REAL ID deadline looms for domestic flyers

KVIA on April 16, 2025

abc17news

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Travelers have missed the deadline to get a REAL ID ahead of a May 7 change to flying regulations.

However, the sooner people get their REAL ID-compliant documents, the sooner they can board domestic flights.

Beginning May 7, non-REAL ID driver’s licences will no longer be accepted to board regulated domestic flights. Military cards and U.S. passports will still be valid. However, for convenience and document security, U.S. residents are urged to make the switch.

“I just turned 18, and I heard it was kind of like your birth certificate and everything else, it just made it a lot easier, didn’t have to carry around as many papers, I was like, ‘Why not?'” said Thomas Flanery who got his REAL ID Wednesday.

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, only 45% of Missouri licenses are REAL ID’s.

Temporary paper copies of REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses aren’t accepted to board a flight, and the hard copy can take 10 to 15 days to arrive by mail.

Trish Vincent the Director of Revenue for the state of Missouri recommends travelers to factor in this mailing time.

“If they’re traveling in September, they can wait to do that because there’s still plenty of time, but for those that are planning maybe a summer vacation, now would be a good time or within the next month or so,” Vincent said.

The REAL ID requirement started after the REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the change was to “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver’s licenses and identification cards.”

The law came after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, when the airplane hijackers were able to get government identification as they plotted.

REAL IDs are also used to get into certain federal facilities and nuclear power plants. They are not needed to drive or vote. Children under 18 are not required to have a REAL ID when traveling with an adult.

“Missouri is one of those states that it’s an option for you, you don’t have to get a real ID,” Vincent said. “So, again, if you’re not traveling or don’t plan to go to Fort Wood or Whiteman, or going to a nuclear power plant or even go to a federal courthouse, you know, it’s up to you whether you want it.”

Source: Missouri Department of Revenue

To apply for REAL ID, applicants must have a document to prove their identity, a document to verify citizenship, a document to verify their Social Security number and at least two documents that verify their address. A birth certificate is a common document used to prove identity and citizenship.

Applicants will also take a new ID photo.

The DOR has a REAL ID guide to help applicants find which documents comply with each category. The website also features a checklist at the end for users to print out to remember what documents to bring to the DMV.

A standard class F REAL ID driver’s license costs around $27.

Hours vary across licensing offices, so the DOR recommends checking online for the office’s hours first.

“It’s a short wait and just it was a simple in and out,” Flanery said. “Just had to bring address and birth certificate and whatnot, and then they were able to set it up for me just fine.”

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Closing arguments to begin Monday in Lori Vallow Daybell murder conspiracy trial

KIFI on April 16, 2025

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE:

ARIZONA (KIFI): The prosecution and Lori Vallow Daybell have rested their case in Vallow’s high-profile murder conspiracy trial.

Closing arguments and jury instructions will be held on Monday, April 21. The court will be back in session at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time (11:30 a.m. Mountain Time).

Watch the afternoon recap below.

Watch the morning recap below.

UPDATE:

ARIZONA (KIFI) – Prosecutors may be able to rest their case today as the court enters the seventh day of Lori Vallow Daybell’s second murder trial on Wednesday.

The trial will resume after a brief lunch break at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time (2:30 p.m. Mountain)

Local News 8 is streaming the trial below.

Wednesday morning, the prosecutor called Chandler Police Detective Nathan Duncan to the stand. Duncan was working on July 11, 2019, and responded to the scene of Charles Vallow’s murder after learning of the shooting on his police radio.

Duncan’s testimony further explained the scene of Charles Vallow’s Arizona home following the shooting, as evidence of Lori’s private emails and text messages made on Charles’s phone after his death.

ORIGINAL:

ARIZONA (KIFI) – Prosecutors may be able to rest their case today as the court enters the seventh day of Lori Vallow Daybell’s second murder trial on Wednesday.

The trial will continue on Tuesday morning, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time (11:30 a.m. Mountain). There is a 30-minute delay as per the Judge’s orders.

The state has called a total of 18 witnesses in the trial so far, and less than a handful remain to be called, according to reports by Fox 10 Phoenix.

Tuesday, the jury heard testimony from two members of the Chandler Police Department, Det. Cassandra Ynclan and Det. Ariel Werther.

Det. Werther presented a PowerPoint of the geographic location of Charles’s cell phone following his death. The location data confirmed that Lori Vallow had taken her children to buy flip flops and to a fast food restaurant directly after her fourth husband’s death.

Donation honors 111 years of Sertoma Club service in St. Joseph

News-Press NOW on April 16, 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One of St. Joseph’s longest-serving organizations was honored for more than a century of community service by the group’s international board of directors.

Members of the St. Joseph Sertoma Club were recognized with a $5,000 donation as part of a special ceremony at San Jose Steakhouse on Tuesday. Sertoma International Executive Director Jason Camis also issued a proclamation honoring the group’s achievement.

The St. Joseph Sertoma Club, one of the oldest in the country, was founded in 1914, just two years after the organization was first launched in Kansas City.

Since then, generations of Sertoma Club members have left their mark on St. Joseph by creating and participating in events that benefit the community and honor the nation. What started with a charity auction later grew into sponsoring the Sertoma Duck races and the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot.

The organization also places American Flags on 10 different occasions at businesses throughout the community, such as on the anniversary of 9/11, in addition to volunteer efforts with Meals on Wheels.

Fundraising efforts have benefitted several local organizations and events in the community, including the Noyes Home, AFL-CIO’s Adopt-A-Family program, United Way, YMCA, Special Olympics, Scouting America, The Arts Fund and Pumpkinfest.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should local law enforcement agencies help enforce immigration law?

KVIA on April 16, 2025

abc17news

ABC-7 has reported on how lawmakers in Texas have filed several bills that would require local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with ICE to enforce immigration laws.

A 1996 federal immigration law allows ICE to delegate to local forces. This law deputizes local officers, giving them the ability to question inmates in local jails and residents about their immigration status, and to serve administrative warrants.

Do you think law enforcement agencies in the Borderland should have limited immigration enforcement ability? Let us know by voting in the poll.

Click here to follow the original article.

139th Airlift Wing hosts career fair

News-Press NOW on April 16, 2025

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Students in the community are able to explore possible career opportunities with the Missouri Air National Guard.

The 139th Airlift Wing hosted its biannual career fair at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base with 650 students in attendance. The event will allow students to talk to Airmen specializing in different careers such as aviation, communications, food service and civil engineering among others.

“We have several different jobs out here at the 139th Airlift Wing, it’s not just pilots,” senior master sergeant Michael Crane said. “We want to expose the young people to, the different career opportunities that they can have in the Missouri Air National Guard.”

The event also highlights key benefits that the Missouri National Guard offers, such as financial assistance with college tuition.

I think that the National Guard could be a way for me to pursue dental hygiene, and not have to worry about the costs,” Riverside high school student Riley Stewart said. “It takes away having to put a financial burden on my family and just gives me another option for a job.”

The career fair will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 15-17.

Those with questions are directed to email 139AW.Recruiting.Org @us.af.mil or call (816) 236-3620

Man found tied to multiple home burglaries in Mesa Del Sol

KYMA on April 16, 2025

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) -A Yuma man is behind bars after being linked to numerous car and house burglaries in the Fortuna Foothills.

The suspect was specifically targeting the Mesa Del Sol neighborhood.

We share why this type of activity is out of the norm for the area.

The Mesa Del Sol neighborhood which is usually a calm and peaceful part of town. The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) says that might be what compelled the suspect to try his luck.

“He was seeking easy targets. Opportunities to take items from vehicles, out of homes, and anything that was available to be taken,” says Tania Pavlak of YCSO.

The Sheriff’s Office reports that when they arrested 40-year-old Miguel Angel Soqui this past Saturday, tey discovered stolen property including the car he was driving and missing construction tools.

Regardless of how peaceful the neighborhood is, YCSO advises people to double check their belongings.

“We recommend people to make sure their vehicles are locked. Especially any type of tools, if you’re using your vehicle for any work-related matter because those items were the items that were targeted,” shared Pavlak.

One resident says he’s keeping his guard up.

Robert Torres says “I have the Ring App, and I get a lot of updates that they’ve been missing a lot tools and packages. Make sure you put them in there safe and get some cameras. They work good,”.

The Sheriff’s Office thanks the community for submitting tips that led to this successful criminal arrest.

One resident says the neighborhood has always been tight-knit.

“A lot of people that live on this street are winter visitors. When they take off, they let me know. I’m pretty cautious in the first place. It’s a great neighborhood,” RC Owen shared.

Soqui is being held at the Yuma County Jail facing more than ten felonies and a bond of $127,000.

If you were a victim or you have any information on this case call 78-crime to remain anonymous.

A man was found and suspected to have made multiple robberies in the Mesa Del Sol area, according to Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO).

YCSO says on Saturday, April 12, deputies were given a tip about a stolen vehicle and found the vehicle in the area of E. 47th Lane near E. 48th Street.

The man inside the vehicle was identified as 40-year-old Miguel Angel Soqui.

Soqui was arrested for the following, according to YCSO:

Burglary and theft

Criminal damage

Criminal trespass

Violation of parole

Possession of dangerous drug

Possession of drug paraphernalia

Possession of weapon by prohibited person

Possession of weapon in drug offense

YCSO says Soqui had stolen property for previous burglaries, including the vehicle he was in.

Local businesses weigh in on impact of tariffs

News-Press NOW on April 16, 2025

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Local business owners are voicing concerns and bracing for steep price increases following the U.S. tariff rate on Chinese imports. 

Though the administration recently announced a 90-day pause on most of the tax hikes, defaulting to a 10% tariff on almost all imports, except Chinese imports which is continuing to rise, small local businesses are bracing for the impact in the months and even years ahead.  

According to the Trump administration, the tariffs are part of fair-trade policies that will restore the workforce and rebuild the economy.  

However, for a small local business in downtown St. Joseph—the Lucky Tiger—these tariffs could change how the company is run and what products are used to keep it afloat. 

“I’m one of the few that’s lucky to have a resale business,†said Amy Heath, owner at The Lucky Tiger. “It won’t impact me for the time being but production issues are going to affect everybody down the road. Even things like brown bags that I put my merchandise in when I sell to customers, I may have to start thinking of other options.†

Tariffs, regardless of the origin of imported products, can reduce overall customer traffic as consumers shift their focus to essential needs rather than supporting local shopping. 

“People are going to be focusing on what is most important, which are groceries and the things that they have to buy,†Heath said. “So, they’re going to cut back on going out to eat, shopping at little boutiques.†

President Donald Trump’s latest tariff on Chinese products could also impact America’s most iconic holiday, the Fourth of July, as most fireworks are imported from China.

Producing the product in the United States is almost impossible, which is why some fireworks store owners are now on edge. 

“99% on the consumer side of fireworks are being imported from China and 75% from the display market,†said Stacy Blake, President of the National Fireworks Association. “The display market is one that you see at county fairs, baseball games, etc. The consumer fireworks are what you see behind me here, where the general public can come in and buy fireworks for the season.†

Blake said prices won’t go up immediately for the consumer but they’re mainly worried about July 4, 2026. 

“It’s going to be very detrimental, especially going into next year,†she said. “This year we do have a lot of fireworks already in the States but there are still containers over in China and at this point, most importers have put a hold on those containers at the moment. So, there may be some shortages right now.†

Next year marks the celebration of the Semiquincentennial—250 years—and retailers are concerned about how they’ll obtain fireworks for the occasion, especially if it means paying double the cost 

“We are currently fighting this and trying just to educate the public,†said Blake. “We’re meeting with legislators daily and if you love fireworks, we are asking you to go to our call of action because we need to be heard.†

To speak out against the significant impact of tariffs on Chinese-made fireworks, community members are encouraged to join advocacy efforts by visiting https://www.nationalfireworks.com/tariffs. 

City of Palm Springs hosts Coachella Valley local government vendor fair for business owners

KESQ on April 16, 2025

Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– The city of Palm Springs is hosting its 2nd annual fair with Coachella Valley local governments and agencies on Wednesday morning.

It’s taking place from 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the Palm Springs Convention Center at 277 N. Avenida inside the Caballeros, Primrose and Oasis Ballrooms. The free event will feature more than a dozen cities and agencies including: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, CVAG, the County of Riverside, and many more.  The vendor will include four 30-minute presentations on how to do business with local government and agencies beginning at 9:15 a.m. Attendees will also have an opportunity to talk with government officials who will explain the procurement and contracting process and the types of supplies and services they are looking to procure. The Local Government Vendor Fair is ideal for businesses that provide services such as: General Contracting, Landscaping, Engineering, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Janitorial Services, Security Services, Printing, Photography, Graphic Design, Web Development, Technology Consulting, Marketing Services – and much more! “Doing business with local government should not be complicated for our local businesses that are the heart and soul of our community,” said Mayor Ron deHarte. “This event is designed to give our business community direct access to government officials, helping them navigate the procurement process and ultimately create more local opportunities.”  

This is the event’s second year, after being founded by Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein in 2024.“Our City, like other Valley agencies, spends tens of millions of dollars annually in contracts,” said Bernstein. “If we can help local businesses access these to government contracts, we’re not only empowering our businesses to grow and thrive but also boosting the overall local economy. It’s essential that taxpayer dollars stay within the Coachella Valley to support our communities, and this is an important step in making that happen.” Registration and more information click here.

No charges filed against SJPD in March officer-involved shooting

News-Press NOW on April 16, 2025

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s Office has completed it’s investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol of an officer involved shooting on Thursday, March 27.

According to a press release sent Wednesday, after a careful examination of all materials and evidence submitted, no criminal charges will be filed against the St. Joseph Police Department officers involved.

The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney cited the decision was based on the legal standards governing the use of force by law enforcement officers and the totality of the circumstances presented in in the case.

The Prosecuting Attorney said no comments will be made at this time, as the SJPD continues with its internal administrative view.

Tips to avoid tax scams this tax season

KYMA on April 16, 2025

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) –  It’s tax day, and with tax season upon us, so are tax scams.

“Tax scams are big right now because the deadline is here to file you taxes and scammers know that people may be panicking and try to take advantage of that,” said Joe Ducey, Better Business Bureau consumer protection expert.

Ducey says three common types of tax scams to look out for are IRS impersonation, tax identity theft, and email phishing scams.

“The first one is saying you owe a certain amount of money and you didn’t pay it, and there are penalties involved if you don’t pay it now, and they may threaten you. The IRS doesn’t do that. The second thing is that you have a refund coming…and they need your bank account information to process the payment and put it in your bank. That’s not true. Both of those are big scams,” said Ducey.

Ducey warns locals that the IRS contacts you the old school method through a letter in the mail, so do not answer any emails, texts, or social media messages requesting personal or financial information. He shares a few other tips to avoid scams, including check websites carefully, watch for bad grammar, and when in doubt, contact the IRS directly if you think you’re a victim and gave your information out.

“I would contact the IRS first through the IRS.gov. I would also contact the Federal Trade Commission through FTC.gov. And I would also check your credit report. You can do that AnnualCreditReport.com and that may be something that you do in the future to see if anyone’s opened accounts in your name,” said Ducey.