There’s Good News: Bend teen earns second place at USA Paraclimbing National Championships

KTVZ on March 15, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

KATY, Tx. (KTVZ) — A 13-year-old climber from Bend is now among the nation’s top adaptive athletes after earning a podium finish at a national competition in Texas.

Evangeline Crossman placed second at the 2026 USA Paraclimbing National Championships in Katy, competing against some of the top adaptive climbers in the country. The Bend teen delivered a standout performance throughout the event, finishing first in the preliminary round before placing second overall in the finals.

Crossman is an eighth-grade student who is homeschooled and also attends Cascade Middle School. She trains with the competitive team at Bend Endurance Academy.

Despite significant physical challenges — including dyslexia and 5/200 vision in one eye — Crossman has emerged as one of the country’s promising young paraclimbers.

“I’m incredibly grateful just to be able to compete with such amazing athletes,” Crossman said after the competition. “Every climber here inspires me. My dream is to keep improving and someday represent the United States in the Paralympic Games.”

William Lister, a Paralympian and executive director of Bend Endurance Academy, praised Crossman’s performance and dedication.

“Evangeline’s performance this weekend was extraordinary,” Lister said. “To lead the field in prelims and then finish second in the nation at just 13 years old shows the kind of dedication and resilience she brings to training every day.”

Lister said para-sports can open doors for athletes while building confidence and community, adding that Crossman represents the future of the sport.

The USA Paraclimbing National Championships bring together top adaptive climbers from across the United States and serve as a pathway toward international competition and potential Paralympic participation.

Crossman’s result places her among the country’s elite young adaptive climbers and highlights the growing presence of adaptive sports in Central Oregon.

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Klamath Tribes work to protect rare Mare’s eggs

KTVZ on March 15, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

KLAMATH COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — In the Klamath Tribes’ treaty territory, tribal councilors are working to protect a rare blue-green algae known as Mare’s eggs, or Nostoc pruniforme. The unusual, water balloon-like organisms draw curious tourists who sometimes pick them from the water, killing them and disrupting their fragile habitat.

Scientists consider Mare’s eggs nitrogen-fixing organisms that help promote clean water and play a unique role in the local ecosystem. The algae also have a short, slow growth season, making them especially vulnerable to disturbance and overhandling.

Klamath Tribes Chairman William Ray Jr., Councilwoman Willa Powless and Councilwoman Natalie Ball recently visited the river with U.S. Forest Service officials and tribal administration staff to see the problem firsthand. During the visit, Ray raised concerns about the number of permits issued to professional guide services along the Klamath River.

He advocated for reducing guide permits as one way to limit pressure on Mare’s eggs and other sensitive resources. Tribal staff also discussed additional steps to protect the habitat and envisioned a future in which the land is returned to the Klamath Tribes, allowing original stewards to once again take the lead in safeguarding this vital resource.

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Narcan distributed before Spring Break

KEYT on March 15, 2026

Tracy Lehr

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) Volunteers distributed Narcan to students this week.

Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps joined more than 50 volunteers who fanned out in Isla Vista on Wednesday.

Spring Break starts next week and and Deltopia will follow

Students with Narcan could save a life if they see someone who may have overdosed or passed out.

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Local college wrap-up: Gauchos Baseball has 13-game win streak snapped

KEYT on March 15, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

NCAA Baseball:

UC Davis 5, UCSB 4: Freshman Elijah McNeal belted a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Aggies over the Gauchos. UCSB had won a program-tying 13-game win streak. Rowan Kelly homered for UCSB who is now 4-1 in the Big West and 14-3 overall.

Cal Poly 6, CS Bakersfield 2: The Mustangs took over sole possession of first place in the Big West at 5-0. Casey Murray Jr. and Nate Castellon each had 3 hits for Cal Poly who extend their win streak to 7 games to improve to 11-7 on the season.

NCAA Softball:

UCSB 4, Cal Poly 1: Game 1: Sophia Clark pitched a complete game, allowing one run and 3 hits.

UCSB 8, Cal Poly 0: Game 2: Emily Carr smacked a grand slam in the first inning and delivered a 2-run single in the fourth inning to lead the Gauchos to a run-rule victory in a game shortened to 5 innings. She finished with 3 hits and 6 RBI as UCSB moved to 5-0 in the Big West and 14-15 overall.

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St. Joseph finishes runner-up in CIF-State Division 2

KEYT on March 15, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The St. Joseph High School girls basketball team lost in the CIF-State Division 2 championship game 56-47 to Sierra Pacific at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento.

Annalyssa Cota led the Knights with 15 points and Ali Mayes added 13 points as they finish the year with a 17-16 record.

St. Joseph had a slow start as they were down 20-9 after one quarter but they pulled within 2 by halftime trailing just 29-27.

Cota tied the game at 29 in the first minute of the third quarter but Sierra Pacific took the lead for good with the next basket with 5:10 left in the quarter.

The Knights trailed 39-33 heading into the fourth quarter but got within five points on a three-pointer by Cota with 6:55 remaining.

But Apojok Ayuen scored the next 7 points for Sierra Pacific as they extended the lead to 48-36.

Sierra Pacific finishes the year 25-11.

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County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates Leprechaun Spirit

KEYT on March 15, 2026

Tracy Lehr

VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) People celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day on the Saturday before the holiday at the “County Ventura St. Patrick’s Day Parade”

Downtown Ventura hosted the parade.

Highlights included Irish dancers who stopped often to perform for fans and judges.

A green pig named Shamhock! appeared at the end of parade.

Some Irish people consider the pig an insult, while others embrace it.

Organizers chose the theme “Catch the Leprechaun Spirit!

“The thing that is so wonderful about it is that everyone turns out to be Irish today, so we just have so much fun celebrating being Irish, the heritage the culture, the fun and those of us who actually have some Irish in us can relate even better,” said Leslie Cornejo who serves on the Santa Paula City Council and the Ventura County Fair Board.

Former Ventura Mayor Brian Brennan served as Grand Marshall.

Former Grand Marshall Mary Osborne took part with her newborn and her husband behind the wheel of the her Mary Osborne Surf Academy truck.

The parade also included, classic cars, farm equipment, horses, pageant winners, marching bands and bands performing on floats.

The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade started on Lincoln Dr. and ended on Fir Street due to the Main Street closure that is still in place.

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Gold Star Family hosts Patrick Vega Memorial Swim-a-Thon to raises money for scholarships

KEYT on March 15, 2026

Tracy Lehr

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) A local marine is being remembered at his namesake swim-a-thon

The 2026 Patrick }Vega Memorial Swim-a-Thon raises money for scholarships and swim programs.

It took place at his alma mater’s pool at Oxnard High School.

Swim teams took turns filling the lanes.

Most swam 29 x 100 or 2900 yards in honor of what would have been Patrick Vega’s 29th birthday.

Vega died in Marine Corps boot camp in California 8 years ago.

His family has been working with Rep. Salud Carbajal to hold the government accountable for training deaths.

His little sister, who now works for another politician, said people just loved her big brother.

“He was the goofiest funniest kid you will ever know, he was very compassionate and had a kind heart; one of the reasons why we started the Patrick Vega Swim Scholarship is because we had so much of the the communty show such strong support and love for him when he died,” said Kate Vega, “It actually started by some of the swimmers he was with and we were actually surprised with the first swim-a-thon and since then we have raised money to not only give back to our high school, Oxnard High School but other high school who might not have funding, just because swimming isn’t seen as the top sport and we want to make sure our community is well taken care of and they have the resources and supplies to make a great swim team. Over the past couple of years we have given back $45,000 which is absolutely insane we never thought this was ever going to be as big as it is.”

About 300 people show up to the swim-a-thons.

Patrick Vega’s mother Amy Vega teaches water aerobics too and led a class for other participants.

“Today, well he would be 29 years old Feb 15th, “said Amy Vega, This month the month of March, March 25th he passed away, so every year we honor Patrick by giving a swim-a-thon and all that money goes towards are community, last year we gave away about $15,000.”

She said is also goes to a nonprofits that helps special needs swimmers and children learn to swim in hopes of saving lives.

His father Manny Vegas was a Marine, too.

“Right now it is kind of difficult, what is going on/ Patrick’s case is nothing but delays, delays, He passed away 8 years ago and the challenge we have a Gold Star family is to have legislation that we helped pass be implemented by the Dept. of Defense, known as the Department of War now, and the hard thing is that even though Congress passed laws to help families like ourselves, ” said Manny Vega, “Patrick passed away due to military malpractice, the Department of War war doesn’t want to implement the changes that were passed by Congress, so it is just a continuous battle with them just to get some acknowledgment, justice and it shouldn’t be that way, it has been 8 years and it has been so difficult, so painful.”

The historic legislation is called the SFC Richard Stayskal Military Medical Accountability Act of 2019.

Patrick Vega’s aunt’s uncles, and cousins also came out to swim, or cheer on the swim-a-thon and work the snack bar.

Since he was known to loved bright colors so they gave participants tie-dye swim caps and sold tie dyed towels and clothing.

The latest swim-a-thon raised another $11,000.

Kate Vega said some local high school need the money to teach students how to swim.

For more information visit https://patrickvegasscholarship.org

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A Community United: Hundreds in Shelley Gather for “Pi with a Purpose, Slices of Hope”

KIFI on March 15, 2026

Hadley Bodell

SHELLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – Families across the country deal with their childrens’ health complications every day. However, not all of them are lucky enough to have an entire town of support during their difficult times. Tonight, the community of Shelley rallied around Austin Currall and his family, uniting in love and support for the 4-year-old going through his second round of cancer.

Jenel Andersen is the mastermind behind the community fundraiser. “I just called six or eight of my friends and told them this is what I want to do for this family, will you guys help? And they said yes,” said Andersen. “We had a meeting and made some plans and went with it!”

Tanys Searle was another behind-the-scenes volunteer for tonight’s fundraiser. “We split off into teams and put everyone in charge of something,” said Searle. “So many people donated food and were so generous and we’re so grateful for that.”

The best part is that many people in attendance as well as helping with the event, didn’t even know the Curralls. “I know maybe a quarter of the people here,” said Michael Currall, Austin’s dad. “Everybody’s coming up and introducing themselves like they already know us, which in a way, they kind of do at this point. It’s just super cool, I’ve had a couple of times tonight where I’ve forgetten that we’re all here for Austin.”

The event included ticket and t-shirt sales, dinner and pie, games like a pie walk for the kids as well as a silent auction. Community members and local businesses donated to the silent auction, with all the proceeds going to the Currall family and their medical expenses.

It’s rare that a community unites in support of one cause, but locals tell us this is who Shelley is. “This is Shelley,” said Andersen. “And it’s Firth as well. This is what we do, this is what our community does.”

The Currall family could not be more grateful for the turnout and the positive experience their family had at tonight’s fundraiser.

“We just want to give a giant thank you to everybody, there’s no way we can say it enough at this point,” said Michael.

For more on Austin’s story and where you can donate, visit https://localnews8.com/news/2026/03/13/slices-of-hope-shelley-community-to-rally-for-4-year-old-battling-cancer/

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No one injured in Columbia commercial building fire

KMIZ on March 15, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo, (KMIZ)

No one was injured after a structure fire started inside the City of Columbia’s Grissum Shop Building Saturday morning.

According to a press release, the Columbia Fire Department was dispatched at 8:47 a.m. to the 1310 block of Lakeview Avenue after the building’s automatic alarm went off.

Fire crews arrived in four minutes and found the maintenance building locked and secured with the sprinkler system running over the fire. Crews later forced entry into the west side of the building where they found heavy smoke and heat.

It took around 10 minutes for crews to extinguish the fire. A total of 21 people responded to the scene.

The Columbia Fire Marshals are currently investigating the cause of the fire. 

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El Paso Museum of Archaeology holds annual Poppies fest

KVIA on March 15, 2026

Jerry Najera

Saturday morning the El Paso Museum of Archaeology held it’s annual Poppies fest.

The event is held so that people can enjoy the natural beauty

of the Franklin Mountains and the Mexican Gold Poppies that splash the mountain side with color.

“It’s a festival that celebrates the Chihuahuan Desert that surrounds us and especially Castner Range National Monument in which we are dead square in inside of,” said El Paso Museum of Archaeology

director, Sebastian Ribas-Normand.

Artists, vendors and food trucks were also on hand for attendees to enjoy.

The annual Poppoes fest continues Sunday starting at 10 a.m.

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