Emergency closure lifted in Bachelor Complex Fire area; Edison Sno-Park reopened, but caution advised

KTVZ on May 1, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Deschutes National Forest lifted the Bachelor Complex Emergency Fire Closure on Thursday, reopening Edison Sno-Park and the surrounding area, including Forest Service Road 4525.

However, drivers along roads in the area are advised to use caution, as hazard trees remain along roadsides.

“Additionally, many of the roads in the area still have significant stretches of snow at this time,” the forest said in a Facebook posting.

The fires burned more than 15,000 acres near Mt. Bachelor.

Here’s the rest of the new info:

Please use caution when recreating in areas that were impacted by the Little Lava Fire. A burned landscape presents a number of safety hazards that either did not exist prior to the fire or have been exacerbated by the effects of the fire.

In some cases, these hazardous conditions may persist for several years after a fire. Be very aware of your surroundings, follow warning signs, area closures and directions from agency personnel, and pay particular attention to these potential safety hazards. Be especially wary of hazard trees after rain events or during wind.

When recreating in a burned area:

⚠️LOOK UP for upslope burned areas, snags, and exposed rocks that may fall.

⚠️LOOK DOWN for debris from falling rocks, erosion – especially at road and trail edges, and ash pits (which may form from root pockets or stumps of burned trees).

⚠️LOOK AROUND. Be situationally aware. Check the weather before you travel, including at higher elevations. Wind, rain, ice and snow can increase the risk of tree fall, rock fall, slides and other hazards. Flash floods and landslide risks are elevated below severely burned areas.

⚠️LOOK BELOW the surface of standing water and moving water for floating logs, submerged trees and other debris, which can strike or entangle swimmers and boaters and damage other infrastructure.

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Audrain County man accused of shooting at car filled with people

KMIZ on May 1, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man has been charged with several felonies after he allegedly fired a gun filled with people on Tuesday.

Derek Clifton was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, three counts of first-degree assault and one count of first-degree harassment. A warrant was served and a confined docket hearing was held on Wednesday, where his bond was reduced to $250,000. An initial court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 22.

The probable cause statement says three people were in a car traveling away from a trailer court when Clifton yelled at the car to stop. Clifton allegedly asked if one of the victims was in the car and then pulled out a “long gun” while telling them to get off his property, court documents say. The driver sped away and all three people in the car heard a gunshot, while one reported seeing a flash.

Another person quoted in court documents said that they saw Clifton tell the car to stop and then heard a gunshot. Another person told law enforcement that they heard Clifton’s voice before a gunshot went off, court documents say.

Clifton allegedly admitted to law enforcement that he was in an argument, but denied firing the gun, the statement says. Deputies obtained a search warrant and found several guns and ammunition on his property, the statement says.

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March for Life draws large anti-abortion crowd to Missouri Capitol

KMIZ on May 1, 2025

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The annual March for Life took place in Missouri’s capital city on Thursday, with scores of people from Missouri and elsewhere rallying against legalized abortion.

The event took place as Republican lawmakers and officeholders work to overturn Amendment 3, which was approved by voters last November and enshrines abortion rights into the Missouri Constitution.

A resolution in the Senate would put a question on a future ballot to overturn Amendment 3 and severely limit abortions statewide. The House has already approved the measure.

“Missourians, we’re not finished, you know, we are going to do everything that we can to offer help and hope to these moms who find themselves in an unplanned pregnancy because that’s what it’s all about,” said organizer Kathy Forck.

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Rocky Mountain Power holding public meeting for changes to Alexander Reservoir recreation

KIFI on May 1, 2025

Sam Ross

CARIBOU COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)—Rocky Mountain Power will hold a public meeting on May 21 to discuss changes to recreation access in the Alexander Reservoir, near Soda Springs, to address erosion concerns.

The reservoir and connected hydroelectric dam are owned by Pacificorp, parent company of Rocky Mountain Power, and representatives have expressed concerns over boat use in the reservoir to Caribou County Commissioners since March 2025.

The public meeting will be held at the second bridge boat access of the Alexander Reservoir on May 21 from 4 to 6pm.

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Soda Spring’s famous geyser under repair after multiple mechanical problems

KIFI on May 1, 2025

Sam Ross

SODA SPRINGS, Idaho (KIFI)—Soda Springs’ famous carbonated geyser is under repair after a pump failure and valve malfunction led to two different sets of problems for the city landmark on Tuesday.

On April 29, the City of Soda Springs announced the world-famous man-made geyser would be out of commission after a problem with the pump caused the geyser to stop working. The pump was replaced on Wednesday, but a valve malfunction is now causing the geyser to spray a six-foot jet of water nonstop.

City workers are investigating the problem and said they hope to have it returned to its normal schedule of dormancy and hourly eruptions soon.

For more information, you can visit Soda Spring’s city website.

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Theft investigation leads to school lockdowns in Mecca, dozens of boxes recovered during search warrant service

KESQ on May 1, 2025

Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A theft in Mecca led to two schools being placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were serving a search warrant related to a theft in the 65000 block of Dale Kiler Road.

“Prior to the service of the warrant, four subjects left the location in a vehicle. Deputies attempted a vehicle stop, but the suspects ran from the vehicle,” a spokesperson for the agency told News Channel 3.

Deputies searched the area and located two suspects, but the other two suspects were not found.

Two schools in Mecca have been placed on lockdown, CVUSD Superintendent Dr. Frances Esparza confirmed to News Channel 3. Saul Martinez Elementary School and Mecca Elementary School are on lockdown as a precautionary measure because air support is above the campuses, Esparza said.

Esparza confirmed that all students were safe.

Esparza initially said the lockdown was related to a nearby train theft, however, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office did not confirm whether this was the case, only confirming that the search warrant was related to a theft investigation.

A News Channel 3 crew was at the scene of the search warrant service on Dale Kiler Road and 7th Street. Deputies were pulling out dozens of boxes.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Redmond woman arrested on kidnap charge involving runaway teen from Louisiana

KTVZ on May 1, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BURNS, Ore. (KTVZ) — Lafourche Parish, Louisiana Sheriff Craig Webre announced this week that a Redmond, Oregon woman has been arrested in Eastern Oregon on a kidnapping charge as part of an investigation into a runaway teen from Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Roxanne Mocaby, 41, of Redmond, Oregon, has been arrested by Oregon State Police, Webre said in a news release, which follows in full:

On Tuesday, April 20, deputies responded to a Burma Road residence in Thibodaux regarding a 16-year-old male who reportedly ran away from home, leaving his electronic devices at home.

Through investigation, detectives learned the boy had been in contact with a teenage girl from Oregon on the social media app Snapchat. They learned he had told the girl he no longer wanted to live with his adoptive family and planned for the girl and her mother to pick him up.

Investigators tracked the girl’s phone back to Oregon and contacted local authorities. Oregon State Police located their vehicle and conducted a traffic stop, identifying the occupants as Mocaby and the two teens.

During questioning, Mocaby admitted to knowledge of the situation and her involvement, the sheriff said.

Mocaby was arrested and booked into the Harney County Jail in Burns on a Lafourche Parish warrant for simple kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Jail records Thursday show she remains there awaiting extradition to Lafourche Parish. Bail is set at $50,000.

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Former Idaho school district employee charged with child pornography crimes

KIFI on May 1, 2025

Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A former employee of the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 has been charged with crimes related to downloading and distributing child pornography.

Members of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, along with local partners, arrested 43-year-old William Strength on Tuesday. He has been charged with eight counts of Possession and two counts of Distribution of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM), according to Attorney General Raúl Labrador’s Office.

“These allegations highlight the importance of our ongoing partnerships with law enforcement and school districts. We remain committed to supporting these investigations and protecting children from online threats,” said Attorney General Labrador in a press release.

The Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 (PCSD 25) confirms that William Strength was employed with the district beginning on 11/15/2018. The employee’s employment with the district concluded effective 04/29/2025.

A spokesperson for School District 25 told the Attorney General’s Office that Strength did not have direct contact with children in his role at the district and his employment was terminated after his arrest.

“Personnel matters are confidential in accordance with Idaho Code § 74-106(1), which exempts personnel records and personal information from public disclosure. As such, the district is legally prohibited from providing additional comment regarding this matter,” said PCSD 25 in a statement to Local News 8

“PCSD 25 is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all learners and staff. The district follows all applicable policies, procedures, and legal requirements in addressing personnel issues.”

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Strength was arraigned in court, where the court set bail at $50,000.

Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678. 

For more information and helpful resources, click HERE.

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Linn man accused of hitting pedestrian at 50 mph while drunk in Jefferson City

KMIZ on May 1, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Linn man has been charged with a felony after he is accused of hitting a pedestrian at a high speed while he was drunk.

Jesse Hollandworth, 47, was charged with felony driving while intoxicated and two misdemeanors: Reckless driving and not having vehicle insurance. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond.

The probable cause statement says that Jefferson City police were called to Highway 179 near Merchants Drive for a crash at 12:50 a.m. Thursday. Hollandworth was the only person in a Nissan Altima and allegedly hit a pedestrian who was walking on the west shoulder, court documents say.

The Nissan was going 45-50 miles per hour, according to court documents. The victim was brought to University Hospital with serious injuries, but is considered stable, the statement says.

Police wrote that Hollandworth was “visibly intoxicated” and was distraught at the scene because he thought he had killed the pedestrian when he called EMS, the statement says. Hollandworth allegedly admitted to drinking four beers at Chick’s Bar on Industrial Drive from 10:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. and had an additional beer about an hour before at Ecco Lounge, where he works, the statement says.

Police had Hollandworth take a breath test and his blood alchohol level was .165, more than twice the legal limit to drive, the statement says.

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Two hurt in afternoon South Providence Road pileup

KMIZ on May 1, 2025

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two people were taken to a hospital by ambulance Thursday afternoon after a pileup on South Providence Road.

Photos from the scene showed three vehicles, including a work van, involved in the crash. The injuries were not life-threatening, according to police at the scene.

The crash and cleanup briefly closed South Providence at Green Meadows Road.

Two police cruisers and two firetrucks were sent to the scene along with multiple ambulances.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crash.

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