Mike Klan
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KEYT) – Zoe Borter snapped a 54-54 tie with a basket in the lane and UCSB went on for a 61-57 victory to move to 11-7 in the Big West.
Leading 56-55, Maddie Naro drilled a three-pointer with just :18 seconds left for UCSB. Naro finished with 12 points.
Skylar Burke led the Gauchos with 15 points and 12 rebounds and Olivia Bradley added 14 points
Mike Klan
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – A quartet of Southern California pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the Trojans opened a four-game non-conference baseball series at Baggett Stadium with a 4-0 victory over Cal Poly on Thursday night.
On an unusually warm winter night with temperatures in the low 70s, USC tallied a pair of runs in the third inning and added single markers in the fifth and seventh frames to maintain its perfect record on the young season, now 8-0. Cal Poly suffered its third straight loss following a 4-1 start, evening its mark at 4-4.
Making his second start of the year, Chase Herrell (1-0) pitched five scoreless innings for the victory, allowing a pair of hits and two walks while striking out five. Gavin Lauridsen (1 2/3 innings), Sax Matson (one inning) and Adam Troy (1 1/3 innings) completed the shutout.
Mustang freshman right-hander Corden Pettey (1-1) struck out seven Trojans over four innings, but allowed two runs in the third frame on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in absorbing the loss. Chris Downs allowed the runs in the fifth and seventh during his three-inning stint on the mound while Brady Estes and Luke Kalfsbeek each tossed one scoreless frame.
Cal Poly produced several scoring opportunities, but stranded 10 runners on the basepaths.
Casey Murray Jr. doubled with one out in the second inning. Murray also drew a leadoff walk in the fifth and Ryan Tayman followed with a single to shallow left field. Both advanced 90 feet on a grounder for the first out, but a strikeout and fly ball to the outfield ended the threat.
Dante Vachini opened the sixth with a single to left, but three straight line drive outs dashed that rally. Cal Poly loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh but Matson came out of the bullpen to notch the first of his two strikeouts, ending the uprising.
Alejandro Garza singled with one out in the eighth, extending his season-opening hitting streak to eight games, and two Mustangs reached base in the ninth on walks before USC closed out the shutout with a popup to shortstop.
Cal Poly’s five hits were scattered among five players. USC collected seven hits, including a single and triple by Abbrie Covarrubias and another triple by Kevin Takeuchi.
Prior to the start of the series opener, Robin Baggett, the namesake of the stadium Cal Poly has called home for 25 years, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
Second game of the weekend series will be played Friday night at 6:05 with Cal Poly junior right-hander Griffin Naess (1-1, 1.50 ERA), coming off a 14-strikeout performance over seven scoreless innings against Washington State last week, facing USC junior southpaw Mason Edwards (2-0, 0.00 ERA).
The series continues Saturday at 3:05 p.m. and wraps up Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)
Spencer Sacks
La Pine, Ore. (KTVZ) — Saint Vincent DePaul of La Pine held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for new shower facilities at its food bank on Morrison Road. The project added an ADA accessible shower to the site. It is currently the only facility of its kind available for public use in La Pine.
The facility, which is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, provides hygiene access to any community member. Organizers noted the service is intended to help residents who may not have regular access to a shower.
The shower is located at the DePaul food bank on Morrison Road. While the facility is available to anyone in the community, it operates on a different schedule than the food bank. The shower is open four days a week. Individuals interested in using the service are encouraged to make an appointment, though walk-ins are allowed.
Each user is granted 30 minutes in the shower facility. Staff provide a 10-minute warning before the time limit expires to ensure the schedule remains on track. Tony Dixon serves as the general manager of Saint Vincent De Paul of La Pine. He explained that the facility addresses a specific need for residents who are preparing for professional obligations.
“A lot, because there’s a lot of people that are looking for employment that they need to have a shower before they go to their appointment,” Dixon said.
By Brandon Downs
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SANTA ROSA, California (KPIX) — A suspect is accused of animal cruelty after hundreds of birds and evidence consistent with bird fighting were located at a home just outside of Santa Rosa city limits on Wednesday, authorities said.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said a search warrant was served at a home along Stony Point Road, located near Elsie Allen High School.
Deputies said they discovered 833 roosters and evidence of cockfighting, such as slashers, timers, veterinary medication and conditioning supplements, identification bands, betting slips and small-denomination currency.
Authorities said they arrested 30-year-old Saul Villalobos-Delacruz on suspicion of animal cruelty and charges related to bird fighting. Deputies said he was later released on pretrial supervision.
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.
Mike Klan
UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Aidan Mahaney scored a game-high 21 points and Zion Sensley added 19 points plus a game-high 12 rebounds as UCSB held off UC Riverside 70-59.
(Aidan Mahaney finished each half off with a flurry of points. Entenza Design).
UCSB snaps a 3-game losing streak as they improve to 11-7 in the Big West.
At halftime UCSB made former NBA player Orlando Johnson the latest “Legend of the Dome.”
(He is the Gauchos all-time leading scorer despite playing just three seasons at UCSB. Entenza Design).
Johnson is now an assistant coach at Washington State.
By Olivia Young
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PRADERA, Colorado (KCNC) — Douglas County officials say a hiker discovered human remains this week on undeveloped land near Crowfoot Valley Road and Pradera Parkway.
“I guess surreal is more of like the word to think about it,” said Shane Moody, a Pradera resident.
Hundreds reacted with shock on social media to news of a grisly discovery made by a hiker.
“My mom actually got some news onto her phone, I think, on the Nextdoor app,” Moody said. “She showed me an article about the remains back there, and we were pretty shocked, because we grew up here, and I’ve been here for a lot of my life.”
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is calling what that hiker found human remains, rather than a body. After those remains were found, multiple agencies searched the area near Crowfoot Valley Road and Pradera Parkway. Responders included Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Douglas County Search and Rescue and El Paso County Search and Rescue’s K-9 team.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains were found on open space owned by the county. The land is near Parker’s Pradera neighborhood and the Crowsnest properties currently seeking annexation into Castle Pines.
“I know there’s a lot of open space over there, so that’s what we heard on kind of the other side of the road,” Moody said.
The sheriff’s office is investigating and can’t share more right now.
“Just scary to hear in our area,” Moody said.
The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.
“I think, right now, it’s kind of just a little bit more being kind of on alert,” Moody said. “With family and kids here, it is something to kind of look out for, especially, if you’re hiking by yourself and those type of things.”
Douglas County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death, as well as the identity of the remains.
It’s not clear if foul play was involved at this time, or how long the remains were there.
“It’s sad, sad to see that,” Moody said.
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.
Spencer Sacks
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Terrebonne residents can learn how to protect their homes and land from wildfire during a presentation on Monday, March 9. The event features experts from Deschutes County Natural Resources, OSU Extension and the Oregon State Fire Marshal.
The session focuses on practical steps for wildfire readiness. The participating organizations are collaborating to teach community members how to prepare their properties and houses for fire risks.
The presentation will be held at Dry Fly Headquarters, located at 70295 NW Hunt Road in Terrebonne. The session is scheduled to run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Organizers will provide coffee for those who attend the meeting. Participants are also welcome to bring their own snacks or dinner to the presentation.
The wildfire preparedness presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9.
By Leondra Head
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ATLANTA (WUPA) — What was expected to be a routine wealth-building meeting for parents at Drew Charter School turned into a life-changing surprise.
Families of kindergarten students learned their children would each receive a $10,000 investment fund — part of a broader initiative aimed at closing the wealth gap and breaking cycles of poverty.
Parents were stunned.
“I’m surprised! Pleasantly surprised!” said Nicole McClendon, whose son is in kindergarten.
McClendon said she initially believed the meeting would focus on a previously announced $500 college fund. Instead, families were told their children would receive significantly more — an investment that could grow over time.
The announcement was met with applause as leaders revealed the details of the Youth Opportunity Fund.
Drew Charter School
All 139 kindergarten students at Drew Charter School are eligible for the $10,000 investment. To access the funds, students must graduate from an Atlanta public school and complete financial literacy courses at Drew.
The money will accrue interest over time and can be accessed when the student turns 25 years old. Funds may be used for college tuition, homeownership, entrepreneurship, or retirement.
“I think it’s great for families who are economically disadvantaged and don’t have the resources a lot of other families have,” McClendon said.
She hopes her son will use the money wisely — ideally for a future home.
“Definitely for home ownership. I would encourage him to hold out and wait to use it until he’s ready to purchase a home,” she said.
East Lake Foundation
Ilham Askia, CEO of the East Lake Foundation, said the initiative is designed to address generational wealth disparities at an early age.
“The whole point is to eliminate the wealth gap for our youngest learners,” Askia said.
The nonprofit partners with Drew Charter School to provide students and families with resources intended to support long-term success. The $10,000 investments are being funded in partnership with Harlem Children’s Zone through the Youth Opportunity Fund.
For many parents, the surprise was more than financial — it was symbolic.
“I wish when I was his age, I wish that was something offered to my parents,” McClendon said.
Foundation leaders say the long-term goal is not just to provide money, but to teach financial literacy and create pathways to economic mobility — giving Atlanta’s youngest learners a head start on building wealth.
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.
Spencer Sacks
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Saint Charles Health System is providing grant funding to community organizations to help Central Oregonians access affordable healthy food. The initiative aims to support local groups that target food insecurity throughout the region.
According to a survey by the health system, 24% of Central Oregonians said better access to affordable healthy food is the factor that would most improve their overall quality of life. This concern ranked higher among respondents than affordable housing or living wage jobs.
Many Central Oregonians currently struggle to access affordable healthy food. The health system is aiming to reduce this struggle through targeted community support. Saint Charles will direct thousands of dollars in grant funding toward organizations that address food insecurity. These community organizations are expected to focus specifically on improving access to nutritious food options.
The grant funding program will continue for the next three years.
Read the full press release below:
St. Charles adds access to healthy, affordable foods as priority after report shows surge in need for Central Oregonians
St. Charles also starts new initiative to support patients experiencing malnutrition
Many Central Oregonians struggle to access affordable healthy food and that need is increasing, according to results from the 2025 Community Healthy Needs Assessment recently produced by St. Charles Health System. The survey showed 24% of Central Oregonians said better access to affordable healthy food is the factor that would most improve their overall quality of life, ranking higher than affordable housing (19%) or living wage jobs (11%) and marking a significant increase from the 2022 report, when 15% of respondents picked affordable, healthy food as their top concern.
To address this growing need within the community, St. Charles Health System is adding improving access to healthy, affordable foods as a focus for its Community Benefit efforts. This means for the next three years, St. Charles will direct thousands in grant funding to community organizations that target access to affordable healthy food as well as organizations that focus on fostering a sense of belonging and reducing loneliness (which has been the health system’s priority focus for the past three years and will continue through at least 2028).
Carlos Salcedo, manager of community partnerships for St. Charles, says the two priority areas make a lot of sense together. “As people, we know that food and community often go together, and sharing a meal can bring people together and help reduce loneliness. We are excited to fund projects that serve these important priorities and meet the needs we are seeing in our community.”
This priority, approved by St. Charles Board of Directors in February, is also driving other efforts in the health system focused on access to healthy food. Kelly Ornberg, manager of clinical nutrition services for St. Charles, is launching a new program named Fuel in March aimed at helping patients with a malnutrition diagnosis. Ornberg says St. Charles dietitians work hard to provide healthy foods to these patients while in the hospital, but many patients with malnutrition struggle to secure affordable, healthy food when they return home.
“That’s one of the reasons these patients end up being readmitted to the hospital at a high rate. About 11 percent of patients with malnutrition end up being readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Our goal is to change that trajectory,” said Ornberg. “With this new program, we are able to provide patients with 30 days’ worth of shelf-stable supplements for free, so they are able to get some basic nutrition when they return home.”
Ornberg says St. Charles outpatient dietitians will also follow up with these patients after discharge to connect them with community resources for longer-term support. With the initial funding, Ornberg expects they will be able to help about 500 patients across all four St. Charles hospitals.
“It feels so good to be able to do something to help bridge that gap,” said Ornberg.
About St. Charles Health System
St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care and specialty clinics in Bend, La Pine, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, nonprofit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 5,000 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 400 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
Par Kermani
High School Simulators Bridge Labor Gap for Idaho Construction IndustryBLACKFOOT, Idaho (kifi) – Local construction powerhouse Gayle Lim Construction is tackling a regional labor shortage by bringing the job site directly into the classroom.
The company recently spearheaded the delivery of heavy machinery simulators to the Blackfoot and Snake River school districts, providing students with a high-tech entry point into the construction industry. The initiative comes as contractors struggle to find certified operators to fill essential roles.
“We just did not have people coming in and getting applications,” said Sheri Lim, co-owner of Gale Lim “We were like, where are we going to find our workforce?
So we decided the best place to do that was in the schools”.
While the simulators may resemble high-end video games, they serve as sophisticated training tools for multi-ton equipment. The units currently at the high schools feature three distinct adapters, allowing students to practice on:
DozersExcavatorsLoaders
The program has already produced its first major success story. One local student was hired by Gale Lim Construction immediately after mastering the simulator and earning his certification.
The partnership is designed to create a “blueprint” for developing local talent rather than recruiting from outside the region.
According to James Hoge, a local teacher at Snake River High School, the simulators have significantly increased student interest in construction as a viable career path.By investing in these simulators, Gale Lim Construction is attempting to ensure that as the local community grows, its own students are prepared to do the heavy lifting.
“They’re going to have such a better step up from the people without the simulators,” said success story graduate and laborer at Gale Lim Mckay Ricks. “When they go out into the field, they’re not totally clueless”.
