Mecca paragliding accident: Pilot hospitalized after power line collision

KESQ on February 3, 2026

Garrett Hottle

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) New details are emerging after a paraglider was seriously injured when crashing into power lines Monday afternoon in Mecca.

According to officials, crews responded around 5 p.m. to reports of a paraglider down near Johnson Street and Highway 111.

Images shared by Riverside County Fire Department show what appears to be a paraglider and cables at the scene. Fire officials later confirmed the aircraft involved was a paraglider, not a parachute, after initial reports.

Officials say there was only one person on board. That pilot suffered major injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to a local hospital for treatment.

Fire officials say once the patient was transferred to hospital care, they no longer received updates on the person’s condition.

Authorities have not said what caused the crash or how long the paraglider may have been entangled in the power lines. The incident remains under investigation.

News Channel 3 has reached out to family friends regarding the condition of the injured pilot, and will update you with any additional information as it becomes available.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on this developing story.

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Long-time community advocate Family Access Network welcomes its newest board member

KTVZ on February 3, 2026

KTVZ – News Team

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Megan Geiss of Bend has joined the Family Access Network (FAN) foundation Board of Directors, the organization announced Tuesday. Geiss, a long-time community advocate, will support the nonprofit’s mission of connecting Central Oregon children and families with essential resources.

The Family Access Network organization was established in 2006. FAN raises funds and increases community awareness to support the operations of FAN advocates working in schools throughout the region.

Geiss has lived in Bend for 20 years and has a professional background in digital marketing and strategy. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Bend and has been involved in several youth-focused community initiatives. Geiss holds a degree in communication from San José State University.

Julie Lyche serves as the Executive Director of FAN and expressed support for the new addition. “We are thrilled to have Megan join our team. Her enthusiasm, local connections and heart for our work are a perfect fit for our Board of Directors,” Lyche said.

The Family Access Network began in 1993 and currently employs 28 advocates who work across 66 sites. These advocates are placed directly within schools in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. The organization aims to help families break the cycle of poverty by providing direct access to essential resources. Geiss is a mother to a son, Cooper, who is currently a senior at Mountain View High School. She stated she is honored to support the organization’s mission of ensuring children have the resources they need to thrive.

Geiss is a mother to a son, Cooper, who is currently a senior at Mountain View High School. She stated she is honored to support FAN’s mission of ensuring children have the resources they need to thrive.

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SJPD warns of jury duty scam calls

News-Press NOW on February 3, 2026

Leah Rainwater

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) — The St. Joseph Police Department issued a social media statement via Facebook, warning of ongoing jury duty phone scams.

The department said scammers may call and claim the recipient has missed jury duty and may owe fines or face arrest.

The scammers often pressure victims to pay immediately using gift cards, prepaid cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.

The department said courts and law enforcement will not call to demand payment or threaten with arrest over the phone for jury duty.

Legitimate jury notices are sent by mail and not by phone or text.

Residents who receive calls like this are encouraged to hang up immediately, not send money or share any personal information and report the call to local law enforcement.

SJPD said to contact its non-emergency line by calling 816-271-4777 or report online at www.stjosephmo.gov/597/Online-Crime-Reporting.

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MoWest professor named 2026 Jazz Educator of the Year  

News-Press NOW on February 3, 2026

Prajukta Ghosh

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)– Bob Long, director of Jazz Studies and professor of saxophone at Missouri Western State University, has been named the 2026 Jazz Educator of the Year at the Missouri Music Conference.  

When asked how he felt about receiving the honor, Long said he was humbled, especially because of the award’s long-standing legacy.  

“When you look at the list of people who have been given this award in the past 45 years, there’s a lot of my mentors and a lot of my old teachers that are on that list so to be listed with them is quite an honor,” Long said.  

This year marks Long’s 22nd year at MoWest, where he serves as the director of Jazz Studies and teaches saxophone.  

Before coming to St. Joseph, Long spent about 16 years in Iowa, teaching at Valley High School, which had an extensive jazz program. 

He said his love for music began back in junior high, where a music director first introduced and guided him into jazz.  

“I guess you can say the music spoke to me, and listening to the jazz and all its great classics and recordings and everything that just stuck with me, and I knew that’s what I wanted to do,” Long said.  

According to Long, several factors fueled his passion for music over the years.  

“It was the energy of the music, the rhymical drive of the music, the excitement and then also the freedom to say what you want to say and as I grew older and studied music, the historic part of the music,” Long said.  

Long added that teaching at the collegiate level had always been a goal of his.  

He got his start at Truman State University, teaching privately for several years before a friend encouraged him to try teaching at the high school level.  

“This job came along and I wanted to take it because I wanted to share the knowledge I had gained in teaching public schools with new music educators coming out,” Long said.  

His favorite part of teaching, he said, is watching students learn new things and seeing how they grow from their failures. 

Long also emphasized the importance of pursuing education if it’s something students truly love.  

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Sheriff Rupert to host town halls in Redmond and Bend

KTVZ on February 3, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert is continuing his series of community Town Halls, with upcoming stops in Redmond and Bend. The events give residents a chance to meet the Sheriff, share their concerns, and help guide the future of public safety in Deschutes County.

After visiting La Pine, Sunriver, Terrebonne, and Sisters, Rupert says these forums have already led to action. During last month’s meeting in Terrebonne, residents raised concerns about speeding and traffic congestion caused by Highway 97 construction. In response, deputies increased patrols in the area, and neighbors say they’ve noticed safer conditions near school bus stops.

“These Town Halls are a great way for us to hear directly from the community,” Sheriff Rupert said. “Your feedback helps us address concerns and improve how we deliver public safety.”

The Redmond Town Hall will take place Tuesday, February 10, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Redmond VFW Hall Post 4108, 491 SW Veterans Way.The Bend Town Hall is set for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, also from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Bend VFW Hall Post 1643, 1503 NE 4th Street.

Rupert says his goal is to continue building trust and making sure local concerns guide law enforcement priorities across Deschutes County.

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ABC-7 at 4: African Heritage Weekend Comes to the Sun City

KVIA on February 3, 2026

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV) – African Heritage Week will be celebrated citywide in El Paso,February 6–8. The celebration brings together local Black leaders, designers, and organizations, alongside an International guest from Uganda, Meriam Nanasirye, founder of Rescue Women’sFoundation. Events will take place at the Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), the El Paso Museumof History, and Amalur at Old Sheepdog Brewery, offering the community multiple opportunitiesto engage throughout the weekend.

EVENT CALENDAR:

Friday, February 6 | 3:00–6:00 PMMexican American Cultural Center (MACC)

African Heritage Week Kickoff Cultural CelebrationSpeakers, cultural performances, African fashion showcase, and Black-owned vendor market.

Saturday, February 7 | 1:00–3:00 PMEl Paso Museum of HistoryAfrican Heritage Week Opening Reception & Fashion ShowcaseTraditional African fashion and jewelry from Uganda paired with local Black designers.Saturday, February 7 | 7:00–9:00 PMAmalur at Old Sheepdog Brewery (Mystic Desert Studio)African Heritage Week Fashion ShowRunway show featuring local and international Black designers.Sunday, February 8 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PMMexican American Cultural Center (MACC)African Heritage Week Cultural Celebration & Fashion WalkSpeakers, cultural performances, fashion walk, and Black-owned vendor market.African Heritage Weekend marks a milestone for El Paso, celebrating African culture throughfashion, storytelling, and community connection across the city. All events are free andopen to the public.

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Mt. Bachelor hosts Passholder party

KTVZ on February 3, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Mt. Bachelor is teaming up with Bend Brewing Company for a Passholder Party this week, giving season passholders a chance to unwind after a day on the mountain. The February Passholder Party will take place Wednesday, February 4, at Bend Brewing Co. in Bend.

The event features a live DJ, a special après menu, swag giveaways, lawn games, and a Polaroid camera photobooth for guests to capture memories. The first 200 passholders to arrive will receive a free beer.

The Passholder Party runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Bend Brewing Co., located at 1019 NW Brooks Street in Bend.

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Jefferson County Fair Board meeting set for Wednesday

KTVZ on February 3, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — As communities across Central Oregon move into fair season, the Jefferson County Fair Board is gearing up for a busy year ahead. The board will hold its regular meeting this Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Jefferson County Event Complex in Madras.

Among the agenda items: discussion on the return of this year’s Mobile Museum, presented by the Children’s Museum of Central Oregon, along with planning for the Challenge of Champions Tour Bull Riding Event.

The meeting is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and share input on upcoming events and programs that highlight the county’s fairgrounds.

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AG Hanaway finds agreement with former client Grain Belt over document demand

KMIZ on February 3, 2026

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway reached a deal with her former client, Grain Belt Expres,s in the company’s lawsuit over the state’s demand for documents.

Hanaway was the lead counsel for Grain Belt when she worked at law firm Husch Blackwell. She left that job when she was appointed attorney general last fall.

Grain Belt sued the attorney general’s office last July after then-Attorney General Andrew Bailey demanded that the wind energy company turn over documents as part of a civil investigative demand. The demand is similar to a subpoena.

In court filings last week, Grain Belt agreed to supply Hanaway with documents she sought.

The project would route a high-voltage wind energy transmission line through parts of Central Missouri. The company has promised economic impact through construction jobs, and has said a Hubbell Power Systems in Centralia will make components for the project.

A connection is planned from north of Centralia to near Kingdom City. That route includes land in Monroe, Audrain and Callaway counties, according to the Grain Belt website.

The main line will also run through Chariton and Randolph counties.

Grain Belt has also filed several eminent domain lawsuits to obtain easements on private land.

The Missouri Public Service Commission has approved the project.

As Grain Belt’s lawyer last July, Hanaway said the attorney general had “no authority to interfere with the Public Service Commission or its final approval of this project.”

The project has contracts with 39 municipal utilities in Missouri, including Columbia Water and Light. Project leaders say Grain Belt could save Missouri energy consumers billions of dollars.

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El Paso musician advances to Hollywood on American Idol

KVIA on February 3, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso teen is going to Hollywood after wowing judges on American Idol. 19-year-old Julián Kalel advanced past the first round Monday night.

Kalel advanced during his last audition in 2025, but took a step back to focus on his mental health. He received an anxiety diagnosis as a freshman in high school.

The song he wrote for his most recent audition is an anti-suicide anthem. He said he wrote it during a dark period in his life, and wants it to remind listeners they’re never alone.

All three judges gave Kalel a yes.

“You have all the talent of a great singer, glad you’re back,” judge Luke Bryan told Kalel. “Let’s just have fun with this thing.”

Kalel will head to Hollywood to compete on a much bigger stage.

To hear more about Kalel’s story, click here. American Idol airs on ABC-7 Monday nights at 7 p.m. You can follow Kalel’s journey to stardom.

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