CHP starts holiday enforcement period

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants everyone to have a safe holiday on the road.

The holiday enforcement period begins Wednesday evening, with extra CHP patrols hitting the streets across California.

Officers will be out in greater numbers to help keep drivers safe during the busy Christmas travel period.

According to the CHP, last Christmas, more than 300 people were arrested statewide, and 17 people lost their lives on California roadways.

CHP officials are reminding drivers to stay alert, follow traffic laws, and make safety a priority while traveling for the holidays.

“You will see more patrol vehicles out on the road being a visual deterrent, also making traffic stops on people who are driving at a high rate of speed during the upcoming Christmas holiday portion…It sends a clear message to drivers to slow down or face being stopped,” said Jose Marquez with CHP.

The holiday enforcement period will remain in effect through Christmas Day.

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Imperial County firefighters getting new rescue equipment

Karina Bazarte

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD) says a new safety grant will help save the lives of drivers involved in serious crashes.

The California Office of Traffic Safety has awarded the department more than $20,000 to improve post crash rescue efforts.

Fire officials say the funding will be used to purchase new rescue struts specialized tools that help stabilize vehicles and other unstable loads during rescue operations.

These tools allow first responders to safely assist victims who may be trapped inside damaged vehicles following an accident.

According to ICFD, crews respond to thousands of traffic accidents every year. While not every incident requires specialized equipment, many involve high-speed collisions that result in severe vehicle damage. Fire officials say having the right tools on scene can make a critical difference.

Federal data shows that 42% of people killed in car crashes were still alive when first responders arrived, highlighting how crucial rapid rescue efforts can be.

The department’s goal is to remove injured victims from crash scenes within ten minutes, reducing the risk of further injury or death.

The new rescue equipment is expected to be in use as early as next month.

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Calexico Denny’s catches fire on Christmas Day

Adrik Vargas

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Denny’s restaurant in Calexico caught fire on December 25.

The fire was reported just before 7 a.m. Pacific, after employees noticed smoke while opening the restaurant.

Fire crews initially struggled to locate the source of the fire. Fire officials say one of the cooks noticed heavy smoke and the smell of burning plastic coming from a mechanical room located between the ceiling and the roof.

Calexico Fire Chief Juan Contreras said, “We then saw flames there, but we couldn’t access that space, and the fire spread throughout the ceiling of the restaurant.”

No injuries were reported, and all employees were safely evacuated. More than 30 firefighters from five cities across Imperial County worked through the day to bring the flames under control.

The Denny’s on Cole Blvd was used as a gathering place for events with the local community and organizations.

Calexico Mayor Victor Legaspi described the restaurant as a community staple.

“You know, it’s family-oriented. A lot of families came down for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a friendly environment, kind of like the show Cheers, where everybody knows your name,” he said.

The owners say they hope to rebuild in the future.

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Locals attend first day of Yuma Holiday Heroes Blood Drive

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County got the opportunity to give back as Vitalant is hosting the Yuma Holiday Heroes Blood Drive this weekend.

The annual three-day event kicked off Saturday at 1:00 p.m., and is taking place at the Yuma Palms, near Five Below at 1375 S. Yuma Palms Parkway.

Donors will receive a coupon for a free medium pizza from Pizza Hut, as well as a one-day entry to the Arizona Renaissance Festival.

Saturday’s event will go until 6:00 p.m., but the second day of the annual event will start at 9:00 a.m. and will go until 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The third and final day of the annual event will take place Monday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

To sign up for Sunday’s event, as well as Monday’s event, click here.

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SB Classic Day 1 Results

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

High School Boys Basketball: Santa Barbara Classic Day 1

Santa Barbara 85, Whitney(Rocklin) 61

Westmont (Campbell) 50, San Marcos 44 (Green 16 pts for Royals)

Lowell (San Francisco) 51, Dos Pueblos 49 (Gardiner 22 pts for Chargers)

Holy Martyrs Armenian 61, Ventura 45

Agoura 65, St. Joseph Notre Dame 57 (Franco 22 pts for Chargers)

Dougherty Valley (San Ramon) 86, Righetti 29

Thousand Oaks 68, Davis Sr. (Davis) 61 (McCord 36 pts for Lancers)

Franklin (Elk Grove) 78, Rio Mesa 33

Pinole Valley (Pinole) 77, Oak Park 51 (Prophete 13 pts for Eagles)

Santa Paula 79, Madera 59 (Alvarez 27 pts for Cardinals)

Day 2 Schedule, Saturday, December 27

Santa Barbara High School:

10:30 A.M. Santa Paula vs Franklin

12:00 P.M. San Luis Obispo vs Ventura

1:30 P.M. Agoura vs Westmont

3:00 P.M. Rio Mesa vs St. Joseph Notre Dame

4:30 P.M. Thousand Oaks vs Lowell

6:00 P.M. Davis Sr. v s San Marcos

7:30 P.M. Santa Barbara vs Dougherty Valley

Dos Pueblos High School:

12:00 P.M. Whitney vs Righetti

1:30 P.M. Oak Park vs Madera

3:00 P.M. Torres vs Pleasant Grove

4:30 P.M. Pinole Valley vs San Luis Obispo

6:00 P.M. Dos Pueblos vs Holy Martyrs

7:30 P.M. Pleasant Grove vs St. Genevieve

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3 injured after gunman opens fire on sheriff’s office in Idaho before being fatally shot in standoff, officials say

News Release

Originally Published: 26 DEC 25 21:48 ET

Updated: 26 DEC 25 22:59 ET

By Taylor Romine, CNN

(CNN) — A shooter armed with several guns opened fire in the lobby of an Idaho sheriff’s office and the street outside Friday, injuring three people before being killed in a standoff with law enforcement, the local sheriff said.

The suspected gunman fired shots at a pickup truck outside the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office in Wallace before entering the lobby and firing into the station toward the dispatch center, Shoshone County Sheriff William Eddy said at a news conference.

The shooting drew a massive police response, with a SWAT team and multiple agencies responding to the sheriff’s office at around 2:40 p.m. PT, the sheriff’s office said.

An officer-involved shooting followed, and the suspect was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m., he said. No information was available on the suspect or their motive.

The injuries of the three people shot were described as minor, according to Eddy, who said two female victims in the pickup truck were shot in the leg and a deputy received a gunshot wound to the ear.

Initial reports indicated the suspect may have gained access to the jail, Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris said, which “ramped up” the response from law enforcement.

“This is a fairly significant event when you have a person that goes into a lobby of a sheriff’s office and starts a shootout,” he said.

The suspect appears to have stayed in the lobby and the people in the jail weren’t injured, Eddy said.

At least eight law enforcement agencies assisted the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, Eddy said. The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department will handle the criminal investigation while Idaho State Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting, he said.

Wallace, Idaho, is about 70 miles east of Spokane, Washington.

Wallace resident Julie Swindell-Ward told CNN affiliate KXLY she was in the grocery store across the street when she heard someone say something about a person with a gun at the sheriff’s department.

“I walked out to the parking lot, I see sheriff’s cars, lights coming down,” she told the affiliate. “And then as I’m approaching my car, I heard gunshots.”

It was a surprising thing to witness in such a small town, especially on a quiet Friday, she said.

This story has been updated with additional information.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Funeral services for Jeffrey R. Holland set for Wednesday, December 31

News Team

UPDATE: Funeral services for President Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in the Tabernacle on Temple Square on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MST.

The funeral will be open to the public, ages 8 and older. Seating in the Tabernacle will be available to the public with doors opening at 9:30 a.m. Admission to the Tabernacle will be on a space available basis. Overflow seating will be made available as appropriate.

The funeral services will be streamed live and available on demand in 38 languages on ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on YouTube.

The services will also be broadcast on BYUtv.

President Holland will be buried in his hometown of St. George, Utah, next to his wife, Patricia, who died in 2023.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KIFI) — President Jeffrey R. Holland, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Saturday morning at the age of 85.

President Holland passed away at 3:15 a.m. MST, surrounded by family members, following complications related to kidney disease, the Church announced. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 24, 2025.

As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since June 1994, President Holland served for over three decades in one of the faith’s highest governing bodies. He was widely recognized for his ability as a speaker and powerful oratory style and his deep commitment to the global membership of the faith.

Before his call to full-time church service, President Holland served as the ninth president of Brigham Young University from 1980 to 1989. His academic journey began in his hometown of St. George, Utah, where he was born on Dec. 3, 1940. He earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees from BYU before attending Yale University, where he obtained a master’s and a doctorate in American studies.

President Holland held several prominent positions within the Church Educational System before his call to serve university’s president. From 1974-1980 he was the dean of BYU’s College of Religious Education and at the same time served as the Church’s Commissioner of Education. His influence on the Church’s educational institutions remained a hallmark of his legacy throughout his apostolic ministry.

In his passing, the longtime leader and teacher joins his wife, Patricia Terry Holland, who passed away in July 2023. He is survived by the couple’s three children, 13 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be released at a later date.

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5-year-old Kauai boy hospitalized after Kuhio Highway crash; family overwhelmed by community support

By Kimber Collins

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — A Kauai family is facing an unthinkable road to recovery after a single-vehicle crash left a five-year-old boy with serious injuries just days before Christmas.

Police said the crash happened on Tuesday, Dec. 23, around 5 p.m. on Kuhio Highway near the Wailua Golf Course. According to investigators, a 2025 Toyota SUV traveling northbound sideswiped a guardrail, struck a utility pole and spun. During the crash, a child was ejected from the vehicle.

The child, identified by family as Mateo, was initially taken to Wilcox Medical Center before being life-flighted to Kapiolani Medical Center for further treatment.

Police said a 35-year-old woman from Wailua may have been driving the vehicle. Two other passengers were not injured. No other vehicles were involved. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and toxicology results are pending. Kuhio Highway was closed for approximately two hours while Kauai Police conducted an on-scene investigation.

Mateo’s uncle, Chase LaMadrid-Engel, said the past few days have been filled with uncertainty, but also hope.

“He’s doing a lot better than the past few days,” LaMadrid-Engel said. “The doctors told us this morning he’s looking good, but we’re not out of the woods yet.”

Family members said Mateo has already undergone multiple surgeries to address injuries to his internal organs, which his uncle says were damaged during the crash. Doctors are also continuing to monitor injuries to his arm and shoulder.

“They’re working on helping his arm recover the best they can,” LaMadrid-Engel said.

While police reports indicate the child was ejected from the vehicle, the family said they are still searching for answers.

“It was a freak accident,” LaMadrid-Engel said. “We don’t really know what happened.”

Family said Mateo was in the vehicle with his parents, his mother, Leeanna and his father, along with his three-month-old baby sister, Aliana. Everyone else in the vehicle was unharmed.

“They’re hanging in there,” LaMadrid-Engel said of Mateo’s parents. “They’re being strong for him. We’re all trying to be strong.”

Doctors said Mateo has shown encouraging signs, including responding to family members and nodding to acknowledge them. His uncle said scans show no traumatic brain injury, and medical staff are working to slowly wean him off a ventilator.

“We’ll take any good news we can,” he said.

Family members describe Mateo as an active, stubborn and determined five-year-old who loves being outside.

“He loves soccer. He loves riding his bike,” his uncle said. “He’s on his third bike already. He’s a little hard-headed, and I think that trait is going to help him get through this.”

One of LaMadrid-Engel’s last memories with Mateo came just the night before the crash.

“He was trying to help cut my hair in the garage,” he said. “We kept telling him no, but he kept trying anyway. That’s just who he is.”

As medical bills continue to grow, the family has launched a GoFundMe that has already raised more than $21,000. LaMadrid-Engel said the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

“Thank you so much for your support, all the texts, all the messages,” he said. “We may not be responding to everyone, but we see it. We feel it. We love Kauai.”

He said family and friends, including relatives on the mainland, have stepped in to help with lodging and expenses while Mateo remains hospitalized on Oahu.

“This isn’t where we wanted to spend Christmas,” LaMadrid-Engel said. “But we’re thankful for the love we’re surrounded by.”

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed the crash to contact Officer Henshaw at 808-241-1616. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers Kauai at 808-246-8300, online at crimestopperskauai.org or through the P3 Tips mobile app.

As for Mateo, his family said the journey ahead is still uncertain, but they’re holding onto faith, strength and the support of the Kauai community.

“We’re going to fight through this together,” his uncle said. “There’s no other option.”

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

MSHP cites more than 1,400 drivers for violating hands-free phone law in 2025

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri’s hands-free phone law hits one year of being in effect on New Year’s Day. Since its initial implementation in January 2025, the Missouri State Highway Patrol has cited 1,417 drivers.

The law was passed in 2023 after a Columbia man died from a car crash in 2019 when a driver was on a video call while speeding. It didn’t take effect until 2025.

The Siddens Bening Hands-Free law is a secondary law that makes it illegal for drivers to use their phones while driving. That means a law enforcement officer can’t pull a driver over for cell phone use alone, and there has to be another reason, like distracted driving.

Troop F, which covers much of mid-Missouri, issued 94 citations between Jan. 1 and Dec. 8, according to MSHP. That includes 90 citations for cell phone use, three citations for property damage and one for a death. Troop F issued a warning to one person for property damage as well.

People who are convicted could see these penalties:

First conviction in two years: Up to a $150 fine;

Second conviction in two years: Up to a $250 fine;

Three or more convictions in two years: Up to a $500 fine;

If a violation occurs in a school or work zone, fines up to $500;

If a violation occurs and causes a serious injury crash, up to six months in jail and/or fines up to $1,000;

If a violation occurs and causes a fatal crash, up to seven years in prison.

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Video shows off-duty NYPD officer saving choking 1-year-old

By Dave Carlin

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    NEW YORK (WCBS, WLNY) — An off-duty NYPD helped a frantic mother whose infant was choking.

If not for his brave actions, the baby girl might not be alive.

“I went out and saw the mom with the baby lifeless in her arms” Video from a home surveillance camera shows NYPD Officer Freddy Cerpa saving the life of the unresponsive 1-year-old girl. He checked her airway and then patted her on the back until she was breathing again. It happened on Dec. 7 at around 2 p.m.

Friday at NYPD headquarters, he spoke about his heroic actions, which he called just part of his job.

“I was home getting ready to go to work,” Cerpa said. “I hear banging on my door … ‘Please help my baby.’ I went out and saw the mom with the baby lifeless in her arms.”

The taps to the baby’s back he learned during police academy training about a year ago.

“I felt her chest go up and down, meaning that she’s starting to breathe again,” Cerpa said. “It’s an amazing feeling to know I was able to help save a baby’s life before Christmas.”

The parents knew they could get help by running to his front door because they are longtime family friends. The couple asked not to be identified.

“They gave me their gratitude about helping them and just let me know the baby’s fully recovered,” Cerpa said.

That very same week there was a similar save. On Dec. 10, NYPD Det. Michael Greaney saved a choking 8-month-old girl. That impressive rescue witnessed by many driving by along the Bronx River Parkway.

“Our mission is to preserve life, and I feel that’s the most Important part of being a police officer,” Cerpa said.

He said he will remember forever the rush of relief he felt.

Cerpa is assigned to the 43rd Precinct stationhouse in the Bronx. There’s one thing he wants every member of the public to know.

“If you have any precautions you want to take, like taking a CPR class there are resources you can find online,” Cerpa said.

That’s advice from an officer who knows when he’s off duty, he’s always on call.

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