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One year later: Pocatello community to gather in honor of non-verbal teen killed in police shooting

1:08 PM ,

Civil rights attorneys will host a public vigil on April 4 to honor Victor Perez, a non-verbal autistic teen who was shot and killed by Pocatello Police nearly one year ago. The memorial vigil will take place at 11:00 a.m. at 703 N. Harrison Ave. in Pocatello.

“Victor was shot by Pocatello police on April 5, 2025,” the firm stated in a news release. “In the year since, his family has continued to live with the profound loss of his presence in their daily lives.”

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Gov. Little honors fallen Idaho firefighters and police, signs bill increasing support for their families

7:50 PM

Less than one year ago, two Idaho firefighters were killed on Canfield Mountain, and others seriously injured when they were ambushed while responding to a fire in Coeur d’Alene.

“We are here to remember people, and in this particular piece of legislation – their families – [at] this hallowed piece of real estate here, where we remember those people that have sacrificed in the past,” Gov. Brad Little said.

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As ticks spread

Ticks pose Summer threat in Southeast Idaho: Here’s how to protect you, your family and your pets

11:26 AM

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare warns that local insects carry several diseases of concern. In southeast Idaho, ticks are known to spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia.

“A bite can cause a disease that might seriously impact your health. It’s important to do everything you can to avoid getting bitten,” said IDHW.

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Scam Alert- Text messages are impersonating Idaho DMV

11:36 AM

Boise, Idaho — Idahoans are being warned about another wave of scam text messages circulating across the state. These messages include links to pay for traffic tickets or vehicle registrations that are not real.
“Scammers are still targeting Idahoans with messages that look official but are completely fraudulent,” said Lisa McClellan, DMV Administrator. “If the link does not have a dot gov address, it’s a scam.”

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Veteran fights to keep his home after lawsuit from a cash-for-homes company

12:32 PM

A 77-year-old retired veteran in Burley is fighting to keep his home after a cash-for-homes company filed a lawsuit against him over an electronic contract he says he never understood.

Ron Paget, who has lived in his Burley house since 2013, has until this Thursday, March 26, to formally reply to the lawsuit in court. He is currently trying to raise enough money to hire a lawyer.

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Two historic southeast Idaho Coca-Cola bottling plants set to close, new facility opening 2027

10:04 AM

“This investment will provide a modernized working environment for our employees and additional capacity to service our customers,” Swire Senior Director of Communications Carl Foster said. “We remain committed to Pocatello and the local community, our customers, and our employees – some of whom will continue to live and work in Pocatello.”

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Idaho Falls man sentenced in major Wyoming-Idaho cocaine trafficking conspiracy

4:57 PM

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is touting the final sentencing in a three-year investigation that dismantled a major cocaine trafficking conspiracy operating across Wyoming and Idaho.

“If you are a bad actor poisoning our kids and weakening our communities, don’t even get on our roads, because we are coming for you and we are going to lock you up,” said Smith.

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Butte County inmate back in custody after escape, car chase

2:18 PM

An inmate who escaped a Butte County jail and led police on a brief car chase Monday morning is back in custody.

According to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the unnamed inmate broke out through a damaged section of the jail’s recreation yard fence. Once outside, the suspect allegedly stole a vehicle, leading to a short car chase before deputies successfully recaptured him.

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Bill allowing city councils to hire, fire library directors goes to governor 

3:27 PM

A bill that would give city councils authority to hire and fire directors of city-owned libraries easily cleared the Senate. 

Currently, library boards oversee the hiring and firing of library directors. House Bill 715 would require city council approval for these decisions. 

“Cities with their own libraries are forced to rely solely on an unelected board of trustees to hire and fire the library director,” said sponsoring Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene. “This bill restores accountability by giving the elected city council a direct voice in these personnel decisions.”

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Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID

Pocatello Police warn ISU students of campus public safety phone scam

2:03 PM

The Pocatello Police Department is warning Idaho State University students to be on high alert after reports of scammers impersonating campus Public Safety officers.

According to police, the scammer or scammers are calling students by phone, claiming that “evidence” has been found in their vehicle and threatening them with an immediate investigation unless they take swift action. This typically involves a demand for payment or personal information.

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Families ‘told to pound sand’ as bill to pay parents of disabled children stalls at the Statehouse

11:55 AM

A bill that aims to restore a program allowing parents of disabled children to be paid for their work as caregivers is at a standstill inside the Statehouse.

Despite weeks of discussion and advocacy events at the Statehouse, House Bill 807 still has not received a public hearing. The proposed legislation would allow parents to be paid for up to 25 hours of caregiving work each week.

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Volunteers, off-duty crews step up to cover overlapping Blackfoot emergencies

4:37 PM

The Blackfoot Fire Department is applauding the quick action by off-duty firefighters and volunteers after multiple emergency calls stretched its resources to the limit.

“Without the willingness of these members to interrupt their lives and drop what they are doing on their days off, there would be severe gaps in coverage of fire and EMS,” wrote the Department on Facebook. “As always, we are proud to serve the citizens of Blackfoot and Bingham County!”

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

3:52 PM

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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Local doctors warn of ‘high-gear’ allergy season fueled by early warmth

4:55 PM

Unseasonably warm weather is pushing allergy season into high gear earlier than normal across the Intermountain West. Family physician Dr. Gordon Harkness, a medical director with Optum in Utah and Idaho, says changing weather patterns are extending the time pollen is in the air and increasing how much people are exposed.

“When it warms up earlier, the plants start doing their thing,” Harkness said. “They start growing, they start pushing out blossoms, they start pushing out pollen earlier, and sometimes the length of time that those pollen counts are high remains for a much longer period of time.”

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Idaho lawmakers consider temporary funding to restore mental health services after program cuts

3:19 PM

Idaho lawmakers are considering a temporary funding plan to restore critical mental health services after recent cuts, as behavioral health leaders report growing impacts across the state.

The proposal, approved this week by the Joint Millennium Fund Committee, would provide one-time funding through 2027 for programs including Assertive Community Treatment, or ACT. The plan relies on a combination of state funds and potential opioid settlement dollars and still requires approval from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, the full Legislature, and the governor.

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West Idaho man sentenced to 25 Years for possession of AI-generated child porn

2:23 PM

A Canyon County man will spend up to the next 25 years in prison following an investigation that uncovered over 100 files of child pornography on his phone, including several illicit photos generated by AI.

“Every arrest and conviction our team gets in these deeply disturbing cases helps make Idaho communities safer,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I’m proud of the continued work by our ICAC investigators, prosecutors, and local law enforcement partners across the state who help in our mission to protect Idaho families and hold these criminals accountable.”

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Senate approves higher education budget cuts, sending them to Governor Little

2:17 PM ,

Senators Thursday passed 5% budget cuts to colleges and universities next fiscal year, after a debate that revolved around whether the state should fund higher education at all. 

House Bill 876 is the fiscal year 2027  “maintenance” budget for the Idaho State Board of Education and includes funding for two- and four-year colleges and universities. The budget rolls over base spending from the current fiscal year.

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It looks green, but it’s actually a tinderbox: Fire safety and open burns

11:56 AM

After recent escaped open burn fires in Teton County, Wyoming, and eastern Bonneville County last week, it’s becoming more evident that property owners are using the nice weather as a chance to clear property. 

Fire officials note that the region is currently in the window “before the green-up,” a time when vegetation is dry, dead, and highly flammable. Without the moisture of new spring growth, fires can quickly turn from controlled piles to “racing” wildfires in seconds.

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Arrests made after site of proposed ICE detention facility vandalized in Salt Lake City

11:18 AM

Three people have been arrested, including two listed as juveniles, after the site of the proposed ICE detention center in Salt Lake City was vandalized.

The vandalism at the warehouse located west of Salt Lake City International Airport included graffiti with a swastika that had a line going through it, and the words, “Kill all Nazis.” Several windows at the facility were also smashed, and what appeared to be paint was on the door.

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Judge Steven Boyce announces re-election campaign

10:48 AM

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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Pocatello-Chubbuck D25 trustees adjust budget to account for lagging enrollment

9:35 AM

Lower enrollment led Pocatello-Chubbuck trustees on Tuesday night to adopt an adjusted budget with a $1.3 million decrease in state revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30.

The district budgeted for a decrease in three support units this school year, but the district’s enrollment has decreased to the equivalent of 11 units, said Jonathan Balls, the district’s director of business operations, in a Tuesday interview.

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

5:57 PM

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

5:50 AM

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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Idaho AG: Idaho Falls teacher charged with child sexual exploitation following ICAC investigation

3:43 PM

A 34-year-old Idaho Falls school teacher is facing multiple felony charges after an investigation by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Benjamin Simms was arrested on Thursday, March 12, following allegations that he recorded videos of himself molesting a 4-year-old child.

Simms has been charged with 1 count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child and 1 count of Lewd Conduct with a Child Under 16.

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

3:02 PM

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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“We are sorry”; Teton County settles lawsuit over wrongly charged $25,000 housing fee

7:09 PM

Teton County has issued a rare apology and a nearly $30,000 refund to a Jackson couple after admitting it “incorrectly calculated” an affordable housing fee that sparked a years-long legal battle. What the county called a staff mistake, business owners Trey and Shelby Scharp called a “hostage” situation over their building permit.

“Teton County made a mistake. We required you to pay an affordable housing mitigation fee that you did not need to pay,” county leadership said in a statement Monday. “We are sorry. We regret every minute of distress this litigation caused you,” the statement continued.

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