TRIO Program to Host Second Annual Military Families Resource Fair

KIFI on April 23, 2026

Hadley Bodell

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The TRIO Program at ISU is designed to help veterans and active duty military members find resources and support them through their education. The biggest event of the year for TRIO is coming up next month, the Military Families Resource Fair.

Held at the Bennion Student Union Building on the Idaho Falls ISU Satellite Campus, the fair is designed to connect local military members and their families with the support they need. Forty vendors will be on site, offering everything from healthcare to employment, mental health services, and kid-friendly activities.

“Just knowing how much the community is there to support these individuals and how much we really just want to help them,” said Joshua Badger with TRIO Veterans Upward Bound. “There’s people that are in your corner that want to help you out and that are ready and willing to to be there for you.”

Over the past year since the first resource fair, TRIO has worked to make partnerships and connections in the community to make the event more family-friendly and widespread. Community members are also invited to the event to enjoy food trucks and supporting local military.

“We know that there are there are spouses out there looking for connections with each other and with resources in the community,” Badger added. “The children of service members have opportunities for education and other benefits. So we wanted to provide those for them.”

The second annual Military Families Resource Fair will be held on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, you can visit @seitriovub on Instagram or the TRIO website at https://www.isu.edu/trio/ to learn about the resources the program offers to military members and family.

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Join Feeding the 5000 Families Saturday for a Food Drive

KIFI on April 23, 2026

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – This Saturday, April 25 is the 29th annual food drive for the Idaho Food Bank put on by Feeding the 5000 families and local faith-based organizations.

The event will be a progressive dinner, with appetizers starting at 5:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Pocatello. Salads and the turkey dinner main course with be served at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints near Caldwell Park. Finally, dessert will be at the Central Christian Church also near Caldwell Park.

All of the proceeds go to the Pocatello Idaho Food Bank, meaning donors get to see their generosity in action, helping local people in need. Tickets are $15 each for adults, children 10 and under get in free. Tickets will be sold at the door when the event begins, or you can purchase in advance by going to the Pocatello Idaho Food Bank.

“The southeast Idaho community and the area, are very supportive of everything that’s going on, or we wouldn’t be on our 29th year if we didn’t have the support of the community,” said Jolene Barnett-Stephens, the Food Drive Chairman. “It’s a really good opportunity to come out, meet people.”

Barnett-Stephens also said staff members from the Idaho Food Bank will be at the event, giving attendees a chance to connect with local non-profit change makers. She said by collaborating with other organizations, this food drive and progressive dinner event can fundraise more than just one faith-based organization in Pocatello could.

“We live in a great community that comes out and supports different food drives, whatever’s going on, different events,” said Barnett-Stephens. “It’s just nice to know that we’re here and we’re trying to help people get a good meal and help the food bank.”

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ISU Dance Company to Host First Showcase

KIFI on April 23, 2026

Hadley Bodell

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Each week, a dedicated group of ISU student dancers files into the Red Hill building on campus to rehearse solos, duets and group routines for their upcoming showcase. Just a few short months ago, the dance company didn’t exist at all.

“About two years ago they had a smaller bit of this dance club,” said Paige Robinson, the club vice president. “When it was about to be discontinued, we about lost all of our funds until Blue stepped up and said, ‘hey, we want to bring dance back.'”

The group formed through random connections and ISU-offered dance courses. They went through the process to ratify a club constitution, elect leadership, and get the company officially recognized by the university. They were told they had just under $1000 to get off the ground.

Then, on this year’s Bengal Giving Day, generous donors got that budget up to $8000. Now, the athletes are rehearsing for their first ever showcase, to be held at the Stephen’s Performing Arts Center on Monday, May 4 at 6:30 p.m.

“ISU Dance Company is a club dedicated to allowing students to continue their passion of dance,” said Blue Hill, the club president. “It is also the student led replacement of the dance program as the minor got cut last spring, and the major got cut a while before.”

The club is offering students a place to begin a new craft, continue honing in their skills and simply to have fun in a hobby. The best part of the club is that anyone is welcome.

“We wanted to make something for all levels,” said Cassidy Barrow, the club treasurer. “So you don’t have to be like, you know, really extremely well at dance. You can be an intermediate or beginner dancer and still have fun with it.”

The concert will be free with Bengal ID for ISU students and faculty, while community members will pay $5 for a ticket at the door. The concert will feature over 15 unique performances by the 22 members of the company. Each piece is entirely choreographed by the student dancers.

“Me and Blue are choreographing most of the group dances, and then everyone has their own solo they’re in charge of,” said Robinson.

The dancers are working hard in rehearsals for the upcoming weeks until the performance. Barrow says this is the first opportunity for the athletes to showcase their passion and talents with a live audience, especially since the club is so new.

“We put a lot of work into all of our dances that we are performing,” Barrow said. “ISU students that have joined, they kind of found a love for dance again and everyone has really enjoyed this club. And so we’re hoping to share that with the audience.”

 To keep up with the ISU Dance Company or for more information about joining, you can find them on Instagram at ISU Dance Company.

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‘Weld Like a Girl’ selected for Airgas national welding initiative

KYMA on April 23, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A local welding program will be taking part in a major welding education initiative. 

“Weld Like a Girl” is among 76 schools from 26 states chosen by Airgas for the 2026 academic year.

Shanen Aranmor, owner of Weld Like a Girl, said many participants have pursued welding careers.

“Some of them have chosen welding. We’ve got several people who have gone on full-ride scholarships to pipeline welding schools and now they’re working in the industry. We have other people that are trying to figure out how to navigate their path,” she explained.

The Airgas national welding program has empowered over 16,000 students from more than 190 schools nationwide.

Weld Like a Girl is an empowerment project that makes welding accessible to everyone in the community.

“We really try to be as inclusive as possible. Welding is one of the vehicles you can use for empowerment, even if you’re not trying to teach someone a trade, just teach them that they can do something that they think they couldn’t do,” Aranmor said.

The program teaches community members of all ages, even elementary students.

Third grader Luna said, “My favorite part is having fun and like making stuff.”

Teaching the younger generation to weld is important for the future of the trade.

William Crittenden of Weld Like a Girl explained, “It’s extremely important now because the shift is a lot of older welders, tradesmen in general who have been in the industry for years and years, are starting to retire and there’s no one to fill those positions. Within the next few years we are going to have a huge gap of trained professionals and it’s going to impact just about everything in the economy.”

Skilled tradesworkers are the backbone of the economy and society, responsible for building many things we use every day.

For more information on how to get involved in welding programs, you can visit the Weld Like a Girl website.

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Warm Springs artist Lillian Pitt’s pin chosen for America’s 250th birthday time capsule, to be opened in 2276

KTVZ on April 23, 2026

Barney Lerten

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — On July 4, 2026, America250 will bury the Semiquincentennial Time Capsule in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. And a Warm Springs artist’s work will be in it.

The stainless-steel cylinder, designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is designed to safely store commemorative objects for 250 years until the capsule’s opening in 2276.

Each state was asked to contribute a submission that represents its people, stories, and values at this historic moment.

In February, the America 250 Oregon Commission invited the public to share their ideas for what Oregon should submit to the time capsule, with suggestions ranging from creative works, written reflections, and symbolic objects. Each state’s submission must fit within a 6″ x 5″ x 2″ archival storage box or consist of a single page of archival paper no larger than 8.5″ x 11″.

The Commission announced this week that Oregon’s chosen submission is a pin handcrafted by acclaimed Native American artist Lillian Pitt (Warm Springs, Wasco, and Yakama).

She is widely known for her sculpting and mixed media artistry, which focuses on 12,000 years of Native American history and traditions of the Columbia River region. Her works have been exhibited globally and can be found in Oregon at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland State University, and the Museum at Warm Springs.

The pin that was selected is She Who Watches, Pitt’s depiction of a famous petroglyph and pictograph that is perched high on a mountain visible from her ancestral village. Under the oral traditions of tribes of the Columbia River region, She Who Watches represents Tsagaglalal, a wise and powerful chief who was transformed to stone, where she continues to keep vigil over her people and the Columbia River.

“The inclusion of this pin from one of Oregon’s most celebrated Indigenous artists reminds us that Oregon’s history and America’s history is much longer than 250 or 500 years,” said America 250 Oregon Commission Chair Kerry Tymchuk. 

Lillian Pitt said, “I am honored that my work will be included in this time capsule and am heartened to know that when it is opened in 250 years, people will be reminded of those who have made this land their home since time immemorial.”

Lillian Pitt was born on the Warm Springs Reservation in 1944 and moved to Portland in the early 1960s, where she resides today. She has received many honors, including the Oregon History Makers Award from the Oregon Historical Society.

The Ford Family Foundation recently named Pitt as the inaugural recipient of the 1905 Legacy Award, which will be presented every five years to an active Oregon artist who has been producing art for at least 20 years. The Museum at Warm Springs also will open a new, major exhibition next month, entitled “Lillian Pitt: Art, Memory, Home.”

About the America 250 Oregon Commission

The America 250 Oregon Commission was created through Senate Bill 1531, which was signed into law by Governor Tina Kotek on March 27, 2024. Chaired by the Oregon Historical Society’s executive director, Kerry Tymchuk, the mission of the America 250 Oregon Commission is to coordinate, provide guidance, and ensure that Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Indigenous peoples who have resided here since time immemorial. Learn more at oregon250.org.

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Your Beach Town Fair opens Thursday

KEYT on April 23, 2026

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) The Santa Barbara Fair & Expo has a new theme this year.

“Your Beach Town Fair” is the theme.

A preview night took place on Wednesday for local leaders and supporters of the Earl Warren Showgrounds.

Some of the big rides are visible from the 101 freeway.

Going to the fair the evening before it officially opens is a thrill.

“I’d rather be here than stay home, it is such an opportunity for me and I like all the ride they inspire me,” said Grace McCann, ” I like the swing right here they are really fun and I also like Turbo.”

Fairgoer and teacher Summer Calvert soaked it all in with some students.

“I think it is fun for the whole family, there is face painting, food and rides and games and this year they are having the events inside with all of the crocheting and pies, all of the things that people can compete in, it is really fun,” said Calvert.

For 7 days, over two long weekends, fairgoers are encouraged to try their luck at the carnival games, taste fair food or enjoy the ups and downs of rides.

Fairgoers can save money by buying wristbands in advance that are good for unlimited rides.

During the preview night guests had a chance to check out posters showing Earl Warren vision plan options.

Earl Warren Showgrounds CEO Ben Sprague said the vision includes multi-use sports fields, and a convention-style center for affordable event and meeting space .

“The fair only comes once a year, two weekends a year, but what else can we do throughout the year, we just want to do the best job of bringing Santa Barbara together that we can,” said Sprague.

Butler Amusements has placed photos opportunities throughout the fairgrounds to allow fairgoers to capture their memories with friends, family and even coworkers.

For ticket information visit: http://earlwarren.com

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Blackfoot implements water restrictions as drought and low snowpack raise concerns

KIFI on April 23, 2026

Par Kermani

Blackfoot (KIFI) — The city of Blackfoot has implemented water restrictions due to concerns about water supply heading into the summer months.

Mayor Scott Stufflebeam said the decision came after reviewing regional water data and seeing warning signs tied to this year’s water outlook.

“I received several emails about the regional water supply, and at that point I decided that we needed to do something so that we can be conservationists in terms of how to make sure we have enough water,” Stufflebeam said.

The restrictions are aimed at reducing demand on the city’s system early, as officials prepare for what could be a difficult summer.

Currently, watering is based on odd and even house numbers. Stufflebeam said he plans to propose a change to a more structured weekly schedule at an upcoming city council meeting to make it easier for residents to follow.

Under that proposal, homes with odd-numbered addresses would water Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while even-numbered addresses would water Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. No watering would be allowed on Sundays.

The mayor said enforcement will rely in part on community cooperation, with warnings issued before any citations.

“We have a limited police force, but everybody has a neighbor,” Stufflebeam said. “If someone’s not following the rules, they can call it in and we’ll start with a warning.”

The restrictions apply only to city water use. Stufflebeam said residents using irrigation ditches, private wells or other water sources are not subject to the city’s watering schedule.

“Our proclamation only applies to the use of city water,” he said.

The move comes as hydrologists warn this year’s snowpack is significantly below normal in parts of eastern Idaho.

According to Erin Whorton, a hydrologist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, snowpack in the Blackfoot area peaked at about 58% of normal this year.

“This year we had a very low snowpack, and in the Blackfoot area it only peaked at about 58 percent of normal,” Whorton said.

Whorton said the issue is not just the amount of snow, but how early it melted.

“The snowpack peaked in mid-March, and that’s earlier than normal,” she said. “In some areas around Blackfoot, it melted out almost five weeks earlier than normal.”

Snowpack plays a critical role in Idaho’s water supply, acting as a natural reservoir that slowly releases water into rivers and streams during the spring and summer.

“The majority of the water we see in our rivers, lakes and streams actually comes from the snowpack,” Whorton said. “About 75 percent of that water comes from the melting snowpack.”

Whorton said warmer temperatures this winter caused more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, reducing the amount of water stored in the mountains.

“When precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, you’re not storing that water in the mountains,” she said. “It just runs off earlier instead of being available later in the summer.”

That shift in timing, combined with lower overall snowpack, could lead to reduced streamflows during peak demand months.

Stufflebeam said the situation is concerning not just for residents, but for agriculture and the broader economy.

“I’m concerned for all of Idaho,” he said. “This affects our farmers, our economy — it affects everyone.”

He said conservation now is key, especially as uncertainty remains about future water conditions.

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New program manager of Missouri Task Force 1 announced

KMIZ on April 23, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Fire Protection District has announced Jake Heller will become the new bureau director of special operations and program manager of Missouri Task Force 1.

BCFPD made the announcement in a Tuesday social media post.

The post says Heller served with the Union Fire District for 16 years and has 14 years of experience with Task Force 1.

He eventually started working for BCPFD as a training division and division manager.

“In that role, he was instrumental in advancing the training and readiness of task force members, supporting operational excellence at both the state and national level,” the post says.  

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Deschutes County commissioners send William Bailey’s firing appeal to advisory arbitrator, will decide his fate later

KTVZ on April 23, 2026

Tyson Beauchemin

(Update: Adding statement from Bailey’s attorney)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Deschutes County commissioners voted 3-0 Wednesday to send a grievance filed by former Sheriff’s Captain William Bailey over his firing to an arbitrator, who will be chosen by mutual agreement, take testimony on the issues and make a recommendation to the board in coming months.

Bailey’s grievance concerns his 2025 termination from the sheriff’s department. He was fired after appearing on a radio show while running for sheriff in 2024 and making critical comments about then-Sheriff Kent van der Kamp and the internal atmosphere and morale of the department.

Among other claims, Bailey objects to the commissioners making a decision on his termination, because two commissioners endorsed his political opponent in a race won by van der Kamp. Bailey’s grievance also details at least 18 other complaints.

The move to administrative arbitration under county personnel rules means a neutral third party, selected by the county and Bailey, will hear the facts of the case. County legal staff recommended the arbitration process, to ensure fair representation for all parties involved.

County Legal Counsel David Doyle offered the commission advice on the decision.

“As I told you folks for as long as you can remember, you generally don’t get in trouble for giving too much due process – but you might get in trouble for not giving enough,” Doyle said He added that he was comfortable with these additional steps to “provide Mr. Bailey with the fullest and fairest opportunity to have his grievance heard.”

A large crowd attended the meeting, most expecting a grievance hearing, so some members expressed frustration after the shift in plans and delay in a final decision after an arbitration process that Doyle said could take 3-6 months – then return a recommendation to the commission for a final decision.

Even though there was no planned public comment for the meeting, several in attendance voiced concerns centered on the timing and lack of public information surrounding Bailey’s firing and subsequent appeal.

Following the commission’s vote, Bailey’s attorney, Erik Gunderson, met with reporters outside the council chambers. Gunderson said wished the commissioners had allowed him to speak during the meeting.  He was also upset that the very people who fired his client still will rule over his grievance.

Despite those concerns, Bailey’s attorney stated he would abide by the decision to use an arbitrator.

County commissioners, however, are not legally bound to accept any decision or recommendation made during the administrative arbitration process.

The selection of a neutral arbitrator may take some time. Bailey and the county will be presented with a list of experienced arbitrators, well-versed in Oregon employment law. After they agree on one, the arbitrator will set a schedule to meet with the parties, hear testimony from potential witnesses and make a recommendation.

Doyle also said it would be up to the arbitrator and Bailey on how much of those proceedings are made public.

“We will look forward to this process moving forward,” said Commissioner Phil Chang.

Here is a news release issued after Wednesday’s meeting by Bailey’s attorney:

260422 Press Release.pdfDownload

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Santa Barbara Airport and Alaska Airlines add San Diego flights

KEYT on April 23, 2026

Tracy Lehr

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) Santa Barbara Airport and Alaska Airlines have teamed up to offer two flights a day to and from San Diego.

The first flight landed on April 22.

They surprised the first passengers with a celebration that included Three Cubs Cookies and Rori’s Artisanal ice cream.

They also received airport souvenirs.

Roller Skaters from Skate 05 welcomed them, too.

“I was very surprised, absolutely, it is a very short flight, it was wonderful but not until we landed were we told we were on the first flight,” said Jay Minert of San Diego.

Airport Director Chis Hastert said business is good.

“Today one of our partners Alaska Airlines that flies to Seattle and Portland has added San Diego service two times a day and what you might not know about Alaska, there’s a ton of connections out of there and they are One World partners so we are super exited for our tourism Industry and our business travelers or just a weekend away in Santa Diego.”

One business traveler who owns CalPrivate Bank told his colleagues there to greet him that they were in the air for only 36 minutes.

The airport recently added nonstop flights to Chicago.

More flights will be added in August.

For more information visit https://www.sba.gov

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