Idaho
Idaho emergency room doctor dies from avalanche on ski trip
A nature-loving doctor was killed in a tragic avalanche on Friday while he was skiing in Idaho, authorities say.
Ketchum, Idaho, resident Dr. Terrence “Terry” O’Connor was identified as the sole victim of the avalanche, according to the Idaho Mountain Express. The 48-year-old was skiing with a partner on Friday on Donaldson Peak when he accidentally triggered the snowslide.
The avalanche began at around 11:55 a.m, according to officials. In reports from authorities, O’Connor was referred to as Skier 1.
“While downclimbing to their ski descent, Skier 1 triggered and was caught in a small wind slab avalanche,” a report from the Sawtooth Avalanche Center read. “The slide carried Skier 1 downhill, triggering a second and larger avalanche.”
FATAL WYOMING SKIING COLLISION THAT KILLED LEGENDARY OUTDOORSMAN RULED A ‘HOMICIDE’: CORONER
Dr. Terrence “Terry” O’Connor (left) was killed in an Idaho avalanche on Friday. (Terry O’Connor via Facebook / Sawtooth Avalanche Center)
The report added that O’Connor’s ski partner acted quickly to remove him from the snow and alert authorities.
“Skier 2 used a satellite communication device to call for help before descending the avalanche path,” the statement added. “She located Skier 1 with her rescue transceiver and probe pole. Skier 1 was buried under at least 5 feet of snow.”
“She dug Skier 1 out of the snow with her shovel and began CPR. Search and rescue teams responded and evacuated Skier 1, but he did not survive the accident.”
O’Connor and his ski partner were both experienced backcountry skiers, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center said. At the time of his death, O’Connor worked as an emergency room physician at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center.
3 DUTCH SKIERS KILLED IN AUSTRIAN ALPS AVALANCHE
The avalanche was accidentally triggered by O’Connor while skiing. (Sawtooth Avalanche Center via Facebook)
The Idaho EMS Physician Commission, which O’Connor was previously affiliated with, made a Facebook post expressing its condolences over the tragic death.
“Terry was an outstanding physician and played a pivotal role in the early days of the COVID pandemic really demonstrating the public health role of the EMS medical director within a community,” the Facebook post read. “His loss will be missed not only in the valley itself but throughout the entire state and region.”
O’Connor’s death sparked sympathetic reactions on social media, with many members of his community praising him for his service.
“A hero to all of us and a life lived with such grace and enthusiasm,” one Facebook user wrote. “Thank you [for] being an amazing example to all of us.”
“There is no way to understand a loss like this,” another commenter wrote. “He gave so much in so many ways. His worth cannot be measured or replaced.”
The avalanche took place on Donaldson Peak in Idaho’s Lost River Range. (Sawtooth Avalanche Center)
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Fox News Digital reached out to the Custer County Coroner’s Office for more information, but did not receive an immediate response.
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
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