Category: kifi-local-news

Noah Farley

UPDATED 10:38 a.m. Aug 18:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Monday, August 18, is Back to School Night for School District #91, but it comes as the district and the Idaho Falls Education Association are still working on a contract.

In July, the Education Association said they were not happy with the budget D-91 presented to them.

Jake Snarr said the Education Association is trying to set up another meeting with D-91 to discuss contracts and budgeting. They are not planning to strike. Teachers will still be working when the new school year starts on Wednesday.

“Essentially, it was just a number that they put across the table. It was about $35.3 million. They’re saying that they’re okay with anything that we do within that $35.3 million, but it’s up to us to figure out where all that money goes,” said IFEA negotiator, Jake Snarr.

D-91 said the board proposed a different approach to the budget this year with a new method meant to let the Education Association decide how the money would be distributed.

“Giving that to the teachers to allocate in a way that they think would best meet their teachers’ needs,” said D-91 Superintendent Karla LaOrange. “So it is different, but it is still a proposal and one that has been used effectively in other districts.”

The organizations had another hours-long meeting on August 1, where D-91 reached a tentative wage agreement with teachers.

IFEA later voted to reject the proposal. On August 13, dozens of teachers and supporters gathered outside the Idaho Falls School District Office to express that they don’t feel valued or supported.

“We’ve made a number of proposals related to both financial and non-financial items,” Snarr said. “What we’re hearing from our members is both of those things are important. Through [these] negotiations, we have worked as a team to do what we can. But ultimately, this decision is up to our members.”

With a new school year upon us, D-91 and the teachers’ union are expected to resume their negotiations and try to come to a new agreement.

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Abi Martin

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — A man is dead following a fatal car accident in Fort Hall yesterday. The accident occurred yesterday at approximately 10:30 am on Highway 91 near the area of Moccasin Drive in Fort Hall.

The victim has been identified as Michael Joe Lee,  a 39-year-old from Idaho Falls, who succumbed to his injuries on scene. Two other passengers are in critical condition, but are stable at this time. 

This accident remains under investigation. 

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Curtis Jackson

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – A driver was trapped in his car with powerlines around him after he didn’t make a curve on a street in Rigby.

Rigby Police said the 44-year-old man was driving north in a 2019 Subaru on South Clark Street when he failed to make the curve, knocking a power pole down and causing the power line to arc, which ignited dried grass between Clark St. and U.S. 20 around 12:50 p.m.

Police said the fire spread to nearby evergreen trees and threatened a nearby business.

The driver was able to escape through the passenger side door with help from officers.

Power was out for several businesses along East Main and Clark Street along with traffic lights at State and Main.

Rigby Police said they are continuing to investigate the accident.

Courtesy: Rigby Police

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Seth Ratliff

The following is a news release from the Idaho Department of Correction:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Correction is searching for an East Boise Community Reentry Center resident who walked away from the facility.

Jancee Peirsol, IDOC #117373, was last seen at East Boise Community Reentry Center at 4:08 p.m. Friday. 

Peirsol, 32, is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs about 175 pounds and has brown eyes and brown hair. She was wearing ​black pants, black shirt, and was carrying a gray backpack. 

Peirsol’s record includes convictions for Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Burglary, and Grand Theft in Ada County and Eluding a Police Officer in Elmore County. She was eligible for parole on Dec. 21, 2025. Her sentence was scheduled to be satisfied on June 20, 2033.

Anyone with information about Peirsol’s whereabouts should call 911.

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Ariel Jensen

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– It has been a very emotional past few days for parents and students enrolled at Bingham Academy High School in Blackfoot. The school is closing its doors due to a lack of enrollment, and it reportedly may not reopen.

Shaunna Cox is a parent of two students who were meant to attend Bingham Academy this year.

“It’s been rough. I wish that there could have been more notification so that we could have had time to get our kids set up for another school. I had already went and purchased everything for their school year,” said Cox. “It would have been nice to know ahead of time, but I understand that they were trying to save the school themselves. My daughter has tourette’s, so finding a social place for her where she can go in and be able to relax and get educated it’s hard.”

Bingham Academy High School predominantly serves students with disabilities. Many of the parents told us they are too heartbroken to appear on camera. Some say sending their child to public school is just not an option.

The school board shared the news at a meeting where few parents attended. A lot of parents say they learned of the news through word of mouth and now are scrambling to find a new school. Many of the parents tell us they don’t hold any ill will toward the school. They say they know the board tried to save the school, and they tell us those hurting the most are the children involved.

“At this school. I have never felt more accepted than anywhere else. I’ve been to multiple different schools, and because of my disability, it’s been really hard. But this school, they accept me and they love me,” said Shaunna Cox, a student going into her junior year of high school.

The principal has made parents aware of the closure, but the school has not yet made the official announcement. It’s expected they will do so at the next school board meeting on Wednesday, August 27th.

Many parents are reaching out to donors, asking them to save the school. They say they are hoping for a miracle.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A video circulating on social media of Bryan Kohberger in a prison cell has the Idaho Department of Corrections investigating its origin. One video, which has circulated on social media platforms like X, TikTok, and YouTube, shows a person resembling Kohberger in a cell wearing a white t-shirt and black pants.

The IDOC has not confirmed the video’s authenticity but stated that if it is verified, it would be a “clear violation of IDOC policy.” The department warned that some of the videos might be “fake or AI-enhanced.”

In a statement, the IDOC said if verified, it would hold those responsible accountable, with consequences “up to and including termination.” The department also noted that it is “reviewing all legal options, including criminal prosecution,” for anyone who recorded and shared security footage.

The Ada County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the video was not recorded at the Ada County Jail, where Kohberger was previously held. Posts online have speculated the video may have been recorded last August or September.

IDOC leadership has since sent two emails reminding staff of the policies regarding professionalism and the appropriate use of technology and social media. The department stressed that the “safety and security” of its staff and incarcerated population are its top priority.

Kohberger is currently housed at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution in Kuna, Idaho. Earlier this year, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Pocatello’s ‘Portneuf River Vision’ group is hosting its annual cleanup event on Saturday, August 16.

Volunteers are invited to help clean trash and branches from the banks of the river or bring boots or boats to hit the waters and clear debris jams on the stretch of river from Raymond Park to Simplot.

“People grab everything from tires to lots of soda bottles and plastic bags out of the river,” said Hannah Sanger, manager of Pocatello’s Science and Environment Division. “…every 100 yards, there’s a new gathering of plastic bottles and such, and we’re thrilled to have people come out–it’s a fun day, we have some snacks for everybody, and it’s just a really great way to give back to Pocatello.”

The City of Pocatello will provide trash bags for the event, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own work gloves, boots, water shoes, and any available tools like handsaws or nets.

The Portneuf River Cleanup will start at 10 a.m. at the Pacific Recycling Trailhead, on N. Main St. near Kraft Rd.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Pocatello’s Maag Prescription and Medical Supply hosted a community barbecue celebrating 75 years of business on Friday.

Pharmacy owner Traci Maag said the ‘customer appreciation barbecue’ was their way of thanking the generations of Pocatellans who have relied on the pharmacy for their medical needs over the decades.

“The community is what keeps us in business–without them, we’re not here,” said Traci. “Most of these people, their parents, their grandparents, they’ve all come in, so it’s just a great way for us to extend the family feel and to make them part of our lives and part of our daily lives; our customer service is really the most important piece of our business, and so this is kind of the least we can do for the community.”

Maag Prescription and Medical Supply was founded in 1950 by Irv and Genevieve Maag and passed down through the Maag family to the current owners, Gary and Traci Maag, who bought the business in 2023.

For more information on Maag Prescription and Medical Supply’s history, you can visit their website.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Boise-based ‘Idaho Community Foundation’ made a stop in Pocatello on Friday during a tour celebrating the organization’s nearly 40 years of philanthropic efforts; while in the Gate City, the foundation presented local nonprofit ‘Community Suicide Prevention’ with a $10,000 grant.

The Idaho Community Foundation’s ‘$200 Million Moment’ tour not only celebrates nearly four decades of collecting and distributing donations to nonprofit organizations around the state, it also celebrates the $200 million the foundation has raised in their 37 years of service.

“In Idaho, we rely a lot upon our nonprofit organizations to make their communities run and to take care of people’s needs and to make Idaho a better place to live,” said Rich Ballou, East Idaho Representative for the Idaho Community Foundation. “We feel it’s our job to grow the culture of philanthropy in Idaho and encourage more people to give back, and we help them do that to make sure their money gets to the right place and accomplishes their objectives.”

On the Pocatello stop of the $200 Million Moment tour, the Idaho Community Foundation presented a $10,000 grant to the Community Suicide Prevention organization, which provides suicide prevention education, resources, and survivor meetings in 16 counties.

Community Suicide Prevention chair, Rick Croft, said donations and grants are a necessary part of funding the organization’s programs and enabling them to reach out and provide resources to more areas of Idaho.

“We’re a nonprofit organization, 100% of money that gets donated to us goes into our organization, goes right back out into our communities,” said Croft. “To get a grant for $10,000 is really going to help our efforts in supporting all of our communities.”

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News Release

The following is a press release from Idaho Governor Brad Little’s office:

BOISE, Idaho – Governor Brad Little signed Executive Order 2025-05 today, “The Idaho Act,” creating even more efficiencies in state government to balance the budget and make way for President Donald Trump’s tax cuts while supporting public schools.

“Idaho’s economy is the strongest in the nation, and we continue to move in the right direction. It’s in our DNA here in Idaho to balance the budget, cut taxes, and right-size government so we can continue to make public schools our top priority. My executive order today delivers on our promise to Idahoans that we will implement President Trump’s tax cuts for Idahoans and make the best use of their hard-earned money while putting public schools first,” Governor Little said.

The executive order creates lasting efficiencies in state government by ordering state executive branch agencies to take the following actions in Fiscal Year 2026, which ends June 30, 2026. K-12 public schools are excluded.

To further increase efficiencies, examine potential consolidation of services or agencies

Revert positions that have gone unfilled

Identify cost reductions in existing contracts

Streamline boards and commissions

Reduce General Fund spending by 3%

Reduce travel spending

The executive order also highlights that Idaho leaders have delivered historic tax relief to working families over the past six years – including a 23 percent decrease in income taxes and billions of dollars in rebates and property tax relief – while making unprecedented investments in school facilities, teacher pay, and literacy. Idaho public schools now receive a billion dollars more per year in funding than when Governor Little took office. State support for Idaho public schools has never been higher, with a 63 percent increase in General Fund appropriations over the past six years and remarkable gains in student reading scores over the past year.

Governor Little highlighted Idaho’s strong economy, noting the following facts:

Idaho’s economy is strong, resilient, and growing rapidly, fueled by smart fiscal management, a strong labor market, and record-setting gains in personal income, jobs, and GDP

In June, Fitch Ratings reaffirmed Idaho’s “AAA” credit rating – the highest possible – because of our strong reserves, low debt, and responsible budgeting, giving Idaho the flexibility to absorb tax cuts while still making critical investments in Idaho’s future.

Civilian labor force and overall unemployment rate remain stable year over year

Job postings and hiring remain stable, showing no signs of slowdown

Layoffs are at their lowest level in three years, a clear sign of economic health

Idaho’s population growth ranked third in the nation since 2020 and grew nearly 28% since 2010, almost three times the national rate, helping drive our economic evolution

Idaho’s personal income is projected to grow 32% over the next five years and wages are expected to grow 15% over the next five years.

View the full executive order at this link: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/eo-2025-05.pdf

Idaho elected leaders express support for Governor Little’s executive order

Leaders in the Idaho House and Senate, along with the co-chairs of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee (JFAC) issued the following statements in support of Governor Little’s executive order today:

“Idaho’s leaders are laser focused on making sure taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck. The Governor’s executive order today further reinforces our strong track record of living within the people’s means and making government as efficient as possible so we can continue to prioritize education,” Senate President Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon said.

“This isn’t the government’s money; it’s the people’s money. Unlike Left Coast states, Idaho leaders routinely give back what the people have earned, and our focus on the taxpayer is what makes our state such a desirable place to live and do business. The Governor’s actions today build on our already strong reputation for running government as efficiently as possible,” House Speaker Mike Moyle said.

“Idaho’s commonsense approach to budgeting means we aren’t growing government beyond Idahoans’ ability to pay for it. Year after year, Idaho demonstrates we can have it all – we can make investments to keep up with record growth while giving back what the people have earned,” JFAC co-chairs Senator Scott Grow and Representative Wendy Horman said.

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