Category: kifi-local-news

Kaelyn Blessinger

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Blackfoot City Council has approved an ordinance banning the sale of kratom within city limits, making it illegal for businesses to sell the substance beginning this month.

The move follows a similar ban recently approved in Idaho Falls.

The ordinance applies only to the sale of kratom and does not prohibit individuals from possessing or using it.

Kratom is derived from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. It contains compounds that can produce stimulant effects at lower doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses.

City officials said the decision comes after multiple deaths in Bonneville County were linked to kratom, raising concerns about public safety and the availability of the substance in local stores.

Blackfoot Police Chief Wes Wheatley said the city felt it was important to take action to reduce access to kratom and address the potential risks associated with its sale.

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Par Kermani

UPDATED Aug. 6, 2026 10 a.m.

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — The Byrne Side burning south of Rexburg has been fully contained, according to the Madison Fire Department.

Madison Fire Department reported late Wednesday evening that the fire had been stopped and no further growth was expected.

The fire burned approximately 150 acres.

According to Madison Fire, repair work was being done on a railroad bridge when a spark from grinding operations started a fire in nearby vegetation. Railroad workers attempted to extinguish it, but the fire quickly spread into a grain field before reaching sagebrush on the hillside.

Madison Fire Department crews worked alongside resources from the nearby Big Rock Fire and mutual aid partners. Air resources, bulldozers, and local farmers were helping with firefighting effort

Officials said approximately 60 to 70 personnel, 25 apparatus and numerous tractors helped minimize the spread of the fire.

ORIGINAL STORY:

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Fire crews are responding to a new wildfire burning on the southern portion of the bench in Madison County.

The Byrne Side Fire is currently being fought by multiple fire agencies, law enforcement and local farmers working to get ahead of the flames.

The south end of the bench, from approximately 8000 South 2300 East to 1600 East, is closed to traffic. Deputies are in the area turning drivers away.

Officials are asking people to avoid the area and not attempt to get closer to watch the fire. Additional traffic could interfere with firefighting operations.

Multiple planes and helicopters are also working the fire. Officials are warning people not to fly drones in the area because they can interfere with firefighting aircraft and potentially force aerial operations to stop.

People in the area are asked to follow all directions from firefighters and law enforcement.

Additional information on the fire’s size and containment was not available.

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Par Kermani

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying and locating a person and vehicle connected to an incident in Island Park.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened Monday, Aug. 3. Officials did not provide details about the nature of the incident.

The Sheriff’s Office released photos of the person and vehicle in hopes that someone may recognize them.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying this vehicle in connection with an incident in Island Park on Monday, Aug. 3.

Anyone who recognizes the person or vehicle, or has information about their identity or whereabouts, is asked to contact Fremont County Dispatch at 208-624-4482 and select option 1.

Information can also be sent through a private message to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.

Officials are asking people not to post accusations or personal information in the comments on social media.

The Sheriff’s Office said any information provided will be handled appropriately.

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Dylan Carder

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)- The Idaho High School Activities Association voted 10-0 on Wednesday to update its policy regarding transgender students in girls’ sports. The change to Rule 11-3, which included one abstention, aligns the association with the state’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.

The move brings association policy into compliance with Idaho Code Title 33, Chapter 62. The previous version of the rule followed federal executive order #14201, which was signed Feb. 5, 2025.

The Fairness in Women’s Sports Act requires athletic teams sponsored by public primary or secondary schools and public institutions of higher education to be designated based on biological sex. This also applies to any school or institution whose teams compete against public schools. Teams must be categorized as males, men or boys; females, women or girls; or coed or mixed.

Under the law, any athletic team or sport designated for females, women or girls is not open to students of the male sex. The update to Rule 11-3 was designed to ensure the Idaho High School Activities Association complies with these specific state requirements regarding transgender student participation.

Disputes regarding a student’s sex must be resolved by the school through a health examination. The institution must request that the student provide a health examination and consent form or a statement signed by a personal health care provider. This document must verify the student’s biological sex.

Health care providers may verify biological sex as part of a routine sports physical examination. According to the statute, the provider may rely only on the student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels to make the verification.

The Idaho State Board of Education will promulgate rules for schools and institutions to follow regarding the receipt and timely resolution of sex disputes. These rules must remain consistent with the requirements for health care provider verification.

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Dylan Carder

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)- The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare announced the contract for the Idaho Wednesday’s Child recruitment program will end on Sept. 30. Internal state teams will take over recruitment and intensive services for foster children starting Oct. 1.

The program has operated for more than 25 years in partnership with Eastern Washington University and other community organizations to find homes for children in foster care. The state is reorganizing how it manages these cases to modernize recruitment practices and address safety concerns related to public profiles.

The program website will stop accepting inquiries for youth on Aug. 24. The Family Resource and Training Center, which has operated the program for the past 10 years, scheduled the site to close on Sept. 1. Families are encouraged to complete inquiries as soon as possible to ensure they are processed before the end of the month.

Jean M. Fisher, administrator of the Division of Youth Safety & Permanency, said the landscape of foster care adoption has changed. In a letter to community partners, Fisher noted that advances in technology and social media have increased risks for youth featured in public profiles.

“The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is in a position to innovate practices for child-specific recruitment while demonstrating fiscal responsibility,” Fisher said. The department has already adjusted how it manages cases by having permanency workers coordinate earlier with family services staff.

The state also added a Family Find team to help identify previously unknown relatives or connections for children in care. These changes aim to achieve timely placement for children who cannot return to their homes. During the transition, the state will use the AdoptUSKids website to ensure recruitment efforts for waiting children continue.

Internal Youth Safety & Permanency team members will begin providing recruitment services on Oct. 1. The Department of Health & Welfare will also develop an updated website for children and families while the current platform remains unavailable.

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David Pace

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Salmon community celebrated a ribbon cutting for a new Salmon Two Rivers K-8 public school Wednesday, marking the completion of a $28 million project years in the making.

Gov. Brad Little attended the ceremony along with local lawmakers and school officials.

After 20 years and 13 prior attempts to pass a school bond, voters approved a $20 million bond to fund the school in May 2024.

Salmon is the only school district in the state to support a school bond since 2024.

“They tried to pass the bond in 13 times. But what you heard today were all the people that were part of it. They went out and solicited support from all the businesses,” Gov. Little said. “R&M Steel, it’s an enormous gift that they’ve given to this school in the steel for the structure, the superstructure.”

The gap to reach the total cost was filled after a massive community fundraising effort – combined with additional state funds from House Bill 338 and House Bill 521 – totaling $8 million to bring the project to completion.

The district provides education for 600 students, with up to 425 spots available at the new school, said Salmon School District 91 Superintendent Jill Patton.

“Thank you, thank you for supporting us. Thank you for the time and effort everybody put in to make this happen,” Patton said. “And thank you for the ongoing commitment, because every single time [the patrons] pay their taxes, they are showing support for our schools. We appreciate that.”

The new building features 30 classrooms and a beautiful gymnasium and playground area.

The new school comes after years of discussion over aging school facilities in Salmon and across Idaho.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – An Arizona woman was injured when her car rolled on US 20 near the Idaho National Laboratory site on Tuesday morning.

Idaho State Police said the 67-year-old woman was driving west in a 2025 Toyota Camry. Troopers said she lost control of the Camry, went into the eastbound lane, off the right shoulder, and rolled.

The crash occurred at 9:22 a.m. at milepost 278 on US 20 in Bingham County.

The woman was wearing a seatbelt and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The accident remains under investigation.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Community Food Basket announced that their Executive Director, Ariel Jackson, will be stepping away from her role August 21st.

She has been the Executive Director for over 6 years and has been a part of the organization for nearly 9 years. She is now relocating to Boise.

“We are deeply grateful for Ariel’s leadership, creativity, and the heart she brought to this organization,” said Callie Hatch, Board Chair of the Community Food Basket. “The foundation she helped build will continue to serve this community well.”

The Community Food Basket Board of Directors confirmed that a transition is already underway to find their next Executive Director.

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Par Kermani

HEISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Crews are making progress on the Big Rock Fire near Heise, with containment reaching 22% Wednesday morning.

The fire remains at 2,199 acres with 278 personnel assigned to the incident.

Fire officials said the Big Rock Fire continues to stay within its existing perimeter, with crews achieving partial containment along the northern flank above Cress Creek. Overall fire activity has also decreased.

Crews are continuing to reinforce and widen fire lines north of Kelly Canyon and on state endowment lands to the north. Firefighters are also working to secure South Snake River Road and Heise Road while moving farther uphill to remove hazardous trees and extinguish hot spots.

Although active fire behavior has decreased, officials said heat and smoldering material remain throughout the burned area, with some juniper trees occasionally torching.

One helicopter is assigned to the fire Wednesday afternoon to assist with bucket drops.

Crews are also inspecting the Cress Creek Trail to remove hazards and determine what repairs may be needed.

Firefighters thanked the community for its continued support and understanding as crews work to secure more of the fire’s perimeter Wednesday.

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