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Idaho Found

Back to Building a Community

By Mark S. Young
Published January 13, 2026 at 5:27 AM MST
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Idaho Found is proud to welcome Karole Honas. For decades, viewers across Eastern Idaho invited Karole into their homes as she delivered the evening news on KIFI Local News 8, becoming one of the region’s most trusted voices. Today, she returns to the airwaves to reflect on her early days in journalism, share how the industry has evolved, and highlight the passion projects that have shaped her life since retiring from KIFI.

Biography:

Karole Honas became a household name in Eastern Idaho during her 40-year career in broadcast journalism. She is best known for her 30-year tenure at KIFI Local News 8 in Idaho Falls, where she served as one of the longest-running anchor teams in the United States alongside Jay Hildebrandt.

Early Life and Education

  • Raised in Gooding, Idaho, Honas grew up in what she described as a "perfect" 1950s childhood. She attended Gooding High School and later graduated from the University of Idaho in 1977 with a degree in Radio-TV Communications.

Professional Career

  • Immediately after college, Honas began her career at KPVI Channel 6 in Pocatello as a reporter and anchor, spending six or seven years there.
  • She briefly left broadcasting to raise her three sons before receiving an unexpected call in 1990 to fill in at KIFI Local News 8. What was meant to be a temporary six-week maternity leave fill-in turned into a 30-year career as a primary anchor. During this time, she produced and hosted "Tough Talk," a Sunday afternoon show tackling controversial local topics.
  • For 14 years, she also served as an adjunct instructor at Idaho State University, teaching broadcast producing and writing.
  • Honas retired from full-time anchoring at the end of August 2020. As of 2026, she remains active with Champs Heart, The City Club of Idaho Falls, The Bingham Group, and the Bingham News Chronicle.  

Awards and Honors

  • 2015: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Northwest Chapter) Silver Circle Award.
  • 2017: University of Idaho Silver and Gold Award for outstanding alumni.
  • 2021: Business Review Icon.
  • 2022: Grand Marshal of the Eastern Idaho State Fair.
  • 2024: Honored by the Idaho History of Broadcasting Foundation for her service to the community.

Personal Life

Honas lives in Blackfoot, Idaho, with her husband, Ken. She is a mother of three and a grandmother of nine.

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Mark S. Young
Mark S. Young is a native of Idaho, a graduate of Idaho State University, a community organizer, and a financial professional. For over 30 years, Mark has supported economic development on both local and state levels. Recently he completed his term as a member of the Idaho Department of Commerce Economic Advisory Council. He is currently a board member/past president of The City Club of Idaho Falls and a past president of the Idaho Falls Rotary and Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce. Mark played a vital role in the development of the Idaho State University and University of Idaho Higher Education Center (University Place) in Idaho Falls. Additionally, Mark served for six years as a lay member of the Idaho State Bar Association’s Professional Conduct Board. He has two sons, both veterans who served in Iraq: Steven is a general contractor in Montana, and Adam is involved in security at the Idaho National Laboratory.
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