Category: kifi-local-news

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho is celebrating local creativity with the opening of the 2026 Eagle Rock Art Guild Spring Show, a diverse exhibition featuring the work of artists from across the region.

An annual exhibition, this year’s gallery, titled The Work of Today’s Guild Membership, opens to the public on January 22 and runs through March 14. It showcases a wide range of artistic styles and media, including landscapes, abstract works, sculpture, and more, all created by current members of the Eagle Rock Art Guild.

Museum officials say the annual show highlights both the diversity of artistic voices in the region and the long-standing partnership between the Art Museum of Eastern Idaho and the Eagle Rock Art Guild, one of the area’s oldest arts organizations.

In addition to the guild exhibition, the show includes the Helen Auuperle Senior Scholarship Exhibition, which honors outstanding graduating high school seniors pursuing education in the arts. The scholarship recognizes the legacy of Helen Aupperle, a founding member of the Guild and a respected art educator in Idaho Falls.

The museum is also featuring additional exhibitions during the same period, including a thesis exhibition by Jaymi Jones, work by Tony Carpenter, and new pieces from The Museum Artist Group, offering visitors an even broader look at the region’s creative community.

The Eagle Rock Art Guild Spring Show opens with a free public reception on January 22 at 5 pm, featuring live music and light refreshments. Admission to the museum and exhibition is free.

For more information about the exhibit and ongoing events at the museum, click here .

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Par Kermani

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Tension over the closure of a volunteer‑run pantry and store at the Blackfoot Senior Center erupted into a packed, emotional meeting as seniors accused the center’s board of poor communication and ignoring members’ concerns.

“Unfortunately, there’s been a breakdown in communication between the members of the senior center, and the board members. And the pantry has been closed,” said Tami Jones, a volunteer at the pantry and local resident.

Jones was disappointed in the decision because of the proximity of the senior center to the apartment buildings nearby. She recalled a recent event in which a gentleman on the sidewalk was struggling to carry two backpacks full of food from the pantry. She offered to help him drive the food back to his house, despite his initial fear that she was judging him for taking so much food. He accepted her offer. She fears that the residents won’t have access to food now that the pantry is closed, since the other pantries are further away.

For roughly three years, volunteers operated a food pantry and small donation store out of the center, bringing in more than $15,000, according to figures cited at the meeting. About half of that went back to the senior center, volunteers said.

During the meeting, former Blackfoot Mayor Paul Loomis and current Chairman of the Board told the agitated crowd that they will not be reopening the pantry.

“We at the senior center are experts at running the senior center.” said Loomis “We’re not experts that run the pantry. And there are four other pantries in this city which take care of food insecurity. And so we’re going to let them do what they’re really good at, and we’re going to do what we are really good at.”

One of the meeting attendees shouted back at Loomis, explaining that the other food pantries made them feel ashamed, whereas the one at the senior center made them feel comfortable and treated them like family.

Board members said they recently decided to stop supporting what they called an “ad hoc pantry,” arguing it lacked the oversight required under the center’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. They also cited food safety concerns and a recent inspection that, they said, raised questions about how donated food was handled.

“You can’t have an ad hoc organization who is receiving donations under a 501(c)(3) that doesn’t have one,” Loomis said.

Other board members were concerned about how funds were donated. “There has to be proper oversight.”

Some seniors countered that the pantry and store had operated openly for years, with the board’s knowledge, and that members were never clearly informed of legal or safety issues.

Board members defended the decision to redirect donated food and pledged to improve communication, publish its meeting schedule in the center’s newsletter and form small working groups with seniors to discuss the various concerns the residents brought up.

Many seniors left the meeting early, upset by the decision. The ones who stayed did not feel satisfied with the outcome.

“We have four other pantries in the city,” Loomis repeated as another attendee quickly interjected with “I reiterate, Paul, not one of them will give these people what that pantry has given us for the last three years.”

Board members promised to issue a statement and a press release to the community concerning the decisions made and to address any concerns the community might have had.

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Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — In an effort to combat local food insecurity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has delivered 31,000 pounds of food to the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Rexburg on Wednesday.

The donation is part of a nationwide collaboration with America 250, a celebration of the United States’ 250 years of independence. As part of the celebration, the Church has pledged to send 250 trucks of food to pantries across the country. Rexburg was chosen as one of the cities chosen for this donation.

While the delivery took place in Rexburg, Church Communication’s Director Brett Crandall says the impact will be felt far beyond city limits.

“I’m really grateful that the church is recognizing that there is a need in our local community in the Rexburg area,” said Crandall. “And this doesn’t just serve Rexburg, but the surrounding areas as well, like Fremont County, Jefferson County, as well as here in Madison County. And it’s a great way to give to those who are less fortunate.”

The donation comes at an important time for the wider area. Morgan Dortch, Upper Valley Coordinator for EICAP, notes that many Idahoans are quietly struggling to put food on the table.

“Rexburg actually has quite a bit of food insecurity,” Dortch explained. “We have many families with young children and seniors living without nearby family support. They rely on these food pantries for daily necessities and pantry staples.”

If you’re interested in showing your support, the  Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership accepts donations monday throug friday between 8 AM and 4:30 PM, and they are currently looking for volunteers. For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — In response to a spike in sightings of invasive Norway rats across Southern Idaho, state lawmakers are hosting a public forum to address the rise in pests.

Homeowners in Eagle and the surrounding Treasure Valley have reported a significant uptick in rodent activity within garages and yards. Pest control experts say the invasive pests are frequently found along irrigation and canal lines.

“While these rats are currently concentrated in the Treasure Valley, experts warn they will continue to spread across Idaho if not addressed,” Senator Carrie Semmelroth warned in a press release.

The concerns extend beyond property damage. Pest control experts warn that the growing rodent problem carries an increased public health risk.

“Most of your rats are going to carry some sort of disease, especially the two major ones. It’s going to be Hantavirus, which carries flu-like symptoms, and Leptospirosis, which attacks the liver,” Tim Hall of  Vertex Pest Control said in an interview with KIVI.

Senator Semmelroth, along with state agencies and local experts, will host a forum to discuss practical solutions and explore how to protect local homes and businesses. The forum will take place on Thursday, January 22, from 3 to 4 PM at the Idaho Statehouse. It will be livestreamed.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Six people lost their homes last night after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Pocatello.

The fire was first called in just after 11 PM from an apartment at 335 North Hayes Avenue. Only 4 of the 6 apartments were occupied at the time, and all 6 residents evacuated safely, according to Kim Stouse, public information officer for the Pocatello Fire Department.

“We reached out to the American Red Cross, and they’re working to connect them to resources, as well as the landlord who put them up in the day’s inn last night,” said Stouse. “The tenants are now working with the Red Cross and the landlord to get long-term placement.”

Pocatello firefighters reportedly worked through the night to knock down the fire. However, due to multiple remodels, Stouse says the blaze experienced multiple flare-ups throughout the night. Firefighters confirmed that all levels of the fire and hot spots were suppressed by 7 AM, Wednesday morning.

Stouse says fire investigators are currently on the scene, investigating the origin of the blaze.

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Maile Sipraseuth

UPDATED: 5:10 PM, Jan 21

WAYAN, Idaho (KIFI) — A domestic dispute ended in tragedy Wednesday morning near the Idaho-Wyoming border, leaving a husband and wife dead following a tense standoff with law enforcement. According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Christopher Moon shot and killed his wife, 23-year-old Cassandra Moon, before turning the gun on himself.

Cassandra Moon Remembered

Courtesy: Addie Garn via GoFundMe

In the wake of the tragic apparent murder-suicide, the neighboring community of Afton, Wyoming, has rallied to support the surviving members of Cassandra’s family.

A GoFundMe campaign, organized by family friend Addie Garn, describes Cassandra—known affectionately as “Cassie” to those close to her—as a devoted mother whose life centered around her three young children: two boys and an infant daughter, Claire.

While the initial chatter and rumormill within the community suggested the infant may have also been a victim of the incident, official releases from law enforcement state that only the husband and wife were killed. The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that Christopher and Cassandra Moon were the only ones present at the scene.

Garn says Cassie’s death has left “a profound void in the lives of everyone who knew and loved her.” The funds raised will go toward funeral and memorial expenses for Cassie, as well as immediate and ongoing support for her children.

“No amount can ease the pain of this tragedy,” Garn shared on the fundraising page, “but your generosity can help relieve some of the financial burden and provide support to the children Cassie loved so deeply.”

The response has been immediate. As of 4 PM on January 21, the campaign has already raised over $8,000. For more information, click HERE.

Incident Background

The incident began just after 8:00 a.m. when Christopher Moon called 911, reportedly confessing to dispatchers that he had shot his wife and intended to take his own life. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bonneville County SWAT team, raced to the scene on Jackknife Road.

Upon arrival, BCSO deputies found Moon inside one of two vehicles parked on the side of the road. According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell, negotiators were able to briefly talk with Moon over the phone, in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Despite their efforts to persuade him to surrender peacefully, deputies witnessed Moon turn the firearm on himself moments later.

As they approached the vehicles, the deputies reportedly discovered the body of Cassandra Moon. Both individuals were pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot wounds.

Sgt. Lovell confirmed that no other parties were involved or injured. The BCSO continues to process evidence from the scene, and says no further details will be released at this time.

UPDATED: 12:00 PM, Jan 21, 2026

WAYAN, Idaho (KIFI) — Multiple people are dead following a domestic disturbance at a remote property along the Idaho-Wyoming border that drew a large-scale police response on Wednesday morning.

“Once we got to the scene, we found that it was relatively contained to an area just off the road around a couple of vehicles,” said BCSO Sgt. Bryan Lovell. “We did discover deceased persons. And so right now we’re, we’re working on gathering evidence and investigating that scene.”

The incident began shortly after 8:00 a.m. when the BCSO SWAT team was activated to respond to the report of a disturbance possibly involving weapons at a home on Jackknife Road near Etna, Wyoming.

While officials have confirmed bodies were discovered at the scene, the identities of the deceased and any potential suspects have not yet been released. Sgt. Lovell noted that the scene is now safe and there is no further danger to the community.

Jackknife Road has been closed from State Line Road at the Wyoming border to the west as detectives process the scene. Law enforcement officials have not provided a timeline for when the road will reopen.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a reporter on the scene and will provide more details throughout the day.

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Danielle Mullenix

UPDATE:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Hundreds of attendees gathered in the lounge of the Idaho Falls Holiday Inn and & Suites on Wednesday afternoon to hear the first official address of newly appointed Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw. Burtenshaw gave her first outline of what goals, obstacles, and accomplishments lay ahead of her appointment as mayor following the 12-year term of Rebecca Casper.

“No doubt about it, I am excited to do the work,” Mayor Burtenshaw told the assembled crowd.

Among her numerous goals for the incumbent term, Mayor Burtenshaw highlighted improved public safety, building a strong community for the next generation, and improved communication between the City and residents.

Local News 8 has included Mayor Burtenshaw’s full address below.

ORIGINAL:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw is set to deliver her first State of the City address later today, Wednesday, Jan. 21.

The event is being hosted by the Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS® and will serve as a platform for the Mayor to discuss economic development, infrastructure, and community priorities for the coming year.

Mayor Burtenshaw will begin her remarks at 12 PM. Local News 8 will provide a live stream of Mayor Burtenshaw’s speech above.

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CNN Newsource

By Chris Boyette, CNN

(CNN) — “I’m not just that girl that was kidnapped. That happened to me, but I’m so much more,” Elizabeth Smart told CNN’s Anderson Cooper in 2013.

A new Netflix documentary premiering January 21 has renewed interest in one of the most closely followed kidnapping cases in American history. Smart was 14 when she was kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home in 2002 and rescued nine months later.

Now 38, she has spent more than two decades turning her trauma into action, becoming an outspoken activist for child safety and survivors of sexual abuse.

“Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart” revisits her heartbreaking experience through interviews with Smart, family members and others, featuring never-before-seen material, according to the filmmakers.

In the two decades since her rescue, Smart has built a life centered on family and advocacy. She married Matthew Gilmour, a native of Scotland, in Hawaii in 2012. The couple met while doing missionary work in France and have three children: Chloe, James and Olivia.

Through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which she founded in 2011, Smart advocates for victim support and abuse prevention. The organization offers empowerment programs like Smart Defense and Smart Talks to educate and support survivors of sexual assault and abduction. She has testified before Congress and played a key role in promoting legislation, including the AMBER Alert and Adam Walsh Act.

Smart launched the Smart Defense initiative after she said she was assaulted on a flight to Utah, expanding her mission to include practical self-defense education. She has authored two books: “My Story” in 2013 and “Where There’s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward and Never Giving Up” in 2018.

Not everyone in her family wanted to revisit the painful past for the documentary. “Some members of my family want to leave things in the past. And personally, that’s OK with me. I want to respect their wishes,” Smart told Netflix. But for her, sharing the story serves a purpose. “As time passed, I began speaking publicly about what happened, I just felt like it needs to serve a purpose. It needs to bring some good in the world,” she says in the documentary.

“I have good days, I have bad days, but I’ve developed a better relationship with myself,” she says in the documentary. “My inner voice has changed from ‘you should have done this,’ or ‘you could have done that,’ to ‘you’ll make it through this. You could finish this. You’re strong. Keep going. You can survive anything that comes your way.’”

The abduction that gripped the nation

On the night of June 5, 2002, Brian David Mitchell dragged 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her bedroom in her family’s Salt Lake City home. Her 9-year-old sister, Mary Katherine Smart, pretended to be asleep as Mitchell threatened her older sister with a knife.

Mitchell brought Elizabeth to a mountainside camp where his wife, Wanda Barzee, was waiting. The sexual abuse began that day and continued throughout her nine months in captivity, Smart said. “I realized that I had something that was worth surviving for,” Smart told documentary makers of her resolve to survive and return to her family.

Authorities launched a nationwide manhunt with thousands of volunteers joining the search. The breakthrough came when Mary Katherine suddenly remembered whose voice she had heard that night — a drifter known as “Immanuel” who had once worked at their home. Police released a sketch that appeared on “America’s Most Wanted.”

On March 12, 2003, Smart was found alive, walking down a street with Mitchell and Barzee in Sandy, Utah, just five miles from her home.

In the years since her rescue, the people at the center of the case have moved forward in different ways.

Mary Katherine Smart

Mary Katherine’s memory proved to be the key to solving the case, though it took months to surface. “I was 9 years old when Elizabeth was taken. I missed not having my sister. She was my best friend,” she says in the documentary.

Four months after the abduction, while flipping through the Guinness World Records, the name suddenly popped into her head. “I knew immediately that’s who was in my bedroom … That’s the man who kidnapped Elizabeth,” she recalls.

Now living a private life, Mary Katherine is a special education teacher who recently earned her master’s degree in applied behavior analysis. She’s working toward becoming a licensed Board Certified Behavior Analyst. In a rare 2023 news appearance, she said, “I love working with kids. I love behavior.”

She married John Paul O’Brien in Salt Lake City in 2020, according to a wedding registry website cited by TV Insider.

The abduction remains something she continues to process. “I’m still trying to find my own process of moving forward. Time is a big thing. As time moves on, things get better, and you learn how to cope,” she said while offering advice to families of the University of Idaho students killed in 2022.

Ed and Lois Smart

Throughout their daughter’s nine-month disappearance, Ed and Lois Smart were a constant force, making regular media appearances to keep the search in the headlines. “If you can hear me, Elizabeth is the sweetest girl. She’s an angel,” Ed Smart told reporters in June 2002. “Please let her go.”

After Elizabeth’s rescue, the couple co-authored “Bringing Elizabeth Home: A Legacy of Faith,” released in October 2003. Both became advocates for child safety and survivor support.

Ed served as executive director of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and president of the Surviving Parents Coalition. He currently serves as a director at Youth Futures Utah, a nonprofit providing shelter and support for unhoused youth, and continues making media appearances to support families of abducted children.

Lois Smart worked alongside Ed to advocate for the passage of the National AMBER Alert system. She now works as a public speaker using her platform “to inspire and educate others,” according to her All American Speakers bio. She was among the few family members who declined to participate in the Netflix documentary.

In 2019, Ed Smart announced he is gay, saying it took most of his life to accept his sexual orientation. “I tried to suppress that; it’s not me, not who I am. I tried to put that out,” he told CNN. Ed and Lois divorced in 2019, according to records obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune.

The kidnappers

Elizabeth Smart’s testimony proved crucial to bringing her captors to justice. She testified vividly about her nine months in captivity during Mitchell’s trial in 2009 and 2010, describing the ordeal as “my nine months in hell.”

“I didn’t want to face him, but at the same time, if he was released, he would definitely go after another young girl,” Smart said. “So, when the verdict finally came in as guilty, I mean, it was, it was just like, it is about time. Thank goodness it’s done, and I can leave it in the past.”

Mitchell was found guilty in December 2010 of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor with intent to engage in sexual activity. On May 25, 2011, he was sentenced to life in prison, where he remains today.

Barzee pleaded guilty to kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor and agreed to cooperate against Mitchell. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2010 but was released on September 19, 2018, after her time in federal custody was counted toward her state sentence.

Smart expressed disappointment at Barzee’s release. “It is incomprehensible how someone who has not cooperated with her mental health evaluations or risk assessments and someone who did not show up to her own parole hearing can be released into our community,” she said in a statement.

Barzee was arrested in Salt Lake City last May after visiting two public parks, which she is barred from as a registered sex offender.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Museum of Idaho:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Starting January 31, the Museum of Idaho invites visitors to step far deeper into prehistory with the opening of Life Before Dinosaurs: Meet the Permian Monsters, a fascinating traveling exhibition that explores a largely forgotten chapter of life on Earth.

Long before dinosaurs appeared, the Permian world was ruled by a strange and formidable cast of creatures. Saber-toothed, mammal-like predators stalked the land. Sharks with spiral teeth cruised ancient seas. Giant insects dominated the skies. This exhibition journeys back 290 million years to meet these early “monsters” and uncover how they lived, hunted, and ultimately vanished.

Exhibit images courtesy of Gondwana Studios

The Permian world came to an abrupt and devastating end in what scientists call the Permian-Triassic mass extinction, often referred to as “The Great Dying.” Roughly 90 percent of all species on Earth were wiped out in a geologic instant, likely triggered by extreme global warming caused by massive volcanic eruptions. This catastrophic event cleared the way for the rise of dinosaurs and reshaped the future of life on the planet.

Life Before Dinosaurs: Meet the Permian Monsters brings this dramatic story to life through a powerful blend of science and art. Visitors will encounter fossil casts, full-size reconstructed models, and immersive environments that recreate Permian seas and landscapes. The exhibition also features striking new paleo-art by award-winning artist Julius Csotonyi, offering a vivid window into a world rarely seen.

Hands-on elements make the experience fun and engaging for all ages, including interactive dig pits and interpretive displays that explain not just what these creatures were, but why their disappearance changed the trajectory of life on Earth forever.

The exhibition is produced by Gondwana Studios and includes a variety of resin cast fossil skeletons, scientifically accurate life-size 3-D models, animatronic creatures, large-scale murals, and more.

Museum members will receive the first look during a special Member Preview on Thursday, January 29, from 2 to 6 p.m. Memberships can be joined or renewed now to enjoy unlimited access and exclusive benefits at museumofidaho.org/membership.

Life Before Dinosaurs: Meet the Permian Monsters opens January 31 at the Museum of Idaho. For hours, ticket information, and membership details, visit museumofidaho.org.

Exhibit dates: January 31 – September 6

To schedule a school field trip, click HERE.

For more information, visit museumofidaho.org/beforedinos

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Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Angelina Quilimaco became completely blind as an infant and can only sense slight shadows. That reality makes everyday tasks more complicated — especially something like crossing a busy road.

For Quilimaco, crossing Highway 91 wasn’t just intimidating; it was dangerous.

Asking for Safer Crossings

Quilimaco often needed to cross the highway near her home. Her friend April Mills, who works with the Commission for the Blind, encouraged her to reach out to the city and ask for help.

Mills recommended requesting HAWK signals — adaptive crosswalk signals that use audio cues to let pedestrians know when it’s safe to cross, helping people navigate intersections more safely.

Two Years of Work Pay Off

After two years of patience and persistence, the signals are now up and running, thanks in part to Scott Murphy, Blackfoot’s Street and Sanitation Superintendent.

“It’s nice to do something to help people. I mean, other than potholes and regular maintenance, it’s nice to get a positive thing going,” says Murphy.

Gratitude for a Hometown Helper

Quilimaco was excited to finally meet the man who helped make her request a reality.

“It means the world to me. I was going to make them cookies, but I ran out of time, and so I just made them all thank you cards,” she said.

A Moment Years in the Making

Mills, who has worked with Quilimaco for more than a decade, says this moment reflects years of determination.

“It’s been a long need, but Angelina just had the courage to be vulnerable and ask for help. And then she had the tenacity to follow through,” Mills said.

Benefits for the Entire Community

According to Mills, this particular crossing is also heavily used by students walking to school. That means the improvements will benefit people of all ages for years to come — not just those who are blind, but also older adults, children, and anyone navigating the busy roadway.

Encouraging Others to Speak Up

When asked what advice she would give to others hoping to create positive change, Quilimaco keeps it simple.

“I would tell them keep pushing until it happened, because it will. If you advocate for yourself enough and you speak out and say what you need.”

One Request, Lasting Impact

Quilimaco’s request didn’t stop at just one intersection. As Blackfoot began installing HAWK signals, the Idaho Transportation Department decided they’d also add two more — turning one voice into four safer crossings.

Those signals are now active at Meridian and Bergner, as well as Parkway and Bergner — proof that when someone speaks up, the impact can reach far beyond a single crosswalk.

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