Category: kifi-local-news

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – With three weeks to go until the May 19 primary election, voters heard directly from candidates running for Legislature in Legislative District 32 Tuesday at Compass Academy.

The debate, organized in part by the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber, featured face-to-face discussion of issues including housing affordability, education funding, medical marijuana, and water rights in Idaho.

Legislative District 32 Seat B incumbent Erin Bingham and candidate Brian McKellar disagreed over whether Medicaid expansion should be maintained or repealed.Brian McKellar: “They talked about cutting Medicaid expansion, which I know is a tough thing to swallow here, but it would have saved us $150 million. It would have made all the school budgets, it would have made the protection budgets, it would have made the transportation budgets whole, but our legislat[ors] couldn’t get around it. So what happened? We made cuts to every other service.”

Erin Bingham: “My opponent wants to cut Medicaid expansion. However, they have the votes to cut Medicaid expansion, and they still didn’t cut it. And why is that? Because it doesn’t save money. So Medicaid expansion was created for the working poor. The state pays 10 percent of that cost, and the federal government pays the remaining 90 percent.”

In the race for Seat A, incumbent Stephanie Mickelsen and candidate Kelly Golden contrasted on immigration.

Stephanie Mickelsen: “When they start disparaging the farmers and the dairy farmers in this state, and calling them slave owners, I’m going to stand up and to say something because that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Every employer that has been in business for any time at all knows that they have to fill out and keep I-9s and make sure that the people that are working for them are legal.”

Kelly Golden: “If it were up to me, I would love to see Idaho with 100% legal, vetted workforce by 2030. Now, that doesn’t mean no immigrant labor. That means legal, vetted labor. Because of the variety of industry that we have in Idaho, we’re positioned in our country to be able to help figure this out to lead the way, to not fall behind and let the feds figure it out.”

We’ll have more coverage of the Bonneville County Coroner’s race from Tuesday’s debate later this week.

A second debate with candidates from Legislative Districts 33 and 35 will be held on Thursday at 6 PM at Compass Academy.

Legislative District 32 candidates debate Tuesday at Compass Academy.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — April 28 marks National Parvo Awareness Day, and Eastern Idaho veterinarians are sounding the alarm: 90% of all Canine Parvovirus cases are fatal without proper treatment.

Canine Parvovirus (CPV) is a highly contagious disease that is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their feces. It damages the lining of a dog’s intestines, which makes it hard to absorb nutrients and allows bacteria to enter the bloodstream. This can quickly lead to severe dehydration, infection, and shock.

Common Symptoms

Severe, often bloody diarrhea

Vomiting

Loss of appetite

Lethargy (extreme tiredness)

Fever or low body temperature

Rapid weight loss and dehydration

Symptoms usually appear 3–7 days after exposure and can worsen quickly.

“Parvovirus is, a virus that hijacks very quickly replicating cells,” Veterinarian Adam Peterson, of Skyline Animal Hospital, stated. “the easiest place to find those are in puppies. And the most common is within the gut lining of puppies.”

So the dogs with the most risk of catching the virus are puppies. However, unvaccinated dogs can carry and spread the disease to at risk puppies.

There’s no direct cure for the virus itself. Treatment focuses on supportive care, often at a veterinary hospital:

IV fluids to combat dehydration

Medications to control vomiting and diarrhea

Antibiotics to prevent secondary infections

Early treatment greatly improves survival chances.

“So treating for parvo versus vaccinating for parvo or like two totally different things,” Peterson said. “It’s like, it’s like paying to get your oil changed on time or having your engine blow out because you did.”

The best protection is vaccination. Puppies receive a series of shots starting around 6–8 weeks and Adult dogs will need follow up shots, at your vet’s discretion. Keep your pet safe and healthy by getting them vaccinated and taking them to their vet.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– As cash continues to circulate alongside digital payments, counterfeit bills are still slipping into everyday transactions. Unfortunately, the “funny money” often goes unnoticed until it’s too late, which one Idaho Falls retiree says cost him hundreds of dollars in a Facebook Marketplace sale.

Judd Ritter is retired and relies on Social Security checks to get by. He sells items on Facebook Marketplace for extra money. When he sold a cell phone for $415, every bill he received from the buyer was fake.

“He seemed like a nice young man. But he really wasn’t. That’s really too bad. But he had used counterfeit money on me and took the phone. And so I’m out of the phone, and I took the money,” Ritter said.

The incident was beyond heartbreaking for Ritter.

“You know, being retired, anytime you lose any kind of money, it hurts somewhere. I was going to use that money to do some bill paying and stuff, so now I don’t have it, we’ll just make do with what we have,” Ritter said.  

Sargent Bryan Lovell from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says he’s seen instances of counterfeit exchanges countless times and the best way to avoid these situations is to be aware and alert, starting with before the exchange.

“I think in terms of safety, if you need to go to the courthouse parking lot or a public area or the Ammon field office, or the police station, those are things that take away any risk that you might have,” Lovell said.

According to the U.S. Secret Service, modern fake bills are becoming more sophisticated, thanks to advances in printing technology. While large-scale counterfeiting operations are less common than they once were, smaller, localized cases continue to pop up across the country.

Here’s what you need to know to detect counterfeit money:

Texture: You should be able to feel the texture of the ink on the bill.

Compare the bill with another of the same year

Look carefully at the printing quality

Look for colored fibers in the paper: All U.S. bills have tiny red and blue fibers embedded in the paper

Examine the serial numbers: Fake bills may have serial numbers that are not evenly spaced or that are not perfectly aligned in a row.

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Kevin Richert

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 28, 2026

By: Kevin Richert and Ryan Suppe

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho students are likely to pay more for college this fall — when the sticker price for higher education goes up by as much as $425 per year.

The State Board of Education Tuesday unanimously passed a series of tuition and fee hikes for Idaho’s four-year schools.

The increases will range from 4.4% to 4.7%, the largest hikes in three years. Tuition and fees increased across the board by 3.5% this year, and 3% the previous year.

Here’s the bottom line — full-time tuition and fees for in-state undergrads.

College or university
2025-26 cost
2026-27 cost
Net increase
Percentage

Boise State University
$9,364
$9,789
$425
4.5%

Idaho State University
$8,914
$9,339
$425
4.7%

University of Idaho
$9,400
$9,825
$425
4.5%

Lewis-Clark State College
$7,876
$8,226
$350
4.4%

For full-time out-of-state students, undergraduate tuition and fees will range from $29,477 at Boise State to $23,938 at LC State.

For in-state graduate students, next year’s tuition and fees will range from $11,796 at the U of I to $11,117 at LC State. Costs will go up by at least 4.7% at each four-year school — except for Idaho State, which is freezing graduate costs, in an attempt to stay in line with its peer institutions.

The impacts — and debate — on campus

All told, the tuition and fees will generate close to $17.6 million across the higher education system.

Boise State will collect by far the largest share of the money, some $8.3 million. Almost $2 million will go toward financial aid and fraud detection systems, and a “degree tracker” system aimed at student retention and graduation.

“The proposed tuition and fee increase is also necessary to mitigate the negative impacts of eliminating faculty and staff positions (and) reducing academic and student support programs during a period of enrollment growth,” Boise State said in a written presentation to the State Board. The increase will also address “an urgent need to hire faculty” in engineering and health sciences, two high-demand programs that are at capacity.

The University of Idaho says it will use some of its $4.3 million in tuition and fees to stand up its counseling and mental health center, “a top concern and priority for student leadership.”

Reactions from student leaders have been mixed.

In a March 30 statement on the proposed fee increases, U of I student body president Seyi Arogundade called the counseling and mental health center “a critical resource for student wellbeing and success.” In a statement on behalf of student government, LC State student body president Rayne Martinez said the increases are “minimal and will ultimately serve to benefit the students.”

Boise State’s student government instead passed a resolution opposing all “significant” tuition increases — a statement that didn’t directly address next year’s price hike.

State Board of Education president Kurt Liebich at an August 20 board meeting in Boise. (Kaeden Lincoln/Idaho EdNews)

That left State Board President Kurt Liebich to ask whether the 4.5% increase had crossed that tipping point. Interim CFO Stacy Pearson said Boise State trimmed back its initial request for a 6.5% increase, after an on-campus public hearing in March.

“We definitely heard their message,” she said.

The political backdrop

Tuesday’s State Board votes came after a trying legislative session for higher ed, which rendered the tuition increases all but inevitable.

The four-year schools shouldered a disproportionate share of the budget cuts imposed by Gov. Brad Little and the Legislature, since K-12 was largely spared from spending reductions. Higher ed took a $14.6 million cut for the current budget year, which ends June 30. For next year, the cuts will reach $26 million — including reductions that are built into higher ed’s ongoing budget base.

State Board of Education Executive Director Jennifer White fields a question during a Jan. 20, 2026 Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee hearing. (Kevin Richert/Idaho EdNews)

In a memo to board members Friday, Executive Director Jennifer White noted the need to sustain programs and support systems that adequately serve Idaho students. But she also noted that “even modest tuition increases matter” could discourage students from enrolling in college.

“Tuition cannot serve as the primary long-term solution for the financial pressures facing our institutions,” White wrote.

How we got here — and where we go from here

After a three-year tuition freeze imposed shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, and two years of smaller cost increases, budget pressures have “accumulated” at the U of I, CFO Brian Foisy said Tuesday. This fall’s increases will address inflation and rising salary and benefit costs.

“We are not asking students to pay for inefficiency,” he said.

The tuition and fee increase should bring in $4.1 million for U of I, essentially balancing the books next year.

Elsewhere in the higher ed system, the added tuition and fees will have mixed impacts. LC State’s increases should provide about a $900,000 buffer. Boise State will still have to erase a $5.2 million shortfall, using one-time money and finding spending cuts.

Idaho State’s $4.1 million will provide the framework for a balanced budget — but only after university officials find additional spending cuts.

“We have done and will continue to do the hard work,” said Jennifer Steele, Idaho State’s vice president for finance and university planning.

State Board approves federal application to consolidate 3rd-grade tests

Also Tuesday, the State Board approved a pair of federal waiver proposals from state superintendent Debbie Critchfield. 

One would allow third-graders to take just one standardized reading and literacy test — the Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI). Currently, third-graders take the IRI and the English language arts (ELA) portion of the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT).

Last year, Critchfield proposed eliminating the requirement that third-graders take both assessments after the U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, urged state education leaders to seek waivers for federal mandates.

Superintendent Debbie Critchfield spends time with students in Boise elementary Whitney. Students were working on AI and technology.

State Board members unanimously voted Tuesday to approve Idaho’s application to waive the ELA portion of the ISAT for third-graders, who would still have to take the math portion. If the federal government approves the waiver, the testing changes would take effect ahead of the 2027-28 school year. 

“We overtest the children, and this is the right step for us to move forward,” said board member Peter Koehler. 

But the State Board’s Accountability Oversight Committee (AOC) noted some concerns about the change. The subcommittee includes two State Board members along with representatives from the Idaho Department of Education and a handful of school districts, among others. 

After reviewing the waiver in January, the AOC expressed support for a single third-grade assessment. But the panel noted concerns about “the potential for lower quality data with a less rigorous test” and about “the lack of test items covering writing” in the IRI. 

“The IRI is focused on assessing foundational reading skills,” Alison Henken, policy director for the State Board, said Tuesday. “The ISAT English language arts has a much broader coverage of our third grade content standards.”

Board member Shawn Keough said the panel’s concerns “are being worked through and will continue to be worked through as this process moves forward.”

The other waiver approved Tuesday would make Idaho an “Education Flexibility (Ed-Flex) program partner state.” 

The Ed-Flex program gives state education agencies the authority to waive federal requirements on school districts particular Title I, II and IV requirements. According to the Idaho Department of Education’s application, Critchfield is asking for authority to waive a few specific requirements: 

The requirement that school districts and charter schools not carry over more than 15% of allocated funds except once every three years. 

The requirement that districts spend 20% of funds from the Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities and Safe and Healthy Students programs.

The 15% spending cap on the Effective Use of Technology program. 

“It would allow our state to make those waivers available without having to go one by one to the federal government,” Critchfield said Tuesday. 

State Board sets new IDLA course fees

Lastly Tuesday, the State Board set new course fees for the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA), aligning the fees with a law enacted earlier this month. 

In addition to cutting the online course platform’s state funding in half, House Bill 940 set a $40 cap for IDLA courses that meet state graduation requirements along with a $100 baseline for courses that aren’t required for graduation. These fees apply to public school districts and charter schools that deliver in-person learning. 

Virtual-only schools now have to pay the full course fee — $445 — according to the new law. Private- and home-school students also must pay the full fee, although a separate bill passed this year allowed recipients of the Parental Choice Tax Credit to claim IDLA as a reimbursable expense. 

The State Board unanimously approved the new fees.

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Kevin Richert

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on April 27, 2026

By: Kevin Richert

POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State University will pay $160,000 in damages in a racial discrimination case.

A Bannock County jury Thursday ruled in favor of Chanica Sintima, a Black student pursuing a doctoral degree in pharmacy. Sintima said she was wrongfully removed from a clinical rotation at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls in the fall of 2023.

As a result, Idaho State gave Sintima a failing grade midway through the semester, and expelled her early in 2024. During the trial, Sintima said Idaho State applied its attendance and tardiness policies inconsistently, treating Sintima more severely than a white classmate, the Idaho State Journal reported Friday.

“We do not have to prove that Ms. Sintima’s midpoint grade was influenced by the color of her skin,” Sintima’s attorney, J. Grady Hepworth of Boise, told the jury, according to the Journal. “We just have to prove that Ms. Sintima had a reasonable concern that she might be being treated differently because of the color of her skin.”

“Idaho State University has established policies and processes in place to ensure students have a safe and respectful learning environment, and ISU’s employees work diligently to create a supportive educational experience for all students,” the university said in a  statement to the Journal. “While we do not agree with the conclusion that retaliation occurred, we respect the judicial system and look forward to moving beyond this issue.”

Sintima had originally claimed $3.4 million in damages. The bulk of the $160,000 will go toward vocational rehabilitation and retraining and lost earnings, the Journal reported; she will receive no award for pain and suffering or lost future earnings.

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Seth Ratliff

EASTERN IDAHO (KIFI) — Calling all caped crusaders and pop culture enthusiasts: this Saturday, May 2nd, marks the 24th annual Free Comic Book Day, and several locations across Eastern Idaho are suiting up for the action.

For over two decades, comic shops around the world have opened their doors to welcome fans old and new, offering a wide selection of special edition comics at no cost. The tradition began in 2002—the same weekend Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man swung into theaters—and has since grown into a massive community “thank you” to fans.

This year, fans can swipe an issue of titles like Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Dungeon Crawler Carl. For more information on Free Comic Book Day and a full list of available titles, click HERE.

Pocatello: Marshall Public Library & Captain Bengal’s

In the Gate City, the Marshall Public Library is once again teaming up with Captain Bengal’s Comic Cove to offer a number of this year’s titles. The library credits Bob Benson, the owner of the local comic book store, for providing the comics for the giveaway.

The event is open to all ages. Giveaways will begin at 10 a.m. when the library opens and continue while supplies last. Along with the giveaway, the library’s Exploration Center will host comic-themed craft projects and a community Spider-Man puzzle.

Captain Bengal’s will also be participating in the event directly at their storefront. Doors at the shop, located at 348 N 3rd Ave, will open at 12:00 PM, giving fans another chance to swipe one of the special titles and browse the local collection.

Rexburg: Firefly Books and Comics Joins the Fray

Further north, Rexburg’s Firefly Books and Comics, which opened last November, is participating in its very first Free Comic Book Day. For fans in America’s Family Community, this means finally having a local “home base” for the festivities.

In a Facebook post, the store owners expressed their excitement to join in the fun!

“Our team is sorting and organizing everything now so the day runs as smoothly as possible,” states the post. “We’ve even added extra display tables to make browsing easier and to showcase the huge variety of titles available.”

Everyone who visits the Rexburg location can select up to five free items from the special selection, with a limit of one copy per title per person. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. at 29 College Ave.

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Fox13

Originally Published: 28 APR 26 15:19 ET

By Caroleina Hassett

Click here for updates on this story

    SALT LAKE CITY (KSTU) — Brian White and his family are from Idaho but have been long-time Vegas Golden Knights fans. They recently found out they’d be getting a new addition.

“Jenna and I found out this last fall that we were pregnant again,” White said. “We found out that our baby had an ARID1B genetic mutation, which often leads to a Coffin-Siris Syndrome diagnosis.”

It can often target the function of major organs and create severe feeding difficulties.

“We ended up getting to a place where they said they think she’s got brain damage, and she’s not going to have quality of life,” White said.

They were recommended treatment at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake. Baby Kaida was born on March 31 at the University of Utah Hospital and has been in the NICU ever since.

“She was not able to wean off oxygen successfully for quite a while, and so we thought our biggest nightmare, sorry, was happening,” White said while getting choked up. “I just kept telling my wife, like, ‘It’ll work out, right? Like, we’ll figure it out.’ And I just kept telling her, ‘We’re going to let Kaida show us who she is.’”

And Kaida showed everyone who she is: a fighter.

“Through a series of — I don’t know how to say it, other than miracles, she stopped having tremors. We were able to wean off oxygen,” White said. “She’s proving everybody wrong.”

White and his family have been away from home for about a month, spending hours in the NICU and staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

“The Ronald McDonald House knew that we were Vegas fans and knew that it was the playoffs. We actually had never been to a game, and so they were kind enough to get us tickets through a grandparents fund,” White said.

Despite them being in a sea of Mammoth fans, they felt included, which White said speaks to how supportive the hockey community is in Utah.

“I had a lot of people who reached out, and they were like, ‘Listen, hockey family is family. Like, of course, we root for different teams, right? But we’re all family,’” White said. “It took a really trying time, and it just gave us a reprieve that was really needed.”

In a few weeks, they’ll be able to take Kaida home to Idaho.

“The past couple months have been really hard because there is a lot of unknowns, and it’s really hard to wrap your head around the fact that you just, there is no yes or no answer, or maybe even, but it’s really cool,” said big sister Charlie Bradshaw.

However, Utah will always have a special place in their heart.

“The biggest piece of me is at the NICU, and so right now, the Ronald McDonald House feels more like home to me because we’re here with her,” White said.

And if anyone has spare tickets for Monday night’s game, White said you know where to find him.

“If somebody needs a kidney you know I’ll sell one,” White joked. “We would love to go to the game tomorrow. It was such a great experience.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Fox13

Originally Published: 28 APR 26 15:13 ET

By Julia Sandor

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    WEST BOUNTIFUL, Utah (KSTU) — For over two hours Monday, the Davis County Bomb Squad removed explosives from a home in a West Bountiful neighborhood, throwing neighbors into a situation they’ve never had to deal with before.

“We’ve had lights flashing all weekend… and we weren’t sure what was going on yet,” said neighbor Lauren Paskett.

“I’ve been here for 15 years, this is a first for me in the city,” added West Bountiful Police Chief Brandon Erekson. “I’ve had other bomb incidents previously, but since my time here, it’s a first.”

On Saturday, while investigating another call, officers found decades-old explosive material, including dynamite, at a home near 1400 North 1100 West, leading to the arrest of 80-year-old Dwayne Hughes.

Over the next few days, police secured the area as the Davis County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad evaluated the explosives. At around 10 a.m. Monday, anyone living within 2,000 feet of the home was evacuated as the disposal process began.

“So I jumped in the car because I’m thinking, ‘What in the heck is going on?’, and I went across the bridge, and I saw about seven cars behind me, and I thought, something is up,” explained West Bountiful resident Joanne Parker.

When neighbors learned the reason behind the evacuation order, they were concerned.

“I talked to some neighbors, and they were a bit worried, and they live just down the street,” said Paskett. “The only thing we were worried about is there are three gas lines running through here. One is directly through our yard.

“If things went sideways, it could’ve been a lot worse.”

Bomb technicians successfully removed all explosives from the home.

Several viewers reached out to FOX 13 News, telling us the property has constantly been an issue in the neighborhood.

West Bountiful City Administrator Duane Huffman shared that the city has had long-standing issues with the property owners, even filing lawsuits against Hughes, although there haven’t been recent complaints.

Others said they’ve had nothing but kind interactions with Hughes and those who live at the house.

“We’ve never had any problems. He’s a friendly, friendly guy,” Paskett said of Hughes.

Neighbors were able to get back into their homes Monday afternoon, but the shock of the situation will stay with some of them.

“We just never know,” Parker said, “we just don’t know.”

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. 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™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Danielle Mullenix

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A traveling piece of American heritage made its way to eastern Idaho this Tuesday, giving people in Rexburg the chance to leave their mark on a major milestone ahead of America’s 250th birthday.

Today, the Madison Library District hosts a special appearance of a traveling replica of the Declaration of Independence, and people lined up to add their signatures to the document before it becomes a permanent display at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise.

The event is a part of the “America 250 in Idaho” initiative, a statewide celebration leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The project has set an ambitious goal to collect 250,000 signatures from Idahoans across all 44 counties, serving as a symbol of unity and state pride.

Beyond the ink and parchment, organizers are focusing on the “spirit of the revolution” through a statewide service challenge. Idahoans are being encouraged to help reach a collective goal of 250,000 acts of kindness before the national anniversary.

While the replica is set to move on to its next destination, the mission is far from over. For more information, or to take part in the Idaho acts of kindness, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Ammon is preparing to be “Freezing for a Reason” to raise some cold, hard cash for a good cause. Registration is officially closing this Friday for the community’s annual polar plunge, with all proceeds from this year’s event benefiting the Shannon Wilker Foundation and local cancer patients.

The foundation was established to honor the memory of Shannon Wilker, a local woman who passed away from breast cancer in July 2011. According to the foundation’s mission, they focus on providing “immediate assistance to breast cancer patients and their families.”

This May, the City of Ammon is jumping in—literally—to help. On Saturday, May 16, city crews will fill the McCowin Park Pool with fresh water and top it off with 10,000 lbs of ice before inviting the community to take the plunge.

The action kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 16th. Registration is $15, with all proceeds benefiting the Shannon Wilker Foundation.

For more information or to register, click HERE.

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