REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) —The Rexburg Police Department is trying to educate and answer voter questions ahead of the vote on the new police station bond, which would cover the construction cost for a modern facility.
The department is hosting a special open house next Tuesday, October 28th, from 4 to 6 P.M., to give Rexburg residents a chance to check out and tour the aging building firsthand and get their questions answered by officers and city officials. Attendees will be able to tour the existing station and learn more about the proposed project.
“This is their city,” said Rexburg PD Chief Finance Officer Matt Nielson. “It’s just an opportunity for them to make a decision on a future asset, in my opinion, that can benefit their community.”
To help voters visualize the project, the department has released a model of the proposed floor plan for the public to review.
Rexburg Police Chief Rhodes previously told Local News 8 that the current building is severely outdated and plagued with numerous issues. The department believes a new facility, featuring significantly more space, is essential for them to effectively and safely serve the growing population of Rexburg.
City council members say this is something that cannot be done without the support of the community.
The city has set up a website to explain more about the bond. For more information, click HERE.
Eastern Idaho, Idaho (KIFI) – The Catholic community in Idaho is advocating for Congress to pass a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting foreign-born religious workers from deportation. Currently, the Diocese of Boise hosts 79 active priests, 22% of whom are foreign-born and originate from 15 different countries.
“They love our country, and they love serving here in our country,” Father Flores of the Holy Rosary Church said. “But they are still individuals of their own country.”
Since January 2025, two priests in Idaho have been forced to leave the U.S. due to expired R-1 visas, and the Diocese of Boise is projected to lose its first parish priest in November 2025. An additional 14 priests are at risk of deportation, with estimates suggesting that over 25% of the clergy in Idaho may face this issue by 2026.
“Our Lord Jesus himself was a refugee and an immigrant, so we have to be helpful to them and open to them” Fr. Flores said. “At the same time, respecting the laws – the laws of our country.”
Concerns regarding R-1 visas have escalated since March 2023, when the U.S. State Department merged religious worker (EB-4) applicants into the broader “all other” immigration queue while maintaining the five-year cap on R-1 visas. This change has led to significant backlogs for EB-4 applicants, with some facing waits of up to 20 years for approval.
“People who aren’t affected by this don’t realize how complex it is,” Fr. Flores said. “I’ve had some people [ask] me why these priests don’t become citizens…they can’t become citizens, because you have to follow this process. You have to be here on a visa status first, and then you follow the steps.”
Consequently, R-1 visa holders nearing their visa limit may lose their legal status if they cannot secure permanent residency in time. Those forced to leave the U.S. must wait 12 months before reapplying, which would reset their five-year limit.
Some members within the Diocese of Boise have expressed concerns regarding the State Department’s 2023 decision to merge these categories, particularly the lack of a designated visa category for religious workers that could have protected their status and reduced delays in green card applications. The United States Conference of Bishops has even been looking for solutions on an international scale.
“The Pope is aware of it,” Fr. Flores said. “But the Pope has very little influence on politics in America.”
As a result of this domestic issue, Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo introduced two bipartisan proposals, S. 1298 and H.R. 2672, this April. The goal: addressing challenges within the religious worker visa program.
The Religious Workforce Protection Act (RWPA) aims to empower the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend R-1 nonimmigrant status beyond the existing five-year limit for religious workers already in the U.S. This extension would allow individuals to continue their services while their permanent residency applications are processed. Additionally, it would facilitate the return of previously deported religious workers as they await their EB-4 applications.
“So this isn’t just a Catholic problem,” Fr. Flores said. “It’s a problem for any religion that brings in ministers or clergy from other countries.”
The Diocese of Boise has publicly supported the RWPA, citing concerns that current visa policies could disrupt religious services across its region. Other religious organizations, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the National Association of Evangelicals, the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), and the Hindu American Foundation, have also voiced their support.
“Another benefit that might come from this is maybe some push in fixing immigration law at a national level,” Fr. Flores said. “It seems so distorted, confusing, and difficult.”
As of now, there have been no significant developments regarding the approval process for these proposed bills. As the bill moves through the legislative process, stakeholders across the country remain focused on its potential impact on religious organizations and their capacity to serve their communities. The legislation seeks to ensure that religious workers can continue to fulfill their roles without unnecessary interruptions, maintaining the stability of faith communities and providing consistent spiritual leadership across congregations nationwide.
Father Flores encourages anyone interested in raising awareness about this act to contact their government representatives and even address the White House.
“Write to any politician you know here in Idaho,” Fr. Flores said. “I tell people to write to the President and Vice President just to get their attention because both bills are in the chambers and not moving very quickly.”
Father Flores also encouraged members of the religious community to continue prayers for change, and gave a message of hope for those who question the pace of the bill’s passing.
“Anything that is difficult that we will overcome will make us stronger,” Fr. Flores said. “My hope is that people will appreciate when they have a foreign-born priest who has left his own culture and left his own home to serve here.”
To learn more about the Religious Workers Protection Act and Father Flores’s official statement regarding the act, click here.
Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) — On Thursday, October 23rd, the Jazz House Big Band will host “Swinging: The Great American Songbook” at the Frontier Center in Idaho Falls. Ticket sales will benefit the EIRMC Auxiliary and raise funds for patient care.
The show will feature a live jazz band and vocalists, showcasing jazz music from the Tin Pan Alley era all the way to Motown and 60s blues.
“I just love the music,” Steve South, one of the lead vocalists, said. “The show is traveling through time and eras by sharing songs from the 1920s to the 1960s.”
This benefit concert, sponsored by Norco, Inc., follows the opening of the Healing Garden at EIRMC and aims to provide comfort for patients at the hospital. The healing garden was sponsored by the generous donations of the EIRMC Auxiliary, and the hospital hopes to expand the garden’s amenities in the years to come.
The mission of the Auxiliary is to support hospitalized patients by assisting with lodging, travel, and duration accommodations, as well as providing stuffed animals and toys for children.
“Our goal is to provide stuffed animals and blankets to kids who are there for extended periods,” South added. “We want to help them feel comfortable in a scary place like a hospital.”
The Jazz House Big Band is East Idaho’s premier jazz group, featuring an 18-piece ensemble. Their goal is to bring jazz standards and dance music to life through timeless concerts and events in the Idaho Falls area.
They host swing dance classes on the first Saturday of every month and maintain an event calendar showcasing their upcoming concert series.
Doors will open at 6 PM, and the performance will begin at 7 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the Idaho Falls Art Council website. For more information about the Jazz House Big Band and where to purchase tickets, click here.
