New Mexico Supreme Court upholds convictions of Las Cruces man who murdered girlfriend

KVIA on February 5, 2026

KVIA ABC-7

UPDATE (Feb. 5, 2026) — The New Mexico Supreme Court upheld the convictions of Steven Valdez for the murder his girlfriend, Brittney Skaggs. This comes after Valdez appealed the conviction, arguing evidence was wrongly used in court and he was denied effective legal representation. Valdez claimed evidence related to domestic violence should have been excluded from the trial. Valdez also argued he received ineffective legal representation because of a lack of communication between him and his attorney. The Court rejected Valdez’s arguments today, and concluded that the trial court acted accordingly.

As ABC-7 reported, Valdez was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Skaggs, plus 13 years for aggravated assault and fleeing from police which was related to the crime.

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — A man convicted of murdering his girlfriend and dragging her body into a car in full view of neighbors was sentenced to 45 years in prison Tuesday.

On October 12, 2023, a jury found 45-year-old Steven Valdez guilty of murdering Brittany Skaggs in February of 2022.

ABC-7 covered this murder when it happened. You can read our initial reporting here.

The jury also found Valdez guilty of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

Police found Skaggs dead inside her car at a trailer park on the 2200 block of Doña Ana Road on February 23, 2022. She had suffered a single gunshot wound to her abdomen. When the officers arrived, they saw Valdez ride away on a motorcycle. Skaggs’ friend told investigators that Skaggs had gotten into a fight with Valdez, who she claimed had beat her.

“It was at that time that Valdez entered the home, the witness confronted Valdez and he hit her with the butt of his handgun,” a spokesperson with the Third Judicial District Attorney of New Mexico explained. “Then Valdez chased Skaggs into the back bedroom where she pushed him attempting to leave when Valdez fired the handgun five times at Skaggs, hitting her in the arm and in the abdomen. Then Valdez located the witness and pointed the gun at her. She pleaded with him, not to shoot her.  The witness then saw him drag Skaggs out and placed her into her vehicle and left the scene. 911 audio was played at the trial, detailing the witness’ testimony.”

Las Cruces Police officers later found Valdez, still riding his motorcycle, and chased him through the city. Court officials say he was traveling at speeds over 100 mph. He crashed the motorcycle and was arrested.

“Valdez has a history of criminal behavior and Domestic Violence,” the D.A. spokesperson explained. “Domestic Violence help is available for anyone experiencing domestic or intimate partner violence through La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery Services 24 Hour Crisis Hotline 575-526-3437.”

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FBI offering $50,000 in case of Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance

KRDO on February 5, 2026

Celeste Springer

On Thursday, officials held a press conference on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the morning of a Today show anchor.

According to Arizona’s Pima County Sheriff’s Office, ransom notes were sent to local media outlets. This week, the sheriff’s office said they have not yet confirmed whether the notes are legitimate. However, FBI Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said that an arrest has been made in connection with what he said was an “imposter ransom demand.”

A family member called 911 around noon Sunday to report her missing, according to CNN. Guthrie’s daughter, Today show anchor Savannah Guthrie, pleaded for her mother’s safe return home in a video posted to Instagram this week. Investigators believe she may have been abducted.

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A post shared by Savannah Guthrie (@savannahguthrie)

On Thursday, the FBI announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to her recovery. The sheriff’s office said they believe she is “still out there.” Investigators have not announced any suspects, but say they believe she was taken against her will.

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Police arrest woman accused of selling fake Pokémon cards

KIFI on February 5, 2026

Fox13

Originally Published: 05 FEB 26 13:04 ET

By Michael Martin

Click here for updates on this story

    SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah (KSTU) — If you wanna be the very best, like no one ever was, you know you have to collect all the Pokémon you can. But for some people in northern Utah, their efforts were allegedly squashed after they say they purchased fake Pokémon cards.

Hely Alejandra Hayward, 29, was arrested on Tuesday for theft charges, but is being held without bail after investigators stated this wasn’t her first arrest for similar charges.

According to court documents, on January 28th, an officer with the Saratoga Springs Police Department were called by a victim in West Valley City after he allegedly bought counterfeit Pokémon cards.

The victim told police that he saw a listing on an online marketplace for the cards and communicated with the seller through the marketplace. The victim stated he met the seller at a Costco in Saratoga Springs.

Investigators say the victim recalled the seller showing up in a white Mazda CX-5. In the transaction, the victim allegedly paid $3,000 in cash for two graded trading cards and a men’s watch.

However, when the victim sold the items on eBay, they had to be authenticated at a California facility. When the facility received the cards, they found them to be counterfeit and returned the cards to him.

Saratoga Springs police met with the alleged seller, Hayward, who told them that she sold the Pokémon cards that day but denied knowing they were fake.

Hayward was arrested on Tuesday and faces a theft charge for something between $1,500 and $5,000 in value. However, she is being held without bail as police say this is her third arrest for similar charges.

On December 15, 2025, Hayward was arrested for theft charges after selling a victim $4,500 in Pokémon cards. When the victim later inspected the cards, they were found to be counterfeit, and the victim stated they couldn’t get in contact with Hayward.

On January 6, 2026, Hayward was again arrested for a theft charge after selling another victim what was later deemed to be a counterfeit Pokémon card for $1,500.

In relation to the two previous charges, the court allowed Hayward to be released with conditions, including not committing any criminal offenses.

She is now being held without bail.

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.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Female driver killed in collision with semi-truck near Sugar City

KIFI on February 5, 2026

Ariel Jensen

UPDATED

SUGAR CITY, Idaho (KIFI) — A woman is dead after a passenger vehicle collided with a semi-truck pulling a pup trailer near Sugar City Thursday morning.

The crash took place just before 10:25 a.m. along U.S. 20. First responders from multiple agencies arrived on the scene to find that both vehicles had left the road and gone through a fence.

The driver of the semi-truck was treated on the scene, but emergency crews found that the female driver of the passenger vehicle had succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.

The crash remains under investigation at this time as police work to determine what led to the crash. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office says no further information is available at this time.

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Truman Middle School to host Buchanan County Spelling Bee on Saturday

News-Press NOW on February 5, 2026

Leah Rainwater

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. (KQTV) — The Buchanan County Spelling Bee, sponsored by the St. Joseph School District PTA Council, will see 85 spellers from 20 Buchanan County schools.

The Spelling Bee will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7, at Truman Middle School, located at 3227 Olive St.

Registration will begin at 12:30 p.m, with the bee promptly starting at 1 p.m.

Spellers in 5th and 6th grade will compete in the Boys’ Gym, and spellers in the 7th and 8th grade will compete in the Girls’ Gym.

The top five spellers from the two divisions will move on to the finals. The top two winners overall will represent Buchanan County in the Northwest Missouri Regional Spelling Bee.

The first-place winner from the regional bee will then represent 14 Northwest Missouri Counties at the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.

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Interstate 29 to close in both directions starting Saturday for Gene Field Road Bridge demolition

News-Press NOW on February 5, 2026

Cameron Montemayor

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — Drivers along Interstate 29 in Buchanan County will want to plan a detour this weekend as construction crews take a major first step toward replacing the damaged Gene Field Road Bridge.

Interstate 29 in Buchanan County will be closed in both directions beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, and is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9. to allow for the demolition of the Gene Field Road bridge.

Clarkson Construction Company, in coordination with the Missouri Department of Transportation, will be closing the interstate to carry out the $5.5 million project, which includes a complete replacement of the structure. The estimated timeline for completion — weather permitting — is July 2026.

Traffic Impacts & Detours:

• Northbound and southbound I-29 through traffic will be detoured to I-229

• Southbound I-29 traffic must exit at I-29 / I-229 / U.S. Route 71 (Exit 56B)

• Northbound I-29 traffic must exit at I-229 / I-29 (Exit 43)

Local Access Restrictions:

• No access to northbound I-29 from Missouri Route 6 (Frederick Blvd.) – Exit 47

• No access to southbound I-29 from U.S. Route 169 – Exit 50

Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and use alternate routes when possible.

The bridge has been closed since last November after it was struck by an oversized vehicle load on Nov. 10. Despite initial attempts to try and reopen it to one lane, a subsequent evaluation showed one of the four main support girders was separated from the bridge deck during the collision, compromising its structural integrity.

Traffic data shows roughly 6,500 vehicles use the Gene Field Road bridge every day, a vital east-to-west corridor for residents. The closure has had a considerable impact on traffic volume along routes like Frederick Avenue.

The plan now — weather permitting — is to complete the 63-year-old bridge replacement project by July 1, 2026. The bridge was originally scheduled to be replaced in 2027 before the collision occurred.

The new bridge will be expanded slightly from 22 feet to 26 feet wide, including concrete barriers and new 5-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides, a boost for pedestrian safety.

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Preparations for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open

KESQ on February 5, 2026

Timothy Foster

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – Preparations are already underway for one of the Coachella Valley’s biggest annual events, as crews work to get ready for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

The world-renowned tennis tournament is just weeks away, and setup is already transforming the area surrounding the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Temporary structures are being installed, parking areas are being finalized, and large-scale transportation plans are being implemented ahead of the two-week event.

One of the most visible signs of preparation is the arrival of hundreds of BMW vehicles. More than 300 BMWs are already staged on site and will be used throughout the tournament to transport players, officials, and VIP guests. The fleet is part of a large-scale shuttle and traffic management operation designed to keep movement smooth during one of the busiest times of the year in the desert.

The tournament is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, delivering a significant economic boost to the Coachella Valley. Local business owners say tourism during the tournament season is essential, with many relying on event-driven traffic to support operations through the slower summer months.

Last year, more than 500,000 people attended the BNP Paribas Open, generating more than $850 million for the local economy. Organizers anticipate another strong turnout this year as fans return for two weeks of world-class tennis and related events.

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open runs from March 1 through March 15 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

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2025 data finds thousands euthanized at Riverside County shelters, while ‘life-saving’ progress is made

KESQ on February 5, 2026

Athena Jreij

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ) – Reflecting on the past year, Riverside County says progress has been made in life-saving efforts.

In their bi-monthly animal commission meeting, officials say live-release rates increased in 2025, from 71.2% to 78.5%, along with adoption and foster rates.

However, they say a lot of work still needs to be done, with a focus on reducing length of stay in shelters for large dogs and elderly cats.

News Channel 3 dug into the figures, and found while life-saving efforts increased, thousands of animals were still euthanized, died in care or lost.

According to data, total non-live outcomes for the year was 4,733, a 35% decrease from 7,232 in 2024.

Officials say it’s a sign that programs like ‘Dibs’ and ‘Ticket to Ride’ are working, but advocates say it’s not satisfactory.

“They are very into a metric and number to be ‘no kill.’ We want the shelter to do the right thing. Yes, if you have to euthanize for medical reasons, for behavior, but not for space, and then you refuse to build any space,” Lisa Fein-Blodgett said.

Blodgett is a defendant in a lawsuit against the county’s euthanasia practices. A recent injunction has asked the county to build more space for shelter pets.

In response to the question if that’s feasible, Veronica Perez with the county said, “We have to look at where we are right now every single day, and right now we are overcrowded for the amount of dogs compared to kennel space. We have to also look at where can we make an impact and move the needle, whether it’s more fosters, more volunteers, increasing those adoptions, partnering at the local level.”

For 2026, officials say they have two mottos.

“One is ‘getting to yes,’ so saying yes to everyone that comes in wants to help. There is a way for virtually everyone to help us save more lives. The other one is that ‘it takes a village.’ So anyone that can help should be invited and welcomed in the doors,” Kristen Hassen said.

She says the priorities for 2026 are, “We’re looking at what is within our control, which is bigger adoption programs, bigger volunteer programs, larger foster programs, getting more animals out and then trying to help people keep their pets whenever possible.”

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Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation launches Art Contest for 2026 SELCO Kids’ PPP team race

KTVZ on February 5, 2026

KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation is accepting entries for the SELCO Kids’ Mini PPP Art Contest right now through the end of February. Central Oregon elementary school students are invited to submit designs to be featured as the official artwork for the upcoming annual team race. You can see the winning artwork for the 2025 Art Contest above.

Organized by the foundation as a fundraiser and presented by Sylvan Learning, the race is scheduled for May 17th, 2026 at Seventh Mountain Resort. The event name stands for “Playful Peers Persevere” and is designed for children in elementary school; the competition is an alternative to Central Oregon’s beloved annual “Pole Pedal Paddle” event.

The winning design will serve as the official artwork for the 2026 event. It will be featured on participant shirts and in advertisements. The winning artist will also receive free entry into the race for themselves and their team!

The designs submitted must include specific text within the design. “SELCO Kids’ Mini PPP,” “Bend, Oregon” and “2026” as well as the letters “MBSEF” somewhere in the artwork.

Entries must be received by 4 p.m. on February 27th, 2026. Submissions can be emailed to events@mbsef.org or delivered to the Mt. Bachelor Sports Education Foundation office at 2765 NW Lolo Drive in Bend. Foundation coaches and staff will be judging all submissions.

For local educators, the foundation is offering a new lesson plan and an accompanying video to show students for the contest. These materials and further event details are available on the official race website: https://pppbend.com/mini-ppp/

Registration to compete in the SELCO Kids’ Mini PPP will begin on March 1st, 2026. The race will take place on May 17th, 2026.

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Local health department officials warn of surge in highly addictive opioid

News-Press NOW on February 5, 2026

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Health Department is alerting the community to a concerning increase in the local use of 7-hydroxymitragynine, a powerful and highly addictive opioid compound currently being sold in retail locations.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the substance, also known as 7-hydroxy or 7-OH, can be up to 13 times more potent than morphine or heroin.

The substance also poses a serious risk of respiratory depression and overdose.

Dr. Robert Corder, a medical doctor at the St. Joseph Health Department, said he’s concerned about the rise in patients being treated locally for 7-OH issues.

“It’s very disturbing that this new concentrated form of kratom can be obtained with no restrictions. It is so powerful that it takes two to three times the medication that we use on patients who are addicted to fentanyl,” Corder said. “The nickname for 7-OH is ‘gas station heroin.’ I don’t feel that any drug this powerful should be available to the general public.”

7-OH occurs naturally in very small amounts in the kratom plant, but is now being sold in concentrated and unregulated forms for recreational use and for claimed effects like stimulation, pain relief or sedation.

The opioid is often marketed as kratom, but it is a different substance and carries a significantly higher risk of addiction.

The products are unregulated and the strength and quality vary widely, making safe closing difficult. The risk of overdose increases when 7-OH is used with other substances.

Products containing 7-OH are commonly sold at gas stations, convenience stores and smoke and vape shops. They are available as powders, capsules, edibles or beverages, and some are packaged to resemble candy or snack foods, raising concerns about accidental exposure among children, per a news release from the Health Department.

Health risks include addiction, poisoning, slowed or stopped breathing and death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recommended scheduling action under the Controlled Substances Act for certain products containing 7-OH. Neither kratom nor 7-OH has an FDA-approved medical use.

In early December, federal authorities seized approximately 73,000 units from warehouses, including two in the Kansas City area.

The Health Department urges residents to talk with a healthcare provider before using supplements marketed for pain, energy or mood.

Products containing kratom or 7-OH should be stored securely and kept out of reach of children and pets.

If someone becomes unresponsive after using the products listed above, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if available.

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