Santa Maria Residents Push Back Against Renaming Cesar Chavez Drive

KEYT on July 8, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Residents of Santa Maria who live on Cesar E. Chavez Drive are pushing back against the City Council’s decision to rename the street.

The surveyed residents are unanimous that they don’t want the street to be renamed.

This all started in march with reports of Chavez having been involved in sexual misconduct during his life.

Both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria decided to change their street names.

Similar name changes are happening all over the country.

At June 16th’s meeting, mayor Alica Patino spoke in strong support of changing the street’s name.

“I am in total support of this,” the mayor said. “And I think we need to stand here in the city of Santa Maria and say we want that culture changed.”

In Santa Maria, Cesar E. Chavez drive is alongside Tommie Kunst Junior High School and on the north side of the city.

“The council has taken a pretty clear action that the street is going to be renamed and thus, choose a name,” says Brett Fulgoni, City Of Santa Maria’s Public Works Director.

It is the address for no more than 60 homes, and some of those neighbors have questioned the rapid decision, as the neighborhood has strongly opposed the change.

“I went door to door and started talking and meeting with my neighbors, And when I asked if they wanted to have the name change, every single one person that I spoke with said no, not because of politics, but because of the financial strain it’s going to take on everybody,” says Stella Felix-Villarreal, who lives on Cesar E. Chavez Drive.

Others think the 26 thousand dollars estimated to cover the name change could be better spent enhancing safety measures near the school.

“We have a safety issue on the street,” says Felix-Villarreal. “We could use more stop signs, more crosswalks. Our children walk these streets in the morning and in the afternoon.”

Public Works officials have more process to go through before the street name undergoes its full change.

“It’s a lot like moving, right?” says Fulgoni. “You file the, the address change and, and get everything switched over. So it is a, it is an administrative burden for sure.”

Public input on what the new street name is to be, will be welcome at a traffic committee meeting on July 22nd.

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Portion of East Ash Street to close for a month for mural painting

KMIZ on July 8, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A portion of East Ash Street in downtown Columbia will close for about a month beginning on Thursday so a mural can by painted on a building at 110 Orr Street, a Wednesday press release from the City of Columbia says.

The closure between Orr and St. James streets will begin 7 a.m. Thursday and is expected to last through 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, the release says.

Westbound traffic on East Ash Street will be detoured north via St. James Street to Park Avenue or south through Hubbell Drive, the release says. Barricades will be placed on the road to prevent traffic from entering the area.

Sidewalks and parking lanes in the area were already closed as crews work to build a new park at a former superfund site. That closure is expected to last through Nov. 27.

The empty lot at Orr Street and Park Avenue used to be owned by Ameren. Previous reporting from 2023 says the site was determined to be a contaminated Superfund site and was cleaned up starting in 2014. The park will be named North Village Park.

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Las Cruces teen sentenced to 9 years for shooting, paralyzing victim during drug deal

KVIA on July 8, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — A Las Cruces teenager received a nine-year federal prison sentence for shooting and paralyzing an 18-year-old victim during a robbery, the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Mexico said Wednesday.

A news release said in February 2022, Matthew James Aguilar and two other people planned to meet the victim to buy marijuana. Aguilar was 16 years old at the time.

During the transaction, Aguilar and the others decided to rob instead of pay the victim. As the victim tried to drive away, Aguilar shot a gun into the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, officials said.

One of the bullets hit the victim in the back — collapsing his lung and permanently paralyzing him, officials said.

Officials said the victim has quadriplegia, which is paralysis affecting all four limbs of the body and the torso.

After the shooting, Aguilar denied involvement when law enforcement interviewed him, the news release said. Investigators later found social media messages where Aguilar admitted he shot the victim while trying to rob him. He also said he admitted to it during jail calls.

Aguilar was first charged as a juvenile but later agreed to be prosecuted and sentenced as an adult, according to the news release. He pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by threats and violence.

After his prison release, he’ll be subject to three years of supervised release.

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Columbia City Council receives ordinance outlawing water pollution from camps

KMIZ on July 8, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Columbia is expected to receive the required waterway permit from the Department of Natural Resources, with an ordinance to manage encampments near bodies of water up for a final vote in the coming weeks.

“The department expects to issue the permit by the end of this month,” DNR spokesman Brian Quinn said in a statement.

If approved, the measure would update City Ordinance 12A-178, which bans dumping trash, yard waste and other debris into waterways, adding, “human waste or litter from encampment activities or other gatherings in close proximity to any waterway.”

Columbia illegal dumping memoDownload

The update was created as part of the City’s stormwater management plan, which is required for the DNR’s MS4 permit. The MS4 permit is a federal EPA regulation that helps control the area’s water quality by preventing pollutants and trash from entering the water, while allowing the city to dispose of its sewage legally.

DNR has not been satisfied with Columbia’s current stormwater management plan and previously required the City to create ordinances that resolve the issue of pollution from homeless camps. DNR has stated that Hinkson Creek, Grindstone Creek and Hominy Branch contain E. coli from human waste from homeless encampments near the streams.

The measure is up for final reading by the City Council on July 20.

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Lohman man pleads guilty to federal child porn charges

KMIZ on July 8, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Lohman man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to federal child sex abuse material charges, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.

Anthony Dale Pitts-Fugate, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child sex abuse materials in separate cases. Charges were filed in 2023.

The release says an undercover agent for the FBI was monitoring aa “public online group” that were sending child sex abuse materials to each other, which included Pitts-Fugate sending images of a young child.

The release says Pitts-Fugate contacted a 16-year-old girl and requested sexual images from the youth. FBI agents applied for a search warrant for his SnapChat accounts and determined Pitts-Fugate portrayed himself as a 16-year-old to convince minors to give him child sex abuse materials, the release says.

Court documents in previous reporting claim Pitts-Fugate sent child sex abuse materials to an undercover FBI agent in a KIK chatroom.

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9 to 5, JR happening this month

KYMA on July 8, 2026

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Art Center is presents 9 to 5, JR, the musical based on the 1980 film 9 to 5.

The musical is taking place at the Historic Yuma Theatre Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, the story, set in the late 1970s, follows three very different coworkers, who all share one problem: Mr. Hart, their boss.

The three co-workers then team up to not only turn the tables on their boss, but also transform the office into a “fair and and supportive environment,” the Yuma Art Center says.

It is a fast-paced, funny, and heartwarming story filled with big musical numbers, friendship, courage, and standing up for what’s right.

For more information and to get tickets, click here.

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City of Coachella appoints Gustavo J. Romo as new City Manager

KESQ on July 8, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

COACHELLA, Calif. (July 8, 2026) — The City of Coachella has officially appointed Gustavo J. Romo as its new City Manager after a comprehensive recruitment process. Romo has been serving in the role since June 15, 2026.

With more than 32 years of municipal leadership experience, Romo most recently served as Deputy City Manager and Interim City Manager for the City of Beaumont. He has also held executive leadership positions in Bell Gardens and several Southern California cities, specializing in community development, economic development, and strategic planning.

“On behalf of the City Council, we are honored to welcome Mr. Romo as Coachella’s new City Manager,” said Mayor Dr. Frank Figueroa. “His leadership experience and commitment to public service will help guide the City as we continue building on our progress.”

Romo said he is excited to serve the community and help lead Coachella’s continued growth.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead such a talented team and a caring, engaged community,” Romo said. “Coachella has grown significantly and has tremendous potential to continue expanding in a sustainable and forward-looking manner.”

As City Manager, Romo oversees the City’s day-to-day operations and works closely with the City Council to implement its priorities while delivering quality services to residents. His appointment reflects the City’s commitment to strong leadership and long-term success.

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The Living Desert CEO Allen Monroe to retire after 12-Year tenure

KESQ on July 8, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

PALM DESERT, Calif. (July 7, 2026) — The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens announced that President and CEO Allen Monroe will retire this fall after more than 12 years leading the organization through a period of significant growth and global recognition.

Since joining The Living Desert in 2014, Monroe has overseen a dramatic expansion of the nonprofit, increasing annual program revenue from $4.5 million to $28.6 million while nearly doubling attendance and leading $85 million in campus improvements. Major projects included Australian Adventures, Rhino Savanna, the Patti and Jack Grundhofer Entry Plaza, Bighorn Cafe, and the Oasis Splash Pad, with the upcoming Lion Ridge exhibit scheduled to break ground later this year.

Monroe also expanded the organization’s international conservation efforts, helping The Living Desert become one of only 11 AZA-accredited institutions accepted into the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). During his tenure, the zoo launched the International Desert Conservation Summit, helped establish World Desert Day, and broadened conservation partnerships around the world.

Board Chair Bill Appel credited Monroe with transforming The Living Desert into a world-class conservation organization, while Chief Operating Officer RoxAnna Breitigan praised his commitment to animal welfare and staff.

In addition to growing its conservation impact, Monroe strengthened the organization’s financial position, increasing its endowment to $92 million and expanding educational access through programs serving Title I schools, SNAP/EBT families, and guests with autism.

The Living Desert’s Board of Directors will launch a national search for its next president and CEO as Monroe prepares to return to his hometown with his wife to spend more time with family.

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Developer of unstable building in NYC says it was never in danger of collapse

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Lisa Rozner

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — Construction crews have been working night and day to stabilize a building on 42nd Street that had two columns buckle and several floors begin to sag.

The former Pfizer headquarters, which is in the process of being converted from office to residential use, remains under close watch as engineers continue investigating what caused the failure.

The project involves adding more stories to an existing building.

Crews have been reinforcing the building since those two structural columns buckled.

The Department of Buildings said crews worked through the night and made significant progress stabilizing the impacted building at 235 E. 42nd St. in Midtown.

Officials say significant progress has been made in stabilizing the building. Department of Buildings inspectors and engineers remain on site around the clock. There’s been no movement of the building in the last 24 hours, officials say.

Supports are being added to every floor from the ninth floor up to the roof. Large carts of pipe columns could be seen outside the building Wednesday.

Four other buildings remain evacuated as a precaution. Wednesday afternoon, 42nd Street between Second and Third avenues reopened to vehicular traffic.

Gus Manessis, owner of a nearby pizzera, said his business is suffering and is not even half of what it would typically be.

“Of course it is an inconvenience to me, but you live in New York City, you’re ready for anything,” area resident Elinor Ruskin said.

“He’s trying to cut corners”

Nathan Berman, the principal and founder of developer MetroLoft, spoke with CBS News New York’s Lisa Rozner extensively about what he thinks may have gone wrong.

He said the building was never at risk of collapsing, adding the worst he thinks would’ve happened is the sagging would have increased by “another four or five inches.”

The union blamed the two failing columns and sagging floors on the fact that most of the job was done by non-union workers.

Outside the building Wednesday, a moving billboard reading “Shame on MetroLoft” could be seen.

“OK, he’s trying to cut corners,” said Anthony Williamson of Construction and General Building Laborers’ Local 79.

“We’re not fully union, and we’re not fully non-union. But we do have union labor on site. That’s number one. Number two, it’s a little self-serving for the unions now to pile on and claim safety concerns when we’ve clearly identified the issue,” Berman said.

The shoring-up work should be completed by Wednesday night or Thursday morning, he said.

“We may have missed the two columns that buckled”

So what does Berman think caused the issue?

“It’s not a design issue. This issue is strictly structural, has nothing to do with the conversion aspect of it. It is very strictly structural. We put more load on the columns than they could support,” he said.

Berman pointed to possible human error.

“A certain section of a new addition in the building, in this massive building, having added a certain amount of load to the existing building and having reinforced most of the other columns, we may have missed the two columns that buckled,” he said. “We may have not reinforced them properly, or we may have missed them.”

“This building never was in any risk of any sort of collapse”

Berman said the impacted area encompassed 18,000 square feet in a building that’s 950,000 square feet.

“It is a small section of the building that has a problem, and in terms of the overall building, it is less than three or four percent of the building. So in reality, this building never was in any risk of any sort of collapse or any portion of this building was at any risk of collapse,” he said.

Berman praised the city’s response to the situation.

“They did absolutely the right thing by blocking traffic to make sure they have time to secure the site and do their proper inspection, which they have,” he said.

“Being blown out of proportion”

Berman said the project will still go forward and will be completed in a year, on schedule.

He said he thinks future renters in the building will understand “when something is being blown out of proportion.” He said that person will also understand the quality of construction of office buildings that are being converted to residential use is “far superior to anything you can afford to build today ground up.”

Berman said buildings constructed in the 1950s and 1960s “were built to different loads, to much higher loads than is required today for residential use” and are “sturdier than anything you could afford to build today.”

The buildings have taller ceilings and “will outlast” any recent new construction, according to Berman.

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.

Stamp price increase; what you need to know

KESQ on July 8, 2026

Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Stamps will be going up four cents by July 12th. The price is going up to 82 cents from the previous 78 cents for the Forever stamps.

Since the Forever stamps were introduced the price has increased 100 percent over the last 19 years.

USPS corporate tells me “In the midst of the severe financial crisis facing the postal service and continued rising operational costs, the Postal Service is using all available tools, including available regulatory pricing authority, To ensure we can continue to fulfill our universal service obligation and serve the American public.”

Kay Villas, a resident tells me “I pay almost everything online, so I use a stamp once a month. And so it’s not that big of a deal to me, but yet it’s a huge deal to so many people. And, I remember Penny post cards, so it’s gone up an awful lot, and it just keeps going up.”

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