Month: October 2025

By Peyton Headlee

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    SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — Silvia Reyna Mendoza, a mother who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 40 years, is currently in ICE detention in Kern County, California, after her family claims she was retaliated against for reporting sexual harassment by an ICE contractor.

Reyna Mendoza arrived in the U.S. from Mexico as a teenager. Her family said she was fleeing domestic violence. Over the last 40 years, she has raised eight children here.

“She’s a caring woman, and anyone that crosses paths with her easily will become her friend,” her daughter Patrisia Reyna said.

“She raised us with good morals and intentions and treating others right,” her son Francisco Govea added.

Her children are all U.S. citizens, but she herself is not. Reyna Mendoza has spent years navigating the immigration process in Sacramento. Her status required monitoring by ICE through its contractor, BI Incorporated.

“She goes there every other month. One time it’ll be in person, the other it’ll be over the phone like a video chat,” Reyna explained.

Court documents state that BI required her to periodically report to a case specialist.

In 2023, the documents claim her fight for citizenship was derailed. A civil lawsuit claims her specialist, Luis Ruiz, “engaged in severe and pervasive sexual harassment, including requesting sexual favors and sending her sexually explicit text messages and videos.”

He allegedly said things like “If you’re good to me, I’ll be good to you.”

Her daughter expressed feeling anxious and hopeless, wanting to do more for her mother but knowing she was scared and had concerns about retaliation, specifically being detained by ICE.

Despite these concerns, the lawsuit states that Reyna Mendoza reported Ruiz to another specialist and a supervisor in November 2024.

Court documents claim the supervisor, Montserrat Esquivel, deleted the text messages and videos from Ruiz from her phone. However, the lawsuit also says Reyna Mendoza had already saved copies of some of the evidence.

“It’s really hard when you’re trying to speak up to the authorities of what’s going on and they dismiss it. Who do you ask for help at that point?” Govea said.

The lawsuit alleges there was no follow-up from BI following her sexual harassment complaint. Instead, it alleges they began requiring her to wear an ankle monitor in March, and in September, she was detained by ICE.

Her children said they believe she was detained in retaliation.

KCRA 3 reached out to BI about the allegations. Christopher V. Ferreira, Director of Corporate Relations for The Geo Group, the parent company of BI, sent an emailed statement:

“BI takes all allegations of sexual abuse and harassment with the utmost seriousness. We have a zero-tolerance policy as it relates to such matters and take steps to ensure a thorough investigation of all related complaints. BI stands by our provision of high-quality support services to the Department of Homeland Security in accordance with all established federal standards.”

Meanwhile, Reyna Mendoza is being held at a corrections center in California City.

“I can hear in her voice—she’s scared, she’s depressed, she’s anxious,” Govea said.

Her children said they are now focused on fighting for their mother and wondering when and where they will see her again.

“She’s the center of our community. I mean, if they don’t care about illegal immigrants… it’s like what about the rest of my siblings? We’re all Americans contributing to society. Like, do you care about us? Where do you draw the fine line? I just don’t understand,” Govea said.

A spokesperson with the Sacramento Police Department confirmed that a criminal report was filed against Ruiz but could not share further details.

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By Hannah Hilyard

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — The couple charged in the beating death of their 4-year-old child made their first appearances in court Thursday.

Dad, Devario Cruz, is accused of hitting his young son, Dante Campbell, on multiple occasions, causing his death on Saturday.

The boy’s mother, Charlotte Kurek, is accused of allowing it to happen.

“The allegations in this complaint are quite frankly just horrific,” Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Barry Phillips said. “I’m almost having difficulties being composed myself. That’s how bad this case is.”

First responders found little Dante unresponsive Saturday in the family car at a West Allis Dairy Queen. Investigators said he was covered in bruises. Cruz sat emotionless as the commissioner addressed him.

“You allegedly beat a four-year-old child to death literally with your bare hands as if that child was a grown man,” Phillips said.

Prosecutor Erin Karshen added, “When they asked him how hard he struck this vulnerable 4-year-old child on a scale of 1-10, his statement was a 7 or 8.”

Kurek appeared to show some sadness as the court commissioner implemented a no-contact order between the mom and her children. Prosecutors said she knew of the ongoing abuse and attempted to cover up Cruz’s crime by claiming the boy fell down the stairs.

“She had an easy choice on Oct. 18, 2025: her child or Mr. Cruz. She chose Mr. Cruz,” prosecutor Matthew Torbenson said.

The commissioner told Kurek, “You don’t deserve to be a mother to those children right now.”

A criminal complaint mentions Child Protective Services was involved with the West Allis family. Family and friends also told 12 News they reported the couple to CPS multiple times. WISN 12 News requested the agency’s documents and calls related to this case, but it was denied for now. State law requires the department to publish a summary of its involvement within 90 days.

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By Adam Roberts

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    NEWTON COUNTY, Ark. — (KHBS, KHOG) — The bear that Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) biologists euthanized earlier this year is not the same bear that killed a man in Newton County, the commission discovered.

Max Thomas, 60, of Springfield, Missouri, was killed by a bear while camping at Sam’s Throne Campground in the Ozark National Forest.

Two days later, AGFC biologists killed a bear they believed was the one behind the attack.

Forensic scientists compared DNA samples and learned a different bear was to blame.

AGFC is now trying to find the correct bear.

Sam’s Throne Campground and nearby areas will remain closed.

This was the second bear attack in Arkansas of 2025. In September, a Franklin County man was attacked and killed by a bear. The bear in the September attack tested negative for rabies and distemper, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The AGFC said the Franklin County bear attack was the first bear attack in Arkansas in 25 years.

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By WDSU Staff

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    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — The New Orleans Police Department has issued a statement regarding online allegations accusing the NOPD superintendent of banning a Baton Rouge rapper from performing in the city again.

The allegations come after rapper NBA YoungBoy’s two-day concert had New Orleans leaders concerned about safety.

Live Nation paid for the security details for officers who worked the concert.

The concerts concluded without any major incidents, but there were reports of fans forcing their way into the Smoothie King Center to see the concert.

Reports spread online later in the week claiming that NBA YoungBoy’s manager posted online saying NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick banned him from performing again after he did not leave the city following his concerts, a condition of his contract with Live Nation and the Smoothie King Center.

NBA YoungBoy was seen getting swarmed by fans on Bourbon Street following his first concert on Monday.

The NOPD issued the following statement:

“Whether or not NBA YoungBoy performs future concerts in Louisiana is a matter solely between his promoters and the management of the Smoothie King Center, who negotiate and execute those agreements.

“The New Orleans Police Department has no authority or involvement in determining which artists are permitted to perform in the city.

“On Monday, October 20, 2025, Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed to Smoothie King Center management that NBA YoungBoy did not leave town following either of his two concerts — in accordance with the agreement established between Smoothie King Center management and Live Nation, the artist’s promoter.”

WDSU reached out to ASM Global for a statement regarding NBA YoungBoy’s contractual obligations, as well as the statement from NOPD. At the time of this publication, a response had not been received.

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By Abigail Ogle

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    STILLWATER, Okla. (KOCO) — Dr. Diana Rodriguez Coca came from Colombia to the U.S. as a distinguished Fulbright Scholar to pursue her PhD. in industrial engineering at Oklahoma State University.

On Oct. 24, 2015, Coca and her family were along the homecoming parade route when a driver crashed into the crowd.

“I just heard this horrible noise,” Coca remembers. “I thought it was like a bomb or an explosion.”

When Coca turned her head, she saw a car coming full speed at her. Coca knew she had to think fast to protect her young son while bracing herself for possible impact.

The driver hit her, badly hurting her. Coca was concerned for her son, who suffered a few scratches.

She then started feeling a lot of pain in her back, later learning she had broken her back. Crews took Coca from the scene by ambulance, but no one knew how severe her internal injuries were until she got to the hospital.

Coca was then flown to another hospital, and at that point, she didn’t know she was going to survive. She told KOCO 5 that she kissed her loved ones and said her goodbyes, not knowing whether she would see them again.

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By KCCI Staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Immigration advocates say a Des Moines high school student was detained and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a check-in.

The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice provided a news release Thursday morning, in which it says a high school student was detained at the federal building in downtown Des Moines during an immigration check-in on Sept. 30.

The student was transferred to Hardin County Jail and later to a detention center in Louisiana before being deported, according to Iowa MMJ.

Des Moines Public Schools provided a statement to KCCI:

Des Moines Public Schools is aware that one of our high school students was detained by federal immigration authorities late last month. This situation did not occur on or near school property.

We understand that news like this can cause concern among our students, families, and staff. Our schools are committed to being safe, welcoming places for every student with principals, teachers and staff who care about their well-being.

Iowa MMJ further said that it’d been in contact with Sen. Chuck Grassley’s office, asking him to defend the student.

In a statement to KCCI, a spokesperson for Grassley’s office confirmed that he’d been in contact and provided information about the ICE office that could help. You can read the full statement below.

Statement from spokesperson for Sen. Chuck Grassley’s Office “Senator Grassley’s office is aware of the situation and was contacted by the reported guardian and advocates for this individual. As part of Senator Grassley’s commitment to assisting Iowa constituents who need help with a federal agency, the office looked into the matter and corresponded with the advocates on multiple occasions. This included providing specific information about the ICE office that could assist further. Congress passes laws, and the executive branch enforces the law.”

KCCI has reached out to ICE for more information on the arrest and deportation, but have not yet heard back.

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