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New Pocatello program aims to help those with special needs during emergency response">New Pocatello program aims to help those with special needs during emergency response

New Pocatello program aims to help those with special needs during emergency response">

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The City of Pocatello is launching a new tool to help first responders support individuals with special needs during an emergency call.

The ‘Know Me File’ is a program that gives police, fire, and paramedics quick access to important information about the individual they are helping.

Pocatello Mayor Mark Dahlquist said the goal of the program is to provide critical information during high-stress moments of emergency response.

“We’ve just rolled out a great new program called the ‘Know Me File,’ Dahlquist said. “The Know Me File is just a tool that we have out there for emergency response calls. …There’s an interface with the registration page that the public can do. It will allow a police officer showing up on the scene if there is an emergency (to respond to the needs of the individual).”

Officials say it will help make sure first responders have the details they need on the ground.

Participants can share things like preferred communication methods, sensory sensitivities, medical needs, or conditions.

They can also add emergency contacts or a photograph.

“It’s a really great way to access a little bit of extra information, so if there’s a vulnerable individual or someone with a disability living at the residence or the location where first responders are responding, it’s just a great tool to provide more information that comes from the individual themselves or a family member,” Dahlquist said.

The program was developed in part in response to the shooting of Victor Perez last year.

Victor was shot by police when he appeared to be threatening his family with a knife.

After the shooting, officers realized Victor was autistic.

Jennifer Call, an attorney representing the Perez family, said the program is one of a number of changes her clients are asking the City of Pocatello to make in their lawsuit following Victor’s shooting.

“This is the first step, and other changes we’d like to see are de-escalation techniques, and training being taught more widely within the police department, and a call for more transparency in what is happening inside the department,” Call said.

Bannock County residents can enroll in the ‘Know Me File’ program here on the Pocatello City website.

You can also sign up in person at the Pocatello Police Department.

Moderna says the FDA will consider its new flu shot after resolving a public dispute">Moderna says the FDA will consider its new flu shot after resolving a public dispute

Vaccine maker Moderna says the Food and Drug Administration will decide whether to approve its new flu shot for older adults after all

Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom become adversaries over push to tax California billionaires">Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom become adversaries over push to tax California billionaires

Bernie Sanders is coming to Los Angeles to campaign for a proposed “billionaires tax” that has set off an uproar in the Silicon Valley and led to divisions among Democrats

INTERVIEW: Michael Coats, Severe Water Shortage and KIFI 6th Anniversary">INTERVIEW: Michael Coats, Severe Water Shortage and KIFI 6th Anniversary

INTERVIEW: Michael Coats, Severe Water Shortage and KIFI 6th Anniversary">

Meteorologist Michael Coats of Local News 8 recently provided a sobering assessment of the region’s water outlook during an exclusive interview with Julie Mason from Newstalk 107.9. Highlighting the severity of current conditions, Coats noted that Eastern Idaho is experiencing its warmest winter since 1934, characterized by an exceptionally dry January and significantly diminished snowpack levels across several key basins.

The data presented by Coats paints a concerning picture for the upcoming growing season. The Henry’s Fork basin is currently at 75% of its normal capacity, while the Portneuf basin has dropped to just 40%. Other basins in southeastern Idaho, including the areas surrounding the Blackfoot reservoir and Bear Lake, are collectively reporting levels below 70%. These deficits have direct implications for regional water storage; Palisades Reservoir is currently at 40% capacity, while American Falls stands at 70%.

Coats expressed deep concern regarding the potential for water curtailments and legal conflicts, similar to those seen in previous drought years. While some storms are projected for late February, he described them as “too little too late” to bridge the existing gap. He further predicted a “spring-like” March, which would likely prevent the accumulation of necessary snowpack. This trend reflects a broader pattern across the Western United States, where high-pressure systems have locked in warm, dry weather while the East Coast experiences more frequent storms.

The interview also touched on the 65th anniversary of Local News 8, a milestone for broadcasting in Eastern Idaho. Coats discussed his professional routine and the evolving landscape of media consumption. He noted that while viewing habits are shifting toward virtual cable services and smart TV apps, Local News 8 has expanded its accessibility through upgraded transmitters and dedicated streaming platforms like Roku and Amazon. Despite these technological advancements, the primary focus remains on the critical environmental challenges facing the community. A statewide day of fast and prayer for water has been proposed for early March to address the ongoing crisis.