Category: kifi-local-news

Noah Farley

WARM RIVER, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman from Brisbane, Australia, has stopped in Idaho during an amazing hiking trek across the American continents.

Lucy Barnard started hiking in the most southern end of Argentina in 2017. Since then, she’s traveled all the way up to Warm River, Idaho. Her goal is to make it up to the furthest northern reach of Alaska. That would take her over 9,000 miles of travel.

Barnard originally started her journey on a whim when she was on vacation in Argentina. She learned some men had walked the full length of that country, but no women had yet.

“And it just got under my skin a little because I felt like back then hiking and walking couldn’t be that difficult,” Barnard said. “But that’s been a hard and long lesson.”

Since then, Barnard has traveled through beautiful countries like Chile, Peru, and Mexico. She loved seeing the culture, dancing, and art in South America. She says she has a great appreciation for hiking trails here in the United States.

“There is such a strong community, and I really felt helped by the trail through the United States, where it’s the first time I’ve just felt like people understand what I’m doing, and have really been able to get behind me,” she said.

Barnard says she has a strong social media community, where many people have given her encouragement, and she’s been able to give people confidence to travel like she has.

You can learn more about Lucy Barnard, her journey, and her dog, Wombat, here.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —   If you have extra trash from spring cleaning, now may be the time to take it to the dump in Bonneville County.

The transfer station will be the week of May 12th until May 16, 2025, for necessary maintenance, according to the Bonneville County office of Emergency Management.

During that time, household waste can still be taken to the Peterson Hill landfill on Sunnyside Road.

Tires, old refrigerators, air conditioners, used motor oil, and lead-acid batteries can still be dropped off at the transfer station.     

While metal and cardboard will be accepted at the Bonneville County Hatch Pit, 3690 Recycle Rd, Idaho Falls. The hours of operation at the Hatch Pit are Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, and closed on Sundays.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is hosting two open houses to share preliminary plans for upcoming construction to widen I-15 to three lanes from Northgate Pocatello to Blackfoot and replace highway interchanges.

ITD says the end goal is to add three lanes in both directions to the 51 miles of interstate between Pocatello and Idaho Falls.

The project will be completed in three separate, smaller phases: the first phase includes widening I-15 from 5th Avenue in Pocatello to Northgate Pocatello, phase two will be widening from Northgate to Exit 93 in Blackfoot, and during the final phase, crews will widen the highway from Blackfoot to Exit 116 in Idaho Falls.

ITD will host open houses in Blackfoot and Fort Hall to collect public input on their plans to move into phase two of widening the highway through Blackfoot and replacing both highway interchanges on the stretch of interstate.

“We want comments on that from the community so we can adjust whatever plans that we need to adjust,” said Justin Smith, public information officer for ITD’s District 5. “…We’re bringing preliminary plans for comment, there’s still opportunity for their input to change what we’re looking at or to improve what we’re looking at.”

Smith said they are waiting to secure funding for the project from the Transportation Expansion and Congestion Mitigation (TECM) funds, part of Governor Brad Little’s ‘Leading Idaho’ program. After collecting public feedback and securing funding, construction on the project could begin as early as 2030.

The ITD open houses will be Wednesday, April 30, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Blackfoot Community Center in Blackfoot, and Thursday, May 1, from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Shoshone-Bannock Convention Center in Fort Hall.

For more information, you can visit the Idaho Transportation Department website.

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Seth Ratliff

WAYNE, New Jersey (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Spud Kings have defeated the South Shore Kings 2-1 and 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.

Local News 8’s Will Syslo will have the full breakdown tonight on SportsLine.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Animal Shelter is reopening its doors after a health scare.

“Pocatello Animal Services is pleased to report that all ten puppies remaining in our care have continued to test negative for the parvovirus,” said Pocatello Animal Services in a press update. “Following extensive disinfection and containment measures, the shelter is safe to reopen.”

The news comes after four puppies tested positive for canine parvovirus, an incredibly contagious virus common among dogs too young to be vaccinated.

Unfortunately, the four dogs had to be euthanized to prevent the spread of the virus to the rest of the shelter. Pocatello Animal Services says they’ve been working diligently to disinfect all affected areas and implement strict isolation protocols to contain the virus and ensure the safety and well-being of the animals at the shelter.

The shelter will resume normal business hours starting Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

While the shelter is reopening to the public for adoptions and other services, volunteer activities will remain suspended until further notice out of an abundance of caution.

“The ten puppies are still under evaluation and will not be immediately available for adoption,” said shelter directors in the release. “We anticipate they will be ready for adoption in the near future once they are cleared by our shelter veterinarian.

“We sincerely appreciate the community’s patience, understanding, and support as we worked to manage this situation.”

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Curtis Jackson

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police stopped a pickup on I-15 near the south Blackfoot exit 89 after a high-speed chase that started near Pocatello on I-86 milepost 59.  

The chase ended around 11:30 a.m. Monday, just north of the exit. 

It’s unknown why police were chasing them.  

ISP and Bingham County deputies are also searching spots along the Interstate for items that may have been thrown out of the pickup. 

This is a developing story and will be updated as we get more. 

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Monday marked the start of the 2025 Idaho Gives’ annual fundraising campaign.

Each year, Idaho Gives helps nonprofits in the Gem State raise money and awareness.

“We have about 640 different organizations participating this year,” said Idaho Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Impact Director, Evin Vask.

Sponsors and nonprofit representatives gathered at the Idaho Falls Public Library for the campaign’s launch party.

The fundraising campaign will run until Thursday, May 1.

To learn more about local nonprofits and how to donate, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bannock County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died in Thursday’s fatal crash between Fort Hall and Pocatello as 48-year-old Darrin Ralph Moore from Inkom, Idaho.

The driver has been identified as 48-year-old Darrin Ralph Moore of Inkom, Idaho.

On Thursday, April 24, at around 1:55 p.m., Idaho State Police were called to a crash on southbound I-15 at milepost 74.5, north of Pocatello.

According to the ISP, a 2000 Subaru Legacy, driven by a 48-year-old man from Inkom, was traveling southbound on I-15 when traffic began to slow. The Subaru then collided with the rear of a 2019 Audi A6, which was being driven by a 60-year-old man from Idaho Falls and also had a 59-year-old female passenger, also from Idaho Falls.

The driver of the Subaru was not wearing a seatbelt and succumbed to their injuries at the scene of the crash.  The occupants of the Audi were wearing seatbelts and were transported to a nearby hospital.

“My sincere condolences to Darrin’s friends and family,” said Coroner Torey Danner. 

The crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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