Bend driver arrested, accused of shooting at people in another car

KTVZ on April 18, 2025

Kade Linville

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man was arrested Thursday night by police and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team on attempted assault and other charges, accused of shooting at people in another car in northeast Bend.

Around 6:36 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting that had just occurred near Team Kia of Bend on NE Purcell Boulevard, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

The report indicated someone driving a gray Audi station wagon had shot at the occupants of a Honda passenger car, then fled the scene.

Miller said responding officers found evidence at the scene to confirm a shooting had occurred. They contacted the occupants of the Honda, which was damaged by gunfire, though no one inside the car was injured.

Officers also were able to determine the were able to determine the identity of the station wagon driver, Tyler Jacob Mendoza, 29, of Bend, Miller said.

Mendoza was located by officials at an apartment complex in the 1700 block of SE Tempest Drive in Bend. Officers investigated the location. along with deputies from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Central Oregon Emergency Response (CERT) team arrived and eventually took Mendoza into custody around 9:30 p.m.

Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on felony charges of first-degree attempted assault and unlawful use of a weapon. The handgun used in the shooting was later recovered, Miller said.

Miller told KTVZ News on Friday that there were four people in the victim vehicle and two in the suspect’s. She had no information to share regarding a possible motive.

Initial formal charges filed Friday against Mendoza included the two felonies, along with three misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person. Mendoza was held without bail pending arraignment Friday afternoon, when bail was set at $100,000, according to jail records. He’s scheduled to return to court next Friday for arraignment on an expected formal indictment.

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The future of artificial intelligence explored at first-of-its-kind summit at Hancock College

KEYT on April 18, 2025

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – The future of artificial intelligence (AI) in education and the workforce was the featured topic during a first-of-its-kind summit being held Friday at Allan Hancock College.

The six-hour gathering brought dozens of people from on and outside the campus including faculty, staff, students, industry partners, and community members to learn about what AI is.

“We are looking to bridge the gap between faculty knowing how to embrace AI in their coursework and curriculum, how to work with students as they understand how to work with AI, and know what the parameters are,” said Nancy Jo Ward, Allan Hancock College Media Arts Faculty, who help organize the event. “We are offering workshops and are getting information from our Chancellor’s office. AI is a constantly moving subject and there’s a lot of fear and anxiety around AI. We have our celebrants and we have our people that are naysayers, and we’re providing an opportunity for discourse.”

Hancock College said the first-ever event is part of the school’s commitment to innovation and preparing students and the community for success in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

“It’s here,” said Ward. “It’s not going away, so the more we can be at the forefront of that to support knowledge around, I think that it positions Hancock in the best place. We want to support our faculty who have anxiety. We want to support them to celebrate the use of AI as a tool for efficiency. We want them to be able to support students and their understanding of the limitations and possibly the risks of AI. It’s a conversation that’s not going away.”

More than 200 people attended the summit that included keynote presentations, breakout sessions and panel discussions with experts from both education and industry.

Over the course of the day, attendees had the opportunity to learn about AI trends, its practical applications, ethical considerations, and how AI is shaping the future of learning and employment.

Crane Elementary School District increases employee wages

KYMA on April 18, 2025

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Crane Elementary School District has increased the amount of pay for its employees by 2%.

“To know that you are valued as a person and valued as an employee makes a great difference,” said Neomi Pharmes, a seventh grade teacher at Crane Middle School.

This brings the minimum wage from $15.00 to $15.15.

New teachers at the district can now make $61,100 their first year.

Pharmes shares what this wage increase means to her.

“With the cost of living increase and those things that are happening to us on a daily basis, that helps us. It helps let us know that you see us and hear us, and you feel the thing that we go through daily,” said Pharmes.

Sheila Mendoza, the principal at Salida Del Sol Elementary School, says this wage increase makes it easier to retain some of their best teachers.

“We know we have some great staff and some great teachers, and for us to just be able to retain them and have competitive salaries, so that we can attract and keep them here,” said Mendoza.

The better pay also allows the teachers to invest more into their students as well.

“It helps us with the rewards and the things that we want to do for the children. They do amazing jobs. When we put a high ceiling on them, they actually try to meet that high ceiling, and sometimes they emet it and exceed it,” said Pharmes.

Since 2016, the Crane School District has increased pay for educators by 53% and and 42% for other non-classroom teachers.

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Students leading Clean and Green Club to reduce plastic at Vieja Valley Elementary School in Santa Barbara

KEYT on April 18, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Kids are making efforts to save the environment at Vieja Valley Elementary School in Santa Barbara.

The students established the Clean and Green Club to reduce plastic use at their school. 

They researched ideas for how to do that and came up with the idea of switching to reusable sporks. 

This student-led initiative has allowed them to raise money to buy reusable sporks for the school’s food service program.

“We have planted this garden. We got a grant for a dishwasher and we got metal sporks in the cafeteria,” said Dylan McLernon of Vieja Valley Elementary School.

“I’m excited because of global warming and climate change everyone makes a difference,” said student Alaina Galbraith of Vieja Valley Elementary School.

The school administration believes this is a testament that students can have a voice and lead improvements at their schools and in the world.

B&B Runway Cafe touches down with reopening in new terminal

News-Press NOW on April 18, 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Customers can once again dine in at a popular and new-look airport eatery, this time in a state-of-art terminal building.

B&B Runway Cafe held its much anticipated reopening Friday morning at the new Rosecrans Memorial Airport terminal building, just next door to the previous location. The cafe temporarily closed on April 12 to allow time for the relocation.

Customers will see a modernized look and expanded dining area to accommodate more people, a new patio for runway viewing and double the amount of kitchen space.

Cafe owner Jillian Parisoff said customers are being asked to park in the original terminal parking lot at this time to allow those with disabilities and limited mobility to use main lot until outdoor construction is complete. 

The cafe unveiled a sleek new menu with additional items to compliment the new location. The diner is also set to expand its hours to include Mondays starting on April 28.

The civilian airport and military base are in the midst of a widespread multi-year modernization project that includes relocating the 139th to the north end. Upgrades include a new runway, air traffic control tower and a new maintenance control complex designed to house the newer C-130J models.

News-Press NOW will update this article.

Cement truck driver hospitalized following I-15 rollover crash

KIFI on April 18, 2025

Sam Ross

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – The 37-year-old driver of a 2018 Oshkosh Cement Mixer is now in the hospital after losing control of her vehicle on Interstate 15.

Around 9:35 AM, the female driver was traveling southbound on Interstate 15 near mile marker 94 when she lost control of the cement truck and went off the right shoulder. The driver reportedly overcorrected, and the vehicle rolled, according to the Idaho State Police.

The Cement mixer came to a rest on its side and blocking both southbound lanes of travel, spilling about 10 yards of concrete on the roadway.

Idaho State Police is investigation a single vehicle rollover which occurred on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 9:35 AM, Interstate 15 at mile marker 94, just north of Blackfoot.

The driver was wearing her seatbelt and was transported to a local hospital.

ISP reports that southbound lanes are still blocked, as crews work to turn the concrete mixer upright and clear the scene.

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – A crash is blocking both southbound lanes of I-15 at milepost 94, just south of the Snake River Bridge outside of Blackfoot.

Traffic will be diverted off at Exit 108, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. Drivers are being told to expect delays and consider an alternate route.

There have been no reports of injuries or the cause of the crash at this time. Local News 8 will update this story as we learn new details.

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation announces next-generation model of care, quality

KESQ on April 18, 2025

Kendall Flynn

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif (KESQ) – The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is setting the standard for mental health and substance use treatment with an expanded model of care.

The foundation reported it’s seen an increased number of patients enter Hazelden Betty Ford clinics for substance use treatment with multiple health conditions. They report 79% of patients have more than one treatable mental health condition, with on average 3.67 different diagnoses.

Organizers say they have the “gold standard of care” for mental health and substance use disorders for patients to receive care in one place.

The next-generation model includes:

Evidence-based and standardized curriculum

Combined therapies, including multiple treatments in community and skill-building based on each patients needs

Multi-disciplinary teams

psychiatrists, nurses, mental health and addiction counselors, technicians, family specialists, recovery support experts and more

The industry’s only publishing house, research center and graduate school

Philanthropy-funded services free-of-charge for families and children affected by a loved one’s substance use disorder

Emphasis on support for lifelong recovery

Improved access to acre through innovative tools like Wayfinder

An evidence-based screening and brief intervention tool

Connection Point

A virtual coaching service to help people determine next steps and the right type of care

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage on the importance of this care in the Valley.

You can view the original article here: https://kesq.com/news/2025/04/18/hazelden-betty-ford-foundation-announces-next-generation-model-of-care-quality/

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation announces next-generation model of care, quality

Semi and SUV collide; truck loses load of hay, closing Highway 26 west of Government Camp for hours

KTVZ on April 18, 2025

KGW

(Update: New photo; highway reopened)

By Alex Jensen, KGW

PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW)— One person was taken to a hospital by Life Flight helicopter after a semi-truck hauling hay and an SUV collided on U.S. 26 early Friday morning, closing all of the lanes for several hours five miles west of Government Camp.

Around 6:28 a.m., Oregon State Police responded to the crash with reported serious injuries. The crash is currently under investigation, OSP said. No other injuries were reported. 

The crash occurred near milepost 48, seven miles east of Welches, the Oregon Department of Transportation said.

By mid-morning, one eastbound lane reopened, but all westbound lanes and the eastbound left lane remained closed to let westbound traffic through. The highway fully reopened Friday afternoon, ODOT said.

There were no local detours in the area where the crash occurred.

The semi hauling hay spilled its load in the crash. ODOT told KGW “that’s a major factor in the time it takes to reopen the highway.”

The highway is closed between mileposts 45 and 48. ODOT said special equipment was on the way to clean up the spilled hay, remove the truck and possibly deal with any fuel or fluid leaks. 

Timberline Lodge Ski Resort reported on their conditions page that ski operations Friday morning are impacted due to the crash and resulting road closure. Mt. Hood Meadows said drivers should expect long delays on U.S. 26. If heading up to the mountain to go skiing, drivers should go through Hood River until traffic resumes. 

Track traffic updates on our ODOT TripCheck page.

BLM seeks public input on leasing Bonneville County land for geothermal project

KIFI on April 18, 2025

News Team

The following is a press release from the Bureau of Land Management:

BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking input on proposed geothermal leasing of one parcel totaling approximately 3,740 acres in Bonneville County. This public feedback period ends May 5, 2025. Leasing of these parcels will allow a lessee to explore the potential for future geothermal development.

Southeast Idaho Geothermal Leasing Nominated Parcel zoomed outDownload

For each parcel leased, 25% of the bid, rental receipts, and subsequent royalties will go to the U.S. Treasury, 25% will go to the county where the lease is located, and the remaining 50% will go to the State of Idaho. The State of Idaho then allocates 90% of that portion into the state renewable energy resources fund and 10% to the counties where the leases are located for construction and maintenance of public roads and support of public schools.

Geothermal lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nation’s economic and military security. Consistent with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” the BLM’s geothermal lease sales help meet the energy needs of U.S. citizens and solidify the nation as a global energy leader long into the future and achieve American Energy Dominance. 

Southeast Idaho Geothermal Leasing Nominated Parcel zoomed inDownload

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal geothermal resources. The BLM ensures geothermal development meets the requirements set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other applicable legal authorities. Planning documents for this sale are available at the BLM National NEPA Register. The BLM’s lease sales are held online through EnergyNet. 

Geothermal is an abundant resource, especially in the West, where the BLM has authority to manage geothermal resource leasing, exploration, and development on approximately 245 million surface acres of public lands and the 700 million acres where the United States owns the subsurface mineral estate. Please visit the Idaho Geothermal Energy website for updates.

For more information, please contact the Pocatello Field Office at BLM_ID_PocatelloOffice@blm.gov or 208-478-6340.

Make-a-Wish grants a local teen’s Can-Am wish

KYMA on April 18, 2025

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Make-a-Wish grants a local teen’s Can-Am wish helped grant a local student’s wish.

Yuma local Rico Montemayor was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 13-years-old.

“I went blind in my left eye in the seventh grade, so they took me to the hospital at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital to have brain surgery. After that, I had six weeks of radiation. Four weeks in, I had my second brain surgery, and that’s when they nominated me for the Make-A-Wish,” said Rico Montemayor.

Montemayor wished for a four-door Can-Am that would give him and his brothers freedom of adventure anytime they chose.

“I grew up in the counties, so off-roading was everywhere, and I loved being outdoors and to off-road, so having a Can-Am of my own is very exciting,” said Montemayor.

Make-a-Wish says this year, they are working to grant more than 475 wishes in the state of Arizona. 

“The wish is really their time to just be a kid and to get to do what they love. And for Rico, that’s riding around in a Can-Am,” said Director of Project Wishes Mathew Wall.

As part of the wish reveal, Rico and his family got to tour the Dixxon Flannel Warehouse in Phoenix and got some free clothes and as well as their brand new ride.

Montemayor says he’s thankful to Make-a-Wish grants a local teen’s Can-Am wish and the Dixxon sponsor for making his wish possible.