Bend Elks to put on big fireworks show after Thursday night game at Vince Genna Stadium

KTVZ on July 4, 2025

Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Nothing says summer like baseball and fireworks, and the Bend Elks have both Thursday night.

Around 9 p.m., the team will hold its annual fireworks show at Vince Genna Stadium. The celebration will light up the sky for about 20 minutes after the Bend Elks take on and defeat the Walla Walla Sweets.

The game starts at 6:35 p.m., so the fireworks are expected to begin just after 9 p.m.

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Medicaid cuts in ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ could devastate Missouri’s rural hospitals, drive coverage losses

KMIZ on July 4, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The recently passed federal budget bill, known officially as H.R. 1 or the “One Big Beautiful Bill” is drawing criticism from Missouri health care leaders and public officials, who warn that the legislation’s deep Medicaid cuts could lead to widespread coverage losses and strain already struggling rural hospitals.

The bill, now awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature, includes nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other health programs over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That reduction is expected to impact nearly 17 million people nationwide, including tens of thousands in Missouri.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the bill could exacerbate already existing health disparities in the state.

“We have real public health needs that if we’re kicking tens of thousands of Missourians off of Medicaid, will be exacerbated,” Lucas said. “I visited with our safety net hospital in Kansas City, the university health system. They talked about how they will have to make very difficult choices on the services they provide. Most of their recipients are on Medicaid.”

In June, Lucas urged Missouri senators to consider the real-world effects of the cuts.

“Listen to the people of a place like Lexington, Missouri, where our senior senator grew up, listen to the people there who need access to health care, who don’t want to have to drive miles and miles and incredibly long distances to have a safety net hospital that is still open and hasn’t been destroyed by health care cuts,” Lucas said.

The Missouri Hospital Association estimates the legislation will cut as much as $5.7 billion from MO HealthNet — the state’s Medicaid program — throughout the next 10 years. The cuts include a phased reduction in provider taxes starting in 2028 and caps on state-directed hospital payments, which together could result in a $1.2 billion annual loss to the state’s health care system, when fully implemented.

Despite support from Republicans Gov. Mike Kehoe and Sen. Josh Hawley for a five-year, $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program included in the bill, the MHA projects that any gains will be outweighed by the Medicaid reductions by 2030.

Rural access in jeopardy

Missouri is already grappling with a rural health care crisis. From 2014 to 2023, 12 hospitals in rural counties closed, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The state has 161 licensed hospitals serving a population that ranks 18th in the U.S.

Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) said the bill could accelerate that trend.

“Rural hospital closures, that is an epidemic in this state,” Aune said. “There are folks who have to drive hours to receive emergency care in this state. Think about that. Think about having a heart attack in rural Missouri and having to drive three, four hours just to receive care somewhere adequate.

“We are talking about life-saving health care access being absolutely denied to Missourians across the state and not for nothing.”

Work requirements could add to coverage losses

The bill also includes work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients, a measure that has been widely criticized by health experts.

Republican Rep. Bob Onder, who practiced medicine for more than 30 years, defended the bill in May, saying that it preserves Medicaid coverage while implementing crucial reforms.

“I can tell you there is a lot of waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program,” Onder told ABC 17 News during a visit to Columbia on May 30. “But what the Big Beautiful Bill did not do is cut Medicaid. It did really two major reforms, both of which I think are a good idea. One is to require regular eligibility checks to make sure that those who are on the rolls are actually eligible. And No. 2 is reform work requirements, modest work requirements for able-bodied working-age adults. The traditional Medicaid is completely unaffected by the bill.”

Onder also insisted the changes wouldn’t leave people uninsured. 

“We’re just no longer sending a check to an insurance company for someone who doesn’t exist,” he said. “I think the overwhelming majority of those folks will get jobs. In the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, a study by the Brookings Institute showed 80% of folks got jobs with work requirements. And two years later, on average, family household income had doubled.”

However, Chiquita Brooks, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said similar work requirement policies have already led to massive coverage losses in states like Arkansas.

“Let’s be clear, establishing work requirements in Medicaid will make it harder for eligible people to keep their coverage,” Brooks said. “In 2018, research shows that about one-in-four Medicaid enrollees in Arkansas lost coverage in the first seven months — about 18,000 people — after the state implemented work requirements.”

Brooks also warned of unintended consequences for families and children.

“I’ve spoken with family caregivers who struggled to keep up with the exemption paperwork so that their disabled relatives can keep their coverage. Parents losing eligibility can inadvertently result in children losing coverage too — as high as 1.5 million children can lose their Medicaid coverage as a result of the work requirements in this bill.”

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, nearly two-thirds of Medicaid recipients already work.

Impact on Missouri’s health infrastructure

Missouri hospitals rely heavily on Medicaid funding to operate. The University of Missouri System’s financial data shows Medicaid accounted for 24% of payments in 2023, and 16% in 2024.

Aune said removing people from coverage doesn’t just hurt patients — it puts financial pressure on the entire system.

“When folks are removed from health coverage, it drives premiums up. It drives out-of-pocket costs up. And frankly, it compromises the overall quality of care that Missourians receive in this state,” she said.

As the Missouri Hospital Association continues to analyze the bill’s 900 pages, CEO Jon Doolittle said hospitals across the state will need to brace for challenging years ahead.

“Missouri’s share of these cuts will harm those covered by Medicaid, all Missourians’ access to health care, the ability of hospitals to provide services, and our state’s budget,” Doolittle wrote in a statement.

While H.R. 1 offers potential boosts to rural care through the transformation program and adjustments to the Medicare physician fee schedule, the long-term future for Missouri’s most vulnerable patients — and the hospitals that serve them — remains uncertain.

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Idaho Falls teams up with Community Food Basket for 4th of July Donations

KIFI on July 4, 2025

Ariel Jensen

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The city of Idaho Falls has agreed to support the Community Food Basket in the 4th of July parade again this year.

Mayor Rebecca Casper, members of the city council, and volunteers will be collecting donations along the parade route tomorrow.

They are asking for monetary donations this year, in place of canned food donations. 

The team will accept cash and digital contributions through Venmo. 

The community food basket says this year, they really need the donations.  

“We just run some numbers last week, and we are down 160,000 pounds last year the same time frame to this year, but serving more people. And we’re just struggling. We never want to have to tell someone who really needs food that we don’t have it,” said Ariel Jackson, executive director of the Community Food Basket. “Donations from grocery stores are down, donations from the community are down because people are just trying to maintain themselves. And it’s hard to give. But we could really use the support of the community right now.”

Volunteers will also hand out flyers featuring the community food basket’s “most needed items,” along with a QR code linking to their Venmo for quick and easy electronic giving.

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Injunction blocks Missouri’s abortion ban again; some previous restrictions remain

KMIZ on July 3, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Jackson County Judge has granted an injunction that once again OK’s abortion care under Missouri law.

Voters this past November approved Amendment 3 and along with it a right to an abortion. In May, Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ended a ruling that stopped the enforcement of state abortion regulations.

The ruling in May determined that Judge Jerri Zhang applied the wrong legal standard when she approved a preliminary injunction in December 2024 to block the enforcement of state laws while the case is litigated.

Zhang on Thursday ruled that the “threat of irreparable harm is especially apparent in the context of abortion care” and that language from Missouri’s previous total abortion ban “is directly at odds with Amendment 3.”

The injunction blocks the abortion ban, doesn’t get rid of all restrictions presented by the state, including a stipulation barring physician’s assistants and advanced practice registered nurses from performing the procedure, as well as the “same physician” and in-person visit requirements.

The ACLU and Planned Parenthood supported the decision.

““While the clarification on the standard is welcome, its immediate consequence temporarily pulled back implementation of Missourians’ constitutional right to access abortion care and providers’ right to offer that care,” Gillian Wilcox, Director of Litigation at the ACLU of Missouri, said in a press release. “This critical win begins to restore abortion access in our state, but Missourians must be vigilant and defeat the attacks on the constitutional rights that we secured at the ballot box last November.”

“Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,” Emily Wales, president and CEO, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. “Care starts again on Monday in Kansas City. We’re not stopping until every Missourian can get the care they need, close to home.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote on his social media that he intends to appeal the decision.

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Check back for updates.

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One person has died after an explosion caused by fireworks at a Simi Valley home Thursday

KEYT on July 3, 2025

Andrew Gillies

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Fireworks sparked an explosion that killed one person and ignited a house fire Thursday afternoon in the 1600 block of Edmund Street in Simi Valley, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Firefighters responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an explosion around 11:48 a.m. Crews arrived to find a structure fire, with flames spreading from the garage into the attic and main areas of the home. The fire was fully knocked down by 12:42 p.m.

The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office is working to identify the deceased and notify next of kin.

According to the Simi Valley Police Department, fireworks caused the explosion. Police have asked the public to avoid the area while crews continue overhaul operations.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Tri-Counties Warn Central Coast to Prepare for Wildfire Smoke Impacts this Summer

KEYT on July 3, 2025

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura County Air Pollution Control Districts regarding air quality warnings this wildfire season.

TRI-COUNTIES, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo County, and Ventura County Air Pollution Control Districts (APCD) encourage residents to prepare for potential poor air quality caused by smoke now that the area has entered peak wildfire season.

Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles known as particulate matter that can travel hundreds of miles. These particles harm the lungs and heart and can cause coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulty, chest pain, nausea and, in severe instances, premature mortality. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, kids, and pregnant women are especially sensitive.

The best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible when smoke is present. Take these steps to stay safe:

Know local air quality conditions.

For current air quality conditions and dailyforecasts, visit and bookmark your air district’s website.

San Luis Obispo County APCD — www.slocleanair.org/air-quality/air-quality-forecast

Santa Barbara County APCD — www.OurAir.org/todays-air-quality/

Ventura County APCD — www.vcapcd.org

You can also view current conditions – including from PurpleAir sensors at the neighborhood level — on the AirNow Fire & Smoke map, available in English and Spanish: fire.airnow.gov.

Sign up for Air Quality Alerts and notifications through your air district:

Santa Barbara County APCD — OurAir.org/subscribe (Available via text and/or email, in English and Spanish)

San Luis Obispo County APCD — SLOCleanAir.org/air-quality-alerts

Ventura County APCD — vcapcd.org/#enews (Ventura County Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Text Alerts — Sign up by texting “SMOKE” for English or “HUMO” for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.)

2. Smoke-proof your home.

Create a clean air room by putting a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifier in a room where you spend a lot of time, like a bedroom. These can reduce particulate matter indoors by 90%.

 They can be purchased at hardware stores or online retailers.

Make sure that the device doesn’t create ozone. Find a list of safe options at https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm.

Choose a make and model suited for your room size. HEPA purifiers for an average-sized bedroom cost about $75.

Replace the filter as directed in the owner’s manual. Filters need to be replaced more frequently if used during a wildfire.

Assembling a do-it-yourself version of an air purifier for a clean air room can be a more affordable option, with materials costing about $40. This DIY version has been shown to reduce harmful particulate matter indoors similarly to a HEPA purifier:

Use tape to attach a 20-by-20-inch MERV 13 air filter — like what you would use for an HVAC system — to the back of a 20-by-20-inch box fan. Attaching to the back of the fan creates a better seal. Use a 2012 or newer fan due to safety features.

Check the direction of the air flow, which is marked on the side of the filter.

As needed, disassemble the fan to wipe away dirt.

Don’t leave the device unattended.

Turn off the fan while sleeping.

Use the device modified in this way only as an air cleaner, not as a fan to cool your home.

Check windows and doors to ensure the room is sealed tightly so smoke does not get pulled inside. Weatherize your home in preparation for wildfires by sealing leaky windows and doors.

Upgrade the filter in your HVAC system to a filter rated MERV 13. Check and replace that filter regularly.

Avoid activities that create smoke or pollution indoors, such as smoking, using your wood-burning fireplace, and burning incense or candles. Use your range hood while cooking.

People with health conditions should talk to their doctor to develop a personal plan for wildfire smoke.

3. Find a Clean Air Center near you if you can’t create a clean air room at home.

Find the one closest to you at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

Traducción en español:

La area de los TRES CONDADOS, Calif. – Los Distritos de Control de la Contaminación del Aire (APCD) del Condado de Santa Bárbara, el Condado de San Luis Obispo y el Condado de Ventura alientan a los residentes a prepararse para la posible baja calidad del aire causada por el humo, ahora que el área ha entrado en la temporada alta de incendios forestales.

El humo y las cenizas de los incendios forestales contienen partículas muy pequeñas, conocidas como material particulado, que pueden viajar cientos de kilómetros. Estas partículas dañan los pulmones y el corazón y pueden causar tos, sibilancias, dificultad para respirar, dolor en el pecho, náuseas y, en casos graves, muerte prematura. Las personas con enfermedades cardíacas o pulmonares, los adultos mayores, los niños y las mujeres embarazadas son especialmente sensibles.

La mejor protección contra el humo de los incendios forestales es permanecer en casa el mayortiempo posible cuando haya humo. Tome estas medidas para mantenerse seguro:

Conozca las condiciones de calidad del aire locales

Para conocer las condiciones actuales de la calidad del aire y los pronósticos diarios, visite y marque como favorito la página de internet de su distrito.

APCD del condado de San Luis Obispo — www.slocleanair.org/air-quality/airquality-forecast

APCD del condado de Santa Bárbara — https://www.ourair.org/pronosticos-ycalidad-del-aire-de-hoy/?lang=es

APCD del condado de Ventura — www.vcapcd.org

También puede ver las condiciones actuales, incluiendo la de los sensores PurpleAir a nivel de vecindario, en el mapa de incendios y humo de AirNow, disponible en inglés y español: fire.airnow.gov.

Regístrese para recibir alertas y notificaciones sobre la calidad del aire a través de su distrito aéreo:

APCD del condado de Santa Bárbara — https://www.ourair.org/subscribase-a-lasalertas-noticias-y-avisos/?lang=es (Disponible vía mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico, en inglés y español.)

APCD del condado de San Luis Obispo — SLOCleanAir.org/air-quality-alerts

APCD del condado de Ventura — vcapcd.org/#enews (Alertas de texto sobre el humo de los incendios forestales para trabajadores agrícolas del condado de Ventura: regístrese enviando un mensaje de texto con la palabra “SMOKE” para mensajes en inglés o “HUMO” para mensajes en español, mixteco y zapoteco al 855-522-0034.)

2. Proteja su hogar del humo.

Cree una habitación con aire limpio instalando un purificador HEPA (filtro de aire de partículas de alta eficiencia) en una habitación donde pase mucho tiempo, como un dormitorio. Estos filtros pueden reducir las partículas en el interior hasta un 90%.

Se pueden comprar en ferreterías o por internet.

Asegúrese de que el dispositivo no genere ozono. Encuentre una lista de opciones seguras en: https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm.

Elija una marca y un modelo adecuado para el tamaño de su habitación. Los purificadores HEPA para una habitación de tamaño promedio cuestan aproximadamente $75

Reemplace el filtro según las instrucciones del manual del usuario. Los filtros deben reemplazarse con mayor frecuencia si se utilizan durante un incendio forestal.

Armar un purificador de aire casero para una habitación con aire limpio puede ser una opción más económica, con materiales que cuestan alrededor de $40. Se ha demostrado que esta versión casera reduce las partículas nocivas en interiores de forma similar a un purificador HEPA.

Use cinta adhesiva para fijar un filtro de aire MERV 13 de 50 x 50 cm (similar al que se usa en un sistema de climatización) a la parte trasera de un ventilador de caja de 50 x 50 cm. Fijarlo a la parte trasera del ventilador crea un mejor sellado. Use un ventilador del año 2012 o posterior por sus características de seguridad.

Verifique la dirección del flujo de aire, que está marcada en el costado del filtro.

Según sea necesario, desmonte el ventilador para limpiar la suciedad.

No deje el dispositivo desatendido.

Apage el ventilador mientras duerma

Utilice el dispositivo modificado de esta manera sólo como purificador de aire, no como ventilador para refrescar su hogar.

Revise las ventanas y puertas para asegurarse de que la habitación esté bien sellada y no entre humo. Prepárese para los incendios forestales sellando las ventanas y puertas con goteras.

Actualice el filtro de su sistema HVAC a un filtro con clasificación MERV 13. Revise y reemplace ese filtro periódicamente.

Evite actividades que generen humo o contaminación en interiores, como fumar, usar la chimenea de leña y quemar incienso o velas. Use la campana extractora mientras cocina.

Las personas con problemas de salud deben hablar con su médico para desarrollar un plan personal para el humo de los incendios forestales.

3. Encuentre un Centro de Aire Limpio cerca de usted si no puede crear una habitación con aire limpio en casa.

Encuentre la más cercana a usted en: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

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Mild conditions for the holiday, possible evening fog for coasts and coastal valleys

KEYT on July 3, 2025

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – As we head into our Thursday evening, wind speeds are looking to remain mild which is good news for fire crews to get hold of the Madre fire which has burned over 35,000 acres. The Madre fire is currently 5% contained.

For 4th of July weather conditions are expected to be near normal with temperatures slightly below average for this time of year. For the coasts and coastal valleys, early morning and late evening marine layer is looking to be persistent. There is a chance watching fireworks may be difficult by the evening.

Temperatures will be toasty inland sitting around high 80s to low 90s, while valleys will remain in the 70s and 80s and for the coasts in the 70s. Light sundowner winds will pick up per usual by the afternoon, but will remain on the calmer side.

As we head into the weekend, conditions will stay similar, with some areas slightly dropping in temperatures. headed into next week, First Alert Weather is tracking a mini heat wave, expected to arrive by mid week.

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Drive Sober: Bonneville County increases patrols to prevent holiday impaired driving tragedies

KIFI on July 3, 2025

News Release

The following is a press release from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies are mobilizing through the holiday weekend to intercept intoxicated motorists. Partnering with the Office of Highway Safety for this event helps place extra Deputies on our roads during the 4th of July weekend who can look for and respond to reports of drunk drivers. 

 Far too many of area fatalities and serious injury crashes involve impaired drivers. Tragedies that can be avoided if people celebrate responsibly and avoid getting behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking or using drugs. Making the smart choice to plan for a safe ride home in your weekend events only takes a moment, which could mean the difference between enjoying more life moments in the future and permanently stopping them. 

Don’t risk it, celebrate responsibly, help your friends and family celebrate responsibly. If you suspect someone is driving a vehicle while impaired, contact your local Law Enforcement and be a good witness. 

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Help 911 Help others this Fourth of July

KIFI on July 3, 2025

Ariel Jensen

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – The fourth of July will be a busy day for a lot of people, but especially for 9-1-1 dispatchers.

Every year on the Fourth of July, the number one 9-1-1 calls are about fireworks complaints. 

This is a real issue for the officers in dispatch. The 4th of July is a day when they also get a lot of calls for life and death emergencies. 

Jefferson County says there are only so many 911 lines that come through the dispatch center. So, if you are calling 9-1-1 and there’s a major emergency, those 9-1-1 lines could be tied up, preventing you from reporting the emergency.

“It’s always a big deal around here. We have a huge celebration in Menan. There are celebrations all throughout the valley. And if you don’t have an emergency, please don’t call 911. We don’t want to discourage anybody from calling in reporting things, but we also don’t want to tie up those 911 lines and cause problems for real emergencies,” said Jennifer Fullmer, Jefferson County Sheriff PIO.

If you absolutely need to make a complaint about fireworks noise, they ask that you call their non-emergency line.

That number is 208-745-9210 ext.7

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Bend-La Pine Schools reminder: Fireworks are prohibited on all school campuses

KTVZ on July 3, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-La Pine Schools said Thursday it would like to remind residents and visitors that the use of fireworks is not permitted on school grounds, including playgrounds, fields, parking lots and sidewalks.

Here’s the rest of their announcement:

This applies to all our Bend properties, which fall under the City of Bend fireworks ban, as well as our campuses outside of Bend city limits, including our schools in La Pine and Sunriver.

Discharging fireworks is prohibited due to safety concerns, risk of fire, potential for property damage, and litter from spent fireworks. In previous years, district maintenance teams have needed to clean up messes left from the discharge of fireworks on school property, including aerial fireworks that land on school roofs.

Security personnel will patrol school district properties on and around the Independence Day holiday. In Bend, fireworks complaints may be directed to fireworks@bendoregon.gov.

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