What’s floating in the 719? Local students take their cardboard boats to the high seas

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Students at Monument Academy High School set sail this weekend for a high-seas adventure in physics.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE – Sink or swim: high school physics class racing in cardboard boats to test their knowledge

Okay, maybe it wasn’t the actual seas, rather a swimming pool, but the closest ocean is a little more than 1,200 miles away.

The goal was to see if students’ cardboard creations could withstand the waves.

Physics teacher Esme Wilhelm designed this competition for students to test their understanding of buoyancy, displacement, and the center of mass.

Students tell KRDO13 they had to do a lot of math to make sure they didn’t win the dreaded Titanic Award, which goes out to the group that sinks the most dramatically.

Taking home the Titanic Award are Josh Deniston and Kainoa Smith. Their boat was in lane one. It was not a leisurely voyage for Deniston and Smith, who almost immediately met the bottom of the pool. Despite that, they didn’t give up easily, willing the boat down the pool.

The first-place prize went to the team of Annalise Verones and Grace Dunston. They were the team in orange. Their classmates got a real good look at the back of their boat as Verones and Dunston waxed the competition.

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Family of Jacob Sims hold vigil to remember him

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A family honored a lost loved one with a vigil Saturday night.

Yuma residents gathered at Kennedy Memorial Park in remembrance of Jacob Sims, who was murdered in Winterhaven in November of last year.

The vigil was led by Sims’ grandmother, Genia Sims, and mother, who were joined by Sims’ friends and family.

The gathering included a moment of silence and speech from a member of the Sims family‘s church, and Genia was appreciative of the turnout.

“It means so much. It shows us how much Jacob was loved and cared for,” Genia expressed.

The vigil marked exactly one year since Sims‘ passing. He was 23-years-old.

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Locals attend annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attended the second day of the annual Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival Saturday.

Hosted by Caballeros de Yuma, they had a static display of about 25 balloons earlier that day until getting ready for the big show: The glow part of the festival.

All proceeds from Caballeros de Yuma will go towards their scholarship program and donations at the end of the year.

The festival had many food vendors and a band for families to enjoy.

“We really appreciate the community being out here because we put this on for you, for the Yuma community…We want to draw people into Yuma. We want to draw economic activity into Yuma,” said Josh Finkbeiner, the event coordinator.

The event included a drone show and fireworks towards the end of the night.

While the festival wrapped up Sunday, Finkbeiner says they are already in the planning stages for next year’s festival.

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United Way offers free program to help parents and caregivers connect with children, students

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A leading nonprofit is offering guidance to parents, grandparents and others about ways to strengthen unity within families and classrooms this week.

United Way’s Success by Six initiative is presenting the latest session in its “Conscious Discipline” series this Monday, Nov. 17, for parents, grandparents, primary caregivers and child care professionals looking to participate.

The session, which takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Wyatt Park Christian Church, will cover how noticing, accepting and connecting with children strengthens self motivation.

Attendees will leave with practical tips on age-appropriate jobs and strategies to strengthen connections with families and students in the classroom. Child care professionals attending in person will receive 1.5 Missouri Clock Hours Child Care Licensing credit.

United Way Success By 6 is a community-based movement of public and private partners including business, government, labor, education, child care and parents working together to prepare children to be successful learners when they begin kindergarten.

Registration is available online at stjosephunitedway.org/sb6parents.

Those seeking more information are encouraged to contact Bobbie Cronk with United Way at 816-364-2381 or by email bobbie.cronk@stjosephunitedway.org. Additional information on Conscious Discipline can be found at consciousdiscipline.com.

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Hands Extended Thrift Store holds annual Bicycle Giveaway

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local thrift store in Yuma held its annual Bicycle Giveaway early Sunday afternoon.

The giveaway took place at Hands Extended Thrift Store, located at 13341 S. Frontage Road, at 1:00 p.m.

In addition to the bikes, there was hot dogs, chips and water for attendees during the annual giveaway.

Karen Lebarron, the store’s manager, says the bikes were donated to military children, local churches and low-income families.

“To be able to help out low-income, underprivileged children is absolutely wonderful, and it’s really great to see the smiles on their face when they ride off on their bicycles,” Lebarron expressed.

The store also gave away stuffed animals during the annual event, which lasted until 3:00 p.m.

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AMVETS ONE bus brings suicide prevention message to Indio

Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The AMVETS ONE suicide-prevention bus rolled into Indio on Sunday.

The event drawing veterans, families and community members to American Legion Post 739 for a program aimed at reducing veteran suicides — highlighting the urgent need for mental-health support and continued outreach.

According to AMVETS, an estimated 17.6 veterans die by suicide every day nationwide — a number the organization hopes to drive down through its traveling education and resource program.

Speakers shared information on warning signs, available resources and ways the public can support veterans in crisis.

AMVETS Post 66 presented a $500 donation to support the AMVETS ONE program.

The event was free and open to the public, attracting local leaders, service members and advocates.

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St. Joseph Public Library holding session on history of infamous local criminals

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A closer look through the history of St. Joseph’s infamous criminals will be the focus of an upcoming program at the East Hills Library.

On Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Dr. Kim Schutte will share details on St. Joseph’s lesser-known version of Bonnie and Clyde from the 1930s: Clarence and Juanita Spargur.

Much like Bonnie and Clyde, the Spargur’s exploits made numerous headlines in the Midwest throughout the mid-1930’s.

The upcoming presentation is intended for adults 18 and over. It will be held at the East Hills Library located at 502 N. Woodbine Road.

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Gene Autry, Vista Chino reopen after weekend flooding, Indian Canyon remains closed

Isaiah Mora

Update 11/17/25

Gene Autry reopened Monday morning. There is no word on when Indian Canyon could be reopened.

Original Report 11/16/25

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – On Sunday morning, Vista Chino reopened at the wash after it was closed due to flooding following Saturday’s heavy rainfall.

The city of Palm Springs is also warning North Indian Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail are both closed at the wash due to flooding.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn when these roads will open back up.

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SMU law professor goes missing on hiking trail in Georgia

By Marvin Hurst

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    Texas (KTVT) — Charles Hosch has many people concerned about his whereabouts. The 67-year-old has not been seen since Tuesday, his law partner at Hosch & Morris, Kate Morris, said.

“He was visiting with his brother in Gainesville, Georgia, where they were from,” she said. “They had breakfast together. He had intended to take a nature walk on the trail that he grew up hiking on. Apparently, he made it to the trail. His car was found there.”

Morris said Hosch would always answer his phone. He has not.

She and Hosch’s family are in Georgia, where he went missing at the Byron Herbert Reece Trailhead on Veterans’ Day. The Union County Sheriff’s Office said he was wearing khaki pants, a camel color sweater, and a dark green jacket.

On Saturday, authorities said a credible source reported seeing Hosch and having a conversation with him late Tuesday night.

Wife Beth, daughter Julia Hosch-Singh, and Mary Catherine Hosch cling to hope for good news.

“We are worried, but at the same time, we remain hopeful because of the wonderful work that is already underway and has been, and we can see it,” Hosch-Singh said. “It is really heartening to see so many people working so hard to bring my dad home.”

Friday evening, Morris said a canine got indications of a location he’d been on the trail. For them, it’s confirmation of his presence and may help in a search where only the seasoned are allowed.

On Saturday, investigators asked anyone with hunting cameras in the area to check their footage.

“The trails are very rugged. There are a lot of leaves on the ground,” Morris said. “It’s been very cold, and this is not gentle territory.”

Morris and Hosch-Singh were complimentary of the job Union County officials were doing, but realized that more would be helpful.

In the meantime, outside the SMU Dedman School of Law on Friday evening, a gathering of the Christian Legal Society. It was a vigil to pray for Hosch.

“And truly, we were coming here to pray that our professor, who has given us an intellectual and emotional refuge, will find a physical refuge,” Ethan Sullivan said.

Sullivan is the president of the Christian Legal Society. He has also taken classes under Hosch and has a connection, as many students do, to the one-on-one meals, sugar cookies given out in class, the mentoring beyond the law, and, of course, Christianity.

“Moments like this bring the reality to bear on how fleeting life can be, how impermanent it is,” he said. ” I think it’s just a realism that life is a gift. It’s a precious gift, and it can be taken at any moment.”

Morris said the searches for Hosch are from sunup to sundown. She posts updates on the status of the search and provides Hosch background on their firm’s opening page.

Amelia Mugavero contributed to this report.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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Vote still up in the air as Columbia City Council reviews median use ordinance Monday

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council is expected to revisit a controversial ordinance Monday that targets pedestrians standing on medians on a majority of city roads.

The ordinance would regulate the use of medians, road crossings, and islands by both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speeds of 35 mph or greater, average daily traffic volumes of 15,000 vehicles or greater, or where the median width is fewer than 6 feet wide.

If adopted, the ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median less than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

Critics of the ordinance include Ward 3 council member Jacque Sample, who requested to delay voting on the ordinance until a later date. Students in the Young Democratic Socialists of America also voiced concern over the rule, calling it “irrelevant” to addressing gun violence. This came after MU President Choi proposed plans to reform homelessness in the city following the death of Stephens College student Ayanna Williams, who was shot and killed downtown in late September.

According to previous reporting, the City Council plans to table the vote on the ordinance on Monday, with the council instead reviewing and discussing a pedestrian study report on roads in the area.

Supplemental – Street and Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study (Final)Download

The study also found that from 2019 to 2023, 32% of deadly crashes in Columbia were pedestrian-related, which is higher than the national and state rates.

In Missouri, pedestrian and bicycle deaths increased by 77% while other traffic fatalities increased by 40% between 2012 and 2022.

According to city documents, the ordinance is on second reading and vote, with the Public Works Department suggesting to adopt the rule. The Council can vote on an ordinance after it has been read three times for public notice.

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