Full Post Style

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI) – Could a game of chance – the flip of a coin – determine the next County Commissioner of Caribou County?

According to the office of the Secretary of State, it can, but only after a tie is confirmed.

The county board has to meet first to “canvass,” when the county will recount and verify the votes. The official results won’t be known til May 28th.

If the tally remains even, there will be a coin flip. It is scheduled for May 29th.

“Yeah. So Vegas style. Right?” Caribou County Commissioner candidate, Tracy Davis, said. “You look back at some of the things and, you know, there have been other counties that have come down to a tie and the traditional coin flip conducted by the county clerk. So it is an uncertain feeling. But, you know, ultimately it is [uncertain]. We are going against a great guy. And either way, let’s flip the coin and let’s move forward.”

“I think [Caribou County] is going to have to do just like me. Wait and see,” Caribou County Commissioner candidate George Hulse said. “It’s going to be interesting. And, you know, you can’t change it now. So if you wanted to make a change, it wouldn’t be with this election. It would be with future elections.”

Coin flip or run-off election?

A coin flip determining the winner, of course, leaves the outcome to chance. Both Davis and Hulse were asked if they would prefer a runoff election instead.

“The only time I’ve ever seen anything decided by the flip of a coin that I thought was important? When I was in high school, I pole vaulted, and I tied with one of the other contestants,” relates Hulse. “It was decided by the flip of a coin who had first. I just thought, that’s quite a way to decide something like that or an election. But I don’t think that’s fair.”

“I think runoff elections are probably the more better bet,” says Davis. “I just feel like, you know, especially in a three-way race, it can change a lot of dynamics in the voting system.”

The election results remain to be seen, but once the winner is announced – whether by vote or chance – you can count on Local News 8 to deliver the results.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Following four water rescues in just over a month, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to make boating safety a top priority this summer. In a statement Tuesday, SGT. Bryan Lovell warned that this year’s mild winter does not mean waterways are any less dangerous.

According to deputies, the recent emergencies involved vessels damaged by debris, mechanical failures, and boaters caught off guard by rapidly changing conditions. Strong runoff flowing through the Snake River and surrounding irrigation systems continues to create treacherous currents and hidden hazards beneath the surface.

“With the extremely cold temperature of the water and tendency for Idaho weather to change in an instant, a relatively calm ride on the water can very quickly turn into an emergency,” warned Lovell.

To prevent further emergencies, the Sheriff’s Office is encouraging boaters to plan ahead before heading onto the water, check local weather conditions before heading out, and ensure that everyone on board is wearing a life jacket.

For a full list and information about boating safety requirements and Idaho boating laws, click HERE.

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The historic Experimental Breeder Reactor-II dome at Idaho National Laboratory in Arco has been transformed into the nation’s newest nuclear testing site. The facility will operate as the world’s first purpose-built test bed for fueled microreactors.

The 100-foot-tall dome, which originally housed the EBR-II in the 1960s, underwent a massive refurbishment to prepare for its new mission. According to Brady Orchard, project director at INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC), teams managed to accelerate the timeline by an entire year to meet the surging demand for advanced nuclear energy in the United States.

“That required extensive support from over 300 individuals at MFC constructors,” explains Orchard. “And working with our industry partners to accelerate advanced procurements.”

Behind thick, heavily shielded doors, the facility now serves as a secure, state-of-the-art environment where private companies from across the nation can safely test their microreactor designs.

“It provides a robust test bed for those developers to come in and test their systems, obtaining the vital experimental data they need to support licensing and the ultimate deployment of their new advanced reactor concepts,” explained Curtis Neilson, the DOME technical program manager.

Brett Tomer, director of the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC), noted that the project is already drawing businesses to Idaho.

“This is extremely important to local Idahoans,” Tomer explained. “Our program goes beyond the dome. We have multiple reactor developers here as we speak, and they are all opening up offices in Idaho Falls. So they’re bringing in their employees to live and work here as they develop all these technologies that are going forward. I know of at least five offices that have opened up because of our program.”

Supporters of the project emphasize that the United States is currently in a global race to deploy microreactors to power remote military bases, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and off-grid communities.

While the technology inside represents the future of energy, the facility hasn’t completely erased its past. In a nod to its heritage, the original 1960s EBR-II control room has been preserved and remains a part of the transformed facility.

Idaho National Laboratory plans to support the first reactor demonstrations starting this summer.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally reported by a Local News 8 reporter and re-formatted for digital platforms with AI assistance. Local News 8 verifies all reporting for fairness and accuracy.”