Jerry Najera
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On the 11th of every month the Texas Veterans Commission promotes a “Buddy Check.”
It’s a day to remind Texas veterans to check in with other veterans.
According to the commisiion, by getting in touch with others veterans may enjoy comradery, check on each other’s well-being and connect another veteran with a service they can use.
“Buddy Checks” can be as simple as picking up the phone, just talk, text or visit.
Euphenie Andre
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Four men are behind bars following a violent and busy week for the Columbia Police Department, which included two standoffs and a shooting.
On Saturday, Columbia Police said 18-year-old Kieran Piersee was arrested in connection with a Friday night shooting on Moss Street in central Columbia.
According to a press release from police, Piersee allegedly shot a 32-year-old man in the leg in the 900 block of Moss Street. Police say the man’s injuries were non-life-threatening.
Piersee was arrested on charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. He is currently being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.
Just one day earlier Ramelus Bradel, 19, was charged in Boone County following an alleged domestic incident that led to a heavy police presence at the Forest Village Apartments on Thursday.
According to police, the altercation involved a woman. Bradely is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, third-degree domestic assault, and misdemeanor fourth-degree domestic assault. He is also being held in the Boone County Jail without bond.
The string of crime began Wednesday with a standoff in northeast Columbia. Police arrested 36-year-old Antonio Watson and 38-year-old Rodney L. Hayes II after an hours-long standoff. According to law enforcement, the two men had three felony warrants between them, issued from three different counties.
Watson reportedly failed to register as a sex offender in Randolph County in 2023. Hayes is being held on two no-bond warrants for drug possession, one out of Boone County and another out of Callaway County. He remains in the Boone County Jail without bond.
Watson was not listed on the Boone County Jail roster as of Saturday night. As of Saturday, online court records show that Watson and Hayes had not yet been formally charged in relation to the standoff.
According to online court records, no court hearings have been scheduled yet for Piersee, Bradely, or Hayes.
KTVZ News Team
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Senator Anthony Broadman and Representative Emerson Levy paid a visit to Central Oregon Friday to tour the area with officials from Bend and Redmond.
They focused on parts of local roads and highways, including the intersection of Murphy Road and Highway 97, sections of Knott Road, and several areas with ongoing safety concerns.
“We’re seeing a lot more need with the amount of housing that is developing,” said Anthony Broadman. “We’re one of the fastest growing regions, and it’s really important that our our street system matches the growth and the need for safety that we have throughout sisters Redmond, Bend and all of Deschutes County.”
The state legislature is considering a major transportation package this session, and the areas highlighted on the tour could receive funding for future maintenance projects.
Broadman and Levy emphasized a focus on improving local highways and expressed interest in adding medians.
KTVZ News Team
REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A massive bee colony was spotted in Redmond, near the Starbucks on North 6th Street.
Customers were advised earlier to use the drive-thru or mobile ordering options to avoid any close encounters.
KTVZ News has confirmed the hive has been cleared by a beekeeper.
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Woodard Junior High School in Yuma is celebrating a major academic milestone, retaining its status as an AVID National Demonstration School, a recognition given to only about 2% of AVID campuses nationwide.
Students and staff marched around the school Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the honor, with the Yuma Police Department on hand to assist with traffic and safety during the event.
AVID, short for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a national academic support program aimed at helping students reach college eligibility and success.
Woodard’s recognition highlights its commitment to creating a college-going culture and delivering consistent, high-quality instruction.
“That shows our community it’s not just, you know, pat yourself on the back,” said AVID teacher Chris Franey. “It is tons of outside agencies that recognize what’s going on. It validates those kids…when they know they come from Woodard, they are coming from greatness because they are greatness.”
The school has spent the past year working toward the goal and plans to continue building on that success.
Dillon Fuhrman
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local barber is taking steps to make haircuts less stressful for children with autism and sensory sensitivities.
Royalty Barber Studio, located at 1799 South First Avenue in Yuma, held a grand opening ceremony Saturday evening to unveil a newly designed sensory-friendly studio. The space is tailored to children who may be overwhelmed by the typical sights and sounds of a barbershop.
Owner Jose Landeros said the idea came from personal experience.
“I was inspired by my nephew and the challenges he faced during haircuts,” Landeros said. “I started thinking about what I could do to make the experience easier for parents and kids like him.”
Landeros said the sensory studio had been in development for several years, and he’s proud to finally bring the concept to life.
“Especially giving them an area where it’s judge-free – it’s what we’ve been wanting to do for a few years now,” he said. “We’re happy that we finally got the opportunity to do it.”
Landeros hopes the new space not only supports families in the community but also sets a new standard for inclusivity across Yuma’s barbershops.
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Middle school students across Yuma got a taste of adulthood this week during the final BizKidz simulation of the school year, hosted by United Way of Yuma County.
The program, held Thursday, gave students a hands-on opportunity to role-play as adults, from managing monthly budgets to paying bills, and making real-world financial decisions.
“It’s just getting them ready and giving them some vision of what the real world is like,” said Karina Jones, CEO of United Way of Yuma County. “We want all of the kids at United Way to be as successful as they can be.”
BizKidz is part of a larger effort to prepare young people for life beyond the classroom by promoting financial literacy and career readiness.
Organizers say they plan to continue running the simulation in future school years.
Samuel Kirk
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A night of wine, music, and giving back brought the community together Thursday at City Hall.
Hosted by Yuma & Imperial Valley Wealth Management (YIVWM), the “Come Wine With Us” fundraiser benefited two local causes: The Hansen House and the Yuma County Burn Survivors Foundation.
Guests donated $50 each to attend the event, which featured wine tastings and a relaxed atmosphere with a charitable mission at the heart of it all.
“We typically have a lot of events and invite more nonprofits as much as we can,” said John Durazo with YIVWM. “It’s great to give back in this kind of way. We have a ton of people come and just have a really good time.”
Organizers say the goal is to raise both funds and awareness for burn survivors in Yuma County while supporting the ongoing work of The Hansen House, which offers recovery services for those in need.
The evening was a reminder that doing good can also bring people together for a night they won’t forget.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Helios Education Foundation awards $500,000 to Arizonans, including seven locals from Yuma County.
The seven Yuma recipients are:
Anjuly Gomez Calderon
Leeza Jones
Sheccid Ortiz
Damara Rodriguez
Yaquelin Garcia
Daniela Limon
Vladimir Gurrola
Each person received up to $20,000 for their education.
“Our journey over the past two decades would not have been possible without the numerous partners we’ve collaborated with over the years,” said Vince Roig, the founding board chair of Helios Education Foundation. “Our commitment to ensuring postsecondary success for all students remains just as strong as it was when we began — and will continue for generations to come.”
Helios has invested millions to recipients across Arizona.
You can read more about Helios Education Foundation here.
Kendall Flynn
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Air conditioning contractors are feeling the heat as phone calls from locals pour in for AC repairs.
President and CEO of General Air Conditioning and Plumbing, Patrick Somers, said each year, they see residents unprepared for the Valley heat. Typically, as the desert reaches its first extreme heat days of the year, Somers noted there is a first wave of locals in need of repairs.
From slow cooling to complete shutdowns, the General received 30 calls between 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Of those calls, 18 booked technician visits. However, with a weekend staff of just one plumber and two technicians, reaching everyone’s home in need can be difficult.
Somers said with the influx in calls, they’re calling employees to see if they’ll volunteer to work on Sunday to fulfill the Valley’s needs.
Experts say maintenance is key to keeping your house cool consistently. Whether before the heat starts or even during the peak heat, routine maintenance is the best solution to keep your air running consistently.
He said if residents are experiencing a wait time and it is unbearable to be in the home, the best thing they can do is leave and go somewhere cool, like a mall or restaurant, until the technician is on their way. Staying hydrated and bringing your pets with you if it is too hot are also key.
However, there are some simple troubleshooting methods you can use at home if you’re waiting for a technician or unsure if you need to make a call.
“The first thing to do is go check the breaker, see if the breaker tripped,” Somers said. “It could be something that rarely duplicates itself and the breaker did exactly what it’s supposed to do. It shut down the system.
So turn your breaker on to see if it works. If it trips again, you should call a licensed contractor.”
Somers said this is a common occurrence, but one that can give technicians a better idea of what to fix.
“If your systems not cooling as well as it should, go check your filter,” He said. “It’s amazing how many times we get out to a home, and all we have to do is change the filter.”
A simple check and fix that could save residents money and a technician visit. If you are experiencing air conditioning problems visit https://callthegeneral.com/.
Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from experts on air conditioning issues and troubleshooting methods.
