IDAHO FALLS — The following eastern Idaho schools have announced classes are cancelled on Friday, Jan. 12, due to extreme weather conditions:

School Districts

• Idaho Falls School District 91
• Swan Valley School District 92
• Bonneville Joint School District 93
• Madison School District 321
• Sugar-Salem School District 322
• Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25
• Jefferson School District 251
• Ririe School District 252
• West Jefferson School District 253
• Teton School District 401

Charter/Private Schools

• Grace Lutheran School in Pocatello
• Conner Academy in Pocatello
• Alpine Academy in Pocatello
• Gem Prep Pocatello
• Holy Rosary Catholic School in Idaho Falls
• Taylor’s Crossing Public Charter School in Idaho Falls
• White Pine Charter School in Idaho Falls
• Lighthouse Montessori School in Idaho Falls
• Snake River Montessori School in Ammon
• Vogue Beauty College and Salon in Idaho Falls
• Downtown Barber School in Idaho Falls
• Acton Academy in Idaho Falls
• Austin Kade Academy in IDAHO FALLS

Universities

• Idaho State University
• The College of Eastern Idaho
• Eagle Gate College

The majority of eastern Idaho is under a blizzard warning from Thursday evening until Saturday morning. Significant snowfall and high winds are forecast throughout the region, which will cause poor visibility on eastern Idaho roads.

A number of highways in eastern Idaho were closed Friday morning. Click here for the list.

RELATED | Do you really have to travel? How you can stay safe on the road during the blizzard

For the latest road conditions visit 511 Idaho. You can also view road conditions on the EastIdahoNews.com traffic webcam page.

For the latest weather conditions visit the EastIdahoNews.com weather page.

The post These schools are closed Friday, Jan. 12 due to severe weather appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS — It’s been an incredible year at EastIdahoNews.com. We’ve produced a lot of good journalism, and we continue to grow by leaps and bounds as a company.

During 2023, EastIdahoNews.com celebrated its eighth birthday. Although we remain the youngest news agency on this side of the state, we have been fortunate to find a large and consistent audience among our neighbors and beyond. We are grateful for that support.

EastIdahoNews.com received some 122 million pageviews in 2023, and was read and watched by more people than in any other year of our existence.

We redesigned our website thanks to the truly Herculean efforts of web manager Robert Patten and graphic designer Alex Lemoing. Similarly, videographer Jordan Wood has revolutionized how we do video work. We look great because of these three, and keeping the site clean and shiny is comment moderator Peggy Jeppesen, whose job gets busier every year!

The EastIdahoNews.com sales team, including Josh Johnson and Alaina Russell, had a great year working with local businesses who, because of their generous support, allow us to produce the news every day without charging readers.

The state of the newsroom

There were more than a few changes in our newsroom. We added two new employees, Pocatello reporter Logan Ramsey and weekend editor Mary Boyle. Both have been quick to jump in and support the team.

In June, the newsroom suffered a devastating loss with the unexpected death of longtime entertainment columnist Adam Forsgren. His quick wit and kind heart are dearly missed in the newsroom, as are his columns, stories and reviews. Read Adam’s obituary here.

But the newsroom had some wins in 2023 too.

After nearly four years of waiting, and hundreds of stories, EastIdahoNews.com was finally able to cover the trial of Lori Vallow Daybell. It’s a criminal case our newsroom has covered in depth since we reported on the disappearance of JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan in 2019. Nate Eaton has covered it since the beginning, and we sent him to Boise for the six-week trial. He was in court every day and reported to hundreds of thousands of people during his nightly Courtroom Insider program. It may have been a logistical challenge, but it was well worth the effort to bring it to our users.

This year, EastIdahoNews.com was honored with several awards for our work from the National Federation of Press Women, The Society of Professional Journalists, and the Idaho Press Club. Some noteworthy honors were Eaton’s national award for “The Hogwarts of Idaho,” a story about the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind in Gooding. Additionally, Eaton, Patten and I received the First Amendment Award for stories following a lawsuit EastIdahoNews.com filed against Jefferson County when access to public records on the Rigby Middle School shooting was denied.

That was only the tip of the iceberg. Our reporters covered stories from Malad to Salmon and everywhere in between. We published more than 4,000 local stories on a large variety of topics. Hopefully, we made a difference and kept you informed.

Among my favorite stories was Eaton’s coverage of 16-year-old Blaze Thibaudeau of Arizona, who disappeared in Idaho with family members who were acting on their beliefs in doomsday prophecies. Eaton took a deep dive on this one, and thankfully, it had a happy ending.

The horrific deaths of Kali Randall, her unborn baby and 10-month-old Zeke Best tested the reporting chops of Kaitlyn Hart. Sending her into a community that had just suffered a devastating loss would push anyone out of their comfort zone, but she came away with a fascinating insight into those who had been lost. Jeremy Best is facing charges for these murders.

Kalama Hines has spent over a year working closely with a family who is trying to find the truth about their son’s death. The way Kye Stephenson’s death investigation was handled by eastern Idaho officials is an excellent example of why investigative journalism exists. Hines’ continuing efforts are making a difference. Read the latest story on the case here.

Rett Nelson undertook a huge project in 2023 to profile historical sheriffs and coroners in eastern Idaho. It’s been a fascinating look at local history, and unveiled many stories few people had ever heard.

On the same note, Looking Back columnist Brittni Johnson dug up a fascinating historical piece on a runaway elephant.

Andrea Olson took on some of our biggest breaking news stories this year, frequently following up with features about people who had suffered extreme loss due to tragedy. One of the most poignant stories was about an ISP trooper who survived a horrific crash.

Ramsey, the newsroom newbie, took on a tough assignment about Idaho water and aquifer recharge. After several months, he crafted an insightful look at the water situation in eastern Idaho.

Boyle, our newest editor — who also does reporting — took on the tough assignment of looking into a county prosecutor who is under investigation. It was an intimidating task that turned out well. Another reason investigative journalism exists.

Those were some of my favorites, but I’ll let the reporters speak for themselves about their work and their favorites. Our reporters do good work and are making an impact on our community. I’m proud of them.

Rett Nelson

Former child actor with ties to eastern Idaho has no regrets living out of the spotlight

“For years, I’d heard that Stewart Petersen, the child actor in movies like ‘Where the Red Fern Grows’ had ties to eastern Idaho. At the same time, I always wondered what happened to him. On a whim, I decided to look into it. I tracked down his number and was surprised he actually picked up the phone. The result was one of our highest-viewed stories of the year.”

‘He shattered our dreams’: Homeowners, investors accuse contractor of fraud

“This story was rewarding because it was outside of my wheelhouse. It was challenging and I felt like I grew from the experience. It led me to pursue other stories about court cases. I understand some good things have come to the victims, which I hope to cover in a future story.”

Thousands attend gay pride festival in Rexburg

“This is a story I was assigned initially. It’s become one of the stories I’m most proud of because it’s a good example of what journalism is all about. The gay pride movement attracts opinions on both ends of the spectrum, and this story provides a balanced look at the issue. It also illustrates how messaging shapes people’s perceptions of reality. I hope it was eye-opening, regardless of where you stand on the issue.”

Nelson was also particularly proud of some investigative work into Clark County government, and an analysis of local city leaders’ salaries.

Andrea Olson

‘I thought I was going to die.’ Man shares story about the moment he was trapped under a garbage truck

“This story was incredible. A man survived after being crushed by a garbage truck, then on the same day, he ended up helping someone after a crash! Every part of this story to me is a miracle and the man behind it is a really positive individual. It was one of those mind-blowing stories that I loved telling.”

Local doctor reflects on ‘fantastic’ career after being diagnosed with terminal disease

“This story hits close to home because I know someone personally who has been diagnosed with ALS. Meeting John and Nanette Allred was an honor, and I was grateful to tell their story. They are such wonderful people, and John has a positive outlook on life that I think we can all learn from.”

‘It’s a miracle that I survived.’ Trooper critically injured directing traffic last year retires after successful career

“The Wendlers are a wonderful family who graciously allowed me to follow their journey. Even though Mike’s life and his family’s lives have forever changed, they remain optimistic, which I admire. I am grateful to them and their examples.”

Olson was also proud of a feature story about a young girl that was bitten by a rattlesnake while swimming, and a story about an unlikely friendship between a legally blind 7-year-old boy and a group of kids 15 to 18.

Kalama Hines

After his death was ruled a suicide, a Blackfoot man’s family is left with more questions than answers

“I have spent a great deal of time with the Stephenson family over the past year. Obviously, I have no way of knowing exactly what happened the night Kye died, but what made this story important is that many questions were not answered during the initial investigation. Because of that, the story surrounding Kye’s death remains ongoing.”

‘Last-chance’ program helps drug addicts win the ‘battle for (their) life’

“Being the Pocatello-area crime reporter, I spend a fair amount of time in court, and I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a judge or attorney mention Wood Court. I did this story as much for myself as for any of the readers. I truly wanted to know how the program works and may have learned more while doing this story than I have doing any other.”

‘I just kept kissing him and saying, “Baby, I love you.”’ Mom recalls dog attack that killed her son, says death will not be in vain

“For this story, I spent several hours in a hospital room with Emily — who was still very much recovering from her injuries — and Kyle. In that time, I got a very brief glimpse into Kellan’s life — the boy he was and the man he was supposed to become — and I am forever grateful for that opportunity.”

Hines was also grateful for an opportunity he had to look into the workings of local food banks, and for some investigative work he has been doing about dilapidated bridges in Inkom.

Kaitlyn Hart

The only female judge in the 7th Judicial District leaves the bench for private practice. Here’s why

“I didn’t realize how proud of this article I was until I started receiving feedback. Michelle Mallard was very open with me, and I’m proud of how we painted a picture of the struggles that modern-day judges are dealing with. I hope that bringing this to the public helped them to see judges in a different way. After the article went up, Michelle told me that the media person from the Idaho Supreme Court asked if he could recommend the use of this article for Chief Justice Bevan to use in his State of the Judiciary address to the Legislature.”

Idaho Falls man accused of murder testifies, ‘I was scared out of my mind’

“This trial took a LOT of time (two trials worth) and effort to cover. By the second trial, I was in my last semester of graduate school. The reason I’m so proud of the coverage of this trial is that Andrea Olson and I were able to use teamwork to make the dream work. Because I was in graduate school, I wasn’t able to cover every day of the trial, so Andrea and I switched off every other day to be in court, which had the potential to be very complicated, but we worked together as a team and made something very informative and thorough.”

Residents are concerned and the DEQ is involved after water in Roberts comes out brown

“To be completely honest, this is a story I was very wary of completing. There’s a joke in the newsroom about “water stories” being very complex, and this one felt as if it got more complex the further it went. But as I dove into it and spoke with DEQ employees, Roberts locals, and even did an interview with the Roberts mayor, it gave me a good insight on the process of providing clean water to community members, and journalistically helped me hone in on my investigative skills, something I want to improve on further.”

Hart also expressed pride in her initial work on the Jeremy Best case, which has garnered national attention. She also wrote an expansive series on the death penalty in Idaho in 2023.

Logan Ramsey

Highland High School failed its fire inspection before April’s blaze

“This is a story that I think went relatively under the radar, even though it’s an important one for people to know. The Idaho State Fire Marshal’s Fire Investigation Report provides context to the blaze Highland experienced. It’s also important for people to understand the process of fire inspections, and that according to a fire department official, it’s not uncommon for buildings to fail them.”

Woman honored for heroism after dragging stranger out of burning home

“It’s not often that I come across stories that are as incredible as this one. When Kortnie Balls ran into a burning home to save a man she didn’t even know, she took the risk of sacrificing her life. In my time as a reporter, I’ve never talked to someone as heroic as her. A commenter on this story said it best when they said, ‘If I’m ever in a tough situation, I hope to see her coming!’ I think everyone would be inspired if they read Kortnie’s story.”

Eastern Idaho’s groundwater has declined by hundreds of thousands of acre-feet. Will that trend continue?

“This story involves something absolutely critical to life: water. Our groundwater has decreased over decades, and while the problem is more well known now, it’s still not on the forefront of our minds. Solving this issue is absolutely imperative to our lives, and the only way for us to do that is to better understand it.”

Ramsey also expressed excitement about a story he wrote about urban legends in Idaho, and a feature story about a local backup dancer for Michael Jackson.

Mary Boyle

‘Keeping our hopes high.’ Pocatello teen’s family determined to recover his body

“I felt lucky to be able to follow this story from day one and get to know Jayden’s family just a bit. This incident happened so soon after Baby Zeke, I was really hoping for a happy outcome. Watching the community uplift and support the Jensen family through this tragedy was, as Bingham County Chief Deputy Jordyn Nebeker said, a silver lining.”

Note: Jayden’s body was recovered Monday. Read the story here.

Local attorney faces possible disbarment over accusations of professional misconduct

“I don’t know if this story was impactful (I don’t think it had a lot of views), but it is probably my best-written story to date. I loved combing through the court documents and getting up to my ears in research. It’s not sexy, but it is solid.”

‘Baby Zeke’ found dead; father Jeremy Best taken into custody

“This story pushed me out of my comfort zone on several levels. I almost handed this story off to Nate Eaton because I knew it had gained national attention. Glad I didn’t. I made my television debut (yay?) and forged some good relationships through the search for and discovery of Zeke.”

Boyle also recalls fondly features about a local father-son team that raced through the Alps, and a story on the Madison Fire Department’s Pipe Brigade.

Brittni Johnson

The one time a ‘mad elephant’ chased a family near Downey in 1913

“I love writing the weekly Looking Back series because I never know what stories I’ll come across, like this one on the mad elephant. I searched and searched for more information on what exactly happened and finally came across information in a Utah newspaper. I’m glad I found more details and could share this wild and unique story with our readers.”

A local man saw our story, was touched and donated his kidney

“In March 2022, I wrote a story on an Idaho Falls man needing a kidney. In January 2023, I got a text from the man saying he recently received the needed kidney. It came from the first person who reached out to him after seeing the original story published on EastIdahoNews.com. I was grateful to share an update with the miraculous and good news as I know many people reached out to help this man.”

Local mom talks about living with dementia after TikTok video goes viral

“Writing this story on Jana Nelson was a reminder to me to live every day to the fullest because life can change in an instant. Nelson’s story about living with dementia is heartbreaking but the life lessons she shared with me since her diagnosis are powerful and something I think of often.”

Johnson also expressed pride in a feature story about the return of a lost dog, and her weekly You have to See This column.

The post A year-in-review at EastIdahoNews.com and some of our best work in 2023 appeared first on East Idaho News.

POCATELLO — The body of a missing 16-year-old boy has been recovered from the Snake River near the American Falls Reservoir.

Jayden Jensen of Pocatello disappeared into the river about 300 yards north of the American Falls Reservoir on Dec. 6, while he was duck hunting with a group of friends.

Despite several weeks of intense searching by the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Jensen family, and many local volunteers, authorities called off the official search due to increasing harsh winter weather conditions. However, some volunteer efforts continued alongside the family.

RELATED | Community, searchers still determined in effort to find and recover Jayden Jensen

On Monday, the sheriff’s office posted on Facebook that the body has been recovered by a group of local volunteers:

“Earlier today we received a call from local volunteers (who wish to remain anonymous) that have been working with Jayden’s family near where the incident occurred. They have been battling the ice and the poor road conditions.

Recently, they were able to procure the donated use of an underwater drone that was nimble and maneuverable enough to navigate some of the more difficult areas. Thankfully, this was a recipe for success. Jayden was located on the bottom of the river channel and brought to the surface. He was near perfectly preserved.

The coroner’s office then responded with us and we were able to be near the family when the longed after moment of closure was finally here.

On behalf of the family, we would like to thank every single person that had a role and put effort into bringing Jayden home. That’s from the initial day until today, the day his Grandmother’s Birthday wish came true. There were countless man hours, thoughts, and prayers from far and wide. This incident brought us all together, but it was time.

May Jayden rest in peace, and may his legacy live on through us all.”

RELATED | Authorities call off search for Pocatello teen who fell in water 12 days ago

Bingham County Chief Deputy Jordyn Nebeker tells EastIdahoNews.com it was great to see the community support the Jensen family.

“The silver lining to this incident was seeing the overwhelming support of the community and having the opportunity to brush shoulders with Jayden’s friends and family,” Nebeker said. “They are strong, remarkable people that have no quit in them. May this bring them the peace and closure they all deserve.”

EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to the Jensen family for comment on the recovery. This article will be updated if we receive responses.

The post Body of missing 16-year-old recovered from the Snake River appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS — Over the past 30 years, local law enforcement in Bonneville County has served well over 1,200 children with their annual Shop with a Cop program.

Each year officers, deputies, troopers and support staff with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Falls Police Department, Idaho State Police, Idaho Department of Correction and Idaho Department of Fish and Game come together to bring smiles to the faces of children.

Saturday was no different, as about 45 of the area’s finest paired up with 38 local kids to make it a Christmas to remember.

“I just love seeing the kids smile, and it’s a good opportunity to have a happy experience with these kids,” Idaho State Police Cpl. Amanda Ward said while shopping at Target.

RELATED | ‘It’s pretty amazing.’ Shop with a Cop in Bonneville County celebrating 30 years.

Ward was with 10-year-old Sophia, who was searching for lip gloss for her mother. The trooper and the child had started the morning with breakfast at the Eagles Lodge in Idaho Falls. They then participated in a parade of siren-blaring police vehicles from the lodge to Target.

For Sophia, it was a chance to change her perspective about cops in general.

“My favorite part was seeing how everything works and how nice the officers are,” she said. “I used to think that they were kind of rude, but now that I’ve gotten to hang out with them I know they are really nice.”

Sophia’s changing viewpoint is one of the biggest goals of Shop with a Cop in Bonneville County, and has been since the program started in 1993.

Bonneville County Sgt. Karl Casperson was one of the founders of the program, along with Corrine Pratt, who was an employee at Kmart at the time. She has since continued to work with the program.

“We wanted to get kids that had a bad experience — who had been abused or neglected,” Pratt said. “Some of these kids, the only interaction they had with an officer was when their parents were getting arrested. So we tried to put the positive back in — so they could always know they had a friend and someone to rely on.”

The program has grown a lot since 1993. Pratt said she got the idea from programs in Utah and Arizona and became convinced they could do the program in Idaho Falls.

Originally, the program only allowed for $30 to $40 per child, and many officers dipped into their own pockets to help out the kids. Today, generous donations allow for each child to receive $250 so they can shop for their entire family at Target.

One of the highlights of the shopping spree is an opportunity to see Santa Claus. Casperson says they always try to make the visit memorable for the kids.

“We always try to come up with a new way to bring Santa Claus to the kids,” Casperson said. “We’ve had helicopters, we’ve had tanks, we’ve had race cars, classic cars and even a hot air balloon one year. We are always striving for something new.”

This year, Santa arrived in a snowcat — a winter all-terrain vehicle used by the sheriff’s office. After a brief greeting, the kids got to commence their shopping spree and got photos with the big guy.

Eight-year-old Aaliyah said her favorite part of the morning was the chance to ride in a police car and play with the sirens. She was paired up with Lt. Sage Albright with the Idaho Falls Police Department.

“This brings home the idea of the Christmas spirit,” Albright said. “So often during the year, we do things that aren’t super positive, and so this is a great opportunity for us to get out and spend time with a really cool, happy kid and be able to share some joy and happiness. This is the kind of thing that fuels you for the next year.”

Locals are encouraged to donate to Shop with a Cop through the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center. Donations have been open since Nov. 30 and will be for 30 days to celebrate 30 years of Shop with a Cop. Click here to donate.

The post Hundreds of kids helped after 30 years of Shop with a Cop appeared first on East Idaho News.

MACKAY — All schools in Mackay School District 182 will be closed Thursday, Dec. 7 due to winter weather and poor road conditions.

The region is currently under a winter weather advisory with snow expected throughout the day. For more information visit the EastIdahoNews.com weather page.

The post Mackay School District closes due to winter weather appeared first on East Idaho News.

The following is a news release from Idaho State Police.

ST. ANTHONY — Idaho State Police is investigating a vehicle crash that happened on U.S. Highway 20 at milepost 348, north of St. Anthony.

The crash happened at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

A 66-year-old woman, from St. Anthony, was traveling south on 2600 East, in a Kia Sorento. A 64-year-old man from Billings, Montana, was traveling eastbound on US-20, in a Kenworth Tractor.

The driver of the Kia Sorento failed to yield to the stop sign and the vehicles collided.

The driver of the Kia Sorento was not wearing a seat belt and was transported via ground ambulance to the local hospital.

The driver of the Kenworth was wearing a seat belt and was not transported.

The southbound lane of US-20 and the block of 2600 East was blocked for approximately three hours.

The post Local woman hospitalized after crash near St. Anthony appeared first on East Idaho News.

SWAN VALLEY — A man accused of kidnapping his 10-month-old son walked into a store naked Thursday and was admitted to the hospital for mental health issues. That night, his wife was found dead at a Victor home.

Jeremy Albert Best, 48, is on the run after police say he abducted his infant son, Zeke Gregory Best. An Amber Alert was issued Friday morning for the baby, who is believed to be in imminent danger. Best, a mechanic who works in Victor, is considered “heavily armed and dangerous.”

RELATED | Mother dead, Amber Alert issued for baby abducted by homicide suspect who is the child’s father

EastIdahoNews.com has learned that around noon on Thursday, Best had a run-in with law enforcement in Swan Valley.

Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance at the Swan Valley General Store regarding a nude man who walking through the business. Deputies identified the man as Best, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

Video of the incident, sent to EastIdahoNews.com, shows a fully-naked Best slouching on the store’s counter next to the cash register and grabbing a cigarette before he is escorted outside of the building by several people.

He was evaluated by EMS on scene and taken to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ambulance, according to the news release. A deputy followed the ambulance, and Best was turned over to hospital staff for further medical and mental health concerns.

It’s not clear what happened at the hospital, but EIRMC spokeswoman Coleen Neimann confirms Best was discharged Thursday afternoon.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office has not released any new details about what happened between the hospital and a 911 call received by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office around 11:40 p.m. from a home at 4600 Skyline Loop in Victor. The dispatcher heard a disturbance on the line, and deputies went to the house.

When they arrived, Kali Jean Randall, 38, was found dead. Randall was Best’s wife, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Best is believed to have left the home with Zeke, and their location is unknown, investigators say.

Best is white, 5’11”, weighs 245 pounds, has brown hair that is graying, green eyes and a graying beard. He is driving a 1995 black Chevy Tahoe with Idaho license plate number 1T39349.

Zeke is white and weighs about 20 pounds.

Anyone with information on the suspect or child is asked to call 911.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says it will not be making any further comment at this time and is helping the agencies involved in the ongoing investigation in Teton County.

Statement from Kali Randall’s Family

Meg Fischer, Randall’s cousin, tells EastIdahoNews.com that Randall was “beautiful and free spirit.”

“She was called to the mountains and made her home there. She was a lover of animals, especially her dogs,” says Fischer. “Motherhood was her greatest joy and we assume she gave her life protecting her children. We love her endlessly.”

Fischer says Randall was from Appleton, Wisconsin and worked as a silversmith. Fischer says she is “shattered to share that Kali was expecting her second child.”

Fischer shared a statement on behalf of the family:

“In the wake of the devastating loss of our beloved Kali and her unborn baby, our family is overwhelmed with grief and sorrow. Our hearts ache, and our focus is entirely on the safe return of baby Zeke. In the midst of every family’s worst nightmare, we humbly request privacy as we focus our energy on the safe return of Kali’s beloved son, Zeke.”

The post Man on the run with baby was walking around store naked hours before wife was found dead appeared first on East Idaho News.

IDAHO FALLS — A child was killed in a crash in Idaho Falls on Wednesday night.

The crash occurred at 11 p.m. in the area of 2080 East 65th South, just east of Sandy Downs, according to an Idaho Falls Fire Department news release.

Emergency responders received a call reporting a traffic accident with injuries. The Idaho Falls Police Department, fire department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police responded to the area.

When first responders arrived, they found a rollover crash involving a single vehicle. The vehicle had five occupants inside at the time of the crash, one woman and four juveniles.

Ambulance personnel transported one woman in stable condition to a local hospital. One child was also transported by ambulance but died as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash.

The crash is still under investigation.

The post Child killed in rollover crash in Idaho Falls appeared first on East Idaho News.

UPDATE:

Caribou County Sheriff J. Adam Mabey has released the names of those killed in the crash.

Timothy Swanson, of Bancroft, who was driving the Toyota, and Kiara Cooper, of Kingwood, Texas, who was driving the Chevy, were pronounced dead at the scene. Cooper’s passenger, Britnay Campbell-Martin, of Texas City, Texas, was flown by air ambulance to Portneuf Medical Center.

Mabey said families have been notified.

PREVIOUS STORY (posted at 11:20 a.m.):

LAVA HOT SPRINGS — Two people are dead after a fiery two-vehicle crash on Tuesday along U.S. Highway 30.

The crash happened at 6:30 p.m. at milepost 377.5, east of Lava Hot Springs, according to an Idaho State Police news release. This is located on the Caribou County side of Fish Creek Pass.

Police reports show a 48-year-old male from Bancroft was driving eastbound on US-30 in a 2015 Toyota 4Runner.

A 24-year-old female from Kingwood, Texas, and her 25-year-old female passenger from Texas City, Texas, were traveling westbound in a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

The Chevy crossed into the eastbound lanes where a head-on collision occurred. The Toyota went airborne, then rolled down the shoulder where it caught fire, according to the release.

The drivers of both vehicles were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Caribou County Sheriff’s Office. The passenger in the Chevrolet was airlifted to Portnuef Medical Center in Pocatello with life threatening injuries.

The driver of the Toyota and the passenger of the Chevy were wearing their seatbelts. The driver of the Chevy was not wearing her seatbelt.

All lanes were blocked for approximately seven and a half hours.

The post Names released of those involved in fatal crash on US 30 near Lava Hot Springs appeared first on East Idaho News.

(CNN) — Twenty-six over-the-counter eye drop products including those sold under store brands such as CVS, Target and Rite Aid, could lead to a serious eye infection resulting in vision loss or blindness, the US Food and Drug Administration warns.

The agency found “insanitary conditions in the manufacturing facility and positive bacterial test results from environmental sampling of critical drug production areas in the facility” and is recommending the products be recalled.

The eye drops, sold under the brands CVS Health, Rite Aid, Target Up&Up, Leader (Cardinal Health), Rugby (Cardinal Health) and Velocity Pharma, are supposed to be sterile.

There are no reports of injuries from using the products at this time, according to the FDA, but the agency says that anyone “who has signs or symptoms of an eye infection after using these products should talk to their health care provider or seek medical care immediately.”

It also advises that anyone with these eye drops should discard them immediately.

Target, Rite Aid and CVS are removing the products from store shelves and will stop selling them online. The products sold under Leader, Velocity and Rugby’s names may still be in some stores or available online and should not be purchased, the FDA said.

Earlier this year, the FDA issued a warning not to use several other eye drop products due to microbial contamination. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the use of eye drops contaminated with a drug-resistant bacteria resulted in some patients experiencing vision loss, surgical removal of their eyes and death.

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