Month: September 2025

By Joseph Neubauer

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    Oklahoma (KOCO) — Are you seeing spiderwebs flying in the air or resting on surfaces off the ground? Don’t worry. It’s normal.

Ballooning season has returned to Oklahoma, and you’ll see a lot more of those flying spiderwebs over the next several weeks. KOCO 5 Meteorologist Joseph Neubauer says baby spiders are being born, and their silk and webs are filling the sky.

Ballooning season is when newborn spiders are competing for food with other spiders nearby, and they want to get to a new spot. So, they get up to the highest point they can, produce a web, and fly away to a new spot.

It’s important for spiders to do it when they’re small and young so the webs are easier to fly.

If you look at trees, car antennas, power lines and various poles, you’ll probably see the webs.

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By Todd Magel

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Iowa soybean farmer Warren Bachman warns of a potential farm crisis after China halted purchases of U.S. soybeans in retaliation against new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Bachman, who has been growing corn and soybeans just west of Osceola for 64 years, said China’s decision is catastrophic.

“This is awful discouraging. You know, we do our very best to grow a good crop, to feed the world, and then we can’t hardly give it away,” he said.

Despite having voted for Trump, Bachman blames him for the soybean crisis, stating that the new tariffs are forcing China to buy soybeans from Argentina and Brazil. As a result, many Iowa farmers face selling this year’s crop at a significant loss.

“The way things are, there won’t be a farmer left in five years if things don’t change because our expenses are so high. And, the crop is worth less than it was 30 years ago,” Bachman said.

Having survived the farm crisis during the 1980s, which led to thousands of farm foreclosures, Bachman is skeptical of the Federal government’s crop payments as a solution.

“We would rather have free markets than a handout,” he said.

Bachman recently reached out to Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley for assistance with establishing free markets.

“I told him that the 1980s farm crisis is going to look like a picnic compared to today. If things don’t change and change fast,” Bachman said.

U.S. farmers are now looking for new markets to sell their soybeans, possibly for biodiesel, which could lead to fewer soybeans being planted next year.

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By Gabriela Vidal

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    Colorado (KCNC) — In a rural Brighton community in Colorado, residents were stunned by a heartbreaking discovery. It’s the third case of animal cruelty in Adams County in the last two months.

In July, 117 animals were rescued from a home in Northglenn, and in August, another 35 animals and three children were rescued from deplorable conditions in a Commerce City home.

“We noticed the whole street was lined with sheriffs’ vehicles, both marked and unmarked, and it was definitely something we’re not used to seeing out here,” said one resident in the area anonymously. “It’s just the most extreme neglect you could document. It’s heartbreaking, it made me tear up.”

On Wednesday, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and animal control helped lead an animal cruelty investigation inside a home on the 14000 block of Umpire Street.

“The last number I got was 101 animals [seized] from the property,” said Sergeant Shea Haney, public information officer with the sheriff’s office.

The list of animals included snakes, sugar gliders, a hedgehog, mice, and rats. The sheriff’s office tells CBS Colorado it was the Colorado Department of Agriculture that tipped them off to possible allegations of animal cruelty involving several animals.

“We can’t confirm who lives at the house, who owns and the relation to the investigation at this point,” said Haney.

However, documents uncovered by CBS Colorado and past coverage show the two homeowners listed on the property have faced charges for animal cruelty in the past. Those cases date back over a decade, involving the home and a pet store in Thornton that’s since closed.

We are not naming them as they have not been formally charged in this latest investigation.

“Honestly, since I’ve moved here, I’ve heard that place referred to as the quote rat house, and I knew that there were former cruelty charges,” said the anonymous resident.

This marks yet another case of animal cruelty documented in Adams County in the last few months.

“I’d hope that our system will start holding these people accountable instead of just dropping charges and letting them continue on for years and years. I’d like to see prison time,” said the resident.

The animals are currently being treated and cared for at the Riverdale Animal Shelter. As of Thursday, the sheriff’s office tells CBS Colorado there have been no reported deaths from this case.

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By Tim Fang

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    California (KPIX) — Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) said eight people were arrested and more than 20,000 cannabis plants were eradicated in raids targeting illegal growing operations on public lands across the state.

On Tuesday, CDFW announced results of the operation by the department’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET).

In July and August, officers raided six sites hidden within sensitive habitats and watersheds. Additional officers from the CDFW Cannabis Enforcement Program, local agencies and the U.S. Forest Service were also involved in the raids.

The agency said the raids were prompted by reports from the public, which included a hunter scouting for deer in one of the cases.

Lands where the grows were located included Forest Service property, land owned by municipal water districts and large, underdeveloped private properties accessible to the public.

“Our water is a delicately balanced system that enables communities to thrive and the environment to flourish. Illegal cannabis grows threaten that balance. If you violate the law, we will do everything in our power to hold you accountable,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

The growing sites were located throughout California, from Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties to the south, to Tehama County in the north. Sites in San Mateo County and Santa Cruz County were also targeted.

Photos shared by the agency of the San Bernardino County grow showed cannabis plants growing adjacent to Joshua trees, which are subject to a state conservation law. A container of rodenticide was found at the site, along with water being diverted by hoses and trash.

During the raids, officers arrested eight suspects on suspicion of multiple offenses, including depositing hazardous substances on land belonging to another, cannabis cultivation resulting in water pollution and causing “substantial” environmental harm to public lands, along with resisting arrest.

Officers said a suspect at one of the sites attempted to flee and was apprehended by an agency K-9. Authorities did not identify the suspects.

At the grow sites, officers seized the pesticides carbofuran and methamidophos, which are described as highly toxic and banned for use in the United States. Two illegally possessed firearms were also seized.

Officers also restored water flow at five locations where it was illegally diverted. The agency said 2,300 pounds of trash and infrastructure were also removed and the sites were staged for future cleanup.

At least 21,000 cannabis plants were eradicated, which the agency estimates would have consumed 9.5 million gallons of water over their growing cycles. In addition, 150 pounds of cannabis processed for sale were also eradicated.

CDFW said based on evidence and interviews with the suspects, officers have concluded that transnational criminal organizations operated the illegal cannabis grows.

“When criminals steal or destroy the natural resources that support California’s extraordinary biodiversity, we are committed to stopping them—and we have the teams in place to do that, no matter how far into the wilderness they try to hide their operations,” said Charlton Bonham, the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

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By Chelsea Hylton

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — The Los Angeles Zoo is celebrating the birth of two baby girl chimpanzees.

Over the past several weeks, two unnamed female chimpanzees were born. The first infant was born on Aug. 20 to 35-year-old mother Yoshi and 26-year-old father Pu’iwa. The second infant was born on Sept. 9 to 18-year-old first-time mother Vindi.

Both infants and their mothers are doing well and are bonding, the L.A. Zoo said.

“These are significant births for the Zoo and both are welcome additions to the dynamic, multi-male, mixed-age troop which closely mirrors the species’ natural social structure in the wild,” said Candace Sclimenti, curator of mammals at the L.A. Zoo.

The L.A. Zoo has a long-standing history of caring for chimpanzees, including a breeding program that is part of the Chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The goal is to increase genetic diversity and sustainability of the North American Chimpanzee population.

Senior Animal Keeper Megan Fox said she has known Yoshi and her family for nearly 30 years and it’s “lovely to see her as a new mother again.”

“Yoshi is an experienced mom and this is Vindi’s first baby, but moms and infants are bonding and have been settling into the role of motherhood very well,” Fox said. “It’s exciting to have these new additions to the troop, and they are adding a whole new social dynamic to the troop.”

Chimpanzees are one of the closest genetic relatives. They are native to forests and grasslands in parts of east, west and central Africa. The L.A. Zoo said chimps are known for their facial expressions, gestures and vocalizations.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), chimpanzees are classified as Endangered.

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By Scott Carpenter

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    ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Alabama (WVTM) — A large sinkhole along U.S. 231 near Pell City, Alabama, has opened multiple times since July, causing concern for drivers in St. Clair County as the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) works to find a permanent fix.

The sinkhole is dangerously close to the road, with patchwork visible in the northbound lane. ALDOT warns that the sinkhole could open again.

Laura Kohler, who drives past the sinkhole, said, “I don’t want to be around it.” She tries to avoid the area but must drive past it when heading to Pell City. Kohler added,”Part of the road is caved in.”

Jason Thrasher drives over the sinkhole for work. Both Kohler and Thrasher find the sight frightening. “Very concerning because you don’t know how big it’s gonna get the next time it opens up,” said Kohler.

Thrasher shared his experience, “I left one morning, they were working on it, fixed it. Then in two hours, I came across it and it had sunk some more.”

The sinkhole first opened in late July, reaching a depth of about 30 feet, and has reopened several times since. Video footage shows ALDOT crews filling the sinkhole with rocks and soil in August after it opened for the third time.

Scott Brande, a UAB associate chemistry professor with expertise in geology and sinkholes, explained the complexity of fixing a sinkhole. “You want to plug the hole at the bottom and so you want to put the larger size grains and gravel and stones at the bottom and gradually fill it with finer materials as you work toward the surface to fill all of the openings up,” Brande said.

He described the underground holes as complex and interconnected, similar to a sponge, and suggested they might be part of a complex cavern system.

Brande said, “My guess is in many areas the holes interconnect and they’re part of a maybe complex cavern system and whatever is poured into one opening may break through a narrow neck into another one.”

He noted that there are several reasons sinkholes can open up.

Residents in St. Clair County mentioned that construction work was being done on the road right before the sinkhole first appeared.

Kohler said, “They had resurfaced it recently, and right after it opened up.”

ALDOT refers to it as a “naturally occurring sinkhole” discovered during resurfacing work on U.S. 231.

Drivers are less concerned with how it opened. “Just fix it. That way we don’t have to deal with it,” said Thrasher.

ALDOT denied multiple requests for an interview, but sent the following statement.

“The naturally occurring sinkhole was originally discovered in late July while ALDOT crews were carrying out an unrelated resurfacing project on US-231. Sinkholes are relatively common in Alabama due to underground limestone deposits, which can dissolve over time, causing subterranean voids. Heavy rainfall recorded during the spring and early summer months may have contributed to the sinkhole’s original growth. Since our original emergency repair, ALDOT has performed additional work on the site’s foundation. That included sealing the bottom of the hole with concrete and compacting more dirt and rock with heavy equipment. We would not have reopened the road to traffic if we had any reservations about motorists’ safety. Over the last several weeks, ALDOT commissioned a thorough geotechnical analysis of the site to determine the best path forward. With that knowledge now in hand, ALDOT is monitoring the site on a daily basis and considering options for a more permanent repair if it becomes necessary to ensure the roadway’s stability and motorists’ safety.”

There are currently thousands of sinkholes across Alabama.

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