Tutu Trot returns, supports St. Jude Children’s Hospital

News-Press NOW on December 5, 2025

News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A unique opportunity to take in the lights at Holiday Park has come around again, with attendees being able to help a well-known national non-profit. 

The Tutu Trot will take place for its third year on Saturday. Dec. 20 at Holiday Park (Krug Park) in St. Joseph—registration fees for the event support Knot-4-Profit Collaboration’s support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

A passion for making sure every child gets the treatment they need to fight their cancer keeps Terra James and Kari Prewitt in the race to continue fundraising. 

 “When we run marathons, we get to go represent St Joe, and we get to stand up at the events, the pasta parties, whatever it is the night before, we get to talk about Natalie. We get to talk about St. Joe. So, it’s a really proud thing,” James shared. 

“(The Tutu Trot) is such a fun community event. Sometimes it’s chilly; the last couple of years, we’ve been pretty blessed with the weather. It’s just a fun family event, we’ve got a lot of different people that bring their entire family, and it’s just a good memory for them,” Prewitt said. 

For those who sign up or have signed up to take part in the Tutu Trot, organizers ask participants to park in the side lot near the entrance to Krug Park, not near houses or the park entrance. The suggested arrival time is around 4 to 4:15 pm on race day, with line-up at 4:30 pm. 

Hot cocoa will be served, and all participants will receive a festive tutu. Those who cross the finish line will then receive a Cherry Mash and a race-specific finishers’ medal. 

“Everybody loves to go through the Holiday Park, get their Cherry Mash at the end, keep that tradition, and we really wanted this event to be local,” said Terra James.

To sign up to take part in the Tutu Trot, visit the race’s sign-up website.

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E-Bike crashes surge: What parents should know ahead of holiday purchases

KESQ on December 5, 2025

Shay Lawson

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)  – With e-bikes topping many kids’ holiday wish lists this year, local law enforcement and prosecutors are issuing warnings to parents about safety requirements, legal responsibilities and the growing number of serious crashes involving young riders.

E-bikes are defined under California law as bicycles equipped with operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.

Although they’re not classified as motorized vehicles, officials said riders must obey the same traffic laws as cars — including stopping at red lights, using bike lanes when available and riding with the flow of traffic.

Deputy Sheriff Paul Abrego with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said many parents don’t realize how fast these bikes can go.

“With throttle and pedal assistance comes speed.” Abrego said. “When you have speeds of 20 to 28 miles per hour and you get into an accident, there’s a high probability you’re going to get a head injury.”

According to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, at least 36 juvenile-related e-bike incidents have been reported so far in 2025, involving 45 minors.

Prosecutors said they are reviewing case law to determine when criminal liability may apply to parents who provide minors with e-bikes but fail to ensure proper safety measures.

Under California Penal Code 273a(a), parents can be criminally liable for child endangerment if they allow a minor to ride an inappropriate e-bike, don’t teach safe operation or fail to require proper protective gear.

“Our office’s greatest concern is that a child could cause serious injury, or even death, to themselves or others due to reckless e-bike use,” Assistant District Attorney Mike Cabral said in a statement.

Abrego said parents should know the different classes of e-bikes before buying one:

Class
Motor Assist
Top Speed
Throttle?

Class 1
Pedal assist
20 mph
No

Class 2
Pedal assist + throttle
20 mph
Yes

Class 3
Pedal assist
28 mph
No

Abrego said parents must make sure any bike they buy is clearly labeled with its class, wattage and maximum speed.

California requires e-bikes to be 750 watts or less.

Abrego said to invest in a multidirectional impact protection system (MIPS) certified helmet.

“It protects your head from brain injuries or concussion,” Abrego said.

The sheriff’s department in Palm Desert will begin offering more e-bike safety courses after the holidays.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Hot ashes ignite SW Bend shed fire; quick 911 call, fast firefighter attack keep flames from reaching nearby homes

KTVZ on December 5, 2025

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A fast firefighter response kept a garden shed fire – sparked by disposed-of hot ashes – from reaching nearby homes in a southwest Bend neighborhood Thursday morning.

Bend Fire & Rescue crews were called out around 11 a.m. to the structure fire near homes in the 61000 block of Chuckanut Drive, in the Romaine Village subdivision, Fire Investigator Jason Kamperman said.

A neighbor alerted the property owner of the shed fire and also called 911, he said.

Crews quickly put out the blaze, but not before it destroyed the shed, damaged a property-line fence and burned parts of several large Ponderosa pines, Kamperman said.

The investigator said they found that hot ashes had been placed on dry compost material near the shed. The ashes, from a fire in a wood-burning appliance the previous night, ignited combustibles and quickly spread to the nearby shed.

Fortunately, Kamperman said, nearby homes were spared danage due to the quick response from fire crews after the neighbor called 911.

Losses were estimated at about $20,000.

Kamperman said, “It is important to dispose of hot ashes from wood burning appliances correctly.  Best practice is to first let ashes cool in the burning appliance for 2-3 days before taking them out.  Then, when they have cooled significantly, place them in a non-combustible container, such as a sturdy metal container with metal lid and leaving in the container, 10 feet away from any combustibles, until completely cool and extinguished. This can take multiple days, or even weeks.”

“Ashes taken out of a wood-burning appliance can remain hot enough to ignite combustibles for 4 – 7 days, in some cases even longer, after they have been removed from the source,” the fire investigator added in his news release. 

“Even though they may not be smoking or feel hot to the touch, hot embers may be deep inside of ash and remain hot enough to support combustion,” Kamperman said, adding: “Never place hot ashes in a plastic or combustible container or near combustible materials prior to ensuring complete extinguishment.”

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MU Faculty Council continues to discuss schedule changes for next school year

KMIZ on December 5, 2025

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri Faculty Council is still considering changes to the upcoming academic calendar.

The council is considering two proposals that would allow for scheduling flexibility with Veterans Day now considered a paid holiday for UM employees. The proposals would also give more room between the end of the fall semester and winter holidays.

It was revealed in October that MU’s fall semester next school year could lose its “Reading Day” — also known as “Stop Day” by students and alumni — to make up classroom hours lost from Veterans Day falling on a Wednesday. This year was the first year Veterans Day was a holiday for university workers.

The university is required to have 29 academic days scheduled for Tuesday/Thursday classes and 43 for Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes, according to previous reporting.

One proposal would allow for the last day of classes and final exam schedules to be set by each campus within the UM system. It also establishes a 15-week semester with one hour of faculty instruction per week, per credit hour.

If approved and implemented, this change would take effect in the fall 2026 semester.

Concerns amongst council members arose during Thursday’s meeting. Some asked for more clarifying language in the proposal around the time length of classes.

“An hour can’t be right because we have 150 minutes of instruction,” one council member said. “So you have 75/75 (minutes of class time) or 50/50/50 so that is an edit that absolutely needs to be made.”

Other council members also asked for more clarity around online courses.

The second proposal would set the school year to begin the third Monday of August beginning in the fall 2027 semester.

“That will help us have a slightly earlier semester and earlier end of the semester. So we don’t have grades being due right before Christmas,” Faculty Council Chair Carolyn Orbann said.

That proposal was initially suggested to take effect in 2026, but it was delayed by a year to avoid any impact to Winter 2026 graduation plans already in place.

The faculty council will vote on whether to approve either proposal at its Dec. 18 meeting, all faculty councils across all four UM campuses have to approve the same language. From there, the proposal will go to the desk of the chancellor and university’s president. Once signed off, it will then go to the Board of Curators to be voted on.

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East Valley anticipates large crowds for holiday celebrations

KESQ on December 5, 2025

Kendall Flynn

EAST VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley is gearing up for holiday celebrations this weekend in Indio and Coachella. While city officials are ready for Indio’s tree lighting and the Coachella Enchanted Parade with Elf and Friends, they want to make sure residents know the are safe.

This comes after many events throughout the Valley were canceled or postponed due to low participations for fear of immigration enforcement. Now officials say they don’t believe participation is a concern.

“We haven’t seen a drop in participation at any of our events. In fact, we have seen an increase in numbers,” Sergeant Abe Plata, the Indio Police Department PIO, said. “Our events keep getting better every year.”

“If last night’s tree lighting is any indication of attendance, we expect it to be a pretty full house…our Sixth Street was full,” Risseth Lora, the PIO for the City of Coachella said. “I think everybody is ready to really, embrace the holiday season and and kind of get into the fun side of things.” 

It’s an increase in participants they believe is due to the holiday season and growing trust in law enforcement in the East Valley.

“Maybe even if it’s just for the moment, but…just the joy of the season that I think overrides maybe any trepidation that people may have,” Lora said.

“Our community has a lot of trust in our police department,” Plata said. “We have a wonderful relationship with our community, and they continue to trust in us.”

Indio and Coachella said they will have police and city staff onsite for an residents who have concerns.

For more information on Indio’s tree lighting ceremony visit www.indio.org

For more information on Coachella’ holiday parade visit www.coachella.org

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear more from officials on East Valley holiday celebrations.

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Crowd pleasers: Central Oregon Mastersingers perform a medley of holiday tunes at downtown Bend Library

KTVZ on December 5, 2025

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Mastersingers put on a free performance at the downtown Bend library Thursday afternoon.

This is a group of highly skilled singers from various ensembles from across Oregon. And while they’ve sung in many prestigious venues, including the Vatican, they were more than happy to sign some holiday songs for the gathered crowd. 

Numbers included a cappella versions of ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas,’ ‘Joy to the World’ and ‘Deck the Halls.’ The crowd was especially impressed with a performance of the ‘Carol of the Bells.’

While the group strives to be a source of high quality choral music, being a source of joy is more important to them.

Christian Clark, the Mastersingers’ artistic director, told KTVZ News, “We believe in the power of music to change lives. And when we get to perform for people, whether it’s on the stage of the Tower Theatre or in a room at the library, we love connecting with people.”

Carols are a favorite of the Mastersingers. Clark said, “It’s especially important this time of year that we can provide some hope and some joy for folks. And we’re happy to be here at the library today to do that.“

If you missed the Mastersingers’ Thursday performance, they have several more coming up. They have an upcoming  “What Sweeter Music!” performance at the Tower Theatre on the 14th. Tickets can be found on the Tower website. There’s also free sing-along of “Handel’s Messiah” on the 20th at Nativity Lutheran Church.

And you might even catch them out on the streets of Bend. The Mastersingers will be caroling in the Old Mill on the 9th, and you’ll also see and hear them in Saturday’s Christmas Parade.

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New Shevlin Crossing tenant brings first-in-Oregon advanced breast screening technology

KTVZ on December 5, 2025

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Taylor Brooks has just announced that Perk Imaging has signed a lease for Shevlin Crossing Building B, introducing an advanced new option in breast screening to Central Oregon.

Perk Imaging will offer the QT Scan, a state-of-the-art, non-invasive breast imaging technology that is radiation-free, contrast-free, compression-free, and completely painless, according to a news release received by KTVZ News that continues below.

The Bend location will house one of only 10 QT Scanners in the United States—and the first in Oregon—providing unprecedented clarity down to the cellular level.

Amanda Johnson, FNP

Perk Imaging was founded by Amanda Johnson, FNP, who also owns and operates Mae Medical, an integrative medicine clinic in Lakeview, Oregon. Johnson brings more than 26 years of experience across women’s health, diagnostics, and integrative medicine.

“We’re proud to be the first in Oregon to introduce QT Scan technology,” said Johnson. “This is an exciting step forward for women’s health—offering a safe, radiation-free, pain-free option for women of all ages. With nearly half of all women having dense breast tissue, traditional imaging can be limited. The QT Scan provides earlier, clearer insight and empowers women to take control of their breast health with confidence.”

Romy Mortensen, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Brooks Resources Corporation, the Managing Member of Taylor Brooks, added, “I’m thrilled and proud that Perk Imaging will be the first to bring the QT Scan to Oregon. Patients deserve access to innovative imaging alternatives and a holistic approach to wellness. Located in the heart of Bend’s growing health and wellness district, Perk is the ideal addition to Shevlin Crossing.”

About QT Scan Technology

The QT Scan uses Breast Acoustic CT™, a non-ionizing tomographic imaging technology based on low-frequency sound waves. Key benefits include:

Radiation-free and contrast-free imaging, offering a safe, repeatable option for all ages

Completely painless scanning with no breast compression; the breast rests comfortably in a room-temperature water bath

True 3D, high-resolution visualization of breast tissue, with clarity extending to the cellular level

Exceptional performance for dense breast tissue or implants, since acoustic imaging is not limited by tissue density

Reduction in unnecessary biopsies and callbacks by more accurately differentiating benign from suspicious findings

Perk Imaging will pair this technology with a spa-inspired clinic environment, creating a calm, comfortable screening experience focused on patient wellbeing.

Beyond imaging, Johnson plans to expand into wellness services that offer a broader, more integrated view of breast health. “As we developed Perk Imaging, it became clear that breast health cannot be separated from overall metabolic health,” says Johnson.

“Women’s hormones, inflammation, detoxification pathways, and metabolic function all influence breast tissue over time. That understanding inspired the creation of Perk Wellness—to give patients access to the tools, education, and comprehensive support needed to optimize whole-body health alongside advanced breast imaging.”

Perk Wellness will be a membership-based wellness program offering advanced, results-driven services. Perk Wellness will feature the HOCATT™ sauna, available to both women and men through a dedicated membership.

Additional memberships are designed specifically for women and include Detox & Reset, Women’s Hormone Optimization, Longevity & Anti-Aging, and an exclusive All-Inclusive Membership. Each program integrates restorative therapies with evidence-based functional medicine to deliver personalized, elevated wellness support.

Together, Perk Imaging and Perk Wellness offer a complementary model in which onsite QT Scan imaging and the HOCATT™ sauna are paired with virtual, integrative wellness memberships—providing patients with seamless access to both advanced diagnostics and modern wellness support.

Perk Wellness is an additional, entirely optional membership and is not required for QT Scan imaging. All imaging services are offered independently, with wellness memberships available solely as a complementary option for those seeking broader metabolic, hormonal, or preventive support.

About Perk Imaging

Perk Imaging is an innovative breast imaging clinic opening in 2026 in Bend, Oregon. It will feature the QT Scan, one of only ten in the U.S. and the first in Oregon, offering non-invasive, ultra-high-resolution breast imaging for earlier and more accurate detection. The clinic was founded by experienced nurse practitioner Amanda Johnson, FNP, and is committed to advancing women’s health through safe, modern, patient-centered imaging. www.perkimaging.com.

About Taylor Brooks

Taylor Brooks is a Bend-based real estate development firm specializing in land acquisition, site planning, and build-to-suit projects that support long-term community and economic vitality. The company develops medical, office, and flex industrial properties and provides full-service commercial property management with an emphasis on strong tenant relationships. Taylor Brooks is a partnership between Taylor Development LLC and Brooks Resources Corporation. www.taylorbrooksdev.com.

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Cameron Public Library unveils new children’s space to engage local families  

News-Press NOW on December 5, 2025

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Cameron Public Library welcomed the opening of a new children’s space for kids to utilize the resources on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

Library Director JoElen Pratt said the idea was sparked because Cameron doesn’t have a large children’s museum or many hands-on activities for kids. Creating this designated area, she said, was a way to give families something more. 

 “The intent was to find a space where kids could come in and families could come in and just relax and enjoy more than books,” Pratt said.  

She added, kids learn best when they can touch, feel and experience things, and this new space gives them exactly that.  

It’s also a place for parents and kids to connect — whether its reading together or playing with the library’s electric life board.  

“Looking at the kids makes my heart feel so excited and warm. And it’s a space for anyone, whatever the intention and experience they want to have,” Pratt said.  

Parents visiting the library on opening day agreed. One mother said her kids already love coming to read, play with toys, and spend time exploring the space.  

Jaime Wilkins, who stopped by with her children, said she’s watched the library grow over the years and loves the direction it’s headed.  

“I love the new furniture that some of the chairs are stationary and some of them wobble. And so that’s really good for my sensory kids,” said Jaime Wilkins, a local parent.

Wilkins shared that she and her family visit the library frequently, and one of their favorite things to do is spend time at the sensory table.

“It helps my kids stay at a table and move up and around that much. I think they really did a good job on it, and it’s so nice to be here,” Wilkins said.  

Looking ahead, the Cameron Public Library is also preparing to celebrate a major milestone — its 50th anniversary in April 2026.

Pratt said they hope to continue building on this legacy of creating a welcoming, engaging space for families in the community.  

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Sulfuric acid incident in Callaway County prompts response from Columbia firefighters

KMIZ on December 5, 2025

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

On Wednesday, the Columbia Fire Department was dispatched roughly 30 miles to Auxvasse after a mutual aid request for the department’s Hazardous Materials team. 

According to Matt Walton of the North Callaway Fire Protection District, a homeowner on the 2000 block of Route E had picked up an order from a retail store, but when they returned home, they found that the bags were melting. 

The Columbia Fire Department added that a wet substance melted material on a coat, caused skin irritation and left a countertop discolored after contact with cleaning products. Walton said the homeowner did not have any materials that would have contained the chemical, and it was believed to have come from another order placed in the same bin earlier or a bin next to their order. 

That material turned out to be sulfuric acid, prompting Callaway County to request assistance from CFD. Six members of the department, including a battalion chief and four certified HAZMAT technicians, responded to the scene and returned two hours later. 

CFD firefighters collected a sample from the car that had been carrying the grocery bags and identified the substance as a 25% sulfuric acid solution. Team members decontaminated the cargo mat and affected areas of the vehicle, while North Callaway disposed of the bags and coat.

“It wasn’t a full deployment of our HAZMAT team, but it was more of a short team. Firefighters that had knowledge, skills, and abilities, and we had the technology to go out and determine what the agent was,  make sure that it wasn’t anything that could have long-term impacts to the person that was contaminated with the agent,” CFD Chief Brian Schaffer said. “The investigation is being handled by the Callaway County authorities.” 

The incident highlighted one of the seven mutual-aid agreements the Columbia Fire Department has in the area, which includes Boonville, Moberly, Fulton, Jefferson City and Centralia fire departments, as well as Mexico Department of Public Safety and the Southern Boone County Fire Protection District. 

While no money is exchanged for the services, Schaffer said the signed agreements help create a playbook that outlines the incident command and rules each agency has to follow. However, the Columbia Fire Department can still bill other agencies for materials used in hazardous-material responses. 

The agreements are considered standard practice, an administrative measure that solidifies that departments can assist neighboring cities when needed and do not require yearly renewal.

“We keep it open so it eliminates the influence of bureaucracy and politics. It’s signed until one of the agencies wants to pull out and does the notification, it continues on into perpetuity, and that just prevents politics from entering,” Schaffer said. “Where we do see changes is in the operations plan in terms of what we call things and what resources we have. We are adding two boats to our fleet in the coming months. That’s going to be something we’ll communicate to our mutual aid partners.” 

While Columbia does not have a formal mutual-aid agreement with North Callaway County, a department spokesperson said it will provide assistance whenever possible, particularly for specialized incidents.

“We exist on an island. We’re in Mid-Missouri. We are the largest department, we have 100% career (firefighters), we have the resources to mitigate all risks, but anybody can have a bad day,” Schaffer told ABC 17 News. “So what we want to do is make sure that all of the ancillary communities or the communities that touch that we work with have that same level of response when they are having a bad day. A lot of the people that work and shop and participate in Columbia activities live in the suburbs and farther out, so it’s good practice.” 

Schaffer added CFD benefits from the agreements when they are “having a bad day,” giving the department an extra layer of protection. 

“We will call Jefferson City and Boonville, and Fulton to come in and help us,” Schaffer said. “It doesn’t happen very often, but that doesn’t mean it won’t.” 

The department also has a statewide mutual aid agreement that Schaffer says adds a third layer of protection, used for large scenes such as a train derailment. The statewide agreement is also useful if there is an incident that Columbia doesn’t think it can handle. The Columbia Fire Department believes that these types of small mutual aid agreements help prepare them for larger-scale emergencies they might encounter. 

“It just gets some of the challenges we may discover when we mobilize resources worked out so that everything works at 3 o’clock in the morning when you have a bad day,” Schaffer said. “We are a community fire department that recognizes the importance of being a part of Mid-Missouri. And that means taking the friendliness and the cooperation and the collaboration that we enjoy here as a greater mid-Missouri and put that in fire department speak. We talk about it, we do it, and that’s the way that we’re moving forward.”

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Chihuahua farmers block ports of entry in Juárez again in protest against new national water law

KVIA on December 5, 2025

Heriberto Perez Lara

JUÁREZ, Chihuahua (KVIA) — Dozens of farmers from different parts of Chihuahua blocked all commercial ports of entry in Juárez again on Wednesday to protest the proposed national water law in Mexico.

The Bridge of the Americas, Santa Teresa, Ysleta-Zaragoza, and Marcelino Serna in Tornillo Ports of Entry were completely blocked by farmers for a second time since last week.

Mexico’s House of Representatives (Cámara de Diputados), or Chamber of Deputies, passed the proposed Water Law, which is set to prohibit all private transfers of water concessions in the country. Mexican politicians from other political parties protested after it was passed; now it will go to the Senate.

Farmers across the country say this law will take water away from the courtside and re-allocate it for discretionary use, adding that it threatens their livelihoods and the work they do every day.

“We apologize and send a message of support to all the truckers who are stuck at all bridges,” said a Chihuahua farmer. “We’ve even talked to them and they’ve given us their vote of confidence, saying they understand the situation in the countryside, because many of them are children of rural people.”

Tensions have increased south of the border between some farmers and some commercial truck drivers, since drivers have to cross their cargo for them to get paid.

“Well, it’s difficult, a situation where everyone looks out for their own interests; they bring their protest, but I also have to get home,” said a local commercial trucker. “So, those of us who are here, those of us who come from elsewhere, if you don’t work and don’t make trips, you don’t earn anything.” “These guys here in Ciudad Juárez who work crossing the border, well, if you don’t make trips, you don’t earn anything.”

According to CANACAR in Juárez, there has been an average of 20,400 stranded cargoes, each with an approximate value of $65,000, resulting in $1.326 billion stranded per day if these protests continue.

“We feel frustrated and angry at the insensitivity of our representatives, our leaders, and all those who support this law that threatens our heritage—the heritage that our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents worked so hard to build,” said another Chihuahua farmer protesting at the Marcelino Serna Port of Entry in Tornillo, Texas.

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