ABC-7 at 4: El Paso County Sheriff’s Office ramping up patrols through Thanksgiving weekend
Nichole Gomez
City Hall gets festive with newly installed exterior lighting
Leah Rainwater
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph’s City Hall will shine bright on Friday with festive red and green lighting to celebrate the start of the Christmas season.
The lighting installation, which was completed over the past few weeks, debuts in conjunction with the opening of Holiday Park and South Pole displays at Krug Park and Hyde Park on Friday, Nov. 28.
A total of 14 LED fixtures have been added around City Hall, including five on the north and south sides and two each on the east and west sides.
The system allows for customizable colors to mark holidays, community events, awareness campaigns and to celebrate local sports teams’ achievements.
The lighting project is one of several ongoing improvements the City is partaking in to prepare for the 100th anniversary of City Hall in 2027.
So far, sidewalks have been replaced, new period lighting has been installed along the balustrade facing Civic Center Park, the fountain on the north side of the building is being replaced and rebuilt, hallways are being repainted and elevators are being upgraded, among other improvements.
Espresso on the go: D.B’s Coffee truck opens in St. Joseph and surrounding areas
Cameron Montemayor
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — One new business is adding a wrinkle to the local coffee industry and bringing the ever popular drink straight to the customer.
Coffee connoisseurs will see a new teal colored mobile coffee truck called D.B’s Coffee at various locations and events in St. Joseph and Kansas City after opening for business two weeks ago.
Owner Dylan Bishop, a native of Agency, Missouri, and graduate of Missouri Western, brings years of experience preparing handcrafted coffee, including working at coffee shops like the former Pony Espresso.
“I’ve learned a lot over the years and the biggest thing is consistency. You want to make sure you’re serving the same thing to customers,” Bishop said. “I do a bunch of lattes, specialty lattes, chai, matcha. Everything you can get at a coffee shop. I have it on wheels.”
A customer orders a drink from D.B.’s Coffee on Tuesday in Downtown St. Joseph.
D.B’s has made frequent stops near the Missouri Theater, the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, Five Guys and other destinations like Schweizer’s Orchard, including catering for private events in Kansas City.
In just two weeks of business, the truck has already been booked for nearly 50 future events and activities, a quick start in a competitive coffee market.
“I have 48 more bookings already on my calendar. So it’s honestly taking off way faster than I imagined,” he said. “I’m going to do a lot of St. Joe events throughout the winter and then this weekend, I’ll be down at Schweitzer’s Orchard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
Next up for Bishop is a private event in Kansas City with 200 hot chocolate drinks set to be prepared. Coffee beans used by D.B’s are purchased from a company in Kansas City as well.
While Bishop is solely focused on promoting the business and growing his customer base, long-term his goal is to open a storefront with a drive-thru.
Interested customers are encouraged to check out the coffee truck’s Facebook page to find out when and where it will be located each day.
Amazon planning data center in Montgomery County
Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Amazon is planning to build a data center north of Interstate 70 in Montgomery County.
The retail and cloud computing giant has secured land and now needs a building permit from the county for its data center between New Florence and High Hill, said Steve Etcher with the Greater Montgomery County Economic Development Council. The site will be about 1,000 acres, he said.
The county’s economic development council has spent months working to review the site and ensure the plan “supports smart and responsible growth, and positions the region for long-term success,” the organization says in a news release.
The release says Amazon is “in the final stages” of evaluating the site.
An Amazon spokesperson wrote in response to questions that the project is still too early to provide a timeline, cost and job numbers.
Etcher said the company has committed to hundreds of permanent jobs when the project is complete. Power would come from Ameren Missouri under its “large load tariff,” which is meant to shield other customers from cost increases associated with scaling up data centers.
The Montgomery County Public Water District will serve the facility’s significant water needs, and Etcher said the utility has the capacity to serve the data center.
Data center projects have come under fire across the country from people who say they suck up power and water without driving economic development. The creation of data centers has been driven by the need for more computing power and storage as digital technology grows.
Local lodge owner hosting Thanksgiving potluck for all
Bradley Davis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s the seventh year Torie Giffin has hosted her Thanksgiving community potluck at the Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort.
This time, she’ll be leaning on the community she tries so hard to uplift after losing her 17-year-old son to cancer earlier this year.
“I would rather effort to try to get the community together and have a great time and celebrate the things they are all thankful for because my son’s life was definitely something more to be thankful for than to be sad that I lost,” Giffin said.
Live with “Old Dangerfield,” singing Santa and Torie ahead of the potluck
Giffin said she started the community potluck when she felt alone on Thanksgiving for the first time after her divorce. She said she continued the event so no one would have to face that feeling alone over the holidays.
“There is no need for any of you out there who are alone for whatever reason to be by yourself on the holiday,” Giffin’s close friend Rachel Stovall said.
Whether you can’t make it home for the holidays, are experiencing a loss like Giffin or simply don’t want to cook a massive meal, Giffin invites you to spend Thanksgiving at the lodge. Giffin and Stovall will be cooking up some turkeys. All guests need is an RSVP and a side dish.
The dinner is on Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Afterward, Giffin is assembling local musicians to create the All-Star Pickers. They’ll take the stage for a jam session from 6-8 p.m. for anyone who wants to stick around.
On KRDO13, you’ll hear from the band “Old Dangerfield,” who will play after the meal, along with a musical Santa who will start playing his tunes at the lodge this Saturday.
Better Business Bureau: Top 10 holiday scams to avoid
Jalen Fong
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – As the holiday season gets underway, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sharing ten holiday scams to avoid.
Always exercise caution with social media ads promoting discounted items, holiday events, job opportunities, and donation requests, as well as direct messages from strangers.
If you are asked to make a payment or donation by wire transfer, through a third party, or by prepaid debit or gift card, treat it as a red flag.
Misleading social ads: As you scroll through your social media feed, you often see products advertised.
Always research before you buy. BBB Scam Tracker receives daily reports of people paying for items that they never receive, getting charged monthly for a free trial they never signed up for, or receiving an item that is counterfeit or much different from the one advertised.
The 2024 BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report found that online purchase scams were the fourth riskiest scam reported by consumers in 2024.
Before ordering, check out the business profile on BBB.org and read the reviews.
Read more about misleading ads, free trial offers, and counterfeit goods.
Social Media Gift Exchanges: Each holiday season this scheme pops back up. The older version was called “Secret Sister.” Newer versions of this scam revolve around exchanging bottles of wine or bourbon; another suggests purchasing $10 gifts online. Another twist asks you to submit your email to a list where participants get to pick a name and send money to strangers to “pay it forward.” There is even a twist about “Secret Santa Dog” where you buy a $10 gift for your “secret dog.”
In all these versions, participants unwittingly share their personal information, along with those of their family members and friends, and are further tricked into buying and shipping gifts or money to unknown individuals. It’s also an illegal pyramid scheme. Stick to buying your friends gifts from trustworthy businesses, and check BBB.org before you buy.
Read more about the social media gift exchange scams.
Holiday apps: Apple’s App Store and Google Play list dozens of holiday-themed apps where children can video chat live with Santa, light the menorah, watch Santa feed live reindeer, track his sleigh on Christmas Eve, or relay their holiday wish lists.
Review privacy policies to see what information will be collected. Be wary of free apps, as they can sometimes contain more advertising than apps that require a nominal fee. Free apps can also contain malware. Be sure to read reviews as well.
Read more about holiday apps.
Fake toll collection texts: If you’re planning to drive a long distance to visit family or take a vacation this holiday season, watch out for fake road toll collection texts, which have been on the rise this year.
In this con, scammers impersonate a state road tollway collection service and text you saying you owe a road toll fee and provide a link to click to make your payment. If you receive at text, don’t click the link. Instead, if you think you may owe road tolls, verify your outstanding balance with the legitimate agency.
Read more about fake road toll collection scams and travel scams.
Free gift cards: Nothing brings good cheer like the word “FREE.” Scammers have been known to take advantage of this weakness by sending bulk phishing emails requesting personal information to receive free gift cards. In some of these emails, scammers impersonate legitimate companies and promise gift cards to reward their loyal customers. They may also use pop-up ads or send text messages with links saying you were randomly selected as the winner of a prize.
If you have received an unsolicited email with gift card offers, do not open it. Instead, mark it as spam or junk and delete it. However, if you opened the email, do not click on any links.
Read more about gift card scams.
Temporary Holiday Jobs: Employment scams were identified as the number one riskiest scam for people ages 18-34 in 2024. If you’re looking for seasonal work this holiday season, keep an eye out for opportunities that seem too good to be true.
Retailers typically hire seasonal workers to help meet the demands of holiday shoppers. Shippers and delivery services are top holiday employers because of the increase in online orders that need to be delivered before Christmas. Job seekers need to be wary of employment scams aimed at stealing money and personal information from job applicants.
Read more about holiday job scams and employment scams.
Imposter scams: Impostor scams can take many forms, especially during the holiday season when you may be purchasing and returning gifts. When shopping online, be on the lookout for fake, look-alike websites created by scammers to trick people into downloading malware, making dead-end purchases, and sharing private information.
If you’re reaching out to a business on social media for customer support, watch out for fake social media accounts pretending to be a customer service representative for a business. When in doubt, go to the business’ website and find their official social media handles, or use the information on the site to reach out.
Read more about impostor scams and how to identify a fake website.
Fake Charities: The last few weeks of the year are a busy time for charitable donations. Donors are advised to look out for fraudulent charities and scammers pretending to be individuals in need.
Avoid impromptu donation decisions to unfamiliar organizations. Responsible organizations will welcome a gift tomorrow as much as they do today. Verify a charity at BBB’s Give.org or on the Canada Revenue Agency website. Where possible, donate to the charity through their website and use a credit card.
Read more about fake charities.
Fake Shipping Notifications: More consumers making online purchases during the holidays leads to an increase in the number of notifications about shipping details from retailers and carriers. Scammers use this surge to send phishing emails and texts about package deliveries with links enclosed that may allow unwanted access to your private information or download malware onto your device.
They may also try to trick people into paying new shipping fees. Never click a link in a text or email that you’re not expecting. If you want to track a package, find the original email or text confirmation you received directly from the store and use that link.
Read more about fake delivery texts and delivery and package scams.
Advent Calendars: Each year, there are more and more advent calendars being sold; CNN has a list of over 20 calendars, and many are in hot demand. In past years, BBB received reports to Scam Tracker about advent calendar ads on social media not delivering as promised. Some were not received, and others received inferior products or incomplete orders.
Consumers should research before they buy, read reviews and look up the company on BBB.org before purchasing. BBB also has a shopper’s guide to help you purchase that niche advent calendar.
Read BBB’s tips for buying an advent calendar.
GET HELP!
Been scammed? Report it to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office: https://www.azag.gov/consumer
Or the California Attorney General’s Office: https://oag.ca.gov/consumers
Go to bbb.org for trusted Accredited Businesses when hiring.
If you have been scammed or targeted for a scam, help us warn others by filing a report at BBB.org/ScamTracker.
Is Gaming Addiction All in Your Head? UCSB Says Yes
Patricia Martellotti
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Millions of people dive into video games every day—to compete, unwind, or simply escape.
But for some, that pastime can spiral into something darker, marked by isolation, distress, and an overwhelming loss of control.
At UC Santa Barbara, researchers are rethinking everything we know about gaming addiction—and what it really means to treat it.
We’ve all said it before: “Just one more round.”
For dedicated gamers, though, that single match can easily stretch into hours.
Jack Dindia, a lifelong gaming enthusiast, admits he’s crossed that line. “I would say there are times when I would play video games to an extent that could be considered an addictive level,” he says.
Gaming disorder, now recognized by the World Health Organization, affects millions worldwide.
For years, it’s been blamed on the games themselves—their design, their reward systems, their relentless immersion.
“It’s clearly a very complicated and nuanced subject,” Dindia adds. “Certain elements are intentionally designed to keep players engaged—maybe even addicted.”
René Weber, a brain scientist and director of UC Santa Barbara’s Media Neuroscience Lab, believes the issue runs deeper.
“The main question,” Weber explains, “is what comes first—an underlying psychopathology that drives compulsive gaming, or compulsive gaming that leads to psychological issues?”
While public concern has often centered on screen time or violent content, Weber’s team found those factors don’t explain why only some players lose control.
Instead, their research points to mental health as the key. “Things like psychopathology drive gaming disorder,” Weber notes. “We see increases in anxiety, depression, and trauma—especially in younger, developing brains.”
At the UCSB Brain Imaging Center, Weber’s team uses advanced MRI technology to explore what happens inside the brain during gameplay.
“Now you can see that’s the head coil,” Weber says, guiding a participant into the scanner. “It’s a very expensive antenna that picks up the signals created by magnetic resonance.”
Players use a small trackball to control their in-game movements, minimizing physical motion so the scans can capture brain activity tied to reward, impulse control, and emotion regulation.
“If our participants keep just a finger on the trackball,” Weber says, “it reduces motion—which is crucial for clean MRI data.”
Weber’s findings, published in JAMA Network Open, challenge a common assumption: limiting access to games isn’t enough.
“The real concern,” he explains, “is that when gaming becomes a true addiction, it leads to loss of control, conflict, and dysfunction in daily life.”
Underlying issues—depression, anxiety, trauma—often fuel the cycle.
Addressing those root causes, not simply restricting playtime, is what leads to recovery.
“I’m not saying it’s just the gaming,” Weber says. “It’s the underlying psychopathology that can intensify the disorder.”
The biggest battle in gaming addiction doesn’t play out on the screen.
It happens in the mind.
Behind every struggle is a deeper story—one that can’t be solved by unplugging a console, but by healing what’s beneath it.
Together at the Table: Friendship Center Hosts Thanksgiving for Dementia Community
Patricia Martellotti
MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) – The Friendship Center is bringing members and families together this Thanksgiving with a free luncheon designed for those living with dementia and other cognitive conditions.
The special gathering offers a safe, welcoming space where members and caregivers can share a traditional holiday meal without the pressures that often come with dementia-related care.
Organizers say the goal is to reduce isolation, strengthen community, and give families a moment of connection during a season that can be especially challenging.
By centering the event on togetherness and inclusion, the Friendship Center continues its mission to support dignity, belonging, and joy for those affected by cognitive disorders.
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SB Humane Joins The Morning News with the Po-fect Husky!
Michael Yu
SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- SB Humane’s chief operating officer Dori Villalon joined your morning news once again with Po, a husky.
Po has now spent over 300 days at the shelter waiting for a new home. He was briefly adopted back in January, but was sent back due to not being a good match.
Po loves other dogs, is great on a leash and is house-trained. His adoption fee has also been waived!
SB Humane has also broken its goal of 2000 adoptions! The cat, Rayne Drop, broke the record.
On December 10th, SB Humane will host a meet & greet at the CalPrivate Bank in Montecito.