Category: kifi-local-news

Chris Nestman

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — In a forum at the College of Eastern Idaho, it was all ears as the parents of Gabby Petito and Dylan Rounds shared messages about the signs and symptoms of domestic violence.

“You know, domestic violence, it has a pattern, and patterns are predictable and what’s predictable is preventable,” said Nichole Schmidt, the mother of Gabby Petito and president of the Gabby Petito Foundation. “What happened to Gabby didn’t have to happen, and so we’re trying to prevent that from happening to others.”

The Schmidts shared their story about Gabby, how she met her fiance and eventual killer, Brian. They also discussed who she was and the slow changes that happened to her before tragedy struck.

The Schmidts say some of those changes are red flags they want people to know about.

“Just knowing that you could potentially save one life and if you can just save one life, then everything is worth it,” said Jim Schmidt, Gabby’s father. “Whatever the heartache, and discomfort we have over going through it and reliving the worst day of our lives over and over again, we can battle through it if we can save even just one person.”

The Schmidts were invited by Candice Cooley, mother of Dylan Rounds who similarly advocates for domestic violence education awareness via the Dylan’s Legacy foundation.

In addition to today’s forum, law enforcement from around the state met at College of Eastern Idaho for training on digital forensics, a major method that helped solve the cases of both Dylan Rounds and Gabby Petito.

For information specifically about domestic violence and the messages from the Schmidts you can visit the Gabby Petito Foundation HERE.

For more information about about the Dylan’s Legacy Foundation, you can go HERE.

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David Pace

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — After months of anticipation, Tuesday is the run-off election for the mayor’s race in Pocatello. The November general election determined that the race would advance to a run-off between Greg Cates and Mark Dahlquist.

Local News 8 caught up with both of them Monday to find out what they want voters to know before the big day.

“I would say what I bring to the table is experience,” said Mark Dahquist. “My campaign slogan all along has been experience for a change. I’ve been a manager. I’ve been a CEO. I’ve been in leadership positions for more than three decades. Taking over at City Hall, it’s a big responsibility.”

Greg Cates shared his final thoughts for voters. “I just want people to know I’m really the only candidate with a clear, actionable plan to lower taxes, you know, to strengthen our economy, to bring better-paying jobs here, reform our police department, and clean up the city, so if you want change, people need to, you know, just got to vote for it.”

Early voting for the run-off is showing strong numbers in Bannock County, with 3,687 early ballots cast, compared to 2,643 for November’s general election.

Watch Local News 8 Tuesday night for coverage of both the Idaho Falls and Pocatello mayoral races.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Dr. Steven Adams brought new life into the world every day, but to his patients, he also brought laughter, comfort, and genuine compassion. Now, many are grieving the loss of the doctor they trusted most.

“He was a beam of light and he is greatly missed by so many people in this community and I know that there are many people that feel an absence of that light, just from this news, just from knowing that he won’t be able to deliver their next baby,” Jessica Jenkins, Dr. Adams’ patient, said.

His patients both shared memories that resonated with them from Dr. Adams.

“I was having a C-section. He had my stomach tore open, of course, and he had everything out, and he was like, ‘oh, you have a six pack’, he was just joking with me while he’s doing a surgery,” Macady Diaz, Dr. Adams’ patient, said.

“He sent me and my husband a bouquet of flowers a few days after our daughter was born. And the card, I kept the card… probably will never get rid of it now, it said ‘I can’t believe I actually missed your delivery. You called it. I’ll make it up to you. I love you guys, and I can’t wait to meet her,'” Jenkins said, “I think that that just shows the kind of person that he was and the kind of doctor that he was.”

Dr. Steven Adams was a well known obstetrician-gynecologist at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and Mountain View Hospital.

On Thursday night, Dr. Adams was killed in a single vehicle crash on 15th West in Bonneville County.

“I mean, for me, it was a lot of he was always so personal with me, which is why I really connected with him. He always made a lot of jokes, which was so fun to me because I was like, okay, this is like a real person. But he also had a lot of knowledge,”

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Every Christmas tree sold at the YMCA’s tree fundraiser does more than brighten a living room, it also helps cover scholarship costs for local families and brings the community together as children pick out the perfect tree for the season.

Every tree sold at the YMCA’s holiday fundraiser helps open the door for a child in need, easing scholarship costs and bringing families together as they pick out the perfect symbol of the season.

“This program is designed to, help us with our scholarship program. And so we have a lot of families that need help sometime. And so selling Christmas trees helps offset that cost for parents that are trying to get their children into the program,” Donovan Stokes, YMCA’s Financial, Program and Community Director, said.

If you already have a tree, you can purchase a tree for another family or donate HERE.

“Events like this is important because number one, it brings families together. And of course we are youth development healthy living and social responsibility. So it brings the families together. And it’s awesome to see the kids pick out their Christmas tree,” Stokes said.

This fundraiser goes on until December 19th, or until trees run out.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to make their final choice in the run-off election for Idaho Falls Mayor and City Council Seat 2.

Nearly a month has passed since the general election, when the race advanced to a run-off after no candidate received a full majority of votes.

As the hard-fought campaign winds up, Local News 8 interviewed both candidates for Idaho Falls Mayor the day before the run-off to learn how race dynamics have changed in the past month.

“I think that one of the biggest things that has changed is the number of endorsements that I’ve received over the last month — Congressman Mike Simpson, the governor and lieutenant governor,” said Idaho Falls City Councilwoman Lisa Burtenshaw. “These are important endorsements because the relationships matter between the city and the federal government, and the city and the state.”

Idaho Falls Mayoral Candidate Jeff Alldridge gave us his take:

“Some of the biggest issues that changed in the last month of this campaign has definitely been how the campaigns are run, local supporters versus outside supporters, and even attack mailers versus just local canvassing. So that’s been the biggest surprise. I’ve seen this shift in dynamics before November 4th and then post November 4th.”

The race is extremely close with Alldridge receiving 62 more votes (5,599 votes) than Burthenshaw (5,537 votes) on November 4.

Watch Local News 8 Tuesday night for full coverage on both the Idaho Falls and Pocatello mayoral races and the run-off for City Council Seat 2 between Brandon Lee and Teresa Dominick in Idaho Falls.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The smell of warm cider and 15% off of a good book filled The Book Shelf this Cider Monday, as Idaho Falls’ only used bookstore invited shoppers to slow down and enjoy a cozy alternative to the rush of online shopping.

Cider Monday started in New Hampshire as a way to encourage shoppers to support local bookstores.

“Who doesn’t love cider and cookies and books. And so the idea is just to be cozy and come and have a free cider and support your local community rather than the online stores that don’t need our money very much,” Amanda Poitevin, owner of The Book Shelf, said.

The Book Shelf, Idaho Falls’ only used bookstore, has been part of the community for 15 years.

“My husband and his dad started it about 15 years ago, and then I took it over from my husband five years ago,” Poitevin said.

If you missed it this year, don’t worry, The Book Shelf plans on keeping this traction going for years to come.

“It’s just been really nice to be able to say thank you and to say, ‘hey, we see you, we appreciate you’. And let’s keep supporting our local economy, supporting our customers, supporting our businesses and keeping our money local rather than always having it, go elsewhere,” Poitevin said.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Sheriff’s Association today released a blistering letter to state leaders, expressing “deep concern” that state-approved cuts to behavioral health funding will dangerously compromise public safety, strain local law enforcement, and leave vulnerable Idahoans without critical support.

The cuts stem from the state’s attempts to avoid a budget shortfall. In September, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced a 4% pay rate cut for Medicaid medical providers. This was immediately followed by Magellan of Idaho—the private company managing the state’s mental health benefits—announcing further rate reductions for Medicaid mental health services, ranging from 4% up to 15% and ending a range of state programs, effective Dec. 1st.

The ISA letter, addressed to Governor Brad Little and key legislative leaders, including Speaker Mike Moyal and Senate Pro Tempore Kelly Anthon, urges “State leadership to recognize the real-world public-safety consequences of these decisions and to work with counties to ensure Idahoans in crisis—and the agencies who respond to them—are not left without support.”

Sheriff Hulse: Law Enforcement ‘Feel the Impact First’

Idaho Sheriff’s Association President and Bonneville County Sheriff Samuel Hulse argues that these financial decisions will directly affect Sheriff’s Offices, which are often the first responders to behavioral-health crises.

“When the State scales back behavioral-health funding, hospital capacity, or correctional treatment programs, Idaho sheriffs feel the impact first,” writes Sheriff Hulse. “Our deputies regularly serve as the initial point of contact for individuals experiencing psychiatric deterioration, substance-induced crises, and untreated severe mental illness.”

The organization argues is that eliminating these “upstream services” will push more Idahoans into crisis, forcing law enforcement and jails to absorb the costs and consequences.

What Programs Do The Cuts Affect?

The ISA letter specifically identifies six essential behavioral health programs the State has eliminated, effective December 1st, 2025. Sheriff Hulse explains the devastating consequences of each loss:

Assertive Community Treatment Teams(A.C.T. Teams): These teams work to treat people with severe and persistent mental illness in the community.

Sheriff Hulse warns that eliminating these teams will cause an increase in crisis events, emergency room utilization, and incarceration in county jails.

Partial Hospitalization Programs (P.H.P.): Partial Hospitalization Programs help individuals safely transition back to the community after leaving inpatient care or jail. Often, individuals in these programs may suffer from mental illness and/or substance abuse issues.

Discontinuation means people may struggle to maintain recovery and end up back in jail, hospitalized, or even dead, warns the ISA.

Homes with adult Residential Treatment (H.A.R.T.): Provide 24-hour supervised housing and a structured environment for adults living with severe mental illness and/or substance use disorders, allowing them to work toward recovery and independence.

“Removing funding for homes with built-in residential treatment means these homes become basic residential facilities, now lacking clinical stabilization in the facility,” argues Hulse. “These people will reenter the already overburdened crisis care system.”

Early Serious Mental Illness (E.S.M.I.): E.S.M.I. is an early psychosis intervention program.

ISA argues that by removing this program, eligible people will be pushed into the crisis care systems: ERs, EMS, Police, and Jails.

Intensive Outpatient (I.O.P.): Intensive Outpatient programs allow individuals to remain at home while receiving treatment.

As these programs are discontinued, Hulse says it will likely result in full hospitalization for anyone who is receiving these services when they are removed.

Peer Support Programs: Peer Support helps people stay engaged with treatment and maintain a responsible quality of life while providing opportunities for people who have reclaimed their own lives to give back to the community they live in.

The ISA argues that Peer Support “makes a real difference for people who are navigating care systems in Idaho” and the loss of these programs will result in “unfortunate outcomes for many” who rely on this engagement to maintain stability.

“Shifting the Financial Burden”

While State Officials insist the cuts are necessary to avoid a budget deficit, Sheriff Hulse vehemently argues that the decisions will not reduce the overall cost to the State of Idaho.

“Instead, it will shift those costs directly onto county budgets, jails, E.M.S. agencies, and local taxpayers, who will bear the operational and financial burden of managing the consequences,” writes Sheriff Hulse.

The ISA warns that as services are terminated, county agencies will see a significant rise in:

Call volumes for patrol deputies and emergency medical services.

Increased involuntary holds at emergency rooms.

Incarcerations in county jails.

Civil and criminal court cases.

According to a report by the Idaho Capital Sun, even after the cuts, budget estimates released mid-November indicate the state is still on track to end this fiscal year in June 2026 with a $58.3 million budget deficit. The news comes only months after Gov. Little approved $450 million in tax cuts, cutting the income tax rate for the fifth time in five years. According to a report by the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, from 2021 to 2025, Idaho lost $4 billion in revenue due to income tax cuts.

Sheriff Hulse concluded his letter by placing the blame squarely on state fiscal policy: “We acknowledge the State’s budget challenges, which are self-inflicted by an overly aggressive tax reduction stance of the Legislative Branch and a complicit Executive Branch continuing to reduce tax revenue, creating a budget shortage.

“As sheriffs, our foremost duty is to protect the people of Idaho. We urge State leadership to recognize the real-world public-safety consequences of these decisions and to work with counties to ensure Idahoans in crisis—and the agencies who respond to them—are not left without support.”

The Idaho Sheriff’s Association’s full letter has been included below.

ID Behavioral Crisis Response Letter (Final)Download

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News Release

POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State University has strengthened its global research and innovation network by signing two new five-year Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading international institutions: Waseda University in Japan and Universidad Señor de Sipán (USS) in Peru. These agreements mark an important step in ISU’s ongoing commitment to advancing practical, high-impact research and educational collaboration that brings real benefits to ISU students and faculty, and strengthens the university’s international connections.

Under the terms of the MoUs, ISU and its partner institutions will promote faculty and student exchanges, collaborate on applied research relevant to both regions such as infrastructure resilience, energy, environmental security, and water resources, share academic resources, co-host workshops, and explore new joint research opportunities. These partnerships will help enhance the scientific and educational capacity of all involved institutions while fostering innovation, mutual understanding, and cross-border collaboration.

The agreement with USS highlights ISU’s growing network in Latin America. Together, the two universities will pursue research initiatives that address challenges such as affordable housing and resilient infrastructure. ISU also recently hosted a full-day research seminar at USS which was organized and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Peru as part of its efforts to strengthen international research collaboration and ties between Peru and the United States.

The MoU with Waseda University underscores ISU’s expanding presence in Asia and reinforces its dedication to cross-border academic collaboration with trusted global partners who share common values and strong ties with the United States and major non-NATO allies. 

“These partnerships connect ISU with leading global institutions, bringing new knowledge, innovation, and research opportunities that would benefit Idaho. From improving infrastructure and water management to advancing energy technologies and education, our collaborations help address challenges that matter to both parties.” said Mustafa Mashal, Special Advisor to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Professor of Civil Engineering at ISU. 

“These new agreements advance ISU’s commitment to making a positive impact at home and abroad. By fostering faculty and student research partnerships and collaborating on research that meets mutual needs, we expand the research experience for our students. This collective effort drives innovation and addresses challenges that are relevant for all involved,” said Martin Blair, ISU’s Vice President for Research and Economic Development. 

These partnerships align with ISU’s strategic vision to expand international research collaboration, provide meaningful global opportunities for students and faculty, and strengthen Idaho’s role as a hub for education, innovation, and real-world impact.

For more information about the ISU Office for Research, click HERE.

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Michael Coats

EASTERN IDAHO (KIFI) – A round of light snow is moving into the region tonight and will continue into Tuesday evening, marking the start of a wintry stretch of weather. The heaviest snowfall is expected across the Island Park and the Snake Highlands, while most locations throughout the Snake River Plain will see only a dusting to under an inch.

Tonight’s system will bring scattered snow showers after about 7 p.m., with skies remaining cloudy. Temperatures will gradually rise to around 30° overnight as light south-southwest winds near 5 mph move through the region. Snow totals will remain light, generally under half an inch.

Snow becomes more likely Tuesday, especially after late morning, as another surge of moisture spreads across eastern Idaho. Daytime highs will reach about 35°, with southwest winds around 10 mph and gusts near 20 mph. Most lower-elevation areas will see only light accumulations, while higher terrain picks up more persistent snowfall. Skies will remain mostly cloudy Tuesday night, with temperatures dropping to around 15° and winds becoming calm.

Conditions improve by midweek. Wednesday will bring mostly sunny skies and a high near 40°, accompanied by a gentle north-northeast breeze around 5 mph. Clouds return Thursday with a high near 30°, and a slight chance of snow Thursday night as lows fall to the lower 20s.

Another storm arrives Friday, bringing mountain snow and a mix of rain and snow to the valleys. Highs will reach the upper 30s, with a 30% chance of snow developing after midday. This system may lead to more widespread impacts heading into Friday night.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. tonight through 11 p.m. Tuesday for the Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains. These areas are expected to receive 6 to 10 inches of snow, with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Elsewhere in the advisory zone, 2 to 6 inches are possible. Travel over Teton Pass may become difficult, and both the morning and evening commutes on Tuesday could be impacted by blowing snow and reduced visibility.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The crucial Idaho Falls Mayoral Run-Off election will coincide with District 91 students heading to class on Tuesday, December 2. District 91 will be holding school as usual on Tuesday.

The decision comes as Superintendent Karla LaOrange addresses several questions from concerned parents regarding student safety and potential disruption from increased voter traffic at polling locations in local schools.

In an email distributed to D91 families this morning, LaOrange acknowledged the heightened anxiety. “Anytime the district welcomes the public into D91 buildings, families want to be confident their children are safe,” the superintendent wrote.

Superintendent LaOrange says the November 2024 elections were the first time District 91 scheduled staff development days for “high-turnout elections,” allowing teachers to deepen their instructional skills without taking time away from the students.

That was also the case for the November 2 city elections. The mayoral run-off resulting from that election, of course, was not planned.

“Unfortunately, our calendar does not include enough instructional hours to make the May election or tomorrow’s special runoff election non-school days as well,” said Superintendent LaOrange.

Superintendent LaOrange went on to say D91 has continued to build staff development days into the school calendar to coincide with election days, and D91 is emphasizing its proactive safety measures to ensure a secure environment for students tomorrow.

“To my knowledge, Idaho Falls School District has never experienced an incident related to hosting elections at our schools,” states LaOrange. “We are mindful that elections bring additional traffic into our buildings and will continue our longstanding practice of working closely with the Idaho Falls Police Department, our school resource officers, and the Bonneville County Elections Office to maintain a safe environment and reduce disruptions.”

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