Month: June 2015

With a host of new laws set to take effect Wednesday, Local News 8 is taking a look at a few major ones. Transportation tax increases A $95 million transportation bill designed to improve Idaho’s roads and bridges will mean a 7-cent fuel tax increase and a $21 vehicle registration increase for drivers. Concealed carry

The hot temperatures are attracting more bicyclists in Idaho Falls, and with more cyclists it’s easy to forget bike laws in the area. “It’s kind of awkward being out on the road. I think for a lot of cyclists they have an awkward feeling of whether they should be on the road or on the

The names of the law enforcement officers involved in the shooting of a man early Monday morning at a convenience store have been released. In a news conference Tuesday, police said the following were involved in a shooting at the Exxon gas station on Yellowstone and North Woodruff that left Ricky L. Mosley, 31, of

In a breakfast organized by the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Butch Otter said Idaho’s economy is diversifying thanks to local businesses. “I’ve got a great faith in the state of Idaho because of everything that’s happening, folks,” said Otter in his speech in Idaho State University’s ballroom. ‘Everything’ being the spur of business in

The body of a man missing in the Ririe Reservoir at Blacktail Park has been found. Divers with the Bonneville County and Bingham County sheriff’s offices had been looking for James Southard, 23, of Idaho Falls, since he disappeared on the water around 8 p.m. Monday. His body was found just before noon Tuesday. Southard

The LDS church is reiterating its stance against gay marriage to members after last week’s Supreme Court ruling. Local leaders are to read “Response to the Supreme Court Decision Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage in the United States” on Sunday or July 12 to adults and youth groups in a meeting other than sacrament meeting. “Changes in

Idaho motorists are in the midst of what law enforcement call the 100 deadliest days for drivers. According to the Idaho Transportation Department, around 40 percent of deadly crashes happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day. AAA expects 207,000 Idahoans will travel at least 50 miles from home around July 4, with 175,000 going by

It’s been three years since the Charlotte Fire ripped through 66 homes in the Mink Creek area south of Pocatello and forced thousands of people to evacuate. The June 28, 2012, inferno remains Bannock County’s most destructive fire to date and could go down as one of Idaho’s most destructive. Sean Thorne, who lives in

One hundred-degree days mean that doctors at local hospitals are on alert for heat related illnesses, especially with seniors. “Things like heat exhaustion and dehydration are the primary things you see,” said Dr. Andy Garrity, an emergency room physician at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. “Seniors are more vulnerable because they have so little reserve

With Independence Day on Saturday, fireworks will become a hot commodity for the next couple of days. As people buy them, fire officials ask everyone to be safe as they use them. Being his second year selling fireworks, Patrick Paulus is familiar with the “safe and sane” policy, the ordinance all fireworks stands have to

Law enforcement officers shot a man in a traffic stop early Monday morning. The sheriff’s office said just after 1 a.m., it got a 911 call to a home in the northern part of the county after a neighbor found a pregnant woman crying. A man had hit the woman in the head and face

Two people from Idaho wanted in three armed robberies have been arrested in California. The U.S. Department of Justice said Monday that Anthony Parsons, 25, of Bonneville County, was arrested in connection with robberies in Gooding; Stayton, Oregon; and Siskiyou County, California. He was also wanted on a charge of sexual exploitation of a minor

The Pocatello Kiwanis Club hosted its 48th annual Bing Hong Breakfast over the weekend in Tydeman Park, attracting hundreds of people from the community. Having been held for nearly half a century now, the breakfast has become a staple for some. “It’s part of the routine for the holiday. You always look forward to it,”

The Eagle Rock Amateur Radio Club held its annual “Field Day” at Taylor Park in Shelley on Saturday. Ham radios are a hobby with a purpose. Lorie Harvey says, “Ham radios has had a history of helping during all disasters around the world. When all other communications go down, hams go up.” So why is

In less than a month, special Olympics athletes will come together and compete at the world games in Los Angeles. On Friday, some local athletes celebrated the world games torch being here in Idaho Falls. Local News 8’s Chelsea Brentzel took two of them on in a game of basketball.

Several homeowners in the Chubbuck area say a man going door to door and offering to inspect roofs for storm damage is nothing more than a conman. Following the early June storms, homeowner Sherry Van Every said she had her roof inspected by a local contractor called Sage Builders. While Sage found only minor damage,

Once upon a time Christina Colonel looked like he was headed straight to the Major Leagues. But behind the dazzling plays at third base, and consistent power, was a dark secret. Colonel struggled with alcohol abuse. His addiction caused him to leave the game of baseball. Now sober for over a year, baseball has helped

A man drowned in Harriman State Park on Friday. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said deputies, Search and Rescue, and Air Idaho searched the park in the area of Silver Lake. Emergency crews found the body of Robertson in the lake. The sheriff’s office said he had drowned while swimming. Robertson had been vacationing with

The Idaho Falls City Council race is kicking off. Michelle Ziel-Dingman has announced her candidacy for council seat one. That seat is currently held by Sharon Parry. Ziel-Dingman said focusing on businesses and economic development are top priorities for her. She said her love for Idaho Falls is what would make her a great member

More bugs are buzzing into the area, according to local exterminators. They’ve been getting calls about hobo spiders, box elder bugs and even bed bugs. There are some things you can do to for those guys to stop bugging you. “What we always recommend is every 60 days, spray your house, because our warranty is

A local producer of marshmallow guns is teaming up with the U.S. Marine Corps to host a marshmallow shootout championship. Sugar Shooters has unveiled its new battle arena. It is 100 feet long by 50 feet wide with 25-foot ceilings. The battles will have referees, and offer different games to be featured in tournaments across

As America mourns the nine people who were gunned down inside an historically black church in Charleston last week, Idahoans are among those sending their prayers. About 100 people attended a vigil Thursday at Pocatello’s Praise Temple of God Church. Photos of the nine shooting victims sat displayed on purple chairs as attendees sang hymns

Pocatello doctor Fahim Rahim departed Idaho Falls for Nepal Thursday afternoon in his second relief mission since a devastating April earthquake laid waste to the country and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Rahim said he and his team of volunteers will have a harder time accessing some of the more remote villages due to the

The City of Idaho Falls says you cannot stake-off or paint a spot on the Greenbelt before the morning on the 4th of July. The city issued this statement in regarding to reserving or “staking” off places along the parade route or at the greenbelt for the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration: “There are many wonderful viewing

A Boise man has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder in the 2009 death of Eugene Lorene Red Elk, police said Thursday. A friend of Red Elk’s family said Martin Edmo Ish, 58, has been a person of interest for some time. Family members and friends say this is a big step toward

Fort Hall police are asking for the public’s help in looking for a missing teen. Kiana J. Foster was last seen at her home on Tuesday afternoon. Police say she is 15 with dark brown hair and eyes. She also has a distinct birth mark on left cheek. If seen please call Fort Hall police

Twenty million to 24 million bees were killed after a truck tipped on a curve of State Highway 33 about eight miles south of Howe around 8 a.m. Thursday. Butte County Sheriff Wes Collins said the 2005 Freightliner went off the east side shoulder of the northbound lane of the highway. The truck tipped on

The Greenbelt is one of Idaho Falls most prized possessions. If city council approves a grant agreement with the Idaho Transportation Department Thursday night, renovations for the west side of it could start in a few months. “It’s just a nice place to come hang out. I almost think it’s therapeutic to come a listen

Pocatello church officials say vandalism just before a vigil against hate and racism is no coincidence. Pastor Jacqualine Thomas of the Praise Temple Church of God said all was fine when she left at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night. If you would like to attend the vigil, come to the church on 653 N. 11th Ave.

“There’s a thrill, there’s a real thrill when you get in the pool…you feel really pumped,” said Carlie Wiseman, a Special Olympics athlete. That thrill is exactly what keeps Carlie Wiseman swimming to her goals. A 16 year-old special athlete, Carlie’s season ended last weekend at the state Special Olympic games, butshe’s not stopping there.

A semi-truck rolled and spilled 700 gallons of liquid fertilizer in Madison County on Thursday. The Madison Fire Department said the crash happened near 5000 North and 1000 East near Sugar City around 10 a.m. Helena Chemical Company of Sugar City was hauling 3,000 gallons of ammonium thiosulfate. The truck rolled when the right front

Disabled veterans were able to get some services today without having to leave town. The Disabled American Veterans mobile office van was parked outside of the Department of Labor office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. The DAV supplied benefits counseling and services to vets and their families. They also checked statuses on appeals

A manager at an Idaho Falls bank admitted to embezzling nearly $90,000. Hailey Parmer, 30, of Idaho Falls, pleaded guilty Wednesday to bank theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Parmer admitted that between June 2012 and December 2014, she stole $88,358 from a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Idaho Falls. She withdrew various amounts from

The Craters Change the Name Coalition is continuing its grassroots education strategy to urge Congress to re-designate Craters of the Moon National Monument as a national park. Wednesday, the group and its supporters met with the Idaho Farm Bureau. The bureau was one of several entities that held concerns about the proposal. “Before throwing caution

Sounds Summer Musicals organization will be presenting “Camelot” June 26, 27 and 29 at the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium.

Several seniors in the Pocatello area had their homes painted for free this week as part of the annual Portneuf Valley Paintfest. Under the program, seniors who meet the age and financial requirements have the exterior of their homes painted by a team of volunteers from a number of local businesses. Wednesday Local News 8

Carlos Aponte wants to clear the air. This comes after questions arose over how much the county was paying him in commission costs per employee on the county’s health insurance plan. According to several regional insurance brokers, the industry standard for managing a group as large as the size of Jefferson County ranges from $15

Pocatello’s police and fire departments came together to teach kids about safety at O.K. Ward Park Wednesday. Pocatello Police Cpl. Anthony Busch had the idea to bring the two together, since both department have similar youth programming. As police and firemen were talking to kids about personal and fire safety, a fire engine was giving

The effort to save the paws has already met its initial goal, despite just starting this week. The Pocatello City Council voted no last week to spending nearly $19,000 to replace some of the Bengal paw prints, which will be covered by future paving projects. Idaho Central Credit Union CEO Kent Oram reached out to

Bingham County commissioners voted Wednesday to approve an agreement in eastern Idaho that would let a U.S. attorney handle certain crimes. The Eastern Idaho Partnership works with the state to appoint a special assistant U.S. attorney. The attorney would handle cases specifically related to drugs and gang violence and white-collar crimes. This would also place

Note: Updated with road information at end of story. Idaho State Police have released the name of the pedestrian killed in a fiery, early-morning crash on Interstate 15 near Blackfoot early Wednesday morning. Jedidiah Mannes, 26, of Idaho Falls, was killed around 4:50 a.m. near milepost 89 south of Blackfoot. Based on preliminary investigation, Bingham

Tayt Andersen is recovering after a successful heart transplant. On Monday, we told you the 9-year-old from Rigby finally got the call that a donor heart was ready for him. Tuesday night, doctors at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City performed the surgery. His family said via Facebook that the transplant went smoothly. Tayt

Scientists and science students from all across the Northwest are in Pocatello this week for the American Chemical Society’s regional meeting. The meeting, which began Sunday and ends Wednesday, serves as a platform for scientists to network and present new ideas to the scientific community. Macie-Grace Guthrie, a BYU-Idaho biochemistry major, was among the many

Fire danger has been elevated to high for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and all of Teton County, Wyoming. Teton Interagency fire managers said the potential for fire activity has increased due to drying vegetation combined with high temperatures, low humidity and brisk afternoon winds. The region does not typically reach a

Idaho State University, along with the other three public universities and college in the state, announced there may be changes coming to their programs . It’s part of a program prioritization process set up by the State Board of Education, and is spread out over three years. At ISU, over 104 programs have been identified

They’re called WUI’s (woo-ee), and they’re a key part of Bonneville county’s new community wildfire protection plan. WUI stands for Wild land Urban Interface and they’re areas within Bonneville county where potentially flammable fields and forests come right up against urban development. “So they (WUI’s) identify areas that are most at risk,” said Chief David

The committee looks to bring more business travelers through the airport’s doors to hopefully bring more planes down the runway. As the CEO of the tech company Affinity, John Alexander is always catching a flight. In a month, he’ll typically fly three or four times, but it’s not just him. “At least one to two

Many people from all over the world travel to Pamplona, Spain, to run with the bulls. And this coming Fourth of July in Idaho Falls, you can have the chance to scratch that event off of your personal bucket list. The first Patriot Bull Run will happen at Sandy Downs at noon. Participants will be

There’s been a nationwide push for police body cameras. The Idaho Falls Police Department has been using them for about four years now and is looking to enhance the program by getting newer cameras. IFPD officers aren’t required to wear the cameras: it’s voluntary, so officers who want to wear the cameras can. Idaho Falls

Getting a job isn’t easy, but neither is creating one. Which is why three student teams came to Eastern Idaho Technical College to share their ideas for future businesses. Meet Landon Walker, a psychology student at BYU. An Idaho Falls native, he’s trying to get his locally made almond and cashew milk delivered on a

A 2-year-old boy found wandering by himself has been returned to his parents, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office said. The boy was riding his red tricycle near the 700 block of North Stevens Drive, just outside of Ammon. According to a call sent to people in the surrounding area, the boy was in possession of

Insurance brokers want to see if they can earn some business and save Jefferson County money on its insurance costs, but are struggling to get the numbers from the county to prove it. A.J. Argyle and Travis Argyle of American Insurance Services have both been working in the insurance industry for years. They regularly work

Tayt Andersen, the Rigby boy who born with a half a heart, and Ellen DeGeneres’ “only boyfriend,” has big news. “I’m getting a new heart!” he announced in a video posted to Facebook (attached to this story) Tuesday. Tayt is getting the heart transplant he so desperately needs. The 9-year-old has been on the waiting

Idaho has a lot to celebrate after one of its own took home first place in the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament last week in Dallas. Eighteen-year-old Josh Mansfield of Chubbuck beat more than 500 others in the category of impromptu speaking, becoming the first national winner from Idaho in the 85-year history of

Former Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen was sentenced Monday for misusing public funds. Olsen, who was convicted on three felony counts in May due to his wife using a county cell phone, was sentenced to 30 days each for two of those counts and 15 days in jail for the third count. That adds up

A local business is bringing people from all over the world to southeast Idaho. Baker Ranch at Lava Hot Springs has 22-year summer tradition. “You know if you come here, you’re gonna be surprised,” said co-owner Peggy Baker. “And we decided we should bring people up here to show them,” said Rex Baker. If you

The 423 foot-long bridge is expected to finish construction by the end of August or the beginning of September, according to Tyler Clyde, the project superintendent. The bridge’s construction has required a number of cranes to hoist steel girders in place. At one point, Clyde said four cranes were used at once. At the construction

The Pocatello Development Authority will be giving the city $300,000 to help pay for the Hoku plant. The motion was approved in a special meeting Monday. The PDA gave the city $450,000 last year to help fill the gap caused by the plant’s property costs. The polysilicon plant first broke ground on 67 acres in

The Idaho Falls City Council approved an option to reconfigure a traffic signal design at the Hitt Road and 25thStreet Intersection. In a press release, the City Council approved awest-bound, exit-only lane at the 25thStreet and Hitt Road intersection. The reconfiguration would allow traffic to go straight, turn right and turn left out of the

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a town sign ordinance in Gilbert, Arizona. A church had challenged the ordinance, saying it violated First Amendment rights. Last week’s ruling by the nation’s highest court could change the way cities and towns across the country regulate signs. The government can regulate things like the time and

A judge recused himself from a Pocatello murder case Monday. Jesse Bruce, 25, is facing a charge of second-degree murder, and Tyrell Dixey, 31, is facing a charge of being a principal to second-degree murder in the death of Lric Allen Elkins. They were supposed to be in a preliminary hearing Monday. One of the

A Chubbuck woman was arrested after she threatened her ex-boyfriend with a bat and knife at the Peppertree Lounge, Idaho Falls police said. On Saturday around 10:30 p.m., Maria L. Bigley, 27, arrived at the Peppertree on North Holmes and tried to hit her ex-boyfriend with a bat, police said. A bouncer stopped her, and

Police are looking for a suspect in connection with a missing Arco girl. According to the U.S. Marshal Service in Pocatello, Anthony “Tony” Parsons, 25, formerly of Arco and now of Boise, is wanted for sexual exploitation of a minor after Frankie Hoon Collins, 17, disappeared Friday. Parsons is believed to be armed and dangerous,

Two sisters in their 20s met for the first in Idaho Falls Regional Airport on Sunday. Lisa Olivera and Wendy Garrett found out four months ago that they were sisters. “Both of us have been waiting such a long time for this to happen, and I’m just kind of relieved,” said Garrett. Born less than

The Snake River Offroaders kicked off their 12th Annual Idaho State 4×4 Association Trail Ride and Rally Wednesday. “I just hope everyone has a great time and can relax this weekend,” said Snake River Offroaders Land Use Officer Dennis Christensen. For more than a decade the group has hosted this event to provide funds and

A trailer caught fire around milepost 70 on northbound interstate 15 before the white GMC pickup truck pulling the trailer pulled over, according to Idaho State Police. The Pocatello Fire Department were on scene at 4:48 p.m., closing all but one lane of traffic. They put out the fire and left the scene at 5:44

The thought of running a marathon is intimidating, but with the right training plan and mind– even the average Joe can run one, according to a local runner. At first, Steve Schaack just wanted to run a mile. Today, his runner’s resume stretches a lot longer than that. He’s run in three full marathons, a

Claira Hollingsworth, from Preston will be competing in the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge, LA. The 22 year-old won the title Miss Idaho USA in September. Throughout her year with the title she’s promoting awareness about childhood obesity. A former rodeo queen and former Miss Idaho Teen USA- she’s looking forward to representing the

Ford Broadway in Idaho Falls hosted an event Saturday to raise money for an organization helping abused and neglected children. The program is called court appointed special advocates, or CASA. Volunteers are paired with children to support them in court and the community. Saturday, anyone could stop by and test drive a car. For each

If you’ve tried driving down Martin Luther King Jr. Way lately, you’ll know big changes are underway on the Idaho State University campus. All of MLK Jr. Way between 8th Avenue and Reed Gym has been closed to traffic for an entire month as ISU begins the process of narrowing the road and adding bike

Idaho Falls made the list as one of the most playful cities in the country as part of the 2015 Playful City USA. KaBOOM! and The Humana Foundation have recognized 241 cities and towns. The idea is to create healthier, more vibrant communities where families want to live and companies want to do business. Idaho

The unemployment rate in Idaho increased this month, but in eastern Idaho, the rate remains consistent. Statewide, the Idaho Department of Labor believes there’s one aspect that is adding to the increased percentage. “What we think is going on is we think we have a lot of discouraged job seekers. These are folks that would

Prosecutors say a fraudster who tried to cover his tracks with a fake kidnapping has pleaded guilty. Federal prosecutors say 35-year-old Ryan Lynn Cook of Highland pleaded guilty to securities fraud Thursday in Salt Lake City federal court. Prosecutors say he told investors that his medical recruiting company had $3.8 million in revenue when it

A federal judge has signed off on a $25 million settlement in a lawsuit between wholesale grocers and farming associations accused of forming a price-fixing cartel. A group of wholesale grocers filed the class-action lawsuit in 2010, contending potato growers in Idaho and elsewhere conspired to raise prices by restricting the number of acres planted

The number of people visiting Yellowstone National Park this year is up more than 24 percent compared to the same time period last year. Yellowstone saw 383,670 recreational visits in May and a total of 515,693 for the first five months of 2015. Although some of the increase may be attributed to a new after-hours

The former Jefferson County sheriff asked for an acquittal and a new trial. Judge Greg Moeller denied both motions after hearing the arguments for nearly three hours. Blair Olsen was found guilty in May on misusing public funds for allowing his wife to use a county cell phone. Before the rulings, Olsen’s defense claimed the

A jury unanimously ruled Jefferson County Sheriff Blair Olsen is guilty of three felony charges of misusing public money Wednesday. The trial’s focus was on the cell phone paid by the county that was in possession of Olsen’s wife, Marie. The defense said the phone was kept for backup purposes in case of emergencies, but

A Pocatello woman was killed and four other people were hospitalized after a fiery crash at approximately 2:13 a.m. Friday on Forest Service Road #344, near South Fork Mink Creek Road, south of Pocatello. Crystal Bigham, 35, died at the scene of the crash. Idaho State Police said a 1996 Dodge pickup driven by Richard

Gooding police are looking for a man who held up the Maverik convenience store at 1899 Highway 26 in Gooding at around 11:50 p.m. June 15th. The man displayed a gun and escaped with money and cigarettes. Police are attempting to locate Anthony Parsons, formerly of Arco and now living in Boise, for questioning in

The former treasurer of the Communication Workers of American local union No. 7603 has pleaded guilty to embezzlement and theft of labor union assets. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports (http://is.gd/dd9Qq7 ) that Helen Herold-Roden admitted Wednesday to taking about $138,600 for her personal use between 2008 and 2014. She was able to embezzle such a large

Scientists are putting tracking devices on a new species – people – as they try to learn more about how their movements affect ecosystems in national parks. Park visitors carrying global positioning devices have provided Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado data to improve shuttle service to a popular, and often congested, lake. Another recent

A woman has been attacked by a pot-bellied pig in Nampa. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1K1Jrek ) Canyon County spokesman Joe Decker says the woman was knocked down and bitten by the pig Thursday morning. Decker says the size of the pig and the extent of her injuries are unknown. Decker says the pig had

In the next month or so, cash-strapped Pocatello Regional Transit may be able to add seven old Utah Transit Authority buses to its fleet free of charge. The 30-foot 2005 model buses would replace seven of PRT’s existing 1998 model buses. Pocatello City Council approved the acquisition of the buses Thursday night. If all goes

Work could begin on Pocatello’s second dog park as early as next week. The park, which will be located on the site of the city’s former animal shelter, is being built with a $73,000 donation from Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter. Once completed at the end of July, ownership of the new park will

Pocatello City Council members voted overwhelmingly Thursday night against a measure that would have resulted in the city spending nearly $19,000 to repaint some ISU’s orange Bengal paw prints. Some of the iconic prints which line the streets around campus will be covered up when the city embarks on a new seal coating project this

In light of the shooting at a church in Charleston, local church leaders are reminded a shooting could happen in their churches. However, some feel prepared if that were to happen. Father John Worster has been a pastor for nearly 30 years, so the thought of a gunman coming into his church isn’t new to

With the rising temperatures come the higher risk of heat illnesses. To prevent heat illnesses, it’s important to increase your fluid intake. Health experts recommend drinking at least 24 ounces of water before going outside. When you do go out, wear light clothing so it doesn’t attract more sun. It’s also recommended to be in

A simulator this Friday will allow participants to gain a basic understanding of living with dementia. It’s called Virtual Dementia Tour, created by Second Wind Dreams-a company that grants wishes to the elderly with illnesses. Friday, Morningstar Senior Living is hosting the tour from 9a.m to 5p.m to celebrate The Longest Day, a national event

Tanner Cox, the man accused of beating Josh Olzak to death, pleaded not guilty in court today. Cox has been charged with voluntary manslaughter. Olzak died after he was beaten to death in what police call a road rage incident on May 9th. Police said Cox, Olzak and others got into an argument in the

A man was arrested for hitting an officer after trying to take a shopping cart with merchandise out of a Rigby store without paying. Rigby Police said Jerry Jenson, 53, was trying to leave the Family Dollar on June 9, 2015. The store manager tried to stop Jenson and kicked the manager, police said. Police

The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board Thursday approved $1 million to help pay for long-term slope stabilization work to the Budge Drive neighborhood. The funds will also help restore permanent water, sewer and street access. A portion of the hillside started to give way in April, 2014, causing the evacuation of more than 60

The town of Alpine has secured financing to purchase the private water and sewer infrastructure of North Star Utility. The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board approved the town’s $3 million grant request. Alpine will use the infrastructure to accommodate its growth strategy. The board rejected a Business Ready Community (BRC) grant request from the

Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra will wait for an audit on Idaho’s teacher evaluation system to be completed before speculating if school administrators are misusing performance reviews tied to teacher pay raises. Instead, Ybarra told the State Board of Education Thursday she’s concerned that teachers are being evaluated with tools designed to improve their

18-year-old Kelsie Williams of Idaho Falls escaped serious injury after a crash at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 20 near Thornton. The Madison County Sheriff’s office said one of her car’s tires lost its tread and sent the car rolling out of control. The car rolled onto a frontage road and through a fence.

It’s going to be called Jackson Hole Junction, and it’s set to become the newest multipurpose commercial district in Idaho Falls. The 40 plus-acre lot between Teton Toyota and I-15 will provide dozens of commercial shopping options as well as hundreds of jobs for the area. “The intent is to have hotels, hospitality, convenience stores,

Former Bonneville County Sheriff’s Employee tells her story of transitioning from a man to a woman.

A local same-sex couple found a slur scratched into their pickup truck in Bonneville County late last week. The word “fag” was scratched or keyed into the door ofDanny Yandell-Jones and Christopher Jones’red pickup truck. They discovered the word on Friday the 12th of June. They suspect the act happened at their home just outside

The city of Ammon is taking huge steps to be on the cutting edge of technology. Mayor Dana Kirkham signed her name to support a new way to measure the actual health of your Internet. “There was a study that was done by the office of government accountability that said, ‘do consumers understand how to

Have crooks scammed their last in Idaho? Maybe not, but the Idaho Attorney General’s Office is cracking down on scams, last week forming the Scam Jam Alliance. It’s a coalition of 12 non-profits and state agencies which plan to travel the state, educating people about the various scams that exist and how to avoid falling

District 25 incorporated the state’s new parental rights law into its policies at its school board meeting Tuesday. Superintendent Mary Vagner said she doesn’t expect much to change. When it comes to state or federal laws, Vagner said the district doesn’t have much choice. “We are subject to the mandates from the state, as well