Category: kifi-local-news

Par Kermani

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Foster children in eastern Idaho now have more space to shop for clothing, hygiene products, birthday gifts and other essentials following the opening of a new, expanded home for The Village Foster Care Closet in Blackfoot.

The Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the facility Friday at the Bingham Community Outreach Center.

Children in foster care can visit The Village and choose clothing, shoes, hygiene products, sensory items, birthday gifts and other necessities at no cost.

Organizers say the program is designed to give children a sense of choice during a time when many decisions are being made for them.

“The purpose of The Village is not just to provide items, but to give children in foster care the chance to choose for themselves,” said Jacque Burt, president of the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association. “When children enter care, many of their choices are taken away. At The Village, they have a voice.”

The new facility marks a major expansion for The Village, increasing the space available to foster youth from about 1,700 square feet at its previous location to roughly 5,000 to 6,000 square feet of dedicated shopping space.

The new location includes private dressing rooms, a prom attire room and a birthday room stocked with new toys, electronics and other gifts that can be selected by foster parents, social workers and CASA volunteers for children in their care.

The Village is now housed within the Bingham Community Outreach Center, which also includes the Blackfoot Community Dinner Table and Blackfoot Food Bank.

According to the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association, The Village provides a storefront-style experience where foster children can select items they need free of charge while maintaining a sense of dignity and independence.

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Par Kermani

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Health officials are warning people to stay out of parts of Flat Creek after recent testing found E. coli levels above federal safety standards for recreational use.

According to the Teton County Health Department, water samples collected near Hunt Bridge and in the Rafter J Ranch area exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contamination levels for recreational waters.

As a result, the department has posted E. coli caution signs along the affected sections of the creek.

Officials say E. coli bacteria can cause illness if contaminated water is swallowed. Symptoms can include stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. The presence of E. coli may also indicate that other harmful bacteria or pathogens are present in the water.

The health department is urging residents and visitors to avoid swimming, floating or participating in other activities that could result in swallowing water from the affected areas until contamination levels decrease.

Officials say the caution signs will remain in place until follow-up testing shows E. coli levels have returned to safe levels.

Anyone planning to recreate in the area is encouraged to watch for posted warning signs and check local conditions before entering the water.

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News Team

UPDATED:

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — A Utah judge has denied a request to close portions of the upcoming preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk.

According to ABC4, Judge Tony Graf ruled Monday that the public and media will be allowed to attend the hearing, which is scheduled for July.

Defense attorneys argued that extensive media coverage could impact Robinson’s right to a fair trial. However, the judge found the defense did not demonstrate that public access would prevent a fair hearing.

The preliminary hearing is expected to provide the first detailed look at evidence prosecutors plan to present in the case, including surveillance footage, forensic evidence and witness testimony.

PROVO, Utah (KIFI) — Judge Tony Graf is expected to decide Monday whether to close portions of the upcoming preliminary hearing for the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Tyler Robinson, 23, is scheduled to appear in court July 6–10, where prosecutors must prove there is enough evidence to bring him to trial. Robinson’s defense attorneys have motioned that parts of the hearing be closed to the public and the press, citing concerns that media coverage of the evidence presented could jeopardize Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

The prosecution has filed a motion urging the court to keep the proceedings open, but consented that the “media should be restricted from viewing or copying some exhibits that could be used in a future trial,” according to the Associated Press.

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News Team

FREMONT COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Three fishermen are safe after a boat trip on the Fall River took a dangerous turn last Thursday, May 28.

According to Fremont County Search and Rescue, the incident unfolded after Fremont County Dispatch received an emergency text from an Apple device.

Rushing to the reported location, Fremont County Deputies and first responders found three stranded fishermen whose boat had capsized on the Fall River just east of the Fall River Hydroelectric plant.

According to an official Facebook post, the group had launched several miles upstream, but as they floated downriver, their boat struck a rock and started taking on water. Trapped by the steep canyon walls, they continued downstream before their boat struck another rock, overturned, and left them stranded.

Fortunately, first responders say the men were able to reach the south riverbank but remained trapped by the sheer canyon walls.

Rescuers used a cataraft to reach the men and bring them safely to shore.

No injuries were reported.

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News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The chief deputy coroner for Bannock County is behind bars following an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused two underage girls over several years.

54-year-old Jonathan Ray Farnsworth, who also served as the North Bannock Fire Chief, faces multiple felony charges. According to court records, Farnsworth has been charged with four counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16, one count of rape, and one count of sexual exploitation of a child.

Investigators state the case came to light after one of the alleged victims, who is now an adult, contacted law enforcement. She reportedly told police she came forward out of concern that the abuse could still be ongoing with other victims.

Farnsworth was arrested last Thursday at the Bannock County Coroner’s Office.

Following his arrest, police transported Farnsworth to the Pocatello Police Department for questioning. He was later booked into the Power County Jail in American Falls.

Farnsworth’s preliminary hearing has been set for June 9th.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional updates as more information becomes available.

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Danielle Mullenix

We will start June with cooler temperatures and a brief period of showers moving through Eastern Idaho, heading northward. Although today may require a jacket, we can expect a gradual warm-up throughout the week with minimal impacts anticipated.

Monday morning is expected to start off cool, with temperatures ranging from the 30s to the low 40s. High temperatures throughout most of Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming will reach the 60s, while areas further south may approach the low 70s. Humidity levels will begin to dry out, with expectations generally between 15% and 30%. There is a chance of isolated mist, thunderstorms, and rainfall, particularly in the mountainous regions. During the afternoon, wind gusts are forecasted to be between 15 and 20 mph, with slightly stronger gusts expected over the Craters of the Moon Preserve.

Although it will be a few degrees warmer, expect Tuesday to start off a bit chilly, with temperatures in the 30s and some isolated areas in the 40s along the region and the I-15 corridor. High temperatures are expected to reach the 60s and low 70s, gradually warming throughout the day. Humidity levels will be very low, as the chances of thunderstorms and rainfall from today will decrease, reducing the likelihood of any similar weather on Tuesday.

By Wednesday, high temperatures will be in the 70s across the mountains and in the low to mid-80s on the Snake River Plain. By this point in the week, dry weather will return almost entirely. Wind gusts are expected to sit around 15-25 mph.

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Linda Larsen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — 50 years ago this week, life in eastern Idaho changed in an instant. The newly constructed Teton Dam collapsed on June 5th, 1976, unleashing 80 billion gallons of water, killing 11, forcing thousands from their homes, and testing the resolve of our communities.

The collapse of the Teton Dam is a sight and sound still etched into the collective memory of Eastern Idaho.

Marilyn Short, whose husband was working at the dam, recalled her initial disbelief. “He said you need to evacuate, the dam is breaking,” Short said. “Yeah, what do you think? I mean, this is a huge, huge dam. Dams just don’t break.”

Following the disaster, thousands of residents were displaced and left in a sea of mud. An army of volunteers later flooded the valley to assist in the rebuilding efforts.

Kurt Hibbert, a flood survivor, reflected on the experience, stating that one of the great lessons of the Teton Dam disaster was that the most important things in life are friends and family.

“That’s all that mattered at that point was making sure they were okay,” Hibbert said. “Things didn’t matter anymore; it just mattered. Are you is your family safe? Are your friends safe now?”

The city of Rexburg and other communities across southeast Idaho are hosting the week-long commemoration, named Flood 50. The event focuses on remembering, connecting, and serving, aiming to honor the legacy of those who rebuilt the region. Local News eight will provide coverage of the events throughout this week. For more information, click HERE.

Local News eight will also present a special presentation titled “Teton Dam: The Failure and Future” this Friday, hosted by reporter Linda Larsen and anchor Doug Long. Tune in this Friday at 9:30 p.m. for Local News 8 on Fox and 10 p.m. on CBS.

Editor’s Note: This story was adapted from an original on-air broadcast report with the assistance of AI. All content is thoroughly reviewed and verified for accuracy by the Local News 8 editorial team.

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Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Skin Cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, The Skin Cancer Foundation says one in five people will be diagnosed with Skin Cancer in their lifetime.

A simple sunburn can cause significant damage in the long-run.

“All these things are cumulative over a lifetime,” Doctor Christopher Valentine, the Medical Director of Optum Care said. “And every time you get sunburned, that is significantly increasing your future risk.”

The effects of sun damage don’t always appear right away, but they can linger for years. Each sunburn you receive greatly increases the risk.

And people who work outside and frequently have the sun bearing down on them, have a much greater risk of skin cancer.

“I think the comment the doctor said when I was in my 40s is that my skin was that of like a 70 year old,” Adam Blessinger, an Athletic Trainer said. “I’ve been dealing with getting things cut off for probably 15 years already, but it’s really starting to it’s really starting to get thinner as I’ve gotten older.”

Adam Blessinger is my father, he constantly has to work outside as a part of his job. For nearly twenty years, he’s been constantly visiting the Dermatologist to have something potentially cancerous cut or frozen off of his skin. Due to the continued sun exposure, his skin has become paper thin.

“The other day I had a dog jump up to say hi, and it put its paws on my arm,” Adam said. “Then, I looked down and I had blood stains. It’s just, you know, it’s nothing that the dog did. It’s just the skin is is thin. And that was with a long sleeve shirt over the top.”

The biggest skin cancer causer is the UV rays from the sun, however, the rays from tanning beds can also cause complications and increase the risk of skin cancer.

“Tanning beds are, you know, basically the way that they work is they bombard the body with intense ultraviolet radiation,” Dr. Valentine said. “I mean, that’s the intent is people are trying to get a quote unquote base tan but over time, too much UV exposure. It does lead to different types of skin cancer.”

A good way to tell if you could have skin cancer is by using the ABCDE’s of Detection.

A – for Asymmetrical, a spot on the skin is asymmetrical

B – for Border, a spot on the skin has a fuzzy border

C – for Color, a spot has gotten darker

D – for Diameter, a spot has grown

E – for Evolving, a spot has changed over the past few weeks or months

To protect against the UV rays, experts recommend wearing sunscreen, a large hat, or SPF clothing when experiencing prolonged sun exposure.

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News Team

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – The Snake River Miniature Horse Club, founded in 2003, offers a variety of competitions for miniature horses and their caretakers. Their miniature horse show began this morning and continues tomorrow.

People of all ages can compete in events designed as family-oriented activities. Tomorrow’s show is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m.

The club’s competitions include various events including costume, halter, obstacle, jumping and driving classes. Participants can lead smaller miniature horse breeds over jumps and obstacles, while sport ponies are large enough to be ridden.

Karen Drake, a founder of the Snake River Miniature Horse Club, said the smaller horse breeds are put “on a line so that they can jump because we can’t ride them.” She added that obstacles involve “all kinds of maneuvers they have to do.”

Halter classes judge the horses on their conformation and good looks. Drake emphasized the versatility of the miniature horses, saying “They are wonderful little animals. They are very versatile and just fun,” she said.

The club encourages participation from all ages, including young children. Drake described how younger kids can walk and interact with the horses and foals can even be picked up. Miniature horses can be as small as 28 inches tall when fully grown, a size comparable to a dog.

The club’s activities are considered family oriented. Drake also noted that participants can show their miniature horses through 4-H programs, which hold similar classes at events like the 4-H Fair in August.

Tomorrow’s show will begin at 8 a.m., featuring obstacle and jumping events at the Eastern Idaho State Fair Grounds.

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Abi Martin

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Rexburg is remembering the Collapse of the Teton Dam that happened 50 years ago next week.

The week of commemorating the flood began tonight with the crowning of the Teton Dam royalty.

Verla Archibald lived through the flood and was crowned the teton dam flood queen 2026.

The event featured a song about what it was like to clean up the mud left in the flood’s wake. She remembers some of the most unique things she found after the flood.

“My husband kept finding a left boot, cowboy boots, and he came and he had a great big pile of them, and he said, surely there’s got to be a right foot somewhere,” Archibald said. “But we found out they were from the army store, and the other boot was on the shelf. “

There will be events happening all next week, including A 70s fashion show, a car show, even a float trip down the Teton River from the dam site.

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