Central Library opens in Stevens Ranch, linking library expansion with Bend growth

KTVZ on May 13, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The new Bend Central Library opened on May 11th, at 61956 SE Santorini Street, establishing a major presence within the Stevens Ranch master-planned development. The Deschutes Public Library system intentionally chose the southeast Bend location for its anticipated growth. City officials confirmed that no changes to the master plan were necessary to accommodate the 100,000-square-foot facility.

This three-story facility is a central component of a $195 million bond, approved by voters in 2020, dedicated to system-wide library upgrades. The library’s current location in Stevens Ranch follows an abandoned plan for a north-end site. The Stevens Ranch Master Plan, greenlit by the Bend City Council in 2021, is projected to bring between 1,400 and 2,400 new homes to the area.

Library Director Todd Dunkelberg for the Deschutes Public Library system, emphasized the new facility’s dual purpose. “Like all of our libraries, they all kind of form a dual role of definitely serving the neighborhoods right around them and then also serving a broader community,” Dunkelberg said. He added that the anticipated growth in the Stevens Ranch area and southeast Bend was a significant factor in selecting the location.

The City of Bend’s perspective on the library’s integration into the master plan was clarified by Renee Brooke, Planning Manager for the City of Bend. Brooke confirmed that no adjustments were necessary for the master plan or development standards. “We didn’t,” Brooke said, referencing potential changes. “And the developer had designated that area for commercial zoning. The library was a permitted use in that area, so no changes needed to be made to the master plan or any development standards in order for the library to locate there.”

The library’s current location was not its original planned site. The library board initially acquired property on the north side of Bend along U.S. Highway 20 for the 100,000-square-foot facility. However, that north-end site encountered opposition due to concerns about its accessibility, its contribution to urban sprawl and a lack of support from the Bend City Council.

The application for the first site was later terminated and the library purchased the Stevens Ranch property in late 2022. The new Central Library facility represents an investment of more than $137 million. It is seen as an intentional civic anchor for the 370-acre Stevens Ranch Master Plan. This development aims to transform Bend’s east side into a dense, walkable urban hub.

The library is intended to catalyze the construction of between 1,400 and 2,400 planned housing units in the area. Beyond serving as a neighborhood branch, the library’s “Central” designation highlights its role as the operational hub for the entire Deschutes Public Library system, housing the county-wide distribution system. This strategic placement avoids the congestion of downtown Bend while providing a large public amenity. The facility also features a Thump Coffee cafe, multiple maker spaces, co-working areas and enhanced children’s spaces.

The library’s construction coincided with significant infrastructure upgrades in the area. These included a new roundabout at SE 27th Street and Wilderness Way, as well as the extension of water and sewer utilities to support the anticipated residential growth. The facility features a transit-oriented design, positioned next to wide biking and pedestrian paths that will eventually connect new residential blocks to the Deschutes River Trail. The building itself sets a high sustainability benchmark for future development in Stevens Ranch. It was constructed to LEED Platinum standards as an all-electric, net-zero facility.

The Stevens Ranch master plan area is situated east of 27th Street, south of Reed Market Road and Stevens Road, north of Ferguson Road and west of the eastern city limits. The non-platted property is currently addressed as 21425 Stevens Road.

The new Central Library’s opening is part of a larger plan for the Deschutes Public Library system, which includes the future remodel of the Downtown Bend branch. The downtown location closed in Spring 2026 for a reopening in 2027.

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No injuries reported in Jefferson City house fire

KMIZ on May 13, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported in a Tuesday house fire in the 3800 block of Scarborough Way in Jefferson City, according to a press release from the Jefferson City Fire Department.

Crews were called at 6:57 p.m. and saw smoke and fire coming from the home when they arrived, the release says. Two dogs were evacuated without injuries.

The fire was spread to the attic when crews arrived. The cause is under investigation, but the release says it appeared to have started on the back deck, the release says.

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Bend Fire & Rescue Trench Rescue Training

KTVZ on May 13, 2026

Tyson Beauchemin

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Fire and Rescue conducted a unique training exercise this Tuesday: a simulated trench rescue. The training exercise took place at a Taylor Northwest job site to prepare for real-world emergencies.

The exercise simulated a worker, trapped under a concrete slab in a narrow trench. The worker was a dummy, but the exercise allowed crews to practice specialized rescue techniques and equipment they rarely use.

The training simulation took approximately 40 minutes to successfully rescue the trapped dummy. Crews used wooden shoring and air-pressurized bars to stabilize the trench walls. After everything was safe, the rescuers carefully leveraged the concrete off the simulated victim and moved the dummy to safety.

Brian Boyd, a Battalion Chief with Bend Fire and Rescue, explained that this specific training is incredibly valuable, and they carefully choose the exercises they simulate.

“But we have a number of disciplines that we have to cover, so we really only get two days a year to to train on this,” Boyd said. “So, it’s just reviewing the process, identifying those efficiencies that can help make up time where there’s opportunities.”

Officials anticipate a rise in trench rescue calls or similar incidents, due to the constant construction and development in Central Oregon.

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Chamois man accused of deceptive business practices in multiple counties now charged in Morgan County

KMIZ on May 13, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Chamois man who is accused of committing deceptive business practices in multiple Mid-Missouri counties is now charged in Morgan County.

Curtis Luke McCarty was charged on Monday in Morgan County with stealing more than $750 and committing deceptive business practices, both of which are felonies. A warrant with a $10,000 bond was issued in the case.

He is facing the same two charges in Audrain County, along with two additional cases where he is accused of felony stealing and misdemeanor deceptive business practices. He had pleaded guilty in Boone County in 2024 to misdemeanor stealing and was put on two years of unsupervised probation.

The probable cause statement in his recently filed case says a Morgan County deputy received a complaint on Aug. 12, 2025. The victim allegedly received an estimate from McCarty in June for $18,904.70 for a project and gave him $10,000 in cash, the statement says.

After receiving the money, McCarty allegedly stopped all contact with the victim, the statement says. The victim was able to provide police with an invoice showing $10,000 was paid to McCarty’s business “Premier Projects LLC,” court documents say.

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Recovery after suffering gunshot wound extends beyond physical injury, experts say

KMIZ on May 13, 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy is set to return to Columbia after getting shot at a concert over the weekend in Mississippi. 

A spokesperson for Mizzou football said Hardy was getting released from the hospital on Tuesday, but did not provide any updates on when he will be able to return to football activities.

Hardy, a Mississippi native, told police he attended the concert in Laurel to support someone he knew who was scheduled to perform that night, according to previous reporting. After being taken to the hospital, he underwent surgery on his leg. The standout running back finished last season leading the nation in rushing yards per game and ranked second in total rushing yards.

Should Hardy return, he will join a list of athletes who came back after being shot. Some notable examples include former University of Nebraska receiver Abdul Muhammad, who came back from a shooting in 1993 and helped the Cornhuskers win the 1994 National Title. 

More recent examples include San Fransico 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall, who scored his first NFL touchdown 50 days after being shot in 2024. Houston Texans wideout Tank Dell also returned to play after being wounded as a bystander at a private event in Florida that same year, and recorded over 600 receiving yards and three touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg injury. 

Jeremy Fears Jr., of Michigan State basketball, suffered a gunshot injury in late 2023, but went on to play two full seasons for the Spartans afterwards.

But while athletes can often make remarkable physical recoveries from traumatic injuries, experts say the emotional recovery can often take much longer and may be harder to recognize.

ABC 17 News spoke with a therapist who specializes in gun-related injuries and a sports psychologist about the road to recovery for people affected by gun violence.

“This is a large part of their identity. And so when you suddenly take away the ability for an athlete to perform in their sport, you’re impacting their own identity, and so they can often come out of that feeling a sense of grief, anger and loss,” said Kristin Mauldin, who is an associate professor of sport and performance psychology at California Baptist University.

For athletes recovering from any serious leg injury, whether from an accident, surgery or trauma, the physical healing process does not always mean the mental hurdles are gone.

“We see it quite often. An athlete will recover physically fully from their injury, but they’re still favoring the leg,” Mauldin said. “Now they’re going back out on the field. They’re trying to use it again, and they’re going to often have a fear response. They might favor the leg. They might be really hesitant to use it in the way that they used to, and so part of the goal of the sport psychologist, that person working with them is to help them to learn to trust it again.”

That fear can be amplified when the injury stems from violence, rather than competition.

Amy Miller, director of mental well-being at the Bullet Related Injury Clinic, said recovering from a bullet-related injury often extends far beyond the person who was physically hurt.

“What we find with a bullet-related injury is it’s not just you that’s affected, but everybody around you. So we also provide support for the support system that’s there,” Miller said.

BRIC — a nonprofit based in St. Louis — provides holistic services for people directly and indirectly affected by gun violence. Miller said survivors can often face anxiety in everyday places they once considered safe.

“Before something like this happens to you, you’re just thinking you’re just moving around in life. Innocent bystander. ‘I’m just moving around. I’m going to a concert. I’m in my hometown. Everybody knows me. I know everybody,’” Miller said. “So that the spaces of social anxiety can easily set in.”

Even after a visible injury heals, she said the psychological impacts may remain. 

“They can come in the door, and if there’s a physical wound that’s there, usually we can fix the wound and you don’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind,” Miller said. “But what happens with the nightmares? What happens when the nightmares come? What happens when I’m always looking over my back and over my shoulder and I’ve never dealt with panic attacks or anxiety attacks before?”

Mauldin said one factor that can make a meaningful difference in recovery is the support surrounding an athlete.

“One thing that I notice in this particular case is that he [Hardy] has great social support, and that is so huge,” she said. “He’s loved by his friends, family, and fans. I thought, Oh, that’s so wonderful, because the sports psychologist can do a lot to come alongside and help. But that piece, we can’t just provide that.”

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Doña Ana County approves update to immigration status protections

KVIA on May 13, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The Doña Ana County Commission unanimously approved an update to its Safe Communities for All Resolution Tuesday. Commissioner Gloria Gameros wasn’t at the vote.

The resolution builds on one first passed in 2014, NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe said. It provides protections for residents regardless of immigration status at spaces like courthouses and healthcare facilities.

With the approved update, NMCAFE said the county will:

Designate all county-owned or county-operated properties as “Safer Community Places.”

Make policies to prohibit voluntary consent for immigration enforcement to enter non-public areas or access records in county facilities (except under a judicial warrant, subpoena or urgent situations).

Identify county-owned areas that have been used or are likely to be used for immigration enforcement.

Make policies for staff training and signs marking non-public spaces in county buildings and county-funded facilities.

Reject permits, contracts or other agreements if the county, its employees, contractors or agents believe a property or resource will help facilitate immigration enforcement.

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Community Food Basket receives massive donation from LDS Church for America 250 celebration

KIFI on May 12, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — As skyrocketing costs for housing, gas, and groceries are stretching local food banks’ resources, Idaho Falls’ Community Food Basket just received a helping hand. Tuesday, the Food Basket received a massive 24-pallet food donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Tuesday.

The donation is part of the ongoing America 250 celebration and comes as local families face increased food insecurity. Food Basket managers expect the sizeable donation will help cover needs during the critical summer months, when the absence of school-provided meals puts an additional strain on household budgets.

According to Food Basket Executive Director Ariel Jackson, the grocery budget is often gets the short end of the stick in the struggle between rent, gas, and food.

“Everything is just more expensive. And the one place that people have the tendency to cut is their food budget,” explains Ariel Jackson, Executive Director of the Community Food Basket in Idaho Falls. “So maybe you don’t buy milk, and maybe you don’t buy bread so that you can pay your other bills.”

The donation follows a huge increase in demand, or “food-flation,” since the 2020 pandemic. According to Jackson, the Food Basket is serving between 6,000 and 7,000 people a month.

The Idaho Falls delivery is part of a broader humanitarian effort by the Church amid the America 250 Celebration. In the past month, the faith has provided similar large-scale donations to food banks in Blackfoot, Rexburg, and Pocatello in addition to several hundred donations to food banks across the country.

If you are in a position to provide support to your local food bank, they are always taking donations. For more information, click HERE.

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Former Columbia utilities director files for Ward 4 race

KMIZ on May 12, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The former director of the City of Columbia’s utility department turned in his paperwork on Tuesday to run for the open Fourth Ward seat on the City Council.

Dave Sorrell turned in his petition on Tuesday and it was deemed to be sufficient, according to City Clerk Sheela Amin.

Sorrell had served as the director of utilities from March 2020 until he retired in March 2025, according to previous reporting. He worked as the assistant director from 2015 until his promotion.

Previous reporting shows Sorrell was hired by the city as a civil engineer in 2001 and was promoted in 2006 to an engineer in the electric division of Water and Light before going to the water division in 2008. He was promoted to sewer utility manager in 2010 before becoming an engineering manager in the Public Works Department in 2012, a prior press release says.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 to file for the election, city documents show. Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 4.

The position is open after Councilman Nick Foster announced that he intends to resign from his position on June 12.

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United States Navy showcases mixed-reality experience at Technical Careers High School

KIFI on May 12, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI)– Students at District 93’s Technical Careers High School got a firsthand look at the technology and teamwork behind Navy careers today, May 12, as the U.S. Navy brought its traveling “Strike Group” mixed-reality experience to students.

The showcase is designed to introduce students to Navy STEM careers through hands-on simulations and virtual reality experiences.

Students who participate can step into the roles of sailors, pilots, engineers, and Navy SEALs while learning about the skills needed to serve in some of the military’s most high-tech environments.

“This is very important to give the students a kind of a hands on look at what the Navy has to offer,” Navy Recruiter Brian Barnett said.

The “Strike Group” has three different interactive challenges:

All Hands

Participants will test their skills on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in a five-person mixed-reality game.

Train

A Navy SEAL trainer will guide participants through multiple challenges to test physical strength, mental fortitude, and willpower.

Seek

Participants will undergo a real-life submarine mission called an Ice Exercise (ICEX) near the North Pole. Players will work together and use their skills in nuclear propulsion, sonar, and navigation to successfully break through the thick sea ice during the Arctic Ocean operation.

Students enjoyed the entire hands-on experience, especially the pilot simulator.

“It’s very interactive and gives us something to do instead of class,” Kaylee, a Careers Technical High School student, said.

Although some students did not want to explore a career in the Navy, it was still a great way to explore new avenues in STEM.

The next stop for the traveling “Strike Group” is the Alturas Preparatory Academy on Thursday, May 14.

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Saline County man accused of creating step-by-step bomb-making video used by New Orleans attacker

KMIZ on May 12, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo (KMIZ)

A Saline County man was arrested and charged in federal court after he allegedly made explosives without a license.

Jordan Derrick, 40, of Sweet Springs, is charged with making explosive materials without a license, illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device and distributing information relation to manufacturing explosives. He has a hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday in Kansas City federal court. He is in the custody of the U.S. Marshal, according to court documents.

A press release from the Department of Justice says that Derrick on Sept. 18, 2023, began making social media videos of himselfs making “various explosive materials” along with step-by-step- instructions.

The release claims Derrick’s videos were downloaded and used by Shamsud-Din Jabbar, who was accused of the terrorist attack on New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2025.

“Jabbar had created IEDs consistent with Derrick’s instructional videos. The devices placed by Jabbar did not detonate and were subsequently rendered safe by law enforcement,” the release says.

“Also, according to the complaint, on May 4, 2026, an explosion occurred at a private residence in Odessa, Mo. Investigators who searched the private residence after the explosion, found two components suspected of being used in explosive devices. The occupant of the residence told investigators that he manufactured explosive devices after watching online tutorials on a social media account that is believed to be utilized by Derrick to distribute information relating to the manufacture of explosives. An investigation of the Odessa explosion is ongoing.”

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