Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

UPDATE: BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI)—The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office released new details Tuesday about a boating accident that left a woman with life-threatening injuries.

The accident happened Saturday on Bear Lake.

According to the Sheriff’s office, a woman in her mid-30s was riding on an inflatable tube being pulled by a boat when she was struck by the boat’s propeller. The injuries were so severe that both her legs had to be amputated.

Deputies said bystanders on the beach quickly applied tourniquets, action they said saved her life.

Family members told deputies the woman is now in stable condition. No additional details were released as the family requested privacy.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BEAR LAKE, Idaho (KIFI) — A chaotic weekend on Bear Lake left one person with life-altering injuries following a severe boating accident on the Idaho side of the lake.

The Bear Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the incident on social media, but has not released details on what caused the accident. Deputies confirmed in the post that the victim was lifeflighted from the scene. The accident was so severe that it required the double amputation of the victim’s legs.

The accident happened as local emergency crews were responding to multiple incidents, including rescuing passengers from a separate sinking boat.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.

The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.

However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.

The proposed ordinance would:

1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.

2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.

3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.

4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.

“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”

But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.

“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”

At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.

“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.

But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.

“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”

The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.

Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.

For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.

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Par Kermani

MACKAY, Idaho (KIFI) — Two people were killed Monday morning in a crash on U.S. Highway 93 near Mackay, according to Idaho State Police.

The crash happened around 10:12 a.m. near milepost 104.

Idaho State Police said in a statement that a 2022 Allegro motorhome driven by a 73-year-old man from Oak View, California, was traveling southbound on U.S. 93 when a 2000 GMC Yukon entered the highway from North 4100 West.

According to investigators, the driver of the Yukon, a 61-year-old man from Challis, failed to yield and collided with the motorhome.

The driver of the Yukon and a 58-year-old female passenger from Arco died at the scene.

The motorhome driver was not injured.

Troopers said all occupants involved were wearing seat belts.

U.S. 93 remains blocked in both directions as crews work to clear the scene. Drivers can check current road conditions and closures at 511.idaho.gov.

Idaho State Police is investigating the crash.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

ADA COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Two of Idaho’s longest-serving death row inmates, Gerald Ross Pizzuto and Thomas Eugene Creech, are suing the Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) over the state’s new firing squad policy, calling it arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion.

They are not challenging the constitutionality of the firing squad, but questioning the IDOC Director, Bree Derrick’s, approval of the execution policy.

They cite 13 different policies that they want to challenge:

Qualification to serve on the firing squad

Qualifications to serve on the medical team

Qualifications to serve on administration

Restrictions on witness access

Restrictions on attorney access

Restrictions on recording and documenting

The condemned person’s right to engage in spiritual activity

The condemned person’s sedation prior to execution

The ability of execution volunteers to withdraw from the execution process

The sourcing, inspection, and testing requirements for supplies and equipment prior to the execution

The role of emergency medical services

The director’s certification of the method of execution

The director’s discretion to amend any policies or procedures at will.

The lawsuit comes in response to the IDOC’s updated execution protocol that outlines the timeline and specific criteria for carrying out capital punishment, covering everything from appellate monitoring to the specific conditions of confinement.

RELATED: Idaho DOC releases detailed firing squad execution protocols ahead of July 1 transition

The lawsuit asks the court to set aside the policy and return it to the agency.

The shift to the firing squad

The state’s pivot toward the firing squad followed Creech’s high-profile botched execution.

In February 2024, state officials halted Creech’s execution after a three-member medical team tried eight separate times to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection. Following the incident, the Idaho Legislature backed House Bill 37 to establish the firing squad as a primary alternative.

Creech, 73, has spent half a century in prison. He was originally convicted of five murders across three states and is suspected of several more. He was sentenced to death for the 1981 beating death of fellow inmate David Dale Jensen, 22, while already serving a life term.

According to the Idaho Department of Corrections, there are currently eight people on Idaho’s death row. Among them are Creech, Pizzuto, and high-profile convicted murderer Chad Daybell.

The full, updated execution procedure document from the IDOC has been included below:

idaho_execution_proceduresDownload

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– While many people can escape the summer heat by heading indoors, road crews across eastern Idaho don’t have that luxury. Outdoor workers, including construction crews, road workers and parks and recreation employees, have to get creative to stay cool while working in the summer heat.

Trevin Despain has worked on the Idaho Transportation Department’s Signs and Striping crew for two years. Despain explains working in the heat is nothing new to him.

“You always have to be mindful of the heat,” Despain said. “This road gets well above the temperatures that are outside right now. It’s sitting at a good 100 degrees. That asphalt is anywhere from 120 to 130 degrees.”

As near-record summer temperatures continue, the heat poses a serious risk for anyone working outdoors.

“I’m a survivor of heat exhaustion myself, so I’ve seen what it can do,” Despain said.

To stay safe, crews focus on hydration, electrolyte replacement, regular breaks and watching out for one another.

“We’ll take a break. We’ll get a drink, sit in the truck, cool down for a little bit, and make sure we’re not really overstraining ourselves by any means, but making sure that we’re not getting too hot,” ITD employee Ryan Getsinger said.

The record-breaking heat is one of the many challenges road workers face every day over the summer. Crews are also reminding drivers to slow down and use caution when approaching work zones.

“Slowing down, watching for us, keeping an eye out for us is greatly, greatly appreciated because at the end of the day, we all want to go home to our families as well,” Despain said.

“Watch out for us. There are a lot of people on the roads, and sometimes people get complacent, and they don’t really notice them,” Getsinger said.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Zoo Idaho will officially reveal the name of its rescued cougar kitten during a special event Friday afternoon.

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist is scheduled to announce the kitten’s name at noon at Zoo Idaho. The event will also mark the cougar’s first public appearance in her newly renovated habitat.

The cougar arrived at the zoo with two other orphaned kittens from Wyoming after the animals lost their mother.

Shortly after arriving, all three kittens were diagnosed with feline panleukopenia, a highly contagious and often deadly viral disease. Zoo officials said only one of the kittens survived despite extensive veterinary care.

“Every animal at Zoo Idaho has a story, and this cougar’s story is one of resilience,” said Zoo Idaho Manager Peter Pruett. “She overcame tremendous odds, and thanks to the support of our community, she’ll now have a beautiful new habitat to call home. We’re excited to welcome everyone as we reveal her name and celebrate this remarkable chapter.”

Following a public naming contest that generated more than 500 suggestions, zoo staff narrowed the choices to three finalists: Roxanne, Purrsephane and Clawdia.

Community members were then invited to vote for their favorite name through online donations. According to Zoo Idaho, the campaign received more than 600 votes and raised more than $3,000 to support renovations to the cougar’s habitat.

Zoo officials say the event will celebrate both the cougar’s recovery and the community support that helped fund improvements to her exhibit.

The naming ceremony will take place Friday, July 17, at noon at Zoo Idaho, located at 3000 S. Second Ave. in Pocatello.

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Curtis Jackson

ONEIDA COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)— A brush fire burned over 2,000 acres near I-84 on Sunday evening.

According to BLM reports, the fire started around 2:15 pm, near the Juniper Rest Area. The cause of the fire is unknown.

The fire is currently reported to be as zero percent contained.

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Seth Ratliff

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated with corrected information from ISP

TERRETON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State Police is investigating a mid-morning, four-vehicle crash near Terreton that sent three people to the hospital on Monday.

Police say the crash took place just before 8:40 a.m. on Highway 33 near the intersection with N 1300 E. Preliminary reports indicate that a silver Honda Accord driven by a 27-year-old Idaho Falls man and a black 2023 Freightliner were both headed east on Hwy 33 when the Freightliner rear-ended the Accord. The force of the initial impact sent both vehicles into the path of a westbound silver 2000 Dodge Caravan and a white 2018 Chevrolet Silverado.

The driver of the Accord, along with the drivers of both the Dodge Caravan and Chevrolet Silverado — a 72-year-old Idaho Falls man and a 44-year-old Pocatello man — were all taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital. Their current conditions have not been released.

ISP confirmed that all drivers involved were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

The lanes on Highway 33 were blocked for approximately two hours while emergency crews cleared the scene. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash remains ongoing.

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Several well-known faces have recently been spotted across Idaho and Wyoming, giving locals a few unexpected celebrity sightings.

Every year, thousands of visitors travel to eastern Idaho and Wyoming to experience the region’s scenic landscapes, outdoor recreation and wildlife.

This summer, some famous names have also made appearances.

Former President Bill Clinton was recently spotted at the historic Wort Hotel in Jackson, Wyoming.

Television host Jimmy Fallon

Actor Henry Winkler

Singer Justin Bieber

Former President Bill Clinton

The hotel shared the sighting in a social media post, writing:

“What an incredible Fourth of July weekend in Jackson Hole as we celebrated America’s 250th anniversary. We were honored to welcome President Bill Clinton at The Silver Dollar Bar & Grill and grateful to everyone who made this year’s parade and celebration so memorable.”

Actor Henry Winkler, best known as “The Fonz” from Happy Days, was also seen grabbing a bite to eat at The Sandwich Tree in Idaho Falls.

Television host Jimmy Fallon made a stop in Idaho Falls as well, posing for photos with fans at Mike’s Music.

Farther north in Coeur d’Alene, Breaking Bread Artisan Bistro shared a photo with singer Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber.

“Had the pleasure of meeting @lilbieber and the beautiful @haileybieber today. Thank you for supporting local businesses and being so kind,” the restaurant wrote on social media.

The sightings come during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, as visitors flock to Yellowstone National Park and other attractions throughout the region.

Whether they’re exploring the outdoors, visiting local businesses or simply passing through, Idaho and Wyoming continue to attract more than their share of notable visitors each summer.

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Par Kermani

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Teton County officials have declared a local emergency following a measles outbreak at Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton National Park.

The declaration comes at the request of Teton County Health Director and District Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell, and approved Monday morning by the Teton County Board Of Commissioners.

According to the Teton County Health Department, three linked cases of measles have been confirmed among people in Colter Bay Village.

Due to the high density of employee housing and the large number of visitors who travel through the area, the Colter Bay Village outbreak presents a unique challenge, according to health officials.

The outbreak marks Wyoming’s first measles outbreak of 2026.

“As this outbreak unfolds, I suggest individuals confirm their own immunity status, or get the MMR vaccine if they cannot confirm it,” Riddell said.

Health officials say the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against the disease. One dose is 93% effective against measles, while two doses are 97% effective.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and spreads through the air. It can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are considered most at risk for serious complications from measles.

Anyone with questions about vaccination is encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.

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