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Idaho video store owner creates personalized movie section for longtime customer with Down syndrome

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Idaho video store owner creates personalized movie section for longtime customer with Down syndrome


At the last remaining video store in Pocatello, Idaho, the curtains have closed after more than 30 years, but owner David Kraning found a way to keep a crucial service going for his most loyal customer.

Christina Cavanaugh, who has Down syndrome and is mostly non-verbal, has rented a movie from The Video Stop every day for the past 20 years, often the same titles at the same time each afternoon.

“She doesn’t ask for very much, she asks for very little, so when she does express herself, I try and accommodate her,” said Toni Cavanaugh, Christina’s mother.

To keep a cherished routine alive, Pocatello store owner David Kraning created “Christina’s Corner” — a personal movie section built just for his most loyal customer.

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Though Christina’s family owns most of the movies she rents, the routine of visiting the store and checking out films is essential to her well-being.

“She’ll only watch them if they’re from the video store,” Toni explained with a laugh. “I think it’s comforting.”

When financial realities forced Kraning to close The Video Stop, he faced a dilemma about how to break the news to Christina.

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“Last year, just looking at the financials, it wasn’t sustainable to try and keep the video store going,” Kraning said. “This was one of my first jobs and I remember back in high school, her bringing her daughter in, getting the movies.”

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Even though her family owns most of the movies, Christina Cavanaugh will only watch them if they’re rented from the local video store.

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Instead of simply shutting down, Kraning, who also owns the convenience store next door, created “Christina’s Corner” — a special section with shelving and a display of DVDs designed to look like the video store experience she was accustomed to.

“That somebody would do something so kind, for her specifically like that — he wasn’t thinking about anything else except her. That’s huge,” said Toni.

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Christina still arrives around 3:30 p.m. daily, selects a movie from Christina’s Corner, and checks it out herself at the register. Before leaving, she gives a gesture that powerfully communicates her gratitude.

Toni says Pocatello has been the ideal community for raising Christina. 

“The people here treat her like family — especially Dave and his team, who continue to prioritize her needs despite business challenges,” she said.


David Begnaud loves uncovering the heart of every story and will continue to do so, highlighting everyday heroes and proving that there is good news in the news with his exclusive “CBS Mornings” series “Beg-Knows America.” Every Monday, get ready for moments that will make you smile or even shed a tear. Do you have a story about an ordinary person doing something extraordinary for someone else? Email David and his team at DearDavid@cbsnews.com

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Bond revoked for indicted Idaho mother

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Bond revoked for indicted Idaho mother


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.

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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.

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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.



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Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort

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Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort


Photo: Courtesy Sun Valley Resort Idaho is already home to the nation’s first DarkSky Reserve. Now, Sun Valley Resort is adding another first. The resort has become the first in the United States to earn DarkSky Certified Resort status through DarkSky International’s Approved Lodging Program, recognizing the resort’s efforts to reduce light pollution and protect […]



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Idaho Falls City Council delays vote on proposed alcohol ordinance – Local News 8

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Idaho Falls City Council delays vote on proposed alcohol ordinance – Local News 8


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:

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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.

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“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.

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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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