Category: kifi-local-news

Ryan Suppe

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on March 27, 2026

By: Ryan Suppe

BOISE, Idaho — The coalition that unsuccessfully challenged Idaho’s private education tax credit has settled attorney fees with the state — but it’s unclear at what amount. 

Last month, the Idaho Supreme Court rejected the coalition’s petition seeking to block the Parental Choice Tax Credit from taking effect. The court’s five justices unanimously agreed that the challengers failed to convince them that the state’s first private school choice program, enacted last year through House Bill 93, is unconstitutional. 

The justices also awarded “reasonable” attorney fees to the Idaho State Tax Commission, compensating the state for successfully defending the program in a lawsuit that spanned more than four months. 

Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s office requested $106,827.50 for defending the Tax Commission. The coalition agreed to an amount that was settled in negotiations between the two parties, according to court filings this week. 

A spokesman for Labrador’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Mike Journee, spokesman for the coalition, said he was tracking down details.  

In a Feb. 19 filing, Labrador’s office said that its attorneys spent about 435 hours on the lawsuit — excluding work by six other attorneys, many of them supervisory attorneys, who do not typically track their time. 

“Opposing the petition was no small endeavor,” the filing said.

A breakdown of the attorney general’s request for legal fees.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court published an order that said “parties have come to an agreement” resolving the Tax Commission’s request for attorney fees, and “there is no need for the court to issue a ruling.”

The coalition that challenged the tax credit includes the Idaho Education Association (IEA), Moscow School District, two advocacy groups — Mormon Women for Ethical Government and the Idaho Committee to Preserve and Protect the Constitution — and several individuals. 

Journee, spokesman for the IEA and the coalition, declined previous requests from Idaho Education News to explain which members are financially responsible for the lawsuit. “Members of the coalition” will pay the attorney fees, he said last month.

EdNews previously sought details on how the coalition was paying its own attorneys but was similarly stonewalled. The group hired Hawley Troxell, a Boise law firm, to argue its case. 

The coalition divided “responsibilities of payment,” according to an attorney engagement agreement with the firm, obtained by EdNews through a public records request with the Moscow School District. 

But the agreement only shows that Moscow’s payment responsibility is 0%. The district redacted all other details, citing an exemption in the Idaho Public Records Act that shields privileged information between attorneys and their clients. 

Applications for the tax credit closed on March 15. The Tax Commission received 6,069 applications covering 13,568 students.

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Seth Ratliff

BUTTE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A semi-truck crash on State Highway 33 caused major delays on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, first responders say the driver involved walked away with only minor injuries.

According to Idaho State Police (ISP), the accident happened around 2:45 Sunday afternoon near milepost 6. A 48-year-old Twin Falls man was driving a Western Star Auto Car hauling a trailer eastbound when he lost control of the vehicle.

The truck tipped on its side, but ISP says the 48-year-old driver from Twin Falls was wearing his seatbelt and preventing serious harm.

The crash blocked the eastbound lanes for about eight hours as crews worked to clear the wreckage. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho- High gas prices are affecting people and how they budget.

Although gas prices are going down, they are still nearly double from February. These higher costs are creating strains in people’s spending, causing stress, and forcing budget cuts as the prices show no signs of going down.

Bob Nisbet and his wife are traveling from Alberta, Canada. He said he’d spent over $140 to fill up his truck. This price would be cut in half this time last month.

“The prices have gone up here and in Canada, no matter where you are. I don’t like it but, you know what? Life’s not always fair, right?” Bob said. “It’s more expensive, but we had to come down here to pick up her trailer in Arizona.”

Locals are also struggling with the high costs, like Lori Clark, who lives far away from town.

“[The prices] definitely affects me as a rural school teacher. And I live 50 miles away and Idaho Falls is town for us. So for anything, yeah, it gets a little costly,” Lori said. “It is difficult… for people who live in very small towns and where there’s not a lot of resources… And a lot of the people that live in my community drive every day to work, closer to Idaho Falls.”

About 70% of Americans drive to work, making cars an essential part of daily life. So many are forced to cut down on spending on groceries, personal items, or even saving their earnings.

To find the best price for your budget, you can check out Local News 8’s Gas Tracker and save your hard earned money.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Thousands of people took to the streets across Southeast Idaho, including Idaho Falls and Rexburg on Saturday as part of nationwide “No Kings” rallies, organized to push back against what participants call government overreach.

RELATED: “No Kings” Protest fills streets from Caldwell Park to Bannock Courthouse

In Idaho Falls, roughly 1,100 protesters lined the Broadway Bridge and surrounding sidewalks, waving signs as passing cars honked in support.

“So I think it’s important nationwide and specifically southeast Idaho, because I think it really reflects the the people of this community are very dissatisfied with the current administration at the national level, and they see how that is mirrored in our own state legislator and our own state government,” Chance Marshall, one of the organizers, said.

In Idaho Falls, roughly 1,100 protesters lined the Broadway Bridge and surrounding sidewalks, waving signs as passing cars honked in support.

“This is really us just showing that, you know, we’re not going to stand for politicians and administrations that are going to take away rights of individuals, and we’re going to let our voice be heard,” Marshall said.

In Rexburg, one of the organizers said the rally matters especially in smaller communities.

“A big reason for having it is to bring people together in this area, which can be super isolating,” said Rebecca T., an organizer. “If you have a more liberal standpoint or more democratic standpoint, or even just in the middle, it can be pretty isolating. So this serves as a way to share resources, build camaraderie, and to show our representatives like, hey, we’re not going to be quiet. We are going to make some noise.”

Some attendees said they came simply to show support and connect with others. Lillian Bridenthal, one attendee, shared her perspective:

“I’m just here to support. This is what I believe in. I love these people here. I like the community. I want to meet new friends. I just don’t think what’s going on right now is quite right,” said Bridenthal.

Counter protesters also attended across the street, one expressed surprise with the turnout but emphasized the importance civil discussion.

“It kind of shocks me that this many people showed up in Rexburg, Idaho to protest Trump. But after talking to some of them, I kind of understand where they’re coming from,” said Aiden McArthur, a counter-protester and podcaster on “Young Patriots USA”. “Personally, unaffiliated with the podcast, but I do support Trump more than the average person here. We’re here to promote civil discussion, talk to people, and help them realize that we’re divided for a reason. You know, we argue about things, but it’s all crafted by the people above us, and we’re trying to fight that power.”

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Maile Sipraseuth

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)– The Madison Fire Department is urging residents to take extra precautions when conducting controlled burns, as crews respond to a growing number of fires that have gotten out of control.

In a recent press statement, officials emphasized their “Don’t Burn and Turn” campaign, a reminder that anyone starting a fire should never leave it unattended.

According to the department, Madison County has seen a significant spike in controlled burns spreading beyond their intended areas. These incidents are putting pressure on local fire and EMS resources and creating dangerous conditions across the community.

Over the past several weeks, crews have responded to fires caused by burns that were not properly managed. They say many of these incidents are preventable and often linked to:

Controlled burns not being registered

Burns conducted during poor weather or wind conditions

Fires being left unattended

Fires not fully extinguished before leaving

Attempting to burn piles, or start fires, that are too large

Spring weather is also playing a role. Fire officials warn that winds can quickly pick up in the afternoon, carrying embers long distances and sparking new fires in grass, brush, or even structures. In one recent case, a controlled burn spread and ignited an abandoned house.

Madison Fire says crews are frequently pulled from stations to respond to burn-related incidents, forcing off-duty personnel to return to work and requiring assistance from neighboring departments.

This can delay response times to other emergencies, including medical calls and structure fires.

Madison county is asking all residents to follow these critical safety steps before conducting a controlledburn:

Avoid burning on windy days, especially in the afternoon.

Register your controlled burn – there is no cost to do this. Doing so simply notifiesMadison Fire Department and Madison County Dispatch of your burn and outlines theguidelines for burning safely.

Follow all burn guidelines.

Never leave a fire unattended.

Ensure the fire is completely extinguished and cold to the touch before leaving.

Burn small piles or areas that can be easily controlled.

Check the weather for the day(s) you will be burning.

For questions, please contact Madison Fire Department at (208) 359-3010.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Marching from Caldwell Park to Bannock Courthouse, Protestors lined the streets to have their voices heard.

There were 17 No Kings Protests going on across Idaho and many more across the nation.

“I really, I just also love when this happens. You see someone driving by who may be from out of the country, and as an immigrant, and realizes, oh, there are people that care. There are a lot of people who care more people that care than you know,” said Joseph Foxbourough, one of the protest organizers.

There have been protests every 3 protests in the last 9 months, and the organizers believed there were more to come.

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David Pace

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Gov. Brad Little made the difficult decision to sign legislation impacting disabled Idahoans on Thursday – cutting the Medicaid budget by $21.8 million dollars.

The cuts impact housing programs and services for people with disabilities – reducing the rates paid to residential habilitation providers by 10 percent.

“It’s been a tough year, and it’s not easy for anybody in the Statehouse to make these cuts or to make these decisions,” said State Sen. Julie VanOrden, R-District 30, who serves as Health and Welfare Committee Chairwoman.

The program serves disabled individuals who require various levels of care, including people with Down Syndrome or severe mental illnesses whose families can’t care for them.

Many of these individuals require intensive, 24-hour care, but the program also benefits individuals who simply require additional help to be independent.

“The money flows from the state to the providers to either the caregivers directly or to the clients, and then they pay their caregivers. I would hope somewhere along that line that if a reduction was going to be made, that it would not be to the caregivers or the clients,” VanOrden said. “I would hope it would be made somewhere else, so they would not be affected by these reductions.

Idaho spends more than $176 million each year on residential habilitation.

The 10 percent cut includes last year’s four percent holdback on Medicaid.

But even with the reduction, overall funding is 33 percent higher than it was four years ago, VanOrden said.

In 2022, the Legislature allocated an additional $70 million to the program, plus $22 million to provide additional services.

In passing House Bill 863, the Idaho House and Senate voted to advance the Governor’s original budget recommendations.

“I would hope that people understand that if we receive more income, I would like to be able to take those funds and use them to restore some of these reductions that are being made,” she said.

VanOrden has a record of restoring programs if funding is available.

This year, she succeeded in securing opioid settlement funds to bring back funding for the ACT mental health program that had been cut earlier in the session.

Local News 8 will follow up with next week with providers who offer housing to individuals with disabilities to learn more about how the cuts will impact those they serve.

In this file image, Gov. Brad Little signs a bill into law.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is entering what organizers describe as a “final big push” to place medical cannabis on the November 2026 ballot, following years of gridlock in the legislature.

The proposed Idaho Medical Cannabis Act would legalize the use of marijuana for patients with pre-approved medical conditions. Amanda Watson, Communications Lead for the Alliance, says the initiative is popular despite legislative opposition.

“We see lots of different people reaching out with various conditions. And there are lots of really incredible stories. And I think it’s a privilege not to have one of those stories. I hope that we can see some empathy from those, those folks who may or may not necessarily understand it as much, to be open-minded about what this could really do for patients in Idaho.” Watson said.

The Alliance has modeled its proposal after Utah’s medical cannabis law, though Watson notes they have made it more conservative. These measures include a limited number of production licenses to prevent market saturation and a total ban on public advertisements.

“We knew that we needed to have a very conservative approach that allowed for oversight, that allowed for restrictions that did not make this a free-for-all,” Watson said.

The push comes as the Idaho Legislature introduced new measures Friday to further restrict the citizen initiative process. Additionally, voters will decide on HJR 4 in 2026, a constitutional amendment that would give the legislature exclusive authority over the legalization of controlled substances.

Despite the legislative resistance, Watson points to internal polling showing that 83% of Idaho voters support a medical cannabis program. She says the campaign has seen particularly strong momentum in eastern Idaho and is now focused on meeting the requirements for the initiative to be placed on the ballot.

“This is our opportunity in a democracy to voice our opinion,” Watson said. “While disappointing that we were not able to get any traction with our legislature, we have it with the voting public, and we believe this will pass.”

The initiative was inspired in part by the experience of the late Dr. Dori Tunney, a pediatrician and cancer patient who advocated for legal access to medical cannabis for pain management before she died in 2024.

“It was a very difficult thing to manage,” said Watson. “And that kind of set off a light bulb where she felt this should be accessible.”

The Alliance has until the end of April to collect signatures from 6% of registered voters in each of Idaho’s 35 legislative districts. Organizers say they are maintaining regional offices and a presence at major community events across the state to meet the deadline.

“We are pushing and pushing and pushing until that final bell rings,” Watson said. “We really want people to be able to vote on this in November.”

For more information on how you can support the measure, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: MARCH 30, 2026

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes are mourning the loss of William “Bill” F. Bacon, a longtime Tribal Judge and “tireless advocate” who passed away in a crash near Pocatello on Thursday, March 26. The Bannock County coroner’s office has confirmed Bacon was the victim in Thursday’s fatal passenger car vs. semi crash along I-15.

Tribal Leadership says Bacon will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue to guide and benefit the Tribes for generations to come. Bacon is remembered for 37 years of transformative service to the Tribes.

Crash Details

According to ISP, the crash took place at 7:12 AM on Interstate 15 at mile marker 69. Police say Bacon was traveling north on I-15, driving a 2002 Nissan Altima. At the same time, a 2003 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer, driven by a 39-year-old male from Utah, was traveling southbound on I-15.

Police say Bacon’s Nissan Altima left the roadway, crossed through the median, and collided with the semi-truck head-on. Bacon was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene of the crash.

“My deepest condolences go out to Mr. Bacon’s family, friends, and the community whose lives he impacted in Southeast Idaho,” said Coroner Torey Danner.

The crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

RELATED: Pocatello man killed in head-on collision with semi-truck on I-15

A “Steadfast Protector” of Tribal Rights

Bacon’s career was defined by his commitment to tribal sovereignty, serving 24 years as General Counsel and 12 years as Tribal Judge.

In a Facebook post, the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal leadership shared several of Bacon’s notable achievements, characterizing him as a “steadfast protector” of Tribal rights. Alongside his legal team, he secured landmark victories that fundamentally reshaped the legal landscape for Indigenous people.

Restoring Treaty Rights: Bacon played a pivotal role in the U.S. Supreme Court effort that overturned the 1896 Ward v. Racehorse decision, restoring off-reservation hunting and fishing rights denied since Idaho’s statehood. Tribal leadership says he also successfully defended those rights in multiple Idaho Supreme Court challenges.

The FMC Landmark Case: He served as counsel in the historic FMC Corporation litigation regarding hazardous waste storage. To this day, Tribal leadership says it remains unique in U.S. legal history as the only one to satisfy both Montana exceptions for tribal jurisdiction over non-Indians.

Tribal Independence: Bacon also secured a multi-million-dollar fuel tax victory, further supporting the Tribes’ fiscal independence.

A graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Idaho, Bacon was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar Association and, in 2023, received the Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished Attorney award.

Beyond the courtroom, Bacon deeply embraced Shoshone-Bannock culture, participating in traditional sweat lodge and sundance ceremonies. In a statement released Friday, Tribal leadership expressed deep gratitude for Bacon’s lifetime of dedication.

“Bill Bacon’s legacy is written in restored treaty rights, protected sovereignty, and resources secured for our people through his leadership and collaboration with his legal team,” said Chairwoman Donna Thompson. “He has been more than counsel—he has been a steadfast guardian of our future and a dear friend of the Tribes.”

Bill Bacon is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their three daughters.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A controversial proposal that would criminalize those using public bathrooms that don’t match an individual’s biological sex is heading to Governor Brad Little’s desk. House Bill 752 passed the Idaho Senate on Friday morning. Should Governor Little sign it, it would mark a significant expansion of the state’s existing trans bathroom ban.

While the 2023 law already mandates that Idaho schools regulate bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex, HB 752 would extend these restrictions to all government and public buildings.

Under the proposed legislation, it would be illegal for any individual to “knowingly or willfully” enter a bathroom or locker room that does not correspond with their biological sex. The bill introduces strict criminal consequences. A first-time violation is classified as a misdemeanor, while a second offense would be a felony.

The bill has sparked a fierce divide within the Statehouse. Opponents have lambasted the legislation as an ‘unacceptable and discriminatory misuse of the criminal justice system.’

Supporters argue the bill is meant to keep women and girls safe and keep biological men out of areas designed for women. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Ben Toews, R-Pocatello, says he believes the legislation is a matter of protecting Idahoans.

“Actually, what we are trying to solve here is not targeting any group of people or one person. It’s dealing with sexual predators and very real issues,” Toews told lawmakers.

The bill faced unanimous opposition from the Senate’s six Democrats, joined by one Republican holdout, Senator Jim Guthrie (R-Pocatello). Guthrie questioned the practicality and humanity of the mandate, arguing that transgender people will get in trouble no matter what they do.

“We seem to be really focused on this space and ignoring the fact that there are people just like us,” Guthrie argued. “What are they supposed to do? I think stuff like this is harmful.”

ACLU Calls for Gubernatorial Veto

Immediately following the vote, the ACLU of Idaho issued a statement calling on Governor Brad Little to veto the bill, labeling it “dangerous and unprecedented.”

“This bill’s proposed punishments for using public facilities are extreme and unnecessary. A trans person who enters a restroom that aligns with their gender identity could receive the same punishment as someone convicted of a violent crime,” said ACLU of Idaho spokesperson Taylor Munson.

The ACLU further argued that the government’s responsibility is to protect the dignity and freedom of all Idahoans, regardless of gender identity. Governor Little now has 5 working days to sign or veto the bill. If the governor does not sign or veto the bill within five days, while the legislature is in session, the bill automatically becomes law without a signature.

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