Category: kifi-local-news

Par Kermani

Update:

ALPINE, Wyo (KIFI) — The Town of Alpine has lifted the boil water advisory that was issued earlier this month from a water main break near Trail Drive and Stoor Drive.

According to a social media post, the repairs to the water system were completed and testing confirmed the water meets safe drinking water standards.

Residents in the affected area can now resume normal water use for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, ice making and other household purposes without boiling water.

ALPINE, Wyo (KIFI) — A boil water advisory is now in effect for parts of Alpine following a water main break near Trail Drive and Stoor Drive.

According to the Town of Alpine, the advisory only applies to properties within an affected area. Residents who did not receive a door notice are not impacted.

Due to the Memorial Day holiday weekend, required bacteriological testing and confirmation sampling will take longer than normal to complete.

At this time, the town expects the advisory to remain in effect until approximately Thursday, May 28, pending water quality test results and approval from regulatory agencies.

Residents in the affected area are advised to boil water for at least three minutes before drinking, brushing teeth, making ice, cooking or washing dishes.

Bottled water is available at the Town Shop located at 289 Buffalo Drive in Alpine.

ALPINE, Wyo (KIFI) — Residents between Trail Drive and Stoor Drive are without water as crews respond to a water main break in the area.

According to a notice from the Town, water service is expected to be interrupted for about four hours while repairs are completed.

In a Facebook post, town officials said “Our crews are working as quickly as possible to restore service, and we will provide updates as soon as the repair is complete.”

This is a developing news story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as we learn additional information.

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Par Kermani

BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A vehicle pursuit near Pocatello led to Idaho State Police seizing a large quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. 

According to the Idaho State Police, the incident happened just before midnight on May 18 when a Domestic Highway Enforcement trooper spotted a sedan with California license plates failing to signal while turning from Interstate 86 onto Interstate 15.

When the trooper attempted a traffic stop near milepost 74 in Bannock County, police say the driver refused to stop, leading troopers on a pursuit.

With assistance from the Fort Hall Police Department, officers deployed spike strips that brought the pursuit to an end.

Police identified the driver as a 40-year-old man from Fargo, North Dakota. He was arrested without further incident. 

According to troopers, a search of the vehicle uncovered approximately one pound of fentanyl powder, two pounds of methamphetamine, more than two pounds of cocaine, and a half pound of marijuana.

The suspect was booked into the Bingham County Jail on probable cause charges including trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, and felony eluding.

“This seizure highlights the value of having a dedicated team focused on disrupting drug trafficking across Idaho,” Lt. Ryan Hoxie said in a statement.

The Idaho State Police Domestic Highway Enforcement team is part of Gov. Brad Little’s Esto Perpetua initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking and organized narcotics activity across Idaho.

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David Pace

FORT HALL, Idaho (KIFI) – The first Native American to travel in space, John B. Herrington, brought students and guests into his orbit Wednesday at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center.

The astronaut, with Idaho connections, blasted off aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor to visit the International Space Station in November 2022.

“I went to the space station. I did three spacewalks and helped assemble the first truss on the left side of the space station,” Herrington said.

During the 13 day and 18 hour mission, Herrington performed three space walks for about 20 hours.

“I’m a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. I was considered the first citizen of a recognized tribe to be a member of the Astronaut Corps and to fly in space,” he said.

Herrington graduated from Aviation Officer Candidate School in 1984 before joining the Astronaut Corps in April 1996.

“I used to sit in a cardboard box and dream I was going to the moon,” Herrington said. “But, you know, is that going to happen? I didn’t go to the moon. I was really envious of the people that just went to the moon. But I was very fortunate I got to do something I dreamed about as a kid.”

On Wednesday, Herrington shared his story and answered questions from Shoshone-Bannock students.

“It inspired me to know that like other natives can get that high up with their careers and do that much stuff, because I haven’t seen a lot of that,” said 13-year-old Chloe Thomas said.

“I probably will want to be an astronaut as well, to prove, like, anybody could really do anything – especially natives,” said 13-year-old Taetyn Taggart.

The first Native American astronaut, John Herrington, discusses his three space walks on the International Space Station at the Shoshone-Bannock Event Center.

The face-to-face encounter with an astronaut may prove a launching pad for Shoshone-Bannock students with big dreams.

“Believe in yourself. If there’s something you want to do, talk to somebody doing it,” Herrington said. “If you have a desire to be an astronaut, a desire to be an attorney or an engineer. Go talk to somebody, and certainly talk to somebody that’s from where you’re from. Make identification with people that you admire, that you understand. Maybe it’s a path you can go down some point in time.”

Shoshone-Bannock students stand side-by-side with NASA astronaut and fellow native John Herrington.

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Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

THORNTON, Idaho (KIFI) — Madison Fire Department says the fire has now been contained, and residents at the Wind Willows RV Park are allowed to return at this time.

Firefighters continued working through the night, putting out hot spots around the property and nearby vegetation.

Surrounding roadways near the fire scene also remain closed as crews continue cleanup and monitoring efforts.

Officials say five buildings have now been ruled a complete loss.

Power restoration for the Thornton area is still expected around 5 p.m. Friday.

THORNTON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Madison County Fire Department is urgently evacuating the Wind Willow RV Park as crews battle a large, spreading structure fire at the old Thornton Merc near along Yellowstone Hwy. and the exit 328 (Thornton) off-ramp.

So far, five structures have been declared a total loss.

Power is also out in the general Thornton area. It is expected to return May 21st at 5 p.m.

Courtesy: Madison County Sheriff’s Office

Over 15 Madison County Sheriff’s deputies are on scene assisting firefighters. Residents near the area are being directed to follow evacuation instructions from law enforcement and fire personnel on scene.

Drivers should avoid the area and, if possible, use alternate routes to allow first responders to work safely.

The off ramp for Exit 328 on Highway 20 was closed, but is now open.

Temporary Shelter Established

A temporary shelter and resources have been established for any residents displaced by the evacuation. The shelter location is at the LDS Stake Center at 2041 W 5200 S, Rexburg.

According to an alert from the Madison Fire Department, Madison CERT members and chaplains will be on scene to assist with resources.

This is a developing news story. Local News 8 has a crew on the scene and will provide more updates as we learn additional information.

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Stephanie Lucas

ARCO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Experimental Breeder Reactor-I Atomic Museum will open for the 2026 season on Friday, May 22. Located 50 miles west of Idaho Falls on U.S. Highway 20, the museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Labor Day. Admission is free.

This year will mark the 75th anniversary of EBR-I’s historic first generation of usable electricity from nuclear energy at the National Reactor Testing Station, now known as Idaho National Laboratory.

A popular stop for travelers exploring eastern Idaho, EBR-I offers a unique opportunity to explore the world’s first nuclear power plant. The atomic museum provides a hands-on look at a pivotal moment in scientific history, making it an ideal addition to a summer road trip.

“I’m always surprised when I find out local people have never been to EBR-I. I used to take my kids every summer,” said Liza Raley, INL ambassador. “We’d drive out, spend a couple hours pushing buttons at the museum, get some lunch in Arco, and then explore Craters of the Moon and Hell’s Half Acre. It’s such a fun way to learn about INL and fill a summer day.”

The reactor operated until late 1963 and was decommissioned in 1964. It was designated a National Historic Landmark on Aug. 25, 1966, by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Glenn Seaborg, then chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.

Some new features and special events coming up this season include:

America 250 posters featuring the theme “Moments That Made Us” will also be available for visitors during the 2026 season.

The museum will offer a penny press this year. Visitors are encouraged to bring loose pennies to create a souvenir keepsake.

On June 5, June 19, July 3, July 17, July 31, Aug. 14, and Aug. 28, architectural historian Libby Cook will be on-site from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to answer questions. Cook will also lead a guided tour each of those days at noon on understanding EBR-I’s evolution and the decisions of the people who built it.

Visitors can enrich their EBR-I trip by watching the “I Explored the World’s First Nuclear Power Plant (and How It Works)” episode on the “Smarter Every Day” YouTube channel.

Visitors can download the free TravelStorys app and listen to an on-demand tour of INL on their drive across the desert.

National Parks Passport holders can also bring their booklet to the museum to collect a stamp.

No reservations are necessary for the available guided and self-guided tours. Send questions to tours@inl.gov or call 208-526-0050.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) – Could a game of chance – the flip of a coin – determine the next County Commissioner of Caribou County?

According to the office of the Secretary of State, it can, but only after a tie is confirmed.

The county board has to meet first to “canvass,” when the county will recount and verify the votes. The official results won’t be known til May 28th.

If the tally remains even, there will be a coin flip. It is scheduled for May 29th.

“Yeah. So Vegas style. Right?” Caribou County Commissioner candidate, Tracy Davis, said. “You look back at some of the things and, you know, there have been other counties that have come down to a tie and the traditional coin flip conducted by the county clerk. So it is an uncertain feeling. But, you know, ultimately it is [uncertain]. We are going against a great guy. And either way, let’s flip the coin and let’s move forward.”

“I think [Caribou County] is going to have to do just like me. Wait and see,” Caribou County Commissioner candidate George Hulse said. “It’s going to be interesting. And, you know, you can’t change it now. So if you wanted to make a change, it wouldn’t be with this election. It would be with future elections.”

Coin flip or run-off election?

A coin flip determining the winner, of course, leaves the outcome to chance. Both Davis and Hulse were asked if they would prefer a runoff election instead.

“The only time I’ve ever seen anything decided by the flip of a coin that I thought was important? When I was in high school, I pole vaulted, and I tied with one of the other contestants,” relates Hulse. “It was decided by the flip of a coin who had first. I just thought, that’s quite a way to decide something like that or an election. But I don’t think that’s fair.”

“I think runoff elections are probably the more better bet,” says Davis. “I just feel like, you know, especially in a three-way race, it can change a lot of dynamics in the voting system.”

The election results remain to be seen, but once the winner is announced – whether by vote or chance – you can count on Local News 8 to deliver the results.

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Maile Sipraseuth

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho’s water outlook is looking grim despite some short-term relief in the coming days, water managers warned during the final Idaho Water Supply Committee meeting of the season on Wednesday.

Water managers say Southeast Idaho’s water outlook this summer remains below average, especially throughout the Snake River Basin. Another major topic at the meeting was Heise’s projected runoff forecast of just 70 percent of normal, making it the eighth worst on record.

“Water conditions are quite dire for Idaho. We have seen extremely low precipitation levels in the southeast. The southwest portion of Idaho specifically and have seen low snowpack levels throughout the winter in the headwaters,” Brian Stevens, the Water Operations Manager for the Bureau of Reclamation in Southeast Idaho, said.

Water supply remains a growing concern in the area, especially after a winter with below-average snowpack, meaning there’s less melting snow available to flow into rivers and reservoirs. However, there was still some hope in previous months.

“The warm temperatures in March melted a fair amount of the low elevation snowpack, which did put some water in the reservoirs. But what it did was reduce the amount of flow that was left to come out of the mountains from early May,” Stevens said.

Stevens says even small conservation efforts can make a big difference across the entire basin.

“I think conservation is always good, even for single homes to conserve water, because the water that is taken out of the aquifer is water that could be left there. So we need to conserve as much as we can in the aquifers to help groundwater levels, which in turn helps surface water levels in the reservoirs and water users throughout the basin,” Stevens said.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Torch Run has been making its way through Idaho, beginning in Bonner’s Ferry and stopping on Wednesday in Fort Hall and Pocatello to raise awareness for Special Olympics. In collaboration with law enforcement and local organizations, Special Olympics athletes get to run alongside local heroes, carrying the Flame of Hope.

The Torch Run began in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas, as a fundraiser for their local Special Olympics teams. That original run through town generated $300. Now, officials say the tradition has raised $1 billion for Special Olympics around the world.

“We run the torch prior to the summer games for awareness,” said Mike Fitch, Law Enforcement Torch Run Liaison for Special Olympics of Idaho. “We’re working our way through east Idaho now, and we’ll do the Treasure Valley next week. A big piece of this is for awareness about Special Olympics and the joint effort between law enforcement and Special Olympics in general.”

The group has run 1,100 miles in the northern part of the state already, and plans to do another 800 miles in the coming week before the summer games kick off. More than 100,000 officers participate annually in the tradition of the Torch Run.

All the funds from events like the Torch Run put on by Special Olympics go back to the athletes. Fitch said they help to pay for uniforms, travel equipment, health screenings, and more. The run itself is more about awareness, as local sponsors take care of funding.

Les Schwab Tires is the primary sponsor. “We also have Jackson’s Food Stores, Bank of America, and Lookout Credit Union, who have all chipped in money for sponsorship so that we were able to turn a profit this year,” Fitch said.

Earlier in the day on May 20, the group ran in Fort Hall, completing a four-mile relay. Athletes and officials both get to hold the torch. In Pocatello, PPD, Chubbuck Police, and Bannock County Sheriffs participated.

“Law enforcement are considered guardians of the flame, and it’s the flame of hope they’re carrying,” Fitch said. “It puts a spotlight on the relationship between law enforcement and Special Olympics, and of course, the torch symbolizes the Olympics in general, so we’ll run the torch all the way around the state.”

Opening ceremonies will happen at Nampa High School for the summer games, where a cauldron will be lit on May 29 at 6 pm.

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Stephanie Lucas

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) After 17 years, the Madison Fire Department Pipe Brigade announced 2026 will be its last year of performing.

“Following this season, the Pipe Brigade will retire, and the traditions will come to a close,” the organization said in a press release.  

“It has been our honor and privilege to serve the residents of Madison County and the surrounding communities by honoring those who have gone before us,” it continued. “We are deeply grateful for the support, encouragement, and friendship we have received from the people of Rexburg and Madison County over the years.”

The Pipe Brigade will continue to perform for the next several months at their traditional community events, including:

Memorial Day – May 25th 

9:00 AM – Plano and Sutton (Archer) Cemeteries  

9:50 AM – Burton and Sugar Cemeteries  

10:45 AM – Rexburg Cemetery (all pipers will gather and perform)  

Saint Anthony 24th of July Parade 

Final appearances in 2026 will be: 

9/11 Memorial Walk (Porter Park)  

Patriot Day Parade (Porter Park)  

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Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is traditionally known as the “100 Deadliest Days” because Idaho’s highways see their highest number of crashes.

In an effort to remind drivers to be more vigilant, the state’s Office of Highway Safety is joining national partners to shift the narrative from the “100 Deadliest Days” to the “100 Safest Days of Summer,” and the year-to-year numbers being used look positive.

Idaho fatalities during the summer months 2021-2025:

2021 – Memorial Day to Labor Day: 100

2022 – Memorial Day to Labor Day: 81

2023 – Memorial Day to Labor Day: 93

2024 – Memorial Day to Labor Day: 82

2025 – Memorial Day to Labor Day: 87

Since 2021, Idaho has seen a reduction in crashes during the summer months. Five Idaho counties — Camas, Franklin, Gem, Teton, and Lewis — had zero traffic fatalities during 2025. 

“Everyone wants zero fatalities for their family, and that is only possible when Idahoans make safe choices behind the wheel,” said Josephine Middleton, Office of Highway Safety Manager. “We want drivers and passengers to be proactive about their safety as we head into the summer season.”

Idaho also saw strong improvements in safety for people walking, biking, and rolling. After an unusually high year in 2023, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities fell by more than half.

Still, officials emphasize that seat belt use and speeding remain critical areas for improvement. People not buckling their seat belts made up 47% of all people killed in passenger vehicles in 2024. Aggressive driving and speeding continue to contribute to nearly half of all crashes.

“As families and teens spend more time on the road, the safest choice is still the simplest one: buckle up, slow down, and stay focused,” Middleton said. “Together, we can make this Idaho’s safest summer yet.”

For more information on Idaho crash trends and safe-driving resources, visit shift-idaho.org

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