Woman gets probation in Boone County embezzlement case

KMIZ on June 9, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman who was sentenced last month in a Cooper County embezzlement case was sentenced to probation in her Boone County case on Friday.

Both cases make a combined total of over $63,000 of stolen funds.

Jennifer Waibel, 53, of Boonville, pleaded guilty on Friday in her Boone County case to stealing more than $750 and two counts of fraudulently using a credit card. She was sentenced to five years of probation along with a suspended sentence. The judge also gave her a suspended imposition of sentence, meaning if she completes probation, the charges will not show up publicly.

She is currently serving 30 days in the Cooper County Jail after she pleaded guilty to felony stealing in Cooper County. She will also serve five years of probation for that case, which will run at the same time as her Boone County term. Jail records show she was booked into the jail on Monday.

She was also ordered to pay more than $5,000 in restitution.

In the Boone County case, she’s accused of spending $13,650 on gift cards while using 10 company credit cards from Impact Support Services, located on Chapel Hill Road in Columbia, court documents in previous reporting say. Spending took place during March 2025.

Cooper County Judge Jeff Mittelhauser, overseeing one of the cases also ordered Waibel “shall not work for any agency which receives public funds,” according to court documents.

“We are glad this conviction will ensure this individual is barred from working in this field or with other vulnerable populations moving forward,” Julie Allen, chief operating officer of Impact Support Services, wrote in a statement to ABC 17 News. “Our goal from the beginning was to protect the community, which is why our agency took immediate action to report this matter to the proper authorities.”

Court documents in previous reporting for the Cooper County case say she is accused of stealing $49,661.36 from Unlimited Opportunities by spending the money in several transactions from June 16-Aug. 31, 2023, which included several multi-thousand-dollar purchases at Walmart locations in Boonville, Columbia and in Madison, Georgia. Allen was working as the group’s executive director at the time.

ABC 17 News has reached out to Unlimited Opportunities.

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University of Arizona Yuma expands program to grow future agricultural leaders

KYMA on June 9, 2026

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The University of Arizona Yuma is celebrating the success of its first graduating class from the Learning to Lead program while welcoming an expanded group of students aimed at strengthening the region’s agricultural workforce.

The program, which launched in 2024 with just six to seven students, has grown to 27 participants and is designed to help develop future agricultural leaders in Yuma and Imperial counties.

Funded through a $9 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, awarded in partnership with Hartnell Community College, the initiative provides students with tuition assistance, paid internships, leadership training, and professional development opportunities.

University of Arizona Yuma receives a $1.7 million sub-award to support the local program.

Students selected for Learning to Lead can receive up to $30,000 in tuition scholarships over two years, along with a $5,200 stipend during summer internships.

Program leaders say the goal is to remove financial barriers while giving students the tools and experience needed to succeed in agriculture and related industries.

“It’s all about career exploration,” said Dr. Baleshka Brenes, director of agriculture programs at U of A Yuma. “Sometimes you don’t know what you really want, but that’s why these opportunities are so important, so that you can find your passion.”

In addition to classroom instruction, students complete hands-on internships and leadership development activities.

Participants are required to track professional skills, networking experiences, and community involvement through a leadership passport program. They also complete community service hours and fieldwork designed to prepare them for careers after graduation.

At the Yuma Agricultural Center, students gain practical experience working alongside researchers and industry professionals, learning about irrigation systems, crop evaluation, harvest operations, and agricultural research.

University officials say the program is helping address workforce shortages by encouraging local students to pursue agricultural careers and remain in the region after graduation.

“We’re growing our own workforce and staying in Yuma and Imperial and being those leaders,” Brenes said. “It’s super exciting and we’re just excited for the future.”

For graduating senior Emily Delgado of El Centro, California, the program opened doors she never expected.

Delgado said she initially had no plans to attend a four-year university until she discovered agriculture courses at Imperial Valley College and later learned about opportunities at U of A Yuma.

Through the program, she completed internships with Farm Smart, the Yuma Cooperative Extension, and a USDA entomologist, helping her explore career paths in agricultural economics, seed production, and trade logistics.

Incoming student Erick Barrios hopes to follow a similar path as he begins studying Agricultural Systems Management.

University leaders say the rapid growth of the Learning to Lead program demonstrates its impact on students and the community.

Current grant funding runs through 2028, and administrators plan to pursue additional grants and industry partnerships to ensure future students can continue benefiting from the program.

The university hopes the initiative will create a long-term pipeline of skilled agricultural professionals ready to support one of the region’s most important industries for years to come.

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School’s out, calls are up: Sheriffs report seasonal surge

KYMA on June 9, 2026

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Law enforcement agencies are reporting a significant increase in calls for service following recent graduation ceremonies and the official start of the summer season.

Sheriff’s departments state that the combination of warmer weather and school breaks traditionally triggers a rise in neighborhood disruptions.

Officials note that the influx of calls primarily involves noise complaints, traffic incidents, youth loitering, and curfew violations.

Law enforcement leaders are urging parents to speak with their teenagers about safety, responsible driving, and respecting community ordinances to ensure a safe summer for everyone.

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1 airlifted, 2 others injured after crash on NM 136, Strauss Road in Santa Teresa

KVIA on June 9, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

update (4:26 p.m.) — The City of Sunland Park confirmed with ABC-7 that all lanes reopened.

UPDATE (1:32 p.m.) — One person has been airlifted by the El Paso Fire Department’s Fire STAR helicopter and two others went to the hospital after the crash, according to Sunland Park Fire.

Courtesy: SPFD

Three vehicles were involved in the crash, SPFD said.

Courtesy: SPFD

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — A crash closed all lanes at the intersection of Pete Domenici Highway (NM 136) and Strauss Road in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, according to the City of Sunland Park Tuesday.

The crash is near the War Eagles Air Museum.

Courtesy: City of Sunland Park

First responders expect a longer closure to clear the crash site and to investigate, the city said.

Sunland Park’s fire and police departments are at the intersection.

The city said drivers should avoid the area and find a different route.

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El Paso Fire Water Rescue Team starts training ahead summer season, more rescues reported 

KVIA on June 9, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The El Paso Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team, which handles swift-water rescues, canal emergencies and flood responses across the El Paso area, among other things, will start its seasonal training today.

ABC-7 reported late last month that water was released into the El Paso canal and into the Rio Grande, where the Water Rescue Team has responded to body recoveries and rescues lately.

Last night, the El Paso Police Department, along with other local agencies, found a man dead in the water canal by Socorro Rd.

ABC-7 will tag along with the Water Rescue Team today to learn more about how they will prepare in case of more water rescues during this summer season.

Watch the full story in our later newscasts.

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Coroner identifies 70-year-old man found dead along Snake River

KIFI on June 9, 2026

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Authorities have released the identity of a 70-year-old Bingham County man found dead along the Snake River over the weekend.

Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez identified the man as Daniel Fuentes of Firth.

Fuentes’ body was discovered Friday evening after emergency crews responded to the west bank of the Snake River, south of 65th South, around 6:35 p.m. First responders from both Bonneville and Bingham counties were already in the area assisting with an unrelated search upstream when the report came in.

Investigators believe the man had likely been at the location for several hours after suffering fatal injuries falling down a rocky embankment near the river.

The sheriff’s office stated the incident appears to be accidental, though the investigation remains ongoing.

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Good Samaritan rescues driver after car plunges into Bonneville County Canal

KIFI on June 9, 2026

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A bystander rescued a female driver from a canal in Bonneville County on Tuesday before emergency crews arrived at the scene.

According to Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Bryan Lovell, the incident happened near a meat packing plant in the area of 1090 E. Iona Road.

Lovell said the witness entered the canal and helped remove the driver from the vehicle after it left the roadway and entered the water.

The driver was safely rescued and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Brandunn Griggs is a father of four who was on the way back from a nearby wrecking yard, when he saw a car in the canal.

“…as I approached the bridge here to cross the bridge, I didn’t see the car, and I glanced over and saw the car in the water and, decided to pull over and jump out,” Griggs said, “I went down to the doors trying to open the door to see if I could help get her out of the car, door was locked. She’s trying to unlock the door… I ended up just punching the window to unlock the door.”

I asked him what was racing through his mind in that moment.

“I guess more or less to kind of think that someone’s from someone’s family member, you know?” Griggs said.

This act of kindness did not go unnoticed from the woman.

“She was thanking me.She’s telling me how thankful she was that I showed up to help her,” Griggs said.

Deputies are continuing to investigate what led to the crash. Lovell said investigators currently believe impairment from marijuana may have been a contributing factor, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Crews later removed the vehicle from the canal and reopened the roadway.

Local News 8 spoke with the man who rescued the driver and will have more on his actions later.

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Water supply crisis in Tumalo leaves residents high and dry

KTVZ on June 9, 2026

Claire Elmer

TUMALO, Ore. (KTVZ) — A Tumalo resident says his irrigation water has been completely shut off, despite having deeded water rights, as drought conditions continue to strain the area’s water supply.

KTVZ News is speaking with the Tumalo resident along with state water officials about what the shutoff means for residents’ land, how it affects property owners with deeded water rights, and what options — if any — remain when the water runs out.

Stay tuned for the extended report, coming soon only on KTVZ News.

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Glasgow bridge reopened after barges hit adjacent rail span

KMIZ on June 9, 2026

Gabrielle Teiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A bridge in Glasgow reopened Tuesday after being shut down for inspection.

According to a Monday night Facebook post from Howard County Joint Communications, the Missouri Department of Transportation closed the Missouri River bridge on Highway 240 to investigate possible damage to the bridge caused by two loose barges hitting a pillar on an adjacent railroad bridge.

The bridge reopened Tuesday morning after an inspection that cleared it to carry traffic, MoDOT spokeswoman Marcia Johnson said.

Glasglow Chief of Police TJ Livermore said that he was dispatched around 8:15 p.m. last night and was able to see two barge directly hit one of the pillars of the railroad bridge.

“It struck the bridge, turned the barges counter clockwise, and then continued going south down the river.” He said.

MODOT around 10:50 then decided to close the car bridge next to it due to concerns that it was struck as well.

He said that the two barges were empty and did not have a tough boat attached.

“There was not any damage as far as I understand” He said.

The bridge was then reopened Tuesday morning around 11:00 a.m.

The United States Coast Guard Upper Mississippi Command Center says they were made aware of the barge strike. The command center says that the company that owned the barges sent tough boats out to get them once they were made aware.

ABC 17 was not able to confirm what company the barges belonged to but Cheif Livermore said that believes the barges could have floated from as far as Miami.

He also said that with the the fast flowing Missouri river from rainfall over the past few days could have played a role in thev barges getting loose and floating downstream.

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Historic Magoffin Home offers ‘hard hat tours’ to show adobe restoration work

KVIA on June 9, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Starting Wednesday, people can tour the Magoffin Home amid its restoration.

The Magoffin Home in Downtown El Paso “tells the stories of a multicultural family that influenced the development of the Southwest borderlands,” the Texas Historical Commission said.

The mansion has been closed as crews repair the 150-year-old adobe bricks, but tourists will have a chance to watch experts at work. The historical commission said tourists can even see parts of the building not visible since the walls first went up in the 1870s.

Hard hat tours will be available on some Wednesdays and Saturdays through July, with more dates to be added. Tours start June 10.

Tourists have to be at least 6 years old, according to the historical commission. To take the tour, you have to wear a hard hat (provided at the tour), close-toed shoes and long pants.

Tourists wear hard hats as they tour the Magoffin Home.(Courtesy: Texas Historical Commission)

Adult admission is $7, senior admission is $6 and students can get in for $4.

The historical commission recommended making a reservation, which you can do through this website.

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