Central Oregon Autism Movement prepares for annual fundraising walk, hosting two community events in Redmond

KTVZ on April 15, 2026

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Central Oregon Autism Movement (COAM) is preparing to host two community events in Redmond in the coming weeks. The Shine Together Community Night is scheduled for Saturday, April 18th and the Shine Together Autism Walk & Festival will follow on Saturday, May 2nd. Both events will be held at General Duffy’s Waterhole.

These upcoming events are designed to foster community connection and inclusion while raising funds for local autism programs, services, and family support.

The Shine Together Community Night, happening this weekend, will be a free and family-friendly evening. Attendees can enjoy music, games, prizes, and opportunities for connection. Families can also pick up event gear and wristbands to prepare for the main walk.

The Shine Together Autism Walk & Festival, set for Saturday, May 2nd, will feature a walk, live music, kids activities, sensory-friendly spaces, and community resources. The festival is COAM’s largest fundraiser of the year.

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CASA of Central Oregon’s annual ‘Casablanca: A Masquerade Gala’ returns to Bend

KTVZ on April 15, 2026

Silas Moreau

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Happening Next, CASA of Central Oregon will host its annual Casablanca: A Masquerade Gala on Saturday, May 16th, 2026, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon in Bend.

This signature fundraising event raises critical funds to support advocacy for children in foster care in Central Oregon.The gala ensures that each child in foster care has a consistent, caring adult by their side, providing stability and hope.

All proceeds from the evening support the recruitment and training of Court Appointed Special Advocates, known as CASAs. These volunteers play a vital role in advocating for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Guests attending the gala will enjoy champagne, passed appetizers, a hosted bar and a plated dinner. The event will also feature robust live and silent auctions, a local restaurant gift card raffle, a wine wall and a dessert dash. Emily Kirk, an anchor with Central Oregon Daily News, will emcee the evening.

CASA Executive Director Heather Dion of Central Oregon, stated the importance of community support for the organization’s mission, “Casablanca is not only a celebration, but a powerful reminder of what our community can accomplish together,” Dion said. “With the support of partners like EC Electric and our incredible donors, we are able to continue showing up for children who need stability, advocacy and hope.”

Last year, 489 children spent time in foster care across Central Oregon. Currently, 77 of these children still need a dedicated CASA by their side to advocate for them. CASA of Central Oregon recruits, trains and supports these community volunteers to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and permanent home.

Community members can support the event in various ways, including by attending the gala, becoming a sponsor, or volunteering. Donations of experiences, services and unique items for the auction are also being accepted until May 1.

For more information about the event, to purchase tickets or to get involved, visit casaofcentraloregon.org/casablanca or call 541-389-1618.

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Suspect shot by police in Rolla

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Rolla police shot a man early Wednesday while responding to a “disturbance.”

The Rolla Police Department said in a news release that officers were sent to the 2000 block of Forum Drive at about 4 a.m. for a disturbance call. Police encountered a man armed with a gun and shot him, according to the release.

Officers gave first aid at the scene, and the man was taken to a hospital by ambulance. The suspect was stable Wednesday morning, police say.

No officers were hurt.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating the shooting.

Rolla Police did not release the names of the officers involved or the suspect.

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Smoke causes fire department response at University Hospital

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

EDITOR’S NOTE: A misspelled name has been corrected.

Smoke in the Missouri Psychiatric Center that is connected to University Hospital caused a large Columbia Fire Department response Wednesday, but no evacuation was needed, according to a CFD official.

CFD Assistant Chief Lester Shewmake said an HVAC system handler started smoking and spread the smoke throughout the first floor via the vents. Twenty CFD firefighters were sent to the scene.

Firetrucks blocked Deans Drive near the children’s emergency room entrance during the response.

Firefighters were clearing the scene just before 9:30 a.m.

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Local outdoorsman kayaks for solar power as outcry renews for Puerto Rico solar funding

KRDO on April 15, 2026

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Nearly 200 organizations penned a letter to President Trump on Wednesday, urging him to restore $350 million in funding to ease Puerto Rico’s power grid problems. While they wait for a response, a local outdoorsman is taking matters into his own hands.

“I will be very happy that my paddling was useful in a different way, other than making me personally happy,” Kayaker Chris Duval said.

Next Wednesday, on Earth Day, Duval will ship off from the Puerto Rico coast in his kayak. He will paddle 100 miles, raising money along the way.

He saw the destruction of Hurricane Maria in 2017 firsthand as his in-laws and millions more struggled to rebuild. The island’s energy grid has never fully recovered.

“They have to import all of their energy, and it’s expensive, especially in times like now when energy prices have gone up,” Duval said.

That’s why he will take on the Atlantic Ocean for his “Paddle for Power”. He’s raising money to support Solar United Neighbors and the Sierra Club of Puerto Rico. The two groups work together to help Puerto Rican residents afford solar power and personal generators to power their homes independently from the territory’s grid.

“The money that they were counting on to use to help low-income people install solar systems is gone, so hopefully the money we raise will help fill that gap,” Duval said.

Solar United Neighbors said it has lost over $10 million in funding intended to help vulnerable Puerto Ricans build solar and generator power systems so they’re protected when the unreliable main grid goes down.

Solar United Neighbors said it was one of the organizations that signed the letter addressed to the president. The letter urges the Trump Administration to restore $350 million in federal funding intended to finance solar and generator power systems for 12,000 low-income Puerto Rican families.

Duval hits the water on April 22. You can find his Paddle for Power donation page here.

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Woman hurt after crashing into building in Audrain County

KMIZ on April 15, 2026

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Audrain County woman was hurt after a crash Tuesday night.

Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened on eastbound Business 54 east of Spire Lane on Tuesday at 7:25 p.m.

Troopers said a 33-year-old woman from Mexico was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe when she went off the right side of the road.

The vehicle went over a curb, hit a John Deere tractor, a MoDOT sign and a building.

The woman was taken to University Hospital in Columbia with serious injuries.

She was not reported to be wearing a seatbelt.

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Two cars catch fire on 24th Street and 17th Avenue

KYMA on April 15, 2026

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two vehicles went up in flames early Tuesday morning in Yuma.

The Yuma Fire Department (YFD) responded to the call around 12:40 a.m. on 24th Street and 17th Avenue outside of a home.

YFD says one of the vehicles had a gasoline leak that caused both cars to ignite. Firefighters were able to control the fire.

A garage and some motorcycles nearby were damaged. Both of the vehicles were destroyed.

No injuries were reported, and the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

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The School Buzz: Air Academy HS students hold Q&A with Colorado congressman

KRDO on April 15, 2026

Josh Helmuth

Students at one local high school got a chance to hear directly from someone helping shape decisions in Washington.

The students at Air Academy High School got a firsthand look at government in action when Representative Jeff Crank visited the school on March 30.

Crank spoke with students about public service, leadership and current events. Better yet, students got the chance to ask him questions during a Q&A.

School leaders say it was a powerful way to connect with what students are learning in the classroom with the real world. It really gives them a better understanding of leadership and how government works firsthand.

Is there something or someone remarkable at your school? Email Josh! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

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Man convicted in $31K romance scam on 79-year-old Florida widower: Bradenton police

CNN Newsource on April 15, 2026

By WFTS Digital Staff

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — Police said Minnesota man accused of romance scamming a 79-year-old Bradenton widower has been convicted.

The Bradenton Police Department (BPD) announced on April 15 that Benjamin Yakah has been convicted of grand theft and must pay the widower $31,000 in restitution.

BPD said the investigation launched in June 2024, when the widower’s children contacted BPD’s Elder Fraud Unit, with concerns about their father’s reported online romance with a woman named “Julia,” whom he met on Facebook in late 2023.

According to BPD’s report, the widower communicated with “Julia” on Facebook Messenger for over eight months.

Police said the widower became convinced “Julia” lived in the United Kingdom, as well as “Julia” was moving to the United States to begin a relationship with him.

As part of the scam, police said “Julia” claimed she owed money to a Minnesota man. And she would move to Florida after paying off the debt to the man.

Police said the widower sent cash, money orders, and cashier’s checks to a home and a bank in Minneapolis in order to speed up the moving process.

Detectives then tracked the bank account and home address to Yakah, who they believe was using the image of “Julia” that belonged to a West Virginia woman, without her knowledge or permission.

In November 2024, police apprehended Yakah. In a subsequent search of Yakah’s home, detectives learned there were additional victims in other states.

Yakah was extradited to Manatee County.

In early April of this year, he pleaded no contest to grand theft, a second-degree felony.

Yakah was sentenced to one year in jail, four years of probation.

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.

One person arrested during search for illegal drugs in Yuma home

KYMA on April 15, 2026

Marcos Icahuate

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A man was arrested during a search of his home by the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force, according to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, April 14, at about 6:52 a.m., the narcotics task force served a search warrant in the area of S. Virginia Drive.

The search of a home led to the task force finding the following:

284 grams of meth

Nearly 7 grams of cocaine

1.4 grams of Xanax bars

Multiple items of drug paraphernalia

The specific items of drug paraphernalia were undisclosed in the press release.

A 56-year-old suspect was suspect was arrested with the following counts:

Possession of a dangerous drug

Possession of a dangerous drug for sale

Possession of a narcotic for sale

Possession of a narcotic

Possession of drug paraphernalia

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