Tuscan Friendsgiving raises more than $37K for FIND Regional Food Bank

KESQ on December 15, 2025

Garrett Hottle

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) A community cooking event months in the making is now helping put food on tables across the Coachella Valley.

FIND Food Bank received a $37,000 donation generated by Tuscan Friendsgiving, a sold-out culinary fundraiser hosted at Miralon in Palm Springs. The funds are expected to help provide more than 150,000 meals for local families during the holiday season.

Organizers said planning for the event began in February, when Jamie and Lance Huante, working alongside Jeri Wilson, coordinated efforts to bring the fundraiser to Miralon. Months of planning and tireless work followed, ultimately culminating in an event centered on food, culture and community giving.

The fundraiser featured renowned Italian chef Sandra Lotti, founder of the Toscana Saporita Cooking School in Tuscany, Italy. Organizers said they were fortunate to have Lotti travel to Palm Springs to lead the hands-on culinary experience, bringing an authentic taste of Tuscany to the Coachella Valley.

One hundred guests attended the cooking event at Miralon’s Demo Kitchen and Pavilion inside The Miralon Club. After the class, guests gathered at the MiraBar and The Hub, where they sampled and purchased specialty olive oils from Temecula Olive Oil Company. Many attendees were first-time visitors to Miralon, traveling from areas including Orange County, and some had previously attended Lotti’s cooking school in Italy.

FIND Regional Food Bank, the Coachella Valley’s regional food bank, distributes food through a network of community partners and sources supplies through donations, purchased goods and federal nutrition programs such as TEFA, The Emergency Food Assistance Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In a statement provided to News Channel 3, FIND Food Bank addressed the broader context of food insecurity and federal nutrition support:

“We are thankful for lawmakers working together to reopen the government and ensure stability for our neighbors facing hunger. With the President expected to sign the legislation, today’s vote brings us closer to ensuring that federal employees will receive their paychecks and critical nutrition programs like SNAP/CalFresh, WIC, and TEFAP can continue supporting families who rely on them to put food on the table. While we’re relieved that individuals at risk of starvation are much closer to counting on their benefits again, this remains a very challenging moment for neighbors navigating continued uncertainty and rapidly changing information. Food insecurity continues to impact too many of our community members, and FIND Regional Food Bank remains committed to providing essential food access and connecting people to programs like SNAP/CalFresh to help stabilize their households.”

Miralon, developed by Freehold Communities, is a 309-acre master-planned “agrihood” in Palm Springs that emphasizes sustainability, community engagement and access to fresh food. A signature feature of the development is the transformation of a former 18-hole golf course into working olive groves, community gardens and walking trails throughout the neighborhood.

Organizers said the success of Tuscan Friendsgiving shows how collaboration and community-driven events can translate into meaningful support for families facing food insecurity across the Coachella Valley.

For more information on A Tuscan Friendsgiving, visit this link. For more information on FIND Regional Food Bank, and how you can help families in the Coachella Valley, visit this link.

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Ventura Foul Weather Shelter Opens Doors as Cold Weather Moves In

KEYT on December 15, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) — As colder temperatures settle into the region, the Ventura Foul Weather Service is stepping in to provide critical support for people experiencing homelessness. The program is offering overnight shelter and warm meals to help individuals stay safe during potentially dangerous weather conditions.

The foul weather shelter opens when temperatures drop and conditions become unsafe, creating a temporary but vital refuge for those with nowhere else to go. Inside, guests are given a warm place to sleep, a hot meal, and access to basic services aimed at meeting immediate needs.

Organizers say the service plays a key role in protecting the community’s most vulnerable residents during winter storms and cold snaps. By opening its doors during severe weather, the program helps reduce the risk of cold-related illnesses and injuries among people living outdoors.

Community partners and volunteers support the effort, ensuring the shelter can operate during periods of high demand. Officials encourage anyone in need of shelter to seek out the service when foul weather is forecast.

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St. Joseph OKs key agreement with new Rosecrans airport operator, outlines plan for new hangar construction

News-Press NOW on December 15, 2025

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The City of St. Joseph is moving forward on a high-profile agreement with a new airport operator at Rosecrans Memorial Airport and outlining plans for the construction of new aircraft facilities.

City councilmembers unanimously approved a lease agreement Dec. 8 with Pan-Am Flight Services to serve as the next Fixed-Based Operator (FBO) at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, granting the company authority to provide a wide-range of aviation services for civilian and commercial aircraft at the airport, from refueling and maintenance/repairs to offering flight school and operating facilities to accommodate pilots.

The new lease agreement includes an initial five-year-term with four additional 5-year options to make it a possible 25-year agreement.

Pan-Am Flight Services, which includes local business investor Steve Craig and Gary Patterson with Express Flight, is one part of a revitalized and growing nationwide network of new Pan Am-branded businesses purchased by Craig roughly a year and a half ago, decades after the original Pan Am World Airways ceased operations in 1991.

Pan-Am will assume ownership of the existing FBO complex, which includes a 28,000-square-foot barrel hangar and a 15,000-square-foot aircraft storage/maintenance facility, among other smaller facilities.

“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to utilize that brand in a number of things, to brand a Pan Am FBO here in St. Joseph and have the first one here in the United States,” Craig told News-Press NOW in September.

A separate nonbinding agreement includes unofficial terms and conditions for a wide-range of planned facility improvements by Pan-Am as part of a new FBO complex, which will require approval with future construction contracts.

Pan-Am intends to construct a new 30,000-square-foot hangar that can accommodate both small and large aircraft, as well as larger business jets like the Gulfstream 700. Construction plans include a second smaller hangar and 4,000-square feet of lobby and office space.

A full plan for re-developing the site is set to be finalized by April or May, with construction to begin no later than December 2026 according to the agreement.

This rendering shows the anticipated new facilities site at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, indicating where the proposed hangar would be located on the existing FBO complex.

The move with Pan-Am comes several months after a heavily-scrutinized bidding process that saw multiple FBO bidding groups levy accusations to City Council about an improper bid scoring process for the key airport agreement.

Apex Aero Center was initially selected for the FBO agreement but rescinded its proposal in August just days after Craig accused city staff of improperly scoring bid proposals during a City Council meeting.

A second bidding group, St. Joseph Air Center, which includes FlyTech Pilot Academy co-founder Lute Atieh, has raised separate concerns about the process and the impact it had on the company not being selected. The company is weighing multiple options in wake of the agreement.

“Out of respect for ongoing legal considerations, I am not able to formally comment on the lease at this time. What I can tell you is that we are continuing to evaluate the situation and will take the necessary steps to protect the interests of the airport, its tenants, and the community,” Atieh told the St. Joseph News-Press.

Authorization by the Federal Aviation Administration remains one of the last key hurdles before the city and Pan-Am Flight Services can move forward on the agreement.

Fixed Base Operator Lease AgreementDownload

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In aftermath of terror attack in Australia, local Hanukkah celebrations move ahead

KESQ on December 15, 2025

Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Jewish events and Hanukkah celebrations are continuing across the Coachella Valley in the wake of a terror attack in Australia.

A community celebration hosted by the Jewish Federation kicked off Sunday evening, and more events are being held this week. That includes a Hanukkah celebration at Boomers Monday evening, a Hannukah Concert at Temple Isaiah on Tuesday, and a Jewish Heritage Night at Acrisure Arena on Wednesday, among others.

“Antisemitism is on the rise and people are attacking Jews,” said one local Jew we spoke with, who said it’s important now more than ever to hold these celebrations. “We’re here to stay and we’re not going anywhere.”

News Channel 3 is speaking with faith leaders this evening about celebrating after the attack and how security concerns are being addressed.

Stay with us for the latest.

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La Pine’s DMV office is only open on Thursdays, so it will be closed for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays

KTVZ on December 15, 2025

KTVZ

SALEM , Ore. (KTVZ) — Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays this December and next January. While all Oregon DMV offices are closed on state-observed holidays, the agency said Monday that these closures will have a greater impact on customers in Heppner, La Pine and Oakridge, which are only open on Thursdays; and Condon, which is only open on the first Thursday of the month.

The Heppner, La Pine and Oakridge offices will be closed the entire week of Christmas and New Years.

The Condon office at 221 S Oregon St. will be closed the entire month of January.

Customers are encouraged to see if they can complete their transaction online at DMV2U, which offers over 30 transactions, including license renewals, vehicle registration and address changes.

People in impacted communities can also visit another DMV office on days other than the holidays.

For a faster experience, make an appointment.

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Columbia Public Schools sues Missouri over charter schools

News-Press NOW on December 15, 2025

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Columbia Public Schools held a news conference Monday after filing a lawsuit saying the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.

The district sued state officials on Monday, alleging that a law allowing charter schools to operate in Boone County is unconstitutional. The lawsuit names the state attorney general and the Missouri State Board of Education.

The lawsuit focuses on one of two groups that want to create a Boone County charter school — Frontier. The Columbia Board of Education has written to the state board opposing Frontier, Columbia board member Suzette Waters said.

Frontier has an application in for its school, while Job Point does not, Waters said.

She said Frontier plans to open a selective school, even though charter schools are supposed to be open to all.

Waters also said the charter school took no local public input and did not plan to even have offices in Boone County.

CPS leaders said the Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved of the lawsuit.

Watch the news conference in full in the player.

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Santa Barbara City Fire Services in Urgent Need of Upgrades

KEYT on December 15, 2025

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Issues including new dense housing plans, aging stations and the need for more personnel were all out on the table in a presentation to the Santa Barbara City Council recently.

That led to an allocation of funds to begin planning for specific future actions for the Santa Barbara City Fire. The council unanimously agreed to $100,000 for an immediate station location and facilities master plan. 

There are many concerns or needs for upgrades.

That includes changes to fire station 7 on Stanwood Drive, which is aging and can not be replaced at its current site due to earthquake faults.

Also the historic fire station 3 on Sola Street built in 1929.   

Fire Chief Chris Mailes says the engine in that station has a clearance of “an inch and a half.” He said any new fire engine would not fit.

Mailes is also concerned about the city’s development plans now and in the future that could increase the size and capacity of buildings that house people.

He pointed out there is a lateral spread and a vertical spread they plan for and it relates to the “life safety risk.”

“When you are dealing with a mid-rise and high-rise you are putting people in those buildings you are complicating what we call the life safety risk,” said Mailes.

He said the area is getting a mix of larger commercial and residential properties. “You are looking at the multi family dwellings you are looking at buildings greater than 50,000 square feet.  You’re looking at large fire flow requirements.   This town, especially downtown, is getting more dense and it is getting more difficult to protect as far as  fire protection.”

The department is also looking at adding a quick response team for medical calls. Right now there are about 8,100 calls a year.

Overall, the department is responding to 12,000 calls a year. In 1993, that number was 5,500.

Councilmember Kristen Sneddon said when the police station was deemed old, outdated and unsafe rebuilding a new command center (now underway) was a priority. She says the fire department needs the same attention.

“These are stations where firefighters are living overnight, spending time, so this is very high priority,” said Sneddon.

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New State Laws Bolster Santa Maria’s Student Protection Policies

KEYT on December 15, 2025

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – New state laws will bolster student protection policies at schools and higher education institutions.

Educators say they feel validated.

Since March, the nation has seen a significant increase in immigration enforcement.

Locally, some Santa Barbara county cities and school districts are doubling down on policies affecting students.

“10% of Santa Barbara County is undocumented, and that means another many, many thousands of people more are married to those who have mixed documentation or the daughters and sons or relatives of,” says Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps.

ICE official policy is no enforcement at any schools, designating them as sensitive areas requiring multiple layers of authorization.

“They have to come through the district office and speak with me, the superintendent, to be able to get direction from there,” says Darren McDuffie, Santa Maria-Bonita’s superintendent. “But most definitely we haven’t had any incidents at our schools.”

Activities near school campuses have increased anxieties, causing some parents to keep their kids at home.

“It’s not a remote thing that’s happening out of the White House or Washington, D.C,” says supervisor Capps. “It’s really in our neighborhoods. It’s in our schools. It’s in our workplaces. It’s definitely on our farms. It’s at our in our shopping centers. It’s everywhere.”

In September, governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 98 and Assembly Bill 49, bolstering student protection services, backing schools by state legislation.

“For us, it really is a validation that what we’re doing is the right thing for our students,” says superintendent McDuffie.

The new state laws require ICE agents to have judicial warrants and valid identification, and for school districts to send notes to parents when agents are on campus.

Due to their urgency clauses, the laws went into effect as soon as the governor signed them.

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Cascades East Transit will roll out new fares, technology, and community programs in February

KTVZ on December 15, 2025

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, comments from CET Transit Director)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Since 2020, Cascades East Transit (CET) has operated free of charge, helping Central Oregonians reach work, school, and essential services during and after the pandemic. But after nearly six years of fare-free rides, CET is reintroducing them across Central Oregon beginning February 1, 2026 — part of a broader effort to improve transit access, technology, and long-term sustainability.

Most fixed and flex-route trips within Bend and Redmond will cost $2 one way, capped at $6 per day. Dial-A-Ride users will pay $4 per trip; for Dial-A-Ride riders in Bend, the first ride of each month will cost just $2. For all costs, CET has listed the upcoming fares for all routes.

Ahead of the fare change, a new CET GO pass and payment system will launch on January 1. The system includes both a mobile app and reloadable smart card that riders will use to pay for all trips. It’s designed to simplify fare payment and improve security.

CET Transit Director Bob Townsend said the return of fares is essential to maintaining a system that doesn’t rely on local tax revenue.

“We’re completely reliant on state and federal dollars for our system,” Townsend said. “In our case, where we’re not supplemented with local property taxes or other revenue, fares are an important part of being able to provide the service people expect. We’re not in it to make money. That money is going to go right back into the system.”

Townsend said CET’s goal is to keep the system affordable for riders who rely most on it.

“If you qualify for a reduced fare — which about 75 percent of our riders will — it’s $1 a trip, capped at $3 a day,” he said. “We’re hoping that it still provides the service that people need, but we’re also hoping they make choices around combining trips and things like that, which then allows us to provide more service to other people who may need it.”

To help offset costs for riders facing financial barriers, CET is launching the Central Oregon Community Movement Fund in January. The fund will help subsidize transit passes for low-income riders who rely on CET for work, school, healthcare, groceries, and other essential services. All sponsorship dollars will go directly toward rider fare support, distributing passes to local nonprofits and social service partners.

Those interested in supporting the fund can contact Andrea Wasilew at awasilew@coic.org for more information or to donate.

Rider education will also be an important part of the transition. All CET bus drivers will receive standardized training and a script by January 1, when the CET GO app goes live. Each bus will display large posters with step-by-step instructions and a QR code for sign-up, and drivers will carry informational cards to hand out as takeaways for passengers.

In January, CET will host a series of Transit 101 and CET GO Pass Enrollment pop-up events in partnership with local libraries and community organizations. Riders can sign up for CET GO passes, learn how the new system works, ask questions, and participate in hands-on training with staff. Confirmed event dates and locations include:

Jan. 7, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Downtown Bend Library, 601 NW Wall St.Jan. 8, 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Crook County Library, 175 NW Meadowlakes Dr., PrinevilleJan. 12, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Redmond Library, 827 SW Deschutes Ave.Jan. 7, 14, 21, and 28 in Warm Springs (locations and times to be announced)Jan. 20, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oregon State University-Cascades campus

Transit officials hope these events will give riders a chance to get comfortable with the new system in advance of fares returning. Townsend said the change is about balance — keeping transit affordable while ensuring its future.

“When you pay for a service, there’s a certain expectation. There’s a certain rider expectation, a certain expectation from us as a service provider…So hopefully this will just upgrade our whole system,” he added.

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MSHP announces driver examination station closures in observance of Christmas

News-Press NOW on December 15, 2025

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced the statewide closure of driver examination stations in observance of the Christmas holiday.

MSHP said stations will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25 and Friday, Dec. 26.

Examination stations will open for normal hours of operation on Monday, Dec. 29.

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