Meta announces strategic venture with BlackRock to develop Northeast El Paso data center

KVIA on July 28, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Tuesday, Meta announced a venture to finance the development of a data center under construction in Northeast El Paso. According to a news release, the venture involves BlackRock, an asset management company.

The news release said Meta spent more than 15 years developing, constructing and operating data centers. It said BlackRock (with Global Infrastructure Partners and HPS Investment Partners as part of it) compliments Metas strategy.

As part of the project structure and financing, Meta will enter lease agreements with the venture for use of the entire data center campus. It said the leases have a four-year initial term with four options to expand, providing Meta flexibility over a possible 20-year term.

Meta also will provide residual value guarantees (RVG), which have an aggregate threshold of $13 billion that decreases over time, the company said. If certain conditions are met within the first 16 years of the lease term, Meta’s maximum RVG payment would equal any shortfall between the fair value at the time and the RVG threshold for the covered property.

“The parties have committed to fund their respective pro rata share of the approximately $14 billion in total development costs for the buildings and long-lived power, cooling, and connectivity infrastructure at the campus,” Meta said.

At financial close, Meta will contribute the venture land and construction-in-progress assets will be valued at $2.3 billion.

BlackRock will make a cash contribution of $4.9 billion, Meta said.

Additionally, as part of the 80/20 split, Meta will get a one-time distribution of $1 billion to align ownership stakes, the company said.

According to the news release, funds managed by BlackRock will own an 80% interest in the venture while Meta will keep the remaining 20 percent. A $12.5 billion debt financing will fund a part of BlackRock’s investment.

“Building the infrastructure for superintelligence is key to making sure the benefits of this technology are distributed to everyone,” said Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder and CEO in a statement. “Our partnership with Larry and the team at BlackRock allows us to move faster and at greater scale — pairing our deep expertise in designing and operating world-class data centers with one of the world’s leading infrastructure investors.”

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said, “We’re excited to partner with Mark and the Meta leadership team on the El Paso data center campus, which will create thousands of skilled jobs and help drive economic growth in the local community,” 

Meta said the data center, which is currently under construction, will have 1 gigawatt of compute capacity.

Meta will provide construction management, administrative and property management services for the campus. It also said it will be the initial sole occupant of the data center until it’s complete.

The transaction is expect to close in the coming days, and the venture is expected to begin bringing the capacity online in 2028.

Meta said the data center in El Paso has an investment of more than $10 billion from the company, which supports 4,000 construction jobs and 300 operational jobs once it’s complete. It said 2,300 workers are onsite now.

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Rep. Raul Ruiz visits El Centro UPS Depot

KYMA on July 28, 2026

Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.) visited El Centro Tuesday morning to tour the UPS Depot.

During the tour, he met with Teamsters Local 542 leaders and UPS employees as well as recognized the installation of new air conditioning units for delivery workers.

“We got 11 air conditioning UPS vehicles, we have swamp coolers, and we have fans,” Rep. Ruiz shared.

The upgrades followed years of advocacy and concerns from local Teamsters and a direct push from Ruiz to UPS leadership.

“Often times communities like the Imperial Valley get left behind, but I have made it my mission to not leave anybody behind or not leave anybody without,” Ruiz expressed.

For those working in the heart of the Imperial Valley, one UPS worker, Camila Corrales, said cooling is a necessary, not just in the driver’s seat, but where the cargo is stored.

Corrales, who has spent 27 years on the job, said her current route offers some relief, but said the intensity of the desert temperatures remains unforgiving.

“My route is San Diego. I have the AC [going]…once I get to San Diego, I open the windows because it’s fresh. It’s cool,” Corrales spoke.

She also shared she had heat stroke years ago.

While Ruiz applauded UPS leadership for their willingness to find a solution to this issue, he says the ultimate goal is to expand protections to competing companies.

“We’re gonna continue to make sure that all the workers, not just who at UPS, but other workers at USPS, the Postal Service of course, and all the other companies Amazon, FedEx, you name it…nobody should be driving in 115° weather,” Ruiz shared.

Congressman Ruiz is currently backing legislation to pass federal heat safety standards and require air conditioning in all delivery vehicles nationwide.

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Lawsuit challenges Trump administration’s latest bid to drain Mojave Desert

KESQ on July 28, 2026

City News Service

LOS ANGELES (CNS) – Environmental organizations sued the Trump administration today for approving a private company’s plan to resurrect a defunct oil and gas pipeline to transport and sell groundwater out of the Mojave Desert, a move the plaintiffs contend would devastate imperiled species like the desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.

In their Los Angeles federal court lawsuit, the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club allege the Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the Cadiz water project pipeline ignores the project’s environmental harms and violates the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws governing public lands.

“BLM’s attempt to revive this inadequately studied project is another example of how the Trump administration is selling out the American people and our public lands to private industry hellbent on profiting from natural resources,” plaintiffs attorney Elizabeth Forsyth said in a statement. “It’slike Groundhog’s Day: they still haven’t corrected the legal errors previously identified by the court, and we’re filing another lawsuit to address the same concerns.”

The pipeline crosses Mojave Trails National Monument and other protected federal public land in southeastern California. Its operation would dry up freshwater springs that desert plants and animals need to survive, the suit said, resulting in devastation for imperiled species like the desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.

A message sent to the BLM seeking comment was not immediately answered.

“The Trump administration is once again handing out favors to its cronies determined to suck the Mojave Desert dry,” said Lisa Belenky, a CBD senior attorney. “Courts have repeatedly ruled against the Cadiz project and yet the federal government is ignoring the consequences of this disastrous groundwater pumping scheme. Desert creatures like the bighorn sheep won’t survive if key springs and seeps they need are lost. That’s why we are determined to keep fighting this ill-conceived project.”

Plaintiffs contend Cadiz plans to extract far more groundwater from the desert aquifers than is replenished naturally. The drawdown of the water table will deplete and expose desert playa lakebeds, resulting in air pollution from windswept sediments laden with toxic heavy metals, according to the suit filed in Los Angeles federal court.

In 2021, environmental groups sued the BLM when it approved the Cadiz project in the final days of the first Trump administration and in 2022 a federal judge vacated the approval.

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Blackfoot man reported missing is found safe

KIFI on July 28, 2026

Seth Ratliff

UPDATE Wednesday, July 29, 2026: Bingham County Sheriff’s Office reported that they have located Thomas Saxton, and he is safe. It did not say where or how he was found. Saxton was reported missing on Monday night.

ORIGINAL STORY:

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bingham County Sheriff’s Office has issued an endangered missing persons alert for 68-year-old Thomas Saxton, who was last seen around 10 p.m. on Monday, July 27, in the area of East River Road in Blackfoot.

Saxton is described as 6ft 1in, weighing 215lbs with a short grey beard. Authorities are particularly concerned for Saxton’s safety because he does not have his required medication.

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 785-1234.

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Teen accused of killing 13-year-old enters involuntary manslaughter plea

KVIA on July 28, 2026

Nina Gallegos

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) –- Monday, the defendant in the trial of 13-year-old Chris Carnero entered a plea of involuntary manslaughter and negligent use of a firearm by a person under the age of 19, according to Doña Ana County District Attorney Fernando Macìas.

The defendant, also 13 years old, faces up to two years in a juvenile detention center. That sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Macìas says there is a notable difference in this case as compared to the Young Park shooting trials.

“There is a huge difference between a first degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. That in itself dictates part of what the sentence can be. But the age of the child was notably younger than the individuals in the Young Park shooting,” Macìas said.

Macìas said the maximum sentence for a 13-year-old is two years in a juvenile facility, regardless of what the crime is. He said the DA’s office will ask for the maximum penalty.

Macìas said the age of teens involved in shootings is getting younger.

“So that started people thinking, well, shouldn’t we be able to impose more stringent penalties on children that are younger but still committing crimes at an adult level? So that’s that’s what’s triggered some of the discussion,” he said. “But in this situation it’s an involuntary manslaughter charge. It is not a first degree.”

Macìas said there should be an expansion of the opportunity to prosecute and keep children incarcerated if they are killing with the intent to do that. However, he said this case is different.

“Involuntary manslaughter is the lowest level of charge related to the killing of an individual. So I don’t know, and I don’t want to speculate or guess that the legislature is going to be very enthusiastic in making that change,” Macias said.

The mother of 13-year-old Chris Carnero released a statement after a motion hearing Monday.

“This fight has never just been about the law; it has always been about Chris. Chris was an absolutely incredible person whose enormous capacity for love touched every single person he met. The light he brought into this world continues to shine, and it is his spirit that has guided us through our darkest days. The outpouring of love we are seeing now is a direct reflection of the love Chris gave so freely during his life,” Carnero said.

Janel Carnero, Chris’s mother, has been outspoken against juvenile crime and gun violence since her son was killed in March.

Carnero will also speak about the verdict and how she plans to move forward.

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Idaho among finalists for DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus project

KIFI on July 28, 2026

Curtis Jackson

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)— Idaho has been named one of five states under consideration to host a new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus. The campus is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative aimed at strengthening and modernizing the nation’s nuclear fuel cycle while creating thousands of jobs and attracting billions of dollars in investment.

The DOE announced that Idaho, Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Lousiana were selected from 28 applications submitted by 26 states. The agency has signed memorandums of understanding with each state.

According to the DOE, the proposed campuses would support activities across the full nuclear fuel cycle, including fuel fabrication, enrichment, recycling and reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, and final disposal solutions. Depending on the host site, campuses could also include advanced reactor projects, power generation facilities, advanced manufacturing operations and data centers.

“Idaho is honored to have been selected as one of five initial contenders to further explore the development of Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” Gov. Brad Little said in a statement. “For more than 70 years, Idaho has been at the forefront of nuclear innovation, and we are grateful to President Trump, Secretary Wright, and the U.S. Department of Energy for recognizing our unmatched expertise and legacy.”

Little added that Idaho looks forward to working with DOE to advance the nuclear fuel cycle, strengthen national energy security and create good-paying jobs.

Idaho is home to the Idaho National Laboratory near Idaho Falls. INL has long served as the nation’s leading nuclear energy research laboratory and has played a central role in advanced reactor development, nuclear fuel research and clean energy technology innovation.

“The United States has an opportunity to strengthen its nuclear enterprise for generations to come, and today’s announcement is a critical step in that process,” Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner said. “We’re pleased that Idaho has been selected to advance to the next phase alongside other highly qualified states. Idaho has spent decades building the infrastructure, expertise and partnerships that support the full nuclear lifecycle, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Department of Energy as it evaluates the strongest path forward.”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the campuses are intended to help rebuild domestic nuclear capabilities and support what he called an American “nuclear renaissance.”

“These campuses will be massive generators of economic growth, create thousands of high-paying jobs, and be crucial to unleashing America’s nuclear renaissance,” Wright said.

DOE estimates a single campus could attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate as much as $10 billion in state and local tax revenue and create nearly 25,000 jobs.

The DOE said states that ultimately pursue projects will negotiate hosting agreements at a later date. No final site selections have been announced, and the department did not provide a timeline for narrowing the field.

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Republican state senator, secretary of state compare Columbia library’s ‘Rainbow Story Time’ to sexual grooming

KMIZ on July 28, 2026

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

State Sen. Rick Brattin and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said at a news conference that an LGBTQ+-themed event held last weekend at the Columbia Public Library included “grooming” of children.

The Republican politicians are pushing for an investigation into an event called “Rainbow Story Time” that was held Saturday at the library. The event was billed as a “queer-led” story time appropriate for families.

Hoskins has threatened the library’s funding, saying the event might involve material inappropriate for children.

Brattin, who sits on the Senate’s education committee, said the event sexualized children, emphasizing its acceptance of dressing in drag.

Hoskins said at the news conference that he plans to revisit the rule on funding for libraries because of the controversy. He called out one of the books from the story time, “Big Wig,” as “grooming” material because of its theme, which involves dressing in drag.

Hoskins said he would push for a law to outlaw these types of events.

“If it’s not illegal, then we’re going to be working with the legislature,” Hoskins said. “I had several legislators that have called out to me and said, ‘Hey, if this is not illegal, we want to file bills to ensure this is illegal in the future.'”

Hoskins added that his office has allocated over $1.2 million to the Daniel Boone Regional Library over the last four years.

“I’m going to revisit the rule on the and the formula allocation that goes to each public library to make sure that events like this aren’t funded with taxpayer dollars,” Hoskins said.

Brattin said the material at Rainbow Story Time was not “G-rated.”

Hoskins said he did not read either book, only excerpts through photographs of the books online.

“I did not, I think you had to pay for it, and most certainly I wasn’t going to pay for any of that crap,” Hoskins said.

Brattin did not mention if he read the books.

Under Chapter 573 of the Missouri Constitution, for material to be “pornographic for minors” it must meet all three requirements: cater sexual content to minors or, “cater or appeal to a prurient interest of minors,” clearly show nudity or sexual acts and lack “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”

While specific examples of illegal material was not show, Brattin warned the books were grooming children.

“It’s pushing a narrative of a movement that tends to want to grow, and that’s what we’re protecting, it’s making sure that not one lifestyle that is sexualizing children is being pushed upon them.” Brattin said. “You take toddlers and you say it’s okay for drag shows, that it’s okay for cross-dressing, then it’s okay for men to be in the locker room and in the bathroom with you, you dismantle the guard of which we’re supposed to be putting kids and protecting kids, so it’s absolutely a grooming”

The comments prompted a response from state Rep. Wick Thomas, D-Kansas City, a former librarian, who held a news conference Tuesday focused on public libraries, intellectual freedom and access to community programming.

Thomas said the threats from state officials were unfounded and emphasized that families chose to attend the story time.

“It was a lovely storytime attended by dozens of families who all chose to be there. These books being accessible to our communities is not what they said it was. I do not believe in government censorship, and all of these families chose to be there.”

Thomas also defended the role of librarians in choosing books for their communities.

“I think it’s also important that librarians are uniquely poised to be able to represent their community and buy books for their community that the community wants. Queer youth exist. I know because I was one of them. I came out at 16 in rural Missouri, actually, in the same district that Senator Brattin represents now, which is why it is especially infuriating that his. language and this political stunt that he’s using for his campaign is going to harm kids like me. Kids who grew up in rural Missouri who were just looking for community while legislators in the Missouri State capital made their lives harder.”

The Daniel Boone Regional Library said Tuesday that it received Brattin’s request for information Friday and is in the process of gathering the requested documents.

In a statement to ABC 17 News, the library said Rainbow Story Time was “in full compliance with all statutes and regulations.” The library said the program consisted of age-appropriate picture books, songs and activities suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, and that “Absolutely no materials prohibited by current laws were presented to any child in attendance.”

The library added its programs receive age-appropriate designations and that it maintains policies regarding parental control over a minor’s access to materials, as well as a process for parents or guardians to challenge those designations.

Thomas said the controversy could also have broader implications for public education and library funding.

“We do not need threats from government officials. We are one of the last in teacher pay. What we need is to be funding education, not threatening librarians. What they have received this week was threats of complete defunding and potentially registering librarians as sex offenders for having books like Rainbow Saurus,” Thomas said. 

Rep. Kathy Steinhoff (D-Columbia) told ABC 17 News before the news conference that she has not heard complaints from Boone County residents on the event.

“I hate that these elected officials are trying to make this a political moment for them because our library is a fantastic example of serving our community and the needs and the interests of our community. And this programming is not of concern,” Steinhoff (D-Columbia) said. “It is nowhere near the allegations that they are making, it is not any infringement of our law, it is just good literacy and community engagement happening in our local library.”

Rep. Stephen Webber (D-Columbia) posted on X Tuesday in opposition to Brattin.

“Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library,” Webber said in a post.

Brattin has been one of the biggest anti-trans, pro-gun nut legislators in Jefferson City and now he’s going after our Boone County public library. 1/3 https://t.co/G80ULq0qk0

— Stephen Webber 🇺🇸 (@s_webber) July 28, 2026

In a statement Tuesday, the Daniel Boone Regional Library told ABC 17 News they received Brattin’s Sunshine Law request and are currently collecting the requested documents.

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UC Santa Barbara START Program Helps Teens With Autism Build Social Skills

KEYT on July 28, 2026

Patricia Martellotti

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The University of California, Santa Barbara’s START program is helping teens with autism strengthen social skills through peer mentors and structured group activities.

The 10-week summer program brings together autistic teens and trained college student mentors to practice everyday conversations, teamwork and relationship-building in a supportive environment. Activities are designed to help participants gain confidence while navigating real-life social situations.

Program leaders hope teens will build meaningful connections and develop skills they can carry into school, work and their communities. Families also receive guidance and resources to support social growth beyond the program.

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Good Samaritan Shelters Honored In Santa Maria Following Steven Cade Serenade

KEYT on July 28, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Good Samaritan Shelter’s Hope Village hosted a Nashville-based country music artist in Santa Maria this afternoon.

The non-profit received a special honor immediately following.

Steven Cade played some music and made sure the good vibes would continue after his stop at Good Samaritan’s Hope Village on Tuesday.

The Nashville musician donated an autographed guitar to the village.

“People in homeless shelters can’t afford a guitar,” says Steven Cade. “They can’t afford to even see a show. So I come in and I perform, and I bring a guitar to be used like a library book by the residents.”

Members of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber Of Commerce joined the event, and announced Good Samaritan as Non-Profit Of The Year immediately following Cade’s music.

“We’ve been to many shelters, and what I’m witnessing right now is—I don’t even know if I’ve ever seen anything quite like this, which is which is really inspiring,” says Cade.

Hope Village has served nearly 300 individuals in its first two years, well ahead of its goal of serving 200 people.

The non-profit helps clients transition to permanent housing.

Good Samaritan officials say 75% of hope village’s “graduates” successfully remain housed long-term, and the village keeps about 100 unhoused people under a roof every day.

“We’ve also had a lot of success around—we have recuperative care beds here, so we have a lot of beds in partnership with Dignity Health,” says Kirsten Cahoon, spokesperson for Santa Maria’s Good Samaritan Shelter. “So we’re able to bring folks in that are homeless and also have medical needs and be able to get their surgeries.”

Santa Maria is on Cade’s list of stops for his International Giving Guitars tour, in partnership with nonprofits Gibson Gives and the Guitar Center Music Foundation.

“We have clients from all of our different shelter and recovery programs coming this afternoon,” says Cahoon. “We are super excited for him to have chosen to come here to the Central Coast.”

The Giving Guitars Tour seeks to raise funds and awareness for homelessness.

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Dangerous Waves Return to Central Coast Despite Hurricane Switching Directions

KEYT on July 28, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Just when beach lovers thought the latest hurricane threat was turning out to sea, a lasting message is crashing back along the California coastline in the next few days.

The National Weather Service has an alert out, especially for those who think it will be an easy summer day at the waterfront.

Of course thousands of people in coastal cities and their visitors are heading to the beach to “beat the heat,” caution needs to be packed along with water, sunscreen and a hat.

Swells from hurricane activity in the Pacific will generate elevated surf across south and southwest-facing beaches as well as very strong and dangerous rip currents.

This will especially hit Ventura’s Surfer’s Point and possibly find its way into Santa Barbara’s waterfront past the Channel Islands. There are also concerns along beaches in Northern Santa Barbara County and Southern San Luis Obispo County.

Rocks and jetty areas where the public enjoys exploring are dangerous in these conditions. Sneaker waves could knock you into the water or cause an injury.

Rebecca Heller from Los Angeles visited Butterfly Beach with her family Tuesday and said, “there’s going to be bigger waves and more power in the waves and some locations can’t handle that size.”

With the Category Five size of Hurricane Genevieve in the Pacific she said, “at a point break that might that might be a good thing for a surfer but at a beach break  that might be a terrible thing. That’s going to be a mess and dangerous, really dangerous for people who don’t what they are doing.”

A teenager who enjoys swimming and surfing said she won’t test the power of the ocean when it is changing by a storm system. Lucy Gallagher said, “keeping yourself up and paddling with huge waves that would be a lot and I would get pushed back and thrown back in. If I was swimming in the ocean and all of a sudden I see these big waves that are  hurling me then I would get out.”

Courtney Johnson chose a quieter Montecito beach and said, “it is much more accessible, and you can leave pretty quickly if you need to.”

Some areas of Southern California have already had thousands of rescues by lifeguards since last weekend. Johnson said, “and it makes me feel for the lifeguards as well  and they need to be paid more. There needs to be a lot more lifeguards out there.” She said it was, “insane the amount of people I saw out there with the giant waves.”

Her advice was also to let the lifeguards handle the rescues with their training.

Johnson said, “when people come out to help the lifeguards, lifeguards are telling them ‘no’  don’t come out here don’t become another casualty out here.”

The water temperatures over Southern California have been going up in the last week. Readings from San Diego, Santa Monica and Santa Barbara have been 70 to 78 degrees. That’s significantly higher than the normal range of 60 to 68 degrees.

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