Pocatello

A member of the Pocatello High School maintenance staff died early Tuesday morning while at work on campus, according to school officials.

Earlier in the day, Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 notified families that emergency responders had been called to the school for a medical emergency involving an adult.

Jonathan Ray Farnsworth, 54, the chief deputy coroner for Bannock County and North Bannock Fire Chief, has been arrested and charged with multiple felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor, rape, and sexual exploitation of a child.

A small fire broke out in a waste bin at Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho, causing a brief evacuation. The flames were quickly extinguished, and the Pocatello Fire Department ensured the building was safe before students and staff returned to class.

Idaho State University has launched three accelerated Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree programs designed to help students enter Idaho’s workforce sooner, making it the first public institution in Idaho to offer a three-year bachelor’s degree option.

A 32-year-old Downey man was air-lifted to a local hospital after his car rolled on I-15 near Arimo, and he was not wearing a seatbelt.

The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 Board of Trustees is seeking applications to fill the upcoming vacancy following the resignation of long-time board member Jim Facer. Facer served two separate tenures on the board and was a staunch advocate for public education. The Board has up to 90 days to appoint a qualified replacement to serve out the remainder of Facer’s term.

The Pocatello Police Department is honoring Captain Chad Higbee as he steps into his retirement after 32 years of service with the department.

Thursday, City leadership, family, and law enforcement came together to celebrate Higbee’s years of service.

A federal jury in Pocatello has convicted a man whose true identity remains unknown after prosecutors say he spent more than two decades using the identity of a deceased teenager to fraudulently obtain nearly $300,000 in government benefits.

Following a three-day trial, the jury found the man guilty of wire fraud, theft of government funds, aggravated identity theft and related charges. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye presided over the trial, which concluded May 21.

The Idaho International Choral Festival is seeking 100 host families in Pocatello to provide accommodation and cultural exchange for international students participating in the event this July.

The City of Pocatello Hearing Examiner has denied the Conditional Use Permit application for an AI Data Center to be built on the former Hoku polysilicon plant site.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is investing over $750 million to replace eight aging air traffic control towers and Terminal Radar Approach Controls across the country, including the Pocatello Regional Airport, with brand-new, state-of-the-art facilities.

Drivers on I-15 will notice a major traffic shift this week as the Idaho Transportation Department enters the next phase of its ongoing interstate expansion project. Starting tonight, May 18th, crews will begin moving northbound traffic into new lanes between the Northgate (Exit 73) and Fort Hall (Exit 80) interchanges.

Classes will resume as scheduled at Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello tomorrow, April 24, following a one-day closure due to an unexpected plumbing issue.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 confirms that the issue that prompted Thursday’s closure has been addressed, and the school is ready to welcome learners and staff back to campus.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 is inviting the community out to a special Fine Arts Exhibition celebrating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States.

Friday, May 1st, 2026, District 25 will host “America Through the Eyes of Our Learners,” featuring more than 200 original works of art and live performances. According to D25, the event invites the community to explore national history and ideals through the eyes of local students.

“This event is about more than art—it’s about giving our learners a voice,” said Courtney Fisher, Director of Communications, Community Relations, and the Education Foundation. “Through their work, our learners are sharing their perspectives, their creativity, and what America means to them during this once-in-a-generation milestone. We’re proud to showcase that with our community.”

The special event will take place during the Historic Downtown Pocatello First Friday Art Walk from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Gate City Coffee (320 W. Center Street).

The event also features more than $2,000 in prizes, sponsored by the School District 25 Education Foundation, to recognize student achievement and creativity. Visitors are encouraged to participate by voting for the People’s Choice Awards during the gallery walk to help select the winning entries.

There will be no classes at Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello tomorrow, Thursday, April 23, due to an unexpected plumbing issue.

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 is working to address the issue and anticipates classes will resume as scheduled on Friday, April 24.

Bannock County Authorities have identified the semi-truck driver who lost his life in a single-vehicle rollover south of Pocatello last week.

Coroner Torey Danner has identified the man as Shawn Tingley (63) of Layton, Utah.

The City of Pocatello is continuing efforts to improve the health and safety of its urban forest, with work taking place in Historic Downtown and other areas throughout the community.

Residents will begin to see improvements as crews remove unhealthy trees, replace missing or damaged trees, and address locations where trees have outgrown their space or are causing sidewalk and safety concerns. Nearly all trees that are removed will be replaced.

As the weather warms, more children are biking or walking to school. Southeast Idaho Council of Governments is working in partnership with other organizations to address safety concerns during children’s commutes.

The Portneuf Valley Environmental Fair is returning to Pocatello this weekend, offering a full day of free, family-friendly activities focused on the environment and community.

“The Portneuf Valley Environmental Fair is the largest in southeast Idaho. It’s free. We’re going to have free food, live music..” Irby-Facer said. “You can learn about composting, get a free tomato plant. You could find out if you have toys that might have lead in them. There are so many things to do.”

The Monarch building, A historic brick building in downtown Pocatello, is set to come down this summer after years of decay, despite efforts to revive it.

The building was believed to have been built around 1909, and has sat open to the elements for more than a decade after a fire left it roofless and unsafe. The Pocatello Development Authority, which now owns the property, says demolition is necessary to protect public safety and make way for new development.

The project will replace the existing steel girder bridge with a new single-span concrete girder structure designed to improve safety and increase long-term reliability. The new bridge will be supported by a deep foundation system using driven piles.

This April, two significant safety upgrades are coming to Pocatello as construction begins on two major roadway projects.

These projects aim to curb fatal and serious injury crashes on local roadways by improving visibility and reducing how much pedestrians interact with traffic.

Calling all Pocatello poets! The Marshall Public Library in Pocatello is celebrating 25 years of their annual Poetry Wall throughout the month of April in honor of National Poetry Month.

Golfers in Pocatello will soon have a new place to rest between rounds. The Riverside Golf Course is getting a two-story, 3,700 square foot new clubhouse sponsored by Connections Credit Union.

Pocatello police responded to a report of an armed individual in the City Hall parking lot at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8.

According to City of Pocatello Public Information Officer Marlise Irby, employees in the City Hall were instructed to lock down and stay inside while police investigated the threat. Any people in the parking lot were taken inside the building by officers.

“It’s wonderful to see so many members of the community come out to support the shelter,” said Sarah Moore, Pocatello Animal Services Assistant Manager. “This incredible event brings people and their dogs together to make a real difference for animals in need, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of the Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter.”

A crash involving a semi-truck and a passenger car has stalled traffic along I-15 Southbound near E Center St. in Pocatello. Authorities are reporting the crash was fatal.

According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the crash took place sometime before 7:20 AM Thursday near mile marker 69. All lanes and the Pocatello Creek Rd. on ramp to I-15 southbound are currently blocked.