Haley Swaino
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
State troopers are investigating a deadly multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Highway 54 in Camden County, according to a post from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The crash happened on westbound Highway 54 at Old 54 Road, the post says.
Due to the roadway being blocked, MSHP asked drivers to avoid the area and take a different route.
Check back for updates.
Mackenzie Stafford
MANITOU SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Manitou Springs Fire Department (MSFD) is set to hold a wildland fire training exercise on Sunday, June 29, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Deer Valley Park.
The city wants to warn residents and visitors in the area that during the training, you may notice smoke and fire equipment. They say this is part of a scheduled training exercise and not an emergency.
Manitou Springs officials say these proactive drills are critical to ensuring that fire crews remain prepared for real wildfire scenarios.
For non-emergency questions you can contact the Manitou Springs Fire Department at 719-685-1444.
Mackenzie Stafford
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – One man is now in the hospital after a stabbing early Sunday morning.
The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) says it happened just before 2 a.m. on North Academy Boulevard. The area is just south of Constitution Avenue.
Police say that medics arrived first and found a 31-year-old man with a stab wound to the side.
CSPD says the man was transported via ambulance to Memorial Hospital with, what was initially assessed as, life threatening internal injuries. Medical personnel were able to stabilize the male and he is expected to survived, accorrding to police.
Officers are investigating the incident.
CSPD tells KRDO13 there is not yet a suspect.
Cynthia White
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Each year, alcohol-related crashes spike during the Fourth of July holiday, making it one of the most dangerous nights of the year to be driving.
In an effort to help prevent impaired driving and reduce crashes this Independence Day holiday, local law firm Walter Clark Legal Group is offering its “Safe Ride Home Program” for free ride reimbursements.
Walter Clark Legal Group founder Walter Clark says, “Our top priority is to save lives and keep our communities safe during high-risk holidays. The Safe Ride Home Program is a small but meaningful way to prevent tragedies caused by impaired driving.”
The Safe Ride Home Program for Independence Day will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4th, through 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 5th.
During the effective time of the program, residents and visitors 21 years and older with a valid driver’s license are eligible to get a reimbursement of up to $50 for a single-way ride taken home via Uber, Lyft, or traditional taxi service in the following areas:
Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, Coachella)
El Centro
Victorville
Banning
Beaumont
Yucca Valley
Morongo Basin
Eligible participants must register for a free reimbursement coupon before the holiday. For more information on the program, including rules and registration, visit walterclark.com/holiday. Once registered, participants will be sent instructions on how to submit their request for reimbursement after the holiday.
Reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-served basis while funding lasts.
Marie Moyer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Senate’s Insurance and Banking Committee is set to hear testimony from University of Missouri Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield on Monday, in an effort to break the stalemate in insurance negotiations.
The hearing was scheduled earlier this month by Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) at the suggestion of Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina).
Since April 1, over 90,000 patients previously covered by Anthem have been in limbo, with many struggling to pay for care out-of-network.
The negotiations hit a standstill around this time when MU Health Care asked for an 11-13% increase to cover inflation costs, while Anthem offered a 1-2% increase. MU Health Care reported that they lowered their proposal, but Anthem claimed their offer was not doable.
Since the disagreement, MU Health Care released the financial report for the second half of its previous fiscal year, reporting a profit of over $50 million in operations. MU Health Care was covered by Anthem for the majority of the report, only being off-contract for a month.
Both MU Health Care and Anthem have been called to testify on Monday, as well as the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan.
In a statement Thursday, University of Missouri Board of Curators Chair Todd Graves said that MU Health Care plans to stand up to Anthem.
“As Curators, we understand the importance of these negotiations for ensuring the long-term sustainability of our health system and preserving local access to care for rural Missourians,” Graves said.
In a statement Sunday, Anthem claimed to have offered MU multiple offers, including annual rate increases above the Consumer Price Index which MU Health Care declined.
“We have a strong, fact-based story to tell about our efforts to protect affordability, support our members, and reach a fair agreement,” an Anthem spokesperson said. “MU Health Care has made future meetings conditional on Anthem first meeting their terms.”
The hearing will begin at 1 p.m. in the Senate Lounge.
Ata Shaheen
SEASIDE, Calif. (KION-TV) — Seaside Police say that fireworks around this time of year are some of the biggest problems throughout the city.
They say that they’re going after people who set them off by monitoring dozens of cameras and microphones set-up throughout the city, as well as with drones.
Police intending to catch each incident and track people down. They say that they’ve already responded to four calls for fireworks over the past 24 hours.
“The amount of the reports that we get of fireworks is actually overwhelming,” said Seargent Jon Martinez of the Seaside Police Department. “We put on a spare records clerk just to take in calls for fireworks and we don’t even have the ability to keep up with the computer. The computer actually gets overloaded with how many calls are coming in. On the 4th of July, we’re well into three, -400 calls that are coming in.”
The department has set up about 50 Flock cameras around the city, mainly to read license plates, but during this time of year they are also listening for “booms.”
Police saying that they can distinguish between a firework and a gunshot.
And, operators will be flying drones around to triangulate where said “booms” are coming from, then they said they’ll respond.
According to police, depending on the situation, people who launch illegal fireworks can get citations, infraction or even criminal charges.
This, with a new curfew starting June 28 on safe and sane fireworks — fireworks that do not go up into the air and those that can be purchased at any roadside firework stand.
The 10 p.m. curfew and safe and sane firework allowance happens simultaneously and will run through July 5.
After 10 p.m., all fireworks of any kind are illegal.
Jeanette Bent
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Bike Santa Cruz County released a first-of-its-kind report on Thursday looking at where, why and how local bikers ride.
The organization finding significant safety concerns.
According to the report, 89% of bike riders saw or experienced a crash or near miss in the last year, with only 2% of riders feeling safe on local roads.
“We don’t feel safe because there’s just way too many cars going way too fast,” one cyclist, who was with his son, told KION.
Fifty-five percent of cyclists say that protected bike lanes on busy streets are the most important upgrade to make them feel safer while biking in the county.
The study also identified problem corridors.
Six corridors were identified: Soquel Avenue and Soquel Drive, Mission Street at Highway 1, Capitola Road, River Street and Water Street.
The report says that those streets — alone — account for nearly half of all the county’s bike-related crashes in 2024.
People in Santa Cruz hoping that the recent survey results will help them shape safer bike routes throughout the county.
Tracy Lehr
CAMARILLO, Calif. – Despite Elon Musk’s changing role in the Trump administration, protests continue.
They are continuing outside Tesla dealerships across the country, including one visible from Hwy 101 in Camarillo.
The protests continue every weekend, including the one this Saturday, June 28th – the same day as Elon Musk’s birthday.
Participants are upset about a number of administration actions including DOGE cuts and ICE raids.
They also hope the President’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act fails to pass through Congress by the Fourth of July holiday.
Karla Sosa
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – El Paso County Search and Rescue tells KRDO13 they’re seeing a big increase in rescue calls and summer has barely started. With warmer temperatures sticking around, more people are getting outdoors, but the increased heat also brings more risk if you’re not prepared.
Last year, in June, El Paso County Search and Rescue received 15 calls. This year, for the same month, they’ve already had 21 calls, and the month isn’t over.
Chris Valentine, with El Paso County Search and Rescue, said most of their rescues this year have been at the Manitou Incline. One of their busiest weekends was just earlier this month.
“Seven of them were on June 14th and 15, which is a very busy weekend. So, you know, folks who were last up at Rampart Reservoir, folks who are sick on the incline and on our trails. So, we have a number of patients on those two days,” said Valentine.
Valentine said there could be a number of reasons why there’s an increase in search and rescue calls.
“Yeah, it’s impossible to put your finger on what is happening. We have people who are getting lost in the middle of the people getting sick and injured in the wilderness,” said Valentine.
There are about 70 volunteers who are part of the search and rescue team, and every rescue is a challenge. Although they’re all volunteers, saving lives is their number one priority.
“It takes about 20 of us just to go on a simple mission of our trail with someone who hurt an ankle or something like that, it takes a lot of people, resources in the back country,” said Valentine. “We all have normal jobs, our lives, and we just kind of stop what we’re doing if we’re able to and respond to that call.”
These volunteers train all year round so they can be prepared for whenever they get a call.
“So we’re always preparing for everything from angler rescue to backcountry rescue to a blizzard mission. So, our team trains hundreds of hours every month,” said Valentine.
Valentine said the most common calls they get are for injuries, illness, or when people get lost.
Keriana Gamboa
Columbia Mo. (KMIZ)
On Saturday, Second Chance celebrated the opening of its new clinic building at an open house event where the public got their first look inside, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony two days ago.
Second Chance unveiled a climate-controlled storage building for pet food and opened an in-house clinic for spay and neuter procedures. They also renovated their adoption building to include emergency dog rooms for dogs not in foster care.
Second Chance executive director, Giulia Hall, says looking ahead, Second Chance plans to use the new building as a food pantry to support community members in need.
“What we would like to do is just to be able to offer supplies and food and you know, even beyond food, if people need things for the community, especially on towards Booneville, because there isn’t a lot out this way,” Hall said.
They have not finalized a timeline for its opening.
“That being available to people who possibly need food for their dogs because they don’t have a home at the moment or they’re just, you know, struggling between paycheck to paycheck, because dog food can get pretty pricey,” Foster Employee, Veronica Buman said.
Second Chance also recently broke ground on a new memorial garden and is still in the early stages of development. They completed the walking path last week, and the next phase will involve adding paw print designs made from river rocks for community members to paint.
Susan Groshong, a foster parent for over a decade, said having an animal rescue nearby matters, especially in communities with limited resources.
“I know I’ve had dogs that were from Eldon or other communities that don’t have shelters, so being here in Boonville makes it easier for people to come here to meet the dogs,” Groshong said.
Since 2022, Second Chance has facilitated more than a thousand adoptions each year. Currently, they have over 200 animals placed in foster homes.
