Category: kifi-local-news

News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho Transportation Department:

INKOM, Idaho — Old Highway 91 under the Interstate 15 bridges in Inkom will close from March 19 through July 24 to allow crews to continue replacing the bridges in town. During the closure, traffic will be detoured along North Rapid Creek Road and North Inkom Road. 

Last year, the three southbound bridges were replaced. This year, crews are focusing on the northbound bridges, with all work planned to be completed in late October. Freeway traffic has been shifted to the southbound lanes and is reduced to one lane in each direction.

Motorists should watch for crews, use caution, and drive safely through the work zone.

To learn more about the project or sign up for construction updates, visit itd.idaho.gov/project/inkom-corridor/. Motorists can also check 511.idaho.gov for current conditions and closures.

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News Team

SALT LAKE, Utah (KIFI) — In a landmark policy shift, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has opened Sunday School presidency roles to women. The change, effective immediately, marks the first time in the faith’s history that women will be eligible to lead the program at the local level.

The First Presidency, the highest governing body of the church, announced the change on March 18, 2026, in a letter to Church leaders worldwide.

“This important change gives bishoprics additional options as they prayerfully consider who should lead the effort of teaching and learning in their wards,” said Sunday School General President Paul V. Johnson. “At the time of our call as Sunday School leaders in 2024, the First Presidency gave us a charge—as they have done with previous presidencies—to improve teaching and learning in the Church. There are many capable women and men who can help strengthen gospel instruction and foster spiritual growth.”

Under the updated policy, a Bishop may now choose to call either a man or a woman to serve as the Ward Sunday School President. If a woman is called as president, her counselors and secretary must also be female members of the ward. If a man is called the president, his counselors and secretary must be men.

The announcement carries particular weight in Idaho, home to nearly 400,000 members of the faith. Latter-day Saints account for approximately 25% of Idaho’s population, meaning this administrative change will be felt in almost every community across the state.

Local church members in Idaho Falls shared mixed but thoughtful reactions to the change. Judy Polatis grew up in the church and called the news “a little not normal” when she first heard it.

“I’m kind of old school,” she adds. “We have modern revelation, which helps. The church is always changing, progressing. Change is going to happen and we all just need to love and get used to it.”

Others expressed support for the expanded opportunity. “It is nice to see that women are now in that position” says Kate French, another member from Idaho Falls.

“I think the spirit guides both men and women.”

Traditionally, the faith allowed women to serve as teachers in the Sunday School Program, but leadership roles were previously reserved for men. This news marks a major change in the church’s Sunday school policy.

For more information, click HERE.

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Bailee Shaw

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — An NFL superstar is coming to eastern Idaho. Taysom Hill, the New Orleans Saints tight end and former BYU quarterback, is making a special stop at Walmart in Rexburg this week.

Hill will be at the garden center tomorrow from 2 to 3:30 p.m. For a meet-and-greet with fans.

Hill grew up right here in Pocatello, attending Highland High School, and made his NFL debut with the Green Bay Packers in 2017.

He just finished his ninth season with the Saints and is known as the “human swiss army knife” for his ability to play multiple roles on offense and special teams.

The event is a partnership with Old Spice, celebrating football and the local community.

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Danielle Mullenix

Yellowstone, Montana (KIFI) – Yellowstone National Park welcomed nearly 4.8 million recreation visits in 2025, according to a new release from the National Park Service.

The park recorded 4,762,988 visits over the year—an impressive number that comes despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During that time, the National Park Service worked to keep parks open and accessible whenever possible, allowing visitors to continue accessing some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes.

2025 Visitation Highlights

4,762,988 recreation visits

86,891,452 total visitor hours spent in the park

1,238,983 overnight stays

Park officials say these numbers reflect not only Yellowstone’s enduring popularity, but also the importance of maintaining access to public lands—even during challenging circumstances.

courtesy of the Yellowstone National Park Service

Visitation data plays a key role in how the National Park Service manages park resources, staffing, and visitor experience. Officials use these trends to balance conservation efforts with public access, ensuring parks remain both protected and enjoyable.

That demand is also spilling into nearby communities like West Yellowstone, where in-town employees and locals like Cam Carter are already preparing for a busy summer. Carter, who helps operate the Holiday Motel in town, shared that they’ve seen rooms consistently booked out during the summer season.

“The whole town is only one square mile, so it can become very packed,” Carter shared. “We’ve had to turn away people in our motel room every single night at peak season. We definitely have felt that, in the last couple of years, especially since Covid, it’s been a lot busier in the park, since Covid.”

The National Park Service also noted that Yellowstone’s numbers are part of a broader national dataset. Of the 433 sites in the National Park System, 406 parks reported visitation in 2025, with records dating back to 1979 in some locations.

For visitors and park managers alike, the data offers a snapshot of how Americans continue to connect with the outdoors—even in uncertain times.

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David Pace

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho – The U.S. Forest Service will be conducting controlled burns Wednesday in the Rainey Creek area near Swan Valley.

Swan Valley Fire Chief Travis Crystal asks members of the public not to call 911 or emergency services if they see smoke or fire from these controlled operations.

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Facebook page states that the prescribed fire is planned for Rainey Creek in the South Fork Zone’s Palisades Ranger District – encompassing 100 acres, five miles east of Swan Valley.

“We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires,” the Forest Service posted.

Future planned burns will continue through May, covering:

South Fork Zone:

• South Valley – Mike Harris Pile Burning: 300 acres, three miles south of Victor, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

• South Valley – Forest Boundary Pile Burning: 85 acres, four miles west of Victor, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

• Hill Creek: 800 acres, five miles southeast of Driggs, Idaho, Teton Basin Ranger District

Bear River Zone:

• Strawberry: 500 acres, 15 miles west of Montpelier, Idaho, Montpelier Ranger District

For more information, you can visit the official Caribou-Targhee National Forest website.

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David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The Idaho Falls Fire Department Pipes and Drums rang in Saint Patrick’s Day with the luck of the Irish – performing downtown at Station One.

Eleven firefighters tuned up the bagpipes and showcased their impressive abilities on the drums.

“It takes a lot of air to go through there, so we usually play a song, take a break, harass and joke with each other and, you know, just have a good time,” said Pipe Major Dan Muhlestein.

The firemen and bagpipes tradition dates back to the 1800s, when Scottish and Irish migrants arrived in the United States, picking up the dangerous jobs for employment.

“They’d play their pipes and drums and for their fallen brothers and sisters,” said IFFD Pipes and Drums President Whit Albertson. “So that’s just a tradition that we’re just trying to keep alive today.”

The Pipes and Drums band have performed across the country – at elementary schools, downtown events, Las Vegas and Texas.

“We started in 2005, so this year is 21 years, and we play because we’re firemen,” Muhlestein said.

Their next performance will be in the Fourth of July parade to commemorate the 250th anniversary of America.

“To the community, they just love to come out and listen to us play bagpipes. We’re not musicians. We’re firefighters,” Albertson said. “But they still love to come hang out, buy the merchandise and listen to us play.”

The Idaho Falls Fire Department Pipes and Drums raise their hats in tribute to fallen firefighters during “Amazing Grace.”

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Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A proposed Idaho Falls ordinance would require alcohol servers and security staff to complete a new “Approved Server Training Program,” but at least one city council member says he’s concerned the law, as written, goes too far in punishing workers.

Under the ordinance, current employees would have to be certified by June 1, 2026. New hires would have 60 days from their start date to complete the training. Certifications would be valid for three years, after which employees would be required to take the course again to stay in compliance.

Businesses that hold liquor, beer, or wine licenses would be required to ensure their staff is certified, keep records of those certifications, and present them to law enforcement upon request. Copies of employee certificates would also have to be submitted when applying for a new or lapsed license.

City Council Member John Radford said he supports the idea of training but believes local bar and restaurant owners have legitimate concerns about how the ordinance is structured.

“We did have, at our last City Council meeting, probably five or 10 of the owners come and speak to it, and they overwhelmingly wanted us to find a better solution,” Radford said “All of them said, yes, they’re in favor of training, but the burden of how this was written currently just didn’t meet their needs.”

One of the major areas of concern is the penalty for violating the training requirement. The ordinance makes individual servers, managers, or security personnel who fail to comply guilty of a misdemeanor. 

“We think that the training burden is one. Number two is the misdemeanor is pretty harsh for a judgment call,” Radford said. “You can train people, but ultimately you don’t know that someone comes into your bar that hasn’t already had more drinks than you served them.”

Council members and business owners are expected to continue discussions in the coming months over how to balance safety with less burden on businesses.

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Seth Ratliff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 43-year-old Menan man is recovering this afternoon after being injured in a rollover crash along State Highway 33 Tuesday morning, March 17.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash took place around 11:20 AM near milepost 32. The man was reportedly driving north in a 1995 Buick LaSaber when his vehicle drove off the east side of the road and rolled.

The man was fortunately wearing his seatbelt and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.

The crash is still under investigation by the Idaho State Police.

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Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney Randy Neal has officially thrown his hat into the ring for District Judge in Idaho’s Seventh Judicial District, setting the stage for the region’s first contested judicial election in over a decade.

Neal’s campaign to unseat incumbent District Judge Steven Boyce marks the first time in 14 years that a judge’s seat has been challenged in the district.

District Judge Steven Boyce

Judicial elections take place every 4 years, and the race will involve residents of District 7, which serves Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton counties.

In his announcement, Neal emphasized the importance of the democratic process in the judicial system.

“The Idaho Constitution states that district judges are to be elected by the people,” Neal explained. “It is not a true election if people don’t have choices. Elected judges are more directly accountable to the people in the community.”

Neal brings four decades of public service to the race, beginning his career in law enforcement before transitioning to law. He has served as the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney since his election in 2022.

His opponent, Judge Boyce, was appointed by Governor Brad Little to the 7th Judicial District in 2019 and has served in the position since. Before becoming a district judge, Boyce served as a magistrate judge for Bonneville County from 2017 to 2019 and had practiced law for over 20 years.

Prosecutor Neal says his platform centers on ensuring the community and victims have a clear voice in the courtroom.

“I believe that the community and the victims must be heard in the courtroom,” Neal added, “Along with efforts at rehabilitating offenders, there must be accountability and proportionate consequences, especially in those cases involving child victims and gun violence.”

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

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Seth Ratliff

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — A 34-year-old Idaho Falls school teacher is facing multiple felony charges after an investigation by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Benjamin Simms was arrested on Thursday, March 12, following allegations that he recorded videos of himself molesting a 4-year-old child.

Simms has been charged with 1 count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and 1 count of Lewd Conduct with a Child Under 16.

At the time of his arrest, Simms was a K-3 music teacher at American Heritage Charter School in Idaho Falls. Local News 8 has reached out to American Heritage for comment and will provide more details as we receive a response.

However, investigators and Idaho AG Raúl Labrador emphasize that the charges are not connected to his work at the school, and they’ve found no evidence that any students were victimized.

“Last week, investigators in my ICAC Unit arrested a man employed with a charter school in Idaho Falls. At this time, we have found no evidence of any student victims,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners across eastern Idaho who helped with this arrest and share our commitment to keeping Idaho families safe.”

Investigation Background

The investigation began in early January after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a “cybertip” from Snapchat. The social media platform flagged an account for uploading 15 files containing suspected child pornography.

According to court documents, five videos involved an adult man molesting a child later identified as 4-years-old.

Investigators traced the IP addresses used by the account to a local medical facility and Simms’ residence in Shelley, Idaho. Detectives then used social media and law enforcement databases to identify Simms as the man in the illicit videos.

On March 12, ICAC investigators, working in partnership with several local law enforcement agencies, obtained a search warrant for Simms’ home and took him into custody. While in custody, Simms admitted to investigators that he had created lewd videos of the child, according to court documents.

Simms was subsequently charged and booked into the Bingham County Jail. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 8:30 AM.

Parents, educators, and law enforcement officials can find more information and helpful resources at the ICAC website, ICACIdaho.org.

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