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Pocatello Fire Department

Pocatello Fire Department urges “Safe and Sane” 4th of July celebrations

3:37 PM

As the 4th of July holiday approaches, the Pocatello Fire Department reminds all residents to celebrate safely and responsibly. Following the recent wildfire on West Clark Street, fire danger in our area is undeniable.

We encourage everyone to enjoy the spirit of the 4th of July responsibly. Only “Safe and Sane” fireworks like sparklers, fountains, and poppers are allowed within city limits and only in designated areas. You can check out the City of Pocatello website for a map outlining where fireworks are allowed and where they are prohibited due to increased fire danger.

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Pocatello Water Dept. to start main line replacement project in Historic Downtown on Wednesday

12:18 PM

The Pocatello Water Department will start replacing a stretch of water main line on South Arthur Ave. between West Whitman St. and West Terry St. in Historic Downtown Pocatello on Wednesday, June 25.

The project will cause street closures and parking restrictions through the area, and residents are asked to park away from the construction zones. Local access will be available through the construction when possible and will be restored at the end of each working day.

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Couple picking up pieces after devastating Bancroft fire, GoFundMe offers hope

5:56 PM

The community of Bancroft is picking up the pieces after a fire swept through Main Street Saturday, affecting two homes and damaging a nearby shed and apartment building.

Ellis and Elizabeth Call had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary weeks before, when the fire devastated the home. They say their “belongings, keepsakes, and all the comforts they built over five decades together,” were gone in an instant.

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Joe’s Gulch Fire grows to 62 acres

4:44 PM

Firefighters are still working to contain the Joe’s Gulch fire in Custer County, just north of Stanley. The fire has now grown to about 62 acres — up from just 10 to 15 acres on Thursday. However, fire crews in the area have reportedly continued to make good progress with suppression efforts throughout the day, Friday. 

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The Rock Creek Fire near Inkom is out, cause under investigation

4:11 PM

A second fire is burning in Bannock County right now, this one near Inkom.  The Bannock County Sheriff’s Office tells Local News 8 a fire was called in around 11:40 Thursday afternoon in the Upper Rock Creek Area, near Jackson Creek and Nestor Road.  The Sheriff’s office says Inkom, McCammon, and Lava Fire Departments are working to control the flames. Search and Rescue is on hand for traffic control.

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Warm waters force afternoon fishing closures in parts of Yellowstone National Park

11:52 AM

Effective Thursday, June 19, 2025, select Yellowstone National Park rivers and streams will close to fishing daily from 2 p.m. to sunrise the following day due to warm water temperatures and low river flows.

Water temperatures in select rivers and streams have exceeded 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius) in recent days, and flows are low. These conditions are lethal to trout, and the closure will protect the park’s native and wild trout fisheries and will remain in effect until conditions improve.

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Map showing land that would be made available for sale should the bill pass.

Senate bill says “public land for sale!”

10:38 PM

The text of the budget reconciliation bill of the Natural Resources Committee released on June 11, and updated on June 14th. It contains some controversial proposals.

Spearheaded by United States senator Mike Lee, the legislator from Utah has amended the language in the bill to mandate the sale of millions of acres of public land to, according to multiple wilderness alliances, pay for tax-cuts for the ultra-wealthy.

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Years-long investigation leads to new arrests in Ralph Brian murder case

10:52 AM

A Madison County grand jury has indicted Ryler Jensen, 28, and Anthony Dean Wilson, 33, on charges connected to the brutal 2021 home invasion and shooting death of Ralph Brian. The indictments were handed down on Friday, marking “a step forward in a years-long investigation,” Sheriff Ron Ball told reporters on Wednesday.

Ralph and Karen Brian were attacked in their mobile home at 340 North 12th West, widely known as the Boathouse Trailer Court, near Rexburg on the morning of September 20, 2021. Ralph was shot in the head by an intruder and later died from his injuries in a local hospital. His wife, Karen, was stabbed multiple times but survived the ordeal.

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Idaho’s youth gender-affirming care ban now fully enforceable after lawsuit dismissed

5:13 PM

Idaho’s law banning gender-affirming care for minors, the Vulnerable Child Protection Act, is now fully enforceable following the dismissal of the lawsuit Poe v. Labrador. The legislation bans gender-affirming care—including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and transition surgeries—for individuals under the age of 18.

The dismissal of Poe v. Labrador comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 18, 2025, decision in United States v. Skrmetti, which upheld a similar law in Tennessee that restricts gender-affirming care for minors.
Attorney General Raúl Labrador emphasized the state’s position on the matter: “No one has the right to harm children. For two years, my office defended Idaho’s common-sense law that protects kids from experimental procedures with lifelong, irreversible consequences. Idaho’s Vulnerable Child Protection Act recognizes that children suffering from gender dysphoria need love, support, and medical care rooted in biological reality, not life-altering drugs and surgeries. With this lawsuit now dismissed, Idaho can fully enforce our law protecting children, families, and biological reality.”

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Wyoming Hunger Initiative

Wyoming food pantries receive assistance

2:18 PM

Wyoming’s First Lady, Jennie Gordon, and the John P. Ellbogen Foundation have delivered a substantial boost to the state’s food pantries, providing $272,000 in total assistance. This funding, distributed through Mrs. Gordon’s “Wyoming Hunger Initiative,” aims to combat food insecurity across the state.

154 groups received financial support, including veterans organizations, senior centers, boys and girls clubs, and food pantries. Mrs. Gordon’s staff tells us that federal challenges have been hard on the pantries, and they felt a moral boost was in order.

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Pocatello’s new Optimist Skatepark nears completion

4:04 PM

Crews from Pocatello Parks and Rec and Artisan Skateparks are putting the finishing touches on the brand new Optimist Skatepark with plans for it to be open to skaters later this summer.
“This is something that we’ve been waiting for for a long time,” said Anne Butler, director of Pocatello Parks and Recreation. “I know the skaters in this community are ecstatic for this opportunity.”

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Two arrested in Teton County drug bust

5:57 PM

A man and woman are in custody following a drug seizure near Henderson Canyon that uncovered numerous firearms and trafficking quantities of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.

On Monday, June 16, at approximately 6:30 AM, Teton County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at the home of Adam Reid and Meghann Wagoner. During the search, authorities reportedly discovered 17 firearms, as well as trafficking amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, and various narcotics paraphernalia.

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City of Pocatello addresses complaints of dry grass

4:55 PM

Pocatello Parks and Rec is addressing online complaints of dry grass around the city and in the Mountain View Cemetery.

According to Parks and Rec and a post on the City of Pocatello Facebook page on Sunday, June 15, the city is aware of the dry grass and has repaired leaking sprinkler lines and timers causing dry grass in the area. People can expect to see greener grass in the next week.

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New Details: Highway 33 stabbing suspect charged with aggravated battery & kidnapping

2:27 PM

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office has released new details regarding Sunday’s stabbing incident along Highway 33, leading to the arrest of Daytona “Tony” Travis, 34, of Rexburg.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, their deputies, along with the Rexburg Police and Madison Fire Department, were called to the intersection of 6000 West and Highway 33, where they found a 34-year-old woman who had reportedly been stabbed. Her injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, and she was transported to Madison Health for treatment. She has since been discharged.

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Controversial proposal in Congress threatens millions of acres of western public lands

3:38 PM

Up to 22 million acres of public land in Idaho and nearly 15 million acres in Wyoming could be sold off if a controversial proposal in Congress moves forward. The legislation, introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, would sell BLM and Forest Service Land across 11 states to reduce the national deficit.

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Teton Pass closure rescheduled to June 27-30 to complete Big Fill fix

11:20 AM

Nearly a year after the devastating Big Fill landslide, the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is entering the final stages of repairs on Wyoming State Highway 22. To complete the crucial paving work and other essential tasks, the Teton Pass will undergo a full closure later this month, marking a significant step towards full restoration.

The pass is scheduled to close to all traffic at 6 PM on Friday, June 20, and is expected to reopen by 6 AM on Monday, June 23. WYDOT and its contractors will be working around the clock, with crews operating 24 hours a day on an expedited, hour-by-hour schedule to ensure the work is completed swiftly.

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Idaho Supreme Court orders changes to ballot title and fiscal statement for abortion ballot initiative

1:33 PM

On Monday, the Idaho Supreme Court ordered Attorney General Raúl Labrador and the Idaho Division of Financial Management (DFM) to revise the language used in the short ballot title and fiscal impact statement for the Reproductive Freedom & Privacy Act. The ballot initiative, proposed by Idahoans United for Women and Families, aims to restore access to abortions and other reproductive health services across Idaho.

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Bear Prairie leaving Idaho Falls Power for new industry role

12:45 PM

“During his nearly 15-year tenure, Bear has made an indelible mark on our organization and community. His leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to public power have served to strengthen Falls Power and Fiber,” said Mayor Rebecca Casper. “He successfully led the implementation of the City’s Fiber Optic program as well as the construction of significant utility infrastructure —including a new substation and a natural gas generation peaking plant scheduled to go online later this year. We wish him well in his new endeavor and know he will excel there as well.”

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ISU Robotics Club to defend national title at competition next week

3:39 PM

“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Brody Holyoak, senior clinical instructor for ISU’s Robotics Program. “I like to push my students, and this is a great way to help push them to get to something that’s like, ‘this isn’t just the end of a test, it isn’t just a section, it isn’t just this module, it isn’t just this semester.’ This is kind of the culmination of everything that we teach here in the program.”

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Hoback Canyon closures start tomorrow: WYDOT begins avalanche system maintenance

11:09 AM

Travelers heading through the Hoback Canyon, be prepared for some brief stops starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 18. The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will begin essential maintenance on its avalanche infrastructure along Highway 189/191, leading to intermittent road closures.

WYDOT crews will be using helicopters to perform general maintenance on the remote avalanche control systems, known as O’Bellx units, in the Stinking Springs area of Hoback Canyon. These specialized units play a critical role in keeping the roadway safe during the winter months.

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Crews combat Ski and Horse Fires in Bridger-Teton

10:31 AM

Wildland firefighters are actively working to suppress multiple wildfires within the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Monday, June 16, crews discovered the Ski Fire, a relatively small blaze estimated at one-tenth of an acre, burning near Ski Lake. The cause of the Ski Fire remains under investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, but the blaze is reportedly visible from the town of Jackson.

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Call to artists: Put your art on display at Festival of Trees 2025

4:55 PM

The Pocatello Arts Council invites local artists to contribute to its 2025 entry for the annual Festival of Trees, benefiting scholarship programs through Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25.

This year’s tree, themed “ArtisTree,” will celebrate creativity in its purest form. Instead of traditional ornaments, the tree will be adorned with miniature original artworks, each a unique 4×4 canvas masterpiece, created by local artists and displayed on miniature easels.

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A fashion designer and father of 2 was killed at a ‘No Kings’ protest in Utah. 1 man is accused of murder – but he wasn’t the shooter

3:37 PM

By Holly Yan, Rafael Romo, CNN (CNN) — An innocent bystander at a “No Kings” protest in Utah was shot and killed by a “peacekeeper” who was aiming for a different man pointing an AR-15-style rifle toward the crowd, according to the Salt Lake City police. Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, was fatally wounded Saturday

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I-15 lane reductions begin Tuesday near Blackfoot for paving project

3:10 PM

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, June 17, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will reduce traffic on Interstate 15 between Rose/Firth Exit 98 and one mile north of West Blackfoot Exit 93 down to one lane in each direction. This closure will be in place as ITD works to repave and reconstruct the southbound lanes, fixing rutting and potholes that have impacted driving conditions.

For the duration of the project, traffic in both directions will be shifted onto the northbound side of I-15 to allow crews to safely and efficiently work on the southbound roadway.

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Governor Little visits Power County to celebrate ongoing American Falls Dam rehabilitation project

3:20 PM

“We are making great progress as we strengthen the resiliency of our water system, which everybody knows is the lifeblood of the state of Idaho,” said Governor Little in his address on Monday. “This dam, which is one of the workhorses of the upper Snake [River] system, with 1.6 million acre feet of storage for farmers, ranchers, cities, industry, is critically important.”

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One dead, one in custody, after Salt Lake City “No Kings” protest shooting

10:47 AM

Officers arrested 24-year-old Arturo Gamboa, who had an AR-15-style rifle and a gas mask and was injured in the incident. But police say he wasn’t the shooter.

According to a report by our Fox affiliate, Fox 13 Salt Lake City, 2 armed men wearing neon vests, identified as peacekeepers, noticed Gamboa separate from the crowd, go behind a wall, and prepare the rifle. The men confronted Gamboa, but he reportedly raised his weapon and ran into the crowd.

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Family responds after former Eastern Idaho health executive found dead

4:35 PM

Nicholas Manning, the former Chief Operating Officer of Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC), was recently found dead in a Baltimore, Maryland hotel. Authorities in Baltimore, Maryland, have confirmed his death. Manning was 46.

“Nicholas Manning was a dedicated and mission-driven leader who loved connecting people to our shared purpose. He spent 17 years serving patients, colleagues and communities as a healthcare leader, including 14 years within HCA Healthcare, most recently as CEO at West Valley Medical Center in Caldwell. Throughout his entire career journey, Nick was a thoughtful and inspirational leader, and he will be deeply missed by all whose lives and careers he touched,” said Evan Ray, President, HCA Healthcare’s Mountain Division.

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June is Men’s Health Month

4:17 PM

June is Men’s Health Month, and doctors around the country are pitching healthier habits to combat men’s health concerns.

Almost 15 percent of American men are in ‘fair or poor health,’ with Obesity, hypertension, and mental health problems being the main issues facing men across the nation. But area doctors say they’re trying to help men be more mindful of things they can do to take better care of themselves.

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Poky Paddle event returns to Portneuf River Friday

3:24 PM

The Portneuf River Vision group and the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce are hosting the annual Poky Paddle event on Friday.

Vendors, food trucks, and live music will set up at Centennial Park, and volunteers will offer free shuttle services to launch points on the Portneuf River at Edson Fichter Nature Area and Taysom Rotary Park so people can float down the river to the party.

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Double the days, double the fun: Preston Farmers Market kicks off second season, July 5

3:09 PM

The Preston Farmers Market returns for a second season, promising an even bigger and better experience for Franklin County residents and visitors. Building on last year’s success, the market kicks off on July 5th, 2025, offering fresh, local produce, artisanal goods, and vibrant entertainment at two locations twice a week.

“We’re so excited to be growing the Preston Farmers Market by adding Saturdays in Franklin starting July 5!” says Jessica Smith, Preston Farmers Market Secretary. “It’s a great way for everyone to get out, support our local farmers and makers, and enjoy all the fresh produce, baked goods, sweet treats, homemade art, and so much more.”

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Annual “Walk for Wishes” returns to Russ Freeman Park Saturday, June 21

2:49 PM

Make-A-Wish® Idaho will hold its annual Walk For Wishes East Idaho fundraiser on Saturday, June 21 at Russ Freeman Park at 1280 Science Center Drive in Idaho Falls. Day-of registration begins at 9 a.m. with the walk starting at 10. There is no entry fee for the event, but walk participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of $100 to earn an official event T-shirt. Funds will go to grant wishes for children with critical illnesses.  

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GoFundMe started for Idaho Falls family devastated by Lorna Ave. fire

11:43 AM

The friend of a family who lost everything in a house fire Monday night, June 9th, has organized a GoFundMe on behalf of the family.

The fire tore through a home on Lornwood Avenue in Bonneville County Monday afternoon, destroying the garage and back deck. Dawn Barber of Blackfoot, who created the fundraiser, says the home belonged to a single father and his young son, who were not home at the time.

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Jeff Krueger defending his proposal for a private gun range

Shooting range proposal for Bingham County gets shot down

9:45 PM

A shooting range will not be built after 3 to 5 decision by Bingham County commissioners.

The proposed shooting range in Bingham County was up for discussion in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Wednesday night. The decision was made based on concerns of lead leaching from bullets and casings into nearby farmland due to water run off and flooding on the property, as well as the distress of local neighbors at the prospect of the shooting range being built.
The proposed shooting range in Bingham County was up for discussion in the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Wednesday night. The decision was made based on concerns of lead leaching from bullets and casings into nearby farmland due to water run off and flooding on the property, as well as the distress of local neighbors at the prospect of the shooting range being built.

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