Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX(KVIA-TV)-Wall Street analysts are calling for a potentially strong year for stocks, but many everyday Americans are feeling skeptical and uncertain. Financial advisor Jeff Thompson from Mirau Capital Management helps us make sense of both sides.
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-One of the biggest things going into 2026 is going to be the difference people are going to feel in their healthcare costs. Dr. Ogechika Alozie explains.
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Officials in Colorado Springs held a press conference on cold weather preparations on Friday morning.
Southern Colorado is gearing up for dangerously cold weather Friday into the weekend. According to the City of Colorado Springs, wind chill temperatures will remain near or below zero for much of Friday and into Saturday and Sunday night.
City officials are urging families to be prepared by following the forecast closely, paying attention to alerts from news agencies or the local government. Families should have emergency supplies, like flashlights, water, and non-perishable food.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department says those with gas fireplaces should ensure they have working CO detectors. Additionally, house fires can be a risk for homes with wood-burning fireplaces where chimneys have not been properly cleaned throughout the years.
The city also asks that residents prepare their vehicles. Do not travel with less than a half-tank of gas, and keep cold-weather gear and blankets in your car.
Additionally, the city is urging those with livestock to have a covered area for them to retreat to.
If you need help, officials ask that you call the Pikes Peak United Way at 211. Officials say there is a real risk of injury or death to those who are left exposed in the upcoming cold conditions. Additionally, those who are unhoused can seek shelter at the following places during this emergency response time:
Springs Rescue Mission: 5 W. Las Vegas St.
Hope COS: 1930 W. Colorado Ave.
Families can go to the Salvation Army Hope Center: 709 S. Sierra Madre St.
If the Salvation Army Hope Center gets full, officials say Catholic Charities will step in to match families with places to stay.
Mountain Metro Transit is offering rides to shelters through Sunday. Anyone can board a city bus from any bus stop and let the driver know they are seeking shelter. There is no fee for the ride, and no pass is required.
For a compiled list of information and resources from the Pikes Peak Regional Emergency Management department, click here.
KTVZ – News Team
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — On Friday, January 23rd, Governor Tina Kotek announced she has selected Ken Sanchagrin as the Oregon Public Defense Commission Executive Director, pending Senate confirmation.
Sanchagrin was selected as the interim executive director in April 2025 by Governor Kotek.
“I am humbled by and appreciate the Governor’s confidence in me,” Sanchagrin said. “But this is a collaborative effort, and I want to thank our hardworking staff, our dedicated community of public defense providers, and our partners in the courts and district attorneys’ offices. Together, we are working diligently to find and implement solutions that will reduce the number of unrepresented defendants. We have made important progress, but more work remains. I look forward to building on these efforts to address Oregon’s constitutional obligations while creating a more sustainable, accountable and data-driven public defense system.”
Prior to becoming interim director at OPDC, Sanchagrin served as the executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission.
Read the entire press release from the Governor’s Office below:
“Today, Governor Tina Kotek announced that she has appointed Ken Sanchagrin to direct the Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC), pending Senate confirmation. The Governor selected Sanchagrin to be the interim executive director in April 2025 with the expectation that he would urgently address the unrepresented crisis in Oregon.
“Ken stepped in last April at my request, and he is delivering on the expectations I set forth to address the unrepresented crisis and end the needless delay of justice for defendants and crime victims,” Governor Kotek said. “The Oregon Public Defense Commission has a duty to provide attorneys to defendants who cannot afford them, and under Ken’s direction, there is a stronger coordinated effort among all branches of government to resolve this crisis with urgency and transparency. The numbers show he’s making progress. Let’s keep going.”
During Sanchagrin’s tenure, the number of defendants without an attorney has dropped significantly. At the end of December 2025, unrepresented defendants had decreased 32%, to 2,559 compared with 3,778 a year earlier. Additionally, Coos County is no longer on the list of “crisis” counties after three months of having few to zero people without counsel as of the end of 2025, down from more than 100 a year earlier.
Under Sanchagrin’s leadership, the OPDC has:
Implemented a seven-part plan to reduce the number of unrepresented defendants.
Partnered with district attorneys in Coos, Jackson, Marion and Multnomah counties to pilot or create special dockets that aim to resolve cases quickly for defendants with low-level charges, particularly property offenses.
Enacted a program that compensates experienced attorneys for voluntarily taking cases beyond their contractual caseload – up to 15% over the limit – if they have the capacity.
Adopted policies that are expected to increase the public defense system’s capacity to take cases.
Established enforcement mechanisms to ensure that attorneys comply with caseload and performance expectations.
Developed performance standards for attorneys to ensure that defendants receive a quality defense.
Created online, public dashboards that make data easily accessible to inform budget decisions, assist with the development of policies, and increase transparency.
Signed more than 400 contracts with public defense providers, including hourly attorneys, for 2025-27.
Continued to log important successes in the state’s Court of Appeals and the Oregon Supreme Court, safeguarding constitutional and statutory protections.
The legislature is considering in the upcoming session expanding the Oregon Trial Division capacity in a revenue-neutral way due to Sanchagrin’s service delivery cost comparison.
“I am humbled by and appreciate the Governor’s confidence in me,” Sanchagrin said. “But this is a collaborative effort, and I want to thank our hardworking staff, our dedicated community of public defense providers, and our partners in the courts and district attorneys’ offices. Together, we are working diligently to find and implement solutions that will reduce the number of unrepresented defendants. We have made important progress, but more work remains. I look forward to building on these efforts to address Oregon’s constitutional obligations while creating a more sustainable, accountable and data-driven public defense system.”
Prior to becoming interim director at OPDC, Sanchagrin served as the executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission (CJC), and before that, as CJC’s director of research. He earned doctoral and master’s degrees in sociology from the University of Iowa, a law degree from Michigan State University, and a bachelor’s in history from the College of Charleston.
Following the passage of Senate Bill 337 (2023), the OPDC moved from the judicial branch to the executive branch on January 1, 2025. The legislature determines the budget for the agency.”
Nia Hinson
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The City of Columbia has routed $2.1 million in funds awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic to work to cut down on violence.
Columbia was awarded $25.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to address public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A large portion of that money was dedicated to cracking down on crime.
In 2023, five organizations were awarded funding in hopes of helping the city achieve those goals.
In2Action
Destiny of H.O.P.E
Columbia Supreme
United Community Builders
Boone County Nature School
In2Action was given $750,000 of the city’s approximately $2.1 million allocated toward community violence. According to the organization’s proposal to the city, the group intends to provide housing and support services to men returning to the Columbia area from prison, helping deter crime. Data from the City of Columbia shows the group used $634,172 from October 2024 to September 2025.
Destiny of H.O.P.E’s agreement with the city — which ends in 2027 — awarded the group $320,000. The group received additional funding from the Columbia City Council in 2024, bringing its total amount of money awarded to $428,333.33, according to Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services spokesman Austin Krohn.
Lonnie Lockhart Bey — Destiny of H.O.P.E. executive director — said the money will help the organization secure a new building.
“It’s a space that will be dedicated to teens ages 13-17 approximately, allowing them to have a space that they can call their own on the weekends, be able to give them the space that hopefully we can get them from downtown,” Lockhart Bey said.
The organization aims to provide community-based mentorship, positive youth development, site-based mentoring, peer support and family therapy services. The group has also been working to provide a Critical Change Gang Prevention program to address core issues of gang affiliation.
The non-profit used $137,868 during fiscal 2025, according to the city’s website.
Columbia ARPA funds spend on community violence preventionInfogram
Destiny of HOPE’s contract is a purchase of service agreement — the organization invoices the city for the number of units of services they provide, Krohn said.
Columbia Supreme — which received $150,000 from the city — said it intended to create a youth mentor program.
United Community Builders received $750,000, while the Boone County Nature School was awarded $200,000, according to documents from the City of Columbia. According to Krohn, Boone County Nature School has spent its total amount of money awarded.
Watch ABC 17 News at 10 on Monday to see more about how organizations are using the funding to fight violence.
Seth Ratliff
BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho political community is mourning the loss of a former state representative and historian. Linden Bart Bateman, of Idaho Falls, passed away on January 22, 2026, at the Lincoln Court Retirement Community. He was 85 years old.
Bateman’s career in the Idaho Legislature spanned nearly two decades across two different eras, serving from 1977 to 1986 and returning to the Statehouse from 2010 to 2016.
A native of Salt Lake City, Bateman’s path to the legislature was rooted in education. After studying political science at Brigham Young University, he spent years teaching high school history and government. He later shared his expertise as a supervisor of student teachers at BYU-Idaho.
Beyond the halls of the Capitol, Bateman was a founding member of the Bonneville County Historical Society and took part in forming that county’s history museum.
Tributes from State Leaders
Governor Little released a statement on the former legislator’s passing, saying:
“Linden Bateman was a close friend of mine and a true statesman. Linden was passionate about Idaho history and played a key role in establishing March 4 as Idaho Day. He listened thoughtfully, led with principle, and always sought to do what is right. Idaho is better because of his work, and his legacy of character and public service will not be forgotten.” — Governor Brad Little.
The Republican Party of Bonneville County also paid tribute to Bateman’s influence on the region, noting his “genuine care for people” and his commitment to conservative principles.
“Linden dedicated his life to education, public service, and preserving the history and values that make our community strong. His love for Idaho’s heritage, his commitment to conservative principles, and his genuine care for people leaves a lasting mark on our county and our state.” — Bonneville County Republican Party.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield reflected on Bateman’s significant contributions to Idaho’s educational communities.
“Linden Bateman dedicated his life to public service, education, and preserving Idaho’s history. As both a longtime educator and former member of the Idaho Legislature, he brought a deep respect for learning into every role he held.
Linden understood the value of passing knowledge from one generation to the next. His advocacy for the teaching of cursive writing reflected his belief that students benefit from understanding where we have been as they prepare for where they are going.
Idaho’s educational community is stronger because of his contributions, and his legacy will continue to be felt in classrooms across our state. On behalf of the Idaho Department of Education, I extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all those who were impacted by his life and service.” – Superintendent Debbie Critchfield
Nichole Gomez
El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- Cold and flu season is here, and as temperatures drop in the Sun City respiratory illnesses become increasingly common. Dr. Irene Gonzales, emergency medicine physician at Del Sol Medical Center helps us understand the difference between a cold and the flu and how it can help you make smart decisions about your health care.
Leah Rainwater
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Missouri Department of Transportation said both northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 29 will close at the beginning of February for the demolition of the Gene Field Road Bridge.
The closure is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7 and will reopen by 5 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 9.
Clarkson Construction Company, working with MoDOT, will close the interstate to demolish the bridge ahead of a replacement project.
Southbound I-29 traffic must exit at I-29/I-229/U.S. Route 71 (Exit 56B) and northbound I-29 traffic must exit at I-229/I-29 (Exit 43).
Local traffic will not have access to the northbound I-29 from Missouri Route 6 (Frederick Boulevard/Exit 47) and southbound I-29 from U.S. Route 169 (Exit 50).
Gene Field Road Bridge Detour DiagramDownload
During construction, Gene Field Road will remain closed between Woodbine Road and Woodland Drive.
The project will widen the bridge and replace its driving surface, as well as add pedestrian sidewalks to the north and south sides of the bridge.
In addition, MoDOT said overnight lane closures on I-29 below the bridge may occur between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. throughout project construction. A 10.6-foot width restriction will be in place.
MoDOT said the project is still scheduled to be completed in July 2026; however, all work is weather-permitting and schedules are subject to change.
Prajukta Ghosh
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — Winter weather could make travel tricky this weekend and the National Weather Service is urging drivers to take extra precautions before hitting the road.
Making sure vehicles are winter-ready is key, as conditions could quickly become dangerous. AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria said the impact is already being felt.
In a press release, Chabarria shared that AAA expects roadside emergency calls to jump by about 150% compared to normal during the wintry weather.
“With the cold and the winter precipitation we are expecting in the weekend, now is the time that you wanna make sure that your vehicle is prepared. AAA’s recommendation would be to stay home if you can and stay off the roads,” Chabarria said.
He pointed out that not everyone has that option. Many people already have travel plans, so it’s especially important to make sure your vehicle is in good working order and ready to handle winter weather.
According to Chabarria, the number one reason people call AAA for roadside assistance during the winter is dead or weakened batteries.
“Your vehicle’s battery loses about a third of its starting power when the temperature drops below freezing so the prolonged cold that we are expecting it going to be havoc on vehicle batteries,” Chabarria said.
He also highlighted a AAA survey that found about 40% of drivers don’t carry a winter emergency kit in their vehicle at all.
That’s a big concern, especially when snow or ice is in the forecast. Chabarria stressed how important it is to have a few basic items on hand in case you run into trouble.
A good set of jumper cables is a must, especially in extreme cold when batteries are more likely to fail.
“Good pair of jumper cables for the reason we talked about being it extremely cold which may wreck the vehicle’s batteries. So you can jump your batteries and stay warm and get at least started so you can stay warm,” Chabarria added.
He also recommends carrying a bag of salt or kitty litter to place under your tires if you hit slick spots or need extra traction. Other helpful items include a snow shovel, ice scraper, or snow brush whenever winter weather is expected.
“Warm blankets, coats, gloves, hats, mittens for anybody who is travelling in the vehicle with you to keep warm and cozy,” Chabarria added.
If you do slide off the road or get stuck in the snow, he says the safest option is usually to stay inside your vehicle.
Not only does it keep you warm, but it also makes you more visible to other drivers than standing outside the car.
“Stay warm while you wait for help and it’s snowing. You want to make sure to clear any snow or ice periodically from your tailpipe to make sure it’s not trapping any exhaust fumes,” Chabarria said.
Chabarria also mentioned tire pressure, noting that it typically drops when a car sits overnight in cold weather. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires can lose about one pound of air pressure.
That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on tire pressure during the winter and make sure it doesn’t get too low.
Kelsey Merison
OREGON (KTVZ) — Oregon-based alpine skier Jackie Wiles just qualified for her fourth Olympics and will head to Cortina to represent Team USA.
Wiles hails from Aurora, Oregon, and grew up skiing out of White Pass Ski Area in Washington state.
“She has been through injuries, comebacks, and more to get to where she is now. Most recently, Wiles earned her fourth World Cup podium in Zauchensee, Austria – a podium she shared with teammate Lindsey Vonn,” said Sierra Ryder, the Alpine Communications Manager from U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
Jackie graduated from Canby High School and made her World Cup debut in November 2013. She gained her first podium in January 2017 in downhill at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee and has competed for the U.S. in two Winter Olympics and four World Championships.
Good luck, Jackie!
