Category: kifi-local-news

Curtis Jackson

BURLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – Three people were sent to the hospital from a rollover accident.

It happened near the junction of Interstate 84 and Interstate 86, east of Burley.

Idaho State Police said an 18-year-old woman from Hansen was driving westbound when the car veered into the median and rolled.

The driver was wearing a seatbelt, but ISP says her two teenage passengers were not.

All three were taken to the hospital.

ISP is still investigating the crash.

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Curtis Jackson

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – A box truck tipped over on State Highway 31, over Pine Creek Pass, injuring two people.

The crash happened around 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025.

The two people were taken to the hospital. Their condition is unknown.

Emergency crews from Swan Valley and Victor responded to the scene of the accident. 

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Two 18-year-old men were taken to the hospital following an accident on I-15 Monday night south of Idaho Falls at milepost 114.

Idaho State Police reported that the 18-year-olds were in a 2023 Kia Sportage, driving south, when the car collided with a 1990 International truck driven by a 25-year-old from Ammon.

Names were not released by police. The driver of the Kia was from Henderson, Nevada, and the passenger was from Newman Lake, Washington.

Their injuries are unknown. All of them were wearing seatbelts.

The accident happened just before 8 p.m., blocking the southbound lanes for approximately an hour and 20 minutes.

The crash is still under investigation.

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Curtis Jackson

The following is a news release from Grand Teton National Park.

MOOSE, Wyo. (News Release)— An Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) technician at Grand Teton National Park recently discovered quagga mussels on a boat arriving from Utah. The mussels, which measured about 6–8 mm (about the width of a pencil) were found during a routine AIS inspection at one of the park’s check stations. Although the mussels were no longer alive, their presence is a serious concern. 

The boat was decontaminated and sealed for a mandatory 30-day dry period, in accordance with Grand Teton National Park policy.

Wyoming remains one of only five states with no bodies of water that have tested positive for or been infested by quagga or zebra mussels. Once introduced and established these species often cause dramatic ecological and economic damage, making prevention critical.

“Finding mussels at a Grand Teton AIS check station is uncommon but it’s a good reminder that the risk of an introduction is real,” said Chad Whaley, Fisheries Biologist and AIS Coordinator. “We cannot become complacent. The risk level is not going down.”

AIS check stations have operated in Grand Teton National Park since 2015 and serve as the final line of defense in protecting the park’s waters. 

Protecting Grand Teton National Park’s waterways is a shared responsibility. Prevention is an essential duty for boaters, anglers, and resource managers alike. Grand Teton National Park works with numerous partners throughout the community and region to support and enforce AIS prevention.

Park leadership extends appreciation to the vigilant technician who identified the mussels and to the cooperating boater. Both played a vital role in helping keep Grand Teton and Wyoming’s waters free of invasive species. The park also thanks the public for supporting watercraft inspections before launching in Grand Teton waters.

Boaters are reminded that they are required to stop if they pass an open watercraft inspection station, regardless of prior inspection history or destination. Out-of-state boaters must be inspected before launching on any waters in Wyoming. Arriving with a clean, drained, and dry watercraft speeds the inspection process and helps protect aquatic resources.

For more information on AIS regulations and how to help prevent the spread of invasive species, visit Get on the Water – Grand Teton National Park (U.S. National Park Service).

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Curtis Jackson

WEST YELLOWSTONE, Montana (KIFI) – Three people were killed in a plane crash south of West Yellowstone.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office said it was notified by U.S. Department of Transportation Aero Division of a possible plane crash on July 18, 2025, at 1:41 p.m.

The agency stated that the aircraft departed from West Yellowstone Airport just before midnight on July 17 and could not be located.  

The Sheriff’s office news release said, “Utilizing the last location of an occupant’s smart watch, two search planes were sent to search for the missing aircraft. At 2:13 p.m. the search planes confirmed the plane had been located crashed in dense timber just south of the town near South Plateau Rd.”

Search and Rescue teams located the crash site and confirmed all three people on board were deceased.

They were identified as 60-year-old Rodney Conover and 23-year-old Madison Conover from Tennessee, and 55-year-old Kurt Enoch Robey of Utah.

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.

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Noah Farley

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Fish and Game estimates there are about 100 less wolves in the Gem State than last year.

Last week, wildlife managers estimated there are over 1,200 wolves in Idaho.

Idaho Fish and Game said it is changing how it counts the wolf population. In the past, it used cameras, but now it uses the ABC method, which uses age and genetic data from wolf teeth collected from harvested wolves to estimate population and litter sizes.

“It really has been an agency-wide effort,” said IDFG Wildlife Research Manager, Matt Mumma. “Across the regions and actually checking in on wolves and gathering those teeth which are vital to the model itself.”

The estimates show wolf numbers peak in May due to new pups being born, but the numbers start to decline afterwards due to hunting and other natural causes.

Wildlife managers say these numbers and using the new ABC method are important for Idaho as the state tries to reduce its wolf population to around 500 a year.

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Curtis Jackson

DOWNEY, Idaho (KIFI) – Bannock County has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Exhibit Hall at the Fairgrounds in Downey.

The ceremony will take place on the first day of the Bannock County Fair, August 4, at 5 p.m.

The new building replaces four former exhibit halls that were condemned due to age and safety concerns. The building will be used for 4-H displays, artwork, hand-sewn quilts, and local crafts during the fair, as well as for various community events throughout the rest of the year.

The building features a 50-by-90-foot exhibit space, a kitchen, a meeting room, offices, storage rooms, and restrooms.

“This building is going to be a huge asset to our beloved county fair, as well as the citizens of Bannock County year-round. I’m excited to cut the ribbon and fill it with exhibits from our talented community members,” said Commissioner Ernie Moser.

The construction was led by Bannock County Director of Facilities Dan Kendall, with local contractors including Teton West of Idaho, KJ Acoustics, Charron AC, Legacy Fire Protection, Razor Electric, and Portneuf Valley Plumbing.

It was funded through a combination of $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and $700,000 in local funding from Bannock County.

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to enjoy light refreshments and then head over to the annual Free Potato Bar at 6:00 p.m. by the Covered Stage (Building 18). Parking is available in the general fairgrounds lot across from the new building at 225 W Center Street.

The Bannock County Fair goes through Saturday, August 9, 2025. To see a listing of events, click here.

For a map of the fairgrounds, click here.

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Curtis Jackson

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) – Fremont County is the latest county to restrict open burning on private land.

Due to the high fire danger, the Fremont County Commissioners issued a burn ban on Monday.

In a news release issued about the burn ban, it said campfires in approved fire pits, or propane and charcoal grills, are allowed.

“Fire districts in Fremont County are volunteer departments, meaning that firefighters do not live at or respond immediately from a fire station – they respond from home or work when a call is received,” the release said. “Many of the volunteers are unable to respond during weekday working hours due to the nature of their business or simply not being in the area.  This manpower shortage makes it more difficult to catch a fire before it becomes uncontrollable.”

The news release mentioned that the Grassy Fire, which burned two weeks ago, showed extreme fire behavior that is not typically seen until mid-to-late August.

Commissioners in Bannock and Bingham counties have also recently ordered burn bans in those counties.

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Curtis Jackson

The following is a news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

SALT LAKE CITY (News Release) The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the dates for the open house and dedication of the Burley Idaho Temple.

A media day will be held for the Burley Idaho Temple on Monday, November 3, 2025. Invited guests will tour the temple on Tuesday, November 4, and Wednesday, November 5, 2025, and a public open house will be held from Thursday, November 6, through Saturday, November 22, 2025, excluding Sundays.

The temple will be dedicated on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The dedicatory session will be broadcast to all congregations in the Burley Idaho Temple district.

Map showing the location of the Burley Idaho Temple

Church President Russell M. Nelson announced this temple during the April 2021 general conference.

He said then: “Temples are a vital part of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. Ordinances of the temple fill our lives with power and strength available in no other way.”

Idaho is home to more than 481,000 members of the Church in around 1,275 congregations. Early Church pioneers settled in Idaho in 1855. Several Church presidents are natives of Idaho, including Presidents Harold B. Lee, Ezra Taft Benson and Howard W. Hunter.

The Burley Idaho Temple will be the 11th temple in the state. The Boise, Idaho Falls, Meridian, Pocatello, Rexburg and Twin Falls Idaho Temples are dedicated temples. Other temples that have been announced or are under construction: the Caldwell, Coeur d’Alene, Montpelier and Teton River Idaho Temples.

Latter-day Saints worship in temples for several reasons: to feel God’s love and peace, to learn more about God’s plan for His children and the gospel of Jesus Christ, to make promises with God and with one’s husband or wife, and to unite families in this life and the next through sacred ordinances.

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Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — President Donald Trump is weighing in on the upcoming Bryan Kohberger sentencing.

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In a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month, Kohberger admitted to killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

“These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,” Trump continued. “These were vicious murders, with so many questions left unanswered.”

“People were shocked that he was able to plea bargain, but the Judge should make him explain what happened,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Kohberger’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. MT.

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