Category: kifi-local-news

Maile Sipraseuth

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Several Rexburg women are speaking out after a week of receiving unsettling notes and uprooted flowers culminated in the arrest of a man accused of stalking local apartment complexes and exposing himself to the residents.

RELATED: Rexburg Police arrest man accused of disturbing residents while naked at apartment complexes

Ava Golde said her day started like any other until she noticed something on her windshield: a bouquet of flowers that appeared to have been pulled from the ground. But it was what came with the flowers that caught her attention.

Golde said there was a small rock with a note asking if she wanted to get to know the person who left it. The note included boxes to check yes or no.

She told her coworker, Cheyanne Xenos, who said she and her roommates had also received a similar message.

“The first time we were like, ‘Oh, this is probably just a guy who doesn’t know how to ask girls out,'” Xenos said.

Xenos and her roommate, Eden Beerman, found flowers and a note on their doorstep.

Beerman said the note also asked them to check yes or no about going on a date. She said the flowers appeared to have been pulled from the ground, roots and all.

Then, Beerman and Xenos realized there was something sinister behind the notes and flowers.

“That was when we heard from our power washers that this is happening to a couple different people, and there have been reports of a naked man walking around and leaving notes,” Beerman said.

For several days, the women said they continued receiving notes, rocks and flowers that appeared to have been pulled from the ground.

“We’re like, okay, this is getting creepy… And so we left a kind note just saying ‘hey, you’re kind of freaking out women in Rexburg,'” Beerman said.

BYU-Idaho sent a community safety alert on August 27, informing students about reports of suspicious activity in the area.

For Golde, the alert made the situation feel much more serious.

“At that point, like, I was already scared because she specifically mentioned, like, the notes and the flowers, like the exact same thing that happened,” Golde said.

Golde, Xenos and Beerman each filed police reports shortly after.

Police arrested the naked suspect early Saturday morning, August 29, 2026. He was booked into the Madison County Jail and faces multiple charges, including resisting and obstructing, stalking, indecent exposure, and malicious injury to property.

His identity has not been released.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — To promote National Preparedness Month, Verizon in Idaho Falls gave away 100 portable chargers to residents at their store.

Their goal is to help people prepare their digital go bags in the case of an emergency, such as a wildfire or many other natural disasters where evacuation has to be swift.

A digital go-bag is meant to give some peace of mind and ensure you are prepared for any unforeseen disaster. Verizon suggests:

Taking photos of essential documents and saving them to the cloud

Having power units to charge devices

Pack priceless momentos in waterproof cases

Download offline maps and emergency apps

Set up family location sharing and learn satellite messaging

“In my digital go bag, I have all my important documents,” Ernesto Guerrero, the Senior Retail Manager at Verizon, said. “I have portable chargers. I make sure that all my devices are completely charged at all times in order for me to make sure that if I need to go, I’m ready for any occasion.”

Ernesto and the Verizon stores believe it’s important to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“Due to everything going on in our country, whether it be fire season or flash flooding, you never know when a disaster may strike,” Ernesto explained. “So better be prepared than not, and taking the right steps to do so is the first thing that somebody should think through.”

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Curtis Jackson

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — 23-year-old Tyler Robinson will stand trial for the killing of Charlie Kirk following a preliminary hearing, a Utah judge ruled today.

Judge Tony Graf ruled that Robinson will proceed to trial on all counts, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a child, according to CNN.

The charges stem from a shooting last September during a Turning Point USA event hosted on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem.

At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors presented four main forms of evidence against Robinson during the preliminary hearing: video evidence, DNA evidence, text messages to a romantic partner, and comments posted on the social media platform Discord.

Outlining the state’s case, Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride emphasized the danger posed to the public during the event.

“Robinson shot and killed Kirk because he disagreed with him, and he did it by firing a high-powered rifle into a group of thousands who surrounded Charlie Kirk,” McBride said.

Defense attorneys pushed back strongly against the prosecution’s claims. “There’s nothing in this evidence showing that there was a great risk, that someone else was going to be killed,” said defense attorney Staci Visser.

Robinson’s defense also characterized much of the state’s evidence as narrative “speculation.”

Following Judge Graf’s probable cause ruling, the case now moves toward a formal arraignment, where Robinson is expected to enter a plea. He has not yet formally entered a plea in court.

In a statement released to CNN, the Kirk family described the judge’s decision as an “important step in [their] family’s pursuit of justice”:

“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief.

As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process.”

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Curtis Jackson

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A young black bear made a surprise visit to a Pocatello neighborhood on Monday morning.

Idaho Fish and Game found the bear climbing a fence and foraging for berries in a south valley neighborhood.

Crews captured the animal and released it in a remote habitat.

“We can’t be sure how or why this black bear found its way to this Pocatello neighborhood, though it is possible it had worked its way along the Portneuf River corridor as it foraged for food,” said Dressel.

The wildlife managers say drought conditions have reduced the availability of natural food sources, which may be driving bears closer to communities in search of food.

Fish and Game says bear sightings in Pocatello city limits are rare, with the last reported sighting in 2018.

Video of the bear cub being released back into the wild by team members, courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

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Danielle Mullenix

Keep a rain jacket and umbrella on hand this Tuesday morning as we start September with rain showers across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Early morning showers are already scattered across the region, and we will begin to see afternoon showers and storms settle in later today.

With thunderstorm chances increasing in the Central Mountains this afternoon, we have a Red Flag Warning in effect until 9pm. It does look like precipitation chances will persist in the Sawtooth Forest area for the next few days

A broad upper-level trough will remain in place over the next few days heading into the holiday weekend, meaning some breezy and slightly wet conditions will be blowing into the Pacific Northwest till the latter portion of this first week of September. Potentially, this also means we could have unsettled weather heading into Labor Day weekend.

A round of storm clouds is pushing across Eastern Idaho this morning, meaning some chance of precipitation across the region, primarily in the Central Mountains. Today’s high temperatures are similar to yesterday, with upper 70s and lower 80s in the peak afternoon hours. Ample moisture is in place today across the area, with a second wave of storms pushing in just after 4pm. Breezy conditions will also occur today, with winds sustaining around 15-25 mph across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. We will cool off after sunset, with low temperatures settling in the 50s.

Windy and mostly sunny Wednesday, with a high in the lower 70s. Winds will be out of the southwest around 15-25 mph; winds could gust as high as 35 mph.

Red Flag Warning issued August 31 at 1:37 PM MDT until September 1 at 9:00 PM MDT by NWS Pocatello ID

The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a Red FlagWarning for scattered thunderstorms, which is in effect from 1 PMto 9 PM MDT Tuesday.

* AFFECTED AREA…Fire Weather Zone 422 Sawtooth Range/NorthernSawtooth NF.

* IMPACTS…Scattered thunderstorms produce frequent dangerouslightning over an area that can mean extreme initial attackburdens for wildland fire fighting resources.

* THUNDERSTORMS…Scattered coverage during the afternoon andevening period. Thunderstorms will during the late night hoursat isolated coverage.

* OUTFLOW WINDS…Gusts to 40 mph are possible.A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditionsare either occurring now, or will shortly based on these criteriafor Southeastern Idaho:

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Nothing is as raw as a mother’s emotion as she tells of her son’s struggle and ultimate death from addiction.

“His smile would light up the room, and he was the happiest boy. I mean, it makes everything worth it. I miss his voice. I miss hearing him scream. I miss his bullet bike – all of it,” said Mikelyn Bartrop, a person in recovery. “Those are things I will cherish for the rest of my life now because I’ll never be able to hear it again.”

Members of the recovery community held a ‘Moment of Silence’ Monday night as the names of 180 individuals were read for each person who has died from an overdose in eastern Idaho since 2018.

“He was an alcoholic, and I was a meth addict,” Bartrop said. “So I really never really thought I had the choice or the chance to talk to him, because I would make myself a hypocrite. I didn’t know how to help him, and I was under the influence when my son died. So when I got sober this time, it was, ‘if I couldn’t stay sober for him while he was alive, he darn well deserves me to be sober for his death and to live in honor of his name.'”

International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual commemoration held on August 31st to honor those who lost their lives from addiction and drug overdose.

“I’m also here for my son Joshua, who I lost five years ago. We lost him to fentanyl overdose, and a lot of people are dying of fentanyl,” said Chris Barbara, a recovery coach with Stewards of Recovery. ”So I’m just trying to bring awareness that things are still bad, and we just need to work harder.”

Approximately 70,000 people died from overdoses in the United States in 2025, according to government data reported by PBS.

Dozens of individuals in recovery and supporters lit candles along the banks of the Snake River in memory of friends and family members who were lost.

A semicircle of paper luminaries glowing by candlelight displayed the names and photos of those who died.

“”I’ve struggled with addiction since I was 13 years old. My son is one of the boys [memorialized] on a bag today, so I’m here to just spread awareness,” Bartrop said.

Community providers also shone a light on the hope and resources to help people overcome their addictions – including Brick House Recovery, Center for Hope, Probation and Parole, Stewards of Recovery, Tueller Counseling, Lean on Me, One Love, Renaissance Ranch, Eastern Idaho Public Health and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Organizers said that if you are struggling, help is available to overcome addiction and support your loved ones by living a life of recovery.

“If you’re on the wrong path, there’s another way to get there and to get sober and get straight before it’s too late,” Bartrop said.

Chris Barbara’s son Josh Hershberger is memorialized on a luminary on August 31, 2026, in downtown Idaho Falls.

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News Release

POCATELLO, Idaho (News Release) Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) and Bannock County Mosquito Abatement have confirmed a West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquito pool near Swan Lake in Public Health District 6, located in Bannock County.  No cases of WNV in humans have been reported, however, a horse in Arimo reportedly tested positive for the virus. 

Bannock County Mosquito Abatement increased its response to the area where WNV was identified, and has treated both larval and adult mosquitoes. Staff will maintain an increase in control and monitoring measures in response to the positive detection. 

West Nile is a potentially serious illness that is usually spread to animals and humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Horses and livestock infected with WNV cannot transmit the virus to humans or other animals.

Most people infected with West Nile do not show symptoms; however, more severe illness can occur. People with symptoms may experience fever, headaches, body aches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, eye pain, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash, typically occurring 2 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. More severe infections may involve the central nervous system.

Livestock and pet owners are encouraged to consult their veterinarian about West Nile virus preventative measures, vaccinations, and symptom monitoring.  

To reduce the risk of WNV, the following precautions should be taken:

When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, such as DEET or Picaridin (apply it according to the manufacturer’s instructions). Additionally, certain products containing permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear. Follow the directions on the package.

Use insect repellent and wear long sleeves, pants, and loose-fitting clothing at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active and feeding. If possible, consider staying indoors during these hours.

Make sure to have good screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by draining standing water from flowerpots, buckets, and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths and feeding troughs at least twice a week. Drill holes in tire swings or old tires to allow water to drain out. Keep children’s wading pools empty or on their sides when not in use.

Don’t over-irrigate your lawns, gardens, or pastures.

For more information on WNV, contact SIPH’s Epidemiologists, Jeff Doerr, at 208-478-6303 or visit SIPH’s website at www.siphidaho.org or https://westnile.idaho.gov.

For information about Bannock County Mosquito Abatement, visit bannockcounty.gov/mosquito. 

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Dive teams continue searching for a man who fell into the Snake River in Idaho Falls.

Idaho Falls Police said Teng Go, 88, of Arizona, slipped and fell from the rocks between the falls and the Broadway Bridge on Sunday around 2:30 p.m.

First responders quickly arrived and began searching for Go. As of Monday afternoon, Go has not been found.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Dive Team stayed late Sunday evening and returned early Monday morning.

Officials said the search has been complicated by river conditions.

The Chaplains of Idaho also assisted by supporting the man’s family.

The Sheriff’s office said they are searching between Broadway and South Tourist Park. Authorities have restricted access to the area and are asking people to stay away while the search continues.

This is the second person to fall into the river near the Broadway Bridge. In June, a Louisiana man also slipped and fell off the rocks. His body has never been found.

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Curtis Jackson

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Teton County authorities say multiple black bears are causing problems in Teton Valley neighborhoods after finding food in unsecured garbage.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office says bears have recently been getting into trash left in neighborhoods, including South Leigh Creek, Mountain Drive, and Packsaddle. Officials report the animals have been entering homes and garages, frequenting porches, pushing on doors and window screens, climbing balconies, and feeding from non-bear-resistant garbage cans.

The Sheriff’s Office said it is working with Idaho Fish and Game and considers the situation a public safety concern.

Residents who see a bear in their neighborhood are urged to immediately contact the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 776-8200.

To reduce bear encounters, officials recommend using bear-resistant trash containers, keeping garbage secured indoors until pickup day if bear-resistant cans are unavailable, feeding pets indoors, avoiding outdoor storage of coolers, refrigerators and freezers, and removing bird feeders from April through mid-November.

Wildlife officials say bears that find food on a property are likely to return several times. However, if food sources are removed, the animals will eventually move on.

According to Idaho Fish and Game, the current issue primarily involves black bears, but officials warn it could quickly attract grizzly bears as well.

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Maile Sipraseuth

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI)– Residents who pay the City of Ammon by card or electronic check will soon see an additional 3% convenience fee, starting Tuesday, Sept. 1st 2026.

The city will begin passing payment processing costs on to customers who choose to use those electronic payment options. To avoid the processing fee, customers are encouraged to pay by:

Cash

Check

Bank Bill Pay

The City of Ammon says it has historically absorbed the cost of processing payments. However, those fees have continued to increase and are no longer sustainable for the city.

The city says it appreciates residents’ understanding as it makes the change and remains committed to providing convenient payment options while being responsible with city resources.

The City of Idaho Falls already has processing fees of $4.50 per transaction for debit and credit cards.

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