Category: kifi-local-news

Kaelyn Blessinger

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The community is invited to Porter Park for Experience Rexburg this Saturday, Sept. 19. The event is free and will be from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.

“The idea is we have a lot of our merchants and things that are introducing their services to the students so that they know what’s here,” Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill said. “And then a lot of the local people come, just because it’s a great time to be able to bring people together. And that’s the whole idea.”

This is an annual celebration hosted by the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce, their goal is to reconnect everyone, from long-time residents to BYU-Idaho students returning to campus, to the local businesses in Rexburg.

“We want to help support our local businesses, and we want to help promote them and help them obviously get more business,” Alyssa Müller, the Member Services Coordinator of the Rexburg Chamber of Commerce, said. “Especially because a huge demographic here in Rexburg is the BYU students. And so we want them to know what Rexburg has for them.”

Along with the local businesses there will be food trucks, raffles, and various activities, like a rock wall, for the whole family to check out.

The goal is to bring the college communities together with the local population.

“Back in the day, we used when we had intercollegiate sports at Ricks College,” Mayor Merrill explained. “That’s kind of what brought the community together was the football games and the basketball games and things like that. And when that went away, it almost seemed like we had sort of two separate communities. And one of my goals when I first became mayor was to try to bring the communities together a little bit more.”

Alyssa reflects that being an out of state student could be difficult, so learning all about Rexburg’s offerings could be a great support.

“I was out of state when I came to school. So 100% we want all the new freshmen because we definitely want to show them that they have access to so much here.”

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Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Fish and Game is investigating after a bull elk was found shot and left to waste in Bingham County.

Investigators believe the animal was killed at night between September 4th and 5th. A member of the public later discovered the carcass. According to IDFG, the poacher shot the elk several times from the road using a centerfire rifle, a direct violation during an active archery-only season.

IDFG says the shooter removed only the bull’s antlers, leaving the entire carcass to waste.

Under Idaho law, using a firearm to take big game during an archery-only season is classified as a “Flagrant Violation” misdemeanor. If convicted, the state must revoke the violator’s hunting license, and the violator faces a fine of up to $1000 and 6 months in jail. In addition, a waste of game charge carries separate penalties of up to $1,000 in fines, 6 months in jail, and potential license suspension.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to contact Fish and Game Senior Conservation Officer Mitch Newhouse at 208-576-1752 or the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. 

Callers can remain completely anonymous. Information leading to an arrest is eligible for rewards. For more information, click HERE.

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Seth Ratliff

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho law enforcement and Latah County authorities are urging the public and media outlets not to publish or distribute alleged unredacted crime scene photos from the University of Idaho murders following a potential leak.

Police say the images, which allegedly include unredacted photos of the victims, were potentially leaked to journalists and social media commentators by an unknown source. In a joint press release, the Latah County Prosecutor’s Office, the Moscow Police Department, and the Idaho State Police expressed deep concern over the reported breach and urged the public not to publish the images out of respect for the victims and their families.

“Providing sensitive unredacted crime scene material for public dissemination is an unwarranted invasion of the victims’ privacy and demonstrates a profound lack of integrity and professionalism,” states the release. “Those entrusted with access to such material must safeguard it and violating that trust and any professional and ethical duties required by such position of trust, is unconscionable.”

The potential leak follows a late 2025 ruling by Second District Judge Megan Marshall barring the City of Moscow from releasing photos of the victims’ bodies unless they are fully blacked out. That ruling came after the victims’ families filed a lawsuit to block the images from being made public under state records requests.

While law enforcement officials acknowledged the public’s interest in transparency and accountability surrounding the case, they emphasized that releasing these photos serves no legitimate purpose.

“Our thoughts remain with the victims’ families, friends, and loved ones. No family should have to endure the added trauma of knowing images from a loved one’s final moments may be circulating publicly,” states the release. “Their grief should not be compounded by the display, discussion, or sharing of intensely personal and painful material.”

“These unredacted images should not be published, posted, shared, or otherwise distributed. Further dissemination would serve no legitimate public purpose and would only compound the harm to the victims’ families and the broader community.”

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News Team

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A missing Idaho Falls motorcyclist was found deceased following a crash near North Fork, according to Lemhi County Sheriff John Bennet.

Austin Green, 30, was last seen around 6:00 p.m. Sunday at the North Fork General Store, around 23 miles north of Salmon. Unable to contact him, his family filed a local missing persons report. Authorities initially believed Green could have driven toward Montana.

Green’s body and his White Harley-Davidson were found Monday along U.S. Highway 93. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by local law enforcement, according to Sheriff John Bennet.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A Pocatello man will spend the next decade in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic and distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Michael Joseph Pena, 28, was sentenced to 10 years by U.S. District Judge David C. Nye, who also ordered Pena to serve 5 years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to prosecutors, Pena sold methamphetamine and fentanyl alongside co-conspirators William Hoover and Brandon Hoover throughout the summer and fall of 2025. Pena later admitted to investigators that he sold the illegal drugs in the Pocatello area before pleading guilty to felony drug charges on June 23.

His two co-defendants face ongoing drug charges. William Hoover pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial on Nov. 23. Brandon Hoover is scheduled to make an initial court appearance on Oct. 5.

The case was investigated by the DEA and Idaho State Police.

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Seth Ratliff

LEMHI COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Two Montana women are in custody following a Sunday night traffic stop where a Lemhi County Sheriff’s Deputy discovered a cache of illicit drugs and cash hidden in their truck.

Coty M. Wilson of Missoula and Brandy M. Wilson of Great Falls were arrested and booked into the Lemhi County Jail. Both women face charges of trafficking methamphetamine, possession of fentanyl, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Coty Wilson faces an additional charge of possession of LSD.

Brandy Wilson, Courtesy Lemhi County Jail Coty Wilson, Courtesy Lemhi County Jail

Sunday evening, around 9 pm, a deputy pulled over their 2026 Dodge Ram 1500 for a traffic violation while patrolling along the Salmon River near the popular WagonHammer RV park.

After noticing the pungent smell of marijuana coming from the truck, the deputy searched the truck. The search uncovered approximately 115 grams of marijuana, 40 grams of methamphetamine, 3 grams of powdered fentanyl, tabs of LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and several items of drug paraphernalia. Investigators also recovered $295,467.00 in US currency.

The Dodge Ram was impounded as evidence.

Under Idaho law, first-offense fentanyl possession is a felony carrying up to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Because the methamphetamine seized exceeded 28 grams, if found guilty, the trafficking charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of at least $10,000.

Coty Wilson’s preliminary hearing has been set for September 28th in Lemhi County.

Editor’s Note: Criminal charges are formal accusations. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A previous version of this story misidentified the two suspects as men; this has been corrected.

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Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Boise School District has agreed to pay a $34,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit centered on its restroom policy for transgender students under Idaho’s School Bathroom law (Senate Bill 1100).

Under the terms of the settlement, the insurance company for the Boise School District has agreed to pay out $10,000 in damages and $24,000 in attorney fees.

The suit was brought by the Idaho Family Policy Center Legal Center, a conservative Christian organization and lobbying group, on behalf of a former Boise High School student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe.

Doe claims that, as a student, she encountered a transgender classmate in the girls’ restroom twice during the 2024–2025 school year. During the second encounter, the plaintiff alleged she heard the male student masturbating in the adjacent stall with his shoes pointed towards her. According to the lawsuit, the student had been permitted to use the girl’s restroom under a “gender support plan.”

Co-authored by the IFPC, SB 1100 mandates that public schools maintain separate facilities strictly based on biological sex. Although Governor Brad Little signed the bill into law in 2023, enforcement was temporarily blocked by a federal injunction until the order was lifted in 2025.

“Last year our daughter was subjected to having to endure a breach of her privacy at Boise High School,” stated the Doe’s father in a press release. When she reported the incidents to school staff, she was told that it was their policy to allow males who identify as female to use the bathroom of their choice… No girl should ever have to go through what our daughter experienced.”

The insurance company for the Boise School District has agreed to pay out $10,000 in damages for the two bathroom encounters and $24,000 in attorney fees.

While SB 1100 was signed into law by Governor Little in 2023, it was subject to a federal injunction that temporarily blocked its enforcement. That order was later lifted in 2025.

The settlement follows a ruling by Ada County District Court Judge Lynn Norton, who denied the district’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. During hearings, the school district argued it had relied on the federal stay while it was active. However, Judge Norton concluded that the temporary stay did not immunize the district from liability after the law was ultimately upheld.

“Men don’t belong in restrooms designated for girls—period,” said Caleb Pirc, director of the IFPC Legal Center. “The IFPC Legal Center is honored to secure a settlement for Jane Doe in this groundbreaking case. Other Idaho public schools should take note that compliance with the law isn’t optional. We will hold accountable any school district that chooses to violate the law.”

In a statement to IdahoEdNews, Boise School District Public Affairs Administrator Dan Hollar emphasized that the settlement “resolves disputed claims,” but the Boise School District “continues to maintain that it acted appropriately.”

“Neither the District nor any of its employees admits, acknowledges, or concedes any fault, wrongdoing, liability, or other misconduct,” Hollar said. “…Out of respect for the privacy of the minor children involved, the District will have no further comment on this matter.”

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Following a trailblazing 2025 season where Southeast Idaho residents donated over $1 million, the popular Light the World Giving Machines are returning to the region this holiday season.

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the unique vending machines allow donors to purchase essential items and services for local and global charities and non-profit organizations. This year’s tour features over a dozen local non-profits alongside two international charities, as the machines travel through Pocatello, Rexburg, and Idaho Falls from mid-November through New Year’s Day.

Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has raised nearly $70 million, with hundreds of thousands of people worldwide donating essential items, including meals, services, and clothing, to those in need. The machines offer a tangible way to give, letting donors select specific items they wish to contribute.

Machine Locations and Schedule

Pocatello/Chubbuck- ICCU Headquarters

Dates: November 13 – November 29 Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily Featured Charities: Family Services Alliance of Southeast Idaho, The Idaho Foodbank, Pocatello Free Clinic, School District 25 Education Foundation, United Way of Southeastern Idaho

Rexburg – The Atrium at Hemming Village:

Dates: November 30 – December 14 Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily Featured Charities: Family Crisis Center, Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership, Special Olympics Idaho, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho, Idaho Falls Rescue Mission

Idaho Falls – Grand Teton Mall

Dates: December 15 – January 1 Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily Featured Charities: Idaho Falls Family YMCA, Community Food Basket – Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center, United Way of Eastern Idaho, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho, Community Family Clinic

Donations fit a wide range of budgets, with items priced from $10 to $100. Options include funding a $10 load of laundry, a $40 holiday meal, or a $100 food box for local seniors. Donors can also purchase children’s books, hygiene kits, school supplies, and essential medical care.

For those looking to go big, typing Code 777 into the machine purchases one of every item offered, totaling $1,296.

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Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A 66-year-old Pocatello man died Monday night after his vehicle struck an elk on Interstate 15 in Oneida County, according to the Idaho State Police.

The crash took place shortly before 9:30 p.m., in the northbound lanes near Portage, just north of the Utah border. The man was driving northbound in a 2022 BMW Z4; it is unknown if he was wearing a seatbelt.

Emergency crews pronounced the driver dead at the scene following the crash.

Both northbound lanes were blocked for roughly one hour as emergency personnel responded to and cleared the scene. Crews later opened the right lane, keeping the left lane closed for an additional two-and-a-half hours.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 76-year-old Ammon man has died after being pulled from the Snake River in downtown Idaho Falls on Monday evening, marking the third drowning incident along the river this summer.

The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office identified the victim Tuesday morning as Bruce Dobson.

According to the Idaho Falls Police Department, emergency dispatch received a 911 call around 5:20 p.m. Monday reporting a man in the water along the west bank of the river. First responders from the police and fire departments quickly retrieved Dobson from the water and administered lifesaving measures before transporting him to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

At this time, the coroner’s office says the cause and manner of death are still under investigation.

“Our sincere condolences to the family and friends who have been affected by this loss,” wrote the coroner’s office.

Dobson’s death comes after two more confirmed deaths along the downtown Greenbelt area this 2026 summer season.

Weeks ago, on August 30, 88-year-old Teng Go fell into the Snake River near the Broadway Bridge. His body was recovered several days later, about 46 feet below the surface.

There was also a June incident involving 54-year-old John Green, who fell into the river near the Broadway Bridge. His body has not been recovered. Authorities said at the time that the river’s speed, murky water, and dangerous conditions were making the search extremely difficult.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Local News 8 previously reported that the Idaho Falls Police Department was investigating the Monday incident as a potential suicide. That report has been updated following new information provided by the Bonneville County Coroner’s Office.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You are not alone. Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Services are free and confidential.

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