Flu cases surge to very ‘high levels’ in Missouri

News-Press NOW on January 9, 2026

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Flu is rising rapidly in the U.S, with cases reaching “very high” levels in Missouri, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Northwest and Eastern Missouri have reported the highest number of flu cases this season, with 2,433 cases recorded in Northwest Missouri.

Currently, Buchanan County has reached a total of 568 flu cases, according to the St. Joseph Health Department.

The new strain, Subclade K, has been spreading faster than previous flu strains. Common flu symptoms include chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.

Dr. Cynthia Brownfield, a physician of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Mosaic Life Care, said we are seeing a lot of cases this year because the current strain is not in the flu vaccine.

“They have to develop the vaccine months in advance,” she said. “So any virus can mutate, and the H3N2 strain did mutate. So it’s not necessary that it’s a more severe starian. its that fact that people aren’t going be as protected because it’s a little different than what was prep for the flu vaccine.”

Dr. Brownfield said multiple groups are at risk of flu.

“Your highest risk flu is anybody over the age of 65, people with diabetes, asthma, a compromised immune system, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. Childern under 12 months of age, they can have a really tough time with the flu,” she said.

Dr. Brownfield said the biggest challenge doctors and nurses face during this time is the misinformation about the flu vaccine.

“Not look at these Facebook and social media posts that are posting incorrect information. You cannot get sick from the flu vaccine. It is not the full flu virus that is in the vaccine. It’s just a small portion for your immune system,” she said. “So you do get an immune reaction which is normal. Sometimes you can run a fever with that, but you don’t actually get the flu from it.”

Dr. Brownfield said the more people who get their flu vaccine we won’t see mutational threats.

“When you get the flu, that flu virus replicates in your system and that gives the flu virus more time to mutate. So then you can see this crazy outbreak of a flu strain.

Kristi Billings, interim clinic supervisor, said you can avoid getting the flu by using proper hygiene.

“Washing your hands, avoiding touching surfaces and making sure they’re covering their mouths when coughing,” she said.

Dr. Brownfield said that with any virus, handwashing is extremely important.

“We touch something that has a flu virus on it, and then we put it into our system. The way we put it into our system is through our eyes, nose and mouth,” she said. “Unless you have some coughing directly in your face, and you can’t really help that. But you can wash your hands before you touch your face.”

Billing said common medications and drinking lots of fluids can help with symptoms.

“You can use Tylenol, ibuprofen, decongestants, cough drops and lots of fludis.

Billings said this year they been seeing a lower number of people getting vaccinated.

“Although it doesn’t prevent you from getting the flu, it does minimize the symptoms, it minimizes the time frame you are ill so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get the flu vaccine and try to minimize some these numbers we might see them going back down,” she said.

St. Joseph’s health department offers free flu shots until the end of June.

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Pony Express Museum marks 28 years of ‘Tuesday Night Talks’ series

News-Press NOW on January 9, 2026

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The Pony Express Museum will begin its annual Tuesday Night Talks series on Jan. 13 as part of efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States. 

This year marks the 28th anniversary of the weekly lecture series, which runs throughout the months of January and February.

The talks explore local history and highlight significant topics from the 1800s in St. Joseph. 

Pony Express Museum Executive Director Cindy Daffron said the idea for Tuesday Night Talks started nearly three decades ago as a way to connect with the local community. 

“The first year when they redid it they had to put an expansion onto the room. They had to take it to a different location because there were too many people in that small room,” Daffron said.  

Each week, local historians or community members lead a 30- to 40-minute talk, often bringing along artifacts to share with the audience.  

Daffron said that hands-on element helps make history feel more personal. 

She added that while some attendees are passionate about St. Joseph history specifically, others simply enjoy learning something new.  

“Come early and have a hot chocolate or tea or coffee and some other appetizers and then you can also have the opportunity once the speaker is done presenting to ask questions,” Daffron said.  

Daffron emphasized that no matter where someone is from, there’s always something new to discover.  

This year’s series feels especially meaningful, as Daffron has seen attendees who once came as children now returning as adults.  

“These people come because they are all friends. A lot of people are just sitting and talking and now they meet up have their fellowship and connect with their families,” Daffron added.  

Daffron hopes the tradition continues, noting that adding food to Tuesday nights has helped create a welcoming, community-centered atmosphere. 

The museum also aims to go beyond its walls and stay actively connected to the community. 

“Last year on museum day we have 3133 people in one day through our facility so what it tells me that if you give an opportunity to local people they wanna come and look,” Daffron said.  

The Tuesday Night Talks will run for about six weeks and community members are encouraged to join the Pony Express Museum staff to learn more about St. Joseph’s history and how it ties into the bigger picture of American history. 

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Persisterhood sponsors ‘ICE out for Good’ protest in St. Joseph this Sunday on Belt Highway

News-Press NOW on January 9, 2026

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A peaceful protest and rally titled “ICE out for Good” has been announced in St. Joseph this Sunday on the Belt Highway following a deadly shooting in Minneapolis this week, one of numerous protests taking place across the country in response to the shooting.

Persisterhood — St. Joseph announced it will sponsor an “Ice Out for Good” peaceful vigil/rally this Sunday, Jan. 11, from 2 to 3 p.m. on the public sidewalks on the southeast corner of the Belt and Frederick Intersection in St. Joseph.

The rally comes after 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, an American citizen, was killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Wednesday, Jan. 7.

“This killing is part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies against members of our communities,” said Jane Frick, co-facilitator with Persisterhood of St. Joseph.

Persisterhood is one of several advocacy groups across the U.S. holding similar peaceful protests this Saturday and Sunday, including Indivisible, MoveOn, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501 and the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition.

“This will be the EIGHTH peaceful protest Persisterhood-St. Joseph has sponsored at the Belt and Frederick Intersection since March 2025. We encourage people to bring flags and signs as we stand together in solidarity with others across the country showing we want an end to government-sanctioned terror,” Frick said.

More information about the St. Joseph “Ice Out for Good” vigil/rally is available at https://www.facebook.com/PersisterhoodSJ.

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WATCH: “Raising Our Light,” Debris Flow Remembrance Event

KEYT on January 9, 2026

News Channel 3-12

MONTECITO, Calif. (KEYT) – On Friday evening, the community is invited to “raise their light” as we recognize eight years since the January 9th Debris Flow to took the lives of 23 people in 2018.

The commemorative event will take place on Friday at 6:00pm at Montecito Union School. The event will consist of speakers, reading of the names of the 23 people lost, and a bell ringing.

A searchlight will be illuminated as a beacon of community support and solidarity from Montecito Union School.

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Good Vibes Only: El Paso beauty queens set historic pageant milestone

KVIA on January 9, 2026

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)— Two El Paso beauty queens continue to celebrate following a victorious weekend.

Gia Soleil Espinoza and Mia Autumn Navarro were crowned Miss Earth USA and Miss Teen Earth USA in Orlando, Florida, last Saturday. This marks the first time Texas representatives, both from El Paso, have earned the national titles in the same year.

Both titleholders will now serve as ambassadors for the Miss Earth Organization, which champions community service, environmental awareness, and youth leadership.

Navarro said this was her first national pageant. She was surprised she walked away with the crown.

“It was so exciting. I remember I told myself I wasn’t going to cry, and then they said it and I started crying immediately,” she explained.

And the winning streak didn’t stop there. That same day, Espinoza was crowned Miss Earth USA.

“It was this thing of, oh my gosh, I actually just won this.”

Both said they prepared arduously for this moment.

“We just spent the last three months working incredibly hard and truly making a difference. And it was just like, we just did this,” Espinoza said.

The teen titleholder is a type 1 diabetic. She created her platform called “Healing Without Harm” to help advocate for change. She told ABC-7 that the best part of this process was growing closer to her pageant sister, Gia.

“We would go to the gym. We did walk practices. We hung out just to build a stronger connection,” she said.

Espinoza is currently a criminal justice major who is preparing to enter the El Paso Police Academy. She started competing in pageants at a young age.

She said they have helped her develop her self-confidence and break out of her comfort zone.

Both said sharing this moment together made their wins extra sweet.

“It was insane. It was so meaningful to me to know that I’m a 15-year-old girl from El Paso, and I got to go represent our city on the national stage,” said Navarro.

“We’re real people, and we’re just two girls from El Paso. So it’s truly, it was amazing. We had so much fun. And now being able to spend the next year together is going to be such an honor and a privilege. It’s going to be amazing,” Espinoza added.

Now the real work begins. They’ll be representing this in 2026.

Navarro said she is excited to connect with even more people during her reign. Espinoza will be competing on an international stage at the end of this year in Asia.

We wish them the best of luck.

If you have a Good Vibes Only story idea, please email rosemary.garcia@kvia.com.

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Prepare your car for freezing winter temperatures to prevent damage, stay safe

KVIA on January 9, 2026

Nicole Ardila

Not only do you need to get ready for dropping temperatures this weekend, but so does your car.

ABC-7 met with expert Austin Adams, owner of A&W Automotive in East El Paso, he says the main thing is to check on your battery and make sure your car has proper freeze protection.

The cold weather makes engine harder to start, so before taking off, let your engine warm up.

Wait until the gauge reaches the middle — which should take 10 to 15 minutes — making it safer to drive.

During this time of year, they mostly replace batteries, as he says winter time is the hardest time of year on the battery. 

“Nothing’s worse than trying to get ready, run early in the morning to get to school, and the battery just clicks,” says Adams. “So, make sure that’s good.”

He recommends you have your battery checked often especially during every vehicle service. 

Another important thing is to check your tires.

Use a penny to test the tire tread, put it upside down on the grooves of the tire, and if you can see the crown of Lincoln’s head, the tread depth is too low.

It’s important to check the tread depth since there are slicker road conditions in the winter.

Also, check for tire inflation — you can see what tire pressure your car needs on the side of the driver’s door. 

Since there might be wet conditions, it’s important to check wiper blades and see if they’re torn. 

Also make sure to check your lights if they work for low visibility days with fog.

You also go to your local repair facility or an O’reillys or Autozone store to get your battery tested.

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Making a Difference: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon asks you to step up and become a mentor

KTVZ on January 9, 2026

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Here at KTVZ News, we focus our resources on bolstering the health and well-being of Central Oregon’s youth through our 21 Cares for Kids partnerships. We have six incredible community partnerships that we’re highlighting through a monthly segment called ‘Making a Difference’.  

This month, we’re spotlighting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon–a youth mentoring network solely supported by donors and volunteers. 

“We have 75 kids waiting on our waitlist. Majority of those are boys, and the majority of those kids are living in La Pine and Redmond,” said Jenn Davis, the program director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is looking for community members willing to step up and make a difference in the life of a local child or teen. 

“It’s being a consistent adult in a child’s life who just needs someone there to be in their corner. Going out and going hiking or going to the movies, or coming out to our beautiful campus that we have out on 20 acres in east bend and playing games or seeing our horses. Spending time together,” Davis said.

January is National Mentoring Month. 

“Our agency is looking forward to really showing this community what mentoring means and how much of the impact it has on kids in our community,” Davis said. “We have a high graduation rate. We’re anticipating a big group of kids graduating again from local high schools. We are providing tons of opportunities for our kids, so mentoring gives kids opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

And if you can’t mentor, there are plenty of other ways to help out the organization. 

“‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’ is our second largest fundraiser of the year. It’s a huge event we’re hosting at sun mountain fun center. So you can get involved by being a sponsor or signing up for a team, or you can sponsor for our littles to come and bowl,” Davis said. “For 28 years, we’ve hosted the ‘Comedy for Kids’ Sake’ event, and officially we are transitioning that event this year. It is now called ‘The Big Event’ and will be hosted at Hawkeye and Huckleberry on October 1st.”

From monetary donations to volunteering your time, you have the ability to make a lasting impact on young lives in Central Oregon through Big Brothers Big Sisters. 

“It can make a world of difference for a child in our community. You can give them opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have and give them just your time. It’s really important,” Davis said.

An important commitment indeed.

If you’re interested in learning more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon, click here.

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‘No one verified the evidence’: Woman says AI-generated deepfake text sent her to jail

CNN Newsource on January 9, 2026

By Chad Pradelli and Cheryl Mettendorf

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    PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Courts are now facing a growing threat: AI-generated deepfakes.

Melissa Sims said her ex-boyfriend created fake AI-generated texts that put her behind bars.

“It was horrific,” she said.

Sims said she spent two days of hell in a Florida jail.

“It’s like you see in the movies ‘Orange is the New Black’,” she said. “I got put into like basically a general population.”

Her story made headlines in Florida.

Sims and her boyfriend had recently moved there from Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

She said her nightmare began in November 2024 after she called the police during an argument with her boyfriend, when she said he allegedly ransacked her home.

“Next thing I know, I’m looking at him and he’s slapping himself in the face,” she said.

She said he also allegedly scratched himself. When police arrived, they arrested her for battery.

As part of her bond, the judge ordered Sims to stay away from her boyfriend and not speak to him.

Fast forward several months, and she said her boyfriend created an AI-generated text that called him names and made disparaging comments.

“I end up getting arrested for violating my bond,” she said. “No one verified the evidence.”

Judge Herbert Dixon says Sims’ ordeal is one of increasing frequency.

“Several years ago, it started out with just fake audio recordings,” he said. “And now it’s gotten to a point of fake video and fake images being produced.”

Dixon is a senior judge on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He also serves as a member of the Council on Criminal Justice alongside former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. Its mission is to advance policy in the criminal justice system.

“One of the things we’re trying to do is to develop a framework for the responsible use of artificial intelligence,” he said.

He believes prosecutors and police need to do a bit more due diligence in this age of AI before they bring charges.

Drexel University professor Rob D’Ovidio teaches AI forensics.

“This is scary to say, but we’re no longer going to be able to trust what we see in front of us,” he said.

He said AI-generated video, texts and other evidence can be difficult to spot. AI is simply getting too good.

“The challenge is the detection tools are not keeping up with those capabilities,” he said.

As an example, he created an AI-generated photo to show us. He input it into three different well-known AI detection software programs. All three spit back different results that ranged from 1% to 62% probability of the photo being synthetic or AI-generated.

“The standard nowadays is we trust unless proven otherwise, right? I think we have to flip the script and distrust until we verify,” he said.

As for Sims, her story has a happy ending.

After eight months of legal wrangling by her attorney, prosecutors dropped the bond violation charge against her. And, last month, she went to trial on the battery charge and was acquitted.

Sims shared her story on her journey to advocate for a new law to create AI evidence standards and penalties.

“If this can happen to me, it can happen to anyone,” she added.

In July, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new digital forgery law that makes it a felony to create AI deepfakes that injure, exploit or scam in the state.

WPVI-TV reached out to Sims’ ex-boyfriend but has not heard back.

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.

Mayor Mamdani spends morning with Ms. Rachel singing to kids at Lower Manhattan school

CNN Newsource on January 9, 2026

By WABC Staff

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    LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) — Mayor Zohran Mamdani spent the morning with YouTube sensation Ms. Rachel to sing to children at a school in Lower Manhattan.

The toddler whisperer, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has a giant internet following on her YouTube series, where she sings to children while teaching language development.

Mamdani and Ms. Rachel sang to children at District 2 3K/Pre-K Center on Friday morning, a pre-K on Washington Street.

The two sang “The Wheels on the Bus” to a classroom of several dozen children.

They then had a group discussion with the children about how they feel. The mayor said he is feeling happy because Thursday he announced universal child care for every 2-year-old.

“Giving makes us so happy, and giving child care makes everyone really happy in the city,” Ms. Rachel said

That led to their next song — “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”

Of course no Ms. Rachel visit is complete without her friend Herbie, her orange cuddle and comfort doll who appeared at the end.

Ms. Rachel was one of Mamdani’s high-profile picks to serve on his inaugural committee.

Her YouTube channel has around 18 million subscribers and her videos have racked up more than 13 billion views.

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.

Illinois man arrested for child pornography with help of electronic sniffing dogs

CNN Newsource on January 9, 2026

By Sara Tenenbaum

Click here for updates on this story

    ANTIOCH, Illinois (WBBM) — A man from Antioch, Illinois, has been arrested and charged with possessing child pornography with the help of two electronic detection dogs.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they received a tip from an email provider that suspected child pornography had been sent from a device in Lake County. Their investigation traced the device to the 1000 block of Deertrail Court in Antioch, police said.

Sheriff’s officers searched the residence with the help of two electronic detection K9 officers, Grip and Enzo.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they seized electronics containing dozens of images of child pornography and videos of children under the age of 13 during their search.

David J. Ransdell, 72, is now charged with five felony counts of possessing child pornography. Additional charges are still possible, the sheriff’s office said.

Police did not say when Ransdell is due in court.

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.