Category: kifi-local-news

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Jersey Mike’s is expanding again in eastern Idaho, with a new sandwich shop set to open next month near one of Idaho Falls’ busiest intersections.

Franchise owner Eric Schindler said the new store, located near the intersection of Yellowstone Highway and East Anderson Street, is scheduled to open on April 8. The shop will sit just a block from Fred Meyer.

Schindler said he chose the site because of its access to longtime Idaho Falls residents and workers who pass through the area every day.

“This time, we want to hit actual Idaho Falls — the citizens and the people, the community that’s lived here for a long time and built this community,” Schindler said, “We want to be able to impact them, and that’s really why we picked this location.”

The new store will join an existing Jersey Mike’s in Ammon, which Schindler considers his first Idaho Falls-area shop, even though it sits just across the city line.

“It’s a really good location for us because it’s such a heavy access point right there on Yellowstone,” Schindler said. “INL uses that back property as a parking lot. Fred Meyer is right there. The golf course is right there. So I’m really excited to see what comes.”

The franchise group currently operates five locations, with two more under construction, including the Idaho Falls and Rexburg sites. They have also signed rights for Mountain Home to reach eight Idaho locations by the end of the year.

While the new Idaho Falls location will not be open in time to participate, Schindler’s existing stores — including Ammon and Pocatello — will take part in Jersey Mike’s national “Day of Giving” on March 25.

On that day, all of his open locations will donate 100% of sales to Special Olympics, supporting Idaho athletes traveling to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota.

Throughout March, customers can also donate in stores or round up their change at the register.

Schindler said his Ammon location alone has raised about $10,000 in a single day during past events.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Springing forward this weekend might feel routine, but medical experts say even losing one hour of sleep can still take a serious toll on people’s hearts, safety, and overall health.

Dr. Christopher Valentine, a family medicine doctor and medical director with Optum in Utah and Idaho, said the one-hour jump has been linked to a short-term increase in heart attacks, strokes, and car crashes, especially on the Monday after the time change.

“There is an increase in the incidence,” Valentine said. “When we suddenly shake up our regular circadian rhythm, if someone is already on the edge in terms of their cardiovascular risk, that shift can just push them over.”

Valentine said the health effects underscore how important consistent sleep is to the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure, metabolism, and reaction time.

Instead of trying to force an earlier bedtime the night before daylight saving time begins, Valentine recommends focusing on your wake-up time in the days leading up to the change.

“It’s a lot harder to try to force yourself to go to sleep sooner,” Valentine said. “The key is to slowly start to wake up earlier, so you’re not making that one-hour shift all at once.”

Ideally, people should start adjusting several days to a couple of weeks ahead of the time change.

“Over a few days — or ideally a couple of weeks — wake up a few minutes earlier each day, and get that light exposure in the morning,” Valentine said. “If you can do it gradually, it’s less of a shock to the system.”

That early-morning light helps reset what he called the body’s internal clock. When people make the full one-hour jump all at once, the sudden shift can leave them feeling groggy, irritable, and less able to focus, especially behind the wheel.

Valentine said sleep deprivation can be as dangerous on the road as alcohol.

“Lack of sleep winds up making us just as much at risk of getting behind the wheel of a car as drinking alcohol,” he said. “We have poorer reaction time and less emotional regulation when we’re sleep deprived.”

He added that the problem isn’t limited to adults rushing to work on Monday morning. Children and teenagers who don’t get enough sleep can also experience attention and behavior issues.

“There’s a lot of complications with ADHD, particularly in children, when they have poor sleep,” Valentine said. “With the increased incidence of ADHD, we need to take a really hard look at the way we’re managing and regulating the sleep of our children as well.”

While the exact number of hours varies, Valentine said most adults need at least seven to 7.5 hours of sleep each night, and some people naturally need more.

“Some people need nine hours or more — and that’s normal,” Valentine said. “That’s just what your body needs.”

He stressed that the quality of sleep is just as important as quantity. People who snore heavily, wake up often during the night, or feel exhausted even after a full night in bed should talk with a health care provider.

“The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders is high enough that it’s worth taking a history and doing some testing,” Valentine said. “You could sleep for seven or eight hours, but if you’re not getting restorative sleep, it’s not going to serve your health.”

Valentine said the shift to daylight saving time is a good opportunity to revisit basic “sleep hygiene” habits that can help people year-round:

Keep a consistent wake-up time, even on weekends.

Get light exposure first thing in the morning to help set the body’s internal clock.

Create a quiet, dark sleeping environment with minimal disruptions.

Avoid screens and bright light from phones, tablets and TVs for at least an hour before bed.

Wind down gradually with calm activities like reading or meditation, rather than working or scrolling in bed.

“There is good evidence that a lot of that exposure to light through our devices is signaling to our brain and fooling it into thinking it’s daytime,” Valentine said. “That increases our sleep latency — how long it takes us to fall asleep.”

In recent years, lawmakers across the country have debated whether to make daylight saving time or standard time permanent to avoid the twice-a-year clock change.

“From a medical standpoint, I don’t think there’s any evidence that either one would be preferable if we committed to one or the other,” he said. “But the fact that shift is happening every year, and is putting stress on people’s bodies and increasing their short-term risk, is an indication that we need to look at this really seriously.”

For now, he said, the best most people can do is take their sleep seriously — during the time change and throughout the year.

“Consistency in sleep will lead to better health outcomes,” Valentine said. “We don’t even completely understand why we sleep, but we do know that when we don’t get enough, it affects not just us, but everyone around us.”

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KIVI Staff

Posted 5:56 PM, Mar 04, 2026 and last updated 5:58 PM, Mar 04, 2026

By: Brady Caskey

KUNA, Idaho (KIVI) — Data centers — like the massive one under construction by Meta in Kuna — are popping up across the country, supporting services like artificial intelligence and cloud storage. They also use a lot of power.

As these large-scale power users come online in Idaho, one lawmaker wants to ensure residents don’t see higher utility bills as a result.

“It’s basically a ratepayer protection bill against large data loads,” said Republican Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen.

Mickelsen said other states are already facing issues with big energy consumers raising costs for everyday consumers — she hopes to prevent that in Idaho.

“I want to make sure that the older people that are on fixed incomes and the young families that are trying to get started, they don’t get priced out of affordability in our state because of data centers,” Mickelsen said.

Currently, rate rules are decided by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, but Mickelsen wants guidance written into state law.

House Bill 756 would require any new power customer that needs 20 megawatts or more of power to fund the infrastructure themselves and ensure rate increases aren’t passed on to other customers.

“We have to make sure that our PUC (Public Utilities Commission) has the proper guidance and the proper tools in the toolbox to make sure that they can allocate those costs to the cost-causer, not every user on the system,” explained Mickelsen.

RELATED | Inside the secretive data centers powering the AI boom

For reference, Idaho Power says one megawatt powers about 760 homes — and most data centers use much more than that.

“Typically, those types of facilities [have] energy requirements in the hundreds of megawatts,” said Megan Ronk, Director of Customer Experience & Economic Development with Idaho Power. “That is not the type of energy that we just have available on our systems.”

Ronk said large Treasure Valley projects like Meta’s data center in Kuna and Micron’s $50 billion expansion already fund new electrical infrastructure upfront.

“The reality is that those projects very much pay their own way,” Ronk said.

She acknowledged concerns about rising prices due to massive consumer demand, but said currently, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission ensures rates remain fair for all customers.

“We have a structure in place and have for decades to ensure that that type of cost shifting doesn’t occur,” Ronk said.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls Police are investigating a burglary at the Perfect Light Camera store on 17th Street.

Officers were called out around 2:30 a.m. Thursday after an alarm company reported a break-in. When police arrived, they found one of the doors shattered.

Between the damage and the high‑end camera gear stolen, police say the dollar amount is significant, though they aren’t releasing specifics yet.

If you know anything about this burglary, call Idaho Falls Police at 208-5291200. You can also report tips anonymously through East Idaho Crime Stoppers at ifcrime.org. Tipsters who submit information to Crime Stoppers that leads to a successful arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As tensions continue between Iran and the United States, members of Idaho’s Iranian community are sharing their personal histories, revealing a divide between those who remember the era before the 1979 Revolution and a “burnt generation” that grew up entirely under the current regime.

The “Day and Night” Shift

For those who arrived in the United States decades ago, the memory of their homeland is often tied to the Pahlavi era. One resident, who moved to the U.S. in 1975 to pursue higher education, describes the shift in Iran’s culture and political standing as “day and night”.

“It was better during the Shah’s regime,” said Esmaeil Fallahi, a now-retired professor from the University of Idaho. He cited a time when Iran was a close ally of the United States and Israel. He expressed that the subsequent rise of the Islamic Republic led to a cycle of regional conflict and domestic hardship.

He noted that many Iranian Americans, who now serve as doctors, engineers, and professors in Idaho, still feel a “natural affinity” and friendship toward the United States despite how they are sometimes portrayed in the media.

The “Burnt Generation”

The perspective is starkly different for younger immigrants like Farnoush Davis, a current resident of Idaho. She was only two years old during the 1979 Revolution. She refers to her peers as the “burnt generation”, those who saw none of the country’s former glory under the Shah and instead lived their entire lives under “oppression and tyranny”.

Farnoush, who moved to Idaho in 2008, recalled the daily realities of growing up under Sharia law, including segregated schools and the constant presence of “morality police”.

“I was being stopped and notified that my hair was showing,” Farnoush said, describing the resilience of Iranian women who now stand at the forefront of modern uprisings. “None of them are afraid… they still went out and cried for freedom”.

Despite the small size of the Iranian community in Idaho, many have found the state to be a sanctuary that mirrors the landscapes of their homeland.

“It reminds me of my homeland in Iran,” said Fallahi, comparing the state’s mountains and climate to the Alborz and Zagros ranges found in Iran. 

Davis echoed this sentiment, noting that her transition to life in the northwest was marked by a surprising warmth.

“What I faced was just welcomed,” she said, noting that institutions like Boise State University offered her opportunities and support as a new immigrant. “I feel the same warmth and welcome in Idaho. 

While their backgrounds vary, the message from Idaho’s Iranian community remains unified: a desire for secular governance, the restoration of international friendships, as they once had during the period of the Shah’s regime. 

Davis said, “I’m a proud Iranian… I don’t want to be known as a muslim country. We are a secular country because we have so many religions in our country.” 

She believes that the Islamic Republic has added a “stigma” to Iranians, and Americans can no longer tell the difference between Iran and its neighboring countries. 

Fallahi takes it a step further, diving into the roots of Iran and its rich history. 

“They don’t realize that Iran is the same country that Cyrus the Great came from, which thousands of years ago, he, as the king of Persia, declared freedom for the Jews from the yoke of the Babylonians,” suggesting that Israel is now returning the favor to the Persian people who make up most of Iran’s population. 

A Path Forward

Both Fallahi and Davis suggest that the Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late Shah, represents a link to that era of stability. They believe his leadership could help transition Iran away from what they describe as decades of “oppression and tyranny” and toward the “natural friendship” that once existed between Iran and the United States.

“I want to be able to go back and see my country one more time…” Davis said, “It’s going to be a prosperous, beautiful, great country under a great Pahlavi again hopefully.”

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Kaeden Lincoln

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 5, 2026

by Kaeden Lincoln, IdahoEdNews:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Bonneville School District is weighing staff cuts and could ask patrons for more local funding amid a budget shortfall leaders peg at some $6 million.

Leaders could cut up to 15 certified positions and 25 classified positions next school year in an effort to save around $2.5 million. A reading program priced at around $500,000 could also be on the chopping block. Adjustments could include upping the East Idaho district’s two-year supplemental levy by $8 million.

Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme presented a budget outlook to patrons over Zoom Monday, detailing possible changes resulting from depleting savings and the Legislature’s K-12 funding outlook.

The district’s savings, or fund balance, reached a historic $17.3 million in 2024, thanks to one-time funds from the Legislature to make up for a shift from enrollment-based K-12 funding to the state’s normal attendance-based model after the pandemic.

“We knew back in 2024 that those one-time funds were finished and things were about to start looking drastically different,” Woolstenhulme said Monday.

At the current rate of spending, Bonneville’s fund balance would plummet from $6.6 million this year to $110,000 by 2027, Woolstenhulme said. Three years of shrinking enrollment contribute to the district’s shortfall.

A screenshot of Bonneville Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme’s Zoom presentation on March 2, 2026. (Bonneville School District)

Meanwhile, lawmakers this session have pushed to avoid cutting state funding for K-12. But public schools will still have to slash budgets in the coming year even if state funding remains flat. Local leaders like Woolstenhulme hope to counter messaging from the Statehouse that they’ve been held harmless by the other belt tightening this session. They say increasing costs for utilities, food and employee health insurance are weighing on schools.

Woolstenhulme signaled cuts last week during meetings in Boise. “We are cutting our budget. I think that’s probably true of almost every district in the state,” he told school trustees during a presentation on overseeing budget reductions.

On Monday, Woolstenhulme also floated increasing the district’s supplemental levy to help cover costs for employing paraprofessionals, purchasing classroom supplies and supporting programs for gifted and talented students, full-day kindergarten, P.E., music, student well-being and career-technical learning.

Voters approved the district’s $11.6 million, two-year supplemental levy in 2024. Woolstenhulme proposed increasing the measure to $19.6 million over two years to help absorb costs — something trustees would ultimately have to approve before going before voters.

That discussion will likely happen Wednesday, March 11, Woolstenhulme told EdNews. An increase would cost local property owners.

“I’m currently paying just over $210 per year,” the superintendent said of his house with a roughly $300,000 taxable value. “If the (new levy) were approved, that would go up to $360 a year.”

‘We really didn’t know’

Woolstenhulme also blamed part of the district’s shortfall on the state’s shift back to attendance-based funding after the pandemic. Idaho shifted temporarily to an enrollment-based model but went back to a formula that uses students’ average daily attendance to carve up funding. As a result, state funding for schools fluctuates along with districts’ attendance numbers.

The attendance-based model decreases the district’s funding by about 7% compared to an enrollment-based model, Woolstenhulme said. “We really didn’t know, coming out of the pandemic, whether we would continue to be funded on enrollment or attendance.”

But one lawmaker pushed back on that claim.

Woolstenhulme said Rep. Barbara Ehardt, R-Idaho Falls, told him he should have anticipated returning to attendance-based funding after the pandemic.

The superintendent said Monday that a 2022 bill would have made enrollment-based funding “permanent.” That measure passed the House and Senate before Gov. Brad Little vetoed it.

“We had every hope that we would continue to see enrollment-based funding, a much more stable source of funding,” Woolstenhulme said.

But the bill Little vetoed would have only extended enrollment-based funding through the 2023-24 school year.

After vetoing the bill, Little said he would support a vote by the State Board of Education to continue it “only if attendance drops warranted it.”

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Seth Ratliff

SOUTHEAST IDAHO (KIFI) — Despite the mild winter, the Idaho Transportation Department is sounding the alarm after multiple snowplows were hit Wednesday night in southeast Idaho.

According to an ITD Facebook post, both the second and third snowplow strikes of the season happened last night along I-15. The first snowplow was struck at the Malad rest area after a wrong-way driver collided head-on with the plow. The second happened near Blackfoot, when a driver clipped a plow while it worked to clear the interstate.

“Snowplows are out there to keep roads safe and passable, but they need space to do their job,” states the post. “Please slow down, stay alert, and give plows plenty of room.”

Fortunately, ITD says there were no injuries in either incident.

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Seth Ratliff

HOLLISTER, Idaho (KIFI) — A 53-year-old Twin Falls man is dead after an early morning crash on US-93 north of Hollister.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash took place just after 1:10 AM on March 5th. The man was driving south in the wrong lanes of US-93 when his 2017 Ford F-350 struck the Ford Explorer head-on.

Both drivers were rushed to a local hospital, where the 53-year-old succumbed to his injuries. Neither driver was wearing a seatbelt. 

ISP suspects alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. The northbound lanes of US-93 were blocked for around an hour and a half while emergency responders worked at the scene.

This incident is still under investigation by ISP.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Falls man is facing serious felony drug charges after a major multi-agency narcotics investigation uncovered 40 pounds of illegal substances hidden in his home.

Tuesday, March 3rd, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested 19-year-old Markos Gerardo Ramirez in a major drug investigation in partnership with the Idaho Falls Police Special Investigations Unit, the Madison and Teton County Sheriff’s Offices, the Idaho State Police, and the Department of Homeland Security.

The investigation came to a head around 3:30 that afternoon, when Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at a home on Harvest Run. Due to the suspected presence of weapons inside, the BCSO SWAT team was called in to serve the warrant and maintain safety in the surrounding area.

After SWAT issued commands for those inside to leave the home, two adults and two children exited the building and were detained by police. Investigators then entered the home to find Ramirez hiding in a room and refusing to come out. BCSO says deputies entered the room and safely secured Ramirez without incident.

A thorough search of the property uncovered a massive cache of narcotics and evidence of a trafficking operation. Deputies seized over five pounds of cocaine, more than 30 pounds of marijuana and THC products, and multiple pounds of psilocybin mushrooms and drug-infused edibles. Law enforcement remained on the scene for several hours to process the substantial volume of evidence.

Ramirez was taken to the Bonneville County Jail and booked on felony charges for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, as well as misdemeanor charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. The other adults and children present at the scene were released later that day following the search.

BCSO says this investigation is ongoing and no further information is available at this time.

Ramirez’s preliminary hearing has been set for March 17, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Local News 8 will provide more updates as the case progresses through the Idaho court system.

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office:

BOISE, Idaho — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced today that Idaho has reached a historic settlement agreement ending decades of water rights litigation that threatened existing water users across north Idaho. On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Attorney General Labrador and Governor Brad Little will join Chairman Chief Allan and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council and affected stakeholders for a ceremonial signing of the water rights settlement agreement, which protects existing water right holders both within and outside the Reservation.

When Attorney General Labrador took office in January 2023, he immediately prioritized resolving the uncertainty surrounding this economically and socially consequential litigation in order to protect all north Idaho communities. The State participated in complex negotiations involving the Tribe, federal government, and more than 300 stakeholders including the cities of Coeur d’Alene, St. Maries, and Harrison, Benewah County, private water users across the basin, and major employers like Buell Bros., Inc, Hagadone Hospitality, Avista Corporation, Hecla Limited, and Potlatch.

“This settlement is a massive win for all north Idaho families, businesses, and communities who depend on reliable water,” said Attorney General Labrador. “For over a decade, this litigation created uncertainty for cities, farms, and employers across the basin. Courts had already held that the tribe was entitled to certain water rights on the Reservation that could affect the region. This settlement avoids continued litigation, protects existing water rights, secures water for future growth, and it is a win for all parties.”

What Idaho Secured:

Protection of most existing water rights: The Tribe agreed to recognize and protect all existing state law-based water rights, licenses, permits or claims with a date of September 6, 2023, or earlier. 

Room for future growth: The Tribe agreed to recognize and protect an additional 10,000 acre-feet per year of future state law-based water rights, ensuring north Idaho cities and communities can grow responsibly.

Restrictions on Federal Overreach: The agreement provides a framework ensuring that use of water protected or established in the agreement isn’t swept up into federal overreach under the Clean Water Act or the Endangered Species Act.

Final resolution: The settlement fully and finally resolves all tribal water rights claims. No future lawsuits, no uncertainty, and significant legal protection for Idaho water users.

Zero cost to Idaho taxpayers: The State will not provide direct funding to the Tribe under the settlement.

What the Tribe Receives:

Certain quantities of water: The Tribe gains defined judicially recognized quantities for their federal reserved water rights and affirms its opportunities to develop the natural resource within the Reservation, while protecting the rights of both tribal and non-tribal Idaho citizens.

Control of tribal water: The Tribe retains authority to manage its water resources within the Reservation. The agreement also authorizes creation of a tribal water supply bank allowing the Tribe to lease water off the Reservation.

Ongoing collaboration: State support for federal legislation providing funds for tribal water infrastructure. The Tribe will seek $500 million from Congress for implementation of the agreement and for water infrastructure improvements and other uses. The agreement stands regardless of whether or how much Congress appropriates.

Historical Background:

Following creation of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation by Executive Order in 1873, the question of what water rights the Tribe acquired has remained unresolved for over 150 years. Idaho courts, including the Idaho Supreme Court in 2019, have held that the Tribe was entitled to implied federal reserved water rights on their Reservation with some priority dates reaching back to time immemorial. These rights would have been senior to most every city, farm, business, and homeowner in the Coeur d’Alene-Spokane River Basin. Without the settlement, continued litigation would be required to determine how much water would be held in trust by the United States for the Tribe’s use and development, creating years of uncertainty for water users across the region.

The agreement is a victory for all parties and requires approval from the Idaho Legislature during the 2026 session and authorization from Congress.  Throughout these next steps, Attorney General Labrador will continue his efforts to protect the rights of all Idaho citizens and families. 

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