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Pocatello

Pocatello Animal Shelter reopens after Parvovirus scare – Remaining puppies healthy

“Pocatello Animal Services is pleased to report that all ten puppies remaining in our care have continued to test negative for the parvovirus,” said Pocatello Animal Services in a press update. “Following extensive disinfection and containment measures, the shelter is safe to reopen.”

The news comes after four puppies tested positive for canine parvovirus, an incredibly contagious virus common among dogs too young to be vaccinated.

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48-year-old driver identified in fatal I-15 crash near Pocatello

The Bannock County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver who died in Thursday’s fatal crash between Fort Hall and Pocatello as 48-year-old Darrin Ralph Moore from Inkom, Idaho.

The driver has been identified as 48-year-old Darrin Ralph Moore of Inkom, Idaho.

On Thursday, April 24, at around 1:55 p.m., Idaho State Police were called to a crash on southbound I-15 at milepost 74.5, north of Pocatello.

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Health concerns prompt temporary closure of Pocatello Animal Shelter

The Pocatello Animal Shelter has temporarily closed its doors. The news comes from a post on the Pocatello Animal Services Facebook page.

According to the post, the closure is due to a recent health concern affecting some of the animals.

“For the health and safety of our animals and the community, our shelter will be temporarily closed to the public effective immediately,” said the post. “This decision comes as we take proactive measures to address a recent health concern affecting some of our residents.”

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Pocatello hosts largest hiring fair of the year to fill city jobs

Pocatello city departments are seeking job candidates for roles ranging from zookeepers to lifeguards, and they are accepting applications at their hiring fair on Friday, April 25.

The annual hiring fair is the city’s largest effort to draw workers to municipal jobs in sanitation, parks and recreation, groundskeeping, and many more, with the event giving people an opportunity to meet city workers and get tours of facilities and equipment.

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National Drug Take Back Day pickup locations scheduled across Southeast Idaho

Southeastern Idaho Public Health and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are partnering to pick up unused medications across the area for National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 26.

At select locations, public health officials and police will collect any unused prescription or over-the-counter medications, veterinary medications, and vape pens and cartridges to be safely disposed of and to prevent misuse.

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Simplot employees hit the streets to clean litter in honor of Earth Day

Employees of the Simplot Don Plant took to their two-mile stretch of adopted Highway 30 on Wednesday to pick up trash in recognition of Earth Day.

Simplot adopted the stretch of road near the plant in 2005, and, since then, employee volunteers have tidied litter from the sides of the highway twice a year on dates scheduled near Earth Day in the spring and National Pollution Prevention Week in the fall.

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Beware of stowaways: State Dept. of Agriculture urges boaters to watch for invasive species

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) warns people to watch for any invasive species that may be hitchhiking on watercraft this spring.

Cole Morrison, section manager of ISDA’s invasive species, noxious weeds, and grasshopper/Mormon crickets division, said aquatic invasive species are often brought in on boats coming into Idaho’s waters from out of state.

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Simplot awarded for work cleaning up their adopted stretch of Highway 30

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) awarded JR Simplot Company the ‘Adopt-A-Highway Group of the Year Award for Southeast Idaho’ on Friday, in recognition of the company’s hard work keeping their stretch of adopted road clean.

In 2005, Simplot adopted a two-mile stretch of US Highway 30, and, since then, employee volunteers have picked up trash twice a year and average about 1,600 pounds of litter cleaned up annually.

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Pocatello Animal Shelter’s annual marathon event to take place Saturday

The Pocatello Animal Services Department and Friends of the Pocatello Animal Shelter will host the 28th annual ‘Run with the Big Dogs’ marathon event on Saturday, April 19.

The event will have a 2k walk/run and 5k run available for people (and their pets) along with vendors, raffle prizes, a silent auction, splash pools for dogs, and refreshments for participants and dogs.

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Local young woman chosen to represent the U.S. at World Expo in Japan

Samantha Carrell, of Pocatello, is one of 88 youth ambassadors from the USA chosen to represent the nation at the 2025 Osaka World Expo in Japan this summer.

“Each country gets to show off some of their culture, some of the cool things they’re doing in science, in the arts,” said Carrell. “Then people get to interact both with those exhibits and with each other. So it’s a really great chance for connection, for kind of meeting people from all over the world.”

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Pocatello Catholic school celebrating Easter with annual all-student play

Holy Spirit Catholic School invites the community to their annual K-5 student Easter play on April 25.

“When you watch children presenting this play, it gives you hope,” said Margie Gabiola, principal of Holy Spirit Catholic School. “When you see the kids that are playing the disciples and playing Mary and Jesus, you’re filled with this hope, and it’s the best story ever–the story doesn’t end with Jesus dying, the story is that he’s resurrected.”

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“It’s going to take a very long time for our community to heal from this,” – City of Pocatello releases video related to fatal Police shooting

Mayor Brian Blad is providing updates on the case of the police shooting that led to the death of 17-year-old Victor Perez of Pocatello.

The move comes after a prominent California-based civil rights firm, known for representing Rodney King in his case against Los Angeles Police officers, filed a wrongful death and civil rights violation claim against the city on behalf of the family of Victor Perez.

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Civil rights firm files wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of Victor Perez’s family

Only a day after the funeral of the disabled 17-year-old shot by Pocatello Police officers, a major civil rights firm, Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy (BNCL), has filed a wrongful death and civil rights violation claim against the city of Pocatello on behalf of the family of Victor Perez.

“The family wanted the police to help their son, not kill him,” said John Burris, an attorney with 40-plus years of representing victims of police abuse, including representing Rodney King in his case against Los Angeles Police officers. “The officers’ conduct shocks the conscience of all families needing assistance with developmentally disabled kids.” 

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Idaho attorney general to review investigation of Pocatello officer-involved shooting

The Idaho Attorney General’s Office has agreed to review the investigative findings regarding the officer-involved shooting that led to the death of 17-year-old Victor Perez of Pocatello.

“As with all such matters, the Office of the Attorney General will conduct a thorough and impartial review once the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Taskforce completes its investigation,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Given the seriousness of the matter and the ongoing investigation, our office will not be making further public comment at this time.”

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“This decision wasn’t made lightly, nor was it sudden” – Pocatello City Councilman Josh Mansfield resigns

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Pocatello City Council representative Josh Mansfield has announced he’s resigning effective May 1, 2025. In a letter announcing his intentions, Mansfield shared that he has been accepted into the law program at BYU as a J. Ruben Clark Scholar Recipient, which he says will allow him to continue serving in the

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How to survive spring allergies, according to a local allergist

Warmer weather means spring allergy season is around the corner in East Idaho, and it may be time for allergy sufferers to start taking precautions.

Dr. David Parry, allergist and immunologist at Pocatello Allergy and Asthma Clinic, said spring pollen may start hitting the air soon, and, when coupled with mold left over from winter, it could be time to start thinking about dosing up on antihistamines.

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Portneuf District Library to host annual accessible Easter egg hunt on Saturday

“Children need to feel included and seen regardless of their circumstances,” said Amanda Bowden, children’s librarian at the Portneuf District Library. “This gives those children who may not be able to participate in a traditional Easter egg hunt with lots of candy, lots of chaos, the opportunity to participate in a community event that really just caters to their strengths and their abilities.”

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Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad addresses public concerns regarding recent officer-involved shooting

“We are addressing this matter with the seriousness and thoroughness it deserves and with the appropriate respect for the gravity of the situation,” said Blad. “The criminal, external, and internal investigations regarding the officer-involved shooting are underway, which is why we cannot answer questions out of concern of interfering with or compromising the investigation.”

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GoFundMe donations double overnight to support teen shot by Pocatello Police officers

Victor Perez, a Pocatello teen diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, remains in a medically induced coma after being shot 9 times in an officer-involved shooting on April 5.

Following the shooting, Perez’s extended family organized a fundraiser on his behalf, leading to an outpouring of support for the disabled teen.

In the 24 hours since the GoFundMe was organized, the campaign has already surpassed its initial goal of $6,000. As of 5:30 PM, Wednesday, the fundraiser has raised $6,724 toward supporting the Perez family.

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Disabled teen shot in Pocatello officer-involved shooting fighting for his life in a coma

An autistic teen with physical handicaps continues to fight for his life after being shot nine times by Pocatello Police Officers over the weekend.

According to his family, 17-year-old Victor Perez is currently in a coma and hooked up to a ventilator. They say doctors are testing his brain function, but the 17-year-old has died twice and had to be revived.

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Multi-agency task force hosts event to honor survivors of sexual assault

The Southeast Idaho Task Force on Domestic and Sexual violence hosted an event on Tuesday to honor survivors of violence and raise awareness for resources in the area.

The task force is a joint project between area agencies, including Pocatello and Bannock County law enforcement, local healthcare providers, mental health providers, public housing officials, and other community leaders who came together in an effort to centralize resources for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

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Pocatello PD hosts press conference addressing officer-involved shooting

On Monday, the Pocatello Police Department held a press conference regarding Saturday’s officer-involved shooting, which left a 17-year-old with autism, Victor Perez, in critical condition.

Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei says they are aware of the videos on social media and the effect on the public but argues that the video only shows one angle of the full picture.

“In situations like this, officers must make decisions in seconds. They assess threats not just to themselves but to those nearby. In this case, two individuals were within a few feet of an armed, noncompliant individual. The risk was immediate, and the situation rapidly evolving,” said Schei.

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Family: Teenage shooting victim out of surgery

An officer-involved shooting in Pocatello has ignited a firestorm of controversy, as people claim police brutality after a video surfaced online showing police shooting a teenager with a knife only seconds after they arrived on the scene.
As of 10 AM on April 7, the family of the autistic teen shooting victim said he is going into surgery again after having his left leg amputated over the weekend as a result of his injuries.

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Zoo Idaho

Zoo Idaho opens April 5th

The following is a press release from Zoo Idaho: POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Zoo Idaho is back for the 2025 season, showcasing our amazing native species. The zoo will be open weekends in April and weekdays starting May 1. Zoo Idaho is an indigenous zoo exhibiting only native species found within the Intermountain West. The

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Fish and Game looking for landowners willing to let hunters on their property this season

Through the Managed Hunt program, private landowners agree to allow hunters access to their property to hunt in-season game, with property owners able to set rules for how and when hunters can use the land.

Fish and Game manages hunters’ use of the private land while also acting as the primary contact for hunting requests, eliminating any interaction between the hunters and the landowners.

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Construction continues on new Bannock County Fairgrounds exhibit hall

“Bannock County, in recent years, has been investing in the facilities down here at the fair because this is a true gem of the community,” said Emma Iannacone, public information officer for Bannock County. “The Bannock County Fair has been a tradition for families for decades, and so seeing something new come into these fairgrounds is really exciting because it just shows the commitment to maintaining this fair for the community.”

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Pocatello Fire Department conducting live fire training in local neighborhood this week

The Pocatello Fire Department (PFD) is doing a ‘Burn and Learn’ training exercise at a vacant house on Jason Avenue through Tuesday, April 1.

Fire crews will start controlled fires throughout the home, which was slated for demolition and donated by a local contractor, on Monday and Tuesday morning before completely burning the structure down on Tuesday evening.

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Pocatello Chamber ‘Young Professionals’ host annual bowling fundraiser

The bowling fundraiser, held at Pocatello’s Tough Guy Lanes, supports the Young Professionals program in helping people entering the workforce or changing careers learn job skills and build a social network.

“We offer some masterclasses throughout the year on different topics ranging from personal development to professional development, communication skills, things like that,” said Rachael Daniels, board member for the Chamber Young Professionals. “Our goal is to just retain young professionals in Pocatello so that they’re finding a community and jobs here rather than leaving the area.”

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Local health providers feeling the sting of sudden federal budget cuts

Southeastern Idaho Public Health (SIPH) will lose thousands of dollars in federal funding following the US Department of Health and Human Services’ cancellation of around $12 billion of state grants.

SIPH representatives told Local News 8 that the federal grant cuts will take about $50,000 from their fiscal year 2025 budget, and the loss is already affecting local infectious disease monitoring and vaccination programs.

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Hundreds of unique vendors pack into Pocatello’s annual Spring Fair

Spring Fair 2025 is underway at the ICCU Dome on Idaho State University’s campus for another year of hosting hundreds of local and national vendors for thousands of visitors at ‘southeast Idaho’s premier home and garden event’.

This year, the Spring Fair boasts over 200 vendors offering goods for the home, kitchen, and garden as well as service displays for local businesses in roofing, flooring, remodeling, and more.

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Prescribed burns planned near Roberts this April

Several prescribed burns are scheduled near the Roberts area in early April, as Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake Region and the Bureau of Land Management work to clear large portions of the Market Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) of excess vegetation.

Large portions of the Market Lake WMA will be closed to public access during the burn period, according to a post to the Idaho Fish and Game Upper Snake Facebook page.

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Pocatello firefighters gear up for realistic “Burn and Learn” training

Firefighters with the Pocatello Fire Department (PFD) will have the opportunity to learn from real fire conditions in a controlled setting as the department conducts a Burn and Learn training exercise. The training will take place March 31 and April 1, from 8 AM to 5 PM, at a vacant home along Jason Avenue. People in Pocatello may see flames and smoke coming from the building during the exercise, according to city officials.

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Pocatello city planners to host open house for Alameda Area Plan

“We’re seeing a need for housing, a desire for improved recreation facilities citywide,” said Jim Anglesey, Pocatello’s long-range senior planner. “But these area plans will help give the neighborhoods a voice in what they’d like to see in their neighborhood, and what type of development they would want to see to preserve the culture and identity of their neighborhood.”

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Preston Jr. High put in lockdown Wednesday following multiple threats

“Law enforcement conducted a methodical search of the school. Hallways, classrooms, closets, and lockers were also checked. The student involved in this incident was also detained and parents were notified. The student and parents were cooperative with law enforcement and the student admitted he did not actually have a bomb, however; law enforcement still conducted a detailed search,” says the Franklin Sheriff’s Office’s post.

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Bannock County proposes new 20-year plan for area growth and development

Bannock County leaders have drafted the ‘Comprehensive Plan 2040’, which gives guidelines for future growth and economic development in the area over the next 20 years and could be adopted as early as next week.

The Comprehensive Plan 2040 features five chapters focused on topics including ‘community development’, ‘economic growth’, and ‘outdoor adventure’ as well as specific goals for improvement in each area.

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311 bringing alternative rock to the PORT August 16

Omaha-based alternative rock band 311 is hitting the road with the return of their Unity Tour in 2025.

Kicking off on June 20 in Atlantic City, NJ, the band will make a stop at The Port (Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre), August 16 bringing the bands signature fusion of rock, reggae, and funk. Joining them on their nationwide tour will be direct support from Badflower, with Sitting on Saturn opening the show as the first of three acts.

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Idaho Fish and Game asking for your help in updating strategic plan

Fish and Game’s Strategic Plan, also called ‘The Compass’, was last updated in 2015, and sets the standard for Fish and Game strategies and tactics they use to meet their mission to, “Preserve, Protect, Perpetuate and Manage all of Idaho’s wildlife.”

“This is not necessarily a specific strategy, but more of a broad strategy–a roadmap, so to speak–that helps us achieve our mission and incorporates a variety of priorities, large priorities, that we’re trying to accomplish,” said Jennifer Jackson, regional communications manager for Fish and Game’s Southeast Region.

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Portion of Highland High School that burnt down

School District 25 to break ground to rebuild Highland High School

The following is a press release from Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25: POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Exciting things are happening at Highland High School! The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District is proud to announce the next major step in rebuilding Highland High School, with construction set to begin on March 17. To commemorate this milestone, the district will host a groundbreaking

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Fish and Game investigating poaching incidents near Thatcher

“If we want to preserve, protect, perpetuate, manage these species for years to come, for future generations, we have to make sure that we’re managing them and we are protecting those populations,” said Jennifer Jackson, communications manager for Fish and Game’s Southeast Region. “It doesn’t mean you can’t have hunting and fishing and trapping–that’s part of conservation… but it does mean we have to follow rules and regulations to ensure, viable, sustainable populations for the future.”

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City of Pocatello seeks public input on PROST Plan

“This comprehensive plan will enhance our community by improving spaces and facilities,” writes the City of Pocatello. “The Plan provides an inventory and analysis of current facilities and programs, a needs analysis, a park design manual, a capital improvement plan, an operations and maintenance plan, and funding and implementation strategies. Let your voice be heard and be a part of this exciting journey!”

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National Sleep Week begins Sunday

Sunday, March 9, marks the start of daylight saving time, and local doctors are pushing more people to make sure they get enough sleep after the clocks spring forward.

March 9 is the first day of National Sleep Awareness Week. The week marks a nationwide effort by doctors to help people get back into a normal sleep schedule after a time change.

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