Category: kifi-local-news

News Release

The following is a press release from the Idaho Falls Police Department:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — July 4, 2025, at 2:42 a.m., Idaho Falls Police Officers responded to the Fred Meyer parking lot at 2250 N Yellowstone Highway after a person called 911, reporting that a man had been stabbed. Officers arrived, located the man, and immediately started providing aid. Idaho Falls Fire EMS arrived soon after and took over medical care, transporting the victim to a local hospital.

Officers learned that the victim had been at the Shady Rest Campground, located at 2200 N Yellowstone Highway. The victim had been involved in an altercation with another man, later identified as Mariano Rodriguez, during which Rodriguez used a knife to stab the victim. The victim was driven to the Fred Meyer parking lot by another person who called 911.

When officers arrived at the Shady Rest Campground, Rodriguez had left the area. Through investigation, detectives determined that he was at a residence in the 1100 block of Mojave Street.

After obtaining a search warrant, the IFPD SWAT Team went to the address shortly before 8 p.m. yesterday. SWAT officers made announcements stating who they were and directing Rodriguez to exit the residence. Rodriguez came out and was taken into custody without incident. Rodriguez was taken to a local hospital for a medical clearance due to injuries sustained during the altercation with the victim.

Later in the evening, Mariano Rodriguez,  a 30-year-old resident of Idaho Falls, was booked into the Bonneville County Jail for Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Instrument.  

In interviews with investigators, the victim, Rodriguez, and witnesses each gave officers slightly different accounts of what occurred, and the investigation is ongoing. This does appear to be an isolated incident.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the Portneuf Healthtrust Amphitheatre:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Port (Portneuf Healthtrust Amphitheatre) is ramping up the summer concert season as Country Music star Billy Currington makes his way to Pocatello this Saturday, July 12.

Billy Currington has spent nearly two decades topping the country charts, parlaying his rich, emotion-laden tenor and unerring song sense into some of the format’s most memorable hits. Across multiple Platinum-certified albums, the Georgia native has tallied 12 No. 1 singles, including 4X Platinum hit “People Are Crazy,” 4X Platinum “Good Directions,” 4X Platinum “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” plus Double-Platinum “Do I Make You Wanna,” Platinum “We Are Tonight,” and more. Equally skilled at delivering upbeat summertime anthems as well as exploring the complexities of life and love with a poignant ballad, Currington has recently released new songs “Everything Is Changing,” “City Don’t” and “Anchor Man.”

Tickets are available on Etix.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

The following is a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — This afternoon, the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force located the man multiple witnesses saw at the Sawtooth National Forest who was believed to be Travis Decker.  The hiker who is the same height and roughly the same weight as Decker, also has dark features, a beard and tattoos on his arm and calf.  Investigators interviewed the cooperative man and confirmed he was hiking in the Bear Creek area this past weekend.

At this time, law enforcement has stopped searching for Decker at the Sawtooth National Forest and has begun to demobilize their resources.

United States Marshal Brent Bunn is grateful for the public’s assistance with this fugitive investigation.  Marshal Bunn also thanks the many law enforcement agencies who provided critical assistance over the past five days to include the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Nampa Police Department, Caldwell Police Department, Bureau of Land Management, Camas County Sheriff’s Office, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Idaho Department of Correction, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and FBI.

UPDATE:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Monday morning, the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force initiated a joint search operation within the Sawtooth National Forest. The focus of the search is on areas deemed accessible to a person with Decker’s known condition.

Authorities have confirmed receiving multiple public tips regarding Decker’s whereabouts and are actively evaluating each one.

“We are canvassing local residents/campers, and people in the area recreating,” stated Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Eric Toms in a recent media update. Toms further cautioned the public, “Decker has a history of hitchhiking – we strongly encourage everyone not to pick up any hitchhikers. Additionally, we urge the public to refrain from flying drones in the search area, as such activity will inhibit our ability to conduct aerial searches and poses a safety risk to aircrews.”

ORIGINAL:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is urgently seeking the public’s help in locating Travis Decker, a murder suspect who authorities now believe may be hiding in the Sawtooth National Forest.

Decker is wanted in Washington State on three counts of murder and three counts of kidnapping related to the deaths of his three children in May of this year.

On July 5, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service received a tip from a family recreating in the Bear Creek area of the Sawtooth National Forest. The individual sighted matched Decker’s description.

Suspect Description

Witnesses describe the person believed to be Decker as:

Height: 5’8″ – 5’10”

Headwear: Black mesh cap

Earrings: Black gauged earrings

Shirt: Cream-colored t-shirt

Shorts: Black shorts

Hair: Long ponytail, overgrown beard and mustache

Watch: Black Garmin-style watch

Backpack: Black JanSport backpack

Shoes: Converse or Vans low-top shoes

How to Report Information

Anyone with information on Decker is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshal Service Communication Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips HERE.

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News Team

UPDATE:

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has identified 49-year-old Florrita M. Harker of Idaho Falls as the passenger killed in Sunday’s two-vehicle crash along Highway 20 North of Rexburg.

According to a press release, Deputies were called to milepost 336 along Highway 20 they found two vehicles, a Chevrolet Impala and a Ford Explorer, submerged in a pond on the west side of the highway. All occupants of the vehicles had managed to get out except one female passenger, Harker, who remained trapped inside.

Emergency responders and bystanders worked to rescue the woman and began CPR at the scene, but despite their lifesaving efforts, she was pronounced deceased.

The Idaho State Police and Rexburg Police Department assisted at the scene and continue to support theongoing investigation. MCSO expressed their gratitude to the citizens who stopped to assist and those who called 911 immediately after the crash occurred.

UPDATE: The road was reopened around 10 p.m. Sunday night.

No other details have been given.

MADISON COUNTY (KIFI)-A fatal crash is affecting traffic on Highway 20 on Sunday night.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office, along with multiple other agencies, is currently on the scene of a fatal accident at mile marker 337.

Southbound traffic is currently closed and being diverted.

The highway is expected to remain closed for the next several hours as the crash is investigated.

(The following information is from a Madison County facebook post)

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News Team

UPDATE: The following comes from the American Falls Police Department:

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On July 7, 2025, at approximately 12:30 PM, the American Falls Police Department responded to a report of gunshots at 745 Fort Hall Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers were informed that two rounds from a pistol had been discharged in the front yard of the residence, reportedly fired by the homeowner, later identified as Billie Palmer, following a verbal altercation with two individuals. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

Initial attempts to contact Palmer, who remained inside the residence, were unsuccessful. Additional assistance was requested, and personnel from the Idaho State Police, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Power County Sheriff’s Office, and American Falls Police Department responded to the scene to support containment and negotiations.

Despite repeated attempts, Palmer refused to exit the residence, prompting activation of the Southeast Idaho Special Tactics and Response (S.T.A.R.) Team. For public safety, the 700 block of Fort Hall Avenue was closed, and surrounding homes were evacuated.

At approximately 6:03 PM, a tactical extraction team safely took Palmer into custody. He was immediately transported to Portneuf Medical Center for medical evaluation.

Following the arrest, American Falls Police Detectives executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered a firearm believed to have been used in the incident.

Palmer is currently in custody on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The case remains under active investigation, and additional charges may be considered by the Power County Prosecutor’s Office.

The American Falls Police Department extends sincere thanks to the Idaho State Police, Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Power County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello Police Department, Power County EMS, American Falls Fire Department, and the S.T.A.R. Team for their swift and professional response.

No further information will be released at this time.

UPDATE:The suspect has safely been taken into custody, according to the American Falls Police Department.

Residents may return home.

Local News 8 will provide updates if more information is released.

AMERICAN FALLS (KIFI)- An armed man has barricaded himself inside an American Falls home.

The American Falls police facebook page talks about an ‘active incident on the 700 block of Fort Hall.’

If you live in the neighborhood, law enforcement is urging residents to stay indoors.

Local News 8 will continue to investigate this story and will provide updates when possible.

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News Team

UPDATE:

BONNEVILLE COUNTY (KIFI)- A field fire is contained on Panorama Hill east of Iona.

According to Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, a couple of homes were evacuated, but residents have since returned to their homes.

No structures were burned by the fire.

Crews are currently containing hot spots.

The fire is estimated to be about 10 acres.

ORIGINAL:

Local News 8 will continue to provide updates on this story as more information is released.

Local News 8 has reached out to Bonneville County dispatch for more information.

Officials have not determined a potential cause yet.

Local news 8 will provide updates when we receive more information.

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Curtis Jackson

Watch the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration Fireworks above

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Michael Coats

WASHINGTON D.C. (KIFI) – They’ve practiced in parking lots, performed in gymnasiums, and spent months fundraising. Now, they’ll be coming home after performing on a national stage. Right in the heart of Washington, D.C. Hillcrest High School’s marching band just represented their school this Fourth of July. They were carrying the sound of their hometown to the steps of the Capitol.

Idaho Senator James Risch nominated the Hillcrest band to perform in the National Independence Day Parade. For many of the students who made the trip, it was their first time on a plane, their first time seeing the Capitol, and their first time performing for a national audience.

The annual parade takes place every Independence Day, on Constitution Ave along the National Mall.

The students were also taken on a tour of the city for several days, seeing monuments, museums and even laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery.

Screenshot

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Three severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued within minutes of each other in the last hour, as of 4:30 PM July 4, 2025.

One in Cassia County is moving NE towards I-84 with quarter-sized hail. Second in western Power County moving NE towards American Falls and along I-86 with quarter-sized hail. Third in eastern Power County moving towards Bannock County and the greater Pocatello area, also having quarter-sized hail and strong wind gusts.

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News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The family and friends of Jaiden James Snyder, the man who tragically took his own life in Tuesday’s police incident along Curlew Drive, are hosting a car meet and fundraiser in his honor to raise awareness about mental health.

The event, organized by the Highground Empire truck club, will be held on July 9, 2025, at 7 PM near the parking lot of 2404 South 25th East in Idaho Falls.

If you or a loved one is struggling with thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

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