Category: kifi-local-news

Idaho Capital Sun

By Kyle Pfannenstiel, Idaho Capital Sun Originally Published: March 17, 2026

Editor’s note: Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel is a board member for the Idaho Press Club, which opposed the proposal.

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho House is set to consider changing its rules to make ethics hearings against sitting lawmakers secret. 

Currently, House Rule 45 says ethics complaints are made public after four-fifths of the House Ethics and House Policy Committee determines there is probable cause that misconduct may have occurred. Public hearings follow.

Nearly five years ago, the House Ethics Committee conducted high-profile hearings against former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, who was accused of sexually assaulting a legislative intern. After public ethics hearings, von Ehlinger resigned after the committee recommended he face sanctions. He was later convicted by a jury of rape, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Under House Resolution 27, information related to the ethics committee’s work would be secret unless the committee votes unanimously to release it. 

Idaho state Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, takes his seat before the Jan. 7, 2025, meeting of the House State Affairs Committee at the Idaho Statehouse in Boise. Also pictured is Rep. Mike Pohanka, R-Jerome. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)during the House State Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, at the State Capitol Building in Boise.

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, a member of the House Ethics Committee, is sponsoring the resolution to make ethics hearings secret. In a letter to the judge in von Ehlinger’s criminal case, Barbieri described von Ehlinger as “an upstanding person,” Boise State Public Radio reported. 

Barbieri told lawmakers in a Tuesday committee hearing that ethics hearings should be secret “until there’s a reason to make it public.”

“The idea here is to look at this and protect the individual that is being accused until the time that the committee makes the determination that there should be some disciplinary action,” Barbieri said.

The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee on an 8-7 vote Tuesday approved advancing the bill to the full House. The committee’s three Democrats and four Republicans opposed the bill.

Rep. Chris Mathias, a Boise Democrat, said the public wants more transparency.

“The Idaho public is going to look at us and say: ‘Why are they trying to protect themselves so much?’” Mathias said. 

State Rep. Chris Mathias, D-Boise, (center) speaks from the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives on March 16, 2026, at the Idaho Capitol Building in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)

The proposal would also prevent lawmakers under investigation from being able to be represented in their hearings by attorneys. That part worried some lawmakers, including Rep. John Shirts, a Republican from Weiser and an attorney. He said during von Ehlinger’s hearings, people were sworn in under oath for testimony.

“I cannot, in good conscience, subject our members, you all, my friends, to potential perjury, without representation of counsel,” Shirts told committee members. 

Idaho Press Club lobbyist Ken Burgess testified against the bill. He said that journalists relay information from ethics hearings to lawmakers’ constituents.

“The current ethics process allows for witnesses and testimony, so the public has the same facts as the Ethics Committee has. That doesn’t happen in a House floor debate after the fact. Fair and balanced reporting happens when reporters have all the relevant information,” Burgess told lawmakers. “If you put this process behind closed doors, it only furthers the increasing distrust the public has in government institutions.”

Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kaeden Lincoln

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 17, 2026

By Kaeden Lincoln, IdahoEdNews

BOISE, Idaho — Eighty-two Idaho students are candidates for the U.S. Department of Education’s Presidential Scholars Program.

Nationwide, up to 161 students will be selected as Presidential Scholars. The U.S. Department of Education will release its list of winners — usually one male and one female student per state — in the summer.

The state superintendent chooses candidates who have demonstrated excellence in academics, arts or career-technical education.

Here is the list of this year’s candidates from Idaho, organized by school:

Ambrose School

Eli R. Link

Bishop Kelly High School

Paige D. Bach

Carson Konop

Mullai G. Subramaniyan

Boise High School

Thorstein E. Black

Thoren Honcik

Olivia Judah

Reese Kindig

Sean Norton

Emerson Shirey

Stella R. Thornfeldt

Centennial High School

Lawson Rocke

COMPASS Public Charter School

Zechariah David

Coeur d’Alene Senior High School

Ava J. Gabbert

Brady Gatten

Caldwell Senior High School

Isaac Archuleta

Eagle High School

Carmen M. Dudley

Jonathan Y. Zhang

Grace High School

Kallie G. Stoddard

Grace Lutheran School

Cristiano Manes

Gonzaga Preparatory School

Lawrence L. Jackson

Highland High School

Jack Larsen

Mason N. Pierson

Idaho Falls High School

Scott B. Thomas

Jonas C. Webb

Idaho Home School

Caleb K. Pon

Idaho Technical Career Academy

Corin Stanaway

Inspire Connections Academy

Dainan Aldridge

Kellogg High School

Abdulaziz Musaev

Parker A. Heyden

Kimberly High School

Katelyn Layne

Madison Senior High School

Ryan K. Hymas

Mackay High School

Damien Willman

Meridian Charter High School

Gideon Richmond

North Idaho STEM Charter Academy

Konner Knoll

Owyhee High School

James Campbell

Brayden Harper

Pullman High School

Marigold L. Flagg

Preston High School

Helaman R. Steele

Renaissance High School

Kavya Bansal

Alizandria Bradley

Steven Ha

Charles Hansen

Magdalena Stay

Ridgevue High School

Thomas Amberg

Riverstone International School

Khanh Truong

Rigby High School

Adelyn Anderson

Rocky Mountain High School

Brian Holmes

Seth M. Nelson

Sandpoint High School

Evan R. Brubaker

Conner Kluender

Skyline High School

Gavin Pentz

Timberline High School

Alex C. Atalla

Miles I. Chavarria

Andrew Coon

Jeemin J. Kim

Kayla Lee

Isaac A. Levesque

Bryan B. Li

Randy F. Li

Audrey T. Liu

Jiexi Mei

Evelyn Myers

Jiwon Park

Atharva Tripathi

Joshua Wilson

Jacob Leckie

Thunder Ridge High School

Amalia Spencer

Twin Falls High School

Tyson A. Cory

Darren Yee Su

Wood River High School

Hank Huntsman

Cyrus Pott

Oscar H. Mullen

Click here to follow the original article.

News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

INKOM, Idaho — Old Highway 91 under the Interstate 15 bridges in Inkom will close from March 19 through July 24 to allow crews to continue replacing the bridges in town. During the closure, traffic will be detoured along North Rapid Creek Road and North Inkom Road. 

Last year, the three southbound bridges were replaced. This year, crews are focusing on the northbound bridges, with all work planned to be completed in late October. Freeway traffic has been shifted to the southbound lanes and is reduced to one lane in each direction.

Motorists should watch for crews, use caution, and drive safely through the work zone.

To learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates, visit itd.idaho.gov/project/inkom-corridor/. Motorists can also check 511.idaho.gov for current conditions and closures.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

SALT LAKE, Utah (KIFI) — In a landmark policy shift, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has opened Sunday School presidency roles to women. The change, effective immediately, marks the first time in the faith’s history that women will be eligible to lead the program at the local level.

The First Presidency, the highest governing body of the church, announced the change on March 18, 2026, in a letter to Church leaders worldwide.

“This important change gives bishoprics additional options as they prayerfully consider who should lead the effort of teaching and learning in their wards,” said Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson. “At the time of our call as Sunday School leaders in 2024, the First Presidency gave us a charge—as they have done with previous presidencies—to improve teaching and learning in the Church. There are many capable women and men who can help strengthen gospel instruction and foster spiritual growth.”

Under the updated policy, a Bishop may now choose to call either a man or a woman to serve as the Ward Sunday School President. If a woman is called as president, her counselors and secretary must also be female members of the ward. If a man is called the president, his counselors and secretary must be men.

The announcement carries particular weight in Idaho, home to nearly 400,000 members of the faith. Latter-day Saints account for approximately 25% of Idaho’s population, meaning this administrative change will be felt in almost every community across the state.

Local church members in Idaho Falls shared mixed but thoughtful reactions to the change. Judy Polatis grew up in the church and called the news “a little not normal” when she first heard it.

“I’m kind of old school,” she adds. “We have modern revelation, which helps. The church is always changing, progressing. Change is going to happen and we all just need to love and get used to it.”

Others expressed support for the expanded opportunity. “It is nice to see that women are now in that position” says Kate French, another member from Idaho Falls.

“I think the spirit guides both men and women.”

Traditionally, the faith allowed women to serve as teachers in the Sunday School Program, but leadership roles were previously reserved for men. This news marks a major change in the church’s Sunday school policy.

For more information, click HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bailee Shaw

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — An NFL superstar is coming to eastern Idaho. Taysom Hill, the New Orleans Saints tight end and former BYU quarterback, is making a special stop at Walmart in Rexburg this week.

Hill will be at the garden center tomorrow from 2 to 3:30 p.m. For a meet-and-greet with fans.

Hill grew up right here in Pocatello, attending Highland High School, and made his NFL debut with the Green Bay Packers in 2017.

He just finished his ninth season with the Saints and is known as the “human swiss army knife” for his ability to play multiple roles on offense and special teams.

The event is a partnership with Old Spice, celebrating football and the local community.

Click here to follow the original article.

Danielle Mullenix

Yellowstone, Montana (KIFI) – Yellowstone National Park welcomed nearly 4.8 million recreation visits in 2025, according to a new release from the National Park Service.

The park recorded 4,762,988 visits over the year—an impressive number that comes despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During that time, the National Park Service worked to keep parks open and accessible whenever possible, allowing visitors to continue accessing some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes.

2025 Visitation Highlights

4,762,988 recreation visits

86,891,452 total visitor hours spent in the park

1,238,983 overnight stays

Park officials say these numbers reflect not only Yellowstone’s enduring popularity, but also the importance of maintaining access to public lands—even during challenging circumstances.

courtesy of the Yellowstone National Park Service

Visitation data plays a key role in how the National Park Service manages park resources, staffing, and visitor experience. Officials use these trends to balance conservation efforts with public access, ensuring parks remain both protected and enjoyable.

That demand is also spilling into nearby communities like West Yellowstone, where in-town employees and locals like Cam Carter are already preparing for a busy summer. Carter, who helps operate the Holiday Motel in town, shared that they’ve seen rooms consistently booked out during the summer season.

“The whole town is only one square mile, so it can become very packed,” Carter shared. “We’ve had to turn away people in our motel room every single night at peak season. We definitely have felt that, in the last couple of years, especially since Covid, it’s been a lot busier in the park, since Covid.”

The National Park Service also noted that Yellowstone’s numbers are part of a broader national dataset. Of the 433 sites in the National Park System, 406 parks reported visitation in 2025, with records dating back to 1979 in some locations.

For visitors and park managers alike, the data offers a snapshot of how Americans continue to connect with the outdoors—even in uncertain times.

Click here to follow the original article.

David Pace

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho – The U.S. Forest Service will be conducting controlled burns Wednesday in the Rainey Creek area near Swan Valley.

Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal asks members of the public not to call 911 or emergency services if they see smoke or fire from these controlled operations.

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Facebook page states that the prescribed fire is planned for Rainey Creek in the South Fork Zone’s Palisades Ranger District – encompassing 100 acres, five miles east of Swan Valley.

“We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires,” the Forest Service posted.

Future planned burns will continue through May, covering:

South Fork Zone:

• South Valley – Mike Harris Pile Burning: 300 acres, three miles south of Victor, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

• South Valley – Forest Boundary Pile Burning: 85 acres, four miles west of Victor, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

• Hill Creek: 800 acres, five miles southeast of Driggs, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

Bear River Zone:

• Strawberry: 500 acres, 15 miles west of Montpelier, Idaho, Montpelier Ranger District

For more information, you can visit the official Caribou-Targhee National Forest website.

Click here to follow the original article.

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Falls Fire Department Pipes and Drums rang in Saint Patrick’s Day with the luck of the Irish – performing downtown at Station One.

Eleven firefighters tuned up the bagpipes and showcased their impressive abilities on the drums.

“It takes a lot of air to go through there, so we usually play a song, take a break, harass and joke with each other and, you know, just have a good time,” said Pipe Major Dan Muhlestein.

The firemen and bagpipes tradition dates back to the 1800s, when Scottish and Irish migrants arrived in the United States, picking up the dangerous jobs for employment.

“They’d play their pipes and drums and for their fallen brothers and sisters,” said IFFD Pipes and Drums President Whit Albertson. “So that’s just a tradition that we’re just trying to keep alive today.”

The Pipes and Drums band have performed across the country – at elementary schools, downtown events, Las Vegas and Texas.

“We started in 2005, so this year is 21 years, and we play because we’re firemen,” Muhlestein said.

Their next performance will be in the Fourth of July parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America.

“To the community, they just love to come out and listen to us play bagpipes. We’re not musicians. We’re firefighters,” Albertson said. “But they still love to come hang out, buy the merchandise and listen to us play.”

The Idaho Falls Fire Department Pipes and Drums raise their hats in tribute to fallen firefighters during “Amazing Grace.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A proposed Idaho Falls ordinance would require alcohol servers and security staff to complete a new “Approved Server Training Program,” but at least one city council member says he’s concerned the law, as written, goes too far in punishing workers.

Under the ordinance, current employees would have to be certified by June 1, 2026. New hires would have 60 days from their start date to complete the training. Certifications would be valid for three years, after which employees would be required to take the course again to stay in compliance.

Businesses that hold liquor, beer, or wine licenses would be required to ensure their staff is certified, keep records of those certifications, and present them to law enforcement upon request. Copies of employee certificates would also have to be submitted when applying for a new or lapsed license.

City Council Member John Radford said he supports the idea of training but believes local bar and restaurant owners have legitimate concerns about how the ordinance is structured.

“We did have, at our last City Council meeting, probably five or 10 of the owners come and speak to it, and they overwhelmingly wanted us to find a better solution,” Radford said “All of them said, yes, they’re in favor of training, but the burden of how this was written currently just didn’t meet their needs.”

One of the major areas of concern is the penalty for violating the training requirement. The ordinance makes individual servers, managers, or security personnel who fail to comply guilty of a misdemeanor. 

“We think that the training burden is one. Number two is the misdemeanor is pretty harsh for a judgment call,” Radford said. “You can train people, but ultimately you don’t know that someone comes into your bar that hasn’t already had more drinks than you served them.”

Council members and business owners are expected to continue discussions in the coming months over how to balance safety with less burden on businesses.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 43-year-old Menan man is recovering this afternoon after being injured in a rollover crash along State Highway 33 Tuesday morning, March 17.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash took place around 11:20 AM near milepost 32. The man was reportedly driving north in a 1995 Buick LaSaber when his vehicle drove off the east side of the road and rolled.

The man was fortunately wearing his seatbelt and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The crash is still under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

Click here to follow the original article.