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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho will soon defend its law preventing transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports in the nation’s highest court. 

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments next week on the case Little v. Hecox about the constitutionality of Idaho’s “Fairness in Women’s Sports” Act.

State Representative Barbara Ehardt (R-Idaho Falls), who sponsored the law, is heading to the hearing before the nation’s highest court in Washington, D.C.

“Finally, after five and a half years, my legislation that was passed in 2020 – first of its kind – the ‘Fairness in Women’s Sports’ is being heard by the Supreme Court of the United States,” Ehardt said.

The act requires athletes to participate in boys’ or girls’ sports teams corresponding with their biological sex. Co-ed teams are permitted, but the law specifically bans transgender individuals from participating in girls’ sports.

The law has been blocked by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The outcome that we’re hoping for is that this not only deals with sports across the spectrum as was intended federally with Title IX,” Ehardt said, “but what we’re also hoping is that it takes even a little bit broader definition as it defines men and women – what a female, what a male is – and that some of that definition then will obviously then affect our locker rooms and our bathrooms and our, you know, basically private spaces for girls and women that should be protected.”

The American Civil Liberties Union and Lindsey Hecox, a transgender athlete at Boise State University, sued the state in 2020 so that Hecox could try out for the Bronco women’s track and cross country teams.

Hecox requested that the case be thrown out in September, which was denied by U.S. District Judge David Nye.

26 states have followed Idaho’s lead and adopted similar legislation.

In addition to affirming or expanding on the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” Supreme Court justices could potentially rule that Idaho’s law is moot, or it could be limited only to Idaho, Ehardt said. 

The case will be heard on Tuesday, January 13, and a ruling is expected by late June.

UPDATED: Jan 7, 2026 / 07:56 PM MST

By Amelia Hobson: Click HERE for Updates on this story:

Police are responding to a shooting near 660 N Redwood Road and have closed Redwood Road to traffic. They have confirmed multiple individuals were injured and two died as a result of the injuries.

As of 9:50 p.m., it appears that police have taken someone into custody. Law enforcement confirmed that they have detained individuals but could not confirm how many were detained at this time. ABC4’s Bayan Wang captured the following images.

Case details

Salt Lake City Police Department PIO Glen Mills confirmed that around 7:36 p.m., a call came in about a shooting at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse. There was a funeral taking place at the meetinghouse and an altercation reportedly broke out, leading to shots being fired.

According to Mills, there are at least eight victims, two of which died as a result of their injuries. Three are also in critical condition and three individuals are in unknown condition. Some of the victims were taken via private vehicle to the hospital, which Mills says has complicated the situation.

Brian Redd, the Salt Lake City Chief of Police, confirmed that all victims are adults.

Police are actively looking for at least one suspect, who fled the scene, and have established a search area from 500 north to 700 north. Mills says there is an active manhunt and they are still determining exactly how many suspects were involved.

Additionally, Redd says that law enforcement is pulling surveillance footage from nearby businesses and residents as part of their investigation. Additionally, at this time, they are asking the public to come forward and call 801-799-3000 if they have any information.

Chief Redd also confirmed that gang detectives are on scene, but they cannot confirm if it is a gang-related incident at this time. Preliminary evidence have reportedly indicated that it was not a random shooting, but does not appear to be targeted towards any religion.

Law enforcement has also said there doesn’t appear to be an active threat to the public.

Public reactions

Notably, police confirmed that the shooting took place during a funeral that was being held at the Church meetinghouse, with many attendees already grieving. ABC4 spoke with some of the attendees and bystanders who witnessed the shooting.Bystanders react to shooting during funeral at LDS church that killed two

 “I still have my family in the church, and they won’t let us leave, because the whole back of the church is a crime scene,” said one of the attendees, who was the cousin of the deceased.

Additionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement on the shooting, extending prayers for the tragedy. Their full statement can be read here.

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as more information becomes available.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — A spokesperson for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued the following statement in response to the fatal shooting at a Salt Lake meetinghouse:

“We are aware of a serious incident that occurred outside a Church meetinghouse at 660 North Redwood Road in Salt Lake City tonight as a memorial service was being held in the chapel. The Church is cooperating with law enforcement and is grateful for the efforts of first responders. Until more information is available, all questions about this incident are being directed to the Salt Lake City Police Department. We extend prayers for all who have been impacted by this tragedy and express deep concern that any sacred space intended for worship should be subjected to violence of any kind.”

According to Salt Lake Police, the shooting took place around 7:30 PM. Two people were killed, and at least six more were injured.