Bus stop-arm violations are up, Madison school district urges drivers to pay attention

KIFI on August 14, 2025

Ariel Jensen

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — School is in session for some, while others are getting ready to head back.  That means school buses will be on the road as well. The Madison School District is reminding drivers is asking drivers to pay attention to their surroundings as they are moving around 3,200 kids every school day.

“We just want the general public to be aware that the school buses are going to be out on the roads delivering our students, and our goal is to get them there as safely as we can. And we want to make sure that they’re watching out for the buses so that students aren’t getting hit or injured,” said Brandon Caldwell, Transportation Director for Mandison School District 321.

One of the biggest issues they are seeing is that people are ignoring a very important sign.

“They run the stop signs. I’ve had that happen several times,” said Les Hill, Driver/Safety supervisor and Trainer.

In 2024, in the Madison school district alone, they had over 100 stop arm violations with cars illegally passing our school buses. 

“They’re not only endangering themselves and the public around them, but I’ve got a bus full of kids that I’m responsible for,” said Hill.

Local news 8 did a ride-along on a school bus; we made over 10 stops to see how drivers respond. Local news 8 caught two drivers breaking this rule, and we’re told this was actually a good day for them.

If you run the bus’s stop sign and you think you got away with it, think again. 

“Currently, we have about a quarter of our fleet outfitted with stop arm cameras. We currently have 12 brand new buses that we’ve received in the last year, and all of those are outfitted with forward-looking dash cameras out the windshield and stop arm cameras as well on the sides of the bus,” said Caldwell.

The same rules used at stop lights apply to school buses. Yellow means slow down, and red means stop.

As of last year, Idaho increased the fine to $300 for the first offense, but you can’t put a price on a child’s life.

The three main trouble spots they see in Rexbug are Pioneer Road, where they see on average 6 to 8 stop arm violations a day, Highway 33 going out west of town, and then 12th West between Main Street and University. 

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Fire along the Bend Parkway believed to have been intentionally set, possibly with fireworks

KTVZ on August 14, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — An intentionally set fire, possibly involving fireworks, broke out along the Bend Parkway and was stopped quickly by fire crews on Wednesday afternoon.

The fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. beside the northbound parkway south of Reed Market Road.

“Fire crews were able to stop it quickly before it threatened any structures,” Bend Fire & Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Dan Derlacki told KTVZ News.

It burned about a quarter-acre, he added.

One northbound lane of the parkway was closed for about a half-hour during firefighting efforts, causing traffic to quickly back up.

Derlacki said Bend Police are investigating the intentionally set fire, possibly involving fireworks. Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact police at 541-693-6911.

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Rigby man sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for receiving child pornography

KIFI on August 14, 2025

News Release

The following is a news release from Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott’s office:

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Caleb Sickinger, 45, of Rigby, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today.  

According to court records, in November 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents in Alabama arrested an individual on charges of coercion and enticement and possession of child pornography. In a post-arrest interview, the individual told FBI agents that he had received images of child pornography from a “woman” in Idaho. His communications with the “woman” revealed her name and included images of her. FBI agents in Idaho received this information and began an investigation. Agents identified the “woman” and also identified the child depicted in the child pornography. Agents obtained and executed a search warrant at the woman’s residence in Rigby, Idaho. However, none of the electronic devices recovered or email addresses used by the woman matched the evidence from the investigation.

Agents eventually learned that the woman had not been involved in the crime. Caleb Sickinger, who was a police officer at the time, ultimately admitted to falsely assuming the woman’s identity—without her knowledge—by utilizing images from her social media account. Sickinger also admitted to obtaining images of the child from social media and having the images digitally altered to appear as child pornography. Sickinger then distributed those altered images to the individual in Alabama. 

Chief U.S. District David C. Nye also ordered Sickinger be placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life following his prison sentence. Sickinger will be required to register as a sex offender. Sickinger pleaded guilty to the charge on April 8, 2025.

“This defendant victimized a child and her mother in committing this horrible crime,” Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott said. “I commend the cooperative efforts of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agents who identified him as the perpetrator and held him appropriately accountable.”

“Every image and video created and shared perpetuates the abuse of a child who will carry that trauma for the rest of their lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI is unwavering and united with our partners in the fight to protect our children from predators who seek to exploit and harm them.”

“I want to thank my ICAC investigators, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our local and federal law enforcement partners for their efforts in securing today’s outcome,” said Attorney General Labrador. “Idahoans are safer today because of their hard work and dedication to protecting our state.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pocatello, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett prosecuted this case.

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Car Week brings increase sales to local restaurants

KION on August 13, 2025

jose.romo

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Restaurants in Monterey are seeing a sales boost with tourists visiting for Car Week. Many workers in the restaurant industry see this as an opportunity, but have to work more hours to welcome the thousands of tourists that flow into the peninsula.

“Visitors that are here, you know they are visiting the 35-plus Car Week events, but they’re also discovering new places in the peninsula, in the county,” says Sandy Hurta with See Monterey. “It’s a great time for local businesses.” 

Wednesday morning, restaurant workers at Monterey’s El Torito worked hard to prep ahead of welcoming tourists and car enthusiasts during their busy times.

“We’re starting off the week with a 3% to 5% in sales. And that’s just because we are just starting the week, so we can only imagine how much it is going to increase for the weekend.  

Leslie Gallegos, Assistant Manager at El Torito, adds that their location has seen an increase in people calling in for reservations. She says usual wait times increase to roughly 30 to 45 minutes around 8:30 pm when car meets come to an end. 

“Es es más trabajo, incluso es más presión, más, más estrés,” Sous Chef Andres Perez says that with more clients, more preparation hours are needed. He says that stress builds up among kitchen staff, and he puts it upon himself to ensure the kitchen is a controlled chaos.

“We usually start hiring way before to get ready for this time, so when it comes to this time, we’re already ready,” adds Gallegos. “The preparation starts early in the week to get ready throughout the weekend. Since we make everything fresh, it’s a lot of work. But we are staffed up.” 

Car week is a highly anticipated event for the restaurant industry, and staff at this location share that they proactively hire between 15 to 20 people to assist with their increased sales. They say their biggest challenge, “we don’t have enough seating to take care of everyone, but it would be that our obstacles I wish we had more seating, even outdoor seating, and then our wait times, of course, when it gets busy.” 

Sandy with See Monterey adds that this week serves as a great padding for local businesses. 

“We see a lot of our hotels generating a lot of their income for the rest of the year during this time, and the same thing for the workers and local hospitality businesses. Sometimes, car week is that little push for the rest of the year,” Huerta adds. 

See Monterey adds that car week is of great help to the overall local economy. Since 1950, they say that the Concours d’elegance has generated $43 million for local non-profits and hospitals in the area.

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“Use Your Teacher Voice”: D91 educators rally amid contract dispute

KIFI on August 13, 2025

Seth Randal

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Teachers lined the sidewalks outside of the Idaho Falls school district office this afternoon to bring attention to the ongoing negotiations over teacher pay. At least 75 teachers and supporters gathered outside the district’s regular school board meeting.

Several were carrying signs, with others wearing shirts saying “use your teacher voice.”

The move comes a week after the Idaho Falls Education Association (IFEA) voted to reject a proposed salary and benefits agreement. Lengthy negotiations between the IFEA and the Idaho Falls School Board have dominated the weeks ahead of the new school year.

The lengthy negotiations between the association and the Idaho Falls School Board have dominated the weeks ahead of the new school year. Many teachers say they feel like they are not being valued and supported.

In our past discussions, district officials have emphasized their dedication to fostering a positive environment for both teachers and students. As the new school year approaches, the board and teachers’ union are expected to resume negotiations to secure a sustainable agreement.

For more details on the ongoing negotiations, click HERE. 

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FIRST ALERT ACTION DAY: Increased chances for showers & thunderstorms across the desert

KYMA on August 13, 2025

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) – The National Weather Service (NWS) has extended the extreme heat warning to remain in effect until 8pm this evening. Therefore, our Weather Authority First Alert ACTION DAY will continue through this evening for the Desert Southwest, as we will need to take action for the dangerously hot conditions. NWS reports afternoon temperature highs of 110 to 115 degrees.

The major heat risk increases chances of heat related illnesses. Reduce overexposure to avoid heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

According to NWS, there’s increased chances for shower, and thunderstorm chances will continue and expand westward through most of Southern Arizona for Thursday and Friday. Some storms could be strong to severe primarily on Friday.

NWS reports temperatures will drop closer to seasonable averages by Friday and heat back up above normal next week.

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Evacuation alert lowered to Level 2 on 50-acre Pine Fire in SE Crook County as lines hold overnight

KTVZ on August 13, 2025

KTVZ – News Team

(Update: Evacuation level lowered, lines hold overnight)

POST, Ore. (KTVZ) — Firefighters working through the night held the lines on the 50-acre Pine Fire that broke out Wednesday in southeastern Crook County, sheriff’s deputies said Thursday morning as the evacuation alert was lowered from Level 3 GO NOW to Level 2 GET SET in the area.

Here’s the sheriff’s office’s 9 a.m. update:

Fire crews worked through the night, successfully holding the fire lines. While there is still fire activity within the established perimeter, crews are making steady progress in containing it. Helicopters, engines, dozers, and personnel remain active in the area. For everyone’s safety, please avoid the area as suppression efforts continue.

Crook County Emergency Management will continue to work with the Fire Incident Command and provide information as it comes in. Continue to monitor the Crook County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, Genasys, and Watch Duty for any updates.

POST, Ore. (KTVZ) August 13 — A new fire, named the Pine Fire, broke out Wednesday afternoon southeast of Post in Crook County’s Maury Mountains and quickly grew to about 50 acres, prompting a Level 3 GO NOW evacuation in the area.

The Level 3 evacuation was issued for Zone CRR-7S-E by the Crook County Sheriff’s Office. The zone can be viewed on the Watch Duty map & on the Genasys Evacuation Map.

The sheriff’s office said the evacuated area is on SE Pine Creek Road (Forest Service Road 17), south of Pine Creek Reservoir to the FS RD 17/150 spur.

Level 3 GO NOW evacuation zone (Map courtesy Crook County Sheriff’s Office)

Central Oregon fire officials issued this fact sheet:

UPDATED: 8/13/25 3:33 p.m.

Start Date: August 13 at 12:18 p.m.

Location: 44°05’28.9″N 120°24’13.7″W

Between the Maury Mountains and Hwy 380, along Pine Creek Road

Jurisdiction: BLM Prineville District, Crook County

Fire Size: Approximately 20 acres. Fire behavior has moderated. Crews are making good progress.

Cause: Under investigation

Fuels: grass, juniper and timber. Increasing fire activity and torching

Structures: no structures threatened

Fire Crews/Resources: 3 engines, 2 dozers, air attack, 2 Type 1 helicopters, 6 SEATS (Single Engine Air Tankers), 1 Type 1 helicopter, 2 eight-person hand crews, 2 Type 2 IA crews, the local RFPAs (Rangeland Fire Protection Associations), and the La Grand Hotshots have been ordered.

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.

UPDATE: New information from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office was posted on Facebook concerning the Pine Fire.

CCSO Emergency Management is on scene of the Pine Fire located on SE Pine Creek Road (Forest Service Road 17) in Post. Currently, there is a 20+ acre fire actively burning. CCSO Emergency Management is working closely with Forest Service Fire Incident Command and monitoring the growth of the fire.

Currently, there are ground crews, dozers, skidgens, and air attack on scene.

At this time the fire is burning on Forest Service land and there are no threats to any subdivisions out in the Post area. We ask that the general public avoid the area due to the large volume of fire personnel and equipment in the area.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A new wildfire, named the Pine Fire, is burning an estimated 20 acres in Crook County as of Wednesday afternoon.

The fire is located near NF-17, south of the Paulina Highway.

Details about the fire’s cause and containment are limited at this time.

No structures are immediately threatened, and no evacuations have been ordered.

Stay with the platforms of KTVZ News for urgent updates as more information becomes available.

Another fire, the Glass Butte Fire, broke out on BLM Prineville District-managed land in Lake County. Here’s the fact sheet on that fire:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2025

UPDATED: 8/13/2025 4:11 p.m.

Start Date: August 13 at 1:27 p.m.

Location: 44°02’17.5″N 121°18’30.6″W

 South of Hwy 20 near Glass Butte area

Jurisdiction: BLM Prineville District, Lake County

Fire Size: 5 acres. Fire behavior is active with a low rate of spread.

Cause: Under investigation

Fuels: grass, brush and sage

Structures: no structures threatened

Fire Crews/Resources: 5 engines, 1 dozer, 1 load of smoke jumpers, air attack, 4 SEATS (Single Engine Air Tankers) and 2 helos have been ordered,

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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Insight Health steps away from lease-to-purchase talks with Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital

KION on August 13, 2025

Jeanette Bent

SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital out of San Benito County announcing further challenges Wednesday afternoon.

They said that the former interested buyer, Insight Health, is stepping away from lease-to-purchase negotiations because of the shifting, federal financial landscape.

Insight saying that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) recently signed by President Trump has created unprecedented uncertainty for rural healthcare.

“OBBBA has created a level of uncertainty for us here in San Benito County that we have never seen before,” said Mary Casillas, HHMH CEO. “While we have yet to fully understand OBBBA’s impact, we know it has affected the potential transaction with Insight and is having similar consequences for rural hospitals across California and the nation.”

The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform saying that nationwide, nearly one-third of rural hospitals are in danger of closing. To break it down, that’s 700 at-risk with an additional 300 considered at immediate risk.

This comes after much turbulence by San Benito County voters to approve the hospital’s sale to Insight in the last election. 

“I’m disappointed, of course.”

Mary Casillas is the CEO of Hazel Hawkins.When she took over in 2022, the hospital was in dire financial straits, with only a days worth of cash on hand.

“We were able to do some financial restructuring and really take a look at our revenue and our expenses and make some alterations to put us in a better place. So we are in a slightly better place at this point.”

She said things were looking further up with Insight Health poised to come on as a partner.

“They were very excited to grow services in san benito county, which we need desperately. They had plans in place to look at recruiting physicians to bring in to do that growth of services.”

But that would cost money, and now $137 billion in cuts are expected to hit rural health providers like Hazel Hawkins.

A Hollister mother said there’s already a lot to be desired at her only regional hospital.

“They’re definitely mismanaged and not trained. Definitely. And they’re not a clean hospital,” said Brittany Marie.

Lots of folks said they regularly drive to either Gilroy or Salinas just to avoid Hazel Hawkins.

“I took my boyfriend at the time all the way to Gilroy at 1:00 in the morning, just because I knew instead of going there and sitting seven hours in the ER, we got seated immediately, put in a room, immediately got the x-rays that were done an hour and a half,” said Marie.

Casillas said her hospital had already cut some services in the past couple years, and now the future is more uncertain even as they continue to look for a new partner to replace Insight.

“We’ll just have to do a reassessment and see what the best thing is for the district and rural health care. It’s very early in the projections of what? These cuts. We know they’re starting in October. But it’s projected in about two years to really see the cuts start to come,” said Casillas

Medi-Cal coverage is among the most impacted by the federal cuts, which means the hospital could find itself in a financial hole when they treat people who can’t pay.

Casillas said she’s got meetings lined up with several other rural hospitals in the next couple of days, to share stories and talk about best practices to survive the cuts.

She emphasized that there’s no chance Hazel Hawkins will close.

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Bend man arrested in stabbing assault on younger brother; woman also facing charges

KTVZ on August 13, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Bend man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on assault and other charges, accused of stabbing his older brother in the lip early Wednesday morning, police said.

Around 1 a.m., Bend Police responded to a report of a domestic dispute. Neighbors at an apartment building in the 600 block of NE Bellevue Drive reported hearing a loud argument, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said in a news release.

When officers arrived, they encountered a 21-year-old man who reported he’d been stabbed in the lip by his brother, 19-year-old Marcus Randall Slocum, who had left the scene, Miller said.

The knife used in the incident was recovered at the apartment, and the victim was treated and released by Bend Fire & Rescue medics at the scene. 

Miller said officers learned Slocum was likely at an apartment in the 2000 block of Linnea Drive, and members of the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team responded to the complex to join patrol officers in attempting to locate the suspect. They conducted a search of the apartment and did not find Slocum, Miller said.

Around 1:30 p.m., officers saw Slocum return to the Linnea Drive apartment. He was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Deschutes County Jail on charges of second-degree assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon.

Kennedy Emily Lacy, 19, also of Bend, was with Slocum when he was arrested and was cited and released at the scene for resisting arrest, hindering prosecution and interfering with a peace officer. 

Court records show Slocum pleaded guilty in March to fourth-degree assault and was allowed to enter the Domestic Violence Diversion Sentencing Program.

 

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La Pine motorcyclist killed in collision with SUV at the intersection of Burgess and Huntington roads

KTVZ on August 13, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: Adding video)

La PiNE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A La Pine man was killed in the weekend collision of his motorcycle with an SUV at the intersection of Burgess and Huntington roads, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Wednesday.

On Saturday at around 12:30 p.m., deputies responded to several 911 calls reporting a serious crash involving a motorcycle at the intersection, Public Information Officer Jason Carr said.

Witnesses told deputies a blue 2005 Yamaha motorcycle operated by Jacob Werner, 44, of La Pine, was traveling at a high rate of speed eastbound on Burgess Road.

Carr said an investigation determined that Werner failed to stop for a red light and collided with a maroon 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee as its driver was making a left turn onto Huntington Road.

“Werner died at the scene, despite lifesaving efforts from first responders,” Carr said.

His passenger, a 44-year-old La Pine woman, sustained serious injuries and was transported by La Pine Fire to St. Charles Bend, where Carr said she was listed in stable condition.

The 75-year-old male driver of the Jeep and his 73-year-old female passenger, both of La Pine, were uninjured. They remained at the scene and fully cooperated with the investigation.

“Speed has been determined to be the leading contributing factor in this crash,” Carr said.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by La Pine Fire District and the Oregon State Police.

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