Man to stand trial for alleged sexual assaults in Coachella Valley

KESQ on January 14, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man accused of sexually assaulting four women, several of whom were drugged, in the Coachella Valley must stand trial on nearly a dozen felony charges, a judge ruled today.   

Juan Carlos Segura Jr., 28, of Palm Springs was arrested in 2024 following a Palm Springs Police Department investigation.   

At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Susanne Cho found there was sufficient evidence to bound Segura over for trial on two counts each of forcible rape, rape of an intoxicated person and rape of an unconscious victim, as well as one count each of sodomy of an intoxicated person, sodomy of an unconscious victim and oral copulation of an intoxicated person, with sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting multiple victims in sex crimes.

Cho scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Jan. 28 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio and ordered that the defendant remain held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to police, the first alleged assault occurred on March 24, 2024, after Segura met a woman who went out with the defendant.   

Court documents indicated that during the encounter, he allegedly slipped narcotics into whatever the woman was consuming, causing her to pass out. Shortly afterward, the defendant allegedly raped her several times, court papers alleged.

The woman was left at an unspecified location. After she regained consciousness, she did not report the assault to law enforcement for reasons unclear.

On Aug. 16, 2024, Segura met a different allegedly repeating the same methods used on the prior victim, causing her to lose consciousness, after which she was raped and copulated, according to the district Attorney’s Office.   

The following day, the defendant connected with a third woman utilizing an anesthetizing substance to cause her to black out, court papers alleged. He then allegedly sodomized the victim for an unspecified period in a motel room, evidently departing before she regained consciousness, according to prosecutors.  

On Aug. 19, 2024, another woman whom Segura met casually was allegedly corralled by the defendant before he could administer any substances. Court papers alleged the defendant prevented the victim from getting away and raped her.  

She immediately reported the assault to Palm Springs police, who set about trying to find Segura.  

“He does not have an address where he resides exclusively and is known to stay at multiple places throughout the Coachella Valley,” investigators wrote in a bail-setting affidavit. “Detectives had a difficult time locating him.”  

They eventually found him on Aug. 21, 2024, taking him into custody without incident.  

The ensuing investigation, spanning almost six months, resulted in identification of all of the victims, who provided statements and physical evidence to support their allegations, according to the prosecution.

Segura has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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TCSAR volunteers rescue two backcountry skiers in separate incidents this week

KIFI on January 14, 2026

News Team

TETON COUNTY, Wyoming (KIFI) — Two injured backcountry skiers are recovering this evening after crews from Teton County Search and Rescue rushed to their aid in separate incidents this week.

Both calls involved skiers who had injured their lower legs while in the backcountry, leaving them stranded.

The first incident took place on Monday, January 11, around 3:40 PM. TCSAR crews received an alert from a woman who’d been injured while skiing in the Do-It Chutes area. Crews found her stranded in a timbered chute several hundred feet above Hwy 22.

Using both a short-haul helicopter team and skiers on the ground as backup, TCSAR volunteers were able to package and haul the patient to an awaiting ambulance with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS within around 3 hours of the initial alert.

The second incident happend on the following day, Tuesday, January 12, around 10:28 AM. A man had injured his lower leg while skiing in the Black Canyon area of Mount Elly.

Once again, TCSAR crews responded using both a helicopter team and skiers on the ground as backup on the top of the Teton Pass. The man was stranded about 400 feet below the summit of Mount Elly, which required the volunteers to land in an open field of snow uphill from the scene. Rescuers worked alongside the man’s skiing partners to carry him up the slope to the aircraft, which then transported the patient and the rescue team directly to the TCSAR hangar in Jackson.

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Second Harvest receives $5K check from Ancient Order of Hibernians

News-Press NOW on January 14, 2026

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — St. Joseph’s Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians donated $5,000 Tuesday afternoon to help Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

The group, made up of Catholic men of Irish heritage, said its reason for helping Second Harvest goes back.

“The Irish are no strangers to hunger, so one of our local supporters that we support a lot is Second Harvest,” said Dennis Delaney, chapter president. “We just felt like…we had some funds available and we thought that would be the best place to put it.”

Former chapter president and current historian, Shane McDonald, said the effort the organization puts in to lend a hand goes beyond just one day.

“This is something we do. We think about it all year long,” said McDonald. “We start thinking about this around St. Patrick’s Day, and usually dedicate some of our funds from the St. Patrick’s Day parade to Second Harvest, too. So we think about this organization a lot.”

Both Delaney and McDolad said the chapter doesn’t have an exact date for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade yet, but that it will be sometime in mid-March.

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ISU breaks ground on major renovation for Roy F. Christensen Complex

KIFI on January 14, 2026

News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — A big day for Idaho State University as work begins on a major renovation! Tuesday, school leaders broke ground on major renovations to the Roy F. Christensen Complex, the future home for ISU’s nationally recognized physician assistant program and its Medical Laboratory Science program.

ISU says the PA program is the only one of its kind in Idaho, and the move will provide more space and modern labs for students. The medical laboratory science program will also relocate from Leonard Hall, which has been under construction for the past three years. 

University leaders say this project is all about preparing future healthcare professionals with the best possible training environment. 

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ABC-7 at 4: Healthy living and long-term weight management

KVIA on January 14, 2026

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – It’s a new year. Moving more, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep are great habits that can boost your health. Joining us now is Doctor Jorge Acosta, the medical director of Las Palmas del Sol Bariatric Clinic, who is here to talk about how he can help maintain and achieve those goals.

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Two information nights set, applications open for new ‘choice’ high school in NE Bend

KTVZ on January 14, 2026

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend-La Pine Schools is inviting the community to learn about its new “choice option” high school during two information nights this week and next at the Bend Technical Academy campus.  

This coming fall, the district will offer a new choice high school open to all students in the community. The soon-to-be-named high school will offer both Expeditionary Learning and Career and Technical Education, and will be located at the existing Bend Technical Academy campus on NE Fifth Street. 

The new high school will allow students to explore applied learning through interdisciplinary, project-based work; college-level Advanced Placement classes; and Career and Technical Education. The school will be led by current BTA Principal Dr. LaKisha Clark and current Realms High School Assistant Principal Zach Harju.  

A volunteer committee of staff, students and families will collaborate to create a name for the new choice high school, which will be announced later this spring.  

Interested students and families are invited to meet the new administrators and learn more about the school during two information nights hosted at the BTA campus, 1291 NE Fifth Street: 

Wednesday, January 14, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

Tuesday, January 20, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. 

Applications for the new choice option high school lottery must be submitted by this Friday, Jan. 23. Families can apply now at bls.fyi/options2026. 

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Police K-9’s bite helps officers arrest hiding suspect after manhunt, neighborhood alert in NE Bend

KTVZ on January 13, 2026

Barney Lerten

(Update: Details of Deschutes Alert sent in neighborhood)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — A police K-9’s bite helped Bend police arrest a wanted Bend man found hiding in a northeast Bend backyard during an extensive search Tuesday afternoon, minutes after nearly 900 area residents got a warning of a possibly “armed and dangerous” person on the run.

Around 10:30 Monday morning, officers responded to a report of a man brandishing a firearm at another person at the Quickway Market parking lot on NE Butler Market Road, Bend Police Communications Manager Sheila Miller said.

The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Joel Twobulls Caubet of Bend, and a woman fled the scene in a red 1997 Land Rover, Miller said.  

Around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle traveling on Third Street near Empire Avenue, with Caubet in the passenger seat.

The driver went through neighborhoods before Caubet ran from the vehicle near the intersection of NE Boulderfield Avenue and Meridian Place, Miller said.  

Officers detained the driver of the Land Rover, identified as 27-year-old Marjorie Deleen Eyle, also of Bend. Miller said she was cited for reckless driving and released at the scene. 

Officers set up a perimeter in the area and used drones and police K-9 Buck to search for Caubet, who was seen trying to enter a backyard in the area.  

Around 2:30 p.m., officers found Caubet hiding in the backyard of a home in the 63000 block of Meridian Place. K-9 Buck bit Caubet, who was taken into custody without further incident.

Miller said Caubet was taken to St. Charles Bend with minor injuries and will be lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on two counts of menacing, second-degree disorderly conduct, unlawful use of a weapon, felon in possession of a weapon and trespassing.

A detective also located a replica handgun at the intersection of NE Peale Street and Boulderfield Avenue.  

A Deschutes Alert sent to 871 contacts at 2:22 p.m. advised residents of law enforcement in the area looking for the wanted man, who they said “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

“If seen, secure your residence, do not make contact with him and call 9-1-1,” the alert said.

Eight minutes later, another alert advised residence that “the subject has been located. Thank you for your assistance.”

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New bill aims to help law enforcement agencies crack down on vehicle thefts in Missouri

News-Press NOW on January 13, 2026

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A Republican state senator is pushing for the creation of a new state commission and grant program to provide support for vehicle theft prevention efforts from law enforcement.

Legislation filed by Missouri state Sen. Curtis Trent, R-Battlefield, seeks to establish a new Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Commission, a new entity responsible for awarding grants to law enforcement agencies to help improve and support motor vehicle theft prevention programs, or programs for prosecuting motor vehicle theft crimes.

A St. Joseph Police vehicle with flashing lights is shown on Frederick Avenue in 2023.

The bill, which had a first reading Jan. 7, would create a new 12-member governor-appointed board to oversee the commission and approve applications. The Highway Patrol would also provide administration, management, and organization of the Commission’s activities.

Law enforcement agencies or qualified applicants could receive grant awards for up to three years as part of the measure, called Senate Bill 1181. Any grants awarded by the commission would have to be approved by the Director of the Department of Public Safety prior to any such allocation.

Grants being pursued for multi-jurisdictional programs would be given priority under the legislation. The measures also seeks to promote statewide planning and provide support to local prosecutors and multi-jurisdictional task forces.

If approved, the grant program would take effect in August of 2026. Provisions in the program would sunset in 2032 unless reauthorized by the Missouri General Assembly.

A second component of Senate Bill 1181 would also make it a class D felony to manufacture, sell or possess a motor vehicle key programming or emulating device or a relay attack device.

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MoWest to host military suicide prevention training day for faculty, staff and counselors

News-Press NOW on January 13, 2026

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Staff and faculty at Missouri Western State University will receive hands on training this week to strengthen their ability to recognize warning signs of suicide and respond appropriately.

MoWest announced it will host a Military Suicide Prevention Training Day on Wednesday, Jan. 14 in Murphy Hall, room 201.

Training sessions will be tailored to particular groups within the university, including counselors, law enforcement officers and MoWest faculty and staff.

“This training day is focused on strengthening our collective ability to recognize risk, respond appropriately, and connect service members, veterans, and students with the support they deserve,” said Gabbie Faletta, director of the Center for Military and Veterans Services, in a news release.

Training groups and times include:

Counselors: 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Law enforcement officers: 12:45-1:45 p.m.

MoWest faculty and staff: 2-3 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the MoWest Center for Military and Veterans Services, the MoWest Counseling Center, the MoWest Social Work program and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information, email Falletta at gfalletta@missouriwestern.edu, or call 816-271-4111.

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Barren mesa turns in a Yuma landmark

KYMA on January 13, 2026

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A legacy in the sand! In this week’s Home Grown report, we highlight how one family turned a barren mesa overlooking Yuma’s agriculture valley into a local landmark.

Martha’s Garden was founded in 1990 as a virgin desert and now has a 160-acre sanctuary of 10,000 producing medjool date palms.

The Rogers family says it was a lot of trial, error, and a vision. They first planted 300 offshoots. After several years, only 75 survived with the harsh desert environment.

The family worked even harder and installed new wells and piping.

What started as a small family plot eventually turned into over 160 acres of land.

“Going in towards the early 90s, it just started growing little by little, but by all means, you know, he didn’t expect it to to get to what we are today,” said fourth generation farmer Nels J. Rogers.

Martha’s Garden extends far beyond Arizona. Approximately 70% of the farm’s harvest is exported to Australia which is one of the world’s largest buyers of medjool dates.

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