DEA El Paso raises awareness over fentanyl mixed with other emerging synthetic drugs

KVIA on June 4, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says the country continues to face an unprecedented and evolving drug threat driven by illicit fentanyl, which the agency says is increasingly mixed with a dangerous array of synthetic substances emerging in the illicit market.

“These combinations are making an already deadly drug supply even more unpredictable and lethal,” the DEA said. “Law enforcement and public health officials are seeing fentanyl combined with highly potent substances such as xylazine, nitazenes, cychlorphine, and medetomidine. Many of these substances are not approved for human use and are often undetectable to the user.”

According to the DEA news release, Xylazine and medetomidine are used by veterinarians to sedate animals. Nitazenes and cychlorphine are potent, unregulated, synthetic opioids. New nitazenes tend to be introduced when regulatory actions, enforcement, and drug scheduling put pressure on existing analogues. DEA has reported 22 unique nitazenes compounds since 2020, 21 of which are listed as Schedule I controlled substances. 

DEA also classified why this matters for the community:

Extreme Potency: These emerging synthetic drugs can be significantly more powerful than fentanyl and greatly increase the risk of suffering a fatal overdose.

Hidden Mixtures: These substances are frequently mixed into counterfeit pills or fentanyl powder without the user’s knowledge.

Reduced Reversal Effectiveness: Drugs like xylazine and medetomidine are not opioids, meaning naloxone may not fully reverse their effects, complicating overdose response. Other synthetics, such as nitazenes and cychlorphine, might require several doses of naloxone to be effective.

Severe Health Impacts: Xylazine has been linked to devastating soft tissue damage, infections, and prolonged sedation, while other synthetics can cause rapid respiratory depression and death.

Public Safety Guidance from the DEA:

Never take a pill that wasn’t prescribed to you and dispensed by a licensed pharmacy.

Assume all illicit drugs may contain fentanyl or other deadly additives.

Carry naloxone and be trained in how to use it, but understand it may not fully reverse all substances present.

Call 911 immediately in any suspected drug poisoning or overdose. Time is critical.

Stay informed and spread awareness. This threat is evolving rapidly.

“Today’s illicit drug supply is more dangerous, more deceptive, and more deadly than ever before. One pill, one try can kill,” the DEA added.

Public awareness and prevention are critical. For more information, visit DEA.gov/fentanyl free and DEA.gov/onepill.

Just recently, the DEA drug lab team investigated a deadly incident in Mountainair, which is close to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

ABC-7 will speak today with DEA El Paso Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jeffery Castillo, who oversees the referenced lab team.

Watch the full story tonight in out later newscasts.

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Pocatello considers 4-day week, then hits pause

KIFI on June 4, 2026

Idaho Ed News

POCATELLO, Idaho – Pocatello-Chubbuck could become the next school district to shorten its instructional week. But the school board won’t make a decision anytime soon.

After a handful of discussions in recent months on implementing a four-day week or moving toward a five-day “hybrid” model, trustees on May 20 unanimously agreed to form a committee that will study options and survey district patrons later this year. 

Pocatello operates on trimesters, with a five-day school week and one-hour early releases on Mondays, when teachers have time to collaborate. District leaders in recent months have considered a few calendar changes, including: 

Switching from trimesters to semesters

Implementing a four-day week, where students are off on the fifth day and staff use it for planning and training

Modifying the five-day week by adding early-release days and periodic non-student days throughout the year 

Semesters would better align with other school districts and with dual-credit classes offered by colleges and universities, Superintendent Douglas Howell told Idaho Education News this week.

Shortening the school week, however, would be more contentious.

Douglas Howell, Pocatello/Chubbuck School District superintendent.

Four-day weeks are becoming the norm across Idaho. During the 2025-26 school year, about two in three traditional school districts used four-day calendars. Eighteen of the state’s 76 charter schools also have four-day weeks. In 2024, the Nampa School District — roughly the same size as Pocatello-Chubbuck — became the largest school district to join the four-day trend, which is more common among smaller districts.

As EdNews previously reported, the four-day week is gaining popularity, but research on how it affects learning remains indecisive. While cost savings for a district are marginal, at best, the four-day week can be an attractive teacher recruitment and retention tool. Many parents also like three-day weekends for flexibility around vacations, doctor appointments and other things that conflict with school schedules. 

Still, some Pocatello trustees appeared skeptical of the four-day option in recent board meetings. Trustee Megan Furniss pointed to research showing declining test scores in districts that switched to four days. Four-day weeks also typically mean longer school days for students and teachers — a way to maintain minimum instructional hours required by the state. 

“Kids’ attention spans max out at a certain point. We have all witnessed this,” Furniss said during the school board’s May 20 meeting. “To say ‘Let’s add 75 more minutes to their already maxed-out day’ does not equal more learning. It actually just equals more time.” 

Howell said that other districts in eastern Idaho, along with a charter school in the city of Pocatello, have recently moved to four-day or hybrid models, or they’re considering it. A four-day week also came up this year in conversations between administrators and the Pocatello Education Association (PEA), the local teachers’ union, Howell said. 

Click here to read EdNews’ special series on four-day weeks, “The Four-day Phenomenon.”

PEA President Mary Anne McGrory told the school board last month that the union is “not pushing for either a four-day week or a five-day week.” Rather, union members are hoping to have a “real discussion and a review” of the calendar. But trustees have yet to ask teachers for their input, McGrory said. 

Trustees considered releasing a survey soliciting input from district employees and parents on the four-day and five-day hybrid options. Trustee Heather Clarke recommended hitting pause — on the survey and any decisions about calendar changes — until a committee could look at the options more closely. 

“I don’t even know what our ‘why’ is, other than everyone else is doing it,” Clarke said of shortening the school week. “And that’s not a real good ‘why.’”

Pocatello/Chubbuck School District trustee Heather Clarke. (Photo: sd25.us)

Last month’s special meeting on potential calendar changes garnered some initial feedback — from parents, teachers and administrators. So far, it’s been mixed, according to emails shared with the school board and attached to the last month’s meeting agenda. 

Brandi Johnson, a parent, said a four-day week would offer more flexibility with school and work schedules. “Anywhere we can find compromise would be greatly appreciated,” Johnson wrote to trustees. 

Malia Fifita, a student at Highland High School, also supported a four-day calendar. Fridays are when “burnout hits the hardest,” Fifita wrote, and having that day off could help students “slow things down and get things done.”

Others raised concerns about potential negative consequences. Bethany Coffin, a behavior technician at New Horizons Center, wrote that teaching hours are already long at Pocatello’s alternative school, and some students “depend on our school for clothing, food and mental health services,” which they could access for one fewer day per week under a four-day calendar.

Before the school board’s May 20 meeting, trustees asked school principals for feedback on the five-day hybrid. This option could include additional early-release days and moving Monday’s teacher collaboration time to Friday. Some principals said this change likely would lead to more absences on Friday — among students and teachers — and it could interfere with other non-instructional time commitments, like meetings related to individual education programs for students with special needs. 

“My vote would be to keep it the way it is,” wrote Nichole Garza, principal at Lewis and Clark Elementary School.

The five-member school board unanimously agreed with Clark’s recommendation to form a committee that will consider calendar changes for 2027-28 or the following year. The panel will include parents, trustees and representatives of a range of district employees, including teachers, union members, administrators and classified staff.

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Father of killed Moberly teen says he’s working with a domestic violence shelter

KMIZ on June 4, 2026

Alison Patton

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The father of 16-year-old Kayla Huff, who was found dead in a Randolph County conservation area last month, says he’s working with a domestic violence shelter to bring awareness to teen dating violence and abuse.

“We are working with this amazing organization to try to educate our children on the dangers of dating violence and abuse. I hope that with their help we can allow our daughter Kayla Huff to continue to shine her light into our world,” Mike Huff wrote in a Facebook post Thursday morning.

Safe Passage is a nonprofit based in Moberly that serves nine Mid-Missouri counties, including Randolph, Boone and Audrain.

“Thank you, Mike Huff, for setting up this fundraiser for us. We can ear mark [sic] any donations for prevention materials, which have been cut from our budget. We cannot thank your family enough for your advocacy during an unthinkable time in your lives,” the nonprofit posted on Facebook in response to Huff.

The Huff family and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

When asked if domestic violence had a role in Kayla Huff’s death, Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said it’s too early to say.

“That investigation is still ongoing,” Luntsford said. “I feel like it may be too premature to specifically say what did or did not play a role in contributing to this, but I can tell you that that is being looked at.”

In a post from Monday, Huff clarified that one of the five suspects charged so far was his daughter’s ex-boyfriend.

“She should still be here making plans for her junior year, having fun with friends, spreading joy to random people at her job at taco bell [sic]. Instead she was murdered by her ex boyfriend, his half sister, and a group of her friends and roommates,” Huff wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday morning.

Safe Passage Co-Director Kelly Pedigo told ABC 17 News that preventing domestic violence was a reason behind Huff’s fundraiser.

“He links Kayla with teen dating violence, and he expressed that he wants to try to prevent this from happening to kids in the future, and that’s one of the things we really focus on,” Pedigo said.

Safe Passage is also facing a $68,000 budget cut, another reason Huff said he wants to donate to the nonprofit.

“There’s really nothing else to take out from our budget. We don’t have anything frivolous in there, so it would immediately attack our staff,” Pedigo said. “Once we start removing staff, it’s going to be difficult to man the shelter 24 hours a day, or to be able to have anybody that’s in the shelter and also available to go and do outreach or provide court advocacy.”

If the fundraiser hits the $5,000 goal, Safe Passage said it would use the money for prevention materials and activities in schools or the community.

Kayla Huff was a sophomore attending Moberly High School virtually. Pedigo said the nonprofit is meeting with high school staff in July to discuss programming.

“We’re just really looking forward to any oppurtunity that we can to try to do some prevention work, and hopefully prevent something like this from happening in the future,” Pedigo said.

As of Thursday evening, the Facebook fundraiser has raised almost $100. This fundraiser follows the creation of a memorial scholarship for Kayla Huff, which has nearly $5,000 as of Thursday morning, Heather Cleavinger, one of the scholarship organizers, told ABC 17 News over text.

One of the five suspects charged in the case is a juvenile, and details about that case have not been released publicly. Two people — Alayna Mason and Hunter Ames — have been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping.

Christopher Hull and Julian Mason are each charged with first-degree kidnapping and tampering with evidence.

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Columbia teenager seriously hurt in crash

KMIZ on June 4, 2026

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia teenager was hurt after a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday night.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the crash on Route Z in Boone County at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday.

Troopers said a 21-year-old woman from New Bloomfield was driving east in a 2022 Toyota Corolla when she failed to yield to a 2006 Hyundai Sonata.

The woman made a left turn and hit the left side of a car driven by a 17-year-old girl from Columbia.

The teenager was taken to University Hospital with serious injuries. The woman was not hurt.

The crash report states both were wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Both vehicles had extensive damage, according to the patrol.

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U.S. attorney seeks victims in case against Columbia doctor

KMIZ on June 4, 2026

Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri hopes more potential victims in a Columbia doctor’s healthcare fraud and illegal prescriptions case.

Dr. Jonathan Morris was indicted by a federal grand jury on 15 counts of illegally prescribing drugs and 23 counts of healthcare fraud.

The Department of Justice alleges Morris, 46, defrauded Medicare and Medicaid by causing them to “be billed for medical services as if they had been provided by him instead of the assistant physicians” he employs. He owns Columbia Urgent Care on North Providence Road.

Justice also accused Morris of giving prescription drugs to friends and drug addicts with whom he had sexual relationships.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it wants potential victims of Morris to contact its Victim-Witness Unit.

“Former patients of Morris or their families may still be facing the aftermath of illegal prescribing of controlled substances or fraudulent billing practices,” the U.S. attorney’s release states. “The victim-witness program provides information, services and support to individuals during federal prosecutions.”

Morris was released from federal custody last month on bond. Conditions of his release include giving up his DEA registration and passport, wearing an ankle monitor while on house arrest and not being allowed to practice medicine.

A former employee also sued Morris last fall. Allegations included Morris making unwanted sexual advances and ignoring sexual harassment committed by other employees.

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Wear orange and red for Ember: How you can support the Cuen family following a tragic loss

KTVZ on June 4, 2026

Kelsey Merison

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregonians are asked to wear orange and red on Friday, June 5th, for a local girl named Ember.

Ember is the six-year-old Vern Patrick Elementary student who was killed near Suttle Lake over Memorial Day Weekend.

The community is asked to wear the colors on Friday to “keep the Ember flame burning.”

Also happening tomorrow, for every ‘Ember Drink’ sold at Whiskey Girls Coffee in Redmond, one dollar will be donated to her family. Plus, JJ&B Construction will match every dollar donated.

And, the Brand Lab in downtown Redmond is also creating Ember shirts, with proceeds benefiting Ember’s family.

Lastly, there’s a GoFundMe set up for her family.

You can search #EmbersGlow on Facebook to learn more.

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‘I messed up’: Man accused of shooting roommates, killing 1

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Chloe Godding

Click here for updates on this story

    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A Kansas City man is facing several charges after allegedly shooting two of his roommates, killing one.

Brayan Arguijo-Mejia has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and one count of first-degree assault, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced Thursday.

The charges stem from a June 1 incident that left one man dead and another critically injured. The surviving victim is now in stable condition, Johnson said.

Kansas City police were called to an apartment near 12th Street and Askew Avenue around 6:45 p.m. on reports of a shooting.

When they arrived, they found a man matching the description of the suspect and took him into custody. He was later identified as Arguijo-Mejia.

A witness who lives across the hall told police that Arguijo-Mejia and the two victims live together in an apartment. The witness said he heard arguing coming from Arguijo-Mejia’s apartment before hearing several gunshots.

He looked out his door and reportedly saw Arguijo-Mejia with a gun, which the witness took and placed in a bag near the entryway of the building.

When he asked Arguijo-Mejia what he had done, Arguijo-Mejia allegedly told him, “I messed up,” before pointing at the victim. He also told the witness to call 911 and said that the victim tried to attack him and that he “had enough of them,” according to court documents.

In an interview with police, Arguijo-Mejia said the victims were “hazing” him and threatening to kill him. He then went into his bedroom and said he heard them talking and heard them load a gun, according to court documents. He reportedly told police that he never saw a gun and they never came into his bedroom.

He then allegedly walked out of his room and shot the first victim before shooting the second.

A judge set Arguijo-Mejia’s bond at $250,000. He is set to appear in court for a bond review hearing on June 9.

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.

Family of 5-year-old killed by tree in Northland describes his ‘bright smile’ in tribute, asks for prayers

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Rachel Henderson

Click here for updates on this story

    KANSAS CITY (KSHB) — A week after a tree fell on 5-year-old Vince Kellerman at Line Creek Trail, his family shared photos and memories with KSHB 41 in his honor.

Kellerman suffered critical injuries on May 27 after playing at Line Creek Trail.

He was sent to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he passed away on May 30.

Kellerman’s aunt, Sandy Nguyen, wrote a heartfelt synopsis of Vince’s life and personality on a GoFundMe she created to help support the family’s medical expenses and bills.

Vince’s immediate family is made up of his parents, Kathy and James, and his baby brother Silas.

According to Nguyen, Vince recently turned 5 and was looking forward to starting kindergarten at Hopewell Elementary and Sunday School at the Church of the Holy Martyrs.

She says he met his future classmates just two weeks before the incident.

“He never met a stranger — only friends he had not yet gotten to know,” Nguyen wrote. “Despite his young age, Vince had a character beyond his years: smart, kind, loving and truly magnetic. His bright smile and affectionate hugs lit up every room he entered.”

KSHB 41 also received photos from Tuan D. Nguyen, Vince’s grandfather, from the day he says Vince was playing at the creek before the tree fell on him.

“This story highlights both the sudden tragedy that can happen in our community and the incredible outpouring of support from Kansas Citians,” he wrote.

The family says they have already received an outpouring of support and prayers, which they are grateful for.

“Vince’s sudden passing has left a void that can never be filled,” Nguyen wrote. “We humbly ask for your prayers for Vince’s soul and for strength for his entire family. We deeply appreciate all the love and support, and kindly ask everyone to please respect their privacy as they grieve.”

She ended her note with a message to Vince.

“Vince may have only been with us for five short years, but his beautiful spirit touched everyone he met and will live forever in our hearts,” Nguyen’s message read. “Rest in peace, sweet Vince. You are deeply loved and will never be forgotten.”

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.

‘It’s really cool’: Kohler High School’s unique graduation tradition hits 100th milestone

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Andie Bernhardt

Click here for updates on this story

    KOHLER, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Graduation season is here, and one local school district has an ongoing tradition to celebrate that’s unlike any other.

This year marked Kohler High School’s 100th graduating class, and each of those classes celebrated with the coveted tradition called “Scroll Night.”

“Tonight is a night we call ‘Scroll Night’ and, in the village, this is a tradition for us where all the graduates come down and there’s a memory speech and the maypole dance,” said Riley Holzrichter, a 2026 Kohler High School graduate. “It’s kind of just a way for the village to celebrate the local graduates before graduating on Sunday.”

For Holzritcher, the event is more than just a school tradition, it’s a family one.

“They had us look back in a few of the books, all the way back I can find my Mom’s signature, my uncle’s signature, so it’s really cool they keep all of them,” said Holzritcher.

Seniors walk between cedar chains carried in by underclassmen, showing off their personalities with those who were by their side every step of the way.

Then it’s time to take a stroll down memory lane, as students shared the highs and lows of their time in kindergarten all the way to senior year.

“I think it’s just really brings the community together and also just allows the class to have some time to kind of reflect before graduation and also build the excitement for graduation Sunday too,” said Holzrichter.

Musical performances lead up to the big moment where the 60 seniors got to sign the scroll that’s been passed down from generation to generation.

“You know in 5th grade we did the maypole dance, and then we got to hold the tassle and then now we’re here,” said Helena Saunders, a 2026 Kohler graduate. “Now we’re graduating, which is wow.”

Celebrating all they’ve accomplished and those who will follow in their footsteps next.

“I think it’s like really creative of our school, especially since I don’t think any other school does this,” said Ava Erlien, a 2026 Kohler graduate. “So, I think it’s very unique.”

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.

‘Smelled like a clogged toilet’: Family experienced travel horror story aboard Turkish Airlines flight

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Maggy Wolanske

Click here for updates on this story

    DENVER (KMGH) — While flying can come with surprises, one Colorado family experienced something far worse than delays: the smells of sewage filled their plane when they boarded a Turkish Airlines flight out of Denver International Airport.

Farhung Bharucha was traveling with his wife and four kids for an annual summer vacation to India. He said the boarding time was pushed back with no explanation as to why. After an hour of waiting, Bharucha said his wife asked a gate agent what was happening.

“They said that one of the toilets is leaking and it smells really bad and it’s wet everywhere, there is sewage water, and so they are just trying to get that cleaned up,” Bharucha explained.

As they continued to wait at the gate, there was no “official communication” until the airline sent out a message saying the flight was delayed “due to an act of God,” according to Bharucha.

“Finally they boarded us at about 9:45 p.m. so our plane was supposed to take off at 8:15 p.m.,” said Bharucha. “We boarded at 9:45 p.m. and my seat is 9C, which is right in front of the lavatory, that was leaking and I could see the carpet was wet all around my feet and it it smelled like toilet, sewage water.”

While on the plane, Bharucha described passengers in complete disbelief over the smell and what was happening.

“Then the plane started taxiing, and the lavatory started leaking actively at that time,” said Bharucha. “So you could actually see brown-color water coming out of it into the hallway, where they where they start prepping the food for the flight. I think finally word got out when people started like smelling and making faces.”

Thankfully, he said, the pilot turned the plane around and they did not have to experience this leaking toilet and the smells that came with it on an international flight. The Bharucha family stayed at a nearby hotel thinking they would be booked on the next flight out.

“About 12:30 a.m., we got our bags. At about 1 a.m., we checked into the Westin next to DIA, after that they just didn’t book us. They first booked us for May 31, then for June 1, and then finally for June 2. All of this happened in the span of about 30 minutes and we were like, no we booked our leave, we want to get out earlier,” Bharucha said.

Several days and hotel nights later, the Bharucha family landed in Istanbul on Wednesday as part of their layover. He expressed his frustration towards the airline for shrugging off responsibility and not fixing the technical issue.

“I just did some research thinking that maybe I’m being unrealistic, but all the research points are no, this is not an act of God, nor is this an uncontrollable event. This is a technical issue that the plane, the airline, should have managed a lot better,” Bharucha said.

Aviation expert, Steve Cowell, flew 38 years professionally and teaches aviation safety risk management. He explained how airplane bathrooms operate and are maintained in between flights.

“When you go to the lavatory, essentially all of the waste goes into this big holding tank, it is filled with a chemical as well as, of course, a lot of water,” he said. “When the plane comes in to the gate, one of the service items is to service the lavatory. They’ll hook a hose up to remove the waste products, and another hose to put in new water and new chemical.”

Having decades of experience flying, Cowell explained a leaky bathroom is very rare and is an issue between the airline and the ground service personnel.

“What the airline should have done was work with their ground service personnel, and then they should have called in a biohazard team to make sure that the airplane was not only clear of any biohazard that might have flowed onto the floor, such as sewage, but also, you know, sanitized the airplane and gotten rid of the smell before they even would have had any passengers on board,” Cowell said.

Ultimately, he said the responsibility falls on Turkish Airlines.

“It’s incredibly arrogant for an airline to think that they’re going to board a couple hundred passengers on an airplane, they’re going to be sitting there for hours on end on an international flight smelling toilet fluid. That’s ridiculous. This airline is clearly responsible for the problem and clearly responsible for the contractor that they engaged to service their toilets,” Cowell said.

Denver7 reached out to Turkish Airlines but did not hear back by the time of publication.

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.