Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

Payette County, Idaho (KIFI) — A 7-year-old girl has been located after state police issued an Amber Alert late Saturday evening following her abduction from West Idaho.

According to the Payette County Sheriff’s Office, 7-year-old Izabella Bond was abducted Saturday evening in Payette, Idaho, in the area of Railroad Lane.

Deputies identified the girl’s abductor as Amber Farson following her disappearance. The alert was broadcast statewide after police determined the two could potentially be traveling together on foot or in an unknown vehicle, triggering an immediate search across the area.

Police located Izabella a short time later, bringing the late-night search to a successful end. “Thank You All For Your Cooperation,” PCSO posted in an update to its original post.

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Linda Larsen

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Police are investigating a fatal shooting Sunday afternoon in Rigby.

According to Rigby Police Chief Allen Fullmer, officers responded to reports of shots involving two men just after noon along Ashlyn Way.

Chief Fullmer said two men were involved in the incident. One man was killed at the scene.

“He was treated here at the scene, but was pronounced deceased,” Fullmer said.

The second man fled the area but was later taken into custody after returning to Rigby, along the west side of town, without incident. He is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail. “This is an isolated incident. The suspect is in custody,” Fullmer emphasized.

The investigation remains ongoing by Rigby Police, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Rexburg Police Department, and Idaho State Police.

Multiple agencies are assisting with the ongoing investigation, including the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Rexburg Police Department, and the Idaho State Police (ISP).

“We’ve secured the scene,” Fullmer said. “Crime scene lab technicians from the Idaho State Police are processing the area, and detectives from the Rexburg Police Department are assisting with suspect interviews.”

Authorities have not yet released the names of the victim or the suspect.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details become available.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Drivers in Idaho Falls should expect temporary lane closures beginning Sunday, Aug. 23, as crews begin microsurfacing work on several roads throughout the city.

The project is expected to take a few days, depending on weather and field conditions. Work will take place on different streets each day across several roads, including:

Lomax Street

Channing Way

East 25th Street

South Capital Avenue

No long-term road closures are expected. However, temporary lane closures will be in place while crews complete the work. Closures at each location could last up to two days.

The project is part of the City of Idaho Falls’ ongoing effort to maintain local roads and reduce the need for more extensive reconstruction in the future.

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Dylan Carder

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- The National Weather Service in Pocatello has issued a flash flood warning for the Big Rock burn scar in southeastern Jefferson County and south central Madison County in southeastern Idaho. The warning remains in effect until 11:00 p.m. as thunderstorms move over the burn scar.

At 8:07 p.m. Saturday nightDoppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the Big Rock burn scar, with expected rainfall rates of 0.25 to 0.5 inches per hour. The weather service identified Heise as one of the locations that will experience flash flooding.

The weather service warned that excessive rainfall over the burned terrain creates a life-threatening situation with flash flooding and debris flows. The moving debris flows can consist of rock, mud, vegetation and other loose materials.

Heavy rainfall is anticipated to cause extensive flash flooding across local creeks, streams and ditches. The weather service cautioned that severe debris flows can also be anticipated across roadways, with roads and driveways potentially washing away in places.

Precautionary instructions urge anyone who encounters flood waters to climb to safety.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police offered a two-hour opportunity for locals interested in working in law enforcement by giving them a tour of the District 5 office as well as providing state troopers to answer questions. The session covered the application process, the intensive training program and what to expect in the profession if a candidate is hired.

Officers said the hiring open houses are conducive for interested people to ask direct questions to troopers about their careers and see if it could be the right fit for them.

“One of the biggest problems we run into is some people who have thought about a career in law enforcement just don’t know how to start or what to expect or anything else,” said Todd Orr, Patrol Lieutenant with Idaho State Police. “We say, here’s how it works and what to expect, here’s what the next year of your life could be.”

Lt. Orr said the next training academy begins in January, with the application cycle already open. The academy consists of several months at the beginning of the year spent in Boise for intense training in crashes, drug busts and more.

The department began hosting open houses about five years ago to provide an environment with open communication to educate the public about what it takes to become an officer. The District 5 open houses are regional, with some attendees traveling from as far as Utah and Twin Falls.

“It’s so they can know the expectations of not only the training, but of being a trooper,” Lt. Orr said.

Lt. Orr said there is no perfect candidate for an officer, as they’ve had successful professionals come from all walks of life. It doesn’t require a specific body type, but officers said candidates need a strong sense of integrity.

“Some people don’t think they’re capable of it, but we have so many troopers that have come from so many different backgrounds,” he said. “People are capable of doing it. They’re in their own way. I encourage them to come in and actually take a look, call one of our recruiters and they can talk you through stuff.”

The easiest way to reach ISP is by visiting their website at isp.idaho.gov for more information about online applications to the training academy.

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David Pace

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – A 10-acre fire consumed multiple structures and charred 50 vehicles on the Fort Hall Reservation along Hawthorne Road.

The blaze ignited between Cemetery and Edmo Road, reports Incident Commander Deputy Chief Lawrence Wadsworth.

The fire spread quickly in a grass field, damaging two single-wide trailer homes, two pole barns, and 10 to 20 pieces of miscellaneous farm equipment and tractors, in addition to the cars and trucks.

According to a news release by the Shoshone-Bannock tribe, the trailer homes did not appear to be occupied.

Several agencies assisted in fighting the flames, including North Bannock Fire, Chubbuck Fire, Pocatello Fire, Blackfoot Fire and the U.S. Wildland Fire Service.

The flames have been extinguished, though crews continue to check on hot spots.

The fire was reported to have started in a haystack, but its cause is unknown and is being investigated.

Residents are asked to avoid the area and allow emergency personnel to safely complete their work.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Lives have been changed for years at Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho through the Second Chance Smile Makeover Program, where one lucky recipient gets free teeth implants. The local surgery office has opened applications via its website through September 4.

Dr. Mark Baker says the program is life-changing and worth applying for. He added that it’s incredibly hard to choose just one winner each year because the need in the community is so great.

“Oftentimes the makeover includes the extraction of the remaining bad teeth, placement of the implants, then the prosthesis that goes on top of the implants to completely restore their bite, fuction and smile,” Dr. Baker said. “We just encourage everybody to apply.”

Applicants usually have a mouthful of nonrestorable teeth but good bone, making them good candidates for implants. Candidates can be from anywhere in Southeast Idaho, including Pocatello and Blackfoot.

Once selected, the applicant will have a scan to assess their oral health needs.

“We want them to submit that application and tell us their story,” Dr. Baker said. “Tell us your story. What’s going on? What has brought you to this point where we need to consider a complete smile makeover?”

The winning candidate will be revealed just before Thanksgiving in November. Within 48 hours, an immediate prosthesis is secured to the implants as a temporary before the winner can have their official surgery in December or January. Dr. Baker said the final prosthesis is received about six months later.

Before and after of the 2025 Second Chance recipient’s smile

“It’s a little bit of a process, but once the teeth are extracted, implants are in place and they have new teeth within 48 hours,” Dr. Baker said. Even though the first phase of the makeover is temporary, the new smile still makes a difference in the lives of a patient. Within six months of being chosen, the applicant has a fully functional prosthesis and new lease on life.

Last year’s winner and smile makeover recipient, Matthew Rymer, is one of the most heartwarming success stories to come out of Second Chance. Not only did Rymer secure a new job following the makeover, he found a fiancé and will celebrate his wedding in September of this year. A new smile can give someone the confidence it takes to change their entire life.

“It completely changed his life,” Dr. Baker reminisced. “He was embarrassed to go out in public before, he didn’t want people to see his teeth so he never smiled. Now, they can’t stop him from smiling.”

Dr. Baker added that Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho could not do the Second Chance program without the collaboration with Dr. Kyle Siemen at Sage Dental. The opportunity to give back to the community will a fully-funded smile makeover is a program and tradition in Pocatello they have no intention of stopping anytime soon.

To apply for the Second Chance free smile makeover, visit Oral Surgery Specialists of Idaho online and click on the Second Chance icon. The online application is simple to fill out and requires basic information and a telling of the applicant’s story of how they could benefit from implants.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello has received its accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM). This award is the highest national recognition for museums and places. The IMNH is one of only five accredited museums in the state.

The AAM is a nationwide organization that certifies museums for excellence in all aspects of professional practice. They look at both the care of the collections in a museum as well as the space and experience for patrons to learn about the exhibits.

The accreditation process is rigorous and can take up to a year. Education manager at IMNH, Robert Gay, said people from other museums come from out of state to review the museum’s policies, procedures, and paperwork for evaluation.

“They look at all of our facilities to make sure they’re up to snuff, signage, storage and our staffing to make sure we have an appropriate number of people for the amount of collections we care for,” Gay said. “It’s not just one thing, but it’s the whole nature of the museum.”

It doesn’t take just beautiful exhibits to be AAM accredited, rather, it takes a state-of-the-art, professional institution from the inside out. Museums have to be reevaluated for accreditation every ten years.

For the museum staff, this recognition is proof of their hard work and a promise that they will continue to serve at the highest level.

“It shows other museums in the state and the region that we are operating at the top level the country can expect a museum to be at,” Gay said. “We are the only accredited natural history museum in the entire state. It shows folks that we are doing what we need to do to take care of our collections and to present that information to the public, and provides a level of public trust.”

Gay explained IMNH is a publicly funded institution with the state legislature placing it on a special appropriation. He said the museum is committed to being good stewards of those taxpayer dollars.

“By being accredited, it’s a way that we can show we’re making the best use of taxpayer dollars and making sure these collectioons here in Idaho about Idaho’s natural history are safe for generations to come,” Gay stated.

The Idaho Museum of Natural History provides a snapshot of Idaho’s history, including dinosaur skeleton replicas, indigenous objects that are tens of thousands of years old, and rocks, minerals, gems, plants, and animals. Because it is on the university campus, the IMNH also has the opportunity to provide students with research experience.

Fall Fossil Fest is coming up in November, an event put on by the museum, with more details to be released soon. The festival will include researchers and hands-on exhibits, with specialists from across Idaho and some out-of-state visitors.

The gallery at the Idaho Museum of Natural History will be closing in September for a full revamp of the front-of-house exhibit. The grand re-opening will be September 26th, with free entry. Gay said they’ve had plans in the works for a new front exhibit for years, and they’re excited to finally put it together for the community.

“This is our first update in about five years, we’re also really excited to be opening a new gallery space sometime in the near future,” he said. “We can’t wait to reopen the gallery at the end of September and welcome everyone back to see all the cool stuff we’ve got coming up.”

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Doug Long

Have you ever found an injured animal, be it a dog or cat or a wild animal or bird? What do you do if you find one?

Over the weekend Local News 8 anchor Doug Long and his wife were driving along 49th South in Ammon when they saw something in the middle of the road. As they approached and slowed down they could see it was a hawk.

They stopped the car and Doug got out to see if it would move out of the road as he got closer to it, but it just sat there looking up at him. At that point he knew it was injured bad enough that it either didn’t want to move or couldn’t.

He tried contacting local law enforcement, animal control, even the Tautphaus Park Zoo, but being Sunday all he got was voice mail. At that point he decided to move the bird and get it out of the road where it would most certainly be hit by a car or harmed by another animal.

After placing a towel over the bird, he was able to gently pick it up and place it in a basket in the trunk of his car. He then drove it home and placed the basket, with the bird, in his garage. The hawk never attempted to get out of the basket and remained there through the night.

On Monday morning, he was able to contact Bonneville County Sheriff Deputy, Brandon McIntier, who just happens to also work closely with the Teton Raptor Center in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He came to Doug’s house and was able to get the hawk and transport it to Jackson and the raptor center.

Deputy McIntier said the best thing to do if you find an animal that is hurt is to call your county dispatch and report it. Let them know where it is and how to find it. In most cases attempting to move the animal, depending on what kind it is, could pose a danger to yourself and the animal, but in this case and under the circumstances moving the hawk was likely the best way to save the bird.

When the hawk arrived at the Teton Raptor Center it was x-rayed and found to have a core cord fracture in her spine, but there is good news. with three to four weeks of rest the fracture will heal on its own. After a few weeks they will put the hawk in their flight barn to make sure she can fly and do all of the things she needs to do to survive in the wild.

We’ve been in contact with the Teton Raptor Center and will be working with them to do a follow up story on the progress of the injured hawk and we are hopeful to be there when she is fully healed and released. We will provide updates on Local News 8 evening newscasts and here at Local News 8 dot com.

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Dylan Carder

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI)- Both a local coffee shop owner and national pro-life leadership are calling for calm and mutual respect following a flood of harassment and threats triggered by a confrontation at a cafe in Driggs. Jim Sheehan, owner of Wydaho Roasters and Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, have both publicly condemned threats of violence that arose after video of the incident circulated on social media.

The controversy began on Monday, August 17 in the evening when Hawkins and a group of local advocates gathered at Wydaho Roasters to launch a local pro-life campaign chapter and discuss family resources. The meeting ended when Sheehan confronted the group, asked them to leave and compared pro-life supporters to the KKK. Video of the interaction was recorded and posted online, prompting immediate public backlash and harassment directed at the business.

Following the video’s release online, Sheehan reported receiving non-stop phone calls, emails and anonymous text messages containing his home address. In response to the harassment, Sheehan deactivated the cafe’s social media accounts, website and business phone line to protect his teenage employees and family.

Sheehan described how quickly the situation escalated after the video was posted.

“About two hours after the incident in the shop,” Sheehan said. “This group had this sort of all planned and all queued up and ready to go. They walked out, chopped up videos, started posting them online. And immediately that night, we started getting phone calls and harassment.”

Sheehan added that people were “anonymously texting us our home address, just making it very clear that they know where we live.” He expressed concern over how online platforms can turn clipped videos into anger.

“I’ve learned that they’re able to sort of take and structure information in a way to get people outraged,” Sheehan said. “And it’s scary to sort of see the control that they have over these masses of people. They can just slip out a clipped video that totally misrepresents the situation and then get people to hate.”

Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, shared her account of being ejected from the business she previously frequented.

“The owner comes out and starts screaming at us that we are not welcome there and then he compares pro-lifers to the KKK,” Hawkins said. “This used to be my favorite place to get coffee. Literally, I used some of my points today to get coffee because I come here so much and he kicked us out. So much for liberal tolerance.”

However, Hawkins subsequently issued a statement calling for civility and condemning any threats against the shop owner.

“People are going to have different opinions, but that shouldn’t prevent us from treating one another with respect or peacefully sharing a space,” Hawkins said. She added that threats of violence or death against anyone are unacceptable regardless of political stance.

Sheehan acknowledged in an interview with Local News 8 that his comparison to the KKK during the confrontation was a poorly chosen analogy brought on in the heat of the moment while defending his right as a business owner to choose who to host. On core issues, Sheehan noted his firm beliefs.

“There are some black and white issues, discrimination. Women’s right to choose. There are not gray areas in that black and white,” Sheehan said.

Despite their ideological differences, Sheehan emphasized a desire for open, civil conversation rather than anonymous hostility online.

“I’ve always invited people down if they disagree. Let’s come on down. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee. Let’s talk about it. We may not agree at the end of the conversation, but we’ll both understand a little bit better,” Sheehan said.

While the shop experienced negative phone calls and drive-by disruptions, local regulars and customers across the country responded with support, sending flowers, hugs and online coffee orders once the cafe’s website was reopened. Both the business owner and pro-life leaders expressed hope that community members can disagree strongly while still treating one another with respect.

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