Black bears enter homes and garages in Teton County neighborhoods

KIFI on August 31, 2026

Curtis Jackson

TETON COUNTY, Idaho (KIFI) – Teton County authorities say multiple black bears are causing problems in Teton Valley neighborhoods after finding food in unsecured garbage.

The Teton County Sheriff’s Office says bears have recently been getting into trash left in neighborhoods, including South Leigh Creek, Mountain Drive, and Packsaddle. Officials report the animals have been entering homes and garages, frequenting porches, pushing on doors and window screens, climbing balconies, and feeding from non-bear-resistant garbage cans.

The Sheriff’s Office said it is working with Idaho Fish and Game and considers the situation a public safety concern.

Residents who see a bear in their neighborhood are urged to immediately contact the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 776-8200.

To reduce bear encounters, officials recommend using bear-resistant trash containers, keeping garbage secured indoors until pickup day if bear-resistant cans are unavailable, feeding pets indoors, avoiding outdoor storage of coolers, refrigerators and freezers, and removing bird feeders from April through mid-November.

Wildlife officials say bears that find food on a property are likely to return several times. However, if food sources are removed, the animals will eventually move on.

According to Idaho Fish and Game, the current issue primarily involves black bears, but officials warn it could quickly attract grizzly bears as well.

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Emergency Fire Cost Committee meets Sept. 8 to discuss forest land fund

KTVZ on August 31, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Emergency Fire Cost Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Oregon Department of Forestry headquarters in Salem. The meeting will be open to the public in person and virtually via Microsoft Teams.

The committee oversees the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund, which was created by the Oregon Legislature. The fund finances fiscal year budgets for forest protection districts, supports investments in fire prevention, detection and suppression resources and provides loans to the Oregon Department of Forestry or forest protection associations for wildfire costs.

The meeting agenda includes a financial status update for the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund and the ending balance for Fiscal Year 2026. Committee members will also hear a weather update, discuss an administrative rule framework and receive reports from the administrator, the Agency and Business Services Division and the Protection Division.

In-person attendance will be held in the Tillamook Room in Building C at the Department of Forestry complex. Virtual access is available through Microsoft Teams using conference information listed on the meeting agenda. Public comments will be accepted near the end of the meeting.

Accommodations for individuals with disabilities, as well as special materials or assistance, must be arranged at least 48 hours before the meeting. Requests can be made by calling 503-881-8292 or emailing lorna.m.hobbs@odf.oregon.gov.

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Former Moberly daycare owner pleads guilty to child endangerment ahead of trial

KMIZ on August 31, 2026

Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) –

A former daycare operator pleaded guilty to four felonies Monday ahead of her bench trial on child abuse charges in Randolph County.

Naomi Hess pleaded guilty on Monday to four counts of first-degree child endangerment. The class D felonies carry a maximum seven-year prison sentence. Hess will be sentenced on November 4.

Hess was set to go to a bench trial on Monday on four counts of child abuse. Police arrested her in 2024 after a witness reported that she had slapped a child’s back. Law enforcement also claimed videos showed Hess, who ran the Play N’ Learn daycare, lying over a child, forcefully handling children to sit or lie down.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told ABC 17 News that Hess had voluntarily handed over her facility’s child care license while it was being investigated.

Hess’s attorney, Andrew Popplewell, said she entered an open guilty plea. That means Judge Mason Gebhardt will have the full range of punishment to consider at sentencing, rather than being bound by an agreement.

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Kyle Stjerne selected as next Palm Springs Police Chief

KESQ on August 31, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — The City of Palm Springs has a new Chief of Police. City Manager Scott Stiles has selected Deputy Chief Kyle Stjerne as the city’s next Chief of Police following an internal recruitment process and community input.

Stjerne, a 24-year veteran of the Palm Springs Police Department, will succeed retiring Chief Andy Mills and officially begin his new role on September 6.

Stjerne joined the department in 2002 and has served in a range of leadership positions, including detective sergeant, SWAT team leader and commander, internal affairs sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy chief. He has served as deputy chief since January 2026, overseeing day-to-day operations and the department’s $46 million budget.

During his career, Stjerne has led major criminal investigations, critical incidents and high-profile events, including presidential visits. He has also played a key role in reshaping the department’s crime-control strategy, which city officials say has helped reduce crime while improving productivity and operational effectiveness.

Stiles said Stjerne’s experience and understanding of the community made him the right choice after reviewing 1,300 responses to the city’s Police Chief Community Survey.

“Kyle has grown into an outstanding leader, a seasoned problem solver, and a trusted public servant,” Stiles said, adding that he is confident Stjerne will build on the department’s foundation of inclusive, community-centered policing.

Stjerne holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from San Diego State University and has completed management and public leadership programs through Harvard University and Harvard Business School Online. He also recently graduated from the Senior Management Institute for Police offered by the Police Executive Research Forum.

In a statement, Stjerne called the appointment the “profound honor” of his professional life and pledged to lead with integrity, transparency and community engagement while focusing on crime prevention, quality of life and modern policing.

Stjerne and his wife, Brooke, have been married for 21 years and have two children. Outside of work, he practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, hikes in the Coachella Valley and reads extensively about leadership and high-performing teams.

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Home and Garden Show comes to Convention Center

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Carpio Griego

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Vendors providing home improvement opportunities for both outdoor and indoor projects for homeowners make up the 2026 Home and Garden Show at the El Paso Convention Center on Saturday.

The ballroom is filled with additions to the home ranging from patio furniture and hot tubs or pools with turf to go with it to sheds and window options.

Businesses were also offering carpet, tiling, curtains or blinds for windows, even cookware including pots and pans and even utensils to buy.

Mattresses took up large amounts of floor space with even massage chairs for sale with staging of outdoor furniture and even stages for cooking demonstrations as well as vendors showing the advantages of their cookware.

Even smaller personal items including lawnmowers, grills and even personal accessories including wood carvings and jewelry were being sold.

Even the Humane Society of El Paso had a booth with adoptable pets as well as the ‘story’ of every pet at the Convention Center on Saturday.

This Home and Garden Show will last all weekend from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

It is free to attend this event with UTEP’s basketball mascot ‘Paydirt Pete’ scheduled to be at the event on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. and ‘Spike’ the Rhino of the El Paso Rhinos scheduled to appear on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

For more information, you can go to El Paso Live’s website here.

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US authorities crack down on birth tourism to protect taxpayers

KVIA on August 31, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The U.S. Department of State established a specialized task force to target birth tourism schemes. It revoked more than 900 visas within its first few weeks of operation. Federal authorities are reviewing issued visas and travel records to identify noncitizens who lie to consular officials about their travel plans to give birth on U.S. soil.

Birth tourism occurs when foreign travelers apply for temporary tourist visas while concealing intent to give birth in the U.S., so their child acquires citizenship.

State Department officials said they view the practice as a “fraudulent scheme perpetrated against consular officers and taxpayers.”

The State Department is coordinating its visa enforcement efforts with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and foreign law enforcement partners to analyze travel patterns, designated contacts and planned accommodations in the U.S.

ABC-7 spoke with Luke Ortega, deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, who said how officials are reviewing visa information to identify birth tourism cases.

“What we do is we go through with a fine-tooth comb at all of the information that we receive from visa applicants and people who hold visas to ensure that they remain eligible for that visa,” Ortega said. “It’s something that we’re constantly doing; in the case of birth tourism, we’re looking very closely at their travel patterns, at the individuals that they might list as points of contact or locations, places where they will be staying in the United States to identify patterns that are indicative of birth tourism.”

The review process targets both pending applications and visas already issued to those who may currently be in the country.

“We are casting a very wide net,” Ortega said. “And yes, that can include people who are already in the United States. And when we make a revocation decision, we pass that information on to the Department of Homeland Security for them to take appropriate action.”

In addition to individual applicants, federal authorities are focusing on foreign networks and commercial rings that advertise birth tourism packages. Officials noted that foreign visitors engaging in birth tourism often fail to pay hospital bills, leaving local taxpayers to cover the medical costs.

“It’s important to understand that American citizenship is a sacred privilege,” Ortega said. “It’s not something that should be bought or sold or commodified by these services that are committing fraud to bring people into the United States and, most times, passing the costs on to the American taxpayer.”

The task force is part of a broader push by the State Department to increase visa revocations across all categories.

“We’ve already revoked the visas of more than 175,000 individuals since the beginning of the Trump Administration,” Ortega said. “The vast majority of these folks are people who are coming to the United States and breaking our laws; these are people who are driving around drunk, committing assault, committing burglary, drug crimes.”

Department of State officials emphasized that visa decisions are handled as national security matters intended to enforce immigration laws and safeguard local populations.

“Our actions are aimed at eliminating fraud in our visa system so that the entry and exit of foreigners into the United States is done in a regular and legal and orderly way,” Ortega said. “And that’s the important thing that we want to make sure that we are doing: we’re combating fraud and we are ending illegal immigration.”

“We are doing this in order ultimately to protect U.S. national security and U.S. communities,” he added.

“One of the biggest things that is the benefit for us is ensuring that we are protecting our communities, particularly by removing people who are breaking the law, who are abusing the law,” Ortega added. “As I mentioned, the majority of the visa revocations that we have seen are individuals who are getting arrested for crimes that would, I think, frighten and shock any person driving around drunk, assault, burglary.”

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Areas around Reynolds Pond will temporarily close for safety during training

KTVZ on August 31, 2026

Claire Elmer

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Bureau of Land Management will temporarily close the Reynolds Pond Trailhead from September 11th – 13th to protect public safety during permitted gundog testing.

The restriction will block access to Reynolds Pond and limit entry into the Oregon Badlands Wilderness from that location between noon and 6:00p.m. daily.

During the three days of testing, gundogs will participate in a series of outdoor evaluations at Reynolds Pond involving the use of blank shotgun shells.

According to the bureau, the temporary closure is designed to keep public visitors safely separated from the live testing area.

Lisa Clark, manager of the Deschutes Field Office, emphasized the importance of safety during the scheduled activity.

“Hunting with trained dogs has a long tradition in Oregon and safety is an important part of that,” Clark said. “This short closure gives the dogs and participants room to complete the testing safely while visitors use other trailheads to access the Wilderness.”

The announcement coincides with National Shooting Sports Month, an observance highlighting American recreational shooting and hunting traditions alongside firearm safety, personal responsibility and conservation efforts.

Visitors seeking alternative entry to the Oregon Badlands Wilderness during the daily closure hours are advised to use the Dry River or Chitwood trailheads.

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Man charged with patronizing prostitution from teens has initial court hearing

KMIZ on August 31, 2026

Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 35-year-old man was charged Monday on accusations that he tried to pay one or more teenagers for sex at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park.

Boone County prosecutors charged Colton Cranford on Monday with a single count of patronizing prostitution with a person between the ages of 15 and 18.

In a probable cause statement, Missouri Department of Natural Resources state park rangers wrote that they were notified of a man texting a reporting party about taking videos of children performing sex acts and soliciting sex from a minor for money.

Court records state that Cranford has an address in Columbia that is not known. Jail records state that he is from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The report states that Cranford said he would “pay 2K each,” referring to the children.

Cranford was denied bond. The state argued that he should stay in jail because he is a danger to the community.

Cranford’s initial court appearance is scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, where Cranford will appear on video.

According to a motion to set bond, Cranford appears to have no Missouri criminal history.

A new law that went into effect on Friday made patronizing prostitution of a person younger than 18 years old but older than 15 a Class D felony. Before, it was a Class E felony.

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Central Missouri Humane Society takes custody of dozens of barnyard animals

KMIZ on August 31, 2026

Ellyse Edwards

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nearly 20 adoption applications were submitted within the first 30 minutes of applications opening for more than 70 farm animals found abandoned at a Boone County property, according to the Central Missouri Humane Society.

Columbia/Boone County Animal Control Supervisor Kevin Meyers said his department received a call July 29 about livestock believed to have been abandoned at a property on North Dozier Station Road, east of Columbia.

Meyers said the people who lived at the property had been evicted. An animal control officer found an eviction notice posted at the property, along with sheep, goats, lambs and kids that appeared to have been left without food or water.

Some animals were found dead at the property. Meyers said many of the surviving animals were underweight and dirty.

Animal Control obtained a search-and-seizure warrant to remove the animals. The group included 24 sheep, goats and lambs, 45 chickens and two turkeys.

The sheep, goats and young livestock were temporarily housed at the former Boone County Fairgrounds. Meyers said Animal Control officers cared for them three times a day with help from the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department and the Boone County Fair Board.

The chickens and turkeys were placed in foster care.

Meyers said the animals were held for 30 days before a disposition hearing. The owner had the opportunity to pay a bond of more than $19,000 to retain custody of the animals but did not have the means to pay it.

A judge ruled that the animals would be turned over to the Central Missouri Humane Society. Meyers said the former owner was issued citations and that it is now up to the Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to determine what happens next.

The Humane Society is now working to find homes for the animals. The shelter began accepting applications Monday and plans to hold meet-and-greets throughout the week.

The Humane Society has operated from its current building since 1976 and does not routinely house livestock. Shelter staff used a large fenced-in field behind the building to give the animals space to graze.

“We have obviously outgrown the space,” a Humane Society representative said. “So every day is kind of an improvise, adapt, overcome when it comes to situations like this.”

All of the animals have received care from a livestock veterinarian.

People interested in adopting must make sure they are legally allowed to keep the species on their property and have appropriate housing, fencing, space and resources. Adopters will also be responsible for transporting the animals and providing their future food, supplies and veterinary care.

People who plan to keep livestock within Columbia city limits must follow the city’s livestock ordinances. Columbia generally requires an enclosure, outbuilding or pasture to have at least one-half acre for each livestock animal.

The outside boundary of the enclosure must also be at least 100 feet from another person’s home, a church, school or business unless written consent is provided.

Columbia residents may keep up to six chickens, but only hens are allowed. Roosters are prohibited within city limits.

Those interested in adopting can complete the Humane Society’s Barnyard Adoption Interest Survey. Shelter employees will contact applicants to schedule a meet-and-greet.

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Think Wild seeks volunteers for expanded Oregon beaver restoration season

KTVZ on August 31, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Think Wild’s Beaver Works Oregon program is seeking volunteers for an expanded fall field season after wildfires and unsafe summer conditions forced the cancellation and rescheduling of multiple restoration projects.

The recruitment push will run through September and October across Central and Eastern Oregon to make up for field time lost to smoke and fire closures.

Under Oregon state law, beavers are recognized as a keystone species and “nature’s engineer” for their role in increasing water quality and quantity, reducing wildfire risks and providing refuge for wildlife. Beaver Works Oregon designs projects to support these natural processes by building structures that slow water and restore stream functions where beavers are absent.

The organization also plants native vegetation to provide food and habitat, assists with human-beaver coexistence efforts and conducts surveys to determine where beaver populations currently live and where restoration can support their return.

Fieldwork opportunities span multiple locations across Central and Eastern Oregon, including a native plant planting week at Crooked River Park, willow and cottonwood planting along Eightmile Creek and building Beaver Dam Analogs at Camp Creek in the Malheur National Forest. Beaver Dam Analogs are human-built structures designed to slow water flow and restore natural stream function in areas lacking active beaver populations.

Maureen Thompson, director of conservation at Think Wild, highlighted the connection between severe fire activity and wetland restoration needs. “This is the most destructive and largest wildfire season on record for Oregon, which has underscored exactly why this work matters,” Thompson said. “Beavers are powerful agents of landscape change. By slowing and storing water, reconnecting streams with their floodplains and creating wetland habitat, beavers can help Oregon stay wetter and more resilient during drought and wildfire and quite literally provide safe haven for other animals as the fire passes through their home.”

A major component of the program’s long-term research involves beaver sign surveys. Volunteers receive training to identify physical evidence of beaver activity, including chewed vegetation, tracks, scat, dams, lodges and bank dens. Data gathered from these observations help land managers and conservationists understand historical presence, track existing populations and evaluate potential sites for future habitat restoration.

No prior experience in restoration or wildlife monitoring is required to participate, as training, tools and guidance are provided for all projects. Emily Sullivan, volunteer coordinator at Think Wild, noted that projects accommodate a wide range of skill and physical fitness levels. “If you’ve been considering volunteering with Beaver Works Oregon, now is the time to get started,” Sullivan said. “We have opportunities for a wide range of interests and abilities. Some projects are physically demanding and take us deep into the field, while others are accessible to beginners and families. You can bring friends, learn something new, spend time outside and directly contribute to healthier wildlife habitat and a more fire-resilient region.”

Volunteer events begin with beaver research and monitoring on Sept. 19–20, followed by the Crooked River Park planting week from Sept. 21–27. Scheduled October activities include a family-friendly survey day on Oct. 3, Beaver Dam Analog construction at Camp Creek in Malheur National Forest from Oct. 12–16, and plant restoration along Eightmile Creek from Oct. 21–24, alongside multiple monitoring sessions running through Oct. 30.

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