Rudy’s Markets celebrates 50 years serving community with Gold Bar Giveaway, $100K Hunger Match

KTVZ on January 30, 2026

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Rudy’s Markets Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2026 with a monthly Gold Bar Giveaway and a $100,000 matching donation program to combat hunger in Central Oregon. The initiatives mark five decades since the company was founded in 1976.

The company says it’s currently Central Oregon’s only locally founded, 100% employee-owned grocery business. It operates three stores across the region, including the Newport Avenue Market, Oliver Lemon’s and Ollie’s Kitchen brands. The transition to employee ownership occurred in 2015, when the founding family sold the business to its workers at no cost.

The hunger relief initiative includes a commitment to match customer donations at checkout up to $100,000, the company said in Thursday’s news release. The donations are accepted year-round at all company locations.

The matching funds are designed to help partner non-profits purchase food at wholesale costs, which the company says will stretch the impact of every dollar for families facing food insecurity.

As part of the golden anniversary, the company is hosting a monthly Gold Bar Giveaway. Twelve winners will each receive one real gold bar throughout 2026. Customers are automatically entered into the drawing once a month, when they use their Foode Flash card at checkout. No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway and official rules are available in-store and online.

Lauren G. D. Redman, “Leader of the Pack”/CEO and president of Rudy’s Markets Inc., described the anniversary as a moment of reflection on the company’s local ties.

“Turning 50 is worth celebrating, but for us, it’s also about gratitude,” Redman said. “Over all these years, our purpose hasn’t changed. We exist because of this community, and we believe our success should benefit everyone who shops, works and lives here.”

The company traces its history to 1976, when founder Rudy Dory opened his first grocery store in La Pine with $914 in his pocket. Rudy and his wife, Debbie, eventually grew the business to include three stores across Central Oregon.

In 2015, the Dory family sold the company to its employees at no cost, establishing it as a 100% employee-owned entity.

Dory said the transition to employee ownership was a way to recognize the staff who contributed to the company’s growth.

“When we started this company in 1976, the goal was simple: serve good food and treat people right,” Dory said. “Choosing to become 100% employee-owned was about honoring the people who built this business day in and day out. Celebrating our 50th anniversary by giving back — through fighting hunger and investing in our community — feels like the most natural way to say thank you.”

Today, Rudy’s Markets Inc. operates three separate brands in the region. These include Newport Avenue Market in Bend, Oliver Lemon’s in Sisters and Terrebonne and Ollie’s Kitchen in Redmond. The stores specialize in high-quality food, hard-to-find items and products from local producers.

The Gold Bar Giveaway and donation matching program will continue through the end of 2026. Official rules for the giveaway and further details on the anniversary initiatives are available at newportavemarket.com.

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Prineville pastor pleads no contest in shooting of neighborhood cat that left ‘Pumpkin’ permanently blind

KTVZ on January 30, 2026

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Prineville pastor accused of shooting a neighborhood cat, leaving it permanently blind, entered a no-contest plea to an animal abuse charge Thursday in a deal with prosecutors that will have the case dismissed if he performs community service and pays restitution to the cat’s owner.

Jason Swick, 48, pastor at the Prineville Church of Christ, had pleaded not guilty last month to first-degree animal abuse, a Class A misdemeanor that under Oregon law carries a potential sentence of 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $6,250.

Under a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit to wrongdoing, but acknowledges that a jury or judge could convict them of the charges.

According to the petition that was accepted Thursday by Circuit Judge David Delsman, Swick’s sentencing will be “held in abeyance for six months to allow for completion of 24 hours of community service and $1,000 restitution to the cat owner. If all conditions (are) completed as required, the case will be dismissed without conviction.”

Swick was accused of shooting the neighborhood cat named Pumpkin several times last September, then pleacing it in a dumpster behind the church, sparking community outage and protests. The cat’s owner, Amanda Lougher, found the cat alive and bleeding, taking it for emergency surgery in Bend, and it survived.

Swick said in a Facebook post that later was deleted that he believed the cat was feral and attacking his family’s chickens, also saying he was “so sorry and feel terrible. I was afraid and didn’t know what else to do in the moment.”

Lougher read a statement in court Thursday that she also posted on her Facebook page, where she said she was “thankful to be able to close this chapter of our lives! Thankful for all the love and support for the community!”

In court, Lougher said, “There are far less violent ways to deal with a neighborhood cat,” also saying the family’s 9-month-old cat was shot in the face three times.

“I appreciate you owning the choices that you made that night, and each day since,” Lougher said, addressing Swick in the courtroom. “May both families and the community move forward in peace. Today, in this moment, I choose to forgive you. Please do better!”

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Karine Jean-Pierre speaks with News Channel 3 at the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival

KESQ on January 30, 2026

Athena Jreij

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival brings political talent from across the nation to our desert.

News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij spoke with Karine Jean-Pierre, the former White House press secretary who served under President Biden. 

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Measles cases rise in Canyon County; health officials warn eastern Idaho of risk

KIFI on January 30, 2026

Par Kermani

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — Health officials are reporting five probable measles cases in Canyon County, all within a single unvaccinated household, as they work to prevent the virus from spreading in local schools and the wider community.

Lakshmi Venugopal, an epidemiologist with Southwest District Health, said the cases are being treated as measles based on the patients’ symptoms and their recent travel history, even though lab confirmation is pending.

“We have had five probable cases of measles here in Canyon County,” she said. “Given their clinical history and history of exposure to measles during travel, it’s considered to be measles.”

The family’s exposure occurred during out-of-state travel over the winter break. Because measles can take up to 21 days after exposure to cause symptoms, the children began showing signs of illness after returning to Idaho.

Two of the children attended school in Caldwell while infectious — one at Vallivue Middle School on Jan. 9 and another at Vallivue High School on Jan. 20. Southwest District Health has been working with school officials to notify parents of potentially exposed students and to monitor for symptoms.

“We are closely monitoring all the children in these two schools,” Venugopal said. “If anybody shows symptoms, we’ll be working with them to make sure they are getting connected with a provider, getting testing if needed, and getting recommendations on how long they should stay home before going back to school.”

Statewide, Idaho has recorded 21 measles cases across six counties, including the Canyon County cluster. Boundary County has reported the highest number of cases since August 2025 with six. Eastern Idaho has reported measles cases this year from Madison County; however, due to the time it takes for symptoms to fully manifest, they have not yet been confirmed.

Ian Troesoyer, a nurse practitioner and epidemiologist for Southeastern Idaho Public Health, said Idaho is at a crossroads.

“Idaho is dead last in the nation for measles vaccination coverage for kindergarteners, which means we’re at one of the highest risks for one of the most vulnerable populations,” Troesoyer said. “Measles is the most contagious illness we know of.”

With Idaho’s low vaccination rate, he warned that eastern Idaho may be more vulnerable to a significant outbreak than other regions.

“We are worried about measles cases in our own state and from adjoining states coming into our district,” he said. “People from southeastern Idaho and eastern Idaho are going down to Salt Lake all the time. What is happening in Utah could easily show up here.”

According to Troesoyer, even a small number of cases could strain the capacity of the state’s pediatric hospitals.

“If your kid is not vaccinated and they get exposed to measles, they are very likely going to get it, and then there’s like a one-in-five chance they could be hospitalized,” he said. “Now that we know there’s measles circulating in Idaho, I would strongly encourage you to consider getting them vaccinated.”

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Police confirm shooting in north Columbia Thursday evening

KMIZ on January 30, 2026

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department confirmed officers found two victims following a reported shooting Thursday night.

According to a CPD spokesperson, officers investigated three locations: the Casey’s convenience store on Clark Lane, the area near Victory Church on Ballenger Lane, and the 4500 block of Alan Lane.

Police responded to a report of shots fired at 7:10 p.m. in the 4500 block of Alan Lane, where they found evidence of a shooting.

Officers later located one victim with life-threatening injuries near Victory Church and a second victim with minor injuries at Casey’s. Police asked the public to avoid Ballenger Lane and Alan Lane until the scenes were cleared shortly after 10 p.m.

No arrests have been made, and it’s not clear what led to the gunfire.

An ABC 17 News photographer arrived at the Casey’s convenience store in the 3900 block of Clark Lane around 7:30 p.m. and saw at least four Columbia Police Department vehicles and one ambulance.

Police were also seen searching the area near Lillian Drive and Ballenger Lane, close to Clark Lane. It is unclear whether the two scenes are connected.

ABC 17 News has reached out to CPD for additional details.

Check back for updates as this is a developing story.

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I-Team: Out of state plates and how police weed out those evading CA vehicle registration requirements

KESQ on January 30, 2026

Jeff Stahl

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s not cheap to license and register your vehicle in California, and those high costs are driving some people to register their cars in other states.

But what does this cost you and other drivers who do follow the rules? In an I-Team investigation, News Channel 3’s Jeff Stahl is getting answers about the real costs and what’s being done to ensure everyone who uses our roads helps pay for them, even if they have “Out-of-state plates.”

The CHP says the three most common reasons people neglect registering their car here in California include being unaware of registration laws, those who are unable to meet air pollution control laws, and those who intentionally evade paying registration fees and taxes.

Jeff Stahl asked some local drivers how many days you have in California to register a car before you get into trouble, if you’re moving here permanently?” Thomas Anderson moved here from Arizona and said, “They give you about 3 months.”

Sue Carlson of La Quinta said, “I think about 6 weeks.” Jeff responded, “The CHP says it’s actually 20 Days.” Carlson replied, ”20 days? Really? I’ll have to look at that again.” 

Registering your car will cost you. Initial registration fees for a new gas car range from $300 to $500 or more. And renewals are around $100 to $200 up. EV zero-emission vehicle owners also face an additional yearly $118 to $175 or more in “Road Improvement Fees” for 2020 and later models. That offsets the gas tax revenue the state loses on these vehicles. 

On the fees, Sharalee Sniff of La Quinta said, “I think that they’ve gone way too high.” Anderson said the fees are “Out of hand. I’m from Arizona, so I’m not used to paying that much.”

State lawmakers set California’s vehicle registration costs, often heavily influenced by the Governor. They fund the Department of Motorized Vehicles, transportation Improvement projects, and the California Highway Patrol.  But some drivers evade proper registration and licensing fees. 

“It’s not unusual?” Jeff Stahl asked California Highway Patrol Officer David Torres, “It’s not unusual” he replied. Torres says the agency has numerous open cases right now to investigate possible registration violations in the desert. 

We wanted to know just how many cases and drivers this involves and requested state records. The response from the CHP records division showed there were 91 cases last year here in the local CHP district, 93 letters sent, 103 cases resolved, and no citations were written.  

“They may stop someone for speed, notice their license plate is from out of state,” Torres said, adding, “And from there, a line of questioning will begin to determine whether or not they live here, or are just visiting.” 

Like every other officer on patrol, Torres regularly checks license plates for potential violations. It’s not just the revenue. Registering and licensing your car in California also makes sure it complies with our environmental laws and standards.

“All California cars have to meet a certain emissions standard,” Torres said, adding, “and when people bring vehicles from out of state, we don’t know if they meet those standards.” 

Each and every traffic stop allows officers to check the driver and vehicle’s status. Torres says registering your car in California for residents is simply a matter of fairness. “If someone is out of state and utilizing our roadways without paying their fair share, it’s not fair to the people that do pay their fair share,” Torres said.

How widespread is this? Seeking answers, the I-Team requested records from the CHP finding that, in 2025 statewide, the CHP mailed 24,339 letters to suspected offenders and issued 325 citations to drivers with out-of-state plates. There were nearly 32,000 reports. And people are watching. Some reports were submitted via the CHP’s website to identify suspected violators. It’s a thing. Sniff said, “Personally, I wouldn’t do that. I don’t know how they get by with that.” 

But simply seeing an out-of-state plate in the Coachella Valley doesn’t mean someone is flaunting the law. We have so many visitors and plates from other states during our winter months. Most are not required by state registration requirements. “But if you know for sure someone is working here, permanently moved here from another state, or has been here more than 6 months of the year, then it’s a good idea to report them so we can do the proper investigation,” said Torres. 

“We send them this letter, which essentially gives them the opportunity to respond to us, letting us know if the vehicle is permanently here or temporarily here,” Torres added.

Torres says this isn’t just about writing tickets, but about educating people first and giving them an opportunity to register vehicles without enforcement action. But a registration violation citation can be costly. There are DMV fees to pay, plus any documented back fees and penalties. 

“Yeah, we’ve had people who’ve had to pay two to three thousand dollars in back fees for just being here,” Torres said.

The school drop-off line is one place where an out-of-state plate can stand out. A parent picking up a child at a local school with out-of-state plates could be enough to trigger a CHP investigation.

Here is a link to the CHP tipster hotline to report out-of-state vehicles that could be registration violators.

LINK— https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/report-out-of-state-registration-violators2/

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Riverside County Transportation Commission awards $80M for CV Rail Project study

KESQ on January 30, 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Transportation Commission has awarded $80 million to HDR Engineering to conduct an environmental study for the planned Coachella Valley Rail Project, officials announced.

The Tier 2 study would include advancing the project towards construction by preparing and delivering an environmental documents that needs to meet all state and federal regulatory requirements.

In partnership with the Federal Railroad Administration and the California Department of Transportation, the proposed daily passenger rail service will travel from Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley.

It would connect riders for roughly 144 miles through nine proposed station stops, expand economic opportunities by traveling to restaurants and music festivals, and offer another means of transportation.

“CV Rail is a vital transportation investment that will connect Riverside County — particularly the San Gorgonio Pass and Coachella Valley — with the rest of Southern California through daily passenger rail service. This project delivers benefits that will positively impact our region for generations,” Cathedral City Mayor Raymond Gregory, chair of the RCTC, said in a statement.

“While there is still work ahead, today’s decision brings us one important step closer to construction,” Gregory added.   

The Tier 2 environmental review will proceed in two phases: complete CEQA review, preliminary engineering and station studies and then conducting NEPA review and 30% design.  

Officials said station locations, funding and the timing for the start of construction and service will be identified during the Tier 2 project.   

The rail service project will likely exceed $1.5 billion and service could begin by 2040 depending on funding, final design and construction.

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Date set for manslaughter retrial of Ian Cranston, whose conviction in Barry Washington Jr. killing was overturned

KTVZ on January 30, 2026

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Two weeks after Ian Cranston posted bail and was released from jail, a Deschutes County judge has set his fall retrial date on manslaughter and other charges in the 2021 shooting death of Barry Washington Jr.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Circuit Judge Beth Bagley scheduled an Oct. 20 start for a 10-day, 12-person jury trial of Cranston, preceded by an August 17 motion hearing and a Sept. 21 trial readiness hearing. Cranston will remain free after posting 10% of his $500,000 bail earlier this month.

If that schedule holds, the new trial will happen nearly a year after the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed and remanded Cranston’s conviction, due to a special instruction related to self-defense that was not given to the jury.

That jury acquitted Cranston, now 31, on a second-degree murder charge but convicted him of first- and second-degree manslaughter charges for shooting Washington outside the Capitol nightclub in downtown Bend. Cranston claimed he acted in self-defense after being punched by Washington, who was 22 at the time of his death.

The appeals court remanded the case to Deschutes County, saying Bagley, the trial judge, erred by not giving the jury instruction sought by the defense that state law does not require a person to retreat before they can use deadly force in self-defense or the defense of others.

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74-year-old pilot uninjured after plane flips in Palisades Reservoir

KIFI on January 30, 2026

Seth Ratliff

 ALPINE, Idaho (KIFI) — A 74-year-old pilot walked away with only minor injuries Thursday afternoon after his aircraft clipped the ground and flipped into the snowy lake bed of the Palisades Reservoir.

At approximately 2:30 PM, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a small, single-engine plane overturned in the reservoir lake bed, roughly a quarter-mile from the Alpine Airport.

Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including Alpine Search and Rescue, Star Valley Fire and Ambulance, rushed to the area.

As they arrived on the scene, the deputies made contact with the pilot and sole occupant, a 74-year-old man from Alpine, Wyoming. The man explained that while flying low past the end of the runway, a wing caught the ground during a turn. The momentum forced the plane to somersault, eventually coming to rest on its roof in the deep snow.

The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office notified the FAA and NTSB of the incident, who are investigating the crash.

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Idaho Bill seeks to nullify local LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination ordinances

KIFI on January 30, 2026

Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — A new legislative push in the Idaho Statehouse could strip 13 cities of their ability to enforce local anti-discrimination ordinances that protect residents based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

House Bill 557, introduced earlier this week, seeks to establish the “Uniformity in Local Antidiscrimination Ordinances Act.” Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) and written by the conservative Idaho Family Policy Center, the bill would prohibit cities and counties from enacting civil rights protections that exceed those currently recognized under state law.

Ending the “Tangled Web” of Local Laws

Idaho State Rep. Bruce Skaug

If passed, the legislation would make local ordinances that currently offer protections for LGBTQ+ individuals that do not exist at the state level unenforceable.

During the bill’s introduction to the House Local Government Committee, Rep. Skaug argued that a patchwork of local rules creates a “tangled web of red tape” for business owners, forcing them to participate in events that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs, such as same-sex wedding ceremonies and Pride festivals.

“We’ve all heard the stories of the bakers, photographers, and wedding venues being forced to participate in ceremonies that violate their sincerely held religious beliefs,” Skaug told lawmakers. “These conflicting local ordinances threaten our religious freedoms.”

Skaug’s statements echo a release by Blaine Conzatti, President of Idaho Family Policy Center, touting the legislation as a victory for religious freedom.

“No small business owner should ever be forced to choose between violating their sincerely held religious beliefs or leaving the marketplace altogether. But local antidiscrimination ordinances are frequently weaponized against small business owners—especially wedding vendors or those offering creative design services,” stated Conzatti. “We call on the Idaho Legislature to rein in these rogue local governments by ensuring that these local antidiscrimination ordinances align with state law.”

Under the bill, businesses, property owners, and residents would have the legal standing to sue local governments over “unauthorized” ordinances. The Idaho Attorney General could also seek injunctive relief against any city or county violating the act.

The Conflict Over “Local Control”

While proponents frame the bill as a win for religious freedom and regulatory consistency, opponents blasted it as an overreach of state power.

The committee voted 14-2 to move the bill forward, with the two dissenting Democratic members expressing concern over state overreach. Rep. Steve Berch (D-Bosie) was vocally unsupportive of the bill.

“I just find that this legislation is just irreconcilable with the principle that government is best when it’s closest to the people.” Representative Berch told the assembled lawmakers. “Different communities are different, and this basically is saying that a majority of 105 legislators get to decide how every community needs to govern over its citizens.”

Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, Idaho State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, echoed this sentiment in a statement to the Idaho Capital Sun, noting that the bill blocks locally elected officials from fulfilling the mandates of their voters.

“In places across Idaho, locally elected officials are ready and willing to stop discrimination, and this bill blocks them from doing exactly that, what voters elected them to do,” Tolman said. “That isn’t small government. It’s a uniform denial of basic protections that tells LGBTQ+ Idahoans and other marginalized residents that their safety and dignity don’t matter.”

A 15-Year Stalemate

The bill comes after more than 15 years of failed efforts by Idaho lawmakers to add LGBTQ+ discrimination protections to state law, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun. Current state law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.

Skaug argued that the Idaho Legislature has already established a comprehensive anti-discrimination framework for the state, and local government should not independently meddle with that framework.

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