How Constant Exposure to Violence Online is Worsening Mental Health in Youth

KEYT on September 12, 2025

Alissa Orozco

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Now more than ever, we are exposed to hate and violence than ever before via social media. Videos grow viral at rapid speeds, spreading from platform to platform and sometimes we see videos without even intending to click on them.

This repeated exposure to violent content online can have depleting effects on one’s mental health, especially in kids and teens who frequent social media the most.

Alice Mills Mai, CEO of Centering Wholeness Counseling, says what she sees most often in teens is anxiety, depression, hyper vigilance, and children not being able to differentiate what is on social media and what’s their real life.

“They may take it into their real life as well, which did impact them, they don’t wanna hang around people – social anxiety going out to town, they may feel afraid that ‘oh this might happen to me.’ Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders,” Mai says.

This creates a nightmare not only for children, but for their parents as well, who feel incapable of protecting them from such exposure. But Mai reiterates to parents the importance of checking in with their children.

“Parents are having a very difficult job because they cannot control what their children are seeing on social media. So when that line of communication is open, children can come to parents and ask them questions. ‘This is what I’m seeing online.’ ‘What do you think about it?’ Or ‘can I even share it?’

“And parents can also tell their children, ‘do not share these videos, do not download them onto your phone.’ You can block these people that are sharing it. You have an impact or an influence in how you navigate social media and so I think it’s very important that parents have these conversations with their children.”

Mai suggests parents whose children are showing signs of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and/or PTSD should get them into therapy as soon as possible.

Overall, Mai advises parents to minimize their children’s screen time, assuring it is not the first thing they wake to and the last thing they see before bed. Before giving them access to their first phone, parents should have a conversation with their children so they fully understand the responsibilities and consequences that come with social media.

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Dr. Jeff Meldrum, beloved ISU professor and renowned “Bigfoot” expert, dies at 65

KIFI on September 12, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State University (ISU) community is mourning the loss of Dr. Jeff Meldrum, professor of anatomy and anthropology, who passed away earlier this week. According to a family Facebook post, his death came after a brief battle with brain cancer.

“The illness was brief and he passed with his family at his side,” states the post.

Meldrum was a pillar and the longest serving member of the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, where he had taught since 1993. Beyond the classroom, he gained recognition for his fascination and study of the legendary creature known as “Bigfoot” or Sasquatch, collecting one of the world’s largest collections of “Bigfoot” evidence. His work was featured in numerous documentaries and television programs on the legendary creature.

Courtesy: Don Jeffrey Meldrum

“He loved teaching and researching Bigfoot. But he was a husband and father first. I am so grateful to have shared the last 17 years of my life with him. He was a force of nature,” wrote Meldrum’s wife, Lauren Stewart in the post.

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Elderly woman seriously injured in Camden County UTV crash

KMIZ on September 12, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 75-year-old woman from Versailles had to be flown to University Hospital on Friday afternoon after she was seriously injured in a crash, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred in Route MM, east of Spruce Lane, in Camden County.

The report says the crash happened as the 2019 Can Am BRP – driven by the woman – was heading westbound when it overturned. The woman was ejected from the vehicle, the report says.

She was wearing a safety device, the report says. The vehicle had minor damage.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Cathedral City man pleads guilty to killing five kittens, sentenced to probation and 180 days in jail

KESQ on September 12, 2025

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 50-year-old man pleaded guilty on Friday to killing five kittens and leaving them in a trash bag at a Cathedral City residence.

Jorge Edwin Ramirez pleaded guilty to five counts of animal cruelty and was immediately sentenced to two years of probation and 180 days in custody, according to court records.

Ramirez was arrested on April 29 on the 32300 block of Aurora Vista Road after a resident called police and said they found a bag containing five dead kittens in their backyard, the Cathedral City Police Department said.

During the investigation, CCPD officers found surveillance video that showed a suspect, identified as Ramirez, tossing a trash bag over the reporting party’s fence on the morning of April 25.

“The trash bag that was tossed over the fence contained five kittens ,which were later found deceased inside the bag. Officers were able to locate the suspect from the video,” reads a CCPD news release.

Ramirez was interviewed and admitted to the crime, police said.

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Bringing Shakespeare to Life: ISU blends tech and humanities in new VR project

KIFI on September 12, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho State University is bringing classical literature to life in a new way. Professors and students from the English and Computer Science departments are collaborating on a virtual reality game that will allow players to step back in time.

The game will let users walk the streets of Renaissance-era England and meet historical figures like William Shakespeare. Developers hope this engaging, immersive experience will spark students’ interest in classical works.

“If we are bringing the virtual reality, which is way more engaging and immersive, this will keep them engaged, motivated towards that particular topic they’re willing to learn,” said Dr. Farjana Eishita, an ISU Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science.

The developers say they’re still hard at work getting the game up and running, but people could play the prototypes of the game next fall.

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Man killed in hit-and-run crash Thursday in Banning

KESQ on September 12, 2025

Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A hit-and-run investigation is ongoing after a pedestrian was killed in a crash Thursday morning in Banning, police announced.

The crash was reported at around 5:35 a.m. on E. Ramsey Street, near the intersection with Val Monte Street.

Police originally responded to reports of a man lying on the roadway. Injuries to the male and evidence at the scene indicated that the male had been struck by a vehicle.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Investigators were able to identify the suspect vehicle, a red Cadillac STS. The investigative team located a potential vehicle matching the description, with collision damage, at an apartment complex in the 200  block of W. Westward Avenue.

A search warrant was served on Friday morning at the location. Police said the suspect vehicle was collected as evidence, and two subjects were detained from inside the target residence. Both subjects were questioned and later released pending further investigation.

The Banning Police Department would like to thank the citizen who took the time to stop and report this incident and the local businesses who have been very helpful during this investigation.

Banning police urge anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Detective Bureau at 951-922-3170 and help seek justice for the victim and his family.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Protest over Perez shooting draws small crowd, demands police reform

KIFI on September 12, 2025

Sam Ross

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A small group of Pocatello residents gathered for a community protest Tuesday, demanding police reform and increased accountability following the shooting death of Victor Perez and the Attorney General’s decision not to file criminal charges against the officers involved.

RELATED — Officers in Victor Perez Shooting will not face criminal charges, Pocatello Mayor responds

The demonstration, organized through social media, brought out about half a dozen people, a significantly smaller turnout than the hundreds who gathered for initial protests after the shooting. Organizers stated their intention to continue protesting outside of City Hall into the evening.

“We want more involved cops… cops that do more in the community,” said protest organizer Benjamin York. “I feel like in a perfect world, cops should be doing community service all the time. But, yeah, I just feel like there are so many factors that led to this that can be fixed and can be remedied.”

Perez, a 17-year-old with autism and cerebral palsy, was shot by four Pocatello police officers on April 5 while holding a knife. His family has since filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and police department, alleging excessive use of force. For more information on Victor Perez and Local News 8’s investigations into his death, click HERE.

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SportsZone Football Friday highlights and scores: Week 3

KMIZ on September 12, 2025

ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri high school football kicked off Week 2 of the 2025 season on Friday.

Scores from Mid-Missouri teams are posted below.

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City of Yuma will begin sending out friendly sidewalk notices

KYMA on September 12, 2025

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of Yuma is asking for the community’s help with keeping the city clean.

Starting next week, the city will send out friendly notices for people any debris or dirt from the sidewalk in front of their home.

“That will assist our department, the Public Works Department, to maintain the larger items, the larger events, that we’re still trying to address within the community,” said Joel Olea the Director Public Works.

Bill Moody, a Yuma local, says he does not mind that the city is sending out these notices.

“Folks should take care of their stuff and that includes cleaning up the sidewalk in front of your house or your business after a storm, it makes it easier for everyone if people just take care of their own property,” Moody says.

The city explains how the process of receiving a notice will work.

“Make that first visit, hopefully they’ll get that taken care of, if it’s significant then we’ll have a second visit asking the resident to participate in it and the whole thing is simply trying to get compliance, for those areas that may be of concern in blocking the sidewalk for pedestrians,” Olea said.

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The Who to perform last show in North America at Acrisure Arena

KESQ on September 12, 2025

City News Service

PALM DESERT (CNS) – The Who, a legendary UK rock band, will end their North American tour with a farewell show at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert next month, it was announced today.

“The Song is Over — The North American Farewell Tour” will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 at 75702 Varner Road.   

Pre-sale tickets will be available for Citi card members from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. Tuesday. A general ticket sale will be available at 10 a.m. Wednesday via Ticketmaster.

The two original members who remain in the Who consists of guitarist Pete Townshend and lead singer Roger Daltrey.   

The Who has played for more than 50 years, and was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

“‘The Song is Over’ tour marks the final face-to-face celebration of this timeless connection with North American Who fans, forever appreciative of the band’s ability to dispense with nostalgia and deliver authentic rock moments time and time again,” officials said.

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