Government shutdown to ground military performances at upcoming Santa Maria airshow

KEYT on October 16, 2025

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The ongoing federal government shutdown will ground all military performances and displays at this weekend’s airshow in Santa Maria.

The Central Coast AirFest is scheduled for this upcoming Saturday and Sunday on Oct. 18-19 at the Santa Maria Public Airport.

Due to the current government shutdown, organizers are having to make adjustments to the schedule of participants at this year’s event.

“Unfortunately, our main line act, which was the F-35 Demo Team has been cancelled,” said Jim Bray, AirFest spokesman. “We just got officially the word on that just yesterday because of the government shutdown. The F-18, also a military aircraft, has had to back out, as well as the KC-135 tanker, which is a very impressive aircraft. It also had to back out.”

While the military aircraft will no longer be a part of the show, organizers point out there will still be an impressive array of planes on hand, plus replacements are being lined up as well.

“I think it’s important that that folks know out of the 75 aircraft that are scheduled to be here for the event, probably ten were military, so that the airshow will definitely go on and it’ll be definitely, just as fun with all the aerobatics and all the static displays,” said Bray. “We’ve got some aircraft coming in and and we’ll be posting out on the website pretty shortly.”

Now in its fifth year, the AirFest has become a popular annual event for aviation enthusiasts. Last year’s show was attended by 20,000 spectators.

For those who come out to the show this weekend, organizers say they will see an impressive show that will be full of high-adrenaline and heart-pounding action.

“We got a full schedule,” said Steven Hinton, Planes of Fame Air Museum President. “We have a lot of warbird flying and a lot of aerobatic. We brought a, team in from Florida with three P-51’s going to do an airshow. They’re called the Jack Aces formation aerobatics. We’ve got MiG-17, B-25’s and Mustangs. We got a P-40, P-47, 233, Ace Maker Airshow. We got a lot of a lot of things planned. It’s going to be a great show.”

Gates open each day at 9 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.

Flying performances will last from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. both days.

The Central Coast AirFest will also include sevearl commercial vendors selling merchandise, as well as food and drink.

Parking is free and children 11-years-old and under will be admitted without charge.

General admission is $35 and includes standing room access (no reserved seats/spots), access to event restrooms, kids zone and static aircraft displays.

For more information, click here to visit the Central Coast AirFest official website.

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Santa Barbara Students Meet Real-Life Hero Who Inspired Their Fight for Clean Water

KEYT on October 16, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Excitement is in the air as students meet Salva Dut — the real-life hero behind A Long Walk to Water.

“They were literally jumping out of their chairs … they could not process the fact they the many they read about was coming her … were just so excited to meet this really inspiring man,” said teacher Amanda Olson of Vieja Valley Elementary School.

The sixth graders raised money to bring clean water to families in South Sudan — the same mission Salva started years ago.

“In the other part of the world they don’t have clean drinking water and it’s very important for children like this to understand that water is very important and they should take care of the water,” said founder Salva Dut of Water for South Sudan.

For the students, it’s the moment the story came to life — meeting the man whose courage inspired their classroom project.

“And even though they’re children that they can put their voices together, and they can put their energy together to create real change in our world,” said teacher Alexa Mannion of Vieja Elementary School.

Teachers hope their students will cherish all they’ve learned from this book for years to come.

“I’m very excited to see these children step out of their comfort zone and reach out to the world to support others. It’s total responsibility for this children to be able to see the humanity to help others,” said Salva.

For Salva, it’s proof the next generation is already creating change one drop at a time.

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Local Italian restaurant thriving after one year of business

News-Press NOW on October 16, 2025

Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Despite National Pasta Day being celebrated on Friday, Oct. 17, a local 5-star restaurant owner said “every day is National Pasta Day”.

EMI Ristorante opened its doors back in May of 2024, with the restaurant only being open a few nights a week. Over one year later, the restaurant has doubled its hours.

“Now we’re open, you know, four nights a week, open to the whole community,” said Erik Borger, the owner of EMI Ristorante, located on Frederick Avenue.

EMI Ristorante has desired to offer St. Joseph a taste of Italy. All of its pasta and pizza is handmade, cooked with fresh ingredients from Italy.

The restaurant is aimed at providing St. Joseph a sense of love and community through its food.

“This was a love letter to St. Joe. So this is the atmosphere that I love, the community that I love to partake in, that I want to pour my life into,” said Borger. “I had to decide, do I want to move to Italy full-time, or do I want to stay here and give back the things that I love, the things that I’ve learned over the years in Italy. And here we are,” said Borger.

EMI Ristorante is open from 5 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as from 5 to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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Desert X art installation along SR 62 found vandalized

KESQ on October 16, 2025

Luis Avila

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A temporary Desert X art installation near Desert Hot Springs has been defaced with graffiti, leaving many residents and visitors frustrated and disappointed.

The large stone structure, part of the valley-wide Desert X contemporary art exhibition, towers above the desert floor along Route 62. Titled “The act of being together,” the installation was designed to inspire unity. Instead, it has become the target of vandalism, sparking questions about its extended presence and the lack of security.

“It’s for the people to enjoy and somebody comes and wrecks it, very disappointed that somebody would have to do that.”

Randy Dixon, Morongo Valley Resident

The 2025 Desert X exhibition officially ended in May, but this particular installation was granted an extension and was scheduled to remain on display until October 1. Its continued presence weeks past that date has led some to wonder why it hadn’t been removed earlier — and whether the delay contributed to the vandalism.

“When Desert X ended for its season and this wasn’t taken down, I was kind of surprised because usually some of the exhibits were taken down and this one kept sitting here and I was wondering how long it was going to take for it to become someone’s pallet.”

Cliff Williams, Whitewater Resident

In response, Desert X Executive Director Jenny Gil told News Channel 3 that the installation is now scheduled to be removed in the coming weeks. She did not provide a specific reason for the delay.

In a statement, Gil stated:

“Desert X takes extensive measures to protect and preserve artworks, which are thoughtfully designed to be resilient and withstand exposure to the elements, public interaction, and other unforeseen circumstances.”

She added that incidents of vandalism are rare and that the artwork will be restored.

Locals hope that happens soon.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Baby Emmanuel Case: Father pleads guilty to all charges, including murder

KESQ on October 16, 2025

Garrett Hottle

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The father of baby Emmanuel Haro pleaded guilty to all charges in the murder case, News Channel 3 confirmed Thursday.

There is still no word on whether investigators have located the remains of seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro.

The Haros appeared in court for a felony settlement conference Thursday in Riverside, where Jake Haro pleaded guilty to all charges, which include second-degree homicide, filing a false police report, and assault of a child under 8; great bodily injury resulting in death.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s office noted that the plea was made straight to the judge, without negotiations between the defense and prosecution.

Jake Haro faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

He is set to be sentenced on Nov. 3. Rebecca Haro is also scheduled to appear in court that same day for a preliminary hearing. That hearing, if it proceeds, will determine whether that are sufficient grounds for a trial on charges of murder and filing a false police report.

Jake Haro in court(10/16/25)

Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, did not plead guilty; the case against her will continue. She is also charged with Emmanuel’s murder, along with filing a false police report and other charges.

News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle is in the courtroom. He’ll have the latest live starting 4PM on News Channel 3.

Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested on August 22 after investigators concluded Emmanuel was not kidnapped as initially reported by his mother.

At an August 27 news conference, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said investigators had a “strong indication” of where Emmanuel’s body could be found, but no remains have ever been recovered.

Timeline: Case of Baby Emmanuel

Thursday, Aug. 14: Rebecca reports an assault and kidnapping outside a Yucaipa store, deputies and K-9s search; case later reclassified after inconsistencies in her account. 

Thursday, Sept. 4: Arraignments at 8:30 a.m., both parents remain jailed on $1 million bail. 

Wednesday, Aug. 27: DA Hestrin: Emmanuel was “severely abused over time”, investigators have a strong indication where remains may be; not yet found.

Tuesday, Aug. 26: First appearance; case continued to Sept. 4, complaint filed alleging murder and false report. 

Sunday, Aug. 24: Search along Hwy. 60/Gilman Springs with Jake present, no remains found. 

Friday, Aug. 22: Parents arrested in Cabazon after detectives concluded the kidnapping claim was false. 

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Healing Garden opens at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center

KIFI on October 16, 2025

Danielle Mullenix

The following is a news release from the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Thanks to generous donations, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center has built a new and unique feature, the Healing Garden, outside the main entrance.  It is designed for patients, family, and community members to seek calm, relaxation, and renewal.  The Healing Garden also serves as a place to honor and remember patients and employees who have passed.   

The Healing Garden is freshly landscaped, contains brick walking paths, and comfortable furniture for rest.  A local artisan has also handcrafted beautiful garden bells that will hang in the trees.  

The Healing Garden was made possible by generous donations from Insure-It-All, a local insurance company, and the EIRMC Auxiliary, an independent 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that provides comfort items for patients and their families.  

For more information about the services provided by EIRMC, click here.

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Fire season coming to a close on millions of acres of state-protected land across Central Oregon

KTVZ on October 16, 2025

KTVZ

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Fire season ends Friday on more than 2.3 million acres protected by the Oregon Department of Forestry, the agency announced Thursday.

Here’s the full news release:

Prineville, Ore. – Effective 12:01 a.m. on October 17, 2025, the Central Oregon District (COD) of the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) will officially end fire season for all forestlands protected by the district. This includes over 2.3 million acres of private, state, county, municipal, and tribal lands, which includes Hood River, Wasco, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Gilliam, Wheeler, Morrow, Grant, and Harney counties.

This fire season statistically was an average fire season by the numbers, but nowhere near average regarding response. For example:

ODF Central Oregon District was one of the first to respond to the Rowena Fire, the first large fire of the 2025 season in Oregon, which burned 3,700 acres just outside of The Dalles;

ODF Central Oregon District assisted federal partners with the Cram Fire near Madras, which grew roughly 20,000 acres each day for a week, totaling over 95,000 acres, and;

ODF Central Oregon District responded to the Flat Fire northeast of Sisters, where wildland and structural firefighters saved 827 residences within the fire perimeter and the blaze burned over 23,000 acres. 

“This fire season showed the endurance and dedication of our Central Oregon ODF firefighters,” said Rob Pentzer, ODF Central Oregon District Forester. “There were several times where our firefighters were working two to three weeks straight alternating between extended and initial attack duties to protect Oregon communities.”

With the conclusion of fire season, landowners under ODF protection may resume burning residential yard debris and using burn barrels. However, this change does not relieve anyone of their legal responsibility to burn safely and responsibly.

Burning & Smoke Management Guidelines

Residential Burning (Yard Debris/Burn Barrels): A burn permit is required outside of fire season on lands protected by ODF’s Prineville/Sisters Unit and The Dalles Unit, but not in the John Day/Fossil Unit.

If you are within a fire department’s protection area, check with them directly about current restrictions and permit requirements.Call your local district to validate that the burn ban has been lifted in your area. 

Slash Burning (Forestry/Logging): Burning of slash from forestry operations requires a Notification of Operation/PDM, as well as checking the smoke management weather forecast:

Call your local ODF office below

 Visit: ODF Smoke Management Forecast

ODF’s Central Oregon District sincerely thanks landowners, forest operators, the public, and interagency partners for their support in fire prevention, detection, and suppression throughout the 2025 fire season.

For more information, contact your local ODF office:

Prineville/Sisters Unit: 541-447-5658

The Dalles Unit: 541-296-4626

John Day/ Fossil Unit: 541-575-1139

For more information on the Central Oregon District and fire season regulations, visit https://odfcentraloregon.com/. To report a fire, please call 911.

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Group seeking to overturn new Missouri congressional map responds to AG lawsuit

News-Press NOW on October 16, 2025

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Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians’ lawyer claims a referendum on the new congressional map passed by the Missouri legislature is protected under state law.

This comes after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit in a federal court on Wednesday to block the referendum from getting on the November 2026 ballot.

The new congressional map is likely to cut out a Missouri Democrat from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the map into law Sept. 28, labeling it “Missouri First.”

Missouri is one of several red states where President Donald Trump has pushed Republican-friendly redistricting plans to boost the party’s House majority.

Attorney Chuck Hatfield, who is representing the group, said the legal battle hinges on the words “An act of the General Assembly,” which are written in the bill authorising a new congressional map and in the referendum law.

Hanaway argues in the lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution gives the Missouri legislature the sole power to redistrict the state, and the referendum takes away that power.

“The Constitution entrusts congressional redistricting to the people’s elected legislature, not to activist organizations bankrolled by undisclosed donors,” Hanaway wrote in a statement released Wednesday. “If allowed to proceed, this effort would destroy faith in our elections and set a dangerous precedent where outside interests could override constitutional order.”

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins approved People Not Politicians’ petition for circulation this week after initially rejecting the forms submitted last month. Hoskins said in his approval that signatures gathered earlier are no longer valid — something People Not Politicians claims is not correct.

People Not Politicians is asking for an injunction with a hearing by Nov. 15 to stop the state from implementing the new map.

Several lawsuits have been filed to overturn the new congressional district map.

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Group seeking to overturn new Missouri congressional map responds to AG lawsuit

KMIZ on October 16, 2025

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians’ lawyer claims a referendum on the new congressional map passed by the Missouri legislature is protected under state law.

This comes after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit in a federal court on Wednesday to block the referendum from getting on the November 2026 ballot.

The new congressional map is likely to cut out a Missouri Democrat from the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the map into law Sept. 28, labeling it “Missouri First.”

Missouri is one of several red states where President Donald Trump has pushed Republican-friendly redistricting plans to boost the party’s House majority.

Attorney Chuck Hatfield, who is representing the group, said the legal battle hinges on the words “An act of the General Assembly,” which are written in the bill authorising the “Missouri First” map and in the referendum law.

Hanaway argues in the lawsuit that the U.S. Constitution gives the Missouri legislature the sole power to redistrict the state, and the referendum takes away that power.

“The Constitution entrusts congressional redistricting to the people’s elected legislature, not to activist organizations bankrolled by undisclosed donors,” Hanaway wrote in a statement released Wednesday. “If allowed to proceed, this effort would destroy faith in our elections and set a dangerous precedent where outside interests could override constitutional order.”

Hatfield said he’s confident the court will side with People Not Politicians.

“Federal judges take an oath to uphold the Constitution, and we expect them to do that,” Hatfield said. “I think when we get our day in court and have the opportunity to lay out the arguments, they’re going to see that the attorney general is wrong.” 

The Attorney General Office wrote in an email Thursday that this lawsuit keeps restricting in the hands of elected officials.

“The Missouri Constitution and the U.S. Constitution vest the authority for congressional redistricting in the General Assembly, not activist organizations funded by outside interests,” the Attorney General’s Office wrote in an email.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins approved People Not Politicians’ petition for circulation this week after initially rejecting the forms submitted last month. Hoskins said in his approval that signatures gathered earlier are no longer valid — something People Not Politicians claims is not correct.

Federal Judge Zachary Bluestone, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in May, is set to hear the case.

The state is asking the court for a hearing on or before Nov. 15, and a preliminary injunction to stop the referendum in its tracks.

Several lawsuits have been filed to overturn the new congressional district map.

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A New Look to Fire Prevention: How A Local Man is Knocking Out Flames with Sound

KEYT on October 16, 2025

Scott Hennessee

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – What if there were a way to put out fire without water, foam, or any other substance? What if it could be done with sound?

While the concept may seem too good to be true, it has been shown to work in a controlled setting. 

Now, a new company, lead by a local man fueling it’s growth, is refining ways to knock out flames and embers before they can grow – helping protect homes and infrastructure from fire.

“We’re on a mission to create a paradigm shift in the fire suppression industry,” said Sonic Fire Tech Head of Business Development and Santa Barbara County resident, Remington Hotchkis.

“It sounds like magic,” Sonic Fire Tech co-founder and CEO, Geoff Bruder said. “It’s just physics.”

To show their products in actions, Sonic Fire Tech recently rented a house in the Hope Ranch area here in Santa Barbara. Their home protection system is built into the ducts of a home’s gutter system.

“In order for a fire to exist, you need three things. You need heat, fuel and oxygen,” Bruder said, then explaining how sound can put fire out. “We’re basically just vibrating the oxygen faster than the fuel can use it. And it breaks the chemical reaction. So the fire can’t exist.”

Bruder set a small tree on fire to demonstrate to Your News Channel just how their home protection system operates. Flames were extinguished in about 30 seconds.

“So what the sonic Fire Tech system is,” Bruder said, “is the only autonomous home protection system that works without using water or foam or anything else that is a limited resource.”

The acoustic generator box plugs into the wall, with a backup battery in the event of a power outage. The sound wave runs through a ducting system in the gutter, sending out a cone of acoustic energy that disrupts flames detected by a sensor made by a company called Optect, overseen by CEO Alex Hudson.

“We detect it so sensitively,” Hudson said. “That even if it’s obscured behind bushes or through vegetation, it’ll pick that up within half a second.”

The sensor sets off a high pitched sound. The acoustic generator has a low rumbling sound to it, but the sound wave itself is at such a low frequency that humans can’t hear it. Hotchkis says the 22 Hertz infra- sound is inaudible to land animals as well, with the exception of wolves and elephants. They are marketing the effective range of the sound waves at 30 feet.

Company PG&E is beginning to show interest in this new technology. 

“We work with them within the framework of what we call epic projects,” said PG&E Senior Manager of Wildfire Risk Operations, Hayk Hovhannisyan. “These are formalized projects where we partner with startups and smaller companies that develop innovative technology.”

The power company sees it as a potential way to enhance community resilience to wildfires, and to protect their infrastructure.

“If we have technology like this at the base of our transmission structures and if there’s a fire that is approaching our infrastructure we can extinguish this fire pretty quickly and safely,” Hovhannisyan said.

The Lake Fire approaching his Santa Ynez Valley ranch home last summer led Hotchkis to the front lines of a fight to protect his community. When the smoke cleared, he started to seek innovative solutions to protect homes and other structures from fire. 

“I found myself at MIT in a very competitive entrepreneurship program where I won that program coming out of it with an idea to build a business that leveraged a directed energy system to suppress fires, namely embers,” Hotchkis said. “I went to that program a week after the LA fires erupted and burned my former community of Altadena. We lost our family house down there.”

Motivated, and educated first hand on fires, Hotchkis found Bruder and his patent on a sonic suppression system.

“After a few conversations we decided to join forces,” Hotchkis recounted. “So I joined Sonic Fire Tech as head of business development with the goal of getting this technology out of the lab and into the hands of those who need it.”

Hotchkis says they have sold a few dozen units to protect homes in Santa Barbara County, greater Los Angeles and the Lake Tahoe area – although, none have been installed yet. He said they are working with architects on the projects to design each system to fit the style of each home, with installations beginning next year. The cost of one of these systems is between one to two percent of a homes value.

At some point, Hotchkis hopes home insurers will see the value of the technology, bringing insurance companies that have left California back and helping lower monthly premiums.

Hotchkis says the company has sold additional systems to protect a chemical storage facility, aircraft hangers, and a data center.

Sonic Fire Tech is also marketing a mobile pack that weighs about 50 pounds and runs on a battery they say lasts for two hours. It’s main purpose would be to put out spot fires with sound waves. PG&E is exploring it’s potential value and San Bernardino County firefighters recently tested it.

We reached out to Santa Barbara City and County Fire departments. Having not tested the products, they declined comment.

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