Colorado Springs native is top U20 pole vaulter in the world

KRDO on July 16, 2025

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A Former track star with The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs is the top woman pole vaulter in the world for athletes under 20 years old.

19-year-old South Dakota University pole vaulter Anna Willis currently holds the top spot on the global leaderboard with a jump of 14 feet, 10 inches. She placed 4th at the NCAA championships as a Freshman and first at the U.S. Track and Field U20 championships. She did all of that on a hurt knee and torn labrum.

She’s the fourth Willis sister to compete in pole vault at The Classical Academy. All four are state champions and current or former collegiate athletes.

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Man injured in shooting east of Columbia

KMIZ on July 16, 2025

Lucas Geisler

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

One man was injured Tuesday night after an apparent drive-by shooting in Boone County.

The man was shot while in a car near Santa Anna Drive and El Chapparal Avenue, according to Captain Brian Leer with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.

Leer told ABC 17 News in a text that someone in another car shot the man, who suffered a non-life-threatening injury.

Leer said the information provided to them was “limited at best.”

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Farmworkers plan strike in protest of immigration raids

KESQ on July 16, 2025

Shay Lawson

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ)  – Farmworkers across California are leading a three-day strike in protest of recent immigration raids that have left communities living in fear.

Flor Martinez Zaragoza, activist, said the strike is July 16th – 18th.

She said the grassroots movement is not union-led but organized by the workers themselves who are calling for a pathway to citizenship.

“Tomorrow’s strike is a result of the multiple raids that have been going on in the state of California and also across the country,” Zaragoza said. “And what happened recently has just been so incredibly unforgivable.”

She said a farmworker recently died after falling off a roof during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid in Camarillo, California.

“When things like this occur it’s important that we react, but we also are mindful of how we are reacting,” she said.

Zaragoza said she’s calling on consumers to boycott companies that rely on undocumented labor while simultaneously supporting anti-immigrant policies.

“The farmworkers might have started this three day strike,” Zaragoza said. “As consumers, we hold the responsibility to continue that as a boycott, because why do we keep putting our money into these corporations that are anti-immigrant.”

In the Coachella Valley, a local protest is scheduled Friday in front of the Border Patrol Offices in Indio.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates on this developing story.

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Santa Barbara County Calls for More Information About ICE Actions in Carpinteria

KEYT on July 16, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – A frustrated Board of Supervisors has sounded off about Department of Homeland Security (DHS) – ICE actions last week in Carpinteria.

Ten arrests were made at Glasshouse Farms as part of a larger effort with search warrants, that included a Glasshouse location in Camarillo. In all 361 arrests were made and ten minors were found in the cannabis facility in Ventura County.

The Santa Barbara leaders are asking for more information including who was arrested and why.

They also want ICE to appear at a future meeting to answer questions.

If more funding is going to be allocated for resources and services relating to the response of the enforcement actions, the county wants financial help from each of its cities.

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch said he did not favor the tactics used and urged everyone to remember “the rule of law.”

He said the opponents need to meet, “their force with our voice. Meet their force with our actions.”

Savrnoch did not want anyone hurt and said those who are throwing cinder blocks or attacking the agents are breaking the law and face consequences. He suggested other ways to speak out. “Violent and dangerous people will face consequences,” he said. He also warned, “my fear is there will be more large scale military enforcement.”

Prior to the root of his comments he talked about the immigrant background his family went through and challenges they had generations ago.

Sheriff Bill Brown said his department does not participate in ICE actions or immigration enforcement. He understood that people from other countries do not always know the difference between the military and city or county law enforcement.

County Public Defender Tracy Macuga said, “ICE is allowed to racially profile.” She said it goes far beyond what was scene in the local area. “What is occurring in our community, what is occurring on the Central Coast, what is occurring nationally can only be described as government sanctioned terror.”

Primitiva Hernandez is the Executive Director of 805UndocuFund and says, “it will continue escalating.  and we need the resources from our county. Not only the funding, we need actual protection that can help us to have a fighting chance against the unhinged federal agents.”

The newest member of the board said he did not feel protected after what he has seen.

Roy Lee is the supervisor for the First District which covers the Capinteria Valley. He told the public, “these actions are tearing our community and our business community apart. It’s the first time that I as an immigrant did not feel safe and I’ve been targeted.”

Some of those attending spoke out saying they backed the enforcement by ICE against illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, and reminded the board that underage children were found working in a cannabis farm.

One supervisor said farm workers, mainly immigrants, are still on the job in Northern Santa Barbara County and elsewhere and not staying away as has been suggested.

Bob Nelson read a statement from a Northern Santa Barbara County farm owner saying, “the headlines claim up to 70 percent of the farmworkers fled California fields during the recent immigration raids, and our farm ran at 95 percent labor capacity. If there is a crisis, it hasn’t arrived here.”

Some members of the South Coast are quick to point out that the enforcement was specifically targeted at on cannabis producer with an address just outside of the Carpinteria city limits and not general farm fields overall.

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High Desert Food & Farm Alliance receives grant funding for three programs

KTVZ on July 16, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The High Desert Food and Farm Alliance was recently selected through a competitive grant process to receive funding from Travel Oregon. Travel Oregon awarded nearly $6.2 million in grants to 65 organizations across the state, including $120,385 to the High Desert Food and Farm Alliance. 

HDFFA said Tuesday it will use this funding for a broad “Taste Central Oregon” campaign, educating visitors and residents about the importance of supporting Central Oregon farmers and ranchers by buying and dining locally, and how and where to find local food.

HDFFA also received funding from Republic Services to support the Grow and Give program. Grow and Give is a 10-year-running HDFFA program that reduces food waste, provides fresh produce for people in Central Oregon experiencing food insecurity, and supports local farmers.

The program works by collecting excess produce and delivering it to partners like NeighborImpact, Family Kitchen, and others, and then reimbursing farming partners for their excess produce, supporting local growers by providing additional income. With the Republic Services’ partnership, this program can continue creating a more resilient local food system. 

A grant from The Environmental Center’s Innovation Fund will further enhance HDFFA’s work to reduce food waste by funding a new “Perfectly Imperfect Produce” program that will kick off with delicious food sampling at HDFFA’s Northwest Crossing Farmers Market booth this summer. 

“We’re thrilled to receive support from these wonderful organizations,” said HDFFA Executive Director Sharon Maier-Kennelly. “With this funding, we can continue and expand our work in sharing the importance of local food, reducing food waste and building a resilient food system for Central Oregonians.”

HDFFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit serving Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties as well as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. HDFFA’s mission is to support a healthy and thriving food & farm network through education, collaboration, and inclusion. For more info visit hdffa.org

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10-year Sunshine Law case in Cole County ends, more than $48,000 paid out to Malin

KMIZ on July 16, 2025

Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 10-year case in Cole County has ended.

A satisfaction of judgement has ended in Aaron Malin’s case against the Cole County Prosecutor’s Office. Malin had previously asked a judge to reprimand the office for not disclosing documents between the prosecutor’s office and a drug task force, according to previous reporting.

A judgement entered on June 12 indicates that $48,362.50 will be paid to Malin to cover attorney fees, costs and expenses.

“I’m glad this litigation has finally wrapped up. Unfortunately, the office’s initial response to Mr. Malin’s request back in 2015 set the tone for some fairly contentious litigation,” Cole County Prosecutor Locke Thompson wrote in an email on Tuesday. “I am appreciative that Mr. Malin agreed to come to the table to find an amicable solution to the case. Once everyone had a better understanding of the intent behind the request and our ability to find responsive records given the wording of the initial request, we were able to provide documents that were of particular interest to Mr. Malin.”

Malin’s attorney told ABC 17 News that the final check was received on Monday.

“Ten years ago Aaron Malin set out to make sure that the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office would be required to obey the Sunshine Law. It turned out to be a much longer, much harder fight than he possibly could have imagined, including three trips to the Court of Appeals and back. But the courts finally – and fully – vindicated his position, along the way establishing precedents that will help Missourians enjoy government transparency for years to come,” Dave Roland, director of litigation for the Freedom Center of Missouri, said in an email.

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Project to improve busy roadway linking Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties near Nipomo moving forward

KEYT on July 16, 2025

Dave Alley

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. – Santa Barbara County is moving closer to a major construction project that will completely overhaul a busy roadway that links a northern part of the county to South San Luis Obispo County.

Bonita School Road travels between Highway 166 in Santa Barbara County and Division Street in Southern San Luis Obispo County just outside Nipomo.

A portion of the road includes a small 300-foot bridge, along with a third-of-a-mile stretch that takes drivers into the Santa Maria Riverbed.

The stretch of roadway is extremely bumpy, often times strewn with potholes, causing many drivers to drive at extremely slow speeds, as well as swerving to avoid the hazardous conditions.

“The existing bridge and low water crossing on Bonita School Road was constructed in 2002 as a temporary replacement,” said Lael Wageneck, Santa Barbara County Public Works Department public information officer. “It’s one of three vital crossings from Santa Barbara County in the San Luis Obispo County, and supports over 4,000 vehicles a day. Most of it is a low water crossing that runs through the riverbed, which means that during heavy storms or when the river is flowing, the bridge washes out.”

In order to improvement conditions, Santa Barbara County is planning a total overhaul of the road around the Santa Maria River, including the construction of a new and vastly longer bridge.

“The new bridge will be nearly a half-mile long and will span the entire channel,” said Wageneck. “It will avoid being flooded during heavy storms and will be smooth sailing across the whole channel.”

In addition to improved driving conditions, the new roadway will also include new features for pedestrians and bicyclists as well.

“Another important part of this new bridge is that it will provide more access for pedestrians and cyclists, including a connection to the the future multi-use path that will run along the levee that will connect the cities of Guadalupe and Santa Maria,” said Wageneck.

To help the public learn more about what is officially called the Bonita School Road Bridge Replacement Project, Santa Barbara County is holding a community meeting that is scheduled to be held near the project site early next month.

“We’re holding an open house to discuss the project with the public on August 7th at 6 p.m. at Bonita Elementary School,” said Wageneck. “We’ll present an update on the project’s development, along with a presentation with latest design plans, the project right of way, the schedule and next steps. We’re looking forward to get input from the community, their thoughts on it.”

Residents who live near the project site are receiving mailers this week that provide a quick overview of the project, along with details about the upcoming meeting.

Wageneck added the project will be federally funded and is set to begin construction in 2027.

Work is expected to last two years and the roadway will be closed to the public while construction is taking place.

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Senator Crapo Breaks Down Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”

KIFI on July 16, 2025

Stephanie Lucas

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Since its introduction in May, President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill has been a dominant topic in the news. Now that it’s been signed into law, Local News 8 had a chance to sit down with Senator Mike Crapo, and get his take on what he thinks are the most important points of the legislation.

“The bottom line is that we have taken the first big steps to make sure Americans aren’t slammed by a huge tax hike and have given them additional tax cuts,” said Crapo. “We have taken big steps to take this waste, fraud, and abuse out of the Medicaid system without harming the benefits of those for whom it was intended. And we are moving forward now to do the rest of the work to try to bring our national debt under control.”

One of the tax strategies from the bill Senator Crapo referred to is the Tax Cuts and Job Act, also known as the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts. The cuts reduced income tax rates across various brackets, with the top rate at 37% and the bottom at 10%. If the cuts were not extended, rates would have reverted to pre-2017 levels, which were higher.

“We made the TCJA permanent,” said Crapo. “The TCJA is the 2017 tax law, which put a supercharged capital formation in the United States. What that means is it generated not just economic growth but more jobs, higher wages, more benefits, and lower unemployment.”

Crapo says waste and abuse in the Medicaid system are being reformed in several ways.

“One of the pieces of our bill, or Medicaid reforms, says that if you are illegally in the United States and are not a United States citizen, you cannot qualify for Medicaid, and you must be taken off the rolls. And believe it or not, there are several million people in America, most of them in states like California, that intentionally put them on the rolls who are being paid Medicaid.”

Senator Crapo also addresses an issue of redundancy within the system.

“There’s another set of people, people who are signed up for Medicaid benefits in more than one state, two or three states. Now, many times, that’s just because they left the state and moved to another state. And we’re just taking their names off the rolls. So they’re only on the roll in one state.”

As far as a reduction in the national debt, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee says, “the way to deal with [it] is to increase the growth in our economy and generate greater revenue to our Treasury and to reduce the spending. Both have to happen. Both were done in this bill, and the Council on Economic Advisors has estimated that the economic growth that will be generated by this bill’s policies will over the next decade, yield about an additional $4 trillion of revenue to the Federal Treasury, all of which can be utilized to reduce our national debt.”

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One-on-one with a top Colorado football recruit

KRDO on July 16, 2025

Bradley Davis

BRANDON, Miss. (KRDO) – Preston Ashley is a top 100 recruit on ESPN for the 2026 class.

He’s from a town called Brandon, Mississippi, just outside of Jackson. He watched his idol, NFL legend Deion Sanders, on the Jackson State sidelines. He plays cornerback and wide receiver.

He also happens to know KRDO13’s Bradley Davis from his time covering sports in Mississippi.

KRDO13’s Bradley Davis interviewing Ashley in Mississippi before Ashley’s sophomore season.

He took some time on Tuesday to catch up and talk about committing to play for Coach Prime in Colorado. Make sure to take a look at the final question.

“Y’all overlapped in Jackson. Did you talk about that at all?” Davis asked.

“The only thing that we talk about in Jackson was how good the food is down here. Yes, sir. But we really just talked a lot about Colorado. Ashley said. “But he made sure to implement some things from Jackson in Colorado for sure.”

“Me and my dad, we used to go to the games when Coach Prime was coaching in Jackson. I’ve always been such a big Coach Prime fan. I always wore the little bandanna that he wore.”

“I’m Preston Ashley. AKA, Deion Sanders,” Ashley said in a video from grade school while wearing a bandana like Sanders used to.

“Growing up, I wore 21. Then, I wore 2 because that’s the number he wore in college. Getting to play for my childhood hero is a tremendous blessing.”

“Obviously, you don’t have to talk me into how cool Colorado is, but how was that pitch to get you to come to somewhere like Boulder?” Davis asked.

Being from the South in Mississippi, you don’t think of Colorado being this crazy beautiful place. We were driving in Boulder when I was going on my official visit. I’ve never seen mountains in my life. I’ve always been around big cities and stuff like that. Then I was like, ‘What is that white stuff on the mountain?’ One of my coaches, who was driving us, was like, ‘Preston, that’s snow.’ It blew me and my family away. I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”

“The pitch to Colorado was, ‘If you want to go to the NFL, if you call yourself a dog, if you call yourself the best, why not come to Colorado?’ and, all those things, I truly know about myself.”

“People in Colorado. Buffs fans. What do they need to know about Preston Ashley?” Davis asked.

 “You’re getting the next closest thing to Coach Prime, I promise.”

Ashley opens his final high school season with a state title rematch Aug. 29 against the Tupelo Golden Wave. He said he hopes to score a touchdown on offense and defense.

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Boone County Fair using weapons-detection system loaned by Columbia Public Schools

KMIZ on July 16, 2025

Erika McGuire

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The first night of the Boone County Fair kicked off Tuesday evening with the use of a weapons detection systems loaned by Columbia Public Schools.

CPS loaned the fair a total of four systems and two-to-four will be used depending on the day and volume of fair goers. It’s an upgrade from last year when the fair used hand held weapon scanners that took time away from fair goers.

Boone County Fair President Matt Lewis said safety is a top priority and the process is to get in with the walk-through systems is simple.

“Knowing what’s going on with big events we decided safety was going to a big priority to us this year,” Lewis said. “So when they get there this year, they’ll go through the gate, walk down and go through the first scanner. As long as everything is clear, they’ll go right into the fair. If there’s any detection, they’ll go through a secondary scanner,”

Fair organizers say the change will make getting into the fair quicker and more efficient—especially after an incident last year that raised safety concerns.

“We had a little incident last year and after that we decided to step up our security measures and so we reached out to CPS and we were able to get body scanner to prevent stuff that happened in the past,” Lewis said.

The fair last year amended safety measures the third day of the event after an “incident with youth” occurred. Previous reporting shows that a “scuffle” occurred between two attendees, but vendors told ABC 17 News at the time that police handled the situation and the youth were allowed to leave.

Lewis said a private company will operate the weapons detection system each night of the fair, which runs through Saturday from 5-10 p.m. each night at 5212 Oakland Gravel Road.

Columbia police officers and Citadel Security will also be on site to provide extra security.

Fair Manager Jessie Kempf said the fair expects between 10,000-15,000, guests so lines could forum at the gate but the visitors can help speed things up.

“We’ll do our best to get people through and if visitors can make it easy for us by following those no backpacks and clear bag guidelines that would help us out as well,” Kempf said.

Clear bags no larger than 6-by-12 inches are allowed, along with diaper bags and medical bags. But coolers and backpacks are not allowed, and there’s no re-entry once you leave.

The Boone County Fair must return the four weapons detection systems to CPS by Sunday.

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