First Annual Idaho Outdoor Expo draws crowd to The Waterfront in Idaho Falls

KIFI on July 25, 2026

Hadley Bodell

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – One local man in Idaho Falls with a passion for hunting and fishing led to the creation of a brand-new event for the Eastern Idaho community– the Idaho Outdoor Expo. In a family-friendly environment at The Waterfront in Idaho Falls, people can explore dozens of vendors for outdoor hobbies like fishing, hunting, camping and more.

“We have some really cool vendors here,” said founder and organizer Matthew Smith. “We’ve got Olin and Archery Idaho and several sponsors inside the building.”

Hoffman Custom Rods donated a custom fly fishing rod to give away at the event. Other giveaways are available like a guided fishing trip, youth bow, gift certificates, and more.

“If you like the outdoors, today, this is the place to be,” Smith said.

Friday’s windy weather caused some vendors to take down their booths outside, but Saturday’s sunny afternoon drew hundreds out to the expo.

“I love to hunt and fish,” Smith said. “And I know a lot of people who like to hunt and fish. We’ve got really fun shows over in Boise and Salt Lake, I just thought it would be great to have something like that here.”

Smith said they plan to do the expo again next year, however, to move it entirely inside. They will look into alternative venues in the area as they also expect more vendors than the 55 they had this year.

Some of the vendors are brand new businesses with innovative projects, like one team who developed a new kind of hammock. In the parking lot, off road vehicles and four wheelers were also on display.

“If you love the outdoors, you’re going to find something cool here for you,” Smith said.

The event is free and open to the public. The outdoor expo continues until 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.

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Desert Hot Springs Elks Lodge upholds tradition and continues back to school giving

KESQ on July 25, 2026

Matthew Pearce

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — It’s a tradition that dates back to 1968 – Elk’s Lodge in DHS giving back to the community by aiding students with school supplies.

This event hosted families and kids at the DHS library, where they received free backpacks with things like pencils, markers, highlighters and more to tee them up for a successful school year.

Additionally, lunch was provided and select families recieved new shoes.

This event aims to give back to the community towards the end of summer to help parents and children ease into the new school year.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information at 6p.m.

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Collectors come together for inaugural CV Card Show

KESQ on July 25, 2026

Matthew Pearce

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — For the first time since 2022, an official card show has returned to the Coachella Valley.

Whether it’s Pokémon cards or sports cards, the show featured vendors offering those collectibles and more.

The community event brought together more than 40 vendors across more than 50 tables, and organizers already believe they’ll need a larger venue.

“The demand is so big. I have a 40-person vendor waitlist,” event organizer Jesee Walker said. “A lot of shows start out smaller and grow, but this has kind of taken off.”

Walker plans to host card shows quarterly, with the next event tentatively planned for early October, though no date has been finalized.

The strong turnout highlighted the demand for card shows in the Coachella Valley, and Walker said the inaugural event was a success.

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Columbia Public Library proceeds with LGBTQ+ story time event after threats from State Secretary

KMIZ on July 25, 2026

Melissa Houston

Editor’s note: A line in reference to a song that was performed at the event has been corrected.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Daniel Boone Regional Library hosted “Rainbow Story Time” on Saturday after receiving threats of potential funding loss from Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.

The event happened in the Children’s Program Room, and Mitzi St. John with the library said there were an estimated 150 attendees. The Program Room itself was full, and attendees were standing outside the room to participate.

Outside of the library, participants had chalk inviting people to draw encouraging messages on the pavement.

During the event, two speakers read through Rainbowasaurus, Big Wig, as well as sing-along songs like Old MacDonald and a parody of Chappell Roan’s ‘Pink Pony Club.’ The event ended with attendees getting rainbow scarves and bubbles as they left.

This happens shortly after Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Hoskins sent a letter to the to library.

Hanaway stated in her letter that local residents contacted her office to ensure this event is “conducted in a manner consistent with Missouri law.”

Hoskins’ letter to the library stated, “Please be advised if this inappropriate endeavor for children takes place, I will do everything in my power to block every dollar of state and federal funding I can from future events at the Daniel Boone Library System.”

There were 3 protesters at the event holding signs that stated “Nothing but a sex fetish cult,” and “TQ+ = pedophilia.”

ABC 17 spoke with one protester who, for privacy reasons, gave only their first name.

This protester said the community itself (referring to the LGBTQ+) is pushing a narrative towards children.

He stated, “They’re pushing a narrative on the children, thinking they can, be, change their sex and everything; that’s child abuse.”

Brandon Steele, a first-time attendee at the library’s story time event, said he came to support his community.

“Seeing the letter from the attorney general was a little upsetting. So I just wanted to make sure that there were people here spreading positive energy,” Steele said.

Steele said he was disappointed by the “intimidating letter” that was sent by state officials to the library.

“I don’t know why anyone would actually think that this library was going to show sexually explicit material to children. I just can’t fathom where that claim actually comes from,” Steele said. “For them to spend time and resources to send an intimidating letter to a public resource that exists only to serve the community, it’s and it’s upsetting.

Steele said he saw the social media traction the event was getting and wanted to be a calm figure amongst the chaos.

“I came here expecting there to be like a big crowd of people maybe causing problems,” Steele said. “And it was completely unnecessary. There was like one guy.”

Hoskins’ and Hananway’s office was contacted for a statement about their next steps since the event did take place, but no response has been made.

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California Mid-State Fair is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, one local woman has been to all of them

KEYT on July 25, 2026

Dave Alley

PASO ROBLES, Calif. (KEYT) – The California Mid-State Fair (CMSF) is much more than an annual summertime event for Jo Ann Switzer, it’s a lifelong tradition.

A native of Pozo, where her family has ranched cattle for more than 100 years, Switzer has attended every fair since its humble beginnings in 1946.

“I’ve been to all of them,” said Switzer. “It was just a very minor little fair.  I think it was 25 cents to get in, and there were about 20,000 people came. I started showing and have never missed a fair way or the other.”

Now 89-years-old, Switzer has been an instrumental part of the fair during her amazing life, which she has dedicated to the local livestock and agriculture industry.

All four of Switzer’s sons participated in the livestock program and today the tradition continues through four generations with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren following in her footsteps, raising and showing animals.

“I just can’t express the importance of the 4-H and FFA programs,” said Switzer. “Even if they don’t do anything when they get out of high school with their animals, they have learned responsibility. They have learned working together. They have learned finances and all of these things that are life lasting. That’s what’s very important to me. Plus, there’s tons of young people that go on to be big time leaders in the United States, so this is a very important program in my opinion.”

Switzer’s contributions extend well beyond exhibiting livestock. She served for many years as a member of the California Mid-State Fair Board, helping guide the fair’s growth while remaining a strong advocatef or agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Through her immense contributions to the local livestock and agriculture industry, as well as the fair itself, Switzer was named as the first woman to receive the prestigious Cattleman of the Year award in 1992, and was later inducted in the CMSF Hall of Fame in 2004.

At the very beginning, the fair was known as the San Luis Obispo County Fair before it was rebranded as the California Mid-State Fair in 1981.

“Originally we had the racetrack, we had lots of races,” said Switzer. “We had a nail driving contest and the kids used to be able to camp here as well. “Now, it’s one of the biggest and most prestigious fairs around. There’s not many like this. It has done nothing but grow in a positive way.”

As hundreds of thousands of visitors enjoy another year of exhibits, concerts, carnival rides, and competition, Switzer continues to represent the enduring spirit of the fair, a reminder that while it has changed dramatically over the past 80 years, its heart remains rooted in the people who have helped build its legacy.

“Jo Ann is a special person for all of us at the fair,” said CMSF CEO Colleen Bojorquez. “We’re so excited to keep her in the livestock area, especially—that’s her passion. She loves it. She’s such a great ambassador for the fair and her family continues the tradition.”

As she prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday in a few weeks in early September, Switzer is looking forward to attending many more fairs in the future.

“Absolutely, I don’t think they can have a fair without me really,” Switzer said her legendary sense of humor.

The California Mid-State Fair concludes it 12-day run on Sunday, July 26.

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Man who has been donating blood since 1991 donates his 100th pint

CNN Newsource on July 25, 2026

By Elle Meyers

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — Giving blood might seem a little scary for some, but less than 10 minutes in a comfy chair can save three lives at once.

Scott Eisenberg said he first donated because he saw his mom giving blood, and there was a drive in his apartment building. On July 24, Eisenberg donated his 100th pint.

“My first pint was in 1991, and I just kinda, ‘I can do that,’ and two years later, there was another drive in my building and, ‘I can do that.’ And somewhere along the line, it just became a habit, and it became important to me knowing that I could save a life,” he said.

In the years since, Eisenberg has donated about 15 gallons of blood. He said the whole donation process usually takes less than an hour.

“I literally can leave my house, donate, eat my cookies, and be home in an hour, and it’s painless, and it’s saving a life. And you know to do that once every two months, take an hour, it’s so easy,” Eisenberg said.

According to the American Red Cross, the blood supply dropped by 25% in June, and officials said we’re getting close to an emergency blood shortage. Shannon Walters with the American Red Cross said they’re looking for people of all blood types to donate.

“We especially need type O positive and B negative, but all blood types are needed,” she said.

Walters said, unfortunately, science hasn’t created a synthetic blood that works well for everyone.

“It’s something that we can’t manufacture in a lab; we have to have it from humans,” she said.

Eisenberg said he’s never gotten money for donating.

“No money, but cookies,” he said.

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.

Foster dad loses home, job after estranged brother used name, falsely landing him on sex offender registry

CNN Newsource on July 25, 2026

By Megan De Mar

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    LOCKPORT, Illinois (WBBM) — A Lockport foster parent said he lost his kids, job and home for months after a mix-up that landed his name on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry.

While he has since been reinstated after CBS News Chicago Investigators started asking questions, he’s still fighting to clear his name.

“These are my kids. I don’t say foster kids. I don’t say I’m their foster dad. I’m their dad,” said Megail Waiters.

Waiters had been a licensed foster parent in Illinois for nearly four years, until May, when he was suddenly placed on unpaid leave by his employer, One Family Illinois.

“I had my kids taken away from me,” he said.

Waiters and his biological son were also kicked out of their agency-provided housing in Lockport. It all happened because a periodic background check by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services shoed his name now appeared in a search of the Sex Offender Registry.

“I was blown away. I still have no words for it,” Waiters said. “How did I get there?”

Waiters is not, nor has he ever been, a registered sex offender. But it turns out his brother, Patrick Waiters, who he has been estranged from for decades began using his name as an alias.

Waiters said he’s aware of at least two attempts his brother made to use his name to fraudulently receive unemployment benefits. As a result, his name is technically listed on the registry under the alias section.

“I never went after someone’s child,” he said. “I’ve never done these things, and yet they’re attached to my name.”

Waiters said he’s been trying to get someone to listen to him since May 1, as he blew through his son’s college fund living in a hotel.

One Family Illinois said Waiters has been a valued foster parent for them, but they were following protocol. But soon after CBS News Chicago Investigators reached out to them for comment, we learned he had been placed back on paid status.

Then, a few days after CBS News Chicago Investigators reached out to DCFS and Illinois State Police, the agency the manages the registry, he was reinstated as a foster parent.

“After review and consultation with the DCFS legal team and communication with the Illinois State Police regarding our licensing policy, DCFS has determined that Mr. Waiters will be reinstated as a licensed foster parent by end of business today,” DCFS wrote in a statement.

Waiters said he’s looking forward to being reunited with his kids.

“They want us back, and we want them back,” he said.

There’s still one unresolved issue: Waiters’ name is still listed as an alias on his brother’s profile.

Illinois State Police said they “cannot remove an alias name from the Sex Offender Registry without legal authority provided by a court,” so Waiters would have to hire a lawyer.

Waiters’ brother did not respond to CBS News Chicago Investigators’ request for comment. He is currently listed as “noncompliant” on the sex offender registry.

DCFS also said they are working on “new technologies and processes” to prevent something like this from happening again in the future.

Full statement from Illinois State Police In response to your question to ISP about removing an alias, ISP has a duty to ensure the integrity of the Illinois Sex Offender Registry and must rely on appropriate documentation from local law enforcement agencies and the courts. ISP cannot remove an alias name from the Sex Offender Registry without legal authority provided by a court. Megail Waiters is not listed as an offender on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry and a thorough background check conducted by an employer would confirm any qualifying convictions, or the absence of qualifying convictions.

Full statement from DCFS “Protecting children and youth is the highest priority for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Background checks are conducted on all licensed providers to ensure they meet the regulatory standards to serve children and youth. This includes a Child Abuse and Neglect (CANTS) background check, the Law Enforcement Automated Data System LEADS check, and a check of the National Sex Offender Registry.

After review and consultation with the DCFS legal team and communication with the Illinois State Police regarding our licensing policy, DCFS has determined that Mr. Waiters will be reinstated as a licensed foster parent by end of business today. This information has also been shared with the leadership of Mr. Waiters’ employer, One Family Illinois.”

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.

College pitcher survives snake bite after 34 doses of anti-venom

CNN Newsource on July 25, 2026

By Hunter Sowards

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A college pitcher survived a scary situation during his run through a Claremont trail last weekend.

“I was just in agonizing pain, causing everything obviously hurt,” pitcher Jake Entrup said.

It started out like any normal weekend hike for Entrup. He was running the Claremont Wilderness Trail with his dog and his mom not far behind.

“I got blindsided by the snake, which was right at the turn,” Entrup said. “Nothing I really could have done.”

When he looked down, he could see the bite marks.

“I turned around, and I saw the snake. It coiled,” Entrup said. “I saw it coil up. Hissed at me, and then it slithered off into the bush.”

Luckily, Entrup’s family friend was a nurse and happened to be hiking the trail that morning.

“She calmed me down,” Entrup said. “She was a really big part of it because, at times, I couldn’t see my hand.”

He was airlifted to Pomona Valley Trauma Center and placed in the ICU. After 20 doses of anti-venom, he still needed additional care.

He was transferred to a different hospital where he got 14 more doses. His mom was by his side through it all. She had to watch the neurotoxin from the venom take over his body.

“When you sit there and you watch your son, who is already in pain,” mom Staci Entrup said. “The whole time you’re talking, his eyes are twitching, his body is twitching.”

Dr. Gabriel Campion with Dignity Health Northridge said the amount of anti-venom Entrup needed is on the high end.

“It’s really dependent on the symptoms someone has,” he said. “For a life-threatening case, you may need a very large amount.”

After almost a week, Entrup is walking around with the help of crutches. He’s eager to get back onto the pitcher’s mound and the trails.

He’s thankful for everyone who helped him and urged everyone to be wary while on Southern California trails.

“Always be aware,” he said. “You never know what’s around the bush.”

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.

LeBron James’ arrival sparks shopping frenzy for Philadelphia 76ers gear at sports stores

CNN Newsource on July 25, 2026

By Madeleine Wright

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Sixers fans are celebrating the arrival of LeBron James and the excitement is already creating a business boom across Philadelphia.

At Shibe Vintage Sports in Center City, customers have been rushing in to buy Sixers gear after learning the 4-time NBA champion is joining the team.

Store manager Darren Nowicki says business took off immediately after James made the announcement. The store has seen strong demand for T-shirts, jerseys, baseball caps, winter hats and everything in between.

“The phone has been ringing off the hook,” Nowicki said. “It’s a historic moment, really, to have an all time great player like Lebron coming to the Sixers.”

Nowicki said the store did an entire day’s worth of sales in just two hours.

For some fans, the announcement was a sign to buy now before demand increases.

“I might as well hop on grabbing some of the merch before the prices probably go up to an unaffordable rate,” Chelsea Gault from Fairmount said.

But the excitement surrounding James goes beyond merchandise. Fans said they’re eager to see the energy he could bring to Philadelphia and the chance to see one of basketball’s biggest stars play in person.

“If I met the King, I would do everything I want to do with him, like get his autograph and picture with him,” Sage Jusko from Las Vegas said.

It has been 43 years since the Sixers last won a championship. Many fans believe the future Hall of Famer could help the team end that drought.

“We already have a great team and he’ll make it even better. And I think he’ll have a real opportunity to win his fifth ring,” Thomas Keily from Greenville, South Carolina said.

Shibe Vintage Sports expects demand to remain high, with official LeBron James Sixers merchandise expected to arrive in the coming days.

Some fans said James’ longevity is part of what makes the moment so exciting.

“I have Lebron’s Olympic USA jersey from the Beijing Olympics,” Sean Jusko from Las Vegas said. “I think he’s an amazing player. It’s incredible he’s still going and playing at such a high level too.”

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.

Man shot in northeast Columbia Friday; suffers life-threatening injury

KMIZ on July 25, 2026

Haley Swaino

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was taken to a hospital with a life-threatening injury after a shooting in northeast Columbia on Friday evening.

According to a social media post from the Columbia Police Department, officers were called to the 2800 block of Mulberry Road around 4 p.m. for shots fired.

At the scene, CPD found a man with a life-threatening gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. The post says a juvenile was also at the scene but was not hurt.

There were “no outstanding suspects” as of Friday night and no threat to the public, according to the post. The investigation is ongoing.

ABC 17 News has reached out to CPD for more information.

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