San Marcos hires Jessica Spigner as new head softball coach

KEYT on September 17, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – San Marcos High School announced the hiring of Jessica Spigner as the Royals new head softball coach.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Spigner,” said Athletic Director Frann Wageneck. “Her background as a Division I athlete speaks for itself, but her commitment to developing the whole athlete set her apart. Her competitive drive will immediately elevate our program.”

A former Division I athlete, national award winner, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Spigner brings extensive experience in elite competition, athlete development, and mental performance to San Marcos.

Spigner was named the 2008 Gatorade California Softball Player of the Year, California Miss Softball, and CIF Division I Player of the Year after winning back-to-back CIF Division I Championships. She played collegiately at Tennessee and Arizona before serving as an assistant coach at Arizona.

“Coach Spigner knows how to build a team culture grounded in discipline, resilience, and unity,” added Wageneck. “Her background in mental performance will be an incredible asset on and off the field.”

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Some Yuma residents concerned over high water bills

KYMA on September 17, 2026

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Dozens of Yuma County residents are speaking out after they say a new water company took over drastically raising their water bills.

Tierra Mesa Estates is one of the many systems across Arizona that have seen a bigger water bill due to water/utility company Cactus State. 

Cactus State has multiple operations across Arizona, including Yuma, that it took over in late 2021.

Last November, Cactus State got approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission (A.C.C) to increase their rate by at least 300%.

Tierra Mesa Estates resident Deb Parker says some people are struggling to make ends meet.

“I don’t think I ever got the memo that the water price was going up. So when I got home, I didn’t get home until January 9, I opened the water bill so I could get it paid and it was almost $400 and I was used to bills of $40-$50,” Parker said. “I know I’ve been on a fixed income and a few people that are on fixed income. It’s kind of hard for them. I know it’s hard for me. I’m trying to watch my water usage, but it doesn’t make much difference, but it’s more just watching my spending.”

In addition, there is also high amounts of uranium that is above the federal limit. When asked about it, Cactus State said cost plays a factor.

“Uranium treatment is very expensive, and we’ve been reviewing options since we acquired these systems in late 2021. We reviewed the best treatment system, but we’ve also had an eye on the cost,” Fred Kriess, Cactus State Regional Director, said.

As for the higher water bills, Kriess said it’s been a long time since the rate was increased. 

“Where most of our complaints are coming from his Tierra Mesa Estates and their last last adjustment was in 2000,” Kriess said.

Local and state leaders have spoken on the huge increase. Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls wrote a letter to the A.C.C saying the increase is excessive.

“You see a 300% increase of anything, I think it warrants taking time and making sure that a full review and even maybe a second review is needed,” Mayor Nicholls said.

For Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, she was not aware of it but says she would be willing to look into it. 

“We have intervened in a couple of different rate cases. Even in one situation after the fact, we found some problems with the process of the corporation commission,” Mayes said.

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One dead in serious crash on Avenue 3E in Yuma

KYMA on September 17, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is investigating a crash which left one person dead.

YPD said the crash happened at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the area of S. Avenue 3E, near Duwa Playground.

A 65-year-old man, according to YPD, was riding a 2017 Honda Goldwing motorcycle southbound on Avenue 3E.

For reasons unknown, YPD said the Goldwing “crossed the centerline into the northbound lanes,” and crashed into the rear tires of a semi-truck, driven by a 39-year-old man.

The motorcyclist, according to YPD, was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic in both directions was shut down from 40th Street and County 14th Street.

While alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the crash, call YPD at 928-783-4421, or 78-CRIME to remain anonymous.

Fatal Collision 4700 S Ave 3E 26-70116 (1)Download

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Deadly crash at Yuma intersection draws renewed concerns over visibility

KYMA on September 17, 2026

Lauren Duffel

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A deadly crash in the Foothills is drawing new attention to a dangerous intersection.

The crash happened at Frontage Road and Avenue 10E.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) said a 55-year-old man was trying to turn left from Avenue 10E onto Frontage Road when he hit another vehicle.

The driver of the other vehicle, 43-year-old Jose “Bimbo” Fernandez Chavez, died after being taken to Onvida Health.

Police said overgrown brush and trees near the intersection have been a concern for drivers for years.

News 11 reached out to Westwind RV Park about those concerns, but officials declined to comment.

“Within the last five to six years, this is our second fatal accident at that intersection. We do get a lot of complaints about the brush and trees from the RV park right there. We are working with the RV park to try to fix that,” said Officer Hayato Johnson, Public Information Officer for YPD.

According to the LexisNexis Crime Map, at least 19 citations have been issued at or near the intersection since 2020.

Alicia Garcia, who works at Taco Fish near the intersection, said she has seen too many tragedies in the area.

“This street is highly trafficked, so the people driving onto Frontage Road get impatient. People don’t slow down to let you turn, so people just go for it,” Garcia said.

Garcia believes a traffic light could help improve safety.

“An intersection with traffic lights would be ideal. That would be respected,” she said.

YPD said local residents can help by reporting their concerns through the city’s ClickFix app.

“If there are more complaints, continue to send those requests in for repairs via the ClickFix app,” Officer Johnson said.

Meanwhile, Fernandez Chavez’s family said he was the sole provider for his family. They have started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses and other costs.

His son wrote on the fundraiser, “My father always filled everyone’s hearts with joy and happiness. He was also the pillar of our family.”

A link to the GoFundMe can be found here.

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Last living member of 1949 Bowie state championship team dies

KVIA on September 17, 2026

Carpio Griego

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The final living member of the 1949 Bowie High School baseball team died. Alfonzo Lopez was part of the first team to be declared Texas state champions.

Lopez’ nephew confirmed with ABC-7 about his death. He was 94.

Lopez was part of a team that made history. 1949 Bowie Bears baseball team’s 3-2 victory led them to life the first state championship trophy.

ESPN reporter and El Paso native Roberto Franco interviewed Lopez about the team’s journey in 2024.

“That meant a lot to the community at the time,” Franco said. “You have this team of Mexican Americans accomplishing this.”

Franco’s interview with Lopez discussed the challenges off the field. The team saw signs that read, “No Mexicans allowed” on the road, according to Franco.

The team also had to sleep under the bleachers of a football stadium and eat outside, he said. Lopez told Franco about seeing the signs at the time.

“He was quiet for a long time and just kind of staring at it intently,” Franco said. “Probably thinking back on, on what was happening then at that time.”

Franco said El Paso is proud of the local boys that made history.

The championship trophy bonded the teammates for life. They kept it throughout the Korean War era. Throughout the years, the teammates met up to talk when they were back home.

Franco said the team’s memories were kept alive and won’t fade to time. He described the team’s win as “a story every El Pasoan should know.”

“It’s the stuff movies are made of,” he said.

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Jury selection set for trial of DUI offender accused of causing fatal Coachella crash

KESQ on September 17, 2026

City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – Jury selection is slated to get underway tomorrow in the trial of a convicted DUI offender accused of causing a multi-vehicle wreck while intoxicated in Coachella that killed a young man and seriously injured his brother.

Antonio Tellez Leon, 41, of Coachella is charged with second-degree murder, four counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury and one count of driving on a suspended driver’s license for the 2023 collision that claimed the life of 21-year-old Jacob Snellings, also of Coachella.

Pretrial motions began Thursday after the case was transferred from the Larson Justice Center in Indio to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson is scheduled Thursday morning to summon several panels of prospective jurors for screening as to their availability and qualifications.

Leon is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

According to a trial brief filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Leon pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI in March 2023 and was admonished by the court regarding the dangers of driving under the influence before he was formally placed on probation for causing a hit-and-run collision in Palm Desert six months earlier.

Roughly nine weeks after his plea, Leon allegedly joined his girlfriend, identified in court records only as “Dalila,” at her residence for an afternoon of drinking wine on June 6, 2023, according to the brief.

The defendant additionally consumed methamphetamine, court papers alleged. He left the woman’s home and headed for his own shortly after 8 p.m. According to the prosecution, Leon accelerated to speeds beyond the posted limit along Avenue 51 in Coachella, resorting to driving in the center median when he encountered a line of traffic ahead of him.

A sheriff’s community services officer happened to be driving westbound as the defendant sped by her eastbound in his BMW 325, and she stopped to turn around to follow him, but before she could complete the turn, “a cloud of dust” on Avenue 51 at Chiapas Drive appeared amid the sounds of a crash, the brief said.

The officer immediately requested assistance, bringing several patrol units to the location, as well as fire department paramedics.

They found Leon sitting on the curb, unable to hold his head up and slurring his speech, complaining that he’d had a “long bad day and wanted to sleep at home … and that he could be taken to jail in the morning,” the brief stated.

The defendant’s BMW had smashed into the passenger side of a Toyota Camry driven by 19-year-old David L. Snellings of Coachella, prosecutors said. The motorist had suffered significant injuries and was taken in stable condition to nearby Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment. His older brother, Jacob, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A Jeep Cherokee and Honda Civic sustained minor to moderate damage in the wreck, but the vehicles’ occupants did not require hospitalization, according to the brief.

“The defendant (acknowledged to deputies at the scene) he just barely received a DUI conviction and was not supposed to be driving,” the narrative said. “The defendant incorrectly placed his location he was standing in. He also claimed he `(expletive) up’ and that he knew he would be in trouble for the traffic collision and should not have been driving.”

Leon suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to Desert Regional for treatment and an examination.

Deputies wrote in their reports that he was giving off a “strong odor of alcohol” and admitted finishing off a bottle of wine with his girlfriend that day, the brief said.

Blood and breathalyzer screenings indicated that he had a blood alcohol concentration of .89, court papers alleged. The legal limit to operate a motor vehicle in California is .08. Tests further revealed “amphetamines in his system,” the brief said.

Leon told deputies during questioning that he couldn’t recall anything about the collision, except that a “blue car had stopped in front of him,” according to the document.

“The defendant also stated he was distracted during the collision because he was on his cell phone with Dalila,” the brief said.

David Snellings ultimately recovered from his injuries.

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Dine to donate fundraising event happening soon

KYMA on September 17, 2026

Moses Femino

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Silver Spur Rodeo is teaming up with Bridget’s Gift to help local families battling breast cancer.

The rodeo is hosting a dine-to-donate event Thursday, September 17, at Texas Roadhouse from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

10% of meal purchases will be donated to the “Buckin’ for Bridget” campaign when customers present the event flyer.

Organizers said the campaign started about two years ago, and has already raised nearly $28,000 for local breast cancer support.

“All the proceeds that we get during our campaign is going to go towards Bridget’s gift. And those are families and patients that have breast cancer in the Yuma community,” said Lefty Leifeste, Chairman of the Silver Spur Rodeo.

“This year, of course, we want to get bigger and better, and we’re just excited to keep the funds local in our community,” said Tina McCash, Chairwoman of Buckin’ for Bridget.

Organizers are encouraging the community to come out, grab a meal and help support local breast cancer patients and their families.

To learn more about the upcoming event, click here.

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Palm Springs seek community input to strengthen shade and heat mitigation plan

KESQ on September 17, 2026

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Sustainability Department is inviting residents and local community members to help shape the city’s shade and heat mitigation plan by participating in listening sessions scheduled to start next month.

During the community listening sessions, attendees will be able to voice their concerns, share their experiences and ideas about dealing with heat in the city.

City officials said extreme heat is one of the dangers residents face living in the Coachella Valley, and the city is creating a plan to “increase shade, cooling infrastructure and extreme heat resilience across the city.”

The sessions will be open to the public, with food and childcare provided.

The meetings are scheduled for: — Oct. 7 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road; — Oct. 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Demuth Community Center, 3601 E. Mesquite Ave.; — Oct. 26 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Ramon Mobile Park, 1441 E. Ramon Road; — Nov. 4 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Mizell Center, 480 S. Sunrise Way, and — Nov. 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. via Zoom. A link will be provided at a later date.

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La Pine gets $2.49 million grant for fire station upgrades

KTVZ on September 17, 2026

Campbell Porter

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) — The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District has received a $2,499,000 grant for seismic upgrades and expansion at its main headquarters, Station 101 on Huntington Road. The funds will support facility improvements aimed at enhancing firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities.

Station 101 serves as the central operational hub for the district’s firefighters, paramedics and emergency responders. District officials noted that many fire stations across Oregon were built before modern seismic standards and firefighter health-and-safety guidelines were established. The grant will cover most project costs to bring the facility into alignment with current best practices without imposing new taxes on local residents.

The planned remodel and expansion will add new dormitory accommodations for emergency response personnel, modern contamination-reduction spaces and expanded apparatus bays. Dedicated turnout gear cleaning and storage areas will be created specifically to help reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens.

Fire Chief Erick Holsey highlighted the importance of strengthening the district’s primary operational base to withstand severe natural disasters and support future community growth.

“This grant is a transformational investment in the future of public safety for our community,” Holsey said. “Station 101 serves as the operational heart of our District. These seismic upgrades will help ensure that our firefighters, paramedics and emergency responders can continue serving our citizens when they are needed most, even following a major seismic event. At the same time, the expansion project allows us to improve firefighter safety, increase our response capabilities and prepare for the future growth of our community.”

The expanded facility will also house a specialized firefighting vehicle being donated by the Clatskanie Rural Fire Protection District. The aerial telesquirt fire apparatus provides specialized firefighting and rescue capabilities for commercial buildings, multi-family housing, schools and other low-rise structures throughout the district.

Holsey noted that having adequate space to house and maintain the donated vehicle is essential for maintaining operational readiness.

“The addition of this apparatus gives our firefighters another valuable tool to protect lives and property,” Holsey said. “Having the facility space to properly house and maintain this unit ensures it will be ready when our community needs it and the facility will have the capacity for any necessary future aerial upgrade.”

District officials confirmed that the project will not require additional taxes or impose added costs on constituents. If extra funding is needed for the remodel, the district will use its existing capital fund. Board President Michael Vietzke emphasized the long-term value of securing external funding.

“This project represents a responsible investment in both community resilience and taxpayer resources,” Vietzke said. “The Board has worked diligently to position the district for opportunities like this. By securing outside grant funding, we are able to make critical infrastructure improvements that will benefit our community for generations while reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers.”

Planning and design activities are expected to begin in the coming months. Construction timelines will be announced as the project advances.

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Yuma County Chamber of Commerce holds community expo

KYMA on September 17, 2026

Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Chamber of Commerce held their community expo over the weekend.

Over 70 vendors, businesses and non-profits from all over the county were a part of the event, which took place Saturday at the Yuma Civic Center.

The Chamber of Commerce said Jay’s Party Shop donated a special America 250 themed balloon station.

Hundreds of visitors stopped by the Civic Center throughout the day to make new connections and learn more about Yuma’s vibrant business community.

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