Bend, Redmond mayors join Gov. Kotek in letter calling for immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions

KTVZ on February 5, 2026

Barney Lerten

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Gov. Tina Kotek and more than 30 Oregon mayors sent a letter Thursday to the Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem and President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, demanding a halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in the state until recent use-of-force incidents are investigated and those involved are held accountable.

Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler and Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch were among the 31 mayors who signed onto the letter, which you can read in full below.

“We demand an immediate halt to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon until thorough investigations of use-of-force incidents in Minneapolis, in Portland and all other use of force incidents by federal agents are thoroughly investigated and those involved are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Kotek said.

The governor said she and the mayors are calling for a pause in enforcement actions following reports of increasingly aggressive tactics and recent use-of-force incidents involving federal officers. The Oregon leaders said such actions erode public trust and threaten individuals exercising their First Amendment rights.

The governor and mayors called for federal actions to stop until use-of-force incidents in Minneapolis, Portland and other locations are thoroughly investigated.

Gov. Kotek emphasized the state’s position on federal accountability in the joint letter, arguing that state and local law enforcement agencies are essential to public safety. They said the agencies have built community trust through local policing strategies that are being damaged by federal actions that exclude local partners and prioritize intimidation.

Oregon officials also highlighted the negative impact of current enforcement practices on daily life. They stated that families are avoiding work, school, health care and local businesses because of fear regarding these federal operations.

Despite the federal actions, the officials reaffirmed Oregon’s commitment to its Sanctuary Law. They indicated that state and local resources will continue to be focused on community-based public safety needs. The letter concluded by expressing support for immigrant and refugee communities, stating that they belong in the state, and that Oregon stands with them.

The letter follows a January 30 executive order and a series of conversations with community leaders, including a roundtable convened by Governor Kotek with community leaders.

02.05.26_Oregon Elected Leaders Letter to Noem, HomanDownload

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Adult, 2 youth seriously injured in Pettis County crash

KMIZ on February 5, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Three people, including two teenagers, were seriously injured in a Wednesday night crash on Route Y in Pettis County, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

The crash occurred as a 15-year-old boy from Sedalia tried to pass a 2011 BMW 328 with a 2012 Audi A4, the report says. The BMW was driven by a 16-year-old boy from Warrensburg, according to the report. Both vehicles were heading westbound.

The Audi hit a 2003 Toyota Camry heading in the other direction in the eastbound lane, the report says. The Toyota was driven by a 24-year-old Sedalia woman.

The Toyota then spun in the roadway and was hit by the BMW, according to the report. The Toyota and Audi stopped in the roadway, while the BMW went off the road and hit a tree, according to the report.

All three drivers had serious injuries and it is not known if they were wearing seatbelts, the report says. The 15-year-old was brought to University Hospital by ambulance, while the 16-year-old was brought to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City by ambulance, the report says. The 24-year-old was flown to University Hospital, according to the report.

MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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County Fair and National Date Festival Announces 16 Scholarship Recipients

KESQ on February 5, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – This year’s Date Festival Scholarship Program has awarded scholarships to 16 Riverside County high school seniors and season passes to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, officials announced today.

Although 16 finalists impressed judges by the students’ academic achievement, leadership and community commitment, 10 finalists were named as scholarship recipients. Through a contribution of$6,000 by judges Becky Bailey- Findley and Gary Findley, the remaining six finalists were named as scholarship honorees and also received scholarships.

“This scholarship program is an investment in Riverside County’s students and the future of our community,” Chris Pickering, CEO of Pickering Events, said in a statement. “Each year, the interview process reinforces how much talent, heart and promise exists in our local schools.”  

The program awarded $2,000 scholarships to 10 seniors in the class of 2026, which will be distributed directly to each recipient’s college or university. In addition, all finalists are invited to participate in the Presidents’ Day parade on Feb. 16 as honored guests alongside local elected officials and community leaders.   

The following scholarship recipients named are:   — Bella Barone — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Joanna Bushnell Crist — Indio — La Quinta High School;   — Preston Ellis — Palm Desert — Palm Desert High School;   — Emmanuel Garcia — Riverside — Ramona High School;   — Elizabeth Guerra –Indio — Indio High School;   — Erik Huerta — Mecca — Desert Mirage High School;   — Paola Miranda — North Shore — Desert Mirage High School;   — Kaden Ren — Riverside — Martin Luther King High School;   — Pratham Sanghu — Corona — La Sierra Academy, and   — Ines Yanez — Temecula — Temecula Preparatory School.

   The following were named as scholarship honorees are:   — Anahi Canesco — Jurupa Valley — Rubidoux High School;   — Jahzara Dansby — Lake Elsinore — Murrieta Mesa High School;   — Alexander Diaz — Indio — Indio High School;   — Mario Irrera — Indio — Indio High School;   — Rachel Anne Madrid — Aguanga — JCS-Pine Hills High School, and   — Roberto Sanchez — Indio — Indio High School.  

“Programs like the Date Festival Scholarship help open doors for students who are working hard to shape a better future for themselves and our region,” Supervisor Manuel Perez said in a statement. “It’s inspiring to see local institutions step up year after year to invest in education and opportunity.”  

The Date Festival will be held from next Thursday through March 1 at the county’s Fairgrounds in Indio.

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Graves secures $1 million in funding for Riverside Road Bridge replacement project in St. Joseph

News-Press NOW on February 5, 2026

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — A number of significant transportation improvement projects in St. Joseph and Northwest Missouri will get a boost in federal funding.

Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) announced Thursday he had secured $4 million in funding for several bridge and interchange improvement projects planned across Northwest Missouri in the near future, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2026 signed by President Trump on Feb. 3.

That includes $1 million to replace the Route AC/Riverside Road bridge over U.S. Highway 36 in St. Joseph, a $10.7 million project scheduled to occur in spring 2027. The three-lane bridge will be demolished and replaced with a new five-lane bridge to accommodate increased traffic since it first opened in 1973.

“We’re investing in critical projects in North Missouri, while reining in the size of government,” said Graves in a news release. “These bridge rehabilitations will improve these interchanges and keep the traveling public safe. I’m proud to secure funding to help move these projects forward.”

Graves was also able to secure $1 million in funding for bridge improvements on the U.S. 159 bridge over Interstate 29 in Holt County.

Bridge projects included in the bill were:

$1 million to rehabilitate a crucial connector bridge at the I-29 and I-35 split in Clay County

$1 million to improve bridge conditions for the US 159 Bridge over Interstate 29 in Holt County

$1 million to replace a bridge at the interchange at US 36 and Route AC in Buchanan County

$1 million to improve the US 136 Bridge over I-35 in Harrison County

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Columbia city leaders reiterate need for transparency ahead of public safety meeting with MU officials

KMIZ on February 5, 2026

Nia Hinson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some of Columbia’s political leaders are hopeful the public can be more involved in discussions surrounding public safety.

The city had at least three meetings that included University of Missouri officials in 2025 in an effort to curb crime after the shooting death of Aiyanna Williams in September 2025. Another meeting is scheduled for Feb. 19, according to Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman.

The meetings are closed to the public and include only a handful of city council members. However, with another meeting right around the corner, some leaders’ concerns about the closed-door meetings are growing.

UM President Mun Choi also met with Gov. Mike Kehoe in December. City leaders were not invited.

During Wednesday night’s Board of Realtors candidate forum with Columbia School Board candidates and Ward 5 city council candidates, the council candidates were asked how they would work to repair the relationship between the city and the university. Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll said a key component is having open work sessions.

“We can have all of the representatives present, and it’s transparent to the community, would go so far towards healing that relationship and so far towards being effective in how we’re going to address this,” Carroll said.

Carroll also said she believes most of the discussions related to perceptions of public safety have affected the First Ward. She said she thinks it’s important that those discussions are had, and violent crime and homelessness aren’t lumped together unfairly.

Ward 5 Councilman Don Waterman told ABC 17 News on Thursday afternoon that he believes the meetings need to continue to happen. He also said that he believes the work needs to continue to involve Choi.

Waterman said the public should be involved in the meetings to avoid speculation about what’s being discussed behind closed doors and to show that there is still work being done to reach goals. He also noted that part of the approach to making the city safer is filling empty police positions and adding more officers. He said Police Chief Jill Schlude has stated she would like 50 officers, something that may require a community-wide vote to pay for.

Waterman said while he wants the meetings to continue, he’d also like to see more specific goals set.

“I know the city has said they’re committed. Some commitment from the university as to how they’re going to help us achieve some of these goals,” Waterman said. “Whatever the goals come out to be, but just having some specific goals so that when they meet and continue, be working towards achieving those goals.”

Waterman said he thinks it would be beneficial if every council member were involved in the talks. He said he suggested the possibility of rotating council members at each meeting in the future during the third meeting he attended. He said he may suggest this again during February’s meeting.

Waterman also suggested possibly expanding the city council’s work sessions to include university officials during Wednesday night’s candidate forum. He reiterated the need for Columbia College and Stephens College to be included in the discussions in an interview Thursday.

Public safety suggestions brought up during a work session between city leaders in December included closing off major streets to traffic and parking, implementing metal detectors on Friday and Saturday nights, banning sales of $1 alcohol shots and implementing a curfew. Waterman said there had been no further active discussions about those, or on Choi’s 11-step action plan.

Carroll was also asked on Wednesday night whether “high-ranking” representatives from the university were engaging productively in the meetings. Carroll said she believed that things are getting more productive.

“I think we would be better served by talking to each other and bringing our shared resources to the table and really addressing what things each partner can influence to improve crime,” Carroll said. “I don’t think that we can finger-point and I don’t think that we should be saying things to grab headlines. This is not the time, and that’s not productive.”

Carroll also said she’d like to see a downtown precinct reestablished, a decrease in the length of shifts to 10 hours and the creation of a traffic unit.

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood told ABC 17 News via text Thursday afternoon that he is grateful that community leaders have come together to take part in the discussions and said that each one offers a unique perspective.

“Because there is no single solution to address complex issues, these types of discussions ensure our community is taking a well-rounded approach while taking into account the resources available. However, it will take multiple approaches, trial and error, and compromise that I believe each of us is committed to,” Seewood wrote.

THe University of Missouri did not make officials available for comment.

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A Call To The Community After SLO Firefighter Donates Kidney to Life-Long Friend

KEYT on February 5, 2026

Allison Winslow

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEYT) – San Luis Obispo county firefighter and paramedic Sam Secord is on the road to recovery after donating a kidney to his lifelong friend and fellow Eagle Scout, Finn Israel.

The successful surgery took place January 14th at Stanford Medical Center. In a GoFundMe post, Secord’s family says he decided to become a living donor after seeing Israel’s strength, perseverance, and faith.

Secord will be unable to work for the next 8-10 weeks as he recovers. A GoFundMe has been set up by the Secord family to raise funds to support the firefighter and his wife, Amber. The money will go towards paying off their mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and more. The couple is less than $2,000 away from reaching their goal at the time this article was written.

Sam and wife Amber

Anyone looking to donate can visit the couple’s GoFundMe page.

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Construction Begins on New ‘Blosser Ranch’ Housing Development in Santa Maria

KEYT on February 5, 2026

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Initial construction has started on a new large-scale housing development that will become one of the largest residential projects planned for Santa Maria in many years.

Crews are now leveling the property along South Blosser Road and West Battles Road preparing the land for what will become the part of the Blosser Ranch master-planned community.

“We’ve broken ground on what’s known as Lot 7,” said Jared Goldstein, Canfield Development Inc. Managing Principal. “What you’re seeing now is our grading operations, which is kicking off the exciting chapter for the entire Blosser Ranch community.”

Work happening right now is for the first of what will be six-phased project situated on 160-acres that is bordered by South Blosser Road to the west, West Battles Road to the south, West Stowell Road to the north, and South Depot Street to the east.

“Blosser Ranch is a master plan community that features approximately 1,500 residential units,” said Goldstein.  “It’s a mix of, apartments and homes. As for the homes, they have flexibility to either be for sale product or rental product, depending on what the market and the community demands from us.”

The first phase of the Blosser Ranch community will be 301-unit apartment complex that will be built on the southwest portion of the property.

“It’s really designed with community living in mind,” said Goldstein. “It’s got a fantastic clubhouse with spaces for families, a children’s study room, game areas, a fitness center and a business center. The outside area at lot seven is going to have a pool, a spa, kids play park, pocket parks, barbecue areas. It even includes a Santa Maria style, barbecue for the residents. In addition to pet run and outdoor gaming spaces. We’re really proud of what we created and how it’s going to integrate into the community and even create its own community, and it’s a whole lifestyle built right into the neighborhood. We can’t wait to have residents occupy the project and use these amazing amenities that we’ve planned for it.” 

The high-profile property sits catty-corner from the Santa Maria Fairpark and is the last large-scale undeveloped land in the heart of the city.

The square-shaped plot of land has been used for agricultural purposes, including for growing famous Santa Maria strawberries for decades.

In addition to the homes, Blosser Ranch will also include a school, Santa Maria Fire Department station, retail space, sports complex, and a water retention basin.

The much-anticipated sports facility has been in the works by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department for nearly 10 years and is now under construction after ground was broken last year.

According to Goldstein, the first phase of Blosser Ranch that includes the 301 apartments is expected to be competed in three years, while the timeline to finish the project in its entirety is still to be determined.

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Texas Railroad Commission approves gas rate hike for El Pasoans, City of El Paso negotiated to lower rate hike percentage

KVIA on February 5, 2026

Valeria Medina

UPDATE (February 6th, 2026) — The City of El Paso said it managed to lower the rate increase percentage through negotiation efforts. The City says average small homes will see a 10% hike; that translates to roughly $3.64 per month. For people with the average large home, they’ll see a 19% increase, which translates to roughly $11.30 per month.

Last year, City Council voted against a proposed settlement that would have brought the rate increase down to 10%. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson was the tie-breaking vote, because he said he hoped they could do better than 10%.

UPDATE (5:15 P.M.) — The City of El Paso says it’s reviewing the next steps to take following the Commission’s rate hike approval.

City Attorney Karla Nieman, says, quote:

“This decision is not the outcome the City Council sought for El Paso customers. We are reviewing the Railroad Commission’s action taken today and will brief City Council on what it means for our community and what options are available moving forward.”

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Texas Gas Customers in El Paso will now have to pay more each month; this comes after the Texas Railroad Commission voted to approve a 27% rate increase. This means the average customer will see their monthly bill increase to up to $14.

The Commission said the added dollars are needed to cover costs related to service and maintenance service costs.

Back in November of 2025, ABC-7 reported that El Paso City Council rejected the proposed rate hike.

Another utility recently approved a rate hike. El Paso Water customers are seeing a 12% increase on their monthly bills for the 2026-2027 fiscal year; this translates to about $10 more a month.

More details tonight on ABC-7 at 5 and 6.

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Authorities in Missouri warn of rise in cryptocurrency scams against residents

News-Press NOW on February 5, 2026

Danielle Bailey

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Missouri State Highway Patrol is warning residents about a growing number of cryptocurrency scam reports.

The scams frequently target older adults, but other members of the public have been affected, causing significant financial losses. Scammers use social media, email, text messages, dating websites and phone calls to contact victims.

Common warning signs of fraud include:

Pressure to act quickly or claims that immediate action is required

Requests for payment in cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, Bitcoin ATM (or kiosk)

Unsolicited contact from individuals claiming to represent government agencies, financial institutions, tech support or investment firms

Promises of guaranteed profits or “risk-free” investment opportunities

Instructions to keep the transaction secret

Online relationships that quickly turn into requests for money or investment assistance

Requests for personal or financial information sent through email, text message, or social media

The Patrol said legitimate government agencies and law enforcement officers do not request payment in cryptocurrency or gift cards. Officials also warned residents never to share digital wallet security information, including seed phrases. Residents should take time to verify requests for money or information and talk with a trusted friend, family member or financial advisor before making financial decisions.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted is encouraged to contact local law enforcement as soon as possible. Officials said prompt reporting improves the chances of recovering stolen funds and prosecuting offenders.

The Patrol also encourages anyone who believes they have been targeted or victimized by a scam to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222 or file a complaint online at the Attorney General’s website.

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Former West Ada school teacher files federal lawsuit over state, district response to ‘Everyone is Welcome Here’ poster

KIFI on February 5, 2026

Sean Dolan

Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on February 4, 2026

by Sean Dolan, IdahoEdNews.org.

BOISE, Idaho — The middle school teacher who was forced to remove a classroom sign that read, “Everyone is Welcome Here,” filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday seeking a declaration that an Idaho flag and banner law is unconstitutional.

Administrators for West Ada School District last year forced teacher Sarah Inama to remove the banner from her classroom. She quit her job in West Ada and now works for Boise School District.

Inama is asking the United States District Court of Idaho to declare that a state law passed last year that prohibits the display of certain flags and banners violates the U.S. Constitution and the Idaho Constitution.

She is seeking damages, attorney fees, a jury trial and an injunction to stop state and district officials from enforcing the state law.

Inama’s lawsuit names multiple defendants:

The Idaho State Board of Education

The Idaho Department of Education

Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador

The West Ada School District

West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub

Monty Hyde, principal of West Ada’s Lewis and Clark Middle School

In January 2025, West Ada administrators asked Inama, a sixth-grade teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School in Meridian, to take down two signs promoting inclusivity. In addition to the “Everyone is Welcome Here” banner — which included hands of several skin colors with hearts in their palms — she displayed on her wall a sign that said everyone in the room is welcome, important, accepted, respected, encouraged, valued and equal. Each word shows a different color of the rainbow.

Sarah Inama stands for a portrait after speaking at an “Everyone is Welcome Here” rally at the Idaho Statehouse. (Kaeden Lincoln/Idaho EdNews)

A district official told Inama in an email that her signs were out of alignment with a district policy that prohibits the display and teaching of “controversial issues” and the “advancement of individual beliefs.”

Click here for a timeline and stories related to the controversy surrounding Inama’s poster.

Around the same time, the Idaho Legislature was in the process of passing House Bill 41. Signed into law by Gov. Brad Little on March 19, the law prohibits K-12 public schools from displaying flags or banners showing opinions, emotions, beliefs or thoughts about politics, economics, society, faith or religion.

Labrador in June issued an opinion that HB 41 found schools cannot display the “Everyone is Welcome Here” banner.

Labrador wrote in a July 14 op-ed for Fox News that the message behind Inama’s classroom posters appear to be “simple, positive words that seem apolitical,” but the rainbow colors are actually “progressive symbols” aligned with diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

“These classroom displays reflect a broader ecosystem of political resistance groups launched in protest of the political rise of President Donald Trump,” Labrador wrote.

The lawsuit argues that Labrador deprived Inama of her constitutional right to freedom of speech when he stated that the “Everyone is Welcome Here” poster violated HB 41.

“Ms. Inama’s First Amendment rights are and were infringed by the Speech Regulations and will continue to be threatened absent relief from this Court,” Inama’s lawyers wrote in the 43-page complaint.

The lawsuit includes seven clauses of action, one of which targets the West Ada School District, Bub and Hyde.

Teachers do not shed their First Amendment rights when they enter the schoolhouse, the lawsuit argues. District officials told Inama that the hands with different skin colors is an improper political message, according to the lawsuit, but the integration of ethnicities in public schools has been settled law for decades.

“Ms. Inama is legally obligated to welcome students of all races and ethnicities into her classroom,” the lawsuit states.

The defendants have 21 days to respond to the complaint.

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