Fostering Hope Yuma hosts its fourth annual conference

KYMA on September 21, 2026

Wesley Williamson

YUMA, Ariz. (NBC, KYMA) – Fostering Hope Yuma hosted its fourth annual conference Saturday at the Civic Center.

The conference was a day of connection, learning and support for Yuma’s foster care community.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to hear from professionals in the field and connect with more than 30 exhibitors offering resources for children and families.

This year’s theme was “Bridging the Gap” and President Scott Little said the conference is designed to support those providing care.

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Police urge drivers to avoid Horizon neighborhood amid chase after deadly shooting

KVIA on September 21, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

UPDATE (3:15 p.m.): The El Paso Police Department said the chase is connected to a deadly shooting that happened in East El Paso Monday.

The shooting happened around 6:20 a.m. at the 1700 block of Charlie Smith Drive, EPPD said. Officers found a 32-year-old man that had been shot and died.

A witness told police someone left the scene in a pickup truck, EPPD said. An officer saw the suspect truck in Central El Paso, prompting a chase.

EPPD said the chase ended in the area of Maravillas Street and Desierto Bueno Avenue in Horizon City. Authorities detained a 40-year-old man after stopping the truck.

Find the story about the shooting here.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Horizon City police said a chase started in El Paso and ended in Horizon Monday.

HPD said police went to the area of Maravillas Street and Desierto Bueno Avenue near Ricardo Estrada Middle School.

Police urged drivers to avoid the area to let authorities respond to the situation.

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Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery reach settlement on proposed merger

KTVZ on September 21, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced a settlement today resolving a lawsuit challenging the merger between Paramount Skydance Corporation and Warner Bros. Discovery.

The agreement includes a five-year commitment to boost film production, a minimum $1.5 billion investment in domestic production and a $47.5 million workforce fund for displaced employees.

The lawsuit, originally filed in July by Oregon and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, sought to maintain competition and protect film industry jobs.

Under the terms of the settlement, Paramount must also negotiate basic cable channels separately for five years, establish a board for news independence at CNN and CBS and submit to compliance oversight by an independent monitor.

Oregon Rayfield led the state’s participation in challenging the transaction. “We stepped up to challenge this merger to limit rising costs for working families, to preserve competition and to protect Oregon’s film production industry,” Rayfield said. “Today’s agreement keeps real competition in place, ensures that productions will continue and ensures journalistic independence. That’s a win for Oregon workers and consumers.”

Attorneys general from 11 other states joined Oregon in securing the settlement, including California, Ariz., Colo., Conn., Mass., Minn., Nev., N.J., N.M., N.Y. and Washington.

The agreement outlines a five-year requirement for film releases. Paramount agreed to release 30 films annually, including 20 wide releases, during the first two years. In years three through five, the company must release 32 films per year, including 21 wide releases. The settlement mandates at least four independent film releases each year. If Paramount fails to meet the film output requirements, the company must divest Miramax Studios and pay $30 million per missed film toward health care and retirement trust funds for labor unions, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and the National Association of Attorneys General for antitrust enforcement.

Under the domestic production terms, Paramount must spend at least $1.5 billion over five years above its 2025 U.S. spending levels, expanding from its current baseline where approximately 5% of production occurs in the U.S. If a federal film tax credit of at least 20% is enacted, domestic production must rise to 20% in years one and two and at least 30% in remaining years. If California or New York enacts an expansive state film tax credit, U.S. production must increase to at least 40% of all film production.

The settlement also addresses television, streaming and news distribution. For five years, the company must negotiate Paramount’s basic cable channels separately from Warner Bros.’ basic cable channels. The merged company must maintain its free streaming service, Pluto TV, at current service levels and establish a News Editorial Independence Board to protect editorial independence at CNN and CBS. Additionally, the company will establish a $25 million fund, contributing $5 million annually over five years, to acquire independent films.

The $47.5 million Workforce Fund will support career development and training for employees displaced by the merger over a five-year period. The company is required to honor existing collective bargaining agreements and bargain in good faith with unions going forward. Compliance with all terms of the agreement will be overseen by an appointed independent monitor.

The settlement remains pending court approval.

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20 arrested during Mongols Motorcycle Club gathering in Cathedral City

KESQ on September 21, 2026

Matthew Pearce

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ)— Cathedral City police arrested 20 people during a high-visibility enforcement operation tied to a weekend gathering of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, authorities said.

The operation was conducted Friday and Saturday in partnership with several local and state law enforcement agencies while the Mongols held a gathering at the DoubleTree by Hilton Golf Resort Palm Springs.

According to Cathedral City police, officers made 15 arrests Friday involving suspected narcotics and weapons violations, possession of stolen property, suspended licenses and outstanding warrants. Three handguns were recovered, 42 citations were issued and five vehicles were stored or impounded.

On Saturday, officers made five additional arrests involving suspected weapons offenses and seized three more handguns. Police also issued 35 citations and stored or impounded nine vehicles.

“We ensured that there was going to be public safety, that was a priority for our community,” Commander Jon Enos said. “So overall, it was successful operation.”

The enforcement effort involved the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Desert Hot Springs Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Indio Police Department and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parole agents.

The U.S. Department of Justice identifies the Mongols as an outlaw motorcycle gang. Cathedral City Police Chief Rick Sanchez previously said the department was treating the gathering accordingly.

We are speaking with Cathedral City police to learn more about the department’s enforcement effort, including what prompted the operation and what officers encountered during the weekend. We’ll have more details tonight on News Channel 3 at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm.

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The Node is helping bring El Pasoans together

KVIA on September 21, 2026

Olivia Vara

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — On a beautiful day at Cimarron Park, couples enjoy lunch outdoors and time together.

But the park isn’t the only place to meet someone or spend time with friends. Sarah Martinez, co-founder of The Node, is creating more opportunities for El Pasoans to connect.

“A lot of members who come for the first time without a friend will sit in their car. We can see them through the windows,” said Sarah Martinez.

Martinez says those first-time attendees eventually come out and join the meet-and-greet.

“They’re a little nervous,” said Sarah.

Like many young adults, Sarah says building connections can be challenging.

That’s why she co-founded The Node, a social club designed to help young adults connect through shared activities.

“Everyone’s going to be a little awkward in the beginning. Then, after 20 or 30 minutes, we all forget,” said Sarah.

The Node often partners with local businesses to host its gatherings. Its most recent event, “Pitch Your Pal,” brought attendees together to nominate single friends as potential dates.

For Sarah, The Node is about creating a space where El Pasoans can meet new friends.

“By the end of the event, they’re like, ‘Oh, my God, I’m so glad I came. I’m so glad I met you guys,’” said Sarah.

To find out more about The Node, check out their social media page here .

If you’d like to submit a story for a future Sunday Funday, send an email to olivia.Vara@kvia.com.

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El Paso County Sheriff’s Office faces projected $5.9 million deficit

KVIA on September 21, 2026

Nina Gallegos

UPDATE (2:03 p.m.): The Sheriff’s Office has provided a statement regarding the $5.9 million deficit:

The latest projection presented to Commissioners Court estimates the Sheriff’s Office will end FY2026 with a deficit of approximately $5.9 million. It is important to understand that this remains a projection and will continue to change as actual expenditures are incurred and additional costs are accounted for.

When the initial deficit projections were developed several weeks ago, they were based on assumptions that included little to no additional spending from certain remaining budget accounts through the end of the fiscal year. The reality is that the Sheriff’s Office is a 24/7 public safety operation, and we cannot simply stop spending. We have salaries and benefits to pay, two detention facilities to operate, and ongoing expenses necessary to provide law enforcement and detention services.

The current $5.9 million projection takes into account expenses that are already encumbered and also projects salary and overtime expenses through the end of the fiscal year. Salary projections are based on prior payroll expenditures and the number of remaining pay periods, while overtime projections are based on prior overtime costs and anticipated expenses through September 30. The current analysis estimates approximately $6.97 million in remaining salary and benefit expenses and approximately $864,000 in additional overtime.

However, not every expense we will incur through the end of the fiscal year is currently encumbered. For example, Detention recently saw an approximately $1.2 million increase in contract-service expenses related to pending inmate meal costs, as well as inmate medical and mental health care contract costs for July. The Jail Annex also saw an approximately $863,000 increase in contract-service expenses related to July inmate medical and mental health care costs. Because expenses such as these are not necessarily encumbered in advance, they are reflected as they are paid and can cause actual expenditures, and ultimately the projected deficit, to increase.

The Sheriff’s Office budget has also changed as a result of the transfer of three maintenance divisions to our office. Those transfers account for approximately $1.95 million in costs, including $1.44 million in salaries and related costs and approximately $512,000 in operating expenses.

We continue to closely monitor expenditures and identify areas where costs can be reduced and operations made more efficient. At the same time, expenses such as salaries, inmate meals, medical and mental health care, fuel and other essential operating costs cannot simply be eliminated without affecting our ability to safely operate our detention facilities, provide law enforcement services and protect public safety. As the County’s presentation notes, the year-end projection is based on key assumptions and remains subject to change.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) – Monday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will give a presentation detailing its 2026 budget update.

By Sept. 30, the end of fiscal year 2026, the Sheriff’s Office projects a $5,903,861.58 deficit, according to the budget presentation.

The FY2026 adopted budget for the Sheriff’s Office was $136,423,023.

The FY2026 revised budget is $144,147,249.

SO Presentation – 09.21 (1)Download

That puts them at a $7,724,226 increase.

$1,440,791 of this increase is attributable for salaries and related costs due to transfer of three maintenance divisions to EPCSO. $512,366 of this increase is attributable for operating costs due to transfer of three maintenance divisions to EPCSO.

Since their last presentation on Sept. 14, that budget has increased by $1,558,674.

As of Sept. 14, 94.42% of the total Sheriff’s Office budget has been spent. 98.54% of salary and benefits budget has been spent.

The target for spending as of Sept. 15, 2026 was 92.31%. Most budget overtimes have been exceeded as of that date.

The Sheriff’s Office expenditure has also increased by $7,137,718 since Sept. 14, according to the presentation.

In early September, the Sheriff’s Office attributed the budget shortfall to overtime spending, increasing fuel and food costs and salaries.

In a previous statement sent to ABC-7, the Sheriff’s Office shared a statement regarding the budget:

“In response to recent reports regarding the Sheriff’s Office projected budget shortfall, I want to provide additional context to our community.

The increasing year-end projection should not be interpreted to mean that our overtime spending is increasing at the same rate. We have been actively working to control and maintain overtime while continuing to operate two detention facilities and provide law enforcement services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The projection also changes as necessary operating expenses continue to be processed, including inmate food, medical and hospital expenses, facility operations, utilities, fuel, salaries, and other essential costs of operating the Sheriff’s Office.

I take our responsibility to taxpayers seriously. We are reviewing expenditures, reducing costs wherever we safely can, and working with the Budget Team, County Administration, and Commissioners Court. At the same time, I have consistently raised concerns that our funding, particularly for overtime, does not reflect the actual operational needs of the Sheriff’s Office.

My goal is not to argue over a projection. My goal is to work together to identify the actual costs of safely operating the Sheriff’s Office and develop a realistic and sustainable budget so we do not find ourselves facing the same situation again next year.

We will continue to be transparent, accountable, and focused on providing safe and responsible public safety services to the people of El Paso County.”

In their Sept. 14 meeting, Commissioners discussed requesting Sheriff Ugarte personally attending the Sept. 21 meeting to provide a more detailed explanation of the Sheriff’s Office’s overtime costs.

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Should AI be regulated? Local students, professor weigh in as debate grows in Washington

KESQ on September 21, 2026

Raymond Kalra

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, questions about how the technology should be regulated and who should be responsible for keeping it safe are becoming more urgent.

From completing schoolwork and organizing daily tasks to generating realistic images, videos and voices, AI tools are giving users capabilities that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago.

News Channel 3 is taking the question to the Coachella Valley: Do you think artificial intelligence needs regulations?

News Channel 3 spoke with College of the Desert students and professors, along with a local artificial intelligence expert, about whether AI needs additional guardrails and what those safeguards could look like.

For College of the Desert student Shayna Alexander, artificial intelligence has already become part of her routine.

“I am using AI almost every day due to getting summarization for my homework templates, or helping me out at home with my daughter’s daily needs,” Alexander said.

She sees AI as a useful tool, but believes there should be limits on how much people depend on it.

“I believe we definitely need guardrails because I like to say if you’re having open heart surgery tomorrow, would you want someone who just only learned AI?” Alexander said. “AI can’t be empathetic and AI cannot use discernment. So I think that we need to definitely have some guardrails.”

Alexander said AI can make certain tasks easier, but she does not believe it should replace human judgment.

“I believe we can use it as a tool, a helpful tool, but not something we need to rely on,” she said.

Balancing innovation and safety

Sat Singh, founder of AI Coachella Valley, said the debate over regulating artificial intelligence is complicated by how quickly the technology is developing.

He said safeguards should not come at the expense of innovation, but that development should still happen in a safe and ethical way.

“You want innovation. That’s… you want that to happen, but you want to do it in the same safe and ethical manner,” Singh said. “I think we need more understanding right now.”

One potential guardrail Singh pointed to is transparency.

As AI generated images, videos and other content become increasingly realistic, Singh said people should know when what they are seeing was created or altered using artificial intelligence.

“As a consumer, I want to know when AI is put in front of me, whether that’s AI video, AI images, AI content, AI anything,” Singh said.

Concerns over deepfakes

College of the Desert student Colin Rhodes said one of his biggest concerns is the ability to use artificial intelligence to create realistic content involving actual people.

“I think it definitely needs guardrails, because I’ve seen some of the scary things that people can do with it,” Rhodes said. “I’ve seen people make images of like actual people doing things that they would never do.”

Rhodes said he uses AI primarily for brainstorming and planning rather than having the technology complete assignments for him.

He also raised concerns about the material used to develop AI systems, including whether creators consented to their work being used.

Professor Felix Marhuenda Donate, who teaches computer information systems at College of the Desert, said advances in AI generated video and audio are also making deepfakes easier to create and more difficult to recognize.

“The effects are getting a lot easier nowadays. Video deepfakes, voice deepfakes,” Marhuenda Donate said.

He said families should consider establishing a safe word that can be used to verify someone’s identity if they receive a suspicious call appearing to come from a loved one.

“These deepfakes sound real, they look real, and they’re fooling a lot of folks out there,” Marhuenda Donate said. “So talk to your loved ones so that if in case they get an awkward phone call saying that they’re in trouble or something, they can use that safe word.”

Drawing lines in the classroom

The debate over AI guardrails is also already playing out inside classrooms.

Patrick Jacobs, an assistant professor of computer information systems at College of the Desert, allows students to use AI in his classes, but requires them to follow academic standards and cite work that is not their own.

For beginning programmers, Jacobs compares relying too heavily on artificial intelligence to bringing a forklift into a gym.

“The purpose of going to the gym is to get stronger muscles, not to lift the weights,” Jacobs said. “So I just ask to see work from them, from their brains.”

Jacobs said the goal in an educational setting is not simply reaching the final answer. Students also need to develop the skills required to reach it themselves.

Marhuenda Donate expressed a similar view, saying AI can help students understand material but should not replace learning.

“It’s okay to use it as a tool, just like I use Google and Wikipedia as a tool, AI is nothing but a tool to help you with understanding,” Marhuenda Donate said.

He warned students who allow the technology to replace the learning process could ultimately enter the workforce without the skills their education was intended to develop.

What could AI guardrails look like?

There was no single safeguard identified by everyone News Channel 3 spoke with.

But several themes repeatedly emerged from the conversations: greater transparency about when people are interacting with AI generated content, accountability when AI systems cause harm, protections against deceptive uses such as deepfakes and boundaries that keep humans involved in important decisions.

Alexander said responsibility should not fall on only one group.

“It shouldn’t be AI’s responsibility,” Alexander said. “It’s all of our responsibility.”

Singh said the challenge will be finding ways to address the risks while still allowing artificial intelligence to develop and be used productively.

As AI technology continues to change, the students, educators and expert News Channel 3 spoke with agreed on one fundamental point: artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, but how people build it, use it and set boundaries around it will matter just as much as what the technology itself can do.

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Pride Under the Pines event moved to May 2027

KESQ on September 21, 2026

Tommy Gallegos

Idyllwild, Calif. (KESQ)— Pride Under The Pines has announced that its next celebration will be postponed from October to May 2027, with an exact date to be announced soon.

The annual Idyllwild celebration has become a beloved gathering for LGBTQ+ visibility, community, love, and belonging. Organizers say the decision to move the event was made after careful consideration of increasingly busy October schedules, including conflicts involving talent, venue and production crews, and members of the event team.

“Our mission has always been to bring you the best Pride experience we can produce,” organizers said. “We would rather move our date than compromise that promise.”

Existing tickets will automatically be honored for the new May 2027 date, and no action is required.

Ticket holders who cannot attend the new date may request a refund by emailing celebrate@prideunderthepines.com by October 17, 2026. After that deadline, tickets will automatically remain valid for the May 2027 celebration.

Organizers thanked the Pride Under The Pines community for its continued support and said they look forward to returning to the mountain in May 2027 for a celebration that will be “bigger, brighter, and full of PRIDE.”

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Multiple SH-33 access points will close to increase safety in Teton Valley

KIFI on September 21, 2026

News Release

DRIGGS – Beginning October 1, the Idaho Transportation Department, with support from Teton County, will close multiple minor access points along State Highway 33 between Driggs and Victor to make travel safer. Closures will be conducted one at a time at:

1520 S. 500 W. 2116 S. 500 W. 3228 S. 500 W. 3714 S. 500 W. 4760 S. 500 W. Two four-wheeler tracks in this vicinity will also be eliminated.

Each of these locations cross a county road (500 West) and a well-used bike path before intersecting with SH-33. Drivers will need to use 500 West and other major county roads, such as 1000 to 6000 South, to access the highway following these closure changes. 

Motorists can expect to see ITD crews and equipment working through the fall at these points to remove existing roadways and place barriers. Traffic on SH-33 will not be impacted during construction.

The decision to limit access points in this vicinity was made in partnership with Teton County. A recent ‘Safe Streets for All’ study conducted through a grant to Teton County indicated that minimizing access points along the SH-33 corridor was critical for increased safety. Fewer roads intersecting the busy highway means a safer drive with less points of potential conflict for motorists. 

“We’re grateful to the community members of Teton County for their cooperation with these changes,” ITD Engineering Manager Bryan Young said. “It’s not often we have a parallel running road that’s an ideal alternative for drivers and residents. This is a unique scenario that we’re confident will make Teton Valley safer.” 

Changes are posted to the Idaho 511 app, as well as at 511.idaho.gov.

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Oregon’s competitiveness ranks fall as business group urges policy reforms

KTVZ on September 21, 2026

Adrielle Hasara

Bend, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Business and Industry released its 2027-28 Oregon Competitiveness Agenda today, urging state lawmakers to reform tax and regulatory policies to address ongoing economic stagnation. The statewide business group highlighted several indicators showing Oregon trailing national growth and employment averages over consecutive years.

Data cited in the report shows Oregon’s economy grew by 1% in 2025, less than half the national growth rate. Employment in the state fell by 0.5% during the same year, while national employment increased by 0.5%. Economic growth in Oregon has trailed the national average for five consecutive years, while state employment growth has lagged behind national figures for six straight years.

Per capita personal income in Oregon has remained at about 96% of the national average since 2020. The state ranked 35th in the nonpartisan Tax Foundation’s 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index, dropping 28 places since 2019. CNBC also lowered Oregon’s standing to 42nd in its 2026 America’s Best States for Business ranking, representing a 25-place drop since 2017.

OBI is a statewide business association representing 1,500 member companies across all 36 Oregon counties, employing more than 250,000 workers. Angela Wilhelms serves as the president and CEO of the organization. “Oregon is on the wrong track,” Wilhelms said. “We can once again become an economic force and a beacon of opportunity. But that won’t happen without the right policy environment and determination to compete.”

The group’s agenda outlines four primary priorities for state leaders: prioritizing economic and business development, improving affordability for residents and businesses, establishing a solutions-oriented regulatory environment and making tax and budget policies sustainable and competitive. Specific policy recommendations include replacing the state’s Climate Protection Program with a market-based cap-and-invest system, echoing proposals from the Governor’s Prosperity Council formed following Gov. Tina Kotek’s 2025 Oregon Prosperity Roadmap.

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