El Paso USA fans hang their heads high following Round of 16 loss to Belgium

KVIA on July 6, 2026

Max Zepeda

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — For nearly a month, the FIFA World Cup brought fans across the Borderland together as the U.S. Men’s National Team continues to surprise in it’s now lengthy run in the tournament.

Monday, Team USA returned to the pitch to take on Belgium in the Round of 16 in Seattle, and fans repping their red, white and blue seemed to be as enthusiastic and hopeful as ever.

However, that excitement quickly faded over the course of Monday night, as the Americans fell to the Belgians by a final score of 4-1, marking it the second straight Men’s World Cup the U.S. was eliminated by European team by three goals in the Round of 16.

Their energy prior to the match came to light after a stunning decision by FIFA Sunday morning — suspending a red card penalty on USA forward Folarin Balogun and allowing him to play in Monday’s match.

Balogun, who scored three goals in USA’s first four World Cup matches, brings a much-needed boost to the the team while sparking much discussion and controversy on the timing of FIFA’s decision.

Regardless, fans were optimistic about the future of U.S. men’s soccer following this year’s World Cup.

“I think they’re attracting a more crowd and I think soccer is going to grow in the US within like the next ten years,” Mike Nevarez, an El Paso native and USA fan told ABC 7. “Maybe in like 12 years, we’re probably gonna be competing for a championship.

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Palm Desert Aquatic Center offers swim lessons and financial aid for families

KESQ on July 6, 2026

Kiera McKinney

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)- As temperatures rise across the Coachella Valley, more families are heading to pools, lakes, and beaches.

At the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, swim lessons begin as early as just six months old and continue all the way through teen years.

Palm Desert Aquatic Center offers financial assistance options, including YMCA based aid and county-funded grant programs through First 5 Riverside County for qualifying families.

David Keyes, the manager of the Palm Desert Aquatic Center said “when it comes to swim lessons, swim lessons end up being a life skill that you’re teaching a child, and they carry that lesson for the rest of their life.”

Alani Navarro, the aquatics coordinator said “since we’ve started our first five program last summer, our enrollment has skyrocketed.. double of what we had in previous summers, especially those under five years old. “

Instructors say the goal is not just the technique, but the confidence in the water.

Navarro talked about a specific instance with confidence, “He would, you know, run out of the pool every single time, start crying to his parents. After like a week of trying and trying, he finally got in the pool and he loved his instructor” said Navarro.

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Somerton kicks off Fourth of July weekend with celebration, drone show and fireworks

KYMA on July 6, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA)-The City of Somerton is kicking off the holiday weekend with a Fourth of July celebration Friday night.

The event is open to everyone in the community to enjoy and celebrate America’s 250th birthday with live music, food vendors, water balloons, and a highly anticipated drone show and fireworks display.

“We are having fireworks and a drone show tonight. I think it’s a really fun thing to see something a little different or a little outside of the traditional one with the drone show,” one organizer said.

The drone show and firework finale starts at midnight at Council Avenue Park in Somerton.

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Caballeros de Yuma hosts annual Independence Day flag raising ceremony

KYMA on July 6, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Caballeros de Yuma hosted their annual Independence Day flag raising ceremony to honor and celebrate the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our country.

The ceremony kicked off with a flag retirement ceremony followed by the flag raising ceremony. Organizers say this ceremony is a great way to honor those who have fought for our freedom.

Derek Egeberg of Caballeros de Yuma said, “Again, just a great way to start the Fourth of July Independence Day. Nothing says let’s be honored as Americans watching our nation’s flag be raised to our national anthem.”

The stars and stripes were proudly raised by the Young Marines as the crowd stood by for the national anthem and other patriotic songs to honor our Independence Day.

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Cottage Health Launches Women’s Health Center in Santa Barbara

KEYT on July 6, 2026

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Cottage Health is expanding its focus on women’s health through a new Center for Women’s Health in Santa Barbara.

The center brings together a wide range of services under one coordinated model.

It’s designed to support women through every stage of life from preventive care and wellness visits to more specialized medical needs.

Dr. Varner, a family physician and healthcare leader, will serve as Medical Director of the center. She joined Cottage Health in 2024 and has helped oversee the growth of primary care services throughout the region.

The focus of the new approach is to make healthcare easier to navigate by improving coordination between providers and expanding access to care within one connected system.

As demand for women’s healthcare continues to grow, Cottage Health is working to create a more seamless experience for patients seeking support, treatment and preventive services.

The story explores Cottage Health’s vision for women’s healthcare and what the new center could mean for women and families across Santa Barbara County.

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Tennessee man seriously injured in Miller County motorcycle crash

KMIZ on July 6, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 59-year-old man from Lebanon, Tennessee, was seriously injured Sunday afternoon in a crash on Route C in Miller County, according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The report says the man crashed his 2021 Harley Davidson while heading northbound on Route C, just south of SC Loop.

The report says the man failed to negotiate a curve and went off the right side of the road. The bike hit a sign and a barbed wire fence, according to the report.

The man was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, the report says. He was brought to Lake Regional Hospital by ambulance.

The bike had moderate damage. MSHP reports do not name those involved in crashes.

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El Paso Animal Services sees influx of lost dogs after Fourth of July fireworks

KVIA on July 6, 2026

Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – El Paso Animal Services expected a big intake of animals during the Fourth of July weekend. The holiday is usually one of the busiest and most stressful times of the year for shelters because loud fireworks scare animals out of their homes.

Throughout the weekend, lost and found dogs have been posted on El Paso Facebook watch pages. Residents will post pictures and addresses of lost and found pets.

Over 300 dogs were brought into the shelter this past Fourth of July weekend, according to El Paso Animal Services spokesperson Destiny Valdez.

Among them, a dog named Kentucky was recently reunited with his owner, Roberto Reynoso, at the shelter.

Reynoso spent his Fourth of July looking for his two lost dogs. He discovered Kentucky was missing after letting his dogs into the house one night.

“So all of a sudden in the night when I just let them into the house, they were not there,” Reynoso said.

Reynoso noted the intensity of the fireworks.

“We knew that the Fourth of July is a big party for US citizens. But we really didn’t expect the night before Fourth of July to have like, big fireworks,” Reynoso said.

After searching Facebook pages, Reynoso located Kentucky at the shelter. He is still looking for his other dog, Jack.

Valdez explained the impact of fireworks on animals. Valdez said dogs experience sounds differently than humans.

“They have a higher sense of hearing than humans, so it sounds extra loud to them,” Valdez said. “They don’t understand that it’s celebration for humans. To them, it feels like the sky is falling on them.”

El Paso Animal Services anticipates hundreds more pets will be brought in during the week following the Independence Day celebrations. In response, Valdez is encouraging community members to adopt and foster animals to help clear space at the shelter for these new arrivals.

“We are offering free adoptions thanks to the BISSELL Pets Empty the Shelters. So if you can help and you’ve been waiting to find your furry friend, we have all types of personalities here. All types of pets, all sizes, all breeds. So just come down and adopt and take a free friend home today,” Valdez said.

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Vehicle crashes into vacant building in Palm Desert, no injuries reported

KESQ on July 6, 2026

City News Service

PALM DESERT, Calif. — A vehicle crashed into a vacant building in Palm Desert late Monday morning, but no injuries were reported.

The crash was reported at 11:17 a.m. in the 44000 block of San Pablo Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Officials said the vehicle struck a vacant building, though it was not immediately clear what type of structure was involved.

Authorities have not released details about what led to the crash, and no information about the driver has been made available.

The incident remains under investigation.

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Williamsburg evacuated suddenly as fire threatened north overnight

KRDO on July 6, 2026

Bradley Davis

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Unlike its neighbors, Williamsburg was not under pre-evacuation orders Sunday night.

→ Full coverage on the Aspen Acres wildfire, including links to the latest evacuation maps

“It was scary. I was sitting on the recliner just eating ice cream, playing with the dog, and all the sudden, his phone is ringing, telling us to evacuate immediately. And we’re just kind of like, ‘Are you sure?'” Williamsburg resident Pamela Fleener said.

Fleener and her partner, Alex Aguirre, received the call just after 8 p.m. Sunday night that they were to evacuate immediately.

“We listened to it multiple times to make sure,” Aguirre said.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office ordered its first mandatory evacuations on Sunday in response to the “Aspen Acres” fire after the flames made a strong push north. The “Aspen Acres” fire Incident Command said strong winds from a passing thunderstorm stoked the fire in Fremont County’s direction.

“No, yeah, we weren’t ready,” Fleener said.

Fleener and Aguirre joined their evacuated neighbors from Coal Creek, Rockvale and the surrounding communities at the Red Cross Wildfire Shelter at Pathfinder Park in Florence.

“It’s been hectic. We slept in the truck. It was hot and cramped, but we’re safe,” Fleener said.

Fleener and Aguirre said they had to leave a lot behind in their haste, but they made it out with what mattered most.

“A puppy and three kittens,” Aguirre said.

“That’s a handful!” KRDO13’s Bradley Davis said.

“Ohhh yeah,” Aguirre said, while chuckling.

The “Aspen Acres” fire grew to over 91,000 acres Sunday night. It’s the seventh-largest wildfire in Colorado’s history. The acreage growth dropped the containment from 14% to 12%.

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Illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July lead to injuries & citations in Santa Maria

KEYT on July 6, 2026

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Thousands of illegal fireworks lit up the Santa Maria sky during a very active Fourth of July holiday weekend.

“It was extremely busy,” said Jim Austin, Santa Maria Fire Marshal. “There were tens of thousands of illegal launches of fireworks.”

According to Austin, the fire department responded to 63 calls for service on the Fourth of July and up to 60 citations were handed out, which carry a $1,000 fine.

“We had four (fire) inspectors and we had four police officers,” said Austin. “The police officers were teamed with the four inspectors, but their end of watch was at 10 p.m. Then we pared down the inspectors into teams of two. I was also out on that night as a single resource.”

Austin also reported there were multiple injuries sustained over the weekend, including one incident that resulted in the loss of fingers.

“I know of five calls that we responded to that were related to injuries, but each call had a different level of injuries,” said Austin. “I do know, without going into great detail, that at least one injury an individual lost fingers.”

For the fifth straight year, the city also used a high-altitude aircraft with video and GPS technology as an addition enforcement operation.

Due to the nature of the aerial operation, the Fire Department said it will take several days for investigations to go through the video and determine if any citations will be given out.

“Our air enforcement was in the air for almost four hours,” said Austin. “They reported back to me that they got good video, but it takes about 10 to 14 days for them to process the video and break them up in the single addresses and parcels.”

Austin acknowledged there are many people in the community who are frustrated by the heavy volume of illegal fireworks used annually in Santa Maria, particularly those that are extremely loud, and said Monday morning the City is working to address the issue.

“The City is giving a monumental effort to combat the illegal fireworks, said Austin. “The police department, the fire department, our code enforcement division, our city rangers, they’re all out there and we are doing our best, but as everybody’s aware, we are in a budget deficit and so hours and resources are limited. When you have tens of thousands of launches and a small force out there combating it, I know it’s not seen by the public, but we are out there doing the best we can with the resources we have.”

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