Category: kifi-local-news

News Team

UPDATE:

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan (KIFI) — The death toll from the attack on a Michigan branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has risen to four, police confirmed Sunday evening.

During a press conference, Police Chief William Renye announced that investigators have discovered two additional bodies in the burned-out remains of the church building in Grand Blanc Township, bringing the confirmed number of fatalities (not including the shooter) to four.

Police are working to identify each victim “as quickly and accurately as possible.” Due to the extensive damage, the church building is considered a total loss, and the search for more victims is ongoing. Officials currently do not have a confirmed number of people unaccounted for but believe they may find additional victims as they continue to search the rubble.

The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, treating the incident as an act of targeted violence.

“This act of violence has no place in our state or in our country,” said Reuben Coleman, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances and motives behind this tragedy.”

The deadly attack began when police say the gunman rammed a vehicle into the church, opened fire on the congregation, and then set the building ablaze during a Sunday service.

The 40-year-old gunman, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, was killed by responding police officers.

Chief Renye took a moment to acknowledge the heroism of both first responders and the people inside the church at the time of the shooting.

“They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety,” Chief Renye said of the worshippers. “Just hundreds of people practicing their faith.”

For more details and updates on the investigation into the shooting, click HERE.

ORIGINAL:

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan (KIFI) — Authorities are preparing to hold a critical media briefing at 5 p.m. ET this afternoon, where Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye is expected to deliver the latest details on the deadly attack at a branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Local News 8 will be livestreaming the press conference above.

The attack, which occurred during a Sunday service, has so far resulted in the deaths of at least two people and left eight others wounded after a gunman rammed a vehicle into the church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze. The 40-year-old gunman was killed by responding police officers. Police believe they may find additional victims when it is safe to enter the building.

Officers exchanged fire with the gunman and killed him, according to police. He has been identified as a 40-year-old Michigan man. For more details and updates on the investigation into the shooting, click HERE.

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CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 28 SEP 25 15:33 ET

By Nick Lentz, Joseph Buczek

Click here for updates on this story

    GRAND BLAC, Michigan (WWJ) — At least two people are dead and eight others are in the hospital after a shooting during a worship service at a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday morning.

According to police, it happened around 10:25 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 4825 McCandlish Road.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said in a news conference on Sunday afternoon that the suspect, identified as a 40-year-old man, drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church, exited his vehicle and fired “several rounds” of an assault rifle at hundreds of churchgoers.

Ten people with gunshot wounds were taken to the hospital, where two victims have since died. Renye said “multiple” individuals who were injured are in critical condition, and expects there will be more victims.

Henry Ford Health confirmed that it is treating nine patients at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital.

“Our hospital is fully staffed with experienced caregivers, and we are grateful to our team members who continue to care for all our patients at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital. Counselors and spiritual care are available to provide confidential support and counseling services for our patients and team members,” said the health system in a statement.”

Police said the man, from Burton, Michigan, died after responding officers from Grand Blanc Township and the Michigan DNR “engaged in gunfire” with him.

According to investigators, the man deliberately started a fire at the church at some point, though it’s not yet known how the fire was started. Crews have since contained the blaze.

Police are expected to hold another news conference at 5 p.m. You can watch it at the video player above.

Officials have set up an on-site reunification site at a movie theatre on Trillium Circle Avenue. Anyone who needs to connect with someone who was at the church is asked to call the American Red Cross at 248-705-7352.

“This is a dynamic scene,” Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said in a video recorded at the scene. “The time where we are right now, there’s going to be more updates. Just know that there’s a lot of things that are happening that we are not able to communicate just because of the work that needs to be done.”

Swanson said there is no active threat to the community.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a written statement that it’s been in communication with law enforcement and that it’s thankful for the emergency responders who are helping the victims and their families.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world,” the statement said. “In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a written statement on social media that said, “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel said on X that the agency is tracking reports of the shooting and that agents are at the scene to assist local authorities.

“Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy,” Patel said.

Grand Blanc Township police said at least 100 FBI agents are responding to the shooting.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has received briefings about the incident.

“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy,” Bondi said.

President Trump said that he has been briefed on the shooting.

“I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post.

According to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, her agency is in communication with “interagency partners.”

Noem added in a social media post on X that, “Sacred places of worship should never fear violence in America. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”

The New York Police Department said early Sunday afternoon that it was deploying “additional resources to religious institutions across the city,” in response to the shooting.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that out of an abundance of caution, the Los Angeles Police Department will be increasing patrols at places of worship across the city.

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department said it will have counselors at its facility starting on Monday and through the rest of the week.

Please note: 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™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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CNN Newsource

By Alaa Elassar, CNN

(CNN) — We’ve moved to Live Updates for coverage of this developing story. Follow the latest here.

Multiple victims have been injured in a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday, according to police.

The shooter is down and there is no ongoing threat to the public, according to the Grand Blanc Township Police Department. The church is currently on fire.

Police are urging the public to avoid the area as emergency response efforts continue.

Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, Michigan.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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News Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — Communities worldwide are mourning the passing of Russell M. Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a former world-renowned heart surgeon. President Nelson passed away peacefully at his home in Salt Lake City shortly after 10 p.m. MDT on Saturday at the age of 101, according to the Church.

Nelson became the prophet and leader of the global faith on January 14, 2018, after serving as an Apostle for the Church since April 7, 1984. His time as President was marked by a commitment to global engagement and unprecedented growth.

Legacy of Global Outreach and Historic Expansion

During his tenure, President Nelson visited 32 countries and U.S. territories, connecting with Latter-day Saints and government and religious figures. He spoke conversationally in 11 languages, underscoring his emphasis on global unity. A key theme of his leadership was the exponential increase in temple construction, with 200 new temples announced worldwide, a historic number for the Church.

His efforts to build relationships extended beyond his own faith. In March 2019, he held a notable meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, which he described as a “cordial, unforgettable experience.”

Courtesy: The Vatican

“His Holiness, he was most gracious and warm and welcoming,” President Nelson said of his visit with Pope Francis. “What a sweet, wonderful man he is, and how fortunate the Catholic people are to have such a gracious, concerned, loving, and capable leader.”

President Nelson also established a significant relationship with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), meeting with its leaders multiple times, most recently in June 2021, to promote civility and racial harmony.

Courtesy Photo: President Russell M. Nelson shakes hands with Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, in the Church Administration Building in Salt Lake City, May 17, 2018. The Rev. Amos C. Brown, NAACP board member, far left, and NAACP chairman Leon W. Russell, far right, looks on.

In a speech to the NAACP’s annual convention in Detroit in July 2019, President Nelson emphasized unity: “We don’t have to be alike or look alike to have love for each other. We don’t even have to agree with each other to love each other.”

Distinguished Medical Career

Courtesy Photo: Russell M. Nelson in 1982. He was a world-renowned heart surgeon for many years before being called to be an Apostle in 1984.

Before his call to full-time Church service, Dr. Russell M. Nelson was a world-renowned pioneer in cardiothoracic surgery. His distinguished medical career includes performing the first open-heart surgery in Utah in 1955. He was also a key figure in developing a compact artificial heart and lung machine, an advancement that saved untold numbers.

His professional leadership included serving as president of the Society of Vascular Surgery, a director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and chairman of the Council on Cardiovascular Surgery for the American Heart Association.

“I think a surgeon is in a unique position to understand one of God’s greatest creations — the human body,” President Nelson once said, reflecting on his career, linking his medical expertise to his faith.

President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, who was called as an Apostle on the same day as Nelson in 1984, praised his character: “All of us who have worked with Russell M. Nelson… have marveled at his extraordinary modesty for a man of his great accomplishments… And [we] have marveled at his gentleness. He is just the gentlest and sweetest person you could ever hope to associate with.”

President Nelson is survived by his wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren.

A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Nelson’s funeral. Local News 8 will provide updates on the funeral arrangements as details become available.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Friends of Marshall Public Library held their seasonal book sale on Friday.

The organization provides support to the library through seasonal events, such as the book sale, all for the benefit of the library and its patrons.

“We purchase things and pay for programs that fall outside the scope of the general library budget,” Linda Davis, Vice President, Friends of Marshall Public Library, said. “In addition, we support by volunteering. If we’re asked. Sometimes we’ve hosted author signings here or whatever they need, whatever they ask us for, we try to fill that need.” 

Donated books are either used in the library or sold at the ‘Friends of Marshall Public Library’ store.

The books are rotated monthly and sold for two dollars each. 

The book sale continues Saturday at the Marshall Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

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Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls area is celebrating the 60th annual Emotion Bowl, where Idaho Falls High School and Skyline High School football teams play against each other.

“I’m going for the Skyline Grizzlies,” said Idaho Falls resident Stephanie Lamb. “Because my nephew plays on the team over there. I think they’ve got a great chance. They’ve done really good. Been working really hard.”

“I’m an alumni from Idaho Falls High School. My dad went to Idaho Falls High School. A lot of my family went to Idaho Falls,” said Idaho Falls Resident, Sadie Despot. “So we’re big Tiger fans over here.” 

Several local businesses show their support for either school by painting on their windows.

“Through the decades, we’ve always enjoyed letting the students paint the windows, if they’ve asked us. Whether it’s Skyline and/or [Idaho Falls],” said Idaho Falls resident Ken Despot.

The Emotion Bowl dates back to when Skyline High School split off from Idaho Falls High School in 1966. The rivalry over the game has been going strong ever since, but that makes it all the more fun for the community.

“It’s such a long-time, ongoing rivalry that they have. It’s just really important to everybody around here,” Lamb said.

“I just love the tradition of the whole thing,” said Sadie Despot.

“You’re just out there enjoying these young people who put so much effort into their craft, into football, into their sport,” Ken Despot said. “And just the rivalry itself is amazing.”

Since both schools share their football field, whichever team wins gets to paint the goal posts their school colors.

“We hope to see those goalposts turn orange sometime soon,” Sadie Despot said.

The Emotion Bowl kicks off Friday night at 7 p.m. at Ravsten Stadium.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – It’s officially spud harvest season, and drivers are being reminded to be cautious on the roads.

Local drivers can find themselves stuck behind farming equipment on the road as it moves slowly. 

Potato truck crashes are common during this time of year.

Local News 8 has already reported on two potato truck crashes this year.

Area police say the best way to avoid a crash is to just be patient.

“With slow traffic ahead of you, be patient. Make sure you’re being safe in what you’re doing. If you’re impatient and you’re trying to pass that slow moving vehicle or farm equipment and you can’t see all the way around it, you’re adding risk to your travels. You’re adding risk to yourself and the people in your car. So, take your time, be patient, wait for a good spot, a safe spot to get around where you can adequately see down the road,” said Sgt. Bryan Lovell, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

If you do find yourself behind farming equipment on the road and you want to get ahead of it, it is recommended that you keep a distance between you and the truck so you can better see ahead. 

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Curtis Jackson

Ellen DeGeneres is mourning the loss of a beloved guest from her former talk show. Tayt Andersen, who appeared on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ multiple times, passed away at age 19 following complications from cancer and a recent infection. Tayd lived in Rigby when he appeared on the show.

Born with half a heart, Tayt underwent 12 surgeries before age 9 and found comfort in Ellen’s show during recovery. Ellen shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, recalling how Tayt jokingly called her his girlfriend, and she lovingly called him her boyfriend.

His family says Tayt died peacefully on September 26, surrounded by love. They described him as joyful and resilient, and said goodbye with his favorite movies and books.

Ellen, visibly emotional, said, “He brought joy and laughter into every room. I will miss him.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-tayt-battle-cancer.

We dove into our archives and found a story when Tayt first met Ellen. You can watch that in the video above.

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Sam Ross

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (IDFAPA) recently received an $80,000 donation from AgWest Farm Credit to support renovations to the IDFAPA’s Southeast Idaho ‘The Village’ headquarters.

IDFAPA is a non-profit organization that serves 16 counties across Southeast Idaho by providing support to children as they transition into foster or adoptive families.

“A lot of them come with nothing or very little,” said Jacque Burt, president of IDFAPA and director of The Village. “We provide them right off the bat a suitcase, clothing, new socks, new underwear, toys, comfort items and stuffies, things like that… they’ll come back after they’ve had a growth spurt or change of season, or just want to pop in and visit with us. They’ll come back and shop again and they’re welcome to. We’re just always a resource for those children and for those families that foster them.”

IDFAPA is currently renovating the building which previously housed Kirkham Auto Parts to make room for The Village, a multi-use space with a clothing closet for foster children and teens, family meeting spaces, classrooms, offices for case workers, and more.

Burt said the community of Blackfoot has come together in a major way to support the Village’s expansion-including AgWest’s $89,000 donation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently donated $65,000 to the IDFAPA. Local contractors donated materials and labor to renovate the building’s frames and electrical work for free-other businesses are supplying HVAC and plumbing updates for a fraction of what they usually cost.

“We’re just really grateful, we absolutely could not do what we do without our community,” said Burt. “We are willing to drive the bus, but we can’t do all of the jobs-we need other people in there with us- and this community has wrapped around my foster children; I could have never predicted how much they would love these kids.”

To learn more about how IDFAPA serves the Southeast Idaho community, visit their website at: www.idfapa.org.

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Sam Ross

AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The Power County Senior Center has full freezers thanks to a 1,200-pound donation of meat from local businesses.

American Falls area businesses, including Direct Communications, Snake River Farms, 5 Star Trucking, and many more, worked with the Power County 4-H/FFA Fat Stock Sale Committee to purchase locally raised pigs and cows during the Power County Fair auction.

The meat was processed and delivered to the Power County Senior Center to support their daily meals to area seniors and the center’s Meals of Wheels program.

“We really appreciate these donors that have given us the meat, because it really helps with our budget,” said Nancy Davis, director of the Power County Senior Center. “That’s our biggest part of our budget is the meat that we have to purchase, where the meat [cost] is so high anymore.”

The Power County Senior Center supports between 25-50 people during their daily, in-house meal service and as many as 20 local seniors through their home deliveries.

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