Category: kifi-local-news

Curtis Jackson

HEYBURN, Idaho (KIFI) – An Idaho meat processing company is recalling about 2,855 pounds of ground beef for possible E.coli contamination.

The U.S. Department of Agricultures’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced Friday that Mountain West Food Group is recalling the raw ground beef that was produced on Dec. 16, 2025.

The 16-ounce or 1-pound packages contain the words “FORWARD FARMS GRASS-FED GROUND BEEF” with “USE OR FREEZE BY 01/13/26 EST 2083” printed on the side of the packaging.

The product was distributed to stores in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

The problem was discovered during routine FSIS testing and the sampling results showed the presence of E. coli O26.

There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of these products.

E. coli O26, like the more common E. coli O157:H7, is a serovar of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). People can become ill from STECs 28 days (average of 34 days) after exposure to the organism.

Most people infected with STEC O26 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended. Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, is uncommon with STEC O26 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160 degrees F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Jeremy Anderson, CEO of Mountain West Food Group, LLC, at 208-679-3765 or info@mountainwestfoodgroup.com.

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Danielle Mullenix

After much wet weather and fluctuating warm temperatures across the region, our skies have cleared, and temperatures have dropped below freezing for the final days of 2025. Cooler Arctic winds are giving residents across Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming a slight chill as we close out the year and enter 2026.

Sunday will remain sunny, with a high of 27 degrees, followed by a chilly Monday morning with a low of 8 degrees. This will be the week’s coldest day, with highs holding below freezing. High temperatures at the start of the final week of the year will be in the lower 30s. While temperatures will be cooler, drier weather should provide a welcome pause after several days of unsettled holiday weather.

Looking ahead, high temperatures will gradually rise through the middle of next week, but overnight lows will remain in the teens after Monday. Some high-pressure ridging will support these dry conditions we’ll experience, only light winds, and a gradual warming trend will occur by New Year’s Day. No weather hazards or impacts are currently expected. Be aware of patchy ice on the roads in the mountain passes near the Island Park area.

There is a chance of mixed rain and snow returning to our area by New Year’s Day on Thursday, and moisture will continue to move into the weekend.

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Maile Sipraseuth

The following is a press release issued by Idaho State Police:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – Idaho State Police (ISP) is investigating a vehicle collision which occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 12:56 P.M., on I15 at mile marker 122 in Bonneville County.

A 2016 Chevrolet Traverse was traveling north on I15. A 2022 Ford F150 was traveling south on I15. The driver of the Chevrolet, a 32-year-old man from Idaho Falls, lost control of the vehicle on the snow-covered roads, crossed the median, and struck the Ford F150.

The driver of the Ford, a 54-year-old woman from Twin Falls, was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the Chevrolet was not transported. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts.

The southbound lanes of I15 were blocked for approximately one and a half hours, allowing emergency responders to assist those involved and clear the scene. The lanes have re-opened.

Idaho State Police encourages drivers to remain cautious when driving on roads covered by snow or slush by reducing speed and increasing following distance.

This incident remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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News Release

Originally Published: 26 DEC 25 21:48 ET

Updated: 26 DEC 25 22:59 ET

By Taylor Romine, CNN

(CNN) — A shooter armed with several guns opened fire in the lobby of an Idaho sheriff’s office and the street outside Friday, injuring three people before being killed in a standoff with law enforcement, the local sheriff said.

The suspected gunman fired shots at a pickup truck outside the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Wallace before entering the lobby and firing into the station toward the dispatch center, Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy said at a news conference.

The shooting drew a massive police response, with a SWAT team and multiple agencies responding to the sheriff’s office at around 2:40 p.m. PT, the sheriff’s office said.

An officer-involved shooting followed, and the suspect was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m., he said. No information was available on the suspect or their motive.

The injuries of the three people shot were described as minor, according to Eddy, who said two female victims in the pickup truck were shot in the leg and a deputy received a gunshot wound to the ear.

Initial reports indicated the suspect may have gained access to the jail, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said, which “ramped up” the response from law enforcement.

“This is a fairly significant event when you have a person that goes into a lobby of a sheriff’s office and starts a shootout,” he said.

The suspect appears to have stayed in the lobby and the people in the jail weren’t injured, Eddy said.

At least eight law enforcement agencies assisted the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy said. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department will handle the criminal investigation while Idaho State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting, he said.

Wallace, Idaho, is about 70 miles east of Spokane, Washington.

Wallace resident Julie Swindell-Ward told CNN affiliate KXLY she was in the grocery store across the street when she heard someone say something about a person with a gun at the sheriff’s department.

“I walked out to the parking lot, I see sheriff’s cars, lights coming down,” she told the affiliate. “And then as I’m approaching my car, I heard gunshots.”

It was a surprising thing to witness in such a small town, especially on a quiet Friday, she said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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

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News Team

UPDATE: Funeral services for President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MST.

The funeral will be open to the public, ages 8 and older. Seating in the Tabernacle will be available to the public with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. Admission to the Tabernacle will be on a space available basis. Overflow seating will be made available as appropriate.

The funeral services will be streamed live and available on demand in 38 languages on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on YouTube.

The services will also be broadcast on BYUtv.

President Holland will be buried in his hometown of St. George, Utah, next to his wife, Patricia, who died in 2023.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Saturday morning at the age of 85.

President Holland passed away at 3:15 a.m. MST, surrounded by family members, following complications related to kidney disease, the Church announced. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 24, 2025.

As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since June 1994, President Holland served for over three decades in one of the faith’s highest governing bodies. He was widely recognized for his ability as a speaker and powerful oratory style and his deep commitment to the global membership of the faith.

Before his call to full-time church service, President Holland served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1989. His academic journey began in his hometown of St. George, Utah, where he was born on Dec. 3, 1940. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from BYU before attending Yale University, where he obtained a master’s and a doctorate in American studies.

President Holland held several prominent positions within the Church Educational System before his call to serve university’s president. From 1974-1980 he was the dean of BYU’s College of Religious Education and at the same time served as the Church’s Commissioner of Education. His influence on the Church’s educational institutions remained a hallmark of his legacy throughout his apostolic ministry.

In his passing, the longtime leader and teacher joins his wife, Patricia Terry Holland, who passed away in July 2023. He is survived by the couple’s three children, 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be released at a later date.

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News Team

UPDATED:

Two civilians and a deputy were injured after a suspect opened fire inside the lobby of an Idaho sheriff’s office and on the street outside. Authorities say the suspected shooter was later shot and killed.

The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office have confirmed that the active shooter threat at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Wallace has been neutralized, and there is no ongoing danger to the community.

Officials are still asking residents to avoid the area while the investigation remains active.

ORIGINAL:

SHOSHONE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities in northern Idaho are responding to an active shooter at the Shoshone County Courthouse in Wallace, Idaho.

Preliminary details are still coming in, but the nearby Mineral County, Montana, Sheriff confirmed the online reports of the active situation on Facebook, asking the area residents to pray for all law enforcement.

“We are sending reinforcement to help our neighbor. Please pray for all law enforcement. And stay out of the downtown area in Wallace if possible,” states the sheriff’s post.

Reports by KREM 2 news in Spokane confirm that the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team is on the scene.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more details as they become available.

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Maile Sipraseuth

UPDATED:

As of 4:27 PM, all power has been restored. According to Idaho Falls Power, it will take several hours to set a new pole.

UPDATED:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Power has been restored to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center and several surrounding neighborhoods after a vehicle crashed into a major utility pole near Sandcreek Golf Course. Idaho Falls Power warns residents should prepare for a second planned service interruption later tonight.

As of 3:03 PM, Idaho Falls Power officials confirmed that while electricity is back on for the majority of affected customers, crews must initiate secondary outage tonight to replace an 80-foot transmission pole damaged in the collision.

Courtesy: Idaho Falls Power

“That outage should only be a couple of hours and I’m working with Rocky Mountain power to get their lines energized,” said Lerwill. “We’re looking at approx a 7 hour timeframe to get the pole changed out.”

The Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, which was caught in the initial blackout, has returned to normal operations following a successful transition to emergency power. Hospital spokesperson Colleen Neimann confirmed that the facility used backup systems to maintain essential medical services and ensure patient safety throughout the duration of the disruption.

The incident began earlier today when a vehicle struck the utility pole along East Sunnyside Road, causing an immediate loss of power for several businesses and neighborhoods across Idaho Falls and Ammon.

Sarah Wheeler of Idaho Falls Power reported that dispatchers are still tallying the total number of affected residents, and the specific cause of the crash remains under investigation. Utility providers are asking the community for continued patience as crews work through the night to complete the permanent infrastructure repairs.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide more updates as information becomes available.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As temperatures plunge across Eastern Idaho, locals are looking for any way to stay warm. However, the Idaho Falls Fire Department is issuing a stern warning: your efforts to keep warm could be putting your home at risk.

Winter is peak season for structure fires, with space heaters as the main culprit. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, from 2017-2019, space heaters were involved in about 3% of all home heating fires, including 41% of fatal house fires.

While Local News 8 has already reported on several house fires in surrounding areas this month, Idaho Falls has narrowly avoided similar tragedies. According to IFFD Fire Marshal Jim Newton, the danger often lies in the home’s electrical capacity rather than the heater itself.

“The thing we see with space heaters is that they’re typically overloaded, so most houses aren’t built to have multiple space heaters on one circuit,” said Jim Newton, Fire Marsha for the Idaho Falls Fire Department. “So what we find is people put too many space heaters either on a power strip or too many into an outlet, and then they put them too close to other objects, which are then heated up and cause fires.”

When these circuits overheat, or when a heater is placed too close to flammable objects like curtains or furniture, the results can be instantaneous and devastating.

The IFFD recommends all Idahoans take the following precautions:

The Three-Foot Rule: Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.

Plug Directly into Walls: Never use extension cords or power strips for heating units.

Test Your Alarms: Ensure smoke detectors are functional. While many people test them during daylight saving time, Newton emphasizes that it is never too late to check.

Clear the Area: Ensure children and pets are kept away from high-heat sources.

Newton advises Idahoans to make sure smoke alarms are tested. It’s often recommended to check those at the time change, but if you haven’t, it’s never too late to check them. He says early warning and detection are key to life-saving measures.

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Danielle Mullenix

As we approach “Part 2” of the winter storm systems today and Saturday, temperatures across the region will drop, and snow levels will rise in the highlands. Scattered thunderstorms swept through the valley this Friday afternoon, causing slick roads, sleet, and high winds.

A winter storm warning and advisory was placed into effect by the National Weather Service for the Centennial Mountains and Island Park area. Heavy snow is expected, with total snow accumulations ranging from 5 to 10 inches and winds gusting up to 35 mph. Areas such as Stanley, Ketchum, Island Park, and Driggs, along with all our mountain passes, will see chances of significant snowfall, which could lead to slick travel conditions.

Some light snow is anticipated across all valley floors, including Snake Plain and eastern Magic Valley; however, accumulation is expected to be minimal. Please exercise extra caution when planning travel across the region on Friday and Saturday after Christmas, and check the latest forecasts and road conditions.

This winter weather advisory is in effect from 2 AM Friday through 5 AM MST Saturday. Residents should prepare for slippery roads, as hazardous conditions could significantly affect the Friday morning and evening commutes.

Rain and sleet are expected to move across the valley region this Friday afternoon and early evening. Temperatures are dropping as a cold front approaches this weekend, with highs in the upper 30s and gusts up to 30 mph. Rain and snow are likely tonight, with additional snowfall after midnight.

On Saturday, expect snow with a high of 34 degrees and wind gusts of 35-40 mph. Saturday night will be partly cloudy with a low of 11 degrees. Sunday will be sunny, with a high of 27 degrees, followed by a chilly Monday morning with a low of 8 degrees. High temperatures at the start of the last week of the year will be in the lower 30s.

Looking ahead to next week, temperatures will gradually rise, but overnight lows will remain in the teens after Monday.

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Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — While the day after Christmas typically marks a nationwide wave of holiday returns, small businesses in downtown Idaho Falls are seeing more shoppers buying than returning.

Despite National Retail Federation projections that 17% of holiday purchases will be returned this year, totaling an estimated $890 billion in retail reversals for the 2025 season, local shop owners say the atmosphere remains more “buy” than “bye-bye.”

Local News 8 visited several downtown businesses whose owners told us that while the morning began with a quiet start, things started to pick up as the day went on. Many of these independent businesses report significantly fewer returns than in previous years. Davin Napier, co-owner of Idaho Mountain Trading, noted that the day has become an opportunity for growth rather than a loss of revenue.

“We don’t actually get a lot of returns on this day. We actually usually get a lot of exchanges, which is wonderful. So we feel like we offer enough for everyone, but then they can actually just exchange it. And so it’s actually a really exciting day for us,” Davin Napier, Co-Owner of Idaho Mountain Trading.

Shop owners attribute this shift partly to store policies that favor exchanges or store credit over cash refunds, keeping holiday dollars within the local economy.

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