There’s Good News: Patriot Guard Riders honor fallen heroes in Central Oregon

KTVZ on June 27, 2026

Spencer Sacks

MADRAS, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Patriot Guard Riders escorted Fallen Soldier Cart Number 18 through Central Oregon on June 25 and 26, honoring fallen service members and veterans. The cart is traveling from Seattle to Salt Lake City.

The meaningful journey included an overnight stay in Madras.

The carts are dedicated to the respectful transport of fallen service members and veterans, acknowledging those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Cart Number 18 is sponsored by Alaska Airlines and pays tribute to American heroes.

It is one of several such carts used to transport the remains of deceased service members and veterans.

During its passage through Central Oregon, the Patriot Guard Riders honored local heroes.

Wreath-laying ceremonies were scheduled at two significant locations. One ceremony took place at the Robert Maxwell gravesite in Terrebonne. Another wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Tommy Tucker Memorial at Madras City Hall.

The Central Oregon community was invited to attend these events to show support and be part of the tribute.

Cart Number 18 is currently on its way to Salt Lake City.

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Supreme Court rules for Roundup: Monsanto decision impacts Idaho farmers

KIFI on June 27, 2026

David Pace

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KIFI) – The U.S. Supreme Court released a consequential decision Thursday in Monsanto v. Durnell for America’s agriculture industry.

“This is a landmark ruling from the Supreme Court. They ruled 7 to 2 in favor of Monsanto,” said Snake River Sugarbeet Association Executive Director Samantha Parrott.

The case centered around John Durnell, a Missouri man who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He argued the cancer was caused by spraying parks with Roundup for almost two decades in his neighborhood.

Durnell filed a “failure-to-warn” claim, stating “Monsanto should have included a cancer warning on Roundup’s label,” court syllabus states.

He sued Monsanto in 2019 and was awarded $1.25 million in damages by a Missouri jury. 

However, in a 7-2 decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority that federal law overrides “Durnell’s state law failure-to-warn claim because the claim would require Monsanto to add a cancer warning to Roundup’s label.”

Parrott called the ruling a victory for farmers.

“The court case is not about whether Roundup causes cancer or not. That’s not what this ruling is about. It’s just simply about who has the authority to determine what goes on those pesticide labels,” Parrott said. “Our opinion is that it should be EPA that is the law of the land, and that we have the federal government making this decision, and so that we don’t have a patchwork of states having different requirements in each state.”

Since 1974, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved Roundup for use as a herbicide.

“Because EPA has repeatedly concluded that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer, the agency has not required a cancer warning on Roundup’s label,” Kavanaugh wrote in the court’s decision. “Importantly, EPA’s regulations require a pesticide manufacturer such as Monsanto to use the EPA-approved pesticide label—here, the Roundup label without a cancer warning—unless and until EPA approves or requires a different label. Moreover, to ensure ‘[u]niformity’ in labeling, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)’s preemption clause prohibits States from imposing any pesticide labeling requirements that are ‘in addition to or different from’ the federal labeling requirements.”

In opposition to the ruling, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch in her dissent.

“The Court misunderstands FIFRA’s requirements, misinterprets the scope of FIFRA’s preemption, and ultimately leaves Durnell without a remedy for the significant harms he has suffered,” she wrote.

Deep Idaho Roots

Monsanto’s parent company, Bayer AG, owns a mine in Soda Springs that is a major employer in the region.

“It’s the country’s only elemental phosphorus mine,” Parrott said. “That is basically the beginning ingredient in Roundup. We’re really proud that’s here in Idaho, and it provides lots of jobs in that rural community.”

She emphasized that the herbicide is essential for improving yields and fighting weeds in agriculture, and that no trace of glyphosate is found in the final sugar product produced by sugarbeet growers in Idaho.

“It’s safe to use it when you use it as directed. Our farmers jump through a lot of hoops to ensure that they are applying this product correctly, and our farmers would not do anything that would harm the consumer,” Parrott said. “The same product that they grow on their farm, they feed to their family too. So I just really hope that folks can trust our farmers.”

Local News 8 has reached out to individuals opposing herbicide use and companies selling both conventional and organic products, and will update this story as additional information is received.

Tune in tonight for our 10 PM broadcast.

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Helicopter makes hard landing at Driggs Airport

KIFI on June 27, 2026

Abi Martin

DRIGGS, Idaho (KIFI) – One man was injured after a hard helicopter landing at the Teton County Airport Friday Morning.

According to Teton County Fire and Rescue, crews were dispatched to the airport at approximately 10:23 a.m. When they arrived, they found that a helicopter attempting to land had made a hard landing.

There was no fire, and everyone on board was able to get out of the aircraft on their own. One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

The cause of the hard landing has not yet been released.

The Teton County Airport is a general aviation airport and does not offer commercial airline service.

Because of that, Federal Aviation Administration regulations do not require the airport to have dedicated aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel on site.

However, Teton County Fire and Rescue said it remains committed to providing the best emergency response possible despite its limited resources.

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Pettis County sheriff says joint ICE operation in Sedalia led to 18 arrests

KMIZ on June 27, 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

SEDALIA, Mo. (KMIZ) 

The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office said a three-day joint operation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulted in 18 arrests. The operation targeted people investigators identified as fugitives or individuals tied to existing criminal investigations, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE conducted a targeted operation in Sedalia on June 23 that resulted in the arrests of five “illegal aliens from Mexico”. 

“Some with criminal histories ranging from DUI to failure to appear. If you come to our country illegally, we will find you, we will arrest you, and you will never return,” DHS told ABC 17 News in a statement. 

The operation ran from June 23 through June 25 and drew significant public attention in Sedalia. Residents reported seeing ICE officers and Pettis County deputies at multiple locations throughout the city. 

Sheriff Brad Anders addressed the operation in two public statements posted to social media. According to Anders, the operation focused on people who had already been identified before enforcement began. He rejected suggestions that deputies conducted broad immigration enforcement or randomly stopped people to determine immigration status.

Anders also wrote that ICE developed an initial list of individuals to locate and that members of the sheriff’s office reviewed information already known to local investigators. That information, Anders said, involved people with violent criminal histories, repeat felony activity, outstanding warrants, sexual offenses, documented gang affiliations and other public safety concerns.

The sheriff said targets included people wanted on allegations ranging from child sex crimes and aggravated domestic assault to forgery, felony DWI offenses and controlled substance cases. Anders also said two of the people arrested were among ICE’s five most wanted fugitives in the area.

Not everyone in Sedalia supported the operation. Multiple residents told ABC 17 News that some businesses closed out of fear during the three days ICE was operating in the area.

Andrew Tilley, one of several Sedalia residents critical of ICE’s presence, said he believed the operation was already affecting local businesses and labor.

“Personally, I watched about 15 SUVs chase a single car down Highway 50 yesterday,” Tilley said. “I also heard from a contractor I work with that ICE chased an entire drywall crew off of the Chick-fil-A we’re getting. All these restaurants are closing down in Sedalia because of it. It’s seriously insane.”

The Pettis County Sheriff’s Office is one of more than 90 law enforcement agencies in Missouri that has entered into an agreement with ICE. ICE offers three partnership models for local agencies under it’s 287(g) program: The Jail Enforcement Model, Task Force Model and Warrant Service Officer Program. Agencies may participate in more than one model.

Initially, the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office joined the agency’s Jail Enforcement Model in August 2025. Under the Jail Enforcement Model agreement, trained jail personnel are authorized to identify inmates in local custody who may be subject to immigration removal proceedings.

However, on April 25, the Pettis Sheriff’s Office signed a Task Force Model agreement in April. Under the Task Force Model, participating officers may identify individuals they believe are not U.S. citizens during routine policing, share information with ICE, and, in some cases, carry out immigration-related arrests or serve administrative warrants, but only under ICE supervision.

Anders defended the department’s participation in ICE’s 287(g) program and pushed back against criticism surrounding the enforcement activity.

Anders said the sheriff’s office joined the agreements based on public safety concerns rather than politics.

“Every decision made by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office begins with one question: Will this make our community safer while remaining faithful to the Constitution and the laws we are sworn to uphold?” Anders wrote.

Pettis County first entered into an agreement with ICE in August 2025 through the Jail Enforcement Model. The sheriff’s office later signed a second agreement under ICE’s Task Force Model in April 2026.

Anders described those partnerships as comparable to other law enforcement relationships with state and federal agencies and said no single agency has all of the resources necessary to address public safety concerns alone.

The sheriff also addressed criticism and rumors that circulated online, saying that the operation was not politically motivated. 

In a second statement, Anders said the operation was not intended to broadly target people based solely on immigration status and instead focused on individuals identified through existing intelligence, criminal investigations and outstanding warrants.

He said deputies supported federal fugitive apprehension teams by providing communications, intelligence gathering, detention assistance, and scene security.

Tilley said he viewed that explanation differently and questioned why local law enforcement became involved.

“I think it’s very political,” Tilley said. “Having your county Sheriff get on board with that and help them and assist them just feels like they are letting everybody down.”

Earlier this week, Sedalia Mayor Travis Williams confirmed to ABC 17 News that ICE officers had been operating in the area but said city officials were not notified before officers arrived.

Tilley also said he worries enforcement efforts could have economic consequences for industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor.

“Everything is going to be twice as expensive if we lose all the people that are doing the jobs that nobody wants to do,” Tilly said. “I mean, nobody wants to go catch chickens at Tyson. But that’s what the illegal immigrants do, and they’re some of the nicest, hardest-working people I know. We’re making it impossible for them to gain citizenship. It costs thousands of dollars and you got to take a test that 90% of Americans would fail, it’s just it’s sickening.”

The sheriff’s office has indicated it expects to continue cooperating with ICE through its existing agreements moving forward.

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Cookie Plug Talks Its Sweet Grand Opening in Oxnard

KEYT on June 27, 2026

Alissa Orozco

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – The city of Oxnard is now home to a new sweet treat spot, the Cookie Plug!

The cookie shop is known for its California-style bold, colorful, street-style graphics, and of course, their delicious, unique cookies with flavors ranging from cookies and cream, Snooperdoodle, and more!

The business just recently opened up a Oxnard location, and owner/ operator Elias Toma sat down with your News Channel to talk all things sweet.

You can following the Cookie Plug on Instagram, and visit the shop in Oxnard at 1941 N Rose Ave.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

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One dead after car falls over side of Willow Springs Trail

KEYT on June 27, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County Fire crews found one person dead after a car fell 200 feet over the side of Willow Springs Trail just after 5:00 p.m. Friday.

The single car went over the side of Highway 166 and San Luis, Los Padres National Forest, Santa Maria Fire personnel all helped the SBCFD find the deceased.

An extensive search is ongoing for additional passengers in the car, and Highway 166 is currently reduced to one open lane, according to the SBCFD.

Drivers are advised to use alternate routes or to avoid the area if possible for the safety of both them and emergency crews on scene, according to the SBCFD.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation and more updates will be provided once available to Your News Channel.

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Texas Board of Education votes to approve requiring public schools to study Bible stories

KVIA on June 27, 2026

Max Zepeda

After months of built up discussion and debate, the Texas State Board of Education has approved a new proposal that will establish lists of required reading, including Bible verses alongside classic books, for its K-12 English and literature curriculum.

The new proposal, which will slowly be enacted starting in the 2030-31 school year, will impact more than 5 million students across the state.

While it is not uncommon for states to suggest book titles for public schools, Texas could be the first to prescribe a literary collection for every student.

This decision comes after last year the state became the largest in the U.S. to require classrooms to display The Ten Commandments, a law that was recently upheld in federal court.

ABC 7’s Max Zepeda spoke with Board Member Gustavo Reveles, who represents El Paso and much of Southwest Texas, and he was blunt on what he believes the true meaning behind the proposal is.

“I have heard here this week, members of our own board, call people of the Islamic faith, to their face, terrorists,” Reveles said. “They are threatened by people that don’t look like them and don’t practice the same faith as them. And that to me shows weakness.”

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Kiwanis Club of El Centro celebrates 100 years of community impact

KYMA on June 27, 2026

Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Local leaders, community members, and volunteers gathered Thursday night to celebrate a historic milestone as the Kiwanis Club of El Centro marked its 100th anniversary.

The centennial celebration honored a century of dedicated service to the Imperial Valley since the local chapter was first chartered in 1924.

As part of an international service organization, the El Centro chapter has spent the last 100 years focused on improving the city and supporting its youngest residents.

Over its century-long history, club members have contributed millions of dollars and countless volunteer hours to local projects.

These efforts have funded community playgrounds, student scholarships, band uniforms, and numerous other resources for local children.

Courtesy: KIWANIS CLUB OF EL CENTRO

During the event, El Centro Kiwanis Club President Kurt Leptich highlighted the organization’s core mission of lifting up local youth who need help the most.

“This is for kids that can’t otherwise afford it,” Leptich said. “Obviously, we want to make sure that those kids, the underserved, the underprivileged, get the first opportunity. It’s a very positive feedback we get from the city, very positive feedback we get from the community. We had a great time of fellowship last night and a great time to remember our past.”

Dozens of community leaders and long-standing club members attended the Thursday night gathering to reflect on the club’s deep roots in the area.

Many noted that the history of El Centro is closely tied to the civic club, with several local streets, parks, and public facilities named after past Kiwanis members who dedicated their lives to public service.

As the club looks ahead to its next century, leadership emphasized that the core focus remains unchanged: Making the world better, one child and one community at a time.

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Teen found guilty of first degree murder after killing Davy Glen Pichel

KEYT on June 27, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

OXNARD, Calif. (KEYT) – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that a 16-year-old boy was found guilty of willful, deliberate and premeditated first-degree murder of Davy Glen Pichel.

The killing took place in June 2025 outside of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Oxnard while the teen and a second teen boy involved in the murder were both 14 years old, according to the VCDAO.

The second teen in the murder previously pled guilty to first-degree murder in January and received a maximum base term under California state law of seven years in the Secured Youth Treatment Facility.

A church volunteer found Pichel dead outside the church with heavy injuries to his head and face. Pichel also was not fully dressed at the time of his discovery, according to the VCDAO.

Paramedics later arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene before investigators from the Oxnard Police Department took on the case.

Church security video later revealed the two teens approached Pichel sitting next to the church in his wheelchair before beating and stomping him multiple times, according to the VCDAO.

The minor is scheduled for sentencing at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard where he faces a maximum base term of seven years in the Secured Youth Treatment Facility, according to the VCDAO.

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Yuma County approves new $535M budget

KYMA on June 27, 2026

Adrik Vargas

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma County has approved its new 2026-27 fiscal year budget, with county leaders highlighting no increase in property taxes and continued funding set aside for emergencies.

County officials described the budget as one focused on long-term stability while continuing to provide services without expanding the workforce.

They say one of the biggest goals this year was improving efficiency and finding new ways to deliver services while keeping residents at the center of county operations.

County leaders say part of what helped make keeping property tax rates unchanged possible was refinancing debt, which freed up money elsewhere in the budget and helped offset rising costs without increasing taxes.

Another priority in this year’s budget was maintaining emergency funding.

County leaders say reserve funds are important to ensure the county can respond quickly during unexpected situations such as natural disasters, extreme heat, economic challenges, or other emergencies.

Supervisor Tony Reyes said having accessible emergency funds gives the county flexibility to respond without having to rearrange other parts of the budget.

He also said those funds could become important if community needs arise unexpectedly and require immediate action.

County officials say the budget reflects more than county spending priorities, they say it reflects the county’s overall values and commitment to serving residents.

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