Category: kifi-local-news

News Release

The following is a press release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department will begin construction Monday at the intersection of Pocatello Avenue and State Highway 39 in American Falls. The $3.5 million project will redesign the busy intersection to improve safety. 

Work will place a signal at the intersection of Pocatello Avenue and SH-39. SH-39 will also be widened to four lanes from the intersection to Fairgrounds Road. New turn lanes will also be built on SH-39 for traffic heading to Pocatello Avenue.  

This year construction will take place through August and will focus on realigning and widening the intersection. All lanes will remain open, but traffic will be slowed in the construction zone. Flaggers will be present during different phases of the project. Access to the American Falls Airport and the Power County Fairgrounds will remain open throughout construction.  

In the spring of 2026 ITD will return to install the traffic signal. 

Project details are available on ITD’s projects website, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Library is set to launch its 2025 Summer Reading Program this Saturday, June 7th, at 11:00 AM at Iona Park with a vibrant Color Fun run/walk and a significant boost from the community.

The Friends of Iona (FOIL) will generously donate $9,000 to the library during the kickoff event. These funds, raised through community support, will be instrumental in expanding the library’s collection with new books and enhancing various library services and programming for all patrons.

“We’re thrilled to start our summer reading program with such a fun, community-focused event,” said director Michelle Tolman. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of FOIL and our community, these funds will help us provide even more resources and reading opportunities this summer.”

Immediately following the presentation, at approximately 11:15 AM, the family-friendly Color Fun run/walk will begin. This event is open to all ages and offers a fantastic opportunity for community members to get active while showing their support for the library and its mission to foster a love of reading.

Everyone is invited to participate in this exciting day of community, fitness, and literary celebration.

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Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Vlad Horbachov, Olena Kharkiv, and their daughter are three of nearly 200,000 Ukrainians who escaped war and made their way to the US through the Biden Administration’s ‘Uniting for Ukraine’ (U4U) program, which was suspended by executive order earlier this year. But Horbachov and Kharkiv say their fears of being forced out of the country and their new lives are growing as their time with the refugee program runs out.

Horbachov and Kharkiv met in Poland after fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The couple married in the Czech Republic, then the family made the long trip to Pocatello, where they have lived under refugee status through the U4U program for the past year.

“We came to the United States together after two years because it’s many reasons why, but the thing is that our government is trying to bring men back to the war,” said Horbachov. “That’s why I decided for our child and for family to find a better [safer] place on this earth.”

The couple started their businesses, continuing the work they did in their home country. Horbachov owns and operates ‘Pocatello Sharpening‘, a knife and industrial equipment sharpening service; Kharkiv works as a nail technician at her salon, ‘Kharkiv Beauty‘.

Horbachov and Kharkiv both said anxiety among Ukrainian refugees is growing since the suspension of the U4U program. They now worry about losing all they’ve built.

“I am working hard, I started building this business, and I know that I have just one more year to be here legally,” said Kharkiv. “…After one year, it’s just two ways: Just to close all of these things and say bye to my clients and move, and nobody knows where to move. If we move to Ukraine, nobody wants to do that because of the war, because of all of the death, so we don’t know what to do next.”

The U4U program allows Ukrainians to stay in the US for two years on ‘humanitarian parole’. After two years, refugees can apply for ‘re-parole’ to potentially extend their time in the states.

Earlier this year, however, the Trump Administration suspended U4U, and US Citizenship and Immigration Services are no longer accepting applications for re-parole of Ukrainians already in the US.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security, refugees will be considered for re-parole moving forward on a case-by-case basis only.

If the Federal Government doesn’t make changes soon, Horbachev says he’s worried he and his family may find themselves displaced again.

“We need the government to continue our work permits and legal status… It’s about 400,000 Ukrainians in the United States, and all of us need to stop this work and go back,” said Horbachev. “The problem is that we don’t know where to go back, because it’s still war.”

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Attorneys for the family of Victor Perez, the 17-year-old autistic teenager with cerebral palsy who was shot by Pocatello Police on April 5, 2025, are organizing a series of public forums aimed at fostering community dialogue and addressing concerns surrounding the incident.

Attorneys from the law firm Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy are spearheading a Truth and Reconciliation Conference on June 28, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3PM.

The meeting was initially planned for Shoshone Bannock High School, but is currently seeking a new venue.

Perez was shot nine times by Pocatello Police officers just seconds after their arrival on the scene of a reported domestic disturbance. For more information on the shooting and surrounding controversy, click HERE.

The family’s legal representatives state that the conference is “based on the South African Post-Apartheid model, wherein South Africans were provided a forum to testify about their experiences without judgment or fear of retribution in an ordered and moderated setting.”

They say the hearings will give people a chance to talk about their interactions with police, both good and bad, and give public comment.

The firm has outlined the following goals for the public meeting:

Match Pocatello Citizens and members of the reservation with attorneys who can provide representation, guidance, and possible referrals. We are asking attorneys to attend. Attorneys in attendance will be introduced for their specific specialty.

Highlight testimony and prospective cases from members of the Fort Hall Reservation and find a possible nexus between Reservation Law, The Indian Civil Rights Act, and Federal Civil Litigation. Connect Fort Hall with other proximate reservations, who are interested in establishing a legal network.

Educate Pocatello citizens and reservation members about the legal process. John Burris will complete a Know Your Rights/Federal Civil Rights Educational Presentation.

Educate Pocatello citizens and reservation members about conflict resolution and alternative dispute resolution. Alice Shikina Conflict Resolution/Mediation will complete a Conflict Resolution seminar.

To join the forum through Zoom, click HERE and type in the passcode 583036.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — As kids across the Gem State trade their textbooks for sunshine and fresh air, the Idaho Department of Education is reminding families that the federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is available for children ages 1 to 18.

SFSP meal sites are now operating for the summer months. To find the nearest site to you, click HERE.

According to the Department of Education, the USDA program serves meals in areas of greatest need. Last year, sponsors served over 900,000 meals and snacks to kids at more than 260 sites across Idaho.

There are no income requirements, so children of all ages can receive a healthy, balanced meal at no cost. To view the USDA’s Find Meals for Kids map, click HERE.

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Curtis Jackson

The following is a news release from the College of Eastern Idaho.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (News Release) — College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) Board of Trustees announced the resignation of Trustee Carrie Scheid at its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 27. Her resignation is effective June 1, 2025.

Chairman Park Price noted that Trustee Scheid has served CEI faithfully throughout her eight years of service. “In many ways, Carrie was the driving force behind what CEI has become today. She was critical to the campaign to establish Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC) as a community college, and her experience with capital campaigns was vital in making Future Tech a reality. The Trustees are eternally grateful for her dedication and friendship throughout her service to CEI.”

In her letter of resignation, Carrie advised the Board: “I am facing serious health issues which require 100% of my attention. I have served as a trustee since EITC was transformed into College of Eastern Idaho, a full-service community college, in 2017. It has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.”

President Lori Barber recounted that Scheid brought a deep background in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and community development to the Board. Her longtime service as Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Arts Council and leadership roles on numerous local boards and committees made her a dedicated advocate for education, the arts, and civic engagement across eastern Idaho.

President Lori Barber recounted that Scheid brought a deep background in higher education, nonprofit leadership, and community development to the Board. Her longtime service as Executive Director of the Idaho Falls Arts Council and leadership roles on numerous local boards and committees made her a dedicated advocate for education, the arts, and civic engagement across eastern Idaho.

The Board will select a new Trustee during its next regular meeting on June 24, 2025. The appointee will be sworn in during that meeting and will serve until the next trustee election, scheduled for November 2026.

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Seth Ratliff

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Ammon is ready to officially launch into the summer season with its highly anticipated Ammon Summer Kickoff event, Saturday, June 7th.

This annual community gathering promises an afternoon of family-friendly entertainment and activities, including free swimming, a giant water slide, music, vendors, food, and giveaways

The summer celebration runs from 12 PM to 3 PM.

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Zach Glancy

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – Andy Grammer is performing at the Shosone-Bannock Casino Hotel Friday June 6th at 7 p.m. and Local News 8 is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce to give away 2 pairs of tickets.

You can enter our giveaway here.

Local News 8 will announce the winners during our Noon newscast Thursday, June 5.

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Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Early Tuesday morning, there was seismic activity detected 9 – 10 miles northwest of Stanley. This was the latest in a series of over 20 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 2.0 since Saturday.

The first of the quakes was shortly after 1:30 a.m. with a magnitude of 4.0. This is the largest quake so far in this cluster.

After that, two more quakes measuring magnitudes of 3.5 and 3.9 occurred just before 6 a.m. A magnitude 3.9 tremor happened just after 7 a.m., and a smaller magnitude 2.5 quake hit just before 8 a.m.

Shortly after 4:35 p.m. on Tuesday, there was another earthquake with a magnitude of 2.7.

It’s a common misconception that after a quake that the tension in the earth has been completely relieved from the area. That’s not entirely true.

Earthquakes occur because of shifting tectonics or forces deep within the earth causing pressure to build up. 

The underlying cause of earthquakes, tectonic shift, can build pressure on the same fault lines over and over, causing several earthquakes in the same spot.

It’s also possible that these quakes in Stanley were not part of a ‘series’ , but instead part of an earthquake ‘swarm’. 

A series has an identifiable main quake that the procession occurs before or after. A swarm is a bunch of earthquakes with no main quake.

You can’t tell whether it’s a series of foreshock quakes followed by a large quake, or a swarm without a large quake until after either the quakes stop, or a there’s a quake large enough to be identified as the main quake. If it is a swarm, without that clear climactic event, it’s tough to tell when it will die down.

Several counties, including Lemhi and Custer, have sent out Facebook posts providing instructions to prepare for an earthquake.

Custer County Emergency Management’s Facebook post

Lemhi County Emergency Management’s Facebook post

If you feel an earthquake, remember to DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON.

We’ll continue to keep an eye on the sky as well as the ground below in an effort to keep you informed and safe.

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CNN Newsource

By Misti Reed

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COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho (KXLY) — A judge dropped a defamation lawsuit against Kootenai County Sheriff Robert “Bob” Norris due to a technicality involving an Idaho statute.

Pennie Collinson retained attorney Mark Ellingsen with the law firm Witherspoon Brajcida McPhee last fall to sue Sheriff Norris over claims he pointed at her during a Kootenai County Republican Party candidate forum in Cataldo and said she likes to give oral sex and photograph child pornography at the library.

At the time, Sheriff Norris frequently claimed libraries in North Idaho contained pornographic books in the children’s sections.

Ellingsen told KXLY Tuesday that Judge Lamont Berecz dismissed the case, citing an old statue that mandates anyone suing an active law enforcement officer must post a bond before filing a suit.

Ellingsen said it was impossible to know the bond amount, but later discovered the acceptable bond amount was $500, which the firm paid.

Judge Berecz had to toss the case because the proper protocol wasn’t followed, but he would allow Collinson to refile the case.

Ellingsen said the firm plans to refile the defamation case as soon as early next week.

KXLY contacted the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office for comment on the status of the lawsuit. The Sheriff’s Office has yet to respond.

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