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Noah is a reporter for Local News 8.

Stay safe this Halloween: Your checklist for a spook-tacular night

With Halloween on the horizon, people of all ages are being reminded to stay safe during the spookiest night of the year. Here are some essential tips for parents of trick-or-treaters, drivers, homeowners, and pet owners.

First, if you go trick-or-treating, wait to eat the candy until after you get home. The American Red Cross directs parents to go through the candy and throw away anything that looks unusual or is unwrapped.

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Government shutdown may hold up November SNAP benefits for 125,000 Idahoans

As a result of the ongoing government shutdown, Idaho SNAP recipients could not receive benefits that were slated to be paid in November.

Local News 8 has learned that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent a letter to the states regarding the impact of the shutdown on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, commonly known as food stamps. While the letter has not been officially released to the public, Local News 8 has confirmed that copies leaked on social media are authentic.

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Pocatello man sentenced to 40 years in prison for shooting, injuring police officers

Todd Brewer, the man convicted of the shootings of two Pocatello Police officers in 2022, has been sentenced to 20 years fixed, 10 years indeterminate in prison.
Brewer was found guilty in March of firing an AR-15 rifle at Demetrius Amos and Mackenzie Handel of the Pocatello Police Department when they were called to investigate an argument between Brewer and his girlfriend on May 5, 2022. The investigation escalated to a shootout, which injured the officers and Brewer, who were taken to Portnuef Medical Center for care.

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Idaho Falls D91 reaches tentative wage agreement with teachers

There is a tentative contract agreement in the works for teachers in the Idaho Falls School District 91. School district officials, along with the Idaho Falls Education Association, have agreed on wages for the upcoming school year. Both sides worked all day to negotiate the agreement. 

These groups have been trying to come to an agreement on how the money will be spent. Last week, the education association’s negotiator, Jake Snarr, said they were not happy with how the budget for contracts was originally presented to them this year. He said the budget was presented differently than in years past.

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Protecting Children in the Digital World: Local psychiatrist’s guide to keeping kids and teens safe online

A 12-year-old Idaho Falls girl was safely located in Colorado Sunday evening, a day after police say she left home with two adult men Saturday night. While details of this specific case are still emerging, the incident serves as a stark reminder for parents about the importance of keeping their children safe both in person and, ever increasingly, online.

This scenario is every parent’s nightmare, leaving many wondering, who their children are are talking to in an increasingly digital world.

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Mistrial declared for local contractor, Brandon Cook, accused of fraud

The criminal trial of Brandon Cook, a local contractor accused of defrauding homeowners out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through his company, Re-Lived Construction, has been declared a mistrial. Cook was charged with grand theft by failed promise and being a persistent violator.

Local News 8 viewers may remember Cook from a multi-week investigation we aired last year. The outcome of Cook’s trial, which began just yesterday, June 12, reportedly shocked homeowner and witness Jennifer Bennett, who was also featured in Local News 8’s exclusive investigation.

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