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82-year-old driver killed in rollover crash into Salmon River

An 82-year-old Salmon man is dead after a rollover crash along the icy roads on US 93 in Lemhi County on Monday.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash occurred at 9:45 AM on January 5. The 82-year-old was driving northbound on US 93 in a 1999 GMC Sierra pickup when he lost control on the icy roads. The pickup went off the north side of the road, overturning into the Salmon River.

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GoFundMe for young girl injured at Boise Potato Drop surpasses $26,000

Donations are rapidly pouring in for the family of a young girl who was seriously injured during the annual Boise Potato Drop New Year’s celebration. Isabella “Bella” was attending the event with her family when an explosion occurred during the fireworks display, shattering the windows of the nearby AT&T building.

A piece of glass struck the child in the face. Bella was immediately rushed to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise, where she underwent a three-hour surgery including a skin graft.

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Light the World giving campaign concludes with over 35,000 local visitors & 32,000 donated items

As the holiday lights dim and the new year begins, the Light the World Giving Machines have officially concluded their annual mission of charity. This year’s campaign saw a massive outpouring of local support.

Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, these “reverse vending machines”—which allow visitors to buy essential goods for those in need—drew more than 35,000 local visitors across eastern Idaho alone this season.

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The US has captured Venezuelan leader Maduro. Here’s what to know

By Stefano Pozzebon, Simone McCarthy, Adam Cancryn, CNN Caracas (CNN) — President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US will “run” Venezuela after capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a large-scale military operation, a stunning development that plunged the country into uncertainty after weeks of spiraling tensions. “The United States of America has

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3 injured after gunman opens fire on sheriff’s office in Idaho before being fatally shot in standoff, officials say

A shooter armed with several guns opened fire in the lobby of an Idaho sheriff’s office and the street outside Friday, injuring three people before being killed in a standoff with law enforcement, the local sheriff said.

The suspected gunman fired shots at a pickup truck outside the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Wallace before entering the lobby and firing into the station toward the dispatch center, Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy said at a news conference.

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SWAT responding to active shooter situation in Northern Idaho

Authorities in northern Idaho are responding to an active shooter at the Shoshone County Courthouse in Wallace, Idaho.

Preliminary details are still coming in, but the nearby Mineral County, Montana, Sheriff confirmed the online reports of the active situation on Facebook, asking the area residents to pray for all law enforcement.

“We are sending reinforcement to help our neighbor. Please pray for all law enforcement. And stay out of the downtown area in Wallace if possible,” states the sheriff’s post.

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“Buying, not returning” Idaho Falls shoppers support small business day after Christmas

While the day after Christmas typically marks a nationwide wave of holiday returns, small businesses in downtown Idaho Falls are seeing more shoppers buying than returning.

Despite National Retail Federation projections that 17% of holiday purchases will be returned this year, totaling an estimated $890 billion in retail reversals for the 2025 season, local shop owners say the atmosphere remains more “buy” than “bye-bye.”

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How a backroad discovery led to the arrest of Melodee Buzzard’s mother in the child’s ‘calculated’ killing

As the December sun set over central Utah’s sandstone peaks, a couple ventured down a nondescript dirt road to snap photos against the backdrop of a red rock vista. Instead, they stumbled across a grisly discovery among smattered shrubs and parched soil: the decomposed remains of a little girl.

When sheriff’s deputies arrived in the sparsely populated stretch of Caineville, it was clear they would be investigating a homicide. The unidentifiable girl had died from gunshot wounds to her head, authorities later said.

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Arizona man arrested in multi-state investigation for online enticement of minors

A 29-year-old Arizona man is in custody following a multi-state investigation into the inappropriate relationships with minors, including Idahoans, online.

Ahren Neil Heineman was arrested on Dec. 23 by Pinal County Sheriff’s deputies in Arizona City. The arrest was the result of a month-long collaborative effort between Arizona authorities and detectives from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho.

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AAA and MADD Renew Push to Combat Impaired Driving Ahead of New Year’s Eve

Thousands of people lose their lives every year to impaired driving, a preventable crisis that has prompted a renewed safety push from AAA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). 

With New Year’s Eve right around the corner, Public Relations Director for AAA Idaho Matthew Conde announced a partnership with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) to increase public awareness and reduce fatalities on the roads.

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Melodee Buzzard’s mother arrested in connection with 9-year-old’s killing after her body is found

The multi-state hunt for Melodee Buzzard, a missing 9-year-old California girl, came to a close when her remains were discovered in a rural area of southern Utah, authorities announced Tuesday.

Members of the sheriff’s office and the FBI arrested Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee’s mother, Tuesday morning on a charge of first-degree murder, Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said Tuesday.

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Madison County Man dies in hospital following Bonneville County deputy-involved shooting

A Madison County man has died following a shootout with law enforcement last week. Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office has now identified the man as Landon Smith, who was officially declared deceased on Dec. 22, several days after a confrontation on North County Line Road left him with a life-threatening gunshot wound.

During the shootout, Smith suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound, but BCSO says whether or not the driver was struck by his own fired rounds or rounds from a deputy is under investigation.

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Kelly Maier Mugshot

41-Year-Old Canadian charged with felony child enticement of a child following undercover ICAC investigation

A Canadian truck driver is facing felony charges of enticing a child over the internet following an undercover sting operation by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced Monday that 41-year-old Kelly Maier was taken into custody in Idaho Falls following a joint investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.

“Thanks to the strong partnerships we’ve built with law enforcement across Idaho, individuals like this are being arrested for these terrible crimes against children and families,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Madison County, Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, and Pocatello all worked together to make this arrest happen. When agencies coordinate like this, those who threaten our kids get removed from our streets. I am grateful for these partnerships and the commitment every officer brings to protecting Idaho’s children.”

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Idaho Falls Fire Department officially opens Fire Station 6 on North side

“The opening of Fire Station 6 represents a critical investment in the safety and well-being of our growing community,” said Interim Fire Chief Paul Radford. “As development continues to the north, this station ensures our residents receive the rapid, professional, life-saving services they expect and deserve. Station 6 strengthens our operational readiness, reduces response times, and reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting lives and property.”

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District 32’s search begins for new Representative following Wendy Horman’s resignation

Following Representative Wendy Horman’s resignation from the Idaho House of Representatives, Legislative District 32 leadership is taking steps to fill her seat for the remainder of the legislative term. This formal selection process, scheduled for January 6, 2026, follows Horman’s recent announcement that she is stepping down to join the federal government as the Director of the Office of Child Care within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Quadruple murder suspect, Benjamin Roy Naylor, pleads guilty, avoids death penalty

The man accused of killing four people across two southern Idaho counties has accepted a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty, the Cassia County and Minidoka County Prosecuting Attorney’s Offices announced today. On December 22, 2025, Benjamin Roy Naylor, 56, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder for a killing spree that spanned two southern Idaho counties in exchange for four consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole.

“This plea agreement represents justice for the victims and their families. While no outcome can undo the devastating loss these families have endured, this resolution ensures that Benjamin Roy Naylor will never walk free again. The victims’ families showed tremendous courage throughout this process, and their input was critical in reaching this agreement,” said Cassia County Prosecuting Attorney McCord Larsen.

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ISP Dispatchers receive Distinguished Achievement Awards for role in kidnapping descue

Two Idaho State Police Regional Communications Officers are being recognized for their pivotal role in rescuing a kidnapped woman and capturing a suspect in Lewis County earlier this year. Regional Communications Officer Thomas Conrad and Senior Regional Communications Officer Jamielyn were honored with Distinguished Achievement Awards, recognizing them for their investigative work that allowed law enforcement to locate a victim being held under dangerous circumstances in Kamiah.

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United in Light: How Idaho’s Jewish Community is Finding Warmth in Hanukkahs glow

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — As the eighth and final night of Hanukkah arrives, families across Idaho light their menorahs, celebrating a miracle of light that dates back over 2,000 years. In a state with one of the smallest Jewish populations in the United States—ranking eighth from the bottom— the history of Judaism here is both deep-rooted and inspiring. From gold rush pioneers to the first elected Jewish governor in the nation, Idaho’s Jewish community has woven itself into the fabric of the state’s mountainous spirit.

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A ‘self-inflicted’ crisis: Sheriffs and providers warn lawmakers about dangerous mental health cuts

Law enforcement and mental health specialists are sounding the alarm after state cuts are eliminating services for individuals with serious mental illness.

“The truth is, if we can’t keep people stable in the community, then they’re going to end up in the crisis services – that means the emergency rooms, that means our jails, and that puts an increased burden on law enforcement,” said Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse.

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From Four Bulbs to a Brighter Future: Celebrating 75 Years of Nuclear Power at EBR-1

December 20th, 1951, was a big day for the United States and southeast Idaho. On that day 75 years ago, EBR-1, the experimental breeder reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory, became the world’s first nuclear reactor to generate usable electricity from atomic energy, initially powering four light bulbs, then an entire building, and eventually the town of Arco.

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Labrador and 7 state AGs push back against Trump administration’s efforts to reschedule marijuana

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador is leading a coalition of state prosecutors in voicing sharp opposition to the Trump Administration’s recent move to reschedule marijuana.

The pushback comes just hours after President Trump signed an executive order intended to expedite medical cannabis research—a move the administration claims will revolutionize treatment while stopping short of full federal legalization.

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Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis announces retirement, will not seek re-election in 2026

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) announced Friday that she will not seek re-election in 2026, retiring at the end of her first term in the Senate. The 71-year-old veteran of Wyoming politics cited the physical and mental demands of the office.

In a heartfelt statement, the Senator described her tenure as “an incredible honor,” noting that representing the people of Wyoming has remained her “one-and-only priority.”

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Quadruple homicide suspect Benjamin Naylor expected to enter guilty pleas

Benjamin Roy Naylor is expected to plead guilty to four counts of murder stemming from a July quadruple homicide that spanned Cassia and Minidoka counties, according to court records.

Under the agreement, Naylor would plead guilty to two counts of murder in each county — four total — in exchange for prosecutors not pursuing the death penalty. If accepted by the judge, sentencing will be left to the court, though prosecutors and the defense are jointly recommending four life sentences without the possibility of parole.

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Rep. Wendy Horman accepts role in Trump Administration as Director of the Office of Child Care

Representative Wendy Horman (R-Idaho Falls) announced that she has accepted a position to serve as the Director of the Office of Child Care in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families.

“I first ran for elected office because I want every child to have the opportunity for an excellent education. This is an opportunity to continue that work,” Horman said in a release. “The principles of limited government, individual liberty, and fiscal responsibility that guide Idaho will continue to inform my work at the national level.

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Pocatello Announces Open House Ahead of Center Street Underpass Construction

Construction on the Center Street Underpass Project is scheduled to begin in early January 2026. To help residents and businesses stay informed, the City of Pocatello and Historic Downtown Pocatello will host an open house on Monday, December 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Historic Downtown Pocatello offices, 435 W. Center Street. The event will provide a straightforward overview of the work planned and what the community can expect during construction.

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