Category: kifi-local-news

Fox13

Originally Published: 21 JUL 26 13:16 ET

By Madi Baggett

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    PIUTE COUNTY, Utah (KSTU) — Businesses across Piute, Beaver and Sevier counties are struggling after wildfires and flash flooding hurt tourism during one of the busiest times of the year.

Restaurant, motel and outdoor recreation owners say the back-to-back disasters have kept visitors away and caused major financial problems for small businesses that depend on summer travelers.

Burn scars left by the Cottonwood Fire increased the risk of flash flooding after heavy rain moved through central Utah. Floodwaters carried mud and debris across roads, campgrounds and recreation areas that are popular with tourists.

Dan Groves, owner of Hoovers River Resort in Marysvale, said wildfire smoke caused many visitors to cancel their trips to southern Utah.

“People still were just changing their plans entirely to just not come to Utah,” Groves said. “It sounded like the whole state was on fire.”

Groves said the losses have been especially difficult because tourism businesses in the area have already faced several hard years.

“It was the third summer in a row that we had pretty much the entire summer cancelled and less through traffic for the restaurant,” Groves said. “We were seeing some writing on the wall that was pretty grim.”

Businesses faced another challenge after officials issued a boil-water advisory in parts of Piute County when flood runoff affected local water systems.

At Big Rock Candy Mountain Restaurant, employee Carley Veltri said the fires, flooding and water problems have made it difficult for businesses to recover.

“People convoyed out of here,” Veltri said. “When the fires were happening, now we have flooding. That’s something else.”

Veltri said summer tourism is extremely important for rural Utah communities.

“It’s killing us all,” she said. “Utah is a seasonal state. All the revenue basically comes from the summertime and now since there is no business there is no revenue.”

Groves said many business owners feel overwhelmed by the repeated disasters.

“It’s not because we are bad business owners,” he said. “It’s because we’ve had these natural disasters over and over again.”

Even with the challenges, business owners say they are continuing to stay open and hope visitors return before the summer season is lost completely.

A GoFundMe has been created to help local business owners: Fundraiser by Ahtianna DeJesus : Cottonwood Fire: Support Hoovers and Local Recovery!

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Kaelyn Blessinger

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Advocacy groups gathered today to strongly condemn Idaho’s decision to adopt the firing squad as a primary method of execution, unveiling a new campaign aimed at state leaders.

Anti-death penalty organizations, including the Execution Intervention Project and Clergy United Against the Death Penalty, hosted a virtual press conference to address the state’s policy shift. As part of their campaign, the groups unveiled a prominent billboard on Grove Street (near the 1500 block) in downtown Boise bearing a direct message to public officials: “Don’t Shoot Tom Creech.”

The press conference will be available in the livestream above at 10 a.m. MT.

Joining the advocacy campaign is spiritual advisor Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood, who has witnessed 12 state executions across the country. Hood joined national organizers to examine Idaho’s new execution method and demand that state officials refrain from carrying out firing squad deaths in the Gem State.

Those in favor of this execution method argue the condemned inmate deserves the penalty, but the Execution Prevention Project believes the focus should also be on who carries out the execution and the responsibility shared by those involved in the process.

“So when we look at somebody like Tom Creech and people say, well, he deserves to be shot, of course he deserves to be shot,” Reverend Dr. Jeffery Hood, Founder of the Execution Intervention Project, said. “I mean, of course, but the question is not whether Tom Creech deserves to be shot. The question is, who deserves to do the shooting?”

He argues it is not fair to give those on the firing squad the responsibility of killing the condemned inmates, stating that Governor Little should “put his money where his mouth is.”

“If Governor Little had any ability to lead the state, he’d go down there and shoot Tom Creech himself. But he’s too chicken to do that,” Reverend Hood declared. “This message is for Governor Little. Quit trying to talk a big game about how you want people to be shot. If you want to talk a big game, then put your money where your mouth is and go down there and shoot him yourself. Quit making everybody else do it.”

Botched Execution Leads Idaho to Adopt Firing Squad

The state’s pivot toward the firing squad stems directly from a failed attempt to execute serial killer Thomas Eugene Creech by lethal injection

In February 2024, state officials halted Creech’s execution after a three-member medical team tried eight separate times to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection. Following the incident, the Idaho Legislature backed House Bill 37 to establish the firing squad as a primary alternative.

Creech, 73, has spent half a century in prison. He was originally convicted of five murders across three states and is suspected of several more. He was sentenced to death for the 1981 beating death of fellow inmate David Dale Jensen, 22, while already serving a life term.

According to the Idaho Department of Correction, there are currently 8 people on death row in the Gem State.

Despite vocal pushback from anti-death penalty organizations, they face an uphill battle in the Gem State. According to a 2024 poll by the Public Religion Research Institute, around 70% of Idahoans support the death penalty. Meanwhile, national public opinion in support of capital punishment has waned. According to a 2025 Gallup poll, only 52% of Americans support the death penalty, down 9% from 2015.

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Seth Ratliff

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) — A district judge has rejected a plea deal that would have allowed a former Chubbuck church leader accused of sexually abusing six young members of his congregation to avoid serving prison time and registering as a sex offender.

On Monday, Sixth Judicial District Judge Robert Naftz rejected the proposed agreement for 45-year-old Virgil Larson, according to court records. Under the terms of the agreement, Larson’s charges would have been reduced to felony injury to a child, and he would have been exempted from mandatory sex offender registration. In exchange, prosecutors planned to recommend a suspended prison sentence in favor of probation, capped at 30 years.

RELATED: Chubbuck man faces reduced charges in child sexual abuse case after plea agreement

At the time of his arrest, Larson served as a local leader or counselor in a local ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to reporting by ABC4 in Utah.

Investigation and Arrest

Court documents indicate the investigation began on July 3, 2024, after the Chubbuck Police Department received a tip from Kirton McConkie, a Lehi, Utah-based law firm representing the church. The report claimed several underage children in the community may have been abused by an adult male.

RELATED: A Chubbuck man turns himself in for sexually abusing children

“The Chubbuck Police Department Criminal Investigations Division opened an investigation into the circumstances and learned that several underage teenage boys had potentially been victims of sexual abuse, while at Mr. Larson’s residence,” states the initial press release.

On September 17, 2024, officers from the Chubbuck and Pocatello Police Departments executed a search warrant at Larson’s home. Larson turned himself in to the authorities later that day and was booked into the Bannock County Jail.

Charges and Upcoming Trial

The affidavit of probable cause detailing the investigation was sealed in September 2024 to protect the identities of the underage victims. Larson was initially charged with five felony counts of sexual abuse of a child under 16, with an added sixth count as the investigation moved forward.

With the plea agreement thrown out, Larson is now scheduled to stand trial before a jury on January 12, 2027, where he will face all six original felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16. If convicted on all charges, Larson faces up to life in prison.

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Danielle Mullenix

Storms on this Tuesday will remain scattered and sporadic as we continue to experience monsoonal moisture driving through the area from the South. Local heavy rainfall could be expected this afternoon, with wind gusts climbing up to 25 mph in the late afternoon and slightly cooler temperatures.

The storm pattern from this weekend continues to cover our region with high-sitting clouds over Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming this early Tuesday morning. Daily chances for showers and storms increase toward Wednesday as monsoonal moisture pushes through from the Southwest. Expect these isolated storms to pop up mainly over the east and southeast highlands, with a few that creep into the Snake River Plain later this afternoon.

Temperatures today will be slightly cooler, with numbers dropping below the average and what we observed yesterday. Mid 90s across the lower elevations into the afternoon hours, with lows dropping into the lower 60s and 50s. Winds will stay generally 20- 25 mph after 4 pm.

Storm chances pick up across the region on Wednesday, with temperatures cooling into the 80s and wind gusts jumping up to 50 mph. Lightning chances will also increase, meaning a wildfire watch will most likely follow in its wake. As the monsoonal moisture wraps its ridge around our region tomorrow, most of these isolated rain showers and storms will begin to leave, meaning the rest of the week will start to dry up. Expect this day to be the heaviest with storms.

Expect temperatures to start climbing back up by Thursday, with more sunshine heading towards the weekend. By Thursday, a majority of the major storm system will be sitting East of the Montana mountain divide.

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Linda Larsen

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — New developments emerged Tuesday in the Boise River Greenbelt murder case as a judge ordered a mental health competency evaluation for the man charged in the fatal stabbing of 25-year-old Jordan Harbst.

Ross Wardlaw, 41, appeared in Ada County court for a preliminary hearing on a first-degree murder charge stemming from Harbst’s death. However, proceedings were put on hold after questions were raised about Wardlaw’s competency to stand trial.

The court’s decision marks the second time in less than a year that Wardlaw’s mental competency has been challenged in a criminal case.

Survivor of Previous Encounter Speaks Out

For Hannah French, who is a Fremont County native, the latest developments are deeply personal. In 2025, she worked as a shelter worker at the Interfaith Sanctuary in Boise and survived a previous alleged attack involving Wardlaw.

Hannah said Wardlaw threatened her with a knife while she was intervening in a fight.

“It was very preventable, and my heart was broken for the victim,” Hannah said. “This was 100% preventable. It’s very unfortunate that in order to get Ross Wardlaw help with his mental health, an individual had to be murdered.”

Following that incident, Wardlaw spent several months at State Hospital South after a psychologist determined he was not competent to stand trial. According to Hannah, he was later found competent, and a jury acquitted him in May before he was released.

“I knew I was in a dangerous situation when he was coming at me with a knife,” she said. “I have never been scared at work or scared of any of the individuals I serve, but seeing someone charge at you with a weapon is a scary feeling.”

Mental Illness, Not Homelessness, Hannah Says

Hannah emphasized that the tragedy should not be blamed on Wardlaw’s housing status.

“I think it’s important, aside from the fact that the system failed this 25-year-old victim,” she said. “But I think it’s also important to understand that people don’t commit crimes because they’re unhoused. People commit crimes because there’s more internal factors that play into it. There is not a reason that people commit murder.”

She said the larger issue is a system she believes failed both the victim and the broader community.

Calling for Changes to Mental Health Care

Reflecting on her experience testifying in the earlier case, Hannah described the process as emotional and intimidating.

“[He] basically said everything that I testified to wasn’t true,” said French. “It was just also very intimidating. You know when you’re explaining how you’re scared for your life, and that you know you have the feeling that you actually are going to be stabbed. It’s intimidating when you know he’s sitting on the stand telling you that ‘he catches what he’s gonna kill.'”

Hannah said she refuses to stay silent. She said the real accountability must extend beyond the courtroom to state laws that continue to release severely mentally ill individuals without long-term care.

“I’m an individual who utilizes mental health resources and things like that And so just making them easier access, not just for certain populations to have access to that, but access for everyone.”

What Happens Next

Prosecutors did not object to the court-ordered competency evaluation but said they reserve the right to challenge its findings.

The case is now scheduled for a status hearing on Aug. 25.

Vital Resources for those in Need

While Wardlaw’s case highlights systemic gaps in Ada County, the trend of homelessness and unaddressed mental illness remains a statewide challenge. According to the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, nearly 3,000 people are currently experiencing homelessness across Idaho.

In eastern Idaho, community organizations are working to bridge these gaps by pairing shelter services with immediate psychiatric care. The Idaho Falls Rescue Mission, for example, partners directly with the local Behavioral Health Crisis Center to identify and provide mental health support.

“I can think of one instance where a gentleman came to us who was dealing with undiagnosed schizophrenia,” said Chris Aspinall, Director of Development at the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission. “We were able to get him in front of mental health professionals, get him diagnosed, and start him on medication. From there, we placed him in permanent housing where he receives regular care.”

With success stories like these, the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission hopes to continue making a difference in people’s lives. Their partnership with the Behavioral Health Crisis Center helps them provide more resources for anyone experiencing a crisis or is in need of mental health support.

“Most of the time, there are underlying struggles, and people just need help,” said Kenneth Boll, program supervisor for the Rescue Mission’s men’s shelter. “We provide several resources beyond just a bed. We run 100% on community donations to serve nightly dinners, distribute food boxes, and connect people with care.”

How to Get Help or Support

Local Resources: Idaho residents experiencing a housing or mental health crisis can dial 2-1-1 or text 898211 to connect with local support services.

If you want to get involved with the Idaho Falls Rescue Mission, they have an upcoming fundraiser with Jersey Mike’s (2681 E Sunnyside Rd., Ammon, ID 83406) on July 31st, where 10% of all proceeds will go towards the Rescue Mission.

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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Seth Ratliff

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — A motorcyclist is recovering after an accident Sunday night left him unconscious in a canal along Sunnyside Road. Thanks to the quick action of several bystanders and an off-duty first responder, both the driver and his passenger are safe.

According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened in the 5000 block of Sunnyside Road near the Ammon Cemetery.

Eyewitness Brady Wirick told Local News 8 that a motorcycle carrying two people left the roadway, causing the driver to lose control and launch both riders into the canal.

As the crash unfolded, Fire Marshall Scott Grimmett was heading home while his son Cael Grimmett was parked nearby at the intersection of Sweeder Range and Sunnyside, preparing to head back to work on a Wyoming ranch.

“All I saw was my son [Cael] sprinting along Sunnyside,” recalled Grimmett. “That’s when I saw the motorcycle on the side of the canal.”

Scott Grimmett says his son Cael was parked along Sunnyside at Elkington Ranch, preparing to head back to work on a ranch in Wyoming. He says he had been heading home in his truck towing a trailer at the time, when he suddenly saw his son racing towards the canal.

“All I saw was my son sprinting along Sunnyside,” said Grimmett. “That’s when I saw the motorcycle on the side of the canal.”

While the female passenger managed to crawl out on her own, the driver remained unresponsive, face down in the water. Cael Grimmett leaped into the canal, flipping the man onto his back to keep his airway clear. Scott Grimmett joined him to stabilize the driver’s spine and hold him against the current, while Wirick and other bystanders jumped in to help anchor them to the steep bank.

Emergency crews arrived within three minutes. Working together, five bystanders and three sheriff’s deputies—along with an Idaho Falls Fire Department engine and ambulance crew—secured the driver to a spine board and collar before lifting him out of the canal.

Both the driver and passenger were transported to a local hospital. BCSO Sgt. Bryan Lovell confirmed that the driver’s injuries were non-life-threatening.

“Cael is the hero. Scott is a bad***,” said Wirick positively. “Also impressed how fast the first responders showed up!”

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A major federal initiative is bringing over $40 million to Idaho and Wyoming to advance next-generation nuclear energy, with Idaho National Laboratory leading the charge.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced Monday a major federal investment aimed at advancing U.S. leadership in industries essential to our economic competitiveness and national security. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) intends to award $169 million across six selected Tech Hubs nationwide, with a significant share slated for the Intermountain West.

Idaho and Wyoming have been designated as the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub (INEC), receiving $31 million in federal grant funding. Coupled with $9 million in local matching funds and private investments, the initiative will inject more than $40 million into the region over the next five years.

The project aims to accelerate reactor deployment, speed up the commercialization of next-generation nuclear tech, and strengthen U.S. energy security, according to the EDA.

The news comes after the Department of Energy celebrated the fourth advanced reactor to achieve the criticality milestone

National Focus on Emerging Technologies

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick says the funding comes as part of a broader push to advance U.S. leadership in essential industries, including pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and nuclear energy.

“President Trump remains firmly committed to strengthening American manufacturing and ensuring that jobs are created and remain in the United States,” said Lutnick. “Today’s $169 million in EDA awards will advance critical manufacturing processes…while accelerating the deployment of emerging technologies.”

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo emphasized the award will fund  “advanced fuel fabrication, … train workers in nuclear construction, manufacturing, fuel fabrication and operations and support firms entering the nuclear supply chain.”

“The INEC Tech Hub, led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, will build on Idaho’s unmatched expertise and innovation in small modular reactors and reinforce our nation’s technological leadership while reducing reliance on foreign adversaries for critical energy capabilities,” Crapo said.

INL Takes a Leading Role

The grant will be administered by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium (IAEC), bringing together more than 45 regional partners. Idaho National Laboratory, a founding partner of the consortium, will play a key leadership role in scaling advanced nuclear technologies, enhancing America’s nuclear-ready workforce, and developing key parts of the nation’s nuclear energy supply chain.

“This investment recognizes what we’ve long known at INL—that advanced nuclear energy is essential to powering America’s future,” said INL Director John Wagner. “This Tech Hub brings together the capabilities, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to move from research and development to deployment at scale.”

Through the INEC Tech Hub, INL will focus on removing the biggest barriers facing nuclear energy expansion, including:

Strengthening U.S. Energy Independence: Reducing reliance on foreign fuel sources to build a self-sufficient domestic fuel supply.

Accelerating Commercialization: Helping private industry navigate regulations, engage local communities, and test advanced construction methods to bring technologies to market faster.

Workforce Development: Creating new training programs for high-quality jobs in engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades.

Economic Impact on Idaho and the West

The Tech Hub is projected to deliver significant economic returns, generating hundreds of high-paying energy jobs across the Intermountain West over the next five years and thousands of secondary industry jobs nationwide. The INL and EDA also anticipate it will help lower long-term energy costs and strengthen grid reliability and energy security across the region.

“What we’re building here is bigger than any one lab, any one company, or any one community,” said Hope Morrow, Workforce and Economic Development programs manager at INL. “The INEC Tech Hub is what American innovation looks like when everyone brings their best, and the people of the Intermountain West are going to see the benefits in jobs, opportunity, and long-term energy security.”

State leadership also praised the grant award as validation of Idaho’s long-standing leadership in nuclear research. Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke says, “Today’s award proves the rest of the country is taking notice.”

“This is a win for Idaho, and it’s a win for American energy dominance,” Bedke said in a statement Monday. “The federal government looked at Idaho and saw a state that delivers. This is the result of decades of investment in Idaho National Laboratory, in our universities and community colleges, and in the workforce and infrastructure that makes this state the nation’s proving ground for advanced nuclear energy.”

The other five selected Tech Hubs include:

Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Tech Hub (Virginia) $16 million to develop and scale advanced, AI-enabled domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

Bloch Quantum Tech Hub (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin) $30 million to scale U.S. production of quantum materials, components, and subsystems. 

Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub (Missouri) $38 million to boost the region’s ability to convert locally sourced minerals into critical materials essential for advanced manufacturing. 

Forest Bioproducts Advanced Manufacturing Tech Hub (Maine) $20 million to unite state, university, industry, and workforce partners to strengthen domestic supply chains for sustainable forest‑based technologies.  

Kansas City BioSecure Manufacturing Tech Hub (Kansas, Missouri) $34 million to modernize manufacturing processes, strengthen and retool domestic supply chains, and accelerate the translation of biologic discoveries into scalable, resilient, and agile U.S. production.  

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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Curtis Jackson

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (KIFI)—Visitors who want to recreate on the rivers and lakes in Grand Teton National Park can now borrow life-jackets.

Grand Teton National Park Foundation and Grand Teton National Park announced the loaner program on Monday, July 20, 2026. They said many of the thousands of visitors to the park are unaware that life jackets are an essential piece of safety equipment.

Loaner kiosks are installed at Jackson Lake Dam, Pacific Creek Landing, String Lake, and the Colter Bay Swim Beach. They said people can borrow the jackets from the kiosk and return them to the same kiosk or one downstream when finished.

“Spending time on the water is one of the best ways to experience Grand Teton National Park,” said Superintendent Chip Jenkins. “By making life jackets readily available, we’re helping remove a barrier to safe recreation and encouraging everyone to make wearing a life jacket part of every trip on the water.”

“Grand Teton’s waterways draw visitors from around the world, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience them safely,” said Leslie Mattson, president of Grand Teton National Park Foundation. “This program is a natural extension of the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing the visitor experience, and we’re proud to bring it to life this summer.”

The project was funded by Grand Teton National Park Foundation with support from the Snake River Fund, a local organization that has operated a similar program on sections of the Snake River south of the park.

Volunteers for the Snake River Ambassadors will help recreationists understand how the kiosks work and inform them about water safety.

Visitors are reminded that children under the age of thirteen must always wear a life jacket while on a boat, and all boaters should wear a properly fitted life jacket or have one readily accessible.

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Curtis Jackson

UPDATE: IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—Work on the intersection of Holmes and 49th South has been pushed back to Monday, August 3.

Crews were scheduled to begin work on Wednesday, but it has been delayed.

Currently, the intersection is an all-way stop. Over the past decade, traffic has increased with the development in the area. A news release from the city of Idaho Falls said that between 2018 and 2023, there were 17 crashes reported near the intersection, one resulting in multiple deaths.

The intersection will include designated left turn lanes and ADA compliant pedestrian ramps and sidewalks.

ORIGINAL STORY:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)—Bonneville County will be adding a new traffic light to an intersection south of Idaho Falls.

According to social media posts, Bonneville County will close the intersection of 5th East (Holmes Ave.) and 49th South (Township Road) beginning Wednesday, July 22. The closures will include at least a quarter mile of the roads surrounding the intersection.

The social media post didn’t mention how long the intersection will be closed.

The county also posted that Iona Road between Ammon Road and 45th East is now open after being closed since last fall. A center turn lane was added to improve traffic flow. Florian Ave, north of Iona Rd., is still closed but expected to open by July 25th.

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News Release

The following is a news release from Idaho Falls Power:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Idaho Falls Power proudly sponsored 10 local high school students to attend the 2026 Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association (ICUA) Youth Rally, where they joined 90 students from Idaho, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska for a week of leadership development, teamwork and personal growth.

Each student received a $500 scholarship from Idaho Falls Power for representing the utility and the community at the annual leadership conference held at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa.

“The Youth Rally is an incredible experience,” said Christopher Jensen, Community Relations Coordinator for Idaho Falls Power. “Watching these students grow in confidence, build lasting friendships and represent Idaho Falls with such character and enthusiasm throughout the week is incredibly rewarding. They are exceptional young people, and we’re excited to see the positive impact they’ll make in our community and wherever life takes them.”

Throughout the week, students participated in leadership workshops, team-building activities, government and energy education sessions, an obstacle course, a tour of the Idaho State Capitol, recreational activities and community-building events designed to strengthen confidence, communication and leadership skills.

The Idaho Falls delegation once again distinguished itself by earning numerous scholarships and honors throughout the week.

Recent Idaho Falls High School graduate Anilyn Croft completed her year of service as Idaho Falls Power’s Returning Director after helping lead and plan the 2026 Youth Rally. During the week, Croft was awarded one of only two $800 ICUA Returning Director Scholarships and also received the $500 Bobbi Wilhelm Memorial Scholarship, presented annually by Idaho Falls Power to its Returning Director.

“The Youth Rally gave me two years of real leadership experience I didn’t get in a classroom: public speaking in front of the whole camp, handling conflict and high-pressure situations, and learning how to delegate and trust the people around me instead of doing it myself,” said Croft. “I’m walking away much more confident and a better leader because of it.”

Idaho Falls High School senior Emma Neider was selected by her peers to serve as Idaho Falls Power’s Returning Director for the 2027 ICUA Youth Rally. Neider also earned a $600 ICUA scholarship and was voted Miss Congeniality, an honor selected by fellow students.

Idaho Falls High School junior Hiro Quan was voted Mr. Congeniality and received a $600 ICUA scholarship. “Having both the Mr. and Miss Congeniality awards presented to Idaho Falls students highlights the character, leadership and positive attitudes they demonstrated throughout the week and says a lot about the amazing young people in our community,” said Jensen.

Additional scholarship and award recipients included Idaho Falls High School junior Lucy Okeson, who earned a $600 ICUA scholarship; Bonneville High School junior Cheyanne Clark, who received a $500 ICUA scholarship; and Skyline High School senior Bella Jensen, who was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award.

Students selected by Idaho Falls Power to attend the 2026 ICUA Youth Rally included:

Anilyn Croft – Idaho Falls High School (Returning Director)

Emma Neider – Idaho Falls High School

Hiro Quan – Idaho Falls High School

Lucy Okeson – Idaho Falls High School

Cheyanne Clark – Bonneville High School

Bella Jensen – Skyline High School

Josiah Gerling – Watersprings

Adan Acosta – Skyline High School

Grace Katseanes – Idaho Falls High School

Anna Cochran – Watersprings

Idaho Falls Power has proudly participated in the ICUA Youth Rally for decades as part of its commitment to develop future leaders. The annual scholarship program is open to eligible Idaho Falls area high school sophomores and juniors whose parent or legal guardian is an Idaho Falls Power customer.

Applications for the 2027 ICUA Youth Rally will open next year. For more information, visit www.ifpower.org or call Idaho Falls Power at 208-612-8430.

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