Category: kifi-local-news

CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 17 JUN 26 18:03 ET

By Garna Mejia, KSL

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    PERRY, Utah (KSL) — A young mother and her 6‑month‑old baby are safe after a pickup truck barreled off U.S. 89 and crashed directly into their living room on Thursday night, nearly bringing the house down around them.

The terrifying incident unfolded about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Perry Police Chief Scott Hancey. According to Hancey, a northbound truck was reported driving erratically on northbound U.S. 89 before it struck another vehicle, veered off the roadway, went down an embankment, and ultimately slammed into the home.

According to Derek Walton, the home belongs to his son and daughter-in-law, Gavin and Brie Walton. Brie Walton was in the living room with her infant daughter when she heard a loud sound outside.

Derek Walton said Brie Walton looked out the window just in time to see the truck coming toward the house.

“She looked out the window and saw the truck coming and was able to at least stand up and start moving away from it — but it still hit and knocked her down,” Derek said.

Brie Walton suffered several injuries but is expected to recover. Her baby, who was asleep in another room, was unharmed.

Crews had to shore up the structure before attempting to remove the truck, fearing the home might collapse. The impact left the side of the house destroyed and the interior exposed. Amid the debris, the couple’s wedding photo still hung on the wall, a small reminder of the life they were building in their first home, purchased just two years ago.

Derek Walton said the family is shaken but grateful.

“The way it (the truck) went airborne here, if she hadn’t seen it and gotten away, it could’ve came down and basically been on her,” he said. “It was hard for me to believe that a vehicle could go over this hill right here and get into the house like that. But once I seen it and I know that they’re both OK, it’s a blessing.”

Investigators believe alcohol was a factor. The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Before hitting the Walton home, police said the truck hit another vehicle on the highway and drove into an embankment.

Tire marks on the property appear to vanish near the driveway slope, leading the family to believe the truck may have gone airborne before impact.

Southbound lanes of U.S. 89 were temporarily shut down but have since reopened. Perry police, Brigham City firefighters, and ambulance crews all responded.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

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News Team

Originally Published: Published June 15, 2026 10:25 AM

By: Abby Smith, Marina Garcia

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A mysterious figure described as “potato-shaped” hovering over Colorado Springs is reported in the latest UFO files.

Five U.S. Army service members reported seeing the object spotted over Cheyenne Mountain on Feb. 15, 2022, while near Fort Carson. They described it as large, oddly shaped, and shimmering white. According to the report, it appeared to hover over the mountain for up to three minutes before suddenly disappearing.

The witnesses said the object looked somewhat translucent and had an uneven, panel-like surface that seemed to slowly change shape.

After reviewing the incident, government analysts believe the sighting may have been caused by sunlight reflecting off snow-covered ground and nearby clouds. The report says this effect, known as backscattering, could have created the illusion of a solid object in the sky.

However, investigators said they have low confidence in that conclusion because they could not be certain about the weather conditions, snow cover or each witness’s exact viewpoint.

The report also found no evidence that the object was an unknown aircraft or a threat. Investigators noted that no airplanes or balloons were known to be operating near Cheyenne Mountain at the time.

A separate FBI document includes an interview with one of the witnesses, a former Army intelligence officer. The witness described the object as “potato-shaped” with a creamy white color and said its surface looked like irregular panels that moved in slow waves while the object itself stayed perfectly still.

The witness also said the object disappeared almost instantly after about two minutes, making it seem as though it had “cloaked” rather than flown away.

KRDO13 spoke with the Director of the Mutual UFO Network, Seth Feinstein, who says they use a point system to rate credibility for reports, and this sighting earns a few.

“They would get one point for being reliable witnesses because they’re U.S. Army intelligence and they would get two points for having four witnesses, more than one witness,” says Feinstein.

Overall, though, a low probability of being an actual unidentified anomalous phenomena, otherwise known as a UAP.

“There are reasons, psychologically or perception-wise. I don’t think it was the lens flare or reflection of the snow, but, you know, I’ve seen so many cases of clouds that people would swear were UAPs,” says Feinstein.

While the witness descriptions are unusual, the government analysis concludes that a natural atmospheric effect is the most likely explanation based on the available evidence, though some uncertainty remains.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Two students from the ISU Robotics Program, Angel Nava and Rudy Ernest, traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for the Skills USA National Championships and came home with medals, memories, and an astounding accomplishment.

Idaho State University became the first school to win the same competition at Skills USA Nationals three years in a row when Nava took the gold medal in Electronics Technology. Ernest came away with a 6th place overall win in the Mathmatics competition.

Instructor Brody Holyoak and athlete Angel Nava with the Director of Skills USA, credit Brody Holyoak

The Electronics Technology competition had five different sections to complete, including written tests and hands-on applications. Nava said he felt very prepared after his rigorous years in the robotics program.

“In later semesters in the program, you really get knee deep in the troubleshooting, trying to figure out what each component in the circuit does,” Nava said.

He added that other competing students he spoke to came from less intensive electrical engineering programs, working with older equipment. “I know everyone did their best, but our program is pretty tough as nails,” he said. “But that kind of works out in my favor because it makes me a little more prepared.”

Angel Nava during his Electronics Technology competition at Skills USA Nationals, credit Brody Holyoak

ISU sent multiple students to the state level competition, which Nava said was just as intense as nationals. “I was going against a lot of my classmates, and I was definitely nervous because they’re really good at what they do so I’d say I was more nervous at the state level.”

The national competition brought in over 20,000 people from across the country, making it the biggest stage the ISU athletes had ever competed on. Nava said the presssure really came from knowing the three-peat rode on his shoulders and he didn’t want to let the team down.

“I knew going into it I could probably make it onto the podium, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to be first,” he said. “The other guys really knew what they were doing and seemed confident. When they called my name, I just felt a huge wave of relief, just like ‘oh thank goodness I didn’t screw it up’ because this was really big and if I had gotten second place, we would’ve had to start over again another three years to hopefully get the three-peat.”

Angel Nava on the podium with his gold medal, credit Brody Holyoak

Prizes were also awarded to the highest winners of each competition. Nava said he and Ernest had some time to explore Atlanta and make some memories while on the trip.

Ernest got a higher score than the ISU student who competed in mathmatics last year, who walked away with a bronze medal. Because Ernest secured 6th place, the team believes the competition is only going to grow more fierce in the next several years.

“It’s such an achievement he was able to beat our guy from last year, and it really speaks to how the competition is going to keep getting better every year and everybody’s going to be stepping up their game,” he said.

The director of Skills USA met with Nava and his instructor Brody Holyoak for photos and to congratulate them on their history-making win. Now, Nava looks forward to possible scholarship opportunities that could come as a result of his national achievement and to mentoring future students in the robotics program.

“We’ll love to have Angel’s help and understanding to have him mentor the next group of competitors,” said Brody Holyoak, a first semester instructor in the Robotics and Communications Engineering Technology program at ISU. “It was Angel’s hard work, intuitiveness, his ability to read the instructions and do the competition. The program taught him, but he was the one able to pull it all together and do so well in the competition.”

Skills USA National competition arena in Atlanta, GA, credit Brody Holyoak

When it mattered most, Nava blocked out the pressure of the national competition and performed at the highest level in his craft.

“I just want to say congratulations to both of the guys, I am so proud of you,” Holyoak added. “It’s not an easy thing to go, and I’m grateful they were willing to take the time to go to the national competition. They’re incredible students, very hardworking.”

The robotics program is already looking forward to another amazing year of competition, hopefully to make it a four-peat next summer.

Rudy Ernest and Angel Nava, credit Brody Holyoak

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— The Bank of Commerce has donated $12,000 to the Community Food Basket of Idaho Falls to help address food insecurity in eastern Idaho.

“Food insecurity affects more families in our community than many people realize,” Bank President and CEO Mike Morrison said. “The Community Food Basket provides an essential service by ensuring our neighbors have access to food during difficult times.”

Morrison presented the donation, which will help the nonprofit continue providing food assistance to local individuals and families.

According to the Community Food Basket, the funds will help fill critical gaps in funding and food supplies throughout the year as demand for services continues.

Ariel Jackson, executive director of Community Food Basket of Idaho Falls, says that this donation helps keep their shelves stocked all year long.

“We can spread those out throughout the whole year, That way we can get the best deals on food and and keep stocked up,” Jackson said.

The Community Food Basket serves thousands of people each year, providing food assistance and other resources to families facing hardship.

“We are incredibly grateful for The Bank of Commerce’s generous support,” Jackson said, “Partnerships like this allow us to continue filling shelves, meeting increased demand, and ensuring that no one in our community has to face hunger alone.”

A statement from Bank Of Commerce says supporting local organizations remains an important part of the bank’s mission through charitable giving, volunteer efforts and community partnerships.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – A man in Madison County is charged with a felony aggravated battery after police say he inflicted willfully caused injury to his three-month-old child.

The Rexburg Police arrested Leonardo Santiago Jara Saltos after being alerted by Child Protective Services that Saltos had confessed to his wife to shaking their newborn son.

According to court documents, Saltos claimed his newborn son had fallen off the changing table/dresser and was taken to the Madison Memorial Hospital for evaluation. The hospital found the newborn had a skull fracture and past bleeding in the brain.

However, after being alerted by the CPS, the Madison County authorities spoke with a medical professional over the incident who stated “the injuries (the newborn) has are consistent with a shake, impact, or severe impact,” according to court documents.

Based on this information, Saltos was placed into custody at the Madison County Jail where his bond has been set at $150,000. He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing today at 1:30 p.m in the Madison County Courthouse.

We will continue to monitor this case and keep you informed.

These charges represent a formal accusation of a crime. All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 17 JUN 26 14:18 ET

By Victoria Rodriguez

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    CANYON COUNTY, Idaho (KIVI) — A bull briefly escaped the arena during a signature competition at this year’s Parma Inferno event Saturday night before being quickly recaptured, according to organizers and spectators.

The incident happened during the rodeo’s bull poker competition, one of the event’s featured attractions, when a bull broke through a gate and ran into a nearby field.

Spectator David Moore, who has attended the event for several years, said the bull appeared to circle the arena before forcing its way out.

“He kind of circled the arena and then went back and hit the arena gate and kind of bounced the chain or something, and then out he went,” Moore said.

Moore said cowboys on horseback moved in quickly once the bull got loose.

“The cowboys went out there with their horses, and they were able to catch him,” he said. According to Parma Inferno organizers, the bull was safely recovered, and there were no injuries requiring medical attention outside the arena.

Despite the unexpected moment, Moore described the event as a strong community gathering that continues to grow each year.

“This is my third year attending the Parma Inferno. I think it’s a great community event. It seems to be getting bigger every year,” he said. He also said he felt organizers handled the situation appropriately.

“I think they handled it perfectly. The cowboys and the horses were on that. Everybody had a rope,” Moore said.

Following the event, some attendees raised concerns on social media, including a Facebook post from spectator Michelle Serratos, who shared photos appearing to show a bull poker participant receiving medical attention for a bloody nose.

Serratos told Idaho News 6 that the man pictured was participating in the event and said she was standing nearby when he was escorted from the area.

Idaho News 6 has not independently verified the extent of any injuries shown in the photos before publication.

Organizers say the bull was contained quickly and the event continued without further incident.

The Parma Inferno has grown in popularity in recent years, featuring multiple rodeo-style competitions and drawing crowds from across the region.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A Cassia County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material, according to the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

Theodore Prevost, 49, was convicted of one count of sexual exploitation of a child for distributing sexually exploitative material.

District Judge Blaine Cannon sentenced Prevost on June 8 to a unified 30-year prison sentence, with nine years fixed and 21 years indeterminate. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the investigation began after the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip originated from a messaging application and reported that a user later identified as Prevost was seeking out and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the account and discovered more than 90 files containing child sexual abuse material.

During an interview with law enforcement, Prevost admitted the account belonged to him and acknowledged that he had viewed, downloaded and distributed child sexual abuse material, according to court records.

Attorney General Raúl Labrador said the conviction reflects the state’s ongoing efforts to investigate and prosecute crimes involving the exploitation of children.

The investigation was led by the Idaho Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit with assistance from the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office, Rupert Police Department, Idaho Falls Police Department and Meridian Police Department.

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Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— Wackerli Subaru will presented a $12,345 donation check to The Food Basket of Idaho Falls as part of Subaru’s annual Share the Love program.

The Share the Love program is Subaru’s annual charitable-giving campaign, supporting national and local nonprofit organizations through vehicle sales and community partnerships. The Food Basket of Idaho Falls was selected as the local recipient of this year’s donation.

“There are so many worthy charities out there but one of the things that’s wonderful about them (The Food Basket) is every dollar that we raise turns into $4 worth of food that they can actually utilize. So the money that we can give them goes a lot further,” Chad Mahoney, Love Champion of Wackerli Subaru, said.

The event included a check presentation featuring Wackerli Subaru employees, followed by a group photo commemorating the donation. Farrs Ice Cream Truck was in attendance and away free ice cream.

Ariel Jackson is the Community Food Basket’s Executive Director. She says the money will be used for their kid kit program which provides easy to cook and easy to eat foods for kids who are at home during the summer.

“This comes at a great time. There’s no food drives during the summer. And so when funding comes in the summer we’re very excited,” Jackson said.

The Food Basket provides food assistance to individuals and families throughout eastern Idaho, helping address food insecurity in the community.

During the Share the Love event, Subaru will donate $250 for every new car purchased or leased to the buyer’s charity of their choice:

ASPCA

Make-A-Wish

Meals on Wheels

National Park Foundation

Community Food Basket of Idaho Falls

Wackerli Subaru will also donate $75 for every new car purchased or leased and an additional $5 for every routine service visit to the Community Food Basket.

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KIVI Staff

Originally Published: 16 JUN 26 14:29 ET

By Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — Two Canyon County men say they were targeted, chased, and beaten by a group of men in downtown Caldwell Saturday night — and because of a gap in Idaho law, the attack cannot be prosecuted as a hate crime.

Juan Olvera and his partner, Eric Reed, say they were dining downtown when a group of men began directing homophobic slurs at them. The couple says they got up and left, but the men followed them and attacked them.

Reed says he suffered a split lip. Olvera says he was punched to the ground, kicked, and left with a black eye.

“I thought I was going to die,” Olvera said.

“Wound up getting attacked, thrown in an ambulance, and now it makes me question… can I really go outside at all?” Olvera said.

“I don’t want to go to Caldwell ever again,” Olvera said.

Caldwell Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Peterson says officers responded quickly and made an arrest.

A man was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor battery.

Olvera and Reed say they believe they were targeted because of their sexual orientation and hoped the case could be prosecuted as a hate crime. But under Idaho law, hate crime statutes only apply when the motive is tied to a victim’s race, ethnicity, or religion — not sexual orientation or gender identity.

Peterson says investigators pursued every available avenue under the law.

“We do every step, everything that we can within and under the law to be able to bring justice for those individuals,” Peterson said.

The couple says they hope sharing their story will bring awareness to the years-long “Add the Words” campaign in Idaho, which seeks to expand discrimination protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

“And I think laws like this by putting them in the code will allow to protect people like me who are affected by things that happen like this,” Olvera said.

Caldwell Police are asking anyone who witnessed Saturday’s confrontation to contact the department.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The Pocatello Animal Shelter is expanding their reach in the community this summer by offering story times from 1-2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday. “Once Upon a Paw” is part of the Children’s Story Time Program designed to educate children about animals and introduce them to the shelter through interactive storytelling.

The sessions will include the reading of an animal-themed story as well as a fun craft for kids to complete and take home. Tuesday story times are for kids aged five and under, while Thursdays are for ages six to 10.

Through the stories and other educational activities, the kids will learn about animals and pet care.

“It’s a good way to get the community out here and aware of the shelter and what we do here,” said Courtney, the Educational Outreach Specialist at the Pocatello Animal Shelter. “We’re going over some safety things and just incorporating some education about animals and how to care for them into the story time. We’re also doing some crafts.”

Courtney also said the kids and families can enjoy seeing all the animals waiting for adoption at the shelter. “It includes a little information on the animals within the community, how to go about handling them in our community, how to care for them, so it’s a bit of education as well,” she said.

Story time is free for the public to attend every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-2 p.m. at the Pocatello Animal Shelter located at 3100 Avenue of the Chiefs, Pocatello ID 83204.

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