Callaway County murder trial delayed

KMIZ on March 12, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Holts Summit woman charged with a slew of felonies, including murder, for a shooting outside an apartment building will not go to trial this week.

Heather Smith’s trial on child endangerment, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and second-degree murder charges had been scheduled to start Friday, but was pushed back at a hearing early this week.

Now the trial, being heard in Boone County on a change of venue, is scheduled to begin April 20.

Smith’s next hearing is set for March 19.

Smith is accused of killing Kara Dills, 37. Court documents in previous reporting say the shooting started with an argument between Smith and Dills at Hunter Lane Apartments. The documents cite nine witnesses to the shooting.

Dills allegedly got a gun and pistol-whipped Smith on the forehead, documents say. The gun went off, grazing a man later identified as Thomas Jones, on his head, according to the probable cause statement. After Dills lowered her gun and started to walk away, Smith shot her in the stomach, the statement says.

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Bridge of the Americas modernization project’s timeline updated, GSA confirms

KVIA on March 12, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has changed the start and substantial completion dates for the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) Modernization project, with construction set to begin in early 2028 and be completed by summer 2031.

ABC-7 reported last year that the GSA planned to begin construction in spring 2027 and substantially complete by summer 2030, but the timeline and project have been slightly delayed.

“GSA remains committed to the successful execution of this critical and complex modernization project at the Bridge of the Americas Land Port of Entry. Due to acquisition delays beyond our control, the extended 2025 government shutdown and careful due diligence, we have adjusted the estimated project timeline.”

ABC-7 requested further comment and an interview with GSA, a spokesperson said: “that it cannot be supported at this time.”

The project’s description says that the construction of the project could take up to 1,610 calendar days to complete, which is over four years.

Binational industry and maquiladora leaders have previously expressed concern about the proposed closure of commercial traffic once the project is completed.

Watch the full story tonight on ABC-7 at 5 and 6.

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High Winds: Multiple crashes and major closures along I-15

KIFI on March 12, 2026

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Damaging winds gusting between 30 and 40 MPH are wreaking havoc across Eastern Idaho today. A High Wind Warning remains in effect for the region until 9:00 PM tonight, as reports of downed trees and utility poles, and structural damage continue.

Major Travel Alert: I-15 Closure

As of 1:06 PM, hazardous driving conditions and low visibility have forced the closure of Interstate 15 in both directions from Idaho Falls to State Highway 33. ITD has not provided an estimated time for reopening, citing extreme gusts and blowing dust.

As of 4:50 PM, hazardous driving conditions and low visibility have forced a closure along I-15 in both directions from S. Idaho Falls Exit 113 to Shelley Exit 108. Travelers and commuters are being directed to use US-91 as an alternate route. For updates, click HERE.

Multiple Crashes Along I-15 South of Idaho Falls

Idaho State Police Troopers are responding to multiple crashes along I-15 due to low visibility from the high winds.

In a post on Facebook, the ISP shared footage of a crash near milepost 113, just south of Idaho Falls. IFFD and other emergency responders are on the scene. According to Jessica Clements with the Idaho Falls Fire Department, the crash took place around 3:04 PM and involved several vehicles.

According to Kimberly Felker, acting PIO for IFFD, emergency responders evaluated those involved in the crash, and one person was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. No further details on their condition are available at this time.

Local News 8 is reaching out to the ISP and Idaho Falls Police for more details on the crash. For updates on road closures, click HERE.

Idaho Falls: Outages and Damage

In Bonneville County, the winds have caused multiple power outages, including in the Tautphaus Park area. Idaho Falls Power is on-site near the Joe Marmo/Wayne Lehto Ice Arena, where a downed tree and utility pole have severed power to the arena and surrounding residential blocks. Rogers Street off S Boulevard into Tautphaus Park is currently closed due to downed power lines and a tree.

Up to 60 MPH gusts have also stripped paneling from the facade of the Tru by Hilton hotel on Lindsay Blvd.

The City of Idaho Falls says Idaho Falls Power and Idaho Falls Fiber crews will continue working until service is restored to all affected customers, starting with the most affected areas.

“Strong wind events like this can cause widespread damage to trees and power infrastructure,” said Stephen Boorman, Interim General Manager of Idaho Falls Power. “Our crews are out in the field working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to impacted areas. We appreciate the community’s patience while they work through these outages.”

To report a power outage in your area, visit the Idaho Falls Power website or your utility provider.

City leadership urges residents to stay indoors if possible and exercise extreme caution if travel is necessary:

Idaho Falls Power provides the following Safety reminders during high winds and power outages:

Use caution around trees, power poles, and other tall objects that may be affected by strong winds.

Be patient and alert while driving. Debris in the roadway, signal outages, and emergency responses may cause unexpected delays.

If an object falls into power lines, do not approach it. Downed power lines can still be energized and extremely dangerous.

When reporting power line issues, please let dispatch know if there is a fire or simply an obstruction on the line.

Never cross downed power lines, including walking or driving near, on, or under them.

Report emergencies such as fires or immediate safety hazards to 911.

Local News 8 is tracking the wind’s impact across the region. Follow this story for continuous updates as the situation develops.

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Jackson County judge upholds new ‘Missouri First’ congressional map

KMIZ on March 12, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: A misattributed quote has been corrected.

A Jackson County circuit judge ruled Thursday that a new congressional map drawn last year amid a nationwide push by Republicans to gain an advantage in the U.S. House can remain in effect.

The map, which Gov. Mike Kehoe dubbed “Missouri First,” splits up the Democrat-safe Fifth District and is the subject of multiple lawsuits and an initiative petition. Opponents argue that congressional maps can only be drawn every 10 years after the national census, per the Missouri Constitution.

Thursday’s ruling came in two combined lawsuits. Circuit Judge Adam Caine stayed a ruling on one count pending a Missouri Supreme Court decision in a separate case challenging the new map, but he found for state officials on the other counts.

Wise et al and Healey et al v State Order and JudgmentDownload

Caine wrote in his ruling that the plaintiffs challenging the map failed to show that its districts did not meet legal standards for being “compact and contiguous.”

Richard von Glahn with the group created to challenge the new map, People Not Politicians, said the bigger challenge remains whether legislators can draw a new map in the middle of the decade. That’s the question at the center of the case pending before the Missouri Supreme Court, he said.

“Our position is that the details of the map are not the relevant question. Either way, politicians are trying to seize power from the people and center themselves, and not voters, in our democracy. That is wrong,” von Glahn said.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, whose office defended the map in court, called the ruling a victory for the people of Missouri and their elected representatives. The ruling, Hanaway’s office said in a news release, reaffirms the legislature’s sole power to redraw congressional maps.

The Missouri General Assembly approved the map, which busts up Democrat Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district, last summer as the White House pushed for Republican-dominated states to squeeze out more seats. Some states led by Democrats followed with similar moves.

Filing for the August primary election began last month under the new map.

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ADOT conducts road work on Cesar Chavez Blvd in San Luis, Arizona

KYMA on March 12, 2026

Lauren Duffel

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is conducting road work on Cesar Chavez Boulevard in San Luis, Arizona.

According to a press release, this is in coordination with the City of San Luis, and is meant to improve traffic flow and decrease congestion in an area of high cross border travel.

“We’re going from two lanes to five lanes. This is an expansion that we’ve been working on it for the past 20 years,” said Nieves Riedel, Mayor of San Luis.

This is happening at the same time as the San Luis Port of Entry project, bringing significant traffic changes to the area.

“It definitely is making an impact right now as we speak. On the way we move around,” Mayor Riedel spoke.

Riedel says she wants residents and anyone visiting San Luis to be aware of traffic changes, and to drive safely and plan their travel ahead.

One local, Antonio Gomez, says he’s used to heavy traffic in the area adding, “I live in the rural area three miles from here, and I come to town every few days…I try to avoid the usual traffic.”

Other locals, like Eric Leon, aren’t bothered by the construction.

“The traffic is not bothering me. Other than that, everything’s fine,” Leon expressed.

This is expected to be completed by early spring 2028. To learn more about this, click here.

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Community ‘Angels’ Help a Senior Citizen After His Car Was Destroyed by Reckless Driver

KEYT on March 12, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Ivan Rasmussen has seen quite a bit in his 91 years, including the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But he has never seen the generosity he received recently in Santa Barbara.

These days, after obtaining multiple degrees, followed by a career providing services abroad to nations in need and taking care of his health, he was still driving and enjoying his daily routine.

In late February however, his parked vehicle, about 23 years old and wearing down but still useful, was destroyed by a reckless driver. Ivan came out of his senior housing that night with police lights blinking on De la Guerra St. and car parts on the ground. Another vehicle was also mashed up.

With limited funds, there was no immediate plan for a replacement.

His story made it to social media and thousands of people saw it. Hundreds commented to offer help where they could.

The plan became a reality when the non-profit Adam’s Angels knew of a recently donated 2002 Infinity that needed a little sprucing up and a safety check. With that completed, it was ready to roll.

The call was made to Ivan who had no idea this kind of generosity and community outpouring was going on. The car was delivered in a heartwarming presentation.

Now he is back into his routine working out at the YMCA, going to the Farmers Market and UC Santa Barbara basketball games when they are playing. He missed one game after the wreck, but had the “new” car in time for the final game of the year in the Thunderdome on campus, where he sat at half court.

Adam’s Angels was formed during the COVID crisis to help seniors, veterans and those who are housing insecure as a priority. The group provides food, necessities and other forms of care as needed. Annually a holiday season dinner is served to over 400 with the help of volunteers and donations.

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Chinese Education Takes Santa Barbara by Storm

KEYT on March 12, 2026

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – For thousands of years, Chinese has endured as the world’s oldest living language.

Now, some of the youngest local voices are carrying it forward into tomorrow.

Inside the library at University of California, Santa Barbara Library, shelves hold texts filled with symbols that have outlasted empires.

Principal Jenny Mazanec of the Santa Barbara Chinese School often points out how those characters connect cultures across Asia.

“These books are not limited to Chinese,” Mazanec noted. “There are also Korean and Japanese texts here.”

Just miles away, those same characters echo in lively classrooms where children practice Mandarin phrases.

Students bring a classic fable to life — the rabbit racing the turtle — told in Chinese.

“In Santa Barbara, we don’t have many people who speak Chinese,” lead instructor Lin Yang explained. “But learning a language is like opening a window to different cultures. It broadens your world and enriches your life.”

Two years ago, the school’s Chinese program had just 17 students.

Today, nearly 70 children are enrolled — a surge that has educators thrilled.

“I’m proud,” instructor Jie Zhang reflected. “I think the most important reason is their curiosity. Being curious is the driving force that motivates them to keep going.”

Yang believes the excitement she sees in her classroom is what matters most.

“I love seeing how excited kids get when they learn something new,” she said. “If students leave my classroom feeling happy and curious about learning a new language, that means everything to me.”

Here, a language rooted in deep history is finding its next generation of voices.

“I see more joy and more people coming together,” Mazanec observed. “People want camaraderie — sharing meals, celebrating, and building community within Santa Barbara County. It’s very touching and eye-opening.”

Every new phrase build a bridge.

Every story opens a door.

“If one day they could write an essay in Chinese,” Yang added with a smile, “that would be my dream.”

An ancient language — finding new life, one voice at a time.In Santa Barbara, children laugh, practice new words, and repeat phrases together while learning one of the world’s oldest living languages.

For thousands of years, the Mandarin language has endured through dynasties and changing eras.

Today, some of the youngest local voices are helping carry that legacy forward.

Symbols preserved for centuries line the pages of historic texts.

Santa Barbara Chinese School Principal and Executive Director Jenny Mazanec often reflects on the meaning behind them — characters that have outlasted empires and generations.

Those symbols now echo in lively classrooms where children from many backgrounds practice Mandarin together.

Lessons often come alive through storytelling. A classic tale of the rabbit racing the turtle becomes a playful way for students to practice pronunciation and rhythm while connecting with centuries-old tradition.

Instructor Lin Yang describes the experience as far more than vocabulary lessons. Families from many cultures enroll their children to open the door to a new language, history, and perspective on the world.

Interest in the program has grown rapidly.

Just two years ago, about 17 students were enrolled in the Chinese classes.

Today, nearly 70 children participate — a surge that educators describe as both exciting and meaningful.

Each new phrase helps students build connections across cultures while discovering a language rooted in thousands of years of history.

An ancient tradition continues — carried forward by the voices of the next generation.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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State of Vandenberg 2026: More Launches, More Outreach, Strong Future

KEYT on March 12, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) – Vandenberg hosted its ‘State Of The Base’ conference today.

It’s a busy time for Vandenberg.

The base celebrated a record number of launches last year, and announced plans to push the envelope even further.

Base commander Colonel Horne and other high ranking officials outlined future plans and innovative goals for leading departments.

“The steps that we’re taking to integrate not only our other mission partners across the services, but also the allies that we have, and integrating them into our missions is really, really starting to take hold,” says Deputy Combined Joint Force Space Component Commander for U.S. Space Forces – Space (S4S) Brig. Gen. Kyle Paul. “And I think over the course of the next year and beyond, we’re really going to see that expand.”

The base hopes to reach one hundred launches from private and commercial vendors this year, with a vision to triple that in the coming years.

“We launched 71 times last year,” says Vandenberg’s Commander Col. James T. Horne III. “We conducted 76 major test range operations. That’s including the 71 launches. And then the other five would be the X-37 landing we did. And then several hypersonic vehicle tests from a company called Stratolaunch.”

They’re also working on ways to increase community engagement, to facilitate the public’s understanding of the crucial role space plays in people’s everyday lives.

“We can’t function in our current society without the effects of space,” says Gen. Paul. “Whether it be our banking, you know, using your GPS in your car, your satellite phones, it really permeates every single facet of life.”

Col. Horne says what he calls the “second space race” looks promising, despite some challenges such as aging infrastructure.

“The investment we’re putting into the infrastructure on the base, the 861 million, a part of that is a project to increase the size of our air tower,” says Col. Horne.

Also, a new presentation series that debuted in Lompoc last month called “Mission Update” will be held soon in Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, and Ojai.

Base leaders say Vandenberg is striving to balance national security with community stewardship.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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TPUSA ‘This is the Turning Point Tour’ to stop at University of Idaho this April

KIFI on March 12, 2026

Seth Ratliff

MOSCOW, Idaho (KIFI) — Turning Point USA (TPUSA) is hitting the road this April as part of a newly announced nationwide campus tour honoring the legacy of its late founder, Charlie Kirk.

CEO Erika Kirk announced the “This is the Turning Point Tour” on Thursday, confirming that the University of Idaho will be one of the final stops in the initial launch. The tour aims to prepare students against what the organization describes as “leftist indoctrination” while promoting free speech on college campuses.

The tour comes in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s passing, with each stop featuring high-profile conservative figures intended to champion Kirk’s history of civic discourse.

“Stand up for the truth, defend life, love your family fearlessly… and don’t think that it’s someone else’s role to do it,” Erika Kirk said in a statement. “You do it. Do it for Charlie.”

The Moscow Stop: What to Expect

The University of Idaho event is scheduled for April 28, 2026. The Moscow stop is set to feature two of the most prominent voices in the conservative media landscape, Matt Walsh, Author and host at The Daily Wire, and Michael Knowles, Commentator and host of The Michael Knowles Show.

The tour encourages students to participate in “open mic” sessions to challenge prevailing campus biases and engage in public debate.

While more dates are expected to be added, the confirmed initial stops include:

April 2, 2026 – George Washington University with Erika Kirk and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

April 14, 2026 – University of Georgia with Erika Kirk and Vice President JD Vance

April 21, 2026 – Ohio State University with Vivek Ramaswamy, Lawrence Jones, and Savannah Chrisley

April 22, 2026 – Baylor University with Donald Trump Jr., Border Czar Tom Homan, and Benny Johnson

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Developers repurposing old buildings to add to housing supply

KMIZ on March 12, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As the housing gap continues across the nation, developers are increasingly looking to old buildings through a growing trend called adaptive reuse.

Adaptive reuse sees non-residential buildings, such as hotels, offices, and schools, converted into apartments. RentCafe reported that, in 2024 alone, close to 25,000 new apartments were completed nationally from adaptive reuse projects. This is over, 8,000 more units than the prior year.

According to Realtor.com, new home construction fell short of demand last year, leaving the U.S. housing supply gap at around 4.03 million homes in 2025.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition also reported a shortage of over 127,000 affordable rental homes in Missouri.

“Much of what’s been in the headlines has talked about the demand side of housing, which does very little for addressing the cost and the supply side,” said Doug Ressler, manager of business intelligence at Yardi Matrix.

The National Association of Home Builders reported that inflation in the global economy has increased the costs of building materials. They found construction costs for a new home accounted for 64.4% of the average price of a new home in 2024, compared to 60.8% in 2022.

A separate study found that the average cost of a single-family home in 2024 was over $428,000. In 2019, the same home cost around $296,000. Despite that sharp increase in prices, the report says builders’ profits rose only slightly over the same period from 9.1% to 11%, a range similar to where construction profits were even two decades ago.

“So the housing demand or the household formation continues to increase, so what’s happening is that people are beginning to look at underutilized or vacant properties,” Ressler said. “What we have found is that governments that work in collaboration with business, the community, are much better suited to be able to provide housing in those areas that are under a lot of stress.”

RentCafe reported that of the 2024 adaptive reuse projects,37% of structures started as hotels, followed by office spaces at 24% and industrial buildings at around 19%.

The Construction Management Association of America also reported that existing buildings account for about 42% of global carbon emissions. Using existing properties helps keep emissions down and gives builders opportunities to add eco-friendly facilities to dated buildings.

“I’d say we’ve been involved in a half a dozen and multiple states,” said Jason Maddox, the president of Midwest-based MACO Development Company. “We’ve done a hotel, we’ve done downtown buildings, a bank conversion, but it seems like the school buildings work a little better.”

Ressler said the historic context of buildings even helps with more affordable housing projects.

“There’s a lot of vacant buildings and many of those buildings are quite old; they can qualify for historical preservation loans,” Ressler said. “What we see, especially in affordable housing, is you can stack loan monies in terms of being able to pencil out, make it affordable.”

A MACO project, the Carver School Apartments in Fulton, which added 33 affordable senior apartments to the city’s housing stock in December of last year, used $766,000 in federal historic preservation tax credits. Maddox said the construction cost around $8 million and the project received around $8.2 million in federal housing credits and $3.7 million in state housing credits.

Other recent adaptive reuse projects in Mid-Missouri include the Tannehill Apartments in Moberly that added 40 affordable senior housing units in Feburary and the Benton School project in Marshall, which is expected to add 17 apartments.

“We are able to determine if there’s a housing need there and if we’re able to do this and help to meet that housing need and also to preserve that structure at the same time,” Maddox said. “It’s a win-win.”

Tune in to ABC 17 News at 10 p.m. Sunday to get a behind-the-scenes look at how these adaptive reuse projects develop.

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