NASCAR announces death of Kyle Busch

KMIZ on May 21, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

NASCAR announced on Thursday afternoon that two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch has died.

Busch was 41 years old.

“We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers,” NASCAR shared on its social media. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.”

We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

Other media reported earlier that he had been hospitalized.

NASCAR later released a joint statement with the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing.

“Our entire NASCAR gamily is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. As a future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” the statement says. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

A joint statement on behalf of the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7fYGjIqxoJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

Busch won the Cup Series championship in 2015 and 2019 and was the rookie of the year in 2005. He won 234 combined races, 63 of which were Cup series victories. His last Cup series win occurred at the Enjoy Illinois 300, which is in the St. Louis area, in 2023.

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Idaho strengthens ties with Japan during strategic trade mission

KIFI on May 21, 2026

Par Kermani

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — Governor Brad Little is celebrating the success of a recent trade mission to Japan aimed at strengthening Idaho’s role in global innovation and supply chains.

Representatives from the Idaho Department of Commerce, along with the Boise Valley Economic Partnership and the City of Boise, traveled to Japan on April 21-25, 2026.

The delegation met with companies involved in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, food technology, aerospace and logistics.

“Japan is a valued partner and an increasingly important market for Idaho’s growing economy,” Little said in a statement. “As Idaho continues to lead in innovation, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, and technology, strengthening our relationships in Japan opens new doors for investment, trade, and job creation for Idaho families.”

As Idaho’s fourth-largest trading partner, Japan plays a key role in the state’s economy. Governor Brad Little said the partnership helps position Idaho as a global leader in critical industries.

During the trip, Idaho Commerce representatives met with several major suppliers and corporations, including Sumitomo Corporation, Hitachi Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Stella Chemifa Corporation.

The delegation also met with organizations including the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, the Japanese External Trade Organization, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Japan Institute for Overseas Investment.

“We are grateful to our Idaho Japan Trade Office and Micron Technology for their work in securing these important meetings,” Idaho Commerce Director Tom Kealey said. “Our in-person engagement with these business and economic leaders increases credibility and trust with Japan’s critical semiconductor, aerospace, food tech, and energy industries.”

Governor Little is expected to lead another trade mission to Japan this fall, with additional visits planned in Taiwan. Idaho officials are currently recruiting businesses interested in joining the Asia mission.

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MU Curators approve 4% tuition increase for undergrads

KMIZ on May 21, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The University of Missouri Board of Curators approved a 4% increase for undergraduate tuition for next school year during a Thursday afternoon meeting.

The increase is for all four of its campuses. A 3% increase was approved for its graduate programs.

The increases will range from $16.50 per credit hour at the Kansas City location to $21 at the St. Louis campus. The Columbia campus will see a $19.11-per-credit-hour increase. The average cost for a semester at MU will increase by nearly $287, according to board documents.

Professional tuition will increase between 0-4.75%, according to a release from the school.

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Free guided Memorial Day hike at McKelligon Canyon

KVIA on May 21, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a guided Memorial Day hike Monday morning.

We Hike said its holiday hike is open for all abilities; you can run, walk, carry weight or go at your own pace.

The hike starts at 7:30 a.m. at McKelligon Canyon (1500 McKelligon Canyon Rd). We Hike said the group will start at the gate on the right facing the mountain.

We Hike suggests arriving at 7 a.m. for time to park andsign in.

Hikers can take strollers and their pets, but pets must be on a leash, the organization said.

The hiking nonprofit suggests bringing:

Water (at least two liters)

Closed-toe shoes

Sun protection like a hat

Snacks and personal medication

Hiking sticks

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Flow-Bor Day returns, bringing bright colors to downtown Rexburg

KIFI on May 21, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Rows of flowers will soon line Rexburg’s Main Street, bringing fresh spring color to the heart of downtown.

Flow-Bor Day is an annual community service event where residents gather to plant flowers in boxes and beds along Main Street and Center Street, helping showcase the beauty of summertime in the downtown area.

The event, hosted by the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Group, brings volunteers together to plant flowers throughout downtown. Flowers and plants are provided, but some residents choose to bring their own.

And if you’re curious about the name, it combines the words “flowers” and “Arbor Day.” Former Mayor Jerry Merrill coined the term to blend the traditional planting of trees with the community flower-planting initiative.

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Motor Vu Drive-In kicks off summer movie season with Memorial Day weekend double feature

KIFI on May 21, 2026

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Idaho Falls’ historic drive-In is kicking off the summer season this Memorial Day.

The Motor Vu Drive-In is stepping into summer with a double feature lineup featuring the premiere of The Mandalorian and Grogu, followed by The Devil Wears Prada 2.

According to an official Facebook post, the movies will play Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 24. Gates open at 8 p.m. each night, with movies beginning about 30 minutes after sunset.

Tickets will be available at the gate and can also be purchased online through the drive-in’s new ticketing system.

Motor Vu says they are excited to welcome moviegoers back for another summer season.

“We love drive-in season, and we cannot wait to see you at the movies this summer,” the post said. “Let’s get this party started with a Memorial Day weekend that cannot be beat.”

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Camden County to be audited by state after county commission’s request

KMIZ on May 21, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Camden County will be audited by the state, according to a Thursday press release from State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick.

The release says the Camden County Commission requested the audit to help determine “determine if revenue generated by a sales tax that has been in effect since 2008 is being distributed the way voters intended.”

The audit will review other aspects of the county, as well. The release says since Camden County has its own auditor, it does not have regularly scheduled audits from the state. The last state audit occurred in 2019 after the commission requested it, the release says.

“We are ready and willing to pull back the curtain for the people of Camden County to give them an honest assessment of whether their tax dollars are being used appropriately, while also giving them a clear picture of how their county government is operating overall,” Fitzpatrick was quoted in the release. “Ultimately we want to make sure every resident of Camden County can have confidence their government is operating transparently and in accordance with the law. We’ll also work to give the county recommendations they can put into place to be more effective for taxpayers.”

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Loop 375 West between Padres, Yarbrough reopens after fuel spill

KVIA on May 21, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (4:10 p.m.) — All lanes reopened, according to TxDOT.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Loop 375 west between Padres and Yarbrough closed after a semi leaked fuel, El Paso Police said Thursday.

Police said the call about the spill came in at 11:55 a.m. They sent a traffic alert at 1:26 p.m.

(Courtesy: TxDOT)

On X, police said the lanes will stay closed until further notice.

This is a developing story.

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Elementary school employee charged with sex abuse of children, filming students

KIFI on May 21, 2026

CNN Newsource

Originally Published: 21 MAY 26 15:20 ET

By Pat Reavy

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    PANGUITCH, Utah (KSL) — A Garfield County man who police say works at an elementary school and was arrested and accused of uploading child sex abuse material was charged Wednesday with 22 first-degree felonies.

Dallen Benjamin Platt, 20, of Henrieville, is charged in 6th District Court with three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, 18 counts of aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and sodomy on a child, all first-degree felonies.

The investigation began a week ago when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children task force that suspected child sex abuse material was being uploaded to an IP address in Utah. On Thursday, investigators served a search warrant at Platt’s residence.

Platt admitted to sexually abusing two young children under the age of 5 and secretly recording two teens naked, according to charging documents. He claimed he would then send his videos to a 13-year-old girl in Texas. Platt allegedly told investigators he is in a “relationship” with the 13-year-old.

“Platt stated that he works at a local elementary school. He admitted to taking photos of children at the school and sending the photos to (the 13-year-old) to rate their attractiveness. He also admitted to using AI to manufacture nude images of the children,” charging documents state. “Law enforcement is conducting additional investigation into these files.”

Neither the charging documents nor the arrest report indicate which school Platt works at or what he does there. The crimes Platt was charged with on Wednesday happened at his residence and not the school, the charges say.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Think Wild adds new hands-on volunteer opportunities for kids and families

KTVZ on May 21, 2026

Harley Coldiron

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild, Central Oregon’s wildlife hospital and conservation center, is launching a series of new youth and family volunteer opportunities. These programs aim to engage the high desert community in caring for and protecting native wildlife.

Think Wild, a small non-profit organization in Bend, relies on local community support to accomplish its mission. The new volunteer opportunities will provide younger community members a chance to contribute to Think Wild’s mission and gain hands-on experience in conservation.

Youth volunteers will meet at Think Wild’s wildlife hospital campus in Bend one to two times per month. They will assist with tasks such as patient diet preparation and enrichment building, pollinator garden and yard work, facility and enclosure upkeep and general community project support. These sessions will be split and tailored to specific age groups, with youth ages 8-13 meeting on the last Saturday of each month from 1-2 p.m. throughout the year.

Youth ages 14-17 will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from 2:30-4 p.m. during the spring and summer seasons. This older age group also has sessions scheduled for the last Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. throughout the year.

Think Wild also offers several additional youth volunteer opportunities that take place off-site for those unable to attend regular sessions or seeking more activities. Some of these can be completed at home. Youth volunteers can represent Think Wild at local events and fundraisers to engage with the community and share informative resources.

For families, Think Wild provides plans and guidance for building native bird and bat boxes at home. Youth volunteers can also assist with the rescue and transport of injured and orphaned wildlife to the wildlife hospital, provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Families and youth interested in spending time outdoors and contributing to habitat restoration can participate in several ongoing Beaver Works Oregon projects throughout Eastern and Central Oregon One family-friendly event includes building beaver dam analogs in the Ochoco National Forest. Beaver dam analogs are hand-built structures made of sticks and natural materials that mimic a real beaver dam.

The Beaver Works Oregon event in the Ochoco National Forest is scheduled for July 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details and a link to RSVP for this event are available on the volunteer calendar on the Think Wild website.

Individuals interested in becoming youth volunteers and learning more about these opportunities can fill out the youth volunteer application form or email volunteer@thinkwildco.org.

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