VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) — A powerful storm system has caused violent tornadoes and devastating wildfires over the weekend across the Midwest and South. The tornadoes destroyed entire neighborhoods, and volunteers like Wesley Hammer are stepping in to help those that’ve lost everything.
Westley Hammer packed his bags and left for Missouri on Wednesday.
Volunteering for the Red Cross is something Hammer has chosen to do in his retirement. He says it fulfills his call to serve.
“I feel like what I’m here for is to help people, and I really get fulfillment from doing that, and I’d do it every day if I have to. I don’t want disasters; I hope that there’s not disasters, but when there are I know that I’m going to be there I’m going to do everything I can to help them that day just to get through,” says Hammer.
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While the danger of severe storms has passed, critical wildfire conditions will continue through the week.
In Missouri, Hammer will serve as a logistics sourcing supervisor focused on ensuring all of the shelters are fully stocked with the necessary supplies.
In over the last several years, Hammer has traveled across the country helping disaster victims from Hurricane Helene to the Los Angeles Wildfires.
So far this year, the local red cross has deployed close to 100 volunteers to disasters all across the country.
Right now, The Red Cross is not accepting donations of food, household items or clothing for this disaster due to distribution challenges. Currently, financial donations are the quickest and best way to get help to those in need in the Midwest.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – It’s been a little over one week since Missouri’s lawmakers called it quits for the year, but that doesn’t mean they’re all happy with what was accomplished, or what was not accomplished.
Artificial intelligence continues to spread into every area of our lives, and it’s largely unchecked by government regulations.
In Missouri, 100 bills were passed this year, but none of them regulate the use of artificial intelligence. Over a dozen ideas on how to regulate AI were presented by lawmakers, but all the bills died before the end of the regular legislative session.
State lawmakers cannot explore AI or data center regulations again until the new legislative session starts in January 2027.
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AI regulations are popular with Missouri voters. Only 16% of Missouri voters polled by YouGov and SLU believe recent AI innovations had a positive effect on society. Regulating artificial intelligence is also popular with both parties.
Bolivar Republican Rep. Christopher Warwick wants to see protections for children.
“My heart is is to make sure that we’re protecting our kids. We want to protect Missourians in general, but when the AI starts affecting our kids,” Warwick said.
While St. Louis Democratic Sen. Doug Beck says we need to make it clear what is and isn’t AI.
“That can be very scary, and some of the things they can do with it, you don’t know what’s real and what isn’t real,” Beck said.
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The explosion of AI is leading to more and more data centers, including many projects here in Missouri. Though many in Missouri are currently fighting to keep data centers from their neighborhoods, their growth is something Gov. Mike Kehoe appreciates.
“As President Trump said, AI is the space race of our time. And certainly Missouri wants to be involved in that race and wants to continue to lead,” Kehoe said at an event in Montgomery County to celebrate a new Google data center.
President Trump issued an executive order telling states to rely on federal AI regulations, but Congress is on a summer vacation without having passed any AI bills.
The executive order President Trump put out says funding for rural broadband could be at risk if state lawmakers don’t align with his plan. A Utah lawmaker was told by the Trump administration that his bill doesn’t fit into their AI plan.
The executive order reads, “United States AI companies must be free to innovate without cumbersome regulation. But excessive State regulation thwarts this imperative. First, State-by-State regulation by definition creates a patchwork of 50 different regulatory regimes that makes compliance more challenging, particularly for start-ups.”
Two Affinia Healthcare employees were recognized for their work in community health during the recent Community Health Workers Association of Missouri conference.
Candace Henderson, Affinia’s director of community health, received the organization’s Individual and Community Capacity Building Award after being nominated in eight categories. Henderson leads a team of community health workers who connect residents with health screenings and other services.
Naila Hudson, a community health worker with Affinia, received the Individual and Community Assessment Award. Her duties include coordinating mobile mammography events, conducting health screenings and assisting with the organization’s food pantry.
