Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Local police are teaming up with a restaurant to raise funds for a good cause.
The Yuma Police Department and Texas Roadhouse are hosting the Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser.
The fundraiser begins on Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 5 p.m. 8 p.m. at Texas Roadhouse (594 East 16th Street).
Proceeds will go to local Special Olympics athletes.
All donations are tax-deductible.
Marcos Icahuate
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial Irrigation District (IID) approved to increase payment assistance programs in 2026 for those who qualify.
Over 12,600 people were enrolled in IID’s Ready and Care programs, with more expecting to join for eligibility is expanded for customers.
“Our assistance programs are so helpful to many families, and our program updates can help even more customers,” said IID Board Chairwoman Karin Eugenio. “We really want to see that everyone who qualifies takes advantage of the assistance the District offers.”
The expansion is laid out below:
You can apply for payment assistance and find out more information here.
By Athena Kehoe
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BENSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — It started as a missing dog. Then it turned into the unimaginable for a Benson family.
Jerrie Schoenrock says her dog disappeared from her yard and was later found dead miles away, a case that is now part of a broader investigation into possible animal attacks in the Pomerene area.
Schoenrock had Sadie for nearly nine years. She says she rescued her after learning the dog had been abandoned by previous owners.
“She would have been 10 next month. A neighbor over here left her in their yard. They moved out and just left her in their yard, and another neighbor told me about her, so I went and got her,” she says.
Schoenrock says the night Sadie went missing felt ordinary. “She has her certain spots that she lays in when she’s out there, usually it’s in the front yard or on the front porch.”
But when Schoenrock went looking for her later that night, Sadie was gone.
“We have a 6 foot fence, and she wasn’t anywhere, so that’s when we started looking for her,” she says.
After searching on her own, Schoenrock turned to Facebook for help. The community responded. Two days later, Schoenrock says she found Sadie about five miles away from their home.
When she found Sadie, she says her dog collar was no longer around her neck.
“There was a cable, like an old bicycle cable or some sort attached to her collar. And that was still attached to it and that was removed and it was hanging in a tree, kind of right over where she was found and it was all bloodstained,” she explains.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is investigating reports of animal attacks in the Pomerene area. Anyone who may have seen something suspicious is asked to call 88-CRIME. A $1,000 reward is being offered if information leads to an arrest.
“I’ve always felt pretty safe here, but I’m not so sure about now,” Schoenrock explains.
She says she wants whoever is responsible to be held accountable.
“I want this person to be caught. I want him to get the punishment that he deserves,” she says.
Schoenrock had Sadie cremated and keeps her ashes at home. She says it brings her comfort.
“She filled a lot of space here. She was my best friend here. So it’s hard,” she explains.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
By Barclay Idsal
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BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — Ferocious, elusive, and tenacious— in many ways, the wolverine is synonymous with the western persona.
Now, Zoo Boise visitors will be able to interact with this new personality in the form of 11-year-old Laura, who is named after the daughter of the iconic Marvel superhero.
Laura came to Zoo Boise from Zoo Montana and has moved into her newly renovated wolverine habitat located next to the carousel. Inside, Laura will be able to play on climbing structures and cool off in “cold-weather features.”
“Wolverines are iconic Idaho predators that few people have the chance to see up close,” said Boise Parks and Recreation Director Sara Arkle. “We’re thrilled to welcome Laura and introduce our community to a species that is powerful, elusive, and incredibly important to Idaho’s wild places.”
Wolverines are one of the rarest mammals housed in Zoos across the nation.
“Laura’s arrival is a milestone for Zoo Boise and a testament to our care and conservation focus,” said Zoo Director Gene Peacock. “She represents an opportunity for our community to learn about a unique and engaging species while giving back globally. As with all our animals, her presence also supports our mission: every guest who visits helps protect wildlife worldwide.”
The natural range for wolverines includes all the states in the Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest (Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado), in addition to areas of Canada and Alaska.
An especially interesting aspect about Wolverines is that, unlike many of their mammal counterparts in similar regions, Wolverines give birth to “kits” during the coldest and darkest parts of winter. Wolverines typically dig deep caves within snowbanks to house their offspring, which are colored white to blend in with the snow.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
By Shannon Ogden
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DENVER (KMGH) — A new report from Common Sense Institute (CSI) finds that Colorado ranks among the highest states in the country for homelessness and that it’s not housing affordability that’s driving it, it’s illicit drug use, crime rates, and policing levels.
The report examines 2024 homelessness data across all 50 states and the nation’s largest metro areas.
The CSI reports finds that Colorado ranks:
9th nationally in total homelessness rate 7th in chronic homelessness 10th in unsheltered homelessness 7th in homelessness involving severe mental illness 7th in homelessness involving chronic substance abuse Among the nation’s 50 largest metro areas, metropolitan Denver ranks:
5th in total homeless population 6th in chronically homeless individuals 4th in homeless individuals with severe mental illness 4th in homeless individuals with chronic substance abuse
Denver7 anchor Shannon Ogden spoke with the lead on the report, Dustin Zvonek, CSI Homelessness Fellow, and former Aurora city councilman.
Zvonek says the analysis found drug use rates show a stronger statistical relationship with homelessness than rent affordability, states with higher crime rates and fewer police per capita experience higher levels of homelessness and that high state spending alone does not correlate with improvement in homelessness.
“There are strong correlations especially drugs, substance abuse, and mental health challenges, crime rate, lots of other factors that are seen as drivers to homelessness,” said Zvonek.
“This is the one that a lot of people don’t like to acknowledge, they’ll often conflate significant use of synthetic opioids that are just turning people’s minds to mush and so these people are being categorized as having mental health or schizophrenia, when frankly they haven’t been sober in so long that they probably present that way,” added Zvonek.
Common Sense Institute is a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy.
The report includes recommendations for reducing homelessness in Colorado and nationwide. Zvonek says much could be improved if the federal government shifted from making housing first a priority to treatment first.
He says for the last 20 years, the federal government through the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), distributes funding for homelessness programs primarily for those that offer unconditional housing with so-called wrap-around services offered. Meaning, there is no requirement to make use of the services like addiction treatment or job training.
CSI recommends a treatment first approach.That offers housing with the requirement that those being houses must also take part in the supportive services.
“The difference the housing first versus treatment first is that you still would have emergency shelters but to continue to stay in the housing – transitional housing – and everybody’s path to self-sufficiency is different – some people need three months, some six months, some 18 months – but key is they have to continually work with a case managers somebody who’s going to help individuals through a process of whether it’s job training, mental health support or drug addiction support, to help them achieve self-sufficiency,” said Zvonek.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Haley Swaino
COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Cole County Commission decided on Tuesday dogs at Brooks, County and Thoenen parks must be kept on leashes.
After a resident complaint about a loose dog in a county park in fall 2025, commissioners voted unanimously to pass an animal leash and waste ordinance for all three county parks.
There is no leash law that covers all of Cole County, according to the city’s website. Whether pets are leashed depends on county or specific municipality ordinances.
“Urban Service Areas, such as Westview Heights, and county municipalities may be subject to leash laws,” the county says.
The commission moved forward on the decision to set an ordinance last month.
In Jefferson City, dogs are required to be on leashes at all city-owned parks, except the North Jefferson Recreation Area Dog Park.
After the loose dog complaint in Cole County and community support, the parks committee recommended in December that the county have a leash rule for its parks. Cole County attorney Jill LaHue said she and the public works department would work on language for the new rules.
“All pet animals within a Cole County park shall remain under the immediate control of the owner at all times,” the ordinance states. “All pet animals at a Cole County park shall be on a lease at all times within park boundaries, except in clearly marked designated off-leash areas.”
Cole County Public Works Director Eric Landwehr said off-leash areas could include any future county dog parks.
The ordinance also says any person in charge or control of a pet animal must remove its waste and throw it away in “designated receptacles.”
Not leashing a pet or properly throwing away its waste will result in a fine up to $400.
Tuesday’s Cole County Commission meeting began at 9 a.m.
By Cate Cauguiran and ABC7 Chicago Digital Team
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CHICAGO (WLS) — The body of a Chicago Public Schools teacher who went missing over one week ago was pulled from Lake Michigan on Monday morning, officials said.
The Chicago Police Department said its marine unit recovered a woman’s body from the water in the 3100-block of South Lake Shore Drive on the city’s South Side just before noon.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the woman as 53-year-old Robert Healy Elementary special education teacher Linda Brown.
Police said Brown was seen on Saturday, Jan. 3 in the Bronzeville neighborhood’s 4500-block of South King Drive, not far from where she lived.
Investigators later found her car near 35th and Lake Park Avenue.
Police said in a statement on Friday afternoon that a surveillance image had captured Brown, at an unknown time and day, in the area of the 3500-block South Lake Park Avenue, before her body was ultimately recovered on Monday.
Brown’s family spent days searching for her.
Those who knew Brown have described her as a loving woman and wife. In a text message, her family said they are “absolutely heartbroken.”
Brown’s former student, Rene Lopez, said she had a unique way of reaching people.
“She just made us believe in a sense of hope,” Lopez said. “She just created a sense of community, a safe space within her classroom.”
Brown was Lopez’s sixth grade homeroom and science teacher at Dr. Jorge Prieto Math & Science Academy, and she also taught his brother and 10 of his cousins.
“We always carried a piece of her with us. We always reached out for advice, and she always had a safe space for us to be able to ask questions, to express ourselves,” Lopez said.
Lopez said he became the first in his family to graduate, and Linda played a strong role in that.
“I want the city of Chicago to really understand how much of an impact she played to her community,” Lopez said. “Although she’s no longer here physically, her legacy will continue to flourish through all the lives that she was able to touch.”
Former CPS teacher Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement on Monday, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the news of Linda Brown’s passing. As a special education teacher at Healy Elementary she made an immeasurable impact on countless young lives and was a vital member of the Bridgeport community. I’m praying for her family, and for her students as they grieve and remember Linda and all the joy she brought.”
Robert Healy Elementary’s principal sent a message to the school community on Monday, saying, “It is with deep sadness that I update you on a situation impacting our community. Ms. Linda Brown, one of our teachers, has passed away. Our thoughts are with her family during this difficult time. We know that this loss will raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school, especially our students.
We are working closely with the Chicago Public Schools Crisis Management Unit to provide grief counseling and support to students and staff members. Our own school-based mental health professionals will also be available for students who need ongoing services.
Information about the funeral service will be made available as soon as we have it. If your child wishes to attend, we strongly encourage you to accompany them to the service. If the funeral is scheduled during school hours, students who wish to attend will need parental permission to be released from school.
We are deeply saddened by this loss and will do everything we can to help our school community heal.”
On Monday, police said they are conducting a death investigation, pending autopsy results.
How Brown ended up in the water was not immediately clear.
Her cause of death was not immediately known.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — With an extended full closure of Galley Road already frustrating many neighbors and drivers, the last thing they want to hear about is more lane closures on that street.
But on Monday, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) closed a lane in each direction on Galley between Parkway — the south entrance to the Quail Hill Mobile Home Community — and Babcock Road, leaving one lane open in each direction.
If it’s any consolation to residents in that area, the lane closures should end on Thursday afternoon; the closures are only a few blocks east of the ongoing full closure for a bridge replacement.
CSU stated that the new lane closures will enable crews to replace a water service line connecting the water main to an appliance repair business.
The project is unique, CSU explained, because the utility’s records don’t indicate the presence of a second service line there.
CSU replaced a water main along that stretch of Galley last year, which required replacing service lines to businesses and residences — including a service line at the appliance repair business.
Each of the two service lines is connected to a separate building on the property.
KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior spoke with several employees of the business, who said that they contacted CSU after noticing water from the second line smelled and tasted strange.
CSU is covering the cost of replacing the service line.
The replacement requires crews to dig a trench through part of the business property, the sidewalk, and a section of the street; a portion of the sidewalk in that area is also closed.
By Derek James
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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Some students in Minneapolis returned to class on Monday, but others stayed home over safety concerns following the deadly U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting on Wednesday.
The district is offering families the option of remote learning for January.
Young people continue to make their voices heard as federal agents increase their presence outside schools and near school bus stops.
As students returned to class on Monday, planned walkouts took place across the Metro.
From Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where an ICE operation took place last Wednesday, near where Renee Good was killed, to Roseville and Maple Grove.
The student walkouts are a show of solidarity and concern, not only for classmates, but for their communities.
“My church has been getting threats because it was associated with Renee Good,” said Ria De Looze, a senior at Maple Grove High School. “I know a lot of my friends who might not necessarily be immigrants are feeling fear just on the possibility of being racially profiled.”
The Maple Grove protest stayed on campus with speeches, a short march and a remembrance for Good.
“The heart of the message is to express our need for justice,” said De Looze.
Roseville Area High School students walked from their school to the Grace Church parking lot, stopping along the way on the Hamline Avenue Pedestrian Bridge.
At Roosevelt High School, many of the students saw Border Patrol agents come onto school property as school was getting out. Their message, stay away.
While the districts have not endorsed the protests, they have acknowledged the weight of the moment and students’ First Amendment rights in letters to parents. A freedom students say is needed now more than ever.
“If you don’t speak up, it’s going to continue happening,” said Zaden Grulkowski, a sophomore at Maple Grove High School.
Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Matthew Sanders
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Gov. Mike Kehoe pushed ahead with his proposal to eliminate Missouri’s income tax during his annual State of the State Address on Tuesday before a joint session of the General Assembly.
Kehoe has talked about income tax elimination since he ran for the office. Now he’s looking to implement those ideas.
“If we are serious about building a foundation for growth, to compete rather than be complacent, then we must begin the work now to phase-out and eliminate Missouri’s individual income tax,” Kehoe said in prepared remarks. “We can do both. We can maintain a balanced budget that supports essential services and pursue a bold tax policy that improves Missouri’s competitiveness.”
Kehoe’s plan to eliminate income tax would be done by expanding the sales tax base to include services.
This would include things such as, monthly subscriptions, e-books. online advertising and AI platforms, according to Kehoe.
“When these types of modern services are taxed, it will create new revenue for local governments.These increases will need to be offset by reducing local taxes, like property taxes, a high priority for Missourians and many of us in this room,” Kehoe said.
The current state income tax is between 2-4.7% making up more than half of state revenue, providing about two thirds of the state’s general revenue fund.
Missouri would join nine states that have eliminated income tax, including neighboring Tennessee.
Kehoe stressed the importance of the proposal Tuesday, noting that while the state’s population is growing, economic growth has been average. While the Show-Me State is strong in recruiting jobs and investment, eliminating the income tax would make Missouri more competitive with states that do not have one.
“Our plan includes safeguards to ensure fiscal responsibility and protect against economic downturns, by requiring triggered reductions to the income tax rate. Eliminating the income tax is not about runaway sales taxes. And I will never support extending sales taxes on agriculture, healthcare, or real estate. Period,” Kehoe said.
2026 State of the State AddressDownload
Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on this plan, calling it “the most devastating tax increase in Missouri”, saying it will affect low and middle-income families.
“Eliminating that revenue source requires a massive increase in both rate and scope of the state’s sales tax,” House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said. “To avoid bankrupting state government, the result would be a net tax increase for the vast majority of Missourians. If you want the state to tax services that are currently constitutionally protected from taxation, you’ll love tax hike Mike’s plan.”
Aune claims Kehoe’s plan would be an “unwarranted” tax cut for the rich and would lead to less money to invest in children through public education, along with law enforcement, infrastructure and health care.
“Mike wants to dig his hands deeper into most people’s pockets, but provide them fewer services in return,” Aune said.
Democratic lawmakers are already planning to counter Kehoe’s proposal with another plan.
Aune said either option will hurt Missourians. State Rep. Mark Boyko (D-Kirkwood) said he intends to file an alternative plan next week that he claims would save residents more money. Boyko couldn’t give details of the plan.
Kehoe also stressed the need for responsible state budgeting after the state auditor warned the General Assembly of a quickly dropping reserve fund. Kehoe said his budget reduces $600 million from general revenue spending.
Kehoe’s 2025 State of the State address included priorities such as public safety, economic development, agriculture, education and government efficiency. For 2026, his focus will be continuing to prioritize those areas, according to a press release from the Governor’s office.
Kehoe also signed executive orders on school accountability and to create a government efficiency initiative called Missouri GREAT.
Kehoe’s plan to eliminate the state income tax will need to be voter-approved and is expected to be on the ballot this year.
One of Kehoe’s top priorities ahead of his address is public safety, which has been a hot topic since a Homecoming weekend shooting in September that led to the death of Stephen’s College student Aiyanna Williams.
In December, University of Missouri System President Mun Choi met with Kehoe and Missouri’s public safety team to discuss efforts to combat crime in Columbia. However, that meeting only included university representatives, not city officials.
Earlier this month, Kehoe met with Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, City Manager De’Carlon Seewood, and Police Chief Jill Schlude to discuss public safety.
The city official’s meeting with Kehoe came after a violent start to the year in Columbia.
On Jan 3, a 17-year-old was arrested after police claimed he fired shots inside Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Shoppes at Stadium area, then stole a car and fled on Interstate 70. The following night, a shooting at an apartment complex on Clark Lane left 21-year-old Brianna Hawkins, of Fulton, dead and two others injured.
Buffaloe told ABC 17 News that while the meeting was pre-planned before those incidents took place, both of them came up in their conversation with Kehoe.
City Manager De’Carlon Seewod described the meeting as “short” but productive. No other meetings with Kehoe have been scheduled.
To address crime among youth, Kehoe said Tuesday he plans to have legislation for juveniles to be charged as an adult for certain violent crimes.
“We must allow prosecutors to request a hearing before a judge for certain violent crimes committed by juveniles and give judges the ability to determine whether those cases should be held in adult court,” Kehoe said.
Kehoe added that the juvenile justice system was designed to rehabilitate young people, but he said it is not meant to be a revolving door for repeat offenders.
He said this would allow more accountability for young violent offenders.
“Right now, when a judge sentences an offender, no one in the courtroom—not victims, not law enforcement, not even the court—can say what that sentence truly means. That lack of transparency undermines confidence in the system,” Kehoe said.
