Study expects new Jefferson City hotel to have 70% occupancy through 2033

KMIZ on February 24, 2026

Ryan Shiner

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A market study regarding the new conference center was presented to the Jefferson City Council on Monday during a special work session.  

Renderings of the new conference center hotel were shown during a presentation. The hotel is expected to be open by June 1, 2028, according to presentation documents.

It will be located at the city block between East Capitol Avenue, Monroe Street, Commercial Way and Madison Street. Crews have been clearing out the area for the past couple of years, with the Madison Street Parking Garage being the most-recent demolition. The council last month approved the creation of a downtown conference center transportation development district.

The market study by CBRE Valuation & Advisory Services shows the 203-hotel room should expect roughly 70% occupancy (of 74,0925 expected rooms) through its first five years. The net income over that period is expected to be around $5.5 million, the study shows.

Rooms will range in sizes between 320 square feet through 600 square feet and the building will have a 15,000-square-foot ballroom that could hold 1,000 people.  

“The CVB has indicated more than 50 groups have held their meetings in Jefferson City in the past but have been pushed out due to lack of quality facilities,” the study says.

The study claims there is a market need to host 1,000-person events annually or biannually that need at least 400 hotel rooms. There are currently 560 rooms available at Jefferson City hotels, the study claims.

“In conjunction with this market study, a parking study is being performed to create a shared parking model which will determine the optimal size of the new parking structure based on existing parking demand, increased demand due to the conference center & hotel, as well as increased demand due to induced downtown redevelopment,” the study says.

Financing is coming from hotel and incentive revenue bonds, lodging Tax revenue bonds, parking revenue bonds, non-ARPA grants, parking fund contributions, state appropriations, lodging tax contributions, MDFB tax credits and project fund interest earnings totaling $121.7 million.

2026-02-23 work session packetDownload

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Palm Springs holds Tramview Heights specific plan community workshop

KESQ on February 24, 2026

Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – Dozens of Palm Springs community members gathered to give their input on the drafted Tramview Heights Specific Plan.

It was the fourth community open house aimed at collecting input.

The plan — formerly known as the College Park Specific Plan — covers neighborhoods including Desert Highlands, Gateway Estates, Mountain Gate and Palm Springs Villas.

Palm Springs city leaders said it was originally crafted around 2011 when a College of the Desert campus was expected to be built in the area. After the college moved forward with construction at a different site, the city began reexamining what residents want for the neighborhood.

Christopher Hadwin, Palm Springs planning director, said the effort is focused on updating development standards to reflect current community needs.

“They want a grocery store,” Hadwin said. “They want things that will really serve the local community. Banks, grocery stores, dry cleaners, restaurants and things that they can have access to within their own neighborhood.”

Hadwin said after additional feedback is gathered, the proposal would eventually go before the Planning Commission and later the City Council, though no formal decisions have been made.

He emphasized that community engagement remains central to the process.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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Cascades East Transit set to host ‘Transit 101’ pop-up and pass sign-up events around region

KTVZ on February 24, 2026

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Increase your mobility and confidence with Cascades East Transit’s Transit 101 and pass enrollment pop-up events, the agency announced.

The community-focused sessions are designed to boost ridership through education, hands-on support, and easy access to transit resources, according to a CET news relesae.

Staff will assist riders with signing up for passes, navigating the new payment system, planning trips, and learning how to ride the bus with guidance from an on-site CET travel trainer.

Whether you are new to transit or looking to ride more often, CET said these events make it simple to get started and stay informed.

All of the events are open to the public and hosted in partnership with local community organizations.

Confirmed Dates and Locations:

Feb 25: Redmond Library, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Feb 25: Downtown Bend Library, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Feb 26: Warm Springs, Old School Cafeteria, 1150 Warm Springs St – 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Mar 4:  Warm Springs, Family Resource Center, 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Mar 10: Larkspur Community Center, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Mar 12: La Pine Library, Community Room, 16425 1st St, 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Mar 18: Warm Springs (Location TBD), 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Mar 20: Redmond Senior Center, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

·      Visit www.cascadeseasttransit.com/fares for the latest updates and additions on scheduled pop-up events.

About Cascades East Transit Cascades East Transit is Central Oregon’s regional public transit provider, offering fixed-route buses, city connector routes, recreational shuttles, and both general public and specialized Dial-a-Ride services throughout Deschutes, Crook, Jefferson Counties and the Warm Springs community. CET’s mission is to exceed rider expectations by delivering courteous, safe, reliable, and high-quality transit that strengthens regional connectivity, reduces congestion, supports environmental sustainability, and enhances quality of life. Learn more at www.CascadesEastTransit.com 

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Deadly pedestrian crash prompts new safety measures in Taos

KMIZ on February 24, 2026

Haley Swaino

TAOS, Mo. (KMIZ)

About two months after a deadly pedestrian crash in Cole County, solutions are in the works to make crosswalks safer.

On Dec. 24, a 16-year-old driver hit an 85-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman crossing Route M in Taos near St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church just before Mass. The man was pronounced dead at a hospital and the woman was seriously hurt.

The crash happened in an area where Mayor Ronald Walker said speed has always been a problem.

The speed limit is 55 miles per hour coming into the city on either side and quickly drops to 30 miles per hour just before drivers approach more pedestrian-heavy areas like the Catholic church and school. The highway is essentially Taos’ main street.

“Route M was like an evolution of local community roads that was adopted into the state supplementary routes and they were hard paved,” Walker said. So it’s a pretty main connector between Route 50 on the east side of Jeff City, around Wardsville and the communities in southern Cole County.”

The amount of drivers taking Route M through Taos has grown, according to Walker. On average, 824 vehicles used the stretch of highway in 2024. ABC 17 News saw many drivers going at least 10 miles per hour over the limit on Monday.

“You get that reduction for people coming in from a 50 to a 30 and then going through this area. So speed is always a concern,” Walker said.

Before he was elected mayor in 2022, Walker worked for the Missouri State Highway Patrol. While MSHP and the Missouri Department of Transportation did not share what caused the deadly December crash, he said a number of factors could have played a part.

“This day and age, distracted driving is a huge concern. There’s people coming out of private driveways. There’s always activity around the church and the school. There’s pulling in, parking on either side up here that I think can play a part in congestion and people getting in and out of those parking spots,” Walker said. “So I think there’s a lot of different things that could play into a real bad sequence of events.”

One factor he said the city can work to improve is speeding.

“The board [Taos Board of Aldermen] felt like we could maybe gain some extra awareness for drivers coming through if we had what they [MoDOT] call a driver feedback sign on either side of this general part of the community that just announces your speed,” Walker said.

The hope is having a speed reader on each side of the city will alert drivers if they’re going too fast and encourage them to slow down. MoDOT is also exploring other pedestrian safety features along Route M, such as lighting.

“There’s a certain standard for lighting,” Walker said. “You don’t want to have intensity of light enough that you distract a driver with artificial lighting when it’s too dark.”

The Dec. 24 crash happened around 8:20 p.m., according to an MSHP crash report. While costs are still being estimated, Taos will front the bill for whatever safety features are installed. MoDOT does not typically pay for pedestrian improvements.

“I’m not sure how you put a cost on safety. I mean, there’s always a balance, but I think good safety is just a great investment for every community,” Walker said.

A MoDOT engineer is set to meet Walker in Taos next week and look at where speed readers might be placed.

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Avalanche experts warn backcountry users of safety

KIFI on February 24, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Local avalanche experts are urging backcountry users to slow down, get informed, and make safety their top priority before heading into the mountains. Local News 8 spoke with two avalanche experts on how skiers and snowmobilers can prepare, as the weak snowpack created by earlier drought conditions, continued storms, and wind can keep the avalanche threat elevated.

Scott Savage, director of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center, says preparation and awareness can make the difference between a great day outdoors and a deadly accident.

The first and most important step before snowmobiling or backcountry skiing is to check the avalanche forecast for your area.

“If there’s an avalanche forecast where you’re headed, read it,” Savage said. “If you’re not sure where to find one, you can go to avalanche.org and locate the avalanche center nearest you.”

Rich Rinaldi, owner of Yostmark Mountain Equipment, does backcountry tours and teaches avalanche safety courses. He strongly encourages anyone recreating in the winter backcountry to pursue formal avalanche education.

“I think that if someone is enthusiastic about getting in the mountains in the winter and recreating, skiing, or snow, will be doing that. There’s some great books you can read and educate yourself, and then take a course,” Rinaldi said.

Both Savage and Rinaldi emphasized the importance of proper safety gear. The standard avalanche safety kit includes three items:

Avalanche beacon (transceiver)

Probe

Avalanche Shovel

Even after checking the forecast, backcountry users must stay alert for signs of instability once they’re out on the snow. Key warning signs include:

Shooting cracks in the snow surface

Collapsing snowpack or a noticeable “whumpf” sound

Recent avalanches in the area

“These are signs of instability,” Rinaldi said. “If you follow the local avalanche forecast, you’ll kind of know what things are looking like, but you still have to pay attention to what you’re seeing.”

Ignoring these red flags is one of the biggest mistakes people make in avalanche terrain.

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Felon who fatally shot man on Indio street convicted of murder

KESQ on February 24, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A felon who gunned down an Indio man during a street confrontation stemming from an apparent grudge was convicted today of second-degree murder and other charges.

After two days of deliberations, an Indio jury on Wednesday found Hilario Larry Muela Jr., 39, of Indio, guilty of the murder count, along with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, illegal possession of a gun and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations for the 2023 death of 36-year-old Marco Ramirez Jr.   

Riverside County Superior Court Judge James Hawkins did not immediately schedule a sentencing date at the Larson Justice Center. Muela is being held without bail at the nearby Benoit Detention Center.

“This is not a case of self-defense. This is a case of a man who was shot two times,” Deputy District Attorney Jenna Barsamian told jurors in her opening statement last week.

The prosecutor recalled the victim and defendant were familiar with one another and not on good terms.

She said that shortly after 1 a.m. Feb. 3, 2023, Muela was walking through the 45600 block of Smurr Street, near Requa Avenue, just north of Highway 111, when he passed Ramirez and a few other people outside the victim’s home.

Barsamian said Muela later admitted to Indio Police Department investigators that he was armed, but the pistol “was just a backup type of thing.”

The prosecutor told jurors there had been bad blood between Muela and Ramirez and something triggered the defendant during their encounter that morning, leading him to see “an opportunity to gain revenge on prior grievances.”

Muela pulled his pistol and shot the victim twice in the back. Ramirez died at the scene.  

The defendant fled the location, but he was quickly identified as the assailant and taken into custody without incident that afternoon.   

Defense attorney Joshua Visco told the jury that “Mr. Muela acted in self-defense, and he is not guilty of murder.”   

Visco also pointed to previous conflicts between the men, but he insisted his client was not the gadfly.

The attorney maintained that Muela only pulled his gun and opened fire to prevent harm to himself, but he did not elaborate on the exact circumstances.

Court records show the defendant has prior convictions that resulted in prison time, but they weren’t specified.

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Thousands of Kaiser Permanente nurses returning to work after monthlong strike

KESQ on February 24, 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Thousands of unionized nurses and health care professionals at Kaiser Permanente facilities in California and Hawaii will return to work Tuesday, ending a roughly four-week strike carried out amid prolonged contract talks, union officials said today.

Officials with the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals said in a statement there has been “significant movement at the bargaining table” over the past 48 hours, prompting them to call for an end to the strike as of 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The union also called off all picketing activity on Monday as the union and Kaiser “finalize return-to-work agreements.”   

The nurses’ strike began on Jan. 26. Union officials called it the “largest open-ended strike of registered nurses and health care professionals in United States history.”

There were no immediate details available about the how close the two sides were to reaching a contract agreement, or what issues may have been resolved.

Kaiser officials said in a statement that the union has accepted the healthcare system’s offer of 21.5% across-the-board wage increase, calling the development “good progress” that “moves us closer to a contract agreement.” Kaiser officials said the union had been asking for increases of up to 63% over four years.   

“We made it clear when we presented this (21.5%) offer on Oct. 2, 2025, that this was the maximum we could offer and keep care affordable for our members and patients,” according to Kaiser. “Importantly, the increase is higher than any other health care provider in the country and keeps our employees at above market pay and among the best paid caregivers in the country.”

The roughly 31,000 members of the UNAC/UHCP had vowed to stay on strike until a fair contract agreement was reached. UNAC/UHCP members include registered nurses, pharmacists, nurse anesthetists, nurse practitioners, midwives, physician assistants, rehab therapists, speech language pathologists, dietitians and other specialty health care professionals.

“We’re striking because Kaiser has committed serious unfair labor practices and because Kaiser refuses to bargain in good faith over staffing that protects patients, workload standards that stop moral injury and the respect and dignity that Kaiser caregivers have been denied for far too long,” registered nurse Charmaine Morales, president of UNAC/UHCP, said previously.   

Camille Applin-Jones, senior vice president at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, previously described Kaiser’s latest contract offer as “one of the strongest nursing contract offers in California this year” once step increases and local adjustments are factored in.

“Despite the union’s claims, this strike is about wages. This open-ended strike by UNAC/UHCP is unnecessary when such a generous offer is on the table. The strike is designed to disrupt the lives of our patients — the very people we are all here to serve,” Applin-Jones said.

The union filed an unfair labor practice charge against Kaiser with the National Labor Relations Board alleging the company walked away from the bargaining table in December and attempted to bypass the agreed-upon national bargaining process. The union has been bargaining with Kaiser since last May.

Kaiser officials said Monday: “Our bargaining with UNAC/UHCP and each of the Alliance of Health Care Unions continues at local tables. We are continuing to make progress and remain optimistic about reaching contract agreements soon.”

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Local voter groups argue SAVE Act ultimately harms voters

KMIZ on February 24, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With the U.S. Senate reviewing House amendments in the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, the bill needs Senate approval to be moved to President Donald Trump’s desk.

If approved, the SAVE Act would require those registering to vote to have proof of citizenship. Supporters argue the bill strengthens election integrity, while opponents argue it adds unnecessary bureaucracy to the voting process and disenfranchises eligible voters.

Sen. John Hawley (R-MO) praised the bill in a statement.

“We ought to pass the SAVE Act,” Hawley said. “I think we ought to have it nationwide. We ought to make national elections safe and secure and fair, and the best way to restore confidence in our national elections is to pass these commonsense rules.”

It is currently illegal for non-citizens to cast ballots, with applicants required to self-report their citizenship in applications. Current safeguards also compare registrations with data from the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health, Department of Revenue and sometimes the Department of Corrections.

The SAVE Act also applies to those re-registering to vote after moving or changing their name.

Valid documents to prove citizenship include a passport, a birth certificate and military identification cards.

“It’s checking for eligibility on a variety of areas on the voter registration form,” Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said. “When we’re looking at the voter registration application that comes in, the voter checks off that they are a citizen and then they’re also attesting under penalty of law that they are a citizen.”

Opponents claim citizens would be affected by the bill.

“Senior citizens whose IDs may be expired, voters with disabilities who may not drive, young people who may move frequently, low-income and low-wage workers who may not have the fees necessary to get those underlying documents because they’re not free,” said Denise Lieberman, who is the director and general counsel of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition.

Lieberman added that citizens with out-of-state birth records, records with possible errors and victims of natural disasters also may run into issues with accessing valid documents.

“These measures would simply impose additional burdens on the voters themselves, United States citizens who have a fundamental right to participate and make them prove they are a citizen, even though they’ve already proved they are who they say they are,” Lieberman said.

Critics have also voiced concern for women who recently married and have a name different from their birth certificate.

“This isn’t just about women who have changed their name, this is about any person who’s ever changed their name,” Karen Sicheneder with When She Votes said. “I think it’s disingenuous when you hear arguments that, ‘Well, everyone has an ID,’ no, they don’t.”

According to ABC, noncitizens voting in elections is uncommon. A 2024 audit of Georgia voter rolls found that out of 8.2 million registered voters, 20 non-citizens were registered to vote. Only nine ended up casting a ballot.

Lennon added that some invalid registrations also come from application mistakes.

“When people are filling out these forms, if they make a mistake, if they fill one out and they’re not supposed to or they think they’re supposed to, or they think that they’re eligible, those kinds of things do happen very rarely,” Lennon said. “But in an instance of actually voting, very, very uncommon.”

Lennon added that until the bill is passed, prospective voters should continue to head to the polls.

“We do have an April 7 election that’s coming up. We want people to get out and vote, make their voice heard, “Lennon said.

The Missouri House Special Committee on Redistricting is also hosting a public hearing on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in House Hearing Room 1 for House Concurrent Resolution 48. The bill voices the Missouri General Assembly’s support for the SAVE Act and urges the United States Senate to approve the bill.

Citizens can also submit testimonies for the hearing.

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‘Home Improvement’ star Zachery Ty Bryan sentenced for La Quinta DUI arrest

KESQ on February 24, 2026

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – “Home Improvement” star Zachery Ty Bryan has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for driving under the influence two years ago in La Quinta.

Bryan was convicted Monday at the Larson Justice Center of Driving Under the Influence BAC .08 or Higher, court records show. Two other charges were dismissed, including a hit-and-run/property damage.

Bryan was arrested on Feb. 17, 2024 near the area of Washington Street and Calle Tampico. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies conducted a traffic stop after identifying a vehicle suspected of being involved in a recent traffic collision. When deputies approached the driver in the area of Washington Street and Calle Tampico, they observed signs of impairment.

“This led to the driver’s arrest for driving under the influence with priors,” added Sergeant Wendy Brito-Gonzalez.

Additional records show deputies arrested Bryan at 2:36 a.m.

According to FOX Los Angeles, Bryan has been arrested six times between 2020-2025, including a DUI arrest in Oklahoma in Oct. 2024.

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Planning Commission approves permit to rebuild fertility clinic damaged in Palm Springs bombing

KESQ on February 24, 2026

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Update 2/24/26

The Planning Commission approved a permit to rebuild the American Reproductive Center, a fertility clinic damaged in a deadly bombing in May 2025. 

In a unanimous vote commissioners signed off on plans to build a new medical office building at 1199 North Indian Canyon Drive. 

It’s the same site where the original clinic stood before it was damaged. 

Now, the project heads to the Architectural Review Committee for its next phase.

Original Report 2/23/26

The Palm Springs Planning Commission will review a permit for plans to begin rebuilding a fertility clinic damaged in a terrorist attack last year.

According to city documents, the American Fertility Clinic is planned to be rebuilt as a two-story, 19,347-square-foot medical office at 1199 N Indian Canyon Drive. The ground floor will be a surgery center, with the second floor housing an OB/GYN/Fertility Center.

The property will also include increased security, including a 7-foot combination masonry wall and fence, and a small guardhouse.

On Tuesday, the Planning Commission will review the Development Permit application by TJ Holdings LLC, owned by Dr. Maher Abdallah, the clinic’s director. If approved, the Architectural Review Committee would next need to review the Major Architectural Application.

In November, Abdallah told News Channel 3’s Athena Jreij that the plan was for the new clinic to open in Fall 2026, although at the time, plans were for construction to begin in January. Abdallah said construction would take about 8 months.

The American Fertility Clinic was targeted in a domestic terrorist attack on May 17, 2025. Twentynine Palms resident Guy Edward Bartkus, 25, detonated a vehicle bomb in the parking lot, killing himself, injuring four others, and damaging the clinic and several surrounding buildings.

Authorities said Bartkus targeted the clinic for his “anti pro-life” ideals.

Many of the embryos were unharmed, thanks to the efforts of first responders and clinic staff who were able to restore the power and save the embryos. 

The clinic returned to operation in May, moving to a temporary location at the El Mirador Medical Plaza.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on the rebuilding efforts.

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