Local news lost a lot of eyes to the 24 hour news channels so they want to report the absolute most eye grabbing thing they can so they can sell eyeballs to advertisers. The big channels need to fill space in their 24 hour cycle so they blow shit way the fuck up. They also thrive on every election being a horse race and polarization.
The joke years ago was that the news always had shit like "Could your tap water be killing you? Watch News at 10 to find out!" Then you couldn't drink tap water until 10 because it might kill you. That doesn't hold up anymore so now it's any random crime they can report on.