Prime Time Band Strikes the First Holiday Note in Downtown Santa Barbara

KEYT on December 9, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Prime Time Band of Santa Barbara is already in the holiday spirit, holding an early rehearsal as they prepare for a festive downtown concert open to the entire community. Led by longtime director Dr. Paul Mori, the group is polishing a program that blends classic Christmas carols with modern holiday favorites.

The free Downtown Holiday Concert and Sing-Along takes place Friday, December 12, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on the State Street steps of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. The outdoor setting will turn State Street into a seasonal gathering spot for families, friends, and visitors.

Guest vocalist Amanda Elliott will perform alongside the band and lead the audience in a sing-along, encouraging full crowd participation. The Dos Pueblos High School Choir, directed by Courtney Anderson, will also join the performance, adding youthful energy to the evening.

Attendees are encouraged to invite family and friends, bring a chair, and enjoy a relaxed evening of live music. Song lyrics will be available through a QR code and printed handouts, with limited seating provided.

The Prime Time Band is a group of amateur musicians ranging in age from 40 to 90-plus, united by a mission to provide free concerts for the community and create an accessible entry point for mature adults to make music.

Click here to follow the original article.

SF’s Asian Art Museum returns statues stolen from Thailand in 1960s

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Luz Pena

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The San Francisco Asian Art Museum on Monday gave back four religious sculptures stolen from Thailand that ended up in San Francisco for 50 years.

“They will be cared for, and they will be returning home,” said H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the U.S.

A significant moment bringing together Thailand’s top officials in the U.S. to San Francisco to witness their return.

“Their repatriation not only safeguards an important part of heritage, but it also allows their history to continue as an enduring part of the Thai nation,” said Dr. Chindawongse.

The statues were looted in the mid 1960s from the ruins of a temple in northeast Thailand.

Last year, the Thai government requested the Asian Art Museum to return the statues.

“I would credit Thai scholars and researchers for all this work. What they did was talk to all the villagers who were alive and even the looters who remembered where the objects came and who were the dealers,” said Natasha Reichle, Associate Curator of Southeast Asian Art at the Asian Art Museum.

Investigators shared insights into the statues journey, revealing they were sold to a private collector and museums around the world by an art dealer in London.

The four statues were gifted to the Asian Art Museum by donors. The origin of these statues was questioned early on.

“In the 1960s even the curators here expressed doubt whether they were legally removed, and it was really interesting to see that early on people had questions about them, but that time choose to ignore it,” said Reichle.

“Why?” ABC7 News reporter Luz Pena asked.

“I think because of attitudes about the art markets about art culture heritage have changed tremendously in the West over the past couple of decades,” said Reichle.

In the last decades interviews with local Thai residents helped confirmed this.

“It’s a big deal for the museum and the collection of the national museum because these are early material that we found in Buddhist sites in northeastern region of Thailand,” said Pat Chirapravati, Repatriation committee of Thailand.

Experts believe there are more statues throughout the world from this village.

The ones that were at the Asian Art Museum will be some of the first to return to Thailand since the looting took place in the mid 1960s.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Adorable dachshund named California’s newest Farm Dog of the Year

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By KGO Web Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — A huge congratulations are in order for California’s newest Farm Dog of the Year.

A small dude for a big job, Willy the dachshund won his family a grand prize of $1,000 for his hard work.

He helps wrangle animals on farms and ranches in Shasta, Tehama, and Siskiyou counties.

Despite not being a typical herding breed, Willy is been trained to corral livestock with his bark and lively energy.

He dabbles in horseback riding and helps control critters on the farm, and he tags along on his dad’s adventures into the woods for logging work.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

First group of K9 units certified to detect pure fentanyl

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Logan Ramsey, EastIdahoNews.com

Click here for updates on this story

    POCATELLO, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — K9 officers from across eastern Idaho teamed up to certify their police dogs to track and root out fentanyl, making them the first in the region.

Seven different law enforcement agencies participated in the training, with officers gathering in a Historic Downtown Pocatello building to introduce the scent of pure fentanyl to their dogs and have them prove they can locate it. From across all the agencies, 13 dogs received their certifications and will now be able to track the dangerous narcotic in their communities.

Corporal Jared Miller of the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office said completing the certification allows the officers to continue, “keeping the drugs off the streets and keeping people and citizens safe from overdoses and things like that, is the main goal.”

When fentanyl is combined with other drugs, as it often is, the dogs are able to detect it. But with pure fentanyl, they often aren’t familiar with the odor, so they don’t know what they’re looking for.

“The dogs are imprinted on all the other odors, such as methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, so now they’ll be imprinted on fentanyl too,” Miller explained.

Now that the odor is imprinted on the police dogs, they’ll be able to sniff it out if they come across someone who is trafficking pure fentanyl.

The agencies participating in this training certification were the Pocatello, American Falls, Blackfoot and Shelley police departments, the Power and Bingham County sheriff’s offices and Idaho State Police. Miller pointed out that combining this training not only saved money but also allowed for more information sharing.

“Cooperation is huge, because we bring different areas together with different knowledge (about) trends that are going on … and we all share information (and) work together to make our dogs better,” Miller said.

The Housing Alliance and Community Partnerships, a public housing authority based in Pocatello, donated building space at 805 North Main Street for the training certification.

“In the end, that’s what it ultimately comes down to, is making the dogs better at what they do,” Miller said.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

DCSO asks for public participation in natural disaster impact survey

KTVZ on December 9, 2025

KTVZ – News Team

DESCHUTES COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is inviting community members to take part in a short, confidential survey to help inform how the county might reduce the impact from natural disasters.

The survey is part of a larger effort to update the county’s natural hazards mitigation plan, which focuses on real projects like strengthening bridges or clearing wildfire fuels, that can help protect people, property, and critical services before a disaster strikes.

The county is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council to better understand how residents think about the risks from natural hazards like wildfires, floods, earthquakes, and winter storms.

This helps local leaders align planning efforts with community concerns and priorities.

The survey asks residents about their experiences with natural hazards, how they prepare for emergencies, and what kinds of risk-reduction efforts they’d like to see in their neighborhoods.

It takes just a few minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential. The information gathered will help guide future planning, funding, and outreach efforts across Deschutes County and its cities.

The survey will be open until January 5th and can be accessed online. Click here to take the survey.

Click here to follow the original article.

Family seeks community support for Idaho Falls woman who ‘shattered’ face in crash

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Lisa Lete, EastIdahoNews.com

Click here for updates on this story

    IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO (eastidahonews.com) — An Idaho Falls woman well known to many as a hardworking wife, mother and longtime Applebee’s server is recovering from catastrophic facial injuries after a crash on U.S. Highway 20 on Saturday. Now, her family is calling on the community for help.

Tina Day was driving to her parents’ home in Rexburg when she lost control of her truck on the Ucon exit, according to her sister-in-law, Melissa Voss.

Day, who was alone in the truck, was headed to help her parents in Rexburg make the handmade wooden board games Battle of the UFOs, which they sell online.

Voss said Day’s truck hit black ice, spun in the opposite direction and collided with another vehicle. The impact caused the truck to roll, and Day’s face hit the steering wheel, resulting in devastating injuries.

“She shattered her upper palate, teeth, jaw, eye socket, nose and cheek,” Voss told EastIdahoNews.com. “She also severed a few tendons in her hand.”

Day has already undergone a five-hour surgery during which doctors wired her jaw shut, repaired facial fractures and operated on the damaged tendons in her hand.

She also received a tracheostomy to help with breathing. Doctors are also using a GJ feeding tube, due to the extensive injuries to her mouth and face.

“They basically have to restructure her entire face,” Voss said. “She’ll be in the ICU for a while. Thankfully, outside of a minor brain bleed, there were no internal injuries.”

Day is scheduled for additional surgery on Friday and will require several more procedures in the coming weeks.

A wife to Mike Day and mother of three sons Brandon, Calvin and Carsen, Day is described by her family as hardworking, devoted and deeply loved by those who know her.

“She is never one to ask for help,” Voss said. “She is caring, loving, fun and just such a sweet person.”

With a long recovery ahead and mounting medical bills, Voss has organized a GoFundMe to help support the family.

“If you can spare anything to help her, we so appreciate it,” Voss said. “And if you can’t, please keep her in your prayers and share.”

Eastidahonews.com‘s attorneys advise the station to put this disclaimer in stories involving fundraisers: EastIdahoNews.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Shooting survivor shares recovery story

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Andrew Adams

Click here for updates on this story

    SALT LAKE CITY (KSL, KSL TV) — Nearly 10 weeks after a mass shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse killed four people and injured eight, one of the wounded finally came home from the hospital.

Benjamin Phelps was discharged on Friday to the cheers of family, friends and ward members after being shot in the abdomen during the Sept. 28 attack and enduring 25 subsequent surgeries.

“About 3 or 4 in the morning, you’re in pain, you’re feeling sick — there’s some pretty dark times, and so you really had to grab onto something,” Phelps said Monday during an interview with KSL TV.

Phelps described a recovery journey filled with determination and faith in which he accepted every prayer and blessing that was offered.

“I really had to start bearing down upon what I believed in, and I really had to focus and buckle down,” Phelps said. “When those actions and that faith combine, magic and miracles happen that otherwise won’t.”

Phelps’ son was also wounded by shrapnel during the attack, but the family said the boy was back playing with his siblings the next day.

The emotional recovery was likely to take much longer, acknowledged Phelps’ wife, Danalee.

Phelps turned emotional talking about the role his wife played in his recovery.

“We would try to focus on the positive, and my wife was wonderful coming and spending time with me and telling me all the things and trying to keep me included,” he said. “I tried to hold onto those.”

Phelps expressed gratitude to his friends, church members and others in the community for the support and love they showed during his journey, and he said the couple hoped to ‘pay it forward and back’ in the future.

The couple said they would cherish the upcoming holiday season.

“This Christmas season will be a different one because how much we value the time we have together as a family,” Phelps said. “It is truly a blessing.”

What happened in September was painful and difficult to put into words.

“It is a traumatic story, it is a devastating story,” Danalee Phelps said.

Phelps said he chooses to reflect on how the community came together.

“Instead of it being remembered, you know, ‘This was such a terrible incident,’ I want it to be remembered what people have bonded together to do in response to the evils that do happen around us,” Phelps said. “Good will overcome evil, and we’ll crush and outweigh that evil in all accounts.”

Family members said Phelps still faced a long road to recovery. As of this week, a GoFundMe* account set up to help had raised more than $219,000 of a $250,000 goal.

*KSL TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Avoiding overspending during the holidays

KYMA on December 9, 2025

Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Christmas marks the season of giving, but it can also be the season of overspending and racking up debt.

During Christmas time, we all have a heart to make our friends and family happy through giving gifts, but with that it can become very tempting to over spend as a result.

Rod Griffin, Experian’s Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy says, “The big concern is that you are not taking in too much debt during the holiday season, you know there are reports that a far too large number of consumers are paying off their debt from last year this year.”

One of the number one things that creates financial trouble is impulse buying, or buying without a plan.

There are steps you can take to avoid making these mistakes.

Make a spending plan, set aside money to spend during the holidays, or even use tools to help you with your shopping like AI.

If you need to manage your spending its recommended to talk to your loved ones before the holidays about how much you can afford to spend.

“We are hearing from people that inflation is a big concern, things are more expensive, and so, they are trying to figure out how to manage that gift giving and gift buying with the increase in cost, and that’s a huge challenge for people right now,” says Griffin.

We spoke to locals who say they spend a good amount during the holidays.

“I think about how much I want to spend each year for Christmas and inevitably, we do spend lots,” says Ron Askin, a local.

“You don’t overspend ever, yeah,” adds Faith Askin, another local.

Some locals say they start saving ahead of time to be better prepared.

Lin Daily, a local, elaborates by saying, “We save X amount every month, and then when the holidays come up, it’s not a big surprise, so we get ready for it.”

If you do overspend, remember its not the end of the world, sit down look at your budget, find out how you can start saving, and of course, make a plan.

Click here to follow the original article.

Four constuction projects — two next year, two in the near future — coming to Pueblo’s west side

KRDO on December 9, 2025

Scott Harrison

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — Getting around on the city’s northwest side can be time-consuming for residents, and even an adventure for drivers unfamiliar with the area.

The reasons are that many of the streets in that area don’t connect, and the entire northwest side is cut in half by a mesa and railroad tracks.

Because of that, Pueblo officials have planned two projects to make significant transportation improvements in the area.

One project will extend Sun Mountain Boulevard — formerly Spaulding Avenue — northward between 24th and 31st streets and include two roundabout intersections.

A current segment of the boulevard runs between 18th and 22nd streets, and officials said they’d eventually like to extend it to 24th Street.

However, the latter segment would have to cut through private property, where a fence sign reads Keep Out: Bull in Field.”

“I don’t think the landowner wants to sell,” a neighbor told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior.

A second project will build or repair 68 transit bus stops across the west side, to meet federal requirements to improve transportation for the disabled.

The city received nearly $17 million for both projects, with construction expected to start next year and end in 2027.

Before work begins, though, officials will hold a public meeting to gather feedback; a meeting scheduled last week was postponed because of snowy weather.

Officials also revealed that two more projects are in the design phase but are not funded yet.

One of those projects is an idea that has been considered for decades — building a bridge over the railroad tracks at 24th Street.

Currently, the only way for drivers to cross the railroad tracks and the mesa north of downtown is at a train crossing on 29th Street, and across a bridge on 18th Street.

A bridge would connect both sides of 24th Street and link to the new Medal of Honor Boulevard being built west of the 24th Street/Pueblo Boulevard intersection.

The other future project would extend High Street south, from 24th Street to as far as 17th Street.

Neighbors who live near where the railroad tracks split 24th Street expressed excitement about the bridge plan.

Once built, the bridge would essentially make 24th Street the northwest side’s only continuous route between Interstate 25 and Pueblo Boulevard, and connect to Medal of Honor Boulevard through Pueblo West.

Click here to follow the original article.

Ex-wife arrested in connection to 2024 murder of semitruck driver

CNN Newsource on December 9, 2025

By Mary Culbertson and Kennedy Camarena, KSL

Click here for updates on this story

    SALT LAKE CITY (KSL, KSL TV) — A second person was arrested in relation to the murder of a semitruck driver who was found dead inside his truck in September of last year in Delle.

Court documents revealed the second person arrested was the victim’s ex-wife.

KSL initially reported the first person tied to the case, Jaswinder Dhillon, 46, was arrested in October 2024. At the time, little information was given as to how Dhillon might have known the victim.

Officials announced Tuesday a second arrest was made on Nov. 20 in California. According to police, Jatinder Purewal, 47, was arrested after police found evidence allegedly linking her to the death of her ex-husband, Jaspinder Singh, the truck driver found dead on Sept. 26, 2024.

After Dhillon was taken into custody, investigators said he and Purewal made frequent jailhouse phone and video calls to each other.

“Several of these communications were translated from Punjabi into English. Jaswinder and Jatinder frequently expressed their love for each other and talked about various other things,” a probable cause statement reads.

According to the statement, Purewal is currently married to a different man, and shares a child with the victim in the case, Singh.

Investigators wrote in court documents that Singh’s family was interviewed after his death. They told officers that Purewal had made threats to kill her ex-husband in the past.

Further, Purewal and Singh’s daughter said she “believed (Purewal) was involved in Jaspinder Singh’s death. The daughter explained that she obtained a restraining order gainst her mother, the defendant, and she felt her mother was very capable of killing her dad.”

During the investigation, search warrants obtained call logs and devices from Purewal’s home in California. Meanwhile, calls between her and Dhillon made no mention of Singh.

“Jaswinder explained that he didn’t fully understand why police arrested him and Jatinder briefly mentioned a news article about the incident. Jaswinder explained that his car broke down somewhere at a gas station in Utah and then he drove back home,” court documents state. “However, the two of them never discussed the fact that Jatinder’s ex-husband was the victim who had been murdered.”

Contrarily, the Utah Bureau of Forensic Services provided investigators with a report on Oct. 22, 2025, that showed a match of Singh’s DNA on Dhillon’s cellphone.

Further, GPS location information recovered from Dhillon’s cellphone showed he was within four meters of Singh’s semitruck when it was parked on the Interstate 80 eastbound on-ramp in Delle.

“This is the same location where the victim’s body was found inside the semitruck,” the probable cause statement reads. “Jatinder Purewal admitted to being on voice and video calls with Jaswinder Dhillon during this time.”

Investigators concluded in the statement that Purewal was on a video call with Dhillon’s phone on Sept. 26, 2024, at approximately 5:44 a.m. — the date and time her ex-husband was killed.

“Based on the foregoing, it is believed that the Jaswinder Dhillon was encouraged by (Purewal) to commit crimes of Aggravated Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping,” the statement reads. “Further, the defendant lied to law enforcement regarding her knowledge of the events on the night the Aggravated Murder and Aggravated Kidnapping took place.”

DPS announced charges against Purewal Tuesday, noting she’d been arrested in California and already extricated to Tooele as of that time.

“Evidence obtained in the investigation indicates that Ms. Purewal and Mr. Dhillon were in communication before, during, and after the time the victim was killed,” DPS said. “In addition, agents were able to find evidence that Ms. Purewal was involved with the following crimes: Aggravated Murder (1st Degree Felony), Aggravated Kidnapping (1st Degree Felony), Obstruction of Justice (2nd Degree Felony), Obstruction of Justice (2nd Degree Felony).”

DPS asked anyone who has information regarding this case to call 801-965-4747.

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

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.