Category: kifi-local-news

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho is solving its labor shortage one excavator at a time. Through the ICONIC program, a collaboration between the Idaho Transportation Department and the Department of Labor, residents are trading their resumes for steering wheels. By combining two weeks of high-tech simulation with hands-on machinery operation, the program is transforming career-changers into certified operators in just one month.

“There’s more money going into heavy construction projects than ever before,” one program official said. “And because of an aging workforce, we don’t have enough workers who are going into the trades.”

The program offers real-world training led by industry veterans. Out of 78 applicants, only six were selected for the current four-week academy.

For many students, the academy is a lifeline in a tightening job market.

“I was on the job search… it’s kind of tough out there,” said student Jeffrey Stevens. “I’ve learned a lot of skills in just three weeks. We’re learning about safety and vehicle maintenance because these machines are very expensive. I’m looking forward to full-time employment.”

The program specifically targets individuals looking for a career pivot. Among the six selected is Jahaira Lopez, the only woman in the current group. Lopez moved to Idaho from Orlando, Florida, with a background in construction and a goal to master the industry’s largest machinery.

“For me, where I was at in life, this was an amazing option,” Lopez said. “The achievement is just as good as a four-year or two-year degree. It’s just an honor to be selected.”

The curriculum begins with two weeks of high-tech simulations before students are permitted to operate actual machinery. By the end of the month, students earn industry-recognized certifications in equipment operation, as well as traffic control and flagging.

Instructor Chase Arnold said, “Everyone’s getting a chance to get on the machines and learn the basic stuff. The more time they already have in machines, the more confident they can be on the job and operate them safely.”

Officials say the program is a direct solution to the state’s labor shortage, proving that in Idaho’s growing economy, the only requirement for success is a willingness to get dirty.

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News Team

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Facing a system operating at over 100% capacity, the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) has begun transferring hundreds of incarcerated men to a private facility in Arizona.

On Thursday, IDOC officials confirmed that 120 inmates have already been moved to the Central Arizona Florence Correctional Complex. According to a news release, IDOC intends to transfer an additional 200 men in the coming weeks as the state grapples with a lack of bed space that has spilled over into local county jails.

IDOC Director Bree Derrick emphasized that while sending Idahoans out of state is not the preferred option, it is currently the only viable way to manage a prison population that is pushing the state’s infrastructure to the limit.

“These out-of-state transfers are not a long-term solution, but they are a necessary step to responsibly manage our population and strengthen partnerships with county jails,” said Bree Derrick, Director of the Idaho Department of Correction.

The overcrowding has created a bottleneck in the justice system, often leaving individuals who belong in state prisons stuck in local county jails that aren’t equipped for long-term housing. To help mitigate this issue, IDOC recently contracted with Jefferson, Bonneville, and Adams counties to house nearly 200 inmates locally.

“By working together, we can ensure individuals in our custody are placed safely and securely while supporting public safety across Idaho,” said Derrick.

IDOC says it recognizes that out-of-state transfers can be challenging for individuals and their families. To minimize the impact, the department says it uses a specific screening process for those being sent out of state.

“Our priority is to ensure those in our custody are placed in safe, secure environments while we continue working toward long-term solutions here in Idaho,” states the news release. “Individuals selected for out-of-state transfers are carefully screened, including for medical needs, and are chosen based on institutional needs, sentence length, security classification, and available bed space.”

IDOC says individuals sent out of state early in their sentence are expected to return to Idaho custody well before their release dates. Returning inmates will also receive priority opportunities for local programming and reentry services to support their reintegration into society.

“IDOC will continue exploring solutions—including partnerships and contracts—that balance system capacity, public safety, and the needs of local communities,” states the release. For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Sheriffs’ Association (ISA) is pushing back against what it calls a “deliberate attempt” by out-of-state political forces to resurrect a controversial immigration enforcement bill that died in a Senate committee.

The backlash follows reports that Stephen Miller, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Homeland Security Advisor, allegedly contacted Idaho’s executive and legislative leadership on March 17 to pressure them to resurrect House Bill 659.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller speaks to Tennessee Safe Task Force members and Tennessee National Guard Soldiers, Photo Date: 10/01/2025 (MGN)

The bill, which would mandate that all local law enforcement enter 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), had died in the Idaho Senate’s State Affairs Committee just the day before.

Following the alleged call from D.C., the Senate State Affairs Committee pressed forward this week reintroducing printing three draft pieces of legislation.

State Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, (R)-Rupert, presented draft bills regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and an Idaho Refugee and Illegal Alien Accountability Act. State Senator Lori Den Hartog, (R)-Meridian, presented a third draft bill on Federal Immigration Detainers.

An “Affront to Democracy”

In a scathing letter to the Idaho Legislature, Idaho Sheriffs’ Association President Dave Hansen denounced the move to bypass the State Affairs Committee’s March 16th decision. He labeled the immigration mandate redundant, costly, and a violation of local control.

“For leadership to try to resurrect the bill because they didn’t like the committee’s answer after fair debate is disingenuous,” Hansen wrote. “Idaho law should be written by Idahoans, rather than driven by pressure from Washington, D.C.”

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue becomes the 84th President of the National Sheriffs’ Association. Photo Date: June 27, 2024.

Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, a former president of the National Sheriff’s Association, was equally blunt about the legislative overreach. Watch our complete interview with Sheriff Donahue below.

“Pick a side. Get off the fence,” Donahue said in an interview with Local News 8. “We are either for conservative values and local control, or you want to piecemeal it out at your discretion when it feels good or when you’re in a campaign. You’re political posturing. Why does the legislature feel they should mandate that sheriffs do the federal government’s job?”

What is the 287 (g) Program

ICE 287(g) Program Map courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The 287(g) program delegates limited federal immigration enforcement authority to designated local officers, allowing them to identify, process, and detain illegal aliens with pending criminal charges. 

According to ICE’s website, the program operates under three main models:

Jail Enforcement Model: Identifies removable aliens already in local custody.

Task Force Model: Allows officers to exercise immigration authority during routine duties.

Warrant Service Officer (WSO): Authorizes local officers to execute ICE administrative warrants.

While several Idaho counties have already opted into these programs voluntarily, the ISA stresses that many have chosen not to opt into the program due to the financial and manpower costs involved.

“We don’t have the facilities. We don’t have the manpower. We don’t have people that we can put out on task forces,” explains Donahue.

The Hidden Cost of Mandates

Supporters of HB 659 argue that ICE reimburses the costs for training and equipment. However, Sheriff Donahue argues those promises ignore the reality of a national police shortage.

“[Supporters] say ‘they’re going to give you cars,’ ‘they’re going to give you overtime.’ Yeah, they would. But I still have to send my people out for training,” Donahue explained. “I have to take commissioned patrol officers off the streets. I can’t just reach into a bucket and hire some more patrol officers. It takes a year and $100,000 to get somebody trained through the academy and onto the road.”

Redundancy: A Solution in Search of a Problem?

The ISA stresses that Idaho sheriffs already partner regularly with federal authorities. According to President Hansen, sheriffs currently share booking information, honor lawful detainers, and coordinate transfers effectively.

“Any claim that Idaho sheriffs are failing in this responsibility is false and misleads the public,” Hansen wrote.

“There is not one example in the state of Idaho where a jail or a sheriff’s officer or a police officer, a chief of police, has not answered the call of ICE or any of our federal partners, such as DEA, ATF, FBI. We work in concert with them,” echoes Sheriff Donahue.

Beyond the financial impact, the ISA argues the bill contradicts the core Idaho value of local control. The legislation would not only mandate participation in the current 287(g) program but also force local agencies to join “any future program or successor” created by the federal government.

“You are bringing a solution to a problem that does not exist in Idaho,” Donahue warned. “What if the next federal administration doesn’t want to enforce ICE? We would be caught between the federal and state governments. Who do we answer to, and who sues us first?”

The ISA concluded its letter by urging lawmakers to reject any “rushed or opaque” attempts to repackage the bill, insisting that any policy of this magnitude must include the input of the officers responsible for carrying it out.

Local News 8 has reached out to Governor Little for comment on the alleged call from Stephen Miller and how that is impacting the legislative process. We’ll provide further updates as we receive a response.

The Idaho Sheriff’s Associtation full letter to the members of the Idaho Legislature is included below.

ISA Letter in response to HB659Download

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InvestigateWest

By Whitney Bryen

Originally Published: March 26, 2026 by InvestestigateWest

BOISE, Idaho — A bill that would make it easier for prosecutors to charge prison staff accused of sexually abusing inmates passed the Idaho Senate on Tuesday and is now awaiting final approval from Gov. Brad Little. 

House Bill 696 was introduced by Idaho Falls Republican Rep. Marco Erickson in response to InvestigateWest reporting that exposed sexual abuse of women by prison guards — most of whom avoided criminal consequences. Reporters found 37 prison workers accused in the last decade of sexual misconduct toward incarcerated women. Only three were criminally charged. 

Prison officials, prosecutors and police blamed an Idaho law, in part, for making it difficult to punish the accused.  

Idaho’s “sexual contact with a prisoner” law limits the definition of sexual abuse when the victim is an inmate. The more than 30-year-old statute protects inmates from abuse only when prison staff touch the victim’s genitals or when they’re made to touch the genitals of staff, omitting kissing, groping and grabbing. 

House Bill 696 would make it a felony for jail and prison staff to have “any willful physical contact, over or under the clothing, when the physical contact is done with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passion, or sexual desires of the actor or any other person.” The current law, written by a former Ada County deputy prosecutor, carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and lacks a mandatory minimum sentence, leaving penalties up to the judge’s discretion. The bill does not change that.  

The bill passed with 34 senators voting in favor and one absent. If it’s signed by the governor, the updated law would bring the state more in line with federal standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, which prohibit all inappropriate touching, harassment and even voyeurism.

Gov. Little responded to journalists’ findings in October with a statement saying he would order the Board of Correction to review the cases in question and that “transparency and the public’s confidence in state government are top priorities.” But the review was never ordered and is not forthcoming, according to Little’s communications director, Emily Callihan. Last month, the governor’s office supported a decision by the prison system and the agency that certifies law enforcement to conceal information about officers’ employment histories that makes it more difficult to ensure accountability for officers accused of misconduct.   

Callihan did not respond to questions this week about whether Little planned to sign the bill. Rep. Erickson said he is confident that Little will approve it since there were no opposing votes in the House or the Senate. 

Other state laws make it illegal to touch the groin, inner thighs, buttocks, breasts or genital area of any person, including an inmate, without their consent. But those laws don’t recognize the power that prison staff hold over the people in their custody and, therefore, require prosecutors to prove that the victim did not consent. Incarcerated victims often go along with or reluctantly agree to sexual requests from guards because they fear retaliation if they say no. That’s why specific laws like “sexual contact with a prisoner” are written to protect people behind bars. 

Middleton Republican Sen. Tammy Nichols, who sponsored the bill in the Senate, told lawmakers that the bill is needed to address ongoing sexual misconduct in state prisons. 

“Unfortunately, these types of incidents are happening within our female population, and it is important for this law to be clear so there are no questions about what behavior is prohibited,” Nichols said.  

Idaho has the nation’s highest women’s incarceration rate, according to federal data, which Nichols said “makes it even more important that we have clear protections and accountability within our correctional system.” 

Tina Transue, the Department of Correction’s government relations adviser, said the department supports the bill, saying it “gives us more teeth.”

InvestigateWest (investigatewest.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. Contact reporter Whitney Bryen at whitney@investigatewest.org or 208-918-2458. 

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Two convicted fentanyl traffickers will spend a combined 20 years in federal prison after a police tip led parole officers to uncover their drug operation.

Earlier this month, U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Marcos Gallegos, 43, of Pueblo, Colorado, to 188 months (over 15 years) in federal prison. His partner, Morgan Galloway, 25, of Pocatello, Idaho, was sentenced to 5 years.

According to court documents, the investigation began on August 22, 2024. Probation and parole officers with the Idaho Department of Corrections searched the pair’s Pocatello apartment after receiving a tip from the Pocatello Police Department that the two were actively selling drugs.

The search uncovered 122.78 grams of fentanyl along with a firearm. After obtaining a search warrant for the pair’s storage unit, police discovered $28,000 in cash made through selling drugs.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges on December 11, 2025.

Judge Nye ordered Gallegos’ 188-month federal sentence to be served consecutively to two seven-year state sentences he is already serving for drug-related cases in Bannock County. Following his release from prison, Gallegos will face five years of supervised release.

Galloway was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: March 26, 2026, 12:30 PM

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State Police is investigating a head-on semi-truck vs. passenger car crash that claimed the life of a 69-year-old Pocatello man Thursday morning.

According to ISP, the crash took place at 7:12 AM on Interstate 15 at mile marker 69. Police say the Pocatello man 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 the Nissan Altima left the roadway, crossed through the median, and collided with the semi-truck head-on.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene of the crash. The driver of the semi-truck was wearing a seatbelt.

The southbound lanes of travel on Interstate 15 were blocked for approximately 4.5 hours.

This crash is under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A crash involving a semi-truck and a passenger car has stalled traffic along I-15 Southbound near E Center St. in Pocatello. Authorities are reporting the crash was fatal.

According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the accident occurred shortly after 7:00 AM near mile marker 69, close to the East Center Street exit. Investigators say the crash involved a 2002 Nissan Altima and a commercial semi-truck.

Lt. Todd Orr of the Idaho State Police confirmed that an adult male was killed in the crash.

All lanes and the Pocatello Creek Rd. on ramp to I-15 southbound are currently blocked as crews work to clear the wreckage. For updates on traffic impact and road closures, click HERE.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a reporter on the scene and will provide more updates as we learn additional information.

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Danielle Mullenix

A dip in temperatures today will bring us the coldest day of spring so far, with a minor cold front pushing through Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming this Thursday. Still experiencing early morning breezes across much of the region, but a dry weather pattern will carry over into today’s forecast, still making for ample opportunity to get outdoors.

Some high clouds are passing over the region in the early morning hours, typically associated with the cold front moving through. Skies will begin to clear up by this afternoon. A slight chance of rain could occur between Victor and the Island Park area this afternoon, with moisture moving to the North and east of us. High temperatures today are expected to be in the 50s around Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Highest wind gusts are generally expected to be 25-35 mph, breezing through this morning behind the cold front. Hanging onto some stronger winds across the Magic Valley this afternoon, but the wind advisory from yesterday has been lifted. Mostly freezing for our lows this evening, with many places dipping back into the 20s.

Highs for Friday will remain in the upper 50s, some places working back into the 60s. A gradual warmup into the weekend is expected throughout the region, so we could see numbers returning to the 70s by Sunday. Chances of precipitation remain slim. Wind gusts will decrease, sitting in the teens for the weekend outlook.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – For six years, angels at the People in Need Coalition (PINC) have been providing the hungry with hundreds of free lunches – three days a week.

“People don’t have food,” said Monica Kachur, who has lived in Idaho Falls for six years. “This is the place to get something for the families.”

But the loss of Grocery Outlet in town means the non-profit is losing its primary food supplier, and the group of eight to ten volunteers are looking to the community to help fill the gap.

“I know for a lot of people, it’s the difference between eating today and not eating today,” said Rachael Christensen, a friend of the non-profit. 

On Wednesday, PINC volunteers cooked and gave out 524 Grab ‘n Go lunches with fresh, homemade Tex-Mex food, vegetables and dessert.

“Our goal is to greet them with a smile, to ask them how they’re doing, and then to find out how many meals they need,” said People in Need Coalition (PINC) Founder Bonnie Champagne.

Last year, they provided 75,394 meals to people who need it most.

“They provide food Monday, Wednesday and Friday. They have lunches at 11:30 pick up,” said Kachur, who came to visit and grab a lunch. “They also have in the front they have a table with food people donate, and people donate the clothes.”  

The nondenominational non-profit is housed at First Christian Church on 1800 12th Street in Idaho Falls.

“For something like PINC that doesn’t charge, that doesn’t make you fill out paperwork, that doesn’t demand anything from you, it really fills a tremendous gap in the people who tend to fall in the cracks,” Christensen said.

But now PINC finds itself in need as well.

“For the last several years, we have been supported by the Grocery Outlet, who just closed,” Champagne said. “They gave us their rescued food, and this worked out very nicely for us. They’re closed. We don’t know how we’re going to make up the difference, because it’s pretty substantial.”

The non-profit will have to close its doors in July without additional community support.

PINC is searching for cash donations and food contributions, and is also willing to take additional volunteers.

“Hopefully other grocery stores will donate here to help fill the gap that is going to be happening,” said Cheryl Kidd, a Pearl Health Clinic social worker.

If you’d like to contribute and keep the PINC Grab ‘n Go lunch program going, you can donate directly to PINC’s Venmo page here. You can also type in “Pinc Pinc” or search for @pincoalition on Venmo.

“We give out a lot of hugs. We give out encouragement – whatever we feel is needed at the time – along with a hot meal,” Champagne said.

A volunteer delivers a homemade, hot meal to a patron at PINC on Wednesday.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Rock band Foreigner brought the house down tonight at the Mountain America Center.

“I work with an amazing band with an incredible legacy –16 Top 30 songs. So our setlist is like, you know, a greatest hits package,” said Foreigner Musical Director and Bassist Jeff Pilson. “So it’s a great situation, and we love playing live. We love coming here.”

The group has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.

Vocalist Luis Maldanado, bassist Jeff Pilson, keyboarder Michael Bluestein, guitarist Bruce Watson and drummer Chris Frazier showed off some of the most famous numbers in rock and roll – including “Cold as Ice,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Hot Blooded.”

In the second-to-last number, Rigby High School’s choir took to the stage, joining Foreigner to perform their biggest hit single – “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

“It’s way fun. It’s a honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Rigby High School Choirs Vice President Isabella Corbett. “It’s very fun to be singing with a band this big.”

Pilson said Foreigner loves working with local high school choirs in their performances.

“We like to give money to the schools for their music programs, because first thing that gets cut in budget cuts is the music program,” Pilson said. “I myself went to public school. My music education there was very important to me, and I probably wouldn’t be doing what I do without the orchestra conductor that I had for several years.”

Foreigner donated $500 to Rigby’s Choir program and encouraged the singers to pursue their dreams!

“This is really big for our choir because lately we’ve been losing a lot of funding for the program,” said Isaac Corbett, Rigby High School Chambers Choir president. “This will really pick us back up.”

The band that brought “Waiting for a Girl Like You” to the masses says the next generation of world-famous musicians will likely start out playing and learning music at a public school music program.

“Big advocate for public school music education,” Pilson said. “That’s one of the reasons we’re here. The other reason, of course, we want to do a great rock show and have a lot of fun with everybody.”

The Rigby High School Choir and Foreigner hit the stage Wednesday at the Mountain America Center.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A crash involving a truck and a sewage tanker sent an 81-year-old man to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon, March 25th.

Troopers say the crash occurred around 3:31 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 26 and 45th East, just north of Iona.

According to ISP, an 81‑year‑old man from Idaho Falls was driving a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 northbound on North 45th East when he failed to yield at the intersection. His pickup collided with a 2015 Western Star sewer truck traveling westbound on U.S. 26.

The sewer truck was driven by a 27‑year‑old man from Idaho Falls and a 22‑year‑old male passenger from Iona.

The driver of the Dodge Ram was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. The driver and passenger of the sewer truck were taken for medical treatment by a private party. The extent of their injuries has not been released.

ISP says neither driver was wearing a seatbelt, while the passenger in the sewer truck was properly restrained.

The crash caused traffic disruptions in the area. Westbound lanes of U.S. 26 remain blocked while crews work to clear the scene. The left eastbound lane was blocked for approximately two hours but has since reopened.

For updates or more information, click HERE.

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