Category: kifi-local-news

Abi Martin

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police is investigating a five-vehicle crash that temporarily shut down U.S. Highway 20 north of Ashton on Wednesday afternoon.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s deputies were investigating a two-vehicle crash that had happened earlier that day.

A Dodge Ram that towing a trailer moved into the eastbound passing lane to give emergency crews space. At the same time, a Honda Odyssey slowed down while traveling westbound. A Tesla was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the Honda.

Investigators say a GMC Sierra towing a flatbed trailer, also moved into the eastbound passing lane, where it sideswiped both the Honda and the Tesla. This caused the Tesla to rotate clockwise before coming to rest perpendicular across the westbound lane.

A Subaru Ascent swerved into the passing lane while attempting to avoid the Tesla and struck the Dodge Ram.

A passenger who was under the age of 18 in the Honda was taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital and later released.

The highway was blocked for approximately three and a half hours while emergency crews responded and cleared the scene.

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Seth Ratliff

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) has confirmed a case of measles in Teton County, Idaho. This marks the tenth confirmed case in the state and the second in Eastern Idaho this year.

The announcement follows closely on the heels of a local emergency declaration in neighboring Teton County, Wyoming, following a measles outbreak at Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton National Park.

According to EIPH, the infected individual is a vaccinated adult who came into close contact with a known case during their infectious period.

Health officials warn that residents and visitors in the area may have been exposed to the virus at the following location:

Location: Broulim’s Grocery (240 S Main St., Driggs, ID 83422)

Date: July 6, 2026

Time Frame: Between 5:15 PM and 6:00 PM

Symptoms typically begin with:

A high fever

A cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes

Tiny white spots (Koplik spots) that may appear inside the cheeks

EIPH is actively contacting people who were directly exposed and is continuing to monitor the situation.

If you believe you may have been exposed, health officials recommend you contact your healthcare provider and monitor for symptoms for 21 days. If you suspect that you or someone in your household has measles, it is important to stay home to prevent the spread.

“For those who wish to test or receive medical care for symptoms, it is essential to call your medical provider before visiting to prevent further spread of infection, states the release.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious airborne disease. EIPH Health Strategy Manager Jordan McAdam stresses that Vaccination is the best defense against measles for both children and adults.

“While a small percentage of vaccinated people (approximately two to three percent) may still contract the virus, high vaccination coverage provides strong individual protection and helps limit the spread of measles within the community,” states McAdam.

EIPH urges the public to check their vaccination records through their primary care provider to ensure they are fully protected.

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Dylan Carder

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) — Fremont County is currently experiencing a widespread Mormon cricket infestation, a situation local officials attribute to recent mild winter temperatures. This marks the first time in many years the county has faced such an extensive cricket problem.

Bryce Fowler, Fremont County Weed Control Specialist, confirmed this is the first infestation of this scale the county has seen in a long time. He noted that these crickets are native to Idaho and their increased numbers are due to a lack of cold winters. To combat the issue, the state Department of Agriculture has deployed more than 25,000 pounds of bait in Fremont County to protect local crops.

Fowler described the crickets as “more of a nuisance than anything else,” though some residents have reported losing gardens. He explained that Mormon crickets are known to be cannibalistic. “These crickets eat each other. So any time that you kill them, you’re creating a big food bank for them and they’ll just keep piling in and piling in,” Fowler said.

The mild winters have allowed cricket eggs to survive. “We need the Idaho winters to freeze and to kill the larva or the eggs that they lay in the soil,” Fowler said. He added that this would prevent a large problem the following year. Fowler also noted that if the county experiences another mild winter, “we’re going to have another big outbreak.”

Mormon crickets are constantly on the move, capable of traveling one to three miles daily in favorable terrain. Current hotspots for cricket activity include Ashton Hill and Harriman State Park. “They’re still there. This heat is slowing them down,” Fowler said, explaining that their most active temperature range is between 65 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

For homeowners, specific barrier products can be sprayed to slow crickets down from entering property, but these are not permanent solutions. Fowler advises homeowners to contact a local pest control specialist. However, homeowners cannot use herbicides or bait products meant for farmers and ranchers, as these can harm pets or neighbors. Fremont County currently lacks a residential pest control program.

The state offers assistance through specialists, including an individual overseeing the statewide Mormon cricket program. “The state is willing to help where they can,” Fowler stated.

The long-term outlook for managing the cricket population in Fremont County largely depends on upcoming winter conditions. A harsh Idaho winter is considered the most effective natural control.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Every three years, Pocatello and Idaho State University host the Idaho International Choir Festival, bringing elite singers from around the world to eastern Idaho to connect the community through diverse music. The opening ceremony was held Wednesday morning at Pebble Creek Ski Area, featuring performances from each of the participating choirs, remarks from dignitaries and exploration of the beautiful mountain scenery.

“The outstanding aspect of this is that there are multiple groups, multiple cultures to participate in activities for a whole week of sharing music, food, socializing, games,” said Scott Anderson, former artistic director of the IICF and current conductor of the ISU Alumni Chamber Choir and Idaho High School Honor Choir. “It’s just an unbelievable experience for them.”

The Boys’ Choir Dagilėlis traveled all the way from Lithuania after seven years of not being in Pocatello. Director Remigijus Adomaitis said they are excited to be back in Pocatello and participate in the festival.

“I really like the nature here,” said Julias, a singer in Dagilėlis. “It’s very different. Since we have no mountains at home, it’s really nice to see all of that.”

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist and Chubbuck Mayor Rodney Burch both gave remarks, thanking everyone for traveling to the Gate City for this week of music.

“One of my favorite parts about being mayor is coming to events like this and meeting all the wonderful people, meeting all the wonderful visitors that come to our community,” Dahlquist said. “There’s been a lot going on behind the scenes and preparation to make this happen, so please thank all the volunteers here today.”

Other choirs came from around the United States, including Utah, California and New Jersey. The Idaho High School Honor Choir is composed of students from around Idaho who met just a few days before the festival.

“It really is representative of the whole state. And they didn’t know each other before they came here,” Anderson said. “I picked a bunch of music, and it’s a very wide variety. And so those students have spent a couple of days rehearsing that with long rehearsal days.”

Program director Barbara Kurtz said the festival is the highlight of many of the high school students’ summers.

Across cultures and countries, the love of music and the ability to share it with people is a common language for all the choirs.

“Understanding everyone and different cultures is very important,” Julias added. “So that we can live in a peaceful society and all be happy.”

For Anderson, he gets to enjoy the festival without the pressures of running it, instead focusing on his choirs. As the former director of choral activities at Idaho State University, he is proud to bring the ISU Alumni Chamber Choir back to the stages of Jensen Grand Concert Hall and Goranson Hall.

“I have representative singers from every year of my tenure there, so some of these people sang in the early 1990s,” he said. “It’s very special for me. It’s a homecoming, reminiscence, and just a great opportunity to reconnect with Idaho State and with this festival.”

Participating Choirs 2026

Boys’ Choir DAGILĖLIS (Lithuania)

Chorus of Change (Kazakhstan)

Huaxia Chinese Chorus of New Jersey (USA)

Spring Women’s Choir (California, USA)

Salt Lake Chinese Choir (Utah, USA)

ISU Alumni Chamber Choir (Idaho, USA)

High School Honor Choir (Idaho, USA)

Schedule of Events/Concerts

Wednesday, July 15

9:30-10:30 AM: Opening Welcome Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting (Free, media only, please) – Pebble Creek Ski Area.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Thursday, July 16

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Outdoor Concert (Free, bring your own lunch) – ISU Quad.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Friday, July 17

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Outdoor Concert (Free, bring your own lunch) – ISU Quad.

7:00 PM: Community Concerts – Jensen Grand Concert Hall & Goranson Hall, ISU.

Saturday, July 18

7:00 PM: Gala Concert – Jensen Grand Concert Hall, Stephens Performing Arts Center.

For more on ticket sales and prices, visit idahointerchoralfest.org/tickets

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Par Kermani

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following article has been corrected to include Too Extreme for Idaho poll’s sample size, margin of error, and methodology, which were included in the initial release.

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho voters will decide in November whether to establish new protections for reproductive health care, including abortion access, after the Reproductive Freedom and Privacy Act qualified for the general election ballot.

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office confirmed Tuesday that the initiative met the state’s signature requirements.

RELATED: Idaho abortion initiative qualifies for November ballot; Medical Cannabis measure falls short

Idahoans United for Women and Families, the group behind the initiative, said it submitted more than 110,000 signatures collected during a 10-month campaign.

The Secretary of State’s Office certified 75,478 valid signatures across 20 legislative districts. Idaho law requires valid signatures from at least 6% of registered voters statewide and 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.

Clerks verified the signatures before the initiative was submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office for final review.

“Thousands of Idahoans stepped up because they believe freedom, privacy, and the right to make personal medical decisions belong to families, not politicians,” lead organizer Melanie Folwell said.

The organization said more than 1,250 volunteers gathered signatures in all 44 Idaho counties. Petition signatures met the required threshold in 20 legislative districts.

The proposed measure would establish a right to make reproductive health care decisions involving contraception, fertility treatment, prenatal and postpartum care and abortion.

It would allow abortion before fetal viability. After viability, abortion would be permitted in cases involving a medical emergency, including conditions that threaten the pregnant patient’s life or health.

The initiative would also limit the state’s ability to penalize patients, health care providers or others who assist someone in exercising the proposed rights.

Idahoans United said it will now focus on encouraging voters to support the measure during the Nov. 3 general election.

“All kinds of people, no matter their party affiliation, understand that their kitchen tables and doctors’ offices have no room for the government,” Folwell said.

A newly formed political action committee, Too Extreme for Idaho, also announced the launch of its Stop Prop 1 campaign Tuesday in opposition to the measure.

The group released results from a survey of 500 prospective General Election voters conducted by Peak Insights, which it said found 52% of likely Idaho voters opposed the measure, while 41% supported it. Conducted via live telephone interviews from February 9–12, 2026, the poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

“Idaho voters see Proposition 1 for what it is — an extreme, California-style abortion measure that is out of step with the sensibilities of most Idahoans,” Dee Sarton said on behalf of the Stop Prop 1 campaign.

The group argues the measure would expand abortion access later into pregnancy, change who may provide or prescribe abortion care and reduce parental involvement in decisions involving minors.

“Stop Prop 1 will be a strong, multi-million-dollar media and grassroots campaign to communicate the truth about Prop 1,” Sarton said.

Supporters of the initiative say it would restore reproductive rights and protect access to contraception, fertility treatment, abortion care and other reproductive health services.

Pro and con arguments for the state voter pamphlet may be submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office through July 20. Voters will receive the full initiative language and selected arguments before the election.

More information from Idahoans United for Women and Families is available at BackToIdaho.com. Information from the opposition campaign is available at StopProp1.org.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Burn & Reconstructive Center at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center has earned verification from the American Burn Association, becoming one of 81 verified burn centers in the United States.

According to EIRMC, the verification followed a multi-day, on-site review by the American Burn Association to evaluate the hospital’s staff, resources and systems for treating burn patients from the time of injury through recovery.

Hospital officials say the review confirmed the center meets national standards for quality, safety and patient care.

“Verification by the American Burn Association reflects the depth of our expertise across every aspect of burn care and reinforces that patients can trust our team to provide the highest level of specialized treatment,” said Dr. Tait Olaveson, burn surgeon and medical director of EIRMC’s burn program. “It confirms that we meet the highest standard of burn care and are the regional experts.”

EIRMC said there are 143 burn centers nationwide and only 81 currently hold ABA verification.

The Burn & Reconstructive Center provides emergency treatment, intensive care, surgical procedures, rehabilitation services, outpatient follow-up care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hospital officials say the center is staffed by a multidisciplinary team that includes burn surgeons, critical care physicians, nurses, therapists, psychologists, dietitians, case managers and social workers.

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Curtis Jackson

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — A Rexburg man was injured when his SUV crashed into a crash cushion post on I-15 Wednesday morning.

Idaho State Police said the 69-year-old man was driving south near milepost 88, when it car drove off the right shoulder and collided with the post. It happened at 10:24 a.m.

Police said the driver was wearing his seatbelt.

Idaho State Police are still investigating the crash.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning renters to watch for fraudulent property listings and demands for upfront payments as competition for housing remains high across the state.

The Attorney General’s Office said scammers often copy legitimate rental advertisements or create fake listings offering below-market prices.

The scammers may then demand a deposit or other payment before allowing a renter to see the property. The schemes can especially target people moving from out of state who may not be able to tour a home in person.

“Idaho’s growth has made us a target for these types of scams, and criminals are exploiting families desperate for housing in a tight market,” Labrador said. “Before you send a dollar, verify the listing and see the property in person or through someone you trust.”

Officials said scammers may claim there is no time to visit the property or pressure renters to pay immediately before the supposed deal disappears.

Another warning sign is a landlord who only accepts payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Those payment methods can be difficult to trace or recover after money is sent.

The Attorney General’s Office recommends searching the rental address online before making a payment. If the same property appears under a different landlord or price, it may be fraudulent.

Renters should also tour the property in person when possible. Those moving from outside the area can ask someone they trust to visit the property or confirm that it matches the advertisement.

More scam prevention information and a consumer complaint form are available through the Idaho Attorney General’s Office at ReportScamsIdaho.com.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to a residential fire Tuesday evening after receiving reports of flames at a single-story home on Aegean Avenue.

Firefighters arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the home’s attached garage. The occupants had already evacuated the home safely.

The first engine on scene began attacking the fire and brought it under control. Three engines, one ladder truck, two ambulances and a battalion chief responded.

Additional crews searched the home and checked for the fire spreading beyond the garage. Although smoke entered the attic and several rooms, firefighters contained the flames to the garage.

No residents or firefighters were injured.

The garage and its contents were declared a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The fire department issued a reminder for residents that grills should only be used outdoors in well-ventilated areas and away from homes, garages, decks and other combustible materials. They warn that using a barbecue in an enclosed area can ignite nearby materials and create dangerous carbon monoxide levels.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A new burn ban with stricter rules went into effect today, July 15, 2026, in Madison County, Idaho, prohibiting all open burning activities. This includes campfires, fireworks, and burning yard debris.

The ban comes amid an already active fire season where local firefighters battled two large, multi-day brush fires. Shortly after the Independence Day Holiday, Madison County Fire crews responded to a massive brush fire burning off Hwy. 33 near the Unified Sportsmen’s Club. While crews from multiple agencies battled the fire, it still burned more than 1000 acres before it could be fully contained.

RELATED: More than 1,300 acres burned west of Rexburg

The ban applies to all open fires located within and in the unincorporated areas of Madison County. However, residents of Madison County can still use residential barbecue grills and enclosed fireplaces on their own property.

The ban is set to stay in effect through Sept. 30, 2026. Violators could face fines and may be held responsible for fire suppression costs if a fire starts.

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