Month: October 2025

By Kimber Collins

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    LĀNA‘I, Hawai‘i (KITV) — A heartbreaking discovery off Lāna‘i this week. Researchers with Cascadia Research Collective found an endangered false killer whale severely entangled in marine debris.

The adult male, identified as HIPc373, is part of Cluster 4 of the endangered main Hawaiian Islands population of false killer whales. The team spotted the animal during their ongoing field project, their 12th year working off Maui Nui and sixth based on the island of Lāna‘i.

The group’s goal this season is to locate and study members of this rare population, using satellite tags, genetic sampling and photo identification to track behavior and health. But during one of those surveys, the crew witnessed something they’d never seen before.

“Finding out that it was entangled in marine debris was quite a surprise,” said Robin Baird, a research biologist with Cascadia Research Collective. “We’ve never documented one of these individuals entangled in marine debris before.”

A one-inch floating polypropylene line was found slicing through the whale’s dorsal fin and wrapped around its body. Drone footage and photographs captured the severity of the entanglement to help National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) disentanglement experts assess possible rescue efforts.

The same whale was photographed in good health just last year. Researchers believe the animal may have become tangled while foraging near floating debris, where prey like mahi-mahi and other fish often gather.

“If we can get the line off, it just gives it a better chance of surviving,” said Baird. “Whether or not it’ll survive this at this stage is really unknown.”

Cascadia’s field crew has received specialized cutting tools from NOAA and plans to attempt a rescue if they can locate HIPc373 again. However, the team cautions that even if freed, the whale’s injuries could become infected, and his ability to feed or heal remains uncertain.

For researchers, the sight was a painful reminder of the human impact on Hawaii’s oceans.

“If people are on the water and have the opportunity to pick up ropes or netting and discard it on land, that would be a really valuable thing, not just to protect false killer whales, but basically any species in the marine environment,” Baird said.

False killer whales are top predators and indicator species, meaning their health reflects the balance of the entire marine ecosystem. The population around Hawaii is listed as endangered, with scientists estimating a decline of more than three percent each year.

Cascadia Research Collective’s current field project runs through Oct. 27, funded by the State of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, with additional support from Dolphin Quest.

The team plans to continue tracking false killer whales, spinner dolphins and other species around Maui Nui to better understand how they are adapting and what threats they face.

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By Doug Myers

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    CELINA, Texas (KTVT) — Highly successful Celina High School head football coach Bill Elliott has been placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave due to a potential conflict of interest related to an ongoing investigation involving his son.

Caleb Elliott, 26, recently resigned from the school district and now faces two felony charges — including possession of child pornography — after allegedly recording students in a locker room.

The case has sparked a firestorm of concern and outrage among parents.

Undefeated season under Bill Elliott’s leadership

Bill Elliott has served as head coach at Celina High School since 2012. He led the team to a Class 4A Division I state championship in 2024, capping a perfect 16-0 season. This year, Celina is ranked No. 1 in Class 4A Division I with an 8-0 record.

He publicly apologized to the community during a recent school board meeting.

Principal also placed on leave

In a letter to parents Friday, Celina ISD Superintendent Tom Maglisceau announced that Moore Middle School Principal Allison Ginn had also been placed on paid, non-disciplinary leave, pending the outcome of investigations.

Caleb Elliott previously served as an eighth-grade football coach and sixth-grade social studies teacher at Moore Middle School.

He was reassigned from Celina High School to Moore Middle School in the summer of 2023 following allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a senior student.

Third-party investigator recommended action

The district said the decision to place Bill Elliott and Ginn on leave was made at the recommendation of a third-party investigator.

“To be clear, the investigator has not made findings in any respect; however, based on her preliminary review, and in an abundance of caution, she recommended the district consider placing both employees on non-disciplinary leave pending completion of the independent third-party investigation,” Maglisceau said.

Details of the criminal allegations

According to an arrest affidavit, investigators say Caleb Elliott recorded several boys in the Moore Middle School locker room during school hours. Police recovered 12 photos from his phone, all described as meeting the legal definition of child pornography and showing boys in various stages of undress.

Lawsuit and state inquiry underway

In the letter, Maglisceau acknowledged a lawsuit filed by parents of Moore Middle School students against Celina ISD and Caleb Elliott. He also noted a letter from state Rep. Jeff Leach to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requesting a fully independent criminal investigation.

The lawsuit alleges that Elliott was caught placing cameras in the locker room during the 2024-25 school year and that the district responded with apology letters but did not terminate him.

Maglisceau said the district will update the Texas Attorney General’s Office and Leach on the status of all investigations related to the case.

Two investigations currently in progress

Maglisceau said two investigations are underway: one by the Celina Police Department into alleged criminal conduct, and another by the district’s independent third-party investigator.

“One of the primary purposes the district retained an independent third-party to conduct an investigation was to ensure there was no possibility of a conflict of interest or effort to ‘cover up’ information regarding the students’ claims,” Maglisceau said.

District pauses internal review for now

Maglisceau said the district paused its internal investigation at the request of Celina police, who asked the district to hold off to avoid a conflict. He said Celina ISD is complying.

He said the scope of the third-party review includes hiring practices, employee retention, the district’s response to claims, and broader systemic issues related to Caleb Elliott. He noted that the district terminated Elliott’s employment and required him to surrender his teaching certificate.

District promises transparency and updates

Maglisceau said the district will take appropriate action and share the results with the community once the investigations are complete.

He urged patience, discernment, and unity – emphasizing Celina’s strength and resilience in the face of adversity.

CBS News Texas will continue to provide updates as new information emerges.

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By Victoria D

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    NEW HAMPSHIRE (WBZ) — Twenty hikers were rescued from Mount Washington in New Hampshire Saturday after they got stuck in the windy, snowy conditions on the mountain.

The hikers were rescued by the Mount Washington Cog Railway, the train that climbs the mountain year-round. Andrew Vilaine, the railway’s trainmaster, said the hikers made it to the summit but were “poorly prepared” due to lack of experience and poor gear choices.

“Most were unaware of the full set of winter conditions and the lack of facilities at the summit,” said Vilaine in an email to WBZ-TV.

Vilaine said he was operating the train on Saturday and came across the hikers, who were “pleading for a ride down.” The hikers were put in the train and were carried down the mountain.

As of Sunday morning, it was 20 degrees on the mountain, with a wind chill of 2 degrees and 3 to 4 inches of snow on the ground and wind blowing 35 miles per hour. Vilaine said the Auto Road, where drivers can climb the mountain themselves, remains open but not to the summit because of the weather.

Vilaine said the hikers’ conditions varied from exhaustion to hypothermia and he doesn’t believe any of them required a trip to the hospital.

“Our intervention and putting them in a warm train warded off hypothermia,” said Vilaine in an email.

Mount Washington recently experienced its first measurable snow of the season last week.

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