Category: kifi-local-news

News Release

The following is a news release from the National Park Service, Grand Teton:

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — On Sunday, September 7, 2025, nonprofit search and recovery organization Bruce’s Legacy located a body believed to be Wesley Dopkins in Jackson Lake. On Monday, September 8, Bruce’s Legacy successfully recovered the remains. Dopkins, of St. Paul, MN, has been missing since June 15, 2024.

Bruce’s Legacy, known for its specialized sonar technology, joined the search effort last fall before returning last week. Their expertise, experience and advanced equipment enabled them to successfully locate the remains within the search area, at a depth of about 420 feet.

Dopkins was last seen paddling a foldable Oru kayak across Jackson Lake and was not wearing a life jacket. Shortly after his disappearance, his kayak, paddle, and dry bag were discovered floating off Moose Island near Leeks Marina. At that time, National Park Service rangers conducted an extensive interagency search, using boats, ground teams, dog teams and the Teton County Search and Rescue helicopter.

The National Park Service is deeply grateful for Bruce’s Legacy, whose dedication and unique capabilities made this highly technical mission possible.

Positive identification will be made by the Teton County Coroner’s Office. However, based on the characteristics of the remains and the location where they were recovered, they are believed to be those of Dopkins.

The NPS reminds all visitors that wearing a properly fitted life jacket is the most important step you can take to stay safe on the water. Even experienced paddlers and swimmers are at risk without one.

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News Team

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Custer County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a mudslide on Bayhorse Road, about 1 mile from the Bayhorse Townsite south of Challis.

Preliminary details are limited, but the National Weather Service is forecasting heavy rains along with a flash flood warning in place until around 7 PM tonight.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will update this story as we learn more information.

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News Release

The following is a news release from Eastern Idaho Public Health:

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — EIPH has confirmed that a bat found in Lemhi County has tested positive for rabies. Rabies is a fatal viral illness in humans and other animals. Household pets and other animals can be exposed to the virus by playing with sick bats that can no longer fly normally.

While most bats are harmless and do not carry rabies, they are the only animal in Idaho that is a natural reservoir for the virus. Vaccination against rabies for humans and animals is important to protect against illness.

Ken Anderson, Epidemiologist at Eastern Idaho Public Health (EIPH) states, “It is important if you have been bitten, scratched, or have come in close contact with a bat to contact your health care provider immediately. Rabies is fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented almost 100% of the time when the rabies vaccine and other medical therapies are administered soon after the exposure occurs.”

To protect yourself and your pets, EIPH offers the following tips:

Do not touch a bat with your bare hands. If you have contact with a bat or wake up to find a bat in your house, seek medical advice immediately. Collect the bat in a plastic bag without touching it, wash your hands thoroughly, and call your local public health office for possible testing. Any bat found in a home should be tested for rabies if there is any suspicion that exposure to a person or pet might have occurred. The teeth of a bat are very small, and it is possible to be bitten while sleeping without feeling it.

Because household pets and other animals can be exposed to the virus through contact with sick bats, it is important to make sure that animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.) are up to date on vaccinations against rabies. If your household pet brings a dead bat home, collect it in a plastic bag without touching it, wash your hands thoroughly, and call your local public health office for possible testing. Also, contact your veterinarian to make sure your animal’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date.

Parents should teach their children to avoid bats, never bring them to school for show-and-tell, and to let an adult know if they find one.

Bat-proof your home by plugging all holes in siding and maintaining tight-fitting screens on windows. Bats can enter through holes the size of a quarter.

Call EIPH epidemiologists at (208) 533-3152 to determine whether testing the bat for rabies is indicated. If it is determined that you or your pet may be at risk of exposure to rabies, testing of the bat is a free service.

For information about bat proofing your home, visit the CDC Rabies page.

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News Team

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Effective immediately, the Madison County Fire Department, in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners of Madison County, has cancelled the temporary open fire ban. The temporary ban began on August 1.

“Madison Fire Department thanks our community members for their efforts to prevent wildfire. The community was very responsive to the burn restrictions issued earlier this summer,” said Chief Corey Child. “Our community members worked diligently to prevent ignition and report any fire in a timely manner. Their efforts directly impacted the amount and size of fire in Madison County.”

While the burn restrictions have been lifted, fire officials ask that residents remember the area is still experiencing drought conditions. MCFD encourages the public to recreate safely and responsibly with fire. For more information, click HERE.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the State of Idaho Office of the Attorney General:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning Idaho families about a dangerous surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams, which predominantly target seniors through fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes that have cost victims tens of thousands of dollars.

In just one week, an alert Stinker Store employee prevented two separate seniors from losing over $30,000 to cryptocurrency ATM fraud. The employee unplugged the machine and called Boise Police to help convince the victims they were being scammed.

Cryptocurrency ATMs look similar to regular bank ATMs (see images below) and are often located in gas stations and convenience stores. These ATMs allow people to legitimately purchase and transfer cryptocurrency. However, because they do this using untraceable routing numbers, recovering money once it is sent is nearly impossible and it is why scammers are using this method on unsuspecting Idahoans.

Reported cryptocurrency losses in Idaho jumped from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024, with seniors representing the largest victim group. The FBI reports that victims over 60 suffer significantly higher losses than all other age groups combined.

Scammers specifically target seniors because they often have good credit, home ownership, and substantial savings. As more seniors use the internet for daily communication and transactions, criminals exploit their trust through sophisticated phone, email, and text scams.

“Criminals are calling Idaho seniors pretending to be from a legitimate business or government agency, then directing them to deposit thousands of dollars into cryptocurrency machines at gas stations to supposedly fix computer problems or pay fake fines,” said Attorney General Labrador. “If anyone demands you put cash into a cryptocurrency ATM for any reason, it’s more than likely a scam and you should report it immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Common warning signs include callers claiming to be from tech support companies, government agencies, or banks demanding immediate payment through cryptocurrency. Legitimate organizations never require cryptocurrency payments for services or fines.

Idahoans who suspect they’ve been contacted by scammers can report incidents at ReportScamsIdaho.gov. To stay informed about Attorney General Labrador’s ongoing efforts to protect Idaho families from fraud and other threats, sign up for updates here.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 09 SEP 25 14:59 ET

By Mike Anderson

Click here for updates on this story

    LAYTON, Utah (KSL, KSL-TV) — The family of Angela Hansen is asking for lots of love and support as she works through her family’s second major tragedy.

Her 22-month-old daughter, Ada, was struck and killed by a truck while Hansen was cleaning the family minivan at a car wash Friday. In addition to that, she lost her husband, Kyley Hansen, to drowning at a family pool party on the Fourth of July in 2023.

Angela Hansen’s sister, Lauren Paskett, said the family is doing its best to come together for Angela Hansen.

“Everybody is beside themselves, you know,” Paskett said. “They’re distraught. It’s a horrific accident.”

She also worries for the well-being and mental health of the driver of the truck that struck Ada. It was parked next to the minivan.

“We just need to show more support for both parties,” Paskett said. “I feel so terrible for him to have to live with this the rest of his life.”

Paskett said her sister had pulled into the car wash vacuum station Friday with her two younger kids. She said Angela Hansen usually parked right next to the playground there, but ended up parking across the way because it was busy. Ada and her 4-year-old sister were in the playground while mom cleaned. At some point, Paskett said Ada called for her mom and her sister tried to help.

“She opened the gate and let her sister out because she wanted mom. So she was holding her hand and walking her back to mom,” Paskett said, explaining that the truck pulled out at that moment. “The 4-year-old is just distraught and beside herself, you know, because she witnessed the whole thing.”

A friend of Angela Hansen’s from a widow support group put together a fundraiser* for the Hansen family. Paskett said her sister is trying to get Ada buried with her dad, making arrangements for a service that is only days away.

“It’s just a huge loss for our family, especially since it was like her last piece of her husband that she had,” Paskett said.

And while she does not know the 18-year-old man who was behind the wheel of the truck, she wants to make sure he gets the support he needs too.

“We worry about the driver’s bills that he’s going to need therapy and counseling. We just want peace for everybody,” Paskett said. “So we hope that that can happen. If anybody wants to reach out, I’m happy to talk to them and let them know about our forgiveness for the accident.”

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Seth Ratliff

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — The voter fraud investigation in Fremont County has expanded. Local News 8 has now confirmed through court records that authorities have charged three more people with voter fraud in a 2023 Island Park election, bringing the total number of accused individuals to ten. Local News 8 first broke news of the voter fraud investigation Sunday Night.

RELATED — 7 arrested for voter fraud in Fremont County

On August 28, 2025, detectives questioned Teara Gailbraith, David Jenson, and Michelle Green. According to court documents, all three were charged on September 2nd.

They join the initial seven individuals who were arrested and charged on August 28. All ten are accused of fraudulently voting “in the May 26, 2023 AMB LEVY-AUD, while not being a resident of Island Park,” and each is charged with Illegal Voting and perjury.

Those seven arrested individuals are as follows:

Teara Gailbraith

David Jenson

Michelle Green

Marian McKenna

Rodney McKenna

Christi Spinner

David Spinner

Marcye Gifford

Chad Vanderbeek

Winter Mickleberry

(Left) Marian McKenna (Right) Rodney McKenna

(Left) Christi Spinner (Right) David Spinner

(Left to Right)Marcye Gifford,Chad Vanderbeek, Winter Mickleberry

Courtesy: Fremont County Sheriff’s Office

The election, which was decided by a narrow margin, centered on a proposed district that would have imposed a 5% lodging tax on short-term rentals, increasing the booking price for Airbnbs, cabins, etc. Many local property owners had publicly voiced concerns that the tax would make their businesses less competitive with those in nearby West Yellowstone.

RELATED — Sister of the accused man claims “situation has been mishandled”

The Community Center vote created intense community debate. Local News 8 has received multiple calls and emails since our initial investigation from residents and property owners describing a concerted effort from both sides of the issue to register voters ahead of the election.

Officials from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office and the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office have confirmed that they are not involved in the case.

RELATED — Idaho AG and Secretary of State Not Involved in Local Voter Fraud Case, Former AG Explains Why

The seven individuals initially arrested are scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. on Sept. 17 before Magistrate Judge Faren Eddins.

Online Fallout, Island Park Mayor Sets the Record Straight

In the wake of the arrests, discussions on online Island Park community forums and social media have exploded with accusations that the investigation was “politically motivated.” In an exclusive interview with Local News 8, Mayor Ard sought to clarify the city’s role, stating that neither he, the city council, nor the potential members of the auditorium district board were involved in the arrests.

“I know that there has been an investigation. I know it’s been going on for quite a long time, but I don’t know any of the particulars,” Mayor Ard said. “The mayor and city council had absolutely nothing to do with this voter investigation. We didn’t even know about it until just the other day.”

According to the Island Park News, 34 people registered to vote on the day of the election, a number far exceeding the typical amount. Island Park Mayor Ard suggested this unusual spike could have been the “red flag that alerted officials.”

All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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CNN Newsource

By Jordan Valinsky, CNN

New York (CNN) — Girl Scouts of the USA is debuting a new cookie for its upcoming season.

The organization announced Tuesday that “Exploremores,” a Rocky Road-inspired cookie, is being added to the lineup when its annual sales begin in January. Like the Girl Scouts’ other cookies, which include the popular Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs, the Exploremores will be sold both online and in-person at booths by local troops.

The new chocolate cookie, which has a creamy filling with notes of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond–flavored crème, reflects “the spirit of exploration at the heart of every Girl Scout,” according to a press release. Nearly 700,000 scouts participate in the cookie sale each year

Earlier this year, the Girl Scouts of the USA revamped its cookie lineup, announcing the discontinuation of the “S’mores” and “Toast-Yay!” cookies after several years on sale.

Prices, which are based on several factors, are determined by councils and have risen in recent years. Chapters across the country announced price increases from $4 to $5 a box in 2014 and 2015, and to $6 in 2023. Some chapters sold boxes for $7 last year.

However, “all proceeds stay local to help power amazing experiences for Girl Scouts in your community,” a spokesperson said.

“In some instances, councils are faced with the tough decision to raise prices, though prices have remained steady in many areas for a number of years,” a Girl Scouts of USA spokesperson previously told CNN.

The financially distressed 113-year-old organization recently voted to hike membership prices by 160% over the next few years to help keep the group afloat.

Membership dues are the Girl Scouts’ largest source of revenue. Despite supplementing dues with philanthropy and licensing deals, the organization is losing money, projecting operating losses of $5.6 million in 2024.

Last year, the National Council voted to hike dues to $45 for the 2026 membership year and again to $65 in 2027. However, that’s a smaller increase than the $85 per scout originally proposed.

Membership dues generated $38 million in 2023 from nearly 2 million total members.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Sam Ross

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) — This year, residents of Pocatello, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls have a new way to give back for the upcoming holiday season. For the first time ever, the globally recognized Light the World Giving Machine initiative, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is making its way to southeast Idaho.

This November and December, these unique vending machines will be set up in Pocatello, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls, allowing residents to “purchase” donations for local and international charities.

“The Giving Machine provides…an opportunity to show that Idahoans take care of each other,” Elder Kirt L. Hodges, Area Seventy for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “And we can do that here to our local charities and needs. And we can also do that to those around the world.” 

Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has raised nearly $50 million, with hundreds of thousands of people worldwide donating essential items, including meals, services, and clothing, to those in need. The machines offer a tangible way to give, letting donors select specific items they wish to contribute.

This year, east Idahoans will have three opportunities to participate:

Pocatello-ICCU Headquarters: November 15—30, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Aid for Friends

Bright Tommorows Child Advocacy Center

South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency

United Way Southeastern Idaho

Bannock Youth Foundation

Rexburg-Hemming Village: December 1—14, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership

Family Crisis Center

Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

Idaho Falls-Grand Teton Mall: December 15—January 1, Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

The Village

Community Food Basket, Idaho Falls

Friends In Service Here (FISH)

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News Release

 The following is a news release from Yellowstone National Park:

MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Wyo. (KIFI) — Effective immediately, select rivers and streams that were partially closed to fishing due to warm water temperatures and low flows are now open without restrictions. There are currently no temperature-related restrictions in place parkwide.

The partial closure was necessary to protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries when water temperatures exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) and flows were low. These conditions can be lethal to trout.

Staff continued to monitor the rivers and streams throughout the partial closure, and have determined that factors such as cooling temperatures, recent precipitation, and the extended forecast for cooler weather and a chance of rain allowed for the restrictions to be lifted.

Which rivers and streams are now open to fishing without restrictions?

The Madison River and all associated tributaries.

The Firehole River and all associated tributaries.

The Gibbon River and all associated tributaries downstream of Norris Campground.

What remains open?

Yellowstone Lake and other lakes will remain open to fishing from sunrise to sunset as specified in the 2025 Fishing Regulations booklet.

All other rivers and streams not listed as closed.  

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