Backpack distribution event supports Coachella Valley teachers

KESQ on June 29, 2025

Shay Lawson

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Malyssa McCubbin, history teacher, said she is starting to prepare her classroom for next school year by gathering supplies.

“We spend our own money,” McCubbin said.

Team Mom Charities Inc. is holding an upcoming backpack distribution event, aimed at supporting dedicated teachers across the Coachella Valley.

“Our teachers are true heroes, consistently investing their own funds to ensure our children have the resources they need to succeed,” said a representative from Team Mom Charities Inc.

The initiative is aimed at helping educators alleviate the financial burden when buying school supplies for their classrooms according to organizer Margaret Webb.

“Team Mom likes to help the teachers out,” McCubbin said.

“We are thrilled to give them a much-needed break by providing essential school supplies through this backpack distribution,” said a representative from Team Mom Charities Inc.

The distributions will take place at various Quick Quack Car Wash locations throughout the Coachella Valley on July 10th, 11th and 12th.

McCubbin said school districts provide supply assistance as well.

“You get a little bit from our school sites that the district helps out with,” McCubbin said. “But it’s not enough. Especially all year.”

In a statement to News Channel 3 a spokesperson from Desert Sands Unified School District said:

DSUSD ensures that all teachers are provided with the essential supplies they need for their classrooms. Teachers submit supply requests through their school sites, and the district fulfills those requests. 

In a statement to News Channel 3 a spokesperson from Palm Springs Unified School District said:

The district supplies essential supplies. Our Foundation supports classroom grants. Teachers apply for a particular program or project (which often includes supplies they don’t have). We also have community organizations that often do supply drives before start of school that are donated to schools that need them the most.

Distribution Schedule:

Wednesday, July 10th

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Desert Hot Springs Quick Quack Car Wash

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Palm Springs Quick Quack Car Wash

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Cathedral City Quick Quack Car Wash

Thursday, July 11th

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Coachella Valley Quick Quack Car Wash

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Indio Quick Quack Car Wash

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Palm Desert Quick Quack Car Wash

Friday, July 12th

Rancho Mirage Quick Quack Car Wash 9:30AM-11:00AM

La Quinta Quick Quack Car Wash 1:00PM-2:30PM

Indian Wells Quick Quack Car Wash 4:00PM -5:30PM

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Vegetation fire in Paso Robles

KEYT on June 29, 2025

Christer Schmidt

PASO ROBLES, Calif. – A 1.7 acre vegetation fire started in a grass field in Paso Robles Sunday afternoon.

The fire started around 1:58 pm on Remington Court near Circle B Road.

CAL FIRE SLO and SLO County Fire stopped forward progress on the fire with the assistance of Paso Robles City Fire, Templeton Fire and San Miguel Fire.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters currently ask people to avoid the area to allow emergency personnel to work safely.

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Earthquake Commemoration Ceremony for deadly quake 100 years ago

KEYT on June 29, 2025

Christer Schmidt

An earthquake commemoration ceremony brought people together Saturday to remember a deadly 6.3 earthquake that rocked Santa Barbara 100 years ago.

The historic disaster was marked on State Street with a ceremony.

Historian Neal Graffy says that at least 11 people died in the earthquake and 74 buildings were demolished.

Much of the rebuilding efforts shaped the current look of Santa Barbara.

The street fair included music from the Roaring Twenties, disaster preparedness booths, a vintage car show and an earthquake simulator.

Archival footage, photographs and newspaper clippings from the era were also available to be viewed.

You can find links to more stories on our website and mobile app.

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Kids send water-powered rockets into the sky

KIFI on June 29, 2025

Noah Farley

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Kids were ready to blast off in Pocatello this weekend by making rockets out of plastic bottles, tape, and water for fuel.

Idaho State University’s Physics Department students taught the kids a little about physics and showed them how to build their own water-powered rockets.

“We go over Newton’s laws and how they go into having a really good water rocket, and they build rockets and they can launch and then rebuild, launch again. And it’s just a whole lot of really fun summer fun with some science,” said ISU Physics Professor, Steven Shropshire.

After filling the plastic bottle rocket a third of the way with water, its opening is placed over a nozzle. Pressurized air forces the rocket upward, and the fins attached to the rocket stabilize it so it can soar across the sky.

The kids loved seeing how fast, far, and high they could send their rockets.

“They’re really smart kids. I noticed they have a pretty solid basic grasp of the of the physics behind it,” said ISU Student, Noah.

Shropshire says this annual event is a fun and interactive way for families to learn about science.

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Safe and Sane Fireworks can be sold for one week prior to Fourth of July celebrations in some cities

KEYT on June 29, 2025

Christer Schmidt

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Safe and Sane Fireworks are allowed to be sold in Santa Maria for one week leading up to the Fourth of July.

Nonprofit booths are selling fireworks this year, including the Orcutt Academy High School Robotics Team.

Sales have strict rules and regulations, and the seller and buyer must adhere to these to prevent injuries and fires.

Sales are also permitted in Fillmore. Booths will be set up along Highway 126, but fireworks are not supposed to leave the city limits.

The sale and usage will be legal in both cities through July 5th at noon.

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Colorado Springs crash leads to shooting arrest

KRDO on June 29, 2025

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Saturday afternoon, just before 2 p.m., Colorado Springs police were called to an injury crash in the 5400 block of Constitution Ave.

Police say that during the investigation, officers learned that the driver of the car that caused the crash had been involved in a shooting call for service from earlier this week.

The investigation led to an incident on Tuesday, June 24, at about 1:00 a.m. in the 5600 block of Palmer Park Blvd., where a vehicle was shot, according to CSPD.

The officers say they were able to develop probable cause and arrest the driver, later identified as Clea Jamerson, of Saturday’s crash for the shooting from earlier in the week.

Police say a separate vehicle, which was believed to be involved in the shooting incident, was searched, and additional evidence was located tying it to the shooting. CSPD reports that several handguns were recovered from a vehicle. The crash vehicles were not involved in the shooting incident, according to police.

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Traffic jams on I-70 in Callaway County as wet roadways cause multiple crashes

KMIZ on June 29, 2025

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Traffic is backed up on portions of Interstate 70 in Callaway County Sunday morning as state troopers respond to multiple crashes and assist stranded drivers, according to a post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Rain covered the roadway eastbound and westbound in the construction zone, the post says.

An ABC 17 News reporter saw one single-vehicle crash on I-70 East near mile marker 135 around 11 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle appeared to have hit the median and Callaway County EMS and multiple sheriff vehicles were seen responding to the crash.

ABC 17 News saw traffic backed up to at least mile marker 128 past Interstate 70 Drive. Many drivers were seen leaving the congested highway and taking I-70 Drive.

A Boone County Joint Communications alert said that another crash at mile marker 131 on I-70 was blocking the left lane of traffic eastbound around noon.

Check back for updates.

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Newest SJSD Board of Education members bring experience and optimism

News-Press NOW on June 29, 2025

Charles Christian

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The two newest members of the St. Joseph School District Board of Education believe the best days are ahead for the district.

Jennifer Kerns was elected, along with Kim Miller, in the April 8, 2025, election. Miller had previously served on the board, but Kerns is a first timer.

Tom Richmond was elected by the board in May after the resignation of Rick Gehring left an open seat.

Both Kerns and Richmond said bringing fresh eyes to the board in conjunction with large-scale administration changes can bring about a new vision for the future of the district.

“The current administration leaders have done a great job and have been helpful in this transition,” Kerns said. “Although I hate to see them leave, I think the fact that we will all be learning together and sharing new ideas is a positive thing for the district.”

Richmond, whose now-grown children received much of their education in St. Joseph, agreed.

“I certainly want to be a bridge,” Richmond said. “I want to help us work together internally, and then we can work together with the administration to bridge the gap with the community. Jennifer and I are working together with other members toward those goals, and that’s my sole purpose and hope for being involved on the board.”

Richmond retired three years ago from Altec, while Kerns currently works for Oracle, after spending 17 years at Mosaic before that.

While serving, Richmond said he wants to continue to encourage teachers and staff by helping them provide what is needed to make students feel important and successful. Even with a few meetings under his belt, he said he believes the board and the community ultimately want this, too.

“I have had the opportunity to work on a number of non-profit boards, and some leadership experience at Altec in the past,” Richmond said. “After all that, I still believe the school district is central when it comes to expressing our care for people. If we are able to show compassion and care for our community through our school district, we can turn any past confusion into a positive way forward.”

Kerns, the top vote getter in the April election who ran unsuccessfully in 2023, said student advocacy, attendance and curriculum issues, as well as teacher and staff support, were key measures for her.

“I want to facilitate a positive experience on the board,” Kerns said. “I want the community, including the teachers, parents and students, to know that they are being listened to.”

This new experience for them is not without its challenges. Discussions about defunding education and the rise of school vouchers are a consistent source of conversation among teachers, staff and board members.

However, even though Kerns and Richmond have different views regarding some of these issues, both believe public education will continue to be a cornerstone of the St. Joseph community for all its residents.

“It comes down to community,” Kerns said. “The whole community wants public education to succeed, no matter what else they support. You can tell that our community is passionate about the school district.”

Richmond said even though he doesn’t have a problem with vouchers, he is not afraid of them and feels the community wants its school district to succeed.

“Every parent has a responsibility to figure out what’s the best thing for their own children,” Richmond said. “We still have so many in the community who benefit from the public school system, and our community still wants the public system to be good. We have a real chance for that to be the case in St. Joseph.”

With their experience, optimism and the passion they bring to their new positions on the board, both Kerns and Richmond believe the board and its new administrative leadership have a unique opportunity.

“We have to figure out how we use the resources we have to best serve the general public through our education system,” Richmond said.

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Palm Springs International ShortFest wraps up 2025 Festival with Awards Brunch

KESQ on June 29, 2025

Tori King

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The 31st-annual Palm Springs International ShortFest is coming to a close, and the festival hosted its annual Awards Brunch at the Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs on Sunday morning.

During the brunch, the juried award winners and audience award winners were announced.

Awards and cash prizes worth $30,000 including five Academy Award® qualifying awards were presented throughout the morning.

Here’s a list of this year’s winners: Best of the Festival Award—Winner received $5,000 cash prize.-Retirement Plan, Directed by John Kelly-Special Mention for Best Director: Passarinho, Directed by Natalia García Agraz-Special Mention for Best Acting: Beyond Silence, Directed by Marnie BlokBest Animated Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Budō (Sweden), Directed by Amanda Aagard and Alexander Toma-Special Mention: The Little Ancestor (Canada), Directed by Alexa Tremblay-FrancoeurBest Documentary Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Shanti Rides Shotgun (USA), Directed by Charles Frank-Special Mention: One Day I Will Hug You (Palestine/Sweden/Qatar), Directed by MohammedFares Al MajdalawiBest Live-Action Short Over 15 Minutes—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Susana (Mexico/USA), Directed by Amandine Thomas and Gerardo Coello Escalante-Special Mention: Nervous Energy (USA), Directed by Eve LiuBest Live-Action Short 15 Minutes and Under—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.

Winner: Medusa (USA), Directed by Sarah Meyohas-Special Mention: Made From Leakproof Plastic (Canada/United Kingdom), Directed by Anastasiya MykhaylovaStudent Short Awards:Best Student Animated Short & Best Student International Short—Each winner received a $1,000 cash prize.Student Animated Short:-Winner: Dragfox (United Kingdom), Directed by Lisa Ott-Special Mention: Ma Mao (Canada), Directed by Thanh NgoStudent International Short:-Winner: Cura Sana (Spain), Directed by Lucía G. Romero-Special Mention: Crazy For You (Spain/USA), Directed by Greta Díaz MoreauBest Student U.S. Short & Best Student Documentary Short—Each winner received a $1000 cash prize, ties split.Student U.S. Short:-Winner: Nervous Energy (USA), Directed by Eve Liu and Breastmilk (USA/Nigeria) Directed byIfeyinwa Arinze-Special Mention: Kisses and Bullets (USA/Iran), Directed by Faranak Sahafian

Student Documentary Short:- Winner: You Can’t See It from Here (USA/Colombia), Directed by Enrique Pedráza-Botero- Special Mention: Dancing in Tomorrowland (USA), Directed by Jakob RostonSpecial Jury Awards:Vimeo Staff Pick Award—Winner received a $5,000 cash prize provided by Vimeo.- Winner: You Know You Wanna Stay (USA), Directed by Alex HellerBest International Short— Each winner received a $500 cash prize.- Winners: Beyond Silence (The Netherlands), Directed by Marnie Blok and Kuchar (The Itch)(India), Directed by Vaidaangi Sharma- Special Mention: Goodbye Sun (France), Directed by Hakim Atoui

Best U.S. Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Szypliszki (USA), Directed by Jordan Axelrod-Special Mention: Ragamuffin (USA), Directed by Kaitlyn MikaylaBest Comedy Short— Each winner received a $500 cash prize.-Winners: How Was Your Weekend (USA), Directed by Cam Banfield and Your Own Flavor (USA), Directed by Alisha Ketry-Special Mention: Blood Ties (France/Belgium), Directed by Hakim AtouiBest LGBTQ+ Short—Each winner received a $500 cash prize.-Winners: Chico (France/Belgium), Directed by Théo Abadie and Hold Me Close (USA), Directedby Aurora Brachman and LaTajh Simmons-Weaver-Special Mention: It Will Always End In The End (Canada), Directed by Nancy PettinicchioBest Midnight Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.

-Winner: Mango (United Kingdom/France), Directed by Joan Iyiola-Special Mention: Real (France), Directed by Rodrigue HartLocal Jury Awards:Desert Views Local Jury Award—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Big Bass (USA), Directed by Drew Dickler-Special Mention: The Devil Is Busy (USA), Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn HamptonYoung Cineastes Award—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Énouement (USA), Directed by Angel Lu-Special Mention: Dandelion (USA), Directed by Fiona ObertincaKids’ Choice Award—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin Copeland-Special Mention: Forevergreen (USA), directed by Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy SpearsAudience AwardsBest Animated Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Wednesdays with Gramps (USA), directed by Chris Copeland and Justin CopelandBest Documentary Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: The Devil Is Busy (USA), Directed by Geeta Gandbhir and Christalyn HamptonBest Live-Action Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Beatrix Is Invisible (USA), directed by Alex FariasBest Student Short—Winner received a $1,000 cash prize.-Winner: Dandelion (USA), Directed by Fiona Obertinca

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Police: Felony menacing suspect assaults CSPD officer

KRDO on June 29, 2025

Mackenzie Stafford

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – On Saturday, June 28, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) was working to investigate reports of a felony menacing just before 3 p.m.

Officers say the crime happened at a business complex on Southgate Road. Police later found the suspect at a different business in the area and took him into custody.

CSPD identified the suspect as Cameron Brown. When police brought Brown to the station, they say that as they were moving him into a holding area, he assaulted an officer.

Police say additional officers jumped into action and helped to move Brown into the holding area.

Brown was booked into the El Paso County Jail, where he faces both menacing and assaulting a peace officer charges.

Police say the officer remained on duty.

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