Matthew Sanders
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Tigers men’s basketball team will continue conference play on Tuesday when Tennessee comes to Mizzou Arena.
The Tigers fell short of an upset against Arkansas last week in Fayetteville.
Luis Avila
COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is advising residents that recent rain and a warm-up this week have created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
Standing water left behind from last week’s storms can quickly produce mosquitoes, officials said. The advisory follows confirmation of the first mosquito-borne virus detected locally this year — St. Louis encephalitis virus.
Residents are urged to drain standing water around their homes and use insect repellent to prevent bites.
Stay with News Channel 3 for more.
Olivia Hayes
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Transportation is seeking the public’s input on its proposal for major improvements to Business Loop 70 and Paris Road.
“An at grade intersection where you can make all those different turns, regardless of which direction you’re coming from at that intersection,” said MODOT Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia Project Director Spencer Robinson.
The changes would be part of MODOT’s Improve I-70 Project. Both the Paris Road and the Business Loop Road safety audits conducted by the City of Columbia flagged problems with the intersection.
Plans shared Monday by the Business Loop Community Improvement District include raising the Business Loop to the same level as other roads near the intersection. The Paris Road bridge will also be removed. Once it’s removed, that section of Business Loop will be wide enough for sidewalks and bike lanes.
The area is known for its tricky turns and redirection through nearby neighborhood streets.
“If you’re coming north from like College Avenue and you’re trying to turn either direction on Business Loop, you have to cut through some neighborhood streets to get to old 63, to get to that light, to be able to turn onto business loop,” Robinson said.
The COLT Railroad bridge would be removed, but the track bed would be preserved, widened and fortified. Columbia Parks and Recreation is seeking input on railbanking the COLT line as the first step to a rails-to-trails project.
Robinson said the future improvements will help with the additional traffic expected after the integration of the roundabout connecting the Business Loop to I-70 Eastbound.
“That connects directly to and from eastbound I-70 off of a barrier separated collector distributor road. So it’ll be kind of an on and off point if you’re on eastbound I-70 from the business loop,” Robinson said.
While that roundabout is complete, Robinson said the I-70 connection won’t happen for about another year.
An engineer’s drawing of the new intersection. (Missouri Department of Transportation)
MoDOT and contractor Emery Sapp & Sons will have two public hearings to highlight the basic project plans, construction phasing, and schedule of the Improve I-70: Rocheport to Columbia project from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 2 at the Boone Electric headquarters and from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4 at Midway Golf and Games.
MODOT says the construction will begin in 2028.
Daniella Lake
SALTON SEA, Calif. (KESQ) – California State Parks is preparing a new general plan for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and is inviting the public to participate in the process through a series of workshops this month.
“It’s in need of some rehabilitation, in need of some increased public spaces. And so in order to invest significant amount of capital, we are in need of a general plan which helps guide that type of improvement,” says Enrique Arroyo, Ocotillo Wells district superintendent.
The general plan will establish a long-term vision for the park, which has changed significantly since the park was designated as a state recreation area in 1963.
“It’s really actually pretty trippy to see this big body of water in the middle of Southern California and there’s nobody in the water,” says Cyrus Chen, a visitor.
Declining water levels have reshaped recreation opportunities at the park and impacted the park’s ecosystem, leading to death of wildlife throughout the past two decades. By creating a new general plan, California State Parks is hoping to increase opportunities for land-based recreation.
“It’s really just a beautiful place for people to come in and walk around and just take in the unique natural environment that exists here,” says Joe Shea with California Natural Resources Agency.
Governor Gavin Newsom’s new proposed budget for the state includes 30 million dollars towards habitat restoration and new public access opportunities.
CNN
CNN
By Nicki Brown, CNN
(CNN) — Opening statements have begun in the murder trial of Kouri Richins, a Utah mother accused of poisoning her husband and then writing a children’s book about coping with grief.
Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins, 35, killed her husband Eric Richins with a lethal dose of fentanyl. She is also accused of attempting to poison him on Valentine’s Day, just weeks before his death.
“The evidence will prove that Kouri Richins murdered Eric for his money and to get a fresh start at life,” Brad Bloodworth, chief prosecutor in the Summit County Attorney’s Office, said in his opening statement Monday. “More than anything, she wanted his money to perpetuate her facade of privileged affluence and success.”
Kouri Richins has pleaded not guilty to counts of aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, insurance fraud and forgery. If convicted of the most serious charge, she could face up to life in prison.
Eric Richins, 39, was found dead in the couple’s bedroom in March 2022 with about five times the lethal dosage of fentanyl in his system, according to charging documents.
“That extraordinary amount of fentanyl was intentional, not accidental,” Bloodworth said.
Earlier that night, Kouri Richins brought cocktails up to their room, then left to sleep in the bedroom of one of their sons, according to an account she gave investigators outlined in court records. When she returned to the master bedroom around 3 a.m., she said she found Eric Richins dead in their bed.
About a year after her husband died, Kouri Richins wrote a children’s book about coping with the death of a loved one. In May 2023, she was arrested and charged with the murder of her husband.
Prosecutors allege Kouri Richins killed her husband to profit off his lucrative business and life insurance policies – funds she could then use to support her struggling real estate business.
On the day of Eric Richins’ death, his estate was worth roughly $4 million, and his wife owed more than $4.5 million to over 20 different lenders, Bloodworth said. Eric Richins’ life was insured for more than $2 million through several life insurance policies, one of which prosecutors allege his wife fraudulently applied for weeks before he died.
A woman who cleaned Kouri Richins’ houses told investigators that Richins asked for fentanyl in early 2022, charging documents said. The woman said she bought more than 15 pills she believed contained fentanyl on February 11, 2022, and then gave them to Richins.
On Valentine’s Day, a few days later, Richins left her husband a sandwich and a note before leaving to meet up with her “paramour,” prosecutors said in charging documents.
Later that day, Eric Richins told two friends he felt like he was going to die after eating the sandwich, according to the charging documents. “I think my wife is trying to poison me,” he said to one. He told the other friend he broke out in hives, then injected himself with an EpiPen and drank a bottle of Benadryl.
In late February 2022, Richins allegedly asked the woman for more fentanyl, saying the previous drugs were not strong enough. Prosecutors said the woman bought more drugs on February 26, 2022, and her phone records show contact with Richins around the time she met with the drug dealer.
Within a week, Eric Richins was dead.
After Kouri Richins was informed of her husband’s cause of death, her phone’s internet history allegedly included visits to websites about women’s prisons in Utah, life insurance payments, and how police recover deleted cell phone data.
A defense attorney who no longer represents Richins previously said the searches were merely a response to the investigation at the time and not indicative of guilt.
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Megan Lavin
Troop 1023, one of Idaho Falls’ newest Girl Scout Troops, visited the studio live this morning. This troop includes mostly has Daisy’s (the youngest) in their ranks, but they are still working hard on their goals.
The top three earners, Presley, Ellie, and Caroline, were here to talk about what they like about selling, their favorite cookies, the new flavors, and where you can donate.
They let us know that if you’re not into cookies, you can still donate and a box of cookies will be given to a veteran instead.
Their cute faces and fun answers–including their favorite part is “friends”–made for a warm morning here at Local News 8.
Josh Helmuth
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — It’s not every day your child’s teacher gets a shoutout from the state’s department of education. But that’s what’s happening in Pueblo.
Janelle Augerot teaches at Fountain International Magnet School. The Colorado Department of Education highlighted her on social media recently for her work. And it’s a well-deserved recognition.
Augerot has been teaching for 14 years. She says the best part of her job is truly celebrating her students’ milestones, not hers. She says, “These are moments that will make you cry. We’re by their side through the struggles and triumphs.” She says she is “forever their cheerleader!”
Lisa Horton is her principal. She echoed that sentiment, saying that Janelle is dedicated, hardworking, and “pours her heart into every student.”
“She takes the time to understand each child’s unique strengths and challenges, adapting her teaching to help them grow with confidence,” said Horton.
“Through her compassion and determination, she creates a safe, encouraging space where every student feels valued and capable,” she said.
She loves her students, no question.
Is there someone remarkable at your school? Hit Josh up! SchooBuzz@KRDO.com.
By KTNV Staff
Click here for updates on this story
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — “He’s going to be very much loved.”
Those were the words from the officer who welcomed the now-viral Golden doodle the newest member of his family.
We first brought you the story earlier this week when the dog was abandoned by his owner at an airline ticket counter at Harry Reid International Airport.
The dog, given the name “JetBlue,” was placed into the care of Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas, which was flooded with requests to adopt the pup once the story went public.
This comes after the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department posted about the arrest of the dog’s owner for animal abandonment. According to police, the woman didn’t complete the paperwork needed to fly with her dog as an emotional support animal. After learning she wouldn’t be able to bring the dog with her, she left it tied near the ticket counter, police said.
“While that part of his story is heartbreaking, what has followed has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Retriever Rescue of Las Vegas stated in a recent social media post. “The outpouring of love from our community has been overwhelming in the most beautiful way.”
Ultimately, one of the officers who responded to the airport the day the dog was abandoned was chosen as his new family.
Officer Skeeter Black and his family were there outside DawgsHouseLV Saturday morning to officially welcome JetBlue to his new forever home.
“We’re just very excited to add him to our family,” Black told the audience that had gathered for the event. “We’re just very happy…. We’re going to enjoy him. He’s going to be very much loved and, yeah, we’re just excited.”
Danielle Roth with Retriever Rescue also shared that JetBlue Airlines donated $6,000 upon learning of the story, which was then doubled by an anonymous donor.
“I’m hoping this face brought so much awareness to our community of dogs that need us,” she 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.
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — It’s something that drivers have waited more than two years for, and now it’s only a few days from happening.
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says that it will open the new overpass on Airport Boulevard across Powers Boulevard on Wednesday.
It’s a development that local leaders have anticipated for nearly a decade.
A new traffic pattern begins on Wednesday at the four-way stop intersection of Airport and Troy Hill Road, on the west side of the new interchange.
Eastbound Airport traffic at Troy Hill Road will move slightly north and line up with the ramp leading to the new overpass; the structure also provides a more direct route to the main gate of Peterson Space Force Base.
However, only two of the ramps at the interchange — to northbound Powers and from southbound Powers — have been built, and some departing Peterson traffic is already using the northbound ramp.
Until the remaining ramps are built, drivers will have to cross the overpass and use the old segment of Airport east of Powers to reach southbound Powers from eastbound Airport, and northbound Powers from westbound Airport.
That old segment of Airport also provides access to several industrial businesses and to a branch of the El Paso County Department of Motor Vehicles.
CDOT said that the left turn lane onto that segment, from southbound Powers, will remain open for the near future.
Another major change is that the old segment of Airport west of Powers will close permanently, and turns will no longer be allowed there.
The new interchange has already attracted new businesses, such as a convenience store and a restaurant, with more likely to come.
CDOT expects to finish the $46 million project by the end of the year.
On Monday afternoon, CDOT will conduct a media tour of the diverging diamond traffic configuration on the new overpass — similar to designs in place at the recently-built overpass on Research Parkway, under Powers, and on the Fillmore Street overpass at Interstate 25.
CDOT is currently planning the next Powers overpass, at Stetson Hills Boulevard, and is considering a similar structure near the main entrance to the Colorado Springs Airport, at the Milton E. Proby Parkway intersection.
By Jacob Murphy
Click here for updates on this story
MILWAUKEE (WDJT) — Nick Gross is your everyday Marquette University sophomore student, he’s a journalism major with a minor in political science and is a member of the Marquette Knights of Columbus.
Over winter break, Gross and some students in the chapter traveled to Rome for a trip led by Father Michael Maher.
“I was expecting to see the Vatican, the Pantheon, all the major churches there,” Gross said. “The main thing I had outside everything else from the get-go was, I want to see the Pope.”
Maher has been leading trips with students to Rome for around 25 years.
“I lived in Rome for about 12 years and so it’s a great pleasure for me to share something that I love, both the city of Rome and the catholic church with students,” Maher said.
Maher spent time with Pope John Paul II while he lived in Rome and uses what he learned in the 12 years spent in the city to guide the students on the trips.
“The whole way to lead a trip successfully is you should be like a clear camera lens, you focus but you don’t get in the way,” Maher said.
With high expectations going into the trip, Maher did just that, and the students ended up in the front row at the Pope’s general audience, which was moved inside due to rain.
“Somehow we got some strings pulled and we’re able to get in there and had the tickets,” Gross said. “It was like the biggest surprise; it was like waking up to a Christmas gift on Christmas morning.”
After Pope Leo blessed the couples in attendance, he made his way down the aisle, as Gross and his classmates stood in anticipation.
“He’s coming down the aisle, it’s dramatic, my heart was racing because how many people really get to see the pope, it’s a privilege that I was able to do that,” Gross said.
The students were holding a Marquette flag and started to attempt to get the Pope’s attention.
“He was going side to side, and he didn’t have to stop by us, he did, he shook my hand and a couple other guys’ hands in the group, and he said Go Marquette and gave us a thumbs up, it was unbelievable,” Gross said.
A moment where time stopped for Gross, as he shook hands with the Pope.
“It was just, it was unreal,” Gross said. “It was absolutely unreal and it takes me back to that moment, I was just starstruck I couldn’t even believe it.”
Despite lasting just a couple seconds, it’s a memory that will last a lifetime for Gross and add to the list of memories for Father Maher.
“One of the things I would say is, what is the purpose of an education, and an education is to understand what is beautiful and acquire the skills to duplicate it,” Maher said.
It’s a moment in time that makes Gross anything but your everyday student, now with a memory of a lifetime.
“Doing all of the things that we do here on campus together and then being able to have that experience, they say you’re good friends with somebody, you’re okay friends with somebody when you know them here, but when you meet the Pope with somebody then you’re friends for life,” Gross 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.
