Category: kifi-local-news

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Serengeti Care is collecting donations until September 10th to create care packages for military personnel who are currently overseas. Something as small as a Cookies and Cream Hershey’s bar could help these heroes feel remembered.

Melina Lemons is the branch manager for Serengeti Care, and is one of the organizers behind the event.

What inspired her was her family’s history with the military. While living in Fort Stewart, Georgia, she discovered a love for making care packages for her friends who had been deployed. The experience was so rewarding, not only for her but also for those currently serving overseas.

“It was just like Christmas to them,” Lemons recounted. “Hearing back on how excited they were for the little things that you know, we can go to the gas station, pick out a candy bar or anything like that, and just sending that over to them, especially the personnel that have been overseas for a while. It means so much to them.”

“So getting into this role, I wanted to do it on a bigger scale,” Lemons said. “Just because a lot of people that get deployed maybe can’t receive care packages or some of them don’t even have family back home. And it’s crazy to me the little things they miss. We have actually reached out to some of the people deployed and asked if they have any special requests and Hershey’s cookies and cream was the big one!”

If you wish to donate, they have a list of acceptable items including:

Protein Bars

Beef Sticks

Beef Jerky

Tuna Pouches

Gum

Granola Bars

Snack packs of cookies

Trail mix

Nuts

Fruit snacks

Puzzle books

Puzzles

Games

They will not accept any pork products.

You can drop off donations at 901 Pier View Dr. Suite 202 B, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

The care packages will be assembled at the Veterans Coffee event on September 11th. Anyone is invited to assist with the assembly and grab a cup of coffee.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – Anyone Awake is a local band from Rigby that will be hitting the road in two days for their “I Meant What I Said” tour.

They will be stopping at 17 different locations across the nation over the next 40 days.

“We’ll be gone for 40 days,” Cassius Moore, the band’s vocalist and rhythm guitar player, said. “We won’t have a home or a consistent bed for more than a night or two. And we’re going to go see the world as far as New York, Toronto, Orlando, Texas, Omaha, and that’s just to name a few.”

The band began when a group of BYU-Idaho students discovered their shared passion for music. They started out in 2023 and have since gained over 15,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Now that they are officially off on their first tour, they feel grateful to all of the supportive people surrounding them.

“This is a lame answer,” Seth Chamberlain, the band’s drummer, said. “But we’ve just spent so long on social media, like having people like, ‘we want to see you’ and I’m just so excited to go to all of them and to meet people because, it’s just so cool to finally meet people that you’ve made a difference in their life.”

The support isn’t just from online fans but local Idahoans who are excited to see some of their own taking to the limelight.

“There’s a thing called McMidnight in Rexburg and I was there and my friend stood on one of the tables and was like shouting, ‘this guy is going on tour!’,” Jeff DeSoto, the bands lead guitarist, recounted. “Then everybody was like clapping and getting excited for us. So it’s definitely crazy that just random people that you run into will show support, because it is like we’re doing something that could potentially be pretty monumental for this area in Idaho. I’ve been like really just like shocked at the support in the community.”

Here is a link to their website, if you are interested in purchasing tickets or checking out their latest album.

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Seth Ratliff

LINCOLN COUNTY, Wyo. (KIFI) — A 42-year-old man is in custody facing multiple felony drug and child endangerment charges after a multi-agency early morning raid spanned state lines on Tuesday, uncovering large caches of narcotics across three separate locations in Idaho and Wyoming.

Julio Jaimes Angeles was arrested and booked into the Lincoln County Detention Center following a coordinated sweep executed simultaneously in Etna, Wyoming; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and Victor, Idaho.

The joint operation, led by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and several local and federal partners, executed three search warrants simultaneously in the early morning hours on July 21.

The raid uncovered bulk amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine at each of the targeted sites.

Angeles has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver for both methamphetamine and cocaine, felony possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, and child endangering for permitting a child to remain in a dwelling where methamphetamine is stored.

Investigators note that the investigation remains active, and Angeles could face additional charges in other jurisdictions as evidence continues to be processed.

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News Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order today declaring a statewide state of emergency following historic wildfires and subsequent severe flash flooding across Beaver, Piute, and Sevier counties.

The declaration activates Utah’s Emergency Operations Plan, allowing the state to deploy critical resources, apply for federal hazard mitigation funds, and request interstate emergency assistance if needed. The executive order will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended by the Utah Legislature.

Burn Scars Trigger Dangerous Flash Floods

The order comes amid one of its most destructive fire seasons in recent history, with more than 590 wildfires scorching nearly 380,000 acres across the Beehive State. The massive Cottonwood Fire alone burned over 97,000 acres in Beaver and Piute counties.

While wildland crews have contained many of the fires, the remaining burn scars have left the landscape highly volatile, dramatically increasing the risk of flash flooding. Heavy monsoon rains over recent days triggered severe flash floods and debris flows across southern and central Utah, damaging homes, roads, irrigation systems and drinking water infrastructure while isolating communities and forcing evacuations.

“Wildfires don’t stop impacting communities when the flames are out,” said State Forester Jamie Barnes. “Burn scars can remain highly unstable for years, creating dangerous flooding and debris flows with even relatively small storms.”

Flooding has destroyed portions of State Route 153 in Beaver Canyon, disrupted culinary and agricultural water systems serving Beaver City, Marysvale, Junction and Circleville, and damaged homes and water infrastructure in Sevier County, including the town of Koosharem.

Since April, 18 Utah counties have declared local emergencies related to the compounding crises of wildfire, drought, and flooding.

“Utahns have endured an incredibly difficult wildfire season, and now many of these same communities are facing life-threatening flooding caused by those fires,” said Gov. Cox. “This declaration ensures we can continue providing every available resource to help local communities respond, recover and prepare for the continued flood risks that remain throughout the summer. We are grateful to the firefighters, emergency managers, law enforcement officers, public works crews and countless others working around the clock to keep Utahns safe.”

Tragedy in Wayne County: Fire Captain and Family Lost in Flash Flood

The Long Family: GoFundMe

The Governor also acknowledged the heartbreaking loss of Provo Fire Captain Spencer Long, his wife Katrina, and three of their children, who were tragically swept away by flash flooding in Wayne County last week.

“Our hearts are with everyone grieving this heartbreaking loss,” Gov. Cox said. “It’s a painful reminder that flooding can become deadly in moments, particularly in and below burn scar areas. We urge every Utahn to heed warnings, avoid flooded areas, and never underestimate the power of moving water.”

As of publishing, a GoFundMe created to support the Long’s surviving daughter, Lydia, has raised over $200K. For more information, click HERE.

Looking Ahead: Ongoing Flood Risks

State officials warn that the threat of flash flooding will remain elevated throughout the remainder of the monsoon season.

“Our emergency managers, first responders, and local officials have been working tirelessly to protect lives and restore essential services under extremely challenging conditions,” said Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason. “This declaration strengthens our ability to coordinate resources across all levels of government and ensures affected communities receive the support they need as response efforts continue.”

Residents in flood-prone areas are urged to closely monitor local weather forecasts, strictly heed evacuation orders, and avoid traveling through flooded roadways or drainages.

Editor’s Note: AI tools were utilized in the initial research and structural development of this article. All content is thoroughly reviewed and verified for accuracy by the Local News 8 editorial team.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Gateway Transitional Care Center has been an essential healthcare facility in Pocatello, serving inpatients in rehab for injuries, surgeries, accidents and illnesses. June 22 marked the opening of a double-facility expansion to offer outpatient therapies and vent/trach care for respiratory patients.

The newly remodeled vent/trach unit is the only of its kind in Southeast Idaho, which CEO Gavin Monteath said was essential post-Covid.

“This project had a lot of different phases, it was a private hospital wing and then an Alzheimer’s and dementia unit,” Monteath said. “We had architectural plans for both, it got shifted to a vent/trach unit where we’re able to take patients with mechanical breathing needs, which has been a big need in the community since Covid hit.”

From Boise to Salt Lake City, Gateway is the only facility with state-of-the-art vent and trach equipment for respiratory care. During the ribbon cutting ceremony, Monteath said they even considered turning the bottom floors of the building into a daycare for nurses’ children. After such a long process to make use of the space, the team at Gateway was excited to open it to the community for tours.

“We’ve had failures, we’ve had successes, and now the entire community is behind us so we can open up this unit,” Monteath said. “It means more than a lot of things to a lot of people.”

The facilities are also located on Memorial Drive adjacent to the Idaho State University Campus, providing internship and learning opportunities to students entering the medical field.

Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic at Gateway, July 22

“They get a firsthand look at what it’s like to take care of patients that have a high acuity need and high clinical need,” Monteath said. “The experience they get here at Gateway is far beyond anything they’re going to get anywhere else in the community.”

With the opening of their brand new 10,000-square-foot Outpatient Therapy Clinic, Director of Rehab Gina Marsh said they’ll be able to service not only more community members, but more students in various theraputic fields.

“We have ISU students for occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and now with our trach unit we’ll also have respiratory therapy,” Marsh said. “We’re hoping to invite students to come in to get experience with that as well, and we have our nursing and CNA students.”

ISU students make up a portion of the now over 200-person staff, which Monteath said they’ve been working towards for several months. They are happy to announce they’re fully staffed to provide quality care in the new facilities.

Inpatient Stay Room at Gateway, July 22

Previously, Gateway held inpatients for short periods of time while they were in rehab. Now, community members can come to the brand new therapy offices and physical therapy gym area for an appointment and head home afterwards.

“It’ll operate as a full function outpatient clinic,” Marsh explained. “That’s really exciting because we have all the disciplines with occupational, physical and speech therapy all under one roof.”

These two expansions to the facility have been a long time coming for the management at Gateway. Monteath explained to the community who showed up for the grand opening on July 22 that it took a team of architects, engineers, advisors and nurse management staff to make the project come to life. They now have 102 beds total in the facility.

“People are in the worst situations of their lives when they come to us,” Marsh said. “They’re really struggling because they used to be completely independent just like everybody else, and all the sudden they’re needing help with all of their basic cares. To see that journey of them returning to who they want to be and the lives they want to live is really rewarding.”

Monteath said their goal remains to improve the quality of life of their patients, whether long-term at Gateway or for a return home. Esteemed author and quadraplegic Chad Hymas, known for breaking the world record of miles pushed in a wheelchair, attending this morning’s grand opening and emphasized that lives will be changed in these facilities.

Chad Hymas speaking to the community at Gateway ribbon cutting celebration, July 22

“I hold this place just as sacred as a religious center,” Hymas said. “Because people’s lives, that’s where my life was transformed.”

Hymas continued to say he’s toured other facilities for outpatient therapy and vent/trach care, saying Gateway exceeds expectations for equipment and inpatient stay areas.

Monteath said they’ll begin putting patients in the unit after the first of August.

“I want the people of Pocatello to understand that we love and support them just as much as they love and support us,” Monteath said. “They have faith in us to care for their loved ones and that means more to me and my team than anything else they can say or do.”

Gateway Transitional Care Center Staff at July 22 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

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Maile Sipraseuth

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI)– The 70th Annual Teton County Fair is officially underway, bringing a full week of rides, food, livestock shows and live entertainment to the Jackson community and beyond.

The fairgrounds will feature activities for everyone to enjoy, such as carnival rides, cotton candy, games and exhibits celebrating the area’s agricultural roots.

One controversial yet fan-favorite event is also making a comeback. After a six-year hiatus, pig wrestling has returned to the fair lineup. Pig wrestling is set for Thursday, July 23, at 7 pm. Youth and women are set to participate.

Behind the scenes, organizers spent days preparing the fairgrounds for the annual event. From coordinating vendors and entertainment to setting up exhibits and attractions, they say hosting the fair takes nearly a year of planning and a tremendous community effort.

MaryBeth Hansen, Chair of the Teton County Fair Board, says that getting vendors lined up and set up is one of the hardest things to plan.

“Hardest game of Tetris you ever played in your life,” Hansen said.

Admission to the Teton County Fair is free, though rides, food and vendor purchases require tickets or payment.

Organizers encourage visitors to walk, bike or use public transportation whenever possible, as parking around the fairgrounds is limited.

The fair has plans for a rodeo, showcasing animals and live entertainment. For more information, visit the Teton County Fairgrounds website.

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Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — In honor of America’s 250 anniversary, Idaho State Parks and Recreation is offering a special discount at state park campsites and yurts.

Now through August 31, 2026, campers who make reservations online or by phone can get a 25% discount.

To get the discount, use the discount code A250Camping for campsites or Yurt250 for the Idaho City Yurts at checkout. Enter the code at checkout for the discount to apply.

Idaho Parks and Recreation said they hope the discounts will help family and friends make last memories in Idaho’s great outdoors before summer ends.

Reservations can be made at getoutside.idaho.gov or call 888-922-6743.

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Curtis Jackson

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI)—New numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show Idaho workers are earning more in 2025.

The state’s average hourly wage climbed 4.7% in 2025, ranking Idaho third in the country, behind Kentucky and Montana.

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for all occupations in Idaho rose to $29.41 per hour. That is an increase of $1.31 compared to 2024.

The state’s median wage, which represents the midpoint between the highest and lowest earners, also rose from $22.34 per hour in 2024 to $23.06 in 2025, a gain of 3.2%.

The Coeur d’Alene area saw the largest increase in average wages, up $1.68 an hour, while the Pocatello area recorded the largest jump in median wages, increasing 95 cents an hour.

“One of the strongest indicators of a healthy economy is when Idahoans see bigger paychecks and greater take-home pay,” Idaho Governor Brad Little commented after the new numbers were released. “Rising wages mean more opportunities for families, more confidence for workers, and more prosperity in communities across our state. Idaho’s continued wage growth reflects the strength of our economy and our commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive and workers can earn more,” Governor Little said.

Southwestern Idaho posted the highest average wage in the state at $30.76 an hour, making it the only labor market region to top the $30 mark.

The region also had Idaho’s highest median wage at $23.53 an hour.

The report shows job growth continues across the state as well.

Idaho’s total employment reached 857,440 workers in 2025—an increase of more than 12-thousand jobs, or 1.5%, from the previous year.

As for the occupations employing the most Idahoans, fast-food and counter workers topped the list with more than 25,000 workers statewide.

They were followed by general and operations managers, with nearly 24,900 employees.

You can visit OEWS website for complete employment and wage data on the state.

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Seth Ratliff

SUGAR CITY, Idaho (KIFI) — Drivers using the 7th East at-grade crossing north of Rexburg will soon need to find a new route onto U.S. Highway 20, as crews prepare to permanently shut down the high-risk intersection.

On Wednesday, July 22, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD), in partnership with Madison County, announced the permanent closure of the at-grade crossing at US-20 and 7th East, between Exit 338 (Sugar City/Salem) and Exit 339 (Driggs/Jackson).

The closure will take place on Monday, July 27. Local detours can be found by using US-20 Driggs/ Jackson Exit 339 or Sugar City/ Salem Exit 338. 

The decision follows ongoing discussions between ITD and local leaders. Prompted by a history of serious crashes at the crossing, the agencies chose to accelerate the timeline to close the intersection permanently.

Starting Monday, ITD and Madison County crews will begin installing barricades and advanced warning signs along US-20 and 7th East. Throughout the week, crews will cut away and remove the asphalt from the center median on US-20. Concrete barriers will remain in place throughout the fall while crews construct turnarounds on both sides of 7th East.

ITD notes that US-20 through-traffic will not be affected while the work takes place.

“Safety is always our most important priority, and we feel a responsibility to work to prevent tragedy on the road,” ITD Operations Engineer Jeremie Pettingill said. “We’ll also always make sure access is available for people to get where they need to be.”

The 7th East at-grade crossing closure is part of a broader safety overhaul for the corridor. ITD says plans for the eventual closure of other at-grade intersections along US-20 between Sugar City and Ashton are already underway. ITD says existing crossings on US-20 between Rexburg and Ashton will be replaced by interchanges that include on- and off-ramps that are safer for drivers. These will be built only when construction funding is secured in the future.

For more information on traffic impacts across Idaho, click HERE.

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Danielle Mullenix

Expect today to be the wettest period of the week, with scattered and heavy localized rainfall through Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Storms today will be capable of producing gusty winds up to 45 mph, with local heavy rain creating possible flash flood warnings.

This Wednesday will be noticeably cooler, with high temperatures only peaking into the upper 80s this late afternoon. Monsoonal moisture is streaming northward into Idaho in the early morning hours, meaning that localized rain spots are expected to start as most residents begin their day. We will see a small lull in rain on the radar for the late morning hours, but a resurgence in the afternoon and evening with stronger activity. The Eastern highlands do have potential risk for flash flood warnings as the rain activity picks up into the evening hours.

Thunderstorm and lightning chances are expected to increase in the afternoon and evening, especially in areas predicted to experience heavy rainfall. A flood watch has been issued for the counties and regions marked in green, as these showers and storms can saturate fire-affected areas prone to flooding. This situation will persist through Wednesday night. Remember, if you cannot see the roadway, moving water can be more forceful than you might think. Turn around; don’t drown.

Warmer weather will return by Thursday morning, with temperatures climbing back up into the low 90s. Dry conditions should also become increasingly apparent, as much of the washing-machine cycle of monsoonal moisture will begin to disappear from our region following Wednesday’s heavy storms.

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