ABC-7 AT 4: Peripheral Artery Disease
Nichole Gomez
Voting centers to replace polls in Imperial County
Adrik Vargas
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Imperial County is changing the way people vote, aiming to make it easier and more flexible.
Starting next year, voters won’t be tied to one polling place. Instead, they’ll be able to vote at any voting center in the County, and they’ll have more days to do it.
“I think the advantages lie on the convenience for the voters, it gives them more flexibility,” said Linsey Dale, Registrar of Voters. “We’re hoping that by offering more opportunities to vote in person that it will increase our voter participation.”
The county plans to open 14 voting centers and keep eight 24-hour ballot drop boxes. Imperial is following the lead of Yuma County, which made a similar switch several years ago.
Officials are still deciding exactly where to place the centers, and they’re asking for help from the public.
“We want to hear from the community,” Dale said. “We are looking for locations that are ADA compliant, that are near public transportation locations, and have ample parking. We want them to be convenient for our community.”
For some voters, the changes could make a big difference. Imperial County voter Jillen Kennedy said voting hasn’t always been easy.
“This last time I had to vote, it was one of those things where either I drop it off before I make it into work early in the morning, or it wasn’t gonna get turned in at all,” she said. “So I had to make the choice.”
But she’s hopeful the new system will make things smoother saying, “Especially having expanded hours and places that are designated for you to go that maybe aren’t so difficult to access.”
Public comments and suggestions may be submitted in person at the Registrar of Voters Office, by fax at (442) 265-1062, or by email to VoterServices@co.imperial.ca.us.
Yuma hemp farm opens doors for Arizona agriculture
Danyelle Burke North
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – In Tuesday’s Home Grown report, a local hemp farm in Yuma shows just how vital the plant could be for Arizona’s economic future.
They say this is one of Arizona’s first hemp fiber industry farm tours hosted by the Hemp Industry Trade Association of Arizona (HITA). Local agricultural leaders share how hemp is opening doors for sustainable agriculture and economic opportunity.
Local council members, state leaders, and farmers toured the 20-acre hemp farm.
“It was very educational. I knew nothing about him. How it’s grown. How little water it needs,” said Rep. Mariana Sandoval (D) Arizona District 23.
“It was much more than educational. It was something to take home and talk about it and experience that more and be part of it,” said San Luis Councilmember Lizeth Servin.
Farm owner Daniel Nowell says Yuma’s soil and location make it great for growing and shares some of the items the crops help make.
“We make everything from rope. You can make textiles. I’m wearing a shirt today as well and you can do all kinds of building materials, insulation, carbon composites, supercapacitors. It goes on and on and on the many uses that we can use with industrial hemp,” said Nowell.
Hemp could also be used to build the first school of its kind.
“It’s an incredible material, and it’s exciting that we’re gonna be having the opportunity to create and build the first elementary school made out of hemp,” said Daniel Turbyfill, Secretary for the Hemp Industry Trade Association.
Tour stop number 2 was the condor seed production company where seed is taken.
“We bring it into here, we receive it, and we mill it, clean it, make it a pure product. We package it, and we ship it,” said Condor Seed Operations Lead Chris Tolman.
Locals got to tour the inside of the warehouse.
“I think it is absolutely the future of Arizona. I think it’s a great crop for shade cover, and I think it’s a beautiful crop to have in the field through the summer,” said Turbyfill.
During the tour they officially announced the launch of their adopt an acres of hemp program. The next tour will be a planting and harvesting tour before the end of the year.
The Liaison of Fun: Matt Merritt talks about performing at the California Rodeo Salinas
Victor Guzman
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — Matt Merritt has been rolling around the rodeo circuit for more than 20 years, with multiple stops made at the California Rodeo Salinas.
In an interview with KION on Wake Up, Matt talks about some of his favorite moments and some of the hurdles he’s faced through his travels across all sorts of rodeos.
Big Week Bullriding and General Rodeo tickets are still available.
Bull riding is July 16 from 7 to 9 pm while rodeo times vary from July 17 to the 20th.
For tickets, click here
Southern and eastern El Paso County getting plenty of paving activity this summer
Scott Harrison
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Crews are covering a wide area for six paving or resurfacing projects, between Interstate 25 and the Lincoln and Pueblo county lines.
Recently repaved was three miles of Old Pueblo Road, south of Fountain, between Jordan Road and the turn to Hanover Road.
“It’s been quite a few years,” said Carson Van Cura, who lives in the area. “I’ve been in Fountain for 30 years, and where I live now, I’ve been there for around 15. It’s been quite a while since they’ve paved it. I will say this — they keep up on it. They patch it here and there. And the weather, the biggest thing is the rains.”
The county is designing guardrails to install along the west side of the road, along a low-lying area that drops off toward Fountain Creek.
15 miles east in the Hanover area, crews have finished applying a double chip-seal treatment on two miles of Myers Road between Peyton Highway and Finch Road; KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior has reported several times since February on extensive road damage there caused by old pavement and weather extremes.
That damage covers 11 miles of Myers Road, east to Boone Road, where the paved portion of Myers ends; crews repaved a mile of Myers west of Lauppe Road and have filled dozens of pothole-like depressions along the road.
Also repaved were four miles of Boone Road, north of the Myers Road intersection, near the El Paso/Lincoln county line, around 40 miles east of Colorado Springs.
Some of Boone, north of the paved area, still has significant damage that likely won’t be addressed until next summer.
“We’re paving all over the place,” said Dan Gerhard, a county public works engineer. “We’ll continue to assess things and see where the greatest needs are.”
Visiting the Heritage Museum at the California Rodeo Salinas
Victor Guzman
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) — California Rodeo Salinas Chair Laurie LaVelle talks to KION about the Heritage Museum and some of the old pieces that make up the rodeo’s history.
From the large stage coach display to other displays dedicated to the rodeo queens, athletes and clowns, there’s plenty of history to look back on since the rodeo started in the early 1900’s.
The Heritage Museum is open 4 to 8:30 pm on July 17 and 18, plus 11 am to 4 pm on July 19 and 20. It’s also open by special appointment throughout the year.
Missouri House of Representatives to hold first public hearing on property tax reform
Jazsmin Halliburton
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri House of Representatives will begin a series of informational hearings on property tax reform on Wednesday, which will be held statewide.
The Special Interim Committee will be holding these statewide meetings and encourages Missourians to attend to share their thoughts and perspectives on property tax reform.
The first of six hearings will be taking place on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the State Capitol in House Hearing Room 3. The other hearings will continue across the state.
July 30 — 5:30 p.m. Wallace Center, 325 Harwood Ave, Lebanon, MO
August 13 — 5:30 p.m. Board Room at Union Station, 30 W Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO
August 20 — 5:30 p.m. Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Ave, Clayton, MO
August 27 — 5:30 p.m. Macon Comfort Inn, 1821 N Missouri, Macon, MO
September 3 — 11:00 AM State Capitol, House Hearing Room 3, Jefferson City, MO
According to the Chair of the Special Interim Committee, Rep. Tim Taylor, the committee wants to hear directly from citizens, local officials and stakeholders about how to improve the property tax system, according to a press release.
“The goal of this committee is to work together to find common-sense reforms and solutions that protect homeowners, promote economic stability, and ensure accountability to benefit all citizens of our state,” said Taylor.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Will the Mizzou Tigers reach a third 10-win season?
Matthew Sanders
SEC Media Days kicked off in Atlanta on Tuesday.
The multi-day event is a chance for the powerhouse SEC to show off its football programs, including the Mizzou Tigers.
And this year, the Tigers are gunning for their third straight 10-win season. It would be the first time the program has accomplished the feat.
Do you think they can do it? Let us know by voting in the poll.
Wildfire smoke and your health: Best practices to stay safe outdoors and indoors
Tracee Tuesday
BEND, Ore. [KTVZ] — Where there’s smoke, there’s probably fire! In fact, Central Oregon has one of the most intense wildfire seasons, and it’s not just about dealing with fire, it’s about dealing with smoke.
How much does the smoke affect our skin and our bodies? Medical spa, EsthetixMD, has some answers.
“The smoke can be a big stressor when it comes to skin. It can create inflammation. It can create dryness, dehydration. And if you have any preexisting conditions, it can definitely make them flare up,” said Clinical Manager and Registered Nurse, Cri Tillia.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, smoke also contains carbon monoxide, a gas that blocks oxygen delivery and can lead to headaches, dizziness, nausea and even unconsciousness. How can you protect your body? Your skin?
“Protect your skin with a nice barrier, moisturizer. Use your sunscreen. Even though you don’t see the sun, it’s actually getting to your skin as well. Wash your skin right after being outside. Don’t over wash, because your skin actually has a nice barrier. You don’t want to remove that barrier, but cleanse that smoke,” said Tillia.
One of the other issues to contend with is your HVAC system. How do you get the best out of it during days when you have to ingest and smell heavy smoke?
“It’s important that, if you do have a fresh air intake on your system, and what that does is it brings in fresh air to kind of a mix with your HVAC, that fresh air intake should be turned off And then, it’s really just making sure that you’ve got a nice fresh air filter in there,” said Severson Plumbing Heating AC’s Service Manager, Derek Hickey.
It’s clear, haze can harm more than just visibility, but Central Oregonians, like Prineville resident Mariah Jordan says, by now they’re used to the smoke.
“It’s kind of expected every summer. It’s nothing out of the ordinary.”
The Red Cross says, one of the most important things that we can do to keep ourselves safe is:
Invest in an N95 mask or a mask that filters at least 95% of airborne particles
Stay indoors, away from wildfire smoke especially if you have a pre-existing condition
Stay hydrated
Little primed for a big season for UCSB
Mike Klan
UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Miro Little has the experience, the size and the talent to effectively lead the Gauchos at the point guard position.
“He’s played at Baylor for a year, Utah for a year, now he comes here,” began UCSB head coach Joe Pasternack. “I think getting these guys older, more experienced, they know what college basketball is about is a really huge thing. Miro is a great passer, we are really excited about having a big guard, 6’4 200 pounds.”
Little started 12 games as a sophomore at Utah, scoring a career-high 21 points against rival BYU last March and he tallied a double-double versus St. Mary’s with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
A native of Finland, Little played for their national team at the age of 17.
He cited leadership as his biggest strength.
“I have seen a lot of basketball already in my life, in my early age, my early career,” said the UCSB junior.
UCSB is in week two of an 8-week summer practice session and Little likes what he is seeing from his new team.
“We have built really good relationships already and we are excited to compete and play as hard as we can everyday.”