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Bannock County to host Public Hearing for new Land Use and Development Ordinance, including ban reversal on renewable energy projects

4:49 PM

The Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) has been quietly under construction in Bannock County for the last two years, as the county commissioners debate over topics including how to potentially allow renewable energy resource projects into the county. Previously, the LUDO was a total of eight separate documents, while the new, finished version combines the documents into a simplified single code. Residents have the opportunity to review this document and propose changes to Bannock County at the end of the month.

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National TV to ride along with IFPD on On Patrol: Live

8:52 AM

Local police officers will soon step into the national spotlight as the Idaho Falls Police Department joins the cast of the live television documentary series On Patrol: Live, beginning Friday, Oct. 9.

“We are proud of the work our officers do in Idaho Falls,” said Bryce Johnson, Idaho Falls Chief of Police. “Appearing on On Patrol: Live gives our community the opportunity to ride along with us every weekend and to see what your officers are doing and experiencing right here in Idaho Falls. We’re excited for this, and excited to be part of sharing the real stories of policing across the country.”

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Are political debates really necessary? Whatever you think, they’re disappearing from the political landscape

4:23 PM

This year, 36 governors’ races are on the ballot, and according to ABC News, 21 of them are expected to be decided without a single debate.

In Senate contests, the numbers are nearly identical. Political debates have been a staple of American democracy for generations. And those who’ve studied the events say we’re missing out when they don’t happen.

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‘Surprise and fear’: Timberline students react to social media posts under investigation

4:18 PM

Students at Timberline High School are speaking out after Boise School District said law enforcement is investigating what it described as “highly inappropriate and concerning” social media posts involving students.

Now, over 3,000 people have signed a petition that alleges several Timberline students made violent and sexually explicit threats toward a student. The district has released few details about the incident, but it says that support is available for students, staff, and families affected by the situation.

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Suspected prankster poses as Domino’s employee to target Shelley residents

1:46 PM

Shelley police warned residents about a suspected prank caller impersonating a Domino’s employee who made claims about tampering with food and engaging in inappropriate activities.

“Officers are working with Domino’s to determine whether there is any validity to these claims,” said Shelley Police in a Facebook post. “At this time, we have no information confirming that these allegations are legitimate, and the calls are believed to be prank calls.”

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Downtown Idaho Falls gets a colorful makeover with public art displays

5:32 AM

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Some of the most ordinary and overlooked pieces of infrastructure in downtown Idaho Falls are getting a colorful new purpose this fall. The Idaho Falls Downtown Development Corporation (IFDDC), in partnership with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, has revived its Downtown Traffic Cabinet Art Program, turning utility cabinets into public

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Photographer captures video of injured bison at Yellowstone, says spreading awareness is key

11:19 AM

A photo and videographer is speaking after one of her videos of a Bison at Yellowstone National Park spinning in circles went viral. She says she has never seen a bison act this way before.

Tammy Neufeld says she spends days at a time filming the natural landscape and wildlife throughout Yellowstone and Western Wyoming. Recently, she came across something bizarre- a bison spinning in the river.

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Hiline Road Intersection to see traffic signal complete by the end of the month

4:45 PM

As the weather turns colder, several major projects in Pocatello are expected to finish by the end of October. One is the new traffic signal at the intersection of Hiline Road and Pearl Street/El Rancho Boulevard. Since July, crews have been working to transform the cumbersome four-way stop into a stoplight interchange with dedicated turn lanes and ADA-approved pedestrian accomodations.

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MLB abandons possibility of hosting baseball game in Grand Teton National Park

4:57 PM

Major League Baseball has abandoned a proposal to host a regular-season game in Grand Teton National Park following intense community opposition. In a letter to Wyoming officials, Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the league would not pursue the location after exploring several potential sites.

“It has become clear the local community does not want us to continue evaluating Grand Teton National Park as a potential site,” Manfred wrote. “We obviously would not bring a game to a community that has concerns about the venue, and will not continue to evaluate Grand Teton National Park as a potential site.”

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Jefferson Central Fire & EMS District begins offering advanced life support ambulance services in Jefferson County

11:19 AM

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — Emergency medical services in parts of Jefferson County are getting an upgrade. Central Fire District is now offering advanced life support, or ALS, ambulance services, adding two fully stocked ALS ambulances to its emergency response system. The new service begins after decades of the Idaho Falls Fire Department being the only

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In warning letter, VP Vance says Dems are ‘prepared to pour millions’ into Idaho to flip Risch seat

10:40 AM

Many Idaho residents recently received a fundraising appeal in the mail from U.S. Vice President JD Vance to support Idaho’s longtime Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch in his campaign for reelection, claiming Democrats were “prepared to pour millions of dollars into Idaho” to defeat the incumbent in what Vance said is an “urgent national race.”

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Thanks to Your Help: Local News 8 supply drive delivers truckload to Blackfoot School District

5:51 PM

Elementary students across the Blackfoot School District are heading into the next part of the school year better prepared to learn, thanks to community support during the Eastern Idaho State Fair.

On Wednesday, representatives from Local News 8 delivered a truck loaded with more than 20 boxes of essential classroom supplies directly to the district. Collected from local fairgoers during the annual Eastern Idaho State Fair, the donated items will directly assist more than 1,700 elementary students district-wide.

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Adoption fee prices increase at Pocatello Animal Services due to high animal care costs

5:18 PM

While many businesses and non-profits have felt the squeeze of higher prices, the Pocatello Animal Shelter has been pushed to increase their adoption rates to offset care costs. Officials at the shelter say the general inflation has contributed to higher costs across the board, and patrons can help keep the shelter operating by adhering to the new rates.

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Idaho Falls Zoo among 30 facilities across the world to earn AZA accreditation

5:42 AM

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphaus Park has earned accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in the organization’s latest round of international reviews. The AZA announced Tuesday that 30 facilities earned accreditation during its fall 2026 accreditation process. Three other facilities were denied. For the Idaho Falls Zoo,

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Teton Pass traffic moving again after morning crash sends driver to hospital

9:07 AM

Teton Pass reopened following a single-vehicle crash Tuesday morning that left one person hospitalized.

According to Deputy Chief Brian Coe of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, the crash happened around 7:47 a.m. near mile marker 11 on the Wyoming side of the pass. At this time, Coe says it appears the crash was caused by a medical emergency, but the incident is under further investigation.

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“Connecting Communities to Save Lives” Conference comes to Idaho State University during National Suicide Prevention Month

3:36 PM

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Idaho State University took part by hosting the “Connecting Communities to Save Lives” Conference at the Pond Student Union Building. Experts from around the country came to speak to attendees about a variety of suicide prevention strategies and local mental health resources were available at various booths in the ballroom.

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Building a college, leaving a legacy: Park Price helps transform College of Eastern Idaho

5:38 PM

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) honored Park Price Thursday for nine years of service as the first Chairman of its Board of Trustees. Under Price’s guidance, the campus expanded significantly with a brand-new 88,000-square-foot Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech Building in Partnership with Frontier Credit Union.”It’s been a fabulous journey.

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Pocatello City Council votes to deny conditional use permit for AI data center applicant for a second time

5:43 PM

On Thursday, September 17, the Pocatello City Council voted to affirm the hearing examiner’s decision from May 19, 2026, in which she denied Lex Developments a conditional use permit for an AI data center project on land in Pocatello. However, their motion included the exemption of a 12-month waiting period before the applicant can reapply. Plus, when the decision is made official on October 1, the applicant will have 28 days to file a petition for judicial review, placing the City of Pocatello in a potential lawsuit.

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Idaho CEO arrested for allegedly hiding company’s Russian ties to win U.S. Gov. contracts

11:45 AM

Oxygen Forensics CEO Lee Reiber, 55, of Boise, Idaho, and a Russian national have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly concealing the Russian ownership and development of the company, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Idaho announced today.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, after the United States imposed expanded sanctions on Russia in early 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Davydov, Reiber, and the Russian co-conspirators agreed to conceal Oxygen Forensics’ true ownership and the development of its software in Russia.

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Pocatello to hold town hall on automated Flock cameras

5:08 PM

Whether you’ve seen them in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, or interstate interchanges elsewhere, Flock cameras have become as commonplace as they are controversial in eastern Idaho. Now Pocatello residents are getting their chance to weigh in.

The City of Pocatello and the Pocatello Police Department will host a public town hall session on Oct. 21 to gather community feedback regarding automated license plate scanning cameras.

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Local freelance journalist convicted of felony domestic battery

3:31 PM

A local freelance journalist has been found guilty of felony domestic violence following a two-day jury trial in Bonneville County.

A jury found David Helaman George, 36, of Idaho Falls, guilty of one count of felony domestic battery inflicting traumatic injury on Sept. 15, according to a Tuesday release from the Bonneville County Prosecutor’s Office. George was acquitted on a second count.

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