Nevada’s Hawk Fire Has California Teams Ready For Calls To Assist

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – Local fire crews are poised and ready for any calls for assistance to help fight the Hawk Fire burning near Reno, Nevada.

In just two days, the Hawk Fire has rapidly spread to an area of 15,000 acres in Washoe County, Nevada.

90,000 residents have been issued evacuation orders or warnings, and Nevada governor Joe Lombardo declared a state of emergency for Washoe County.

Three civilians and three first responders have been hurt so far, but there are no reported fatalities at this time.

In the wake of the governor’s declaration of emergency conditions, Washoe County cancelled classes for its local schools today.

Multiple structures and vehicles have been destroyed and the power is out for thousands in the vicinity.

The cause is currently under investigation but fire officials say it appears people started the fire.

Over 800 personnel are battling the wildfire, including local hand crews as well as engines, aerial resources and bulldozers, some of which has been provided by Cal Fire.

“The fire started and quickly gained in size,” says Robert Foxworthy, Cal Fire Public Information Officer. “So they sent the closest resources that were available. So majority of the resources that are currently assigned to the Hawk Fire are all local Cal Fire resources to that area. So the Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, Tehama-Glenn, Lassen-Modoc.”

Cal Fire officials say many of their out-of-state assets have just returned from other fires in Washington and Oregon, but have not received any calls for assistance from Nevada.

Local officials say multi-state fire responses such as this are growing in size and frequency, so local teams are ready to respond should the call come in.

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Moberly woman dead after Sunday night shooting

Haley Swaino

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ

The victim of a deadly Sunday night shooting in Moberly has been identified as a 57-year-old woman.

Family members told ABC 17 News that Cheryl Gravitt, 57, was the victim of the weekend shooting. Moberly Police confirmed her identity Monday afternoon.

An ABC 17 News reporter spoke with multiple family members Monday who confirmed Gravitt was found shot in the head at the end of her driveway. Police told the family she died in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

In a social media post Sunday, the Moberly Police Department said it was investigating a shooting around 8 p.m. that occurred in the 500 block of Morehead Street.

A preliminary investigation determined the shooting to be an isolated incident, and there is no danger to the community, the post states.

Moberly Police said in a news release Monday that interviews of witnesses were being conducted. The death was ruled a homicide, and an autopsy is set. Police say they won’t release other details, citing the need to protect the investigation.

A neighbor on scene told ABC 17 News crews Sunday night that the shooting started allegedly as a disturbance between two women. The reporter saw four ambulances on scene and multiple law enforcement agencies. One woman was seen being taken in an ambulance.

Randolph County Prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said the investigation was ongoing Monday.

Check back for updates.

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Board of Supervisors renews 211 countywide call center contract

City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The Board of Supervisors today renewed an agreement for 211 call center service throughout Riverside County, continuing the service that connects callers with government agencies and nonprofits that can provide crisis intervention and referrals to assist with other needs.

The compact with Riverside-based Inland Southern California 211+ was unanimously approved without comment by the board as part of its policy agenda Tuesday.

The contract takes effect immediately and will expire on June 30, 2027, at a cost of $255,594. However, the agreement permits automatic annual renewals of the 211 service until the end of June 2031 — provided there are no conflicts between the parties. The aggregate cost over that five-year period will be $1.27 million, according to the Executive Office.

A 211 service has been available countywide for over a decade, though the board approved the county’s first contract with Inland Southern California 211+ in early 2022, following termination of a compact with a previous provider.

“These services are a component of the Department of Behavioral Health’s system of care aimed at improving the health and safety of consumers, and the community,” according to an EO statement posted to the board’s agenda.

Call center specialists are available around-the-clock and are trained to refer callers to government offices and nonprofits best able to assist them with obtaining Medi-Cal benefits, veterans aid, food stamps, disability care and free or low-cost transportation.

Specialists are also trained in crisis intervention, much the same as suicide hotline operators, and can additionally field child, dependent adult and senior abuse complaints.

Under the agreement, all calls must be logged, noting callers’ zip codes, needs and whether they received referrals.

The Department of Behavioral Health did not seek competitive bids to determine whether other providers might be able to render similar services in the county at less expense. Officials said the Department of Purchasing & Fleet Services reviewed the matter and found that the single-source option was best.

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Former SLHS teacher accused of sexually abusing underage student pleads not guilty

Madeline Murray

YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA) – The former San Luis High School (SLHS) teacher accused of sexually abusing an underage student pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Monday.

Genesis Alvarado, 27, is facing two felony charges, including sexual misconduct with a minor.

Alvarado, who was a digital photography teacher at SLHS, was taken into custody earlier this month, and the San Luis Police Department (SLPD) said the investigation involved a 17-year-old student.

SLPD also believes there’s multiple victims.

Alvarado, who is out on bail, will be back in court September 18 for a case management hearing.

To watch the livestream of the story, see attached video.

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El Paso County Commissioners approve Hospital District fiscal year 2027 budget, tax rate

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso County Commissioners approved the county Hospital District’s 2027 fiscal year budget and tax rate Monday.

“We are proud to have proposed and had approved a $2.1 billion budget and tax rate of $0.236904, which is less compared to the 2026 property tax rate of $0.240892 – a decrease of $0.003988 (2% reduction),” University Medical Center of El Paso said in a news release.

UMC this is the sixth time that the Hospital District proposed and adopted the no-new-revenue tax rate, even as the Hospital District revenues grew by three times since 2017.

Property taxes account for 8% of the district’s overall budget and 11% of UMC’s budget, UMC said.

The 2020-21 overall property tax rate for the Hospital District was at the highest at $0.267747. Compared to the 2027 tax rate approved Monday, that rate is a 12% reduction over the last six years, UMC said.

UMC said the approved budget reflects recent investments, including new employees and increasing the minimum wage from $15.50 to $16.

“This increase also resulted in pay adjustments for associates in the first five pay grades to maintain appropriate wage differentials. These adjustments do not apply to senior leadership positions,” UMC said.

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Palm Springs set for annual palm tree maintenance starting

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – Arborists will perform annual palm tree maintenance in the Palm Springs downtown and uptown areas starting today.

The work will take place from 7 a.m. to roughly 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for nearly a month. The work will be done in the areas of Palm Canyon Drive from Tachevah Drive to Ramon Road, Indian Canyon Drive and the Arenas District.

Maintenance crews will remove fruit and seed pods from California fan palms without removing the tree skirts, while fruit and seed pods and skirts will be removed from Mexican fan palms.

Temporary parking restrictions will be put in place in areas where the crews are working, city officials said.

Last month, city council members approved a tree-trimming project to eventually remove skirts from California and Mexican fan palms citywide to remove any potential physical dangers from falling skirts.

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Extended Weekend Full Closure on State Route 33 Scheduled North of Ojai in Los Padres National Forest

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Caltrans regarding a weekend-long closure of a portion of State Route 33 north of the city of Ojai.

VENTURA COUNTY — Caltrans announces a 55-hour extended weekend full closure on State Route 33 (SR-33) north of the city of Ojai, in the Los Padres National Forest for tunnel rehabilitation.

All lanes of SR-33 will be closed in both directions between post mile 18.2 (Wheeler Gorge) and post mile 19.0, just south of Wheeler Gorge campground. The highway will close at 10 pm. on Friday, August 28 and reopen at 5 a.m. on Monday, August 31.

SR-33 will be closed to the public, including residents. Only active emergency service vehicles will be permitted. Caltrans urges residents and motorists to plan accordingly and use the suggested detour SR 126 to I-5 to SR-166 for both directions of traffic.

The work will include reinforcing existing steel panels and removing and patching delaminated concrete for the three tunnels at post miles 18.33, 18.81 and 18.85.

This project will preserve the structural integrity of the tunnels in a safe manner through preventative maintenance. Addressing the current conditions of the structures will avoid more costly rehabilitation or replacement. The total cost for this project is $5.14 million and work is expected to be completed during the winter of 2026/2027.

Submit a Caltrans Customer Service Request:  https://csr.dot.ca.gov

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County Urges Residents to Prepare Now for Rainy Season

News Channel 3-12

Below is a press release from Santa Barbara County regarding preparations for the incoming rainy season.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The rainy season is approaching, and an El Niño weather pattern could bring increased rainfall to the region. Santa Barbara County is urging residents to prepare now to protect their families, homes, and property from flooding. Flooding is one of the most common and destructive natural disasters in the United States and can happen quickly, with little or no warning. Areas below the south county foothills can be particularly vulnerable to flooding during periods of heavy rain.

Residents are encouraged to find out whether their home or workplace is in a flood zone, pay close attention to local weather forecasts, and sign up for community emergency alert systems.

To find out if you are in a flood zone, visit the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. To sign up for ReadySBC alerts, visit readysbc.org

Residents with property in flood-prone areas should keep storm drains and gutters clear.

Residents can find information on sandbag locations and availability at the Flood Control District’s sandbag location page. Moving valuables and important items to higher ground and knowing how to safely shut off water, gas, and electricity can help reduce damage if flooding occurs.

Every household should have an emergency plan that includes:

An evacuation plan and a designated meeting place for family members, including pets A communication plan in case family members are separated An emergency supply kit with non-perishable food, water, medications, first-aid supplies, batteries, and a flashlight to last several days Important documents — such as insurance policies, identification documents, and medical records — stored in a waterproof container, with password-protected digital copies as backup For a list of more resources, visit the ReadySBC preparation site

Because standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage, residents are encouraged to consider flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program well in advance of a storm, as policies typically take up to 30 days to go into effect. For more information go to the National Flood Insurance Program Website.

For additional storm preparedness information, and flood safety tips, residents can visit the County Storm Preparation Website and Flood Preparedness Information Resources Website.

Traducción al español:

SANTA BÁRBARA, Calif. — La temporada de lluvias se acerca y el fenómeno meteorológico de El Niño podría traer un aumento de precipitaciones a la región. El condado de Santa Bárbara está instando a los residentes a prepararse para proteger a sus familias, hogares y propiedades contra las inundaciones. Las inundaciones son uno de los desastres naturales más comunes y destructivos en los Estados Unidos y pueden ocurrir rápidamente, con poca o ninguna advertencia. Las áreas ubicadas debajo de las colinas del sur del condado pueden ser particularmente vulnerables a las inundaciones durante períodos de lluvias intensas.

Se recomienda a los residentes averiguar si su hogar o lugar de trabajo se encuentra en una zona de inundación, prestar mucha atención a los pronósticos meteorológicos locales y registrarse en los sistemas de alerta de emergencia de la comunidad.

Para saber si se encuentra en una zona de inundación, visite el Centro de Servicio de Mapas de Inundaciones (FEMA, Flood Map Service Center). Para registrarse para recibir alertas de ReadySBC, visite readysbc.org.

Los residentes con propiedades en áreas propensas a inundaciones deben mantener limpios los desagües pluviales y las canaletas.

Los residentes pueden encontrar información sobre la ubicación y la disponibilidad de sacos de arena del Distrito de Control de Inundaciones en la página de ubicaciones de sacos de arena. Mover los objetos de valor e importantes a lugares más altos y saber cómo cortar de manera segura el agua, el gas y la electricidad puede ayudar a reducir los daños si ocurren inundaciones.

Cada familia debe contar con un plan de emergencia que incluya:

Un plan de evacuación y un punto de reunión designado para los miembros de la familia, incluidas las mascotas. Un plan de comunicación en caso de que los miembros de la familia estén separados. Un kit de suministros de emergencia con alimentos no perecederos, agua, medicamentos, suministros de primeros auxilios, baterías y una linterna para que duren varios días. Documentos importantes: como pólizas de seguro, documentos de identificación y expedientes médicos, almacenados en un contenedor impermeable, con copias digitales protegidas por contraseña como respaldo. Para obtener una lista de más recursos, visite el sitio de preparación de ReadySBC.

Debido a que el seguro estándar para propietarios de viviendas no cubre los daños por inundación, se anima a los residentes a considerar la contratación de un seguro contra inundaciones a través del Programa Nacional de Seguro contra Inundaciones (National Flood Insurance Program) con bastante anticipación a una tormenta, ya que las pólizas suelen tardar hasta 30 días en entrar en vigor. Para obtener más información, visite el sitio web del Programa Nacional de Seguros contra Inundaciones.

Para obtener información adicional sobre la preparación para tormentas y consejos de seguridad contra inundaciones, los residentes pueden visitar el sitio web de Preparación para tormentas del condado y el sitio web de Recursos de información para la preparación ante inundaciones.

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Texas DPS uses Grappler System to prevent pursuits

Rosemary Garcia

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Pursuits along Texas highways can become dangerous for everyone involved. In border communities, they are a common sight. Many have resulted in serious crashes and even death.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has been using technology known as the Grappler System to help prevent and stop pursuits altogether for a few years now.

“Let violators know you’re not going to get away,” Sergeant Eliot Torres, the spokesperson for safety, education and the public education office for the DPS West Texas region, said.

The Grappler System uses a tool that is mounted to the front of certain Texas DPS units. Authorities stop a fleeing vehicle by dropping a net under the spinning tire and tangling it. Then, the target is able to come to a complete stop thanks to a tether attached to the fleeing vehicle and the DPS unit.

ABC-7’s Rosemary Garcia got a glimpse into how the technology works and how it has benefited state authorities stationed locally.

Watch Rosemary’s special report ‘The Grappler’ Thursday at 6 p.m. only on ABC-7.

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School Buzz on the Road: Fountain Valley School returns in style

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The students at the Fountain Valley Boarding School returned to class Monday after a weekend-long “orientation” that felt more like a College welcome week.

“There was a lot of chat, a lot of game playing. There was a mobile dance party,” Associate Dean Andy Moeschberger said. “We ended the day with a big old dodgeball tournament, and then they were back in their common rooms in the dorm and the excitement of being back on campus.”

The Fountain Valley School is an admission-based college preparatory school on 11,000 acres and offers a wide range of programs. Monday, students shared their experiences at the horse stables, blacksmithing shed, prairie trails and their massive rock climbing wall.

To tell people, ‘Oh, I ride horses at my school,’ it’s really cool. It’s Awesome,” Molly said, a Senior at Fountain Valley and a horseback riding national champion.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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