Locals honor Purple Heart Day

KYMA on August 11, 2026

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Friday is National Purple Heart Day, recognizing those who have been wounded or killed in combat including several here in our area.

Yuma resident Jesse Martinez is a retired Marine who served during the Vietnam War. He received a purple heart after being wounded twice in combat.

In honor, Martinez built Purple Heart memorials at several Veteran posts across yuma.

“I have three walls placed in different Veterans homes post. And they recognized, honored the Veteran that were wounded in combat. What I did is I put a plaque designating the service the time what war they served in and how they were wounded,” Martinez said.

Martinez added the memorials are a way to make sure the sacrifices of Purple Heart recipients never go forgotten.

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Baby Emmanuel Haro murder case marks one year since kidnapping report this week

KESQ on August 11, 2026

Garrett Hottle

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – One year after seven-month-old Emmanuel Haro was falsely reported kidnapped in Cabazon, both of his parents are serving prison sentences while the search for the infant’s remains continues.

The child’s father, Jacob Haro, was sentenced to 25 years to life plus six years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder and child abuse. His mother, Rebecca Haro, was sentenced to 12 years and eight months after pleading guilty to child abuse and being an accessory. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department maintains an active search for Emmanuel’s remains, which have not been recovered.

The case began on Aug. 14 when Haro told deputies that a man knocked her unconscious in a parking lot while she was changing her baby’s diaper and kidnapped the infant.

“I got up off the floor and I didn’t see my child. Someone took him from me,” Haro said.

Detectives noted inconsistencies and shifting details in her account before she stopped speaking with law enforcement.

The investigation subsequently centered on the couple’s rented house in Cabazon. Court records revealed Haro had previously been convicted of felony child cruelty in 2023 involving a 10-week-old daughter from a prior relationship who was left permanently disabled. A judge sentenced him to probation in that case rather than prison.

Prosecutors stated that Emmanuel suffered abuse throughout his life and died between Aug. 5 and Aug. 14. Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin criticized the previous judicial decision to grant probation, stating that Emmanuel would still be alive if proper action had been taken.

Haro pleaded guilty on Oct. 16 to second-degree murder, assault on a child causing death and making a false report, receiving his sentence on Nov. 3. In May, Haro entered her guilty plea to child abuse causing great bodily injury and being an accessory on the day of her preliminary hearing. Although Haro messaged reporters from the California Men’s Colony prison, he has never disclosed where his son’s remains are located.

Emmanuel would turn 2 years old this December. A lawsuit was recently filed against Riverside County on behalf of Emmanuel’s 3-year-old sister by the law firm associated with families in the Turpin case. The complaint states that in June 2024, before Emmanuel was born, the county’s child abuse hotline received a neglect report after police found a gun in Haro’s purse, which violated Haro’s probation. According to the complaint, county staff recorded that Haro had zero prior abuse investigations, scored the family as low risk and did not open a case.

The search for Emmanuel’s remains remains active and authorities ask anyone with information to contact police.

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GoWest ‘East Idaho Welcome Home’ program aims to make homeownership more accessible

KIFI on August 11, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– The East Idaho Welcome Home program launched Monday, August 10, as a partnership between the GoWest Foundation and four local credit unions: Connections Credit Union, Frontier Credit Union, Idaho Central Credit Union and Westmark Credit Union.

“This is an opportunity to give those first-time homebuyers an option to get into a home sooner than what they had originally planned,” Stephanie Tocher, chief lending officer at Connections Credit Union, said.

Credit union leaders say rising home prices and interest rates have made it increasingly difficult for young and first-time buyers to enter the housing market.

“We also know that for many first-time homebuyers, getting into that first home has become increasingly difficult,” said Dan Thurman, CEO of Frontier Credit Union. “With rising interest rates and the challenge of saving for down payment, it’s made that feel out of reach for many, many young families or starting families. That’s why this program matters.”

The program is available to eligible first-time homebuyers purchasing homes in Bannock, Bear, Bingham, Bonneville, Butte, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Custer, Franklin, Fremont, Jefferson, Lake, Lemhi, Madison, Oneida, Power, or Teton County.

“I do believe this is going to help a lot of people buy their first home. And when you buy homes like we had today, where people are building homes for their families, for their employers, for their communities, they can now participate, they can volunteer, they can really get engaged in what’s going on around them,” Adam Stewart from Frontier Credit Union said.

For more information, and to check eligibility, click HERE.

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VA clinic in Imperial County holds ribbon-cutting ceremony

KYMA on August 11, 2026

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – A new Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Imperial County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in El Centro Monday.

Veterans, healthcare workers and elected officials gathered at the new upgraded outpatient VA clinic, located at 1501 W. Main Street, at 10 a.m.

The clinic is part of the VA San Diego Healthcare System, and has new exam rooms and telecare services.

“The clinic represents an important investment for our Veterans. It will provide expanded access to care closer to home for veterans throughout this Imperial County. The men and women who have served our country deserve this type of quality care,” said El Centro Mayor Michael Crankshaw.

Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Peggy Price noted that Veterans no longer have to travel out of the county to receive specialty services.

“It’s an opportunity to expand services such as mental health services here at this clinic and even our homeless voucher program,” Chairwoman Price explained. “We’d like to see those increased and more importantly is the specialty services so that our veterans do not have to travel to other counties, other states for services outside of Imperial County.”

The opening came on the heels of a major milestone for Veterans services.

“It’s also the 80th birthday of the Veterans Health Administration…This anniversary reminds us of eight decades of unwavering dedication to those who have served and inspired continued commitment to transforming the way that we provide care for our Veterans,” said Walt Danneberg, Director of Health Services.

The new clinic brings services like mental health, lab work and radiology.

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Beam Global plants roots in Yuma, bringing jobs and EV technology

KYMA on August 11, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A clean energy company is putting down roots in Yuma.

“Making Yuma more green…that will be our mission,” said Lisa Potok, Chief Financial Officer for Beam Global.

Beam Global designs and manufactures sustainable energy products, with a focus on off-grid electric vehicle charging systems, energy security, and energy storage.

The company said its move to Yuma reflects its commitment to expanding clean technology and renewable energy solutions.

“We want to make a difference, and that’s why we’re here,” Potok shared. “Beam Global wants to make a difference in the world…through EVs, through going green, and through driving on sunshine.”

Beam Global said it expects to hire local talent and is excited to bring more clean energy solutions to Yuma.

Potok added, “The big thing that we are bringing to Yuma is jobs..jobs for the economy. But we’re also bringing EV technology, so you’ll see a lot more of that in Yuma culture.”

Beam Global’s new location will span more than 50,000 square feet and has room to grow as the company expands.

Potok said, “We can easily do 20 to 30 jobs immediately, and then we can do second and third shifts. Over the long run, we’d hope to see over 100 employees.”

With new jobs and new technology on the way, Beam Global said its move to Yuma will bring a greener future.

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St. Charles Road Bridge reopens this week, coffee shop sees 80% drop in customers during roadwork

KMIZ on August 10, 2026

Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A business owner claims ongoing construction on the St. Charles Road Bridge on Interstate 70 has caused customer traffic at a coffee shop to drop by 80%, prompting to ask the community for help on Facebook to keep their doors open.

As part of the Improve I-70 Project, the St. Charles Road Bridge has been under construction since mid-April.

Monday morning, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the St. Charles Road bridge to celebrate the near completion of the bridge.

The bridge is expected to open for cars on Friday, Aug. 15, and will open to pedestrians when construction on the sidewalk is complete.

A business, Just Love Coffee Cafe shared on its social media on July 31 that it began running into issues when construction started in April.

Billy Watkins, owner of Just Love Coffee Cafe, said that the decision to post on social media stemmed from barely being able to pay the bills.

“It just comes down to numbers, you know, barely being able to to pay the bills. My family here as a mom and pop shop. We don’t have any more funds to put into this business. So at that point where our backs are against the wall because we can barely pay the employees,” Watkins said.

The post claims that since construction started, there has been an 80% drop in customer traffic at their east side location during what should be one of their busiest seasons.

“Unfortunately, significant prolonged road construction and I-70 overpass/bridge closures have severely impacted access to our cafes, resulting in a dramatic 80% drop in customer traffic at our east side location during what should be one of our busiest seasons for I-70 travelers, summer. We’re not asking for sympathy—we’re asking for support,” the post says.

A Columbia resident, Matt Frappier, created a GoFundMe for the coffee shop, saying that they were deeply worried about the business. The GoFundMe has received $950 in donations out of its $11k goal.

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Arian Eteghaei sentenced to 30 years to life for sexually assaulting multiple victims

KEYT on August 10, 2026

Caleb Nguyen

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced a 30-year-to-life sentence for Arian Eteghaei after he sexually assaulted multiple victims as a UCSB student.

A jury convicted Eteghaei on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge, two felony sexual assault offenses of forcible rape and forcible sexual penetration, and the special allegation of multiple victims.

Eteghaei also received another felony charge on Jan. 16, 2026, after he attempted to escape law enforcement custody at the Santa Barbara Courthouse in a felony complaint filed on March 11.

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2 men accused of setting vehicles on fire in Christmas morning arson

KVIA on August 10, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Crime Stoppers of El Paso and the city’s fire marshal’s office asked the public for help to identify suspected arsonists.

According to Crime Stoppers, two met set two vehicles on fire in an East El Paso neighborhood. It happened at 4:09 a.m. at the 12100 block of Saint Armand Court. That’s in a neighborhood off the intersection of N Zaragoza Road and Vista Del Sol Drive.

Crime Stoppers said a video showed the men setting fire to a 2021 Cadillac Escalade and a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado Z71.

The men reportedly left the scene and returned 10 minutes later to reignite the fire, officials said.

Arson investigators learned the men filled water bottles with gasoline at a Circle K Store at 1600 N. Zaragoza.

Crime stoppers said the first suspect is in his late 20s to early 30s with an average build. He wore a black hooded jacket and blue jeans.

A photo of one of the suspects in an arson investigation.(Courtesy: Crime Stoppers of El Paso)

The second suspect had a red hooded sweatshirt and dark pants, officials said.

A photo of one of the suspects in an arson investigation.(Courtesy: Crime Stoppers of El Paso)

The men reportedly drove a four-door car, which was possibly a Toyota or Lexus with dents on the doors, officials said.

A photo of the vehicle suspected to be involved in an arson.(Courtesy: Crime Stoppers of El Paso)

A photo of the vehicle suspected to be involved in an arson.(Courtesy: Crime Stoppers of El Paso)

Anyone with information about the suspects’ identities should call Crime Stoppers at 566-8477(TIPS) or online at www.cselpaso.org.

Reporters will stay anonymous, officials said. If a tip leads to an arrest, the reporter may qualify for a cash reward.

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Migrant faces immigration uncertainty following immigration app change

KVIA on August 10, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The Trump Administration intensified its immigration enforcement measures since its second term started more than a year ago. For asylum seekers hoping to cross into the U.S., the American Dream is a stone’s throw away.

Joel Vargas legally crossed into the U.S. from Venezuela; he shared his difficulties using the CBP One App with ABC-7. The app used to allow migrants to begin the asylum request process.

After six months, Vargas said he felt immense joy upon getting an appointment and crossing into the U.S. In Colorado, he now works in construction.

Later, Vargas’ phone received a notification offering him to self-deport.

The Trump Administration changed the CBP One app into CBP Home. It no longer takes asylum appointment requests and instead helps migrants self-deport to their countries.

According to Vargas, the app said migrants would have to pay almost $1,000 a day if they don’t voluntarily self-deport.

Even though he crossed into the U.S. legally, Vargas said he lives in fear of being deported back to Venezuela and not fulfill the dream he has: buying a house for his family.

ABC-7’s Heriberto Perez first met Vargas in Juárez when a high number of migrants arrived in the city. He was one of many camping on the streets while waiting to secure an appointment through the CBP One app.

Vargas shares his full story in “Legal Limbo.” Watch the special report Thursday on ABC-7 at 6.

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YPD searches for driver in connection to liquor store incident

KYMA on August 10, 2026

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is searching for the driver in connection to an incident at a liquor store last month.

In a post to Facebook, YPD also released bodycam footage to address misinformation regarding what happened as videos were going around social media saying a man tried to kidnap a 16-year-old girl.

YPD said they received reports of an aggravated assault at Quality Liquor, located in the area of S. Fourth Avenue and W. 21st Street, near the Dairy Queen, on July 21, before 1:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, YPD said officers interviewed the teen and witnesses at the scene.

They told YPD that the teen attempted to purchase a vape at the store, but the clerk did not let her buy it.

The teen, according to YPD, then gave money to someone and asked him to buy the vape for her, but as he was leaving the store, the teen asked if he bought the vape for her, he told her he did not, prompting her to ask for her money back, but the man refused and began driving away.

However, the teen grabbed the driver’s side window for a short moment before letting go and rolling onto the highway.

“For our community’s peace of mind and to not be worrying that some guy is trying to abduct girls or teenagers or anything like that, we felt the need to get it out there and give them the full story,” said Sgt. Lori Franklin with YPD. “Again, it’s not the norm for something like this for us to do. When it comes to our community, we wanna make sure they know that this didn’t happen.”

During the investigation, YPD said store employees told them there was video, but they did not have access to the surveillance system as it could be only accessed by the store’s owner.

After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain the footage, YPD said it was recovered on July 30.

YPD told News 11 they’re trying to identify the driver and no charges have been filed.

“They are trying to locate the driver. I don’t have an update as far as where we’re at right now with it. I know that is something they are looking into between speaking with the store itself, looking at video from the store, witnesses again. They have a good description for everything so they’re working on it,” Sgt. Franklin said.

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