Category: kifi-local-news

David Pace

SALMON, Idaho (KIFI) – One lucky fourth-grader welcomed the National Christmas Tree to Salmon Wednesday, reading her award-winning essay to a cheering crowd.

Grace Benson won a statewide contest to accompany the tree to Washington, D.C. She will serve as the Tree Lighting Helper at a special ceremony on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol during the first week in December.

This year’s tree, a 76-foot-tall Englemann spruce, was harvested from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests.

“Congratulations to Grace on being selected to represent Idaho in our nation’s capital,” said U.S. Senator Mike Crapo, (R)-Idaho in a release. “Her essay highlights the importance of Idaho’s forests, clean water and the connection Idahoans share with our state’s natural resources. This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree is a special opportunity to share Idaho’s natural beauty with the nation, and Grace will play an important role in that celebration.”

Grace wrote about “Why healthy forests and clean water in Idaho are important.”

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, (R)-Idaho also congratulated the fourth-grader.

“Your deep love of Idaho’s forests, water, and resources is a testament to the important role public lands play in our way of life,” Risch said. “I look forward to joining you and the tree selected from Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Washington, D.C. later this year.”

National Christmas Tree ‘Whistlestop Tour’

The public is invited to see the tree Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

The tree’s final stop in Idaho, will be at the Idaho Falls Public Library’s “From the Forest to the Falls” event.

The tree will visit nine other states on its journey to Washington D.C.

The National Christmas Tree arrives in Salmon on Wednesday.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Next Top Host competition by Ryan Seacrest is starting to wrap up voting and three Eastern Idahoans are competing to give local voices a national podium.

The winner will earn a six-episode podcast series, offering them a platform to share what is most important to them and their community.

Among the contestants is Pocatello resident Mike Erickson, who wants to spotlight his love for Idaho and the stories behind its growing population.

“I want to really kind of focus on the eastern side of the state because there’s equally as much great stuff happening over here, especially in our little hamlet of Pocatello,” Erickson explained.

Erickson moved to Idaho years ago and his love for the state has only grown. He hopes to give Eastern Idaho and its people the recognition they deserve.

Meet the Other Two Contestants | Eastern Idaho Next Top Host Contest

“As domestic migration increases, particularly in Idaho, it’s important to understand why people are doing that.” Erickson said. “There’s always so much more that goes into a person’s decision. It’s really fascinating. It’s really just about the human experience and the shared values that we have when we move and make homes together.”

The competition will have a top five cut-off, where only the top five contestants in their groups move on to the next round. Next Thursday, the top one in every group moves on to the quarter finals, then the semi finals, and final round. The competition will conclude around mid-December when a new Top Host will be selected.

Go and support our local voices!

Top Host Voting Link for Mike Erickson

Top Host Voting Link for Jason Jaynes

Top Host Voting Link for Melissa Schrade

You get one free vote every 24 hours, and every vote donates to a Children’s Hospital.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– A public debate on the use of automated license plate readers, commonly known as Flock cameras, is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, at the Westbank Convention Center in Idaho Falls.

Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse, Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson and Brian McKellar of DeFlock Idaho and Stand Up For Idaho will share their perspectives on Flock camera use in Idaho Falls.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho Falls Police Department have supported Flock cameras in the area in the past.

RELATED: Safety v. Surveillance: Idaho Falls Police Chief responds to concerns about Flock cameras

Both agencies claim that Flock cameras are a useful tool used to help solve crimes, and are no different than an officer taking down information with a pen and paper.

Opposers of Flock cameras or members of DeFlock Idaho raise concerns about privacy and public safety.

RELATED: Flock cameras spark debate over public safety and privacy in Southeast Idaho

Doors will open at 6 p.m. and begin at 6:30 p.m. The event is open to the public and admission is free.

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Seth Ratliff

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) — Butte County School District administration is reassuring parents after a toy gun caused brief anxiety during lunch on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

In a letter sent to families, district officials explained that a student brought a small, plastic action-figure gun to school and showed it to classmates. Nearby students jokingly yelled, “He’s got a gun!” which may have caused concern among the other students.

“We want to make families aware that this incident occurred and is being handled by administration, and there is no danger or threat to the students or the school,” the district stated in the letter.

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News Team

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — One of the surviving roommates of the University of Idaho murder victims is petitioning the court, asking a judge to redact her face from public police interviews and body-camera footage, following harassment that has forced her to move 9 times, according to court documents.

Dylan Mortensen filed the affidavit ahead of a planned public release of sealed records from the case against Bryan Kohberger, who pleaded guilty in the November 2022 deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin at their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. Mortensen served as a key eyewitness and prosecution witness during the proceedings.

“Since November 2022, my life has changed in ways I never could have imagined,” states Mortensen in the affidavit. “Along with losing four of my friends and experiencing something incredibly traumatic, I have spent nearly four years dealing with public attention, harassment, threats, and constant speculation about my involvement in what happened.”

Court documents reveal that Mortensen and her family faced ongoing intrusion from reporters and self-appointed investigators following the incident. Mortensen herself has been the focus of numerous unfounded conspiracy theories due to the publicity surrounding the case and her account as an eyewitness.

“People who have never met me have formed opinions about my character, questioned my actions, and accused me of things I had absolutely nothing to do with,” states Mortensen. “I understand that I cannot control what people choose to believe or say about me, but the amount of attention and hostility I have received has affected nearly every aspect of my everyday life. It has changed how I interact with people, where I feel comfortable going, and how much personal information I feel safe sharing.”

Mortensen added that to maintain basic safety, she has had to rely on aliases in both her personal life and workplace.

DylanMortensenAffidavitDownload

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Bryson Cook

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police (ISP) is opening up a new, nearly $17 million facility for District 6.

The new facility is located at 1155 Foote Drive and includes about 24,000 square feet of workspace, along with a brand-new weight room, a training room equipped with mats, and an indoor firearms simulator.

This new facility will put the troopers and detectives under one roof – creating efficiency and improving communication.

“The detectives are having to drive, or we meet somewhere,” says ISP Director Colonel Bill Gardiner. “So the efficiencies that are gained by putting everybody in one building you can’t even calculate them.”

These new ISP facilities took over 20 years of planning and building to finally finish.

The center will serve 26 troopers and eight detectives in one single building.

The first ISP facility was built in 2003 in Jerome. This facility in Idaho Falls is the last one to be built statewide.

“I like to say they saved the best for last,” Gardiner said.

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David Pace

IDAHO (KIFI) – A strong majority of Idahoans voted to adopt English as Idaho’s official language. 

447,189 Idahoans (63.2%) voted in favor of House Joint Resolution 6 (HJR 6), while 260,848 (36.8%) voted against it.

The passage of HJR 6 enshrines English as Idaho’s official language in the state Constitution.

The amendment provides that “except as required by federal law, English shall be used in all public proceedings, public documents, public instruction, and any other public acts of any public institution in the state of Idaho.”

A similar statute had already passed in 2007, but was not placed in Idaho’s Constitution.

The 2026 measure had sparked debate because it is more vaguely worded than the previous statute.

Opponents argue it will be a legal question if those exemptions still exist with the wording of the amendment.

However, in a recent interview with Local News 8, Idaho State University Government Relations Specialist Ryan Sargent told Local News 8 that supporters argue the amendment would allow for federal exemptions.

“Proponents of it are very clear that it won’t affect foreign language classes or anything like that, leaving exemptions for when federal law requires things to be offered in other languages,” Sargent said.

The state constitutional amendment required a simple majority to pass.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Republicans retained complete control of both the House and Senate across Bonneville County’s legislative districts on Election Night, with all GOP incumbents successfully defending their seats.

In a tightly contested race for District 33 Seat A, Republican incumbent Rep. Barbara Ehardt defeated Democratic challenger Chance Marshall by just 584 votes, securing re-election with 51.9% of the vote (7,955 votes).

In District 33 Seat B, Republican Rep. Marco Erickson won re-election against Democrat Todd DeVries by nearly 2,000 votes, finishing with 55.6% to DeVries’ 44.4%.

Elsewhere across the region, Republican State Sens. Dave Lent, Kevin Cook, and Mark Harris kept their Senate seats, while GOP incumbents across Districts 32 and 35 also held off challengers.

The local victories took place as candidates and supporters gathered at the Bonneville County GOP watch party, where attendees monitored local returns alongside national results showing Democrats taking control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Ehardt pointed to national economic conditions as a driving factor for voters locally and across the country.

“Despite all of these fantastic things reflecting on Idaho—which I believe reflects on the job that we’ve been doing—we’re still at the mercy of what’s happening nationally,” Ehardt said. “You just can’t get away from it. We can’t control, for example, the price of gas. But again, we’re all going to have to weather what’s happening nationally.”

Rep. Erickson echoed those sentiments, highlighting how inflation and rising household expenses impacted voter sentiment even as state-level metrics remain strong.

“When you have a downturn in the economy, when housing, food, shipping, and everyday expenses are high, everything is really difficult for people to purchase right now,” Erickson said. “They’re struggling, and that’s how they vote: with their pocketbooks. But in Idaho, our economy is doing super well. We’re doing great, and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Despite coming up short locally, area Democratic candidates found reason for optimism in national returns, pointing to gains in states like Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas as evidence of shifting political trends.

Marshall expressed confidence that Idaho could eventually follow suit.

“I think Idaho is maybe a little bit behind the curve nationally, but we’re seeing success in places like Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina,” Marshall said. “I don’t think Idaho is too far behind. Within the next two or three election cycles, I could see Idaho shifting that way, depending on how districts are aligned.”

Local Democratic candidate Jan Brown attributed national Democratic gains to a public reaction against federal policies.

“There’s a cruelty to President Trump’s policies that I think is where this backlash is coming from,” Brown said. “Idahoans can feel good for the rest of the country is not buying into a cruel and mean approach to immigration or to deal with people who are different from us. That’s where the Democrats, I think, are really shining, frankly.”

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Democrats secured a total sweep in District 29, capturing the Senate seat and flipping both House seats, according to unofficial election results.

In District 29 Seat A, Democrat Mary Shea defeated Republican incumbent Dustin Manwaring, flipping the seat blue in the third contest between the two candidates. Shea won with 10,009 votes (56.37%) to Manwaring’s 7,748 votes (43.63%).

In District 29 Seat B, former Democratic Representative Nate Roberts earned 9,897 votes (55.83%) to defeat Republican Jennifer Miles, who received 7,830 votes (44.17%). The outcome marks a reversal of the 2024 election when Tanya Burgoyne unseated Roberts. Burgoyne lost the Republican primary in May to Miles by 40 votes.

Meanwhile, incumbent Democratic State Senator James D. Ruchti retained his Senate seat, earning 10,439 votes (58.82%) over Republican challenger John Crowder’s 7,308 votes (41.18%).

Reflecting on the local and national economic mood as Bannock County precincts reported on Tuesday night, Ruchti pointed to rising costs as a key concern for voters.

“Idaho voters, like many in the nation, just feel like their government officials, their elected officials, aren’t listening to them,” said Ruchti. “They’re seeing that in the fact that their lives are more expensive, whether it’s, you know, groceries or a tank of gas, whatever it is, it is really expensive to live life, and that’s frustrating to people.”

What makes the sweep particularly interesting is the sheer scale fo the rebound compared to two years ago. In 2024, Pocatello’s District 29 took a turn to the right as Republican incumbent Dustin Manwaring beat Shea by 2,304 votes (12,214 to 9,910), while Democrat Nate Roberts lost his Seat B post to Republican challenger Tanya Burgoyne by 1,139 votes (11,498 to 10,359). 

Fast forward to this election, and the script reversed entirely. Shea flipped Seat A by surging to a 2,261-vote victory over Manwaring. Meanwhile, Roberts reclaimed a seat in the House by securing a 2,067-vote margin over Republican contender Jennifer Miles.

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Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho’s congressional delegation will remain unchanged, with both U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson winning re-election.

In Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, Rep. Russ Fulcher secured a fifth term in office, earning 65% of the vote. Democratic challenger Kaylee Peterson received 29%. Fulcher won by a margin of 236,432 votes to Peterson’s 104,633.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Rep. Mike Simpson won re-election to a 15th term in the US House. Simpson received 52% of the vote, while Democratic challenger Ellie Gilbreath garnered 40%. Simpson has represented Idaho in Congress since taking office in January 1999.

While Republicans maintained their hold on Idaho’s two congressional seats, both races showed stronger Democratic performances than in recent election cycles, particularly in the 2nd District, where Rep. Mike Simpson won re-election by a significantly smaller margin than the district’s recent Republican presidential vote.

Simpson’s margin was notably narrower than what Idaho Republicans are used to. Simpson won by about 11 percentage points, while Russ Fulcher won by more than 35 points. That’s roughly 10 points more Democratic than the 2024 vote, while the 2nd District shifted about 16 points toward Democrats, but the Republicans still held both seats comfortably.

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