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A dip in temperatures today will bring us the coldest day of spring so far, with a minor cold front pushing through Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming this Thursday. Still experiencing early morning breezes across much of the region, but a dry weather pattern will carry over into today’s forecast, still making for ample opportunity to get outdoors.

Some high clouds are passing over the region in the early morning hours, typically associated with the cold front moving through. Skies will begin to clear up by this afternoon. A slight chance of rain could occur between Victor and the Island Park area this afternoon, with moisture moving to the North and east of us. High temperatures today are expected to be in the 50s around Eastern Idaho and Western Wyoming. Highest wind gusts are generally expected to be 25-35 mph, breezing through this morning behind the cold front. Hanging onto some stronger winds across the Magic Valley this afternoon, but the wind advisory from yesterday has been lifted. Mostly freezing for our lows this evening, with many places dipping back into the 20s.

Highs for Friday will remain in the upper 50s, some places working back into the 60s. A gradual warmup into the weekend is expected throughout the region, so we could see numbers returning to the 70s by Sunday. Chances of precipitation remain slim. Wind gusts will decrease, sitting in the teens for the weekend outlook.

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – The Blackfoot Animal Shelter is facing a critical overcrowding crisis, with officials reporting that the facility has been at maximum capacity every day since opening its new doors last May.

Shelter Director Amanda Cevering said the situation has reached a “dire” point, driven by a relentless surge in abandoned animals and unchecked local breeding.

Since the beginning of 2026, the shelter has already rescued between an estimated 300 and 400 animals, which puts them on track to meet and exceed their typical annual average of 1,500 rescues.

“Every shelter, rescue, foster homes… everybody’s full,” Cevering said. “And it’s because people keep breeding and breeding and breeding.”

The severity of the crisis was highlighted recently when four puppies were found abandoned in a small kennel at a Walmart loading dock.

The mixed-breed abandoned puppies were discovered covered in filth and feces, suffering from hunger and thirst. While police recovered the puppies, the angle of the security footage prevented authorities from identifying a license plate on the vehicle involved.

Cevering said the dumps are happening “all too often.” She added, “We’ve been at our new facility since May. And we have stayed at full capacity.”

With the Easter holiday approaching, shelter staff are also warning the community against the practice of giving animals as gifts. Cevering said the shelter regularly receives calls from people looking to surrender pets they received as presents but no longer want.

“Do not give animals as gifts,” Cevering said. “And remember, animals are a lifelong commitment. It’s not just until they grow out of their cuteness. It’s forever”.

To combat the overcrowding, the shelter is urging residents to prioritize spaying and neutering their pets. Cevering dispelled common myths about breeding, noting that fixing pets can prevent various forms of cancer.

She noted that with animal shelters constantly at full capacity and not enough people adopting, it makes it difficult to care for and give all animals a chance.

“No kill does not mean absolutely no kill. It just means you stay at a certain amount, or the animals are not euthanized on the premises.” Cevering noted, “Euthanasia is something that nobody wants to talk about. Nobody wants to think about. They want to turn a blind eye to it… However, you’ve got to look at the bigger picture.”

As a nonprofit organization reliant on donations, the shelter is encouraging those looking for a pet to choose adoption over breeders. Cevering emphasized that the shelter’s goal is to find the right behavioral fit for a family, rather than just matching based on appearance.

For more information on adoption or how you can donate to help the shelter, click HERE.

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho is boosting its support for families of public safety officials who are killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.

“These events really never get easier,” said Gov. Brad Little. “But that’s all right. We are here to remember people.”

Less than one year ago, two Idaho firefighters were killed on Canfield Mountain, and others seriously injured when they were ambushed while responding to a fire in Coeur d’Alene.

Gov. Brad Little signed a new law today providing additional benefits to the families of Idaho public safety officers who are killed or severely injured in the line of duty.

Family members of multiple fallen public safety officers attended the ceremony.

The Governor affixed his signature to House Bill 642 at the five-acre Idaho Fallen Firefighters Memorial Park in Boise.

“We are here to remember people, and in this particular piece of legislation – their families – [at] this hallowed piece of real estate here, where we remember those people that have sacrificed in the past,” Little said. “But more importantly, [we honor] the people that put their lives on the line every day.”

The law covers police and firefighters and ensures that the “spouse of a public safety officer who sustained a catastrophic injury that results in death” will receive a $75,000 annual pension and a one-time $500,000 payment.

If there is no surviving spouse, the one-time payment will be distributed evenly among the officer’s dependent children.

“Today’s bill signing represents an important step forward for Idaho’s public safety officers and their community,” said Professional Firefighters of Idaho Vice President Matthew Smith. “House Bill 642 addresses the gap between catastrophic line of duty injury and catastrophic line of duty death benefits for public safety officers. This legislation helps correct that imbalance and provides meaningful support and peace to the families who have given everything in service of Idaho and their people.”

The bill passed the Idaho Legislature with unanimous support.

The benefit will be funded by public safety officer pension contributions. Each employee will pay $110 every year per $100,000 in annual earnings.

“It reflects a simple but powerful commitment that when tragedy strikes, those left behind will not stand alone,” Smith said. “This legislation ensures their legacy will endure. It stands as a lasting promise written into law that their families will be cared for and that we as a community, as a brotherhood and sisterhood, will continue to stand together in their memory and in their honor.”