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Rexburg

Rexburg Police Warn of Safety Risks as ‘Senior Assassin’ Game Trends Among High School Seniors

The Rexburg Police Department is warning the community about potential safety concerns tied to the growing popularity of the “Senior Assassin” game among high school students.

Senior Assassin is a student-organized elimination game typically played by graduating seniors in the weeks leading up to graduation. Participants pay an entry fee that contributes to a prize pool, with the last remaining player declared the winner.

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Judge Steven Boyce announces re-election campaign

Judge Steven Boyce has officially announced his re-election campaign for Idaho’s Seventh Judicial District, setting the stage for the region’s first contested judicial election in over a decade. The announcement comes only days after Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal announced his decision to challenge him for the Judge’s seat.

“I am honored and humbled to have been entrusted with my role in Idaho’s judiciary, and continue to be completely committed to ensuring justice for my community here in Southeast Idaho,” Judge Boyce said. “I look forward to continuing that work.”

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Madison County Sheriff’s Office seeking information on ‘reckless’ motorcyclist

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a “reckless” motorcyclist who fled from an attempted traffic stop on Valentine’s Day.

On February 14, a deputy attempted to stop a green motorcycle for reckless driving within the City of Rexburg. The rider refused to yield, leading to a brief chase. Shortly after, the deputy called off the pursuit to ensure public safety.

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From Idaho peaks to ocean deeps, local photos head undersea

Area photographers are looking forward to some of their photographs being displayed in the USS Idaho.

The commissioning of the new Navy submarine is scheduled for April. Event planners asked Idahoans to send them their best photos representing Idaho to be a part of history. Over two-thousand photos were sent in. Out of those, about 40 were chosen to be displayed in the USS Idaho submarine.

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Fire in historic Bear Gulch Tunnel triggers trail closures

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has issued an immediate emergency closure for a section of the Railroad Grade Trail following a fire inside the historic Bear Gulch railroad tunnel.

“A lack of structural stability within the Bear Gulch Railroad tunnel has prevented firefighters from accessing internal heat sources that continue to produce smoke that may be visible in the Bear Gulch Area,” stated the Forest Service in a release.

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Rexburg Police warn of rising ‘sextortion’ scams targeting local youth

The Rexburg Police Department is sounding the alarm over a sharp increase in “sextortion” cases, a digital blackmail scheme that investigators say is increasingly targeting high school and college-aged victims in the area.

Detective John Bone is a digital forensics investigator with the department and is concerned with the number of cases he has seen and the mental health impact it is making on community members.

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Know your rights: What to do if ICE comes to your home

As immigration enforcement continues to raise questions and concerns for families across Idaho, the ACLU of Idaho is reminding immigrants of their rights if ICE or other law enforcement officers come to their home.

“Immigrants have most of the same rights that US citizens do. So they have freedom of speech. They have the freedom to be free of unlawful search and seizures. They have constitutional rights because they are living inside the United States,” Immigration Attorney Tim Jones said.

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250 Trucks, One Mission: LDS Church donates 31,000 pounds of food to Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership

In an effort to combat local food insecurity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has delivered 31,000 pounds of food to the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership in Rexburg on Wednesday.

The donation is part of a nationwide collaboration with America 250, a celebration of the United States’ 250 years of independence. As part of the celebration, the Church has pledged to send 250 trucks of food to pantries across the country. Rexburg was chosen as one of the cities chosen for this donation.

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Severe solar storm to put Northern Lights over Idaho tonight, forecasters say

Under the current forecast, the northern lights may be visible across much of the northern half of the United States, and even as far south as northern California. The only question is – will residents in southeastern Idaho be able to see the lights, considering the overcast skies in Monday night’s forecast?

If you manage to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights through a break in the weather, we want to see it! Send your photos to Local News 8 for a chance to be featured on our social media pages and during our evening broadcast.

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New task force, Upper Valley SAFE Initiative, offers free family protection workshops

“The Upper Valley SAFE Initiative is really a volunteer led, community based, team of professionals from a cross-section of expertise who also happen to be parents, grandparents, who are concerned about their children and want to do everything they can to, provide safety and awareness and enhance their freedoms through education,” said Dean Coleman Co-founder of the Upper Valley Safe Initiative.

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Rexburg Police investigate accidental gunshot near Madison Junior High

Investigators with the Rexburg Police Department are on the scene of an accidental gunshot in the Millhollow Community near Madison Junior High School.

According to a post on the department’s Facebook page, the firearm has been secured by officers, and a person of interest is cooperating with investigators. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and no property was damaged. Police assure the community that there is no risk to the public at this time.

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Urgent Call to Action: Families of Kratom victims rally for awareness and change

Families of Kratom victims are taking a stand to expose the serious dangers of Kratom and advocate for awareness and change. Kratom products continue to be sold and marketed heavily around Idaho, despite the official FDA warnings of the drug’s life-threatening effects. Now, officials and the victims’ loved ones are speaking out.
In the last 18 months, the Bonneville County Coroner’s office has investigated six kratom-related deaths. A staggering four of the fatalities were determined to be solely due to the acute drug toxicity of mitragynine, the primary active compound found in Kratom. One of these four victims was 23-year-old Kielee Rustici of Idaho Falls.

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Lock Your Doors: Rexburg Police issue urgent warning after overnight crime spree

The Rexburg Police Department took to Facebook to issue an urgent warning, confirming that several stolen vehicles were allegedly used in a string of area thefts. A common link between all the vehicle thefts is that most vehicles appear to have been left unlocked, sometimes with the keys still inside. Police emphasized that the town’s reputation for safety may be attracting opportunistic criminals.

“When we give advice to make sure you lock your homes and cars, we often get the response ‘But this is Rexburg, things like that don’t happen here!'” The department wrote. “The problem is that there are criminals who know exactly what our city’s reputation is, and they will travel to our town to find easy victims.”

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“Incredible Idaho Women”: a new book celebrating Eastern Idaho’s unsung heroes and increasing literacy

Eastern Idaho (KIFI) – This month, BoiseDev proudly released its latest work, “Incredible Idaho Women,” a captivating book that celebrates the lives and achievements of 43 remarkable women throughout Idaho’s history, from the pioneering settlers of the past to the trailblazing figures of today. With vivid storytelling and rich illustrations, the book unveils the inspiring

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Rexburg honors veterans with dozens of wreaths at Smith Park Memorial

Locals in Rexburg had the chance to check out a decorative display at Smith Park in Rexburg, the home of the Veterans Freedom Memorial. Dozens of wreaths are hung along the entryway of the memorial site to honor and celebrate local servicemen and women.

“We really want to express our appreciation to those who have served and are currently serving. We appreciate all that you do for us,” said Paul Evans, the Rexburg Area Chamber Board.

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Rexburg Police nab suspected tagger who targeted 35+ local businesses in vandalism spree

After a multi-month tagging spree targeting local businesses, the Rexburg Police Department announced Tuesday morning, November 4th, that the suspected vandal is now in custody.

The alleged tagger was taken into custody on Monday, November 3rd, and has been charged with felony Malicious Injury to Property. The arrest concludes an investigation spanning the last three months, during which the tagger allegedly defaced more than an estimated 35 local businesses, causing significant damage and frustration to property owners.

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Accidental shooting prompts large emergency response in Rexburg

A large group of Rexburg Police officers and EMS were called to the scene of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound Friday afternoon. The incident took place at an apartment complex on West 7th South between Pioneer Rd and Casper Ave.

Rexburg Police later addressed the community via social media, assuring residents that despite the significant initial response, there is no ongoing threat to the public. No further details about the victim’s condition or the circumstances of the shooting have been released.

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Rexburg Police Station Bond: Police reveal floor plan for proposed police station

The Rexburg Police Department is trying to educate and answer voter questions ahead of the vote on the new police station bond, which would cover the construction cost for a modern facility.

The department is hosting a special open house next Tuesday, October 28th, from 4 to 6 P.M., to give Rexburg residents a chance to check out and tour the aging building firsthand and get their questions answered by officers and city officials. Attendees will be able to tour the existing station and learn more about the proposed project.

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UPDATE: Rexburg railroad crossing fixed, technicians checking other sites

A malfunctioning railroad crossing at the intersection of 7th Street and Yellowstone Hwy has brought traffic to a standstill in Rexburg.

The Rexburg Police Department has confirmed that officers are currently on the scene, and railroad technicians are en route. Drivers are being directed to take alternate routes and completely avoid the intersection until the issue is resolved.

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Madison County Sheriff to parents: Talk to your kids now about online predator risk

Local detectives and patrol officers have investigated multiple incidents involving children from elementary school to high school age. Sheriff Ron Ball warns parents that “no age group is off limits to online predators.” While the exact number of cases remains unspecified, the trend has prompted the Sheriff’s Office to ask parents to take immediate action.

Sheriff Ball took to Facebook to urge parents to have an important conversation with their children about online safety this week, stating: “We’re asking all parents to take a few minutes this week to talk with your kids about their online activity. Know what apps they use, who they’re talking to, and how to report something suspicious.”

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Madisonhealth to sell stake in Carriage Cove rehab facility

Madisonhealth has announced its intent to sell its interest in the joint venture of Madison Carriage Cove, a short-stay rehabilitation facility it has co-owned for the past 12 years.

The local community healthcare system is stepping away from direct ownership, but has legally stipulated that the facility must continue to serve the same patient population for a minimum of 10 additional years, ensuring local continuity of care.

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Stronger than Steel – Israel Garcia’s amazing recovery after being crushed by 900lbs of metal

Israel and Sariah Garcia’s love story began like any other, until tragedy struck just two weeks after their engagement. While moving steel beams at BYU-Idaho, Israel was critically injured when a stack of approximately 900 pounds of steel collapsed onto his head. Rushed to the hospital, he showed no signs of brain activity, and doctors gave little hope for survival. “I was very confident that he wasn’t going to make it,” Sariah recalled.”I just remember, sitting there thinking, like, it was perfect this morning. This can’t be real.”

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Thousands of BYU-Idaho students gather to honor late LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson

A touching scene unfolded at BYU-Idaho’s campus today, Tuesday, October 7, 2025, as thousands of students and faculty gathered to watch the funeral and celebration of life for President Russell M. Nelson, the late prophet and 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“It’s really cool to see a giant group like that gather together to, you know, sort of make a life of just one person,” said BYU-Idaho student Norrah Nielsen. “It’s awesome to see how one person can mean so much to the lives of many.”

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Rexburg man sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography

“Parents need to know that predators like this are operating in our communities, seeking out images of children being exploited,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We will relentlessly pursue every predator who exploits Idaho’s children through these disturbing crimes. I’m proud of the partnerships we’ve built statewide that make these prosecutions possible and make Idaho families safer.”

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75-year-old Ammon man killed in motorcycle crash near Fremont County

A 75-year-old man from Ammon is dead following a motorcycle crash on Saturday morning near Island Park.

According to the Idaho State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 11:04 a.m. on State Highway 47, near milepost 11. Authorities say the man was riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he failed to navigate a curve. The motorcycle left the roadway, went off the shoulder, and crashed into a ravine.

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Madison County lifts burn ban, urges continued caution under drought conditions

Effective immediately, the Madison County Fire Department, in partnership with the Board of County Commissioners of Madison County, has cancelled the temporary open fire ban. The temporary ban began on August 1.

“Madison Fire Department thanks our community members for their efforts to prevent wildfire. The community was very responsive to the burn restrictions issued earlier this summer,” said Chief Corey Child. “Our community members worked diligently to prevent ignition and report any fire in a timely manner. Their efforts directly impacted the amount and size of fire in Madison County.”

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Rexburg Soup Kitchen resumes weekly meals after summer break

Starting this Wednesday, September 3rd, the Rexburg soup kitchen will once again be serving hot, nourishing meals at the VFW building. Whether you need a warm plate of food or some pantry items to take with you, everyone is welcome.

In an effort to restock their shelves for the fall and winter seasons, the organization will host a food donation drive this Saturday, September 6th, from 10 a.m. to noon. The community is encouraged to bring unopened pantry items to the back of the VFW building.

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