For the 95th year, Cripple Creek celebrates its donkeys

KRDO on June 23, 2026

Bradley Davis

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) – Donkey Derby Days returns to Cripple Creek this weekend, 95 years after the gold miners released the former pack animals from the tunnels.

“It’s our only true living connection to our history here in Cripple Creek, said Two Mile High Club president Annie Valades. “They’re our ambassadors. They’re our mascots. They are the direct connection to our past, and they’re living to tell about it.”

It’s one of the most unique festivals in Colorado, where the donkeys are the stars of the show. Celebrations start Friday with food trucks and live music. The Donkey Derby Races kick off on Saturday with more live music and activities, followed by more performances on Sunday.

The festival is free for everyone. You can find a full schedule here.

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Valley teens search for summer jobs in tough hiring market

KESQ on June 23, 2026

Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ)- For many teenagers, a summer job is a first step toward independence — a chance to earn money, gain experience, and build skills for the future.

But as summer gets underway, some teens say finding that first opportunity is becoming more difficult.

Across the country, young workers are facing a more competitive job market, with fewer traditional summer positions available and more applicants competing for entry-level roles.

Luis Cazares a freshman at College of the Desert, says he has applied for dozens of jobs this summer but has struggled to get interviews, especially for entry-level positions.

“I don’t have a summer job, and honestly it’s been kind of a struggle trying to find something, especially entry level,” Cazares said. “It’s like nobody really wants to hire people who don’t have experience.”

Cazares says he has applied to around 20 to 30 positions and is looking for work to help cover school, transportation, and everyday expenses.

The challenge comes as young workers across the country face a more competitive summer job market. Job announcements in industries where teens often find seasonal work, including entertainment and leisure, have declined compared to previous years, according to The Bureau of Labor and Statistics market data.

But some local employers say opportunities are still available.

The Desert Recreation District is hiring teens 16 and older for seasonal positions, including lifeguards and swim instructors. District officials say applicants do not always need extensive work experience to stand out.

They say a positive personality, a willingness to learn, and the ability to connect with the community can help young workers get their first opportunity.

For students like Cazares, the search continues as they look for a chance to gain the experience they need to take the next step in the workforce.

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Woman charged for breaking, entering after found naked in someone else’s tub in Mesilla

KVIA on June 23, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

MESILLA, N.M. (KVIA) — A 46-year-old woman was arrested and charged after deputies found her naked in a bath tub in someone else’s home, according to the Mesilla Marshal’s Office Tuesday.

On June 19, a someone caring for the home noticed an open door and heard noises upstairs, the marshal’s office said. He called deputies, who later found Cristi Marie Poston naked in the tub.

Deputies covered her with clothes and took her out of the tub, the marshal’s office said.

Jail records said it happened near 3044 Mcdowell Pl., which is near Zia Middle School.

The homeowner was out of town at the time, the marshal’s office said. She said no one had permission to be in her home.

Poston allegedly damaged the home, according to the marshal’s office.

Poston was arrested and charged with burglary of a home, breaking and entering, trespassing and two counts of failure to comply with conditions of release, officials said.

She was booked without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center, jail records said.

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BPRD continues nonlethal approach to goose control

KTVZ on June 23, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — BEND, Ore. — Bend’s long-running goose management program is drawing renewed attention as the Bend Park and Recreation District continues oiling Canada goose eggs to keep them from hatching.

The district says the nonlethal method helps control a resident goose population that can damage turf, erode riverbanks and leave behind waste in parks across the city, including Drake Park and Discovery Park.

BPRD says the birds can also pose public health concerns, pointing to risks including E. coli, salmonella and swimmer’s itch.

“There’s some disease risks that are happening in addition to any esthetics and just nests that people may be seeing,” Julie Brown, with the district’s community engagement team, said. “E. coli is a concern. Salmonella is a concern. Swimmer’s itch that sometimes can develop in bodies of water has a direct correlation to geese population.”

The district says goose egg oiling is only one part of its Canada Goose Management Plan. Other efforts include:

Public education, including asking residents not to feed geese and ducks.

Habitat modification, such as creating buffer zones with vegetation to discourage nesting.

Egg oiling during nesting season to prevent eggs from hatching.

Hazing, including trained dogs used to move geese out of park areas.

Relocating independent juvenile geese during a short summer capture period.

Encouraging residents to report nest locations so staff can respond before eggs hatch.

BPRD says the program is designed to reduce the number of geese in Bend while balancing wildlife management with park use.

But the practice is not without controversy.

Bend resident Justin Gottlieb says concerns over goose management go back years, including a 2010 culling that drew backlash from animal rights activists and helped push the district toward nonlethal methods.

“About 15 years ago, the solution to this problem was to gas 109 geese, which was permitted by the Oregon Wildlife Department and feed their remains to the homeless,” Gottlieb said.

He said he believes earlier relocation efforts also helped reduce the goose population in parts of Bend.

“Many of these geese that would have been born in Bend have been those eggs and those geese have been relocated out to other areas,” Gottlieb said. “We didn’t kill them. We just moved them out of the center of town.”

The district says it continues to use the program to balance community concerns, park conditions and wildlife management.

We want to hear from you. Take our POLL:“Bend uses egg oiling to control Canada goose populations. Do you support or oppose this method?”

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First air traffic control tower at Bend Airport nears start of operations

KTVZ on June 23, 2026

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding video, comments from Bend Airport manager)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Bend Municipal Airport is nearing a major safety milestone as its first air traffic control tower prepares to begin operations in the coming weeks.

The 115-foot tower is almost ready to guide aircraft and pilots between the ground and sky at one of Oregon’s busiest airports.

“This will be the very first brand new air traffic control tower to open in the United States in the year 2026,” Bend Airport Manager Tracy Williams said. “The BDN, that’s our three-letter identifier — Bravo, Delta, November for Bend.”

Bend Municipal Airport is the third-busiest airport in Oregon, with more than 141,000 takeoffs and landings each year. Airport leaders say that averages roughly 360 operations per day.

Until now, pilots using the Bend Airport have relied on radio communication with one another on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency to coordinate takeoffs, landings, and movement around the airport.

“The purpose of the air traffic control tower is to provide for safe separation of aircraft,” Williams said. “We’re pretty safe already, but this will just add an extra margin of safety, an extra layer.”

The tower has been a priority for airport users since around 2008. The project moved forward after Bend Municipal Airport was accepted into the FAA’s Federal Contract Tower Program in 2020.

The tower includes four controller workstations, a break room, backup generator, weather equipment, antennas, lightning protection, and a rotating beacon. The project also includes an access road, parking area, utility connections, security fencing, and supplemental weather sensors.

The City of Bend says the design cost about $1.6 million, with construction costing about $9.1 million. The project is funded primarily through federal and state grants.

Airport leaders say the tower is expected to improve safety and efficiency while supporting the region’s aviation economy. Bend Municipal Airport is home to nearly 300 aircraft, two flight training schools, and numerous airport-related businesses.

Williams said the tower will also bring new aviation jobs to Central Oregon.

“We will employ at least five to seven air traffic controllers, including a manager. We’ll initially start with a couple, and then grow and provide more jobs as the demand occurs,” Williams said.

Airport leaders hope air traffic services can begin within the next couple of months.

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Dispute ensues: Fremont County residents seek reconsideration of Sandbox RV Park decision

KIFI on June 23, 2026

Danielle Mullenix

ST. ANTHONY, Idaho (KIFI) – A long-running dispute over the Sandbox RV Park near the St. Anthony Sand Dunes may be headed back before Fremont County commissioners — and potentially into the courts.

A group of Fremont County residents has formally requested that county commissioners reconsider their June 8 decision involving the controversial development, arguing the county’s findings contain factual errors and fail to reflect the public record.

The request for reconsideration was filed June 18 with the Fremont County Clerk and asks the Board of County Commissioners to revisit its decision regarding the Sandbox RV Park near the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. According to the filing, residents believe the commissioners relied on flawed information and ignored evidence presented during the appeal process.

“For years, concerns over the Sandbox RV Park near the St. Anthony Sand Dunes have divided residents, business owners, and county leaders,” said St. Anthony resident and author of the reconsideration request, Cathy Koon.

Koon says the request is not an effort to stop development, but rather an attempt to ensure county decisions follow the law.

“We want to hold the commissioners accountable. This is not a vendetta against Sandbox. This is simply citizens who want those decisions made according to the law.”

Earlier this month, county commissioners ruled that the Fremont County Planning and Zoning Commission improperly extended Sandbox’s Class II conditional use permit. Commissioners directed the RV park to submit a new permit application.

Residents opposing the project argue that the development has expanded beyond what was originally approved and that additional amenities and operations were never properly reviewed.

“As we started looking at the public record, we found a lot of inaccuracies and missing information,” Koon said. “As a group, we decided that the only way we could get the commissioners to be attentive to these issues was to file a request for reconsideration.”

The six-page reconsideration request alleges factual errors within the county’s findings and identifies several procedural issues dating back to the original permit process in 2023. Supporters of the request claim the development has experienced “mission creep,” with additional amenities and expanded operations occurring without proper approval.

The filing also alleges that evidence and public comments may be missing from the official record of the appeal hearing. Residents argue that portions of the public record were either overlooked or omitted during the decision-making process.

Under Idaho’s Local Land Use Planning Act, the commissioners now have up to 60 days to reconsider their decision. They may issue a new decision, modify their findings, deny the request, or take no action. If the request is denied or no action is taken within that period, residents could pursue a petition for judicial review in the district court.

The dispute over Sandbox RV Park has spanned several years and involved appeals, public hearings, and ongoing debate over growth and development near the St. Anthony Sand Dunes. At this time, the RV is operating in the St. Anthony area with plans to officially open this summer.

The reconsideration request was signed by residents from St. Anthony, Island Park, Chester, Salem, and Egin. Commissioners are expected to respond by mid-August.

“We’re not anti-growth,” Koon said. “We just want the law to be upheld.”

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Chuco Tango gang member arrested for alleged parole violation

KVIA on June 23, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Monday, the El paso County Constable’s Office Precinct Six said deputy constables arrested a Chuco Tango gang member for allegedly violating his parole.

According to the constable’s office, deputy constables with Precincts Six and Four went to a home at the 3100 block of Douglas Avenue near Montana Avenue in Central El Paso Monday. They were looking for 36-year-old Jonathan Samaniego, who was wanted on a felony parole violation warrant.

Samaniego is a confirmed Chuco Tango gang member on parole with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for Assault on a peace officer, the constable’s office said.

Deputies found one of Samaniego’s family members, who confirmed he was inside, according to the constable’s office. Inside, they found Samaniego in the basement and took him into custody.

The constable’s office said deputies arrested him for the felony parole warrant and sent him to the El Paso County Detention Facility.

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Mountain Bound: AD Jim Senter prepares for UTEP’s next chapter in the Mountain West Conference 

KVIA on June 23, 2026

Adrian Ochoa

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On July 1, the two-year wait will finally be over for the UTEP Miners as they embark on a new era in the Mountain West Conference.

For Athletic Director Jim Senter, it’s been quite the journey.

When he took the job at UTEP in 2017, fans were hopeful he would be the one to get the Miners into the Mountain West Conference.

Senter fulfilled that goal in 2024 when he announced the Miners would be leaving Conference USA in two years, and would officially join the Mountain West Conference in 2026.

UTEP has been a member of Conference USA since 2005.

The two years have come and gone, and Senter’s message to UTEP fans has never wavered.

If the Miners want to be successful in their new conference then more support from fans and donors will be needed.

“Well it’s here that day has finally arrived,” Senter said. “It’s very exciting for me, the staff, our coaches, our student athletes, and especially our fan base. However now we need our fan base to join us come be part of it.” 

Leaving Conference USA came at a cost. For the last two years UTEP, has had to count its pennies.

But thanks to the Climb Higher Initiative, last year UTEP donors contributed $12 million dollars — $8 million dollars of that went to cover Conference USA exit fees.

The money was also used to make much-needed improvements to the Sun Bowl Stadium locker rooms.

“So that was another $2 million dollars, so lots of different people have stepped up,” Senter said.

The move to the Mountain West Conference also brings new opportunities. In Conference USA, most UTEP games were streamed on ESPN Plus. In the Mountain West, while some games will be televised on linear channels, fans who want to watch every UTEP game will have to sign up for the new Mountain West Plus.

However, the difference between the two streaming services is that now UTEP will get a cut from subscribers who sign up and specify they follow the Miners.

“We have a chance to earn money from those subscriptions,” Senter said. “It’s right about 60% of all the money that everybody pays will be coming back to UTEP in the form of a subscription fee. And in an ideal world, we would like to lead the Mountain West Conference in the number of subscriptions. You would think we could do that.”

Changes are also in store for the fan experience.

“We know we need to spend more money on marketing,” Senter said. “It’s really critical that we do that because it’s been one of the areas that we’ve had to cut.”

That will change starting with this upcoming football season.

Fans can expect giveaways, special food items and even drone shows.

The student section and marching band will also see changes. Both will now be seated right behind the opposing team’s bench.

However, investment is still the name of the game for UTEP.

This season UTEP is projecting a revenue-sharing pool of $3.45 million dollars.

It’s a good start, but when compared to fellow Mountain West Conference rival UNLV, the difference is staggering.

UNLV projects its revenue sharing pool to be at nearly $11 million this season.

“We’ve been able to increase probably two to three times the amount of money that we’ve been able to do,” Senter said. “We think that has allowed us to recruit some better players in addition to having better recruiting battles with folks (other schools), but there is always somebody with a bigger checkbook.” 

Senter enters the Mountain West era under a new contract.

Some questioned whether he was deserving of an extension, but Senter remains committed to building winning programs at UTEP.

“I’ll be judged by that I understand that some people will think it’s good, some others will not think it’s good, but I’m appreciative of the contract and the extension,” Senter said. “I will continue to work my tail off to do the best job that I can.” 

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Idaho Falls woman killed, another hospitalized in four-vehicle crash near Iona

KIFI on June 23, 2026

Seth Ratliff

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A 59-year-old Idaho Falls woman died Monday evening following a four-vehicle collision northwest of Iona.

Idaho State Police say the crash happened just before 5 PM. The incident began when a 39-year-old man from Camarillo, California, was driving a 2019 Nissan NV200 van eastbound on East 49th North and ran a stop sign. The Nissan struck a 2017 Dodge Challenger driven by the Idaho Falls woman, who was traveling on U.S. 26.

The force of the impact pushed the Dodge into the westbound lanes of the highway, where it collided with a 2017 Ford F-250 and a 2008 Ford Focus.

The driver of the Dodge was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, where she later died from her injuries. The driver of the Ford F-250 was also hospitalized via ground ambulance; her current condition has not been released. Two juvenile passengers in the F-250 and the 34-year-old driver of the Ford Focus escaped without serious injury.

ISP noted that the drivers of the Nissan, Dodge, and Ford Focus were all wearing seatbelts. However, whether or not the juvenile passengers in the F-250 wore their seatbelts remains unclear.

The crash blocked both directions of U.S. 26 for approximately five hours. The incident remains under investigation by ISP.

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Plummer and Breaux Turn Primary Upsets Into a Bold Blueprint for Harris County’s Future

CNN Newsource on June 23, 2026

By Burt Levine

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    June 23, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Harris County politics had itself a Monday night revival in Meyerland — the kind with folding chairs, full hearts, and enough applause to make the Faith Lutheran Church gymnasium feel like the opening night of a championship season.

Dr. Letitia Plummer and Dr. Darlene Breaux, two Democratic nominees who recently turned political predictions into confetti, stood before the Meyerland Area Democrats Club with a shared message: Harris County’s future belongs to voters who still believe democracy works best when regular people refuse to be counted out.

Both women entered their May runoff races facing better-funded, better-known Democratic institutions. Both walked away with victories that jolted the Texas political conversation. Plummer, the former Houston City Council at-large member and dentist, defeated former Houston Mayor Annise Parker to become the Democratic nominee for Harris County Judge. Breaux, president of the Alief ISD Board of Trustees and a longtime education advocate, defeated 20-year incumbent State Rep. Hubert Vo in Texas House District 149.

That is not just a political storyline. That is a Harris County headline with ‘Houston-style’ seasoning.

“These women speaking tonight come to us as a huge force for the future for our area and for Harris County,” said Meyerland Area Democrats Club President Art Pronin, who framed the evening as a turning point for Democrats across Harris and Fort Bend counties. Pronin noted the historic potential of the November general election, where Plummer could become the first African American and first Muslim American Harris County Judge, while Breaux represents a new chapter of leadership for one of the most diverse districts in southwest Houston.

The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026, and for Democrats, the stakes are larger than one office or one district. The ballot will help shape Harris County’s direction on public safety, flood resilience, education, economic opportunity, county services, health care access, small business growth, and the future of inclusive government in one of America’s most diverse metropolitan regions.

Plummer’s message was rooted in reach. Houston may be the county’s largest city, she reminded the room, but Harris County is also Pasadena, Baytown, Deer Park, La Porte, Seabrook, Friendswood, Pearland, Katy, Cypress, Champions, Spring, Tomball and Klein. Her campaign, she said, grew because she refused to campaign only where she was already comfortable.

That countywide approach matters. Harris County is not one neighborhood, one zip code, one accent, one faith tradition, or one political personality. It is Third Ward and Meyerland, Sunnyside and Alief, Hiram Clarke and Katy, Baytown and Spring. It is working families, small business owners, public servants, teachers, first responders, seniors, students, immigrants, faith communities, and voters who expect government to show up before the storm, not merely after the press conference.

Breaux’s victory in District 149 carried its own thunder. As Alief ISD Board President, she built her public life around classrooms, families, neighborhoods, and the daily dignity of local service. Her win over a longtime incumbent was powered by a coalition that included labor, Democratic clubs, community leaders, and voters eager for fresh representation.

“District 149 deserves representation that delivers on public education, public safety, private business and economic opportunity,” Breaux said. That sentence could double as a campaign slogan and a governing checklist.

Together, Plummer and Breaux represent something larger than political disruption. They represent democratic renewal. Their campaigns were not powered by inevitability. They were powered by door knocking, phone calling, church conversations, community meetings, neighborhood trust, and the radical idea that voters still like to be seen, heard, and respected.

In a season when politics can feel too loud, too cynical, and too controlled by insiders, Plummer and Breaux offer a reminder that democracy still has a grassroots heartbeat. It beats in Meyerland. It beats in Alief. It beats across Harris County.

And come November, that heartbeat may become a movement.

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
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