Category: kifi-local-news

Hadley Bodell

DOWNEY, Idaho (KIFI) – For the last two years, local farmers in Downey have been voicing their opinions on the potential for solar farms in south Bannock County. It’s a hot topic again as commissioners move to rewrite a 2024 ordinance that banned solar farms in Bannock County.

Public hearings, held before the ordinance passed, allowed Bannock County residents to share their concerns about large solar farms in their backyards. Other locals supported the development, saying they were excited over the potential financial gain from a proposed solar farm.

In the end, a 2-1 vote by Bannock County Commissioners banned industrial solar panel farms. The one opposing vote was County Commissioner Chairman Jeff Hough.

Former County Commissioner John Crowder, who voted to ban solar farms in 2024, said it boils down to a political battle in Bannock County that leaves taxpayers nervous about what large-scale projects they should support.

“The solar energy stuff is a scam. It’s not efficient. And they wouldn’t do this without tax subsidies going towards them,” Crowder said. “This is what you see with these types of projects. The guys that are going to profit from them are going to be in favor of them. No regular citizens who stand to absorb the risks, whether it’s environmental risks or aesthetic risks or whatever – they’re going to be opposed.”

A moratorium was placed on solar farms in 2024 while commissioners deliberated on the outright ban passed in March 2024. A similar strategy was used just last month by Bannock County when they placed a moritorium on AI data center permit proposals, to allow 180 days to deliberate new ordinance.

At the beginning of August 2026, Pocatello for Accountable Government Agencies put in a public records request for the new draft ordinance. Originally, Heather Disselkoen– co-founder of the agency– was denied because the document was protected under client-attorney privilege. Through more requests, Disselkoan discovered a third party interest had been given access to the ordinance five weeks prior to the public.

“It was information we felt the public needed to know. This was an elected commissioner, commissioner Hough, who had released it to a third party interest,” Disselkoen explained. “Who happens to be Dustin Manwaring, the attorney for Balanced Rock [Power] and in my opinion, he was giving them preferential treatment over members of the public.”

Disselkoen took to Facebook with her discovery and the post garnered serious traction online, skyrocketing to Pocatello for Accountable Government Agencies’ top post. With Commissioner Hough in communication with Manwaring prior to the new ordinance becoming public, he released this statement regarding the situation:

Email statement from Commissioner Jeff Hough, courtesy of Heather Disselkoen

Locals in Downey echoed Disselkoen’s sentiment that this was a breach of trust and a favoritism to outside parties rather than Bannock County constituents. While nothing about Commissioner Hough’s actions were unlawful, residents say it’s a breach of their trust.

“Draft ordinances were supposed to be a protected document,” said Des Hauser, a business and land owner in Downey. “To find out they’re leaked to Dustin Manwaring, by Commissioner Hough, like, that breaks a really big sense of trust.”

Local homemaker Rebecca Falcon said that elected officials should advocate for the people of their county, and that current commissioners aren’t listening to the people of Downey when it comes to a potential solar farm.

“They’re forcing it on us,” Falcon said. “I think they’re supposed to represent us. Our commissioners are not representing the people of this area.”

For Downey ranchers and farmers, the rural landscape is a way of life and where they’ve raised families for generations. Many of them can’t imagine life with thousands of acres of solar panels surrounding their properties, which the Balanced Rock Solar Farm Project promises.

“It would be in my backyard. I’d be surrounded by three sides. Our way of life, the enjoyment of our property, the reason why we bought it, where we live, all would be changed forever,” Hauser said. “Not to mention the value of the property is going to depreciate.”

Business owners in South Bannock County are looking for growth to the small towns like Downey. Joel Mcquivey is the owner of All American Roofing and Gutters, a business that relies on growth to the Marsh Valley.

“It will really affect the resale value of my properties. What I struggle with is that I want to be able to do what I want with my property, I feel my neighbors should be able to do the same,” Mcquivey said. “But I also feel that what I do on my property should help boost the value of theirs, not take away from them.”

Residents who support the solar farm project believe the financial gain outweighs the devastation of the land. Mcquivey said he has friends who would be crazy not to at least try and lease their land to install solar panels.

“Who’s looking to buy when you’ve got a solar farm 150 feet from your fence? Nobody. It kills the resale value of your home.”

-Joel Mcquivey

The entire project aligns with Gateway West, a power energy project designed to reliably deliver energy from eastern Wyoming to western Idaho. The area just west of Downey is already home to a large substation, making the land valuable to all energy developers. Mcquivey said simply, “look elsewhere.”

Falcon said she was offered the money for a solar farm on her property near the substation, however, she declined. It’s not about the money, it’s about the rural lifestyle and protecting the history of generations of families in Downey.

“This is our home. In my mind, I can’t reconcile any value on my life and my history,” Falcon stated.

Falcon and Hauser have fought for their land in the past when solar farms were originally brought to the commission table in 2024. The commissioners at the time heard the concerns of locals and set the ban in place. Now, these same residents are prepared to fight again for their community.

“We all bought ag land, so to find out that they would turn our ag land into an industrial complex is just mind blowing. If you don’t want to be a farmer or a rancher out here, sell it and go somewhere where you can buy industrial property.”

-Rebecca Falcon

Hauser said when the ban went into place two years ago, it felt like a temporary fix. They knew the fight wasn’t over because Manwaring and other attorneys could continue trying to get the ban overturned. During the public hearing process for the ban ordinance, Hauser and Falcon did grunt work in Downey getting the community to rally behind them– knocking on doors, hosting open houses at the library, and gathering people to attend public hearings.

“With this particular project, nobody was talking about it, nobody knew. They didn’t knock on our doors and tell us our own neighbors were involved in this potential project,” Falcon said. “It was about getting out and talking the neighbors in the community and letting them know because majority of people had no idea what was coming our way.”

The local farmers worry for the newcomers to Downey, unaware their backyard may soon be filled with blinding solar panels. Their main concern is the destruction of the land, because once it’s done, Hauser says the damage is irreversable.

“It’s not like the town would feel the benefit of the power. It’s going to get shipped out of here. So we have to give up all of our landscape, our way of life,” Hauser said. “People live in these communities because they embrace their rural lifestyle. None of us signed up to say we want to live in an industrial solar complex.”

Falcon says the project fronted by Balanced Rock would total almost 15,000 acres of land near Downey.

“We will definitely keep fighting,” Hauser said. “We’re not going to stop. We just have to keep a watchful eye on what goes on and be willing to stand up and be advocates for the people who might not feel they can.”

Residents in Downey have utilized the public records requesting system and will continue showing up in every possible way to stop the solar farm ban from being reversed.

Local News 8 will continue following this story as it develops and more information becomes available.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho National Laboratory’s collaboration with NASA is propelling spacecraft to the depths of the universe with its nuclear propulsion generators.

NASA’s top official Jared Isaacman will touch down in Idaho Falls Friday to tour the laboratory’s facilities and visit the heart of America’s nuclear space program.

Projects and research at the area empowering space missions past, present and future.

“We have made radioisotope thermoelectric generators that have powered the Curiosity and the Perseverance rover that are on Mars,” said INL Tour Ambassador Liza Raley. “A New Horizons mission went all the way past Pluto. When the rocket took off, Pluto was a planet. It took nine and a half years for it to get to the Kuiper Belt, passing Pluto. By the time it arrived, Pluto was no longer a planet. It had been downgraded.”

INL scientists are laser-focused on powering the future of space exploration.

“We’re currently working on four missions – all launching within a 12-month time span,” said Space Nuclear Power & Isotope Technologies Director Stephen Johnson. The first of those is a July 2028 mission that we’re supplying radioisotope heater units for an multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) that is Dragonfly, which is going to Saturn’s moon Titan.”

INL is also assisting the Rosalind Franklin Mission in placing a lander and rover on Mars in October 2028.

“Then in November of 2028, they are targeting launching a small fission reactor Space Reactor-1,” Johnson said. “That will power a craft using nuclear electric propulsion that will go to Mars and launch into Mars some small helicopters.”

Finally, the next year, a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) will power the Promise rover on the lunar surface.

With major ambition, NASA is also preparing to bring a nuclear fission reactor to the moon by 2030.

“NASA has a whole moon base plan, right? They’re going to need a lot of power for that plan,” said Nuclear Reactor Technology Division Director Justin Coleman. “They have the power right now for the initial steps. They don’t need a reactor today. But again, that’s the reason NASA’s looking at a reactor that’ll be launch-ready by 2030. It will completely change the paradigm in the type of power generation you have on the moon.”

To accomplish that, INL and its partners are focused on making nuclear reactors and batteries that are lighter and more compact. 

“When we think about reactors for defense and even space or mobile applications, you think of things that are constrained by weight and size,” Coleman said. “So they have to be able to fit into a small package, and they have to be light enough to be able to fly around in a C-17 to transport by truck or to transport by rocket.”

In this revolutionary era merging space exploration and advanced reactor technology, for NASA and INL, the sky is not the limit.

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Dylan Carder

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI)- The 61st Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival began Thursday at the Shoshone-Bannock Festival Grounds in Fort Hall. The four-day gathering runs through this Sunday under the theme “One people, one purpose, one future.”

The festival originated in August 1964 when then-recreation director Reeves Nawoosky organized a social powwow to celebrate a successful summer of activities. Roselynn Yazzie, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Public Affairs Manager, said the event is free and open to the public. “I would like to warmly welcome everyone to the 61st annual Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival,” Yazzie said. “This is our biggest event of the year.”

High-speed Indian Relay racing serves as a central attraction at the festival. The sport originated on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation more than 100 years ago and is passed down through tribal families. Each four-member team includes one rider, one catcher and two holders who manage three horses during bareback exchanges. Riders must complete a lap with each horse and dismount without assistance or losing control of their animals.

Competitive powwows are held at the Delbert Farmer Festival Arbor. Blackstone, a group from Saskatchewan, Canada, is serving as the host drum for events that draw dancers and drum groups from across North America. Yazzie, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Public Affairs Manager, noted the diverse attendance. “There are people from as far as Canada. Our host group is from Canada. And they’re the Blackstone singers from Saskatchewan, Canada and we have people from everywhere,” Yazzie said.

The festival schedule includes a Children’s Day Powwow Thursday night at 7 p.m. Main Grand Entries follow this Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., as well as this Sunday at 1 p.m. Yazzie described the gathering as both a destination for families across Indian country and a “homecoming” for tribal members who live elsewhere. “I grew up dancing and, just kind of traveling with my grandparents all over and I feel like I just love coming to powwow and hearing the music and just being around community and family,” Yazzie said. “So that’s my favorite part.”

Two parades are part of the festival itinerary. The Children’s Day Parade traveled along Agency Road on Thursday morning. The Main Festival Parade, featuring tribal leadership, community floats and traditional attire, is scheduled for 1 p.m. this Saturday.

Other athletic events include the All-Indian Rodeo and traditional Native games. Indigenous artisans are selling beadwork, leather goods and jewelry, while food vendors are serving local specialties such as frybread and Indian tacos. The event also features royalty pageants to select Miss Shoshone-Bannock and the Festival Princess.

Yazzie explained that this year’s theme, “One people, one purpose, one future,” focuses on community wellness and unity. “I hope they feel connected, to this land, this region, to all our people in general,” Yazzie said regarding the visitors. “And I feel especially right now, like we all need to feel, you know, united and, celebrations like these provide those opportunities. And any time you could be a good neighbor, is a great opportunity for you to learn something or maybe walk away with something, an experience you never had before.”

The 61st Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival concludes this Sunday. The final Grand Entry is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Delbert Farmer Festival Arbor. You can find a full schedule of events at https://shobanfestival.com/

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Par Kermani

BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI) — With Raspberry Days around the corner, Idaho State Police is urging people to put safety first following several fatal incidents in the area this summer.

“We’ve seen firsthand how quickly a fun day can turn tragic,” Capt. Clint Skinner said. “As we welcome thousands of visitors for Raspberry Days, we’re asking everyone to slow down, wear a seat belt, wear a life jacket on the water and never drive impaired. A few responsible decisions can make the difference between a safe weekend and a tragedy.”

Idaho State Police is partnering with the Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to coordinate emergency response efforts throughout the weekend.

ISP said it will maintain an increased law enforcement presence in the Bear Lake area through the end of the summer.

More information can be found at the official Idaho State Police website.

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CNN Newsource

By Isa Mudannayake, Hanna Park, CNN

(CNN) — The Powerball jackpot has risen to an estimated $905 million after nobody took the grand prize in Saturday night’s drawing.

The winning numbers were 5, 9, 35, 54, 63 and red Powerball 7, with a Power Play multiplier of 3.

While no one snagged the $856 million jackpot – the largest prize of the year and the eighth-largest in the game’s history – some players still won sizable prizes, according to the Powerball website.

One ticket sold in Texas matched all five white balls and included the Power Play option to win $2 million. Four other tickets each won $1 million by matching the five white numbers. Those tickets were sold in Arizona, Florida, Michigan and New York.

The new $905 million jackpot will be up for grabs in the next drawing, scheduled for Monday.

No one has won the grand prize in more than three months, allowing the jackpot to steadily grow to such an enormous sum.

The last jackpot was won on May 2 by two players in Florida and Texas who split a $20 million prize, according to Powerball.

“We already had five Powerball jackpots won by tickets in seven states (this year) before this current jackpot run,” a spokesperson for the Multi-State Lottery Association told CNN. “As jackpots continue to rollover without a grand prize winner, player interest grows and contributes to a faster jackpot growth.”

Powerball expands to United Kingdom

Tonight’s drawing comes as Powerball tickets became available in the United Kingdom for the first time last month through an agreement between the Multi-State Lottery Association and Allwyn UK, the owner of the country’s National Lottery.

This gave UK players the chance to jump into the running for larger jackpots than have previously been available.

“Whenever a new lottery or large player base joins the game, it can contribute to faster jackpot growth. Since the launch in the UK, ticket sales have continued to increase alongside the jackpot,” said the Multi-State Lottery Association spokesperson, while acknowledging that it is too early to draw broad conclusions about the expansion’s impact on the game.

In addition to the UK, Powerball is played in 45 US states as well as Washington, DC, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

The all-time highest jackpot was just over $2 billion, won by a California resident in 2022.

This year has seen some sizable prizes, with a $250.8 million jackpot won in Arkansas in March, followed by a prize of $230.8 million in Delaware the next month.

Jackpot winners can receive their prize in a lump sum or across 30 installments, which lotteries offer through an annuitized prize plan that takes interest into account.

The lump sum is paid to winners at once from the money in the jackpot pool, which is typically lower than the annuitized value. Saturday’s cash prize value was approximately $371 million.

Saturday’s $856 million figure would be before taxes – although some states, including California and Texas, don’t tax lottery winnings.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are approximately 1 in 292.2 million. Odds are more favorable for smaller cash prices.

Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Emma Balleste contributed to this report.

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CNN Newsource

By Emma Tucker, CNN

The alleged arsonist in the first of three devastating wildfires in Washington state that have been burning over the past several days admitted to igniting the blaze and more than two dozen others since last year, court documents show.

Four of the fires that Aaron Farinacci, 37, confessed to starting have been corroborated by detectives, prosecutors said. He is now charged with a total of five counts of first-degree arson, including one count in connection with the Old Trails Fire, which ignited Saturday.

The stunning development comes as fire crews continue working to contain destructive fires in the Spokane area and are preparing for another bout of strong winds and intense heat through the weekend.

The criminal charges “may be further amended as the full extent of the defendant’s criminal acts becomes known,” prosecutors said.

Farinacci, a Spokane resident, told investigators he planned to commit the crime for weeks and researched what day would be ideal — a high-wind, low humidity forecast that materialized over the weekend — for igniting the fire, according to new documents filed by Spokane County prosecutors.

Farinacci’s confession that he started four different fires means the case qualifies as serial arson, defined by the US Department of Justice as an offense by those who set three or more fires with a long period of time between them.

They include the Aubrey White fire on July 6, 2025, which burned over 1,200 acres; another one less than 5 miles away just two days later; the Equestrian Fire on August 11, 2025; and the Indian Bluff Fire on July 24 of this year, the document said.

“He feels fire is powerful, beautiful, and that things that go through fire experience a kind of rebirth,” one detective who interviewed Farinacci wrote in the affidavit.

Farinacci was initially charged with one count of first-degree arson stemming from the Old Trails Fire that, together with two other fires, have in recent days destroyed over 10,000 acres, wiped out hundreds of homes and led to tens of thousands of evacuations. Prosecutors subsequently added four additional first-degree arson charges.

He appeared in court Thursday, during which the judge ordered him to be held on $2 million bond. Farinacci’s defense attorney said he would be filing an order for competency evaluation.

A key witness who drove past a man identified as Farinacci twice shortly before the Old Trails Fire started led law enforcement to identify him as a suspect after seeing smoke billowing from the same spot crossed paths with the man earlier.

“My first response was … ‘That S.O.B. started a fire,’” said Paul Child, who lives less than half a mile from where investigators say the fire started.

He chose a windy day for the arson attack

During his first interview with detectives after being arrested, Farinacci initially denied for roughly the first hour and a half being involved in any fire, court documents said.

But then he described “in detail his planning and execution” of starting the Old Trails Fire, prosecutors say. What was revealed in that interview became the basis for the four new charges.

One detective described him as intelligent, detail oriented and “knowledgeable about fire, winds, and fire warning protocol.”

He also had “extensive knowledge of other arson suspects and their methodology” and had researched serial arsonist John Leonard Orr and purchased items to make a “time delay device” for starting a wildfire, according to the affidavit.

Farinacci told detectives he was dealing with personal struggles after his son was born last year and said he always had marijuana or cigarettes on him “so he would be able to have a legitimate reason to have a lighter and or matches and to assist with an arson alibi,” one detective said.

“He knows arson is an easy crime to get away from if you have time, and he had time,” the detective wrote.

Farinacci began planning what became the first fire on Saturday around two weeks before it started and researched on a weather app what day would have “high winds, low humidity, sort of high heat,” the affidavit said.

He ultimately decided to start a fire on August 1, admitting he “knew for a fact it was going to be windy,” the document said.

If confronted by police, Farinacci’s plan was to pull a knife from his backpack and “try to get the police to shoot him” but later decided to “feign innocence,” the detective wrote.

Police approached him at 3 past fire sites

The detective’s account of Farinacci’s confession included details about his plans for previous fires and how law enforcement approached him on three separate occasions at sites of fires he later admitted to starting, the affidavit said.

During one of those interactions, after a wildfire started on July 8, a Spokane police officer located Farinacci sitting on a rock by the road and Farinacci admitted to having lighters on him to smoke cannabis, the document said.

But during his interview Monday, Farinacci told investigators he was sitting on the rock “due to falling and hurting his tailbone while setting fires” and had cannabis on him as an excuse for having lighters in case law enforcement spoke to him, prosecutors said.

Farinacci showed investigators on a map the sites of four fires, the affidavit says.

The county prosecuting attorney said in the filing Wednesday that state law does not allow “the magnitude of an offense” to be reflected in the charges.

“To say it another way, whether one house was burned or 1,000 houses were burned, our state law counts that as a single act or ‘single unit’ of prosecution,” said prosecuting attorney Preston McCollam.

Witness account led to his arrest

Less than an hour before he saw flames roaring down the road from his home on Saturday afternoon, Child was driving with his grandson in the rural area outside Spokane where he lives to pick up his grandson’s friend, he told CNN.

On their route, they spotted a bald man wearing a backpack and green T-shirt pacing on the side of the road.

At first, Child didn’t give it much thought. But minutes later, on the way back to his home, after picking up his grandson’s friend, they saw the man in the same spot.

This time, Child said the man was bending over and looked like he was doing something in the bushes, facing the tree line on the other side of the railroad tracks, Child said.

“Once he saw us, he just stood up and kind of acted kind of nervous … shuffling back and forth,” Child said.

Shortly after Child returned home, he said, his daughter told him there was a fire and when Child ran outside, he saw a plume of smoke billowing from the same place where he had seen the man.

Child’s daughter called 911 and he flagged down an officer to tell him about the man he saw, which ultimately helped law enforcement identify Farinacci as a suspect.

Within an hour, the officer told Child that deputies had detained a person who matched the description he gave, the grandfather said.

Investigator recognized him from 2025 fire site

By the end of the day on Saturday, Farinacci was released after he denied starting the fire and being in its vicinity, according to court documents.

But at the time, deputies didn’t know the full facts of how the fire occurred, including its origin point, which wasn’t revealed until a state fire investigator looked into the case, the affidavit said.

When the investigator determined the fire’s origin to be the exact spot where Child reported seeing Farinacci kneeling in the grass, detectives used that information and the body-worn camera footage of encounters with Farinacci to build their case.

Farinacci was arrested Monday and was charged with first-degree arson.

It’s not his first time facing felony prosecution. Farinacci previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in prison after fatally shooting his father. The shooting occurred during an argument about washing dishes in 2010, the Associated Press reported, citing records.

He was also contacted by law enforcement about two other fires, though he wasn’t charged in either case, according to the probable cause affidavit for his arrest.

One investigator’s realization that Farinacci’s distinctive T-shirt was noted in a fire investigation at Riverside State Park last August led to the first charge against him related to the Old Trails Fire, prosecutors say.

During his initial detention Saturday, Farinacci was wearing a fanny pack and a green T-shirt with the words “who needs luck I have charm” written on it, the same t-shirt he was seen in last August when law enforcement found Farinacci “on a park bench seemingly out of breath from possibly running,” the affidavit states.

This story has been updated with additional information.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

CNN’s Matt Friedman, Holly Yan, Graham Hurley and Mary Gilbert contributed to this report.

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Curtis Jackson

BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Two men face grand theft charges following a multi-agency investigation that recovered more than $50,000 in stolen property across Idaho and Utah.

James T. Cooper and Tony P. Goans were arrested in connection with a series of thefts targeting businesses in both states.

The investigation began after a $3,300 Portacool evaporative fan was reported stolen from Ace Hardware in Aberdeen on June 1, 2026. Detectives used surveillance footage and investigative leads to identify the suspects. Eventually, the investigation led to a search warrant and the discovery of a larger operation involving stolen lawn equipment, recreational vehicles, and utility trailers.

Cooper was arrested June 5, 2026, at the Short Stop convenience store in Blackfoot. He was charged with grand theft in connection with the investigation.

On June 15, 2026, the Southeastern Idaho S.T.A.R. Team executed a search warrant at a residence in Power County and arrested Goans on grand theft charges.

Following the arrests, investigators searched multiple locations, including a storage unit in Pocatello and property in Bingham County. They recovered commercial lawn equipment, outdoor power equipment, recreational vehicles and utility trailers. The search also resulted in the recovery of kayaks, outdoor furniture and fire pits.

The stolen merchandise originated from businesses throughout southeastern Idaho and northern Utah. According to investigators, items were taken from Tractor Supply Company in Pocatello, CAL Ranch and Blackfoot Motorsports in Blackfoot, and Ace Hardware stores in Aberdeen, Shelley and Brigham City.

The Bingham Joint Investigations Division coordinated the effort with the Power County Sheriff’s Office and the Southeastern Idaho S.T.A.R. Team. Additional assistance was provided by Pocatello Police, Shelley Police, and Blackfoot Police.

Detectives are continuing to work with partner agencies to identify additional victims and confirm the ownership of the recovered property. Investigators are also evaluating the possibility of additional criminal charges in the case.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at (208) 785-1234.

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Hadley Bodell

DOWNEY, Idaho (KIFI) – The “Best little fair in Idaho” is back in Downey all week long with activities for families, cowboys and little ones. Many of the people who work to make the fair happen every year are Downey local volunteers like Brittanie Goodwin.

“It just brings the people, there aren’t a lot of people here so it just brings them,” Goodwin said. “And brings the love of Downey.”

Wednesday was kids’ day in the park with a dunk tank and water toys, plus a hypnotist performance in the evening. The parade for the fair and rodeo began at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, followed by a street dance for dancers of all ages.

There’s also an inflatable park open with bouncy houses, bumper boats, and inflatable toys for kids all week from noon to 8 p.m. There are also raffles to enter to win prizes and boothes for face painting.

“There’s also a bunch of vendors for you to shop,” Goodwin said. “There’s T-shirts you can buy, a hat you can make, and so much food.”

Goodwin said the Monday and Tuesday of the fair are usually the slowest of the week, but during the evenings she said the fairgrounds have been packed with both locals and visitors.

The Bannock County Fair and Rodeo kicks off Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Goodwin says the rodeo brings the most people to Downey, featuring events like bronc and bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing and more fan favorites.

“I live here, so it’s been a part of growing up. I come here every year, I volunteer with the inflatables and my mom has a booth,” Goodwin said. “It brings everything for town.”

A full schedule of events is available on the Bannock County Fair and Rodeo Facebook page.

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Maile Sipraseuth

WILSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Residents from both sides of Teton Pass came together Monday night to discuss ways to make one of the region’s busiest roads safer following a series of serious and deadly crashes.

Drivers discussed several potential solutions, including building a port of entry, staffing the weigh station, improving signage, restricting large vehicles, increasing education and even building a tunnel.

During the discussion, a trucking company owner, a former Wyoming Highway Patrol officer and a former Wyoming legislator shared their perspectives on the challenges facing Teton Pass and offered potential solutions for improving safety.

The meeting was organized by a group of seven community members, including Gary Kofinas, whose friend was killed when a dump truck lost control on Teton Pass.

RELATED: Highway Patrol: Equipment failure likely caused deadly crash on Teton Pass

“We are all concerned and feel the need to do something. And so we agreed that probably the first step was to bring our community together, let them express their concerns, give them some basic information, and start the conversation about what are the possible solution,” Kofinas said.

Corey Milligan, another organizer advocating for safety measures on Teton Pass, said Monday’s meeting is only the beginning. Organizers plan to continue conversations over the next month before recommending any changes.

“The plan is to spend 30 days engaging with all the stakeholders and really hearing more deeply what everyone thinks are the best solutions. And then for us to decide and make a plan of what we think are the best solutions and what we’re going to then start advocating for,” Milligan said.

Representatives from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and Wyoming Department of Transportation attended the meeting to hear public feedback and answer questions about safety on the pass.

“We hear complaints of people saying ‘there’s this vehicle traveling after this hour,’ and ‘we want to see more enforcement. We want to see more rules,’ and those are all things we’re listening for because we want people to understand that this is their road as well. We want them to feel safe traveling it,” Arron Healy with the Wyoming Highway Patrol said.

Kofinas and Milligan said Monday’s meeting was intended to begin a larger community conversation, with the goal of working alongside transportation officials and lawmakers to find solutions that could reduce crashes and save lives on Teton Pass.

“I lost a friend that was at my house one minute and ten minutes later, he passed away. And it’s pretty powerful to have that experience. And so my small part is to try and raise awareness and get a response,” Kofinas said.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Blackfoot City Council has approved an ordinance banning the sale of kratom within city limits, making it illegal for businesses to sell the substance beginning this month.

The move follows a similar ban recently approved in Idaho Falls.

The ordinance applies only to the sale of kratom and does not prohibit individuals from possessing or using it.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. It contains compounds that can produce stimulant effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses.

City officials said the decision comes after multiple deaths in Bonneville County were linked to kratom, raising concerns about public safety and the availability of the substance in local stores.

Blackfoot Police Chief Wes Wheatley said the city felt it was important to take action to reduce access to kratom and address the potential risks associated with its sale.

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