Category: kifi-local-news

David Pace

Editor’s Note: The second candidate in the video was unintentionally misidentified. He is Chad Christensen – Legislative District 35 Seat A Candidate.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Six candidates squared off during a second round of Legislative debates Thursday, organized with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber.

With less than three weeks until the May 19 primary elections, three races in District 33 and 35 are drawing significant attention. 

Candidates Mike Veile and Chad Christensen, Jilene Burger and Marco Erickson, and Barbara Ehardt and Connor Cook took the debate stage on Thursday.

The election for Legislative District 35 Seat A features incumbent Mike Veile facing two-time legislator Chad Christensen. District 35 covers Bear Lake, Teton, Caribou and portions of Bannock and Bonneville counties.

Mike Veile: “My highest priority is education. Education is our future. I am very interested in moving education to that next step – taking our public education, innovating it, figuring out how we can solve some of our challenges around special needs and behavioral issues. We live in Idaho for our public lands. Our public lands need to remain public. … Lastly, local control. I want to make sure that we’re not pushing unfunded mandates down to our cities and our counties and our school districts and our sheriffs.”

Chad Christensen:  “I served two terms in the House, and I enjoyed that thoroughly. I told my constituents when I ran for office that I would stand on the Constitution, freedom, limited  government, free market. And I went to Boise and did just that. I did what I said I was going to do. I have integrity. I didn’t campaign over here as a conservative and go to Boise and do the opposite like so many do. When I was in Boise, you know, I was very outspoken against COVID mandates, you know, I stood up for that, stood up for God-given rights.”

In the race for District 33 B in Idaho Falls, challenger Jilene Burger drew contrasts with incumbent Marco Erickson on issues such as Medicaid Expansion.Marco Erickson: “I’ve done nothing but protect your ability to have your health care needs met through Medicaid, through Medicaid expansion. That’s what our voters in Idaho Falls asked for, and that’s why I was sent there. And I did that. I protected it year after year. I think people probably have no idea how many hours we have spent having conversations and having to have compromises to keep that stable.”

Jilene Burger: “About the Medicaid expansion, I believe that as the ‘voice of the taxpayer,’ we need to cut spending in the Legislature. Fred Birnbaum has said that there’s not a revenue problem, there’s a spending problem. Since I know that the budget has increased 60 percent over the last six years, and it’s increasing every session. That’s unsustainable, we cannot keep that kind of spending.”

In a closely-watched race, incumbent Barbara Ehardt and Idaho Falls Firefighter Connor Cook presented competing visions to voters in the race for District 33 Seat A. 

Connor Cook: “We’re at a crossroads, as a state, and a true battle is being unfolded in front of us – a battle for the heart and soul of our state versus authoritarianism, the battle for true freedom or a ruse of freedom fed to you by freedom scores – Freedom Foundations that are stripping away our autonomy Legislative year after Legislative year. I want an Idaho where my stepson’s education is free of mandatory minutes of silence that we can’t even articulate why it was enacted. I want him to have educators that feel empowered to challenge him to learn and grow.”

Barbara Ehardt: “I’ve been a families first person. A lot of legislation I’ve done has been to protect our families and that means a lot of parental rights. … Protecting girls and women in sports was just heard at the Supreme Court – absolutely amazing. Centering and voting on things to absolutely reduce your property taxes – and not just property, all of your taxes. And then finally, let’s just say, I absolutely support our energy, the INL, hydropower and all things water.”

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Dylan Carder

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – Jefferson County Lake is starting to fill up. While other recreational bodies of water in east Idaho are struggling to get filled this year, Jefferson County Lake is not slowing down this year.

“I’d say we’re pretty much on pace.” Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Director Martin Jones says the current water rights issues and drought situation will not impact the water level at Jefferson County Lake.

“It should be at about full capacity. I’d say hopefully by about early to mid-June.” 

Jones says there is a misconception that the county fills the lake every year. He says that’s not the case. There is nothing to turn on or off. 

“Once the irrigation starts, the water starts coming up from the ground, so it fills naturally.”

The park and campground will open for the summer on Friday. While the lake won’t be ready, there is still plenty to do while people wait for the water. 

On Saturday at 10 am, it will host a brand new event, a fun run called the “Cinco de Mile,” a play off of the Cinco de Mayo holiday. In addition to the run, there will be food trucks and pinatas for the kids. Several other fun runs and events are also planned for the summer. 

Also new this year is a second gate to the right of the main entrance. It will serve as an express lane for those who have season passes or are paying with cash. It will only be open on days with larger crowds to get the lines to move faster.

This year the Freedom Celebration fireworks show will be back. It is scheduled for June 27th. 

“It is going to be the 250 year anniversary [for the country],” teases Jones. “So we’re looking to go a little bigger this year.”

For those eager to see the lake fill up, the county is offering you a way to track its progress. Jones says there will soon be a meter that updates as the water rises on the county’s website and Facebook page.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Many shelter pets across southeast Idaho have found their home with you, but there are thousands of pets still in need of their fur-ever homes.

Thursday, April 30th, is National Adopt a Shelter Animal Day, spreading awareness about the various pets currently in shelters that need new homes.

Whether surrendered, abandoned, or a stray, these various pets have found their way into an animal shelter and are looking for their new home.

“We just celebrated, actually, six years ago. A beautiful husky named Sakura was adopted from a family out of Arizona who came here and picked her up. And they have now traveled around the country with her. She is an honorary Silverton member in her home state of Arizona,” Michele Ziel-Dingman, the executive director of the Snake River Animal Shelter. “And it’s just a great reminder about how, these little, you know, souls, really can become a part of the community, a part of your work life for your family.”

Stories of Shelter Adoptions in SE Idaho

Courtesy Photo: Alex and Apollo

On Local News 8’s Facebook page, several Idahoans responded to our call for photos of their adopted furry friends!

Alex Kingler shared his foster fail, a cat named Apollo. “How were we supposed to let the little love bug go when we just love him so much?” wrote Kingler.

Courtesy Photo: Blaze the senior dog

Kylie Danielson Mobley shared her fur-baby—or in this case, fur-senior— an 11-year-old Springer Spaniel named Blaze. Mobley and her family adopted Blaze 3 years ago from the Snake River Animal Shelter.

“Senior dogs are the best dogs to adopt! Give them a chance,” implores Mobley. “Blaze loves riding in the pickup, rubber chickens, and following mom around the house.”

If you are interested in adopting a new fur-ever friend, be sure to check out your local shelters!

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News Team

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — Local firefighters are on the scene of a structure fire near Ammon on 4832 E Ririe Highway. Multiple units with the Idaho Falls Fire Department are on the scene.

The initial call came in just after 4 p.m., according to IFFD Pulsepoint. Earlier in the afternoon, a billowing pillar of smoke was visible from the Local News 8 skycam.

Local News 8 has a team on the scene and will provide additional updates on this developing story throughout the afternoon.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department is warning peer-to-peer and short-term rental owners to be on guard after a local car owner helped investigators uncover a load of narcotics.

The investigation began after two individuals—later identified as known drug traffickers with active federal warrants—rented a vehicle through a peer-to-peer sharing platform. According to an IFPD Facebook post, the suspects used the car to travel out of state to transport narcotics.

After the vehicle was returned, police say several associates of the suspects tried to rent it again to collect the drugs. Noticing several “red flags” and suspicious behavior, the owner refused to rent the car to them and immediately contacted law enforcement.

Courtesy: IFPD

A thorough search uncovered 102 grams of fentanyl concealed deep within the engine compartment. Following the search, IFPD arrested the two individuals who’d originally rented the car. Their names have not been released at this time.

“We thank the vehicle owner for their diligence and quick action,” states the post. “The owner’s awareness helped prevent over 1,000 deadly doses from reaching our community.”

IFPD notes that this incident serves as a powerful reminder that community awareness matters.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Fish and Game has many responsibilities, including keeping the Edson Fichter Nature Area in Pocatello clean and healthy. To help with this massive task, local businesses and organizations can “Adopt a Wednesday” and bring their staff to the park to volunteer.

This Wednesday, members of Teton Honda Auto Group rolled up their sleeves and helped with weeding and tree trimming at Edson Fichter. Representatives say everyone was eager to get in nature and help with this beloved gem in the community.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said Scott Williams, Managing Partner at Teton Honda Auto Group. “We’re just trying to do everything we can to improve it and make it more beautiful.”

Katie Graham, Teton’s business development and community relations specialist, told us it’s an excellent team-building activity for their staff while serving a good cause.

“This is our first time out here, so we hope to make it an annual thing for the group,” Graham said. “Beautiful areas like this don’t just happen. They take a lot of work, and Idaho Fish and Game is limited on what they can do, Idaho is like one giant park! So, it’s good for people to see what goes into bringing beautiful places like this to our community.”

Teton Honda added they love being a part of the community, not sitting idly within it. By serving Pocatello outside of car sales, they create a better business culture and strengthen their relationship with others while protecting beloved local areas.

This is why, according to Jennifer Jackson, Regional Communications Manager for Idaho Fish and Game, ‘Adopt a Wednesday’ was born – for local organizations to help each other and keep Pocatello parks clean.

“Edson Fichter is a beautiful gem right here in people’s backyards,” Jackson said. “It requires maintenance and work, and there’s no shortage of people who are passionate about it in our community. But we needed a mechanism to harness that energy and passion and focus it on projects that will help make the most difference.”

Companies that participate in ‘Adopt a Wednesday’ volunteering with Idaho Fish and Game can expect to be guided through various volunteer projects. It can include rebuilding benches, picking up garbage in the park, trimming trees, weeding, planting new plants in the pollinator gardens or helping to repair amenities. Jackson says Fish and Game works to pair organizations with projects privy to their skills and talents.

“People really do care about this nature area,” Jackson said. “One way people can show they care is also by volunteering and make that connection, take an investment in this community place.”

To get involved and “Adopt a Wednesday” or learn more about the program, please call the Idaho Fish and Game Pocatello Regional Office at 208-232-4703.

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Seth Ratliff

YELLOWSTONE, Montana (KIFI) — The United States Geological Survey has released footage of a sizeable hydrothermal eruption at Black Diamond Pool. This latest event marks the second time the hydrothermal pool has erupted this week in what the USGA says is “perhaps the largest eruption of the pool since the 2024 explosion.”

On July 23, 2024, just before 10 AM, a massive hydrothermal explosion erupted from the Black Diamond Pool, sending steam and debris rocketing hundreds of feet into the air. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but the explosion destroyed the nearby boardwalk.

Following the explosion, the USGS installed a camera on the remnant of the boardwalk to track activity at the Black Diamond Pool. The webcam has allowed the USGS to capture small hydrothermal eruptions from the pool since 2025.

Tuesday, April 28, another eruption sent muddy water and steam towards the camera. On Wednesday, April 29, just before 12:28 PM, the camera captured a much larger eruption.

“This is perhaps the largest eruption of the pool since the 2024 explosion and is an important demonstration of hydrothermal hazards in Yellowstone National Park,” said the USGS in a Facebook post.

As of writing, the Biscuit Basin Trailhead area remains closed until further notice due to the July 2024 explosion. To view the area through the USGS’s webcam, click HERE.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State University has hundreds of majors and programs to choose from. One of the lesser known of these programs is robotics, nestled within the College of Technology. Several students in this program have won national competitions the past two years, and now, ISU Robotics is going for the three-peat!

“Our program is a three year associate’s program,” said Brody Holyoak, Senior Clinical Instructor for Robotics and Communications Engineering Technology. “The extra year actually gives students more experience and education, so that when you walk out of this program, you have the full associate’s degree to get into the industry plus some.”

The six-semester program features classes that build on one another, ultimately culminating in a robotics project, competitions, and the skills to be a technician in nearly any field. It begins with the basics of AC and DC circuits and controlling electricity. From there, students learn about the digital side of the technology, adding motors and sensors to apply their knowledge.

“We move into our fourth semester, which is our radio frequencies, we talk about different amplifiers and broadcast signals,” Holyoak said, while standing in the mock-TV studio in the College of Technology Building. The students learn about the broadcasting technology in this space and how equipment works to operate a TV station.

The fifth and sixth semesters of the program are where programming and robotics enter the scene. For some students, robots are a new concept. Others have been competing their creations in robotics competitions since high school.

“We have an electric ATV students are working on right now, we have a video game where they’ve taken Nerf guns and gutted them, put infrared blasters in them and set up a whole target with games,” Holyoak explained. “We also have a robotic bass guitar, so they really dig in and learn how to fix things and how everything works together.”

The robotics labs at ISU are filled with funky robots that look like people on wheels, R2D2’s that are 3D-printed, and even one that looks like WALL-E. Some are remote controlled, while some like the Nerf game are wired up to computers.

“We lift everybody up,” Holyoak said. “We bring everybody’s knowledge up and fill in gaps, no matter where they start. Everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow.”

The robotics program is also special in that it involves real-world employers visiting the students. In an industry low on employees, it’s an excellent opportunity for the students to meet with employers during their undergraduate. Holyoak says every student should leave the program with a job lined up.

To put their skills to the test, the robotics students go to a State Skills USA Competition every year. For the past two years, they’ve swept at state in three categories.

ISU students took home the top three spots in electronics technology, as well as technical math, and came away with a second place win in the mechatronics competition.

The state competition involves completing a series of tests to show students’ skills as technicians. They must build circuits, locate errors and fix them, as well as complete a troubleshooting section where they’re given a set of circuits and figure out what they do. The main idea is to give students a broken technology and see how accurately they can fix it, something they’ll be doing often in their careers as technicians.

“We’re very, very proud of our students for doing that,” Holyoak said. “Now, we’re gearing up to go our National Skills USA Competition in Atlanta, and we are the two-time national champion for electronics. We’re preparing to make it three in a row.”

No school has ever won the same competition three years in a row, making this an unmissable opportunity for Idaho State students. The national competition is similar to state Skills USA, but with bigger circuits and more advanced technology. Plus, the students will compete against the best robotics programs across the country.

Importantly, the students change each year, meaning ISU is represented by new technicians at every competition.

“It’s not just that the students are brilliant and doing great on this,” Holyoak said. “But it’s also the education they’re receiving in this program and they’re getting the opportunity to say, ‘I have the knowledge,’ no matter who it is, and ‘I can go and compete.'”

The students will head to Skills USA in Atlanta in mid-May. Local News 8 will continue following this story and provide updates on how the students place in their competition.

Holyoak says they’re looking to show more people the robotics program at ISU. For more information about getting a tour and the classes offered, you can visit isu.edu/tech and find them on Facebook.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department is sounding the alarm as a new wave of fraudulent text messages sweeps across the Gem State. These messages are impersonating local courts, law enforcement agencies, and the DMV to intimidate Idahoans into surrendering personal information.

ITD says these fraudulent messages often include official-sounding case numbers, threats of warrants or asset seizure, but the links do not lead to government websites.

“As a reminder, ITD will not send unexpected texts demanding payment, threatening legal action, or directing customers to non-government links,” said ITD in a news release. “If a message does not end in a .gov address, it is not from ITD.”

If you receive a suspicious text message, ITD says you should report the message to your mobile carrier and delete it. DO NOT make a payment, share personal information, or click links. For more information, click HERE.

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Fox13

Originally Published: 30 APR 26 14:03 ET

By Scott McKane

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    OREM, Utah (KSTU) — Better late than never, family reunion and learning is fun.

All three of those phrases apply to a trio of ladies receiving their college degrees this week from Utah Valley University.

2026 marks UVU’s largest ever graduating class.

But three of the new grads have a special bond and said they had no prior plans to “flip their tassels” during the same ceremony.

Before the May pomp and circumstance, Hadley Davis said there was a casual, family conversation in late December.

“And I was like; Oh, I’m graduating. And my grandma was like; I’m graduating too. Then my mom said; I’m also graduating. I’m like oh my! Just pure chance, we did not plan this at all,” said Hadley Davis.

Her mom, Melissa Davis, who received a degree in public health, said the timing was total coincidence.

“We were talking to each other and just realized; oh I’m graduating! Oh, I’m graduating and we just put it together and it just kind of happened!”

Hadley is earning her psychology degree in what most would consider the normal timeframe of four years.

Her mom, Melissa, who already has an undergrad and a master’s degree in English, decided to earn a public health degree while working at UVU.

But for matriarch and grandmother Diana Flygare, she said it took a little longer to earn her psychology degree.

“Quite honestly I think I’ve been trying to get a degree for nearly 40 years.”

Flygare said she actually graduated high school at 16 and began taking community college courses at 17.

But then she said, life happened.

“Got married, had babies and life and things come up. And I just would take an occasional class here and there figuring it would all add up someday.”

Flygare said something that kept her motivated to keep working towards that big day was something small she kept on her desk.

“It’s just a little Christmas ornament, and I thought when I graduate, I’ll put this on my tree.“

That will now happen next Christmas, when all three will gather under Diana’s tree.

Sharon Turner is the Public Relations Director for Utah Valley University.

Turner said this was definitely a unique set of graduates.

“We have 14,000 graduates and change. And so these three are definitely special!”

And after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, which happened near the beginning of the school year, Hadley Davis said this is a nice way to close out the year.

“I’ve been telling my friends and they’re like; that’s so cool! We really need to hear a story like this that’s so positive. Just because people need to hear it,” she said.

Melissa Davis, who works on campus on a daily basis, said she completely agrees with her daughter.

“It’s been a really, tough year and so I, personally, have been glad to find some joy here. We’ve got great students, faculty, staff. We’ve all tried to move forward and focus on education, so it’s a good end to kind of a hard year.”

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