Month: February 2012

A jury in Lander has acquitted a Montana man of a murder charge in the 1984 shooting death of a Jackson woman. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that a jury deliberated five hours before finding Troy Willoughby not guilty on Friday. Willoughby, of Wickes, Mont., had been accused in the death of Lisa

If someone calls you claiming you missed a summons for jury duty and that you are going to be arrested, it may be a scam, the Better Business Bureau said Friday. Scammer callers claim to be jury duty coordinators or court workers. They tell their victims an arrest warrant has been issued for failure to

A former bodyguard and spokesman for polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs has filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit claiming church leaders ruined his business after he had a falling-out with Jeffs. Attorneys for 43-year-old William “Willie” Jessop filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking more than $57 million in damages and at least $25 million in punitive damages from

Republican U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador plans to announce his bid for re-election next week in Boise. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter is among state officials expected to join the first-term congressman Monday at the Idaho Capitol when he makes his announcement. Labrador, a tea party favorite, was elected to Congress in 2010. He reclaimed Idaho’s 1st

Police say they have arrested the person responsible for incidents that have spooked a west Idaho Falls neighborhood. Police arrested Corey Lynn Herndon, 25, of Idaho Falls early Thursday on a charge of burglarizing a home on the 2400 block of Brookcliff last Friday. According to police, he entered the home on Brookcliff after damaging

Two Wyoming state lawmakers plan to introduce a bill banning local gun control laws, such as one recently passed in Casper. The proposed bill would nullify such local bans and allow anyone prosecuted for violating such a law to sue and be awarded up to $200,000. The Casper Star-Tribune reported Thursday that the bill will

Eleven days: That’s how long Idaho National Laboratory employees will have to wait to find out exactly how many of them will be laid off. Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates the lab, announced on Thursday that it will eliminate as many as 185 workers by the end of March. Employees can leave voluntarily until Feb.

GIRLS DISTRICT TOURNAMENTS 5A DISTRICT Century 37 Pocatello 32 F 4A DIST. 6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Rigby 43 Madison 50 F 3A DIST. 5 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Snake River 51 Bear Lake 37 F 3A DIST. 6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Salmon 59 South Fremont 55 F 2A DIST. 6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Butte County 56 North Fremont 39 F 1A DIV. 2 DIST.

Micron Technologies Inc. has scheduled a public memorial service for its former CEO and Chairman Steve Appleton, who was killed last week in a plane crash in Boise. The memorial service is scheduled Feb. 23 at Taco Bell Arena on the Boise State University campus. Micron has also established memorial funds in Appleton’s name with

Local skiers know how great Pebble Creek Ski Area is, but Thursday, a Guiness World Record-holding, Livestrong-donating ski bum from Maui, his girlfriend Caroline, and their two dogs learned it, too. Steve Fischer, the man from Maui, is just a guy who loves to ski and is trying to hit 100 resorts in his big

There’s a senior at Salmon High School that carries a solid 4.0 GPA , and has lettered for years in volleyball, track, and basketball. The first you notice about Kelsey Hansen is, she’s beautiful. The second thing you notice: she’s tall! “How tall are you?” asks Karole Honas. Kelsey replies, “6′ 1″.” Kelsey uses that

The Idaho National Laboratory is reporting a cut in its workforce. According to an internal memo, up to 185 jobs will be lost from Battelle Energy Alliance LLC, though the exact number is not yet known. The company is giving employees a chance to volunteer to leave, and other terminations will be involuntary. All employees

The Pocatello Airport is unveiling its 20-year master plan to the public. The airport invited anyone from the region to show up Thursday and get an in-depth look at what’s in store for the future of the airport. “We want them so see that this airport is going to be growing, not by leaps and

The Idaho Falls School Board has agreed to sell its historic New Sweden School property. The property has lain idle for many years. In 1991 the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places. According to the registry, the school’s “period of significance” was from 1925 to 1949. After declaring the property surplus

Mitchell Bert Clute and Nathan Scott Moore, both 18, were arrested early Wednesday morning after Idaho Falls police said they were caught breaking into cars on the 200 block of South Lloyd Circle. Clute and Moore were both arrested on charges of vehicle burglary. According to reports, a resident in the 200 block of Lloyd

Rexburg officials said a recent ban on texting in crosswalks and a crackdown on jaywalking are still going strong. The texting ordinance seems to be doing its job, at least according to Capt. Randy Lewis with the Rexburg Police Department. He said crosswalks like these are looking a lot safer. It’s something most of us

GIRLS DISTRICT BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 5A DISTRICT 5-6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Skyline 44 Highland 60 F 4A DISTRICT 6 Bonneville 56 Madison 64 F 3A DISTRICT 6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} South Fremont 38 Salmon 49 F 1A DIV. II DIST. 5-6 Rockland 42 Leadore 32 F 1A DIV. II DIST. 5-6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Mackay 42 North Gem 21 F 1A DIVISION

There may be a battle brewing in Bonneville County School District 93. On Wednesday night, the school board approved next year’s calendar with a weekly early release, but there are some strong opinions over which day of the week that should be. Administrators said there’s just something about calendars that stirs up emotions, and that

GIRLS DISTRICT BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS 3A DISTRICT 5 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Snake River 36 Marsh Valley 37 F 3A DISTRICT 5 {CONSOLATION} Bear Lake 44 American Falls 28 F 2A DIST. 6 {CHAMPIONSHIP} Butte County 48 North Fremont 42 F Both Play Tomorrow 1A DIV. 2 DIST. 4 CONSOLATION Carey 54 Camas County 49 F 1A DIV. 2

The Idaho Department of Labor hosted a career fair at Blackfoot High School on Tuesday. The goal? To show kids how many options they have right here in Idaho after graduation. There were dozens of local businesses and universities from the Idaho and Utah region. For Blackfoot High School junior Emily Gardner, Tuesday’s career fair

Whether you drive, walk or bike, getting around in Pocatello could soon get a lot easier. The Gate City has just been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency to participate in the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program and will receive a free Complete Streets workshop. The point of the workshop is to help cities

Izaiah is a delightful little boy who loves interacting with adults and climbing up onto a lap for some one-on-one time. His favorite cartoons are Diego and Dora the Explorer; in fact, he takes his Diego with him everywhere he goes! A love of numbers and counting on fingers or clocks can keep him busy

Just about one-month after the city of Blackfoot decided to ditch runoff races for council seat elections, Idaho Falls leaders are revisiting their city’s runoff ordinance. Council members discussed the issue at a work session on Tuesday morning. Since residents voted in favor of runoff elections in 2005, the city has never actually had to

Some state legislators are trying to keep teenagers away from tanning beds. A proposed bill would put in a place a ban on anyone less than 18-years-old using a tanning bed. Supporters of the age limit said the quest for a healthy glow is anything but healthy. In the bill’s statement of purpose, Representative John

An Idaho Falls community is on edge after police detained a suspicious man Wednesday. It?s the same neighborhood police have been watching after a series of night home invasions last week. Police say they received several 911 calls early Wednesday afternoon reporting a suspicious person in west Idaho Falls. It all started when a woman,

A bill in the state legislature might have more charter schools coming to Idaho. A current law allows a maximum of six new charter schools per year in the state; the new bill would get rid of that limit. Academy at Roosevelt Center Administrator Joel Lovstedt said he can understand why someone might have thought

Some state legislators are trying to keep teenagers away from tanning beds. A proposed bill would put in a place a ban on anyone less than 18-years-old using a tanning bed. Supporters of the age limit said the quest for a healthy glow, is anything but healthy. In the bill’s statement of purpose, Representative John

The state is making it a little easier to donate to your local food bank. When you fill out your taxes this year, you can donate part of your refund to the Idaho Food Bank. By checking line 39 on your 1040, you will find a place to designate a dollar amount for the Idaho

The Idaho Department of Labor is asking the state legislature to impose a fine on employers who fail to report new hires. The law currently requires employers to report a new hire within 20 days. The proposed law would impose a $25 penalty fee if they do not file a report. The Idaho Department of

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is finding a lot of support among elected officials in Idaho. Mitt Romney’s campaign sent out a press release today naming Idaho elected officials who support the candidate. The new list more than doubles the number of elected officials supporting Romney. Idaho leaders supporting Romney: — Sen. Dean M. Mortimer

The Idaho Department of Labor is asking the state legislature to impose a fine on employers who fail to report new hires. The law currently requires employers to report a new hire within 20 days. The proposed law would impose a $25 penalty fee if they do not file a report. The Idaho Department of

Pocatello police arrested Cory M. Booker, 18, Wednesday on charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor child. Police said Booker was having sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl. Detectives are still investigating.

After kicking it around in some form or another for the last six years, the state Legislature may finally adopt a bill to change the way franchise fees work. Some said it could be bad news for Idaho cities, and could cost Pocatello nearly $80,000. Currently, Idaho cities can collect a 5 percent franchise fee

Area high schools are trying out a new way to keep kids away from drugs. Staying clean got a new meaning at the Museum of Clean in Pocatello, as it played host to a day long drug-free workshop for local highschoolers. Those who deal with these issues in the district said the old adage rings

Three men implicated in the Christmas Day stabbing death of 20-year-old Buck Garner in Ammon have pleaded not guilty. Brent Pongyan and Derek Perez, both 18, and Adan Cisneros, 45, appeared for arraignment on charges of aggravated battery before 7th District Judge Dane Watkins Jr. Tuesday morning. All were ordered to stand trial beginning April

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Narcotic pain relievers like Vicodin, Hydrocodone, Oxycontin are popular and very available to teens. If these drugs get in the wrong hands, they can be addictive and even deadly. Here?s how it can happen ? to anyone. Dedra Butler was a mother of two and a nurse, but

State lawmakers are again taking up legislation to lift Idaho’s cap on the number of new charter schools allowed each year. The House Education Committee voted Monday to introduce a bill that would eliminate a provision in state law that limits the number of new charter schools to six per year The state law allowing

Josh Powell tried to kill his two young sons with a hatchet before the flames of the fiery explosion he had ignited engulfed them all, police said Monday. Powell, 36, failed to kill his sons Charles, 7, and Braden, 5, but still wounded them horribly before they died — smoke in their lungs — in

Officials said an explosion at a Washington state home has killed Josh Powell, the husband of a missing Utah woman, plus their two young sons. Graham Fire and Rescue Chief Gary Franz tells The Associated Press that explosion occurred moments after a Child Protective Services worker brought the two boys to the home for a

An Idaho lawmaker who spearheaded a program to reward kids who graduate from high school early now wants to shorten the amount of time it takes for students to finish college. Republican Rep. Steve Thayn has proposed the “8 in 6 Program,” which relies on summer courses to help students complete two years of college

Pocatello-Chubbuck school board trustee and board chairman Frank Rash died early Sunday morning of cancer. He was 62. Rash had served on the board for five years and was dedicated to supporting the education of the community’s children, school board vice chairman John Sargent said. During his term, Rash was faced with difficult decisions during

Occupy Pocatello is jumping on a national initiative to create a Constitutional amendment overturning a Supreme Court ruling that gave corporations the same rights as individuals when it comes to making political campaign contributions. That all happens just as legislators in Boise debate whether or not the group can actually continue to protest on state

Idaho Falls police are investigating the theft of thousands of dollars of heavy pipe taken from the City of Idaho Falls Water Department on Hemmert Avenue. According to the reports, the city reported that sometime within the last week an unknown suspect stole about 190 underground pieces valued at close to $8,000. The iron barely

Cable subscribers in Pocatello might have noticed a much clearer picture over the weekend. It’s a project that’s been in the works for about four years. Cable subscribers in and around Pocatello can now, for the first time, get a pure digital signal. “It’s gonna be more dependable,” said Brett Young, Cable One’s technical operations

The price of a gallon of gas at Idaho pumps is still lower than a good chunk of the country. But prices are about to go way, way up. “I could complain, but it won’t help,” said driver David Lecheminant as he filled up on Monday. Prices at the pump are expected to jump an

Isaah A-Jalil Kappah, 21, of Ghana was sentenced Monday to two to 10 years in prison for the rape of a 17-year-old girl. Judge Greg Moeller retained jurisdiction in the case. Madison County Prosecutor Sid Brown charged Kappah with the rape of a woman under the age of 16 and forcible sexual penetration by use

The Idaho Supreme Court will hear arguments in several cases this week, including an appeal in a lawsuit over the death of 100 dairy calves. The lawsuit was brought in Twin Falls County by Jesus Hurtado and John Reitsma, who claimed that the Land O’Lakes milk replacer they used to feed their calves was defective

The University of Idaho says no one was injured when a gun shot was fired into the window of a campus residence hall. School administrators issued a statement saying a single shot was fired at the Targhee Fine Arts residence hall around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. The bullet hit a lighting fixture then ricocheted into

The maternal grandparents of Josh Powell’s two sons say the boys were playing happily Sunday and didn’t want to visit their father. Charles and Judy Cox tell KIRO-TV that the grandmother talked them into a supervised child custody visit with their father. When the boys arrived at Powell’s Washington state home, their father barred a

Twelve severely disabled Idaho residents are suing the state after the Department of Health and Welfare refused to disclose why it cut their Medicaid benefits by as much as 40 percent. The plaintiffs are represented by Idaho Legal Aid attorney Ritchie Eppink, who describes his clients as Idaho’s most vulnerable residents. All of them need

Former ISU football player Austin Schnizler pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in 6th District Court in Pocatello on Monday. Schnizler was among four players dismissed by the university for violating the Idaho State Athletic Department Code of Policy. Schnizler posted a $10,000 bail. Judge Stephen

Idaho Falls Police arrested Peter Frederick Brooke, 26, on a charge of burglary after they say he stole hundreds of dollars in cash and liquor from the Blue Wave Bar. Brooke, of Idaho Falls, was arrested Friday afternoon on a warrant. According to reports, Brooke was identified as the person responsible for unlawfully entering into

Idaho is one of only three states in the nation with no felony punishment for repeat animal cruelty offenders. Now, one statewide effort is building to change the law. “There really aren’t any serious penalties for it,” said Tracie Grant, a volunteer for Boise-based Idaho 1 of 3. The group is working to make animal

Leora Holland of Salmon won $100,000 from the Idaho Lottery. According to a news release, Holland was looking to do something to lift her spirits Wednesday. Holland, an infrequent lottery player who hardly ever buys anything more than a $1 Scratch Game ticket, decided to play a $10 Extreme Green Idaho Lottery Scratch Ticket. ?I

Steve Appleton, chairman and CEO of Micron Technology, died Friday morning in a small-plane accident in Boise. He was 51. Officials say that around 9 a.m., the experimental aircraft crashed between two runways, killing Appleton, an avid pilot. He was the only person on board. The plane is described as a fixed-wing single-engine Lancair. Ada

It’s no secret the nation and the state of Idaho are struggling with employment. Idaho Democrats have come up with what they say is a solution to the problem — iJobs 2.0, a package made up of six bills. Two of the legislators backing the bills stopped by Local News 8 Friday to discuss their

The Idaho Association of Counties is gearing up for Boise next week, where members of the organization will vie for what they see as the most important issues in the state right now. Topping the list of issues are oil and gas development, mental health and taxes. IAC President Lee Staker said the Legislature has

Grand Teton National Park officials say director Quentin Tarantino plans on shooting some scenes for his latest film in Jackson Hole within the next couple of weeks. Park spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says the National Park Service issued a permit to Tarantino’s production company last week. A publicist with the project has said a brief part

Two three-week-old twins died as a result of accident suffocation, Bannock County coroner Kim Quick said Friday. Gabriel R. and Tryce E. Medrano were found unconscious and not breathing in November after sleeping in bed with their mother. “I would like to caution those that sleep with their infants, that this is an unsafe practice”,

The constitution controversy continues at Idaho State University. Faculty members met in an emergency meeting Friday to share their concerns with recent steps taken by the administration. At the end of November, the faculty senate sent a proposed constitution to the administration. Now, the administration has released its revamped version, which contains some significant changes.

Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night to find a stranger next to your bed? Police say that’s exactly what happened to two people in Idaho Falls early Friday morning. Police aren’t releasing the victims’ names, but said neither was physically hurt. For those who live nearby, the bedroom break-ins were

Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center is boosting its transparency these days, to let the public know just how long of a wait to expect at the emergency room. In early January, the hospital launched a digital billboard on Yellowstone Highway, along with a new widget on its web page and a text service. What’s displayed

It’s no secret fewer minorities receive a college education than their white peers, but ISU’s Celebrate Your Future program is trying to change that. The conference not only attempts to motivate students but help them explore different careers a post secondary education can offer. From life as a gangster to a Harvard Graduate, Richard Santana

Tiffany Horning, 25, of Terreton pleaded guilty Friday in United States District Court in Pocatello to passing a counterfeit check, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. According to the plea agreement, Horning admitted that on May 22 and May 24, 2010, she passed two checks totaling $1,345 at the Sage Hill Casino, which is owned

A suspicious vehicle complaint turned into a drug-related arrest, Rigby police said. According to a news release Friday, officers checked out the complaint at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, where they found a vehicle with about 1 ounce of marijuana, 1 ounce of psilocybin mushrooms, about15 grams of hashish and about $4,500 in cash.

Gov. C.L. ?Butch? Idaho said research being done in Idaho?s universities is the state?s future. Otter told an audience at Idaho State University about the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission, or IGEM, on Wednesday. He says the project is all about teamwork ? getting universities working together and those universities working with businesses. “IGEM actually brings

As presidential hopeful Mitt Romney rises in the polls he’s finding a lot of friends in Idaho with deep pocket books. With a million dollars worth of contributions, Frank Vandersloot’s Melaleuca Inc. is by far Romney largest Idaho donor, but he is not the only Idahoan who wants to see Romney in the white house.

The Pocatello Police Department is advising residents not to respond to phone calls, emails, or web pages that require you to call an 809 phone number, but this warning may be at odds with the rumor-checking website Snopes. On Tuesday, the Pocatello Police Department advised residents not to respond to phone calls, emails or web