Month: October 2025

By Carlos E. Castañeda

Click here for updates on this story

    SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, California (KPIX) — An invasive species of mosquito that can carry diseases has been found in Santa Cruz County, authorities announced Monday.

The Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control District said in a press release that it detected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes near downtown Boulder Creek, the second confirmed sighting in the county following a 2022 identification around the Watsonville area.

Aedes aegypti is an aggressive, day-biting insect about a quarter-inch in size that can transmit diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika. They have distinctive black and white markings on their legs and upper thorax.

The Vector Control District said staffers have launched expanded surveillance efforts in the downtown Boulder Creek area, with specialized traps that target Aedes aegypti adults, water sampling for mosquito larvae, and door-to-door property inspections. Staffers were able to prevent the spread with similar actions following the 2022 discovery in South County, and the mosquito had not been detected within that area, the district said.

The discovery of Aeges aegypti in Santa Cruz County comes days after officials in Contra Costa County reported additional findings of the mosquito in Antioch, which have been in the area for several months around Holland Tract, an island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The mosquito was also found on the grounds of the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton in July and in October 2024. Santa Clara County officials said last year that more Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were being found despite the county’s eradication efforts.

Officials say the species has been found in at least 26 of California’s 58 counties and is established in at least 19 counties, mostly in the Central Valley and Southern California. In 2024, local dengue cases were identified in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

The district said that residents who develop fever, headache, or joint pain after traveling to areas where dengue, Zika, or chikungunya are active should contact their doctor and stay indoors to prevent possible spread.

Residents are urged to dump out any standing water on their property and to use insect repellents such as DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, wear long sleeves and pants, and make sure window and door screens are intact. Residents were also asked to report mosquito bites to Santa Cruz County Mosquito & Vector Control online at mvc.santacruzcountyca.gov via “Submit a Service Request” or by calling (831) 454-2590.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Cecilio Padilla, Tori Apodaca

Click here for updates on this story

    California (KMAX, KOVR) — Jesuit High School Sacramento will be welcoming its first class of girls in the coming years, the school announced over the weekend.

The Catholic private school says it will be shifting to a co-divisional educational model – meaning both genders will be present on campus, but boys and girls will still have separate classes.

School officials say they decided on the shift after analyzing enrollment trends, among other factors.

“This expansion allows us to share our mission with an even broader community, forming young men and women for others into leaders of competence, conscience, compassion, and commitment,” said Jesuit High Board of Trustees Chair-Elect Dr. Amy Rogers in a statement.

Jesuit High was founded in 1963 as a boys-only school. No educational model change has been announced for St. Francis High School, the region’s all-girls Catholic school.

Applications for Jesuit’s first co-divisional class will open in October 2026. Jesuit expects to welcome its first class of girls on campus in fall 2027.

Some parents think it’ll be positive for their teenage boys to have more interactions with girls and for girls to get to experience Jesuit’s curriculum.

“I have nieces and I look forward to them someday being a part of the Jesuit family,” Adreana Alvarez said.

Others think it’s bending tradition, and Jesuit being an all-boys school was why they chose to enroll their child in the first place.

“Well, I hope they’ll be ready. There’s going to be a lot more room and there’s Title IX with girls sports and all that,” Darlene Cornwall said. “So it’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Amy Nay

Click here for updates on this story

    FARMINGTON, Utah (KSTU) — A Utah family decided to make the most of the mud and water after Saturday’s record rainfall.

“A lot of water coming into the yard nonstop and my husband’s hunting,” said Stacie Dorius, a mom of five in Farmington. “I thought, ‘There’s nothing I can do about this…’ and my kids started playing in it and I thought, ‘I think we can do one better,’ so I grabbed a ski rope and put it on the back of the car and off we went.”

She said she kept their safety in mind and tried to be careful, but believed a little fun was in order.

“I think sometimes we’re too careful in this world, so I think a little bit of excitement is okay,” she said.

Dorius has four older brothers, and she got one of them to jump into the fun.

“They are usually the ones doing crazy things and getting me when I was younger to do crazy things, and now I’m the younger sister who brings them to come and play with me, too,” she said.

A video is now being shared online of Dorius, her kids and her brother clad in a wetsuit, trying his hand at wakesurfing in the extra waters.

“I was like, ‘Oh, man, the kids are going to be a mess,’ and then I was like, ‘Let’s just make the best of this and go have some fun,'” she said.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Amy Nay

Click here for updates on this story

    RICHFIELD, Utah (KSTU) — A man is facing numerous charges, including attempted murder, after allegedly trying to burn down his ex-wife’s home in Sevier County.

The victim spoke with FOX 13 News on Monday after the incident, which police say was the fourth similar incident.

“It was 2:30 in the morning and I woke up to crashing noise and flames inside my house,” said Katey Barney, a mom of two young children.

Barney said the fire and the person who set it were all caught on camera and helped lead to the arrest of her ex-husband. Police have now apprehended 38-year-old Delmar Barney. He is charged with arson, attempted murder and more after Katey was targeted not once or twice, but three previous times before Sunday morning’s incident — which police say she was lucky to survive.

“The first incident, I didn’t even know it had happened,” Katey said.

She said it was on Sept. 11 when a neighbor sent her a message about a fire in her yard while she was at work at a local diner.

“So I called my babysitter who was with my kids,” Katey said. “I said, ‘Can you just go look outside and see if anything’s on fire?’”

They saw a burn scar, but the fire went out on its own.

“I called the police and they came and investigated. Fire chief came down and they looked at it,” Katey said.

Katey then put up surveillance cameras and had those rolling when the next incident happened.

“I got woken up to a big loud bang and heard some scuffling,” she recalled. “I could smell gas and then smoke, seen the fire and then called 911.”

Katey contacted police again and then filed for an order of protection.

“I’m terrified it’s gonna escalate. Something worse is gonna happen. My kids were in the house!” she said.

Richfield City Police Chief Trent Lloyd spoke to FOX 13 after they released information on the arrest and multiple incidents.

“The third time, it looked like he spotted the cameras and left, and the fourth time, he didn’t care,” Lloyd said.

The video of the fourth incident showed Delmar Barney lighting a Molotov cocktail and throwing it into Katey’s bedroom window.

“It’s a miracle she’s okay. We’re lucky that no one was hurt,” the chief said.

Katey added: “Yeah, my bed was on fire, the walls were on fire, a lot of damage.”

She thanked police detectives for their work on her case and for making the arrest.

“Hopefully it won’t happen again…. can sleep a little easier closing this chapter and moving on,” she said.

The chief added: “Nobody wants that in their community, especially when they’re targeting somebody, and this was obviously that. We had video, we had shoe print evidence, and everything just came together within a 2-3 hour period.”

Katey said she spoke out to encourage other women to be safe and follow the necessary steps to alert authorities and get help.

New Horizons Crisis Center in Richfield spoke with FOX 13 about the services they offer. They serve a five-county area in central Utah: Sevier, Sanpete, Millard, Piute and Wayne. They specialize in helping victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and homelessness.

“We think that maybe shelter is a resource someone knows about, but there are so many resources that people are unaware of,” executive director Debbie Mayor said. “Financial resources, emotional resources and therapy, and things for short-term and for long-term healing.”

If you need help, you can reach them at centralutahcrisisintervention.org or call 1-800-343-6302.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By KABC News Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The California Institution for Women held its first graduation ceremony Friday for Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative.

Nearly two dozen women earned their Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, with an option in Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture and Society. This was the first cohort of incarcerated women to graduate from Cal State LA.

“It’s a reminder that I’m still supported and that they are still very present in my life, which I am beyond grateful for because not everybody has that, and I’m aware of that,” said one of the graduates who spoke with Eyewitness News after walking the stage. “Just to be able to celebrate will hopefully encourage them just to pursue whatever path they’re on and be an inspiration in that way.”

The keynote address was delivered by sports icon and Cal State LA alumna Billie Jean King.

“Higher education is key to the transformation and growth that we see today from many of the students graduating,” read a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. “I’m proud to see them taking a step in the right direction to contribute positively to our society.”

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.