Fireworks Sales and Regulations in Santa Maria

KEYT on June 25, 2025

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the City of Santa Maria regarding Fireworks Sales and Reporting for the upcoming Independence Day holiday

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – With the Fourth of July approaching, the City of Santa Maria encourages everyone to celebrate responsibly, and is again offering tools for residents to report illegal fireworks.

Sales of “Safe and Sane” fireworks begin at 12:00 noon on Saturday, June 28th, from 24 licensed booths to benefit nonprofit groups.

The 12-hour period on the Fourth of July from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. is the only time “Safe and Sane” fireworks may be used within the City Limits.

Santa Maria residents may report illegal fireworks using the City’s fireworks hotline of 925-0951 extension 3473 (FIRE).

Santa Maria residents may request the issuance of an administrative citation for the possession, manufacture, storing, selling, handling, or usage of illegal fireworks through the third-party administrative citation process. All witnesses are requested to submit documentary evidence in the form of photos and/or video of the alleged violation. See www.cityofsantamaria.org/fireworks.

Free “noise sensitive resident lives here” fireworks yard signs are available in English and in Spanish, at City Hall, 110 East Cook Street, for Santa Maria residents.

Anyone caught using any fireworks on other days will be subject to a $1,000 fine. In 2024, the City issued 63 citations at $1,000 apiece.

Department: City Manager’s OfficeContact Person: Mark van de Kamp, Public Information ManagerTelephone Number: (805) 925-0951 ext. 2372 or (805) 720-4038E-mail Address: mvandekamp@cityofsantamaria.org

Traducción en español:

A medida que se acerca el 4 de julio, la Ciudad de Santa María alienta a todos a celebrar de manera responsable y, nuevamente, ofrece herramientas para que los residentes denuncien los fuegos artificiales ilegales.

Las ventas de fuegos artificiales “seguros y sanos” comienzan a las 12:00 del mediodía del viernes 28 de junio, en 24 puestos con licencia para beneficiar a grupos sin fines de lucro.

El período de 12 horas del 4 de julio de 11:00 a.m. a 11:00 p.m. dentro de los límites de la Ciudad, es el único momento en que se pueden usar fuegos artificiales “seguros y sanos”

Los residentes de Santa María pueden denunciar los fuegos artificiales ilegales utilizando la línea directa de fuegos artificiales de la Ciudad al número (805) 925- 0951 extensión 3473 (FIRE), que se traduce a fuego.

Los residentes de Santa María pueden solicitar la emisión de una citación administrativa por la posesión, fabricación, almacenamiento, venta, manejo o uso de fuegos artificiales ilegales a través del proceso de citación administrativa de terceros. Se solicita a todos los testigos que presenten pruebas documentales en forma de fotos y/o videos de la presunta violación. Visite www.cityofsantamaria.org/fireworks.

Los letreros gratuitos de fuegos artificiales para el patio que dicen “un residente sensible al ruido vive aquí” están disponibles en inglés y en español, en el Ayuntamiento, 110 East Cook Street, para los residentes de Santa María.

Cualquier persona que se encuentre usando fuegos artificiales en otros días estará sujeto a una multa de $1,000. En 2024, la Ciudad emitió de 63 multas a $1,000 cada una.

Departamento: Oficina del Administrador de la CiudadPersona de Contacto: Mark van de Kamp, Gerente de Información PúblicaNúmero de teléfono: (805) 925-0951 ext. 2372 o (805) 720-4038Dirección de correo electrónico: mvandekamp@cityofsantamaria.org

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Agencies Prep for Next Big Disaster as Santa Barbara Marks Earthquake Centennial

KEYT on June 25, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

GOLETA, Calif. — Emergency vehicles filled the parking lot at Direct Relief headquarters in Goleta on Wednesday, but it wasn’t due to a crisis.

Various emergency agencies gathered for a large-scale disaster response training event aimed at improving readiness and coordination in the face of future disasters. The training comes in the shadow of a historic milestone—the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Santa Barbara earthquake, which devastated the region and reshaped emergency preparedness in California.

Participants in the training included the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, the Search Dog Foundation, and other emergency response organizations.

“We do practices where we sit and role-play through what that disaster could be,” said Kelly Hubbard, director of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management.

The 1925 earthquake struck just before 7 a.m. on June 29, registering an estimated magnitude of 6.8. Its epicenter was located offshore in the Santa Barbara Channel, only a few miles from the city. Despite its moderate magnitude, the proximity to downtown caused widespread destruction.

More than 85% of the commercial buildings in downtown Santa Barbara were damaged or destroyed, including the courthouse, library, hotels, and churches. Historic structures like the Mission Santa Barbara sustained major damage, with its iconic twin towers collapsing. Fires broke out after the quake, but were quickly controlled thanks to the rapid shutoff of gas lines.

One of the most catastrophic failures was the collapse of the Sheffield Dam, located near present-day Alameda Park. The dam failure released an estimated 30 million gallons of water, sending a flood through a portion of the city and destroying homes, vehicles, and infrastructure in its path. Remarkably, no deaths were reported as a direct result of the dam’s collapse.

Reflecting on lessons from the past while planning for future emergencies, Chief Deputy Brad Welch of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office shared his perspective on preparedness.

“And how we as a Sheriff’s office can help protect and get our community ready in the case that it does happen and we need to get everybody out fast—but also very safely.”

In the wake of the 1925 quake, Santa Barbara underwent a significant rebuilding effort. The disaster prompted new building codes across California and led to the city’s transformation into the Spanish Colonial Revival style still seen today.

Organizers of Wednesday’s training emphasized the importance of collaboration among first responders, emergency managers, and public officials. They say continued joint exercises help ensure that communities are prepared not just to respond—but to recover—when the next major disaster strikes.

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Bannock County announces county-wide burn ban starting July 1

KIFI on June 25, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Fire departments across Bannock County have announced a unified, county-wide burn ban set to begin on July 1. This ban prohibits all open burning and the use of fireworks within the county’s designated Wildland Urban Interface Areas due to the current high fire danger.

The ban comes on the heels of the West Clark Fire on the west bench of Pocatello, which burned over 200 acres.

“The hills and benches in and around Pocatello are covered in junipers, sagebrush, and cheatgrass that are prone to rapid ignition and extreme fire behavior,” said Pocatello Fire Marshal Dean Bullock. “It only takes a single ember to cause what could become a devastating wildfire. I strongly encourage all citizens to heed the ban and potentially save the lives and homes of fellow residents.”

The ban does allow for the use of commercial gas fire pits and appliances designed for cooking, such as gas grills and charcoal briquettes.

With the Fourth of July approaching, the Pocatello Fire Department is also issuing a strong warning regarding fireworks. Fireworks are a significant cause of wildfires, and extra patrols of police and firefighters will be deployed on Independence Day to ensure only “safe and sane” fireworks are being used within city limits.

“We saw this past week when we had that fire up on the West Clark area, that…it only takes one small spark to start a devastating wildfire,” Kim Stouse, Pocatello Fire Department. “Let’s just take a few extra steps to try to be mindful of that, because we don’t want to lose property or even worse, somebody (a person). We (firefighters) can’t be everywhere all the time. And so it does take a community to work together to keep everybody safe.”

For more information, click HERE.

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Fewer counted but homelessness still a concern in St. Joseph

News-Press NOW on June 25, 2025

Jenna Wilson

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) – New data from the Continuum of Care’s annual Point-in-Time Count shows a decline in the local homeless population, but advocates caution that the numbers may not reflect the full scope of the issue.

The Point-in-Time Count, conducted each January by a coalition of dozens of agencies, is used to identify the number of people experiencing homelessness in a community. This year’s numbers show a decrease compared to 2024.

United Way is one of the agencies that participates in the Continuum of Care and works on continuing to decrease those numbers.

“There can be several factors leading into that,” said Jodi Flurry, United Way director of community investment. “One of them is the weather. In January 2025, it was really cold. I don’t think it topped 20 degrees the day we had to go out and do the street count. And sometimes people just don’t want to be found. They may be living in a vehicle or an abandoned building that we don’t even know about. So, while the numbers are down, which is encouraging from 2024, I don’t know if that’s a completely accurate reflection of what homelessness looks like in our community.”

To conduct the annual count, volunteers affiliated with Continuum of Care visit areas where unhoused individuals are likely to be staying to survey them and assess their access to resources. The goal is to gather data on how many people are living unsheltered, in shelters or in transitional housing across Andrew, Buchanan and DeKalb counties.

According to the data:

In 2023, 175 individuals were identified as homeless, with 134 sheltered and 41 unsheltered.

In 2024, the number rose significantly to 268, with 187 sheltered and 81 unsheltered.

In 2025, the count decreased to 218, with 155 sheltered and 63 unsheltered.

“It’s hard to say, just based on the Point-in-Time Count, whether this is a victory for our community,” said Rachael Bittiker, executive director of Community Missions, who serves as a service provider for the Continuum of Care. “The count is done in the middle of January and only on one day. For people who live on the streets, when it’s that cold, you’re hiding somewhere.”

Both organizations say the focus should remain on the bigger picture. The data is being used to guide services and resources for a population that continues to grow nationwide.

“Over the next few months, we will be evaluating this with our partner ICA so we can dig into the data and look at demographics such as veterans versus seniors or those with severe mental illness,” Flurry said. “We’ll look at that information and decide if we need to have more of a focus on certain areas, whether that’s substance abuse or maybe a trend showing more people in their early 20s are experiencing homelessness.”

With continued resources, the Continuum of Care aims to connect unhoused individuals with support systems and ultimately move them into permanent housing. Officials say this also helps reduce long-term costs to the community.

“Homeless people on the street cost the community a lot of money,” Bittiker said. “When analyzing data from HUD and other sources, some say $35,000, some say $50,000; that’s what it costs for one homeless individual to remain on the street. We want people to be productive members of society. We all have issues, barriers and trauma but it’s how we address it that helps people succeed.”

Community Missions’ 24-hour shelter is set to officially open on July 1, and officials hope it will play a key role in collecting more accurate and consistent data.

“I think as a community, we’ll be able to look at those numbers more effectively and have more than just one day in the freezing cold to try to find people,” Bittiker said. “We’ll have months and months of data to work with.”

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Elderly person airlifted after injury on Mecca canyon

KESQ on June 25, 2025

Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – First responders rescued an elderly patient who was injured in Mecca Wednesday afternoon.

The incident was first reported at a little after 1 p.m. on Painted Canyon Road and Box Canyon Road.

The man was hoisted out of the canyon and taken to Thermal Airport for further medical evaluation.  

Authorities said the scene was cleared within an hour.   

Details on the man’s identity and the specific nature of his injuries were not immediately available.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Bonneville County partners with US Forest Service to repair Bear Creek Road

KIFI on June 25, 2025

News Team

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Wednesday, the Bonneville County Commissioners officially partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to begin repairs on Bear Creek Road. This agreement paves the way for reopening full access to popular recreational spots like Calamity Campground and the Snake River Boat Club, as well as numerous summer homes, which have been hampered since a 2023 landslide closed a section of the rural roadway.

Since the landslide, access to these areas has been limited to a two-track dirt road, making it impossible for trailers and larger vehicles to pass. The upcoming repairs will restore normal traffic access to the area.

“We are extremely grateful to the Forest Service representatives and their shared desire to assist Bonneville County residents in regaining access to this beautiful recreation area,” stated Commissioner John Walker after signing the agreement. He also extended special thanks to Idaho’s legislative representatives, Congressman Mike Simpson, Senator James Risch, and Senator Mike Crapo, for their support.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Forest Service will provide up to $825,000 in reimbursement to Bonneville County for the repairs specifically addressing the landslide area. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $1,000,000.

Bonneville County is planning to begin accepting bids from qualified contractors in July 2025.

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Ammon’s 17th Street bridge opens to three lanes; Full access expected by July 4th

KIFI on June 25, 2025

Phillip Willis

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) — After months of detours and delays, the 17th Street bridge in Ammon is now open to 3 lanes of travel. According to the City of Ammon, the remaining lanes are expected to be open ahead of the Fourth of July holiday.

Earlier this month, Ammon City Administrator Micha Austin told Local News 8 to expect the bridge to be open ahead of Independence Day, clarifying that the City is not directly associated with the project. According to Austin, everything has been handled at the state level by the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council (LHTAC) and its contractor, Keller Associates.

Even though the bridge is partially open, the contractor will still be performing work with lane closures. City officials are asking travelers to please use caution while driving through the construction zone.

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Columbia Trader Joe’s expected to open this year

KMIZ on June 25, 2025

Keriana Gamboa

Columbia Mo. (KMIZ)

The Trader Joe’s store is expected to open sometime in 2025, but no official timeline has been released.

ABC 17 News spoke with construction crews at the site, who say progress is moving smoothly and they expect to finish work within the next few weeks. Benjamin Zeitzmann with Musick Construction says when the store opens, customers can expect the same Trader Joe’s experience they’re familiar with.

“I would say we are probably at like, 70%,  probably within our scope of work that we have to do. We’re pretty close. Maybe 75%, I would say.  So we’re getting close. We’re pretty close,” Zeitzmann said.

Burlington Coat Factory will also be located on North Stadium Boulevard, near the site of Columbia’s highly anticipated first Trader Joe’s.

According to the chain’s website, the Burlington location is set to open on July 25.

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Massage salon in San Luis, Arizona holds grand opening

KYMA on June 25, 2025

Abraham Retana

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new business took place in San Luis, Arizona Wednesday.

Skin and Body by Melissa Massage Salon offers a variety of services including facials, massage and therapy.

Owner Melissa Lozolla says this is a dream come true, especially being an immigrant from Mexico.

“I’m just very happy as an immigrant to serve as an example of achievement to other immigrants and you can do it if I can do it you can do it,” Lozolla expressed.

Skin and Body by Melissa is located at 748 N. Archibald Street Unit C, near the U.S. Post Office. To learn more about the business and its hours, click here.

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Mid-Missouri heat turns playground equipment into burn risk

KMIZ on June 25, 2025

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hot temperatures have arrived in Mid-Missouri, turning playground equipment into potential burn hazards for children.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each year more than 200,000 children go to the emergency room with injuries from playground equipment.

Jefferson City Parks and Recreation says a young girl was injured at the Community Park last Wednesday after going down a metal slide. The slides have been closed until further notice.

“The playground and play features are built to industry safety standards; our staff have determined these two slide features will be closed off until further notice. We’ve reached out to the manufacturer for solutions that would allow us to reopen the feature sooner and are keeping an eye on surface temperatures,” JC Parks and Recreation said a statement

ABC 17 News tested a metal and plastic slide with a temperature gun at Cosmo Park in Columbia.

The plastic slide came in at 135 degrees, while the metal slide registered at 110 degrees.

While metal slides typically heat up faster, plastic can actually retain heat longer, especially in direct sunlight, making it just as dangerous.

Placement of equipment can also make a difference. ABC 17 News temperature gaged a tire that sat directly in the sun and one that was in the shade. We found the tire in the shade was 126 degrees while the tired under a tree in the shade came in at 99 degrees.

Both temperature checks were conducted around 12:30 p.m.

The CPSC warns of the risk of thermal burns from playground equipment, as metal and even plastic or rubber equipment can become hot enough to burn a child’s skin.

Mother Erika Tagliaferro was at Cosmo Park with her husband and daughter while on the road to St. Louis and quickly decided some equipment was off limits.

“I walked up and saw the metal slide and immediately it was a no,” Tagliaferro said.

She said when the warmer temperatures come around she keeps safety in mind when she dresses her daughter.

“If possible it is so hot so but tighter pants or tighter shorts even impose to the looser flowwy ones,” Tagliaferro added.

While clothing will help, many playgrounds lack proper shade.

The National Program For Playground Safety found in 2019 that 67% of playgrounds in the U.S. were fully exposed to the sun from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Mother Monica Jackson said more shade would allow her and her son to stay at the park longer.

“They have those sun shades those triangular ones that would make a big difference,” Jackson said.

The agency warns that any child of any age runs the risk of being burned by a hot source, but children 2 years old and younger are the most at risk. A young child’s skin is more susceptible to burning because it is thinner and more delicate.

What to watch out for:

Uncoated metal equipment, or metal equipment where the heat-reducing coating has rubbed off;

Slides, swings or other equipment that a child may sit on;

Dark-colored plastics and rubbers, especially the surfacing under and around the playground equipment;

Asphalt and concrete surfaces near playgrounds.

Safety tips:

Tap equipment first with back of your head for five seconds. If it’s too hot, it’s unsafe

Visit the park before peak sun hours

Wear breathable clothing and longer pants to protect the skin and closed-toe shoes.

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