Save Teton Pass Trail campaign hits $1.5M mark

KIFI on January 31, 2026

David Pace

WlLSON, Wyoming (KIFI) – The effort to complete a pedestrian trail over the Teton Pass continues to gain traction, hitting an important milestone of $1.5 million raised today.

“It’s probably the most dangerous piece of road anywhere in Teton County, Idaho, or Teton County, Wyoming, right now. You’ve got 12,000 cars a day traveling 60 miles an hour,” said mountain biker Tim Young.

The “Save Teton Pass Trail” campaign, led by a hardcore group of volunteers, is looking to finally connect Teton Valley, Idaho and Jackson Hole, Wyoming with a non-motorized path.

The project is shovel ready and if completed, would include a pedestrian skier underpass.

The proposed trail consists of a three- to four-mile stretch between Trail Creek Campground and Coal Creek on Wyoming State Highway 22, crossing technical terrain that requires sturdy, retaining walls.

Map of the Teton Pass Trail project in Wyoming.

“It’s very narrow, and it’s also the only way [for] people traveling by bicycle, the people that are going mountain biking, skiers that are coming back from a trip in the Tetons that are skiing back to their car – everyone has to use that road,” Young said.

The campaign has received more than 400 donations – capped with a $200,000 donation today.

Organizers have extended the deadline to March 1 to raise another $1 to $2 million to complete the project, Young said.

Interested individuals can visit tetonpass.org to learn more or donate.

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Mighty trees: Idaho Falls earns Legacy of Leaves award

KIFI on January 31, 2026

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The award-winning tree canopy in Idaho Falls has garnered another recognition.

The City of Idaho Falls received the “Legacy of Leaves” honor for 2025 by the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association.

The award follows an Arbor Day celebration last spring where Sunnyside Elementary and Career and Technical Education Center students planted 17 trees at Heritage Park.

“We spend a lot of time and effort on our urban forestry canopy here in Idaho Falls,” the city’s Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm said. 

Idaho Falls has also been designated a “Tree City, USA” for 33 consecutive years.

“We are a long-time recipient of Tree City, USA, which says that you put a portion of your city’s budget back into tree maintenance and tree canopies,” Holm explained.

The Idaho Falls Riverwalk and local parks boast a wide variety of tree species and flora.

“I love how when I walk through downtown and I walk through the park, I just see so many trees,” said Idaho Falls resident Hunter Demmerly. “I get to see the beautiful river that overlooks the city. It’s a kind of a highlight to my day when I’m on my way to work.”

Fellow Greenbelt stroller Nick Bellegante moved here from the state capital. 

“I lived in Boise for about a decade, and for a place called the ‘City of Trees,’ I have to say, Idaho Falls has it beat!” Bellegante said. “They’re everywhere! It really gives the town its own personality.”

District 91 students join Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper, unfurling a “Tree City USA” flag last spring at Heritage Park.

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UPDATE: Palm Springs armed suspect arrested after community tip

KESQ on January 31, 2026

Jesus Reyes

UPDATE 1/31/2026:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police say the suspect was arrested Saturday morning after a community member shared they were spotted near the crime scene.

Officers say the suspect was arrested without incident.

1/30/2026:

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Police are searching for an armed suspect in Palm Springs Friday evening.

Police searched the area west of N Indian Canyon, south of San Rafael, north of San Carlos.

The Palm Springs Police Department said shortly after 8 p.m. that officers cleared the area and were unable to locate the suspect. Authorities advise anyone who sees a person matching the suspect’s description to call 911.

Officers are searching for a man, described as five feet, eight inches tall, weighing 180 lbs, with short dark hair and a light mustache. He has tattoos on his chest and upper shoulder area.

He was shirtless with gray sweat shorts and black flip flops or white shoes.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any new developments.

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Big names close out Rancho Mirage Writers Festival

KESQ on January 31, 2026

KESQ News Team

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival came to an end on Friday. The three-day festival featured literary powerhouses and some of the biggest names in politics and culture today.

News Channel 3 caught up with popular author Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Daisy Jones and the Six and the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. Her latest book is called Atmosphere, about an aspiring female astronaut.

Reid talked about the decline in the number of people reading for pleasure.

“I think that one thing that a lot of people forget, and one thing that’s great about book people is they haven’t forgotten, is that reading is fun. Reading is supposed to be fun, and we’re going to get things from it and we’re going to learn things from it, but it’s first and foremost fun,” Reid said.

A University of Florida study shows the number of people reading for pleasure has dropped 40% over the past 20 years. Only 16% read for fun, down from 28% in 2004.

But Reid also talked about the joy that can come from reading and why it’s so important.

“It feels good to open a book and want to keep turning the pages because you can’t wait to see what happens next. So I write books for a lot of reasons, but I never forget that my job is to make it fun for you. My job is to pull you through to the end of the book because that’s what’s gonna make you keep reading,” Reid said.

Passes for the festival this year sold out in three minutes.

If you’d like to watch any of the sessions, festival organizers are live streaming all sessions for the first time. They will be posting them online later at https://rmwritersfest.org/

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Jurors recommend death penalty for man found guilty of killing Hermann police officer

KMIZ on January 31, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Jurors have agreed that a man found guilty of killing a Hermann police officer in 2023 should face the death penalty.

Kenneth Simpson, of Steelville, was found guilty on Saturday of first-degree murder, first-degree assault, two counts of illegal gun possession, one count of illegally possessing a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. Jurors in Franklin County unanimously agreed on Friday that Simpson should be put to death, according to a Friday night press release from the Attorney General’s Office.

“Justice has been served. With grateful hearts, The family and The Chief Mason Griffith Foundation now begin rebuilding. We will move forward one day at a time, doing what Mason lived for helping others, serving with purpose, and choosing what is right,” Angela Koepke, Mason Griffith’s mother-in-law and operations director of the Mason Griffith Foundation, said in a text message to ABC 17 News.

Judge Craig Hellmann will issue Simpson’s formal sentence at a later date, the release says.

Simpson was accused of shooting and killing Sgt. Mason Griffith and wounding Officer Adam Sullentrup in March 2023. The trial started last week in Franklin County after it was moved from Gasconade County, where the shooting happened.

Simpson shot both men within 15 seconds on March 12, 2023, at a Casey’s convenience store in Hermann. The case was moved in 2023 from Gasconade County to Franklin County.

Police caught Simpson following a more than 12-hour standoff. The state of Missouri, on Sept. 14, 2023, filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Simpson.

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Dozens rally in La Quinta to protest ICE activity, support immigrant communities

KESQ on January 31, 2026

Luis Avila

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) — Dozens of demonstrators gathered Friday afternoon in La Quinta for an anti-ICE protest, calling for accountability and voicing support for local immigrant communities.

The demonstration began at 3 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 111 and Jefferson Street, directly outside a Home Depot. Protesters of all ages lined the roadway, drawing attention with bells, whistles, and car horns as traffic passed by.

Organizers say the protest was aimed at condemning what they describe as Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s use of brutality and violence, while demanding action from officials. Participants also emphasized solidarity with immigrant families who they say are living in fear.

Although the protest was scheduled to end at 4 p.m., it continued strong until 5 p.m and a small group remained on-site until even later, continuing to chant and hold signs. Organizers say the goal of the event was not only to raise awareness, but also to encourage more community members to get involved, noting they believe public sentiment is beginning to shift.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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FIND Food Bank highlights growing need at annual Guardians Breakfast

KESQ on January 31, 2026

Timothy Foster

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – The FIND Food Bank is raising awareness about food insecurity across the Coachella Valley as demand for assistance continues to grow.

Community leaders, donors, nonprofit partners, and elected officials gathered in Indian Wells for FIND’s annual Guardians Breakfast. The event focused on educating stakeholders about hunger in Riverside County and highlighting how community support is helping families in need.

News Channel 3’s Meteorologist Katie Boer emceed the event.

FIND leadership said the event is designed to bring together organizations, cities, and donors to ensure residents are not left behind as economic pressures continue to rise. Leaders emphasized that collaboration across sectors is critical to keeping support systems strong for the long term.

Organizers noted that many families are struggling to make ends meet due to rising costs, making access to food assistance and other support services more important than ever. They stressed that food banks and nonprofit organizations play a key role in helping families not only survive but work toward stability.

During the event, FIND received a $500,000 donation from Bank of America. Leaders said the funding will help the organization continue distributing food to families across Riverside County.

One speaker shared her personal experience growing up in a low-income household where food assistance was a necessary resource. She said food insecurity is more common than many people realize and emphasized the importance of removing the stigma around seeking help. She also shared that access to food support played a role in helping her family move forward and inspired her continued involvement with FIND.

According to FIND, the organization recorded more than 1.5 million client interactions last year and distributed over 20 million pounds of food through mobile markets and partner organizations. FIND said more families are attending food distributions locally, with lines often growing longer as need increases.

The event also highlighted challenges food banks are facing nationwide, including reductions in food assistance benefits that are affecting communities across the country.

Looking ahead, FIND leaders said continued donations, volunteer support, and community partnerships will be critical to meeting demand. The organization also promoted its upcoming FIND Food Bank Telethon, presented by NewsChannel 3, which takes place May 1 and aims to raise funds to help feed families across the Coachella Valley.

FIND said community support will remain essential as the organization works to address hunger today and in the future.

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Day of Action Leads to Closures in Many Areas of the 805

KEYT on January 31, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Many businesses have not opened their doors today in a national day of action.

Across the country, people have been encouraged to avoid shopping, school and work in solidarity with those opposing ICE enforcement, mainly stemming from the incidents in Minnesota.

Throughout the Tri-counties, you may have seen the lights out at numerous businesses in a message of solidarity with the workers and the owners.

Many put signs up on the door showing their support.

Some wrote more, including personal stories that connected them to their decision to shut down.

On the South Coast, we found closures at several sites including Pascucci, Los Agaves, Los Arroyos and Rudy’s.

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On highways, parking lots & social media, you’ve seen this crazy truck – but is it street legal?

KRDO on January 31, 2026

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Up and down I-25 on the Front Range, you’ve probably seen this truck. On the back, a massive satellite-looking metal structure, kind of looking like a tipped-over Christmas tree or bugle snack. Then on the back, a banner with ‘ICE’ crossed out.

But is this vehicle even legal?

KRDO13 showed pictures of the custom build to the Colorado State Patrol. A sergeant told us over the phone that they would pull this vehicle over immediately because the license plate couldn’t be seen. That’s before even getting to talking about the rest of the structure.

Despite that, when we shared this picture (seen above) with CSP, showing a trooper right behind the vehicle in question, a spokesperson said that a citation was not issued, and the trooper never made contact with the vehicle.

KRDO13 security camera still.

Here at KRDO13, we got a good look at the truck up close when the driver came into our parking lot both Thursday night and Friday morning.

The driver wanted to speak with us about his issues with the trump administration’s immigration policies and raise concerns about aggressive drivers he said were trying to push him off the road.

However, KRDO13 spoke to drivers who say that the vehicle has been seen driving extremely slowly on the highway or even pulled over on the shoulder.

As for our local police department, we’ve seen some pictures that show Colorado Springs Police Officers pulling over the truck. KRDO13 reached out to the Colorado Springs Police Department to ask if they’ve issued any citations or pulled over the driver, but they haven’t answered our questions.

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Ski Patrol at Kelly Canyon on Alert amid High-Risk Season

KIFI on January 31, 2026

Hadley Bodell

RIRIE, Idaho (KIFI) – Kelly Canyon Ski Resort is facing nearly half the amount of snow than they usually see, and with the addition of the terrain park, skiers are more prone to accidents than ever. Thankfully, the ski patrol at Kelly Canyon is hard at work hours before the mountain opens to keep everyone safe.

Avid skiers and snowboarders recognize the red-coated, swift-skiing athletes on the mountain anywhere-the ski patrol. Before the mountain opens, the ski patrol rides the lifts and sweeps all the runs at the resort, ensuring no hazards are present. They fix the fencing and signs as well as open the top shack. Inside, ski patrol members check the trauma packs for all the essential emergency gear so they are ready to go to the rescue if an accident happens.

Throughout the day, patrollers on shift stay busy even when patients aren’t inside the aid room. “We go on each run looking for, potential guests that are having problems either with their equipment or their injured,” said Dana Miller, Director of the Kelly Canyon Ski Patrol. “If we see anyone injured, then we radio for a toboggan. We go assess that patient, make sure they’re okay or not okay, and get whatever they may need.”

Some of the ski patrol members are paid, others are volunteers. There are over 100 members of the patrol, ranging from 20 years of experience to first-year patrollers. Ski patroller Susan Scheer-Shanklin has been patrolling for almost 10 years, and said she “loves every second of it.”

“I want people to know that we’re not there to catch them doing things wrong,” said Scheer-Shanklin. “We’re there to hopefully keep them safe.”

This season has been particularly strange because of the lack of snow. The opening of the terrain park has also led to almost 90 injuries reported by the ski patrol so far this season at Kelly Canyon.

“We also have a lot of beginning skiers, which leads to a lot of falls,” said Miller. “With the terrain park, we see a lot of upper extremity injuries.”

The patrol is ready to handle these kinds of emergencies because of their extensive training. Miller told me they all went through a four-month Outdoor Emergency Care course in addition to a training for outdoor rescues on the mountain.

Scheer-Shanklin said the comraderie amongst the entire ski patrol feels like family. The group of dedicated, well-trained professionals is always there to help on the mountain.

“They want to help people and they’re not in it for their own personal gain, but just because they want to help,” said Miller. “So when you get those kind of people, that attitude, it makes good patrollers.” 

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