Stabbing along CV Link in Palm Springs sparks renewed concerns about trail safety

Luis Avila

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – New safety concerns after a recent stabbing along the CV Link.

Officials say they responded to the incident on December, 31, between Cathedral Canyon Drive and Golf Club Drive. The victim, an adult male, says the suspect put on a ski mask, approached him yelling profanities, attacked him, and stabbed him before fleeing on foot. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

The suspect is described as a thin white male in his 40s, last seen wearing a dark blue long-sleeve shirt, and his motive is unknown.

As concerns grow among people using the trail, News Channel 3 is seeking answers about safety.

When asked about enforcement, Capt. Gustavo Araiza of the Palm Springs Police Department explains, “Right now, we believe based on this incident that it was just a single occurrence. Granted, we’re going to be mindful of what’s going on.”

Araiza says they work closely with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) to improve conditions on the CV Link. He adds local law enforcement is responsible for maintaining safety.

“We’re not setting up patrols right now unless we’re getting information from the community so that’s where the partnership comes in, right. We ask the community if something suspicious is going on, let us know… But if you’re talking about routine patrols, I don’t know if we’re there yet,” says Araiza.

Officials say people can take extra steps to stay safe, including bringing a phone, letting someone know where they are, and avoiding going alone.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Gilberto Alcaraz at 760-323-8123 or via email at gilberto.alcaraz@palmspringsca.gov.

News Channel 3 reached out to CVAG but has not received a response.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Missouri Bill could raise speed limit on rural interstates and freeways

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Missouri lawmakers are considering legislation that could raise speed limits on rural freeways and interstates across the state.

Republican Sen. Jamie Burger, who represents Missouri’s 27th District, introduced Senate Bill 1408 on Wednesday at the start of the legislative session.

The bill states, “Currently, the maximum speed limit on rural interstates and freeways of this state is seventy miles per hour. This act increases the maximum speed limit on such roads to seventy-five miles per hour.”

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation, approximately one-third of fatal crashes in Missouri involve excessive speed, more than both impairment and distraction.

A spokesperson from MoDOT stated that the speed limit should not be raised due to safety concerns.

“From a safety perspective, if speed limits are raised to 75 mph, the state should expect to see an associated increase in fatalities and serious injuries,” said Taylor Brune, MoDOT communications director, in an email statement.

Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows that a 5-mph increase in the maximum speed limit is associated with an 8.5% increase in fatality rates on interstates and freeways.

MSHP Sgt. Shane Hux said, so far, with no increase, Missouri has seen a 37% increase in fatality crashes in the first week of the year, compared to last year.

Some Missouri drivers don’t agree with the proposed bill. St. Joseph resident Teresa Bowman said the speed limit should stay at 70 mph.

“I think requesting to raise five miles per hour more is really not necessary because they are probably going over that amount as we speak, so just leave it at 70,” she said.

St. Joseph resident Jarrett Hargrave said it should be fine as long as everyone is being safe.

“As long as everyone is driving safe it should be fine. I know people for a general statement drive usually five over anyway,” he said.

If the bill passes, speed limits could rise in August of 2026.

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MidCity Excellence to host 12th annual MLK Jr. ‘Solutions Summit’, celebrating 25 years of history

Carter Ostermiller

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — A St. Joseph youth academy celebrates their 25th year of educating the local youth with their 12th annual MLK Jr. ‘Solutions Summit.’

Doors open for MidCity Excellence’s free event at 10:30 a.m., with the event taking place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 19, at Word of Life Church – MYC Fellowship Hall, located at 3902 NE Riverside Road.

This year’s theme is a ‘Homecoming of Excellence’, where attendees will hear from MCE alumni panelists as they share their journeys of becoming workforce-ready, trauma-informed and opioid-free.

‘Solutions Summit’ Speakers include Tyrese Huskey, an electrician and U.S. Army veteran with eight years of deployment in Kuwait, Kaliana Ginn, a Lafayette High School graduate, who is now attending Missouri Western State University on a full nursing scholarship and Jordan “Mama J” Alford, a nonprofit program director, entrepreneur and former founder of the Missouri Western Dance Company.

“Spending time with the youth, whether it’s drums, whether it’s helping them with their homework, whether it’s talking to them about a fight or their anxiety and their depression. Those conversations that our mentors, our college students, our interns, our volunteers, our community leaders have had playing chess and Uno, it matters,” MidCity Excellence CEO Kimberly Warren said.

The event will also include food from Big Daddy’s BBQ for those who RSVP and performances from their St. Joe Stixx drum line, YouthCity Gospel Choir and MidCity Trash Can Band. 

For anyone interested in the event, RSVP is available until Jan. 14 by contacting HelpMidCity@gmail.com or 816-273-5450.

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WATCH: Gov. Newsom’s Final State of the State Address

News Channel 3-12

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KEYT) – California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered his final State of the State Address Thursday morning from the state capital. His last major speech as Governor, after spending two terms leading the state.

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Fatal crashes up 37% statewide this month, MSHP says

TaMya Bracy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– The Missouri State Highway Patrol said it has seen a 37% increase in fatal traffic crashes since the start of the year.

There have been a total of 11 fatal traffic crashes so far this year, compared to a total of eight at the same time last year.

MSHP Sgt. Shane Hux said the increase is likely due to more traffic on the road after holiday travel.

“It all comes down to people driving too fast,” he said. “The top three contributing circumstances of motor vehicle crashes are excessive speed, being distracted and impairment.”

Hux said drivers should obey all traffic laws while behind the wheel, no matter where they are going.

“Make sure you buckle up each and every time you get inside your vehicle, and remember those kiddos make sure they are properly restrained,” he said. “Avoid distractions. Missouri is a hands-free state, so make sure you follow that law.”

Hux also said drivers should avoid getting behind the wheel while under the influence. He recommends planning ahead and designating a sober driver.

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Fayette woman found guilty of murder in infant’s 2021 death

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boone County jury found a Fayette woman guilty of murder and other charges in an 8-month-old girl’s death from 2021.

Jennifer Johnson, 49, was found guilty on Thursday of felony murder in the second degree and two counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child in the April 2021 death of Hannah Kent. She will be held at the Boone County Jail until her sentencing, which should occur within six weeks.

According to court documents, Hannah’s mother, Lanetta Hill, found the child about 8:30 a.m. unresponsive and cool to the touch after returning home and immediately noticed bruising. Hill took the infant to Women’s and Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Testimony during the first two days of the trial detailed Hannah’s condition after being left in Johnson’s care. Police and medical witnesses described bruising and brain injuries consistent with recent trauma.

Hill testified she had been friends with Johnson for more than a decade and had previously trusted her to watch her children, though it was the first time Johnson had cared for Hannah.

Hannah’s sister, Jynasha Hill, testified that the baby appeared normal before she left the house that evening, but said Johnson was in the bathroom when she departed.

Jurors also heard recorded statements in which Johnson denied any knowledge of what had happened. Phone records, however, showed messages sent from her phone about drugs during hours she said she was asleep.

Investigators testified they found baby formula on Johnson’s clothing, and testing showed blood on the shirt belonged to Hannah. Johnson told police she had changed clothes after showering.

The state called its final witnesses Thursday, including a Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab employee who testified that residue found on a bag among Johnson’s belongings tested positive for methamphetamine.

Johnson told the judge Thursday that she would not testify in her own defense. The defense then rested without calling any witnesses. The move followed the defense’s decision to reserve its opening statement on Monday.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Cole County Commission approves budget with weak revenue projected

Alison Patton

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Cole County commissioners approved a 2026 budget burdened by lower-than-expected tax revenue on Thursday.

The county ended 2025 with $56.4 million in reserves and is expected to bring in $64.4 million in 2026. However, commissioners anticipate spending $92.9 million throughout the year, which includes $32.8 million in capital projects.

Cole County Auditor Jay Moore said the county needs to watch its spending this year, now that federal stimulus funds from the COVID-19 pandemic are running dry.

“Governments have a tendency, when they receive big funds of money, to maybe overspend,” Moore said. “Well, those days have come to an end. So, we’re having to cut back on our spending, watch everything we do.”

Capital improvement sales tax ended the year with only a 0.6% increase in revenue, when it was projected to grow by 2%. Moore said sales tax is one of the main streams of revenue for the county, and the new budget doesn’t project an increase — it stays flat.

“Sales tax is lagging, not growing like it could or should,” Commissioner Harry Otto said. “That may be due to too many of us buying on Amazon rather than going down to the mortar and brick store.”

There is one way the sales tax could grow, but it depends on Governor Mike Kehoe’s tax plan, which he plans to announce Tuesday at the State of the State Adress.

Kehoe has been open about his intent to eliminate income tax, and there are two ways to make that happen. The governor can either expand what is taxable to include services or increase the sales tax rate.

Otto said an expansion of the sales tax base would benefit the county because that would increase the amount of tax-eligible products and services.

The county also has a use tax for online purchases, which Moore said is bringing in more money.

The commissioners also approved a resolution to renew the capital improvement sales tax for 2027, which will need voter approval in April. If approved by voters, the sales tax will be in effect for 10 years and start in January 2027.

Cole County has a self-insurance plan and stop-gap policy, so when any county employee files a claim with their insurance that is more than $80,000, the county pays that claim and is reimbursed from the insurance, Moore said.

The county saw more people filing claims about the $80,000 line in 2025, and also saw a 20% increase in health insurance premiums for 2026, Moore said. The rising cost of claims and frequency at which people are filing them could cause the county to look at alternative insurance options.

“This will be a fund that I will continue to monitor into 2026 to see if we can continue to be self-insured going forward,” Moore said.

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ISP searching for box truck driver invovled in Wednesday night I-15 semi crash

News Team

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State Police is investigating a semi-truck crash that occurred Wednesday night, January 7, on northbound I-15. The incident took place at approximately 8:46 PM near milepost 73, blocking a northbound lane and off-ramp for 3 hours.

According to investigators, a 47-year-old man from Brigham City, Utah, was traveling northbound in a 2022 white Kenworth semi-truck. A white box truck, driven by an unidentified individual, merged abruptly into the semi-truck’s path.

To avoid a direct collision with the box truck, the driver of the Kenworth veered to the right and the semi-truck struck an impact attenuator (crash cushion) and came to a rest, blocking the Exit 73 off-ramp.

The driver of the white box truck did not remain at the scene. The Idaho State Police is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has dashcam footage of a white box truck in the area at that time, to contact dispatch at 208-239-9808.

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Salt Lake City Police identify two victims killed in shooting outside LDS meetinghouse

Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: JAN 8, 2026 – 10:32 AM

SALT LAKE, Utah (KIFI) — During a Thursday morning press conference, Salt Lake Police released the names of the victims killed in Wednesday night’s fatal shooting at an LDS meetinghouse. Investigators have identified the victims as Sione Vatuvei, 38, and Vaea Tulikihihif, 46, of Utah.

According to police, there was a funeral taking place in the meetinghouse near 660 North and Redwood Road at the time. An altercation reportedly broke out in the outside parking lot, and shots were fired.

Shooting Background

The violence erupted during a funeral service held at the meetinghouse located near 660 North and Redwood Road. According to authorities, an altercation began in the parking lot and quickly escalated into gunfire.

SLC Police Chief Brian Redd addresses reporters at Thursday’s press conference.

At least eight people were injured in the shooting; of those victims, Vatuvei and Tulikihihif succumbed to their injuries. Police Chief Brian Redd confirmed that one victim has been released from the hospital, while five additional injured are currently being treated at local hospitals with what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries.

Gang Violence Suspected But Not Confirmed

While the exact cause of the violence remains under investigation, Chief Redd confirmed that several individuals at the scene have potential ties to gang activity. He emphasized, however, that the shooting was not a targeted attack against the LDS Church or its members.

“We are still working to identify everyone involved and their specific roles. Our focus now is bringing all of those responsible to justice,” Chief Redd told reporters.

Police are actively searching for at least one suspect who fled the scene. Chief Redd has confirmed that a vehicle was seen traveling north on Redwood Road immediately following the gunfire, though a specific description of the car has not yet been released.

Authorities believe there is no ongoing threat to the general public. The Salt Lake City Police Department is urging anyone with video footage or information regarding the shooting to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call 801-799-3000.

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Legal experts question ICE agent’s self-defense claim in deadly Minneapolis shooting

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Legal experts are weighing in on the deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving an ICE agent that left one woman dead on Wednesday.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were on a residential street as they heighten their immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The Department of Homeland Security claims the ICE agent shot the woman in self-defense, alleging the woman was trying to run them over. Others claim the woman was attempting to drive away from the scene.

The woman was later identified by Minneapolis city officials as Renee Nicole Good. The Honda driven by Good was registered out of Kansas City and the Missouri Department of Revenue told ABC 17 News on Wednesday afternoon that one of the two names the vehicle was registered to was Renee N. Good Macklin.

Video circulating online shows the moments leading up to the shooting, sparking mixed reactions.

Former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett reviewed the video with ABC 17 News to give his legal perspective on the shooting.

Tackett says in self-defense cases, attorneys examine whether the person who fired the weapon reasonably believed they were in danger of death or serious physical injury.

“This agent right here is off to the side. He started in front of the vehicle, but the first shot has not been fired,” Tackett said. “He’s shooting from the side, not the front. This wheel is turned. The car is pulling away. That’s the first shot, his feet are clear over here, he’s on the side of the vehicle now.”

“If he’s in front of the car, if he’s have been there and she pulled directly at him then he could fire as many times as you want, nobody would say a word here,” Tackett noted.

Former Cole County Prosecutor Bill Tackett points at a screen showing a video of an ICE agent near a Honda Pilot seconds before the agent opened fire and killed a woman on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Tackett added that by the second and third shots, the ICE agent was feet away from the vehicle, which Tackett claims did not justify firing the weapon.

“You can’t claim that [self-defense], it seems to me. I would not ,as a prosecutor, you want to have this as a ‘proper use of deadly force’ based on this video, because the position of his feet when he shoots,” Tackett said. “There’s too many avenues to stop the vehicle and make this arrest without putting three bullets in the head of the driver when there just isn’t that threat.”

Defense attorney Dan Viets agreed with Tackett’s perspective on the video.

“He was not in front of the vehicle, she was not coming toward him. She was, if anything, trying to get away,” Viets said. “It’s obvious there is no threat to the shooter or to any other officer. That video makes clear this was an instance of cold-blooded murder.”

With protests happening across the country, questions about people’s rights are taking center stage.

Both Tackett and Viets say everyone has a Constitutional right to express themselves, with political speech protected under the First Amendment. If law enforcement approaches a demonstrator, Tackett says it’s important to cooperate.

“You have to identify yourself to law enforcement, really at any time, if they’re approaching you. So locking the door and not communicating is going to cause a problem and they do have a right at that point because they don’t know whether you have a gun, they don’t know what your motive is, what you’ve done,” Tackett said.

Viets offered a different perspective.

“There’s no obligation to do so. There’s no law that requires us to show our identity, to show our papers to government agentsl unless you’re driving a motor vehicle. In which case, you do, of course. You have to produce a driver’s license,” Viets said.

If law enforcement approaches a person’s home, Viets says a the resident does not have the obligation to open the door unless law enforcement has a search warrant signed by a judge.

Tackett gave another perspective on if a law enforcement officer approaches a vehicle.

“Not when an officer is telling you to stop the car, he’s investigating. At that point you would have to stop the vehicle,” Tackett said. “In a perfect world, she would have stopped and identified herself, she should have done that. But then the officer, from what I’ve seen of this video, was not in imminent danger of death or serious fiscal injury.”

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