U.S. Marshals lead multi-agency sex offender compliance operation in Yuma County

KYMA on October 27, 2025

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The U.S. Marshals Service, Yuma County Adult Probation and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) conducted a sex offender compliance operation in Yuma County last week.

Taking place from October 17 to October 24, the operation was in collaboration with other state and federal agencies, where it resulted in 26 verified sex offenders and the arrest of two convicted sex offenders.

“These operations are significant to our partners and the Marshals as they provide a way to ensure compliance for high-risk sex offenders as we continually strive to protect our communities and prevent future victims,” said District of Arizona U.S. Marshal Van Bayless.

According to a press release, the targeted areas during the operation include Yuma, Somerton, San Luis and other areas within the county like Dateland.

The U.S. Marshal Service said, “Given the large area, coordinating compliance verification for nearly 30 sex offender registrations required detailed planning and cooperation between several partner agencies.”

They then determined 26 registered sex offenders were compliant with the registration requirements while “one was unable to have their registration verified and is pending further investigation” and two people were arrested for unrelated charges.

“Protecting our community, especially our children, is always our top priority. We value our partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service, which helps ensure offenders remain in compliance and our neighborhoods stay safe. This successful operation is a strong example of what can be accomplished when local and federal agencies work together,” said Tania Pavlak with YCSO.

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Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert launches mural campaign

KESQ on October 27, 2025

Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Rancho Mirage residents are being asked today to consider sponsoring a tile in a mural being developed to raise money for programs and exhibits at the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert.   

“The Eyes of Discovery” mural campaign asks donors to buy a tile for $250, which will be displayed along Gerald Ford Drive.   

The mural will feature thousands of tiles, each showcasing a photograph of an individual or recognizing a business.   

“The Eyes of Discovery mural is a reflection of our mission,”  Cindy Burreson, CEO of the museum, said in a statement. “Every tile tells a story, and together they create a beautiful reminder of how imagination and community help shape our future.”  

Officials said the funds will support the museum’s hands-on exhibits, family programs and accessibility initiatives.   

“We’re building something that represents the way children see the world: with curiosity, courage and joy,” Burreson said.   

To learn more, go to https://form.jotform.com/252746630824056.

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Food bank offers recommendation for potential suspension of SNAP benefits

News-Press NOW on October 27, 2025

Alec Pascuzzi

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — “The well has run dry,” according to the United States Department of Agriculture, when talking about food stamps.

The statement on the USDA’s homepage explains that if the government shutdown continues until Nov. 1, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be available.

With the government on day 27 of a shutdown and the possibility of SNAP benefits being suspended, many questions loom.

Roughly one out of every eight people across the country depends on SNAP benefits to provide food for their families.

The program is funded by the federal government, but is administered by the states.

If SNAP benefits do indeed get suspended, Second Harvest Community Food Bank advises St. Joseph residents to seek out their local food pantries.

“There’s probably 20 mobile pantry distributions that we conduct each month. Some of those are in St. Joe. Some of those are not far away in communities like Savannah or across the river in Kansas,” said Chad Higdon, the chief executive officer at Second Harvest. “So, anybody can really come to those.”

Higdon also encourages people who are interested in helping those in need during this time to get involved through volunteering.

“We’ve got donated products to sort through that individuals can come down to the food bank and help us prepare for those distributions,” said Higdon.

For information on these local food pantries or how to get involved through volunteering, please visit www.shcfb.org.

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Local Realtor’s Donation Drive Fights Shortage At Lompoc Food Pantry

KEYT on October 27, 2025

Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – The Lompoc Food Pantry is experiencing critical shortages of its supply, while the needs of local families are only increasing.

The community is coming together to fight the shortage.

There’s a sense of determination that no one in this community will be going without food this November, especially for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

With the federal government shutdown set to affect those on benefits programs, the approaching Thanksgiving holiday has many feeling on edge.

“In the past, we were able to order and supplement items, complete a Thanksgiving package for families to take home to go with a turkey or ham that other small businesses or donors will come and donate,” says Monique Luna, the Lompoc Food Pantry’s coordinator. “This year, there’s no budget for that.”

But some Lompoc residents are taking action.

“We know that there’s a large aid that’s about to vanish and the need for this type of thing is growing,” says Jose Montes, a Real estate broker in Lompoc. “The demand is growing, but the supply, it’s not showing up at a fast enough pace.”

Learning about the increase in need has local community members coming together to fight the shortage, such as local real estate broker Jose Montes, who has set up a donation drive through his office.

“If you have the ability to donate perishable, nonperishable, please bring it to our office,” says Montes. “Everything and anything is welcome. We will make sure we get it to the program. We will make sure we get it to the people that need these things.”

He’s also spearheading other donations from local farmers to increase the amount of fresh produce flowing through the donation center. 

“The biggest part of what we need help with is the non-perishables,” says Luna. “So that’s how we stock our shelves and that’s how we’re able to maintain items for families to be able to get through the month.”

Montes is looking to spread the word to anyone who can donate any food items to fill in critical gaps and make sure all of Lompoc’s families can celebrate Thanksgiving.

Donations can be dropped off daily at the Lompoc Food Pantry from 10am to 2pm, or at the office of Jose Montes at 514 North H Street from 9am to 1pm.

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Suspect injured in officer-involved shooting in Palm Springs, ambulance crashes near scene

KESQ on October 27, 2025

Jesus Reyes

UPDATE 9:50 p.m. – Palm Springs Police have opened Vista Chino Drive between Farrell Drive and Gene Autry Trail.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Palm Springs Monday morning.

The shooting was reported just after 11:30 a.m. on E Vista Chino and N Farrell Drive.

PSPD Lt. Gustavo Araiza told News Channel 3 that they responded to a call for assistance from a parole agent in a physical altercation with an individual he was trying to detain. While officers were en route, the agent reported that a shooting had occurred.

Araiza confirmed that the suspect sustained a gunshot wound. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital in an ambulance, accompanied by a firefighter and a police officer. En route, the ambulance was involved in a vehicle collision at East Vista Chino and Sunrise Way, resulting in minor to moderate injuries to its occupants.

Police have closed the road E Vista Chino is closed in both directions between Whitewater Club Drive and N Farrell Drive.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Santa Barbara Teens Box Their Way to Better Mental Health

KEYT on October 27, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A new kind of training is taking shape in Santa Barbara.

It starts with a pair of boxing gloves.

“I really feel the movement in icing and boxing itself is a good outlet for the kids,” said coach John Sandoval of Paragon Academy.

The Santa Barbara Police Activities League has partnered with Paragon Goleta Boxing to offer free classes for local teens.

The goal?

Give young people a positive outlet, and the tools to face life’s challenges.

“I’m pretty excited about it, especially because I’ve been wanting to box a pretty long time … and so I feel like this has been giving me the opportunity to go ahead and box,” said student Oakley Salas of SB PAL.

“You give them an opportunity and you give them a goal. they will rise to it and we have a great instructors that are gonna ensure that they can get to the level that they want to be,” said executive director Judie Lugo of SB PAL.

The SB PAL team hopes to continue this new partnership indefinitely.

“Just as like a student in general it can get pretty stressful … but boxing helps me take that stress out in a healthy way,” said Salas.

“My hope is to get the kids interested in being able to spend more time inside learning a skill versus outside in the street,” said Sandoval.

“I want to continue forever … I want to be like a champion,” said student Beau Rainbolt of SB PAL.

For the teens, boxing isn’t just exercise.

It’s a path forward.

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Immigration Concerns Loom as Museum of Contemporary Art Calls Off Día de los Muertos Event

KEYT on October 27, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – There will not be a cultural street festival around the Museum of Contemporary Art in Santa Barbara for Día de los Muertos this year.

It would have taken place Saturday, Nov. 1.

The event, also known as a calenda, has been postponed. The museum has expressed concerns over immigration issues and public safety. A statement said, “the threat to undocumented families remains very real.”

Last year hundreds of people attended in downtown in what was a colorful community gathering.

In announcing the cancellation, Executive Director Dalia Garcia said, “we do not take this decision lightly. But we take it with conviction. Because to honor Día de los Muertos fully means honoring the dignity, safety, and humanity of those who live its truth every day not just in November, but all year long.”

The Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara (MCASB) statement:

As Executive Director of MCASB and the creator of Calenda Día de los Muertos, I write on behalf of our institution to share a difficult but necessary decision: this year, we will pause our annual Dia de los Muertos Calenda celebration.

This decision emerged from deep reflection and ongoing conversations with artists, community members, and immigrant rights advocates. Many have reminded us that although ICE raids may no longer dominate daily headlines, the threat to undocumented families remains very real. Policies that criminalize migration, restrict access to essential services, and sow fear continue to endanger lives.

To hold a public celebration without naming this reality risks turning ancestral practices into mere aesthetic décor and commodifying Indigenous identities stripping them of their meaning and dignity. Such a gesture would be disconnected from the very communities it claims to honor.

Calenda was never intended as spectacle. It was born from relationship, ancestral reverence, and a commitment to justice. Its power lies not in its scale, but in its intention. And intention requires honesty: not everyone has the privilege to celebrate openly. For many in our community, visibility carries risk.

At MCASB, we believe cultural expression must be rooted in integrity not commodification. Día de los Muertos is not a theme; it is a living practice of remembrance, resistance, and love. When traditions are stripped of their context and offered as entertainment, they lose their soul. We refuse to contribute to that erasure.

This year, rather than host a public procession, we will redirect our energy and resources toward supporting community-led efforts that protect, heal, and advocate for those most impacted by systemic injustice. We remain steadfast in our belief that art and justice are inseparable and that a museum’s highest calling is to stand with its community, especially when doing so requires sacrifice.

Looking ahead, we are already working to ensure that next year’s Calenda should conditions allow, can be a truly safe, inclusive, and a co-created gathering. We are actively deepening partnerships with institutions and organizations whose values align with ours, so that when we come together again, it is with shared purpose, mutual care, and collective strength.

We do not take this decision lightly. But we take it with conviction. Because to honor Día de los Muertos fully means honoring the dignity, safety, and humanity of those who live its truth every day not just in November, but all year long.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Dalia Garcia, Executive Director, & the MCASB Team

Una declaración del Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Santa Bárbara (MCASB):

Como directora ejecutiva del MCASB y creadora de la Calenda Día de los Muertos, escribo en nombre de nuestra institución para compartir una decisión difícil pero necesaria: este año, suspendemos nuestra celebración anual del Día de los Muertos Calenda.  

Esta decisión surgió tras una profunda reflexión y conversaciones continuas con artistas, miembros de la comunidad y defensores de los derechos de las personas migrantes. Muchos nos han recordado que, aunque las redadas de ICE ya no estén en los titulares todos los días, la amenaza para las familias indocumentadas sigue siendo muy real. Las políticas que criminalizan la migración, restringen el acceso a servicios básicos y siembran miedo continúan poniendo en peligro vidas. 

Sin nombrar esta realidad, cualquier celebración pública se arriesga a transformar prácticas ancestrales en decorado estético y a convertir identidades indígenas en productos de consumo, lejos de su significado y dignidad: un gesto desconectado de las comunidades a las que pretende honrar.  

El Día de los Muertos Calenda nunca fue concebida como espectáculo. Nació de la relación, la memoria ancestral y un compromiso con la justicia. Su fuerza no radica en su escala, sino en su intención. Y la intención exige honestidad: no todas las personas tienen el privilegio de celebrar abiertamente. Para muchas en nuestra comunidad, la visibilidad conlleva riesgos.  

En el MCASB creemos que la expresión cultural debe estar arraigada en la integridad, no en la mercantilización. El Día de los Muertos no es un “tema”; es una práctica viva de recuerdo, resistencia y amor. Cuando se despoja a las tradiciones de su contexto y se ofrecen como entretenimiento, pierden su alma. Nos negamos a contribuir a esa pérdida.  

Este año, en lugar de organizar una procesión pública, redirigiremos nuestra energía y recursos hacia iniciativas comunitarias que protejan, sanen y defiendan a quienes más sufren las injusticias sistémicas. Mantenemos firme nuestra convicción de que el arte y la justicia son inseparables, y que la misión más alta de un museo es estar al lado de su comunidad, especialmente cuando eso requiere sacrificio.  

Mirando al futuro, ya estamos trabajando para garantizar que la Calenda del próximo año, si las condiciones lo permiten, pueda ser un espacio verdaderamente seguro, inclusivo y co-creado. Estamos fortaleciendo alianzas con instituciones y organizaciones cuyos valores coinciden con los nuestros, para que, cuando volvamos a reunirnos, lo hagamos con propósito compartido, cuidado mutuo y fuerza colectiva.  

No tomamos esta decisión a la ligera. Pero la tomamos con convicción. Porque honrar plenamente el Día de los Muertos significa honrar la dignidad, la seguridad y la humanidad de quienes viven su verdad todos los días, no solo en noviembre, sino durante todo el año.  

Con gratitud y solidaridad,

Dalia Garcia, Directora Ejecutiva, y el equipo de MCASB

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SLO County touts improved public safety with opening of new dispatch center

KEYT on October 27, 2025

Dave Alley

TEMPLETON, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo County celebrated the grand opening of its long-planned new public safety communications center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held Monday morning.

Located in Templeton just off Highway 101, the 20,193 square foot two-story building will bring together emergency dispatch services for the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and San Luis Obispo County Fire Department for the first time ever.

County officials point out that having both agencies in one building will greatly enhance and streamline emergency responses, particularly during times of significant incidents.

The new building replaces two separate dispatch facilities used by both agencies that were outdated, undersized and inefficient for the modern needs of both departments.

“This new communications center represents the next generation of public safety for San Luis ObispoCounty,” said San Luis Obispo County Fire Department Chief John Owens said in a statement. “By bringing our fire and law enforcement dispatchers together under one roof, we’re improving how quickly and effectively we can respond when our community needs us most.”

According to a release, the new center features a 140-foot communications tower, advanced dispatch technology, and expanded capacity for future growth. Key statistics for the project include over 140 tons of steel, 150,000 feet of network cabling, more than 315,000 feet of electrical wiring, and 2,000 cubic yards of concrete.

San Luis Obispo County broke ground on the $40 million project two years ago in October 2023.

The dispatch center is now fully operational and its first official transmission was broadcast at the conclusion of the ceremony.

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Stay safe this Halloween: Your checklist for a spook-tacular night

KIFI on October 27, 2025

Noah Farley

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — With Halloween on the horizon, people of all ages are being reminded to stay safe during the spookiest night of the year. Here are some essential tips for parents of trick-or-treaters, drivers, homeowners, and pet owners.

First, if you go trick-or-treating, wait to eat the candy until after you get home. The American Red Cross directs parents to go through the candy and throw away anything that looks unusual or is unwrapped.

Second, when choosing a costume, try to wear one that is easy to see. If your costume has dark colors, the organization Safe Kids Worldwide says you can put on additional reflective tape or have your child carry glow sticks. Use face paint instead of masks when you can.

Homeowners who plan to pass out candy are advised to have their area well-lit and remove anything people could trip over.

If you plan to drink on Halloween, make sure to have a designated driver to get home safely. According to the Red Cross, “the number of alcohol-related traffic incidents jumps around Halloween ─ in fact, many Halloween deaths can be linked to drivers who are impaired.”

Finally, pets should be kept out of reach of Halloween treats. If you want your pet to wear a costume, choose one that doesn’t make it difficult for them to breathe or move. Of course, make sure your pet is okay with the idea of wearing a costume.

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“Presumption of Innocence”: Judge rules accused Charlie Kirk killer can wear civilian clothes in court

KIFI on October 27, 2025

News Team

UTAH (KIFI) — Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old charged with the aggravated murder of conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, will not appear at his scheduled public hearing later this week. The October 30th hearing was pushed back to a later date to give legal teams more time for discovery and to prepare their motions, Fourth District Court Judge Tony Graf explained during a brief hearing this afternoon, Monday, October 27.

During the short hearing, Judge Graf addressed motions concerning the defendant’s courtroom presence. He granted the defense’s request to allow Robinson to appear in street clothes at future hearings, stating that “The court finds that Mr. Robinson’s right to the presumption of innocence outweighs the minimal inconvenience of permitting civilian attire.”

However, the judge denied defense attorney Kathy Nester’s motion to have Robinson appear without restraints.

”This is a high-profile case with strong public interest,” explained Graf. “Restricting the recording of restraints strikes the proper balance between Mr. Robinson’s right to a fair proceeding and the public’s right to access and transparency.”

According to Fox, Judge Graf did not make a decision on the prosecution’s motion seeking to hold all non-evidentiary hearings remotely going forward, but he informed the sides that they could submit a new motion seeking to have news cameras limited in the courtroom.

Robinson faces seven serious charges related to the killing, including the capital offense of Aggravated murder, Felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, two counts of obstruction of justice, two counts of witness tampering, and Commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

Investigators believe Robinson fired a single shot from a rooftop at Utah Valley University on September 10, killing Kirk during a speaking event on the campus. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray has confirmed that the state will be seeking the death penalty.

ORIGINAL:

UTAH (KIFI) — Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing political activist Charlie Kirk, made his first in-person court appearance last Friday. The closed hearing was requested by his attorney, Kathy Nester, two weeks prior to discuss what Robinson would be permitted to wear during his court appearances.

Attorney Nester filed the motion arguing that forcing Robinson to appear in typical inmate attire or restraints—such as a “suicide robe,” bulletproof vest, or shackles—would unfairly prejudice the jury. She argues that these visible signs of imprisonment lead people to assume he’s guilty, violating his right to a fair and impartial trial.

Nester also pointed out that this case has massive media attention, saying it’s important he be seen as a person, not just an accused inmate.

The presiding judge is set to make a decision today, October 27, at 1 p.m. on Nester’s motion.

The ruling will directly impact Robinson’s next court date this Thursday, October 30th. This appearance will be the first time the public and media will see Robinson in court.

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