Hundreds of SBCC Students Explore More Than 70 Colleges Without Leaving Campus

KEYT on October 29, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Hundreds of Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) students looked to the future at a Transfer Fair on campus with representatives of four-year schools Wednesday.

The school had them in various pop-ups around the west campus.  

Most were schools in California including UC’s and Cal State campuses with some as far away as Colorado, New York and Ohio.

This gives the students a chance to learn about the schools without traveling hundreds of miles. Many are going to school on a limited budget and can not afford to travel for campus tours in advance of making a decision.

SBCC has an automatic transfer plan with many schools to assist students in their higher education planning, including UC Santa Barbara nearby.

JennyErika Barco the Santa Barbara City College  SBCC Transfer Center Director said, “this event is really much it gives them the opportunity to do an early exploration of the university. And we do want them to start as early as possible. Making the connection with the university, not just the one that they’re interested in.”

Thomas Field is a student who found the event to be very helpful for his future. “You can kind of ask specific questions. You don’t have time to ask, like out of the states especially. I don’t have time to visit. I’m very busy with school right now, so it’s really convenient for me. “

Barco said, “technically this is a one shot location for students to come and just look around and see what they want to consider for more research.”

One student said she could be close to home or go far away for awhile.

“Yes. Irvine. Because I was born there and then (I could do) study abroad. Semester at sea is really cool. I’m thinking of doing communication there and getting to travel,” said Grace McElroy.

Another student looked to San Diego for school and her personal future.

Jasmyne Vincent said, “I want to settle down there. So hopefully finding a college, my masters and doing all that stuff down there will help.”

Barco said, “you can literally see in the student’s face that they are getting the information that they need and the questions answered. And they’re also being surprised of the answers that they’re getting.”

Everyone attending was given a free Bombazo burrito and a Mr. Softee ice cream.

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There’s furry fun for all at the annual Howl-o-ween Pet Costume Contest in Bend’s Old Mill

KTVZ on October 29, 2025

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Humane Society of Central Oregon is inviting companion animals to enjoy the ghastly delights of Halloween at a special annual costume event.

Unleash your creativity and “trick”-out your four-legged friend in a costume. The Howl-o-ween Pet Costume contest will be Friday, October 31st at 5:30pm at the Old Mill District Center Plaza by the walking bridge (545 SW Powerhouse Drive in Bend).

HSCO will be handing out treats for pets during the Old Mill District Halloween event from 4:00 to 7:00pm.

Unleash your imagination and create or buy a costume for any companion animal. Contest is open to all species. Dress up your cat, bearded dragon or Guinea Pig and surprise the local celebrity judges. There is no entry fee, but donations graciously accepted. Prizes include $100, $75 and $50 Old Mill District gift cards and more to the top entries.

Pet costume contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. Arrive early and register between 4:00-5:15 p.m. at the HSCO booth. Make sure pet costume is comfortable and the animal can move freely and see. Ensure that temperature-sensitive animals are kept warm.

For more information, visit www.oldmilldistrict.com/blog/things-to-do/halloween-in-the-old-mill-district or call 541.382-3537.

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Missouri says WIC program will continue in November despite shutdown

News-Press NOW on October 29, 2025

NPG Content Share

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Special benefits for low-income mothers are safe for now, despite the ongoing federal shutdown, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced Wednesday.

Benefits under the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program, known commonly as WIC, will be dispersed for November, but might not last the whole month without changes, the agency says.

WIC, like SNAP, is federally funded through congressional appropriations. That money is then sent to the states to administer the program. DHSS said Wednesday that it found savings in its October benefit payments that can keep the program going into November.

In its news release, the department didn’t specify how much money it saved or exactly how long funding will last.

DHSS said it will let people know if the benefits run out in the second half of November.

WIC is a program to help low-income young mothers and their children with food and other benefits. Like SNAP, also known as food stamps, WIC’s federal funding will run out next month unless Congress acts.

Other states have taken steps similar to Missouri’s to keep WIC funded, including Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and Wyoming, according to The Hill. Some states have stepped up to provide SNAP funds, but Missouri has yet to make that move.

Wednesday marks day 29 of the government shutdown, and is nearly a week shy of surpassing the last government shutdown.

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Jefferson City child murder trial set for next summer

KMIZ on October 29, 2025

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The trial of a Jefferson City woman accused of killing a 4-year-old boy will take place next summer with a jury brought in from a different county.

Online court records say a July 26, 2026, trial date was set for Quatavia Givens, who is accused of the 2018 death of Darnell Gray. She is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child endangerment and abandoning a corpse.

Givens will be tried in Cole County, but the jury will be selected in Pulaski County, according to court records. The trial is expected to last two weeks.

Givens was found mentally competent to stand trial in August. She had been ruled mentally unfit for trial in 2023 and treated by the state.

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PSUSD looks to open dialogue, empower change on equity in education 

KESQ on October 29, 2025

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Students, teachers and community leaders will gather together Saturday for the 4th annual PSUSD Multicultural and Equity in Education Conference where they hope to empower change through understanding.

For the district, the event has become a tradition and had consistently grown in purpose, reach and impact, according to event organizers. Through dialogue, speakers hope to “elevate student voices, confront inequities, and collectively commit to doing better together.”

The conference will focus on four main categories in equity education:

 Culturally Responsive Teaching Practices
Equity in Special Education
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Schools
Anti-Racism in Curriculum Design

To register for the free event visit psusd.us

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear the director and students about what they’ve seen in their classrooms leading them to be a part of this conference and what change they hope to make.

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Defendant in New Years day hit and run returns to court

KYMA on October 29, 2025

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 45-year-old Alfredo Enriquez Flores appeared in court Wednesday to set up a date for a change of plea agreement.

Flores is accused of running over 21-year-old Esteyan Madel on New Year’s Day.

Flores was originally charged with second-degree murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and two counts of driving under the influence of drugs.

According to official court documents, Flores had admitted to using methamphetamine at 8:00 p.m. and failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Test he was given.

He pled guilty to manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. However, after Judge Roger A. Nelson saw no remorse in Flores, he denied the plea agreement.

Now, Flores is scheduled to be back in court on December 3 with a different judge, and a change of plea.

Despite having to wait another couple of months, Steve Madel Jr., Madel’s father, is sure justice will prevail.

“He hit my son, he killed my son, he took my son away from us. That’s something I will never ever get back ever. We will never see him again, we will never hold him again, we will never give him a kiss or a hug,” Steve says.

He also describes the pain he is in knowing he will not have his son during this upcoming holiday season.

“I’m always used to having my son there. That’s going to be the hard one…one year without our son,” Steve said.

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Jefferson City sued by lodging association for improper tax rates

KMIZ on October 29, 2025

Marie Moyer

EDITOR’S NOTE: AI was used to help research the background for this story.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Lodging Association has filed a lawsuit against Jefferson City, the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau, claiming the city’s 7% lodging tax violates Missouri law.

Jefferson City voters will decide whether to extend the tax on Tuesday.

The lawsuit, filed in the Circuit Court of Cole County, argues that the current 7% lodging tax exceeds the 5% limit set by Missouri law and improperly allocates money. According to court documents, the current lodging tax is divided, with 3% of the tax revenue used to fund the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and 4% allocated to the city’s conference center fund.

“With low occupancy there is no demand in the city for building a conference center and hotel,” Raman Puri, the Jefferson City Lodging Association President and owner of the DoubleTree by Hilton and the Holiday Inn said. “The use of lodging tax dollars is also not to be used to develop a lodging or convention project for the benefit of any developer. This tax should be used for procuring business for the city establishments.”

Petition in Jefferson City lodging tax lawsuitDownload

The Jefferson City Lodging Association is asking the courts for an injunction and restraining order to stop the city from collecting and using the tax money.

The Jefferson City Lodging Association represents hotel and motel owners in the city, whose guests pay the lodging tax. The lawsuit highlights that since the tax increase in 2011, around $13 million has been deposited into the conference center fund, which the association claims is not being used for its intended purpose of promoting tourism as defined by state law.

“Our interpretation of the statute, we’re confident what it is meets what their interpretation is,” said attorney, Vivek Puri, who represents The Jefferson City Lodging Association.

According to Raman, Mayor Landwier and Jefferson City Administrator Steve Rasmussen stated that when the 7% lodging tax was implemented in 2011, hoteliers were promised the tax would not go to the conference center or hotel for the city.

“If this was going to be the case, the hotel establishments would have never supported the lodging tax increase in 2011,” Raman said. “To use the lodging tax dollars for a construction of a hotel and conference center would be a direct competition for existing hotels that collect the tax. This is not fair or just.”

If the lodging association wins the case, all money collected for the conference center project will be reallocated to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“If declared constitutionally valid, a declaration that all ‘lodging tax’ deposited in the ‘conference center fund’ to date and collected and appropriated or to be deposited to ‘conference center fund’ going forward shall be used fully to fund the JCCVB,” according to court documents.

The city is set to vote on extending the 7% lodging sales tax for another 25 years on Tuesday.

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Missouri says WIC program will continue in November despite shutdown

KMIZ on October 29, 2025

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Special benefits for low-income mothers are safe for now, despite the ongoing federal shutdown, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announced Wednesday.

Benefits under the Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children program, known commonly as WIC, will be dispersed for November, but might not last the whole month without changes, the agency says.

WIC, like SNAP, is federally funded through congressional appropriations. That money is then sent to the states to administer the program. DHSS said Wednesday that it found savings in its October benefit payments that can keep the program going into November.

In its news release, the department didn’t specify how much money it saved or exactly how long funding will last.

A DHSS spokesperson said the funding is leftover from WIC users not using their full benefits. Some WIC items were cut in October, like name-brand cereal and block cheese, and some people spent a little less.

DHSS said it will let people know if the benefits run out in the second half of November.

Funding could run dry after next month if Congress doesn’t fund the government and appropriate money to federal food programs, like WIC and SNAP.

WIC is a program to help low-income young mothers and their children with food and other benefits.

Other states have taken steps similar to Missouri’s to keep WIC funded, including Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Oregon and Wyoming, according to The Hill.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced Wednesday over $15 million in additional funds to support emergency food assistance programs, like food banks and senior food programs, to counteract dry SNAP funding.

First Chance for Children Executive Director Gay Litteken said there’s been an increase in need from Columbia families for baby items like diapers and wipes, along with the WIC-eligible baby formula.

She said families on SNAP are scrambling to find other resources.

“They’re going to be spending money on nutritional items for their children, we want to be able to provide diapers and wipes for them,” Litteken said.

Wednesday marks day 29 of the government shutdown, and is nearly a week shy of surpassing the last government shutdown.

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Museum of Idaho receives a 50k donation and presents “Mummies of the World” exhibit

KIFI on October 29, 2025

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) – The Museum of Idaho is excited to announce a generous $50,000 donation from Oklo, an advanced nuclear technology company developing its first commercial Aurora powerhouse in Idaho at Idaho National Laboratory. This partnership marks a major contribution to the region’s cultural and educational fabric, reinforcing Oklo’s deep commitment to the Idaho Falls community.

The donation will support the Museum’s mission to inspire lifelong learning through dynamic exhibits, educational programming, and ongoing research in science, history, and archaeology. It comes during the run of “Mummies of the World”, a major traveling exhibit currently on display at the museum.

“We’re not just here to build essential infrastructure and deploy advanced nuclear technology,”remarked Bonita Chester, Head of Communications and Media at Oklo. “Our mission is to both enrich and improve the communities in which we operate. We couldn’t be more excited to be the newest members of the Idaho Falls community.”

Chris Sheetz, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Museum of Idaho, said: “We are incredibly grateful for this generous donation, which means so much to the Museum of Idaho’s mission. This donation will directly support the growth of our educational programs, the curation of powerful exhibits, and the development of exciting new traveling exhibitions that serve and engage our community.”

The partnership between Oklo and the Museum of Idaho began earlier this month with the unveiling of a hands-on, community mural project in the museum’s Maeck Education Center.

From September 13–19, local residents participated in painting a large-scale paint-by-number mural celebrating East Idaho’s culture, landscapes, scientific achievements, and pioneering spirit in nuclear innovation.

Created by award-winning Idaho artist Rett Longmore and painted with help from local community members, the mural brings together Idaho’s past and future through energy innovation.

Featuring both the Oklo Aurora powerhouse and the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), the artwork highlights how history and innovation meet in Idaho—and how community is at the center of building what comes next.

The Aurora powerhouse is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that utilizes metal fuel and is based on the proven design and operating heritage of EBR-II, which operated in Idaho from 1964 to 1994. Oklo is placing its first Aurora powerhouse at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and is proud to have worked alongside the community to bring this vision to life—looking forward to continuing that partnership as the Aurora-INL takes shape in Idaho.

The collaboration culminated in a special reception hosted at the museum, where Oklo presented a surprise $50,000 check—underscoring the company’s intention to be a long-term partner in Idaho Falls’ cultural and educational development.

This all comes as the museum continues to display its latest exhibit: “Mummies of the World”. Mummies of the World brings together naturally and intentionally preserved mummies from South America, Europe, and ancient Egypt.

Presented with dignity and respect, the exhibition blends modern science, interactive displays, and multimedia to uncover the lives, environments, and cultures of ancient civilizations.

Since its debut in Los Angeles in 2010, Mummies of the World has captivated over 2.4 million visitors across 23 cities in the U.S. and Europe. With exhibits over 4500 years old, this display will continue to be showcased at the museum until January 6th, 2026.

For more information about the latest exhibit, donation, and upcoming events, click here.

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Every Bite Matters: How food allergies affect local families during Halloween

KIFI on October 29, 2025

Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS — Normally, a parent’s biggest worry on Halloween is how much sugar their kid will consume. But for some Idaho families who deal with food allergies, every single bite matters.

When one piece of candy can be deadly, there’s a lot of stress and pressure to keep your child with food allergies safe.

Both allergy mom, Katherine Lee, and local allergy specialist, Dr. David Petty, DO, recommend reading every single label–especially since festive wrappers can often look different from the typical branding.

Local News 8’s Megan Lavin is also a food allergy mom. Her son, Carter Lavin, shows just how many candies he can’t have and what a food allergy reaction–known as anaphylaxis–can feel like.

With food allergies on the rise, Dr. Petty sees over 1000 patients in the area and reminds parents with food allergies that they shouldn’t allow their kids to eat any homemade treats. No matter how kind the neighbor, if you can’t verify the ingredients, it shouldn’t be consumed by those with food allergies.

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, October 30 for part 2, where Megan will share with you ways you can be inclusive and some safe treat ideas to help those with food allergies be safe.

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