Category: kifi-local-news

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police and Boulim’s Fresh Foods are once again partnering to provide holiday meals for families in need across eastern Idaho through the annual 10 Counties of Christmas donation drive.

The food drive runs from Nov. 6 through Nov. 25. During that time, troopers will collect donations at Broulim’s stores throughout eastern Idaho to help provide holiday meals to local families.

According to Idaho State Police, the program began in 2017 and provided 53 holiday meals during its first year. Organizers say the effort has grown significantly since then, serving 744 families across the 10 counties covered by ISP District 6 in 2025.

“We have never had to turn a family away, and this year we expect the need to be greater than ever,” said Sgt. Blake Higley, who founded the 10 Counties of Christmas program in 2017. “I know money is tight for a lot of families right now, but even a small donation can make a big difference.”

ISP said the fundraiser is supported through a partnership with Broulim’s Fresh Foods, sponsorships from local businesses including Westmark Credit Union, and donations from community members. Broulim’s prepares grocery packages containing everything needed for a traditional holiday meal, while local schools help identify families who may benefit from the program.

Troopers will deliver the meals to selected families in December.

Organizers say they hope the continued generosity of eastern Idaho residents will allow the program to reach even more families this holiday season.

Donations can be made at participating Broulim’s locations through Nov. 25, either at collection booths staffed by troopers or at store checkout registers.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello City Council heard from community members at a public hearing on November 5 regarding a proposed ordinance on the sale of kratom products in the city. More citizens spoke in support of the ban ordinance, while several argued that it isn’t a necessary policy.

The Pocatello Police Department first presented information on the proposed ban ordinance. The ordinance would not make possession or use of the drug illegal, only the sale of it.

“The goal of this proposal is to take a proactive approach to public safety, reduce local accessibility, and provide a clear and consistent standard for businesses operating within the city,” said Mallory Bascom, licensing enforcement officer with the Pocatello Police Department.

Bascom read a portion of written testimony from a 17-year-old who had lost a cousin to kratom. “It [kratom] is sold in gas stations, known as ‘gas station heroin or crack’, advertised in bright, colorful packaging sometimes next to energy drinks and everyday snacks,” Bascom read to the council from the testimony. “It is marketed as an energy-booster, mood enhancer, pain reliever, or pre-workout, making it look harmless and appealing to teenagers and athletes. Young people deserve to grow up in a community that puts their safety first.”

“When these products are marketed to look fun, safe and natural, it encourages young people to experiment without understanding the consequences,”

-Mallory Bascom, reading from email testimony of 17-year-old Pocatello citizen

The podium was then opened to public testimony. Tia, a Pocatello resident, spoke first about the death of her young daughter due to kratom use. After beginning to take kratom as a medication for her condition, she became addicted and died from the drug.

“It helped, it did help I’m not going to deny that,” Tia told the council. “But it grew into an addiction, she became addicted to it and it eventually led to her death.”

Tia’s story echoed many others shared during Thursday night’s public hearing, including those from family members who lost loved ones to kratom use. By sharing their personal experiences, speakers hoped to help the City Council better understand the risks of unregulated kratom sales in the community.

“I find it really reckless that anybody can walk into a gas station of any age and purchase an opiate product in any form, concentrated or not,” said community member Michelle York. “This product has a lot of health risks for the person, the user that take it, but it also has a lot of health risks for the people around the user.”

Dr. Ryan Hope, a pain management and addiction specialist at Bingham Hospital, said that half of his clinic’s patients are opioid-addicted. In the last year, he said 25 percent of those cases were addicted to kratom.

“It’s a very significant problem,” Hope said. “We don’t even have an official diagnosis for kratom use disorder, it’s too new. So, we classify these patients as opioid use disorder or substance use disorder. Those ones who become addicted are devastated. I see them everyday, lose their jobs and families ruined. I’ve seen people spend $100 to $150 per day on kratum products.”

Another citizen, Jim Abel, said he moved his family from Spokane, Washington to get away from the rampant drug use. Unfortunately, one of his family members became addicted to kratum after coming to Pocatello and experienced seizures.

“We want Pocatello to be a place where families can come and have a restbit from harmful, addictive drugs and that’s what kratum is,” he said.

Several other community members spoke in favor of the kratom ban, before a few took the podium to speak against the ban. Pat Soulliere is a representative of Animal Farm, an Idaho-based company with several businesses in the kratom industry. He said the state legislature will tackle the issue soon, and Pocatello itself doesn’t need a city-wide ban.

“It is not going to get kicked down the road again and they are going to look to either putting strong regulations that protect consumers, or ban it will be the two options,” Soulliere said. “We’re asking the City Council to remove the synthetics from the community. No one is opposed to that. But wait and see what the state does under natural leaf, botanical kratom.”

Joyce Bybee spoke against the ban, saying the ordinance banning commercial sales of kratom products will really only effect businessowners, and not have the positive effects on the community that people who support the ban are hoping for.

“With the patchwork laws and ordinances around here, people will still have it,” Bybee said. “I agree that the state needs to handle this, I don’t think the city is the right body to determine if a substance should or shouldn’t be sold.”

The Pocatello City Council is scheduled to vote on the ban ordinance on November 19.  

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Dylan Carder

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- The 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is stopping in Idaho Falls as part of its nationwide trek from the Gem State to the U.S. Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C.

The free public event takes place Friday night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Idaho Falls Public Library, featuring festivities, music and community activities alongside the 76-foot tree.

This year’s tree is a 76-foot Engelmann spruce harvested from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in Idaho. Weighing more than 10,000 pounds, the tree is traveling across the country on a specialized trailer accompanied by a dedicated convoy.

The cross-country journey marks the 56th year of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tradition, where a different national forest is chosen each year to provide a tree for the nation’s capitol. The occasion carries added significance as the country prepares for America’s 250th anniversary.

Friday’s whistlestop celebration at the library offers area residents a chance to view the giant tree up close, take photographs with the tree and transport truck, sign the tour banner, and purchase official merchandise. Attendees can also participate in craft activities, make ornaments, and meet members of the team coordinating the tour.

Matthew Condie, a representative from AAA, highlighted the historical importance of the state providing the national tree this season.

“It’s been going on for 56 years. They choose a new national forest each time to represent all of the natural beauty we have and how lucky are we that Idaho got picked this time,” Condie said.

Beyond showcasing the Capitol tree, AAA is assisting with convoy operations, ensuring vehicle support such as battery and tire maintenance along the route. Condie joked about protecting the convoy from potential disruptions along the road to Washington.

“So the Grinch has been out there trying to mess with the convoy and Triple A is here to stop that from happening. He is known for this kind of thing, but we’re covering batteries and tires and all the things that people expect, so we’re protecting the convoys that makes its way to DC,” Condie said.

Condie added that the event tonight promises a festive environment for all who attend.

“It’s going to be 2 hours of excitement and lots of good music and fun. Some happy people out there cheering and you know maybe some different guests along the way,” Condie said.

With many local families also planning to cut their own holiday trees this season, Condie offered safety advice for drivers transporting trees home on personal vehicles.

“You want to make sure you tie them down and make sure that you have the bough of the tree toward the front, tie it all off and then give it some tugs from different directions, make sure it’s good and secure,” Condie said.

He advised motorists to avoid high speeds when hauling trees on roofs or flatbeds.

“We always say go on those county roads or highways because if you’re avoiding the freeway, you’re not doing those higher speeds that can maybe cause that tree to come off,” Condie said.

In addition to community stops, Idaho will be represented at the national ceremony by Grace Benson, a fourth-grade student from Salmon, Idaho. Benson won a statewide essay contest answering why healthy forests and clean water are important to Idaho, earning the honor to travel to Washington to assist in lighting the tree on the West Lawn.

Following tonight’s stop in Idaho Falls, the tree convoy will continue its whistlestop tour across several states before arriving at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland later this month. The annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is scheduled to take place on the West Lawn of the Capitol in early December.

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Bryson Cook

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho’s Snake River reservoirs were filled to at 9% capacity in September, striking concerns of a future shortages for Idaho farmers. Local farmers are planning on how to allocate their water supply, preparing for a dry winter as an El Niño is forecasted.

“When we look forward to the upcoming season, we’ve got a limited amount of water that we are authorized to use on our farms,” says local farmer Adam Young. “If we come into the spring and it’s hot and dry, and we have to kick on irrigation sooner for a crop that needs water, then that’s going to impact what we’re able to do later on in the season.”

Last season, water levels dropped low enough to force some irrigation districts to turn off in July and remain out of water for the rest of the summer.

“If again we have similar conditions, we may be in the same boat,” said Brian Stevens, a civil engineer with the Bureau of Reclamation in Southern Idaho.

The Bureau is collaborating with farmers to manage limited water resources in the state.

“Reclamation is staying engaged with the irrigation districts to manage river levels throughout the system to provide as much water as possible,” Stevens said.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A 66-year-old man is behind bars today, facing second-degree murder charges after police say he stabbed a man to death at a Pocatello apartment complex Thursday afternoon.

Police were called to a disturbance at an apartment complex on 1119 North Main Street just after 2:00 Thursday afternoon. When officers arrived, they found a man dead inside.

RELATED: Potential homicide in Pocatello; person of interest being questioned

According to Lt. Akilah Lacey with the Pocatello Police Department, following an initial investigation and evidence gathered at the scene, detectives arrested Ronald Cantrell. Cantrell was initially detained as a person of interest before being booked into the Bannock County Jail.

The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by the Bannock County Coroner’s Office.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The journey from initial interaction with police officers to pending litigation in the Victor Perez case is one step closer to its conclusion. On November 5, the Pocatello City Council voted to approve using city reserve funds to pay in part for the settlement with the Perez family, following the lawsuit filed last summer.

For the November 5 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item number 17 was listed as “Resolution of Pending Litigation,” in which the council would vote to use reserve funds in the resolution. This agenda item was purposefully and noticeably vague, with Councilmember Bates confirming on Thursday morning to Local News 8 it was in regards to the Victor Perez case.

Prior to the vote, Bates spoke up about the way the city has handled the matter publicly.

“I’m concerned about the efforts we are making to rebuild public trust and what I feel are some slight infringements by council’s responsibilities as elected officials,” he said. “The public saw $1.5 million move from reserves without a public explanation of what that money was for. Tonight, our agenda asks us to resolve pending litigation without even identifying the Perez case by name, and an issue of enormous public importance has been placed near the end of a very length agenda.”

Bates continued to say each of those decisions may have an explanation, but together, they send the message that the city is not welcoming transparency and accountability in the matter. Citizens who attended the meeting nodded in approval as Bates said the handling of this situation means more to the Perez family and the community than it’s being allowed.

The City Council was told to refrain from discussing pending litigation with the public or local media. Bates said he blatantly disagrees with this advice, reminding attendees that elected officials on the Council work for the citizens of Pocatello and believe they have the responsibility to explain and discuss significant matters with the public.

“I was openly critical of the previous administration’s response following Victor Perez’s death, because I believe the delay and lack of public communication deepened the distrust and pain surrounding this tragedy,” Bates said. “I said then we have to do better. I’m concerned that our instinct today is still to decline, to disclose as little as possible…and we have not learned enough from that experience.”

Councilman Bates then moved to approve the agenda item, garnering a second from Councilmember Satterfield. Just before the vote, Councilmember Swanson spoke up.

“It would have been my preference if there would have been some sort of press release from the city, indicating the circumstances of the case and where we are in terms of this pending litigation and at least an effort to say that we can’t say everything we’d like to say, but we will next week,” Swanson said. “This was a missed opportunity for the city to communicate a little bit more openly about tonight’s agenda item.”

The vote was then unanimous to approve the item.

Following the meeting, Mayor Mark Dahlquist spoke to Local News 8, saying a further statement would arrive next week when the settlement is finalized by the Perez family.

“What I need to be clear about is that we’ve authorized the payment,” Dahlquist said. “The plaintiffs still have to receive and cash the check, they still have to go to file that negotiation agreement with the federal court. We do want to make comments and we want to be open about this, but this is technically not 100% settled yet.”

The Mayor said they expect the case to be fully settled by next week. He added the priority right now is for both the plaintiff and the city to get this situation resolved and move forward.

Dahlquist maintained that each council member is their own person with opinions and values, meaning when he advises the Council to refrain from comment on pending litigation, they may, like Bates and Swanson, decide to comment anyways.

“It’s been really tough for the community, I really do look for some closure, some healing,” Dahlquist added. “I really look forward to that next step and going forward.”

Dahlquist also said it’s a difficult balance to strike as an elected official to be transparent with the public while maintaining his position as the steward of the city’s resources.

The City plans to make a statement next week once the settlement is finalized. According to Mayor Dahlquist, that statement will be “forward-looking” and include further details about the settlement, future police trainings, and what the future holds beyond the scars of the Victor Perez shooting.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – When you went to cast your ballot for this election, you may have recognized a familiar face at your polling site. Longtime volunteers and Chief Judges have kept ballots organized and voters moving for years and across generations.

“This is my 39th year,” Susan VanOrden, the chief judge for Precinct 11, said. “I told them, ‘Well, I for sure will stay till 40. Then we’ll see what happens.'”

Susan has spent years of her life at the polling sites – helping voters cast their ballots as well as being a friendly face community members look forward to seeing each election.

“Because I’ve done it for so many years, when they come in to go to the election to vote, they look and they see me and they go, ‘Oh yeah, we’re at the right place!’ So I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but you know, I’m there.”

Every election, hundreds of community members dedicate their time to helping others make their voices heard.

“I started in 2018, two weeks before my 18th birthday,” Samuel Jacobs, the chief judge of Precinct 4 said.

Sam has a similar story – with a love of his country, a commitment to the democratic process, and a mother’s love to guide the way. Despite belonging to different generations and having very different life experiences, both were inspired by their mothers’ service to dedicate themselves to serving others.

“My mom used to volunteer and work on the elections when I was growing up,” Susan said. “I just thought, it’s the one really patriotic thing and community thing that I can do.”

Susan always knew when election season was approaching, her mother would be at the polls, helping voters make their voices heard.

When Sam was young, he often accompanied his mother on election nights, witnessing firsthand her commitment to the democratic process.

“My mom has been working elections with her friends for as long as I can remember,” Sam said. “And kind of being able to connect to that part of my family was really nice.”

For both of them, stepping up at the polls is about more than civic duty.

It’s a living tribute to the mothers who showed them the way and a commitment to passing that same spirit of service on to the next generation.

Do you want to volunteer at the polls and help your community with their civic duty? You can find information on how to volunteer for our next election at the Bonneville County Elections Office.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO – Pocatello police officers were called to a disturbance at an apartment complex on 1119 North Main at 2:10 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Lacey from the Pocatello Police Department reports that they discovered a man deceased at the complex. The incident is being investigated as a homicide.

Police have detained and are questioning a person of interest at this time.

The incident remains under investigation. Pocatello Police say there is no threat to the public at this time.

Tune into our evening broadcasts for the latest information.

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATED: Nov. 6th, 2026 at 10:02 a.m.

CASSIA COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho community is rallying around the family of two Raft River firefighters following a tragic crash earlier this week that claimed the life of one firefighter and left another hospitalized.

On Monday night, a Raft River Fire Department truck went off East Yale Road in Cassia County and crashed. Both firefighters on board sustained serious injuries and were flown to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, according to the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office.

Joseph Wyatt Gates, 24, succumbed to his injuries, according to the Bannock County Coroner’s Office. The second firefighter, identified by family friends as Gates’ brother-in-law, remains hospitalized.

Community Support and Fundraiser

In the wake of the tragedy, friends of the family have launched a GiveSendGo fundraiserto support Gates’ wife, Madi, and their infant daughter. Wyatt and Madi had been married for a couple of years and welcomed their daughter home just a month ago.

“Instead of the quiet, joyful newborn weeks they had planned together, Madi is now facing the unthinkable: planning a funeral, caring for a newborn on her own, and standing beside her brother as he recovers,” states the fundraiser.

The campaign will help Madi cover unexpected funeral and burial expenses, medical bills not covered by insurance, and everyday living costs. The community has already shown an outpouring of support, raising more than $14K in the past week.

For more information, click HERE.

State of Idaho Honors Gates’ Life and Service

Governor Brad Little directed that U.S. and State of Idaho flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Gates’ life and service. The flags will remain at half-staff until the day after Gates’ memorial service, which has not yet been announced.

“I join many Idahoans in expressing deep sadness by the tragic loss of Joseph Wyatt Gates, a brave firefighter who died in the line of duty,” Little said. “Please keep the Gates family, the other injured firefighter, and all of our brave first responders in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Bannock County Coroner Torey Danner officially released Gates’ name on Thursday, highlighting his courage, dedication, and volunteer commitment to the fire service.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to everyone who knew and cherished Joseph, and may God bless his family,” Danner said. 

The cause of the accident is still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office.

Editor’s Note: Local News 8 has not independently verified the crowdfunding campaign linked in this article. Those who wish to donate do so at their own discretion.

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David Pace

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Two brothers have been accused of beating and trying to kidnap a man in Rexburg on October 26.

Witnesses told police Martin Osbaldo Orozco and Ignacio Orozco Perez attacked the victim as he went to throw away some garbage in the morning.

Court records say Martin Orozco threatened the victim that he was going to be shot, as his brother, Ignacio Orozco Perez, aimed a .22 Caliber pistol at the victim.

The two beat the victim and hit him in the head and face with the pistol.

They then shoved the firearm into the victim’s back and led him to a truck where they attempted to tie him up and put him in the back of Perez’s vehicle, according to court documents.

The attempted kidnapping ended when Rexburg Police arrived.

The arrest report said the two brothers accused the victim of infidelity.

According to court documents, the victim “was spitting up blood, bleeding from the back of his head, and had multiple welts and bruises on his face.”

The brothers said that the victim had attacked them first.

The two brothers are being held in the Madison County Jail.

Local News 8 reached out to the attorneys of both men.

Ignacio Perez’s attorney, Jeremy Swofford said, “No comment.”

Martin Orozco’s lawyer, Michael Winchester, has not yet responded to multiple attempts to contact him Thursday afternoon.

Ignacio Orozco Perez faces three felony charges of aggravated assault (with deadly weapon or instrument), aggravated battery and first degree kidnapping.

Martin Osbaldo Orozco faces four felony charges of aggravated assault, aggravated battery, first degree kidnapping and grand theft.

The fact that these charges have been filed does not implicate the accused. They are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.

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