Bend-La Pine School District considers limiting iPad use in early grades

KTVZ on April 14, 2026

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bend-La Pine School District board recently moved a resolution forward to address concerns about public education technology. The proposal specifically aims to change how iPads are distributed to students in kindergarten through second grade and how artificial intelligence is used in classrooms.

The goal of this initiative is to improve student-to-student interaction and reduce dependency on technology in learning.

Currently, the school district provides iPads to students in kindergarten through second grade. The board heard from parents and teachers for close to 10 minutes, expressing a desire for the board to approve a policy that would change how iPads are distributed to students, as well as regulate the use of AI.

A teacher at Bend-La Pine Schools shared her perspective on the absence of iPads in her classroom. “There’s a buzzing as my students talk read move about the room. (…) And yet I feel pride because in absence of their Ipads my students have learned to be learners,” the teacher said.

A parent of a student at Bend-La Pine Schools expressed concerns about their child’s technology use. The parent noted their child’s understanding of the world.

“And then I get to school and I see him go to a room and he joins the rest of his classroom of sitting down in front of an ipad,” the parent stated.

Reporter Spencer Sacks observed that no one expressed opposition to removing iPads from classrooms, especially for students in kindergarten through second grade. When the board discussed the proposal, members spoke about the need to gather more information to inform their decision. One specific piece of information the board seeks is data on websites currently used by students.

Director Amy Tatom indicated that YouTube was the most visited website in Bend-La Pine schools. This resolution is part of a broader year-long change within the district regarding technology use. Earlier this school year, the board approved a ban on cell phones inside schools.

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Debris burning season closing April 30 across Sisters area

KTVZ on April 14, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The seasonal window for legal debris burning in the Sisters area will close at sunset on April 30, according to local fire officials.

The Northwest Fire Agencies — which include Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Black Butte Ranch Fire District, and Cloverdale Fire District — announced the seasonal shutdown Tuesday, marking the annual shift into fire season beginning May 1.

Outdoor debris burning is already prohibited year-round within the city limits of Sisters, but this closure extends to rural areas around town that fall under local fire district jurisdiction. Crews say the change is a precaution as temperatures rise and conditions dry out across Central Oregon.

Residents and visitors are encouraged to double-check burning regulations with their local fire district before lighting any fire. Additional restrictions on campfires may also be implemented later in the summer if fire danger increases.

For more information, contact:

Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District: 541-549-0771 or www.sistersfire.com

Black Butte Ranch Fire District: 541-595-2288 or www.bbrfire-or.gov

Cloverdale Fire District: 541-389-2345 or www.cloverdalefire.com

Local agencies are also urging homeowners to clear flammable vegetation and create defensible space around their homes ahead of fire season. Guidance on wildfire preparedness and defensible space is available through the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s website at oregon.gov/osfm/wildfire/pages/defensiblespace.aspx.

Fire officials remind Central Oregon residents that rules can vary by district and jurisdiction. Anyone planning outdoor burning should confirm requirements with their local fire agency before proceeding.

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Man shot by Jefferson City police asks for change of venue in case

KMIZ on April 14, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man who was charged with multiple felonies after he was shot by Jefferson City police officers in February is asking for a change of judge and venue.

Joey Hampton, 40, of Jefferson City, is charged in Cole County with two counts of first-degree assault and single counts of shooting at a vehicle, armed criminal action and illegal gun possession. He is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. 

Hampton appeared by video from the jail for his arraignment on Monday and pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, assistant public defender Juliana Payne, filed a motion on Monday asking for a change of judge and venue.

The motion says Hampton is hoping for the case to be moved to either Jackson County, St. Louis County or the city of St. Louis and alleges that Cole County residents “are prejudiced against him.”

Payne also filed a motion for Hampton on Monday that asked the state for a mental exam.

Court documents in previous reporting say Jefferson City police officers were trying to contact Hampton on Feb. 26 “in relation to reports that had received that Hampton was involved in the sale and use of illegal drugs, was in possession of a stolen firearm, and had brandished a firearm and/or threatened person(s) with a firearm.”

Hampton allegedly fired shots at the officers, hit a patrol vehicle and officers returned fire. The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control is investigating.

The names of the officers involved in the shooting have not been released.

The next hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Friday.

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Columbia woman accused of sending out nude video of victim, posting it to websites

KMIZ on April 14, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia woman was charged on Tuesday with disseminating a sexual video of someone without their consent.

Megan Cabaniol, 27, is being held at the Boone County Jail on a $15,000 bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says police were called on Monday after the victim in the case claimed their ex-boyfriend asked her about an explicit video that was showed to him days before by Cabaniol.

The statement says another person confirmed Cabaniol showed them the video and that police found the video on a couple of pornographic websites.

The victim believed Cabaniol was trying to harass her because their friendship had recently ended, the statement says.

Cabaniol allegedly told police that the victim agreed to let her take the video but denied showing it to anyone or uploading it to any website. She allegedly told police that “someone else must have posted them from her account” on the pornographic websites, the statement says.

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Woman and dog found dead after house fire near Goleta

KEYT on April 14, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

GOLETA, Calif. (KEYT) – A woman and her dog died in a house fire at the 5000 block of Amberly Place just before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to the SBCFD.

Neighbors said she was in her late 80s and on oxygen.

Your News Channel spoke to SBCFD Battalion Chief Adam Estabrook, who confirmed the two fatalities in the incident.

He said crews arrived within 5 minutes.

“We started an attack on the fire we made an entry we searched and we found the victim inside the fire it was too late though that individual had passed away in the fire before we could rescue them we also had a report that multiple pets we weren’t able to rescue all,” said Estabrook.

They did rescue cats.

Before fireman arrived a neighbor save one of her big dogs.

Police chaplains comforted the woman’s daughter while investigators went to work.

Another neighbor who lives in a home behind the house came by to say he saw flames reignite and coming from a TV inside the charred home.

A fire crew returned and quickly made sure that fire was out.

“It is a tough day, it is tough we did put a fire attack on the scene sometimes in these situations unfortunate things happen,” said Estabrook.

The SBCFD advised all residents and drivers to avoid the area to ensure emergency vehicles had clear access during the fire response.

More information on the fire will be provided as it becomes available to Your News Channel.

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The right to an Abortion could be on the ballot’s this November

KIFI on April 14, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) – The Reproductive Freedom & Privacy Act is 1,000 signatures away from being added to the ballots this November.

The initiative, spearheaded by the coalition Idahoans United for Women & Families, seeks to restore reproductive healthcare access by introducing specific protections into the state constitution.

What the Act Proposes

If passed, the initiative would create a legal right in Idaho for individuals to make their own reproductive health decisions, including abortion, without excessive government interference.

According to Idahoans United for Women & Families, the right to abortion access means one could obtain an abortion before fetal viability (the stage when a fetus could survive outside the womb). There would also be some post-viability exceptions to protect the life or health of the pregnant person.

Privacy protections would keep information about these decisions on reproductive care between patients and their healthcare providers.

“They can plan their lives, their health, their future, their finances. Without government at the table. And that is a quite essential Idaho value,” Melanie Folwell, the executive director of Idahoans United for Women and Families, stated, “When it comes to the hard decisions, those belong to you, not the government. You call the shots in your family, not the government.”

“Idaho is a Pro-Life State”: The Opposition

The initiative faces stiff resistance from conservative advocacy groups who argue the measure againts Idaho’s values as a traditionally “pro-life” state. Critics argue the Act would dismantle existing Idaho laws that strictly limit abortion.

“The radical ballot initiative would turn back all of the pro-life victories that Idaho has achieved in recent years that provide so many protections for babies and for mothers,” Blaine Conzatti, president of Idaho Family Policy Center, stated. “Idaho is a pro-life state.”

The Final Push

With the deadline looming, Idahoans United will host signing blitz events across the state tomorrow, April 15. The events will target key districts where additional signatures are needed.

If the final 1000 signatures come through, ultimately, the fate of the Act rests with the voters. A copy of the language of the initiative has been included below.

RFPADownload

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Joanna Kasner’s request for more freedom denied, except limited out-of-state travel

KTVZ on April 14, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Psychiatric Security Review Board recently denied most requests from Joanna Kasner, convicted in the 2019 shooting death of Valerie Peterson, to ease her state supervision. Kasner had sought greater independence seven years after the murder, but Peterson’s family is fighting to keep current restrictions in place.

The Board’s decision comes as Peterson’s family relives a painful chapter during the latest hearing.

In 2019, Kasner murdered her neighbor, Valerie Peterson, near Grande Loop and McGrath in the Boonsboro area north of Bend. Kasner, who is currently on conditional release at a secure residential treatment facility, asked the Board to scale back her care.

During a recent hearing, Harris Matarazzo, Kasner’s attorney, questioned her about her mental health. Joanna Kasner stated that she has ‘HISTORICAL DELUSIONAL DISORDER AND COMPLEX PTSD’. She also affirmed her engagement in treatment for these conditions, noting, ‘FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HOURS, SUPPORT GROUPS, THERAPY OF ALL SORTS.’

Kasner’s requests to the Psychiatric Security Review Board included a step up to independent living, permission to drive a vehicle, entry into Multnomah County for treatment with GPS monitoring and authorization to travel outside of the state.

Elisabeth A. Waner, the state’s attorney, representing Valerie Peterson’s family, argued these requests were premature and advocated for Kasner to remain under the Board’s jurisdiction.

The Board subsequently denied all of Kasner’s requests except for out-of-state travel. For approved out-of-state travel, Kasner must provide seven days notice and will be monitored by GPS. She will not be accompanied by medical or law enforcement personnel, meaning she will be allowed to travel on her own.

During the hearing, confusion arose when the state questioned Doctor Ruiz, a medical expert testifying at the hearing, about a motion Kasner had filed to set aside her convictions. Dr. Ruiz responded, ‘YEAH, I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING. I DON’T KNOW THE THINKING BEHIND IT. I DID NOT TALK WITH HER ABOUT THIS.’

Peterson’s sister, Melissa McPherson, recounted that Valerie Peterson was conversing with Kasner while on the phone with her family just minutes before Kasner murdered her. Peterson’s agreement to talk with Kasner resulted in six bullets to her mid torso, costing Peterson her life.

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Alleged Boonville casino robbers indicted by grand jury

KMIZ on April 14, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The two men accused of robbing the Isle of Capri Casino in Boonville last month have each been indicted by a grand jury.

Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, 21, of Columbia has been charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. He is being held at the Cooper County Jail on a $1.3 million bond. Charles waived his arraignment and pleaded not guilty on Monday. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday, May 22.

Hollis Vanleer Jr., 20, of Normal, Illinois, is not in custody and is charged with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and first-degree assault. Law enforcement last month stated that he is to be considered “armed and dangerous.” A $1.3 million bond was set in his case.

Charles was an employee of the casino and allegedly told law enforcement that he helped set up the robbery “for about a month,” court documents in previous reporting say. The pair took about $1.28 million from the main bank drawer, court documents in previous reporting say.

Vanleer is accused of attacking a patron who tried to stop one of the men from getting away, court documents in previous reporting say.

The two got away in a Ford Taurus and abandoned the vehicle in Howard County before getting into another vehicle, previous reporting indicates. Charles was identified after a receipt was found in the first getaway vehicle.

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IDWR and Gov. Little issue emergency drought declaration for all 44 Idaho counties

KIFI on April 14, 2026

Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Following the second-warmest winter in Idaho’s recorded history, Idaho Department of Water Resources (IDWR) Director Mathew Weaver has issued an emergency drought declaration for all 44 counties. Governor Brad Little approved the order on Monday, April 13, effective immediately.

Courtesy: IDWR

The declaration comes on the heels of an almost “non-existent” winter. According to IDWR, as of April 1, nearly 100 measurement sites across the Snake River Basin reported record-low Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) values. The state also had a record-low snowpack, peaking at only 68% of normal snowpack in March, 25% of which has already melted.

Courtesy: IDWR

RELATED: Long-term drought concerns after latest snowpack update

Under Idaho law, water rights are very rigid, dictating exactly where and how water can be used. This emergency declaration “unlocks” those rules, authorizing IDWR to consider applications for temporary changes in existing water rights for the remainder of the year.

This allows farmers to:

Shift the point of diversion (where water is pulled from).

Change the place of use (moving water to higher-priority crops).

Modify the purpose of use.

IDWR says the declaration provides a “powerful tool for agricultural water users to cope with drought.”

Beyond added emergency flexibility, the declaration may also help Idaho farmers qualify for emergency federal drought assistance. The Governor’s signature acts as a formal “proof of disaster,” a prerequisite for farmers to qualify.

Water users interested in filing for a temporary change must follow IDWR guidelines. For more information, click HERE.

20260413-OrderDeclaringDroughtEmergency-StatewideDeclarationDownload

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Imperial County residents attend presentation on Lithium Valley Project

KYMA on April 14, 2026

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A handful of residents gathered at Elks Lodge in Brawley to hear a presentation on Imperial County’s Lithium Valley Project.

The presentation, hosted by Los Amigos de la Comunidad, touched on lithium uses for electric vehicle batteries, cellphones, and energy storage systems.

They discussed job creation, new tax revenue for Imperial County, and the possibility of new manufacturing plants.

However, there are environmental concerns about lithium mining, water use and longterm sustainability.

Brawley City Councilman Tim Kelley also mentioned that Lithium Valley will support data centers and other industry, and urged the public to get behind the project.

“We can come back on about three years when there’s an opportunity for new business to come in and we say, we were there at the table. We supported that. And we want to make sure that those projects met the requirements that the community wants,” Councilman Kelley explained.

The public is urged to submit comments and concerns online as the project enters it’s planning and approval phase.

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