Category: kifi-local-news

Par Kermani

NATRONA COUNTY, Wyo. (KIFI) — A Wyoming judge has struck down a law requiring women to receive an ultrasound before obtaining medication abortion drugs, ruling the requirement violates the Wyoming Constitution.

In a decision issued Friday, Natrona County District Court Judge Thomas T.C. Campbell ruled House Bill 64, known as the Ultrasound Requirement, is unconstitutional. The law required women seeking a medication abortion to undergo an ultrasound at least 48 hours before receiving abortion medication.

The judge also struck down two other abortion-related laws passed by the Wyoming Legislature, including a law requiring abortion clinics to be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers and part of a law restricting protections for off-label prescriptions used to induce abortions.

The lawsuit was brought by abortion providers, physicians and advocacy groups, including Wellspring Health Access in Casper.

In his ruling, Campbell found the state failed to prove the laws were necessary to achieve a compelling government interest, as required under Article 1, Section 38 of the Wyoming Constitution, which guarantees adults the right to make their own health care decisions.

Supporters of House Bill 64 argued the ultrasound requirement would help identify ectopic pregnancies and protect women’s health. However, the court found the state did not provide sufficient evidence showing the law addressed an actual problem or improved patient outcomes.

The ruling comes months after the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down Wyoming’s abortion bans, finding they also violated the state’s constitutional protections for health care decisions.

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Par Kermani

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) — Fire officials are urging residents and visitors to use extra caution after a Red Flag Warning was issued for Teton Valley for Tuesday, June 16.

According to emergency officials, warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds are expected to create critical fire weather conditions across the area.

A Red Flag Warning means conditions are favorable for the rapid growth and spread of wildfires.

Officials are asking the public to do their part to reduce the risk of human-caused fires by avoiding activities that could create sparks or open flames.

Residents are encouraged to properly dispose of cigarettes, avoid parking vehicles in tall dry grass and follow any local fire restrictions that may be in place.

Fire officials say even a small spark can quickly become a fast-moving wildfire under Red Flag conditions.

The warning is in effect Tuesday, June 16.

Anyone who spots smoke or a wildfire is encouraged to report it immediately to local authorities.

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David Pace

UPDATED:IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The body of a missing 20-year-old man was recovered from a canal in Idaho Falls Monday afternoon, according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies identified the victim as Tayson Paul Thomas, who had been reported missing by friends and family last Wednesday after they had not seen him since the early morning hours of June 7.

Emergency personnel were called to the area near 1st Street and Southwest Bonneville Avenue around 1:30 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a body floating in the canal.

Idaho Falls Fire Department personnel, Idaho Falls Police officers and Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies responded and recovered the body near 9th Street and Southwest Bonneville Avenue.

According to investigators, Thomas was last seen near the On The Run Truck Stop on Iona Road and North Holmes Avenue during the early morning hours of June 7. Deputies said Thomas reportedly ran from the area after seeing a police vehicle because he wanted to avoid being arrested on an active warrant.

Friends later located Thomas’s cellphone at a nearby residence along Lewisville Highway.

Over the past week, deputies spoke with family members, friends and coworkers and conducted an extensive search of the area where the cellphone was found but were unable to locate him.

On Monday, a passerby notified police after viewing the body of a man floating in the canal. The west bank of the canal near 9th Street and Linden Drive, next to Linden Park Elementary School, was taped off while emergency crews recovered the body.

Deputies on scene Monday began notifying Thomas’s family. The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office also responded to assist with the investigation.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing. No additional information has been released at this time.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office deputies carry a body bag after retrieving a man’s body from the canal near 9th Street and Lincoln Drive.

A GoFundMe Campaign has been created for Thomas’ girlfriend, who is expecting their first child within seven weeks. To support or donate, use the direct link to the campaign here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to remove video showing the recovery of the deceased individual from the canal.

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Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Gate City Pride is returning to Pocatello this month with new leadership, a new location and a full day of family-friendly activities.

“This celebration is about community, inclusion, connection and supporting the many local businesses, nonprofits, artists and residents who make Southeast Idaho such a vibrant place to live.” the Gate City Pride Board said in a statement.

This year’s event is being organized by a newly formed Board of Directors, marking a new chapter for Gate City Pride in Southeast Idaho.

The annual event is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at Centennial Park and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This marks the first time the celebration will be held in Centennial Park.

According to Gate City Pride the one goal of the event is to connect community members with local nonprofits and organizations that provide services and resources throughout the region.

Gate City Pride is one of several Pride celebrations taking place across eastern Idaho this month. Rexburg Pride is also scheduled for June 20 at Porter Park, while Idaho Falls Pride will host its annual parade and festival June 27 along the Greenbelt.

Visitors are encouraged to park in the gravel lot adjacent to Pocatello Community Charter School and access the event by crossing the bridge into Centennial Park.

Additional information about the event is available at gatecitypride.org.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 15 JUN 26 12:57 ET

By Kennedy Camarena, KSL

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    MOAB, Utah (KSL) — Two people died Sunday in a BASE jumping incident.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said the incident happened in a remote area of Mineral Bottom.

A 50-year-old man, who was not identified, died at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office. The second person who died, a man from Moab, was identified by the sheriff’s office as Andrew Lewis.

Lewis was an experienced tandem BASE jumper who documented his jumps under the name “Sketchy Andy Lewis” on various social media platforms. He owned BASE Jump Moab and had accomplished over 4,000 jumps, according to the Moab Swingers website.

“(Lewis) performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show with Madonna, judged international slackline competitions and travels the globe as a performer and elite athlete,” the website said.

Lewis also co-founded Moab Swingers, a rope swinging company based in Moab, with co-founder and Lewis’ “lifelong friend,” Jimmy Peterson.

“At this time, we just like to release a statement saying that we are so sorry for the family and friends,” Peterson said in a statement. “It was a terrible accident, and I will be in touch at a later time.”

At news of his death, multiple people across the U.S. recounted what it was like to BASE jump with Lewis in the Moab area.

Ruth Bryson of Asheville, North Carolina, and her son took a trip to Moab during Mother’s Day weekend.

“I needed to do some healing from losing my mother in January, and I definitely went straight to Moab just to BASE jump,” Bryson told KSL. She said she was inspired to try after watching Lewis’ BASE jumps online. During the jump and prior, Lewis kept her calm and void of fear, Bryson said.

“We were laughing and cutting up all the way up the mountain,” she said.

Bryson said Lewis was compassionate and kind. She said she felt free and alive during the jump and mentioned that Lewis was the best at what he did. Bryson said she had a goal to BASE jump with him in the future. “He helped heal my heart, and I was hurting,” Bryson said.

William Cragg, of West Virginia, also BASE jumped with his 14-year-old son and Lewis about three weeks ago and said he found inspiration in Lewis’ TikTok BASE jumping videos.

“I started seeing these heart-wrenching stories of these people in Moab jumping off a cliff … Those stories resonated with me,” Cragg told KSL.

Ultimately, Cragg said Lewis inspired him to start an Accelerated Freefall program, as Lewis’ confidence rubbed off on him.

“Like any extraordinary thing worth doing in life, extreme sports are made up of extreme people,” he said. “All of these people share at least one common characteristic: needing to find an outlet. At the end of the day, we are all broken and just trying to put together enough pieces to survive another day. Although sports like BASE jumping have a high amount of fatalities, I promise you these sports have saved many, many more lives than they have ever taken.”

The sheriff’s office also expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the two victims.

“The Grand County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest sympathies to the families, friends and all those affected by this tragic incident,” the sheriff’s office said.

Contributing: Shelby Lofton

The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by KSL’s editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.

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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Seth Ratliff

RICH COUNTY, Utah (KIFI) — A 56-year-old West Valley City man has died after a diving incident at Bear Lake. 

The Rich County Sheriff’s Office says Greg Jonas was diving with a group near Cisco Beach Saturday afternoon, just before 2 PM, when the incident happend. However, details on how Jonas was injured have not been released.

Rich County medical units and Intermountain Flight responded to a 911 call, rushing him by air ambulance to the Logan Regional Hospital, where he later died.

“We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” the office posted on social media.

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Danielle Mullenix

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Drivers in Rexburg should prepare for temporary traffic changes as a major resurfacing project along Main Street – also known as SH-33 Business Spur – begins Monday, June 15.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is starting work to improve and repave Main Street through Rexburg, with crews initially conducting both daytime and nighttime operations next week.

Main Street in Downtown Rexburg, also known as SH-33 Business Spur

During the first phase of construction, crews will replace curbing and manhole covers during the daytime, which will require short-term one-lane closures in active work zones. Streetside parking will also be temporarily eliminated between Second East and Fourth West, where crews are working.

Officials say alternate parking will be available off Main Street, and businesses along the corridor will remain open and accessible throughout construction.

Once utility work is completed, the project will shift exclusively to nighttime operations beginning Monday, June 22. Crews will work from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

From Sunday through Thursday nights, traffic will be shifted to one side of the roadway while crews remove and replace asphalt. ITD says paving will be completed within a single overnight shift to ensure all travel lanes reopen during daytime hours.

Nighttime work zones will move through multiple sections of the highway, beginning from Second East to Pioneer Road and later extending from the U.S. Highway 20 Exit 333 interchange to 12th West.

The interchange itself will not be resurfaced because it was recently reconstructed in 2024.

This portion of the project is expected to be completed by early August.

Locally known as Main Street and Second East, these popular downtown Rexburg roadways make up the SH-33 Business Spur, which is managed by the state. Unlike a traditional business loop, the spur branches north toward Sugar City, where the roadway transitions to county ownership and does not reconnect with U.S. 20.

Motorists are encouraged to slow down in work zones, watch for crews and equipment, and plan ahead for possible delays.

Current traffic conditions and construction updates can be found through the Idaho 511 app or online at 511.idaho.gov.

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Max Gershon

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) — The Fort Hall Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Sunday morning.

According to police, dispatchers received a report of a shooting in the Nagitsy Road area at approximately 2:07 a.m. on June 14. Responding officers arrived and found an adult male deceased.

An adult suspect has been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Fort Hall Police Chief Patrick Teton said there is no known danger to the public at this time.

The Fort Hall Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case as a homicide. Authorities said next of kin notifications have been completed.

No additional information has been released. Officials say updates will be provided as they become available.

The Fort Hall Business Council and Fort Hall Police Department extended their condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho State High School Rodeo Championship Finals took place on Saturday, June 13, with the stands packed at the Bannock County Fairgrounds in Pocatello. With Nationals on the line for Idaho athletes, the top 20 of each competition competed in the short go rounds.

Today’s events included bareback bronc riding, barrel racing, boys and girls cutting, breakaway roping, bull riding, goat tying, pole bending, reined cow horse, rifle shooting, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, trap shooting, and crowning the 2026-27 IHSRA Queen.

The competitions have been fierce for seven days, with the first rodeo cow cutting rounds at the indoor arena in Pocatello on Sunday, June 7. The top four athletes in each competition advance to Nationals in July in Lincoln, Nebraska.

List of Winners

Bareback Riding: Ryder Wallace, Firth, ID

Barrel Racing: Samantha Mai, Albion, ID

Boys Cutting: Wesley Zebarth, Kimberly, ID

Breakaway Roping: Hannah Bingham, Preston, ID

Bull Riding: James Boggus, Ennis, MT

Girls Cutting: Reagan Stice, Middleton, IDGoat Tying: Clara Seiders, Adrian, OR

Pole Bending: Katelyn Evans, Arbon, ID

2026-27 IHSRA Queen: Ashley Lamb, West Haven, UT

Reined Cow Horse: Cooper Skinner, Dingle, ID

Rifle Shooting: Gavin Godfrey, Clarkston, UT

Saddle Bronc: Kash Angell, St. Anthony, ID

Steer Wrestling: Rugar Smith, Holbrook, ID

Team Roping: Jarrett Warner and Cinch Penrod, UT

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News Team

BEAR LAKE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police are preparing for a busy summer season at Bear Lake. Thousands of visitors travel to the vacation destination and surrounding areas every summer.

Idaho State Police said they’re mobilizing additional troops and specialized equipment to help support public safety through the busy season. The increased demand means more ISP officers completing traditional patrols in the area as well as utilizing off-highway vehicles.

ATVs will be deployed to provide access to the shoreline at Bear Lake and other off-road locations not easily reachable by patrol vehicles. Visitors can also expect to see drones deployed during periods of high traffic and activity, during search and rescue efforts, and during public safety incidents.

Troopers are also working closely with the Bear Lake Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Department of Lands and the State Department of Parks and Recreation to respond to emergencies in the area. Visitors can expect the increased presence to continue throughout the summer months.

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