Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) – Late afternoon on Wednesday, May 6, a police standoff caused a road closure off Interstate 86. Several school buses and cars were backed up at the intersection of Truckersville Road and Curlew Road, where police had cones blocking the road.

Upon arrival at the scene, Local News 8 reported multiple police cars, sheriffs and first responders present, all with their lights flashing. Several policemen were directing traffic around the scene using Curlew Road.

The Power County Sheriff’s Office was contacted regarding a 33 year old female who was reportedly intoxicated and had a firearm in her possession. Officers immediately responded and tried to contact the individual.

At the scene, one round was fired from the female’s firearm, aimed at the ground. No one was injured or in the surrounding areas when the shot was fired.

As a precaution, the Power County Sheriff’s Office put everyone in the neighborhood on a shelter in place.

The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, Fort Hall Police, BLM Rangers, Fort Hall Fire and Power County EMS arrived on scene soon after. Family of the individual was contacted and arrived to help deescalate the situation.

Officials removed the firearm from the scene and the female was transported by family members for further care in mental health services.

At 4:20 p.m., the road was reopened and the cones were removed by policemen. Pocatello police said the situation was resolved and the area was cleared.

No shots were fired by law enforcement and no one was injured. The Power County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any further information at this time.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – City leaders in Pocatello may have a new home following tomorrow’s city council meeting. Council members will vote on whether to allow a feasibility study for the city’s first federal courthouse downtown to become the new city hall.

Officials at Pocatello’s Planning and Development told us this idea has been in the works for years, considering the current City Hall building off 7th Avenue was originally built for a grocery store. The old courthouse is located off Arthur Street in Historic Old Town Pocatello.

The central location of the potential building places it just across from Lookout Point and the Marshall Public Library in the heart of downtown Pocatello.

The building was nicknamed “The Palace” and, according to court documents, opened its doors in 1916. The Palace now holds empty offices, to potentially become city official offices if the proposal passes tomorrow.

If the City Council approves the decision, research will officially begin to discuss the move from the current city hall.

This is a developing story and Local News 8 will provide updates as the City Council makes their decision.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A beloved Saturday tradition has become the center of an online firestorm as the Idaho Falls Farmers Market grapples with a leadership crisis, online vitriol, and a debate over community safety.

The market’s manager has officially resigned following public outcry regarding a 2019 plea agreement, where he pleaded guilty to felony injury to a child. Since that time, he was hired by the market in 2021 as an assistant manager and promoted to the lead role just one year later, all while being on supervised probation.

On the “Life in Idaho Falls” Facebook group, the controversy over the manager’s position has sparked hundreds of comments, ranging from calls for transparency to violent threats directed at current board members. Local News 8 confirmed that the Board of Directors met Wednesday night to determine the future of the market and the organization’s leadership.

Board Response and Safety Concerns

While the Farmers Market bylaws allow board members to resign at any time, those remaining are facing an intense community reaction and vitriol. Local News 8 spoke with one board member off-camera, who described a sense of “sadness and fear” for their family and the vendor community.

“There are no winners in this situation,” the board member stated. “The market will hurt because of this. The vendors will be hurt because of this. The whole community will be hurt because of this. The market will be less than what it was. Hopefully, we can build it back. Hopefully, the community sees that over the next few days and weeks, we have responded to their concerns and will then turn a tone of anger into a position of support.”

The board member emphasized a desire to move toward “healing rather than dwelling on the past,” urging the public to support the local vendors who rely on the market for their livelihoods.

“A violation of public trust”: Vendors Withdraw in Protest

In the face of the online backlash, some vendors have already begun severing ties with the organization. Modern Hippie, a local vendor, posted publicly that they are withdrawing from the market.

“Putting the manager in a very public role who organized events that specifically targeted and attracted families and young children is wrong. The entire Idaho Falls Farmer’s Market leadership team violated the public trust, which has included threatening vendors and their livelihoods,” states the post.

“We support and love the vendors who have chosen to stay at Market, but we also support the idea that the leadership of the Idaho Falls Farmers Market needs to be held accountable and needs to change.”

What Happens Now?

As the largest event of its kind in the region, the Idaho Falls Farmers Market hosts around 200 vendors and attracts upwards of 8,000 guests every Saturday.

Despite the controversy, the Idaho Falls Farmers Market announced Monday that it will continue to operate, opening up at 9 AM Saturday.

Editorial Note: Our Commitment to Accuracy

Local News 8 is aware of the intense digital conversation surrounding this story. While rumors moved quickly across social media over the past several days, our newsroom chose to delay reporting until tonight to ensure a higher standard of journalistic integrity.

Our mission is to provide accurate context to stories rather than fueling rumors or hearsay. We spent the last several days closely monitoring the social media controversy surrounding the Idaho Falls Farmers Market, reaching out directly to stakeholders and verifying legal standings to ensure accuracy and provide a complete picture of the situation.

In addition, Local News 8 has made the editorial decision not to name the former manager at this time. Our focus remains on the actions of the board, the safety of the community, and the future of this local event rather than providing a platform for further speculation and violent rhetoric.

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Dylan Carder

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI)- The city of Rexburg may soon be cracking down on the way pets are distributed within the city. Ordinance 1336 would ban the distribution of pets in public places especially dogs and cats. It is similar to a law recently passed in Idaho Falls.

The goal is to prevent breeders from showing up at public places such as parks and business parking lots to sell or hand out animals to those who can’t or won’t keep them.

“There’s been a number of instances where they’re giving them to kids, without parents present, and then the kids take them home. And then they end up over at the animal shelter.” explained Rexburg City Attorney Spencer Rammell.

“Then number two,” continued Rammell, “an increase of college aged, individuals who apparently can’t resist in the, in the parking lot. Then they recognize that their housing does not allow them to have them. And so there’s been a huge influx of animals ending up, back at the animal shelter.”

There are also safeguards in the ordinance that will still allow for the legal sale of pets from homes. Breeders would be allowed to sell animals directly from where they were bred and raised.

The motion went through a first reading at Wednesday night’s city council meeting. If it passes, the change would go into effect June 3rd, 2026.

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Maile Sipraseuth

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Several thousand southeast Idaho residents could lose in-network access to Portneuf Medical Center, along with their affiliates —Pocatello Health Services, PHS Ambulatory Services, and Portneuf Ambulatory Surgical Center — this June as contract negotiations with Regence BlueShield of Idaho fail to produce an agreement.

The dispute centers on a disagreement over costs. Portneuf Medical Center is operated by Ardent Health, a Tennessee-based company that is leading negotiations on the hospital’s behalf.

Ryan Pharis, Vice President of Contracting for Regence BlueShield of Idaho, says that the insurer is actively negotiating to reach an agreement by the deadline. However, the insurance provider claims Ardent is seeking unreasonable price hikes.

“We’re meeting regularly on a weekly basis with the teams over there to try to get a deal done,” Pharis said. “We are really working to provide access to affordable care for the people of Pocatello. (But) when Ardent Health is asking for rate increases twice the cost of inflation, despite its financials showing that they’re making double-digit margins, that makes it really tough.”

On the other side, the Portneuf Medical Center issued a statement saying that the disagreement extends beyond standard contract negotiations. The hospital stated that Regence “currently reimburses Portneuf substantially less than other major insurers in our market and less than it pays many other Idaho health systems.”

What This Means for Patients

If an agreement is not reached, patients with Regence BlueShield insurance could face substantially higher out-of-pocket costs for most non-emergency services. This could lead some patients to either pay more to continue receiving care from their current providers or seek treatment elsewhere within the insurer’s network.

Pharis assured that there are options in place to protect members if Portneuf moves out of network.

“Members will still have access to the facilities and providers at an out-of-network top share,” Pharis explained. “Emergent and urgent services will be covered. Members are protected from balanced billing by the federal “No Surprises Act.” Continuity of care for members that meet continuity of care criteria will be covered for an additional 90 days, and Regence will work diligently with members to find alternative care options.”

Portneuf Medical Center serves as a primary source of care. If the facility moves out of network, patients with Regence BlueShield insurance could face significantly higher out-of-pocket costs for most non-emergency services. That shift could force some patients to either pay more to continue care with their current providers or seek treatment elsewhere within the insurer’s network.

Should Portneuf Medical Center and its affiliates leave the Regence BlueShield of Idaho network, in-network alternatives for most Regence plans include:

Bingham Memorial Hospital 

Caribou Medical Center 

Mountain View Hospital 

Idaho Falls Community Hospital 

Grove Creek Medical Center

Bingham Memorial Clinics 

MVH PIC (Physicians Immediate Care) 

Brandon A West Clinic 

Health West 

Family Practice Group

Local News 8 reached out to both Portneuf Medical Center and Ardent Health for a statement, but as of publishing, has not received a response.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — Power has been successfully restored to residents in Island Park and West Yellowstone following a large-scale outage on Wednesday afternoon.

Fall River Electric confirmed that service was restored to all affected customers shortly after 4:30 p.m.

ORIGINAL:

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (KIFI) — Crews with Fall River Electric are responding to a large-scale power outage in Island Park and West Yellowstone.

The outage started about 2:15 p.m. According to Public Relations Manager Ted Austin, the cause of the outage is related to Fall River’s power supplier, the Bonneville Power Administration.

The utility provider anticipates the outage could last up to 2 hours.

Utility crews are on-site & working with BPA to resolve the outage. For more information or to track the outage, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO (KIFI) — Time is running out if you want to vote absentee in the primary elections. Idaho voters have until Friday, May 8, at 5:00 p.m. to pre-register to vote or request an absentee ballot ahead of the Idaho Primary Election.

Voters who miss Friday’s deadline can still register at the polls on election day, which is Tuesday, May 19th. 

“Primary elections matter,” said Secretary of State Phil McGrane. “The races on the ballot range from Idaho’s Congressional seats and state legislative races down to the hyperlocal precinct committeemen who represent your neighborhood. In Idaho, we make it easy to register, vote, and preview your own ballot before Election Day. I encourage every eligible voter to make a plan and vote.”

Eligible Idahoans may also register to vote in person at any early voting location in their county or on Election Day. However, all eligible voters must present an accepted form of photo ID and proof of residence. For most voters, a current Idaho driver’s license will fulfill both requirements.

The May 19 primary election ballot includes races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State House of Representatives, County Commissioner, Clerk, Treasurer, Assessor, Coroner, Judges, Precinct Committeemen, and other local races and measures.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO (KIFI) — If you live outside city limits and plan to clear yard debris this weekend, you’ll need more than just a match. Starting May 10th, Idaho residents living outside city limits will be required to obtain a new burn permit for most outdoor burning activities.

According to the Idaho Department of Lands, the new requirement is part of the annual closed burning season, which runs through Oct. 20, aimed at reducing wildfires across the state.

“Obtaining a burn permit lets fire managers know where permitted burning is occurring so they can respond more quickly, potentially reducing the liability of the burner,” stated the IDL in a news release. “Permits also help prevent false runs to fires that are reported to dispatch, saving firefighting resources for instances when they truly are needed. And it is the law.”

The permit system applies to materials such as yard waste, brush, and crop residue. Recreational campfires are exempt. These burn permits are free and remain valid for 10 days.

The burn permits are free and valid for 10 days. Anyone conducting outdoor burning must have their permit in their possession. To register for a burn permit, visit the self service web site, HERE.

states the IDL. “No matter where you want to burn and what you plan to burn, our system will either issue you the burn permit you need on the spot or tell you which entity to contact for alternate or additional permits.”

The Idaho Department of Lands also urges individuals to check for local restrictions before lighting any fire, especially as warmer and drier weather conditions begin to develop in the region. For more information, click HERE.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho announced Wednesday that they have submitted more than 150,000 signatures in an effort to qualify The Idaho Medical Cannabis Act for the November 2026 ballot.

The Path to the Ballot

According to Idaho law, the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act must meet Idaho’s ballot qualification requirements, which include obtaining signatures from at least 6% of registered voters in a minimum of 18 of the state’s 35 legislative districts.

“After a rigorous signature gathering effort that stretched to every corner of Idaho, the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho is proud to report that more than 150,000 signatures across all 44 counties of Idaho were submitted by the May 1 deadline in the effort to qualify the Idaho Medical Cannabis Act for the November 2026 ballot,” said Amanda Watson, communications lead for the Natural Medicine Alliance of Idaho.

County clerks now have until June 30 to verify signatures before forwarding certified totals to the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, which will determine whether the initiative qualifies for the ballot.

If certified, Idaho voters would decide whether to legalize medical cannabis in the state during the November 2026 election.

Legislative Pushback

Despite the high signature count, the initiative faces stiff resistance from the Statehouse. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 127, urging residents to reject efforts to bring the initiative to the ballot.

In the resolution, lawmakers cited concerns about potential increases in cartel activity, health risks, and expanded access to marijuana beyond medical use.

“The Legislature has sent a strong and unifying message that it understands the danger that marijuana legalization is to Idaho families,” Sen. Scott Grow said in a statement included in the resolution.

Idaho remains one of the few states in the nation without a legal medical cannabis program. Should the Secretary of State certify the signatures this summer, the final decision will rest with Idaho voters on November 3, 2026.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — In an update posted shortly after 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the Blackfoot Police Department confirmed that 76-year-old Tom Loefler has been located.

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Blackfoot Police Department is searching for a missing endangered adult, 76-year-old Tom Loefler.

Loefler has dementia and was last seen leaving his home along Lilac St. in Blackfoot. Police say he left the house this morning without his phone, carrying a blue backpack, and is believed to be in danger.

If you have any information on his whereabouts, contact the Blackfoot Police Department Dispatch Center at 208-785-1234.

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