Lawyers for Jack Smith rebut claims that investigators ‘wiretapped’ GOP members of Congress in January 6 probe

KIFI on October 22, 2025

CNN Newsource

By Evan Perez, CNN

(CNN) — Attorneys for former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith rebutted claims by Republican lawmakers that investigators in the January 6 election subversion case had “wiretapped” GOP members of Congress.

Senate Republicans in recent weeks accused Smith and the FBI of “political weaponization” after the FBI disclosed 2023 court orders used to obtain phone toll records belonging to eight senators and one House member. The records covered calls over four days surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack by Donald Trump supporters on the Capitol.

The toll records do not include content, but detail time and length of calls and the telephone numbers with which the lawmakers communicated, and are a routine part of Justice Department investigations.

In a letter to Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and his Democratic counterpart, Dick Durbin, Smith’s lawyers dispute that there was any political motive in obtaining the records, which they note were disclosed in the 2024 indictment of Trump and in Smith’s report on his investigation.

“As described by various Senators, the toll data collection was narrowly tailored and limited to the four days from January 4, 2021 to January 7, 2021, with a focus on telephonic activity during the period immediately surrounding the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol,” reads the letter from Lanny Breuer and Peter Koski, which was reviewed by CNN.

“The subpoena’s limited temporal range is consistent with a focused effort to confirm or refute reports by multiple news outlets that during and after the January 6 riots at the Capitol, President Trump and his surrogates attempted to call Senators to urge them to delay the certification of the 2020 election results.”

The Smith attorneys note that toll records of then-President Joe Biden were obtained by special counsel Robert Hur in the probe of his mishandling of classified documents, and in the investigation of Sen. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who was convicted on bribery and foreign influence charges.

“Mr. Smith’s use of the toll records as Special Counsel was lawful and in accordance with normal investigative procedure,” the letter from Smith’s attorneys says.

Republican senators raised the disclosure of the toll records during a recent Senate hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi. During the same hearing, Democrats asked about possible political motives of the recent indictments brought against Trump’s perceived political enemies, including former FBI Director James Comey.

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Oxnard Couple Sentenced for Assault and Murder of Former Ex-Girlfriend

KEYT on October 22, 2025

Alissa Orozco

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – A Ventura County couple has been sentenced in the murder case of Yanelly Vargas, a former girlfriend of the male suspect.

Just before midnight on March 17th, 2024, a 911 call was made to report a fight between a man and a woman outside an Oxnard business near East Wooley Road and Industrial Avenue – during the call, a gunshot was fired.

Yanelly Vargas was found unresponsive by Oxnard Police, and later died at Ventura County Medical Center from a gunshot wound.

A press release from the Ventura County District Attorney details how on the night of the murder, Vargas received a text message from Jorge Garfias, her ex-boyfriend, luring her out of a bar. Garfias and his new girlfriend, Margarita Jimenez, drove the woman to an alley in an industrial area where they beat her.

Vargas tried to walk away, but the couple followed her in Garfias’ truck. Jimenez was seen on surveillance footage exiting the truck and running after Vargas with a handgun. She shot the woman once and attempted to shoot a second time before fleeing the scene with Garfias.

An autopsy confirms Vargas died from a single gunshot wound to the chest and has also suffered multiple blunt force injuries and signs of strangulation.

Both Jimenez and Garfias were arrested on April 3rd, 2024. A blood trail, a spent 9mm shell casing, and a blood-stained yellow rope was found at the scene – along with acrylic nails, later matched to Jimenez, were also found.

The couple was sentenced by District Attorney, Erik Nasarenko, on Oct. 21st of first-degree murder: Margarita Jimenez was sentenced to 80 years to life in state prison, and Jorge Garfias was sentenced to 25 years to life.

Jimenez and Garfias were found not guilty of kidnapping the victim.

“Yanelly’s family and friends addressed the court and described their agony and how the defendants’ violent acts shattered their lives,” Deputy District Attorney Hyla Schneir said. “While no sentence can undo the harm caused or bring Yanelly back, we hope the court’s decision to impose the maximum sentences provides a measure of justice and a sense of closure as they continue to grieve and heal.”

The two were previously convicted by a jury on September 5th, where they also found Jimenez guilty of a special allegation that she personally and intentionally discharged a firearm. She later admitted to a strike prior, serious felony prior, and other aggravating factors.

Garfias was also found guilty of aggravating factors, including that he took advantage of a position of trust.

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Advanced nuclear technology company gifts Museum of Idaho $50K for educational programs

KIFI on October 22, 2025

News Release

The following is a news release from the Museum of Idaho:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — 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 donation to the cultural and educational fabric of the region, 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.

“After the groundbreaking for the very first Aurora powerhouse, the team celebrated by giving back to the community: a $50,000 donation to the Museum of Idaho to reflect our commitment and gratitude to Idaho Falls and its cultural institutions,” remarked Bonita Chester, Head of Communications and Media at Oklo. “We’re not just here to build essential infrastructure and deploy advanced nuclear technology. 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. Partnerships like this are vital in helping us bring history, science, and humanities to 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 the help of local community members, the mural brings together Idaho’s past and future in 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 sitting 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.

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Audrain County man accused of killing ex-girlfriend’s dog after breaking into home

KMIZ on October 22, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man was charged after he was accused of brutally killing his ex-girlfriend’s dog after he broke into her home on Friday.

Allen Lyons, 34, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree burglary, second-degree animal abuse, first-degree harassment and armed criminal action.

The Mexico Department of Public Safety wrote in a press release that Lyons was arrested on Tuesday and brought to the Audrain County Jail. He is being held without bond. A confined docket hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the Audrain County Courthouse.

The probable cause statement says police were called around noon on Oct. 17 after the victim found her 5-year-old English bulldog dead in a bathtub filled with water with a 30-inch pipe. The woman told police Rousey, the dog, was healthy and behaving normally when she left for work. The woman came home from work for lunch, the statement indicates.

The woman had been receiving harassing text messages from Lyons for days, the statement says.

Police wrote that the crime scene indicated Rousey was “violently attacked in the bedroom” and blood was splattered on the walls, floor and furniture. Police wrote a “a large pool of blood, fecal matter, and urine was present in one corner of the room, with smears suggesting the dog had attempted to flee the attack.”

An examination from the University of Missouri’s Vet hospital indicated Rousey “suffered severe head trauma with puncture wounds and internal bleeding,” as well as injuries to the throat, court documents say.

Lyons allegedly first denied all of the allegations, but police were able to use GPS data that showed he went to the woman’s home after she left for work.

“When confronted with the GPS and video evidence, he stated officers could not see his face. When told that his face was visible, he ended the interview,” the probable cause statement says.

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Columbia Trader Joe’s to open Oct. 30; 77 people hired at store

KMIZ on October 22, 2025

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The new Trader Joe’s in Columbia will open Thursday, Oct. 30, the company confirmed Wednesday in a press release.

The store is located at 201 North Stadium Blvd at The Shoppes where a number of businesses including Men’s Warehouse, Five Below and other stores are located.

The grocery chain offers a variety of products including fresh produce, frozen meals, and alcohol.

“I truly believe the community all I have heard since I got into town is how excited the community is that we are going to be here,” Store Captain Pamela Volk said. “I’m not saying other communities aren’t as excited but the people, the people will make this unique,”

The opening has been in the works for nearly a year and employees are working on the final touches before the doors open to shoppers.

“We’re doing training, we’re doing stocking, we’re doing facing cleaning just getting the store prepped and ready for open,” Volk said.

The store has hired 77 employees, according to Volk, and are looking to hire at least 10 more. She said the pay range is between $14-$17 an hour. Paper application are available at the store or applications can be found online, Volk said.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 moments before the store officially opens, the release says.

Volk said the company came to the Columbia area because it’s what the community wanted.

“Trader Joe’s is also looking to expand where we put our stores. I know they are always looking for a great location and I think that our customers have really put that bug in their ear. We look at this community and we listen,” Volk added.

Trader Joe’s will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Traffic is an area of concern as the area is known for congestion with Home Goods, and Chick-Fil-A nearby.

Shopper Emily Smith said she expects the area to be packed like other Trader Joe’s locations.

“I think it will be different for sure I mean Trader Joe’s are known to be congested and busy and lots of people coming in and out,” Smith said.

However, Volk is optimistic about parking in the area.

“Good flow there just isn’t one ways and spaces are really wide and the isles are really wide so it should be just find in the first couple months,” Volk added.

But, shoppers like Kaitlyn Weigand says Trader Joe’s is worth the wait.

i”Ill sit through the traffic for trader joe’s I love it,” Weigand said.

Volk said employees will park further away from the store or in the back of the building.

The City of Columbia said in an email back in June that Trader Joe’s did not “necessitate”, as part of the permitting process, a traffic study be performed to identify potential upgrades.

In a statement the city said: “It should be noted that the city will be watching traffic volumes and impacts on the adjacent street network following the opening of these businesses to become aware of any adjustments that might need to be made to the signal timing at Worley and the Mall signal or any signage or striping that might be necessary on the surrounding streets. “

ABC 17 News reached out to Kroenke Group, who owns the Shoppes At Stadium to see how they plan to handle increased traffic but did not hear back.

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Otondo Elementary School celebrates raising over $10k through kindness

KYMA on October 22, 2025

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local fundraiser raised money to support playground improvements on campus.

Mary A. Otondo Elementary School celebrated raising over $10,000 through The Kindness Challenge.

Students earned prizes for participating, while also engaging in acts of kindness.

A check was presented to Otondo Elementary School on October 21.

“Our Kindness Challenge Fundraiser was an incredible success, thanks to the kindness and excitementof our amazing students,” stated Otondo Dean of Students Megan Knueppel. “Their enthusiasm inspired our entire school community to come together in support of one another, turning every act of kindness into a celebration of school spirit. And they loved the prizes, too!”

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Felon charged with vandalizing District Attorney’s office property in Indio

KESQ on October 22, 2025

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 47-year-old probationer accused of vandalizing the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office’s Coachella Valley branch, then attempting to hide on the roof of a nearby building, where he was forcibly taken into custody, was charged today with nearly a dozen felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Sean Allen Camba of Temecula was arrested Monday following an hours-long standoff with law enforcement officers on Highway 111 in Indio.   

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Camba is charged with assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest and eight counts of vandalism, three of which allege felonious property damage.

The defendant, who is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail, was slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

According to the Indio Police Department, shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, the convicted felon caused damage to the DA’s building in the 82900 block of Highway 111, adjacent to the Larson Justice Center.  

The extent of the vandalism was not specified, and a possible motive wasn’t mentioned.

A witness observed the acts and followed Camba to another property less than a block away, where he allegedly perpetrated further vandalism before climbing onto the roof of the Sunline Transit Agency building near Highway 111 and Jackson Street in an apparent effort to hide, according to police Sgt. Abe Plata.   

He said patrol officers arrived a short time later and requested assistance from the multi-agency Desert Regional SWAT team. In the meantime, Highway 111 was shut down between Golf Center Parkway and Salton Street for public safety.

Check Out: Desert Regional S.W.A.T. brings departments together, works specialized cases

Attempts to talk Camba down from the roof failed, and just before 2 p.m., SWAT members deployed flash bang grenades to divert his attention while other members clambered onto the roof, where they took him into custody after a brief struggle.

Camba was not injured, nor were any law enforcement personnel, Plata said.    Court records show the defendant has prior convictions for felony vandalism, burglary and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

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Suspected DUI driver arrested after pursuit from Beaumont to Coachella Valley

KESQ on October 22, 2025

Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspected DUI driver was arrested after a pursuit that went from Beaumont to the Coachella Valley, causing a brief closure of eastbound Interstate 10 on Wednesday morning.

The pursuit started at around 10:55 a.m. in Beaumont. CHP said officers spotted a driver traveling erratically and attempted a traffic stop. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.

The suspect was stopped near Gene Autry Trail after spike strips were deployed, and officers used a PIT maneuver. The suspect vehicle sustained damage to its side and tires.

The driver, a 44-year-old woman from Moreno Valley, was taken into custody.

News Channel 3 cameras captured officers pulling out a box of alcoholic beverages and two cats from the vehicle.

Eastbound Interstate 10 is back open.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Santa Barbara Students Explore Future Careers in New Skills Lab

KEYT on October 22, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Students are racing through real-world career challenges at Vieja Valley Elementary School in Santa Barbara.

“We’re trying to go to Tower in 10 minutes in a group so it’s all about teamwork. How tall of a tower can you build,” said teacher Kim Aragon of Vieja Elementary School.

Funded by California Jobs First, the new skills lab uses monthly kits that simulate jobs in fields from AgTech to aerospace.

“We’re working on building skills that students will need in order to be productive in the labor force,” said superintendent Anne Hubbard of Hope School District.

“We’re learning teamwork and we’re building a tower that takes a lot of effort with the whole team,” said student Tayla Stites-Kemp of Vieja Elementary School.

“It’s hard because some people are not working and some people are and we’re trying to make a plan,” said student Zay Corzo of Vieja Elementary School.

So far kids say they’re loving all the hands-on activities from the monthly kits.

“I’m excited because this is a very fun math lesson and we get to work with so many of our close friends,” said Stites-Kemp.

A lab where classroom learning has become a pathway to real careers.

“Listening to each other and they just all wish they had more time,” said Aragon.

By engaging in practical problem-solving activities, students are building confidence and discovering potential career paths at an early age.

Teachers and program leaders hope the skills lab will inspire the next generation of local talent and strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline for future high-opportunity jobs.

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Santa Maria approves $5.5 million in additional funding to push new sports complex closer to completion

KEYT on October 22, 2025

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria City Council approved additional funding Tuesday night needed to complete work on the now-under-construction Santa Maria Sports Complex.

According to the city staff report, an $5,530,000 in funding is required to allow the Santa Maria to deliver the long-planned sports park as envisioned, including four multipurpose playing fields, basketball courts, restrooms, playgrounds, trails, landscaping, site lighting, public art, and supporting facilities.

On Tuesday, councilmembers approved the appropriation of the additional funding andthe award of remaining bid alternatives for the project using Growth Mitigation Program funds, which are paid by developers.

“At last night’s meeting, City Council approved some additional funding to help bring home this sports project all the way to completion,” said Dennis Smitherman, Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department Recreation Services Manager. “In addition to the $12.1 million already allocated, last night’s approved additional funding to really bring this project home, so that means when we’re ready to cut the ribbon and that grand opening ceremony, we’ll have everything all completed.”

The city said in a release the funding will specially cover the cost security lighting, restrooms, a playground, landscaping, construction management, change orders and renovation of an existing water well.

While the complex will be available for many different types of sports, it’s soccer, which has by far and away the most participants in the city, both youth and adult, that will utilize the fields.

Currently, the city is lacking sufficient field space to fully accommodate the numerous organizations and teams, along with the thousands of soccer players of all ages.

“Field space is very limited currently in the city,” said Vlahdemir Cruz, Central Coast Surf Youth Soccer Club coach. “One of the biggest things is when it rains, certain facilities end up closing, and then there’s coaches scrambling for space.”

When the new facility opens, it will help alleviate some of the existing strain on the city’s inventory of sports fields.

“More field space means you open the you open the door for more programs,” said Cruz. “More programs means more involvement from the community specifically for the youth. It also it also gives us the opportunity to to grow the adult men’s league. And at this point right now, they’re growing a women’s men, women’s league, which would be a huge. Obviously we’re around the corner from the World Cup, so it is perfect timing. I mean, kids are out through the roof right now and the opening of the sports complex, it’s a huge, huge benefit to the city.”

Construction of the facility is expected to take several more months and the city is planning to open the sports complex sometime in either late 2026 or early 2027.

“This is such a great opportunity not only for our community, but for our region,” said Smitherman. “We’re going to be able to host our much needed, field sports right here, whether it be soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, but also open it up to the community, on a on a much broader scale and being able to host tournaments that we desperately can use here in the city, as well as inviting outside the community to come play as well.”

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