Latest News & Features
Teton teachers to participate in COVID-19 testing project
Local News DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-In cooperation with Teton Valley Health, the Teton School District is Driggs has launched a pilot project testing its 33 staff members for COVID-19. The project will begin Thursday for those who decide to participate.The idea is to slow the spread of the virus by identifying potential cases and to establish a testing process to provide data for Teton Valley Health.Rendezvous Upper Elementary School (RUES) Principal [...]
Idaho Education Association launches anonymous health hotline for educators
Education BOISE, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) — Educators across Idaho will now be able to anonymously report situations and activities that put the health of educators and students at risk. The Idaho Education Association has launched a Health and Safety Report Hotline in an effort to ensure safe and healthy schools. Among the concerning instances they can report on are: Violations of safety protocols related to: Inability to achieve physical distancing Lack [...]
Idaho remains in coronavirus ‘red zone’ with 7th highest rate in country
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - The latest White House Coronavirus Task Force report obtained by ABC News shows Idaho remains in the red zone for new confirmed cases. That means 101 or more new cases per 100,000 population last week, with the 7th highest rate in the country. Idaho is also in the red zone for test positivity, indicating a rate at or above 10.1%, with the 2nd highest rate [...]
Idaho program to help students with education needs
News BOISE, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-The State Board of Education has approved a third-party contract to facilitate a new “Strong Families Idaho program.Governor Brad Little said the “Strong Families, Strong Students” initiative uses a $50 million federal grant to help eligible families buy educational materials, devices, and services.Eligible parents can apply for up to $1,500 per student or $3,500 per family.“When parents have to step in to provide instruction and equipment due [...]
Rare nuclear reactor at ISU gets big upgrade
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Idaho State University is celebrating a big upgrade to their incredibly rare nuclear reactor. The ISU Department of Nuclear Engineering is hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday for a new operating console for the research and training nuclear reactor. The reactor, donated to ISU by the Idaho National Laboratory in 1965, is one of five that are still operating in the world. It's not used for [...]
Wyoming unemployment rate drops
Local News CHEYNNE, Wyo. (KIFI/KIDK)-The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reports the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.1% in September. The seasonally adjusted rate is half-a-percent better than August and has steadily decreased since its peak of 9.6% in April.Workforce Services believes the state’s economy is recovering and individuals are going back to work.In the period from August to September, unemployment rates fell in every county. Lincoln County saw the [...]
Idaho Falls business honored
Local News IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-Idaho Senator Jim Risch has named Advanced Ceramic Fibers in Idaho Falls as his Idaho Small Business of the Month for October. The firm operates out of the Idaho Innovation Center in Idaho Falls.Founder, Dr. John Garnier, served as Armor Program Lead for the National Homeland Security Directorate at the Idaho National Laboratory for six years. While there, Garnier co-invented a process for converting carbon [...]
Bridger-Teton plans prescription fires
Local News JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI/KIDK)-The Jackson and Blackrock Ranger Districts are moving ahead with prescribed burns this fall. They are planned on Taylor Mountain and Dry Quad units if weather and air quality conditions allow.The Dry Quad burn is about 100 acres and adjacent to Forest Road, also known as the “Toppings Lake” Road. It is the final phase of an aspen enhancement project. Smoke could be visible from Highway [...]
698 new Idaho COVID-19 cases, 3 new deaths
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Idaho officials reported 698 new COVID-19 cases and 3 new deaths on Monday. That brings the total confirmed and probable cases reported since March to 53,790. There are a total of 47,770 confirmed cases and 6,020 probable cases in all 44 of the 44 counties in Idaho, according to numbers released from the local health districts and the state. See the chart below. Southeastern Idaho [...]
SIPH confirms 3 more deaths due to COVID-19
SOUTHEAST IDAHO (KIFI/KIDK) - Southeastern Idaho Public Health has confirmed three deaths associated with COVID-19 in southeast Idaho. Two deaths were in Bannock County. One was a female in her 80’s and the other one was a male in his 70’s. The third death occurred in Bingham County in a female in her 60’s. This brings the total to 34 deaths due to COVID-19 in southeast Idaho. Out of respect [...]
129 new COVID-19 cases in Southeastern Idaho
SOUTHEAST IDAHO (KIFI/KIDK) - Southeastern Idaho Public Health has 129 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in southeast Idaho. See county case counts below: This brings the total of confirmed and probable cases to 4,438. Out of the 4,438 cases, 3,515 have recovered from COVID-19. For more information, click HERE. SIPH COVID-19 risk level monitor has four categories: minimal, moderate, high and critical. Oneida County is in the minimal [...]
Police warn drivers not to take short-cuts on I-86 intersection detour
A detour at the I-84/I-86 intersection has some drivers taking a dangerous path around it. Idaho State Police say drivers heading from Burley to Pocatello need to follow the approximately six-mile bypass around the interchange. It started on Monday. Eastbound traffic diverts south on I-84, like you're heading to Utah, to the Yale Road exit, Exit 228. Then drivers will have to U-turn on the overpass to head north to [...]
Smoldering fire prompts law enforcement investigation
Top Stories ASHTON, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is working to contain a 40-acre wildfire about 17 miles east of Ashton. The “Buggy Springs” fire is burning in grass, brush, and timber on the north side of Conant Creek.Forest Service law enforcement is investigating the cause of the fire, which was first reported last Saturday. Investigators believe it started sometime during the late-September archery hunting season and smoldered in the [...]
Police warn drivers not to take short-cuts on I-86 intersection detour
A detour at the I-84/I-86 intersection has some drivers taking a dangerous path around it. Idaho State Police say drivers heading from Burley to Pocatello need to follow the approximately six-mile bypass around the interchange. It started on Monday. Eastbound traffic diverts south on I-84, like you're heading to Utah, to the Yale Road exit, Exit 228. Then drivers will have to U-turn on the overpass to head north to [...]
Smoldering fire prompts law enforcement investigation
Top Stories ASHTON, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-The Caribou-Targhee National Forest is working to contain a 40-acre wildfire about 17 miles east of Ashton. The “Buggy Springs” fire is burning in grass, brush, and timber on the north side of Conant Creek.Forest Service law enforcement is investigating the cause of the fire, which was first reported last Saturday. Investigators believe it started sometime during the late-September archery hunting season and smoldered in the [...]
Temporary road closure in Mammoth Hot Springs
Local News YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (KIFI/KIDK) - The road between the Upper and Lower Terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs will close temporarily Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Crews will be replacing a culvert from a major water line break that occurred on August 14. See the map for details. During this temporary closure visitors at Mammoth Hot Springs will have access to the Lower Terraces but will not be able to travel south [...]
Idaho experiencing “shecession” as local moms take brunt of economic crisis
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Allison Mewes said she's lucky, because she already worked from home before the pandemic. But like a lot of moms, she's had to cut her hours at work so she has time to help her daughter Josie with school. Rather than risk the fluctuating schedule of in-person learning, the Mewes chose to have Josie go through school online. “Moms already have a lot to juggle, but [...]
Burglary reports surge around Chubbuck
Crime Tracker CHUBBUCK, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK)-Chubbuck Police are asking the public to be aware of an uptick in thefts in the community. Over the past 60 days, police say there has been a string of reports of stolen vehicles, vehicle burglaries, and home burglaries in the community.Police are asking people to lock up vehicles and secure valuables in homes. They say most of the thefts could be easily preventable by simply locking [...]
Yellowstone fire danger reduced
Local News YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (KIFI/KIDK) - Yellowstone National Park has reduced its fire danger status to “moderate.”As a result, there are no fire restrictions in place. Campfires are only permitted within fire rings in campgrounds and at some back country campsites and all fires must be cold to the touch before abandoning them.The Lone Star fire is the only fire still active within the park. The fire, ignited by lightning [...]