Full Post Style

Director Kealey (Center) receives the award alongside Rachel Burkett from Micron (Left) and Diane Temple from ITC (Right). Photo Courtesy: Idaho Technology Council

Credit: Idaho Technology Council

BOISE – The Idaho Technology Council has recognized Idaho Commerce Director Tom Kealey with its Public Policy Champion Award for his role in supporting the state’s technology sector. Kealey received the award during the council’s annual Hall of Fame gala on October 16.

The award is presented to a public official who has been instrumental in developing policies that encourage and support innovation in Idaho. The council noted that Kealey is the first member of a governor’s cabinet to receive the distinction. Appointed by Gov. Brad Little in 2019, Kealey leads the state’s economic development agency, which is responsible for job creation, business support, rural community development, and statewide broadband expansion.

“I am honored to be recognized for this award alongside so many other influential innovators from Idaho,” Kealey said in a statement, crediting his team and other stakeholders. The Idaho Technology Council is a membership-based organization that works to promote and grow the state’s technology industry. Its annual Hall of Fame event honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the sector.

Learn more about the Idaho Technology Council at idahotechcouncil.org and the event here.

(STATEWIDE) – The Idaho Transportation Department is holding a series of public meetings to gather feedback for its statewide long-range transportation plan. Two open houses are scheduled for southeastern Idaho this month, including Nov. 18 in Pocatello at the Portneuf Medical Center and Nov. 19 in Idaho Falls at the Crosspoint Community Church. Both events will run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For those unable to attend, comments will be accepted online through Jan. 10.

The public input will be used to update the state’s Long-Range Transportation Plan, a federally required document that is revised every five years. This plan will set the strategic direction for Idaho’s transportation network through 2050, guiding how future studies and projects are prioritized. It will analyze factors including population growth, travel demands, safety, economic development, and potential revenue.

According to officials, the plan is a high-level policy document meant to guide investment strategy rather than identify specific construction projects. The department is coordinating with local governments and planning agencies to address issues affecting the entire network, from urban traffic congestion to safety on rural roads, particularly at a time of significant growth and funding uncertainty.

Following this initial comment period, a draft of the plan is expected to be released for another public review in the summer of 2026, with the final version scheduled for 2027.

Links: Long Range Plan — Original Press Release

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Yesterday, officers from the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Pocatello and Chubbuck Police Departments as well as the Idaho State Police banded together to raise money for the Cops and Kids program at the Walmart in Chubbuck.

The fundraiser has existed for over 20 years. With the money raised, local police will shop one on one with children in families of need to help purchase gifts for their families as well as necessities like coats, jackets, boots and more.

Their goal is to help 85 families this year. Sergeant Richard Sampson said, “It gives us a sense of belonging, togetherness and a sense of purpose. There are a lot of families out here less fortunate and they deserve to have a good holiday too.”

The program not only helps families in need during the holiday season, but it helps to foster a positive relationship between children and local police. Sergeant Jodi Weaver said, “I want to start building good relationships with kids and law enforcements from a young age so they don’t feel like they’re scared of them. They get that three hour event with them and it’s lifetime memories for sure.”

If you weren’t at Walmart yesterday to donate to the stockings, you can go online to bannockcounty.gov for more information on other ways to donate to the cause. Parents can also go online to SICA’s website to sign their child up and see if they qualify.

The Cops and Kids event will be held at the Chubbuck Walmart on December 6th.  

UPDATED: NOV 9, 9:13 PM

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene of a crash, which appears to be a single-engine plane into the Snake River near the Porterville Road bridge in Blackfoot.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the plane partially submerged in the water below the bridge, and first responders dispatched boats into the water. Police are no longer on the scene while the plane remains in the water awaiting retrieval.

Authorities have not yet released any information regarding the aircraft’s registration, flight number, or the condition of the pilot at this time. Local News 8 has reached out to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and police dispatch and is awaiting a response.

Below is a press release from the Bingham County Sheriff’s office released at 8:00 PM:

“At 6:05 PM our Emergency Communications Center received a call in regards to a plane crash in the Snake River in the area of the Porterville Bridge. Initial information received indicated that the pilot, and sole occupant, had made contact at a residence nearby to ask for help and had suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Blackfoot Police, and Bingham Patrol and Marine units, and Blackfoot Fire/EMS all responded. Per Policy, the FAA was contacted and preliminary information was relayed to them. For safety concerns and time to properly address the logistics of retrieving the small aircraft, it will remain on the water where it is currently secure and clearly visible to reduce the likelihood of it becoming a hazard.

Porterville Bridge was closed for approximately 45 minutes to safely gain access to survey the scene. There is no reported damage to the bridge itself. Lanes on the bridge are now open. We do anticipate a closure tomorrow while the plane is removed with equipment on the bridge but we do not currently have a timeline to provide as much is TBD for business hours for those performing the work. We will do our best to provide an update on when that work is going to occur and when lanes will be affected.

We are grateful this wasn’t a fatality and thank the great citizens that took the pilot in and got help on the way. We aren’t able to release the name of the pilot, or any further information, until the FAA is complete with their findings.

We do hope not to saturate the 911 lines tomorrow with reports of the plane in the water, so we would appreciate some help in getting word out to all the public to mitigate those calls.

As always, thank you to our amazing public! “

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — Police and emergency responders rushed to the scene of a crash, which appears to be a single-engine plane into the Snake River near the Porterville Road bridge in Blackfoot.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing the plane partially submerged in the water below the bridge, and first responders dispatched boats into the water. Police are no longer on the scene while the plane remains in the water awaiting retrieval.

Authorities have not yet released any information regarding the aircraft’s registration, flight number, or the condition of the pilot at this time. Local News 8 has reached out to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and police dispatch and is awaiting a response.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 will provide additional details as they become available.