Palm Springs Public Library to celebrate 100 years of service

KESQ on December 1, 2025

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – To commemorate 100 years of service, the Palm Springs Public Library will host an event this weekend at its temporary location in Rimrock Plaza.

The free celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at 4721 E. Palm Canyon Drive.  

“This is quite a milestone,” Director of Library Services Jeannie Kays said in a statement. “We are proud of the library’s legacy and it impact on the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.”  

The event will feature a selfie booth, a historical photo display, special commemorative giveaways, music and cake.   

Officials listed a few of the library’s accomplishments, including helping establish several libraries in the Coachella Valley, being instrumental in the formation of the Historical Society and Channel 17 community television. It was also the first public library in the nation to serve as a passport acceptance agency.  

The facility began as a small library known as Alliene’s Library that moved to different locations before it received a land donation from the son of Welwood Murray. The Welwood Murray Memorial Library, which opened in 1941, served as the city’s main library until a new, larger facility designed by architect William Cody opened in Sunrise Park on Dec. 7, 1975.   

More information about the library can be found at www.pslibrary.org, or by calling 760-322-7323.

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Illinois woman seriously injured in Pulaski County crash

KMIZ on December 1, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman from the Chicagoland area was seriously injured in a crash on Monday afternoon at mile-marker 166 on Interstate 44 in Pulaski County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The report says a 2022 Infiniti QX50 – driven by a 56-year-old woman from Aurora, Illinois – was heading eastbound when it went off the right side of the road and hit a tree.

The woman was wearing a seatbelt, as was her passenger – a 68-year-old man from Carol Stream, Illinois, the report says. The woman had serious injuries, while the man had minor injuries, the report says. Both people were brought to Phelps Health in Rolla by ambulance.

The vehicle was totaled.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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Man accused of bringing meth bottle into Jefferson City IHOP, causing evacuation on Thanksgiving Day

KMIZ on December 1, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man has been charged with two felonies after he allegedly brought a combustible bottle of methamphetamine into a Jefferson City IHOP on Thanksgiving Day.

Jason Cross, 53, of Jefferson City, was charged with manufacturing a controlled substance and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. An arraignment was held on Monday and Cross pleaded not guilty by video from the jail. Cross also applied for a public defender.

The probable cause statement says police were called around 6:23 p.m. Thursday to the IHOP on Missouri Boulevard. A witness allegedly told police that Cross had been talking about a bomb, and police removed one person from the restaurant and then evacuated the building, the statement says.

Cross allegedly referred to having a bottle that he called a “shake and bake,” or a way to make meth “that is extremely combustible,” court documents say. Cross allegedly told police he brought the bottle of meth to the restaurant “to possibly make it safe,” the statement says.

Cross allegedly told police that “he did not think he brought a bomb into the restaurant but thought it could be,” the statement says. One of the people described as a victim was a teenager who worked at the restaurant, the statement says. The teenager and another person described as a witness told police that Cross had called the bottle a “bomb” and had been shaking it in the building, the statement says.

A counsel status hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, while a preliminary hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29.

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Rep. Calvert Introduces the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act

KESQ on December 1, 2025

Jesus Reyes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KESQ) – Congressman Ken Calvert introduced the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act, or H.R. 5935, on Monday.

According to Calvert’s office, the legislation facilitates the execution of the water settlement agreement reached by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Tribe), Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD), and Desert Water Agency (DWA).

“One of the many ways we recognize and protect the tribal sovereignty of tribes, like the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, is to protect and honor their water rights. I want to thank the Tribe as well as the Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency for reaching this water settlement. I look forward to working with them and the Department of Interior to pass this bill and fully execute the settlement,” said Rep. Calvert.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Water Rights Settlement Act ratifies that the Tribe has a federally reserved water right up to 20,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the Indio Subbasin that is held in trust by the U.S. for the Tribe and individual allottees.

The Tribe would also have surface water rights in Tahquitz Creek, Andreas Creek, and Whitewater Ranch, held in trust by the U.S.

The bill would establish a $500 million “Agua Caliente Settlement Trust Fund” in the U.S. Treasury to be administered by the Department of Interior. The fund would include accounts for Development Projects, Groundwater Augmentation, Water Management, and Operation, Maintenance and Replacement Costs. The bill would transfer 2,742 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to the Tribe, with gaming prohibited on the transferred land.

“The historic Agua Caliente water rights settlement affirms the Tribe’s right to manage, regulate, and govern the use of the Tribal Water Rights and at the same time improves the sustainability of water supplies for the entire Coachella Valley. The Tribe is grateful for Congressman Calvert’s leadership in authoring this bill and for his longstanding dedication to both tribal sovereignty and smart water management. We urge Congress to move this legislation forward quickly,” said Chairman Reid Milanovich, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Under the terms of the agreement, domestic water service would not stop or switch to a tribal utility. Instead, CVWD and DWA would continue to supply households and businesses on the Reservation.

“The introduction of this legislation is an important step in implementing the settlement agreement. It provides a clear framework for honoring Tribal water rights and builds upon our long-term water management strategies that have served the Coachella Valley for over a century. By moving this agreement forward through Congress, we are reinforcing a collaborative approach that benefits the entire region,” said John Powell Jr., CVWD Board President.

“Desert Water Agency supports the legislation needed to move this settlement agreement forward and appreciates Congressman Calvert’s role in introducing the bill. This agreement reflects the shared commitment of all three parties to protect our aquifer and ensure a sustainable water future for the Coachella Valley. DWA customers can continue to count on the same high-quality water and dedicated service they have always received,” said Paul Ortega, Desert Water Agency Board President.

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Columbia Public Schools out Tuesday; Jefferson City School District announces late start

KMIZ on December 1, 2025

Matthew Sanders

View all school closings and delays here.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A number of Mid-Missouri schools will be closed on Tuesday after varying amounts of snow fell on the area starting Monday morning.

Columbia Public Schools announced in a text message to parents that it will not hold class on Tuesday due to inclement weather.

“Having an inclement weather day will allow time for road crews to clear and treat roadways across the district. This is the first inclement weather day for Columbia Public Schools this school year. The school year calendar accounts for inclement weather and the day will not need to be made up at the end of the year,” an email from CPS spokeswoman Michelle Baumstark says.

Hallsville, Moberly and Mexico public schools were the initial districts to announce that they’d be closed on Tuesday. The northern part of Mid-Missouri received more snowfall over the weekend that clung to the ground, with Monday’s fresh snow falling on top of that.

The Jefferson City School District, however, announced on Monday that Tuesday’s class start time will be two hours late.

An email from the district says school will start late on Tuesday “due to inclement weather & potentially unsafe travel conditions. Schools will start 2HR later than usual, and buses will run 2HR later than usual.”

Two inches or more of snow accumulated in some areas by sundown, with another 1 to 2 inches possible for the Columbia area before snow ends Monday night. Low temperatures in the teens and 20s were expected overnight, making it more difficult to clear roads.

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St. Joseph Public Works crews begin first snow response of the season

News-Press NOW on December 1, 2025

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph Public Works crews treated the roads with salt trucks throughout the day Monday.

The city declared Phase I, marking the season’s first snowfall, and it remains in effect throughout the winter.

According to the City of St. Joseph’s website, two or more inches of snow are required to fall before plows can hit the roads. St. Joseph received about two inches of snow, according to KQ2 Chief Meteorologist Mike Bracciano.

Fourteen salt trucks treated the streets Monday, each dropping 800 lbs of salt per mile.

Jackson Jones, Superintendent of Streets and Infrastructure, said emergency snow routes take precedence when it comes to treating the roads.

“That would be the ones that what we’re doing on the first wave would be emergencies,” he said. “That’s trying to get where the emergency services can get to within two to three blocks of everybody. So it’s mainly getting routes to the hospitals for every angle of town.”

Jones said crews must remain on the emergency routes until it stops snowing.

“So potentially we’ll still be on the emergency till five.  Then we’ll start on the secondary routes and then finally the district routes,” Jones said. “It could take up to three days, 36 hours if we’re just salting and not plowing to hit every route in town.”

Jones said drivers need to give salt trucks plenty of space on the road.

“The back of that truck does have rock salt being thrown off the back of it, and you don’t want that pepper in your car. So stay away from them. Give them plenty of room,” he said. “Just like your normal driving in slick weather, you want to stay back, you know, get plenty of room, give yourself time to get where you need to go. Drive slow and cautious”.

Jones said patience is an important detail when traveling in inclement weather.

“You have plenty of follow room, drive slow, have a lot of awareness of what’s going on around you and drive carefully,” he said.

During a weather event, crews work two 12-hour shifts, with the shift change at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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SJSD audit highlights revenue declines as district works to stabilize budget

News-Press NOW on December 1, 2025

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The St. Joseph Board of Education sat down for a financial audit review led by Linda Quinley, the executive finance director with the Missouri School Board Association, on Nov. 24.

Quinley started the review by breaking down the district’s state revenue and walking community members through the last five years of Average Daily Attendance and weighted Average Daily Attendance. She pointed out a steady decline in revenue, which mirrors the district’s drop in enrollment over the past few years. 

“She’s talked about some opportunities for improvement, for us to get those in a more narrow band, meaning, for us to be 1 to 2% off on some of those projections, instead of a higher percent, that we’ve been in the past,” Robert Hedgecorth, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations, said.  

Hedgecorth explained that some of the projections—especially those tied to employee counts and salary schedules—ended up being underestimated compared to earlier forecasts.  

“There wasn’t anything mishandled or mismanaged. It was basically the forecasting of what was incorrect meaning, if you add a certain amount to the salary schedule, how much is that going to cost the district over time?” Hedgecorth said.  

He added that Quinley offered several helpful recommendations moving forward, including having three or four budget amendments throughout the year. 

He said more frequent amendments would allow the district to work with more accurate numbers, especially since assessed valuation and tax rates aren’t set until later in the fiscal year. 

“Preliminary budget is going to be a little more varied. But when you do your October budget amendment, you know your enrollment, valuation and tax rate, which are a good indicator of what you will receive from the state and local revenue,” Hedgecorth added.  

He said the district’s goal is to narrow that variance and present more accurate budgets going forward, something that will require more research and a stronger focus on data.  

Hedgecorth also warned that the district could face a crisis if reserves drop to the 3% mark—the point at which the state would step in which was also what Quinley highlighted during the meeting.   

“In two short years, we’ve fallen 16% or about 8% a year. And so in another year or two, if that trend continues, we would hit that 3% and so that would be a crisis,” Hedgecorth said.  

He said the district is taking steps to get back on solid financial health by looking for ways to reduce expenses, avoid deficits and operate within its budget. 

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Man wanted in out-of-state ‘jackpotting’ case charged with being fugitive from out of state

KMIZ on December 1, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was arrested last week for alleged “jackpotting” thefts in Pennsylvania has been charged in Boone County with being a fugitive from out of state.

Police on Thursday announced the arrest of Antoni Garcia-Cordoba, 42. He is being held without bond at the Boone County Jail. Online jail records say Garcia-Cordoba is from North Carolina, while Casenet list his address as Columbia.

Garcia-Cordoba was staying at a short-term rental when he was arrested on Wednesday, according to a Thursday press release from the Columbia Police Department.

“Jackpotting” occurs when someone is able to get an ATM to dispense money outside of normal circumstances, according to various government websites.

A spokeswoman from Pennsylvania State Police told ABC 17 News that Garcia-Cordoba is wanted for stealing from four ATMs from the central Pennsylvania area, including two in Snyder County, one in Union County and another in Center County. He allegedly stole more than $43,000, according to the spokeswoman.

Garcia-Cordoba faces extradition back to Pennsylvania.

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Palm Springs man charged with possessing and uploading child porn

KESQ on December 1, 2025

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 41-year-old Palm Springs man was charged with possessing and uploading child pornography.

Matthew David Pettineo was arrested last week along the 800 Block of Village Square North. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team served a search warrant at the address, seizing computers and electronic items, which a computer forensic examiner will examine for further evidence.

On Monday, Pettineo was officially charged with two felony counts, possessing child porn and also trying to upload or sale child porn. He was arraigned in court that afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

He is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 12.

Pettineo was arrested back in Aug. 2021 for having images of child exploitation. His arrest was captured in a special I-Team report on the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.

According to the DA’s office, in that case, Pettineo pleaded guilty to the court in April 2022. He was sentenced to 270 days in jail and granted 2 years of formal probation.

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ISU expands international research footprint with new 5-year agreements in Asia and Latin America

KIFI on December 1, 2025

News Release

POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho State University has strengthened its global research and innovation network by signing two new five-year Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with leading international institutions: Waseda University in Japan and Universidad Señor de Sipán (USS) in Peru. These agreements mark an important step in ISU’s ongoing commitment to advancing practical, high-impact research and educational collaboration that brings real benefits to ISU students and faculty, and strengthens the university’s international connections.

Under the terms of the MoUs, ISU and its partner institutions will promote faculty and student exchanges, collaborate on applied research relevant to both regions such as infrastructure resilience, energy, environmental security, and water resources, share academic resources, co-host workshops, and explore new joint research opportunities. These partnerships will help enhance the scientific and educational capacity of all involved institutions while fostering innovation, mutual understanding, and cross-border collaboration.

The agreement with USS highlights ISU’s growing network in Latin America. Together, the two universities will pursue research initiatives that address challenges such as affordable housing and resilient infrastructure. ISU also recently hosted a full-day research seminar at USS which was organized and supported by the U.S. Embassy in Peru as part of its efforts to strengthen international research collaboration and ties between Peru and the United States.

The MoU with Waseda University underscores ISU’s expanding presence in Asia and reinforces its dedication to cross-border academic collaboration with trusted global partners who share common values and strong ties with the United States and major non-NATO allies. 

“These partnerships connect ISU with leading global institutions, bringing new knowledge, innovation, and research opportunities that would benefit Idaho. From improving infrastructure and water management to advancing energy technologies and education, our collaborations help address challenges that matter to both parties.” said Mustafa Mashal, Special Advisor to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and Professor of Civil Engineering at ISU. 

“These new agreements advance ISU’s commitment to making a positive impact at home and abroad. By fostering faculty and student research partnerships and collaborating on research that meets mutual needs, we expand the research experience for our students. This collective effort drives innovation and addresses challenges that are relevant for all involved,” said Martin Blair, ISU’s Vice President for Research and Economic Development. 

These partnerships align with ISU’s strategic vision to expand international research collaboration, provide meaningful global opportunities for students and faculty, and strengthen Idaho’s role as a hub for education, innovation, and real-world impact.

For more information about the ISU Office for Research, click HERE.

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