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Critchfield outlines second-term vision, vows to protect school funding amid state budget crunch

As the 2026 legislative session enters its final stretch, the race for Idaho’s top education post took center stage in Pocatello on Wednesday. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield met with parents and educators at the Magnolia Mansion to outline a second-term vision focused on “the basics,” even as school districts brace for a tightening financial belt.

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Yellowstone sees nearly 4.8 million visits in 2025 despite government shutdown

Yellowstone National Park welcomed nearly 4.8 million recreation visits in 2025, according to a new release from the National Park Service.

The park recorded 4,762,988 visits over the year—an impressive number that comes despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During that time, the National Park Service worked to keep parks open and accessible whenever possible, allowing visitors to continue accessing some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes.

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Gov. Little signs sweeping budget cuts as Democrats blast ‘self-inflicted’ revenue shortfall

Governor Brad Little signed the 2026 Budget Rescissions Act into law late Monday night without fanfare, narrowly beating a deadline to approve the sweeping budget cuts detailed in Senate Bill 1331. The legislation imposes a 4% reduction across nearly all state agency budgets.

“Idahoans expect their state government to operate efficiently and effectively, and the balanced budget we approved for the current fiscal year delivers on both fronts,” Little said in a statement.

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25 Volunteers brave slick conditions to rescue injured skier

A 28-year-old skier is recovering after a grueling three-and-a-half-hour rescue operation on Taylor Mountain this past Friday.

The incident took place just before 12:30 PM on Friday, March 13th. Teton County Search & Rescue received an emergency alert for the injured skier, who’d injured her knee while skinning up from the Coal Creek drainage. Unable to ski or hike out, her partners called 911.

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Idaho trucking industry sounds alarm as diesel prices surge amid global tensions

As gas prices soar nationwide, Idaho’s trucking industry is sounding the alarm. They say the pain at the pump will soon turn into pain at the checkout line.

“80% of the goods in the United States are moved by truck. And so, you know, all of those prices will be affected by the cost of gas and energy,” said Andrus. “Not only do the consumers see (the spike in prices) at the gas pump, but they’re going to see it in the price of groceries and everything else they buy that gets moved by trucks.”

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Sermon Service & Electric Student-Athlete of the Week – Rooke Hawker – Mar. 12, 2026

Heavy wind gusts and brisk temperatures don’t exactly scream “baseball season”, but in Idaho, that is what is what the start of the season feels like. Kicking off their campaign in chilly fashion this week, the Idaho Falls Tigers took both games of a double header against the Wood River Wolverines on Wednesday, March 11th. On that Idaho Falls squad is where we find our Sermon Service & Electric Student-Athlete of the Week Rooke Hawker, who has his own opinions on the weather.

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Community rallies to give Pocatello’s ‘Ambassador of Smiles’ a new set of wheels

If you’ve grabbed a coke or a burger at the Pocatello McDonald’s at any point over the last three decades, chances are you’ve been greeted by the city’s unofficial ambassador of smiles.

Delynn Wilson is known for his pristine and his infectious optimism, but recently a hurdle with his transportation threatened the independence he has worked so hard for.

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Idaho Falls pastor returns home after harrowing escape from Israel-Iran conflict zone

What began as a spiritual journey to the Holy Land quickly transformed into a desperate mission for survival. Alicia Ramos, an Idaho Falls pastor, is finally home after being caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

Ramos was part of a group of 117 women pastors from across the United States. As the only representative from Idaho, she found her pilgrimage abruptly interrupted by the sound of sirens and falling bombs.

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Sermon Service & Electric Student-Athlete of the Week – Madison State Champion Wrestlers – Mar. 5, 2026

In this week’s Sermon Service & Electric Student-Athlete of the Week segment, I went to Madison High School to speak with some state champion wrestlers. Brand’n Edstrom (120), Ace Ingram (144), McGregor Miller (215), and Sidi Kante (285) all won the state championship in their weight class, making this the first time in program history that the Bobcats have had four state champs in one year.

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Daylight Saving Time is here, and Doctors say even losing one hour can harm health

Springing forward this weekend might feel routine, but medical experts say even losing one hour of sleep can still take a serious toll on people’s hearts, safety, and overall health.

Dr. Christopher Valentine, a family medicine doctor and medical director with Optum in Utah and Idaho, said the one-hour jump has been linked to a short-term increase in heart attacks, strokes, and car crashes, especially on the Monday after the time change.

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Off-duty firefighters awarded state’s highest honor for heroic canal rescue

Two local firefighters are being recognized with the state’s highest commendation for their selfless actions during a harrowing water rescue late last year.

Senior Firefighters Travis Adams and Jeremy F. Newman have been selected to receive the Idaho Medal of Honor for their bravery on Oct. 5, 2025, when they jumped into a frigid canal to save a family trapped inside a submerged vehicle.

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Barrasso, Lummis applaud NRC approval of TerraPower’s Kemmerer advanced nuclear plant

U.S. Senators for Wyoming are applauding the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for officially issuing a construction permit for TerraPower’s “groundbreaking” advanced nuclear reactor. This approval marks the first time in over 40 years that a non-light water reactor has received such approval in the United States.

“Wyoming is the energy capital of America. We are also the number one producer of uranium in the country,” said Senator Barrasso (R-WY). “That’s why Wyoming is the right place to build modern nuclear energy infrastructure that provides safe, affordable, and reliable energy. This groundbreaking project is another way to help diversify Wyoming’s already strong energy economy.”

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Bomb Squad Investigating: Bannock County shop explosion hospitalizes local man

The Idaho Falls Bomb Squad team is currently on the scene of a small explosion in Bannock County that sent a middle-aged man to the hospital with serious bodily injuries.

The explosion took place around 8:30 Wednesday morning, March 4th, at a shop at 11621 N. Nelson Lane. Bannock County Sheriff and North Bannock Fire rushed to the scene, where first responders found the injured 44-year-old man. The man was rushed by ambulance to the hospital; his current condition is unknown.

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Boise woman to remain in custody following stolen ambulance crash

A Boise woman accused of crashing a stolen ambulance into a medical office building and attempting to set it on fire must remain behind bars pending her upcoming trial.

On February 23, Prosecutors say that George stole an ambulance from St. Luke’s Hospital and drove it directly into the Portico North Building, which houses offices for the Department of Homeland Security. Following the crash, George poured gasoline around the area in an alleged attempt to set the building on fire.

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Chamber CEO: State budget gaps and “leadership deficit” threaten local businesses

The Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce is warning of a dual threat to local Idaho Falls business leaders, citing a looming state budget deficit and a nationwide “leadership deficit.”

During a recent networking event, Chamber CEO Paul Baker described the current fiscal environment as a “critical moment” for Eastern Idaho. He warned that despite the region being called the best-performing small cities in the country, legislative decisions in Boise are creating a “trickle-down” effect that will soon hit local taxpayers.

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Crime scene where four students found dead near University of Idaho campus, Photo Date: 11/14/2022

Psychic TikTok influencer ordered to pay $10M in damages for false Moscow murders claims

On Friday, Feb. 27, a federal jury decided that a TikTok influencer is liable for $10 million in damages after the defendant wrongfully accused a University of Idaho professor of being involved in the 2022 Moscow murders.

During its deliberation, the jury concluded that Ashley Guillard made “false statements” that Department Chair and Associate Professor of History, Rebecca Scofield, “orchestrated the murder of four students at the University of Idaho” and “had an inappropriate romantic relationship with a student.”

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‘A Bittersweet Moment’: Idaho’s Iranian community reacts to death of Supreme Leader

The Middle East stands at a historic crossroads following a series of massive U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Saturday. The strikes, which claimed the life of Iran’s Supreme Leader and many of Iran’s top leaders. It left a sudden power vacuum in a nation that has been under the strict control of the Islamic Republic for 47 years.

While the world waits with bated breath to see who will fill that void, members of Idaho’s Iranian community are grappling with a complex mix of celebration, relief, fear, and uncertainty.

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Idaho Falls couple stranded in Dubai following Iranian strikes

An Idaho Falls couple is stranded in Dubai during a service trip after Iranian retaliatory strikes paralyzed air travel across the Middle East. The regional instability follows major attacks by the United States and Israeli forces that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Devere and Toni Hunt arrived in Dubai on February 26th, after a tour and service trip to India. They planned to spend a few days in Abu Dhabi before heading home. However, the atmosphere shifted instantly on Saturday while they were visiting the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

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Idaho lawmakers face backlash following “brownface” display at Idaho House Committee hearing

The following article contains descriptions of an incident involving “brownface” and the use of racial stereotypes during a public legislative hearing. Reader Discretion Advised:

Idaho lawmakers are facing criticism after allowing a man to testify before the House Business Committee while appearing in what critics described as “brownface.”

Eagle resident David Pettinger addressed lawmakers regarding a bill that would implement the federal E-Verify system, requiring employers to verify the legal status of workers. But instead of delivering conventional testimony, Pettinger appeared wearing a wig and brownface, pretending he could not speak English. He was accompanied by another person he referred to as a “translator.”

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Local LEGO Robotics Team Heads to Nationals

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A local robotics team, Team PACK-Man, has gathered steam after winning both regional and state-level competitions. Now, they’re turning their gears toward the national stage. After months of teamwork, problem-solving, and hands-on STEM learning, these passionate programmers are taking their innovative ideas on the road. The enthusiastic engineering team stopped by

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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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Skyline and Idaho Falls students join statewide walkout over ICE actions

Students from Skyline and Idaho Falls High Schools walked out of class Thursday afternoon, joining a statewide wave of youth-led protests against recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions.

Organized through the Instagram account @skylineandifwalkout2026, the demonstration follows similar student-led actions that began earlier this month in Boise and Twin Falls. On Thursday, a crowd of students lined the Broadway Bridge in

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F-16s may soon replace A-10s at Gowen Field — environmental impact analysis underway

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, affectionately known as the ‘Warthog’, has been flying out of Gowen Field for three decades.

“It’s the longest serving aircraft we’ve had here at Gowen Field,” said Lt. Col. Chris Borders with the Idaho National Guard.

Soon, this beloved aircraft that Idahoans have seen soaring over the Treasure Valley for 30 years may be replaced with something new — the F-16.

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Victims Identified in Sunday Night Stabbing; Suspect in Custody

Following the arrest of their alleged attacker, authorities have identified the victims of a violent Sunday night stabbing. The victims have been identified as Rajah Keller, 32, and Starla Keller, 49, both of Pocatello.

Marita Gonzales, a 32-year-old woman from Pocatello, has been booked into the Bannock County jail on one charge of attempted murder and one count of aggravated battery related to the attack.

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Livestock

Anthrax cases in Idaho livestock raises concerns, risk to public remains low

A recent anthrax outbreak in southern Idaho livestock has triggered concern among residents, but a local veterinarian says the risk to the general public is low if handled correctly by responsible owners.

The recent cases involve livestock in the Cassia County area near Burley. Dr. Tony Parsons, a veterinarian at Blackfoot Animal Clinic who has worked with cattle and small animals in eastern Idaho for nearly two decades, said anthrax has long existed in Idaho, particularly in soil and dust.

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