Fort Bliss sets up safe turn-in for explosives, ammunition

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Fort Bliss will host an ammunition and explosives amnesty day Wednesday. The military installation said anyone can relinquish any unauthorized, found, stolen or misplaced ammunition and explosives without fear of prosecution.

Ammunition and Explosives Amnesty Day will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at two locations. Weapons, firearms or related armaments won’t be accepted.

Public: Texas Army National Guard Armory (9100 Gateway North Blvd.).

DoD ID cardholders only: East Fort Bliss, in the vicinity of the Blackhawk Tank Trail and the vehicle wash rack.

“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this safe turn-in opportunity to help protect your family, friends and community,” said Fort Bliss Safety Specialist Richard Dewitt. “This is a vital opportunity to relinquish these hazardous items safely and without fear of prosecution or disciplinary action. This program is designed to prevent unforeseen incidents and keep our entire community safe.”

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Julie Gilbertson named one of 17 Oregon Regional Teachers of the Year

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Julie Gilbertson, a first-grade teacher at John Tuck Elementary in Redmond, Ore., will be named one of Oregon’s 17 Regional Teachers of the Year for the 2026-27 school year.

Gilbertson will be honored tomorrow at 9:15 a.m. during a surprise all-school assembly at John Tuck Elementary.

The award is presented by the Oregon Department of Education in partnership with the Oregon Lottery. Each Regional Teacher of the Year receives a $1,000 cash prize and moves forward as a semi-finalist for the statewide 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year award.

Gilbertson, who has taught at John Tuck Elementary for 20 years, was nominated for the award by a school parent who praised her dedication to her students. “When considering a teacher to uplift, I think the energetic powerhouse of someone like Julie Gilbertson cannot be overstated,” the parent wrote in the nomination. “Though she would never present herself or seek out such recognition, I believe she does it because that is who she is, at her core. She not only believes in her impact, but she observes it with each student and each year over her 20 year tenure at the school.”

In her nomination materials, Gilbertson expressed her commitment to creating an inclusive classroom environment. “Creating a classroom environment where every student feels valued for their unique identity is more than a professional goal for me. It is a personal mission,” Gilbertson said. “I am driven to ensure my students never feel the need to shrink themselves. I believe that to see change, one must be an example for it.”

Regional Teachers of the Year are nominated by students, colleagues, administrators, family members or friends. Candidates undergo a selection process managed by the 19 Education Service Districts across Oregon, where regional panels evaluate applicants on instructional expertise, leadership, commitment to equity, community involvement and educational vision.

Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams commended the regional honorees for their leadership and dedication. “We are so proud of this year’s Regional Teachers of the Year who consistently demonstrate hard work, build strong relationships, empower their students and create classroom environments that lead to student success,” Williams said. “As mentors, advocates and community leaders, they show us all that the best is on display in schools large and small, rural and urban, from the first years of schooling to the final preparations for a student’s next steps beyond high school. We thank them for their inspiration and can’t wait to see what they do next.”

The recognition program is funded through a partnership with the Oregon Lottery, which has allocated more than $10 billion to public education in Oregon since 1995. Over the past year, nearly $4 million in lottery funds went to the Redmond School District and Deschutes County received over $14 million. Oregon Lottery Director Mike Wells praised the educators recognized through the program. “These are exceptional educators who inspire students daily across Oregon,” Wells said. “We are honored to celebrate their dedication and the lasting impact they have on our students and families.”

The full list of all 17 regional winners will be published on the Oregon Teacher of the Year website on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. The 2026-27 Oregon Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall, with the statewide winner receiving a $10,000 cash prize and an additional $5,000 for their school.

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Katmai National Park hosts 12th annual brown bear bracket competition

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Katmai National Park in Alaska is hosting its 12th annual brown bear bracket competition, inviting the public to pick which bear is best prepared for winter hibernation.

The annual contest allows anyone to build a bracket selecting their favorite brown bear as the animals feast on salmon and bulk up. Voters are encouraged to choose the bear they believe is best equipped to glide through winter hibernation without difficulty.

The 2025 champion, a brown bear named “32 Chunk,” is competing to keep his crown in this year’s tournament.

Participants who correctly predict the top bear receive bragging rights as their prize.

The winning brown bear will be announced on Sept. 29.

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Group vows to push on after Jefferson City Council rejects homeless shelter rezoning

Demetra Alarcon

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Council’s rejection of rezoning for a permanent homeless shelter won’t stop a community group working on the project, according to a statement from Housing the Community Jefferson City.

Housing the Community released the statement after the city council voted 6-3 Monday night to reject rezoning for a homeless shelter.

The Jefferson City Council voted to block a measure that would have allowed Jefferson City Room at the Inn to convert a vacant building into a new resource center and emergency shelter.

While Housing the Community is disappointed in the council’s decision, leaders emphasize that the community’s need for these services remains unchanged.

“The City Council’s vote against our proposal for 107 Adams Street was disappointing, but it does not change our commitment or our goals,” Scott Johnston, Housing the Community board president, stated in a news release. “Housing the Community Jefferson City will continue working toward an expanded emergency shelter and a resource center where people experiencing homelessness — or at risk of becoming homeless — can connect with services, support, and a path toward stable housing. The need remains, regardless of what address ultimately becomes home to these programs.”

Moving forward, the organization said it will continue to work with municipal leaders.

As the search for a permanent site continues, Housing the Community will continue evaluating its options and asking the community to stay involved.

A special city task force on homelessness reported this spring that expanding shelter beds should be a city government priority.

In an interview with ABC 17 News, Johnston said that the group will continue to look for a permanent location.

“We will continue to look for an alternative location and to do what we have said in our mission statement, which is to, you know, is to do something for the situation of the unhoused in the Jeff City area,” said Johnston.

In an interview with ABC 17 News, Sarah Hamilton, chair of Jefferson City Room at the Inn, said that she was disappointed but not surprised by the council’s decision.

“We knew it was going to happen. But you still get your hopes up. You still hope that what you want to happen is going to happen. And so there’s a lot of disappointment there,” said Hamilton.

Moving forward, the Room at the Inn will continue to operate out of the First Baptist Church. Hamilton said that the main downside of this is that they can only house 20 people.

“Last year we learned that there were more than 20 people that needed our help. One night we turned away eight,” said Hamilton.

ABC 17 reached out to every council member for comment. Ward 5 councilmember Mackenzie Job was the only member who responded.

“There is much to learn from this failure and many harsh realities to consider when examining this situation from an outside perspective as well as, for me, introspectively. It was reiterated several different ways last night that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this issue that I personally believe is the result of a much larger societal failure in this day and age of an increasingly atomized society, severely diminished access to resources, and no shortage of greed and self-interest. Councilwoman Young’s statement last night eloquently and compassionately conveyed many of the sentiments I share in that we as city leaders could continue shaping a proposal without killing it. To me, this was a step toward progress, but I think people want to see “perfection,” even though we all seemed to mostly agree that no one really has a “perfect” solution. Many thoughtful comments have been shared throughout this process, so hopefully  all parties can make use of this feedback while continuing to work toward a different solution. When one door closes, there is always a window” Job said in a statement to ABC 17.

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CRRUA restores water service near Western Playland after overnight issues

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (Sept. 22, 2026): CRRUA said it restored water service to the Racetrack Drive/Haciendas San Gabriel area around 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The utility issued a precautionary water boil advisory. Residents should boil water for one minute and let it cool before using it.

As a next step, CRRUA said it’ll send water samples to a laboratory certified by the New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) to conduct quality testing. The precautionary advisory will lift once lab results confirm the drinking water meets standards.

Residents can find updates here.

SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (KVIA) — Tuesday, the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) said it’s working to restore service near Western Playland.

At 12:25 a.m., CRRUA shared a Facebook post with a map of an area that lost water service. The utility said it found the source of the issues.

A map of the area that lost water service.(Courtesy: CRRUA)

At 5:46 a.m., CRRUA said it’s “making positive progress” on the outage. There’s no estimated restoration time.

The utility said that once it restores service, water pressure may stay low for a short time. Some customers may see water discoloration caused by minerals in the system. CRRUA recommended waiting until the water runs clear before using it for laundry.

If discoloration continues for more than 24 hours, customers should run cold water for several minutes until it clears, CRRUA said. Those who keep seeing discoloration should contact CRRUA at 575-589-1075 or the after-hours emergency line at 575-202-7173.

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Central Oregon Community College Faculty Forum holds rally tomorrow in Bend

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Union members with the Central Oregon Community College Faculty Forum will hold a practice picket, rally and media availability tomorrow, Sept. 23, in Bend, Ore.

The event is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Coats Campus Center on the Central Oregon Community College campus. It comes after the union declared an impasse with the college on Aug. 28 following more than nine months of contract negotiations.

The Central Oregon Community College Faculty Forum is an affiliate of the Oregon Education Association. Faculty members are seeking compensation increases to match market rates and are prepared to strike to secure a fair contract.

State Sen. Anthony Broadman is scheduled to speak at the rally alongside leaders from the union’s bargaining team. Members of the union will also participate in a media availability following the rally to discuss the status of contract negotiations.

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American Red Cross appeals for blood donors during National Preparedness Month

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — The American Red Cross is appealing for blood and platelet donors of all blood types to schedule donation appointments this fall. The organization provides more than 6.5 million blood products to hospitals nationwide each year.

The call for donations aligns with National Preparedness Month in September. Red Cross officials stated that maintaining a sufficient blood supply is necessary for disaster response, including home fires and natural disasters.

Donors who give blood or platelets between Sept. 21 and Oct. 18 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice. In addition, individuals who donate at a Red Cross donation center through Sept. 30 and mention the word “pickleball” to staff or volunteers can receive a custom Red Cross pickleball paddle and ball while supplies last.

To be eligible to donate, individuals must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent where permitted by state law and weigh at least 110 pounds while in generally good health. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements. Donors must present a blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification at check-in.

Appointments can be made using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by enabling the Blood Donor Skill on Alexa Echo devices. Donors can use RapidPass online on the day of their appointment to complete pre-donation reading and health history questionnaires before arriving at the drive.

Blood drives in Deschutes County include appointments at the Bend Blood Donation Center, along with drives at the State & County Offices on Wall Street today, the City of Bend Police Department on Wednesday, Awbrey Glen Golf Club on Sept. 28 and the US Bank Downtown Bend Branch on Sept. 30. Drive locations in Redmond include Redmond Community Church on Sept. 24, the LDS Redmond OR Stake on Sept. 29, Desert Song Community Church on Oct. 1, the Technology Education Center and Mountain View Fellowship on Oct. 5 and the RPA Operations Building on Oct. 6.

Additional local donation drives are scheduled at the Sunriver Library today, Cascade Bible Church in La Pine on Sept. 28, St. Charles Prineville on Sept. 29, Juniper Canyon Baptist Church in Prineville and Sisters Community Hall on Oct. 2 and Faith Baptist Church in Hines on Oct. 6.

Donation drives across Crook, Deschutes and Harney counties are scheduled to run through Oct. 6.

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Rexburg police issue warnings after recent wave of traffic accidents

Curtis Jackson

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — Rexburg police are warning drivers to slow down and stay alert after seeing several crashes in the past month.

On Monday, police responded to a crash at Second East and Main Street, where there were minor injuries. At the same time, officers responded to a four-vehicle crash at Second West and Fourth South.

Rexburg police say these crashes are an example of a bigger trend happening.

Over the last ten days, officers have responded to 46 crashes, which they say is more than they saw during the entire month of August.

The department says speed and distracted driving are two of the biggest factors. They are urging drivers and pedestrians to slow down, put the phone away, and stay alert.

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Rexburg man hospitalized after head-on collision on US-20 near Rigby

Seth Ratliff

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) — A 34-year-old Rexburg man was hospitalized after a head-on crash along US-20 north of Rigby last night.

The crash happened just after 10:30 pm around mile marker 342. Idaho State Police say the Rexburg man was driving east in a 2003 Toyota Corolla when he crossed into the westbound lanes and head-on collided with a 2026 Subaru Forester.

Neither the driver nor the passenger of the Subaru was injured, but the Corolla driver was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. His current condition has not been released. Everyone invovled in the crash was wearing their seatbelts.

US-20 was blocked for around two hours while ISP and responding agencies worked to clear the scene. The crash remains under investigation by ISP.

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‘We lost our house’: A deadly standoff left homes riddled with bullets. Who pays for the damage?

By Daniella Rivera

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    HYRUM, Cache County (KSL) — It was the kind of morning a neighborhood never forgets.

In June 2025, Cache County deputies responding to a call at the Valley View Mobile Home Park in Hyrum were met with gunfire and explosives.

The suspect, Jorge Andrade, had just killed his wife, Holly Andrade, and then ambushed law enforcement.

Images Jorge Andrade sent during the standoff showed he was wearing explosives. Body camera and doorbell footage show he was continually, sporadically firing off several rounds in the mobile home community as first responders called for backup.

“He had a homemade, what looked like a bomb vest on him,” Cache County Chief Deputy Mikelshan Bartschi said. “This was very, very high risk.”

As officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect, neighbors could only wait in terror.

“Oh, my God! There’s more shooting! There’s more shooting,” RaeAnn Bott can be heard telling a dispatcher in a recording of a 911 call.

Several hours later, both Jorge and Holly Andrade were found dead inside their home.

“We could have had so many more citizens hurt even though he had already taken his wife’s life,” Bartschi said.

But for residents who survived the ordeal, the consequences didn’t end when the shooting stopped.

“He shot several times just front to back. You could hear the bullets coming, and it was so loud and debris was flying,” Bott said, standing on the now vacant plot where her mobile home used to be.

She said her home was unlivable after being struck by more than 300 bullets. She and her husband spent more than a year living in a fifth wheel trailer while trying to recover financially.

“The terror doesn’t stop when the shooting stops,” she said.

Doorbell footage from her home shows the first responding deputy’s vehicle came to rest in front of the couple’s trailer amid a flurry of gunfire. Bott and her husband were trapped inside as bullets ripped through their home for hours.

“We were texting our families goodbye,” she said, her voice breaking as she recounted the hours they spent wondering whether they would survive. “I can still hear the gunshots. I can smell the gunpowder.”

In the days after the standoff, Bott said she asked about resources to help them recover financially but was told property damage alone did not qualify for assistance.

“There is no such thing as property damage only,” Bott said. “There is absolutely no such thing. What we lived through is not property damage only. We lost our house.”

Signs of the violent incident remain present today. Bullet holes and police evidence markers are still visible in some homes.

“Everybody was traumatized,” neighbor Teresa Clarke said.

Clarke was out of town during the standoff but returned home to find bullet holes in her walls and a community still reeling.

“Where was the help? Where was the help?” Clarke said. “There has to be some kind of funds to reimburse these people and others.”

Bartschi said law enforcement is not liable for the damage, and when they’re responding to a call, their top priority is the safety of the public, then themselves and then the suspect.

“If you talk about this on a priority scale and the things that we’re focused on, life is so far separated from any property or even evidence,” he explained.

Still, he said he feels for people who experience the consequences of violence in their community.

“If we don’t have those individuals who are taking those actions that put our community at risk, who put families at risk, who are endangering that priority to life, that human safety, our public safety, then we’re not going to be there,” he said.

Bott said her insurance company denied coverage.

“They don’t cover terroristic activity,” she said.

That’s when Bott contacted the KSL Investigators, who found some help is available through the Utah Office for Victims of Crime.

“We can offer mental health therapy, lost wages (and) relocation, things like that to help people kind of get back on track and in the right direction,” said Dale Oyler, assistant director and compensation administrator at the Utah Office for Victims of Crime.

The program is often used to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and homicide. But cases like the standoff in Hyrum can present unique challenges.

“At that point, we would be doing a determination to see if the people were home at the time and in the zone of danger,” Oyler said when asked about claims involving property damage after standoffs between suspects and law enforcement.

After feeling dismissed for months, Bott found out about the program and applied for financial assistance in April. When KSL got involved three months later, she said she still had not received a decision. Then, in late August, Bott was approved for financial assistance with mental health therapy and relocation expenses.

The Utah Office for Victims of Crime paid out nearly $7 million in 2025 to and on behalf of crime victims. According to Utah law, a victim eligible for benefits through the state fund is narrowly defined as someone who suffers “bodily or psychological injury or death” as a direct result of “criminally injurious conduct.”

That leaves homeowners like Clarke in a difficult position. Her home was damaged during the incident, but because she was not at home at the time, she was never physically in danger.

“We’re focused on crimes against the person, and we have limited funding that comes through every single year through the federal government, through the state legislature, and we have to do our best to spend that money according to the statute,” Oyler said.

For Clarke, the bullet holes that remain in her home are a constant reminder of what happened.

“Every time you go by, you say, ‘What about if I would have been here?'” she told KSL.

Other potential avenues for relief include restitution through the courts, but that requires a suspect who is alive and ultimately convicted. Civil lawsuits are another option but often require significant time and money and, in this case, were not a viable path for recovery.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSL verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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.