Flu cases few across Missouri so far as flu season approaches

KMIZ on September 24, 2026

Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Flu cases in Missouri remain relatively low, but medical experts said that could change as the season gets underway.

Flu season officially begins Oct. 1, and health experts are encouraging people to take steps now to protect themselves.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ latest weekly flu report, there have been more than 160 reported flu cases in the state so far this season, including 96 cases of influenza A and 68 cases of influenza B.

Dr. Lana Zerrer, chief medical officer at Boone Health, said the hospital has only seen a few flu cases so far.

“We’ve only had a few here at Boone Health so far this year. It’s still really early,” Zerrer said.

Zerrer added it is too soon to know how the flu season will play out. She said health officials often look to the Southern Hemisphere’s flu season for clues about what to expect in the U.S.

“The southern hemisphere had a milder flu season this year, and that’s usually what we look at to see what our flu season is going to look like. So hopefully this flu season will be better than last year,” Zerrer said.

Medical experts said older adults and people with certain underlying health conditions can face a higher risk of serious flu complications.

Zerrer said adults 65 and older who also have conditions such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes are at greater risk.

“People who are elderly, and when I say that, I mean over 65, if they have any kind of comorbid conditions, so that means they have something like heart disease or lung disease or diabetes, then they’re higher risk for complications for the flu,” Zerrer said.

Zerrer said people experiencing shortness of breath, a high heart rate or low blood pressure should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Local in-home care providers are also taking precautions to protect senior patients and caregivers.

BrightStar Care typically serves about 50 patients, with roughly 40 receiving frequent visits from its team of about 12 nurses.

Shelly Smyser, director of nursing at BrightStar Care, said the service encourages patients and caregivers to get vaccinated and keeps track of who has received a flu shot.

“Before October, we do a reminder. Everybody has to either get a flu shot or fill out a form declining why they don’t get it,” Smyser said. “If we have homes where people are really sensitive, then we’re sending the vaccinated people.”

Caregivers also have personal protective equipment available in patients’ homes, including masks, gowns and hand sanitizer. Smyser said the supplies are available to help protect both patients and caregivers from illness.

Patients also self-report their current health status to caregivers. Smyser said patients are screened before a caregiver arrives at their home, allowing staff to prepare for any symptoms, including fever or cough.

Smyser said the severity of patients’ illnesses can vary, but BrightStar Care receives referrals from hospitals each year for patients recovering from serious cases of the flu.

“Every year we get at least one or two referrals from the hospital for people that have been really sick and people that have underlying conditions like diabetes and heart disease,” Smyser said. “And so they get really ill with the flu, and then they call us when they’re going home because they’re weak and they need help.”

Boone Health said flu vaccines are available and can be covered through patients’ insurance. MU Health Care will also host its second free flu shot clinic this Saturday.

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Gem Prep Charter School begins construction on ninth campus in Rexburg

KIFI on September 24, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) – Gem Prep Charter School is beginning construction on its ninth Gem Prep campus. This one will be located in Rexburg and plans to open in August 2027. It will serve grades K-9 before expanding to K-12 by 2031.

Gem Prep focuses on getting its students college-ready and centers their curriculum around that.

“We do that by focusing both on academic preparation and on the development of competencies,” Gem Prep CEO Jason Bransford said. “Things like helping students develop time management skills, organizational skills, how to prioritize what they need to do that day, the ability to communicate effectively with others.”

There are some similarities between Public and Charter schools, such as free admission and government funding, but there are some notable differences to be aware of.

Charter Schools:

Create their own curriculum Operated by organizations under a charter May have private donors to help with funding Does not have to follow state regulations and requirements Could have a lottery system to cap enrollment

Public Schools:

Operated by school district Completely publicly funded Has to follow state regulations and requirements Has to accept all students within a certain geographical area

Charter schools often spark debate online about how public education funds are distributed. However, a report by IdahoEDNews suggests Charter Schools could offer valuable lessons on financial management in education to their Public counterparts.

As for the per-student funding, the money follows the student.

“Where a student gets educated is where the money goes to educate the student,” Bransford said. “And so we want students to come here, be educated here. We receive the funding to educate those students. So the money also follows the expense.”

If you are interested in more information about Gem Prep schools, click HERE.

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Jefferson City man sentenced in federal court for illegal gun possession

KMIZ on September 24, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A federal judge sentenced a Jefferson City man to eight years in prison Thursday for being a felon in possession of a gun.

Derrick Crumble, 34, pleaded guilty in February, and was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison without parole and three years of supervised release.

According to a news release from the Department of Justice, police arrested Crumble in June 2025 while responding to a shooting. Officers reported seeing Crumble with a backpack, and while searching it found a gun and 60-round magazine.

Crumble claimed he found the gun and planned to sell it. Because of a prior felony conviction, Crumble isn’t allowed to possess a gun.

The release said ATF assisted Jefferson City police in the investigation.

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Imperial County hosting free car seat safety inspection event this Saturday

KYMA on September 24, 2026

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – As National Child Passenger Safety Week gets underway, local agencies are teaming up to ensure Imperial County’s youngest residents stay safe on the road.

The Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, and First 5 Imperial are joining forces this Saturday, Sept. 26, for the Sixth Annual Child Safety Awareness Day.

The event comes at a critical time as data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed nearly 350 children are injured every single day in traffic crashes nationwide.

Local experts say many of those injuries stem from a common, unseen danger: incorrectly installed car seats.

“Probably more than 80% of the people that come here to seek education or get an inspection of their car seat…don’t have it properly secured,” said Mayra Ibarra, Injury Prevention Coordinator for ICPHD.

To combat this, certified technicians will be on-site this Saturday to inspect seats, guide parents through proper installation protocols, and provide crucial safety education.

If a child’s car seat is found to be expired, damaged, or the wrong size, a proper replacement seat will be provided and installed at no cost.

According to health officials, many parents unknowingly drive around with a false sense of security, struggling to secure the seats tightly enough or misjudging when their child is ready for the next phase.

“You still see the loose mechanisms, whether it’s the harnesses or the seatbelt itself,” Ibarra explained. “Or keeping your child in the one car seat they have longer than what they should be…meaning they’ve exceeded their height and weight for the car seat.”

Saturday’s event aims to bridge that knowledge gap by shifting from a simple quick-fix to an interactive learning process.

“With this, they get exposed to what the new laws and regulations are and they also get to learn how to properly install their car seat and know how to do it themselves,” Ibarra said. “They get hands-on experience.”

The event is scheduled from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the west parking lot of the Imperial County Public Health Department, located at 935 Broadway Avenue in El Centro.

Families planning to attend must keep the following requirements in mind:

Appointments are strictly required in advance. Organizers are spacing out time slots to dedicate personalized instruction to each family. The event is aiming to serve 30 to 35 families. The child must be present in the car seat on the day of the event to ensure proper fitting.

To schedule your appointment, call the ICPHD at 442-265-1442.

Local officials emphasize that child passenger safety is a year-round priority. Families who cannot make it to the El Centro event this weekend can still access free inspections and refresher checks throughout the year.

Parents can contact the ICPHD to schedule an appointment, or visit their local CHP office, which provides the same complimentary safety services.

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Three families displaced following fire in El Centro

KYMA on September 24, 2026

Abraham Retana

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – An apartment building in El Centro caught on fire, leaving several families without a home.

The fire started around Wednesday night at the Brunners Suites & Studios on Imperial Avenue, near the Department of Motor Vehicles.

One building was damaged by the blaze.

“There was a total of three apartments combined in one building,” said Battalion Chief Brad Chapin with the El Centro Fire Department (ECFD). “So, that building sustained water and electrical damage as well a total of three families were displaced from the fire.”

A pet died in the fire.

“There was one family pet that perished; the dog perished in the fire,” Battalion Chief Chapin shared. “At the time of the fire, there was nobody home so the dog as not able to get out.”

No other injuries were reported.

While ECFD believes the fire was not caused by any bad intent or maliciously, it remains under investigation.

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Yuma Rotary Club to host 68th Annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry

KYMA on September 24, 2026

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Yuma Rotary Club is hosting the 68th Annual Walt Kammann Sausage Fry.

The annual event is taking place Friday, December 4, at the Yuma Civic Center from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

During the annual event, there will be holiday vendors, bingo and prizes, and a sausage eating contest.

The cost to attend is $18 per person, with the proceeds supporting scholarships for local students. To purchase tickets, click here.

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Dry lightning sparks fires, sends person to hospital in Palm Springs

KESQ on September 24, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — Palm Springs firefighters are actively patrolling the area as lightning continues to strike along the mountainsides surrounding the city, prompting crews to respond to multiple incidents, including two fires and a lightning strike that sent one person to the hospital.

Firefighters responded to an approximately half-acre vegetation fire sparked amid the ongoing lightning activity. Palm Springs fire units have since cleared the scene.

In a separate incident in Chino Canyon, firefighters responded to a palm tree fire as well as a report of a person struck by lightning. The individual was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.

A small brush fire was put out this afternoon in the Snow Creek area, and officials from the Bureau of Land Management say an investigation is underway into the cause of the fire, and that lightning strikes were reported in the area at the time the blaze started.

The ongoing storms are producing what is known as dry lightning, lightning that occurs with little or no rain reaching the ground. Dry lightning can ignite vegetation and increase the risk of fires, particularly when grass, brush and trees are dry.

Fire crews are continuing to patrol the area and monitor the mountainsides for smoke and additional fires. Palm Springs firefighters remain prepared to respond to new incidents as conditions develop.

Residents and visitors are urged to take lightning seriously. If you hear thunder or see lightning, go indoors and remain there until the threat has passed.

Officials recommend waiting at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder before returning outdoors.

Anyone who sees smoke or flames, or encounters someone experiencing a medical emergency, should call 911 immediately.

With lightning activity continuing across the area, firefighters are reminding the public to remain alert and take precautions while crews monitor conditions throughout Palm Springs and the surrounding mountains.

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Vintage Market Days returns to the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds

KIFI on September 24, 2026

Hadley Bodell

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (KIFI) – Vintage Market Days kicked off at 11 a.m. on September 24 for a weekend full of fall shopping, food trucks and live music. This is the fourth year of the market, but their first year at a new location inside the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds in Blackfoot.

After using the large barn venue off Jones St, the market has expanded to take over the front section of the fairgrounds. Visitors now have to use Park St and Maple St to find parking as well as the entrance with ticket sales. Owner and operator Laurie Bliss said they have already been enjoying the indoor-outdoor experience the new area provides.

“We’re giving it a try this year for fall, and it’s kind of just made some charming places to shop outdoors and then we still have some of our vendors inside,” she said. “It’s made it have a bit more shopping and a new layout which we’ve really been enjoying.”

The event is family friendly and runs Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There are hundreds of vendors selling antiques, handmade crafts, vintage clothing, boutiques and a host of local small businesses. Bliss said other vendors come from as far as Florida and Missouri to join the fun at Vintage Market Days.

Food trucks on site this weekend includ The Corn Dog Company and Camille’s Crepes, Sept. 24

Bliss said they’ve seen a lot of growth in the market in the last four years. Without the support of the community and the shoppers, the market wouldn’t accept new vendors.

“We want our vendors to do well, it’s always our goal as we get more shoppers to add more vendors and if we won’t then we don’t,” she said. “We want them to have a successful show.”

Tickets are available at the door as well as online at vintagemarketdays.com. Bliss says purchasing your ticket online grants you an extra hour of special access to the market before it opens for everyone each day of the event.

“Our vendors restock every night, so there are fresh items and those people that pre-purchased online get in a little bit before general admission, they can come and see what’s new before everybody else does,” Bliss said. She added the online tickets are usually discounted slightly from at-the-door sales.

A local artist paints watercolor flowers live at Vintage Market Days, Sept. 24

The opportunities for shopping are endless at the fairgrounds this weekend, with everything from clothing to home-baked goods.

“You can make a whole weekend out of it,” Bliss explained. “We have great live music and food trucks and it’s a family-friendly event. And once you get your ticket, you can come and go as much as you want all weekend.”

Bliss said the best part of the weekend is seeing all the happy faces and hugs that come from the community throughout the market. She said it’s been tricky to move from the old venue, but with the “best crew ever,” this fall’s Vintage Market Days is off to a resounding start.

One Vintage Market Days vendor is a bus pulled onto the fairgrounds, Sept. 24

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Woman charged in Benton County child death waives jury trial

KMIZ on September 24, 2026

Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A woman charged in the murder of a 4-year-old in Benton County has waived her right to a jury trial.

Kourtney Aumen is charged with first-degree murder, child abuse, child endangerment and assault. She is accused of being part of the murder of 4-year-old Jessica Mast in December 2020. Mast’s parents have pleaded guilty. The sheriff’s office says Jessica was severely beaten before she died.

Her father reportedly told authorities that Jessica had been beaten, submerged in a pond then left outside in the cold before being taken back inside.

Court documents show that through her lawyer, Aumen waived her right to a jury trial.  She still needs a judge’s approval, but this would mean a judge would decide if she is guilty.

Aumen was ruled competent to stand trial this week.

 

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Twin Falls to build memorial for those affected by In-N-Out shooting

KIFI on September 24, 2026

KIVI Staff

Originally Published: September 24, 2026, 3:17 pm

BY: KIVI Staff

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIVI) — Twin Falls leaders have announced plans to create a permanent memorial honoring the three people killed in the Aug. 1 In-N-Out shooting and recognizing everyone affected.

The City of Twin Falls will work with victims’ families, survivors, first responders and community members on the memorial’s design, location and other details.

The Twin Falls Community Foundation is leading fundraising through its Special Projects Fund. The Idaho Community Foundation has contributed $20,000 in seed funding to help launch the project.

RELATED | Police confirm 3 dead, 7 injured in Twin Falls In-N-Out shooting; suspected shooter identified

“This memorial will be shaped by the people of Twin Falls and created with care for everyone whose life was changed by this tragedy,” Mayor Jason Brown said. “Our goal is to provide a lasting place where our community can remember, reflect and come together.”

Donations will be used for approved memorial costs, including planning, design, construction, installation and long-term care.

Officials said the memorial fund is separate from funds providing direct assistance to victims, survivors and their families.

READ MORE | City of Twin Falls says victims may qualify for mental health reimbursement

Community members can learn more and make online donations here.

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