Cathedral City businesses complain of vandalism from nearby homeless community

KESQ on June 25, 2026

Athena Jreij

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Business owners along E. Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City say vandalism from nearby homeless communities is costing them thousands in repairs and driving away customers.

Owner Michael Azzarella of the Desert Jewelry Mart Plaza says he had two windows smashed in last week, he alleges by homeless individuals who congregate around the nearby Circle K. Beyond the damage, Azzarella says he is cleaning needles and urine near his store almost daily.

“As the new buildings go in with the Circle K open 24 hours, selling alcohol day and night, the homeless come around every day. They leave all their trash in front of our building, they break into our water, our trash,” Azzarella said.

He claims he’s spent $5,000 this year on repairs and cleaning, with $1,250 just last week to replace two shattered windows.

Azzarella’s not the only one. At Napa Auto Parts just steps away, employees say they’ve also suffered damage for the same reasons.

“It’s more of an inconvenience. I mean, thankfully, they don’t mess with any of our customers up front, but they do create quite a bit of property damage,” one employee said.

News Channel 3 reached out to Cathedral City Police who say they arrested someone for breaking several windows on E. Palm Canyon, as well as the police station’s.

While they’ve responded to several nuisance calls at the plaza, officers say sometimes the scene is empty when they get there. They also claim there isn’t much they can do about homeless sleeping in the area.

As they commit to more patrols in the area, Azzarella says he doubts how effective it will be at solving the real issue.

“I filled out a trespassing report with the local police, so they could charge them with trespassing if they come over here but they never do. They come over and they ask them to leave, and then they’re back the following night,” he said.

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Southbound State Route Highway 217 Overnight Closures to Begin Monday, June 29

KEYT on June 25, 2026

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from the City of Goleta regarding upcoming road closures starting Monday, June 29th.

GOLETA, Calif. – A closure of Southbound State Route Highway 217 between Hollister Avenue and Sandspit Road is expected to start Monday, June 29, 2026, to facilitate the construction of the San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path Project. Closure hours will be from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each night, beginning Monday night and continuing through Friday morning, and are expected to last approximately three weeks.

During this overnight closure, please use the following detour (and view the map here):

Hollister Avenue to S. Fairview Avenue

S. Fairview Avenue turns right and becomes James Fowler Road

Continue onto Moffett Place to the Highway SR 217 onramp

Follow posted traffic control signs and travel through the area with caution.

Project updates can be found at www.cityofgoleta.org/SJPath, or if you have any questions or comments, reach out to the project outreach team at SJPath@CityofGoleta.gov, or call the hotline at (805) 699 – 5392.

Traducción al español:

GOLETA, Calif. – Se prevé el cierre de los carriles en dirección sur de la carretera estatal 217 (State Route Highway 217) entre Hollister Avenue y Sandspit Road a partir del lunes 29 de junio de 2026, para facilitar la construcción del Proyecto de Sendero Multipropósito del Arroyo San José (San Jose Creek Multipurpose Path Project).

El cierre estará vigente cada noche de 10:00 p.m. a 6:00 a.m., comenzando la noche del lunes y continuando hasta la mañana del viernes. Se espera que los cierres duren aproximadamente tres semanas.

Durante este cierre nocturno, utilice la siguiente ruta de desvío (y consulta el mapa aquí):

Hollister Avenue hacia S. Fairview Avenue

S. Fairview Avenue gira a la derecha y se convierte en James Fowler Road

Continúe por Moffett Place hasta la entrada a la Carretera 217

Siga las señales de control de tráfico instaladas y transite por la zona con precaución.

Puede encontrar actualizaciones del proyecto en www.cityofgoleta.org/SJPath. Si tiene preguntas o comentarios, comuníquese con el equipo de alcance comunitario del proyecto escribiendo a SJPath@CityofGoleta.gov o llamando a la línea directa al (805) 699-5392.

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Imperial County backs state bill to strip tax exemptions from private detention centers

KYMA on June 25, 2026

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Imperial County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to support a sweeping state bill aimed at closing a property tax loophole utilized by nonprofit organizations tied to private immigration detention centers.

The 5-0 vote formally aligns local leadership with Senate Bill (SB) 420, an initiative designed to strip charitable property tax welfare exemptions from nonprofits that own or operate these facilities.

The resolution authorizes the board chairwoman to submit a formal letter of support to Sacramento lawmakers.

The legislative push follows a high-profile investigative report by KPBS, which revealed that the Brawley Community Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, successfully avoided paying at least $6 million in local property taxes through California’s “Welfare Exemption” program.

The foundation owns both the building and the land of the Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, which is utilized by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

While the foundation maintains a nonprofit status, the facility itself is run for profit by a private prison contractor.

State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-District 18), the author of SB 420, argues that California’s tax laws were never meant to subsidize corporate-run lockups.

“California’s taxpayer dollars and our tax-exempt laws should not be used to funnel money to, or to subsidize, private prisons in California or private detention facilities who are holding immigrants,” Sen. Padilla said. “This is clearly one that I thought was very abusive and exploitative of people. Somebody was, you know, laughing all the way to the bank to the tune of six million bucks so that they can continue to get rich off running a private prison.”

The California Welfare Exemption is traditionally reserved for legitimate nonprofit, religious, hospital, or scientific organizations that enrich local communities.

Critics argue that allowing the exemption to apply to properties tied to federal immigration enforcement forces local residents to shoulder the financial burden, depriving county public services and school districts of essential funding.

Community members packed into the county board room on Tuesday to voice strong support for the state measure. However, the foundation’s leadership strongly defended the tax structure, denying that the arrangement constitutes a loophole.

Tim Kelley, founder of the Brawley Community Foundation, stated that the organization does pay taxes on the property, and that the exemption only covers the building itself. He maintained that the facility’s revenue is heavily reinvested into the county.

“So where’s all the money go? The money goes to the taxes, it goes to pay the accountants, to pay the attorneys,” Kelley said. “It goes to pay the electricity bill. It pays the water and the sewer in the county, which is the number one user of water and power at the Gateway Center.”

According to Kelley, the Calexico facility grosses $40 million annually and supports 250 local jobs. He cautioned that the state bill politicizes local livelihoods and threatens economic development in a region with historically high unemployment.

“Whether you agree or disagree, or your side of ICE or not, it doesn’t matter…this is a law,” Kelley warned. “And if we continue to go down this path of trying to push business away, then we’re going to see which direction we’re going.”

Because SB 420 is not retroactive, the Brawley Community Foundation will legally keep the $6 million it saved in property taxes since 2016.

Imperial County cannot legally force the organization to repay that past revenue. If enacted, the law would simply compel the facility to begin paying its standard property taxes from the date of enactment onward.

The bill has already cleared the State Senate and is currently advancing through the State Assembly tracking process.

Assembly lawmakers face a final voting deadline of August 31 to review and pass the legislation.

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Salton City murder suspects back in court

KESQ on June 25, 2026

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Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The defendants accused of murdering a man in Salton City made another court appearance Thursday.

Four people are charged in connection with the murder of 34-year-old Pedro Montes Jr. back in May.

The hearing was rescheduled due to evidence that has not been turned over to the defense, including an autopsy report.

55-year-old Andrew Gallegos was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Montes to death, and is being held on a $1 million bail.

57-year-old Robert Gallegos, 37-year-old Crystal Hernandez and 53-year-old Blanca Robles are charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.

The preliminary hearing was rescheduled to July 30, with a bail hearing for Andrew Gallegos set for July 7.

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Man to stand trial for allegedly murdering Banning resident

KESQ on June 25, 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A young man accused of gunning down a 19-year-old Banning resident during a dispute in Moreno Valley must stand trial on murder and other charges, a judge ruled today.

Jacob Nulen Necochea, 20, of Banning allegedly killed Angelo Leivas last August.

Following a preliminary hearing Thursday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Ronald Toff found there was sufficient evidence to bound Necochea over for trial on the murder count, as well as sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for July 20 at the downtown courthouse.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

According to sheriff’s investigators, just after 4 a.m. on Aug. 17, the defendant and Leivas were involved in an unspecified confrontation as Necochea sat in his vehicle in the 13000 block of Day Street, near Eucalyptus Avenue, less than a mile east of Interstate 215.

During hostilities, the defendant allegedly pulled a handgun and shot the victim several times, sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro said.

He alleged that Necochea “fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival.”

Paramedics reached the scene minutes later and discovered Leivas gravely wounded. The young man died that morning at nearby Riverside University Medical Center.

“Deputies obtained a description of the suspect vehicle and, about an hour later, found it in Moreno Valley,” Loureiro said. “Deputies detained the driver (Necochea), who was the sole occupant.”

The defendant was questioned by Central Homicide Unit detectives, who formally arrested him hours later.

A possible motive wasn’t disclosed, and there were no details regarding how the defendant and victim knew one another.

Necochea has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Crash report says Columbia mayor’s vehicle was hit when another driver drove through red light

KMIZ on June 25, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A crash report from the University of Missouri Police Department says a crash last week that involved Columbia’s mayor occurred after another driver rode through a red light.

The report –which was obtained by ABC 17 News through a records request – says a 2027 Hyundai Sonata was driven by Ava Schweser. The Hyundai was heading southbound on College Avenue when it approached the intersection with University Avenue on June 18.

The report says the driver failed to stop at “a solid red light” and hit a 2025 Hyundai Ioniq – which was driven by Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe – while it was heading westbound. The impact from the crash led to Buffaloe’s vehicle to hit a city bus, the report says.

Edin Kajtaz, the driver of the bus, told police that he saw Buffaloe’s vehicle get hit by the Sonata, according to the report. Another person, described as a witness, was sitting in their vehicle in one of the southbound lanes while the light was red and claimed the Sonata “flew by he through the red light and collided with” Buffaloe’s vehicle, the report says.

A passenger in one of the vehicles reported having a pain around their neck, but did not go to a hospital. Kajtaz had pain on the left side of his body and was brought to University Hospital by ambulance, the report says.

Both Hyundais were towed from the scene.

A diagram from a crash report shows how a crash involving Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe occurred on June, 18, 2026.

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OXXO opens 2 new locations in El Paso

KVIA on June 25, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — OXXO opened two new locations in El Paso Wednesday and Thursday as it continues to replace former DK Convenience locations in the area.

In 2024, OXXO’s parent company FEMSA acquired Delek’s convenience stroe business, which included 249 stores across Texas, according to officials. Since then, DK Convenience stores have been reintroduced under the OXXO brand.

While the convenience stores change, officials said fuel brands haven’t. DK and Alon, owned by Delek, still run independently.

During this week’s grand openings, OXXO took the change to introduce customers to clarify its business relationship with Delek.

Those who attended the grand openings got to play a digital scratch-off game for the chance to win prizes like backpacks, tumblers, hats and other merchandise, OXXO said.

In total, OXXO and DK gave $1,000 in fuel card prizes too.

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Gas prices in Arizona continue to drop

KYMA on June 25, 2026

Andrea Turisk

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – Pump prices in Arizona have dropped for the fifth straight week.

AAA says the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped 18 cents in the past week to $4.11.

That follows a trend seen across the national as Thursday’s national average is $3.91 per gallon.

AAA says Yuma is sitting at $4.26 a gallon while Phoenix and Tucson are seeing gas prices at $3.99 a gallon and $3.95 a gallon respectively, and Flagstaff is sitting at $4.50 a gallon.

Aldo Vazquez, a spokesperson for AAA, says crude oil prices could continue to fall as the U.S. and Iran work towards a long-term deal.

“Despite lower prices, demand could rise as a record number of Americans prepare to travel for Independence Day weekend, with 85% planning to drive to their destinations,” Vasquez added.

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Salton City murder suspects back in court

KYMA on June 25, 2026

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The defendants accused of murdering a man in Salton City made another court appearance Thursday.

Four people are charged in connection with the murder of 34-year-old Pedro Montes Jr. back in May.

The hearing was rescheduled due to evidence that has not been turned over to the defense, including an autopsy report.

55-year-old Andrew Gallegos was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Montes to death, and is being held on a $1 million bail.

57-year-old Robert Gallegos, 37-year-old Crystal Hernandez and 53-year-old Blanca Robles are charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly attempting to destroy evidence.

The preliminary hearing was rescheduled to July 30, with a bail hearing for Andrew Gallegos set for July 7.

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Welcome Center to stop operations Aug. 31

KVIA on June 25, 2026

Lauren Bly

Editor’s Note: The original story said the Welcome Center will cease operations Aug. 1. It has been updated to say it will shut down Aug. 31.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)– El Paso City Council voted against allocating one-time funding of $430,000 from American Rescue Plan Act investment interest revenue. As a result, the Welcome Center for the homeless will stop operations Aug. 31.

The Welcome Center, which provides initial support services to homeless people through the Opportunity Center for the Homeless.

El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote.

“August 1st will be the last day that we will operate the welcome center and that’s ran by the Opportunity Center,” said Nickole Heater Rodriguez, the Director of Community and Human Development.

The Opportunity Center told ABC-7 the Welcome Center will close later in the month.

Rodriguez said that on average the Welcome Center helps 50 people a day.

“And those people will be on the street in front of businesses, in front of homes. There will definitely be a more visible effect,” said District 8 City Rep. Chris Canales.

The council initially approved using the ARPA interest savings for the center. However, District 1 City Representative Alejandra Chávez later moved to reconsider her vote. A second vote ended in a tie, and Mayor Renard Johnson cast the deciding vote against using the funds.

The decision drew emotional reactions from several council members.

“Another sad day with this council. I’m dismayed. I’m disappointed, brokenhearted by this vote today,” one council member said. “It sends a really clear message where our priorities are in this city.”

City officials warned the closure will have immediate consequences, saying people who rely on the center’s services will instead be on the streets.

“There will definitely be a more visible effect,” officials said, noting more people may end up in front of businesses and homes.

In an interview, Johnson said he supports finding a long-term solution rather than relying on one-time funding.

“There’s a number that we’re going to still continue to fund,” Johnson said. “I don’t think we’re done looking at this. I think we need to go in and really come up with a sustainable model.”

Opportunity Center Executive Director John Martin said the Welcome Center serves about 1,200 people each year and provides a separate entry point for families and vulnerable individuals seeking help.

“If you’ve got a mother with young children that would like to come in to receive services, you’re not going to feel comfortable walking into a facility that houses adult men,” Martin said. “It’s the entryway.”

Martin said he was disappointed with the council’s decision because the focus should remain on helping people in need.

District 7 City Representative Lily Limón, who voted in favor of the funding, criticized the outcome.

“Council turned its back on the homeless people in this community. It was clear — you can’t say anything else but that,” Limón said.

Limón said she hopes the community will rally behind the Welcome Center and that future funding efforts will continue. Johnson also said he hopes the issue returns to the council for further consideration before the center closes.

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