A small plane made an emergency landing in Alaska after a loud noise was heard about 20 minutes into the flight, according to one of the nine passengers on board. The pilot reported engine trouble and began searching for a place to land. Helicopters later rescued everyone. Passengers praised the pilot’s experience and quick thinking, crediting him with saving their lives. The FAA and NTSB are investigating.

NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN) — Approximately 400 Marines are working along the southern border in the Tucson sector, adding brackets and two types of wire to the border wall as part of an infrastructure improvement and barrier reinforcement mission.

Company Commander Kyle Harrison showed me the work underway in southern Arizona, where groups are operating in states bordering Mexico.

“Our purpose down here, ma’am, is primarily going to be infrastructure improvement and barrier reinforcement. So, general engineering is what we’re doing,” Harrison said.

The reinforcement work includes welding brackets onto the barrier and laying barbed wire along the wall.

“Marines, the furthest on the right, on that lift on the right, they’re actually welding the brackets onto the baller. It’s onto the barrier to the left. The next lift is going to be a group of Marines that are laying out the barbed wire,” Harrison said.

In two and a half months, the unit has put up wire across 25 miles of the wall in the Tucson sector, including in Douglas and Nogales.

“The purpose of laying the wire is just to reinforce the preexisting barrier, preexisting infrastructure,” Harrison said.

For most of the service members, this is their first time doing this kind of work. Harrison said the majority have been learning on the job.

“So vast majority of these marines have been receiving training on the job. Once they got here on site, they’ve been picking up the training and experience here,” Harrison said.

Part of that training includes obtaining the proper licenses to operate aerial lifts, which are civilian contracted equipment.

“So seeing as how it’s civilian contracted equipment, they did have to receive instruction and licensing and certification in order to run and operate them,” Harrison said.

With temperatures on the rise, units are also taking precautions to stay cool, including having medical personnel available on site.

“Hydration obviously on the front side, ma’am. Before anybody leaves the border patrol station on their way to the barrier, make sure that we have plenty of water, plenty of food, and then plenty of ice to keep everyone cool,” Harrison said.

Harrison said the unit will continue working along the border until every mile of the Tucson sector is complete.

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

Prosecutors Honored for Their Work to Protect Wildlife; Southern Resident Killer Whale Named CESA Candidate

Anticipating a larger presence of white sharks in Southern California as a result of warmer El Niño ocean conditions, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) adopted emergency regulations at its June 17-18, 2026 meeting to further protect the large ocean predator and reduce the potential for dangerous interactions with ocean users. These regulations will prohibit the use of certain fishing gear from beaches and nearshore that are used to hook large sharks and could create hazards for nearby beachgoers.

Forecasted warmer waters shift the preferred range for juvenile white sharks northward from Mexico and lead them to stay in California nearshore areas later in the year. The emergency regulations protect not only white sharks but also people recreating in the ocean, decreasing the risk of dangerous human encounters with sharks that are hooked with wire leaders from piers and beaches.

Specific gear types used to target large sharks, including hooks greater than 1.5 inches in maximum inside measurement and wire or metallic lines and leaders, will be prohibited when recreational fishing from shore or within 1,000 yards of shore from Pigeon Point (San Mateo County) south to the U.S.-Mexico border. Shore fishing includes beaches, banks, piers, jetties, breakwaters, docks and other man-made structures connected to the shore. Unless extended, the emergency regulations will expire 180 days after being filed with the secretary of state. The Commission may pursue up to two 90-day extensions of the emergency action and, ultimately, may propose continuing the restrictions through a regular rulemaking if the regulations prove to be effective.

Prosecutor of the Year

Commissioners recognized two deputy district attorneys who have demonstrated their dedication to protecting California’s natural resources and have effectively collaborated with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to prosecute wildlife crimes. San Luis Obispo County Deputy District Attorney Ken Jorgensen and San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann were presented with the Prosecutor of the Year Award for 2025.

Jorgenson’s work resulted in a landmark $165,000 settlement and injunctions in a case involving rare plant habitat destruction, and in another case a $12,500 fine and five years of probation for often under-prosecuted commercial fishing violations.

McCann assisted in the prosecution and investigation surrounding a global wildlife trafficking ring connected to illegal drug and firearm trade. The investigation disrupted a sophisticated trafficking network and resulted in multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, with more anticipated.

Southern Resident Killer Whale

The Commission named the southern resident killer whale (orca) a candidate species for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). This population of orcas inhabits ocean waters from British Columbia to California and is estimated to now number as few as 75.

Orcas face threats such as limited availability of prey; Chinook salmon are a primary food source and have experienced population decline across the entire West Coast range of orcas. The species’ abundance has also been impacted by past practices of capture for live display.

CDFW will have one year to complete a review on the status of orcas, of the best available science, before the Commission can make a final decision on CESA listing. Orca is currently listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and is considered depleted under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Western Spadefoot

Continued from the Commission’s April meeting, a decision to consider CESA candidacy for western spadefoot frog was postponed to the August meeting to give environmental advocates and the solar industry additional time to collaborate on proposing exceptions to CESA protections that would be allowed under Fish and Game Code Section 2084.

Meeting Participation and Next Meeting

Commission President Eric Sklar, Vice President Darius Anderson and Commissioners Samantha Murray and Erica Zavaleta were in attendance for both days of the June Commission meeting. Commissioner Jacque Hostler-Carmesin was in attendance for the first day. The meeting was held in Sacramento.

The complete agenda for the meeting, along with supporting information, is available on the Commission website. Archived video of past Commission meetings is available online. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Commission is scheduled for Aug. 12-13, 2026, at the California Natural Resources Agency building in Sacramento. Participants are encouraged to attend in person, with options available for Zoom or phone; for more information visit the Commission website.

The Commission authorized public notice of upcoming potential regulation changes related to:

Harpoons and Flying Gaffs Allowance: A discussion hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12-13 and an adoption hearing Oct. 14-15 on amendments to regulations related to allowing use of harpoons and flying gaffs in the recreational tuna fishery.

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Media Contacts: 
Krysten Kellum, CDFW Communications, (916) 825-7120
Alicia de la Garza, CDFW Communications, (916) 754-7237