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BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Insurance has issued a cease and desist order to UnitedHealthcare.

The Department of Insurance says in September 2025, it found UnitedHealthcare was deliberately limiting access to Medicare Advantage products by restricting access to the necessary online applications.

Among other things, the Idaho Department of Insurance says UnitedHealthcare overstates its expenses and increases its profits by not paying the agents who serve their customers.

The order says Idaho Legislature created the Trade Practices Law to define and prohibit any insurance business practices that are unfair or deceptive. The Idaho Department of Labor’s director is authorized to decide what business practices count as unfair or deceptive. 

Therefore, UnitedHealthcare is ordered to stop any action meant to limit or conceal Medicare Advantage plans from consumers in Idaho; altering its contracts with agents to withhold commissions meant to manipulate the insurance market; concealing Medicare Advantage plans on its applications that makes it difficult to apply for another plan; etc.

UnitedHealthcare can file a motion for reconsideration. It also has two weeks from receiving the cease and desist order to request a hearing.

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI )—A District Judge will not accept a plea agreement with a former Pocatello funeral home owner charged with mishandling dead bodies.

Lance Peck was scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, but was surprised by the judge’s decision.

Lance Peck is the former owner of the Downard Funeral Home. In 2021, police found dozens of decomposing bodies inside the funeral home, along with unmarked cremated remains.

This past June, Peck agreed to a plea agreement with prosecutors on a long list of charges, including grand theft and fraud.

On Thursday, Judge Javier Gabiola said he could not accept the plea agreement. He gave no reasoning as to why he wouldn’t accept the agreement.

A status hearing was set for Dec. 1, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

In the plea agreement, Peck could have faced three to seven years in prison on each charge.

The funeral home has since been demolished, and the site serves as a parking lot for Pocatello High School.

Families who attended Thursday’s hearing were shocked at the decision.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CHALLIS, Idaho (KIFI) – The man responsible for killing 47-year-old Patrick Shelton of Custer County has entered an Alford plea.

70-year-old Alan Douglas Bruce of Challis was arrested in May on felony charges of murder and destruction of evidence related to Shelton’s disappearance.

His body is believed to be scattered in the Salmon River. 

By entering an Alford plea, Bruce admits the evidence surrounding the case is enough to prove him guilty, but he does not admit to committing the crime. The court will still sentence him as if he had pleaded guilty. 

A sentencing date has been set for November 17th. 

Local News 8 reached out to Shelton’s family to get their reaction. They said this is not what they had hoped for, but they feel this is the best outcome they could get.  

DNA and skull fragments were found in Shelton’s truck in May, but the rest of his remains still haven’t been found, even after a lengthy search by Custer County Search and Rescue.  

UPDATE: Idaho State Police say a semi hauling an empty milk tanker struck a bridge pillar supporting the riverton road overpass, compromising its structure.

This picture from the Idaho Transportation Department shows the significance of the damage.

The overpass and all lanes of I-15 are now closed.

Drivers are being detoured to exits 89 and 93, using the I-15 business loop and U.S. 91.

The driver of the semi was a 46-year-old man from Jerome. He was taken to a local hospital.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – All lanes of I-15 are closed south of Blackfoot, following a tanker truck crash that happened late Thursday night at Milepost 93 in Bingham County.

The Riverton Road overpass will be closed until further notice due to damages sustained in the crash.

Traffic is being diverted at exit 93.

Local News 8 will update this story as we receive new details.