Visually impaired players showcase abilities at annual blind golf tournament in Goleta

KEYT on January 28, 2026

Dave Alley

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – An inspirational group of men and women took part on Tuesday in the 2026 California Blind, Disabled and Adaptive Winter Golf Classic.

Held at the picturesque Sandpiper Golf Course, the tournament drew a few dozen players from around the state for the 18-hole scramble format event.

“This is a gathering of adaptive players paired with PGA professionals and local amateurs to support, champion and celebrate our adaptive golf community,” said longtime tournament director Robert Kotowski. “We’re gathering golfers from the adaptive golf community, blind, amputees, veterans, disabled vets.”

Now in its 28th year, the tournament allows adaptive golfers to showcase their remarkable talents in a competitive environment.

“It’s an awesome tournament,” said golfer Bill Davis. “It is very rewarding. I enjoy it because the fact that it’s a sport the where a blind person who can actually take part of.  I’m just like any other golfer. I’m what they refer to as long hitter, hitting it 250 to 300 yards.”

Through the use of an assistant, visually impaired golfers are able to not only play golf, many of them are able to achieve remarkable success.

“I enjoy it,” said golfer Carlos Franco, who traveled from Monterey. “Everybody around my town, including my son and lots everybody have has tried to beat me. They beat me one time and they’re all happy, but now they don’t want to play with me anymore!”

For Kotowski, who has long been the driving force behind this tournament, this year’s event was especially meaningful.

“It was a year ago today here at Sandpiper,” explained Kotowski, who suffered a heart attack while playing at the seaside course. “Ten days later, I was blessed with an amazing gift of a heart transplant, so this is a significant day and a couple of areas. One of my motivating factors was I wanted to get back, get healthy, work hard. Amazing people I want to thank. How do you thank everybody who has been there for me, the community, friends, all the medical workers. I bet 1,500 different medical workers were involved in my being here right now, so thank you all. It’s a chance to say thank you and celebrate these great adaptive athletes.”

Players added that no matter the outcome, just being on the course, especially under such ideal weahter conditions on Tuesday, is truly what the nature of adaptive golf is all about.

“It’s not the thing about being able to beat people,” said Franco. “It’s getting out there and having fun and getting to know others. It’s really great having just getting out. You get to meet so many people and they’re all very helpful. It really feels great.”

Click here to follow the original article.

2026 Angel Night opens Rancho Mirage Writers Festival with Ken Burns, Rick Atkinson

KESQ on January 28, 2026

Shay Lawson

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ)  – Angel Night, a special opening evening of the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival, returned Tuesday night.

The event is reserved for the festival’s “Angels” — major supporters whose donations help keep the nationally recognized literacy event running and accessible year after year.

Hundreds attending for a highly anticipated conversation between documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Rick Atkinson.

For those interested in becoming an Angel for 2027, contact Debbie Green Miller at dmiller@rmwritersfest.org

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full story at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Click here to follow the original article.

Bend business brings a high-tech 3D camera to Central Oregon

KTVZ on January 28, 2026

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Obsidian 3D is showcasing their advanced combination camera/scanner. This device can quickly create 3D renderings of buildings, as well as panoramic shots, and collects a great deal of data.

While there are other 3D scanners on the market, Bend-based Obsidian says its device offers an unparalleled level of detail. It’s not jut high-resolution video, but also data for contractors to work with.

As a demonstration, Obsidian met with KTVZ News on Tuesday outside the Deschutes County Courthouse, in the midst of a major expansion project and scanned the building from the sidewalk.

This brief scan is not an official part of the courthouse project. However, it managed to create an incredibly detailed 3D model.

Even without being able to go inside the construction site, the scan gathered data that could make a contractor’s job easier.

“The data that’s gathered becomes a single source of truth for the entire project.” said Parker Stockdale, the owner of Obsidian 3D. “So for a general contractor or for an architect, that one scan that we go and complete can be distributed to all the trades. It can be distributed to inspectors, to quality control personnel.”

Stockdale says the camera provided information that could be used by people in several different roles on a construction project, adding: “And and again, the breadth and the accuracy of the data is so immense, and what professional engineers and architects can accomplish with it is absolutely fascinating.”

Even though Tuesday’s demonstration was just a trial for the cameras, Obsidian 3D was able to produce and deliver 3D renderings in just hours. From them, someone could estimate the materials needed for part of the project, or even count the individual studs on a wall.

The camera can be used for more than just construction. It can also create a historical record or plan for a projected light show.

The data could even be used to create a printable 3D model of any large object it’s pointed at.

Click here to follow the original article.

A novel way to spend spring break: Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp to debut in Central Oregon

KTVZ on January 28, 2026

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Discover Your Northwest has announced the inaugural Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp, a free, multi-day program designed to introduce youth ages 16-20 to the exciting and diverse world of wildland fire careers.

“This unique day camp offers a hands-on learning experience during Oregon’s spring break, taking place from Wednesday, March 25, to Saturday, March 28, based out of Redmond. Daily programming will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with lunch and transportation from local communities provided, “the organization said in a recent news release that continues in full below:

Participants will explore various wildland fire careers through interactive activities, engaging field trips, and insightful discussions with experienced wildland fire professionals.

They will get a taste of the action with hands-on activities covering topics such as fire behavior, fuels management, public information, aviation, dispatch, leadership, fire ecology, prevention, and firefighting methods, all led by local wildland fire professionals.

The goals of this camp are to provide an immersive introduction to wildland fire careers in a safe and supportive environment, make connections to inspiring leaders, and help campers develop valuable relationships within the wildland fire community.

“This camp offers a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore the diverse career paths available in wildland fire beyond boots-on-the-ground firefighting,” says Emily Curtis, wildland fire community educator at Discover Your Northwest. “We’re committed to fostering career development within the fire service, and this program is a crucial step in empowering the next generation of firefighters.”

All skill levels are welcome! This program is designed to ignite a passion for wildland fire, regardless of prior experience.

Applications for the Youth Wildland Fire Career Camp are now open! Visit https://bit.ly/45sL70E to apply and secure your spot.

For more information, please contact Emily Curtis, Discover Your Northwest’s wildland fire community educator, at emily.curtis@discovernw.org.

About Discover Your Northwest

Discover Your Northwest is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 91-0921955, dedicated to connecting people with public lands through education, retail operations, and strategic partnerships. Founded in 1974, DYNW works across Washington, Oregon, northern California, Idaho, and Montana to support public lands by funding educational programs, strengthening community connections, and reinvesting proceeds into the places and partners that make these experiences possible. Learn more at DYNW.org. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Trevor Noah to perform new material at Hayden Homes Amphitheater in 2026

KTVZ on January 28, 2026

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Trevor Noah has announced a special performance in Bend, Ore., scheduled for July 22, 2026, at Hayden Homes Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale Jan. 30, 2026, at 10 a.m. PT through ticketmaster.com.

This performance follows Noah’s successful run as the host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central for seven years and his six consecutive years as the host of the Grammy Awards. Noah, an influential figure in comedy, is known for his engaging content and has garnered a global audience.

Noah currently hosts a weekly podcast titled “What Now? With Noah,” where he engages in candid discussions with celebrities and athletes about contemporary topics. His podcast reflects his personal style, allowing listeners deeper insights beyond traditional interviews.

As the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller “Born a Crime,” Noah has sold more than 3 million copies across formats. The book narrates his experiences growing up in South Africa and the Audible edition remains one of the highest-rated performances on the platform.

Noah’s most recent book, “Into the Uncut Grass,” released in October 2024, is also a bestseller, offering a modern fable on themes of forgiveness and acceptance.

His production company, Day Zero Productions, is dedicated to producing diverse and impactful content. The company has initiated several entertainment projects, including film adaptations and documentary series, focusing on authentic storytelling. In addition to his extensive achievements in comedy and writing, Noah launched the Noah Foundation in 2018 to enhance education access for underserved youth in South Africa, showcasing his commitment to social equity.

Following the announcement of his performance, fans can look forward to a unique show featuring all-new material, culminating in a highlight of Noah’s tour. Details regarding his upcoming engagements will be shared as they become available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Cole County neighbors seek pause in upcoming auction of farmland that was intended to become county park

KMIZ on January 28, 2026

Haley Swaino

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

By Wednesday afternoon, the Cole County Commission will decide if it will ask Hawthorn Bank to pause an upcoming land auction, just 11 days away.

Lawrence Renn Jr. left his 178-acre Elston farmland to become a county park. He created a trust, leasing the land to the county after his death in 2021.

But questions about what the trust says, how much money is available and other issues led the county to withdraw from the trust. The bank then put the land up for a Feb. 7 auction. Renn’s family and friends had one last say in the fight at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

Mark Knapp, one of the beneficiaries of Lawrence and Mary Renn’s trust, was the first to speak to commissioners at the meeting.

“The next step is irreversible,” Knapp said. “A sale on Feb. 7 can’t be undone cleanly after the fact. That’s why we’re asking for a short pause so the county can verify the controlling trust instrument before anything permanent happens.”

With a looming auction date, Knapp and multiple other friends and family members asked for a 60-day pause to sort through and verify trust documents.

“I have the original trust,” Knapp said. “Some of the language that they’re [Hawthorne Bank] using in there isn’t in Junior’s copies.”

He said certain procedures outlined in the trust were not followed.

“They were supposed to have an advisory committee which would have two people outside of the bank and one member from their bank. It’s in the trust, that never happened. The 501(c) was supposed to be set up. Which see all those would make for more accountability,” Knapp said.

The question of how much money is available for the park has been another issue.

“They’ve [Hawthorn Bank] alluded to these guys [commissioners] as if the trust didn’t have very many funds or much money,” Knapp said.

He said he gave commissioners an Edward Jones statement showing the account has more than $3.2 million for the future park.

Presiding Commissioner Sam Bushman had told ABC 17 News that the bank told the Cole County Commission the land was a gift and there was only about $15,000-$20,000 available for use. He said they were told the county would have to pay the rest, and taking that much money out of the county parks budget would not be doable.

“The park wasn’t an abstract idea on paper. It was a real gift intended for the citizens of Cole County. The community’s been trying to honor that intent,” Knapp said at Tuesday’s meeting. “We’re not here to attack you guys [commissioners]. We’re here to ask you to help correct the course while you still can.”

Knapp is hopeful the commissioners will get the bank to pause the auction. He said Renn would be disappointed if his county park dream never came to fruition.

“He [Renn] didn’t talk about anything but that park. So it’s really upsetting that they’re [Hawthorn Bank] about to get away with it,” Knapp said.

It all now hangs on what happens at Wednesday morning’s closed Cole County Commission meeting.

Bushman said he will call the Renn family after the meeting to let them know what’s been decided.

Knapp told commissioners they have a duty to uphold as elected officials, and finished his Tuesday speech to commissioners with again asking they initiate a voluntary pause on the sale of the land with the trustee and its agents.

“Long enough for authentication and a clear record,” Knapp said. “If you do that, you’re not taking sides. You’re doing what responsible government does. You protect the public record, you verify the controlling document and you prevent irreversible harm.”

Knapp said that if the sale moves forward, family and friends will come together and file a petition with the court because the trust wasn’t followed and many things in it were left unverified.

Hawthorne Bank had told ABC 17 News it’s worked to exhaust all options, while still maintaining the language in the trust. The bank said the trust was not to be the sole source of funding for the park.

Click here to follow the original article.

Crews fight house fire in Paso Robles

KEYT on January 28, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – Fire crews fought a structure fire at the 2000 block of Holly Drive in Heritage Ranch just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

CAL FIRE SLO crews kept the flames to a single room, though a full response ended up arriving to help put it out completely.

Fire crews knocked the fire down at 4:33 p.m. and two more engines helped in response after that, according to CAL FIRE SLO.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Student-Led Sports Gear Drive Becomes a Big Hit in the Community

KEYT on January 28, 2026

John Palminteri

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A high school student who collected used sports equipment last week has had a strong response in his effort to help financially challenged young athletes.

A Junior at Dos Pueblos High School, Johnny Duffy, made his idea a reality. He rallied students and the community to help and together they collected 182 pieces of sports gear that could be given to those who want to participate in athletics, but can not afford it.

It included basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, shoes, swimming goggles and other items necessary to compete in club or recreational sports.

Last weekend there was a distribution at Dos Pueblos High and Goleta Valley Junior High.

Not all of the gear was given out, and the remaining items will be sold to a store that specialize in used sports equipment. The proceeds and any donations will then go towards a scholarship fund for athletes who need financial support.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Heart of Oregon Corps named 2025 Non-Profit Partner of the Year by Central Oregon Builders Association

KTVZ on January 28, 2026

KTVZ

(Update: Video Added)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Heart of Oregon Corps has announced it was named 2025 Non-Profit Partner of the Year at the Central Oregon Builders Association’s annual Excellence Awards ceremony held Thursday, Jan. 15. 

The award was generously sponsored by Miller Lumber.  

Here’s the rest of HOC’s announcement, in full:

The recognition comes on the heels of a successful year of community fundraising for Heart of Oregon Corps, which has now raised $6.16 million, or 84% of the total funding needed for Central Oregon’s first youth workforce development campus. The organization has $1.14 million left to raise by grand opening on Sept. 30, 2026.  

The $7.3 million, 3.4-acre campus in Redmond will serve as a regional hub for hands-on youth job training in construction, conservation, childcare, and other high-demand trades—helping address workforce shortages driven by the “silver tsunami” of retiring baby boomers while strengthening the long-term economic vitality of Central Oregon communities. 

“Central Oregon Builders Association sees Heart of Oregon Corps as a vital, long-term solution to the challenges we face—from workforce shortages to housing affordability,” said Ron Wanless, the chair of COBA’s Workforce Advisory Board. 

“By investing in young people who want to learn the trades, we are investing in the future builders, craftspeople, and professionals who will sustain Central Oregon. We’re proud to partner with Heart of Oregon Corps and invite the business community to step up alongside us in the months ahead.” 

Now, Heart of Oregon and COBA will collaborate to offer a jam-packed slate of highly visible events and opportunities for campus campaign corporate donors to be recognized for their generous gifts, including at the following: 

April 1 “Make Your Mark” Campus Breakfast featuring local celebrity pancake flippers and the chance for businesses to visit the campus construction site and confirm their support for youth workforce development   

May 1-3 COBA Home and Garden Show Cornhole for Community including a family-fun play on cornhole boards featuring business sponsor logos at a high-visibility tent at the entrance to the Expo Center at the Fairgrounds and inclusion in printed event guide  

June COBA Annual Golf Tournament featuring high-visibility recognition of corporate donors  

Sept. 19 Endless Summer Nights annual family fun community event featuring cornhole boards with corporate logos and high-visibility community marketing of event 

Sept. 30 Campus Grand Opening with extensive media coverage, banners for major donors, and recognition of all corporate contributors 

Forever Donor Wall at the new campus 

COBA 2027 Directory inclusion in full page Thank You ad 

Corporate partners are encouraged to make their commitments online by March 1, 2026 to maximize impact and recognition. Early gifts will help keep construction debt at bay and will signal a strong, visible commitment to Central Oregon’s workforce, youth and economic future. 

“We are so grateful to all our existing campus donors, and to all the new partners who will join us on this journey in 2026,” said Laura Handy, Executive Director of Heart of Oregon Corps. “We cannot thank COBA enough for stepping forward as a partner to help us cross the finish line and open the doors on time and on budget in September 2026!”  

Heart of Oregon is proud to recognize major campus donors, including Aperion Management Group, Bend Foundation, Clark Family Foundation, Collins Foundation, Crevier Family Foundation, Deschutes County ARPA, First Interstate Bank Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Hayden Homes, Marie Lamfrom Foundation, Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund, Mike’s Fence Center, MJ Murdock Charitable Trust, PGE Foundation, R&H Construction, Roundhouse Foundation, Rosendin Foundation, State of Oregon, The Joseph & Elizabeth Hoffart Charitable Foundation, The Max & Marie Anna Richter Family Fund of OCF, and The Tykeson Family Foundation. 

Businesses can learn more and make a corporate contribution at www.hoccampus.org/donor-benefits. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Board of Supervisors revises policy on hiring credits for military vets’ spouses

KESQ on January 28, 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today approved revisions to a Riverside County policy that permits spouses of military veterans to apply for credits toward job placement in county government, loosening up the process for applicants.

“There are so many different efforts going on when it comes to our veterans,” Supervisor Manuel Perez said ahead of the 5-0 vote Tuesday. “There’s a lot (more) to come our way.”

The Department of Human Resources received the board’s authorization to amend Board Policy C-3, also known as the “Veterans Preference Policy,” under which qualifying retired, disabled or active-duty military personnel preparing to leave service receive credit that elevates their standing in consideration for county employment. The policy further provides credits for wives or widows of service members, though there are limitations.   

“We want to make sure it’s easy for (applicants) to go through our preference process,” agency spokeswoman Tami Schatz told the board. “If someone meets the qualifications, they’ll get an interview.”

Previously, the provision for spouses mandated that, as part of theapplication process, they submit corroborating documents, including marriage certificates, veterans’ death certificates, service discharge forms, disability verification forms — and at least one letter from the U.S. Veterans’ Administration confirming the applicant’s marital relationship to a veteran.   

“Human Resources confirmed that the VA does not issue eligibility letters to veteran spouses,” according to a Department of Human Resources statement. “As a result, the current policy’s language may bemisleading and could unintentionally create barriers for qualified applicants.”

With Tuesday’s board action, the specification under C-3 that required the submission of letters was eliminated.   

Perez said he looked forward to further moves toward augmenting veterans’ services countywide.

“Maybe a budget increase (is needed) to make sure we take care of our veterans,” he said.

Click here to follow the original article.