Category: kifi-local-news

Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Following the local elections, Pocatello is guaranteed a new mayor by December 2, 2025. Mark Dahlquist had 40% of the votes, and Greg Cates had 30%. Both mayoral candidates believed that Blad’s shortcomings were due to a time for change.

Left: Mark Dahlquist, Right: Greg Cates

“I think the city was just ready for change. You know, they made one thing clear last night in the election is that they’re they’re ready for new leadership. And they just want things to change in our city. And I do believe that over the last 16 years our city has been going backwards instead of forwards,” Cates said.

“What I was hearing really quite often was that people were ready for a change, that they were yearning for a new direction, a new perspective, a new style of leadership,” Dahlquist said.

Both candidates recognized their challenges within their campaign, including some positives.

“There’s 58,000 people in this city. And just getting everyone to know who you are. Come Election Day is very difficult. So getting out there, and speaking to the community, keeping up with the, with the forums and, and the meetings, making sure that people knew who I was as best I could during that time, what my goals are for the city and the types of things I can do to make our place a bit better place to live for everybody,” Cates said.

“While actually running a campaign, it’s been a very positive experience. I honestly haven’t seen a lot of challenges. I’ve just really learned going through this exercise since late August, that there are a lot of really great people out there in Pocatello. So many people with community spirit and want to see our community grow and go forward. Just the amount of support and enthusiasm that’s out there and people that care that span are really pleasant surprises,” Dahlquist said.

The mayoral candidates both expressed their gratitude towards Mayor Blad for his 16 years of service.

“I would really like to thank Mayor Blad because running the city and doing that for 16 years, it’s a tough job. It’s a challenging job. Mayor Blad has always been a great cheerleader for the city, and he loves the city. events and ribbon cuttings and things like that and events that make Pocatello better… It’s a tough job and I wish him well and whatever his new endeavor is,” Dahlquist said.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Get ready to light up the night! Registration for the Third Annual UTV Holiday Light Parade and Stones KIA Firework Show kicks off this Thursday, November 6th, at 8:00 a.m.

Join the Festive Procession

Hosted by the City of Idaho Falls and the Idaho Falls Rotary Club, this beloved tradition invites you to deck out your UTV or side-by-side with your best festive lights. Participants will parade from Freeman Park along the east side of the Idaho Falls Riverwalk, cross to the west side near the Pancheri bridge, and finish at Freeman Park.

“It has been exciting to watch this event continue to grow each year,” said Mayor Rebecca Casper. “The UTV Holiday Light Parade is such a fun and unique way to celebrate the holidays together. And I deeply appreciate how this event benefits the Idaho Falls Community Food Basket at the time of year when their shelves become depleted. It’s this kind of community spirit that makes Idaho Falls so special. I encourage everyone to incorporate this night of lights, laughter and giving into their holiday celebrations.”

This year’s celebration will also include two spectacular 10-minute fireworks shows, presented by Stones KIA, lighting up the sky over the Snake River. Spectators can find great viewing spots along the entire parade route. Expect a magical evening filled with twinkling lights, festive music, and a grand fireworks finale!

How to Register

Registration is strictly limited to the first 400 participants. A $10 registration fee is required, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Community Food Basket of Idaho Falls.

Visit the UTV Holiday Light Parade Page to register and find full details on lineup times, decoration requirements, and safety guidelines.

Once all 400 spots are filled, no further registrations can be accepted.

The parade takes place Friday, Dec. 19, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information or to register, click HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.

CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 05 NOV 25 14:11 ET

By KIVI Staff

Click here for updates on this story

OWYHEE COUNTY, Idaho (KIVI) — In October, a wildlife technician with Idaho Fish & Game was sent into the Owyhees to initiate a “cause of death investigation” regarding a male mule deer that was collared with a GPS tracker.

When the technician arrived at the deceased buck’s location, she encountered an adult mountain lion and two juveniles near the carcass of the deer.

In what is considered best practice for such encounters, the official did not run away or turn her back from the confrontation but instead shouted at the lion while slowly backing away.

Typically, mountain lions scatter when humans approach such kills, and encounters like this are increasingly rare in the wild.

However, according to an Idaho Fish & Game news release, “mountain lion predation is a leading cause of death in both mule deer and California bighorn sheep.”

Idaho Fish & Game recommends taking the following actions if you encounter a mountain lion in the wild:

Do not run Do not turn your back on the lion, crouch down, or try to hide Remain facing the lion and slowly back away. Leave the animal an escape route Try to appear as large as possible Shout, wave your arms, and throw objects if the lion does not back off

The official’s investigation was just a small part of a larger initiative by Fish & Game to better understand the various factors that contribute to buck survival throughout Idaho.

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

Click here to follow the original article.

News Release

The following is a news release from Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s Office:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Attorney General Raúl Labrador secured a settlement that voids predatory contracts MV Realty tricked Idaho homeowners into signing. The company lured families with small cash payments, then trapped them in 40-year agreements with hidden penalties—even binding their children to the contract.

MV Realty offered homeowners a few hundred dollars in exchange for using them as their realtor if they ever sold their home. But when homeowners agreed, a notary arrived at their door with a multi-page contract in confusing legal language. The notary knew nothing about the terms and pressured homeowners to sign immediately without time to review.

The contracts contained terms MV Realty deliberately hid because no reasonable family would agree to them. Homeowners were locked into 40-year obligations that transferred to their children when they died. Breaking the contract cost 3% of the home’s value. If MV Realty failed to sell the home in six months, homeowners had only 60 days to sell with another realtor at the same price or higher—or face the penalty.

MV Realty then recorded these contracts on homeowners’ property titles at county recorders’ offices, blocking them from refinancing or selling with another realtor without paying the penalty first.

“Idaho families were tricked into signing contracts that locked them into 40-year obligations with massive penalties if they tried to use a different realtor,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Our lawsuit forced them to void every one of these predatory agreements and leave Idaho for five years, ensuring our families can sell their homes freely without fear of scams designed to exploit them.”

The settlement declares all Idaho “Homeowner Benefit Agreements” null and void as if they never existed. MV Realty must contact every Idaho county recorder to remove the contracts from homeowners’ property records. The company and its main officers—Anthony Mitchell, David Manchester, and Amanda Zachman—are banned from residential real estate work in Idaho for five years.

Idaho homeowners affected by this scam no longer face penalties or obligations. Their property titles are being cleared, and they are free to sell or refinance their homes without restriction.

Idahoans who have consumer concerns or need to report scams can visit ReportScamsIdaho.com and file a complaint on the Idaho Attorney General’s website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho Falls native and his teenage son died last month after being attacked by a swarm of Asian giant hornets—often dubbed ‘murder hornets’—while zip-lining in Laos, in Southeast Asia.

Daniel Owen, 47, and his 15-year-old son, Cooper, died following the incident on October 15th, as reported by USA Today. The father and son were stung by hundreds of the aggressive insects during their vacation before being rushed to the Phakan Arocavet Clinic for emergency care.

Phanomsay Phakan, a doctor at the clinic, described the scene to the U.K. newspaper The Times: “Their whole bodies were covered in red spots. It was very, very painful. A lot of stings, more than 100, over the whole body. I thought already that it’s a very dangerous situation because I had never seen it as bad as that.”

Daniel Owen worked as the Director of QSI International School of Haiphong in Northern Vietnam. His career spanned nearly two decades in international education, across multiple schools.

QSI International School of Haiphong shared their grief on social media: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Owen, Director of QSI International School of Haiphong, and his son Cooper, due to a tragic accident. Dan dedicated 18 years to QSI, serving in five different schools and touching countless lives with his warmth, leadership, and unwavering commitment to education. He was deeply loved across our community and will be profoundly missed. Our sincere condolences go out to the Owen family and all who knew and loved them.”

Local News 8 is attempting to reach out to Owen’s extended family in the area and will update this story accordingly.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye has officially released the names of two men who disappeared while fishing on Henry’s Lake. The victims have been identified as James Morey, 55, of Carey, and Stephen Marx, 64, of Idaho Falls.

Coroner Dye confirmed the cause of death for both men was drowning.

The two men were reported missing after failing to return home Saturday evening, November 1st. A search began around midnight Saturday. Their bodies were recovered from Henry’s Lake around 5:30 p.m. two days later, on November 3rd.

RELATED: Bodies of missing fishermen found in Henry’s Lake

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — The Island Park community is mourning the unexpected passing of Fire Chief Nathanael Brandemihl, who died at his home on Saturday, November 1st, at the age of 45.

Born in Bozeman, MT, on April 20th, 1980, Brandemihl moved to Island Park at the age of three, growing up to become a pillar of the local community. He went on to attend Ashton Elementary and North Fremont High School.

According to his online obituary by Baxter Funeral Home, Chief Brandemihl dedicated 24 years to public service, joining the Island Park Fire Department in 2001 at age 21. He rose through the ranks, proudly serving as Fire Chief since 2016.

His passing has left a deep impact on the greater Island Park community. The North Fremont Fire District posted to Facebook: “Our hearts are with the Island Park Fire Department and the family of Fire Chief Nathanael Brandemihl during this incredibly difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and support as you navigate this loss. The fire service community stands with you in strength, compassion, and remembrance.”

He is survived by his wife, Brianne Brandemihl; his sons, Dashael and Titan Brandemihl; stepsons Lane and Masson Klink; his mother, Korre Thompson; and his father, Dale Brandemihl, along with many siblings, in-laws, and extended family.

Visitation will be held on November 13, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home in Ashton. A Celebration of Life will take place on November 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the TroutHunter in Island Park.

Funeral services are as follows: Visitation for Chief Brandemihl will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Baxter Funeral Home in Ashton. Following this, a Celebration of Life service will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. at the TroutHunter in Island Park.

Click here to follow the original article.

Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, (Idaho) — East Idaho cities are no strangers to run-off elections, and there is a reason for that.

With the prospect of run-offs in our current local elections, Local News 8 spoke to Secretary of State Phil McGrane. He says out of just a handful of cities that require run-off elections, four are in the eastern part of the Gem State.

Not every city in Idaho requires a run-off for close elections, but it is up to each city to decide if a runoff should be part of its election process.

“The city has to actually adopt an ordinance saying they’re going to have a runoff. So the majority of cities do not have runoff provisions, but those cities that have elected to do it, they can elect to do it for mayor, and they can elect to do it for city council.”

Idaho Falls is one city that requires a run-off not only for mayoral, but also for close city council elections.

“The majority of cities in Idaho [are] whoever gets the most votes wins. There are less towns that have a runoff provision. The runoff is not the norm. It’s only in these few exceptions where a runoff will take place,” says Idaho’s Secretary of State, Phil McGrane.

Population can play a role in a city’s decision to have run-offs as part of its election protocol.

“The big cities are the ones that have the runoff provisions, which make sense to you because you’re going to get in the bigger population areas, you’re likely to get more candidates, more interest compared to some of the smaller communities. So this very much fits.”

As far as how the run-offs for close elections work, Secretary McGrane says, “So the top two candidates that finish tonight in any of these cities will advance to a runoff election where it’s head-to-head by the top two. That way, those people who voted for candidate three, four or five, however many candidates are, have a chance to recast the ballot for one of the other candidates.”

McGrane went on to add, “I will note there’s plenty of studies on runoffs in overwhelmingly the majority of the time, whoever the winner was on election night will typically be the runoff winner by a pretty healthy majority. But still, it gives voters that opportunity to cast their ballot and have a voice, where when you have a lot of different choices, you never know.

December 2nd will be the voting date for any run-offs in the state.

Click here to follow the original article.

Phillip Willis

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The election in Madison County has it’s results. A bond that would have been used to cover the cost of construction for a new Rexburg police station facility failed to reach the supermajority 66.67% of approval needed to pass, only gaining 62.6% approval.

Rexburg Police Chief Rhodes had previously informed Local News 8 that the current station is severely outdated and plagued with numerous facility issues.

Mayor Jerry Merrill acknowledged the strong community support for the station but noted the hurdle the supermajority requirement presented.

“We had 63% almost that voted in favor of it, which tells you that’s a majority. But unfortunately, we needed that supermajority,” said Merrill. “So we’ve just got to, educate folks and, see what our options are and go from here.”

Merrill says the failure means city officials must now evaluate alternative plans for addressing the outdated infrastructure.

In the race for Rexburg City Council, Colin Erickson stood apart from seven other candidates, securing a seat with 21% of the votes.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: NOV 5th, 2:20 PM

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Pocatello is headed for a high-stakes mayoral runoff on December 2, 2025, guaranteeing that the city will have a new leader in 2026. The final tally from Bannock County confirmed that incumbent Mayor Brian Blad failed to secure a majority, or even a spot in the top two, effectively ending his current term.

Mark Dahlquist led the field, cruising to a first-place finish with 5,135 votes, representing a strong 40.21% of the total. He will face Greg Cates, who secured the second spot with 3,938 votes (30.83%).

Mayor Blad Concedes, Congratulates Runoff Candidates

Mayor Blad finished a close third, earning approximately 1,830 votes, falling short of the runoff. In a gracious concession shared on Facebook, the outgoing mayor offered his best wishes to the candidates moving forward.

“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve Pocatello. I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Mark Dahlquist and Greg Cates as they move forward in the mayoral runoff. Running for office is no small task, and I know firsthand the time, energy, and heart it takes to campaign for the city you love. I wish them both the very best as they continue to share their visions for Pocatello’s future.”

He added, “To everyone who supported me… thank you from the bottom of my heart… Serving as your mayor has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Pocatello will always be home… No matter who leads next, I have faith in this community’s strength, resilience, and kindness.”

City Council Race

In the race for the Pocatello City Council, incumbent Dakota Bates will retain his seat. Meanwhile, Stacy Satterfield and Ann Swanson took a simple majority, securing city council seats 5 and 6, respectively.

Click here to follow the original article.