Redmond’s Hub recreation center opening pushed to late summer or early fall

KTVZ on June 2, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Redmond’s long-anticipated Hub Aquatic and Recreation Center is nearing completion, but officials now say the opening will likely come later than originally planned.

The 56,000-square-foot facility, located at Southwest 35th Street and Lava Avenue, is expected to open in late summer or early fall, according to the Redmond Area Park and Recreation District.

Executive Director Katie Hammer said the district had initially hoped to welcome the public by mid-summer.

“Although RAPRD had hoped to open the facility in mid-summer, current projections indicate that the Hub Aquatic and Recreation Center will likely open in late summer or early fall,” Hammer said.

Construction on the $49 million project, funded by a voter-approved bond measure in 2022, is in its final stages. Work on the west side of the building is nearing completion, while progress continues in the aquatic areas.

District leaders say delays are largely tied to the pool construction, which is taking longer than expected as crews prioritize long-term durability and safety.

When complete, The Hub will replace the aging Cascade Swim Center and expand recreation options for the growing Redmond community. The facility will include lap and leisure pools, a water slide and hot tub, fitness areas, gym space and community rooms.

RAPRD officials say an official opening date will be announced once construction timelines are finalized.

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Eldon placed under boil water order

KMIZ on June 2, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Eldon was placed under a boil order by the state’s Department of Natural Resources, the city announced in a Tuesday social media post.

A letter from the DNR says the city “has exceed the E. coli Maximum Containment Level” in May. The DNR’s website lists fecal coliform/E. coli as the contaminants of concern.

A routine sample that was collected on May 20 from the distribution system tested positive for E. coli, as did three samples that were taken in the same area on Monday.

The city will hold an emergency City Council meeting at 6 p.m. to discuss the boil order, the post says. More than 4,400 people live in the city.

Eldon went through a three-week boil order this past winter.

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‘Savvy’s Stuffies’: Girl’s ER visit sparks effort to support kids in difficult situations

KIFI on June 2, 2026

CNN

Originally Published: 02 JUN 26 15:49 ET

By Mythili Gubbi

Click here for updates on this story

    OGDEN, Utah (KSTU) — A little girl’s trip to the emergency room a few years ago inspired a family’s mission to help others. The Mack family is trying to help kids in scary situations, one stuffed animal at a time.

“It’s scary for little people; they just don’t know,” said Alex Wilson, the emergency room manager at Ogden Regional Medical Center.

Wilson says kids can be frightened at hospitals if they are hurt or if they see a sick loved one. So having something like a stuffed animal to give them can help calm kids down.

“It’s just that little extra something that helps, that gives them that comfort and makes things better,” said Wilson.

The nonprofit “Savvy’s Stuffies” is helping keep hospital shelves stocked with comfort bears for the staff to give out.

“We are donating stuffies to hospitals to make people smile,” said 7-year-old Savannah Mack. The nonprofit is named after her because of an experience they had a few years ago.

“February of 2022, Savannah fell and we had to take her to the hospital,” said her dad, Stephen Mack. “When she got there, all she wanted was her teddy bear. The medical staff there were so fast, so quick on their feet, they blew up a medical glove and drew a face on it, and gave it to her to comfort her.”

After that, they decided to find a way to help make sure every child gets the support they need.

In May, the Mack family brought almost 100 stuffed teddy bears to MountainStar Healthcare’s Ogden Regional Medical Center.

“We try and make smaller deliveries like this because we know you guys have only so much storage,” Stephen said.

The family says they have given more than 800 bears to different hospitals, foster care organizations and law enforcement agencies to hand out to kids.

“Makes us feel great to know that our teddy bears are going to a great cause and that they’ll help,” Stephen added.

Stephen said what they do is more than just about helping kids but also teaching his daughter valuable lessons.

“It’s not always about receiving; it’s good to think outside of ourselves and give back,” he said.

Hospital staff said what they do is making a difference, whether it’s to comfort kids or help explain to them what care could look like.

“It is so helpful for us to have just that little bit of something else that we know that we have, and that we can get it for them in a moment’s notice. To see those kids’ faces, it just lights up the room when you walk in with a little stuffed animal,” said Wilson.

“We just want to give as many teddy bears out as we can,” Stephen added.

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.

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Holts Summit man sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to child sex crimes

KMIZ on June 2, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Holts Summit man was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty to several child sex crimes.

Memphis Dils, 24, pleaded guilty to three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, one count of possessing child sex abuse material and a count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor. He is currently listed on the Callaway County Jail’s online roster.

Court documents in previous reporting say Dils was older than 21 years old and the victim was younger than 16 years old when the assaults started. The statement says a witness called Callaway County Joint Communications to say Dils sexually assaulted a youth.

The witness confronted Dils over Facebook messenger and he allegedly “admitted to everything,” court documents say. Law enforcement viewed the conversation and saw Dils admitted to the assaults, court documents say.

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Strong Beginnings Project holds Sensory Classroom Initiative

KYMA on June 2, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Strong Beginnings Project is inviting the Yuma community to nominate teachers who they think would benefit from a sensory-friendly classroom.

According to a post on Facebook, this is part of the their Sensory Classroom Initiative, a grant program to help teachers build a more inclusive, sensory-friendly learning environments for students in Yuma County.

Courtesy: Strong Beginnings Project

Courtesy: Strong Beginnings Project

The nominations close Sunday, where they will review all the submissions for eligibility, and select 15 finalists based on the following factors:

Demonstrated classroom need

Eligibility requirements

Classroom size and type

Impact potential

Other program considerations

Courtesy: Strong Beginnings Project

Finalists, according to the Strong Beginnings, will be notified by email, and will be announced on their social media pages.

To learn more about the program, as well as to nominate teachers who they think would benefit from a sensory-friendly classroom, click here.

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Fire officials warn cold water remains dangerous despite warmer weather

KIFI on June 2, 2026

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) —The Idaho Falls Fire Department issued a reminder to residents about summer safety, encouraging people to take extra precautions around water, bicycles and grilling this season.

As temperatures begin to rise heading into the summer, the fire department is warning residents about the dangers of cold water caused by snowmelt.

According to a statement from the Idaho Falls Fire Department, “Sudden immersion in cold water can trigger an involuntary gasp reflex, cold-water shock, and rapid muscle failure, creating life-threatening conditions even for experienced swimmers.”

Residents should be especially cautious around the Snake River, irrigation canals, diversion structures and other waterways where strong currents, undertows and hidden hazards may be present.

Water Safety Tips

The department recommends always wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or participating in water recreation. Officials also encourage residents to never swim alone and to closely supervise children around water at all times.

Residents are also urged to stay out of irrigation canals, where swimming, wading and tubing are prohibited and can be extremely dangerous. The department recommends checking weather and water conditions before planning activities on local waterways.

Bicycle Safety Tips

The Idaho Falls Fire Department is also encouraging bicyclists and motorists to share the road safely this summer as more people take advantage of warmer weather.

The department recommends wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride and following traffic laws when sharing the road with vehicles. Cyclists riding at night should use lights and reflectors and wear bright or reflective clothing to remain visible.

Officials are also reminding cyclists using the Idaho Falls River Walk to yield to pedestrians and provide an audible warning before passing.

Grilling Safety Tips

Summer cookouts are another popular activity this time of year, but the fire department says residents should take extra precautions when using gas and charcoal grills.

Residents are encouraged to keep grills away from buildings, decks, fences, dry vegetation and other combustible materials. Grills should never be left unattended while cooking and should always be placed on a flat, noncombustible surface.

After grilling, charcoal ashes should be thoroughly soaked with water and allowed to cool completely before disposal. Fire officials say hot coals can remain dangerous long after cooking has ended and may reignite if not properly extinguished.

“Summer is a time for making memories outdoors, but it only takes a moment for an enjoyable activity to become an emergency,” Fire Marshal Scott Grimmett said. “By taking a few simple precautions and staying aware of your surroundings, you can help protect yourself, your family, and our community all season long.”

The Idaho Falls Fire Department encourages residents to stay aware of local fire restrictions and check conditions before heading outdoors this summer.

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Idaho State Police investigating fatal Jerome County crash

KIFI on June 2, 2026

Par Kermani

JEROME COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 66-year-old Buhl woman was killed Monday night in a two-vehicle crash north of Jerome, according to Idaho State Police.

Troopers say the crash happened around 11:08 p.m. at the intersection of East 700 North and U.S. Highway 93.

According to investigators, a 40-year-old Shoshone woman was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Equinox north on Highway 93 when a 2002 Ford F-150 traveling east on East 700 North entered the intersection.

Idaho State Police said the Ford driver failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with the Chevrolet.

The driver of the Ford died at the scene.

The driver of the Chevrolet was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. Her condition has not been released.

Idaho State Police was assisted at the scene by Jerome Fire, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Magic Valley Paramedics and the Jerome County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash remains under investigation.

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Quintin Demps Foundation Presents: Weekend of Impact Scholarship Fundraiser & Pickleball Tournament

KVIA on June 2, 2026

Nichole Gomez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA-TV) – The Quintin Demps Foundation is hosting its Annual Scholarship Fundraiser, a lively community event happening on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Serve, 1633 Cimarron Emporium, El Paso, TX 79912. The night will feature pickleball games, music, food and drinks, raffles, and giveaways. All proceeds will help fund scholarships for El Paso students who want to continue their education.

“This event is about investing in the next generation of El Paso leaders,” said Quintin Demps, founder of the Quintin Demps Foundation and former NFL safety and UTEP Miners standout. “When our community comes together with purpose, we change lives. Every ticket purchased brings another deserving student closer to their dream.”

Event Highlights

Pickleball Tournament: Compete for a $500 prize. No experience necessary, all skill levels welcome.

Food & Drinks: A selection of food and beverages is available on-site with ticket purchase.

Raffles & Giveaways: Exciting prizes throughout the night.

Free Parking & General Admission: Not a pickleball player? General admission tickets let you enjoy the music, food, and festivities. Minors welcome with a parent or legal guardian. The event is family-friendly; general admission is available if pickleball isn’t your thing, and minors are welcome with a parent or legal guardian.

How to Attend

You can get tickets only on Eventbrite. Reserve your spot today and join us to support a great cause.

Purchase tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/quintin-demps-foundation-scholarship-fundraiser-tickets-1989409119229

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM (MST)

Location: Serve | 1633 Cimarron Emporium, El Paso, TX 79912

Tickets: Get yours on Eventbrite . To learn more, visit the Foundation’s website at www.thequintindempsfoundation.com

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Abbie Kamin’s Next Chapter: A Historic Harris County Legal Seat Meets a Houston-Built Public Servant

CNN Newsource on June 2, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    June 2, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin has been appointed to serve as Harris County Attorney, effective Monday, June 15, 2026, time to be announced, positioning her to become the first woman and first mother to hold the office in Harris County history. The appointment, approved by Harris County Commissioners Court, places Kamin at the helm of the county’s chief civil legal office during a pivotal moment for local government, public trust, democracy protection, voting rights, and the everyday legal machinery that keeps Texas’ largest county moving.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, this is more than a political appointment. It is a civic milestone. Kamin’s rise from native Houstonian, civil rights attorney, and District C council member to the county’s top civil lawyer tells a story familiar to every neighborhood that believes public service still matters: show up, do the work, answer the call, and keep your heels steady when the water rises.

And in Houston, the water does rise.

During her time representing District C, Kamin worked on flood mitigation, drainage improvements, disaster preparedness, public safety, parks, family-centered policies, domestic violence awareness, gun violence prevention, climate resilience, labor issues, and quality-of-life concerns. In her own farewell reflections to constituents, she pointed to projects like Turkey Gully and Beechnut drainage work, while also honoring the smaller but deeply personal victories — missed trash pickups resolved, water leaks addressed, and residents reminded that government can still pick up the phone and deliver.

That blend of big-picture policy and block-by-block service may be exactly what Harris County needs as Kamin prepares to succeed County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne. The County Attorney’s Office does not prosecute criminal cases; instead, it serves as the civil legal backbone for county government, advising elected officials, defending county actions, handling civil litigation, and protecting public interests. Kamin steps into the role after a season of rapid transition, with Christian Menefee having left the office to run for Congress and Fombonne serving in the interim.

photo

Kamin’s appointment was not without debate. Commissioners Court voted 3-2, with some officials raising concerns about the timing and process because Kamin is also the Democratic nominee for the November election. Still, supporters point to her legal background, council record, and public-service experience as reasons she is ready for the assignment.

Her own words offer the clearest window into the mission ahead. Kamin said she is “deeply honored” by the opportunity and pledged to “defend and protect” Harris County. She also framed the role through the lens of family, saying that as the first mother to serve as Harris County Attorney, she would fight for Harris County families with the same fierceness she brings to her own.

That message lands strongly in a county where families are watching legal battles over voting rights, local control, public safety, disaster recovery, reproductive freedom, environmental justice, and democracy itself. Kamin’s résumé includes civil rights and voting rights litigation, work with the Anti-Defamation League’s Southwest Region, service in the Texas Legislature, and legal training from American University Washington College of Law. She also earned her undergraduate degree from Tulane University, where her experience as part of the “Katrina Class” helped shape her interest in local government and resilience.

Kamin’s transition also marks a new chapter for District C. Joe Panzarella has been sworn in as Houston’s new District C council member after winning the runoff to fill Kamin’s seat, allowing the district’s next era of representation to begin as Kamin prepares for countywide service.

As Harris County looks toward Tuesday, November 3, 2026, when voters will decide the county attorney race, Kamin enters the summer with both history on her shoulders and Houston in her stride. She will face Republican Jacqueline Lucci Smith in the general election.

For now, the pre-appointment moment is one of reflection and readiness. Abbie Kamin leaves City Hall having served through storms, civic strain, family milestones, neighborhood wins, and public pressure. She arrives at Harris County with legal experience, lived leadership, and a message that feels tailor-made for this region: protect families, defend democracy, and keep government working for the people.

Houston loves a builder. Harris County now gets a lawyer who has already spent years building — policy by policy, neighborhood by neighborhood, case by case, and constituent by constituent. And as history opens the door, Abbie Kamin appears ready to walk through it — briefcase in hand, Houston grit in her step, and families at the center of the fight.

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.

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
4096658446

Opposition forms to Boone County public safety tax

KMIZ on June 2, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Local group No New Jail Boone Co. is pushing back against a sales tax increase set to appear on the November ballot.

No New Jail Boone Co. includes members who are volunteers at other local groups. This includes COMO Mobile Aid, Room at the Inn, Loaves and Fishes and Boone County Community Bail Fund.

“We have experience with the jail and with the criminal punishment system, and we see the effects of it in Boone County. The turmoil that it causes, not just the people who are incarcerated, but their families, their loved ones,” No New Jail Boone Co. member John Amick said.

Last week, the Boone County Commission approved a proposal to put a 3/8-cent sales tax on the November ballot. The motion was initially requested by Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey, who plans to use the funds to build a new Boone County Jail.

No New Jail Boone Co. is inviting the public to meet Wednesday, according to a Facebook post.

Amick said the meeting plans to feature a presentation on the current jail and how a new jail would impact the region. This will be followed by a discussion for residents to consider community-based solutions.

“Let’s talk why the sheriff and county commission can only imagine one direction for Boone County: higher taxes for more cages,” the post states. “Let’s talk a different direction and setting the tone for coming decades that doesn’t hinge on despair and exploitation.”

The group acknowledges the current incarceration system is a complex issue, but they would like to see officials turn to resources with a focus on prevention and support to build a “structure of care” for the community.

“Trying to rehabilitate or having something that works is the goal, it’s been an abysmal failure, and so we should do something different, not just because it hasn’t worked, but because it’s humane, it doesn’t involve disposing of people and giving up on them,” Amick said.

“Part of this is the court system, part of this is the state of Missouri and its failure to find places for folks who are in the jail with serious mental health issues,” Amick adds. “I know it’s not all on the county commissioner or the sheriff’s office, for them to do it, but we have the capability of figuring out who maybe needs to be separate from some people in the here and now and who doesn’t need to be.”

Amick also hopes utilizing available resources would set a positive precedent for the future.

“Always it seems to me, a county sheriff, whether it’s in Boone County or not, all over the country, they will probably always push for more incarceration,” Amick said. “That’s the kind of tone that’s set now and it seems that the sheriff and the county commission are content on keeping that tone without really exploring anything else.”

Carey reports the current jail is outdated for inmate needs, with Boone County housing hundreds of inmates in out-of-county facilities.

According to prior reporting, it cost over $2.5 million in 2025 to house inmates. It cost around $499,000 for housing in 2022. From January to March this year, it cost around $1.12 million to house detainees out-of-county.

During last week’s Boone County Commission meeting, the commission also planned to use the time between elections to review current prevention resources and to strategize potential jail construction budgets.

District II Commissioner Janet Thompson called for a possible revival of the “Jail Overcrowding Group” formed by a former commissioner.

The group was made up of other officials who often work with inmates, such as county commissioners, prosecutors, sheriffs and judges. The group worked together to discuss what resources were available for those involved.

“The county became a leader in adult services through that time because we utilized the new ways of looking at how we take care of people and how we can divert people through adult court services,” Thompson said. “That was part of that whole process of saying, ‘How do we do this better? How do we keep the right people in our jail and not just throw people in just willy nilly and do it with no rationale?'”

Carey added that he has reached out to those involved.

“I agree with Commissioner Thompson on this, it’s more about guarding against this problem from really elevating,” Carey said. “Once we do get in this new jail four or five years from now, and we have to do something to address this mental health crisis at the local level because we’re just not going to get the funding from the state and feds.”

Boone County Auditor Kyle Rieman estimates that, based on current 1/8-cent collections from the current Prop L tax in 2025, this tax increase would start in 2027 and generate at least $17 million annually.

“It’s a blank check, we don’t really know what the extent will be,” Amick said.

The new jail plans call for around 570 beds. The jail would also have accommodations for inmates certified by the Department of Mental Health and juveniles.

The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Columbia Public Library Friends Room.

ABC 17 News has reached out to Carey for comment.

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