Mid-Buchanan Librarian receives regional award 

News-Press NOW on January 21, 2026

News-Press NOW

By: Darren Doyle

FAUCETT, Mo. (KQTV) — Students enjoy a good trip to the library, especially when the librarian puts in extra effort. Mid-Buchanan R-V Elementary Librarian Mary Kelly was recently awarded Northwest Region Elementary School Librarian of the Year. 

Kelly has been a part of Mid-Buchanan Elementary for over a decade. Her experience with libraries at a public level eventually brought her to serving readers in schools. 

Kelly’s award was thanks to nominations from her peers in the librarian profession. Elementary School Principal Ashley Kountz said her work deserves all recognition.

“I have several relationship capacities with her. I’ve worked with her as a teacher and a librarian. I’ve worked with her as a mother to librarian as well as administrator to librarian,” Kountz said. “She is honestly someone that you can consistently rely on. She gets our kids excited about our literature festival, which we attend each spring. She gets excited about new books. “

Kelly said she’s proud to be part of not only a tight-knit community of librarians, but also to see students grow up in Mid-Buchanan’s Pre-K-12 system.

“The older kids, I don’t read books to them as much… when I pull out books and read to them, they’re always just like, ‘Oh, I love (still) being read to… even though I’m, you know, a fifth or sixth grader,’ Kelly said. “Some of the junior high and high school students will come back every once in a while, and they’re like, the shelves are shorter, and I’m like, No, you’re taller. And they’ll go look for a book that they, you know, enjoyed when they were in elementary school, to see if it’s still here.”

Kelly plans to continue welcoming elementary school students for some time, providing a fun and safe place to learn school subjects and life lessons. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Former Pony Express Therapy Dogs Executive Director, Bill Luce, remembered for influential work

News-Press NOW on January 21, 2026

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– William “Bill” Oliver Luce, a former executive director of Pony Express Therapy Dogs in 2014, passed away on Jan. 15, 2026. 

Luce grew up in St. Joseph and graduated from Lafayette High School in 1967.  

He later continued his education at Northwest Missouri State University, where he studied education with an emphasis in social studies.  

His wife, Sharon, shared how deeply her husband cared about making a difference in the community and just how far he went to do that.  

“He loved teaching. People said he didn’t teach; he told stories, and that’s what stuck with him more than teaching. He said I am not going to teach the book; someone else can do that. I am going to talk about the people,” Sharon said.  

Right after college, he worked as a substitute teacher in St. Joseph before picking up an additional teaching position. He later spent four years teaching in Hamilton, Missouri.  

Luce said he constantly encouraged kids to get involved in whatever they were passionate about and not worry if they weren’t especially athletic.  

“He used to call it the varsity sport of the mind and brought the kids out of their shell,” Luce added.  

When it came time to think about retirement, Bill didn’t picture slowing down. Instead, he found a new passion — therapy dogs.  

It started when the couple adopted a bearded collie, followed by rescuing a greyhound.  

Driving back and forth to Lincoln, Nebraska, to be part of an existing therapy dog group eventually became too difficult, so Bill and several others decided to form their own.  

The group became Pony Express Therapy Dogs.  

“It’s so rewarding to see what the students and the older people in the nursing home, hospice people do. It makes you feel good that you have done something and that’s the way he looked at it too,” Sharon said.  

According to Sharon, Bill never saw his work as a responsibility or a burden. To him, it was always about passion and the opportunity to explore something  

Together, Bill and Sharon adopted two whippets, a breed of sighthound that resembles a Greyhound, who regularly visited as therapy dogs. One of them was nominated for the “Willow Award,” which recognizes exceptional therapy whippets.  

“The younger one we have is actually her niece, and she is six years old now and she has done about 50 visits so far, but she is just getting started,” Sharon said.  

Sharon said what she misses most about her husband is his constant drive to help others.  

“I wanna do this, I wanna do that he would always say and he wanted to make a positive difference and he did not get into politics because he said it was a little overwhelming, but he wanted to do other things,” Sharon said.  

Sharon described her husband as someone with an incredible demeanor — kind, patient and steady. She hopes he’s remembered for the work he has done.  

Sharon said she will continue scheduling and doing visits with the therapy dogs.

Click here to follow the original article.

Yucca Valley man arrested after suspected road rage incident

KESQ on January 21, 2026

Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Yucca Valley man was arrested after a road rage incident involving a woman and her two young children over the weekend.

The incident happened on Sunday at around 4 p.m. in the 6800 block of Avalon Avenue.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found a woman and her two children, ages one and three, standing near a crashed vehicle. An investigation revealed that the collision was caused by the suspect, a 28-year-old man.

Deputies determined that the crash was an intentional and violent act by the suspect. It’s believed the suspect used his vehicle as a deadly weapon, deliberately ramming the victim’s vehicle during a road rage incident, all while the driver’s juvenile children were inside.

All victims were transported to a local hospital for treatment of pain related to the assault.

The suspect was arrested at around 5:15 p.m. in Joshua Tree. He faces charges of Assault with a Deadly Weapon Other than a Firearm. According to jail records, he was released on bail on Monday.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Morongo Basin Station at (760)366 4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Chariton County man charged with child molestation

KMIZ on January 21, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man from Salisbury, Missouri, has been charged after authorities claim he molested a child in November.

Gregory Calvert, 28, was charged on Wednesday in Chariton County with second-degree child molestation of a child younger than 12 years old. He is being held at the Randolph County Jail on a $5,000 bond. A court date has not been set.

The probable cause statement says law enforcement was called on Nov. 20 after a child allegedly told an adult that Calvert bathed with them and touched them inappropriately.

Calvert allegedly spoke with law enforcement on Nov. 25, claiming he assisted bathing the youth because of a medical issue the child faced, but denied bathing with them, the statement indicates. Calvert then allegedly claimed the child had a “history of dishonesty,” court documents say.

Click here to follow the original article.

Somerton City Council names new Vice Mayor

KYMA on January 21, 2026

Abigahil Padilla

SOMERTON, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Somerton City Council says Councilmember Juan Castillo has been appointed to serve as the city’s Vice Mayor.

According to a press release, the appointment happened during a City Council meeting Tuesday as they designate one of its members to serve as Vice Mayor for a year.

Courtesy: City of Somerton

The press release says under Castillo’s new role, he will serve at “the pleasure of the Council and is responsible for performing” the mayor’s duties “in the mayor’s absence or disability.”

Castillo, according to the press release, will work alongside with Somerton Mayor Gerardo Anaya and the City Council to advance the City’s priorities and support “the continued growth and well-being of the community.”

Vice Mayor Appointment Approved by City Council_Press ReleaseDownload

Click here to follow the original article.

20-year-old man charged with raping autistic Cathedral City girl

KESQ on January 21, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – An undocumented immigrant accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old autistic girl allegedly lured to his Cathedral City apartment on New Year’s Eve was charged today with rape of a minor and other offenses.

Enrique Bautista Vasquez, 20, was arrested last week following an investigation by the Cathedral City Police Department that began at the start of the year.

Along with rape, Vasquez is charged with sentence-enhancing allegations of sexual assault of a person unable to consent and abuse of a victim deemed “particularly vulnerable.”

The defendant is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center. He was slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday, but it has continually been delayed. As of Friday, Vasquez is scheduled to be arraigned on March 27.

According to a bail-setting declaration authored by CCPD Detective Steven Armenta, the alleged assault occurred late on the night of Dec. 31, into the predawn hours of Jan. 1, in the apartment Vasquez shared with others, whose identities were not disclosed, on Victoria Drive.

Armenta said the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, has a habit of wandering out of her family’s home without telling anyone and walking the streets — behavior attributed to her autism.

On the rainy night in question, she walked to Mayfield College on Date Palm Drive for unknown reasons and encountered Vasquez near the campus, according to the police affidavit. The defendant persuaded her to walk with him around a business center for an unspecified period before coaxing her into returning with him to his residence, Armenta alleged.   

“Once the two arrived at his apartment, they engaged in vaginal intercourse,” the detective said, adding that during the alleged assault Vasquez also sodomized the girl.

Armenta said that after several hours at the location, the juvenile was allowed to leave and returned home. Her family contacted police the same day, prompting an immediate investigation.

A medical examination supported the allegation that the youth had been sexually assaulted, according to the declaration. Investigators ultimately procured a search warrant for the defendant’s apartment and discovered “a pair of black women’s boots in his closet, which were reported by the victim to have been left in the bedroom after their encounter, due to the fact that they were wet from the rain,” Armenta wrote.   

He said there was also blood found on the bed sheets, substantiating that the alleged assault which the victim described had occurred.   

The detective said efforts to confirm Vasquez’s identity turned up a Social Security card and federal Permanent Resident card in his wallet.   

“The documents in his possession were determined to be fraudulent,” Armenta said, noting the Social Security card belonged to a Texas resident and had been issued years before the defendant’s birth.

The Permanent Resident card was “fraudulently obtained for immigration purposes,” according to the bail affidavit, establishing that the defendant is a “foreign national” who entered the country illegally.  

Armenta said Vasquez should be considered “a flight risk who will undoubtedly evade future legal proceedings” if given the opportunity to gain release from custody.  

The defendant has no documented prior felony convictions in California.

Click here to follow the original article.

Palm Springs airport sets record with 3.3 million passengers in 2025

KESQ on January 21, 2026

Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs International Airport handled a record 3.3 million passengers in 2025, marking a roughly 2.4% increase over 2024, airport officials announced today.

March was the airport’s busiest month, with about 500,000 passengers passing through the terminal. Officials said passenger demand remained strong even after the peak travel season.  

“We’re proud to see more travelers choosing to fly from Palm Springs,” Executive Director of Aviation Harry Barrett Jr. said in a statement. “It reflects the strength of our air service and the convenience of PSP. Every trip that starts here supports local jobs, helps sustain the regional economy and creates momentum for expanding nonstop air service that benefits the entire Coachella Valley.”

Airport officials attributed the growth in demand to increased travel through local and domestic routes.

Although the airport welcomed more travelers, PSP handled about 3,800 fewer commercial flights in 2025 than in pre-pandemic years due to airlines using larger, quieter and more fuel-efficient aircraft that carry more passengers per flight.

The airport has invested in infrastructure improvements to enhance the guest experience, including new shops and restaurants, expanded passenger seating and charging areas, additional water bottle filling stations and a remodeled conference space.

Additional upgrades are underway, including an expanded zero-emission vehicle fleet and 80 new electric vehicle charging stations in the main terminal parking lot, officials said.

Click here to follow the original article.

1 person injured after vehicle slides off road and crashes in southwestern Columbia

KMIZ on January 21, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person had moderate injuries after a vehicle crashed into an RV Wednesday afternoon in southwest Columbia.

A vehicle was seen turned on its side on Coats Lane, a road just off of West Gillespie Bridge Road.

Boone County Fire Protection Chief Battalion Chief Clint Walker told ABC 17 News that a vehicle had slid off the road, hit an RV and damaged a transformer. First responders showed up to the crash at 2:07 p.m.

Boone Electric’s outage map shows outages affected 40 customers was reported around 2 p.m. Crews are currently working to restore power to the area and roughly eight members were still affected at 2:53 p.m., according to the map.  

The person in the vehicle that crashed into the RV was brought to an area hospital, according to Walker.

Click here to follow the original article.

Congressman Cliff Bentz nominates 6 Central Oregon students for service academies; 16 statewide

KTVZ on January 21, 2026

Triton Notary

(UPDATE: Adding video)

DESCHUTES CO, Ore. (KTVZ)– Congressman Cliff Bentz today announced the nomination of sixteen Oregon students to the United States service academies, including the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy. The nominations recognize each student’s exceptional academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and strong character.

The selections were made by Bentz’s Service Academy Nomination Board, composed of active-duty and retired military officers who evaluate potential candidates. Bentz, who represents Oregon’s 2nd Congressional District, expressed pride in the nominees, saying, “I am honored to nominate these outstanding young Oregonians to America’s service academies.” He added that the nominations reflect the students’ “hard work, dedication, and commitment to character.”

Members of the Service Academy Nomination Board include Retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel Dave Dotterrer, Oregon Air National Guard Colonel Adam Gaudinski, Retired U.S. Navy Captain Chris Peyton, Oregon Army National Guard Major Stephanie Rokes, and U.S. Army Veteran Captain Anne Havniear. Bentz thanked the board for its service, noting that “without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to succeed at the academies, these nominations would not be possible.”

Final admissions will be determined by each academy in spring 2026. The institutions include the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.; the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.; the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.; and the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

2025 Oregon Service Academy Nominees by County

Deschutes County: Kelsea Bomke, Lucy Fisher, Cooper Garus, Taylor Goodrich, Jackson Hartley, and Steven Miller.

Grant County: Vincent Raschio (Air Force Academy).

Jackson County: Aviyah Jones, Gabriel Medina-Banuelos, Keegan Thonstad, and Benjamin Warner.

Klamath County: Miranda Vincent (Air Force Academy).

Umatilla County: Jefferson Steele (Naval Academy and Merchant Marine Academy).

Union County: Kaden Jones.

Wallowa County: Lauren McBurney.

Wasco County: Sterling Coburn.

The diverse group of nominees represents communities across Central and Eastern Oregon.

Students interested in learning more about the service academy nomination process can visit bentz.house.gov/services/military-academy-nominations. Final admissions decisions will be announced by the respective academies in spring 2026.

Click here to follow the original article.

Santa Maria City Council Cuts Into $25 Million Deficit, Now Looking at New Revenue Streams

KEYT on January 21, 2026

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria City Council cut into a $25.1 million deficit on Tuesday night by approving a number of a number of “budget amendments.”

“The staff brought for the City Council recommendations to reduce, the budget,” said Chuen Wu, Santa Maria Assistant City Manager. “The council approved the recommendations, so I feel like we’re making progress on addressing the city’s budget deficit and yesterday was kind of a big step towards that.”

Among the proposals that were approved by councilmembers were a number of capital improvement projects that must now be delayed, cancelled, or funded with another source.

The Recreation and Parks Department in particular received significant budget reductions totalling more than $4.3 million.

“The council approved last night a reduction plan to put on hold a lot of the capital projects that we had planned for the future,” said Dennis Smitherman, Recreation and Parks Department Interim Director. “Things like sports field ADA access (at Simas Park), new lights (at Elks Field), different aspects for the department to help continue to grow as we grow in the community. They’re not canceled. They’re just on pause for right now. andwe’re looking to keep those items on that list and to make sure that they stay front and forward, and as funding becomes available, either through general fund dollars or potentially grant dollars, we’ll be able to go out and ask for that funding again.”

The Fire Department will also have a large amount of funding rebalanced with City Council approving more $3.8 million in reductions, including $3.629 million earmarked for the expansion of Fire Station 1.

“The Station 1 expansion has to be done,” said Santa Maria Fire Chief Brad Dandridge. “With the future growth that our city is expecting, and with the expected downtown infill projects that have been approved for the community, we need to expand station one to hold additional firefighters to ensure that the service levels that are provided our community stay at the level that they need to be. The project isn’t being delayed. The project isn’t being canceled. We have Congressman Salud Carbajal that has proposed that $1.23 million grant for us to allow the project to continue. We’re also looking at alternate funding to ensure that that project continues on path.”

In addition, the city will continue to operate with a smaller work staff as hiring to fill open positions will now be paused indefinitely.

“There were 24 full-time positions that have been vacant,” said Wu. “Many of these positions have been vacant a while and so we decided to remove the budget allocations for those positions. There were also part-time hours that we’re going to remove off the books, and so we’re really trying to be efficient and lean with the people that we have, but still try and provide the same level of services.”

Among the open positions that will remain unfilled are 10 with the police department and eight with the fire department.

“We are not reducing the service that we’re providing our community,” said Dandridge. “Although those positions are unfilled on paper, we continue the minimum daily staffing levels that we have contracted with our community to ensure the service that we provide is at the level that our community deserves and expects.”

With the first round of budget amendments now approved, City Council is now looking at new ways to increase future revenue streams.

On Tuesday, City Council approved up to $36,500 in funding to hire DHM Research to provide PublicOpinion Survey Research and Ballot Measure Polling Services.

“We’re exploring potential revenue options,” said Wu. “We’ve enlisted a polling services to just kind of gauge community sentiment on the potential of whether it’s, sales tax or a parcel tax, or rental tax, those are options that are being explored, but we want to get a sense of what the community feels and we also want to have direction from our council. It’s a discussion that we’re having at the moment and we’re having those conversations within the next couple of months. Everything that we’re talking about really has lead into the next, budget that we intend to adopt for ’26 through ’28.”

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.