Santa Maria City Councilman To Meet With Residents of Cesar Chavez Drive

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Maria city councilman Richard Batalla met with residents of Cesar Chavez Drive this evening.

The sunset gathering yielded a productive discussion.

Cities and organizations across the country are removing Chavez’s name from streets and schools in response to recent sexual misconduct allegations against the late farmworker rights leader.

“Any sort of thing related to him, it’s been beginning to get like erased, so to speak,” says Brandon Felix-Villarreal, who lives on Cesar E. Chavez Drive. “And it just seems like a knee jerk reaction.”

The city council voted unanimously in June to rename the street.

“They sent out a survey, like asking all of us whether we wanted to go ahead and change the street name,” says Felix-Villarreal. “And pretty much it was a near unanimous no. We’re going to have to change all our bank account stuff, credit, people have trusts, shipping addresses for everything. You know, like I have a medication that’s delivered biweekly.”

About sixty homeowners who live on the small street next to Tommie Kunst Junior High are protesting the name change, and Councilman Batalla took the time to meet with them personally.

“I believe district one lacked leadership for, for a while,” says Richard Batalla, District One Supervisor for the City Of Santa Maria. “And you can notice it when you’re talking to people that live in this area. It was a great conversation. They took out a lot of their anger of what’s going on. And I’m just here being the best public servant I can be.”

The residents say the $26,000 price tag will be added to their taxes, and they’d rather see the money spent on safety enhancements around the junior high school instead.

“I almost died down the road because somebody T-boned me,” says Felix-Villarreal.

The councilman listened and acknowledged their concerns.

“I did hear them out. I do agree with them. There needs to be some transparency here,” says Batalla. “This street name has been changed three times, and I think as a city overall, we need to focus on bigger issues that we’re currently facing rather than the street name.”

Batalla says he plans to relay the meeting and the concerns of his constituents to his colleagues on the city council.

“That’s why I applied for this position to begin with,” says Batalla. “I’m from this town. I want this town to succeed. I want this town to give back to my kids when they’re old enough.”

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15 Yuma kids to get special back-to-school shopping trip

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA)- 15 lucky kids will get a special back-to-school shopping trip Saturday.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s Yuma branch, along with the help of community volunteers, will provide each child with $250 for clothes and school supplies.

The event helps ease the cost of back-to-school shopping for families. The kids were chosen based on financial need and good behavior.

Volunteers from Raising Cane’s, Dutch Bros, and the T-Mobile Foundation will shop with the youth at JCPenney.

Organizers say the morning is about more than shopping, it’s about building confidence and community.

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Yuma families can kick off the school year at 15th Annual Back to School Rodeo

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Families in Yuma can get a jump start on the school year this Saturday at the 15th Annual Back to School Rodeo.

The event will be giving out free backpacks and school supplies. It is open for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The first 2,000 children to attend will receive a backpack with select school supplies.

25 nonprofit groups will be on hand with information and resources for families.

The Yuma County Health Department will also offer school-age vaccines during the event.

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Yuma Senior Living resident celebrates 100th birthday

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Family, friends and fellow residents gathered at Yuma Senior Living Friday to celebrate a remarkable milestone as Dottie Vaughn turned 100-years-old.

Vaughn becomes the second centenarian living at the assisted living community, joining fellow resident Walter Hurlburt in reaching the century mark.

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and raised in Long Beach, California, Vaughn spent 25 years in Washington state working for the Department of Transportation. She retired as a transportation engineer before moving to Yuma in 2003.

Throughout her life, Vaughn has traveled the world, visiting famous landmarks across the globe. Today, she’s known at Yuma Senior Living for her outgoing personality, love of dancing and enthusiasm for participating in community activities.

When asked about the secret to living a long life, Vaughn credited the healthy habits her grandmother taught her growing up.

She also shared a message for younger generations, encouraging them to pursue their dreams and stay committed to their goals.

“When you start out as a young child, you always think about what you’d like to do. But sometimes you never follow through,” Vaughn said. “If you’re serious about it, follow through. And you’ll find out, you’ll be very happy.”

Friday’s celebration honored not only Vaughn’s 100th birthday, but also a lifetime of adventure, perseverance and memories shared with those around her.

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Three hospitalized following 4-vehicle crash on Highway 33 near Terreton

Seth Ratliff

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article has been updated with corrected information from ISP

TERRETON, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho State Police is investigating a mid-morning, four-vehicle crash near Terreton that sent three people to the hospital on Monday.

Police say the crash took place just before 8:40 a.m. on Highway 33 near the intersection with N 1300 E. Preliminary reports indicate that a silver Honda Accord driven by a 27-year-old Idaho Falls man and a black 2023 Freightliner were both headed east on Hwy 33 when the Freightliner rear-ended the Accord. The force of the initial impact sent both vehicles into the path of a westbound silver 2000 Dodge Caravan and a white 2018 Chevrolet Silverado.

The driver of the Accord, along with the drivers of both the Dodge Caravan and Chevrolet Silverado — a 72-year-old Idaho Falls man and a 44-year-old Pocatello man — were all taken by ground ambulance to a local hospital. Their current conditions have not been released.

ISP confirmed that all drivers involved were wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

The lanes on Highway 33 were blocked for approximately two hours while emergency crews cleared the scene. The investigation into the exact cause of the crash remains ongoing.

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Inside Palo Verde Hospital six months after County takeover

Kiera McKinney

BLYTHE, Calif. (KESQ) Nearly six months after Riverside County stepped in to stabilize Palo Verde Hospital county leaders say the hospital remains open but work continues to restore it to a fully functioning medical center.

Earlier this year the county took over management of the hospital under a 180 day stabilization plan after years of financial struggles left the facility on the brink of closure. At the time only the emergency department remained open forcing many Blythe residents to travel to the Coachella Valley or Arizona for medical care.

As the six month plan nears its end county leaders are evaluating the hospital’s long term future, including whether it is ready to transition to another healthcare provider or if the county will need to continue managing the facility.

Stay tuned for my full story at 5 to see how county leaders are evaluating the hospital long term.

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Former President Bill Clinton, Other Celebrities Make Summer Stops in Idaho and Wyoming

Par Kermani

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — Several well-known faces have recently been spotted across Idaho and Wyoming, giving locals a few unexpected celebrity sightings.

Every year, thousands of visitors travel to eastern Idaho and Wyoming to experience the region’s scenic landscapes, outdoor recreation and wildlife.

This summer, some famous names have also made appearances.

Former President Bill Clinton was recently spotted at the historic Wort Hotel in Jackson, Wyoming.

Television host Jimmy Fallon

Actor Henry Winkler

Singer Justin Bieber

Former President Bill Clinton

The hotel shared the sighting in a social media post, writing:

“What an incredible Fourth of July weekend in Jackson Hole as we celebrated America’s 250th anniversary. We were honored to welcome President Bill Clinton at The Silver Dollar Bar & Grill and grateful to everyone who made this year’s parade and celebration so memorable.”

Actor Henry Winkler, best known as “The Fonz” from Happy Days, was also seen grabbing a bite to eat at The Sandwich Tree in Idaho Falls.

Television host Jimmy Fallon made a stop in Idaho Falls as well, posing for photos with fans at Mike’s Music.

Farther north in Coeur d’Alene, Breaking Bread Artisan Bistro shared a photo with singer Justin Bieber and his wife, Hailey Bieber.

“Had the pleasure of meeting @lilbieber and the beautiful @haileybieber today. Thank you for supporting local businesses and being so kind,” the restaurant wrote on social media.

The sightings come during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year, as visitors flock to Yellowstone National Park and other attractions throughout the region.

Whether they’re exploring the outdoors, visiting local businesses or simply passing through, Idaho and Wyoming continue to attract more than their share of notable visitors each summer.

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Teton County Declares Local Emergency After Measles Outbreak at Colter Bay Village

Par Kermani

JACKSON, Wyo. (KIFI) — Teton County officials have declared a local emergency following a measles outbreak at Colter Bay Village in Grand Teton National Park.

The declaration comes at the request of Teton County Health Director and District Health Officer Dr. Travis Riddell, and approved Monday morning by the Teton County Board Of Commissioners.

According to the Teton County Health Department, three linked cases of measles have been confirmed among people in Colter Bay Village.

Due to the high density of employee housing and the large number of visitors who travel through the area, the Colter Bay Village outbreak presents a unique challenge, according to health officials.

The outbreak marks Wyoming’s first measles outbreak of 2026.

“As this outbreak unfolds, I suggest individuals confirm their own immunity status, or get the MMR vaccine if they cannot confirm it,” Riddell said.

Health officials say the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against the disease. One dose is 93% effective against measles, while two doses are 97% effective.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases and spreads through the air. It can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are considered most at risk for serious complications from measles.

Anyone with questions about vaccination is encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.

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Hundreds of families get a jump start on the school year at 15th Annual Back-to-School Rodeo

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Hundreds of families got a jump start on the school year at the 15th Annual Back-to-School Rodeo Saturday morning.

The event, which took place at the Yuma Civic Center, handed out free backpacks and school supplies for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The first 2,000 children received a backpack filled with select school supplies.

One local mom, Elina Hernandez, said community events like this help her family a lot.

“These events are very helpful. Like I said, I have a lot of kids, and every little bit helps,” Hernandez explained. “I love how the community is always doing things like this. We go to every single event that Yuma has to offer.”

25 nonprofit groups were on hand to share information and resources with families.

The Yuma County Health Department also offered school-age vaccines during the event.

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15 kids enjoy special back-to-school shopping spree in Yuma

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – 15 kids experienced an unforgettable morning.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s Yuma branch, with help from community volunteers, gave each child $250 to shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies at JCPenney in the Yuma Palms.

The event helped ease the financial burden of back-to-school shopping for families.

The kids were chosen based on financial need and good behavior.

Rowena Regalado of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley said, “For the work they’ve done, for all of the support that they give their friends, their peers without being asked, the ability to empathize with people, the ability to be kind and respectful, which are the very basic things we teach them at the club. This is the recognition of that.”

Volunteers from Raising Cane’s, Dutch Bros, and the T-Mobile Foundation shopped with the kids at JCPenney, helping make the experience even more special.

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