Kilauea eruption episode 44 fountains for over 8 hours; tephra chunks falling in nearby areas

CNN Newsource on April 10, 2026

By KITV Web Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    KILAUEA, Hawaii (KITV) — Kilauea’s 44th eruption episode ended on Thursday night after spurring lava for over eight hours. The summit of Kilauea was evacuated due to tephra chunks falling in the area and ashfall is also affecting the surrounding areas.

The Hawaii Volcano Observatory announced eruption episode 44 began at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2026. This comes nearly a month after episode 43 came to an end.

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Volcanoes reported that episode 44 ended at 7:41 p.m. after eight hours of continuous lava fountaining from Kilauea’s north vent.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park said rangers are evacuating the area early Thursday afternoon due to tephra chunks the size of softballs falling at Kilauea Overlook at Kilauea Military Camp around noon. USGS Volcanoes raised the alert level for the eruptions to RED at that time. The Kahuku Unit at the park remained open.

USGS reported winds are blowing from the south, possibly spreading volcanic gas emissions and tephra within three miles of the vent. It is warning visitors about possible lighter ash and Pele’s Hair flying at further distances.

The National Weather Service issued an Ashfall Information Statement due to ash and tephra (fine glass particles that may irritate the skin and eyes) in the area and downwind of the eruption.

The eruption has closed Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Highway 11 in Puna at the 25.5 Mile Marker at the intersection of Nahelenani Street and in Kau at the 40 Mile Marker. Drivers are asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes.

Highway 11 near Volcano Village reopened to traffic after 6 p.m.

Residents in the nearby communities are advised to take necessary precautions to limit exposure to ashfall.

Most lava fountaining episodes since Dec. 23, 2024, have continued for a day or less.

To watch the eruption live, head to the USGS’ live webcams here: usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/webcams

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.

Basketball star AJ Dybantsa is part of Soldier Showcase at UCSB

KEYT on April 10, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The rain might wreak havoc across the Central Coast this weekend, but the best ticket in town just might be a place where you don’t have to dodge raindrops, but instead watch it raining threes.

The Oakland Soldiers basketball organization — which launched a Central Coast chapter in 2025 — returns to Santa Barbara on Sunday for its annual Soldier Showcase, which will include the jersey retirement of projected No. 1 NBA Draft pick AJ Dybantsa.

The All-American at BYU played for the Soldiers in 2024, the latest in elite players that have come through the organization, including LeBron James, Aaron Gordon, Gabe Vincent, Kendrick Perkins and dozens of other professional players.

On Sunday, AJ will share the spotlight with a high-flying dunk contest that will feature legendary Southern California dunker Christon Staples; a 3-point contest with former UCSB star Aidan Mahaney; and the spectacle that is playing 1-on-1 against Jerome Randle in a King of the Court competition.

Local families wanting to learn more about grassroots basketball; how the Soldiers address the complex world of youth athletics through their non-profit, the FAM Foundation; and how the organization sets families up for success on and off the court, this event will cater to those looking to be inspired, educated and empowered to take the next step.

Tickets are still available, and you can find them at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/soldiers-showcase

Click here to follow the original article.

Low snow shuts down Mt. Bachelor early, alters iconic event, impacts local businesses

KTVZ on April 10, 2026

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — After one of its latest opening days ever on Dec. 23, Mount Bachelor has announced it will close for the season on April 19, the earliest closing date on record. That marks a season lasting just three months and 28 days. The short season was heavily impacted by abnormally low snowfall across Central Oregon.

Local Businesses Feel the Impact

For many businesses that rely on Mount Bachelor’s long winter season, the shortened run has taken a toll.

Todd McGee, owner of Powderhouse, said his team was fortunate to make it through the tough season.

“I’m just grateful with the year we did have. It could have been a lot worse than a lot of other mountains,” McGee said.

He added that business wasn’t as strong as usual, but he was proud to keep his staff employed.

“Traffic has not been as heavy as normal, but we made it through. We didn’t lay off any employees, which I was very happy with. Some of them have been with me for 25 years,” he said.

Pole Pedal Paddle Event Adjusts to Conditions

The Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation’s iconic Pole Pedal Paddle event, celebrating its 50th year, is also adapting to the lack of snow. Organizers announced that the skiing portion of the event will be canceled this year due to limited snow, replacing it with a 2.5- to 3-mile mountain run and a 1.5-mile fun run.

“This year marks the 50th year of the Pole Pedal Paddle, and it has a long tradition of being adapted to weather conditions like water levels and snow levels,” said Marieka Greene, community engagement and development coordinator for MBSEF. “Many course changes have been made in relation to development in Bend. And so this is just another part of the Pole Pedal Paddle story.”

This isn’t the first time organizers have had to change the course. During what was known as the Great Drought of 1976-77, the event was also modified to fit the challenging weather conditions.

Ending a Short but Memorable Season

Despite the shortened season and lower-than-average snowfall, many skiers and riders still made the most of the slopes this winter. As Mount Bachelor prepares to close next week, the community is already looking ahead — hoping for deeper snow and a longer season next year.

Click here to follow the original article.

Santa Maria Elks announce candidates for 2026 Rodeo Queen Contest

KEYT on April 10, 2026

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The countdown to the 83rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade is now officially underway with the recent announcement of this year’s Queen Contest candidates.

During the annual Queen Kickoff and Auction Dinner held at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, the candidates and their sponsoring non-profit organizations that were revealed included, Reiyna Sarin (Allan Hancock College Athletic Boosters) Savannah Salcido (Kiwanis Club of Guadalupe), Annabella Williams (Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club), and Morgan Fasse (St. Joseph High School).

“The Queen Kickoff is when they start raising funds for their organizations,” said Elks Recreation President Peter Sterling. “Each one of them has the opportunity to raise as much money as they can and the one that raises the most money is the one that wins the Queen crown.”

Over the next seven weeks, the candidates and sponsoring organizations will raise money through a variety of different fundraisers and events.

“Typically, there’s a couple of auctions going on,” said Sterling. “That’s a lot of the main fundraisers. I have one organization that is raffling off a brand new Corvette. You can buy some tickets for that and at the end of the campaign, they have a drawing and you can be the winner. There’s a lot of fun events that you can go to and a lot of creative ways that they raise money. Check out their Facebook websites and I’ll bet you’ll find something that’ll really interests you.”

The contest will culminate with the announcement of the winner and the coronation of the new Queen on Friday, May 29.

Since it was created more than 80 years ago, the Queen Contest has raised more than $18 million with all the money directly supporting local youth recreation and activities.

“Nothing goes outside of this community,” said Sterling. “The City of Santa Maria and its outlying areas have all benefited from that obviously and we really appreciate it. We’re one of the unique programs that I’ve heard of like this. I haven’t heard of any other organizations in the rodeo, world, that have really tried this kind of a contest.”

The 83rd Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and Parade will be held May 27 through May 31.

Opening night for the second straight year will be the performance of Xtreme Bulls, followed by four consecutive days of the traditional schedule of Elk Rodeo events.

For more information, click here to visit the official Elk Rodeo website at elksrec.com.

Click here to follow the original article.

Two Yuma siblings graduate college before starting high school

KYMA on April 10, 2026

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Two local siblings are preparing to reach a milestone that most students don’t encounter until years later. Graduating college before even starting high school.

Lyra and Max Olea, students at Arizona Western College (AWC), are set to earn their associate degrees this May.

Despite their young age, both are already enrolled in classes at Northern Arizona University as they continue their academic journey.

“One thing that inspired me to graduate early is I wanted to get ahead,” Max said. “Because I’m not exactly sure what I want to be when I grow up. So then I can have more options.”

His sister shared that her motivation comes from her family.

“My mom got her doctorate degree and I wanted to be like her and graduate early so then I could, like, have more opportunities,” Lyra said.

Edna Gary, the siblings’ American Sign Language professor at AWC, said she was immediately surprised when she first met them.

“Yeah I was completely shocked, when I saw them,” Gary said. “They are the youngest students I’ve ever seen so they stood out to me for sure. These two college students were, they stood out like a gem to me.”

Gary added that their work ethic and maturity set them apart in class, despite being significantly younger than their peers.

“I’m very, very proud. Whatever assistance they needed with understanding something, I was there to help them because I could see their passion,” Gary expressed.

Lyra and Max have especially enjoyed learning American Sign Language, saying they appreciate the ability to communicate with and better understand the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

While they continue progressing through college coursework, both students are already thinking about what comes next.

“I want to move to Japan and work at EPIC Games as a creative producer for Fortnite,” Lyra said.

“I’m not exactly sure, but I do know I want to do something with like exploring,” Max said.

The siblings are expected to walk the stage at AWC’s graduation ceremony this May, marking an extraordinary achievement and the beginning of their next academic chapter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Columbia Board of Health revisits feral cat ordinance as residents voice growing concerns

KMIZ on April 10, 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ) 

On April 10, 2025, the Columbia Board of Health met to discuss some proposed changes to the city’s ordinance regarding feral cats.

Nearly a year to the day, the board met once again to discuss changes, with some residents saying the problems are only getting worse. 

The Columbia City Council has been considering eliminating the microchipping and annual testing requirements for feral animal caretakers, with feral cats being the primary concern the ordinance is centered around.  

After hearing concerns from residents during a March 2 City Council meeting, the council sent the proposal back to the board of health to revise.  Under the ordinance, residents need a permit from the Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Human Services to take care of a feral cat colony. The only problem: Nobody is applying for the permit.  

The board on Thursday heard from several residents, including Christina Byrd, who leads the Trap, Neuter, Return program at Columbia Second Chance, a program that works to help the stray cat population. She said one of the main issues is that the permit requires permission from the property owner, something many landlords are not willing to sign off on. 

“Most landlords don’t allow feeders,” Byrd told the board during Thursday’s meeting. “Mine doesn’t care but I was also told that if a landlord signs that permit, they are liable for that colony if the tenant moves out. So they are not going to sign it. That’s why mine won’t sign it.” 

Other residents, like Pamela Pasley, are simply sick of the cats. Pasley told the board that she doesn’t feed any of the feral cats, but has a pair of cats with more than 20 kittens who gather in her backyard near a sewer drain. 

“My problem is quite different from everyone else’s. I would maintain a pet if I had a pet, but I don’t, so these animals are a nuisance to the neighborhood,” Pasley said. 

The board discussed removing the permit requirement from the ordinance, noting that few residents have applied. However, members said most ordinances they reviewed from other cities still require permission from a property owner.

According to the board, the original ordinance was intended to balance competing concerns, recognizing that residents would continue feeding feral cats while allowing the city to establish guidelines.

Many residents have avoided applying for permits, citing concerns about making their information public and the possibility of retaliation from neighbors. Others raised liability issues, noting that caretakers are responsible for the cats’ health and may not be able to afford veterinary care if the animals become sick.

The board ultimately tabled the discussion until next month to gather more research.

Click here to follow the original article.

Columbia Housing Authority to replace roofs on Bear Creek units

KMIZ on April 10, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Housing Authority is replacing the roofs on all of its units at Bear Creek, it announced in a Wednesday social media post.

Roof replacements are occurring on all 35 duplex buildings and will cost nearly $448,000. There will also be sidewalk and accessibility improvements in front of the community building.

CHA Director Randy Cole says these improvements will enhance safety, accessibility and quality of life for residents.

Click here to follow the original article.

Dry Winter, Thirsty Spring: When should you start watering your lawn?

KIFI on April 9, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The weather has been unseasonably warm and dry this year. With the lack of snowpack and many plants starting to come out of hibernation, it might be time to start watering your lawn.

“So usually we get that snow, and then it melts, and it saturates the soil with water. We didn’t have that option this year. So a lot of plants are starting to require moisture,” said James Flemming, supervisor of Town & Country Gardens.

When it comes to actually watering your plants, here are some tips from Flemming: “Lawns, you’re looking at watering maybe once or twice a week. With trees, I would, especially with the evergreens, I would give them a deep soak at least once a week.”

However, this comes with some precautions. Due to the lack of snowpack, we will be experiencing a drought, so being conservative with our water is very important.

From a statement from Falls Water Co. “It is necessary to implement a restriction for outside watering of lawns and landscaping. Starting April 15th through October 15th each year, outside water use will be limited to every other day”

This schedule will be based on the last number of your home address. The watering schedule will look like this:

Even numbered homes (0, 2, 4, 6, & 8)

Water lawns on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Odd-numbered homes (1, 3, 5, 7, & 9)

Water lawns Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday

Anyone may water on Sunday

“As we increase our daytime temperatures and we get more and more into the season, they just need to increase the watering,” Flemming said.

Just be mindful of how much water you use, as we are in a drought. Follow your region’s water regulations to ensure we have enough water to last the season.

Click here to follow the original article.

Snake Fire: Madison Sheriff lifts evacuation order as fire is contained

KIFI on April 9, 2026

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE 10 PM:

MADISON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Fire crews continue to put out a fire along the Snake River that started early Thursday afternoon, April 9.

The fire has been contained and burned approximately 30 acres with 15 acres in Jefferson County and 30 acres in Madison County.

The fire started when a ditch burn on the Jefferson County side spread out of control and into a grove of cottonwoods along the river. Winds help the fire jump the river and spreading on the Madison County side.

Firefighters were ferried on boats to help fight the fire, and a helicopter also helped in fighting the fire.

For a time, Sheriff deputies were going to nearby homes telling residents to prepare and evacuate as a precaution. The order was lifted around 7:30 PM Thursday evening.

“We’re monitoring the conditions tonight, we’re gonna have firefighters on each side of the fire monitoring the behavior, the public is gonna see a lot of fire activity, but rest assured that we’re watching it and that things are under control for the evening,” Madison County Fire Department Chief Troyce Miskin said.

No injuries were reported.

UPDATE 7:45 PM

Madison County Sheriff’s office said evacuation orders have been lifted as the fire has been contained.

They said fire crews will remain on the fire for several days. A helicopter has been added to help with the fire on the Snake River. Madison County deputies are continuing to shuttle firefighters up and down the river to put out hotspots.

Contained means the firefighters have established a solid perimeter around the fire and should not spread.

UPDATE: 6:30 PM

The Snake Fire has grown to consume about 15 acres on the Jefferson side of the Snake River. Madison County Wildland Firefighters are still working to determine how large the fire has grown on the Northern side.

The Madison County Fire Department confirms that the fire jumped the Snake River near 3300 W. Multiple agencies remain on the scene to tackle the fire on both sides.

UPDATE: 6:00 PM

ARCHER, Idaho (KIFI) — As the fire continues to move north from the river, residents along the northeast side of the fire, west of Big Juds and near the Snake River, are being encouraged to be prepared in case they have to evacuate.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting door-to-door notifications for residences south of 6800 South and west of 2000 West. If you live in this area, be prepared to evacuate due to the wildfire moving north from the river.

Madison County Sheriff’s deputies are also on the scene, helping with transporting firefighters by boat to a fire along the Snake River between Jefferson and Madison counties.

Courtesy: Madison County Sheriff’s Office Facebook

ORIGINAL:

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — Fire crews are combating a small wildfire spreading north of Rigby towards Bonneville and Madison Counties. Wildland firefighters on the scene have confirmed the fire started on the Jefferson County side and has jumped the Snake River, spreading further on the Madison County side.

The Snake Fire is burning around 10 acres north of Rigby along the Snake River.

The fire was first reported by WildCAD at 2:36 PM, Thursday, April 9th. Local News 8 can confirm that wildland firefighters from multiple agencies are on the scene, including the Madison, Jefferson, and Roberts Fire Districts, along with the BLM, Forest Service, and IDL. The Bonneville Fire District and Swan Valley Fire Department are on the scene as well as backup.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a crew on the scene and will provide additional updates as we learn new information.

Click here to follow the original article.

Idaho Department of Labor urges Intermountain Packing workers to seek help following layoffs

KIFI on April 9, 2026

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Department of Labor is urging more than 150 employees laid off from Intermountain Packing this week to seek immediate assistance, noting that turnout for support services has been unexpectedly low.

Department officials expressed concern that many impacted workers have not yet utilized available resources despite the sudden loss of income during a period of rising costs for fuel and groceries.

“They should all be coming into the Department of Labor and learning about unemployment and employment-related programs so that we can help them to get back into employment,” said Windy Hahn, a manager at the Idaho Department of Labor. “We want to be there and we want to help”.

For those previously employed in the meatpacking and agricultural sectors, specialized support is available through the “dislocated worker” program and the Community Council of Idaho. These programs are designed to assist workers whose positions were eliminated due to business closures.

The department also highlighted the Idaho Launch program, which can cover 80% of training costs—up to $3,500—for individuals looking to transition into high-growth industries.

To maintain eligibility for unemployment benefits, the state requires claimants to complete five job search contacts per week, which can include attending resume classes or hiring events.

Despite recent layoffs in Idaho Falls and surrounding areas like Rexburg and Saint Anthony, the regional economy remains stable with an unemployment rate of approximately 3.3%.

To facilitate rapid re-employment, the Idaho Falls office will host a major hiring event on April 29, featuring approximately 30 employers. Smaller hiring events are also held every other Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Idaho Falls location.

“Our goal is to help you to land on your feet and become successful,” Hahn, said. “Don’t stay out there just lost and not know where to go. Just come in and talk to us”.

Click here to follow the original article.