Now that lawmakers wrapped up their work in Boise last week, election season is right around the corner.
Tonight’s “Beyond the Books” is all about ballot measures. Linda Larsen sat down with Devin Bodkin, who says there’s a lot on the line for several school districts.
Watch the video above to find out.
Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – Drivers across Idaho can expect to see more law enforcement on the roads over the next few days as deputies increase patrols for Distracted Driving Enforcement Week.
The enforcement campaign will run over the next week, with deputies focusing specifically on distracted driving violations. Officials say drivers caught using their phones while driving are likely to be cited.
The effort reinforces Idaho Hands-Free Law, which prohibits drivers from holding or using a handheld cell phone while operating a vehicle—even when stopped at a red light or stop sign.
Under this law, drivers are not allowed to:
Hands-free options are still permitted, including Bluetooth, headsets, voice commands, and GPS use if the device is properly mounted or voice-operated.
Penalties for violating the law can quickly increase. A first offense carries a $75 fine, a second offense rises to $150, and a third violation within three years can result in a $300 fine and a possible 90-day driver’s license suspension.
Law enforcement officials say distracted driving continues to be a major contributor to crashes. With more drivers on the road during the spring months, they stress the importance of staying focused behind the wheel. Even without snow and ice, construction zones and heavy traffic can create dangerous conditions if drivers aren’t paying attention.
Deputies say the goal of the increased enforcement is not just to issue citations, but to prevent crashes and keep everyone on the road safe.
Their message to drivers is simple: put the phone down—it can wait.
To stay up to date on our law enforcement and road conditions, visit the Idaho 511 website here.
Today felt like one of those “how is all of this happening at once?” mornings. We’re following Artemis II as it closes in on the moon—about 10 hours out from the big loop around the far side—with a real focus on scouting for water, because if we’re serious about a future lunar base, that’s the whole ballgame. Neal nerds out (in the best way) about how unreal it is that we can send humans a quarter-million miles away and talk to them the whole time, while also swatting away the usual distractions: hoax claims, AI-generated “structures on the moon” nonsense, and the general inability of some people to just enjoy something big and American for five minutes.
Meanwhile, the home front is peak real life: Easter weekend recap, General Conference, a first-ever Raising Cane’s run, cemetery visits with family meaning attached, and—because apparently we can’t help ourselves—NCAA bracket chaos. Neal and Julie’s brackets are (awkwardly) dominating their own office challenge, with the championship game deciding how it all shakes out. The show also detours into politics and culture: handling Trump’s Easter-weekend vulgarity without letting it hijack the day, celebrating a high-risk military rescue, fielding “Temple Square money” complaints, and reacting to Pope Leo’s Easter message with a blunt question—what’s the actual solution to decades-long real-world conflict? Through it all, the vibe is basically: we can acknowledge flaws, but we’re choosing to celebrate what’s working.
### Highlights
– Artemis II approaches the moon, with water scouting tied to long-term lunar base plans
– Pushback on moon-landing conspiracies and AI “moon” misinformation cluttering the moment
– Bracket challenge update: Neal and Julie unexpectedly sitting on top (optics… not great)
– Trump discourse: criticizing unnecessary vulgarity while refusing to let it run the whole day
– Quick-hit debate: Pope Leo’s comments, war/peace “dialogue” framing, and what solutions actually look like
Let’s talk advertising. When you want to advertise on the radio, you call the station, right? But what about Facebook, Instagram, Hulu, Disney+, Peacock, and other streaming platforms?
You could try clicking around, reading books, or taking online courses to figure it out—or you can let us handle it. At Sandhill Media Group, we’re your local experts in both radio and digital marketing.
Visit SandhillMediaGroup.com today.
UPDATE:
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating 32-year-old Jacob Bellus, the primary suspect in a “targeted shooting” that led to a shelter-in-place order and high-speed chase late Sunday night.
The investigation began at around 9:30 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of gunfire near 3100 North and 3500 East. The initial caller had told dispatch they’d heard multiple gunshots and a vehicle speeding away from the area.
Deputies arrived on the scene to discover a home at 3127 N 3500 E had been hit multiple times, and a parked vehicle had been rammed. Fortunately, police say no one was injured.
Shortly afterwards, deputies spotted Bellus’s vehicle—a cream-colored 1990 GMC Jimmy. When officers attempted to stop him, Bellus sped away northbound on Orchard Drive.
After a brief chase, Bellus abandoned his GMC near the intersection of Beno Street and Highland Avenue and ran on foot into the area of a nearby stockyard.
Investigators issued a shelter-in-place order at 10:24 p.m. while the TFCSO, Twin Falls Police, and Idaho State Police (ISP) used drones to search the area. The order was lifted at 3:18 a.m. after investigators determined the incident was targeted and did not pose an immediate threat to the area.
Police are still actively searching for Jacob Bellus. He should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see Jacob Bellus, do not approach him. Call 911 immediately or contact the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office.
For more information, click HERE.
ORIGINAL:
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office is on the hunt for an armed suspect after reports of shots fired led to a brief car chase near a local sugar factory late Sunday night.
While the suspect remains at large, police lifted a localized shelter-in-place order on Monday morning after determining the incident was isolated, and the individual does not pose a threat to the general public.
The incident took place late Sunday night, sometime before 11:30 p.m., as deputies responded to reports of shots fired outside Twin Falls city limits. According to a Facebook post by Twin Falls police, as they arrived on the scene, the officers found a vehicle linked to the incident. The unidentified driver immediately sped away, leading to a brief chase ending as the vehicle crashed into a nearby stockyard.
The driver ran away on foot into the stockyard area. Police described the suspect as armed and dangerous, issuing the shelter-in-place order as police searched the area. After a search of the area, authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order Monday morning.
No injuries or arrest details have been released in connection with the initial shooting or the following crash. The Sheriff’s Office has not yet released a description of the suspect or the vehicle involved.
Local News 8 is closely monitoring this developing news story and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
