News Team
REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — The Rexburg Police are investigating the theft of a vehicle from Bunkhouse Apartments on July 8 around 8:50 AM. According to their Facebook page, an unmarked and unknown tow truck was involved in the theft.
If you have any details that could help with this investigation, contact Officer Correa directly at 208-359-3000.
News Team
ASHTON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Fall River Electric Cooperative is reporting a power outage impacting customers residing east of Ashton. While the exact cause is currently unknown, the electric cooperative does suspect that strong winds or lightning may have played a role.
Crews are already en route to the affected area, working to restore power swiftly and safely. For the latest updates and to monitor the outage, click HERE.
Ariel Jensen
BUTTE, Idaho (KIFI) — Butte City Mayor Kevin J. Turner was arrested after pulling out a gun during a city council meeting on July 10, 2025.
Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies said they were called to a disturbance at the city council meeting in Butte City.
According to court documents, when deputies arrived, several people were standing in the street, who claimed Turner was inside, and threatened them with a gun.
Officers contacted Turner inside and asked if he was armed and if he was waving a gun around.
Turner said that he was, but was not waving a gun. Turner stated that he had gotten it out and used his firearm as a gavel to bang on the table.
During the meeting, things became heated over issues between some of the residents of Butte City and the mayor.
At some point during the heated exchange, Turner reportedly produced a firearm and banged it on the table like a gavel, apparently to restore order to the meeting.
Later, it was clarified that he never took it out of the holster and that he held the barrel while banging the mag well against the table.
Turner was arrested the following day on July 11th. Turner is charged with violation of the Idaho Code section 18-3303, Exhibition or Use of a Deadly Weapon.
Turner was booked into the Butte County Jail and was held there until he was released after his arraignment on Monday, July 14, 2025.
News Team
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Two men were safely rescued this afternoon after their boat overturned on the Snake River, just below the falls near downtown Idaho Falls. Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies and Idaho Falls Fire were called to the Broadway Bridge around 1:30 pm after bystanders witnessed the boat overturn and two men inside plunge into the water.
Emergency crews were immediately dispatched to the scene. Fortunately, both men were able to reach a rocky outcropping and get out of the swift current before responders arrived.
Using a jet ski and a rescue raft, emergency personnel skillfully brought the men back to the riverbank. One of the individuals was transported by ambulance to a local hospital as a precautionary measure, but both men were reported to be uninjured, according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities stated that the boat, while fishing just below the falls and above the Broadway Bridge, was caught by the river’s current and collided with a large rock. The impact caused the boat to take on water and overturn. Sheriff’s Deputies are currently working to retrieve the submerged vessel from the river.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office took the opportunity to remind the public about crucial water safety. “Even the most experienced boaters can run into an emergency situation or the unexpected,” the Sheriff’s Office emphasized in a press release. They strongly advise everyone to always wear life jackets and remain vigilant about water and weather conditions to minimize risks while recreating or fishing on the water.
News Release
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — On Friday, July 18 at 10 a.m., the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) Foundation will unleash 17 teams into the wilds of Snake River Landing for one of eastern Idaho’s most beloved summer traditions — The Great Race for Education.
Now in its 16th year, the Great Race blends competition, community spirit, and clever fundraising in an event like no other. This year’s theme, “Mt. Olympus”, invites teams to channel their inner gods and goddesses through a Greek mythology-inspired obstacle course of riddles, physical feats, and wild surprises.
“This is not your typical 5K,” said Dave Facer, Executive Director of the CEI Foundation. “It’s a race that tests your brain as much as your legs, and it’s all for a great cause.”
The format? Four-person teams race to complete five “Minute to Win It”-style challenges at locations hidden across Snake River Landing, then return to the Waterfront for a dramatic multi-round elimination finish. Adding to the fun: a Facebook Live auction the night before, where teams can bid for advantages—or buy disadvantages to sabotage their competition.
Participating teams include some of the region’s biggest names like Ball Ventures, Teton Toyota, Mountain View Hospital, and Idaho Environmental Coalition. And yes, costumes are encouraged—teams who decorate on-theme may even earn an early starting advantage.
Proceeds from the Great Race support CEI student scholarships, classroom supplies, and major initiatives like the Future Tech building. Just last year, the event raised $90,000 for CEI programs.
“This race builds more than school spirit, it builds opportunity,” Facer said. “Every clue solved, every challenge conquered, helps open doors for students.”
News Team
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A national nonprofit aiding in the search for two missing Idaho teenagers, Rachelle and Allen Fisher, has reportedly received a threat believed to be connected to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). The FLDS is suspected of being involved in the children’s disappearance.
The threatening phone call came into the Temple, Texas chapter of the Uvalde Foundation for Kids in the days after the group suspended its ground search for the children on July 3rd. An anonymous caller, identifying themselves as a “Friend of the Prophet,” warned the foundation to “stay away from the kids, or else.”
The so-called “prophet” the caller refers to is believed to be Warren Jeffs, the jailed leader of the FLDS sect. Jeffs is currently serving a life sentence in Texas for sexual assault. The FLDS is a polygamist offshoot that broke away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has no official or unofficial ties to the mainstream LDS church.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids views the call as an attempt to deter their ongoing efforts to locate the children. Despite calling off the ground search, Foundation founder Daniel Chapin stated that they are continuing to pursue their own leads and plan to address the threats by pursuing FLDS church leaders.
“The foundation will not be deterred by any movements by the FLDS, officially or unofficially, to dismantle our dedication to these kids, the resolve of law enforcement, the unwavering love of a mother & those who care for them – to bring them safely home, away from the predatory, dangerous and manipulating tactics of this group,” said Chapin.
Elizabeth Roundy, the teens’ mother, has stated she believes her children are with their older sister and that they plan to leave Idaho to return to Trenton, Utah, and the FLDS church. For more information on the teen’s disappearance, click HERE.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask anyone with information about Rachelle and Allen to contact their dispatch center at 208-745-9210.
CNN Newsource
By Austen Erblat
Click here for updates on this story
COLORADO (KCNC) — The Deer Creek Fire, which started in eastern Utah and has already destroyed several structures, has crossed the state line into Colorado, state fire officials said Monday night.
At just over 12,900 acres, the fire is bigger than all the other western slope fires combined and is one of several fires that prompted Gov. Jared Polis to issue a disaster declaration on Sunday. Utah Fire Info, a task force comprising state and federal agencies, said the fire crossed into Montrose County, Colorado, around 9 p.m. on Monday and warned that wind gusts of 30 to 50 mph and lightning on Tuesday could spread the fire north, east, and west.
“Today, fire spread modestly across the landscape and slightly east, crossing into Colorado approximately one mile north of highway 46 in Utah, transitioning to highway 90 in Colorado,” Utah Fire Info wrote on Facebook.
In the 11 hours or so since crossing into Colorado, the fire increased in size from just over 11,000 acres to almost 13,000 acres, but Utah Fire Info said that crews had contained about 7% of the fire.
Data from InciWeb, an incident management program at the U.S. Department of the Interior, indicates 385 firefighters were working the fire and crews were using dozers, helicopters, over a dozen engines, and at least one airtanker plane.
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News Team
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — This Wednesday, July 16, Jefferson County Lake will be the site of a significant water rescue training exercise involving local first responders.
County leadership has taken to Facebook to reassure the public, saying that “although it will look like a large response, it’s a day of practice in the water.” Visitors are being instructed not to call 911 and not to attempt what the first responders are doing at home.
While the lake will remain open for recreational activities, visitors are asked to provide first responders with enough space to conduct their vital training.
News Team
BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Sportsman’s Park is set to receive a significant overhaul thanks to a collaborative effort by Bingham County Parks and Recreation, emergency management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Federal Highway Administration. The group secured $2 million of grant funding to improve the parking area for boat access and the walking path
The project kicks off tomorrow, July 16, with crews beginning to stake the area for reconstruction. While some temporary disruption to water access is anticipated in the coming days, Bingham County officials say they’ve strategically planned the project to minimize the impact on water enthusiasts.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” stated County leadership in a recent Facebook post, “but we are excited to spruce up what is already a staple and a gem for Bingham County.”
The majority of the park improvements are expected to be completed by the end of August, with the entire project wrapping up by September 20th.
News Team
EDITOR’S NOTE: Barbara Turner’s date and location of passing have been corrected.
AMERICAN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —Barbara Turner, the co-founder/director of the Snake River Montessori School and the second passenger involved in the fatal rollover crash on June 29, has passed away from her injuries Friday at the University of Utah in Salt Lake. Her husband, Bruce Turner, was killed in the same incident.
“We do not have the words to express our deep sorrow over the passing of Barbara Turner. Her smile lit up a room and her laughter filled our school with happiness,” wrote Snake River Montessori on its Facebook page. “She poured her heart and soul into our school and left an indelible mark on all of us. Her kind, caring, joyous spirit was evident the moment you met her. Whether you were a co-worker, parent, or student, your lives were made better by knowing Miss Barbara.”
Crash Details
The Idaho State Police reported that the crash occurred on June 29 when the Turners were traveling eastbound on I-86 in a 2001 Ford Explorer. The vehicle, driven by a 35-year-old man, overcorrected and rolled into the median. Both Bruce and Barbara were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Bruce Turner succumbed to his injuries on the day of the crash, with his death confirmed by the Bannock County Coroner’s Office on Wednesday, July 2.
A Legacy of Faith and Service
Bruce and Barbara Turner were well-known and respected members of the Idaho Falls community, deeply involved in both their local Episcopal Church and the Rotary Club. Barbara supported Bruce throughout their marriage in his roles as President of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club and as a Precinct Committee Officer of the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee (BCRCC).
The BCRCC honored Bruce Turner’s life at their monthly meeting last week. They also collected donations for a St. Luke Episcopal Church fundraiser to help the couple’s two sons with Barbara’s medical bills.
Elaine Gray, who worked alongside Bruce Turner for four years during his time as Rotary Club Secretary, remembered the couple’s dedication. She says Bruce and Barbara could be found at almost every club service project, including spring and fall cleanups along the Idaho Falls Greenbelt, manning concession stands at the Mountain America Center, and participating in the annual Idaho Falls Duck Race.
“Barb and Bruce Turner were an amazing couple who gave their time and talents to many organizations in our community. Their life of service and giving should be an example for us all to follow,” said the post. “Our world is forever changed with this tragic loss, and our thoughts and love are with their family during this time.”
