Central Oregon fairgrounds provide refuge for livestock during wildfire evacuations

KTVZ on July 23, 2026

Lance Campbell

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — As wildfire evacuation orders continue to be issued across Central Oregon, it’s not just people who need a safe place to go. The Crook County and Deschutes County fairgrounds are providing temporary refuge for horses, livestock and other large animals displaced by the fires.

Animals temporarily sheltered at the Crook County Fair being displaced by Central Oregon wildfire evacuations.

Working alongside emergency responders and volunteers, both fairgrounds are helping care for evacuated animals while owners focus on getting themselves and their families to safety.

At the Crook County Fairgrounds, officials say caring for livestock is an important part of protecting the community during emergencies.

“This is all centered around community and priorities and making sure everybody in the community stays safe, including people and the animals,” a Casey Daly, Manager Crook County Fairgrounds said.

At the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, volunteers with the Pet Evacuation Team are also caring for displaced animals while working around preparations for the upcoming Deschutes County Fair.

Mary Barron, Interim Deployment Manager with the Pet Evacuation Team, says the best time to prepare for an evacuation is before one is ever issued.

The Pet evacuation Team is helping care for displaced animals at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds while working alongside emergency responders during ongoing wildfire evacuations.

“Before they get the evacuation notice, they should have a go bag packed and ready,” Barron said. “If you have animals that you’re going to evacuate, have a plan… have a little bag of food… so you can just scoop them up and go as quickly as possible.”

Officials encourage livestock owners to have a transportation plan, keep emergency supplies packed and know where they’ll take their animals if evacuation orders are issued.

Horses sheltered at the Crook County Fairgrounds are being cared for until it’s safe for until it’s safe for their owners to return home.

As wildfire season continues across Central Oregon, emergency responders say preparing ahead of time for both people and animals can help make evacuations safer and less stressful when time matters most.

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Deputies: Man arrested after dash cam video contradicts claim he didn’t know he hit pedestrian

KIFI on July 23, 2026

Stephanie Lucas

AMMON, Idaho (KIFI) –  A 29-year-old man is in jail after he was arrested for a hit-and-run crash he claims he did not know of, although police say his dash cam footage showed otherwise.

Ashtyne Lane Whiting was arrested at a residence by Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies on Wednesday night and booked into the Bonneville County Jail.

Dispatchers received a call around 6:20 PM that same evening from witnesses who saw a vehicle strike a woman walking in the Albertson’s parking lot on 25th East, then speed away.

When Sheriff’s Deputies and Idaho Falls Ambulance personnel arrived on scene, they found a 58-year-old woman with injuries who was transported by ambulance to the hospital.

A witness to the crash reported following the suspect’s vehicle after it left the parking lot and drove onto 17th Street “at more than 60 miles per hour” to a residence on South Ammon Rd.

Deputies were able to contact Whiting at the residence, where Whiting admitted to driving through the parking lot, but claimed he did not know anyone was struck. Whiting provided dash camera video from his vehicle to Deputies, which showed the victim being struck by the front of the car and falling onto the hood and windshield area.

Whiting was then placed under arrest and transported to the Bonneville County Jail, where he was booked on a Felony charge of Leaving the Scene of an Injury Crash.

Deputies are continuing their investigation, and no further information is available.

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“Ask the Archivist” Opens a New Door to Obama-Era History

CNN Newsource on July 23, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    July 23, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — History is usually introduced with a velvet rope, a glass display case and a respectful reminder not to touch anything. At Chicago’s newly opened Obama Presidential Center, however, history is being invited to pull up a chair and answer questions.

The Obama Foundation and the National Archives and Records Administration have launched “Ask the Archivist,” a public-access program that places a National Archives archivist on-site at the Obama Presidential Center Branch of the Chicago Public Library. Every Thursday from July 23 through October 8, 2026, visitors may stop by between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central Time to learn how presidential records are preserved, researched and made available to the public.

That may sound like a niche opportunity reserved for scholars wearing elbow patches. It is not. The program welcomes curious visitors, students, teachers, journalists, family historians and everyday citizens who want to better understand how the decisions of an administration become part of the nation’s permanent record.

“The National Archives have been a tremendous partner to us as we work to illuminate the work of the Obama Administration at the Obama Presidential Center,” said Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett. She added that “Ask the Archivist” represents another way to make President Barack Obama’s work “accessible and transparent to the public.”

That word—accessible—is especially important. The Barack Obama Presidential Library is the nation’s first fully digital presidential library. An estimated 95 percent of the administration’s records were created digitally, including emails, photographs, videos, documents, social-media posts and other electronic files. NARA also received millions of pages of paper records that must be preserved, reviewed and digitized before broader public release.

Dr. Kenvi Phillips, director of the Barack Obama Presidential Library, said the partnership allows Center visitors to do more than admire artifacts. They can also speak directly with archivists about the digital holdings and learn how to search for materials connected to the Obama years.

That is a meaningful upgrade from simply reading a museum label. Archivists are the patient detectives of democracy. They organize enormous collections, protect fragile materials, review records for public access and help researchers locate the historical needle inside a digital haystack.

The partnership also reflects the unusual structure of the Obama legacy institutions. The Obama Foundation operates the privately funded Presidential Center and Museum, while NARA retains custody of the official presidential records and manages the digital Barack Obama Presidential Library. NARA-owned artifacts and records may be loaned to the Center for public exhibition, connecting the physical museum experience with the federally maintained archive.

For Houston-area educators, students, civic organizations and journalists, the significance reaches well beyond Chicago. Released Obama Administration records can be explored online, making the collection a national classroom available from a school library, newsroom or living-room laptop. The archive offers opportunities to study policy, leadership, communications, civil rights, public service and the workings of American democracy.

“Ask the Archivist” reminds us that preserving history is not about locking the past away. It is about giving people the tools to examine it, question it and carry its lessons forward.

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Visit Obama.org for information about the Obama Foundation and Presidential Center. Explore released presidential records and digital resources at ObamaLibrary.gov. Branch details, hours and directions are available through the Chicago Public Library.

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.

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
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Mexican General Consulate in El Paso to offer free legal aid, immigration guidance next week

KVIA on July 23, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso will offer free legal guidance and resources to the community during Legal Assistance Week 2026, from July 27–31, 2026.

The initiative aims to help community members understand their rights and access available assistance.

This year’s campaign focuses on providing accessible information to women, children, juveniles and members of the LGBTQ+ community by promoting their rights and working to prevent violence and discrimination.

The week-long event, formally known as “Semana de Asesorías Legales Externas” (SALE), is being held under the theme “Inclusion is Protection.” It seeks to increase public awareness about the free legal assistance available through the program, following a similar initiative held in April.

A Legal Information Call Bank is scheduled for Monday, July 27, from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Immigration specialists will also be available to answer questions about individual rights, consular protection and available legal resources. Community members can call (915) 613-2173 for free and confidential guidance.

Free walk-in legal assistance will be available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Consulate.

Attorneys and partner organizations participating in the Legal Assistance Program for Mexican Nationals (PALE) will provide one-on-one guidance at no cost.

Throughout the week, the Consulate will also share informational videos on its social media platforms. These videos will offer practical resources to help the community learn about their rights and available support services in the region.

“Through initiatives like SALE, the Government of Mexico, via the Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, reaffirms its commitment to expanding access to legal guidance and promoting the well-being, inclusion and protection of the rights of Mexican nationals living in the United States,” a news release said.

ABC-7 spoke with the Consul General of Mexico in El Paso, Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de León, to learn more about the ninth edition of the SALE week and how community members can access the legal resources available to them next week.

Watch the full story in our evening newscasts.

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Series of earthquakes shake City of Brawley overnight

KYMA on July 23, 2026

Skylar Heisey

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – A series of earthquakes shook Imperial County overnight, with the strongest centered just south of Brawley.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said three earthquakes struck the area early Thursday morning, the first measuring a magnitude 3.1 just after midnight.

It was followed about 15 minutes later by a 3.6-magnitude quake, the strongest of the series. Then, just before 2 a.m., a third tremor, measuring 3.4, shook the same area.

The quakes were felt in Brawley, Holtville, Heber, and parts of Mexico, and officials said there have been no reports of injuries or damage.

USGS says the quakes produced only weak shaking, which is common for earthquakes of this size.

The Brawley area sits in one of California’s most active seismic zones, where small earthquakes are frequent due to the movement of tectonic plates.

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KESQ on July 23, 2026

Timothy Foster

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Palm Springs has launched a new GIS Maps & Data Portal, giving residents easier access to city information through interactive online maps.

The new tool allows users to explore a wide range of city services and resources from a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Residents can search for their City Council district, view zoning and property information, check on upcoming street and pavement improvement projects, and locate nearby parks, trails, bikeways, and public art installations.

The portal also includes maps showing cooling center locations, affordable housing resources, street sweeping schedules, and park amenities such as playgrounds, basketball courts, pickleball courts, and other recreational facilities.

City officials say the portal features search tools that allow users to quickly find information by street name, view pavement conditions and planned road work, filter parks by available amenities, and browse Palm Springs’ public art collection through interactive maps and photos.

According to the city, the Maps & Data Portal will continue to expand over time, with additional maps, applications, and datasets being added to provide residents with greater access to information about their community.

The new GIS Maps & Data Portal is available at:https://maps-palmspringsca.hub.arcgis.com/

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Olympic Dream: El Paso boxer aims to compete in 2028 Olympics

KVIA on July 23, 2026

Rishi Oza

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso has a very rich boxing history, especially so in the past few years. Stephanie Han’s rise to becoming the WBA World Champion has put a spotlight on the Sun City, and now, Moises Rodriguez is one of those new stars.

Rodriguez has been one of the top amateur boxers in the world over the past few years and has leveled up in 2026.

His next goal is to represent the Sun City at the 2028 Olympics.

“We’re a small town. I feel like a lot of people overlook us,” said Rodriguez. “They don’t see big, elite, high level athletes coming out of this town. It shows that someone from the small town can be big.” 

Rodriguez is currently at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs getting ready for a camp in Italy. His next tournament is in December, and with a win, he could be in prime position to be in the Olympics in 2028.

“I’m ranked number two in the United States right now in my weight and age division. So there’s just one more person ahead of me to try to make it to the Olympics. That’s the next big step,” he said.

After winning an under-18 tournament and the Gold Gloves National tournament in 2025, he now has international wins under his belt.

“I won the Helsinki tournament in Finland. And I also won in Colombia. I won gold for both those tournaments for United States,” he said.

He’s been training with his father since he was 8 years old, and his dad believes he has enough to get to Los Angeles for 2028.

“He makes me very proud as a father,” his dad told ABC-7 with a smile. “What he has accomplished throughout his whole boxing career as an amateur, it’s hard. Not any teenager can do it, but he’s been able to do it.”

His mother, Erica, is also involved in boxing. In fact, the whole family is. Erica says her father got her into the sport as a kid, and now all of Moises’s siblings box.

Erica says sometimes she has to step in and draw the line between Moises and his father.

“Sometimes I do,” said Erica. “I’m like, okay, hold off. So this is dad right now. This is coach.”

His father believes Moises can do whatever he puts his mind to, and is excited to see what the next steps are for his son.

“As long as he stays consistent and he works hard and he keeps pushing and keeps pushing. He’s there, he’s there,” said Rodriguez. “He’s knocking right on that door.”

Watch “Olympic Dream” Thursday on ABC-7 at 6 p.m.

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Wyden, Merkley Demand Enhanced Wildfire Prevention and Response Assistance from Trump Administration

KTVZ on July 23, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

Bend ORE. (KTVZ) — After KTVZ reached out to the offices of Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley regarding the wildfires burning across Central Oregon, an update has been provided:

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure all communities receive the federal resources they need to respond to and prevent wildfires in Oregon and across the nation.

States can request financial assistance from FEMA through fire management assistance grants to help cover costs relating to emergencies, firefighting activities, and administrative costs. After a grant is declared, states can request assistance to help affected communities rebuild and mitigate future wildfire disasters through FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant program post fire. However, many communities are still waiting for those post-fire funds from previous wildfire disasters, which has left them vulnerable to current and future wildfire disasters.

“Wildfires are one of the most frequently recurring disasters that, while once common only to western states, have recently become a major threat to communities across the country,” the senators wrote.

“2024 also proved to be the worst wildfire season in Oregon. These wildfires can be lethal and destroy critical infrastructure and entire residential communities, negatively affect public health through harmful smoke and air pollutants, and place large economic burdens on urban and rural communities,” the senators wrote.

“Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters,” Wyden and the senators wrote.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.

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City of Columbia sets new renewable energy goal despite falling short in 2026

KMIZ on July 23, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite missing its renewable energy goal for 2026, the Columbia City Council unanimously approved a new plan Monday that aims to provide 40% of the city’s electricity from renewable resources by 2035.

According to the report, City of Columbia Utilities purchased or generated a little under 285,00 megawatts of its total electric usage through renewable energy sources last year, around 22.57% of Columbia’s adjusted system load.

The city had set a goal to provide 25% of its energy through renewable sources by 2026 and currently estimates around 23.5% of the city’s electricity is renewable.

The City of Columbia also reported in 2025 that around 18% of its energy came from wind power, around 3% from the landfill’s natural gas production and around 2% from solar power.

In planning for the future, the city is seeking more affordable renewable energy options, including a growing solar power market and the planned construction of the Grain Belt to deliver wind energy from the Kansas City Area.

However, that project has been met with heavy opposition and delays.

2026 Renewable Energy PlanDownload

This is an ongoing story.

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Calexico PD investigates shooting on Giles Avenue

KYMA on July 23, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is investigating a shooting from over the weekend.

CPD says the shooting happened Saturday, July 18, inside an abandoned home, located in the area of Giles Avenue and Fifth Street, after 7 p.m.

Police heard gunshots east of the home at around 7:20 p.m., prompting them to request mutual aid from law enforcement agencies to help with the investigation and search the area.

An hour later, CPD says officers then heard a second round of gunfire south of the home.

While no injuries were reported, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, call CPD at 760-768-2140.

To learn more about the shooting, read the press release, written in English and Spanish, below.

Press Release Shots Fired InvDownload

Press Release Shots Fired SpanishDownload

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