Police: City is ahead of schedule by installing 31% of Flock cameras

KMIZ on April 24, 2025

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

More than 30% of Flock cameras have been installed throughout the City of Columbia, about six months after city leaders approved them.

According to Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Lance Bolinger, 31% of Flock cameras have been installed in the city, which is ahead of what was anticipated. Bolinger said about 60 more cameras are expected to be installed within the next month.

Although the city is just six months into the process, Bolinger said the benefits of the technology is already paying off.

“We are just scratching the surface of what this system can do,” Bolinger said. “A lot of what we got to do on the back end is not only just the installation of the cameras, but it’s the training with the officers. We got to teach the officers how to use the system, and the more they use it, the better they get with it.”

According to Bolinger, police have started pulling data from the Flock system in some recent shootings.

A chaotic scene unfolded at Cosmo Park earlier this month, leaving two people shot, one of which was critically injured. Bolinger said police do not have any suspects in custody in connection with the shooting.

Bolinger said the investigation is complex because hundreds of people were on the scene and they have not had many witnesses come forward with information. However, he said the Flock system has helped police determine what vehicles were on scene, as well as which ones were not.

Even months after the approval, some Columbia residents still are not on board with their use.

Anthony Willroth, of Hold Como Accountable, said his main issue remains with the collection of peoples’ data, something he says has only grown since the Trump administration took office.

“I’m more concerned now than I was when they were approved,” Willroth said. “A lot of the fears that I have surrounding a program like Flock I think have been realized. You know, something like DOGE where we see reports every week about them coming into different places, government agencies and demanding data.”

He also said he believes many variables are involved in solving cases, and he thinks police could utilize methods other than Flock to do so.

Flock Safety cameras are designed to capture images of license plates under various conditions, including nighttime and severe weather, according to its website. Flock claims the cameras do not capture identifiable images of people or faces. CPD also says that the cameras are not used for traffic enforcement. 

According to Bolinger, within the past month, 14 different stolen vehicles have hit off of the Flock system.

“We average about 500 stolen vehicles a year, which is quite a few,” Bolinger said. “I really think technology like this will really help curb some of that.”

Attorney Dan Viets, with Mid-Missouri Civil Liberties Association, was a main critic of the cameras the night they were approved.

Viets described the use of the cameras to George Orwell’s “1984,” claiming they put the city under constant watch. Viets also said he is concerned there is no independent evidence that the cameras help prevent or help solve crime.

“There may be anecdotal instances but it’s very expensive. If you can solve one crime, it does not justify spending the money that they cost,” Viets said. “We could hire several police officers with the money that those cameras will cost the city and will cost the tax payers.”

Bolinger reiterated that the cameras are only pointed at the road.

He expects all cameras will be installed in the city by mid-to-late summer.

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With recycling halted, Columbia weighs costly recovery, future plans

KMIZ on April 24, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

City of Columbia officials are still assessing the total damage to its recycling operations after an EF-1 tornado tore through the northeast part of the city Sunday evening, destroying the city’s recycling facility and prompting a disaster declaration.

The city announced on Sunday that curbside recycling pickup would be paused and drop-off locations around the city would close. Boone County also suspended drop-off recycling operations, as much of the county uses Columbia’s facility.

Jason West, from Columbia’s Risk Management Office, said the city is in the process of determining the replacement value of the destroyed facility and settling the insurance claim. While officials have been meeting with insurance adjusters, West noted that media access to those meetings is restricted.

A feasibility study conducted before the storm estimated that building a new, upgraded recycling facility could cost more than $22 million. The original facility, known as the Columbia Material Recovery Facility, was built in 2002. A 2023 evaluation found the aging plant was inefficient, costing the city revenue from recyclable materials. Between 2019 and 2023, Columbia generated an average of $1.044 million annually from recycling sales.

The city had originally planned to build a new recycling center by 2027 or 2028, but City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said this week that the storm may accelerate that timeline. Officials are also exploring temporary solutions, including hiring an outside service to manage recycling collection during the recovery period.

West told ABC 17 News that the city’s top priority was getting operations back up and running, but it will take time and careful planning. The city has not yet determined the final insurance settlement or the full cost of replacing the facility.

City crews have been working around the clock to restore electricity and fiber connections to the landfill site, where the recycling center once stood. At least 1,200 Columbia Water and Light customers were without power on Sunday, and thousands were without power in Boone County. On Wednesday evening, outages in Columbia were limited to 17 customers in northeastern Columbia, with a restoration time not yet determined.

The National Weather Service confirmed winds peaked at 110 miles per hour on Sunday when the tornado hit the facility around 5:23 p.m., as part of a brief but powerful storm that lasted just 7 minutes.

At 5:18 p.m., winds reaching 76 mph began snapping tree limbs and uprooting trees. By 5:22 p.m., gusts had intensified to 96 mph, damaging electric transmission lines and breaking wooden utility poles. A minute later, 110 mph winds struck the city’s recycling facility, causing severe damage. Although winds subsided to 70 mph by 5:25 p.m., they continued to fell trees across northeast Columbia.

Check back for updates.

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Public Service Commission approves new electric rates for Ameren

KMIZ on April 24, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Public Service Commission on Wednesday approved two agreements that set new electric rates for Ameren Customers, according to a press release from the PSC.

The PSC approved two unopposed agreements that will increase Ameren Missouri’s rates by $355 million, which is $91 million less than Ameren’s original request, the release says. Previous reporting indicates that Ameren sought a 16% rate hike.

 Ameren has 1.2 million electricity customers in Missouri.

The release says that the monthly customer charge of $9 will not be increased. Both sides also agreed to amounts and terms for several low-income programs, s including the Keeping Current and Keeping Cool program, the New Start program, the Critical Needs program, and the Low-Income Weatherization program, the release says.

“Under the agreement approved by the Commission, Ameren Missouri agreed to not seek ratepayer recovery of amounts for mitigation ordered in federal litigation regarding Ameren Missouri’s Rush Island Energy Center’s air pollution. Ameren Missouri will continue its Fuel Adjustment Clause, which allows Ameren Missouri to adjust its rates up or down based upon the cost of fuel,” the release says.

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Parent says school safety still a concern at James Workman Middle School

KESQ on April 24, 2025

Shay Lawson

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)  – Months after a string of fights at James Workman Middle School raised concerns about student safety, a parent is speaking out again, saying not much has changed.

Crystal Garcia, whose daughter previously attended the school, said she ultimately transferred her child after she was repeatedly bullied and attacked.

She said the school administration failed to respond adequately and that the situation on campus has worsened.

Garcia also provided a video of a recent altercation she said occurred on campus.

In response, Palm Springs Unified School District Dr. Deanna Keuilian, Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction said:

“At Palm Springs Unified School District, the safety and security of our students and staff remain our top priority. We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment across all campuses, including James Workman Middle School.

The incident reported earlier in the school year was addressed immediately, and appropriate resolutions were implemented in accordance with Ed Code and our District policies. Since that time, we have continued to take proactive and strategic steps to enhance campus safety. Our central office works closely with all of our school sites to ensure the strategic use of resources, including a focus on increased visibility, thoughtful placement of security agents, and use of support staff. In addition to these efforts, we value ongoing communication with families and will continue to offer parent forums as opportunities for open dialogue and shared solutions around school safety.

As part of our proactive approach, we also encourage students, staff, and families to utilize SPRIGEO, our anonymous reporting tool, to share concerns at any time. Early reporting helps us address issues before they escalate and reinforces our collective responsibility for campus safety. We encourage any family with concerns to reach out directly to the school administration in an effort to partner together on solutions.

We remain committed to supporting our students, staff, and families and will continue to monitor and adjust our practices to ensure every student feels safe and supported at school.

We are aware of the recent altercation and are currently conducting a thorough review of the incident. Once all facts are gathered, we will implement appropriate consequences in alignment with district policies. In addition, we are evaluating what measures can be put in place to help prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure a safe environment for all students and staff.”

A PSUSD spokesperson confirmed former principal Dr. Vikki Chavez is currently on leave.

When asked why, they said, “We cannot comment on any personnel or student matters due to confidentiality laws.”

News Channel 3 first reported on safety concerns at James Workman in September 2024 after several on-campus fights sparked concern among parents and staff.

To hear Garcia’s full story, stay with News Channel 3 at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Santa Barbara’s Clean Air Express helps out with Free Rides in the month of April

KEYT on April 23, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – The Clean Air Express bus connecting northern and southern Santa Barbara county has added a new mid-day schedule and it’s starting off free.

Lauren Bianchi Klemann with the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments says, “our riders were looking for a mid-day option and we were excited to offer this mid day route as a test to see what the demand is.”

The mid-day bus runs the route twice. It has two stops in Santa Maria, one in Buellton, two in Goleta and three in Santa Barbara. It’s mainly been a morning and evening service until now.

One of the riders on board for free is a regular user from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara with a monthly pass at $160 dollars. Chris Smith is a downtown Santa Barbara worker who lives in Orcutt. He saves 126 miles of driving, gas costs, and wear-and-tear on his vehicle every day.

“I love it. It’s convenient. It saves gas and money,” he said after getting off from his trip Wednesday morning.

Some employers have offered incentives to cut the costs even more and reduce the number of cars  overall on the road.

Smith said for his day-to-day use, “in the morning – if I start early – I start at about 7:00 am. I get here about 6:40 am. In the afternoon, I get off about 4:00 pm so I catch the bus at 4:10 pm.”

The Clean Air Express also has another level of convenience with all the major locations it connects to at the transit centers, for those who need to go somewhere else on their route.

It’s not just for workers, anyone can ride. 

Bianchi Klemann said, “this mid-day connector route gives you more flexibility to travel on your own schedule instead of just the early morning options.”

Information on the Clean Air Express and other transit options can be found on the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments web page with a link to the Clean Air Express.

That agency is coordinating these transit systems with the help of taxpayer money specifically for this purpose.

Bianchi Klemann said, “the launch is made possible by state dollars but also measure A which funds Clean Air Express in general. That’s the half cent sales tax measure that we passed in 2008 with over 80% of the voters.”

The free rides are only through the end of the month.

For more information go to : The Clean Air Express or SBCAG

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Southern Colorado allergy season stronger and longer this year according to specialists

KRDO on April 23, 2025

Julia Donovan

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – If you think your spring-time allergies are worse than normal, you’re not crazy. Local experts tell us the allergy season here in Colorado appears to have gotten stronger and longer.

According to Climate Central, a non-profit climate change research group, allergy season is becoming more severe and starting earlier due to changing climates.

Dr. Chris Webber with CommonSpirit Health here in Colorado Springs confirmed he has noticed an increase in patients coming in with seasonal allergies before and after the regular season, as the colder months seem to shorten.

“It’s been pretty rough for everybody who has allergies,” Dr. Webber told KRDO. “Every little bit of winter helps reduce that and every bit of warmer [weather] makes it worse. So we’re seeing people suffer from that point of view.”

Dr. Webber said, since this spring has been such a rollercoaster, he’s also noticed consistent peaks and valleys in terms of allergy symptoms – compared to the normal bell curve they see with grass allergies in the summer, and weeds in the fall.

“So I have patients where it peaks really high and they’re miserable, then it drops down and they’re happy for a few days, and then it peaks again,” he went on.

So, what do we do about it? Dr. Webber says it’s best to start medication early.

“Knowing that it’ll probably stay like this until the fall and just getting ahead of all of it,” he explained.

Dr. Webber recommends starting with a nasal spray.

“It gives you all the power right where you need it to stop the inflammation, without being absorbed into the bloodstream and causing the whole body side effects,” Dr. Webber argued. “Point your nose to your toes, and you can see, if you do that, the line goes straight up and down and now, if you spray like that, more spray goes to the sinus area.”

If you really want to limit your pharmaceuticals, Dr. Webber says you can also keep track of the amount of pollen in the air and increase your medication accordingly.

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“Like an office on wheels” Madison Deputies excited for new Tahoe fleet

KIFI on April 23, 2025

Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited to be patrolling in its new fleet of cars.

In total, they have five new Tahoe cars. Their cars are essentially their office, and deputies say they are excited for the upgrade.

Many law enforcement agencies travel out of state to order new cars, but the Madison County Sheriff’s Office is excited that its big expense went back into its community. All their new cars came from Taylor Chevrolet in Rexburg.

The old cars were silver, and now they’re black.

Some of the deputies feel the new color is doing a better job of standing out to other drivers. 

“They do stick out a little better. I haven’t heard anything from the community if they stick out better than the silver. We’ve just been doing a transition from the silver to the black, ” said Chief Deputy Vince Kaaiakamanu with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. “So, I haven’t really heard anything, but me personally, I think they do stick out a little better. 

A new feature that the patrol cars have is that all lights now sync up. They believe people will respond better when seeing these lights.

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Prosecutor: Man fatally shot girlfriend’s lover in predawn ambush in Cathedral City

KESQ on April 23, 2025

City News Service

INDIO (CNS) – A 32-year-old man accused of gunning down his one-time girlfriend’s lover as he left her Coachella Valley home was inflamed with rage and intended to shoot to kill, prosecutors said today, while the defense argued that the defendant was blinded by passion and also believed the victim was going to pull a gun on him.   

“There’s no excuse for this,” Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Roeder told jurors in his closing statement in the trial of Jose Ernesto Martinez of Desert Hot Springs.

Testimony in Martinez’s roughly four-day trial concluded Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, at which time the prosecution and defense rested. Superior Court Judge James Hawkins directed the two sides to deliver closing arguments Wednesday morning.

Martinez is charged with first-degree murder and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the slaying of 27-year-old Isaac Valles of Rancho Mirage.

The prosecution recounted how Martinez was incensed that his girlfriend, identified only as Dayanira, was seeing another man and staked out her residence in the 31800 block of Neuma Drive, near Ramon Road in Cathedral City, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on June 26, 2021, to see who was coming and going.  

There had been a text exchange between the woman and defendant, in which he apparently admitted being close by, prompting her to message him, “(Expletive) leave. (Expletive) you go home,” Roeder said.

Martinez remained in his car, waiting, and shortly before 3 a.m., hespotted Valles exiting the house, according to the prosecution.   

Roeder said the defendant grabbed a self-assembled semiautomatic “ghost gun” from under the driver’s seat of his car, jumped out and opened fire on the victim, who was struck twice in the head, as well as once in the neck and chest.

Valles collapsed in the roadway, dying moments later.

Dayanira witnessed the attack and screamed at Martinez, “You’re not leaving; you just killed him!” according to the prosecution.   

The defendant replied, “I’m sorry. Don’t call the police,” Roeder recalled.

However, witnesses called 911, and the defendant fled.   

“He was emotionally compromised,” Deputy Public Defender Fernanda Oviedo told the jury in her closing. She characterized him as full of anger and pain over Dayanira’s behavior, alleging the woman was not only spending time with the victim, but also cheating with another man, whose identity wasn’t disclosed.   

Martinez did not want to give her up, the attorney said.   

She said the combination of his emotional strain, and the fact that he could not see well on the night of the shooting, led to a fatal outcome.   

“It was dark. He didn’t have his glasses on and believed Valles had a gun,” Oviedo said, referring to statements by the defendant that he had seen the victim reaching into his waistband. “It was a rapid series of events.”

Roeder countered that Valles was simply trying to pull up his shorts. The victim wasn’t armed.  

Oviedo nonetheless asserted that the most her client should be convicted of is voluntary manslaughter in the heat of passion.   

Cathedral City Police Department officers took the defendant into custody without incident at his home two hours after the shooting, based on Dayanira’s and other witnesses’ statements, as well as evidence collected at the scene.

He’s being held on $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio. He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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No injuries reported after food truck catches fire in Hallsville

KMIZ on April 23, 2025

Katie Greathouse

HALLSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one was injured after a food truck caught fire in Hallsville on Wednesday afternoon.

The Boone County Fire Protection District responded to the scene, which was located in the Dollar General parking lot in the 400 block of Route B.

The fire started around 3:20 p.m.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp, the owner of Trail Boss BBQ said the fire started after a generator backfired.

Blomenkamp said firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, which caused an estimated $50,000 in damage.

The fire burned about a quarter of the trailer. There was damage to the trailer and equipment inside.

ABC 17 News reached out to Trail Boss BBQ.

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Fire burns half an acre of vegetation in Mecca

KESQ on April 23, 2025

Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – Firefighters say it will take several hours to fully contain a vegetation fire that has burned half an acre Wednesday afternoon in Mecca.

The fire was first reported along 66th Avenue.

CAL FIRE told News Channel 3 there is heavy fuels in the area, however, no structures are threatened.

It’s estimated that the fire will take about four hours to contain, CAL FIRE officials said.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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