Winter Solstice Masquerade Ball Brings Mystery and Magic to Redmond

KTVZ on December 19, 2025

Triton Notary

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ)– If you’re looking for something festive to do between Christmas and New Year’s, there’s a unique way to celebrate in Central Oregon, a Winter Solstice Masquerade Ball in Redmond.

The High Desert Music Hall will host the event on Saturday, December 27th, offering a night of music, magic, and mystery. Organizers say the ball celebrates the lesser-known, “forgotten side” of the Yule season, full of mischief, tradition, and old-world charm.

Raechel Gilland, organizer of the event told KTVZ News “Please come dance dressed to your best. If you do not have a mask, we have some masks available for purchase. If you love Christmas, if you love partying, if you love tradition or Renaissance fairs or performance arts of any kind, we’re going to have fun,”

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with several performances, including burlesque and magic acts. After dinner and entertainment, guests can take to the open dance floor for the rest of the night.

The masquerade is for adults, with tickets priced around $50. A special sale is underway, offering a package that includes two tickets and a pair of masks for the ball.

Tickets and event details are available online through Adventure Times Entertainments and the official Winter Solstice Masquerade Ball social media pages

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RivCo Customs Broker Who Defrauded Clients and Dodged Taxes Sentenced to Prison

KESQ on December 19, 2025

City News Service

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – A customs broker who siphoned more than $5 million from businesses that ship goods into the U.S. and who dodged paying at least $1 million in taxes was sentenced today to four years and three months in federal prison.

Frank Noah, 64, of Corona, was sentenced Thursday in downtown Los Angeles and also ordered to pay $7.57 million in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of tax evasion and two counts of wire fraud.   

Noah owned Comis International Inc., a logistics and supply-chain company headquartered in Cerritos. Comis worked as a customs import broker for the national Daiso chain — a Japan-based variety and value store with outlets in Southern California — from 2007 through 2019.

Noah admitted inflating customs import duty fees he paid while billing Daiso, resulting in the company overpaying Noah nearly $3.4 million.   

After Noah was indicted for defrauding Daiso in 2022, he continued to defraud other clients out of more than $2 million using a different scheme, according to his plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court.   

Noah also acknowledged causing a loss to the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $2.4 million by cheating on his taxes from 2008 to 2010, making partial payments for what he owed while using his income to make large payments on mortgages he put in the name of his girlfriend for properties in Corona and Rancho Mirage.

After agreeing with the Internal Revenue Service that he owed more than $1 million in taxes in 2014, Noah still avoided IRS attempts to collect the amount owed, and instead spent thousands of dollars on country club memberships, travel and golf purchases, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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Today is the last day to reserve St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway ticket and be eligible for all the prizes

KESQ on December 19, 2025

Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Act now to reserve your St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway ticket on Friday, December 19th and you’ll be eligible to win the house AND ALL of the additional prizes! That’s more ways to win while helping St. Jude!

Call 800-535-6748 to reserve your ticket for only $100 and help St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® continue its life-saving work.

The home is being built by GHA Companies in the Silver Spur Ranch community in south Palm Desert right by The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. It’s a single-story, 2,600 square foot home. It will have three bedrooms, three and a half baths, a flex room, and a three-car garage. The home also includes an open concept layout, an upgraded kitchen with a large island, and a walk-in pantry.

Get your ticket now to be eligible to win the $2,500 VISA gift card courtesy of The Law Offices of Jeffrey Weaver, a Michael Phelps Legend Series LSX 900 hot tub with cover courtesy of Master Spas and fuel for a year valued at $3,000.

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Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad Gives State of the City Report

KIFI on December 19, 2025

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Following tonight’s regular city council meeting, Mayor Brian Blad gave the annual State of the City Report, offering a recap of the city’s biggest accomplishments in 2025.

One item of note on tonight’s meeting agenda was the acceptance of the votes for the general November mayoral election as well as the December 2nd runoff election. Mayor-elect Mark Dahlquist was in attendance at tonight’s address.

The State of the City Report was shown as a video to all at the City Hall this evening. The video speech showcased the city’s proudest moments of the year. Mayor Blad mentioned projects like the new skate park and the implementation of the new city logo. He said it’s all part of the major plan to modernize the city through facility updates.

Other mentionables of the year included the Pocatello Fire department getting a new truck with a 107 foot arial ladder and the Mountain View Cemetary recieving an irrigation replacement. Mayor Blad also spoke about the extra police and firefighter training that occured this year.

Significant progress was made to programs like the Child Pedestrian Safety initiatives as well as improvement plans for local trails and programs. Mayor Blad expressed extreme gratitude for the employees of the city, stating they “show up everyday with a vision for a brighter tomorrow.”

He also looks forward to handing off the city to the Dahlquist administration, feeling like he’s leaving the city better than he found it sixteen years ago.

“I can say Pocatello is in better shape today than it was years ago. Financially, we’re the strongest that we’ve ever been. I’m excited about the future for the City of Pocatello,” said Blad. “We are set up to be extremely successful, and I’m confident that the future mayor and council will continue to move our community forward.”

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I-Team: CVUSD addresses mold in classrooms

KESQ on December 19, 2025

Peter Daut

THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 has been investigating concerns about mold in an elementary school in Thermal.

It’s a story that we were first to break. Now the Coachella Valley Unified School District has released new details about mold findings and cleanup after parents publicly complained they were denied copies of reports and forced to sign confidentiality agreements.

I-Team investigator Peter Daut takes a closer look at the issue.

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Queer Works CEO fraud case faces delay after mental health diversion motion

KESQ on December 19, 2025

KESQ News Team

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Yet another delay in the case against former Queer Works CEO Jacob Rostovsky, who is facing 53 felony counts stemming from an investigation into a Palm Springs universal basic income program.

Prosecutors accuse Rostovsky of stealing and misappropriating taxpayer funds meant for low-income residents.

Check out: Palm Springs City Council addresses Queer Works report

According to documents from the Riverside County District Attorney’s office, Rostovsky’s defense team filed a motion for mental health diversion, claiming he was mentally ill at the time of the alleged crimes.

The DA’s office argues the request is problematic, saying the diagnosis relies largely on self-reported symptoms and that Rostovsky developed anxiety after the investigation began — not while committing the crimes. 

“If defendant’s request sounds preposterous on its face, that’s because it is. The details of defendant’s petition and supporting documentation are even more problematic.”

“Although, the defendant, through his attorney,  claims to feel regret for his actions, in the more than two years that this case has been under active investigation and/or filed, the defendant has not repaid a single cent of the money he stole.”

The filing also notes Rostovsky was able to post an almost million-dollar bail and hire private attorneys and psychologists.

The judge did not review the motions on Wednesday, resetting the case to February 2026.

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Paseo Nuevo Turns Holiday Shopping Into Wish-Making Magic

KEYT on December 19, 2025

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Holiday shopping at Paseo Nuevo is taking on new meaning this season.

The downtown Santa Barbara mall is partnering with Make-A-Wish Central Coast and Southern Central Valley as its featured nonprofit for the 2025 holidays.

The collaboration grew out of a powerful moment earlier this year, when Paseo Nuevo hosted a shopping spree wish for a local child whose dream was to be “the best dressed at school.”

That experience sparked a deeper partnership centered on creating joy and lasting memories for children facing critical illnesses.

“People can come in, write letters to Santa Claus, make donations, write letters to children at Make-A-Wish, and just be supportive for them going forward,” said Jesse Flitt, Paseo Nuevo’s general manager.

Shoppers can take part by visiting Paseo Nuevo’s Peppermint Parlor, open on weekends through December 24, where guests can support future wishes—making this weekend the final opportunity to join in the holiday giving.

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Drones, new herbicides: BLM’s Prineville District seeks public input on updated plan to remove invasive plants

KTVZ on December 19, 2025

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District is seeking public input on a revised environmental assessment for an invasive plant management project in Central Oregon.

“This is a critical opportunity for the public to help shape how we manage invasive plants across the Prineville District,” said Amanda S. Roberts, Prineville District manager. “We’re looking for feedback that reflects community values while also helping us meet land-use needs.”

Invasive plant species threaten the health of Central Oregon’s landscapes, impacting native vegetation and wildlife habitat, as well as quality and recreation. The BLM is proposing updates to its existing management plan to better address these challenges using a broader set of tools and technologies.

“More than 75 invasive plant species grow in the Prineville District,” said Ian Grinter, project lead. “This updated plan will help us respond more effectively to the growing threat of invasive species and protect the ecological integrity of public lands.”

The proposed updates include:

Adding 10 new herbicide active ingredients to improve treatment options for a wider variety of invasive plants, including annual and perennial grasses.

Incorporating new technologies such as drones for aerial herbicide application and monitoring.

Expanding treatment areas to include lands where new herbicides would be used alongside existing methods.

The BLM team will analyze potential environmental effects of these updates, including impacts to:

Soil health and water quality

Riparian habitats and aquatic species

Wildlife and migratory birds, including greater sage-grouse

Livestock forage and grazing

Recreation values and fire risk

The BLM encourages public comments to help identify issues, concerns, and opportunities for improvement. Comments can be submitted online through the project’s ePlanning page at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2041738/510.

The scoping period runs through Jan. 8.

 Written comments may also be mailed or hand-delivered to:

BLM Prineville District Office

Attn: Integrated Invasive Plant Management EA3050 NE 3rd StreetPrineville, OR 97754 

Please include “Invasive Plant EA” in the subject line or on the envelope. Comments must be received by Jan. 8, 2026. 

For questions or more information about the project, contact Ian Grinter at igrinter@blm.gov or call (541) 416- 6714.

-BLM-

The BLM manages roughly 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

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Local organization works to provide rides for Marines during holiday season

KESQ on December 19, 2025

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – 29-PSP is a local non-profit organization of volunteers that work to provide Marines at the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Base rides to the Palm Springs International Airport during the holiday season.

This year organizers say they are facing high demand with a shortage of volunteers. Volunteers and 29-PSP officials said the original holiday transportation came from free rides by the Marine Corps base. This year they were told those rides would no longer be provided, and they do not know the reason.

Now organizers are working to get funding for rides and vans to transport the Marines. They say each ride costs around $50 and a van rental is $250.

News Channel 3 is working to get answers on what caused a decrease in volunteers and transportation for Marine travel this year, and the work organizers are putting in to make sure they reach their travel plans.

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Driving forward: Update on the I-15/US-20 Connector Project

KIFI on December 19, 2025

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Big changes could be coming for two busy Idaho Falls thoroughfares, and that could impact your commute — down the road.

Progress on a project to potentially construct a new connector between Interstate-15 and U.S. Highway 20 continues.

The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) shared three alternatives for the I-15 and US-20 connector project with the public this week.

“In the years past, there were at one time 14 different alternatives,” said Sky Buffat, Idaho Transportation Department spokeswoman. “As of right now, in our Environmental Impact Statement document, we’re carrying forward three of them.”

Officials are concerned about increasing traffic, safety, and the number of accidents in the area.

“Constructed in the 1950s and 60s, the I-15 and US-20 interchanges in Idaho Falls are not expected to provide adequate safety, mobility, and economic opportunity in the city, county, and region given the anticipated future growth,” said ITD Program Manager Jake Nyman in a presentation to Stand Up for Idaho Wednesday night.

The first possibility is a no-build option, she said, which would maintain existing conditions without adapting for future traffic or addressing safety concerns.

A second alternative would construct two flyover ramps, a new bridge over the Snake River, and move US-20 slightly north toward Freeman Park. It would relocate I-15 Exit 119 and change the configuration of US-20 Exit 308 (Science Center/Fremont Avenue).

The second alternative for the I-15/US-20 connector project. | Courtesy Idaho Transportation Department

A third option would realign US-20 north of the Idaho Falls Regional Airport, constructing three new interchanges with a new Snake River bridge and interchanges at North 5th West and East 49th North. Buffat said this possibility is gathering the most consideration.

The third alternative for the I-15/US-20 connector project. | Courtesy Idaho Transportation Department

Josh McAfee, an Idaho Falls truck driver for Grasmich Produce, has been hauling goods since 2016 and takes the route from I-15 to Highway 20 three times a week.

At a Maverick gas station near the Lewisville Highway exit, he said he prefers the second alignment that more closely follows US-20’s current configuration.

“I think, honestly, the overlap where that comes around and then merges back on, I think that might be the best option instead of having to move further down,” McAfee said.

The project is still in the planning stages, and no timeframe has been set for the start of construction as the project has not received funding

“[It’s] our big connector project, right in Idaho Falls, and it would bring just a lot of change and a very massive improvement to the Idaho Falls area,” Buffat said.

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