Portneuf Valley Swim Meet Takes Over Reed Gym Pool

KIFI on March 8, 2026

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – For the first time in six years, the Reed Gym Pool was buzzing with activity from the Portneuf Valley Swim Team. They hosted a USA Swimming-sanctioned meet earlier today, marking an exciting advancement for swimmers in the region.

The meet hosted approximately 150 total competitors from across southeastern Idaho. Meet Director Amber Taylor said this meet is a meaningful opportunity for local athletes, as they normally have to travel hours to Boise or Twin Falls for competitions. Now, with the newly renovated Reed Gym Pool, swimmers can compete close to home.

The Porteneuf Valley Swim Team usually has 20 to 30 swimmers, but with the local proximity of today’s meet, they had 60 athletes participate. The USA Swimming-sanctioned meets take lots of planning and preparation, but it’s all worth it for the young athletes.

“I had a couple of swimmers and families approach me and they’re so excited because we don’t have to travel four hours to Boise,” said Taylor. “We usually have about one swim meet a month, and the closest one is in Twin Falls.”

The proximity of the meet allowed for swimmers of all ages to compete, some as young as eight years old. The Portneuf Valley Swim Team has worked over the past year to get the meet sanctioned by USA Swimming. Taylor said it takes a lot of time and preparation to bring the event together.

Click here to follow the original article.

Warm and dry conditions return to So. Colorado

KRDO on March 8, 2026

Steve Roldan

Tonight: Expect mostly clear sies, with winds out of the North at 5 to 10 mph. It will be a cool night with overnight lows dipping down into the mid to upper 20s for most areas. Some of the back roads may see some slippery conditions with the possibility of black ice from all the melting that took place on Saturday.

Sunday: We will see lots of sunshine with mostly clear skies. We will also see much warmer temperatures with high climbing into the low to mid 60s for most areas along the I-25 corridor. Expect cooler readings up in the high country.

Extended: Temperatures will continue to warm up right through Tuesday. Expect highs in the upper 60s, near 70 degrees for most areas in Southern Colorado. We will see a slight cool down for the middle part of next week with highs in the mid to upper 50s. We will be keeping an eye on the possibility for an increased fire danger towards the end of next week.

Click here to follow the original article.

Rising costs, shifting interests contribute to decline in girls high school basketball, survey shows

KMIZ on March 8, 2026

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fewer girls are participating in high school basketball across the country. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, participation in girls basketball has dropped about 21 percent over the past 25 years.

Missouri is among several states seeing an even larger decline, with participation down 34 percent. There were 8,321 players at 568 schools in 2024-25 compared to 12,646 players at 534 schools in 1999-2000.

The Federation, which relies on schools to self-report participation number, said student athletes are still playing sports, just less basketball. Experts point to a combination of factors, including rising costs and an increased interest in other sports.

Families are feeling the financial strain of keeping their kids active in basketball. According to the NFHS survey, the average sports family spent about $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46 percent increase since 2019.

Parents told ABC 17 News that costs can be significantly higher, with some families spending up to $20,000 per season on travel, tournaments, uniforms, and training.

“You’re talking tens to $20,000 in a summer,” Mark Means said. “It just prices kids out. Basketball is not meant to be that way.”

Means was in Columbia on Friday to support his eleven-year-old daughter on the Troy Trojans. She started playing basketball when she was four years old.

“I’ve had three daughters go through AAU Basketball. Love the coaches, love what they’re doing. It’s way too expensive.”

Erin Dean, a mother to an eighth grader said it all adds up.

“I probably don’t want to calculate that number,” Dean said. “But it’s probably on an annual basis, probably about 20 to 25k with our travel.”

Dean’s daughter started playing basketball in third grade. Dean said she was surprised to learn that participation in girls’ basketball is declining, recalling that St. Louis, where she lives, has long been a “robust” hub for the sport.

“It’s competitive, it’s expensive, it’s time-consuming, and if you have other kids, other family needs, sometimes the prioritization of spending it on basketball, hotels, whatever flights. It’s a burden to a family. So I can understand,” Dean said.

Some programs, like Columbia Supreme, are working to make basketball more accessible. Founder Anthony Johnson said fees are cut roughly in half, ranging from $500 for younger players to $750 for older age groups.

“We make it affordable to make it more accessible. And we actively recruit girls from areas that typically don’t play,” Johnson said. “A lot of the kids, if we didn’t have this format, you know, they wouldn’t be on the team. That’s a very high percentage of the kids.”

The Columbia Supreme has been running since 2018. Johnson said he has not seen a decrease in participation numbers.

“We have a very high return rate,” Johnson said. “I don’t really see the kids that play competitive drop off, that is not something that I’ve seen.”

According to the survey, part of the decline is also attributed to shifting interests. Many girls are choosing sports such as soccer, softball, track, volleyball, flag football, and even girls wrestling, which have all seen a rise in participation.

Dean’s daughter also plays travel soccer.

“We are very busy” Dean said. “I committed to one year of the crazy madness before she goes to high school.”

According to the 2024 National Youth Sports Parent Survey, from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, many parents feel pressure for their children to focus on a single sport. Nearly half of parents surveyed, 48% said they feel some or significant pressure for their child to specialize, and 53 percent said that pressure comes from their child’s desire to play high school sports. The survey also found that 21% of parents report their child plays their primary sport for 9 to 12 months out of the year.

Means’ daughter also plays soccer and flag football.

“At a young age you need to be playing all these kind of sports. We take our kids and we focus way too early, and they don’t get an opportunity to really kind of expand and see what’s out there,” Dean said.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, nearly 70% of kids quit organized sports by age 13.

Click here to follow the original article.

Locals attend day three of 33rd Annual Midnight at the Oasis

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals and winter visitors attended the third day of 33rd Annual Midnight at the Oasis Saturday.

The annual event took place at 9 a.m. at Desert Sun Stadium, and featured a variety of cars, food and drink vendors and more.

Nate Schug, also known as Captain Midnight, says approximately 960 cars were showcased during the four-day event.

“A lot of local cars. I’m going to say probably 40. I’m not sure exactly, but I would say probably least half are from out of town. California, Nevada, New Mexico. We get cars like even Canadians who bring cars down for the winter when they’re involved,” Schug shared.

Saturday’s event, which concludes at 11:30 p.m., featured live performances from bands like Midnight Cowgirls, Dirty Yachtin’ Scoundrels and Lee Rocker.

The fourth and final day of the event will take place at the stadium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The winner of the 1975 Plymouth Duster will be announced during that time.

Proceeds raised during the weekend support scholarships, community donations and other local initiatives.

For a list of events, click here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Man receives life sentence for murder in Imperial County

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Manoah Tuiasosopo

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A man convicted in the murder of an Imperial County resident has been sentenced to life in prison.

45-year-old Pedro Rosales Gonzales was sentenced for the killing of Frank Jose Contreras.

Police say Contreras was found dead inside his Imperial home in September of 2021 after suffering from a gunshot wound. He was 55-years-old.

The Imperial Police Department used cellphone data and surveillance video to identify possible suspects. They say Gonzales later made statements implicating himself in the killing.

Following a trial earlier this year, Gonzales was sentenced to life in prison.

Click here to follow the original article.

Man involved in deadly stabbing in Yuma sentenced

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Joaquin Hight

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Yuma man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for a fatal stabbing last year.

33-year-old Mauricio Robles pled guilty last month to second-degree murder and burglary.

In April of 2025, Robles was arrested after officers arrived at a scene where a man had been found stabbed to death.

Authorities say Robles ran to a nearby apartment, barricading himself and claiming he was armed. He later tried to escape through the back, but was caught and taken into custody.

Robles began his sentence Friday.

Click here to follow the original article.

Weather Alert Day: Tornado Watch extended for Lake Area overnight

KMIZ on March 7, 2026

Jessica Hafner

The ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day for the likelihood of strong storms tonight. The threat for damaging winds and widespread heavy rain continues overnight as storms push ahead of a cold front.

A Tornado Watch is in effect for Morgan, Camden, and Benton counties until 4:00 a.m.

It’s been another warm and humid day as highs reached near records in the lower 80s along with dew points into the mid-60s. A wave of low pressure to our south will provide forcing for storms as moisture from the Gulf streams in and allows the atmosphere to build lots of potential energy during the day. We’ll have plenty of instability and wind shear to create strong storm updrafts late in the day, but it remains a question when will we be able to access it.

A weather balloon launched shortly after midday by the University of Missouri showed a weak “cap” in place, but little forcing for development as of early afternoon. MU launched another balloon around 3:30 p.m. that will give us a little better idea of what to expect for the rest of early evening as cumulus clouds begin to tower to our north.

If the cap, caused by a warm layer of air in the lower atmosphere, erodes, then development may start earlier in the evening and have more greater instability to use. This is the specific case in which storms would have the potential for very large hail and strong tornadoes. With later development, storms would still carry a risk for tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind but to a weaker extent.

Regardless of late afternoon or early evening development, storms are likely and will bring at least an isolated severe threat ahead of a cold front later in the night. The front will bring a sharp cool down by Wednesday, and an end to rain by lunch time on Wednesday afternoon.

Storms will pose the threat of all hazards, including large hail, damaging 60+ mph winds, and a few tornadoes. The large hail and tornado threat is largely tied to our late afternoon and early evening storms. This activity will pose the greatest risk if it can develop. The Storm Prediction Center has northeastern Missouri in a level 3/5 severe risk, where the best chance to see these early storms resides. However, a lesser risk does exit for all of Missouri for all severe threats.

Storms become more congealed with the potential of 1-2″ total rainfall through Wednesday. Isolated flooding is possible, especially along low water crossings.

Make sure you have multiple ways to get alerts through the evening and stay ahead of the storm timeline with our news and weather apps. Set the weather app to follow your location to get watches and warnings for your area.

Click here to follow the original article.

Midnight at the Oasis returns to Yuma

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – One of Yuma’s most well-known community events is back this weekend as Midnight at the Oasis returns for three days of classic cars, music and family activities.

The event runs Friday through Sunday and is expected to bring hundreds of car enthusiasts and families to the area.

Gates open Friday at noon and remain open until 11 p.m. On Saturday, the event begins at 8 a.m. and runs until midnight. Sunday’s final day begins at 8 a.m. and wraps up around 1 p.m.

Organizers say guests can purchase separate tickets for daytime activities or evening concerts, but they recommend buying the $35 weekend passport, which provides access to all events throughout the weekend.

The event is organized by Caballeros de Yuma, a nonprofit group made up of local business owners and community leaders.

Proceeds raised during the weekend support scholarships, community donations and other local initiatives.

One of the biggest draws is the car show itself. Organizers say nearly 1,000 classic cars will be displayed, all on grass at Desert Sun Stadium, which they say makes the event unique compared with many other car shows.

The festival also features live concerts, food vendors and family-friendly entertainment.

Many of the vendors and volunteers helping run the event are also nonprofit organizations, meaning the event supports multiple community groups at once.

Organizers say that community connection is what makes the weekend special.

“It’s a great community event,” said Derek Egeberg, Vice President of Caballeros de Yuma. “You get to meet the people who own the cars, talk with them and build relationships. It’s amazing to see kids come up and ask owners about their cars…they light up sharing those stories.”

For longtime Yuma residents, the event has become a tradition that brings generations together.

Organizers say they are grateful for the support of local sponsors and community partners, including the City of Yuma, which helps prepare the event space each year.

More information about tickets and the full schedule can be found on the event’s website.

Click here to follow the original article.

Foundation of Onvida Health celebrates 50 years of service with “A Night of Gratitude” event

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Onvida Health Foundation celebrated 50 years of giving back to the community with its “Night of Gratitude” event, honoring the donors, supporters, and community members who have helped sustain its mission in Yuma.

“This event is really about one thing. To say thank you to our donors and supporters…We have some donor testimonials that will be coming and talking to everyone here. Just talking about why they support the institution and some of the programs that we’re supporting currently,” said Russell Williams, executive director of the foundation.

During the event, speakers also acknowledged the role of families and caregivers who support patients throughout their medical journeys.

“We thank God for opening our eyes to patients, but also families walking these journeys beside them. It is truly our honor,” said the Liggett family, both a patient family of Onvida and current donors to its foundation.

Foundation leaders said the organization is also looking ahead to future initiatives aimed at strengthening health care access and workforce development in the region.

One of the most anticipated developments is a new medical education program being launched through a partnership with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

“The announcement of the new med school…I think that’s the most exciting for us. For me, being from Yuma, that’s a game-changer,” Williams said. “Somebody can be born here, get their education, and now can become a doctor right here in Yuma without having to leave.”

Board members said scholarships supported by the foundation are another way the organization is investing in the future of local health care.

“We invest in people [with scholarships] who may be already working for Onvida Health, or who are in our high schools, or our college or universities, who are working on skills who intend to stay in the Yuma area and help our population,” said Dr. Linda Elliott-Nelson, a foundation board member.

In addition to workforce development, foundation leaders said they are focused on expanding access to advanced medical technology that can improve patient care and recovery experiences.

“The new and upcoming technology,” said Shelley Mellon, chair of the board of trustees. “Whether it’s the Da Vinci robots that we have at our hospital and other top technology that makes the recovery easier for our patients, and that experience even better.”

As the foundation reflects on five decades of community support, leaders said they remain committed to continuing their work to improve health care in Yuma and support patients and medical professionals for generations to come.

Click here to follow the original article.

March 11 declared “M.I.K.I.D. Day” in Yuma

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls has officially proclaimed March 11 as M.I.K.I.D. Day, recognizing the work of the organization that is Arizona’s largest family-run behavioral health nonprofit.

The proclamation marks the organization’s 39th anniversary and highlights its ongoing efforts to support children, youth, and families dealing with mental and behavioral health challenges.

M.I.K.I.D. provides resources and services for young people experiencing conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism, and other mental health needs.

The nonprofit works with families across Arizona to connect them with information, peer support, and mental health services.

Nicholls said the recognition is meant to help raise awareness about available support systems for families navigating mental health challenges.

“A lot of times we get in those situations in our families and we don’t know the resources available, and this is one way we can help get that information out,” Mayor Nicholls said.

Local leaders and advocates hope the proclamation will encourage families who may be struggling to reach out for help.

“I’m hoping that it urges families to come and seek help if they need it,” said Yuma’s M.I.K.I.D. direct service manager Sarah Acuna.

In addition to Yuma, the mayors of Kingman and Sierra Vista have also issued honorary proclamations recognizing M.I.K.I.D. and its work supporting youth mental health.

Click here to follow the original article.