Category: kifi-local-news

Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Symphony is hosting its free “Sounds of America” concert Saturday at Freeman Park at 5:30 p.m.

The outdoor concert will feature a variety of American music, including “Stars and Stripes Forever,” jazz by Duke Ellington, a tribute to Abraham Lincoln and movie music.

The concert will feature Idaho Falls Symphony performers Emma Rubinstein, concertmaster and violinist; Melissa Dayley on viola; and Karen Bechtel on cello.

Organizers say the outdoor concert will have a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Attendees can bring blankets and picnics, and food trucks will also be available.

Melissa Dayley said the outdoor setting makes the concert a fun and accessible way for people who may not have attended a symphony before to experience a performance.

The symphony recommends arriving around 5 p.m. to find a spot, as a large crowd is expected. Parking is available at Freeman Park.

The program will also include “Ashokan Farewell” by Jay Ungar, a well-known fiddle tune written in 1982. The piece was featured in Ken Burns’ documentary series about the Civil War and is described by the musicians as haunting but beautiful, with the feel of a Scottish lament.

Watch the full performance from their visit to the station in the video above. You can visit the Idaho Falls Symphony website to learn more about the symphony, upcoming performances, and events.

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Curtis Jackson

Below are pictures and videos submitted to us by viewers from Thursday night’s thunderstorms. Large hailstones were reported near the Blackfoot and Firth area.

If you would like to share your photos and videos to us, click here.

Shared by Gail Lewis Shared by Lisa Walton Shared by Lisa Walton Shared by Steven Gleason Shared by Chrystal Burchatz Shared by Shawn Shannon Shared by Shanna Hair Shared by Bryon Johnson Shared by Brian Johnson Shared by Lyn Carstens Shared by Stuart Bodkin Shared by Kris Baker

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Abi Martin

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho — Heavy rainfall swept across eastern Idaho on Thursday, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a flash flood warning for several local communities, including Madison, along with parts of Bonneville County and Jefferson County.

The storm has already triggered localized flooding across several communities.

Multiple Madison County residents reported water rising in basement apartments, where several inches of rainfall collected in window wells. Several tenants were actively bailing out water late Thursday in an effort to prevent further damage.

Rexburg residents attempt to mop up water seeping into apartment Rainwater fills apartment window well

Madison County residents needing immediate help or sandbag supplies are advised to contact dispatch at 208-248-4605.

Law enforcement across the region is directing drivers to avoid flooded roadways, especially at night when water depth is difficult to gauge.

The county is now asking residents to report flood damage through an online assessment, to help officials track where flooding has occurred.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A transformational program is lifting people in jail, giving them qualifications for their future and hope in themselves.

Bonneville County Jail’s I.G.N.I.T.E. program achieved a milestone of 102 G.E.D. graduates in the past three years. 

“It’s a big accomplishment. I have been turned down jobs in the past for not having a diploma or GED, and so this will give me a better opportunity for better jobs and better employment, better income,” said G.E.D. recipient Brian Moore.

I.G.N.I.T.E. stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education and helps students advance in their education and prepare for reentry into society.

Bonneville County’s Jail was the ninth in the nation to adopt I.G.N.I.T.E. Today, with the National Sheriff’s Association, it has expanded to more than 30 jails that have caught the fire.

“Fate whispers to the warrior, you cannot withstand the storm. The warrior whispers back, I am the storm,” said Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse.” I think that’s relevant to us today because it is those that choose to step into the challenge that make the difference. Each of us are burdened with challenges, but you’re built for it.”

But the true heroes are the people turning their lives around, leaving behind old habits and investing in their future careers and education, said G.E.D. Program Administrator Anne Johnson, from the Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Center.

“I love working with all you guys because I think the majority of people that are in jail are good people. I didn’t say all, I said the majority,” Johnson said. “So they are here due to a lot of mistakes they’ve made. People have addiction issues, mental health issues – a lot have learning disabilities.”

She recognized each graduate one-by-one for his or her intelligence, dedication and for some, perseverance learning how to read better and improve in math.

Family members also came to support and congratulate Felicia Minjares, Maria Carrillo, Joshua Spence, Jeremy Clark, Christian Rourick, Sergio Elizondo, Jeffery Sanchez, Kole Abegglen, Brian Moore, and Nicholas Norby on their graduation as they received their diploma in a cap and gown.

In total, more than 40 graduates have also completed the Solutions substance abuse rehabilitation program.

Idaho Falls Mayor Lisa Burtenshaw and Bonneville County Commissioners Karl Casperson, Michelle Mallard and Jon Walker issued a joint proclamation honoring the individuals’ achievements on National G.E.D. Day Wednesday.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reports fewer inmates fall back into criminal activity after going through the program.

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Dylan Carder

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)- Voters in eastern Idaho had the opportunity to hear from a candidate in the race for Idaho Attorney General during an event in Idaho Falls. The City Club of Idaho Falls hosted a gathering at University Place featuring Democratic candidate Lori Hickman, while incumbent Republican Attorney General Raul Labrador chose not to attend.

The event allowed local residents to become more familiar with the candidates competing for the state’s chief legal position. Hickman addressed attendees about her legislative perspectives and goals for the office, while Labrador’s record as attorney general and past public service served as a backdrop for the campaign discussion.

Lori Hickman, a Boise-based lawyer who previously led Mormon Women for Ethical Government, outlined her platform to attendees. She emphasized a return to nonpartisan legal representation, pointing to past state legal leadership.

“For many years Idaho has had several attorneys general from Jim Jones to Larry Echohawk to Lawrence Wasden for 20 years. Two Republicans and a Democrat that just followed the rule of law and applied the law as written and reached across both sides of the aisle if that’s what it is. Didn’t matter who came to their office for representation, politics did not come into play. That is what I want to restore the office to,” Hickman said.

Hickman also addressed current legal policies, citing Idaho’s abortion statute as a primary concern regarding current office leadership. “I have to uphold the law as written. I can’t change the law. I cannot disregard it. But the extreme interpretations that Mr. Labrador has taken has resulted in even further, confusion and terror and, really endangering, women in Idaho and led to the departure of so many of those physicians,” Hickman said.

Labrador was elected Idaho Attorney General in 2022. Prior to taking office as state attorney general, he served eight years in the U.S. Congress and served as a representative in the Idaho state Legislature.

More information on Labrador’s work as Attorney General can be found here.

To learn more about Hickman’s campaign, go to this link.

Election Day is on Tuesday, November 3.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

HEISE, Idaho (KIFI) — As storms and heavy rainfall continue to move through the region, areas that experienced recent burns may be more susceptible to flash flooding, such as the areas affected by the Big Rock Fire.

Along the mountains around the Heise area, the land is covered in burn scars and ash. When heavy rainfall hits the area, the water won’t be absorbed into the ground. This could lead to water, mud, and debris being forced down the mountain and across the roads.

Jefferson County official realized this and set up barriers to hopefully keep the debris from blocking roadways.

“When this wasn’t a burn area, the water would cascade down and soak into the ground,” Rebecca Squires, the Emergency Management Coordinator for Jefferson County, said. “Burned soil doesn’t soak up water very well. So, to catch the water that’s coming down. Our teams built this big catch basin with concrete to help hold back debris. And so this will allow the water time to settle into the soil and hopefully avoid running out and across the road.”

Concrete Barriers to catch debris 15-foot hole dug by crews to hold debris and soak up water

As the storms continue to move in, Local News 8 will monitor roadway conditions and alert you if anything is going on in the Heise area and across the region.

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Seth Ratliff

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Rexburg man is facing multiple felony charges following an Internet Crimes Against Children investigation in Madison County.

Dakota Beattie was arrested after detectives investigated a CyberTip forwarded by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office ICAC Task Force earlier this month. He is charged with felony possession of sexually exploitative material and AI-generated sexually exploitative material.

A judge set Beattie’s bond at $250,000.

If convicted, a single count of possessing sexually exploitative material carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison and a $10,000 fine. The charge for possessing AI-generated material carries an additional penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. Possessing AI-generated sexually exploitative material carries an additional prison sentence of up to 5 years and a $5,000 fine under Idaho law.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Charges represent a formal accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Pocatello Fire Department is investigating after two vehicles caught fire in the yard of Shaw’s Auto Parts along N 1st Ave on Wednesday.

PFD spokesperson Kim Stouse says the call came in around 2:23 p.m. that flames had broken out in a single vehicle and quickly spread to a nearby car.

Multiple fire crews responded and quickly knocked down the flames, keeping the fire from spreading.

No injuries were reported, and the cause remains under investigation.

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Danielle Mullenix

YELLOWSTONE, Wyo (KIFI) – Yellowstone National Park has welcomed nearly 3.5 million recreation visits through August 2026, according to new National Park Service visitation data. This however shows a slight decline in the number of summer tourists traveling through the park compared to 2025.

The park recorded approximately 3.49 million recreation visits through August this year, compared with 3.54 million during the same period in 2025.

That represents a decrease of about 56,000 visits, or 1.6%, from last year.

The difference is more noticeable when compared with 2021, when Yellowstone was experiencing record-setting visitation.Through August 2021, the park recorded approximately 3.59 million recreation visits.

August Visitation also down

Yellowstone recorded 856,467 recreation visits in August 2026, down about 3% from August 2025.

Despite the decrease, August remains one of Yellowstone’s busiest months of the year, with millions of visitors traveling through the park during the summer season.

West Yellowstone remains a major gateway

For visitors coming into Yellowstone from eastern Idaho and southwest Montana, the West Yellowstone entrance remains the park’s busiest entrance.

National Park Service entrance data through July show nearly 425,000 recreational automobiles entering through the West Entrance in 2026.

That compares with approximately:

244,000 through the North Entrance 152,000 through the South Entrance 84,000 through the East Entrance 75,000 through the Northeast Entrance

The West Entrance accounted for roughly 43% of recreational automobile entries through the five traditional Yellowstone entrance stations through July.

Summer season still successful, despite smaller numbers

While the 2026 visitation is running below both 2025 and 2021 levels, Yellowstone continues to draw millions of people each year.

For communities surrounding the park — including West Yellowstone and Island Park — the summer tourism season remains a major driver of visitors traveling through the region, and the success of local businesses.

The National Park Service tracks “recreation visits,” which represent visits to the park and do not necessarily correspond to the number of unique individual visitors. A full release of the 2026 Calendar Year Statistics will be available in January of 2027.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – College of Eastern Idaho’s first-ever ‘Let’s Talk Nuclear’ symposium launched today for 250 high students to explore future career options at Idaho National Laboratory.

Students from across the region learned about AI, radioisotope power systems, nuclear construction, business management, communications, project management, fire education, finances and nuclear medicine.

“The decisions made over the next decade will shape the future of energy, technology and national security right here in the United States of America,” said College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) President Lori Barber. “The people sitting in this room, that’s all of you, will be the ones who are making those decisions.”

Students performed fun group projects, science experiments and simulations while connecting with experts and exploring career options.

“One of the challenges we’re working through and facing is building up the next generation of nuclear engineers and people that are comfortable working in their environment,” said INL Nuclear Reactor Technology Deputy Division Director Dawn Scates. “Our workforce is aging. We’re bringing on new people to join us, and we’re working to establish this career pipeline of early career researchers – some of which don’t even necessarily have to go through college.”

The symposium will be an annual event, hosted by CEI’s Battelle Energy Alliance Applied STEM Institute.

“This nuclear industry is going to need software developers, electricians, welders, instrumentation technicians, data analysts, cybersecurity specialists, construction managers, material scientists, machinists, business professionals, professionals, communicators, leaders, and so many more disciplines that I haven’t mentioned,” Barber said. “In other words, I want you to remember there is a place for almost every talent and every interest.”

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