Town sets public hearing for moratorium on data centers to address community concerns

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By WLOS Staff

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    CANTON, North Carolina (WLOS) — Town leaders in Canton took the first steps toward a moratorium or temporary ban on data centers and crypto mining.

According to Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers, the town board passed the motion to set the public hearing for the moratorium on data centers, cryptocurrency mining facilities, and server farms.

The town does not have any laws currently on the books regulating the data mining industry, Smathers said.

He said a moratorium would give the town a chance to get feedback from residents and decide on any possible ordinances for that type of development.

“We understand with the mill site there’s a lot of interest, but again our first priority is to protect the citizens, not just in the Canton jurisdiction but in Haywood County,” said Smathers. “There are major worries about what data centers do through energy consumption and especially water and sound,” said Smathers.

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.

Two hospitalized after crash on Indian Canyon in Desert Hot Springs

KESQ on January 23, 2026

Jesus Reyes

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were injured after a crash along Indian Canyon Drive near Desert Hot Springs Thursday night.

The crash was reported just before 8 p.m. on Indian Canyon near Harvest Moon Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the vehicle was traveling southbound on Indian Canyon Road at an unknown speed when, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control and traveled across the northbound lane before crashing into two parked vehicles on the right shoulder.

CAL FIRE confirmed two people were hospitalized, one with critical injuries and the other with minor injuries.

The driver has a large laceration to their forehead, and complaint of pain to head and back, CHP said. The passenger had a medical emergency upon medical personnel arrival which was believed to be unrelated to the crash.

CHP confirmed investigators do not believe neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Roads in the area were temporarily closed but were back open by 9 p.m.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Providence Road shut down near Green Meadows after vehicle catches fire

KMIZ on January 23, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

First responders had South Providence Road shut down on Thursday night after a vehicle caught fire.

Boone County Joint Communications sent a notification at 9:31 p.m. indicating a vehicle caught fire near the busy intersection.

First responders were seen hosing down a vehicle at 10 p.m. in the southbound lane.

BCJC sent another update at 10:09 p.m. stating water used to put out the fire froze between Mick Deaver Drive and Green Meadows Road. The notification stated “there’s an extended ETA on salt truck.”

First responders were battling cold conditions on Thursday night. The air temperature was listed at 28 degrees at 10:13 p.m. Temperatures on Friday are expected to dip, with a low at 7 degrees and wind chills reaching below zero.

Traffic started slowly moving around 10:15 p.m.

Check back for updates.

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Rep. Calvert secures $67M for local infrastructure projects in funding package

KESQ on January 23, 2026

KESQ News Team

WASHINGTON D.C. (KESQ) – The House passed all 12 appropriations bills ahead of the January 30 government funding deadline, passing the four final bills on Thursday. 

It includes “The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill” which local Republican Congressman Ken Calvert says contained more than $67 million for our 41st Congressional District water and transportation infrastructure projects, including:

$5.6 million for the Cook Street Bridge Project in Palm Desert

$1.7 million for the Corona Trails Improvement Project

$5 million for the French Valley Airport Contract Control Tower Project

$5 million for the Indian Canyon Drive Project in Palm Springs

$5 million for the I-10 Singleton Road Interchange Project in Calimesa

$5 million for the I-15 Express Lanes Southern Extension Project

$8 million for the Lake Elsinore Water Quality Project

$4 million for the Magnolia Avenue Widening Project in Corona

$2.4 million for the Norco Recycled Water Distribution and Transmission Mainline Project

$3 million for the Inline Baggage Handling System Improvement Project at Palm Springs International Airport

$5 million for the Quail Valley Septic to Sewer Conversion Project

$2.5 million for the Scott Road/Bundy Canyon Road Widening in Menifee

$5 million for the Via Vail Roadway Improvement Project in Rancho Mirage

$5 million for the Washington Street Pavement Resurfacing Project in La Quinta

$5 million for the Whitewater Channel Lining in Indian Wells

 The bill now moves to the Senate before heading to the White House for the President’s signature.

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Two men guilty of gang motivated double murder in Santa Barbara

KEYT on January 23, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – A jury found Angel Varela and Oscar Trujillo-Guttierez guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of premeditated and deliberate attempted murder, according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

The jury also found special circumstances that both men committed multiple acts of murder and the special allegation that Varela discharged a firearm causing death, according to the SBCDAO.

The jury found true that both men were part of the Carpas gang, committed the murders for the benefit of the gang and other gang-related special allegations, according to the SBCDAO.

The two men drove with a juvenile from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara before attacking a group with a firearm on the 1200 block of Liberty Street, killing two men and hurting two other men on Jan. 3, 2021, according to the SBCDAO.

Santa Barbara Police later investigated the case before the juvenile was prosecuted. After a 2024 trial, the court found true that the juvenile committed two counts of first-degree murder amd two counts of premeditated and deliberate attempted murder for the gang’s benefit, according to the SBCDAO.

The jury found both Varela and Trujillo-Gutierrez guilty of assault likely to cause great bodily injury for an assault on September 19, 2022 while both men awaited trial in custody, according to the SBCDAO.

Sentencing is set for both men on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. where both men remain in custody without bail sentencing. Each man faces life in prison without possibility of parole, according to the SBCDAO.

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Adult certification hearing scheduled for teen accused of firing gun in Dick’s Sporting Goods

KMIZ on January 23, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A hearing has been scheduled that could determine if the Columbia teenager accused of firing a gun inside Dick’s Sporting Goods will be certified as an adult.

Court officials confirmed earlier this month that a 17-year-old boy from Columbia was accused of shooting a gun on Jan. 3 inside the store at The Shoppes at Stadium and stealing a vehicle during a carjacking. The name of the teenager was not revealed because he is a juvenile.

He was later arrested by troopers in Pettis County. The juvenile was arrested after crashing the vehicle on Route V near Bahner Road, previous reporting shows.

He is charged with unlawful use of a weapon, carjacking and armed criminal action. A hearing was held on Tuesday for the youth. His next court appearance is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. A hearing that could determine if he is certified as an adult is scheduled for March 11.

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Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission holds conversation around data center regulations

KMIZ on January 23, 2026

Olivia Hayes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission struck up a conversation around data centers Thursday night.

On the commission’s agenda was defining data centers, where they should be and under what conditions. Adding the definition to amend the zoning code could take three to five months.

Defining the standards, such as where the facilities can be built and the conditions, could take eight-to-12 months.

“We understand there’s a lot of uncertainty about what could be constructed in industrial zoning districts,” Columbia Senior Planner David Kunz said. “We need more zoning lots ready to go for the purpose of commercial development. But concerns about what could be constructed have got in the way there.”

The commission agreed on a definition for what proposed data centers in Columbia would look entail. Commission leaders say more in-depth conversations are to come regarding the standards, but a public hearing regarding the definition could happen at the end of Feb.

No official date has been decided yet.

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Two Side by Side Buildings have been Sold in Downtown Santa Barbara

KEYT on January 23, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – In a joint deal, two neighboring addresses have been sold in downtown Santa Barbara.

The adjacent properties at 530 Chapala Street and 25 West Cota Street sold to an investor with the Hayes Commercial Group, representing the seller.

The two buildings went for $11.5 million dollars. Those involved in the deal have not been disclosed.Formerly occupied by Honey Sciences the two buildings anchor the prominent corner location from Fig Street down Cota and wrap around to Chapala St.

One building has had upgrades but retained a facade that  dates back to the early 1900’s.     Another building has a Spanish style upgrade but was formerly a tire and automotive shop.

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Bookeeper pleads guilty for embezzling over $550,000 from former employer

KEYT on January 23, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ida Veronica Hernandez, 45, pled guilty to seven felony counts of grand theft and another felony count of filing a false or forged document after embezzling her former employer, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Hernandez also admitted a special allegation that the losses exceeded $100,000 during her time employed as a bookkeeper for a Thousand Oaks medical practice, according to the VCDAO.

Hernandez had access to company bank accounts and financial records in her role as office manager between 2020 and 2021, according to the VCDAO.

Investigators found out that Hernandez used multiple fake names and employees to hide thefts into her own personal accounts, stealing at least $556,000 from the business, according to the VCDAO.

Hernandez also abruptly quit once the financial activity looked suspicious but not before attempting to deflect the activity to another coworker for her financial crimes, according to the VCDAO.

Hernandez fled during the case’s investigation and committed similar thefts in Orange County that led to her arrest warrant being issued, according to the VCDAO.

Hernandez also committed financial crimes in Plano, Texas before she fled the state, and investigators eventually followed her across the country, according to the VCDAO.

Hernandez remains in custody on $600,000 bail and her pending sentencing is at 8:30 a.m. on February 20 this year.

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Ag, innovation and family fun highlight Midland Empire farm show

News-Press NOW on January 23, 2026

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The Midland Empire Ag and Rural Lifestyle Show is back at St. Joseph’s Civic Arena.

One of the vendors at this year’s show is Tony Lockwood, owner of Lockwood Engineering Services.  

He said he’ll be showcasing Grain Guard 360, a monitoring system designed to track temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels inside grain bins. 

“We also go after mold, mildew and fungus within the bin itself. So while everybody else can tell you when you get CO2 or when you have issues, we can tell you when the issue starts,” Lockwood said.  

Lockwood explained that while many companies charge subscription fees for similar systems, his company does not.  

He also said they help customers with setup and offer a different control strategy than competitors.  

“We offer energy savings. We offer several other layers on top of that and we can (be) cheaper, so we have a complete system that allows you to pick and choose what you want from your bin,” Lockwood said.  

He added that the first grain bin monitor he ever built dates back to 2007, and while it was a basic design, it worked.  

Lockwood said being part of the show isn’t just about showing off new technology, but also about building connections within the community.  

Amanda Craig, another vendor participating in the show, said she’ll be offering free batteries with select DeWalt and Milwaukee tools, along with a display featuring Highland cows. 

She said the show is a great place for kids and families, with plenty of attractions for younger visitors — especially the petting zoo.  

“We have just been doing this for several years to be a part of the community. We have a store here in town with a total of seven stores in general. We like to be close to home,” Craig said.  

Craig said this will be nearly her fourth year participating in the show. While she admitted she feels a little less prepared this year, she’s still excited to be there.  

“I feel a little less prepared than some of the years, but I am here, and we are going to make this work,” Craig added.  

The Midland Empire Ag and Rural Lifestyle Show runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 23, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the St. Joseph Civic Arena. 

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