Category: kifi-local-news

David Barrington

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A semi-truck trailer caught fire Tuesday evening on U.S. 20 westbound near Exit 318. Idaho State Police has confirmed the truck’s brakes were the cause. Central Fire is providing the water for the extinguishment. 

The driver was able to pull over and disconnect the truck from the trailer which was carrying potatoes. There is no word on whether or not the load of potatoes can be saved.

Exit 318 was shut down while the flames were being put out.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ariel Jensen

MENAN, Idaho (KIFI) – A Madison County detective is being recognized for his efforts in protecting children from shady characters on the internet.

Detective Christian Teage is being honored for his dedication to child protection and internet safety over the last year.

Operation Safe Online was launched last summer by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Detective Christian Teage says the work couldn’t be done without the help of his neighboring law enforcement agencies 

“Luckily, I work for an awesome sheriff who allows me to go and do these cases and help out and very supportive. And a police department in Rexburg, Rexburg PD. They’re awesome at helping me out with cases when I have them, whether it’s their jurisdiction or somebody else’s. And we’re always helping and working together. So you can’t beat the teamwork,” said Detective Christian Teage.

 Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador says our law enforcement performs tireless work and is making a difference in communities across Idaho.

And thanks them for standing on the front lines to protect our kids.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Tuesday morning, Adams Elementary School in Rexburg participated in an active school shooting drill.

This Full evacuation drill is meant to keep the students and staff as safe as possible.

Any active shooting situation is going to be chaotic, and the school is doing the best it can to gain control of the situation.

Rexburg Police, Fire, and the transportation department came out to help with the drill. 

Safety is a top priority for the school district, and they want to give these children the best training possible.

This year, the school tried something new. They assigned some students and teachers to stay back at the school during the drill to see how well staff and students adapted.

These chosen people were considered missing in action.

They hope to never have to use these skills, but it’s better to have them than not. 

Brenda Butikofer Principal Adams, Elementary School said, ” In an emergency situation, people and things get a little frantic. As long as there’s muscle memory, ‘This is what I do in this certain situation.’ There’s an element of calm that can be brought to a very emotionally charged situation.”

 Butikofer tells local news 8 that they have done this drill for several years. She admits it’d been very chaotic in the past, but this is their best year yet. 

All the teachers in the district have a red emergency backpack filled with survival tools, from candy and games to rope, tape, and first aid. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls Residents can get a discount card from the city. The card applies to the following:

Idaho Falls Zoo

The card is only valid when–

Discounting admission to the Zoo

It cannot be used for–

Zoological Events

Education programs

Special events

Funland

Wes Deist Aquatic Center

The card is valid for–

Admission to the recreation center

Program registrations

Punch cards/passes

The card cannot be used on–

Equipment rentals

Select programs

Marmo/Lehto Ice Arena

The card works on–

Public skate admission sessions

Ice skate lessons

Pinch passes

Season passes

It will not work on–

Equipment rental

Ice rental time

Special event admissions.

Recreation Center

The card is valid on admission to–

Recreation Center

Program registrations

Punch cards/passes

It cannot be used for–

Special event applications

Equipment rentals

Select programs

Tautphaus Park Indoor Pickleball Courts

The Pinecrest, Sage Lakes, and Sand Creek golf courses

The discount is valid on the purchase of–

A 9 or 18 hole green fee

Green fee punch cards

Season passes.

In cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions, including those for special events.

The discount does not apply to–

Family Golf Days

Tournament registrations

Pro shop purchases

Onsite restaurant purchases

Range balls

Cart fees

Any other non-green fee item

According to the Idaho Falls website, residents should go to the Recreation Center at 520 Memorial Drive to receive their card. Applicants should bring:

Documentation to prove Idaho Falls residency, including-

Utility Bill

Paystub

Mail

Or other– Any official correspondence that includes an address and name

Valid Photo ID that matches the name and address of the documentation proving residency

A mailing address alone does not guarantee eligibility. The address must be verified, which is done with the documentation previously listed. This can be done at the Recreation Center. Some people may have already verified their address through other programs at the Aquatic Center or Ice Arena. If already verified at one of these other locations, this step can be skipped. The card will still need to be picked up at the Recreation Center.

The first card is free, with a $10 fee to replace any lost cards.

“You must present your card at the Zoo, our 3 Golf Courses (Pinecrest, Sage Lakes and Sand Creek) and the Tautphaus Park Pickleball Courts to receive your resident discount.  All other locations do NOT need a card presented to apply a discount,” according to the Idaho Falls website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A federal judge in Idaho has issued a temporary hold on all executions in the state. This week, the judge granted a preliminary injunction that prohibits the execution of convicted individuals until the state Department of Corrections increases access for witnesses to the so-called “Medical Team Room.”

Under the Idaho Department of Corrections’ current lethal injection execution procedure, witnesses are only allowed to view the Execution Preparation Room and the Execution Chamber throughout the process.

Meanwhile, the medical team members administering the lethal injection remain in the Medical Team Room during the execution.

The order was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by three news media organizations: the Idaho Statesman, East Idaho News, and the Associated Press. The groups are attempting to expand audio and visual access to the Medical Team Room, which is an area of the corrections facility where medical personnel prepare for a lethal injection.

According to court documents, the news groups are arguing that “access to the Medical Team Room is part of the ‘initial procedures that are inextricably intertwined with the process of putting the condemned inmate to death.'” They argue that viewing the entirety of an execution plays a significant positive role in the public’s understanding of modern execution procedures.

The IDOC contends that limiting witnesses’ access to the Medical Team Room ensures the safety and confidentiality of the medical team.

In a 34-page decision, U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora Grasham of the District of Idaho ordered the Idaho Department of Corrections to upgrade the execution wing of the maximum-security prison, allowing members of the media to view the medical team’s preparations for the capital punishment in addition to the execution itself.

“It is clear that the performance of capital punishment in the United States has historically been open to the public. The Court finds that the means and methods of an execution were also open and obvious, allowing the public to witness not only the execution itself, but the cause and effect of the execution method used,” said Grasham in the 34-page decision.

“The Court here does not make a policy judgment regarding if, when, and how the death penalty should be imposed. Rather, it attempts to safeguard the constitutional right belonging to the public under the First Amendment of access to executions conducted by the State, so that such policy decisions can be well-informed.”

Click here to follow the original article.

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The State of Idaho and President Trump’s administration have signed an agreement that could have major impacts on the state and the future of nuclear energy in the nation.

According to recent news releases, the U.S. Department of Energy and state officials agreed to a targeted waiver of the 1995 Settlement Agreement, which established milestones to remove legacy waste at the Idaho National Lab site while allowing continued energy research and development at the lab.

The agreement limits the amount of spent nuclear fuel entering the Site to 55 metric tons and requires DOE to report annually on the amount received, according to the INL

The waiver will allow additional spent nuclear waste to be brought into the site for critical research on a high-burnup nuclear fuel cask from a commercial nuclear power plant. According to the INL, this research will provide data to support licensing for the extended storage of spent fuel at 54 nuclear power plants in 28 states.

In a press release commenting on the agreement, Governor Brad Little supported the collaborative effort between the state and national partners. Gov. Little said the effort showcases the commitment to advancing nuclear energy research while upholding the goals of the original agreement.

“We are proud to support innovation in nuclear energy that will support national security and energy independence into the future,” Governor Brad Little said.

In the years since the original agreement, the state has made major strides to dig up and remove radioactive and hazardous waste buried for decades in unlined pits at an eastern Idaho nuclear facility that sits atop a giant aquifer.

According to the Idaho National Lab, modern commercial nuclear fuels are more efficient, lowering costs for utilities and customers. To ensure safe long-term storage, the nuclear industry and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission require performance data for nuclear fuel. This information is crucial for over 70% of dry storage facilities to renew their licenses and maintain safe storage.

The waiver enables INL to address a national need not envisioned when the Settlement Agreement was established three decades ago, while supporting the national commitment to energy independence, according to the INL.

The INL says this research will help sustain the current U.S. nuclear reactor fleet, which produces nearly 20% of the nation’s electricity, and reinforces Idaho’s critical role in supporting the U.S. nuclear industry.

“As the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, we look forward to utilizing our unique facilities and expertise to support this critical national need. We are thankful to the Department of Energy and the state of Idaho for entrusting us with the safe and secure execution of our vital mission,” INL Director John Wagner said.

For more information on the 1995 Settlement Agreement, click HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– Pocatello Animal Services is bouncing back from a recent outbreak of Canine Parvovirus, which spread to four puppies and prompted the shelter to close for quarantine and cleaning on April 25.

Animal Services leaders say they were forced to euthanize the four infected puppies to stop the virus from spreading, but, after diligent testing and disinfection, the disease has been contained and the shelter reopened with increased precautions on April 25.

“We are actively monitoring all the rest of the puppies in our care, and all of the dogs in general,” said Sarah Moore of the Pocatello Animal Shelter. “We’re testing them with parvo SNAP tests daily, just to make sure that we’re on top of anyone who might start showing symptoms of it and keep them well-isolated.”

Animal Services is also limiting the number of volunteers allowed in the shelter until they are sure the disease has been completely suppressed–they said they hope to return to normal operations in the next week.

Now, Moore said, the problem comes in keeping the shelter animals from going stir-crazy as they’re sequestered to their kennels in an added precaution against causing a resurgence in parvovirus.

“They’re spending a lot more time in their kennels than usual, and a lot more than we would like,” said Moore. “We also are limiting how many toys we’re distributing amongst the dogs, because everything that goes into a dog’s kennel needs to get cleaned–it’s another point of possible contamination between one dog to another–so we’re really limiting how much the dogs are getting.”

Moore said the community can help quell the dogs’ boredom–the shelter is asking for donations of ‘chews’: items like bully sticks, beef cheek rolls, etc. which can provide a source of entertainment and also be eaten, eliminating the need for the toys to be disinfected and passed to other pets.

Donations of toys and chews will be accepted at the Pocatello Animal Shelter at 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs in Pocatello.

The shelter is also open for adoptions, with safety measures added to preserve the health of the shelter pets and visitors. For more information, you can contact the Pocatello Animal shelter by calling (208) 234-6156, or by visiting their website.

Click here to follow the original article.

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Police are investigating a pair of allegedly counterfeit bills that were passed at two businesses in Idaho Falls.

The counterfeit money was reportedly being used by a man and woman at various businesses along 17th Street in Idaho Falls, according to a post on the Life in Idaho Falls Facebook page.

Photo Credit: Russ Young, Life in Idaho Falls

The Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) has confirmed that two suspected bills were found at two local businesses: one at O’Reilly’s and the other at Starbucks, both located on 17th Street.

According to IFPD, counterfeiters will often make small purchases with large counterfeit bills to obtain real cash.

IFPD has proved the following tips for people handling money to help spot fake bills:

The Transaction.

The goal when passing a fake bill is to get the most real cash back in exchange for the fake bill. The suspect may make a small purchase – a drink or candy bar at a convenience store, for example – then pay with a large denomination bill, typically a $100 bill. The business/victim gets a worthless bill, and the suspect gets $90 or so in real cash back in addition to their drink and candy bar.

Transactions where a large bill is used to pay for a small transaction, requiring cash back should be a red flag and encourage the person to look more closely at the bill.

The Bills

5 Ways to Spot a Counterfeit Bill

Feel the Paper – Genuine U.S. currency is printed on a unique blend of 75% cotton and 25% linen, giving it a distinct texture. It also contains small red and blue security fibers embedded throughout the paper. Counterfeit bills often feel smoother or thicker and may lack these embedded fibers.

Check for Color – Shifting Ink – On denominations of $10 and higher, the numeral in the lower right corner on the front of the bill changes color (from copper to green) when tilted. If it doesn’t shift, it’s likely fake.

Look for a Watermark – Hold the bill up to the light—there should be a faint image matching the portrait on the bill, visible from both sides. If there’s no watermark or it doesn’t match the portrait, it’s likely counterfeit.

Inspect the Security Thread – All denominations $5 and up have a vertical embedded thread that glows under UV light and indicates the bill’s denomination. If the thread is missing, misaligned, or the wrong color under UV light, it’s fake.

Examine the Printing Details – Real bills have very fine, detailed printing, especially around the borders and portraits. Blurry lines, fuzzy details, or smudged ink are red flags. Also, microprinting—tiny words like “USA” or the denomination—should be sharp and clear under magnification.

For more details on how to spot counterfeit bills or “dummy money,” click HERE.

Click here to follow the original article.