Category: kifi-local-news

Seth Ratliff

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho (KIFI) — The high-profile embezzlement case against a former commander of the Idaho American Legion accused of embezzling over a million dollars from the non-profit is heading to trial. Charles Thomas Abrahamson, a former commander of the Idaho American Legion, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boise on charges of wire fraud and tax fraud, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced Monday.

The indictment alleges that Abrahamson used his position within the organization to steal more than $1,454,025 over seven years. Abramson was employed by the Idaho American Legion from approximately 2017 to April 2024. During that time, he served in various leadership capacities, including adjutant and commander, which gave him direct access to and control over the nonprofit’s financial accounts.

Starting around 2018 and continuing until his suspension in April 2024, Abrahamson is accused of knowingly devising a scheme to defraud the American Legion and another individual. Abrahamson allegedly made unauthorized transfers directly to his personal financial accounts, paying off his personal credit cards, charging unauthorized expenses, and making ATM withdrawals from the organization’s accounts, all for his personal use and gain.

His alleged criminal conduct came to light around April 2024. According to reports by the Idaho Statesman, Abrahamson was suspended from his position at the Idaho American Legion that month, and two days later, the Idaho State Police executed a search warrant on his home, recovering a variety of American Legion property.

Beyond the embezzlement, Abrahamson is also charged with three counts of tax fraud for filing false federal tax returns for the years 2020, 2022, and 2023, which falsified his total income.

The indictment includes a forfeiture allegation, seeking to recover at least $1,454,025 in property traceable to the wire fraud charges.

If convicted, Abrahamson faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud charges and up to three years for each count of tax fraud. He also faces an order of restitution for the losses incurred by the victims of the scheme.

In his release, U.S. Attorney Davis commended the excellent investigative work of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, which led to the charges. A federal district court judge will ultimately determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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News Release

The following is a news release from the City of Pocatello:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The City of Pocatello will reflect on Fiscal Year 2025 during the annual State of the City address at the City Council meeting December 18.

Mayor Brian Blad will introduce the State of the City address, which is scheduled as the final agenda item of the evening. The presentation will highlight accomplishments and progress made by City departments throughout the past fiscal year. Mayor Blad will conclude the address with remarks focused on priorities and expectations for the year ahead.

The City Council meeting December 18 is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 911 North 7th Avenue.

Following the presentation, the State of the City will be made available on the City of Pocatello’s website at pocatello.gov.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Heads up, Idaho Falls! The globally recognized Light the World Giving Machines have arrived in Idaho Falls, offering a unique opportunity to give back to the community this holiday season. The ‘reverse vending machines’ are officially launching today, Monday, December 15th, at noon at the Grand Teton Mall.

The Grand Opening event will be emceed by Local News 8’s First Alert Forecaster, Jeff Roper, and feature a live performance by singer Jay Osmond.

How the “Giving Machines” work

The Giving Machines allow visitors to donate essential items—from meals and clothing to school supplies and livestock—directly to local and global charities. The machines are sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which covers all operational costs, ensuring 100% of every donation goes straight to the charities.

This year, the Giving Machines will remain at the Grand Teton Mall from Dec. 15 – Jan. 1st, and will benefit the following local non-profits and charities:

Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center

Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership (EICAP)

The Village

Community Food Basket–Idaho Falls

FISH (Friends in Service Here)

Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

The launch event will include remarks from Elder Kirt L. Hodges of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and storyteller Glen Rawson, alongside representatives from all six benefiting charities.

Local News 8 will be providing live coverage from the Grand Opening event! Join us live at Local News 8 at noon.

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Curtis Jackson

PAUL, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho State Police are investigating a crash involving two school buses on State Highway 25 in Minidoka County. 17 students were on the buses at the time of the crash.

ISP said four of the students were taken to local hospitals. One of the students was flown to a hospital in Utah. One of the bus drivers was extricated from the bus, and the other bus driver was also taken to the hospital.

The crash happened just before 7:15 a.m. Monday near milepost 43 west of Paul.

The crash forced the highway to be closed for a few hours as police investigated and cleaned up the scene.

ISP reported that all students have been reunited with their parents.

School buses collide west of Paul in Minidoka County, Idaho on Dec. 15, 2025.

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Seth Ratliff

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) — Two Challis men, both experienced hunting guides and outfitters, were sentenced to a combined six years of probation and ordered to pay $24,500 each in total fines and restitution for Lacey Act violations connected to illegal Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep hunts, U.S Attorney Bart Davis announced today.

Jerrod Randall Farr, 54, a licensed outfitter and owner of White Cloud Outfitters, and Michael Timothy Scott, 68, a licensed guide, were indicted for facilitating and guiding illegal bighorn sheep hunts in a restricted area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest. The illegal transportation of the bighorn sheep carcasses spanned across state lines from Idaho to Utah and Alaska.

Farr pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, to one Class A misdemeanor count of violating the Lacey Act. He was sentenced on November 6, 2025, to two years of probation, during which he is prohibited from hunting, guiding, or profiting from outfitting or guiding. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Farr to pay a $9,500 fine to the Lacey Act Reward Fund and $15,000 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Scott pleaded guilty to one Class A misdemeanor Lacey Act count and was sentenced on November 24, 2025, to four years of probation with the same prohibitions against hunting, guiding, or profiting from outfitting activities. Judge Nye ordered Scott to pay an identical fine of $9,500 to the Lacey Act Reward Fund and $15,000 in restitution to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Farr, as the owner and outfitter for White Cloud Outfitters, sold and facilitated the hunts, which Scott illegally guided. In addition to the Lacey Act violations, Farr was originally indicted on two counts of providing false or fictitious information to a Forest Service officer and one count of conducting work activity without a special-use authorization. Scott was originally indicted on two counts of Lacey Act violations. The Lacey Act prohibits the illegal trafficking of wildlife.

U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the investigation.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The lives of an Idaho Falls family were upended late Sunday night when a devastating attic fire caused an estimated $175,000 in damage to their single-story home. The Fire Chaplains of Idaho were immediately called to the scene to provide emotional and practical support to the affected residents.

The Idaho Falls Fire Department was called to the blaze at 10:56 p.m. Sunday at a home off East 109th North. While crews successfully extinguished the fire around 2 a.m. Monday, the home sustained extensive damage.

The fire is believed to have begun in the chimney before spreading rapidly into the attic. Upon arrival, firefighters immediately spotted heavy smoke coming from the eaves and roofline.

Battling the fire proved a unique challenge for the firefighters due to past renovations at the home. Firefighters encountered multiple roof layers, including plaster and sheeting, as well as a concealed false roof that was only discovered after crews began cutting into the structure to access the flames.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by an IFFD fire investigator. The Fire Chaplains of Idaho continues to help with post-fire needs.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Southeast Idaho’s small but rapidly growing Jewish community ushered in the Festival of Lights across the region Sunday, marking the traditional first night of Hanukkah with public celebrations.

In Idaho Falls, Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho hosted the Fourth Annual Community Chanukah Celebration at the Shilo Inn’s Snake River Convention Center. Dozens of people packed the venue to enjoy traditional foods and songs.

Rabbi Zali Lifshitz welcomed Mayor-elect Lisa Burtenshaw, who had the honor of lighting the shamash, the central “servant” or “helper” candle of the traditional menorah.

The traditional eight-day festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Jewish people defeated the Syrian-Greek army over 2,100 years ago. Following the victory, only one jar of undefiled oil was found for the Temple’s daily menorah lighting service—enough to burn for just one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days.

A Message of Light in Darkness

Rabbi Lifshitz emphasized that Hanukkah represents bringing light into darkness, a core teaching of the late Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, known as the Rebbe.

“The message of Hanukkah really is that when it’s dark, the way we light it up is not by arguing and trying to fight back with different things, but simply by lighting a candle,” said Rabbi Lifshitz.

The theme has only become more important in recent years amid a marked increase in anti-semitic attacks worldwide. Tonight’s local festivities took place as with Jewish community mourns the lives lost in Sunday’s terrorist attack on a Jewish community in Bondi Beach, Australia.

Rabbi Lifshitz stressed to those gathered in Idaho Falls that the only way to respond to hatred is with light and pride as a Jewish community.

“The idea in Judaism is that if we do another mitzvah, we do another act of kindness, and one by one, we increase our outreach to one another and making sure that every single one of us stands tall and proud as a Jew,” he explained. “The message is not to be scared and hide back in our houses, but on the contrary, we put our menorahs out proudly. We have public displays all over the city, showing proudly that we’re a Jew, and that is the best way that we can fight anyone who tries to come against us.”

Rabbi Lifshitz welcomes the Jewish community in Idaho Falls and the surrounding area to take part in Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho’s ongoing efforts to practice their faith year-round. For more information on Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho, click HERE.

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Maile Sipraseuth

The following is a press release from the Pocatello Police Department:

On December 14, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., officers with the Pocatello Police Department located an adult male lying in the roadway near the intersection of 2nd Street and Center Street in Pocatello, Idaho. The male had suffered two gunshot wounds. Officers immediately rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. The individual was then transported by ambulance to a local hospital.

This incident remains under investigation by the Pocatello Police Department. Investigators are also aware of a separate shooting reported in the same area approximately one week prior where no one was injured and are examining whether the two incidents may be related.

The Pocatello Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance. Anyone with information, surveillance footage, or recordings related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Pocatello Police Department at 208-234-6100 or email Detective Van Dyke at evandyke@pocatello.gov.

Further information will be released as it becomes available.

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Hadley Bodell

CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI) – The Hour of AI is a global program that has brought new technology lessons to over 100 million students. Last week, students in the Pocatello/Chubbuck school district enjoyed exploring the many applications of AI.

At Tyhee Elementary, Mrs. Ward’s class practiced coding with microbits. Microbits are tiny chips that can display numbers, letters and images while playing a melody the student codes on their computer. Fourth grade teacher Danyiel Ward said the AI lessons have been beneficial to her students in many ways–improving their critical thinking skills and allowing them to think outside the box.

AI also comes with known dangers, which teachers in the district are committed to teaching as well. “We’ve also talked about safety and how to be safe and the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it is,” said Ward. “But also showing them how to use it to help them.”

Over at Ellis Elementary, classes are enjoying solving AI-powered mysteries. One was the case of Santa’s missing sleigh, where third graders got the chance to interview suspects and inspect crime scenes.

“The kids have really enjoyed it and it has been great for their problem solving skills for all kids of all skill levels and academic levels,” said MaryLynn Graham, a third grade teacher at Ellis Elementary. “It’s been really a great week of different fun things that they get to do with AI and problem solving and code.”

Students in the class told Local News 8 that their Hour of AI is the best part of the day.

Ashley Schaffner, Regional Hub Coordinator for the Idaho Stem Ecosystem, has been involved in many of the Pocatello and Chubbuck Hour of AI experiences. “For students to understand how the technology works and why it does what it does makes it really important as they interact with that technology so that they can be creators of new innovations and new technologies as they grow up rather than just consumers of that,” she said.

Schaffner also explained the “light bulb” moments students have when figuring out the AI and the microbit technology, which makes the entire program feel worth it.

“It gives all of my students the opportunity to try something new that’s outside our regular curriculum,” said Ward.

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Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls firefighters are battling a fire that started in the Bonneville County waste management site early Sunday morning, at 395 East 33rd North.

The fire was first reported around 2:45 a.m. in the Hatch Pit, where waste materials are often deposited. As of 9 a.m., several fire engines from IFFD remain on the scene, working to control the blaze.

Authorities have not said what has burned or how it started. Early Sunday morning, witnesses took to social media saying they could see the fire glowing in the dark sky for miles.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details are revealed.

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