New World screwworm detected in El Paso County dog

KVIA on October 29, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — New World screwworm has been detected in El Paso County, according to Texas State Representative Mary Gonzalez.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the case was detected in a dog on Tuesday. The Socorro Police Department said the dog’s owner took it to a private veterinarian.

New World screwworm flies lay eggs in wounds or openings in living tissue. After hatching, the larvae feed on living tissue and can cause serious injury or death.

SPD said it’s been working with the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Department of State Health Services to obtain information and coordinate an appropriate response.

An infested zone has been marked throughout El Paso County, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission.

SPD said residents should inspect pets and livestock for:

Open wounds that are worsening or not healing Visible maggots or larvae in wounds Foul-smelling wounds, swelling or unusual discharge Excessive Licking, biting or scratching of wounds Head shaking, loss of appetite or unusual behavior Animals appearing restless, lethargic or isolating themselves

“Even small wounds can become infested,” SPD said.

To report a suspected NWS case, call a veterinarian or the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242.

Socorro residents can also contact SPD’s Animal Control Unit at (915) 858-9237.

To report a suspected case in wildlife, contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department through your local TPWD wildlife biologist or call (512) 389-4505.

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Chaparral man sentenced to 15 years for deadly New Year’s crash

KVIA on October 29, 2026

Nicole Ardila

UPDATE (Oct. 28, 2026): A man from Chaparral, New Mexico, received a 15-year prison sentence for a New Year’s Day crash that killed an 18-year-old girl, the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.

Forty-eight-year-old Abel Garcia pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

Abel Garcia’s mugshot.(Courtesy: EPPD)

The crash happened Jan. 1 around 2 a.m. at the intersection of Gateway North Boulevard and Sean Haggerty Drive in Northeast El Paso.

Investigators said Garcia ran a red light and t-boned a Chevrolet Camaro.

The passenger, 18-year-old Angelique Diaz De Leon died at the scene, according to officials. Her boyfriend and driver, 20-year-old Nicholas Ramirez was injured.

A sample of Garcia’s blood revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.139, above the legal limit of 0.08, officials said.

“Angelique was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. While no sentence can undo the loss her family and Nicholas carry every day, we were determined to hold Mr. Garcia accountable without making them wait years for a resolution,” said District Attorney James Montoya in a statement.

Update (4:30 PM): Court documents obtained by ABC-7 state that Abel Garcia, the man charged with intoxication manslaughter after the fatal New Year’s Day crash on Sean Haggerty, told police officers that he had six beers before the crash. The officers also reported seeing Garcia display signs of intoxication.

Court documents state that videos showed Garcia had run the red light and T-boned the other car.

The blood test came back almost two weeks later. The court documents state that Garcia’s blood alcohol level was 0.139.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Police arrested Abel Garcia, 48, and charged him with intoxication manslaughter after the crash on Sean Haggerty New Year’s Day that killed Angelique Diaz De Leon, 18.

Investigators say that Garcia’s pickup truck T-boned the car Diaz was riding in. The driver of the other car suffered minor injuries.

Police say that Garcia violated a red light. They add that alcohol may have been a contributing factor.

ORIGINAL STORY (January 1, 2026): ABC-7 is following a crash in Northeast El Paso that has closed all lanes on Gateway North at Sean Haggerty Thursday morning.

According to El Paso Police on X the crash happened just after 2 a.m.

Police say all lanes will remain closed until further notice.

This is a developing story and we will update you as we learn more.

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Rollover closes middle lanes on Loop 375 near US 54

KVIA on October 29, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — The middle two lanes of Loop 375 East at U.S. 54 are closed due to a rollover crash on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

(Courtesy: TxDOT El Paso)

TxDOT said it happened around 4:22 p.m.

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Man accused of shooting hawk in Fayette city limits

KMIZ on October 28, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man was arrested and charged after he allegedly shot a hawk within Fayette city limits on Monday.

Jeffrey Cramer, 60, of Fayette, was charged on Tuesday in Howard County with being a felon with a gun and misdemeanor illegally shooting a gun. He is being held at the Howard County Jail on a $10,000 bond. An arraignment was held on Wednesday. A bond review hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.

The probable cause statement says someone called law enforcement at 2:30 p.m. Monday after they saw a hawk in the road on Oaklawn Avenue after hearing a load noise. The witness allegedly saw a man holding a rifle before running to a truck and driving off, the statement says.

The witness gave a description of the man to law enforcement and the officer asked if he knew the name Cramer. The officer reported seeing Cramer in the area prior.

The officer went to Cramer’s residence and detained him. Cramer allegedly told the officer that he shot a bird off of a chicken because the bird was killing his chicken, the statement says.

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Former budget director named Centerstone’s new government relations director

KMIZ on October 28, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Missouri Budget Director Dan Haug has been named the state government relations director at Centerstone, the nonprofit announced in a Wednesday press release.

Haug retired from his position with the state on Oct. 1, according to previous reporting. He served as the budget director for 11 years, which makes him the longest to ever serve in the role.

The release says at Centerstone, Haug will “lead the organization’s government relations strategy in Missouri and serve as a liaison to legislators, state agencies, regulators, associations and other stakeholders. He will work closely with Centerstone leaders and clinical teams to identify policy priorities, monitor legislative and regulatory developments and advocate for policies that support access to behavioral health care and related services.”

“After more than 30 years in state government, I’m excited to bring my experience to Centerstone and continue working to improve the lives of Missourians,” Haug was quoted in the release. “Behavioral health touches communities across our state, and I look forward to working with policymakers, state agencies and Centerstone colleagues to support policies that help more people access the care they need.”

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Three people injured after crash on Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs

KESQ on October 28, 2026

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Three people were injured after a crash along N. Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs on Wednesday.

The crash was reported at the intersection of North Gene Autry Trail and Salvia Road shortly before 3:10 p.m.

Police said initial reports indicated that a gray Toyota Camry and a red vehicle were involved in the collision.

Emergency medical personnel were requested after at least one occupant reported chest pain.

Upon arrival, officers identified three individuals who may have sustained injuries as a result of the collision.

Emergency personnel responded to assess those involved and provide medical assistance.

The Palm Springs Police Department’s Traffic Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The cause of the collision has not yet been determined.

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Two Eastern Idahoans enter Ryan Seacrest Foundation contest to raise awareness

KIFI on October 28, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

EASTERN IDAHO, Idaho (KIFI) – Two Eastern Idahoans are entering the Ryan Seacrest Foundation’s “Next Top Host” contest, a national broadcast competition that not only offers a chance at a podcast career but a chance to give a voice to what they believe in.

“When I heard about this, I thought, ‘wow, there’s a chance for me to get an even bigger voice out for mental awareness and suicide prevention’,” said Melissa Schrade, a top 15 Competitor for the Next Top Host.

Four years ago, Melissa lost her child, Adrian, to suicide. Ever since, she’s been a fierce advocate for mental health and suicide prevention.

“I found my sweet kid, but she was gone, and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. If I could help even one person avoid that, I’d go wherever I need to go.”

Now, as one of the top 10 competitors in the Ryan Seacrest Foundation’s “Next Top Host” contest, she’s using this platform to reach youth nationwide.

“What you’ll hear over and over again is we didn’t see it coming,” Melissa said. “They were so smart. They were so gifted. They’re football stars. They’re quarterbacks, they’re valedictorians. And the people that you have no idea there’s some pressure or something that’s so wrong within their mind. And if we can get to that before it comes to that crisis point, we can help a lot of people.”

Melissa wants to help kids like her Adrian, giving mental health awareness a larger platform. And she isn’t the only local competitor entering the contest with a heart set on a good cause.

Fellow Eastern Idaho finalist Jason Jaynes was drawn to the cause for a deeply personal reason of his own.

“It’s just trying to get those votes out and then let people know that the Ryan Seacrest Foundation is just tremendous,” Jason said.

Proceeds from the competition help fund “Seacrest Studios” which are entertainment centers built inside pediatric hospitals, including Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, a place close to Jason’s heart.

“My little sister Rebecca actually went to Primary Children’s way back when she was first born. And I tell you what, that hospital was just amazing. But, man, for a program like this, if she had had that, it would have just been such a wonderful experience.”

For Jason, a longtime local event DJ, the competition also marks a natural next step in his career, combining his passion for entertainment with meaningful community impact.

“I’m a DJ, actually off to the side; I actually DJ weddings and I do events. So I already really enjoyed being out in public. But I’m getting to that age where I don’t have the energy to do that anymore. And so I really thought, you know what, maybe a podcast… maybe being on the radio.”

Both Melissa and Jason are hoping Eastern Idaho will rally behind them, not just to win a podcast, but to bring healing and light to kids who need it most.

If you would like to support them, here are the links to their voting pages. You can vote once for free every 24 hours.

Top Host Voting Link for Melissa!

Top Host Voting Link for Jason!

For more information about the Ryan Seacrest Foundation and the Top Host competition, click HERE.

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Eugene sex offender accused of having child porn

KMIZ on October 28, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A registered sex offender was charged on Tuesday in Cole County with possessing child sex abuse materials.

Shawn A. Swan, 51, of Eugene, is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond. A court date has not been scheduled.

The probable cause statement says an investigator found files containing child sex abuse on Swan’s phone while looking into another case on Oct. 23. A forensic examiner examined Swan’s cellphone on Monday and found a video showing child sex abuse, the statement says.

The statement says Swan is considered a Tier 3 sex offender and he allegedly admitted to messaging a 13-year-old girl recently and receiving child sex abuse files from the victim.

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Former Cooper County Jail employee pleads guilty to sexual misconduct, is sentenced to probation

KMIZ on October 28, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former employee of the Cooper County Jail was sentenced to probation on Friday after he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct.

John Dillehay, 50, pleaded guilty to sexual conduct in the course of public duty. He was accused of having sex with an inmate in 2024.

He was sentenced to probation for four years along with a five-year suspended sentence. He was also given credit for time served. He previously faced a misdemeanor charge in addition to the felony he pleaded guilty to.

He’s accused of having sexual misconduct with an inmate on Aug. 4, 2024. He is also charged in Cooper County with permitting escape and concealing a felony on the same day the sexual misconduct charges allegedly occurred, court filings indicate.

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Yuma County Board of Supervisors hosts Town Hall over increasing water bill rates

KYMA on October 28, 2026

Connor Emery

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Board of Supervisors is hosting a Town Hall over increasing water bill rates.

The Town Hall comes after Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Yuma County wrote a letter to Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) after reports of high rates from customers using Cactus State.

Last week, ACC said they had agreed to participate in the Town Hall, with Chairman Nick Meyers attending it virtually.

It was a full house with standing room as residents came to the auditorium and voiced their frustration.

Residents came up one by one to share the amount they’ve been paying and says Cactus State uses inaccurate meter readings for their water.

Meyers said the commission would be happy to look at the evidence residents send for evaluation.

“My point that I’m making is please send us that actual evidence and we will absolutely look into it and figure out, hey, is this right? Is this wrong?” Meyers said.

Residents were unhappy with Meyers as they felt he came unprepared to the event and for lack of support throughout the months.

Cynthia Valencia, who was one of the residents that spoke, said Cactus State and the ACC failed them.

“Yuma County residents were not used to paying per gallon and did not pay county taxes. We only pay for the maintenance of our own community. Well, when Cactus State submitted for a rate increase, we trusted the agency to do the right thing,” Valencia said.

Cactus State also sent a letter to residents earlier this week they are seeking to increase the rate again. 

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