White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt leaving role, Trump announces

KMIZ on August 12, 2026

CNN Newsource

By Betsy Klein, Alayna Treene, CNN

(CNN) — White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will leave her role at the end of August, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday.

The imminent departure of one of the president’s closest allies inside the White House marks a major shakeup for the president’s press operation, with less than three months until the midterm elections.

Describing her as “one of my most trusted aides,” Trump said in a social media post that Leavitt “will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!”

Leavitt, he added, will continue to serve as an outside adviser.

The departure comes at a challenging moment for Trump, who’s facing low approval ratings amid the ongoing war with Iran and high gas prices, with most Americans saying he hasn’t paid enough attention to the country’s most important problems.

Leavitt, 28, made history as the youngest-ever White House press secretary, and also the first woman to be pregnant in the high-pressure job. She returned to the briefing room podium last month after a short maternity leave.

Leavitt served in a junior role during Trump’s first term, then but has emerged as one of his most effective and loyal spokespeople during his second. She has cultivated a personal brand as a pit bull for the president and his policies, tussling with reporters who ask tough questions and welcoming friendlier outlets.

Behind the microphone and on social media, she has also presented herself as a devoted wife and working mom, toting toddler son Niko to Air Force One and the Oval Office, posing for photos with her husband at the White House Easter Egg Roll and Halloween celebrations, baking an apple pie from scratch and basking in newborn snuggles with daughter Viviana.

As is often true of social media, the images belie her demanding job.

“The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary,” she wrote in a social media post Wednesday, calling her decision “bittersweet.”

The president, who believes he is his own best spokesperson, has been demanding of those who speak on his behalf. Following the birth of her daughter on May 1, Leavitt took roughly a month of leave away from the White House, during which the president often called her and, at times, asked when she planned to return, a person familiar with the discussions said.

When Leavitt’s first child was born in July 2024, she took just a four-day leave, returning to the campaign trail the day after then-candidate Trump was the victim of an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

“It kind of threw me right back to work much sooner than I would have probably expected or hoped,” she later reflected in an interview with Megyn Kelly.

When Leavitt returned to the White House podium last month, she acknowledged balancing the demanding job with raising two young children was “challenging.” But, she added at the time, “I view this as more than job — I view this as public service.”

Leavitt ran for Congress in her home state of New Hampshire after Trump’s first term, losing in the general election. Then, during his 2024 presidential campaign, she became a trusted figure who quickly catapulted into his inner circle.

Now, as the 2026 midterms heat up, Leavitt could emerge as an important outside messenger.

“President Trump has asked me to continue serving as a top advisor to him on the outside, and I will always remain a vocal advocate for MAGA and the Republican Party,” she wrote Wednesday.

A vacancy at the podium

During Leavitt’s recent maternity leave, White House press briefings became significantly less frequent. The press shop stacked the lectern with top officials like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — guest appearances that came with varying levels of success.

As of Wednesday afternoon, it was not immediately clear to some White House staff who would replace Leavitt, a source said.

And finding a replacement for one of the most visible women in Trump’s administration could be challenging.

Leavitt has served in the role for 18 months, making her the second-longest-serving press secretary under Trump. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, now governor of Arkansas, held the role for just under two years during Trump’s first term. Kayleigh McEnany held the role for eight months, Stephanie Grisham for 10 months and Sean Spicer for six months.

There has been some turnover in the White House press office during Trump’s second term. Taylor Budowich, who was deputy chief of staff for communications, departed after eight months. Two of Leavitt’s deputies, Harrison Fields and Abigail Jackson, have also left.

This story has been updated with additional information.

The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Click here to follow the original article.

FedEx to lay Off 62 workers at Palm Springs facility

KESQ on August 12, 2026

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Global delivery company FedEx will lay off 62 employees at a Palm Springs facility at the end of September as part of a broader company overhaul.

“For several years, we’ve been undergoing a network transformation — called Network 2.0 — to improve how we pick up, transport and deliver packages across the U.S. and Canada,” a FedEx representative told City News Service Wednesday. “This initiative aims to simplify service with a `one van, one neighborhood’ model, enhancing efficiency and customer service. We’re committed to supporting impacted employees through job placement, assistance, relocation aid, or severance.”

According to a California Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, 62 layoffs will occur at the facility at 111 Bird Center Drive, effective Sept. 29. Workers were told of the changes months in advance and provided written notice, and some employees were offered other roles at the company, according to FedEx.

“These decisions are never taken lightly and reflect our commitment to supporting affected employees,” according to the company.

FedEx projects roughly $2 billion in annual savings by the end of 2027 due to the company’s overhaul, which has also affected workers in other counties.

Click here to follow the original article.

City Police Return To Law Enforcement Support At Santa Maria Public Airport

KEYT on August 12, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Maria Public Airport has law enforcement support from the city’s police department once again.

This comes after a decade of support from Guadalupe’s police.

Since 2017, the Guadlaupe Police Department has been contracted for law enforcement and security at the Santa Maria Public Airport. 

“If there was an emergency at the airport, we would have had to call a Guadalupe officer here,” says Mike Flores, Finance And Administration Manager at the Santa Maria Airport.

The city council approved the return of the contract to Santa Maria Police at last week’s meeting.

“We’re happy to be back,” says Santa Maria Police Sgt. Shane Armstrong. “That contract formally started on August 6th.”

The Santa Maria Airport runs general aviation flights daily with two commercial flights every week.

“The Santa Maria Police Department’s primary responsibility will be providing law enforcement services, which are required during the TSA operations for commercial passenger flights that are leaving out of the Santa Maria airport,” says Sgt. Armstrong.

Santa Maria officers have already taken their new positions for those flights at the TSA PreCheck, as well as surrounding patrols.

“A lot of the officers that we have, have been with the force for a very long time, so much so that they’ve actually worked at the airport prior to our contract with Guadalupe,” says Flores.

Officials at the airport and police department agree it makes more sense, as the terminal is mere blocks from the Betteravia police station.

“It benefits both the district and the city, because we’re kind of offsetting some of the personnel costs that the city is bearing from their PD being here,” says Flores.

Airport directors say it’s been a very smooth transition, and travelers will notice little difference, if any, other than the badges the TSA agents are wearing.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With The Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

“Zoovies” Brings Animal Themed Movies to the Santa Barbara Zoo Hilltop

KEYT on August 12, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The former summertime Drive-In movie nights have shifted in modern times to outside parks and other settings, including the top of the Santa Barbara Zoo.

The summer three-film schedule concluded Wednesday night with the 2016 Walt Disney Animation film ‘Zootopia.’   

It was a twilight screening. Blankets and chairs could be set up at 3:30 p.m. and the event began at 5 p.m.

The zoo staff starts it off with a special talk by zookeepers before the movie begins or a skit with puppets takes place.

Snacks including fresh popcorn are available on site.

The grass lawn has a scenic view of the Pacific Ocean right over East Beach and Montecito.

It is in collaboration with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).

Santa Barbara Zoo President Charles Hopper said, “both presenting the silver screen to a new audience and also presenting the zoo’s conservation mission to a new audience.” 

This extra summertime event is included in the regular zoo admission or with a zoo membership.

Animal Care Supervisor Ariel Bailey said, “all the animals in the zoo are obviously ambassadors  for their wild counterparts and every day we are welcoming people to inspire them to conserve the natural world. When people come they are contributing to conservation  in their local habitats as well. “

The  film festival staff also has a fund to include as many demographics as possible.

SBIFF Director of Development Benjamin Goedert said, “to try and make sure that people who ordinarily would not have access to the zoo and these types of events have  priority access and free admission.”

With new technology everyone can see the screen from the field location even before the sun goes down. “We work with this company that makes big LED screens and  light projection so it is back lit so that allows you watch movies in full sun.” said Goedert. The daytime screens were also used in 2021 during the COVID crisis when movies were shown in the Santa Barbara City College Parking lot.

One of the parents here with her child,  also runs the California State Senate in her real day job. State Senator Monique Limon, the Senate pro Tempore, sees the value of these gatherings. “We’re looking for those moments to be able to come be with the kids be with the family at a great location like the zoo with great  weather.   That brings us together in our town in our community with our kids.”

The SBIFF anticipates the program returning in 2027. “Come to the zoo, have fun, enjoy the environment of the zoo, enjoy a movie your family, enjoy the beautiful Santa Barbara  sunset. It’s a great collaboration and good for the community,” said Hopper.

The Latest Breaking News, Weather Alerts, Sports and More Anytime On Our Mobile Apps. Keep Up With the Latest Articles by Signing Up for the News Channel 3-12 Newsletter.

Click here to follow the original article.

Day of Hope: Santa Maria ambassador provides inspiration through his resilient 16-year cancer battle

KEYT on August 12, 2026

Dave Alley

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – There are few people who represent Mission Hope Cancer Center than this year’s Day of Hope Santa Maria ambassador Gilbert Rea.

Born in Santa Maria, the soon-to-be 72-year-old Rea grew up in Nipomo and now lives in Orcutt.

In 2010, Rea began what would turn out to be a long-running battle with cancer two years before the opening of Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria.

“I went into the hospital September 2010,” said Rea. “I was having what I thought was heart problems. I was having trouble breathing chest pains, dizziness. I had told my wife and my daughter a few months before that I wasn’t feeling quite right, that something was wrong, and they both kept telling me he was just your age or getting older and I knew it wasn’t that. The doctor came out after checking me out and he says, you may have leukemia. He said, we’ll know in about 20 minutes, so 20 minutes go by, and sure enough, he comes out and says, you have leukemia.”

After staying in the hospital that night, Rea was introduced to Dignity Health oncologist Dr. April Kennedy, who has remained his physician ever since.

“It was onne of the best things that could have happened to me,” said Rea. “She is great. She had come to her office and. We talked about what was going on and stuff.”

Rea, who had spent more than 30 years working in the local oil business around Northern Santa Barbara County, soon began treatment under the care of Dr. Kennedy.

Two years later in 2012, Mission Hope Cancer Center opened its doors, bringing state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care to Santa Maria, something new and much-needed to the Central Coast.

“Our mission here at Mission Hope Cancer Center is to serve the people of Santa Maria,” said Dr. Kennedy. “We actually take care of people from Lompoc all the way up to King City. We have locations in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande. Our mission is to make sure that patients have excellent care right here in town so they don’t have to go to UCLA or some far off place. When they’re not feeling well, they can get all their treatment right here. Top notch radiation oncology. Medical oncology. We have our infusion services and then supportive care, which you just simply don’t see anywhere in local cancer centers. It makes it last less a lot less stressful for patients to be able to come to one location and to receive all the care that they need.”

Since his original leukemia diagnosis in 2010 , Rae has received gone through years of treatment, and later in 2024, he suffered another setback when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

“I had to have that stomach removed,” said Rea. “I’ll never forget that day, on Halloween day, they took my stomach out. Dr. Kennedy was going to try and give me a little more chemo. My numbers on my blood wouldn’t level out. She took me off my, my leukemia medicine to try and get the blood levels to come down and they just they just wouldn’t.”

However, with a positive attitude and continued optimism, Rea continued his treatment and has shown encouraging and hopeful results.

“Since then, my leukemia is not showing up,” said Rea. “But we know it’s there. It’s just in remission with no medication. Right now, I get a monthly infusion for an immune system. My body doesn’t make an immune system anymore, but other than that, it’s all in remission.”

Over the many years since Mission Hope opened up, Rea has been a very familiar face in the cancer cancer.

Through his many treatments and various appointments, there have been few patients, perhaps no one else, that has spent more time and received as much treatment at Mission Hope than Rea.

“For a long time, I was here, it was like my second home,” said Rea. “I was here so often that I knew every nurses name. They’re wonderful. All of them. I was here a lot, a lot of times. I don’t know that if Mission Hope wasn’t here, that I’d be here 16 years later.” 

After 16 years of battling cancer, Rae is doing well and is active as he’s ever been.

He continues to work, spending a few days each week at V. Lopez Jr. and Sons, a general engineering contractor in Santa Maria.

He also spends time with his family, which includes is wife of 53 years, plus two children, five grandchildren, one great grandchild and another great grandchild due next month.

For Day of Hope, he is serving as this year’s Santa Maria ambassador, a position allows him to promote the upcoming fundraiser for Mission Hope Cancer Center.

“It is very important,” said Rea. “I think the community feels the same way. I’ve seen people come up and give $100 bill for a newspaper and more than once. Everybody, I think everyone is touched with this cancer one way shape or another. Whether it be a family member, a friend or a friend of a friend. We need this place. We need Mission Hope and we need Day of Hope, so come out and give on the Day of Hope.”

The Day of Hope was created in 2014 and specifically raises funds for patients at Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria and Arroyo Grande.

On Wednesday, Aug. 26, starting at 7 a.m., hundreds of volunteers will be located throughout the Santa Maria Valley and in South San Luis Obispo County at dozens street corners, intersections, parking lots, schools, churches and other highly visible locations.

Participating teams members will once again be selling special edition $1 Santa Maria Times newspapers.

Proceeds specifically helps the cancer center provide patients with a myriad of complimentary programs and services.

For more information about the 13th Annual Day of Hope, click here to visit the official webpage.

Click here to follow the original article.

Congressman Al Green and Alpha Phi Alpha Bring Slavery Remembrance to the U.S. Capitol

CNN Newsource on August 12, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

Click here for updates on this story

    August 12, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Saturday, August 15, 2026, the U.S. Capitol will become more than the nation’s legislative workplace. For a few consequential hours, it will also serve as a classroom of memory, accountability and democratic purpose as Congressman Al Green (TX-09)hosts Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for a Slavery Remembrance Legislative Update and Assembly at the Capitol Visitor’s Center Auditorium.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET, the program will advance Green’s continuing effort to establish August 20 as a National Slavery Remembrance Day — ensuring that the brutality of slavery, the resistance of the enslaved and their foundational contributions to America are never pushed to the margins of public memory. This year’s theme, “Harder Yet May Be the Fight,” feels both historical and unmistakably contemporary. Democracy, after all, is strongest when a nation can examine its entire record — not simply the comfortable chapters.

And this movement did not begin yesterday.

In July 2022, the U.S. House approved Green’s H.Res. 517, the Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution, by a 218–207 vote. In the current 119th Congress, Green introduced H.J.Res. 67, supporting the designation of August as Slavery Remembrance Month and expanding the national conversation about slavery, its continuing effects and those who fought to end it.

Saturday’s assembly will also spotlight another consequential proposal: Green’s push to secure a Congressional Gold Medal for enslaved Africans and their descendants.

His H.R. 4885, introduced August 5, 2025, seeks to posthumously award a collective Congressional Gold Medal to Africans and their descendants enslaved in America through the abolition of slavery in 1865.

The historical contrast is striking. In 1956, Congress awarded Congressional Gold Medals to the four known surviving Civil War veterans, with the authorization explicitly covering veterans who served in either the Union or Confederate forces. Green’s argument raises a powerful question: Should the millions whose uncompensated labor helped build American economic power receive comparable national recognition?

Standing alongside Green will be Alpha Phi Alpha General President Brother Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. The partnership itself carries historic weight.

photo General President Brother Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. met with Brother Congressman Al Green (D-TX)

Founded at Cornell University in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha became the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men. Its legacy of civil rights, civic participation and leadership includes Alpha men such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall and Adam Clayton Powell Jr.

Metellus has warned against efforts to diminish the sacrifices and contributions of African Americans, saying Alpha Phi Alpha refuses to allow slavery’s evils to be forgotten or its ancestors left without proper honor. Green, himself an Alpha brother, puts the mission plainly: “Remembrance requires more than reflection; it requires us to confront our history.”

That makes Saturday’s gathering bigger than a ceremony.

It is an exercise in democratic citizenship.

A mature democracy does not fear its history. It studies it. It names injustice without surrendering hope. Patriotism is not pretending America has always fulfilled its promises; it is demanding that America continually move closer to them.

For Houston, the moment carries particular resonance. A Houston congressman is helping place a national spotlight on the enslaved people whose names too often disappeared while the wealth their labor generated remained.

History may be written in books, but remembrance is written in public choices.

On August 15, Congressman Al Green and Alpha Phi Alpha will make one choice unmistakably clear: America moves forward best when America remembers.

EVENT DETAILS WHO: Congressman Al Green and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and General President Brother Lucien J. Metellus, Jr. WHAT: Slavery Remembrance Legislative Update and Assembly WHEN: Saturday, August 15, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. CT WHERE: Capitol Visitor’s Center Auditorium, 2 U.S. Senate Drive, Washington, D.C. 20510 WATCH LIVE: A YouTube livestream will be available through Congressman Green’s event announcement.

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
4096658446

‘Dirtworld: The Uprising’ seeks to unite Central Oregon through cleanup effort

KTVZ on August 12, 2026

Tracee Tuesday

CENTRAL OREGON (KTVZ) — Homeless encampments along Central Oregon dirt roads have existed for decades, according to organizer Nicholas Dieringer. He said the areas were once known as “the trees,” a name based on their surroundings.

Today, they’re called Dirt World.

Dieringer said there are eight Dirt World communities across Central Oregon. His project, “Dirtworld: The Uprising,” will bring people from those communities and the broader public together for a cleanup effort intended to address trash while challenging public perceptions of those who live there.

Dieringer said he began the project after learning more about the region’s dirt-road communities and witnessing people being told to leave some areas with little notice.

“I saw these people being asked to leave and homes literally being torn apart by tractors and stuff,” Dieringer said. “I witnessed it with my own eyes. I said, somebody has got to do something.”

He said outsiders often focus on garbage, wreckage, drug use and rumors surrounding Dirt World. But Dieringer said that view fails to capture the people and families living there.

“Once you just take the time to go inside of dirt road, make a few connections, you realize you start to see that there’s a lot more inside of dirt road that people even know,” Dieringer said. “Families, communities, people that are thriving and building almost like an ecosystem.”

Dieringer said people living in Dirt World include families, people who lost homes in fires, people dealing with financial hardship, and people experiencing mental health challenges or addiction.

“There are good people within the world,” he said. “They’re human beings and they have good hearts, and they just need a chance to be heard and a voice to speak for them.”

Dieringer said the project has drawn both encouragement and criticism. Some people have questioned why the broader community should help clean up areas where trash has been left behind.

“Well, they do care,” Dieringer said. “This is the way we’re going to show that.”

The cleanup was initially planned for a Redmond Dirt World community. Dieringer said he decided against holding it there after hearing concerns from residents who were not ready to have their names, homes or daily lives filmed and made public.

Instead, he said the group plans to clean an area outside the current community where people once lived and where debris remains.

Dieringer said the approach allows people from Dirt World communities to participate while protecting the privacy of residents who do not want attention brought to their homes.

“If they’re willing to leave their world and unite outside of their home to where they once were, where the garbage still is, go out of their way, their comfort zone to clean up all the garbage, if that doesn’t speak to the city, I don’t know what does,” he said.

For Dieringer, the goal extends beyond one cleanup.

“It’s not about the actual cleanup itself, even though that’s important,” he said. “It’s what comes with that. If we join together, that’s where the change is.”

If you’d like to volunteer or receive more information about Dirt World Uprising, check out Dieringer’s social media page.

Click here to follow the original article.

YCSO warns residents of fake bail request scams

KYMA on August 12, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) is warning residents of a scam targeting families of people in custody.

In a press release, scammers impersonate law enforcement officials, claiming to represent bail bond agencies who accept payment for an inmate’s release.

However, YCSO said, “Bondsmen are not permitted to solicit their services by telephone,” and said payments to release an inmate must be made in person by cash “or through a surety bond obtained from licensed bondsman,” and “credit cards, electronic payments and payments over the phone are not accepted.”

In addition, YCSO said law enforcement agencies will never call anyone to request any form of electronic payment over the phone, and said if anyone receives a call demanding immediate payment, they are urged to hang up as it’s a scam.

If anyone has fallen victim to scams or fraud, call a law enforcement agency to report the crime.

Click here to follow the original article.

Better Business Bureau: How to protect yourself from solar sale scams

KYMA on August 12, 2026

Jalen Fong

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – You get a knock at the door. They’re selling solar and have a great plan to turn all of the sunshine into savings for you.

That could happen, But if they talk of federal credits for owners or free panels or wiping out electricity bills, beware!

Also, many solar companies have gone out of business, leaving customers with systems they sometimes cannot use.

BBB ScamTracker shows a man paid $52,000 for a solar system and battery.  He says the system goes off line without warning. The company closed and he’s stuck trying to repair it himself.

Most federal incentives to buy solar are gone. 

One buyer was promised his energy production would wipe out electric bills. That didn’t happen and he now also pays a $128 monthly lease payment saying, “My budget cannot sustain this.”

Experts say in most cases, solar will not wipe out electricity costs. 

Still, surveys show most solar owners are happy they made the choice. 

If you’re thinking about solar, protect yourself. Search complaints online and check bbb.org for accredited solar businesses. Get three written estimates never signing under pressure. Talk to someone with solar about costs and benefits.

Arizona still offers an up to $1,000 tax credit for new rooftop solar owners.

In California, some electricity providers offer rebates for solar installs, but these things change so check for any federal, state or local incentives before you sign.

In Arizona, the nonprofit SolarUnitedNeighbors.org offers free solar advice and will examine contracts before you sign. 

Before trusting any business, check out reviews, complaints and for trusted Accredited Businesses at BBB.org and visit BBB’s Scam Tracker.

Check out BBB scam warnings at joeknowsbetter.com.

More solar protections from the Better Business Bureau:

If you want solar panels, be very careful when evaluating installation offers. Con artists use misleading sales tactics and lies to trick homeowners out of money and personal information.

If you’ve received an offer for “free solar panels,” it could be a scam. Always look for businesses you can trust, like Accredited Businesses using the BBB Seal.

How the scam works

Someone contacts you through email, phone, social media, or even in person pretending to be a solar company salesperson.

The “representative” has a special offer: They can install solar panels on your home for a very low cost, or even free. This amazing deal is only available for a limited time, so you must act now!

From here, the scam can take several turns. In some versions, the scammer is after your personal information.

They ask you to fill out forms with your banking details “to see if you qualify.” Other times, the “solar representative” claims you need to pay upfront costs, which they promise will be reimbursed by a (non-existent) government program.

In other instances, the scammer may begin the installation of the solar panels on your home but then never return to finish the job.

Or, they may install the panels but do a poor job, resulting in panels that don’t work. If you reach out to the scammer to finish the job or fix the panels, they will become unreachable and disappear with your money.

BBB Scam Tracker has seen numerous reports of this kind of scam. One homeowner was approached by a door-to-door salesperson “claiming he could get me a new roof plus solar equipment, with a government rebate for 26% off cost, essentially paying for the new roof.”

After doing their research, the homeowner found that while a government rebate program existed, the salesperson misrepresented it to make a sale.

In another case, a homeowner shared, “[Company name redacted] is a solar company promising one free year and other incentives upon signing but they never followed through on anything in their contract. After the instillation of solar, they stopped answering their phones and went silent on customers. We financed a 70k solar project for our house and are still waiting on them to finish instillation a year later. They promised to provide a lifetime upkeep and maintenance on the panels but are not doing so. They took the money and ran.”

How to avoid solar panel scams

Do your research. Genuine incentive programs and reputable solar energy contractors do exist. Before you accept an unsolicited offer, do some research on solar companies in your area. Investigate each company’s reputation and business practices before signing a service contract. Ask for references from previous customers and talk with them about their experience. If you’re suspecting a scam, check BBB Scam Tracker to see if others are reporting the same experience.

Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics. Con artists want to provoke an emotional reaction that would cause you to give in to their requests without thinking it through. Take your time; know that a legitimate company won’t pressure you to act. If someone uses aggressive sales tactics on you, especially if the offer was initially unsolicited, it’s best to cut off communication immediately.

Get competing bids. Contact several solar installers if you plan on going solar and get bids from each company. If someone is pulling a con, they will be much easier to spot this way. Learn more about what to ensure is included in your home improvement contract.

Ask plenty of questions and consider the answers. Ask questions about any aspect of a contract or proposal you don’t understand. If the company gets upset about your questions, refuses to answer them, or is vague with their answers, consider it a red flag.

For more information

Sign up for our weekly Scam Alert emails. Find solar panel installers near you and solar energy contractors near you.

Read BBB’s guide to going solar.

Report solar installation scams to BBB Scam Tracker. Your report can help expose common scam tactics and reduce scammers’ effectiveness.

Need help with your home improvement project? Visit our Home Improvement HQ or our Roofing HQ. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Palm Springs Fire Department to host emergency response training courses

KESQ on August 12, 2026

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Palm Springs Fire Department will teach residents essential emergency preparedness skills starting in October.

The department will host three Community Emergency Response Team training courses free of charge at the agency’s training center at 300 East Alejo Road, with the first date scheduled on Oct. 16.

The courses will provide training in disaster response, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and basic medical operations.

CERT courses will be a 20-hour commitment, with participants required to complete hands-on exercises in fire suppression, search and rescue, cribbing and medical operations, the agency stated.

Once the training is completed, participants will receive a backpack filled with emergency supplies.

CERT course dates will be from Oct. 16-18, Jan. 22-24 and March 5-7. Each class will be limited to the first 40 registrants. More information is available at CERT@palmspringsca.gov.

Click here to follow the original article.