Barnett man killed in Morgan County crash

KMIZ on July 29, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Barnett, Missouri, man died from injuries he suffered in a single-vehicle crash on Tuesday morning in Morgan County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the crash occurred on Route AA, north of Jones Creek Road. The crash occurred as a 2007 Pontiac Torrent – driven by the 32-year-old man – was heading northbound and went off the right side of the road. The driver then overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go off the left side of the road and hit an embankment, the report says.

The vehicle then overturned and ejected the driver, the report says. The man was flown to University Hospital in Columbia, where he was pronounced dead.

The report says he was not wearing a seatbelt. The Pontiac was totaled. MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.  

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Staying on vaccine schedules is important for children before they had back to school

KMIZ on July 29, 2025

Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In less than a month, more than a million children across Missouri will be shoving notebooks into their backpacks, sharpening their pencils and walking down the halls of their schools for the new school year.

While having all the right supplies on the first day is important, making sure you have all your immunizations is crucial.

The Immunization of School Children law requires Missouri students to get their immunizations to attend any school, except those granted religious and medical exemptions. Dr. Laura Morris with MU Health Care said the state relies on the recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices for vaccine scheduling to the CDC, following the national standard.

The following immunizations are required and listed by the Department of Health and Senior Services for students kindergarten through 12th grade for the 2025-26 school year:

DTaP: Missouri students heading into kindergarten need five doses of DTaP, with the final dose given on or after a child turns 4, according to DHSS. A final dose of pediatric pertussis needs to be administered before the child turns 7 years old.

DTaP is a combination immunization given to children under seven years old and protects children from diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough), according to the nonprofit organization immunize.org. Diphtheria and pertussis can spread from person to person, whereas tetanus enters the body through a cut in the skin.

Missouri schools also accept DTP and DT in place of DTaP. DTP is used in low- and middle-income countries and was phased out of the U.S. when DTaP became the standard. DTa1 does not include the pertussis immunization, and is administered to children who can’t receive the Pertussis vaccine due to a medical reason, according to the CDC.

DTaP trains the immune system by introducing chemically inactive toxins and purified fragments of bacterium found in the infections the immunization fights to the immune system. This mimics the infection without causing the disease, so the body is ready to fight it if exposed to the real disease later, according to research from the CDC.

IPV(Polio): Missouri students need four polio vaccinations with the last dose on or after their 4th birthday and at least six months apart from each shot, according to DHSS. IPV is a series of shots filled with inactive or killed, poliovirus that trains the body to fight the highly contagious disease, according to the CDC. It allows the body to create proteins to fight the live disease if exposed. This will not give you the disease, but you may have mild side effects like fever, pain and swelling where the shot was given.

MMR: A combination immunization that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. DHSS requires students to receive 2 doses total, with the first dose administered anywhere between 12-15 months and final dose between 4-6 years old. Measles, mumps and rubella can cause fever, rash, pneumonia, meningitis, birth defects and more, according to the Cleveland Clinic. According to DHSS, there have been seven confirmed cases of measles in Missouri this year.

Hepatitis B: Missouri students need three hepatitis B immunizations before the start of kindergarten. You must wait at least four weeks between dose one and two, at least eight weeks before two and three, wait at least 16 weeks between one and three and the final dose must be given no sooner than 24 weeks old, according to DHSS. Hepatitis B is a contagious virus that can cause a liver infection, causing short-term and long-term issues like liver failure, cirrhosis and cancer.

Varicella: Following CDC guidelines, Missouri students need two doses of the Varicella immunization, with the first dose being given on or after twelve months old and the final dose being before four years old. Varicella is a highly contagious virus that causes an itchy rash with blisters, fever and fatigue.

Tdap booster: One dose required for incoming eighth graders. According to the CDC, Tdap is only for children seven years old and up, and should receive the shot around 11 and 12 years old.

MCV booster (Meningococcal): One dose for eighth graders or after 11 years old and two doses for 12th graders unless one dose was given at 16 years old, then only one dose is required for 12th graders.

Vaccine
Age needed by
What it protects against
Doses

DTaP
Pre-K
Diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough)
5 last dose given on or after 4th birthday

IPV
Pre-K
Polio
4last dose given on or after 4th birthday

MMR
Pre-K
Measles, mumps and rubella
2last dose given on or after 4th birthday

Hepatitis B
Pre-K
Viral infection that can cause liver inflammation/damage
3last dose given between 6-18 months

Varicella
Pre-K
Chicken pox
2last dose given on or after 4th birthday

Tdap
Eighth grade
Booster shot to continue protection against diphtheria, tetanus (“lockjaw”) and pertussis (whooping cough)
1

MCV
Eighth grade12th grade
Meningococcal disease
2one dose required after 10-years-oldsecond dose required by 12th grade the latest.

Data provided from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

A four-day grace period is allowed before vaccine due dates, according to DHSS. Students can also be considered “in progress” if they have begun the immunization process and have an appointment for the next dose on record. These students must have an immunizations in progress form (Imm.P.14).

Missouri does allow medical and religious exemptions and paperwork is required for both. If a Missouri school were subject to an outbreak of a preventable disease, under Missouri law, those children can be excluded from school.

An uninsured child can get free vaccinations through the Vaccines for Children Program, funded by the CDC. Lynelle Paro, Bureau Chief of the Missouri Bureau of Immunizations, said children can receive free immunizations through the program as long as they are Medicaid-eligible, do not have health insurance, are an American Indian or Alaskan Native, or are underinsured.

While vaccine-preventable diseases have started to spread more nationwide in recent years, misinformation is also spreading. A common misconception DHSS addresses is the idea that immunizations aren’t necessary because the disease is rare now. While yes, certain diseases are rare in the United States, they can be more common to catch in foreign countries or by being exposed to folks from other countries who may not be vaccinated against the disease. Certain diseases are rare in the United States because of vaccines, and if vaccine distribution were stopped, diseases could spread very quickly.

Another misconception is that children can get sick from getting an immunization, but Morris said that is not true. A majority of vaccines given are inactive and incapable of giving you the infection. You may have some mild side effects, like a sore arm at the injection site or a slight fever, which typically go away quickly.

“It is a good sign that your immune system is reacting to the vaccine,” Morris said. “Your immune system has been activated, but you’re not infected and you’re not contagious, so those are important considerations that even if you don’t feel great for a day or two while your immune system reacts to you and creates immunity against that vaccine product, it’s not the same thing as being sick.”

Health officials recommend that any parent or guardian who has questions or concerns about vaccines should contact a health professional, like a pediatrician, pharmacist, nurse, family doctor or other licensed health care provider.

“It’s been our life’s work to make sure we understand this and we want to take care of you and your family, so asking those questions and reaching out right now is a great time,” Morris said.

While these vaccines are mandatory for students to go to school, the latest reports on immunization rates in Missouri show those numbers are falling.

Multiple counties in Mid-Missouri are reporting certain immunization rates falling below the threshold for herd immunity. Herd immunity is reached when 90-95% of a community is fully vaccinated against a vaccine-preventable disease. Without it, the chance for an outbreak rises.

“For dropping school vaccination rates, there’s a certain level and when you drop below that the outbreak becomes more likely and at some point, even inevitable,” said Dr. George Turabelidze, who is an epidemiologist at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The threshold is different for different vaccines. Measles, for example, needs 95% of a community to be fully vaccinated against the disease for herd immunity.

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Oregon counties, cities and AFSCME union call on governor, top lawmakers to fix and stabilize transportation funding

KTVZ on July 29, 2025

Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — In a unified call to action, the Association of Oregon Counties, the League of Oregon Cities and Oregon AFSCME sent a joint letter to Governor Tina Kotek, Senate President Rob Wagner, and House Speaker Julie Fahey, urging both immediate and long-term action to stabilize statewide transportation funding.

The joint letter, sent last week, is in response to the proposed legislative transportation fix to be considered during the August 29 special legislative session.

Here’s the rest of the news release KTVZ News received Tuesday:

“Oregonians across the state rely on a safe, reliable transportation system to access critical services like schools, emergency services, healthcare, and jobs,” said AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “Without sustainable funding, local governments will be forced to cut services, defer maintenance, and compromise safety on Oregon’s roads.”

The letter underscores the shared responsibility between state and local governments for maintaining Oregon’s transportation infrastructure, and calls on lawmakers to protect the long-standing 50/30/20 State Highway Fund (SHF) distribution formula — which allocates transportation revenue between the state (50%), counties (30%), and cities (20%).

The state, counties and cities share responsibility for road maintenance and transportation support throughout the state. Local governments are responsible for the maintenance of over 44,000 miles of road.

Key concerns raised in the letter include:

Staffing Shortages: Counties alone have already lost over 700 operations and maintenance staff since 1990. More than 400 new county road workers are needed today to meet basic service levels.

Deteriorating County Infrastructure: Without intervention, over 4,500 miles of county roads will miss critical maintenance within five years, leading to exponentially more expensive reconstruction. Nearly 170 county bridges will go without critical maintenance work, and heavy vehicles will have to be turned away to avoid collapse and injury.

City Struggles: LOC estimates that 40% of city streets are already in poor or very poor condition. Most cities already face financial distress and lack the flexibility to address the shortfall.

Worker Impact: Oregon AFSCME represents roughly 60% of the state’s county and city employees, including 800 transportation workers whose positions are directly supported by gas tax revenue.

The organizations urge legislative leaders to take two actions:

Pass a short-term funding solution during the August special session that preserves the SHF distribution and prevents further harm to local transportation services.

Commit to a bipartisan, transparent and inclusive process leading to a long-term, comprehensive statewide transportation package in the 2027 session that stabilizes and modernizes core transportation funding for the long term safety of average commuters and the workers who support them, rain or shine, throughout the year.

“We’re ready to be at the table for the tough conversations ahead,” said Joe Baessler, Executive Director of Oregon AFSCME. “Adequate investments must be made to ensure Oregonians have safe and reliable access,” continued Baessler.

“AOC appreciates that the legislature is taking near-term action this summer to avert transportation service cuts,” said AOC Executive Director Gina Nikkel, “and counties are committed to working with our partners to pass a long-term, comprehensive package in 2027 that addresses the structural inadequacies in the State Highway Fund and allows local governments to fund the operations, maintenance, and preservation activities necessary to keep Oregonians safe on our shared system into the future.”

“For my community, the impact on local emergency response must be resolved ASAP! ODOT is the lead agency that facilitates evacuations, and we have over two more months of wildfire season left. They also play a critical role in keeping the state highways open during the winter season. Without funding for ODOT and our own city, our community is at risk of losing access to essential goods and services. The proposal from Governor Kotek presents a short-term benefit, but we must keep our focus on a long-term funding solution to reinvest in communities across Oregon.” -Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz

The full letter is below.

Oregon AFSCME is the fastest-growing union in our state, representing more than 40,000 workers, spread across worksites in every corner of Oregon. AFSCME members work at OHSU, cities and counties, for the State of Oregon, in behavioral health, and other sectors. AFSCME members work for the public good of our state and fight for economic and social justice for our members, their families, and all Oregon workers.

AOC LOC AFSCME Support for Transportation Special Session 7.23.25Download

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Desert Regional and Hi-Desert nurses host informational picket to rally for workplace improvements

KESQ on July 29, 2025

Haley Meberg

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– Registered nurses at Desert Regional Medical Center and Hi-Desert Medical Center will join in on a statewide mobilization by Tenet Healthcare Corporation nurses for fair contracts that improve patient safety and nurse retention.

On Thursday, July 31, Desert Regional Medical Center Registered Nurses and Hi-Desert Medical Center Registered Nurses will hold an informational picket with hopes of raising awareness in their communities about management’s refusal to ensure appropriate staffing and training.

This event will take place Thursday, July 31, from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on 1150 N Indian Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. 

California Nurses Association reports that in this picket they hope to spread understanding of how these conditions impact the quality of patient care and the retention of experienced nursing staff. 

“Tenet nurses across California are fighting for their patients and their communities,” said Sandy Reding, RN and a president of CNA. “Tenet’s multibillion dollar profits are made on the backs of nurses who give tirelessly day-in and day-out and the patients who they are shortchanging. Tenet can afford to provide the necessary resources to improve both the retention of experienced nurses and the quality of care at its hospitals. Union nurses across California stand in solidarity with their demands for appropriate staffing and training.”

Tenet nurses are in contract negotiations and are bargaining for safer working conditions and training requirements to improve the quality of work conditions. 

Cal Nurses remind the public the picket is not a strike but an informational event representing nearly 3,000 nurses at six Tenet Healthcare Corporation hospitals. 

The events will take place across six facilities in the Bay Area, Central Valley, and Inland Empire. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates. 

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Victims of Shady Fire speak out

KESQ on July 29, 2025

Gavin Nguyen

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Days after the Shady Fire broke out in Thermal, some families in the community are still without utilities after the fire damaged their homes.

One family whose home was damaged by the fire said they remained without power, water, and gas. According to the family, their landlord provided a $600 check after the fire, but has not been able to provide other help, like temporary housing, water, or food.

They said they have been forced to sleep in their cars and must shower using a hose they connected about a hundred feet away.

“We have nowhere to go,” one of the family members said in a phone call.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from the victims of the fire and the struggles they are now facing.

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Lightning sparks 14 fires across Central Oregon; 12 are caught fast, crews still fighting 2 as more storms are due

KTVZ on July 29, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Storms rumbling through Central Oregon Monday brought hundreds of lightning strikes that have ignited more than a dozen fires so far – most stopped by crews at a very small size, but two that were still being fought Tuesday.

Officials said Tuesday, “Interagency resources responded to a number of smoke reports throughout the afternoon and into the evening, which resulted in 14 confirmed fires. Twelve of these fires, which cumulatively burned approximately eight acres, have been contained.

Firefighters continue work to suppress the Boulder Fire, two miles north of Juniper Butte east of Prineville, and the Kiwa Fire, three miles east of Katalo Butte and west of Bend. 

Today, firefighters are prepared to respond to holdover fires that may have resulted from yesterday’s lightning and any new starts that may result from incoming lightning this afternoon.

Visit the official source for wildfire information in Central Oregon at centraloregonfire.org for wildfire updates or follow fire information on X/Twitter @CentralORfire. Call 9-1-1 to report a wildfire. For smoke and air quality information, visit fire.airnow.gov.

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Historic Yuma Theatre to host Yuma Rocks 2025

KYMA on July 29, 2025

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A show will be highlighting local bands in September.

Yuma Rocks 2025, presented by the Yuma Art Center, is set to celebrate the local music scene.

Five Yuma bands were selected through submissions and will be performing at the Historic Yuma Theatre.

The bands selected are:

Carbon Copy

Coffin Up Blood

JL

The Valentines 

The Mystic Fusion

Locals are invited to watch the performances on September 5, 2025.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

All ages welcome and concessions will be available for purchase.

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New St. Joseph Landfill cell open and in use

News-Press NOW on July 29, 2025

News-Press NOW

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The new “Cell 8” at the St. Joseph Landfill has been accepting household waste after an accelerated construction period took place to complete the work.

The work, deemed necessary after the previous cell filled quickly, was a multi-month project.

The first loads of trash were placed in Cell 8 on Tuesday morning. The city received a letter late last week from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources approving the cell’s use.

The city noted that the landfill has seen a sharp increase in usage over the last decade. The amount of trash received there doubled from almost 105,000 tons in 2015 to more than 215,000 tons in 2024, causing the previous cell to fill up more quickly.

While construction on the new cell began three years ago, city employees had difficulty keeping up with construction due to staffing needs.

At the beginning of 2025, city leaders decided to accelerate the cell’s construction and brought in an outside agency, MCON, to finish the work.

“We’re excited to announce the opening of Cell 8. I want to recognize Superintendent of Solid Waste and Recycling Darkota Cloud, who joined our team at the beginning of the year and has done a fantastic job leading his team and the charge on this project,” said Abe Forney, director of public works and transportation. “I’d also like to thank MCON, the construction contractor, for their outstanding work in excavating the new cell and assisting with every step needed to get it open…”

In a news release, the city said the first five feet of waste in the new cell will be household trash only. Construction-related trash is being diverted to other areas of the Landfill, temporarily; however, it will be relocated to Cell 8, along with some trash that has been allowed to be stacked vertically about usual limits in Cell 7.

The new Cell 8 is expected to have a lifespan of three to five years. Landfill staff have already started construction on Cell 9 at the facility.

The current permitted landfill area for future cells is anticipated to be adequate for the city’s current needs for the next 20 years.

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Fire in Grover Beach displaces multiple people and destroys two apartments Tuesday

KEYT on July 29, 2025

Jarrod Zinn

GROVER BEACH, Calif. – A fire in Grover Beach destroyed at least two apartments and injured a few people as they evacuated this morning.

There was a close call, as one woman had to jump from a second-story window to escape the flames.

Neighbors helped each other get away from this fire safely, and we have video of the moments leading up to one victim’s harrowing escape.

In it, you can see a woman who lives at the apartment building on 14th Street was clinging to a second-story window as flames spread through the building.

The call came in around 9:30 Tuesday morning.

Firefighters arrived and immediately focused on making sure everyone was out.

“The fire originated somewhere to the rear of the back building, and their first priority was rescue,” says Five Cities Fire Authority Chief Scott Hallett.

Firefighters weren’t the only ones involved in the rescue effort. 

Corey Clendenen told us how he helped catch a woman who had to jump from the second story.

“I was thinking in my head, I don’t have an extension ladder anymore, so I obviously wasn’t going to get up there fast,” says Clendenen. “I was just doing what I guess I felt I need to do, I don’t know, out of reaction.”

We’re told a couple of other people jumped from the second story as well. 

Eight to ten people have been displaced.

“I know there was one animal, one small dog that was impacted,” says Chief Hallett. “I believe the dog survived.”

Everyone got out and only two people were transported away with minor injuries, but two whole apartments, including the home of a mother and her children who were about to start school, are gone.

“Next, real big priority is seeing what residents will need assistance from Red Cross,” says Chief Hallett. “And so we anticipate we’ll probably be here most of the day, making sure the fire is fully extinguished, conducting our investigation and assisting the occupants.”

Responders contained the fire by noon. 

An exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Crews have reopened the road and the scene has been secured while they continue their investigation.

A GoFundMe has been established to assist those who lost their homes and property in this fire, and donations of any size are welcome.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On OurMobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for theNews Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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Historic newspaper images of Old Spanish Days create a journey through the past of Santa Barbara’s biggest event

KEYT on July 29, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif – For the first time, Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara can be viewed through a collection of newspaper images and preserved pages.

Project Fiesta! is the latest exhibit at the Santa Barbara Historical Museum.  

It dates back to the Morning Press and Daily Independent papers in the 1920’s and continues through the detailed history of the Santa Barbara News-Press in the 1930’s up until the paper stopped publishing in July 2023.

The archives were recently obtained by the museum and specific Fiesta images were curated for this event.

Santa Barbara Historical Museum Executive Director Dacia Harwood said, “the quality is amazing. This is very much this a photo journalist exhibition what you see here is about a thousand photos of the 20,000 that we brought into our collection.”

This exhibit is a selection from the includes thousands of images captured by photojournalists who’ve documented Old Spanish Days Fiesta for generations. They had unique access to the upclose shot locations.

“The photo journalists at the time really captured the joy and the splendor if you will, of Fiesta,” said Harwood.

The photos are in displays sorted by events including El Desfile Historico, Fiesta Pequena and the Fiesta Children’s Parade. Some of the lost memories come back live through this exhibit.

Harwood said, “guests coming in and recognizing  their parents on the walls of the exhibit  or their friends and reminiscing on these events that have really stayed the same for 100 years.”

The Museum Director of Education Emily Alessio showed some behind the scenes images that may be part of the exhibit another time. “You can look and see people hanging out of the windows,  we have some photographs of people sitting on the roofs which  would never happen today.” That was when the spectator numbers were estimated to be 115,000.

Through the years, a special collectors edition program was inserted in the paper.

Alessio said, “you could pick up a  program that Old Spanish Days Fiesta  put out or you could pick up one of these programs that the News Press would put out.” They were larger than pocket-sized programs and considered a full-size guide with pictures. In the early days there were “garden tours” as part of Fiesta and those were featured as well.

The exhibition is dedicated in memory of the late historian Erin Graffy de Garcia. She was called, “a tireless advocate for illuminating and preserving Santa Barbara’s incredible Fiesta history.”

The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday.  More information can be found at: Project Fiesta!

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