Banning man accused of perpetrating deadly shooting arraigned

KESQ on October 21, 2025

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A young man accused of gunning down a 19-year-old man during a dispute in Moreno Valley pleaded not guilty today to murder and other charges.

Jacob Nulen Necochea, also 19, of Banning, allegedly killed Angelo Leivas of Banning in August.

In addition to murder, Necochea is charged with sentence-enhancing gunand great bodily injury allegations.

The defendant was arraigned Monday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Jan. 16 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.  

Necochea is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to sheriff’s investigators, just after 4 a.m. Aug. 17, the defendant and Leivas were involved in an unspecified confrontation as Necochea sat in his vehicle in the 13000 block of Day Street, near Eucalyptus Avenue, less than a mile east of Interstate 215.

During hostilities, Necochea allegedly pulled a handgun and shot the victim several times, sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro said.   

He alleged that Necochea “fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival.”    Paramedics reached the scene minutes later and discovered Leivas gravely wounded. The young man died that morning at nearby Riverside University Medical Center.

“Deputies obtained a description of the suspect vehicle and, about an hour later, found it in Moreno Valley,” Loureiro said. “Deputies detained the driver (Necochea), who was the sole occupant.”

The defendant was questioned by Central Homicide Unit detectives, who formally arrested him hours later for the alleged attack.   

A possible motive wasn’t disclosed, and there were no details regarding how the defendant and victim knew one another.   

Necochea has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Drivers escape serious injury in three-car crash at Crook County intersection

KTVZ on October 21, 2025

KTVZ

POWELL BUTTE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A three-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon at a Crook County intersection fortunately led to only minor injuries, Oregon State Police reported.

Oregon State Police told KTVZ News the crash occurred around 1:10 p.m. Sunday when the driver of a westbound gray Ford F-350 pickup began merging into a the traffic lane, in the way of a silver BMW that also was heading west.

Troopers said the BMW driver tried to avoid a crash by going around the pickup on the right shoulder, but lost control and spun into the path of an eastbound gray Toyota Camry.

OSP said all of the occupants were wearing seat belts, and airbags deployed in the BMW and Camry.

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Two unique Bend startups among this year’s Bend Venture Conference winners

KTVZ on October 21, 2025

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Economic Development for Central Oregon has announced the winners and companies receiving investment at the 2025 Bend Venture Conference, which took place last week at the Tower Theatre in downtown Bend. 

Here’s Monday’s full news release from EDCO:

Now in its 22nd year, the Bend Venture Conference has become one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier events for entrepreneurship, innovation and investment. 

Over the course of two days, ten finalists presented their ideas and business models to an audience of hundreds of investors, business leaders and community members, competing for investment and cash awards. 

BVC connects investors and industry leaders with startup founders ready to scale, featuring separate tracks for early and growth-stage companies. The conference drives exposure, funding and long-term relationships that strengthen Central Oregon’s economy and supports promising startups. 

This year, $278,000 in investment was committed across six companies, with additional investment deals still being finalized. An additional $25,700 was awarded in cash to two companies, both from Central Oregon. 

“For more than two decades, the Bend Venture Conference has been a cornerstone of Central Oregon’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Jon Stark, CEO of EDCO. “Each year, we see extraordinary innovation and dedication from the companies that take the stage. The connections and capital generated through BVC do not just change the trajectory of these startups, they strengthen the economic fabric of our entire region.” 

Early Stage: 

The Early Stage Track features companies that are in the proof-of-concept or early-revenue stages and that are testing their products in the market. These companies are evaluated by judges based on revenue potential, proof of market, scalability, and the founder’s experience and grit. 

Toast Wear Inc. (Bend, OR) – Received a $25k cash award made possible by the generosity of local community members, including Taylor Brooks, Rod Ray, Horan MediaTech Advisors, and Scott and Annie Allan. Cold is universal. Your gear is personal. Toast solves both with a personal thermostat for your jacket, making existing apparel your go-to for warmth. 

Yak Incorporated (Portland, OR) – Received a $15k investment from the Founder First fund. Yak is the all-in-one, automation and AI-powered platform that automates audits for accounting firms, cutting admin work in half and ending auditor burnout. 

SokoLife (Eugene, OR) – Received a $5k investment from the Founder First fund. SokoLife is revolutionizing cardiac care with innovative, non-toxic patches for congenital heart defect repair, reducing reinterventions and healthcare costs. 

Growth Stage: 

The Growth Stage track at BVC highlights companies that have demonstrated significant traction and are poised for rapid expansion.  

The Growth Stage finalists that were awarded investment this year are: 

Rapta (Tigard, OR) – Was awarded a $110,500 investment by BVC investors. Rapta supercharges U.S. manufacturing by increasing capacity 30% through eliminating 98% of errors and accelerating workflows 10x faster.  

Photon Marine (Portland, OR) – Was awarded a $65,000 investment by BVC investors. Photon Marine is building the world’s most capable electric fleet. 

Bold Reuse (Portland, OR) – Was awarded a $50,000 investment by BVC investors. Bold Reuse reduces costs and waste from single-use packaging through reusable packaging systems, a Bold Reuse is critical infrastructure for the circular economy. 

MarineSitu (Seattle, WA) – Was awarded a $32,500 investment by BVC investors. MarineSitu provides marine infrastructure monitoring through their AI software platform, preventing costly interventions, saving time and increasing efficiency. 

In addition, the EDCO Board of Directors awarded a $700 cash award to BVC Future presenter Levi Waters, from Caldera High School, founder of ClimbGrade. 

By standardizing grades, ClimbGrade empowers climbers to track progress accurately, helps setters design fair routes and gives gyms a consistent benchmark that strengthens their accountability. 

Brian Vierra, EDCO’s Venture Catalyst Director, noted, “The quality and diversity of companies at BVC this year truly underscores the maturity of our startup ecosystem. Our investors are not only funding great ideas, they are backing founders with the drive to build scalable, high-impact businesses that will create jobs and opportunities.” 

All investments are awarded following detailed due diligence of each presenting finalist. The final amounts to be distributed depend on the investment commitments received from third-party investors, as well as the ability of the winning companies and investors to agree on the terms and conditions of the investment. The Bend Venture Conference cannot guarantee that investments will be awarded in any specific amount. 

2025 BVC Title Sponsors 

About Bend Venture Conference (BVC) The annual BVC, hosted by EDCO, is one of the largest angel conferences in the country. Over the past 22 years, BVC has served to evolve and grow the startup ecosystem throughout Central Oregon and beyond. Since its inception, more than $14 million has been invested in 59 companies as a result of the conference. For more information, visit bendvc.com 

About Economic Development for Central Oregon  

EDCO is a non-profit corporation supported by private and public members and stakeholders, whose mission is to create middle-class jobs in Central Oregon by: recruiting new employers to move to the region; helping entrepreneurs start new, scalable businesses; and working with businesses that are already here to grow their operations. For more information, visit www.edcoinfo.com. 

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INL building evacuated after possible steam explosion

KIFI on October 21, 2025

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — An Idaho National Laboratory building was evacuated Monday afternoon following a report of a possible steam explosion.

The evacuation was already underway at the INL facility located at 750 MK Simpson Blvd. when Idaho Falls Police Department (IFPD) first responders arrived on the scene, according to IFPD spokesperson Jessica Clements.

Clements confirmed that the incident was minor from the first responders’ perspective and that there were no injuries to personnel.

Idaho Falls Police Department spokesperson Jessica Clements says the evacuation was in process when first responders arrived at the facility at 750 MK Simpson Blvd.. There were no injuries, and after a brief response, all first responders left the scene. Clements confirmed the incident was fairly minor from the first responders’ perspective.

“It appears to have been a minor issue with a piece of equipment,” Clements stated. “But I would defer to the INL to share any additional details of what that equipment was or the extent of any property damage.”

After a brief on-site response, all first responders cleared the scene.

Local News 8 has reached out to the Idaho National Laboratory for a statement regarding the specific nature of the equipment failure and any resulting damage. We will provide updates as more information is made available.

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Class management program Canvas down at University of Missouri following AWS outage

KMIZ on October 20, 2025

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri System works is working to restore system services for students as operations to the school’s class management program Canvas remains unavailable after the massive Amazon Web Services cloud services outage Monday morning.

The outage, which began at around 3 a.m. was resolved by 3:40 p.m., according to national reporting. Experts estimated that the outage resulted in billions of dollars lost in missed work, delayed flights and locked accounts.

“I went to my French class and she (the instructor) was grading our midterm videos, but she said she had to stop around seven in the morning because Canva shut down,” MU student Beatrice Gottschalk said. “We were going to play them in class and comment on the videos and write down notes about each other, we couldn’t do that.”

MU spokesman Christopher Ave said in a statement that the school is aware of the issues.

“We are engaging with various stakeholders to work through the outage until services are restored,” Ave said.

In an email ABC 17 News obtained from a University of Missouri student, at 4:48 p.m., the UM Academic Technology department announced to students and faculty that Canvas was still facing service outages with no ETA for a resolution.

MU Professor and Director of the Cyber Education Research and Infrastructure Center Prasad Calyam reassured that no data was leaked, however, the outage did show potential holes in data storage strategies for major companies like Google, Venmo and Canvas.

Calyam compared Amazon Web Services to a storage unit, with the outage virtually “loosing the keys” to each company’s data storage locker, leaving websites in limbo.

“We access a lot of data and the system that actually helps us access the data basically went down, so we were asking for data and we were not getting any data,” Calyam said.

Calyam added companies are often advised to keep data in seperate locations to prevent this issue from happening.

“For those people who are building these services with Amazon, it’s a warning to kind of diversify their cloud strategy,” Calyam said. “Build a system that is not dependent on one source.”

Calyam also advises users to store important documents or files on hard drives to keep a hard copy available in case of future crashes.

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Pursuit on suspected DUI driver ends in crash in Rancho Mirage

KESQ on October 20, 2025

Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE (KESQ) – A pursuit on a driver suspected of being under the influence ended in a multi-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Rancho Mirage.

The driver was traveling at a high rate of speed and ran a red light where the crash occured, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office told News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson.

Four vehicle were involved in the crash. Drivers sustained minor injuries but no one was taken to the hospital.

The suspected DUI driver was taken into custody.

The crash temporarily caused traffic issues near Bob Hope and Ramon Road Monday afternoon. All roads were back open by 5:30 p.m.

The California Highway Patrol is invesitigating the incident.

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Ochoco National Forest plans prescribed burn in Maury Mountains and over a month of pile burning around the forest

KTVZ on October 20, 2025

KTVZ

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — If conditions are favorable on Wednesday, fire managers with the Ochoco National Forest plan to conduct more than 3,300 acres of prescribed burning operations in the Maury Mountains’ 2 burn unit.

The burn unit is approximately 3,330 acres, located along Forest Service Road 16, about 16 miles southeast of Prineville and three miles south of Post. Ignitions are expected begin at 9 a.m. and may take up to two days depending on weather, fuel, and smoke dispersion conditions, according to a pair of news releases issued Monday that continue below:

Smoke may be visible from surrounding areas, including Post, Paulina, Prineville, Redmond, and Bend. Residents along Highway 380, Forest Service Road 16, and nearby roads should expect possible smoke impacts, especially overnight and early mornings.

Firefighters implement understory prescribed burning to reduce wildfire risk to communities. Prescribed burning reintroduces and maintains fire within our fire-dependent ecosystem by removing concentrations of vegetation and restoring forest health while increasing public and firefighter safety.

Firefighters from the Ochoco National Forest will conduct the burn. Crews may use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to assist with ignition and holding operations. After ignition, engine crews will stay on site to secure the perimeter and conduct patrols; smoke may linger for several days.

Meanwhile, the forest also planned to begin pile-burning operations Monday, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through November 28, 2025 as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.Pile burning planned in the following areas:

Forest Service land south of Big Summit Prairie

2024 Crazy Creek Fire area

2024 Rail Ridge Fire area

2024 Wiley Flat Fire area

Those areas may close to the public for several days for public safety. Watch for warning signs along roads near all prescribed fire areas before and during burns. Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns.

What does this mean for you?

During prescribed burns, smoke may settle in low-lying areas overnight and in the early morning hours.

All residents are encouraged to close doors and windows at night to avoid smoke impacts.

If available, use a portable air cleaner. Air cleaners work best running with doors and windows closed. You can also create a DIY air cleaner.

If you have a central air system, use it to filter air. Use high-efficiency filters if possible.

When driving in smoky areas, drivers should slow down, turn on headlights and turn air to recirculating.

If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or other chronic conditions, pay attention to how you feel and if symptoms of heart or lung disease worsen, consider contacting your health care professional.

Go to centraloregonfire.org to learn more about smoke safety and prescribed burning in Central Oregon and visit When Smoke is in the Air for more smoke preparedness resources.

For more information on prescribed burning in Central Oregon, visit centraloregonfire.org/ and for information specific to the Ochoco National Forest visit fs.usda.gov/r06/ochoco. Follow us on X/Twitter @CentralORFire. Text “COFIRE” to 888-777 to receive wildfire and prescribed fire text alerts.

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Beth Wulff named new Maries County collector

KMIZ on October 20, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Monday announced in a press release that he appointed Beth Wulff to become Maries County’s next collector.

Wulff, of Vienna, currently served as the deputy county collector and replaces Jayne Williams, who had served in the role since 1999 before retiring.

The release says Wulff is a “a member of her local parochial schools, where she serves as SCRIP coordinator.”

She earned an associate’s degree in business and computer specialization from Metro Business College, the release says.

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Jefferson City man sentenced to 7 years for fatal crash

KMIZ on October 20, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty last week to first-degree involuntary manslaughter.

Diego Popp Popp was accused of hitting 50-year-old John Brummit on Highway 50 West on July 14, 2024, according to previous reporting.

Police wrote Brummit was riding a bicycle on the shoulder of the highway when Popp hit him and drove away.

Popp allegedly told officers the next day that he did not stay because he was afraid of getting in trouble for being “drunk” at the time of the crash, previous reporting indicates.

He was initially charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and misdemeanor reckless driving. His manslaughter charge was upgraded in August 2024.

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YUHSD to host Transition Fair to prepare students for life after high school

KYMA on October 20, 2025

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Union High School District (YUHSD) is hosting a Transition Fair to help students and families prepare for life after high school.

The open house style event aims to help individuals with disabilities and their families learn about resources for different stages of transition for life after they graduate.

State and local agencies will share about community based services, college and post secondary options, military options, assistance technology, and several other services. The district invites all ages to attend and explains how it helps set students up for success.

“The purpose of this event is to really educate and inform our community members prior to when they reach 11th and 12th grade, and it’s open to the whole community,” said YUHSD transition specialist Kacie Baker. “There’s so many agencies in our community that cater to a wide range of ages, and they can support your child.”

The fair will be this Wednesday, October 22 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the District Office Board Room.

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