Santa Maria man arrested for selling cannabis to minors on social media

KEYT on April 28, 2025

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a 23-year-old Santa Maria man April 22 for selling marijuana to minors via social media and a weapons violation.

SBCSO officers began an investigation into the Santa Maria man at his home at the 300 block of Bunny Avenue.

There they found over 1100 THC vape pens/cartridges, 335 cannabis joins, 34 packs of THC edibles, 33 battery packs for vape pens, three pounds of cannabis flower, an unserialized handgun and nearly $38,000 in cash, according to the SBCSO.

SBCSO detectives believe that the products were bought legally, with the intent to resell them without a license by delivering them to minors via social media.

The 23-year-old was then arrested and booked at the Northern Branch Jail for the following misdemeanors and felonies:

misdemeanor, possession of marijuana for sales

misdemeanor, transportation for sales

misdemeanor, possession of a firearm without a serial number

misdemeanor, unsafe storage of firearms

felony, selling marijuana to a minor

felony, possession for sales to a minor

The Santa Maria man has since been released on bail, but the SBCSO urges parents to stay alert.

Those with information on cannabis sales can contact the SBCSO Cannabis Compliance Team.

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Woman charged with murder in Holts Summit shooting has new bond set

KMIZ on April 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A lower bond has been set for a woman who is accused of shooting and killing a woman at a Holts Summit apartment complex earlier this month.

Heather M. Smith, 37, was charged with second-degree murder, child endangerment, armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon. Her bond was lowered to $150,000 on Monday, but she was still listed on the Callaway County Jail roster on Monday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 28. If she posts bond, Smith is not allowed to possess a gun or be at Hunter Lane Apartments. She will also have to wear an ankle monitor, court filings show.  

Smith is accused of killing Kara Dills, 37. Court documents in previous reporting say the shooting started with an argument between Smith and Dills at Hunter Lane Apartments. The documents cite nine witnesses to the shooting.

Video surveillance allegedly showed Smith threatening witnesses with a pistol before the shooting. One witness allegedly tried to disarm her after she pointed the gun at several people, but was not successful.

Dills allegedly got a gun and pistol-whipped Smith on the forehead, documents say. The gun went off, grazing a man later identified as Thomas Jones, 71, on his head, according to the probable cause statement. After Dills lowered her gun and started to walk away, Smith shot her in the stomach, the statement says. She later died.

Jones was later charged with fourth-degree assault for failure to listen to deputies.

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Cross-continental hiker stops in Idaho

KIFI on April 28, 2025

Noah Farley

WARM RIVER, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman from Brisbane, Australia, has stopped in Idaho during an amazing hiking trek across the American continents.

Lucy Barnard started hiking in the most southern end of Argentina in 2017. Since then, she’s traveled all the way up to Warm River, Idaho. Her goal is to make it up to the furthest northern reach of Alaska. That would take her over 9,000 miles of travel.

Barnard originally started her journey on a whim when she was on vacation in Argentina. She learned some men had walked the full length of that country, but no women had yet.

“And it just got under my skin a little because I felt like back then hiking and walking couldn’t be that difficult,” Barnard said. “But that’s been a hard and long lesson.”

Since then, Barnard has traveled through beautiful countries like Chile, Peru, and Mexico. She loved seeing the culture, dancing, and art in South America. She says she has a great appreciation for hiking trails here in the United States.

“There is such a strong community, and I really felt helped by the trail through the United States, where it’s the first time I’ve just felt like people understand what I’m doing, and have really been able to get behind me,” she said.

Barnard says she has a strong social media community, where many people have given her encouragement, and she’s been able to give people confidence to travel like she has.

You can learn more about Lucy Barnard, her journey, and her dog, Wombat, here.

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New law that empowers AG in abortion rights case and changes ballot measure process challenged in court

KMIZ on April 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Lee’s Summit man filed suit Friday against a law designed to give the attorney general more power in a lawsuit over abortion rights and changes how ballot questions are written.

Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 22 into law on Thursday in Cole County. The law allows the attorney general to appeal any injunctions issued before Aug. 28 and makes changes to the initiative petition process. The law allows the secretary of state to write three revised ballot summaries if a judge finds them lacking.

It also says that signature collections for initiative petitions may begin once the secretary of state certifies the official ballot title, even if the title is being challenged in court.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey had already filed an appeal Friday that challenged a decision that allowed abortion in Missouri following the passage of Amendment 3 in November.

The petition in Friday’s case – filed by Sean Nicholson, the former director and founder of liberal political activist group Progress Missouri – lists the state, Bailey and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins as defendants. It states that Nicholson has advocated for and against a number of ballot measures.

The petition argues that the new process for ballot summary challenges makes future challenges more time-consuming.

The lawsuit alleges the new law violates the Missouri Constitution in that “no bill shall be so amended in its passage through either house as to change its original purpose” and that “no bill shall contain more than one subject.”

It also alleges other violations to the Missouri Constitution, including violating equal rights and opportunity, and asks that the law be invalidated.

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Oregon DHS launches first interactive online training for public to recognize, report suspected child abuse

KTVZ on April 28, 2025

Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Human Services has launched its first-ever interactive online training for the public about reporting suspected child abuse. The training rollout coincides with Child Abuse Awareness Month and the announcement of a new safety initiative underway in Child Welfare.

Safety priorities in the initiative include improving safety for children in foster care and children who come to the attention of Child Welfare, in addition to providing training to the public and professionals known as mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporters are required by law to report suspected child abuse, and include professionals in healthcare, law enforcement, social work and education fields, among others.

The new online training helps reporters recognize types of child abuse, how to report, and understand when a family needs material or economic assistance. Across the country and in Oregon, efforts to better distinguish between child abuse and neglect and family needs related to poverty are driving family support programs, sometimes called family preservation or prevention.

“We all contribute to child safety not only by being mandatory reporters, but by being mandatory supporters,” said Aprille Flint-Gerner, ODHS Child Welfare Division director. “This training provides the public with the tools needed to recognize signs of abuse that must be reported, as well as understanding when a family needs a community resource or support, rather than a report to the hotline.”

The interactive training takes about an hour to complete and is considered the official Oregon Health Authority and ODHS state course with the most up-to-date guidance on child abuse and effective reporting. Prior to the new training, ODHS used a shorter explanatory video about reporting child abuse.       

The course, Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse in Oregon, teaches:

How to recognize signs of child abuse and understand the definitions.

The role and impact of personal biases when determining whether a report is required.

How to make a report and what information to provide to the Oregon Child Abuse Hotline.

What happens after a report is made.

How to connect a family with resources.

The training also aims to prevent unnecessary abuse reports. The Oregon Child Abuse Hotline (ORCAH) receives a high number of calls that are neither reports of child abuse nor require Child Welfare intervention. In 2024, ORCAH, received 176,393 contacts, resulting in 96,246 documented screening reports. Of the documented reports, 46,483, or 27% resulted in Child Protective Services completing an assessment. ORCAH data shows that 80% of reports are from mandatory reporters, largely from representatives of law enforcement, education and the medical field.

Data in Oregon and nationally show that Black and/or African American and American Indian/Alaska Native families are disproportionately reported to child welfare. The training addresses how reporters can recognize their personal biases, including how they view a child or family in need.

“We hope the training will help reduce disproportionality in reporting and get families connected to the services they need to thrive,” Flint-Gerner said. “Child safety is about early intervention in communities whenever possible, so that children who are unsafe get help quickly, and families who need resources get connected to supports. Prevention and early intervention are where the public and mandatory reporters can really make a difference.”

The new training is available on the Reporting Child Abuse web page in partnership with Oregon State University’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE).

Resources

Additional materials about reporting child abuse 

Find local resources, financial assistance, food pantry information and other free or reduced-cost help at 211info.org, via phone at 211, or via text 898211

Information about how youth in foster care can file a complaint: email fco.info@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 855-840-6036

About the Oregon Department of Human Services

The mission of ODHS is to help Oregonians in their own communities achieve well-being and independence through opportunities that protect, empower, respect choice and preserve dignity.

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Mother and son killed in house fire over the weekend in Banning

KESQ on April 28, 2025

Jesus Reyes

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article had the two people killed were siblings. This was not correct. The people were a mother and her son. The article has been updated with the correct information

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A mother and son were killed in a house fire that also left two people injured, authorities said today.

Chris and Dora Palacios, who were reportedly mother and son, were fatally injured in the blaze shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday on John Street, near Hargrave Street, just south of Interstate 10.

According to the Riverside County Fire Department, six engine crews were sent to the blaze at 4:50 a.m. and encountered smoke and flames emanating from the single-story house.

Firefighters deployed to prevent the blaze from spreading to surrounding properties and encountered two people who had evacuated from the residence, suffering unspecified non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.   

“There was a double fatality. The victims were discovered by fire personnel,” county fire department spokeswoman Maggie Cline de La Rosa told City News Service.

She said the blaze was completely knocked down at 5:20 a.m.   

The two occupants who had evacuated from the property, neither of whom was identified, utilized their own transportation to go to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the fire department.  

Cal Fire investigators were summoned to identify the exact source of the blaze, which had not been confirmed as of Monday. There was no word regarding why Chris and Dora Palacios were unable to escape the flames.   

“I’m reaching out to everyone to help us in this difficult time,” the victims’ relative, Daniel Palacios, wrote in a GoFundMe account started to raise money for the victims’ funeral. “This is a tough time for us all. Anything helps — prayers, donations.”   

The account can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-for-dora-and-chriss-final-farewell?cdn cache=0.   

It had raised roughly $8,500 as of Monday afternoon.   

A public candlelight vigil was planned for Chris and Dora Palacios at 6:30 p.m. Monday at 638 E. John St., Banning.   

Funeral arrangements were pending.

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Missouri rural hospital losses continue

KMIZ on April 28, 2025

Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri is the 18th largest state by population, with 161 licensed hospitals statewide.

In rural counties, their numbers are dropping.

According to the Department of Health and Senior Services, 12 Missouri hospitals in rural counties closed from 2014 to 2023.

“Minutes can mean the difference between life and death,” said Heidi Lucas, executive director for the Missouri Rural Healthcare Association. “If we lose more rural hospitals, which is a possibility, it’s just going to become worse, and it’s going to be a lot harder to continue to live in those rural areas if they don’t have the services that are needed.”

Since 2019, Mid-Missouri has lost at least three hospitals in rural counties such as Callaway, Audrain and Cooper. Boone Health has started the process of getting a hospital back into Audrain County, which residents and health care professionals in Mexico say is desperately needed.

“We really do need a hospital here in town,” said Mexico resident Angie Secrease. “Now you’ve got to drive to Jefferson City or you’ve got to drive to Columbia, it’s a 40-minute drive. Sometimes when you’re going to the ER, you’re waiting there for five or six hours.”

Rural hospitals can be classified as small rural hospitals, critical access hospitals and rural emergency hospitals.

Small rural hospitals

A small rural hospital is a hospital with no more than 49 available beds. These are small rural, non-federal hospitals that provide short-term and general acute care to communities. These hospitals can be for-profit, not-for-profit or tribal organizations.

Bates County Memorial Hospital in Butler, Cameron Regional Medical Center Inc. in Clinton County, Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare in Henry County and Moberly Regional Medical Center in Randolph County are some of the hospitals classified as small rural hospitals.

Critical access hospitals

A critical access hospital has at most 25 beds, must be more than 35 miles away from another hospital, and provides a limited scope of essential services to rural communities, like general acute care. They also must have an average length of stay of no more than 96 hours. These hospitals provide 24-hour emergency care.

Missouri has 35 critical access hospitals, 31 of which are located in rural counties.

Eligible hospitals are designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to lessen the financial vulnerability of rural hospitals, using a cost-based Medicare reimbursement method.

Rural emergency hospitals

A rural emergency hospital is a relatively new classification, starting in January 2023, according to Heidi Lucas with the Missouri Rural Health Association. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services created the designation of rural emergency hospitals to maintain access to critical outpatient services in communities that may not be able to support a small rural hospital or a critical access hospital.

Rural emergency hospitals are required to provide 24-hour emergency and observation services and can choose to provide other outpatient services.

These hospitals receive enhanced Medicare payments for certain outpatient services and additional monthly payments. Hospitals that were eligible for conversion to rural emergency hospitals include critical access hospitals and rural acute care hospitals with 50 or fewer beds that were open on Dec. 27, 2020, or after. Facilities that close after Dec. 27, 2020, are eligible to reopen as a rural emergency hospital if they meet the conditions of participation.

There is one rural emergency hospital in Missouri — Parkland Health Center in Bonne Terre.

Watch ABC 17 News at 10 on Wednesday to learn more about how locals are working to get a hospital back in Audrain County.

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SJPD responds to shooting, resulting in moderate injuries

News-Press NOW on April 28, 2025

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department was dispatched to the intersection of Calhoun and N. 23rd Streets in response to a residential shooting.

Officials told News-Press NOW that one person was sent to Mosaic with moderate injuries to the pelvic area.

Detective Jeff Pearl said the incident was contained to a residence at the intersection.

The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 28.

SJPD said the investigation is still developing and is on-going.

News-Press NOW will update this article when more information becomes available.

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Indio fines Goldenvoice $20K after Coachella closer breaks curfew rules

KESQ on April 28, 2025

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Indio has fined Goldenvoice $20,000 after one of Coachella’s closing sets broke curfew rules.

City officials told News Channel 3 that the festival broke curfew rules by three minutes on Saturday, April 12. TMZ reports that the fine was for Travis Scott’s set, which started late following a fireworks accident during Green Day’s set.

It was the only fine issued across all three weekends, city officials confirmed.

The fines stem from a contract agreement between Goldenvoice and the City of Indio reached in 2013 where organizers get fined $20,000 if sets go five minutes past curfew, with additional fines of $1,000 for every minute afterward.

The curfews for Friday and Saturday are set for 1 a.m. while the curfew for Sunday is set for midnight.

It’s far from the first time the city has fined festival organizers for curfew rules.

In 2024, Goldenvoice was fined $28,000 after Lana Del Rey’s headlining set went 13 minutes over during her performance on Friday.

In 2023, Indio issued a $117,000 fine after all three Weekend 1 headliners, Frank Ocean, Bad Bunny, and Calvin Harris went over their performance times. Frank Ocean went over his curfew by an estimated 25 minutes after starting his set about an hour late.

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Construction of Versailles roundabout to begin May 5

KMIZ on April 28, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The construction of a roundabout in Versailles will begin on Monday, May 5 at the intersection of Highway 52 and Highway 5, according to a Monday press release from the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Work will take place 6 p.m.-6 a.m. Monday through Friday through mid-June, the release says. All work is weather-permitting.

The project is part of a $5,041,329.32 project to improve Highway 52, which includes expanding the road to three lanes and replacing culverts to address flooding concerns, the release says.

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