sponsored by JustServe and the Idaho Foodbank, ensuring that all donations are efficiently distributed to those who need them most in Southeast Idaho. For more information on Scouting for Food or other scouting programs in our area, contact Corey at (208) 317-6153, Debi at (208) 406-1614 or the Pocatello Scouting America Office at (208) 233-4600.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County is reminding residents that the County Transfer Station will be closed for maintenance from October 18 to November 24.

During the closure, all county residents should dispose of their waste at the following alternate locations:

For All Municipal Waste:

Peterson Hill Landfill

Address: 9449 E Sunnyside Road, Idaho Falls

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM

For Specific Recyclable and Special Waste:

Bonneville County Hatch Pit

Address: 3690 Recycle Road, Idaho Falls

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Accepted Waste (during closure): Tires, Metal Recycling, Freon items (Refrigerators, Freezers, A/C Units), Used Motor Oil (5-gallon maximum), and Lead Acid Batteries.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Falls Police Department:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County & Idaho Falls Emergency Communications Center (ECC) has launched the use of Aurelian, an AI-powered voice assistant that answers and triages non-emergency calls. This system is designed to reduce the burden of non-emergency calls, allowing our Emergency Communications Officers to devote their full attention to genuine emergencies.

In Bonneville County, 911 calls and calls to the non-emergency dispatch number (208-529-1200) are all answered by the same team of Emergency Communications Officers (ECOs). This team handles all incoming calls and dispatches for all first responder agencies in Bonneville County, including Idaho Falls Police, Idaho Falls Fire, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Bonneville County Fire District, Ucon Fire, Ucon Police, and the Swan Valley Fire Department. Over the last five years, the Bonneville County & Idaho Falls ECC has averaged 211,000 calls into the center and dispatched 115,000 incidents to first responders each year.

Despite what many may think, this enormous responsibility is handled by a relatively small team of dedicated Emergency Communications Officers, commonly called dispatchers. Across the profession, many emergency communications centers struggle with staffing, turnover, and fatigue. ECOs often move from call to call, with little to no downtime between those calls. During busy times, callers may have to wait, call back, or be placed on hold while ECOs handle higher-priority 911 and emergency calls.

The addition of Aurelian, and the AI calltaker referred to as “AI Annie”, is intended to assist this team of dedicated professionals and to continue to provide excellent service to our community.

More focus on life-saving calls

By offloading routine, repetitive, non-urgent calls (e.g., noise complaints, road hazards, general inquiries), dispatchers can concentrate on urgent, life-saving emergency calls and complex calls that require a live ECO.

Before Aurelian, Emergency Communications Officers spent a great deal of time answering calls that should have been placed to other county or city entities like police records, utilities, the courts, and others. With AI Annie now in place, rather than tying up an ECO with those calls and transfers, AI Annie can transfer callers to the right place, and ECOs can focus on emergency calls.

Better caller experience, with instant response

Before adding AI Annie, non-emergency callers had to wait for an available ECO to answer their call. During busy times or when multiple 911 calls were coming in, callers may have had to wait, call back, or be placed on hold mid-call for ECOs to handle emergency calls. Because there’s zero hold time or competition with emergency calls, callers get immediate engagement and resolution when possible. AI Annie can also text callers links to online reporting and other common online resources. AI Annie is also available in Spanish. A Language Line has been used for many years and continues to be used by ECOs for many other languages.

To get the most accurate assistance from AI Annie, callers should speak in a normal tone of voice and at their usual speed—there is no need to talk louder or slower. Callers should provide two or three sentences explaining the reason for their call, just like if they were speaking to a live person. For example, “I need to get a copy of a police report from the Idaho Falls Police Department,” will provide a better result than one-word answers like “Report” or requests to speak to a live person.

Over the last several weeks, AI Annie has been integrated and trained for the ECC and is now answering all calls to the non-emergency dispatch number (208-529-1200). While AI Annie is clearly identifiable as an AI tool, there’s no “press 1 for …” menu, only a conversational interface designed to feel natural. AI Annie will ask follow-up questions, clarify information, and guide the caller through the process,

All AI-handled calls are recorded and generate logs, transcripts, and summaries that can be audited or checked for accuracy or issues. All calls handled by AI Annie are reviewed by ECOs for accuracy, then dispatched to first responders. AI Annie is also trained to monitor for sounds and situations that indicate the call should be transferred immediately and seamlessly to a live ECO.

All 911 calls will continue to be answered by live Emergency Communications Officers.

Since the start of the rollout in early September, AI Annie has had a success rate of 94%, a number that increases as the system continues to be trained and refined. The center has also seen a 62% reduction in the rate of non-emergency calls, meaning that 62% of calls to the non-emergency line were able to be handled entirely by AI Annie. The remaining 38% of calls have been transferred to ECOs.

As the center continues to use and fine-tune the Aurelian system, the Bonneville County and Idaho Falls Emergency Communications Center expects to see a measurable drop in dispatcher workload from non-emergency calls, faster response to critical 911 calls, enhanced staff well-being, and a more sustainable work environment, along with high caller satisfaction with prompt, clear, and accurate responses.

Addressing common AI concerns

Is this replacing human dispatchers?

No. Aurelian is designed to assist, not replace. It absorbs non-critical load so that dispatchers can do what they’re trained to do: handle emergency calls. This team already runs incredibly lean, and there is no expectation that AI Annie would replace ECOs.

What about errors or false negatives?

Aurelian continuously monitors conversations and can escalate to a live dispatcher if anything appears potentially urgent. All calls, even those handled autonomously, leave an audit trail for oversight.

Is caller privacy safe?

Callers’ data is handled under strict policies, and Aurelian does not mine or share customer data. Information provided from calls handled by AI Annie is handled the same a

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