From birth to college graduation, this Colorado Springs firefighter became part of the family

KRDO on April 25, 2026

Michael Logerwell

PHOENIX, Ariz. (KRDO) – It was more than her parents and siblings cheering on Chloe Huddle in the crowd at Grand Canyon University on Friday.

“You know, I, I got very teary-eyed when she graduated from high school, so it’s just the next step,” Alan Kent, a former 35-year Colorado Springs firefighter, told KRDO13 over a video call hours before Chloe walked on Friday.

This graduation was at most the second-most important milestone of Chloe’s life that Alan has been present for.

“As we pulled up, I remember the sun coming up, and it was a gorgeous, gorgeous morning,” Alan recalled. “But I remember a scream coming out of the house.”

Alan was working as a firefighter at Colorado Springs Fire Station 15 when his crew got the call for a medical emergency. That morning, Alan would help deliver a healthy baby girl who was coming into the world more than a week before her due date.

“I do remember after Chloe was born, we were in the ambulance and we were headed to the hospital, and Alan was right there, [in] the back of the ambulance. I could see the beautiful sun rising in the mountains there in Colorado Springs,” Stacy Huddle also said she remembered that beautiful sunrise amid the hectic morning.

After they were released from the hospital, Stacy brought Chloe to the fire station to meet Alan in a calmer situation.

Alan holding baby Chloe.

“I think I just instinctively just knew Alan was just going to be part of our family. And just really wanted to go back to the fire station and say thank you,” Stacy said.

22 years later, and those instincts have been proven right.

“I honestly don’t know, like anything different. I feel like it’s just it is family. And so whenever there’s like a big celebration, we expect them to come, because they are family,” Chloe Huddle said.

“It means the world to me,” Alan said. “Right now, she’s making the next steps in her life, and I’m glad she wants me to be a part of her family.”

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No injuries reported after police respond to shots-fired call at south Columbia apartment complex

KMIZ on April 25, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Police put up crime scene tape around one of the parking lots of a southern Columbia apartment complex on Friday night.

Officers were in the parking lot of The Collective, located on Aspen Heights Parkway.

Columbia Police Department spokesman Colin Imhoff told ABC 17 News that police responded to a call of shots being fired at 8:37 p.m. No injuries were reported. Officers started leaving the scene at 9:25 p.m.

An ABC 17 News photographer saw Columbia police officers inspecting a black sedan that had damage to its back window.

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Rexburg’s branching out: City launches $1 million trees project on Arbor Day

KIFI on April 25, 2026

David Pace

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – More than 100 volunteers celebrated Arbor Day today in Rexburg, braving a chilly afternoon to plant 70 new trees at the DONJO Sports complex.

“You should go out and plant trees. It’s a good thing, and it helps the community and the air,” said Madison Junior High School athlete Jack Siddoway.

Madison High School’s football and baseball teams assisted, alongside Brigham Young University-Idaho students and other community members.

“My little sister comes and plays softball here almost every Saturday,” said Madison Junior High School Student Body President Bryce Rasmussen. “It’s going to be fun having a whole bunch of trees to look at and inspire from.”

The trees were purchased through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Department.

“It’s a $1 million dollar grant, so we’re going to be planting trees all over the city all summer long,” said Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill. “We’re going to be planting just hundreds, maybe even thousands of trees – as many of them as we can get done for a million dollars.”

The group planted six-to-seven-foot tall Bosnian pines, as well as 12-to-15-foot maples to act as windbreakers.

“You see them get just bigger and bigger, and you can say, ‘Hey, I planted, I picked up that tree. Now it’s so big you can’t even carry it any more,'” said JustServe volunteer Emmett Mangus.

Rexburg has long been recognized as a Tree City USA, a designation by the Arbor Day Foundation honoring communities that prioritize the health and vitality of their tree canopy.

Spreading bark and filling holes, volunteers of all ages pitched a hand to raise a new windbreak on the park’s border.

“We like to call ourselves America’s Family community, so we want to have places where families can come and do all kinds of sports and get the kids more active instead of being in on the screens all day,” he said. “Hopefully, that will help families to be stronger.”

The new park, named in honor of baseball benefactors Don and Joan Chicos, opened in 2023 and boasts four ball fields.

The efforts are part of what will soon be a new field at the sports complex.

“This area here will be a multi-purpose grassy area where you can play baseball, softball, soccer, and different things like that,” Merrill said.

Madison School District football and baseball players pitch in to complete a tree-planting project on Arbor Day.

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Sunriver Music Festival selects local artwork for 2026 season

KTVZ on April 25, 2026

Spencer Sacks

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Sunriver Music Festival has selected Bend artist Michele Michael’s acrylic painting “Strawberry Skies” as the featured artwork for its 2026 season.

The 18-by-24-inch piece will appear on the cover of the festival’s program magazine and will be auctioned July 18 during the annual Raise the Baton fundraising party. The event helps support the festival’s Young Artists Scholarship program.

Now entering its 49th season, the Sunriver Music Festival runs Aug. 10–20 with performances in Bend and Sunriver, including concerts at the Tower Theatre and Sunriver Resort’s Great Hall. Artistic Director and Conductor Brett Mitchell will lead the orchestra alongside guest soloists.

A free community concert highlighting scholarship recipients is scheduled for June 5 at 7 p.m. at Community Bible Church in Sunriver.

Featured artist

Michael, who lives in Bend, said her path to becoming a full-time artist wasn’t immediate. Raised in rural Ohio, she studied photojournalism before moving west in 2009 and eventually settling in Central Oregon.

Her artistic career took shape after a year of international travel with her husband.

“I did not feel compelled to capture the beauty of the natural world in art until Jeff and I spent a year traveling the world,” Michael said. “With the rise of social media and being exposed to artists of all kinds, I felt inspired to finally paint and draw again.”

She began sharing sketches online, landed her first commission while living in New Zealand — a drawing of the Three Sisters — and launched her business after returning to Bend. Her work is now sold in local shops and featured in seven national parks.

“In 2022, I made the leap to pursue art full-time,” she said. “I feel like the luckiest gal in the world to make art for a living.”

Michael lives in Bend with her husband, two children and their dog.

Supporting young musicians

The Raise the Baton event plays a key role in funding the festival’s Young Artists Scholarship program, which has awarded more than $750,000 to nearly 200 Central Oregon students over the past 31 years.

Each year, more than 15 musicians ages 11 to 24 receive scholarships to support tuition, music camps, conservatories and private lessons. Past recipients have gone on to schools such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music and the Eastman School of Music.

Many scholarship recipients also perform in festival concerts and participate in local school outreach.

Event details

Free Young Artists Concert: June 5 at 7 p.m., Community Bible Church in Sunriver

Raise the Baton fundraiser: July 18 at 5 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon; $150 per person, includes dinner and performances

Festival dates: Aug. 10–20 in Bend and Sunriver

Tickets, merchandise and more information are available at sunrivermusic.org or by calling 541-593-1084.

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Think Wild releases Bald Eagle in Prineville after a month of care

KTVZ on April 25, 2026

Tyson Beauchemin

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild released a rehabilitated bald eagle today in a field north of Prineville.

Local farmers discovered the injured bald eagle hopping and walking in the area, prompting them to contact Think Wild for assistance. The wildlife rescue organization identified the bird’s chest injury, and it spent a month in their care, recovering.

Today, at the release, Think Wild volunteers, donors and members of the media gathered in a field to witness the eagle’s return to the wild.

When the moment for release came, the eagle made a small hop and immediately took flight. It flew with confidence, appearing to recognize its surroundings as it soared.

After circling for 5 minutes, the eagle was joined by a second and then a third eagle. Volunteers at Think Wild rarely see such an event and believe one of the other eagles might have been the released bird’s mate.

Gary Lauder, a lead volunteer at Think Wild, was there when they first found the bird, and explained why they think this might be a re-union. “You remember when we brought her in? She had a large, brood patch, which means a set of regular feathers. It was all white and fluffy. We brought in this area and she was either going to be pregnant or she was sitting on some eggs.” However, it’s difficult to say, “We’re not sure,” Lauder added

Think Wild is holding its Wildlife Baby Shower on May 9 at Oregon Spirit Distillers. This event serves as a fundraiser to support the care of new animals that will come into the organization’s care this year.

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Heart of Oregon Corps youth & volunteers clean up Dry Canyon Park on service day

KTVZ on April 25, 2026

Triton Notary

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) Hundreds of youth and volunteers from the Heart of Oregon Corps converged on Dry Canyon Park in Redmond for a major cleanup on Global Youth Service Day.

Their efforts included addressing a significant safety concern by removing hazardous makeshift forts hidden along the canyon walls.

Each year, the Heart of Oregon Corps conducts a major cleanup of Dry Canyon Park and this year’s focus on fort removal was critical due to the dangers these structures presented.

Many of the makeshift forts discovered were covered with sharp barbed wire and old fencing, posing a serious risk to park users and wildlife.

Beyond the removal of hazardous forts, volunteers also contributed to the park’s upkeep by touching up paint and repairing sections of the disk golf course.

Corvin Marshall, a Field Team Lead for Heart of Oregon Corps, highlighted the immediate dangers posed by the makeshift structures. “It’s sharp. It’s dangerous, it’s rusty. It can cause tetanus. Dogs in veterinary clinics get tangled up in it all the time. It just, like, rips right through them.It’s horrible. So it’s really good that we’re out here.” Marshall also emphasized the positive impact on participants, adding, “I think building the youth, or joining the youth corps, really gives you a sense of community. It challenge you to challenge yourself to be better.”

The Heart of Oregon Corps offers a range of programs for young people, including part-time projects during the summer for teens and young adults and opportunities for those taking a gap year after high school. The Corps also provides GED programs and job training initiatives.

As summer approaches, it is an opportune time for teens and young adults to consider joining the Heart of Oregon Corps and become involved in their community projects.

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The Birthplace of Earth Day Celebrates Innovation and Green Energy Again this Weekend

KEYT on April 25, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – It started in 1970 after a massive oil spill in the coastal waters and now the Earth Day Festival takes place again for two days in Santa Barbara.

It will remind the public of the environmental challenges on earth today and many forward-thinking solutions ahead.

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) and CarpEvents have organized events and food for thousands of people in Alameda Park Saturday 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Sundy 11 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Sean McArthur is the CEC Climate Projects Manager and says, ” the theme this year is ‘Our Power, Our Planet.’ I think in general, with environmental movements or any kind of movement, you need more than just one person’s voice. But if we all stand together, we take collective action, we’re able to do more mountains.”

The event will have a kids corner, a special stage for the youth who attend, a quiet space for parents and activities planned by a group of dads.

There will also be a large Green Car Show and ebikes available to check out and test drive. In some cases there will be special offers for those attending this event.

“This is the 25th year anniversary of the Green Car Show. It’s one of the longest running the green car shows in the country, which is fantastic,” said McArthur.

Olivia Sorgman, CarpEvents Manager said, ” If you’re shopping for a car and you’re trying to figure out what to get this is a great opportunity because we have all of the different car brands here.”

There will be no gas powered generators on site and the site will be solar powered.

There will be numerous booths and exhibits set up by environmentally focused groups and non-profits from throughout the area. Those who are looking for information or to join up with an organization can get a wide range of them at this festival.

Sorgman said, “So it is one stop shop for everybody, and we select our vendors specifically so that they are a part of, you know, aligning with our mission. “

On stage performers will include, The Doublewide Kings, Uncle, Spencer the Gardener, The Caverns, Cornerstone and False Puppet.

For those riding a bike, there will be a bike valet section.

For more information go to : Earth Day 2026

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Library Week Loteria With a Localized Look Draws Many Gaming Fans

KEYT on April 25, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Library week in Santa Barbara came with a family-friendly game night, off the downtown property and the outreach was in the Funk Zone.

Loteria for the library using the Mexican bingo game known as “Loteria” was redesigned to have Santa Barbara area images.

They included the mission, Stearns Wharf, Fiesta, Summer Solstice and yes — the library.

As they were called out from large cards, markers were placed on the game cards in front of the players and if you lined up a row you were a winner.

All the tables were full for this special event.

Nathalia Martinez was a winner and said, “it’s super fun to be out here supporting the community making sure the library gets funded and everyone known the library is there to be a service to the public.”

A Santa Barbara Public Library outreach employee Emily Cruz said, “I see a lot of returning folks who won last year and excited to win again a ton of new faces. We are excited too see out reach has been expanded with the new library on the go van.”

The Loteria winners were given a choice of several gifts including library tote bags.

They were also writing notes to local leaders about their love of the library.

The library on the go van was parked on site at Shalhoobs restaurant and racks of books were available for checkout along with other services.

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Smoking habits can lead to health risks 

KYMA on April 25, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Research shows just how much money Arizona smokers are spending on cigarettes.

According to iSelect, smokers in Arizona spend more than $2,000 per year on cigarettes, with the average pack costing $10.69.

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease, death and disability in the United States, according to the CDC.

Dr. Karen Melara of Onvia Health said, “We have very strong evidence to suggest that smoking can lead to many devastating medical conditions. These medical conditions can be very severe, chronic, debilitating, and they really can represent a true decline in the patient’s quality of life.”

Between the financial cost of smoking and the serious health consequences, quitting can be one of the best choices a smoker can make.

Free and effective resources for quitting smoking are available. Check out smokefree.gov for more information and support.

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San Luis to host Second Annual South County Desert Cleanup

KYMA on April 25, 2026

Moses Femino

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KYMA) – The City of San Luis is encouraging community members to take part in a local effort to protect and preserve the desert environment this weekend as part of its “Revive and Thrive” campaign.

The Second Annual South County Desert Cleanup will focus on areas impacted by illegal dumping, with volunteers working together to remove trash and help keep the landscape safe and visually clean for residents.

City officials say efforts like this, not only improve the environment, but also serve as a reminder of the importance of reporting illegal dumping when it is seen.

“We want to keep our desert beautiful, we want to keep it clean and we want to make sure it’s safe for everybody,” Francia Alonso, the City of San Luis Public Information Officer, said. “Even though it’s undeveloped land, it’s nature, it’s there, it’s for the public so helping to make sure it’s clean.”

The cleanup is scheduled to take place Saturday beginning at 7 a.m., with volunteers meeting at 10th Avenue and Torres Street.

From there, participants will focus their efforts on the area between Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Los Alamos Street.

Organizers are encouraging anyone interested in participating to show up and help support the community-wide effort to keep South County clean.

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