Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office to train mentors for children with incarcerated parents

KTVZ on September 15, 2026

Felicity Desuasido

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth, a program operated by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, will host a fall training class for volunteers interested in mentoring children with an incarcerated parent. The 3.5-hour orientation session is scheduled for Sept. 26.

The training class covers program policies, techniques for establishing a mentor relationship, communication skills and the impact of incarceration on families. Attendance is free, but advanced registration is required for participants.

Following initial training, prospective mentors must undergo background checks before being matched with a child who shares similar interests. Program guidelines require volunteers to commit to spending a few hours per week with their matched child for a minimum of one year.

Time spent between mentors and children often includes participating in outdoor activities, exploring the community, working on art and craft projects, or simply spending time talking with each other.

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Murder charge refiled against Billy Rodriguez in fatal Cathedral City hit-and-run

KESQ on September 15, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

INDIO, CA (KESQ) — A murder charge has been refiled against former Palm Springs advertising agency CEO William “Billy” Rodriguez, who is accused in the hit-and-run death of a woman riding a scooter in Cathedral City two years ago.

Rodriguez appeared in court Tuesday as prosecutors renewed their effort to pursue a murder case against him in connection with the death of 60-year-old Christina Barrington.

Last month, a judge dismissed the murder charge following a preliminary hearing, but ordered Rodriguez to stand trial on charges of felony hit-and-run causing death and driving with a suspended license.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has now filed the murder charge again, saying prosecutors remain confident in their case and believe the evidence presented during the preliminary hearing is sufficient to move forward with the charge.

The defense disputes the allegations and plans to challenge the renewed murder charge, asking the judge to review the evidence.

“(The District Attorney’s Office) elected to still file a murder charge even though the judge disagreed with that. We as his defense team absolutely assert his innocence,” said Molly Tucker, Rodriguez’s defense attorney.

Rodriguez has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was released from custody on $2 million bail and is required to wear a GPS monitor and an alcohol-monitoring device.

Barrington was killed in Cathedral City after the collision involving the scooter. Prosecutors allege Rodriguez was involved in the hit-and-run.

Tuesday’s hearing was continued until October 15.

The renewed murder charge is expected to be challenged by the defense as the case moves forward.

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Rare Kelvin Wave Expected to Influence Water Levels On the Central Coast

KEYT on September 15, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – An unusual ocean water wave is moving across the Pacific and eventually it will impact our Central Coast on top of the El Nino issues already surfacing.

Elevated water levels from a Kelvin wave have been detected off the coast of Mexico. By mid-October the water could move up the Southern California coast and raise levels by several inches in some area.

Combine that with any storm system or high tide cycle and there could be damaging impacts to coastal bluffs, harbors and homes near the ocean’s edge.

Climatologists say satellite images have already shown changes in Puerto Vallarta Mexico and water temperatures from the changes have been measured into the mid-80 degree range.

As the bulging under surface wave moves closer more accurate possible impacts will be calculated.

Experts say this is not a tsunami type wave.

It is also unclear what impacts the Channel Islands and Point Conception will have on the wave effects as it comes through.

Bren School of Environmental Science & Management Assistant Professor Samantha Stevenson says, “when all those things that are going to happen anyway are happening on top of a sea level that will be six to 12 inches higher than it was going to be originally there’s going to be more energy in the ocean for that to happen. That’s what we are worried about, there will be  amplification of  damaging events

Isla Vista Resident Morgan Hoppe was in and out of the coastal waves near her student housing and says, “it will be  cool that since we are living on the ocean we get to  experience it first hand, how our oceans are changing .” She has taken an environmental studies class and will be looking up more on the Kelvin wave.

It’s early on in the El Nino impact phase and that means, several wave impacts could take place.

“You’re in a situation where it goes where it goes. I expect that we will see a few more before this El Nino is done,” said Stevenson.

She is closely watching the reports of the wave’s location and water temperatures.

Various reports say it may last a few days or it could take several days for the ocean to return to normal.

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Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Votes On Phasing Out Oil And Gas Production

KEYT on September 15, 2026

Jarrod Zinn

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (KEYT) – The Santa Barbara Coutny Board Of Supervisors voted on Phase One of its oil and gas prohibition today.

The vote came at the end of a lengthy hearing.

The hearing room at the Joseph Centeno Government Building was filled with oil workers, property owners, attorneys, and a coalition of environmentalists including a new youth organizing group.

“I am 16 and I’ve been doing environmental advocacy for two years, and that’s put me in a lot of interesting boardrooms,” says Ethan Maday, president of 805Action. “It seems like there’s always a big old clash between the environment and then economy and jobs and whatever it is. I don’t think those arguments need to be separate.”

Over fifty requests for public comment were accommodated during the morning session.

“Our group has done a lot of research to better understand what the impacts of a phaseout will be,” says Paasha Mahdavi, UCSB Political Science Associate Professor. “We’ve analyzed the economic impacts, the health impacts, as well as other social impacts of phasing out oil versus continuing to produce business as usual.”

Coalition members advocated for environmental and public health, urging supervisors to approve the phase-out.

“Consistent with the state’s overarching actions to transition off fossil fuels and towards a renewable energy future,” says Tara Rengifo, a senior attorney at the Environmental Defense Center.

Oil workers and property owners advocated for industries that depend on oil production, as well as mineral rights and land ownership.

“We all look forward to a clean energy future in California,” says Kevin Ivey, a mineral rights royalty owner. “We need California-produced, clean-energy, labor compliant, labor friendly energy to get there, and Santa Barbara County has a part to play in that in its oil production industry.”

Some supervisors sided with the environmentalists while others argued for the petroleum industry.

“The transition away from nonrenewable energies is really exciting, we really get to rewrite like the energy regime and the impacts that it has on our community members, on our public health,” says Haley Ehlers, spokesperson for Climate First Replacing Oil And Gas (CFROG).

Supervisor Lavagnino addressed the dichotomy of viewpoints, attributing it to significant economic and ecological differences between north and south county.

“16 years I’ve been trying to bring North and South County together,” said Lavagnino from the dais. “And why does it not work? Because of this issue. This is what is the dividing issue in this county.”

The board voted 3 to 2 approving amendments for Phase 1 of oil and gas prohibition, which will start by not allowing permits for the construction of any new wells.

“Unfortunately, three out of five supervisors today bought the good people of Santa Barbara County what’s ultimately going to be a very expensive lawsuit,” says Ivey.

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Boise School District pays $34K to settle suit over Idaho’s School Bathroom Law

KIFI on September 15, 2026

Seth Ratliff

BOISE, Idaho (KIFI) — The Boise School District has agreed to pay a $34,000 settlement to resolve a lawsuit centered on its restroom policy for transgender students under Idaho’s School Bathroom law (Senate Bill 1100).

Under the terms of the settlement, the insurance company for the Boise School District has agreed to pay out $10,000 in damages and $24,000 in attorney fees.

The suit was brought by the Idaho Family Policy Center Legal Center, a conservative Christian organization and lobbying group, on behalf of a former Boise High School student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe.

Doe claims that, as a student, she encountered a transgender classmate in the girls’ restroom twice during the 2024–2025 school year. During the second encounter, the plaintiff alleged she heard the male student masturbating in the adjacent stall with his shoes pointed towards her. According to the lawsuit, the student had been permitted to use the girl’s restroom under a “gender support plan.”

Co-authored by the IFPC, SB 1100 mandates that public schools maintain separate facilities strictly based on biological sex. Although Governor Brad Little signed the bill into law in 2023, enforcement was temporarily blocked by a federal injunction until the order was lifted in 2025.

“Last year our daughter was subjected to having to endure a breach of her privacy at Boise High School,” stated the Doe’s father in a press release. When she reported the incidents to school staff, she was told that it was their policy to allow males who identify as female to use the bathroom of their choice… No girl should ever have to go through what our daughter experienced.”

The insurance company for the Boise School District has agreed to pay out $10,000 in damages for the two bathroom encounters and $24,000 in attorney fees.

While SB 1100 was signed into law by Governor Little in 2023, it was subject to a federal injunction that temporarily blocked its enforcement. That order was later lifted in 2025.

The settlement follows a ruling by Ada County District Court Judge Lynn Norton, who denied the district’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. During hearings, the school district argued it had relied on the federal stay while it was active. However, Judge Norton concluded that the temporary stay did not immunize the district from liability after the law was ultimately upheld.

“Men don’t belong in restrooms designated for girls—period,” said Caleb Pirc, director of the IFPC Legal Center. “The IFPC Legal Center is honored to secure a settlement for Jane Doe in this groundbreaking case. Other Idaho public schools should take note that compliance with the law isn’t optional. We will hold accountable any school district that chooses to violate the law.”

In a statement to IdahoEdNews, Boise School District Public Affairs Administrator Dan Hollar emphasized that the settlement “resolves disputed claims,” but the Boise School District “continues to maintain that it acted appropriately.”

“Neither the District nor any of its employees admits, acknowledges, or concedes any fault, wrongdoing, liability, or other misconduct,” Hollar said. “…Out of respect for the privacy of the minor children involved, the District will have no further comment on this matter.”

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EPSO Launches 96th Season with ‘Mágico – The Magic of Mexico

KVIA on September 15, 2026

Nichole Gomez

EL PASO, TX (KVIA-TV) — EPSO’s 2026-2027 classical series will begin at 7:30 PM on September 18 and 19 at the Plaza Theatre, a program dedicated to Mexico will be presented, highlighting groundbreaking photography of it. Beautiful people and places, captured by Nicholas Bardonnay for Westwater Arts. The remarkable visuals will be accompanied by the music from Márquez’s Danzón No. 2 and Moncayo’s Tierra de Temporal, shown on a large digital screen.

Tickets are now on sale and can be bought at epso.org, ticketmaster.com, or by calling theEPSO office (915) 532-3776. Prices are $49, $44, $37, $23, and $17 plus fees. Student tickets are $9, and $12 plus fees are available.

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UTEP president joins leadership team to bring US Space Academy to Texas

KVIA on September 15, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — University of Texas at El Paso President Heather Wilson will help build a proposal to bring the U.S. Space Academy to Texas. Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a team of Texans assigned to encourage the federal government to bring the academy to the Lone Star State.

In August, President Donald Trump signed an executive order at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston to establish a Presidential Commission on the U.S. Space Academy. That commission will recommend a permanent location.

Gov. Abbott said the new leadership team will work with the Texas Space Commission to propose Texas as the academy’s location.

Texas State Representative Greg Bonnen will lead the team, according to Gov. Abbott.

Wilson is the former secretary of the U.S. Air Force. She is one of several team members working at a Texas university.

Gov. Abbott argued Texas has the foundation a national space academy requires. On top of NASA’s Houston center, he said Texas universities train engineers, scientists and operators for space operations.

“Texas is the home of America’s human spaceflight program,” said Governor Abbott in a statement. “No state can match what Texas brings to this mission.”

He also said the state has major military installations and a commercial space industry that already builds, launches and operates systems for space.

Other team members include:

Nancy Currie-Gregg, director of the Texas A&M Space Institute, retired Army Colonel and a former NASA astronaut. Evan Loomis, member of the Texas Space Commission Board of Directors. Robert Ambrose, Associate Director of the Texas A&M Space Institute. Jack Fischer, senior vice president at Intuitive Machines, retired Air Force Colonel and a former NASA astronaut. Lori A. Magruder, director of the University of Texas at Austin Center for Space Research.

Gov. Abbott is running for reelection this November against Democratic candidate Gina Hinojosa.

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El Paso City Council votes to remove Flock cameras, prohibit new contracts

KVIA on September 15, 2026

Mia Tricarico

UPDATE (Oct. 13, 2026): El Paso City Council unanimously voted in favor of blocking business with Flock Safety or similar companies.

The resolution directs El Paso City Manager Dionne Mack not to conduct agreements or arrangements with Flock or other providers for networked automated license plate reader cameras or similar technology.

The resolution is for fixed cameras only. It doesn’t impact handheld or vehicle-mounted readers or systems, such as parking technology.

UPDATE (2 p.m.): The council unanimously passed an item directing City Manager Mack to refrain from entering new contracts with Flock Safety or similar providers for ALPRs unless otherwise directed by the council.

The agenda item said the direction would “prevent the the discontinued Flock Safety system from being replaced with another vendor or substantially similar fixed, networked surveillance technology without further action by the City Council.”

Additionally, City Attorney Karla Nieman will be directed to draft and return a resolution to effectuate the direction within 30 days.

UPDATE (12:39 p.m.): El Paso City Council voted unanimously (8-0) to direct the city manager to ensure the removal of all Flock Safety ALPR cameras and related hardware on city property. City Manager Dionne Mack has 60 days to ensure the removal, according to the agenda item.

City Rep. Canales offered an amendment that, if the hardware isn’t removed within 60 days, fully opaque bags will cover the hardware for an additional 30 days.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On Tuesday, the El Paso City Council will consider removing Flock cameras. If the item is approved, removal of the cameras and related equipment would happen within 60 days.

A second agenda item directs the city manager not to sign, renew or extend any contract or arrangement with Flock or similar companies with fixed license plate-reading cameras.

The discussion of removal came after City Representatives Chris Canales and Josh Acevedo introduced both agenda items. If the item is approved, it will require the City of El Paso to remove all Flock cameras and related equipment within 60 days.

Earlier this year, City Rep. Canales proposed the city not renew its agreement with Flock and that the city discontinue the use of networked, AI-powered Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). The proposal failed with a 2-6 vote.

On Sept. 2, City Rep. Canales said “Flock has time and time again shown itself to be untrustworthy as a company, with its system prone to misuse and abuse.”

His social media post came days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered all state agencies to pause funding for Flock cameras. His post also said the El Paso Police Department stopped using Flock cameras funded by the state.

EPPD Chief Pacillas said the cameras helped quicken investigations. He said the police department use the cameras “under strict oversight, limited access and rigorous privacy safeguards.”

City Council opened up the mic for public comment. Many residents expressed their safety concerns about Flock cameras.

The agenda item of discussing and taking action to remove the cameras are items 25 and 26, ABC-7 is at the meeting and will provide updates.

Flock is privately owned and was founded in 2017 in Georgia.

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MUTTZ Canine Social Club closes in West El Paso

KVIA on September 15, 2026

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — MUTTZ Canine Social Club, the dog park and bar near Topgolf in West El Paso, announced its permanent closure this week.

On social media, MUTTZ said challenges including the economy and the business’ location led to the decision to shut down. On July 1, MUTTZ temporarily closed its doors to “take some time to reset, evaluate our operations, and thoughtfully consider what the future looks like.”

“We built real relationships with rescue groups, vendors, and the local dog community, those relationships are what made MUTTZ so much more than a place,” the social media post read.

In February, the canine cantina’ said it spent a lot of money ‘s owner, April Mendoza, said the business “spent a lot of money to keep customers happy,” particularly on comfort. At the time, the bar posted a notice that it was “struggling to bring in customers.”

The social club operated as a bar with designated areas for dogs, such as a splash pad and wash station.

“We are spending quite a bit to make ourselves different and please all of our guests, but, we just don’t have the volume that we need,” Mendoza previously told ABC-7.

today, some business owners told ABC-7 this shopping center in the Montecillo area was supposed to have freeway access.

One business owner even said that announcement came when they opened their business a couple years ago. 

Several businesses have closed here recently, including i-Fly and Boston’s pizza. 

Some business owners told ABC-7 that a lack of direct freeway access, and people being forced to take a longer route is partially to blame.

ABC-7 also reached out to TX-DOT about when access from the freeway to this area could be expected.

They said, in part, quote, “”TxDOT’s Westbound Frontage Road Project from Executive Center Boulevard to Sunland Park Drive remains on track for a July 2027 construction letting. The $31 million project is fully funded and will provide access to the corridor from the proposed westbound frontage road. Construction is anticipated to begin in October 2027 and is expected to last approximately 18 months.”

ABC-7 reached out to MUTTZ to speak about the closure, but declined.

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La Viña Harvest Wine Festival set for Sept. 19-20

KVIA on September 15, 2026

Mikey Tongko

ANTHONY, N.M. (KVIA) — The harvest season is here, ready to bring fall vibes with wine, live music and local vendors back to La Viña Winery for the 2026 Harvest Wine Festival.

The two-day festival takes place Sept. 19-20 from noon to 7 p.m. at La Viña Winery in Anthony, New Mexico.

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or want to find your favorite kind, more than 20 wines will be available to taste and buy.

General admission is $30 for adults. Admission includes a souvenir wine glass and a choice between five wine samples or one full glass.

Outside of wine, visitors can explore more local arts and crafts. The festival will have more than 60 vendors offering food and crafts.

Visitors will have plenty to see, taste and hear! Three live bands will perform each day.

Younger guests ages 12-20 can attend the festival for $10. Children who are 11 years old and younger get free admission.

For adults looking for an upgraded experience, VIP tickets include wine, craft beer, food and wine pairings. The VIP experience also comes with convenient perks like VIP parking and exclusive seating.

La Viña Winery is located at 4201 New Mexico Highway 28 in Anthony, New Mexico.

Organizers say tickets are available online and at the gate. Outside food and alcohol, as well as pets, are not allowed at the festival.

For Tickets visit www.lavinawinery.com

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