Crowd at Harrisburg town hall has sharp criticism for U.S. Rep. Alford

KMIZ on August 28, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

HARRISBURG, Mo. (KMIZ)

A town hall crowd that packed the Harrisburg Lions Club was sharply critical of U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-Raytown), his congressional votes, and his support of President Donald Trump and his policies.

Alford, whose district includes about half of Boone County, held the event Wednesday night as part of his town hall tour, which features 15 stops in four days. A stop in Fayette is on the Thursday schedule for the final day of the tour. 

“I think a lot of lawmakers, not just Republicans, but Democrats as well, don’t really want to get out because it’s gotten so heated and so hectic,” Alford told ABC 17 News. 

Earlier this year, the National Republican Congressional Committee advised it’s members to avoid town halls. Since the August recess, less than 20% of the 219 House Republicans have hosted any type of town hall. 

“Two ladies said in this town hall tour ‘It takes a lot of courage to do this’, No it doesn’t this is our job,” Alford said. “This is a heavily Republican district. They sent me to Washington.  But I point out to everyone, when you get into this office, it’s not just about representing the people that you sent there. I represent everyone in this district, and I’m not going to agree with everyone, but I still want to hear your viewpoint.” 

Over 100 people packed the Lions Club in Harrisburg to speak with Alford, in an event that grew contentious at times. The line of people wanting to speak was so long that Alfrod stayed an extra hour after the event was set to end to answer questions. 

Many attendees urged Alford to host a town hall in Columbia, something Alford said he would consider next year. 

Key topics discussed during the Harrisburg event included the ‘Big Beautiful Bills’ impacts on healthcare and President Donald Trump’s move to send the national guard into cities to fight crime.

“He really did not answer those questions. You know, he said ‘I don’t like tariffs’, but yet he voted for it.  People brought up health care, but he didn’t answer those questions,” Alice Turner said after the event. 

On rural healthcare, Alford highlighted a $50 billion transfer fund he says will help communities. But town hall attendees noted the bill also cuts $880 billion from Medicaid, the largest health care cut in U.S. history.

“The future is very dim and I hope Mr. Alford is listening tonight to this opposition,” Turner said. 

Alford said he supported Trump’s decision to send in the National Guard to Los Angeles, saying it was necessary to protect the lives of ICE officers. He also pointed to the success federal troops have had in Washington D.C, saying that carjackings were down 87% since they arrived. 

However, some constituents in Harrisburg pushed back, saying that Trump claimed to care about “law and order” but did nothing when an angry mob stormed the U.S Capitol on January 6, and even pardoned people who attacked police officers. 

“I’ve seen a lot of things on my time on earth but I have never seen the things we are witnessing now in this country,”  one man told Alfrod at the town hall. “It’s no longer the Republican party that you’re in, you’re now in the Trump party.” 

However, Alford told ABC 17 News that he would still be open to the National Guard being sent to Missouri in cities like Kansas City and St. Louis where crime is “out of control”. 

“I think if Mike Kehoe, the governor who campaigned on law and order, who campaigned on having a secure and safe Missouri, would want the president to come in ahead of FIFA and the World Cup, where we’re going to have millions of people here in Missouri that don’t normally live here from all over the world. I think that’s a good idea,” Alford said. 

Kehoe has spoken with the Trump administration about possible redistricting. While it could give Republicans another House seat in the Kansas City area, it might also make Alford’s district more competitive. Alfrod told ABC 17 that he is staying out of the redistricting fight. 

“This is between President Trump, Governor Kehoe, and the state lawmakers,” Alford said. “I truly believe that every district should represent the will of the people in that district. And if the state legislature redraws the boundary line, no matter where that ends up for the fourth Congressional District, Missouri,  I promise to fight hard for those people in that district. “

Watch a replay of the event live stream here.

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Rashee Rice suspended for first six games of season

KMIZ on August 28, 2025

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended for the first six games of the 2025 season.

According to ESPN, the NFL said on Wednesday that Rice accepted a six-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy after he pleaded guilty to a 2024 Dallas crash. The suspension is without pay.

This means he will be eligible to return ahead of the game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 19th in Week 7.

Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years’ probation for his involvement in a crash that left multiple people hurt.

Rice will not appeal the suspension, according to ESPN. This will also cancel a hearing set for Sept. 30 at the NFL’s headquarters in New York.

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AI-powered investigative tool created at Cal Poly nabs Emmy Award for Political Reporting

KEYT on August 28, 2025

Andrew Gillies

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Cal Poly’s Digital Democracy, an artificial intelligence reporting tool working with nonprofit newsroom CalMatters, was awarded an Emmy Award for political reporting.

The award was presented by the Northern California chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and recognized the AI-powered investigative reporting in, “Power is never having to say ‘no.’ How California Democrats kill bills without voting against them” coauthored by CBS correspondent Julie Watts and CalMatters reporter Ryan Sabalow.

The piece examined how state legislators operating under the umbrella of a supermajority avoid directly voting down legislation and instead merely decline to cast a vote, allowing bills to die during a legislative session without a decision being made.

Digital Democracy was created at Cal Poly’s Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy and was relaunched with new AI tools last year.

“I’m humbled and excited to see this recognition and thrilled by the attention it brings to our students and to the future of Digital Democracy,” beamed Foaad Khosmood, a Cal Poly computer science professor and research director at the Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy. “I never expected to put ‘Emmy’ on my resume.”

Cal Poly Professor Foaad Khosmood. Image courtesy of Joe Johnston/University Photographer/Cal Poly

The Cal Poly creation isn’t stopping at investigative journalism in the golden state.

“In May I presented in Baltimore, and we’ve heard from states that want to build the same kind of system,” said Thomas Gerrity, a graduate of Cal Poly’s computer science master’s program and engineering manager for Digital Democracy. “It brings transparency by making it possible to pick out a quote from a hearing without interns combing through hours of video.”

According to Cal Poly, Digital Democracy will expand to Hawaii in a partnership with nonprofit newsroom Honolulu Civil Beat and the team behind the tool intend to launch a newsletter summarizing weekly legislative activity by district.

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Rideshare program provides an alternative to public transportation in Monterey County

KION on August 28, 2025

jose.romo

MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV) — An alternative to public transportation might be coming to Monterey County. Based out of the San Joaquin Valley, Green Raiteros is looking to bridge the gap by providing an equitable, low-cost alternative for farm workers, seniors, and people of low income.

“We wanna make sure that they have access to their critical appointments,” says Rey León, executive director of the Latino Equity Advocacy and Policy Institute.

Stanley Dedini has lived in Greenfield for most of his life and now owns a farm. He says he sees the issue firsthand. “You got a lot of farm workers that some of them even walk to work.” He adds, “We gotta have something in there, public transportation or something like that, and we need the workers. We need the workers here. That’s the guys we need to help.”  

A need for a rideshare system is bringing back the cultural aspect of raiteros along the San Joaquin Valley. Green Raiteros would look to bridge the need for transport, providing farm workers, seniors, and people of low income with an electric vehicle rideshare fleet. 

“Every community should have their own electric vehicle fleet so that they don’t have to have the need to own their own car, and the research that we’ve done it’s over $800 per month to own your own vehicle, more if you are still making payments,” Rey says. He adds their surveys have seen people pollution from cars is perpetuating poverty in a lot of low-income communities. 

Rey says the idea for a ride-sharing program was born from his experience as a raitero for his mother, who is a survivor of cancer. At that time, he recalls driving her to her appointments from Huron to Fresno. 

“When I wasn’t around, it was heart-wrenching because she would call me almost at midnight, saying, ‘hey, my ride’s not going to be able to take me after all.’ You know, I can’t sleep. I’m really stressed out.” He adds that the stress of not having a trustworthy driver for her appointments would hinder her health.

Today, the program covers five counties, from Madera to Kern County. Currently, LEAP is working to expand to Monterey County with two electric vans that can carry three people in wheelchairs. Rey says the first step is to start in the communities of Pájaro and Watsonville with an ambitious goal. 

“What makes the Pajaro Valley special in terms of green raiteros, it’ll be the first site that will count on two electric vans that each have the capacity to hold three wheelchairs. So those people who are not as mobile will have, and will be able to count on electric vans that could take them to their appointments wherever they may be.”

Rey adds that Green Raiteros is working to establish partnerships with other Monterey County cities, as he sees a common need in the community, as in his hometown of Huron.

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Baby Mongoose Lemur Makes Public Debut at the Central Coast Zoo!

KEYT on August 28, 2025

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the Central Coast Zoo regarding the arrival of their newest resident, Koba, the baby mongoose lemur!

ATASCADERO, Calif. – The City of Atascadero and the Central Coast Zoo are thrilled to announce the arrival of a special new resident, Koba, a baby mongoose lemur born on July 4th!

Koba, named after a traditional peanut dessert in Madagascar, is now starting to explore the habitat and can be seen by Zoo visitors. The baby’s sex is not yet known, but Zookeepers will be able to tell in the coming weeks as mongoose lemurs develop distinct beard colors – males have reddish-orange beards, while females remain white.  At around five weeks, young lemurs begin tasting solid foods, mimicking their parents’ fruit-rich diet, which also includes flowers, leaves, and the occasional insect. Koba is expected to be fully weaned by 5 to 6 months of age, and the zoo team will continue to monitor development closely, stepping in only when necessary to ensure natural growth and behavior.

Koba joins older brother Ravi who was born at the zoo last year—one of just three mongoose lemurs born in the country at the time. Their parents, Ernesto, and Camilla are part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Mongoose Lemur Species Survival Plan (SSP). Native to the island of Madagascar, mongoose lemurs are listed as “Critically Endangered,” with fewer than 2,000 individuals estimated to remain in the wild due to habitat loss and hunting.

Mongoose lemurs are native to one of the world’s most unique ecosystems. Madagascar is considered a biodiversity hotspot, home to thousands of species found nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, more than 90% of Madagascar’s original forests have been lost, putting many species at risk. The Central Coast Zoo specializes in animals from biodiversity hotspots—regions that cover only 2.5% of Earth’s land surface but support nearly half of all known species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Through education and conservation, the Zoo works to raise awareness of the vital importance of protecting these fragile ecosystems.

The Central Coast Zoo is announcing new hours following Labor Day weekend!  Beginning Tuesday, September 2, the Central Coast Zoo will adjust its hours of operation. The Zoo will be open Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during non-holiday weeks. The Zoo will remain open on most school holidays throughout the fall and winter. While this change may affect some weekday visits, it allows the Zoo to enhance the visitor experience through improved maintenance, enrichment projects, and habitat upgrades without disrupting guests during open hours. To plan your visit, check our updated calendar here: www.centralcoastzoo.org/zoo-hours.

Close to 100 animal species representing 300 animals call the Central Coast Zoo home, including red pandas, monkeys, fossa, meerkats, parrots, a variety of reptiles and more. The Central Coast Zoo is located at Atascadero Lake Park on Hwy 41/Morro Road, one mile west of Hwy 101. For information, go to www.centralcoastzoo.org or call (805) 461-5080.

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

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MSHP investigating road rage shooting in Saline County

KMIZ on August 28, 2025

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating a road rage incident that led to a shooting and crash on Interstate 70 in Saline County.

Troop A said on social media, the suspect fled the scene and has not been located as of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

No one was hurt in the shooting or the crash, according to the report. The post stated that there is no threat to the public.

🚨Highway Shooting – Saline County 🚨

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s @MSHPTrooperDDCC is investigating a road rage incident which led to a shooting & crash on WB I-70 near US-65. No injuries occurred in the shooting or crash, & there is no ongoing threat to the public. pic.twitter.com/xU9iY2uPhD

— MSHP Troop A (@MSHPTrooperA) August 27, 2025

This is a developing story.

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Video shows Cathedral City police officer attacked with knife; suspect charged with attempted murder

KESQ on August 28, 2025

Shay Lawson

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)  – The Cathedral City Police Department (CCPD) released dramatic video showing the moment a man attacked Officer Marcus Ayala with a knife.

Nathaniel Hanley, Cathedral City Police Commander, said the incident ended with Officer Ayala gaining control of the suspect and arresting him on scene.

He said Officer Ayala is back to full duty.

“He’s fully recovered and back to full duty,” Hanley said. “He received a slight injury during the scuffle, but he was able to come back to duty actually the following week.”

Riverside County jail records reveal the suspect, Juan Francisco Sosa Jr., 29, was charged with attempted murder and robbery.

CCPD said Officer Ayala responded to a 911 call around 3:11 p.m. on July 27 regarding a verbal disturbance between family members.

“The attack happened right as he got to the front door,” Hanley said.

The video captures the struggle and the moment additional officers arrived on scene.

Sosa pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is scheduled back to court on September 3.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from CCPD about the training that prepares officers for moments like this at 10 and 11 p.m.

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SBPL Announces Raíces y Sueños 2025: Raising Awareness and Unity Around Hispanic Immigrant Culture

KEYT on August 28, 2025

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Santa Barbara Public Library regarding their annual Raíces y Sueños (Roots and Dreams) event from September through mid-October

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Santa Barbara Public Library (SBPL) is proud to present the second annual Raíces y Sueños (Roots and Dreams): Raising Awareness and Unity Around Hispanic Immigrant Culture. Taking place from September through mid-October, this vibrant series of free, family-friendly events celebrates the strength, resilience, and contributions of the Hispanic immigrant community.

Following the overwhelming response to last year’s events, this year’s series returns with an even stronger focus on cultural awareness, inclusion, and community connection through music, storytelling, visual art, and workshops.

The series offers a variety of engaging activities designed for community members of all ages. Here are some program highlights to pique your interest:

First Thursday at Central Library: an inspiring art reception with Los Angeles-based Chicana artist Jacqueline Valenzuela.

Library on the Go…at the Airport!: a special Raíces y Sueños stop where we’ll bring a selection of books, community passes, and all the information you need about our upcoming events and library resources.

Día de los Abuelos: a joyful celebration with crafts and storytelling.

Somos Xicanas y Lowriders: a unique event featuring lowrider culture and live readings from SOMOS XICANAS.

Free admission at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art: attendees can participate in hands-on STEAM activities inspired by Latin American culture.

Sabores Saludables Workshop: learn healthy eating habits with dietitian Mary Galindo in an interactive workshop.

Alebrije Workshops: led by Oaxacan artisan Jesús Sosa Calvo, participants can paint hand-carved wooden figures while learning about this rich tradition.

Bilingual Storytimes: enjoy family-focused events at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

To close out the celebration, the Raíces y Sueños Market will bring the community together for a lively day of crafts, performances, and a Young Makers Market showcasing creativity and cultural pride.

We invite the entire community to take part in this meaningful celebration of culture, connection, and unity. All events are free and open to the public, with some requiring registration. Programs will be conducted in English or Spanish as noted.

For more information about program dates and times, visit Raíces y Sueños.

About Raíces y Sueños

Raíces y Sueños (Roots and Dreams) is an annual SBPL series dedicated to celebrating and raising awareness of Hispanic immigrant culture through art, storytelling, workshops, and educational opportunities. The program fosters community pride and encourages meaningful connections among residents through shared cultural experiences.

Traducción al Español:

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – La Biblioteca Pública de Santa Bárbara (SBPL, por sus siglas en inglés) se enorgullece en presentar la segunda edición anual de Raíces y Sueños: Concientizando y fomentando la unidad en torno a la cultura hispana. Esta vibrante serie de eventos familiares y totalmente gratuitos se llevarán a cabo desde septiembre a mediados de octubre y celebra la fortaleza, la resiliencia y las contribuciones de la comunidad inmigrante hispana.

Tras la gran respuesta a los eventos del año pasado, esta edición regresa con un enfoque aún más fuerte en la conciencia cultural, la inclusión y la conexión comunitaria, a través de la música, la narración, el arte visual y talleres.

La serie ofrece una variedad de actividades atractivas diseñadas para miembros de la comunidad de todas las edades. Algunos de los programas destacados incluyen:

Primer Jueves en la Biblioteca Central: una inspiradora recepción de arte con la artista chicana radicada en Los Ángeles, Jacqueline Valenzuela.

La Biblioteca Móvil… en el aeropuerto: una parada especial de Raíces y Sueños con una selección de libros, pases comunitarios e información sobre nuestros próximos eventos y recursos de la biblioteca.

Día de los Abuelos: una celebración alegre con manualidades y narración de cuentos.

Somos Xicanas y Lowriders: un evento único que destaca la cultura lowrider con lecturas en vivo de SOMOS XICANAS.

Admisión gratuita al Museo de Arte de Santa Bárbara: los asistentes podrán participar en actividades prácticas de STEM (ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas) inspiradas en la cultura latinoamericana.

Taller Sabores Saludables: aprende hábitos de alimentación saludable con la dietista Mary Galindo en un taller interactivo.

Talleres de Alebrijes: dirigidos por el artesano oaxaqueño Jesús Sosa Calvo, donde los participantes podrán pintar figuras de madera talladas a mano y aprender sobre esta tradición.

Hora de cuentos bilingües: eventos familiares en el Museo de Arte de Santa Bárbara

Para cerrar la celebración, tendremos el Mercado Raíces y Sueños, el cual reunirá a la comunidad en un día lleno de artesanías, presentaciones y el Young Makers Market, mostrando creatividad y orgullo cultural.

Invitamos a toda la comunidad a ser parte de esta significativa celebración de cultura, conexión y unidad.

Todos los eventos son gratuitos y abiertos al público en general, aunque algunos requieren inscripción previa. Los programas se llevarán a cabo en español o inglés, según se indique.

Para obtener más información sobre las fechas y horarios de los programas, visita Raíces y Sueños.

Acerca de Raíces y Sueños

Raíces y Sueños es una serie anual de la Biblioteca Pública de Santa Bárbara dedicada a celebrar y generar conciencia sobre la cultura inmigrante hispana a través del arte, la narración, talleres y oportunidades educativas. El programa fomenta el orgullo comunitario y fortalece las conexiones cruciales entre los residentes a través de experiencias culturales compartidas.

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

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Downtown Columbia bars increase security ahead of Mizzou home opener

KMIZ on August 28, 2025

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

In less than 24 hours, Memorial Stadium will be jam-packed with black and gold, as the Tigers kick off the 2025-26 season against Central Arkansas.

Downtown is never a scarce scene in Columbia on game days, but with many students left unable to claim tickets after Mizzou Athletics rolled out a new claims process, some think downtown on Thursday could draw even larger crowds.

“We’ve already expected for people to be coming to the bar more, just seeing how quickly they’re sold out,” Assistant General Manager at Harpos Ben Yanak said. “It’s something where for this first game, we’ll just kind of have to go with the flow and just prepare for the future.”

Yanak said the bar can sometimes see 5,000 people come through its doors at night. The bar has recently implemented extra safety precautions, working to ensure people are safe.

“We’ve been in contact with getting some private security for roaming around outside, making sure that all of our customers and everyone on the street is safe,” Yanak said.

Yanak said the bar implemented the outside security at the end of the previous semester. The security works by patrolling the nearby streets and back alleys near the bar. He said it’s something they’re now heavily focused on and are working to collaborate with other businesses downtown on the effort.

People heading into the bar can also expect to be checked with hand-held metal detectors, something the bar has done in previous years as well. The bar also has roughly 70 security personnel working on game days, according to Yanak.

Down the street, MyHouse Sports Bar and Nightclub sits as the official watch party for Mizzou Athletics.

The large crowds don’t come as a surprise to employees, but the bar has also ramped up security heading into the new year and football season.

“As a constantly expanding bar and brand name, we always want to provide the best experience we can to our customers, ” Assistant General Manager for MyHouse Sports Bar and Nightclub Cooper Bridgess said. “We did go out and hire a decent amount more of door guys and whatever positional stuff we needed.”

Bridges said the increased security is to have more faces around the bar. MyHouse will also continue with its practice of using a hand-held metal detector that pats people down when entering the bar to ensure they aren’t bringing in weapons.

Adam Mordica is one of the owners of 9th bar downtown. He said half of the battle of dealing with busy crowds on game day is mental.

“Obviously, all hands on deck. Keep your head on a swivel. We also do our best to keep the atmosphere the way we want it,” Mordica said.

Caroline Ordway is a second-year master’s student at the University of Missouri. Ordway thinks the city of Columbia has done a good job keeping people safe in the downtown area, and is thankful for the changes bars have implemented.

“I remember being here in undergrad and I feel like you could just walk in and out. Purses are checked, people are wanded, I think they’re making definite improvements,” Ordway said.

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“He just charged right at us and started mauling our dog” Dog attack victim in Blackfoot speaks out

KIFI on August 28, 2025

Maile Sipraseuth

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story has been updated and corrected with new information from the Blackfoot Animal Shelter and Rescue:

UPDATE: According to Blackfoot Animal Control, this is inaccurate, as there was only one dog bite reported on the day in question and “there was not even four dog bites in a week’s time.”

ORIGINAL:

BLACKFOOT, IDAHO (KIFI)– A dog attack in Blackfoot has raised questions about animal neglect and full animal shelters. Blackfoot resident Hunter Hatch and his dog, Milo, were victims of one of the attacks.

“While we were walking (the dog), this guy was going into his house. And as he was opening the door, all four of his dogs just came running out,” Hatch said.

All four of the dogs knocked Hatch and his dog onto the ground, injuring them both. After the attack, Hatch went to the hospital and filed a police report shortly after. Upon arriving at the hospital, doctors reportedly said that he was the fourth dog attack they’ve received that day.

All animal shelters in Blackfoot are at capacity. Shelter owners believe that people are not spaying or neutering their pets, along with over-breeding, leaving owners to neglect their animals.

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