Bonneville County coroner identifies man killed in officer-involved shooting

Seth Ratliff

LINCOLN, Idaho (KIFI) — The Bonneville County Coroner’s Office has identified the man killed in an officer-involved shooting early Friday morning as 43-year-old Marcus Griffin of Idaho Falls.

Coroner Shante Sanchez confirmed Griffin’s identity following the incident on Friday, Sept. 4, but held off on releasing the name to allow family members time to notify loved ones, according to an official statement from the coroner’s office.

The shooting occurred just before 6 a.m. after dispatchers received a call from a residence on Badger Creek Road. The caller indicated he was armed and intended to take his own life, according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, they began evacuating the home. During the process, BCSO says a man—now identified as Griffin—emerged holding a firearm. “Shots were fired at that time, and the subject was injured,” stated the Sheriff’s Office in a press release.

Deputies performed life-saving measures until Idaho Falls Ambulance personnel arrived, but Griffin was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The East Idaho Critical Incident Task Force is conducting an independent investigation into the shooting, with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office serving as the lead agency. They are assisted by the Idaho State Police, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and other regional agencies.

“I think it’s too early to say how many shots were fired, other than that the subject was struck with gunfire and injured,” BCSO Sergeant Bryan Lovell told Local News 8 Friday. “The coroner’s office will be involved. They’ve got to collect evidence, and that takes time.”

Click here to follow the original article.

‘Experts Day’ takes on the Eastern Idaho Fair Demonstrations

Maile Sipraseuth

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Fairgoers at the Eastern Idaho State Fair gathered in Blackfoot today to learn new skills from local experts during a dedicated Demonstrations Day on Monday. The live sessions took place inside the Home Arts and Demonstrations building, covering everything from outdoor adventures to barbecuing and event planning.

Bryan Booker kicked off the afternoon sessions with a presentation on hiking basics. Booker instructed visitors on how to pack light and select appropriate footwear, while fairgoers also sampled freeze-dried trail meals such as biscuits and gravy.

“Get out there and do it and learn as you go and experiment with it,” Booker said. “And maybe if they could avoid spending some money they don’t need to spend by getting some tips ahead of time, you know, or maybe jump a little bit ahead of the learning curve.”

Following the hiking presentation, Blackhawk Barbecue, the 2026 People’s Choice winner, hosted a masterclass covering meat cuts, seasonings, and temperature control.

Nicholas Transtrum, owner of Blackhawk BBQ, explained the goal of the session for local grilling enthusiasts. “We’re going to help the people be better barbecueers on their own back porch,” Nic said. “It’s, you know, it’s like, what are you struggling with on your back porch? Is that ribs is a brisket, you know. What is it? Right. So let’s help you get it better on your own back porch.”

Caterer Gaya Guymon closed out the day’s schedule. Guymon shared table setup and food-preparation techniques designed to help dinner parties run smoothly.

The Eastern Idaho State Fair will host the “Kitchen Kneads” demonstration day on Wednesday. Local chefs will present live demonstrations on how to make homemade cinnamon rolls, muffins, waffles and caramel apples. The fair is open NOW until Sept. 12. For more information on the fair and future events, click HERE.

Editor’s Note: This story was adapted from an original on-air broadcast report with the assistance of AI. All content is thoroughly reviewed and verified for accuracy by the Local News 8 editorial team.

Click here to follow the original article.

West Columbia roundabout project construction begins over a decade after postponement

Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Construction of a roundabout at the intersection of South Fairview Road and Chapel Hill Road began Tuesday.

According to a news release from the City of Columbia, the project is intended to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection. The construction also includes stormwater improvements, along with sidewalk improvements along the north side of Chapel Hill Road east of Fairview Road for pedestrian safety.

This project was first introduced in 2015, but was postponed in 2016 due to resident concerns about safety and pedestrian crossing.

The project was met with pushback from residents when it was reannounced in 2023.

When the city council held an interested parties meeting about the new roundabout, a majority of speakers were against the idea.

After speaking with residents in the neighborhood that is directly affected by the roundabout, none of them said they were for it.

In an email to ABC 17, Bill Edwards, an affected resident, said that he has personally expressed his disagreement with building this roundabout as an unnecessary priority and expense.

“The need for this particular roundabout has not been justified.

·       Traffic flow was tremendously improved by adding left-hand turn lanes several years ago.  Similar improvement would occur by adding a right-hand turn lane from Chapel Hill onto Fairview.  This was discarded outright by the department,” said Edwards.

The first phase of the project, starting Tuesday, will require lane restrictions on Chapel Hill Road and lane closures on Handley Place.

Phase two will require lane restrictions on South Fairview Road and Chapel Hill Road.

Phases three to five will require the closure of South Fairview Road north of Chapel Hill Road.

Chapel Hill Road will remain open to traffic throughout construction, with lane restrictions and temporary closures occurring. Drivers should expect delays and are encouraged to use alternate routes when possible

The estimated cost of the roundabout is $1.5 million, with funding provided by the City’s 2015 quarter-cent Capital Improvement Program sales tax extension.

John Ogan with City of Columbia Public Works said that the city expects a higher volume of traffic in this area in the future.

“We expect over the next 20 years for this roundabout to be much busier than it is now. And we believe that due to the results of this traffic study, a roundabout would be appropriate,” said Ogan.

The city says that this will be a larger roundabout, with 5-foot-wide sidewalks being added in and around the area.

“So a roundabout is going to be needed here. It’s not going to be a smaller roundabout like the one on Rawlins that many people talk about. This is going to be a full roundabout similar to the one that we constructed last year at Route K,” said Ogan.

The project is expected to be completed in winter 2027, weather permitting.

Click here to follow the original article.

El Paso Launches $50,000 Youth Climate Action Fund to Empower Young Leaders

Nichole Gomez

El Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)- The City of El Paso is calling on young people to turn their ideas into action by means of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund.

Applications are currently being accepted for microgrants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to help support youth-led projects which tackle local climate challenges and further the aims of the Chihuahuan Desert Climate Action Plan. Submissions will be accepted until 23 October 2026.

El Paso has been one of the 300 cities around the world chosen to take part in the initiative and has received $50,000 which it will distribute via local microgrants, thus providing young residents with the opportunity to lead projects that make a difference in their neighborhoods and community. The city announced its selection for the program earlier this year.

Projects have to be suggested, planned, and carried out by at least two young people who are between the ages of 15 and 24 and must correspond with one or more of the priorities set out in the Climate Action Plan. Projects that are eligible can focus on climate education, heat and water resilience, green infrastructure, community gardens, sustainable food systems, waste reduction, sustainable transportation and other climate solutions.

Applicants will also have to obtain a fiscal sponsor—for example, a nonprofit, a school, a youth-serving organization, a public agency, or another eligible community organization—on whom the grant funds will be received and administered.

APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

The City will be holding three free workshops which will assist participants in coming up with project ideas, in understanding the application requirements, and in linking with possible partners and fiscal sponsors. The workshops will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

On Tuesday, 8th of September, at the Wayne Thornton Community Center on Jefferson Avenue, 3134. On Wednesday, 9th of September, at the Chamizal Community Center, 2119 Cypress Avenue. On Thursday, 10th of September, at the Sylvia Carreon Community Center, 709 Lomita Drive.

Applications must be submitted by October 23, 2026, and projects must be completed by April 15, 2027. If you would like to learn more about the application materials, eligibility criteria, project guidelines, and other information, please visit EPClimate.org/Get-Involved.

Click here to follow the original article.

September is Big Brothers Big Sisters Month in Central Oregon

KTVZ

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – This month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon (BBBSCO), a program of J Bar J Youth Services, is celebrating Big Brothers Big Sisters Month and the powerful impact mentorship has on young people throughout Central Oregon.

Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters Month provides an opportunity to recognize the people at the heart of the organization’s mission—volunteer mentors, known as Bigs; the young people they mentor, known as Littles; families; staff; supporters; and community partners who believe in the potential of every young person.

This year, BBBSCO will serve more than 220 young people across Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties through one-to-one mentoring and additional programs designed to help youth build confidence, develop meaningful connections and create brighter futures.

“September is a chance for us to celebrate everyone who makes this mission possible,” said Jenn Davis, Program Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon. “We celebrate our Bigs who continue to show up month after month, our Littles who inspire us every day, the families who trust us, our staff who pour so much into supporting our matches, and a community that continues to stand behind our young people. Mentorship may begin with one relationship, but its impact reaches so much further.”

For BBBSCO, mentorship is about more than spending time together. Bigs provide young people with another caring, consistent adult in their corner. Someone who listens, encourages them, celebrates their successes and helps them navigate challenges.

Behind every match is a dedicated team of BBBSCO staff who recruit and enroll volunteers and youth, thoughtfully create matches, provide ongoing professional support, plan activities and experiences, and connect families with resources. Their work helps ensure that Bigs, Littles and families have the support they need to build strong, lasting relationships.

Throughout the year, BBBSCO also provides opportunities that extend beyond one-to-one mentoring. Through programs such as CARES and Big Futures: Graduation & Beyond, young people and families can access academic support, career and post-secondary planning, basic-needs resources, enrichment activities and experiences designed to help youth thrive now and into the future.

While September is a month of celebration, it is also a reminder of the continued need for mentors in Central Oregon. Over 80 local young people are currently waiting for the opportunity to be matched with a mentor. “You don’t have to be extraordinary to be a great mentor,” Davis said. “Our Littles are looking for someone who will be consistent, spend time with them and believe in who they are and who they can become. A few hours a month can build a relationship that has an impact for years.”

BBBSCO encourages the Central Oregon community to celebrate Big Brothers Big Sisters Month by learning more about mentorship, sharing the mission with friends and family, supporting local mentoring programs, or taking the first step toward becoming a Big.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon

A program of J Bar J Youth Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon was founded in 1994. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Oregon is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. BBBSCO serves over 220 youth annually and continues to grow programming. We are committed to serving at-risk youth and youth facing adversity with mentors in our community. 

Click here to follow the original article.

Water main break to close lane at High Street viaduct in Jefferson City

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A water main break will have one lane at the High Street viaduct in Jefferson City closed until Friday.

The Jefferson City Public Works Department said in a news release Tuesday that the eastbound lane of West High Street will be closed south of the viaduct while contractors work on the main break. The Friday reopening is dependent on weather conditions.

The viaduct reopened last month after being closed for repairs since February.

Click here to follow the original article.

Sacramento County man gets 188 years to life for 2023 DUI crash that killed 5

By Cecilio Padilla

Click here for updates on this story

    SACRAMENTO COUNTY, California (KOVR) — A man convicted in a 2023 DUI crash that killed five passengers along River Road in Sacramento County has been sentenced to 188 years to life in prison.

Cameron Garcia was sentenced Friday, nearly two months after a jury convicted him of five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and carjacking, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said.

The crash happened Feb. 9, 2023, along River Road just south of the Freeport Bridge.

Prosecutors said Garcia had spent the day drinking by the Sacramento River before getting behind the wheel with five passengers.

As the road curved, Garcia went down an embankment and hit a tree at 101 mph, according to the district attorney’s office. Prosecutors said the accelerator was applied and the brakes were not before the crash.

The impact tore away the entire right side and most of the roof of the vehicle, ejecting all five passengers.

Monte Nunn, 29; Faith Samuel, 18; Izabelle Salaz-Stephens, 19; Curvontay Swygert, 16; and Aahliya Garcia, 17, all died at the scene. Garcia survived with multiple injuries. As people began arriving at the crash scene, prosecutors said Garcia tried to take several vehicles before getting into a woman’s car and pushing her out of the driver’s seat. He then drove toward Elk Grove, where authorities chased him with patrol vehicles and helicopters.

Garcia crashed the stolen vehicle into another car, tried to take another vehicle and then ran into a neighborhood before officers arrested him, prosecutors said.

A blood test taken about an hour and a half after the crash showed Garcia had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.11%, according to the district attorney’s office. Tests also detected active marijuana in his system.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Oceanfront homes in Malibu red-tagged after driveways collapse due to coastal erosion

By Chelsea Hylton

Click here for updates on this story

    MALIBU, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Five beachfront homes in Malibu have been red-tagged after driveways collapsed due to coastal erosion on Monday morning.

SoCal Gas officials said around 5:57 a.m., crews were notified about damage to natural gas infrastructure on a private road in the 31600 block of Sea Level Drive, near Point Lechuza, due to a sinkhole.

Crews arrived on scene and discovered damage to a half-inch natural gas line. They safely stopped the flow of gas and are working on repairs. SoCal Gas said that residents and businesses in the area may notice a natural gas odor while repair work is ongoing.

City officials red-tagged the homes, which means that entry is prohibited. Officials added that the driveways collapsed “due to coastal erosion from the high tides and high surf.”

“The City is actively monitoring and responding to coastal erosion issues in areas including Pacific Coast Highway in the Palisades Fire burn area and at Westward Beach due to strong waves and high tides, in close collaboration with partner agencies,” Malibu officials said in a statement.

Aerial footage of the driveways showed beachfront homes that were affected by the damage. A large hole could be seen in place of where the driveways would be located.

Customers should call 1-800-427-2200 if they experience a service disruption or suspect there is a natural gas leak.

This incident comes after several homes in Long Beach were evacuated after high surf and power waves compromised the seawall and damaged the boardwalk.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

Former Colorado DNA analyst guilty of manipulating data sentenced to prison on 4 counts

By Jesse Sarles

Click here for updates on this story

    JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado (KCNC) — A former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA analyst has been sentenced to a decade in prison. On Tuesday, Jefferson County District Court Judge Andrew Poland sentenced Yvonne “Missy” Woods just months after she pleaded guilty to charges tied to manipulating and mishandling evidence in criminal investigations across Colorado.

Woods admitted to the evidence manipulation in hundreds of cases going back decades. Woods pleaded guilty in June to four charges as part of a plea deal, with prosecutors agreeing to a 8-16 year range for sentencing. Her plea deal included guilty pleas on charges of attempting to influence a public servant, perjury, forgery and cybercrime.

Poland sentenced Woods to 10 years in prison for Count 1- Cybercrime, with three years mandatory parole; six years for Count 2- Perjury, to be served concurrent to count 1; six years for Count 103- Influencing a Public Servant, to be served concurrent to count 1; three years for Count 104- Forgery, to be served concurrent to count 1.

“Because this was intentional conduct by a highly-trained professional occupying a position of extraordinary trust, considerations of punishment, accountability, proportionality and general deterrence carry substantial weight; professionals entrusted with work upon which the justice system depends much understand that compromising the integrity of that work carries serious consequences,” said Poland.

Woods spoke in front of the judge before her sentence was handed down.

“Your Honor, I understand the seriousness of what I have done and I understand that my actions have not only impacted the integrity of the criminal justice system but also the people whose lives were touched by the cases in which I worked,” said Woods. “I take responsibility for the offenses to which I pled guilty, and I know that an apology cannot undo the harm or restore the trust that was lost.” Woods was charged in Jefferson County Court in January 2025 with forgery, attempting to influence a public servant, perjury, and cybercrime. She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in February of this year before changing her plea to guilty in June.

CBI said it launched an investigation into over 1,000 cases in which Woods had some sort of involvement. The agency said it looked at cases from 1994 to 2023, when she was placed on administrative leave and then retired.

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators said Woods intentionally left DNA samples out of tests or reports and sometimes would test samples until the results showed what she wanted. CBI asked the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation to conduct an outside investigation into the case since it involved one of its own employees. Investigators alleged that Woods deleted some findings of what are called “specific values” in more than 30 sexual assault cases. She was accused of submitting reports that said no male DNA was found when there was, in fact, male DNA or possible contamination that should have been retested. Woods worked at CBI’s Denver regional laboratory in Lakewood until the facility moved to Arvada in 2016, where she worked until she retired in 2023.

Last year, state lawmakers passed a bill sparked by the Woods investigation that creates procedures for reporting misconduct.

There is a backlog caused by problems with the cases. The cost was estimated at over $ 11 million two years ago, but there’s been no recent estimate.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

“Who is this man?” 8,200 Michigan residents receive misprinted IDs, driver licenses

By Terrance Friday

Click here for updates on this story

    LANSING, Michigan (WWJ) — Thousands of Michigan residents have someone else’s face on their newly issued enhanced driver’s licenses or state identification cards due to a vendor printing error.

The Michigan Department of State says approximately 8,200 cards were misprinted after an error by its vendor, Idemia. The problem affected a batch of licenses and IDs printed Aug. 26, and corrected cards are already in the mail.

The cards display a generic stock photo and date of birth in the lower right-hand corner instead of the cardholder’s information. State officials stress that the incorrect information does not belong to another Michigan resident.

Lanita Nelson noticed the mistake after receiving her first enhanced driver’s license.

“I kept looking and I was like, ‘That’s a man in the bottom corner,'” Nelson said. “And I keep looking, and he’s smiling. I’m like, ‘What’s going on?'”

She then noticed the birth date next to the picture was not hers.

“There is a whole Black man’s face down on the bottom right of my license with a fake birthday; January 12, ’67,” Nelson said. “I’m like, ‘No, this doesn’t apply to me. This can’t be right.'” Nelson turned to Google to find out who the mystery man was.

“I did a Google search and said, ‘Who is this man on my enhanced license?'” she said.

Her search showed that other Michigan residents had received similar cards. The photo was not of another customer, but an image typically used as an example of what an enhanced license looks like. The mistake was especially frustrating for Nelson because this was her second attempt to complete the process. She said she missed her first appointment after being hospitalized with complications due to a sickle cell crisis.

“I’m thinking I’m done, and I see some doggone man,” Nelson said. “So I’m like, ‘Oh great, now I have to go back.'” Beyond the surprise and humor of seeing a stranger’s face, Nelson said the error raised serious concerns about whether she could safely use the license.

“If I show this to the police, and I mess around and get pulled over, they are going to try to take me to jail,” she said. “So I have to figure this out.”

The Michigan Department of State says corrected cards have already been mailed to everyone who received a misprinted license or ID. Affected customers do not need to report the error or request a replacement. A corrected card will automatically arrive in the mail.

While waiting, customers can print a temporary license or ID at Michigan.gov/SOS or visit a Secretary of State branch office.

Anyone whose previous license or ID has not expired can continue using that card for travel, according to the state.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.