KESQ-Newsroom
INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Investigators announced an at-risk missing woman, who was last seen at her Indio home on Friday, had been found safe the next morning.
She was reportedly in good physical condition after being evaluated by medical personnel.
She was safely reunited with family.
Spencer Sacks
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Senator Ron Wyden is in Central Oregon this week, speaking at town halls in Madras and Sisters. While he is in town, he stopped by the KTVZ News studios.
We discussed a wide variety of topics, from ICE to wildfires.
During the conversation, I asked him about rural schools’ funding.
The question was, “One of the big things that just passed is the Secure Rural Schools Act Authorization of 2025. Can you talk a little bit about how that helps this district?”
Senator Wyden responded, “The fact is, this program is a lifeline for Oregon. You know, The Federal Government owns most of our land. So the law that I wrote was a number of years ago. It helps with roads, helps with schools, and helps with law enforcement, and it’s a huge shot in the arm. Oregon’s share of this law has been $3.6 billion over the years. It’s arguably the biggest authorization we’ve had in the state.”
If you would like to attend his town hall, he will be in Sisters on Saturday with Representative Janelle Bynum.
Cameron Montemayor
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph Police Department is asking drivers to avoid the road unless necessary due to snow causing hazardous conditions Friday night.
A Nixle alert from the St. Joseph Police Department warned drivers to use caution after snow fell Friday night, causing “very slick” driving conditions according to the alert.
A follow-up alert from SJPD warned drivers to avoid the area of northbound Interstate 29 by Gene Field Road due to one lane of traffic being blocked from an accident. The highway was re-opened a short time later.
Linda Larsen
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The man convicted of second-degree murder for the 2024 fatal beating of Alejandro Parades Hutardo is the subject of a newly released video obtained exclusively by Local News 8.
Robert Wyatt Lange was sentenced to 55 years in jail with the possibility of parole after 20 years by District Judge Brendon Taylor.
In today’s sentencing, Lange addressed the court, saying, “Sorry for what happened to Mr. Hurtado. I don’t know. I had no intention of killing him in that physical confrontation. I take responsibility for it. I had no intentions of killing him. That’s all.”
The video, obtained from a public records request through Bonneville County, shows a 2025 fighting incident between convicted murderer Robert Lange and another man in the Bonneville County jail in June 2025.
This was months before Lange’s conviction in October 2025. He was found guilty for the death of Alejandro Parades Hurtado following a four-day jury trial.
The conviction stems from an aggravated battery that occurred on the evening of October 19, 2024. According to the initial police release, Alejandro Parades Hurtado was found brutally beaten with severe injuries on a sidewalk along the west side of Northgate Mile near the intersection with May Street. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.
The video was mentioned at Lange’s sentencing today, January 16th. The prosecution attempted to play the video, but technical difficulties prevented it. Local News 8 reached out to Bonneville County with a records request for the video after the sentencing.
Bonnville County Prosecutor Randy Neal spoke at Lange’s sentencing today, indicating through the video evidence that Lange’s violence did not stop once he was incarcerated. Neal said, “Robert Lange has an uncontrollable anger that potentially leads to violence, even to strangers, and he will therefore be a threat to the community for the remainder of his life, especially when he cannot recognize that what he has done is very wrong.”
Lange will serve 20 years of his sentence in the Idaho State Correctional Institution before he will be eligible for parole.
Triton Notary
Theodore the dachshund was in the KTVZ studio today for Pet Pals. Other than being incredibly adorable, he is shy, sweet and loving. Lynne, Director of community partnerships for HSCO, says he and his litter are warm and bubbly once they get to know you. Apparently, Theodore is also a talented racer! If you want to adopt Theodore and his litter, just go to the Humane Society of Central Oregon.
Hadley Bodell
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – For lots of people in the area, skiing and snowboarding are their favorite sports. For others, thanks to new technology and a group of dedicated volunteers, they’re an opportunity to forget about their disability and try something that wasn’t possible before.
Portneuf Valley Adaptive Sports (PVAS) is a new program dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and empowering individuals with disabilities. They provide year-round outdoor adaptive recreational activities like biking, horseback riding, paddling, and snow sports.
Director of the Ski School, David Kriner, was approached by Barrie Hunt of Barrie’s Ski and Sports when a previous program which provided these opportunities closed its doors. They knew they had to do something. Kriner is a long-time ski instructor and advocate for adaptive sports, which made him the perfect person to help start PVAS in Pocatello.
The program is run entirely by volunteers, who were trained this week to use the specialized ski equipment. All kinds of equipment is utilized by the ski instructors depending on the students’ disability. The equipment was donated by Barrie’s and Idaho State University to help get the program underway as it celebrates its first ski season at Pebble Creek Ski Area.
“We all have a passion for skiing,” said Kriner. “And there is nothing better than sharing that passion with someone.”
For the volunteer instructors, it’s about more than teaching someone to ski.
“It’s about what I get back from the participants that come up here, a lot of them have never done anything like this before, it was never going to happen in their life,” said Frank Holden, a volunteer. “Just to see the excitement on their face and for their parents to see their kids do this, it’s amazing.”
The volunteers of PVAS are committed to giving everyone an opportunity to ski this season. As Kriner said, “People with disabilities are just people, and we don’t treat them different than we would treat anybody else.”
Kriner explained the importance of this program through stories of children he has helped to discover their passion on the ski hill.
“We had a boy come to us at eight years old who was hit by a bus as a pedestrian and paralyzed,” said Kriner. “We call it ‘forearm skiing’ so he has forearm crutches with skis on the bottom and skis on his feet. He kept training and eventually went to the Olympics. He medaled broze and silver.”
The PVAS knows that miracles can happen after injury. They’ve helped individuals who have gone on to hike to the Mount Everest Base camp in their wheelchairs, go to college, summitted the tallest mountains in the US and even win Olympic medals.
The ski instructors will evaluate each student for their abilities before choosing the correct equipment and beginning the lessons.
“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” Kriner said. “We’re officially up and going and it’s amazing the people that have come forward to help.”
Everyone is encouraged to donate to the program if possible so it can continue providing unforgettable experiences for members of the community. Kriner and his team hope to purchase more equipment and continue their mission for years to come.
PVAS is also aided by Pebble Creek Ski Patrol, who accommodates the equipment on the ski lifts and makes room for the lessons on the mountain.
The ski lessons at Pebble Creek are available for anyone with a disability, whether it’s cognitive or physical. If you’d like to volunteer for the program or sign up for a lesson, you can visit pvadaptivesports.org.
News Team
FORT HALL, Idaho — Amid growing concerns over recent ICE operations in Southeast Idaho, Shoshone-Bannock tribal leadership is advising all members to carry valid tribal identification with them at all times.
The urgent statement from the Shoshone Bannock Tribe’s Business Council comes after confirmed ICE enforcement activities in Idaho Falls. However, leaders also said the sighting is expected due to an ICE field office in Idaho Falls, and said the move to carry identification cards is out of an abundance of caution.
In a Press Release posted on the Shoshone Bannock Facebook Page, they recognized that the report may cause concern for tribal members and their families.
“The safety and rights of our people are our top priorities,” the release said. “At this time, there have been no confirmed ICE enforcement activities on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Council is closely monitoring the situation locally and nationally to protect our membership.”
In addition to carrying a Tribal ID, members are being encouraged to have other forms of identification on hand, such as a state ID, driver’s license, or passport.
The release also offered direction on what tribal members should do if approached by an ICE agent. First, remain calm and respectful. Second, present identification, ask for the Agent’s name, record the encounter (if possible) and report the encounter to the Fort Hall Police Department’s non-emergency line at (208) 238-4000.
Tyson Beauchemin
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The community of La Pine is coming together around a child and family in need of support – and a heart.
Braxton Twyman was diaonosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) shortly after he was born 14 months ago.
As a newborn, Braxton underwent a series of surgeries. Even though he survived, complications from his heart disease are preventing him from having further necessary surgeries.
Simply put: Braxton needs a new heart.
But finding an available and suitable heart for a young child can be difficult. The family has been burdened with additional expenses, like travel and lodging, while moving Braxton between various medical organizations.
Despite all of that, Braxton is growing into an energetic and happy child. When KTVZ News met with the Twyman family in La Pine, Braxton was playful and curious, despite being a little late for a nap.
“He is the happiest baby you’ll ever meet,” Braxton’s mother, Destinee Twyman told us. “Other than when he’s grumpy, because he needs a nap, but it’s every kid. He is obsessed with his dad right now. Everything is about Dad. He loves to swing. He loves being outside. Honestly, he just loves being a kid, outside of the hospital.”
Braxton’s energy and willingness to fight has inspiried the community of La Pine. Many local businesses have banded together to have a day to raise funds for the Twyman family.
There’s four events happening around Central Oregon, and all benefit Braxton in one way ore another.
This Sunday at 11 a.m., theres going to be a car show and poker event at General Duffy’s in Redmond.
Sunriver Brewery and Rosland Coffee House are donating $1 to Braxton’s family for every item sold.
Lastly, Legend Cider Company in La Pine is holding a big event, with a items raffled off.
You can learn more about Braxton at this Facebook page: “Braxton Twyman’s HLHS Journey”.
Michael Logerwell
FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) – A 21-year-old faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and more after Fountain Police connected him to two separate assaults on Thursday night
Fountain Police
Jakob Soroka, 21, was in the El Paso County Jail Friday night, at the time of publishing.
It all started when the Fountain Police Department got a call before 10:00 p.m. on Thursday night from the Albertacos Mexican Restaurant on Highway 85 south.
Inside the restaurant, police found a man with a stab wound in his back, but no suspect. The victim was taken to a local hospital for further treatment.
Still on the scene, police reviewed the restaurant’s security cameras, which had recorded the stabbing. Based on the depiction from the security camera, they were able to find Soroka less than 10 minutes after they arrived at the scene.
He was arrested near the 7-11 gas station on Main Street.
But the police investigation didn’t end there.
Fountain Police then connected Soroka to another assault from earlier in the night. Police believe that 40 minutes before the stabbing, he physically assaulted someone at Taco Bell on Camden Boulevard, which is just south of the Albertacos.
The Police Department says the victim of that assault gave a suspect description that matched Soroka.
Soroka is being held in the El Paso County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He’s been charged with:
Two counts of second-degree attempted murder
Aggravated robbery
Third-degree assault
Theft
Caleb Nguyen
SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a car crashing into a bus in Solvang just before 2:30 p.m. Friday in Solvang, according to the Buellton CHP.
The crash happened on Mission Drive, east of Alisal Road, before CHP officers found a Toyota RAV4 that crashed into a school bus with children aboard.
The crash injured no children and just one party complained about pain. A third car may have been involved, according to the CHP.
The investigation is ongoing, and those with information are asked to contact the CHP at the following number.
