Marcos Icahuate
CIBOLA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A fire is spreading between Imperial County and La Paz County.
The South Point fire is in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge area.
The fire is being managed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with support from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
No further growth is expected and is reaching about 116 acres, according to BLM.
By JoBeth Davis, Eric Graves
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LAWRENCE, Kansas (KMBC) — Lawrence, Kansas, police say City Hall has been closed after an altercation Monday morning.
Lawrence police posted on Facebook Monday morning that police and medical units were at City Hall on East Sixth Street “after an altercation occurred.”
As a result, City Hall was closed, and the public was asked to avoid the area.
In a news conference shortly before 11 a.m., police said the incident happened Monday around 8 a.m. and involved an armed city employee and an intruder.
Police said the intruder forced his way into City Hall through a backdoor.
“The intruder had entered the building, gone up the stairway, broken out a glass window in the fourth-floor stairwell door, and city employees encountered him up there,” said police Chief Rick Lockhart.
Police said a fight ensued between the city employees and the intruder. During the fight, an armed city employee shot and killed the intruder. LPD confirmed the city employee who shot the suspect was trained and authorized to carry a gun at City Hall.
Authorities are now reviewing surveillance footage and are working to determine what led up to that break-in and shooting.
Lockhart said the intruder, identified only as a 28-year-old man from out of state, had no history with Lawrence police.
“It’s somebody who’s unfamiliar to the police,” Lockhart said. “So, that’s part of our investigation is to try and backtrack, when the person arrived here, why they were here, what was going on.”
City Manager Craig Owens called the incident “disturbing” but said no city employees were hurt. The fourth floor is home to the offices of the city manager, city attorney and budget manager.
“I don’t know that that was necessarily a target or that this person would have known that,” Lockhart said. “But it’s just it’s the top floor, so it could be that the person was in the stairwell and just happened to get there and come out.”
During the press conference, Lockhart said investigators are still working to determine if the suspect was armed.
The city employee will be placed on administrative leave. No city employees were hurt during the incident.
An update was provided to say City Hall will remain closed all day Monday.
Officials said all City Hall-based services will be unavailable Monday, including Planning & Development Services, Municipal Court, and Utility Billing. All court dockets are canceled.
“We’ve got to make sure that we have everything ready for people to be welcome back in,” said Lockhart. “So we just need some time to work through all that.”
Court is not expected to reconvene at City Hall until Thursday at the earliest.
On Tuesday, Lawrence Police identified the alleged intruder as 28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan from Buffalo, Minnesota.
Police said investigators have learned that Gavilan was traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus. Early Sunday evening has was noted to be at the Kansas Turnpike Authority service station on Interstate 70, just east of Lawrence. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove Gavilan from the service area due to alleged erratic behavior.
KHP troopers took Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence.
Gavilan then entered Lawrence City Hall through a locked back door before proceeding up to the fourth floor where he encountered the armed city employee described as an on-duty court security officer.
The CSO reportedly asked Gavilan to put his hands behind his back. When he didn’t comply, authorities said Gavilan began fighting the security officer.
Police said at this time they do not intend to release details of the fight until the investigation is complete.
Detectives expect to have a full report of the events sent to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review within the next two to three weeks.
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.
Gabrielle Teiner
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating after a man died while in the custody of the patrol.
Troop A posted on social media that a man died after being taken in custody by troopers in Johnson County.
The release states that around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Johnson County Central Dispatch requested troopers to respond to a burglary in progress in the 100 block of State Route D in Knob Noster.
Preliminary investigations found the suspect was allegedly breaking windows at an apartment. When troopers arrived, they saw the suspect was armed with a knife outside the apartment complex.
Troopers commanded the suspect to drop the knife, but he did not comply. Troopers then tased the man, and he was taken into custody.
Shortly after being taken into custody, the suspect became unconscious. EMS personnel and officers at the scene tried to save the man, but he died.
The Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating the death, while the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the burglary.
All reports will be given to the Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney for review once the investigation is finished, accoridng to the release.
The name of the suspect has not been released. Next of kin notification is pending.
Karina Bazarte
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Residents in the Imperial Valley are reacting to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture, with opinions being divided over what actually took place.
“It’s shocking that we would hear about it online, you know, through alternative media kind of leaking it because it was very secretive,” said Bryan Vega, chair of the Imperial County Democratic Party.
Another local echoed that surprise, saying the news caught many off guard.
“We were a little surprised,” the resident said.
Vega criticized former President Donald Trump, arguing that any U.S. involvement in another country would represent an abuse of presidential power.
“It’s undemocratic. It’s not consistent with our Constitution or within the powers that are granted to the president,” said Vega.
However, not everyone agrees, with one Imperial Valley resident, Donna Jernigan, voicing her support for the former president, saying she believes any action taken was effective and strategic.
“What he did, he did well and his team because there were no American casualties,” she said. “That is a plus, and just thinking of the future and what that means for the United States,” said Donna Jernigan.
Despite their differing perspectives, locals on both sides say they hope the situation could ultimately benefit the U.S.
“Time will tell. I truly hope that after the dust settles, our economy will improve,” said Jernigan.
Even with conflicting views, residents agree they are watching closely to see how the situation unfolds and what it could mean for the United States moving forward.
By Zachary Bynum
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POLK COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — A Central Florida man is facing multiple charges after deputies say they found him on a construction site wearing lingerie — and discovered a firearm concealed inside a silicone breast implant.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, 39-year-old Matthew Zaccarino of Altamonte Springs was spotted standing beside a vehicle at a construction area near Ernie Caldwell Boulevard and Grandview Parkway.
Deputies say Zaccarino began putting on a red lace bra and G-string as they approached. When deputies ordered him to stop, he removed the items instead — revealing a handgun hidden beneath one of the silicone breast inserts he had been holding.
The arrest report notes Zaccarino reached into the vehicle before deputies handcuffed him and took him into custody.
Investigators say Zaccarino claimed he was on his way to a costume party but refused to provide the location.
Zaccarino is charged with trespassing while armed, loitering and prowling, and resisting arrest without violence.
Sheriff Grady Judd commented on the bizarre encounter, saying: “A lace bra, a G-string and a hidden gun. Folks, you cannot make this up.”
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.
Marcos Icahuate
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local law enforcement officer graduated from an academy.
Lt. Samuel Pavlak of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) joined over 250 officers in the FBI National Academy, with members from across the United States.
The FBI academy consists of ten weeks of training for selected officers.
Lt. Pavlak joined YCSO as a detention officer in 2002 and was promoted to Deputy Sheriff in 2006.
He is the first member of YCSO to complete the Southern Police Institute and FBI National Academy.
Adrik Vargas
CALIPATRIA, Calif. (KYMA) – Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen says the city is taking steps to move forward after years of financial and infrastructure challenges.
One recent change is a new agreement with the Imperial Irrigation District and Golden State Water that is saving the city more than $20,000 a year.
Mayor Luellen says the deal corrected how the city was being charged for watering public parks, allowing Calipatria to cut costs while keeping green spaces maintained.
Luellen says Calipatria has faced long-standing issues, including financial mismanagement and a declining population, but savings like these are helping the city stabilize and reinvest in the community.
The mayor says the city is also focusing on transparency, responsible spending, and keeping residents involved as Calipatria continues work on housing projects, park improvements, and long-term planning.
Bradley Davis
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Chamber Orchestra of Colorado Springs is performing two world premieres Saturday and Sunday at the Ent Center for the Arts, including a piece dedicated to the memory of those killed in the Club Q nightclub shooting in 2022.
The piece, called “Somewhere Bluebirds Fly,” originally premiered at the Library of Congress last summer as a flute choir piece. The opening melody is composed entirely of notes reflecting the first initial of each victim: A for Ashley Paugh, C for Kelly Loving, G for Raymond Green Vance, and D for both Daniel Aston and Derrick Rump.
We really wanted to talk about how music has this really phenomenal power to turn pain into beauty,” said Chamber Executive Director Jacob Pope. Even though the concert this weekend has so many somber stories and is sourced in so much pain, every single piece ends on a hopeful note.”
Inspired by the melody of “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” composer Erin Spencer adapted the piece for a full orchestra set. The Chamber Orchestra of Colorado Springs picked the piece for its weekend concert, “The Human Equation,” and will be the first to perform it for a live audience.
The orchestra performs Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. A soloist will also perform an Electric Cello Concerto. Tickets at the Ent Center range from $17.50 to $40.50.
By Don Nelson
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BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — The holidays have been tough for the French family out of Twin Falls County. You may remember that about three weeks ago, on Dec. 17, a strong windstorm toppled a tree that ultimately struck two of their three children as they waited at the bus stop. One of those children, Porter French, is still recovering at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise.
“He’s a fighter, and it’ll be a long road, but I know he can do it,” said Alisha French, Porter’s mom.
Porter’s parents say they hope the 11-year-old will get out of bed for the first time this week.
Porter’s sister Viviana was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve. “She’s like a normal kid again,” said Alisha. “It’s hard to keep her from limited activity, not running, no jumping, or dancing, twirling— just try and protect her head.”
To say it’s been a rough few months would be an understatement.
Alisha French put it this way: “Speaking of, when it rains, it pours. In October, he was in a car accident, and our main car was totaled, and so we haven’t replaced the car yet.”
Two days before the tree accident, the French family says they were asked by their landlord to vacate, leaving them to find a new home when they return to Twin Falls. For now, the Ronald McDonald House is home.
Their oldest son, Charlie, is with his Grandparents back in Twin Falls.
A fundraiser at Papa John’s in Twin Falls is scheduled for Wednesday, and their GoFundMe account is still active. Ren and Alisha are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they’ve received in Twin Falls and Boise.
“It’s just amazing to see people reach out and show concern and care that you don’t know. Often people will say, ‘we’re praying for you,’ where I never would have interacted with otherwise, and so it’s amazing to see that.”
And as far as welcoming in a New Year? The couple is praying for the best. “It’s got to be better,” said Alisha. “It’s going to be better; it’s the way you think about it— so 2026 will be better,” added Ren French.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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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NAMPA, Idaho (KIVI) — Isabella, the girl injured during the New Year’s fireworks display in downtown Boise, has a fresh new hairdo thanks to her aunt and the generosity of a local salon.
In an update shared by the family on their GoFundMe page, Stephanie Ratto said that Isabella’s Auntie Jordan, who works as a stylist at One 3 Salon in Nampa, was allowed to open the salon during off-hours to wash Isabella’s hair.
The update goes on to explain that the family has had a hard time washing Bella’s hair without getting her face wet.
Having a quiet salon for Isabella, who is autistic, allowed the child to have her first successful public outing.
“At home, it had been too difficult to remove the blood without getting her face wet, so her aunt stepped in with so much love and care.” – Stepahie Ratto via GoFundMe
During the VIP appointment, Isabella expressed peace and calm, saying, “This is the stuff,” and “feels so much better, now.”
The update concludes by thanking the community for its continued support as the family continues to support Isabella on her healing journey.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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.
