City of Columbia suggests $7 million less from initial 2027 budget proposals

KMIZ on July 13, 2026

Sutton Parker

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been corrected to show the “cuts” are suggestions based on proposals submitted by each department at the start of the process.

COLUMBIA Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is proposing cuts in its fiscal year 2027 budget due to a $7.37 million general fund deficit.

City documents report the city is operating on a “status quo” baseline, with the city manager’s looking at internal changes across multiple departments to guarantee a balanced budget.

During the initial draft of Columbia’s fiscal year budget, the department’s requests for continuing operations and new funding items outpaced expected revenues.

To meet mandatory balancing requirements before council consideration, the city manager and department directors held internal meetings to implement suggestions to reduce the proposed deficit.

The Columbia Police Department budget is facing almost $2 million from its proposed amount.

To capture more savings, the city will freeze hiring on eight vacant full-time positions, which would also delay the hiring of two requested Real-Time Information Center positions for CPD. Additionally, CPD will have to defer the replacement of its drone fleet.

The city manager cut $1 million in budget suggestions from the Columbia Fire Department.

Excluded from any projected revenue is a proposed 1% public safety sales tax, which awaits the August election

If approved, the city said that the tax is projected to generate an additional $38 million in funding annually for fire and police.

The funds would go to the building of a new police headquarters and the hiring of additional firefighters and police officers.

Outside of the public safety cuts, the city is also proposing the reduction of Utility Assistance Funding. Reducing the funding from $600,000 to $400,000 in 2027.

ABC 17 reached out to the Columbia City Council and the City Manager’s office and has not heard back.

Monday’s work session starts at 3 p.m.

 

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Pueblo County sheriff announces tenative wildfire re-entry plan for Beulah residents Monday

KRDO on July 13, 2026

Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Monday is the day many Beulah residents have been waiting for. This weekend, the Pueblo County sheriff announced plans to allow Beulah residents to temporarily return to their homes.

A major caveat of the plan is that it’s dependent on the activity of the Aspen Acres Fire.

The first evacuees began lining up on westbound Highway 78 just east of Beulah long before the checkpoint manned by sheriff’s deputies and the Colorado National Guard began allowing residents in.

One of the returning residents is Evon Michelle Davis, whose home on Pine Drive was destroyed; it had been in her family since the early 1960s.

“I’m not going to rebuild this cabin the way it was built,” she revealed. “Because I don’t think that makes sense. I don’t have the financial resources to clean up the property, and there’s no insurance on it.”

Davis, who said that she lived in the home only during the summer, plans to revert the property to its natural state.

“It’s still a place where I can bring family and friends, and enjoy its beauty,” she said.

Late Monday morning, Davis allowed a KRDO 13 crew to accompany her during her first look at her property since the fire erupted two weeks ago.

She doesn’t seem as emotionally upset as you might think.

“I’m sure different people grieve in different ways,” she reflected. “But truly, my way of grieving is to say: Let’s roll up our sleeves and let’s get to work.”

Davis has started a GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-rebuild-my-only-home-after-aspen-acres-fire to offset the costs of cleaning up her property.

“I’ve had estimates between $10,000 and $50,000,” she said.

To be allowed into Beulah, residents need to obtain a re-entry card from the Disaster Assistance Center at 29 Lehigh Avenue in Pueblo.

Stay up to date on the Aspen Acres Fire

Starting at 8 a.m. on Monday until 10:00 a.m., all Beulah residents who lost their homes will be allowed into the burn zone. The sheriff’s office says that fire personnel will escort families to their properties, will answer questions, and provide an informational packet. Property owners who arrive after 10 will be escorted as escorts are available.

Then, at 10:00 a.m., hour-long time slots begin to open up for specific residential streets. Those time slots are as follows:

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Central Avenue and Grand Avenue

11:00 a.m. – Noon

Mountain View, Maryknoll, Ban Street, Cascade Avenue, Catalina Avenue, Cottonwood Drive, Davis Street, Fox Lane, Harmon Lane, Lake Avenue, Middle Creek Canyon, North Creek Cutoff, Pine Avenue, Sciota Street, School House Lane, and Vine Mesa

Noon – 1:00 p.m.

8200-8700 block of Hwy 78 to include Cemetery Road, Los Escapados, Pine Crest, and Roosevelt Avenue

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

8700-8900 block of Hwy 78 to include Beulah Highlands Road, Canon Drive, Columbine Road, Curtiz Lane, Glendale Road, Morton Avenue, Pennsylvania Road, Squirrel Creek, and Woodland Avenue

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

9088 Hwy 78 to Cheyenne Drive, League Trail, Pueblo Mountain Park Road, Ula Trail, Ula Court, Watseka Avenue, and Watseka Court

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

9090 Hwy 78 to 9958 Hwy 78 to include Geronimo Avenue, Simsonian Trail, Sioux Avenue, and Apache Drive

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

5775 North Creek to 4632 North Creek Road to include Douglas Lane

The sheriff’s office says anyone beyond 4632 North Creek is not allowed in at this time, as the area is still under evacuation because firefighters are working in the area.

Residents may still see smoke in the area, and the sheriff’s office is asking people to stay off the roads as much as possible because firefighters are still working on hotspots and property evaluations.

More information can be found here.

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House flies: A common yet underestimated public health threat

KIFI on July 12, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – When people think of public health pests, mosquitoes and ticks often come to mind. But experts say the common house fly deserves just as much attention.

House flies are among the most common insects found in homes and, because of their close proximity to people, they can pose a significant health risk. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), house flies can carry and spread disease-causing illnesses after coming into contact with contaminated materials.

“They have the ability to carry over 100 different disease causing pathogens,” said Laura Rosenwald, an entomologist with the National Pest Management Association.

House flies spend much of their life in environments filled with decaying organic matter, making it easy for them to pick up bacteria and other harmful micro-organisms.

“So when we think about housefly lifecycle, a lot of what they do is getting done in rotting organic material or waste or things like that,” Rosenwald says. “So they’re already living in environments that are not the cleanest to begin with.”

Those environments can include a wide variety of places around homes and neighborhoods. And when these areas have lingering rotting materials, the housefly will go for it.

“Anything that is organic is generally what these houseflies are going after it,” Rosenwald stated. “So it can be anything ranging from things like compost piles or garbage that you maybe left a little bit too long, garbage cans, dumpsters. It can also be things like pet waste. So they can really kind of take advantage of pretty much any rotting organic material that they can get their little tarsi on.”

After landing on contaminated materials, flies can then land on kitchen counters, food or other household surfaces, potentially transferring disease-causing pathogens.

According to the National Pest Management Association, house flies are capable of spreading illnesses including typhoid fever, salmonellosis and norovirus, along with other foodborne diseases.

Experts say prevention starts with good sanitation practices.

“One of the main things that you can do in terms of house fly management is just making sure that you are cleaning up after yourself,” Rosewood said. “So not only making sure that you’re doing regular taking out of the garbage, but also making sure that you’re doing regular cleaning and everything like that.”

In addition to keeping homes clean and disposing of garbage regularly, homeowners can reduce the number of flies entering their homes by installing window and door screens and making sure doors and other entry points remain closed whenever possible.

To understand more about flies and mosquitoes, you can visit the National Pest Management Association’s website.

For more pest prevention information, you can visit PestWorld.org.

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Several UCSB and Cal Poly players selected on second and final day of 2026 MLB Draft

KEYT on July 12, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Following UCSB pitcher Jackson Flora being selected #4 overall by San Francisco on the first day of the draft on Saturday, the Gauchos had five more players taken as the 2026 MLB Draft concluded with rounds 5-20 on Sunday.

Left-handed pitcher Cole Tryba went in the seventh round (#217 overall) to the Chicago Cubs.

Calvin Proskey who is also pitching this summer for the Santa Barbara Foresters, goes in the 11th round (#332) to the Cincinnati Reds.

In round 12, UCSB pitchers Nathan Acevas (#351) and AJ Krodel (Foresters) (#360) were taken by the Athletics and New York Mets respectively.

Gauchos shortstop Corey Nunez went in the 14th round (#427) to the Cubs.

Cal Poly had seven players drafted on Sunday.

The first Mustangs player selected in this year’s draft was pitcher and Paso Robles High School alum Carson Turnquist who went in the seventh round (#206) to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Fellow pitcher Josh Volmerding went in the eighth round (#244) to the Boston Red Sox.

Mustangs home run king and Arroyo Grande High School alum Ryan Tayman was drafted in round 9 (#270) by the Mets.

Relief pitcher Nick Bonn was selected in the tenth round (#294) by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Third baseman Alejandro Garza goes off the board in round 15 (#453) by the Cleveland Guardians.

Joining Garza in the fifteenth round is pitcher Griffin Naess (#457) who was drafted by the Cubs.

Pitcher Chris Downs was taken in the 19th round (#575) by the San Diego Padres.

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Fire crews on scene for vegetation fire near Highway 135

KEYT on July 12, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

LOS ALAMOS, Calif. (KEYT) – Santa Barbara County Fire crews are on scene of a three-acre vegetation fire near Highway 135 in Los Alamos.

The fire first broke out near Old Careaga Ranch Road just before 2:00 p.m. Sunday, according to the SBCFD.

More information on this fire will be provided once available to Your News Channel.

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Suspect, passenger killed after wrong-way chase on I-15 in Bingham County

KIFI on July 12, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

BINGHAM COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI)– Two people are dead following a late-night police pursuit that ended in a rollover crash on Interstate 15 near Shelley, according to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident began around 11 p.m. Saturday, July 11, when deputies with the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Joint Investigation Division responded to a residence on 1250 North West of Shelley to locate an adult man with a confirmed felony warrant.

Deputies were announcing their presence outside the home when the suspect fled in a car. Investigators say the suspect drove around the residence before heading west on 1250 North toward Interstate 15. The suspect reportedly drove without headlights and crossed into oncoming traffic before entering southbound Interstate 15 in the northbound lanes, driving the wrong way toward oncoming vehicles.

Officers attempted to position themselves to deploy spike strips to stop the vehicle. Before the strips could be used, a Bingham County deputy performed a Pursuit Immobilization Technique, or PIT maneuver, to end the pursuit. This resulted in the car to roll and leave the roadway, ejecting the suspect driver and female passenger.

The male suspect died on the scene. The female passenger was transported to Eastern Idaho Medical Center via Shelley Ambulance, where she later died from injuries.

The Eastern Idaho Critical Incident Task Force has been called in to conduct an independent investigation into the incident along with ISP District 6.

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Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder brings together riders from around the globe while giving back to local communities

KTVZ on July 12, 2026

Claire Elmer

(Update: adding corrected video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Hundreds of cyclists from around the world rolled into Central Oregon this weekend, crossing the finish line of the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder on Sunday after days of riding some of the state’s most rugged terrain.

Now in its seventh year, the sold-out event brought 400 riders to the region for a five-day, point-to-point journey across the Cascades, blending competition with history and community.

Race Director Chad Sperry says the event continues to draw a wide range of participants, from elite athletes to everyday riders.

“We’ve had some of the top professional gravel racers from around the world. We have riders from Europe, all over North America, as well as a number of amateurs that have come to race and compete this year,” Sperry said.

Unlike traditional gravel races, the Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder takes riders across historic routes once used by early settlers, offering a unique connection to the state’s past.

“This is the only point-to-point gravel race in all of North America. Roads that were built back in the mid 1800s for the pioneers and the settlers that were coming to this valley are now incorporated into these carbon bikes and high technology and these riders that are actually getting to go back and ride over these vintage roads,” Sperry said.

Beyond the race itself, organizers say the multi-day format creates a strong sense of camaraderie. Riders camp together after each stage, sharing meals and building friendships along the way.

“People that had never met before become friends over the course of this, when they ride each day together out on those amazing roads and so forth. So that community aspect is unlike anything that you see in the racing world,” Sperry said.

The event also relies heavily on support from local communities, with volunteers helping at each stop along the route. In return, organizers say they prioritize giving back.

“We get tremendous community support, so we actually give back. This year we’ll be donating close to $20,000 spread out between these communities,” Sperry said.

Organizers say those donations benefit local schools, nonprofits, and trail groups in the areas that host the race.

While this year’s Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder has come to an end, riders say the experience — and the connections made along the way — will last well beyond the finish line.

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Two vehicle crash west of Ovid injures three

KIFI on July 12, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

OVID, Idaho (KIFI)– Three people were injured Saturday night after a wheel detached from a Jeep and struck an oncoming vehicle on State Highway 36 west of Ovid, according to the Idaho State Police.

The crash happened around 10:06 p.m. on July 11 near mile marker 32.

The Idaho State Police say a 22-year-old man from Idaho Falls was driving a 2012 Jeep Wrangler when the vehicle’s front wheel came off. The detached wheel struck a 2016 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 21-year-old man from Lovell, Wyoming and had two passengers, both 22-year-old females from Montpelier, Idaho.

The Hyundai struck a tree after being hit.

The driver and both passengers in the Hyundai were taken by ground ambulance before being airlifted to a local hospital.

All occupants involved in the crash were wearing seat belts.

All lanes of travel was blocked for six hours.

The crash remains under investigation by Idaho State Police.

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Former UCSB Athlete JD Slajchert’s Remarkable Journey Heads to the Big Screen

KEYT on July 12, 2026

Joey Vergilis

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Former UC Santa Barbara basketball player, author and philanthropist JD Slajchert is adding new chapters to an already remarkable journey.

Slajchert recently became an Adjunct Professor at California Lutheran University in his hometown of Thousand Oaks, where he teaches a course focused on public speaking and helping students effectively master and tell their own stories. The role marks another milestone for the author of MoonFlower and Darling, You’re Not Alone, whose career has been built around storytelling, advocacy and inspiring others.

Now, Slajchert’s own story is heading to the screen. VictoryRoad Studios is producing a feature documentary chronicling the life-changing friendship between Slajchert and Luc Bodden, a young boy who tirelessly battled Sickle Cell Disease.

“This documentary has been unfolding in the background of my life for the past year. At its core is my relationship with Luc, how he changed my life, who I was before I met him, and who I became after his tragic passing. I believe this project can help raise awareness about sickle cell disease and serve as a beacon of hope for others,” said Slajchert”

During Slajchert’s basketball playing career, Bodden became one of his biggest supporters. Their unlikely bond would ultimately change the course of Slajchert’s life, leading him to co-found The LucStrong Foundation and write his debut novel, MoonFlower. Bodden passed away in 2016 at the age of 10.

Directed and executive produced by Mike Basone, founder and CEO of VictoryRoad Studios, the documentary follows Slajchert’s journey from basketball standout to author, speaker and advocate.

Slajchert believes the documentary is arriving at the right time, as audiences increasingly seek authentic, real-life stories.

“The documentary world is booming right now,” Slajchert said. “With so much AI-generated content and fiction saturating the market, people are looking for something real. They want to watch documentaries, learn about others and connect with genuine human experiences.”

“This project can generate a lot of exposure and, hopefully, even find a place at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival,” Slajchert said.

The film is slated to debut exclusively on VictoryRoad+, the studio’s new streaming platform featuring sports documentaries and unscripted programming.

Beyond education and filmmaking, Slajchert is also making waves in the fashion industry through a partnership with 27 Miles, the Malibu-based luxury cashmere brand who have a store in heart of Montecito. The company recently styled him in a lightweight suit from its Italian division, Vallorani, highlighting a collaboration that blends California style with Italian craftsmanship.

With a new teaching role, a major documentary in development and growing opportunities in fashion, Slajchert continues to expand his influence while staying rooted in the message that first defined his career: the power of human connection and storytelling.

To keep up with JD Slajchert, follow him on Instagram, subscribe to his YouTube channel , or visit his website for the latest updates on his projects, speaking engagements and upcoming documentary.

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Two women seriously injured in Gasconade County crash

KMIZ on July 12, 2026

Alison Patton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two women were seriously injured in a crash on Highway 50 in Gasconade County on Saturday night, according to a Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report.

A 29-year-old Union man driving a 2014 Subaru Crosstrek was stopped on the road facing west, the report says. A 1999 Ford Ranger driven by a 25-year-old Hermann man was headed west and rear-ended the stopped vehicle around 8:30 p.m.

Two passengers in the Subaru— a 25-year-old Union woman and a 29-year-old woman from Washington state— were seriously hurt in the crash. The report says both were taken by ambulance to Mercy Washington Hospital.

Both vehicles were totaled. All drivers and passengers involved were wearing seatbelts, according to the report. Neither driver was reported to be injured.

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