Fire At Former Solvang Restaurant Determined To Be Arson

KEYT on April 21, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – Fire investigators just determined that arson destroyed a former Solvang restaurant a year and half ago.

Investigators are looking for three people who are believed to be locals.

Officials at the Santa Barbara County Fire Department believe those three individuals are from the Santa Ynez Valley and they appear to be young.

Investigators have determined three individuals appearing in surveillance footage the night of December 5th, 2024 purposely set fire to what used to be Sear Steakhouse on Fourth Place.

“Every investigation runs at its own pace,” says Captain Michael Gray, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. “They’re all unique. The fire investigation section, they release as much information as they can as quickly as they can.”

Images show them leaving the building fifteen minutes prior to the start of the fire.

“They could be juveniles or young adults,” says Capt. Gray. “That wasn’t completely clear as far as nailing down an age group.”

They are then seen crossing the street and joining spectators to watch the blaze.

Since the incident, the building has had to be completely brought down for safety reasons.

“That would have been something that would have been determined by Building and Safety, if it was determined that the building couldn’t be salvaged,” says Capt. Gray.

Officials say the Solvang City Council is currently looking at the possibility of purchasing the lot with the intention of expanding Parking Lot 3.

“Through the course of the investigation, it is believed that they are local to the Santa Ynez Valley,” says Capt. Gray.

The county fire department released the declaration of arson on Monday.

“The fire investigation section has been unable to identify these three individuals,” says Capt. Gray. “So now we are asking for the public’s assistance.”

Anyone who recognizes the three or has any other information is encouraged to contact investigators.

The department’s Fire Investigation Unit can be reached at (805)686-5074 or by email at fireinfo@sbcfire.com.

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Sisters High students take part in ‘bioblitz,’ count flora and fauna at proposed Highway 20 wildlife crossing sites

KTVZ on April 21, 2026

Barney Lerten

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon State University-Cascades, and Sisters High School are teaming up this month to conduct a “bioblitz” at four proposed wildlife crossing structure locations along US Highway 20.

A bioblitz is a communal effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible, as a way to gauge and understand the biodiversity of an area.

From April 14-27, the 16 participating high school students are collecting information on the presence of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, insects, plants and fungi in the forests and meadows near Black Butte, Central Oregon LandWatch said in a news release Monday that continues below:

This biologically rich area can also be a dangerous one for wildlife. The section of Highway 20 between Suttle Lake and Bend sees one of the highest densities of wildlife-vehicle collisions in the state, with 200 to 650 mule deer and elk killed yearly by vehicle strikes.

A desire to address this risky situation for both wildlife and people led to the formation of the Bend to Suttle Lake Wildlife Passage Initiative.

The group of state and federal agencies, nonprofits, landowners, and institutions brings together the necessary expertise and regulatory authority. Central Oregon LandWatch manages the B2S coalition, in partnership with the Oregon Wildlife Foundation, the coalition’s fiscal sponsor.

Currently in Phase II of this multi-year, multi-phase project, coalition members are actively working on the engineering and design for the top four priority crossing locations, as well as engaging local communities within the Bend to Suttle Lake corridor.

“I love seeing the students using field sampling methods and really diving into the process,” said Rima Givot, a veteran science teacher at Sisters High School, known for using hands-on learning techniques and mentoring students in community science projects.

As ODFW and OSU-Cascades biologists are focused on collecting pre-construction data to inform the design of the wildlife crossing structures, knowing what species are present in the vicinity of these crossing structures and how they’re using the area are key pieces of the puzzle.

“The bioblitz is a great opportunity to engage with the community while also allowing us to teach students about the native wildlife species in our area that would benefit from improved habitat connectivity provided by crossing structures,” said Jessica Wilkes, Wildlife Habitat Biologist for ODFW, adding, “I am excited to see what the students come up with in their designs for the crossings, especially habitat elements that could be included.”

Crossing construction is expected to start between 2027 and 2030.

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KEYT on April 21, 2026

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The 20th anniversary edition of the #1 Amazon Best-Seller Book known as Surfer’s Code launches at the Local Tecolote Book Store on May 2nd.

From Tube riding to book writing, the LA Times called it their favorite book of 2006!

Former Professional World Surfing Champion, Shaun Tomson joins your Morning News to talk about the exciting events coming up and what it’s like to be celebrating the book 20 years later. Tomson is described as one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time and has taken his craft and shifted to being an author and share a simple mission to help individuals activate their own personal Code to live a better and more purposeful life.

Be sure to head to the Tecolote Book Store in Montecito on May 2nd to find the 20th anniversary edition of Surfer’s Code and Shaun Tomson.

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Idaho’s largest Teachers’ Union formally breaks ties with Gov. Little over ‘union-busting’ legislation

KIFI on April 21, 2026

Seth Ratliff

UPDATED: 9:30 P.M. with comments from Idaho Education Association Spokesman Mike Journee. 2:10 P.M. with comments from Governor Brad Little:

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little is in hot water with Idaho educators over following his signing of the controversial and heavily altered House Bill 516. The legislation, which restricts public school districts from using taxpayer resources to support teachers’ unions, has led the state’s largest teachers’ union to formally break ties with the Governor.

A Vote of No Confidence

During the Idaho Education Association (IEA)’s annual business meeting this past weekend, members voted overwhelmingly to issue a vote of no confidence in Governor Little.

“The simple fact that that he would betray public schools, signing that voucher bill, signing this union-busting bill, is evidence that the governor’s politics is changing on public education,” said Idaho Educational Association Spokesman Mike Journee.

The union said the move was in response to “union-busting legislation attacking the right of educators to organize and advocate in their workplaces.”

“Our members have spoken clearly,” said IEA President Layne McInelly. “They are angry and frustrated with the governor. They feel his choice to sign House Bill 516, when there were so many reasons to veto it, is a betrayal of his claims to be a supporter of Idaho’s educators and public schools.”

Possibly revoking the Governor’s education award

The vote marks a turning point in the Governor’s relationship with IEA members, who previously endorsed Little and ran door-to-door campaigns during his gubernatorial races in 2018 and 2022.

IEA delegates floated the possibility of revoking Little’s “Champion of Education” award, which the union presented to him just two years ago. During floor debates, members compared the Governor’s recent legislative record—including his support for the House Bill 93 “Parental Choice Tax Credit” program—to the records of past award recipients.

“The governor should not share this award with people who truly champion education and our members,” said IEA member Peggy Hoy.

Understanding House Bill 516

House Bill 516 fundamentally changes how school districts interact with teachers’ unions. The bill “forbids school districts from using public payroll systems to collect union dues, increasing teacher salaries to cover union dues, or giving teachers paid time off for union activities,” as reported by IdahoEdNews. It also includes fines for districts that violate the ban, starting at $1,500 for a first offense and $2,500 for repeat violations.

In addition to the controversial nature of the bill, its path to the Governor’s desk was unorthodox. HB 516 was originally introduced to expand Idaho’s 2025 restrictions on LGBTQ+ instruction in classrooms. However, in the closing days of the 2026 legislative session, the Senate “radiator capped” the bill—stripping it down to its bill number and completely rewriting it. The rewritten bill fell short of two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate, only passing the Senate by 6 votes.

In a news release, the IEA argued that Governor Little signed the bill despite recognizing the potential legal risks, stating, “Little signed House Bill 516 despite recognizing that the new law could lead to discrimination against union members.”

According to the IEA, more than 1,000 Idahoans contacted the Governor’s office, urging a veto before the signing.

“Governor Little had a lot of reasons to to veto this legislation,” Journee said. “The process was terrible. The bill is poorly written and and it’s simply the right thing to do for students, public schools and educators.”

Governor Little Responds

In response to the vote of no confidence, Governor Little defended his record of supporting education. He emphasized how his administration has prioritized the “critical role” of educators through increasing state support for education by nearly 70 percent since he took office, including major gains in teacher pay and benefits.

“I remain focused on building on that progress and will continue working with educators to strengthen our schools and support student outcomes across Idaho,” stated Little in an email to Local News 8.

The Governor’s office also released a comprehensive breakdown of education investments made during his tenure, including:

2019: $92 million

Increased starting teacher pay to $40,000 per year

Doubled funding for literacy

2020: $36 million

Increased career ladder funding and literacy funding

2021: $87 million

Fully funded the build-out of the advanced professional rung on the career ladder

New investments in Career Technical Education

2022: $696 million

Allowed school districts to join the state insurance plan

Additional salary increases

$1,000 bonuses for teachers

Special Session – H1 alone accounted for $410 million for public education

2023: $653 million

Raised starting teacher pay to $47,477

Additional discretionary funding

Created the Idaho LAUNCH scholarship program

2024: $1.3 billion

H521 – largest ever state investment in school facilities

2025: $119 million

Increased funding for rural school facilities

Increased teacher pay

$5 million in additional literacy investments 

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Fort Bliss sergeant’s detained wife could face deportation

KVIA on April 21, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

FORT BLISS, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano, who has been stationed at Fort Bliss for two years, says that ICE detained his wife, who could now face possible deportation after being taken into custody during an immigration interview.

Serrano has served for 27 years and has deployed to Afghanistan on three occasions. As he told ABC News, both he and his wife have been “doing everything by the book.”

According to him, he and his wife attended an immigration court hearing on April 14, following the Parole in Place process his wife has been in since last year.

“My wife was apprehended at the end of the hallway after the immigration appointment,” said Sgt. Serrano. “The reason for the parole in place is for the soldier to deploy and continue with the mission and for the wife to stay safe back in the United States.”

“The only thing that happened that day is that one of the four people who work there at the federal building told me that I needed to find a lawyer.”

Sgt. Serrano had to go to the El Paso Service Processing Center in East El Paso to bring his wife some of her medicines when he learned she was detained because she allegedly missed an immigration court hearing or appointment on January 13.

Now Sgt. Serrano and his wife, Deisy Rivera-Ortega, have to speak over the phone two or three times per week, for two to five minutes per call.

“This situation is incredible; we believe it is a mistake,” said Sgt. Serrano.

According to Sgt. Serrano and his attorney, Matthew James Kozik, Rivera-Ortega has no prior convictions or criminal cases in the country.

ABC-7 confirmed through the federal court system database and via attorney Kozik that Rivera-Ortega does not appear in those records either.

ABC-7 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to request comment; a DHS spokesperson provided us with the following statement:

“On April 14, ICE arrested Deisy Fidelina Rivera-Ortega, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador. She was previously convicted for illegal entry—a federal offense. Rivera-Ortega entered the U.S. in 2016 near Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and was released on bond. She received full due process, and an immigration judge issued her a final order of removal on December 12, 2019. Work authorization does not confer any legal status to be in the country. Rivera-Ortega remains in ICE custody pending removal.”

“We’re going to file a supplemental brief by the end of the week, kind of addressing a few more points on the parole in place program, of which his spouse was in the process of applying for and pending approval, because they deprived her of that ability and deprived the service member (Sgt. Serrano) of the ability to have his spouse be petitioned and become a legal permanent resident,” said attorney Kozik.

“Moreover, she was issued an order of removal, but that order of removal was held, withholding of removal to El Salvador, saying you’re going to be removed, but we’re not going to remove you to El Salvador because we believe you’re going to be tortured if you’re sent back to El Salvador,” attorney Kozik also told ABC-7. “The government had 90 days back in 2019 to initiate her removal; they chose not to, so they decided that she is not a removable person during that 90-day window by case law and said, we’re going to let you stay in the United States again.”

“So they decided back in 2019 not to remove her and instead issued her a work authorization and she’s been working at Fort Bliss, living at Fort Bliss, and has been a positive member of the community and was looking to become a legal permanent resident, where then the rug was taken from underneath her and her husband, military spouse of 27 years, and now she’s confined.” “DHS seems to be tripping over itself, and it doesn’t seem like it knows what it’s doing, since they had 90 days to execute removal back in 2019, they didn’t, they believed she was not a threat, they didn’t believe she would have any issue with being part of the community; they issued her authorizations to work and she’s been doing so,” said attorney Kozik.

“A decision was made almost ten years ago that we’re going to say, look, you’re granted withholding and removal, you can stay, you can work and then here, if you marry a U.S. service member, the Parole in Place Avenue is available, yet again they took that away from her and they haven’t yet to adjudicate the parole in place and we’re still waiting for an answer on that,” attorney Kozik added. “

Back in 2019, the U.S. Congress passed and signed into law the parole-in-place program, which was intended to allow service members to have their mothers, husbands, or wives not be deported.

“The point was, hey, look, if you are a military service member, you don’t want to have to be worried if you’re deployed or you’re at a mobilization or you’re at a training, that your wife won’t be there when you get back.” “The whole point is to provide that opportunity for service members to say, look, we want to make sure your spouse, is your husband or your wives stay with you as long as you don’t have a criminal record, as long as you’re not a bad person or as people like to say, a bad “hombre,” we’re going to allow you to become a legal, permanent resident and they took that away from him (Sgt. Serrano), and it looks like they’re trying to take it away from other service members as well,” Kozik said.

“As soon as she gets out of detention, we will start on the paperwork to get the status of my wife here in the United States, get the green card and continue with the citizenship,” said Sgt. Serrano.

For years and due to his nearly three decades in service, Sgt. Serrano had to start going with a doctor for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and had been stable until his wife was detained by ICE last week.

“It took me around two months to be back stable and now, when this happened, even taking the medication, I cannot sleep; it’s been super hard,” Sgt. Serrano said. “Every night after 7 p.m., my mind doesn’t stop thinking, what can I do?, why did this happen? and I search on the internet for answers.”

“My wife is very religious and she has told me, this is something that had to happen for her to be closer to what God wants; the only person who can get her out of there is him,” Sgt. Serrano said. “She cries pretty much every day, but knows this is something that has to happen for a reason.”

Sgt. Serrano also wanted to thank everyone for the opportunity to send the message to the entire country, so people can “know and see what’s going on in the U.S.”

“Our plans are, first, to get her out of confinement, two, stop any type of removal, three, allow them to continue the parole in place application and four, if necessary, Congress or attention because of the job you’re doing on this issue, is to recertify the importance of parole in place for our service members,” Kozik added.

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Bend-La Pine Schools invite families to ‘On the Road to Kindergarten’ events at neighborhood parks

KTVZ on April 21, 2026

Barney Lerten

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Families in the Bend-La Pine School District with children entering kindergarten this fall can register at a neighborhood park this Saturday.

The mobile registration event will also provide details for the 2026-27 school year, including school boundary information, required enrollment documents and more, officials said this week.  

“On the Road to Kindergarten is a fun registration and orientation event that goes out in the communities to meet families and incoming kindergarten students where they are — the local parks,” said Tammy Doty, executive director of elementary programs for Bend-La Pine Schools.

“At the events, families make what is often their first contact with their school community where they can talk to teachers and staff who get them excited and ready for school.,” Doty added. 

Families can find the yellow school bus at the following locations on Saturday, April 25: 

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 

Hollygrape Park – 19489 Hollygrape Street, Bend 

Sun Meadow Park – 61141 Dayspring Drive, Bend 

Pilot Butte Neighborhood Park – 1310 NE Highway 20 

Sunriver/Three Rivers area – Three Rivers K-8 School, 56900 Enterprise Drive, Sunriver 

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Education Center – 520 NW Wall St., Bend 

Ponderosa Park – 225 SE 15th St., Bend 

Canal Row Park – 1630 NE Butler Market Rd., Bend 

Frontier Heritage Park – 16405 First St., La Pine/Rosland area 

(Photos courtesy Bend-La Pine Schools)

To be eligible for kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year, students must be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026.  

To learn how to register online, visit bls.fyi/kindergarten. Find your neighborhood school through their Attendance Area page: bls.fyi/attendanceareas. 

Those who are unsure about their child’s school of attendance or have more questions about kindergarten registration are urged to call 541-355-8750 to reach a staff member who can answer questions in English and Spanish.  

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Ballot measure to eliminate income tax, add new sales taxes set for ballot

KMIZ on April 21, 2026

Matthew Sanders

EDITOR’S NOTE: The date when the issue could appear on the ballot has been corrected.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A resolution to put a measure to eliminate the income tax and allow new sales taxes will appear before voters in August or November.

The Missouri House on Tuesday approved the measure with a 95-59 vote. The Senate passed the measure last week, known as House Joint Resolutions 173 and 174.

Supporters say eliminating the income tax will put more money back in Missourians pockets so they can decide how they want to spend it. Critics, however, have said the change would shift more of the state’s tax burden to poor and middle-class residents.

Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) spoke against the bill during debate, relaying the story of his grandmother, who lives on a fixed income.

“She is on a fixed income, and she’s not going to benefit from the elimination of sales tax,” Tyson Smith said. “Her groceries are going to go up.”

Some business groups also opposed the measure because it would add sales tax to services that aren’t currently taxed, such as medical visits and real estate transactions.

The issue was a key priority for Gov. Mike Kehoe, helping drive lawmakers to push the measure across the finish line with three weeks still remaining in the legislative session.

“In a time where politicians make all kinds of promises and very rarely deliver, here we are debating something that our governor said he was going to do or at least attempt to do,” Rep. Brad Banderman(R-Franklin) said on the House floor Tuesday. “And here we are debating it. So I want to thank our governor for his work, his leadership in this.”

Kehoe celebrated the bill’s passage in a social media post.

“HJR 173/174 has been truly agreed and finally passed, putting the choice to eliminate the state income tax where it belongs: in the hands of Missouri voters,” the statement reads. “This is the first step in keeping our promise to make Missouri more competitive, attract jobs and investment, and let families keep more of what they earn from the start. We look forward to continuing this important conversation with Missourians in every corner of our state.”

Supporters of phasing out the income tax say it would help Missouri grow and attract more businesses. 

If approved by voters, Missouri would become the tenth state to eliminated their state income tax, which includes neighboring Tennessee, which repealed its state income tax in 2021. 

“Do we want to continue to be in the middle of the pack, or do we want to lead? I look to our neighbor to the south,” Rep. George Hruza, R-St. Louis said.

Currently, income tax makes up about two-thirds of Missouri’s general revenue. 

“There is no universe in which we eliminate the income tax without drastically increasing sales taxes on every single Missourian,” House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Platte) said. “That means 80% of Missourians are going to end up paying more than they already do into the tax system here in Missouri.”

If ultimately approved by voters, it would mark the first major change to Missouri’s income tax since 2014, when the rate was lowered from 6% to 4.7%.

Gov. Kehoe has until May 22 to decide whether the measure will appear on the August primary ballot or the November general election.

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Firehouse Subs to host Touch-the-Truck event

KYMA on April 21, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Firehouse Subs is inviting the Yuma community to attend the Touch-the-Truck next weekend.

According to a press release, the event is happening at the Firehouse Subs, located at the Big Curve, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2, 2026.

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

During the event, Firehouse Subs says the event will give families a chance to meet local firefighters face-to-face, climb aboard a fire truck and learn about the gear firefighters use to save lives.

In addition, the event coincides with International Firefighters Day, taking place Monday, May 4, 2026, honoring the courage, dedication and selfless service of firefighters around the world.

Courtesy of Firehouse Subs

To see who else is participating in the event, click here.

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BLM is reminding visitors that Teaters Road remains open for public access

KTVZ on April 21, 2026

Barney Lerten

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — As the busy recreation season begins, the Bureau of Land Management’s Prineville District is reminding visitors that Teaters Road remains open for public access.

Gates along the road may be closed for short periods of time, but they will remain unlocked, officials said Monday. Visitors may pass through and should leave gates as they are found — open or closed.

Teaters Road provides a direct connection between Highway 380 north to the BLM North Fork Crooked River area and the Ochoco National Forest, both popular recreation destinations and important areas for timber production. 

It also serves as the only public access point to a 160-acre “island” parcel of BLM- administered public land along Teaters Road.

The BLM is encouraging all visitors to travel respectfully when using Teaters Road to access public lands. Much of the road runs through private land, so visitors should drive slowly and watch for livestock.

 For more information about recreation access in the Prineville District, contact the BLM office at (541) 416-6700.

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INL appoints Jennifer Porter as new Fire Chief; Jim Blair to retire

KIFI on April 21, 2026

News Release

The following is a news release from the Idaho National Laboratory:

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho – The Idaho National Laboratory announced Monday that Jennifer Porter will be the next chief of its fire department. Porter is currently the department’s deputy chief of operations. Porter replaces Jim Blair, who has served as INL fire chief since 2022. Blair will retire April 30 after 36 years at the laboratory.

Porter has more than 22 years of experience as a fire service professional, including 18 at INL. As deputy chief of operations, she leads a team of 75 firefighters across three stations, manages line operations, helps develop the department’s operating budget, and works closely with federal, state, and local officials, strengthening community relationships and building trust in emergency services.

“Jennifer has earned this opportunity through years of exceptional leadership, technical expertise and unwavering commitment to INL’s mission,” said Shawn Hill, INL’s Facilities & Site Services executive director. “She understands this department at every level, and she leads with a steady hand and a deep sense of responsibility to her team and this site. I am confident that Jennifer will excel as chief and continue strengthening the vital services our fire department provides.”

Porter worked her way up through the ranks at INL. She was a firefighter from 2008-2014, was promoted to captain and spent five years as a battalion chief before becoming deputy chief of operations in 2022.

Porter grew up in eastern Idaho and graduated from Madison High School in Rexburg. She began her career in 2004 as a volunteer with Leadore Emergency Medical Services and the Lemhi County Fire Protection District. She then became a paramedic and firefighter for the Shelley-Firth Fire District. Porter holds a master’s in homeland security and emergency management and a bachelor’s degree in fire service administration from Idaho State University.

“Stepping into the role of fire chief is both an honor and a deeply humbling experience for me,” Porter said. “The department, and the remarkable individuals who dedicate themselves to its mission, have always meant a great deal to me personally. I am truly proud of the remarkable achievements this team has made, and I am eager to continue building on that success.”

The INLFD works with state and federal agencies to combat wildland fires and with surrounding counties on emergency responses. The INLFD has three stations located on the INL Site. The department maintains five wildland fire engines and one 3,000-gallon water tender.

INLFD is preparing for what could be a challenging fire season following one of the warmest winters on record and a rapidly melting snowpack.

“These conditions significantly increase the potential for wildland fire activity, and it is critical that we take deliberate steps now to ensure the safety of our personnel, the protection of our infrastructure, and the successful execution of our mission,” Porter said. “Fire season requires a unified effort, and with the dedication and focus of our personnel, we are confident in our ability to face these conditions and uphold the safety of our site and community.”

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