Electric cars coming to Watsonville in new shared ride program

KION on June 27, 2025

Briana Mathaw

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION-TV) – An electric car share program is officially on its way to Watsonville.

The Watsonville City Council has approved a two-year agreement with the nonprofit Míocar to launch a pilot electric car share program.

The nonprofit Míocar is bringing shared electric vehicles to three city owned lots.

“We want to offer what it’s like to have an electric vehicle. We want to remove those fears from people that say, oh, well, this is a big change. Or maybe electric vehicle is not for us,” Alberto Rodriguez-Pepe said.

“There is a need and necessity of not only green transportation for everyone, but also another transportation solution,” Alberto Rodriguez-Pepe said.

During the pilot, two electric vehicles will be available and participation will be free for a limited group of pre-selected community members.

“The pricing of the services is $4 an hour, $35 for the whole day. 150 miles are included and then it’s $0.35 per extra mile. The minimum reservation time is one hour and the maximum is 24 hours,” Alberto Rodriguez-Pepe said.

Cars will be parked at Watsonville City Hall, Romo Park, and the Watsonville Municipal Airport, with more locations planned in future phases of the program.

“They don’t have a vehicle, but they do want to do large shopping trips at places you can only access by vehicle. They can take a bus here, get a car for a very reasonable price,” Toto Vu-Duc said.

The Watsonville pilot is being funded in part by a $7.2 million state grant, secured through a partnership between city staff and local nonprofit ecology action.

“Míocar brings the offering of greater use of the chargers, which generates a little bit of revenue for the city through low carbon fuel standard credits. That means for any fuel dispensed through the EV chargers, the city receives funding through a credit program,” Toto Vu-Duc said.

One goal of the project is to let people experience electric vehicles firsthand, and ideally reduce the number of personal vehicles on the road.

“Something like a car share service means maybe you don’t have to purchase a vehicle. And that can keep the number of cars down to a minimum off the roads through the car sharing model program,” Toto Vu-Duc said.

“Everyone should have access to these at an affordable price,” Alberto Rodriguez-Pepe said.

By the end of the year, all eight electric vehicles are expected to be fully launched, with the hope of expanding the program after the pilot phase.

The program is expected to roll out over late summer.

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It’s a family affair for the Schalk family at the U.S. Senior Open

KRDO on June 27, 2025

Rob Namnoum

It was a opening round Erie native Matt Schalk will remember forever. Two weeks after qualifying at the Country Club of Colorado, he took to the course at the Broadmoor with his daughter, Hailey by his side, as his caddie, “Well, I mean, it’s pretty special to be here, obviously, with your daughter. Sorry. I can never do this. Oh, it’s really special. You know, you’re playing a game that’s so male, dominant, and you. You come out here with your daughter, and here she is. So now, to make me happier,” says Matt Schalk.

Matt was Hailey’s coach at Holy Family High School. She later went on to play golf at CU. Now she gets to share this even with her dad, “Even on the first tee, I felt like I was going to crap my pants a little bit. Like a little nervous for socially with, like, friends and family. And there’s so many people out here. But it was great. It was so fun,” says Hailey Schalk.

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Pocatello holds town hall on fireworks

KIFI on June 27, 2025

Phillip Willis

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Pocatello city officials held a town hall meeting Wednesday evening to discuss Fourth of July fireworks. They wanted to advise the public that areas of the city where fireworks of any kind are allowed are smaller than last year. This map shows where fireworks are not permitted.

Map showing areas of Pocatello where absolutely no fireworks are allowed.Map showing areas of Pocatello where absolutely no fireworks are allowed.

People in Pocatello were also reminded of regulations regarding fireworks within city limits.

“Anything that says ‘explosion’ on the firework itself — they will talk about leaving the ground — those are illegal fireworks,” says Dean Bullock, Assistant Fire Chief of the Pocatello Fire Department.

Jeb Harrison is a local firework shop owner and attended the meeting to express frustration with illegal fireworks being sold.

“We do things the right way. We do things the legal way…” said Harrison. “It’s very frustrating for me when I see people go up the road 15 minutes, and they come back with aerials, roman candles, bottle rockets, firecrackers, all of which are illegal. I provide a safe legal product at a very fair price. If I could sell those kinds of products, I’d make ten times the money.”

Another Pocatello resident spoke up about neighbors who fire aerials above her home.

“We literally sit on our patio, and it showers into our backyard, on our patio,” she said. “They shoot ’em across the street. It’s unbelievable.”

Safety tips

City officials requested the help of locals in ensuring the Fourth of July is safe for everyone in the community. They encourage people to report illegal fireworks to the police if they see them.

The city of Pocatello provided these tips for firework management and safety:

Light all fireworks outside in a clear open area away from structures and flammable materials

Have a water source available

Never allow children to light fireworks

Don’t try to relight malfunctioning fireworks

Allow adequate time for fireworks to cool down before disposing of them

Never store fireworks inside your home

Fireworks should be kept away from children and pets

Pets and fireworks don’t mix — Keep pets safe and secure so they can’t run away

Never throw or shoot fireworks at another person

Pocatello has a greater chance of wildfires than 98% of other communities in the United States. In the wake of other local fires, city and county officials are focused on fire prevention and management and ask the same of the citizens of Pocatello.

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Lawsuit officially filed against Pocatello Police after fatal shooting of autistic teen

KIFI on June 27, 2025

Seth Ratliff

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Lawyers representing the family of Victor Perez held a press conference Thursday to announce a lawsuit filed against the Pocatello Police Department. Victor Perez was shot nine times by Pocatello Police officers on April 5, later dying from his injuries.

You can watch the full press conference below.

The lawsuit, officially filed by attorneys from the law firm Burris Nisenbaum Curry & Lacy and local attorney Jenniffer Call, alleges that the department violated Victor’s civil rights.

Civil Rights Attorney John Burris, representing the Perez family, emphasized that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires law enforcement to find alternatives to deadly force when officers are aware an individual has a disability.

On May 21, 2025, a Local News 8 investigation uncovered that the Pocatello Police had past interactions with Perez and made note of Victor’s disabilities in at least two police reports. For more information, click HERE.

Burris contends that the Pocatello police failed to meet the standard outlined in the ADA.

“Because of their failure to exercise de-escalating type techniques or to be aware that he was mentally impaired and therefore able to talk in a different way, they took the most aggressive action possible,” Burris stated.

He added that officers “arrived on the scene just like gangbusters and within moments, not not minutes, not hours, no effort to give the young man any opportunity to locate where he was or to self-identify with these officers; They shot and killed him.”

This remains a developing story, and Local News 8 will continue to provide updates as we receive the official lawsuit documents.

A Long Road Ahead

The civil rights case is expected to be a lengthy process, potentially taking up to three years to complete. Burris also indicated the possibility of additional legal action on behalf of other family members who may have been in the line of fire, asserting that their civil rights were also violated.

Victor’s grandfather, Luis Armando Alicea, who is named as a guardian in the lawsuit, expressed the family’s desire for swift justice. Speaking through a translator, Alicea told reporters, “We are dealing with a person who died in my house. We are not talking about an animal, we are talking about a human being.”

When asked about the family’s recovery since the shooting, Alicea responded, “I don’t have the words to talk about it.” His translator told reporters.

Luis Armando Alicea

Community Activist Irma Valero comforts Victor’s family

Truth and Reconciliation

While this is a civil lawsuit, attorney James Cook noted that similar cases have historically led state attorneys to pursue criminal charges. The shooting is currently under investigation by the Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force, which is expected to submit its findings to Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador.

On Saturday, the Perez family and their lawyers will be holding a truth and reconciliation town hall to help the community heal from this experience. For more information, click HERE.

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San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies search for suspects in Yucca Valley armed robbery attempt

KESQ on June 27, 2025

KESQ News Team

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – San Bernardino County Morongo Basin Sheriff’s investigators are looking for two armed robbery suspects after they entered a massage parlor on Wednesday brandishing a machete and demanding money.

Deputies say they responded to Dragon Massage on Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of two Asian males with knives.

They report the two adult males went in to Dragon Massage, and one asked for a massage but was told the business was closed. One of the suspects then brandished a machete and demanded money. Both suspects ended up fleeing the scene without getting any cash.

Deputies conducted a search of the premises, but the suspects were already gone. They were able to collect footage of the incident from the cameras at the business.

They urge anyone with information regarding this incident to contact Deputy Gamino of the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station at (760) 365-9413/366-4175. Callers who want to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

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Risen from Rubble: How the 1925 earthquake changed Santa Barbara forever

KEYT on June 27, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Old Mission Santa Barbara is a world class destination.

“Throughout the world we are known as the Queen of the missions because of the setting … the rather grand architecture … and the beautiful views … with the mountains in the distance,” said Father Joseph Schwab of the Old Mission Santa Barbara.

But on the morning of June 29th 1925, a massive earthquake struck Santa Barbara.  

“The Santa Barbara mission was having a mass when the earthquake struck … there was 20 parishioners inside … the front of the mission collapsed … towers fell,” said historian Neal Graffy.

Downtown Santa Barbara was hit hard.

“The building strictly across the street at State and Anapamu … the 1914 San Marcos building … and then on June 29, 1925 the two halves of the building at this corner … ground against each other and collapsed … killing two people inside,” said Graffy.

So was the old courthouse.

“It was damaged and no longer occupied so it had to be torn down and a new courthouse commissioned,” said architect Brian Cearnal.

Most of Downtown Santa Barbara was left in rubble.

But in the wake of the disaster, community leaders decided to re-imagine the city.  

“This was sort of the basis of what became the Santa Barbara style of architecture. Sure, the Spanish colonial that’s been borrowed from the Mediterranean, but the mission was what started that whole process for California,” said Graffy.

If the earthquake hadn’t happened, would Santa Barbara look the way it does today?

“It would not be the way it is at all … instead we have a real gem of the city … of the hispanic period both Spanish and Mexican eras,” said Schwab.

“We’re at the entrance to the 1129 State Street at the corner of the San Marcos building … and this is just another beautiful example of the post earthquake revival that they did for Santa Barbara … instead of just a flat doorway … they just added all this stunning detail … and if you go up there, there’s faces hidden here and there … and all this fun stuff to just take some time and look at it,” said Graffy.

One gem of the new-look Santa Barbara was the county courthouse.

“This is the mansion for the people … it has everything a Montecito mansion would have … with all the best architecture and the best features … It’s not your typical courthouse … being built in this amazing style … unlike other Court houses, which were just simply big squares with offices in it … and we just have this beautiful flowing well thought out well designed courthouse,” said Graffy.

As the city gets ready to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the quake, historians believe this week is also a celebration of the human spirit.

“But also to do with just the recognition of how we got together … and came together as a town,” said docent Bob Dickey of the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.

:And this earthquake caused the city to pull together … and say together even though we are damaged by this we can do this we can build a town that was better than it was before,” said Schwab.

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‘Earthquake Eleven’: Historian Corrects Santa Barbara’s 1925 Death Count

KEYT on June 27, 2025

Beth Farnsworth

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — There are conflicting death tolls from the 1925 earthquake.Most sources online state there were “13 deaths.” However, Santa Barbara historian and local “Ambassador” Neal Graffy is adamant that the correct number is 11.

Graffy said his research began with roughly 60 names. Through identifying misspellings and mistaken identities, he was able to verify victims’ names using funeral home records and county coroner inquests. He also confirmed spellings through immigration records, World War I draft registrations, and other official documents.

“All together — as far as I know at this point — Santa Barbara earthquake deaths do total 13,” Graffy said. “One from 1812, 11 from 1925, and one from 1926. So, there’s our 13, but it’s not the 13 that people have been writing about.”

Graffy noted that, ironically, the one death in 1926 happened on the same date as the 1925 quake.

“We can also add to our Santa Barbara earthquake death list the young lad — he was three years old. He died exactly one year after the 1925 earthquake — June 29, 1926. We had an earthquake, and a brick fell from a chimney. So, that’s another death.”

He said he has written obituaries for all of the victims and even had headstones installed for four of the previously unmarked graves.

The longtime local historian is scheduled to give a talk on Friday, June 27, on the “Earthquake Eleven” at the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library.

Then, on Sunday, Graffy will read the list of the 11 names during the Santa Barbara Earthquake Centennial “Day of Remembrance” ceremony on Sunday.

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JC Board of Education approves largest teacher base pay bump in 17 years

KMIZ on June 27, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Board of Education on Thursday night unanimously approved its operating budget for next school year.

The $172 million budget includes the largest base pay increase Jefferson City teachers have seen in 17 years. Certified staff will see an $1,800 increase to $43,300. The total raise for teachers with one step and $1,800 to the base is $2,529. This is the largest raise for certified staff in 17 years.

Meeting documents show that the estimated revenues for next school year’s budget are $153,928,640, but only 86% are from operating funds.

The remaining “16,375,755 comes in the debt service fund to pay off principal and interest of general obligation debt and $4,526,978 comes in the capital projects fund to make facility improvements and purchase equipment,” documents show.

Budget Book – Final 25-26Download

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Actor Lewis Tan meets local students at ‘Young Creators’ event

KESQ on June 27, 2025

Allie Anthony

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Hollywood action star Lewis Tan, who you might recognize for roles in Mortal Kombat, Deadpool 2, Deadpool and Wolverine, and Cobra Kai, met local students at a Young Creators Program event.

The program is is part of Palm Springs Unified School District’s Expanded Learning Program, aimed at giving students opportunities they might not get during regularly scheduled school hours.

News Channel 3’s Allie Anthony spoke with Tan at the event.

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ITD preps streets for festive Fourth of July

KIFI on June 27, 2025

Ariel Jensen

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) is touching up Main roads in several towns to ensure smooth streets in time for 4th of July celebrations.

On Thursday, Jun. 26, 2025, Driggs State Highway 33, ITD is working with the city to do a chip seal treatment. This will restore the health of the pavement and extend the life of the road.

These road projects are moving quickly. On Wednesday, Jun 25, 2025, ITD crews filled in potholes along Main Street in Rexburg and completed it the same day.

Fourth of July parades run through these streets and will create a safer path for people riding in floats or marching in the parade.

“We know there’s going to be celebrations in towns for the 4th of July, everybody getting out and enjoying their parades. So it is a time period right now where we try to get out and make sure that the road is in good shape for an influx of traffic and whatnot,” said Sky Buffat, Idaho Transportation Department Public Information Officer.

In many smaller Idaho communities, state highways double as their main streets and run right through the heart of town. ITD remains responsible for these roads, which is why they are currently working within these towns.

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