Young Territorial Marines honor fallen members on five-year anniversary

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Territorial Young Marines hosted a memorial walk Wednesday to honor 13 fallen service members killed in Afghanistan five years ago.

The event started with reading each of the names that lost their lives and a prayer before the walk.

During the event, the Young Marines and locals walked 1.3 miles next to the Marine Corps Station as they remembered these service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Organizer Chas Johnson says this tragedy hit close to home.

“My daughter was actually there that day she was supposed to be at that gate, but was diverted elsewhere, and that was a very hard day watching the news, not knowing if she was okay waiting for a phone call. But by the grace of God, she survived and that’s why this is so very important to me,” Johnson said.

The youth were led by 15-year-old Antonio Ornelas throughout the walk. He says this is a great opportunity to be a better leader.

“This helps me become a better leader in life, school, outside of school, future jobs. It can already prepare me, and it helps me be not only mature, but know how to lead people and organized,” Ornelas said.

They hope to do the walk every year going forward.

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Missouri Department of Conservation to remove invasive carp from lower Grand River next week

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Department of Conservation will conduct an invasive carp removal next week on the Grand River, the department announced in a Thursday press release.

Crews will remove invasive carp from the river from Monday through Thursday, which will require the closure of the Brunswick Access. After being caught, the fish will be brought to a commercial fishing business to be processed into various products, the release says.

The release says officials will target silver, bighead, grass and black carp, which have previously been known as Asian carp. Any other fish species captured will be measured and released as part of research and monitoring of the river’s fishery, according to the release.

Boaters can still access the river at the Bosworth Access.

“Efforts like this project have potential to increase available food and habitat for native fish in the Grand and Missouri rivers. Invasive carp tend to spawn in the slower-moving feeder streams, while young and mature carp congregate in the nutrient-rich waters of deep pools. Continued efforts in these areas could help remove large numbers of invasive carp,” the release says.

Nonnative invasive carp can reproduce and grow quickly to sizes too large for native predator fish to consume.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says those types of carp were brought to the country in the ‘70s “as a biological control for plants, algae and snails in aquaculture, wastewater and retention ponds.” The Minnesota DNR wrote that a few fish escaped during high-water events “and became established in the lower and middle Mississippi River.”

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City of Bend opens Climate Action Partner grants to local groups

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Local organizations in Bend can now apply for funding to help make a positive impact on the environment.

The City of Bend’s Climate Action Partner grant program provides funding for projects that support the city’s community climate action plan.

The deadline to apply is September 8th, 2026.

To learn more about the program and how to apply, click here.

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Free car-seat inspections offered during Central Oregon child safety enforcement

Kelsey Merison

(Update: added information about Sister-Camp Sherman’s Fire Corps’ Car Seat Safety Program)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement agencies across Central Oregon for a child passenger safety enforcement blitz through Sept. 6.

Deputies will be watching for children who are unbuckled or improperly restrained. Sheriff Ty Rupert says the effort is focused on education and awareness, rather than issuing citations.

In 2024, 103 people died in Oregon crashes involving a lack of seat belt use or a child who was not properly secured. Nearly 2,000 children were injured in crashes statewide that year, and 12% were unrestrained.

Oregon law requires children to ride rear-facing until at least age 2. Children must then use a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall, whichever comes first.

Parents and caregivers in the Sisters area can also get free help checking or installing their child’s safety seat. Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps offers free child car-seat inspections and installation assistance by appointment through its Car Seat Safety Program.

A certified National Child Passenger Safety Technician can help ensure a car seat is installed correctly and appropriate for the child’s age, size and development. The service is available for families installing a seat for the first time, transferring it to another vehicle, moving a child into a new seat or seeking a routine installation check.

Appointments can be scheduled through the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Corps Car Seat Safety Program.

The department says the safety blitz and available inspection services offer parents a reminder to take a few minutes to ensure young passengers are properly secured.

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Lincoln University students claim mold at Anthony Hall was reported last year

Marie Moyer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Forty-nine Lincoln University students are temporarily moved out of Anthony Hall until at least the end of the fall semester after mold was discovered growing in an empty dorm room.

Students were initially notified on Wednesday and moved out that evening and throughout Thursday.

“We got an email saying that we’re going to be having a meeting, relocating to Dawson Hall yesterday and today,” first-year LU student John Marker said. “It was kind of a pretty big surprise, really unexpected.”

Marker was one of the 49 students living in Anthony Hall who were moved.

“It was more just annoying, I don’t really have that much stuff, all my stuff fit into a duffel bag and a suitcase,” Marker said. “I do know that there was some people that had like really decorated the room and had a ton of stuff, it was going to take them quite a while and a lot of effort to get moved out.”

ABC 17 News was on campus Thursday and saw LU employees moving furniture out of Anthony Hall into moving trucks from the school’s Facilities and Planning Department.

According to students ABC 17 News spoke with, residents were moved to Dawson, Tull and Perry halls. Residents who were moved to a more expensive dorm hall kept their original room and board fees, while residents in dorm halls with cheaper fees were refunded the difference.

“Whenever the beginning of the school year started, there was a few people that had seen mold in their rooms, and I made sure to thoroughly check my room and I didn’t really see anything,” Marker said. “I think that my room was, for the most part, pretty safe.”

Marker added during the meeting where the relocation was announced, some students raised concerns about previous residents reporting mold.

“Some people were arguing about the fact that they [Lincoln University] could have done deeper inspections in between last year and this year,” Marker said. “There was a lot of issues with students last year that had seen mold in their rooms, and they had sent in a ticket for it, and that ticket apparently didn’t go anywhere.”

“When a specific concern is reported, the University’s protocol is to conduct an initial assessment and, when warranted, bring in specialized outside professionals,” LU wrote in an email to ABC 17 News.

LU did not address whether maintenance received or addressed the complaints of mold from the previous school year.

Even with short notice, students are staying positive, with several who spoke with ABC 17 News reporting that mold is inevitable with historic campuses.

“There wasn’t really much that they could do besides relocate us until they have it fully cleaned out, it is for our safety and for their safety,” Marker said. “It is guaranteed pretty much for an old building to at some point in its life have some kind of form of fungal infestation, which sucks, but it happens.”

First-year student Jamier Wilson does not live in Anthony Hall, but was similarly not suprised about the reports of mold.

“I was expecting complications, I knew what I was coming into, going to HBCU at that, especially like how the how the United States is right now, I wasn’t expecting high funding or anything, so I was understanding about it,” Wilson said. “And they’re [Lincoln University] trying to figure it out, it’s not like they’re just keeping them [students] in there, they’re trying to fix it.”

Students also told ABC 17 News the school is hoping to clear the mold by the end of the fall semester. However, students were warned the new placements could last until the rest of the year. LU has not yet publicly announced a date for when maintenance for Anthony Hall will be completed.

“The University’s goal is to complete the necessary work and reopen Anthony Hall for the spring semester, providing students with a residence hall that meets the University’s standards for health, safety and comfort. Lincoln will continue to support the temporarily relocated students to ensure they are successfully settled in their new residence halls for the remainder of the fall semester,” LU said in the email.

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Humane Society of Imperial County to host community fundraisers

Jessamyn Dodd

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – The Humane Society of Imperial County is set to host two fund raisers in the coming months, in an effort to help with building their new shelter.

On September 30 at the Old Eucalyptus School House, “Mutts and Margaritas” promises drinks and mingling for the over 21 crowd.

On October 10 at Fitness Oasis, a family-friendly and dog-friendly Halloween event is scheduled.

“So, we have our Wolfleween event coming up in October. That’s gonna be Saturday, October 10th from 7 to 10:00 p.m. at Fitness Oasis in Imperial,” Devon Apocada of the Humae Society said.

“It’s an event that we’ve done every year for, I think, about 10 years now. It’s a family fun, family-oriented event. There’s games, there’s food, there’s drinks, there’s a jumpy house, there’s raffle prizes,” he added.

For tickets and more information, head to the Humane Society’s website.

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Las Cruces brothers sentenced for drug trafficking, firearms offenses

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — Two Las Cruces brothers received prison sentences after pleading guilty to drug trafficking and firearms offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico said.

Thirty-two-year-old Eddie Linarez and 28-year-old Nathan Quintana were sentenced in federal court after law enforcement seized fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and multiple guns while searching their home and truck.

Court documents said that on March 7, 2024, federal and local authorities executed a search warrant at the brothers’ home. They detained Linarez in the driveway and searched his truck and home.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said agents found a backpack with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, a loaded gun and $7,000 in cash.

Bag containing scattered cash and a small black handgun.(Courtesy: USAONM)

In Quintana’s bedroom, agents found five guns. Officials said one of the guns was next to a bag containing fentanyl. In the closet, agents found more fentanyl and cocaine.

Agents found more narcotics, a digital scale with narcotics residue and $2,000 in cash in other parts of the home, officials said.

Stacks of paper currency spread across a wooden table.(Courtesy: USAONM)

On March 6, 20246, FBI and Metro Narcotics agents executed a second search warrant at the home. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Linarez approached the home around the same time and drove away at a high rate of speed when agents tried to stop him.

During the pursuit, Linarez drove around a stopped school bus and entered into oncoming traffic, officials said. Agents later lost sight of him and ended the pursuit.

Linarez surrendered to law enforcement six days later, officials said.

Linarez pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

He was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Quintana pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

He was sentenced to 12 years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

There’s no parole in the federal system.

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Somerton man faces burglary and narcotics charges

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – A Somerton man is facing multiple charges after the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) said he broke into a home and a car, and then ran from deputies.

In a press release, the burglary happened in the area of W. County 14th Street and S. Avenue D before 3 p.m. Monday.

YCSO said the suspect forced his way into the home and “a vehicle located on the property,” with the suspect running away with multiple stolen items.

Upon further investigation and collection of evidence, YCSO said deputies were able to identify the suspect as a 23-year-old man from Somerton.

The day after the burglary, YCSO said they contacted the suspect at his home, with him attempting to run away.

This prompted YCSO and other agencies to search the area, with YCSO saying the suspect was found hiding in a neighbor’s yard and was taken into custody without incident.

The suspect was then booked into the Yuma County Detention Center for second-degree burglary, criminal damage and criminal trespassing.

On Wednesday, the day after the arrest, YCSO said they had a warrant to search the suspect’s house, resulting in them finding additional evidence related to the burglary as well as narcotics.

This prompted them to call the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force to take over the narcotics investigation, where they seized the following drugs:

Approximately 5.84 ounces of THC Liquid with an estimated street value of $3,320.

13 ounces of marijuana with an estimated street value of $3,690

2.6 grams of mushrooms

Multiple items of paraphernalia indicative of street sales.

YCSO said this resulted in additional drug-related charges of possession of marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In addition, YCSO named the following agencies for their help in finding the suspect, whose bond it set at $5,000:

Cocopah Police Department

Somerton Police Department

Yuma Police Department Drone Unit

U.S. Border Patrol

If anyone has information regarding the case, call YCSO at 928-783-4427, call 78-CRIME to remain anonymous, or visit YCSO’s website to submit an anonymous tip.

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Yuma County Chamber of Commerce names new executive director

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Chamber of Commerce has a new executive director.

Ben Smithwick is originally from Connecticut, but is coming from California at the Pacific Research Institute.

He was introduced to local leaders and business owners Wednesday night at the chamber mixer at Avenir Financial.

Smithwick said it is an exciting change to help businesses grow, and is proud to get to call Yuma home.

“There’s so much opportunity here in Yuma. There’s so many businesses that are relocating to the county so much growth in terms of population over the past 20 years, and so I think there’s a great foothold to expand the business space,” Smithwick expressed.

Smithwick also has a background in journalism, working with Fox News in Los Angeles as a news editor.

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Evacuation orders reduced for Crook County near Rowe Creek Complex

Kelsey Merison

CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) — Right now, evacuation levels are continuing to be reduced around the Rowe Creek Complex thanks to the ongoing work of fire crews.

The Crook County Sheriff’s Office says there are now no Level 3 – Go Now or Level 2 – Be Set evacuation notifications remaining for the fire. A Level 1 – Be Ready notification is still in effect for areas east of Mill Creek Road to Highway 26 and Ochoco Ranger Station Road.

Fire crews continue to actively work in the area, and residents are urged to stay alert and be prepared for changing conditions.

The sheriff’s office is also thanking fire crews and the community for their continued efforts and support throughout the month-long response.

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