Month: November 2025

By Gregg Montgomery

Click here for updates on this story

    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two more duck operations in northern Indiana and a hobby flock of mixed species in the Indianapolis metropolitan area are the latest to be quarantined with bird flu, the state’s Board of Animal Health said Tuesday night.

A commercial meat duck operation with 20,772 birds in Elkhart County and another with 4,837 birds in LaGrange County bring the total of quarantined farms since mid-October to 15. All of the previously quarantined farms are being depopulated, according a dashboard from the Board of Animal Health that’s tracking the quarantines.

The Board of Animal Health said it’s monitoring other farms in portions of Elkhart, LaGrange and Noble counties as a precaution to try and prevent the spread of the H5N1 influenza virus.

Before the latest outbreak that began in mid-October, Indiana has not been impact by bird flu since May.

Wild bird outbreak Indiana farms have not been the only outbreaks of bird flu this autumn.

On Oct. 18, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources said in a news release that bird flu has been found in a blue-winged teal in Greene County in southwest central Indiana, and in death black vultures in Jefferson County in southern Indiana. The virus was also suspected in similar cases involving dead black vultures in Franklin County in southeast central Indiana. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and the state’s department recorded the finds. Signs of bird flu in waterfowl and raptors include sudden death; neurological impairment such as lack of coordination and tremors; a lack of energy and appetite; swelling of the head, neck, and eyes; nasal discharge; cough; sneezing ;and diarrhea. Wild bird surveillance is being conducted by USDA Wildlife Services and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. It’s not immediately known how the federal government shutdown has affected these surveillance efforts.

What you need to know The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the public health risk from bird flu is low, but humans can contract the virus. People are advised to avoid contact with sick waterfowl and other wildlife. If handling a carcass is necessary, Natural Resources recommended the use of disposable gloves and a mask, and double bagging the carcass, and washing hands thoroughly afterward.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends that waterfowl hunters process birds in a well-ventilated area or outdoors and wear protective clothing such as a face mask and gloves. Meat harvested from waterfowl should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before consumption.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has emphasized that avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk, and cooked poultry, eggs, and pasteurized dairy products remain safe for consumption. The risk to human health is considered low, with infections being rare and primarily affecting those with close contact with infected birds.

The Indiana Department of Health advises people to contact the agency if they develop symptoms such as eye irritation, fever, cough, or other flu-like symptoms after contact with waterfowl.

Because domestic and agricultural animals — including poultry, cattle, and cats — are also susceptible to avian influenza, it is recommended to process and dispose of harvested waterfowl away from these animals and practice good biosecurity measures.

In Johnson County, south of Indianapolis, the state says a “non-poultry,” mixed-species hobby flock with 24 birds has been found to have avian influenza. Such flocks generally include pet birds, birds kept for exhibition, or backyard flocks where products are not sold commercially.

In total, the latest bird flu outbreak in Indiana has impacted 101,559 chickens and 56,389 ducks on the 15 farms.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Kylee Leahy

Click here for updates on this story

    MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (WBND, WBND-LD) — Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch is rejecting allegations from Local 150 union that city officials violated workers’ rights during a protest at the Phoenix Data Center project.

The dispute began last week when members of Local 150 picketed the construction site on Royal Road, displaying an inflatable rat to protest what they called unfair hiring practices. The demonstration ended with the arrests of two union members on Oct. 29.

Michigan City police said the workers were taken into custody for criminal trespass after refusing to leave private property.

“Officers were encouraged to redirect picketers to public property,” Police Chief Steve Forker said. “After more than an hour of negotiations… they were both placed under arrest for criminal trespass.”

In a news release, Local 150 accused city officials of violating protesters First Amendment rights and siding with out-of-state, nonunion contractors. The union said it plans to continue its demonstrations and is reviewing legal options following the arrests.

Mayor Deuitch pushed back against the accusations during a Monday news conference, calling the controversy “political theater and a smear campaign.”

“They’ve chosen to politicize a private land dispute, falsely blaming local government and attempting to incite unrest in our community,” Deuitch said.

Deuitch emphasized that the Phoenix Data Center project is a development between Phoenix Investors and the state of Indiana, not a city-led or taxpayer-funded project. She also said multiple local union contractors are already working on the site.

“This isn’t about union or anti-union,” she said. “It’s really about power and politics. And there’s no room for that here in Michigan City.”

The mayor also accused Local 150 business representative John Watson — who is running for a seat on the LaPorte County Council — of using the dispute to advance his campaign.

Deuitch urged both sides to resume negotiations directly with Phoenix Investors rather than with city officials.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Sydney Ferguson

Click here for updates on this story

    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — Tuesday, prosecutors formally charged a former news anchor in the stabbing death of her mother at a south Wichita home on Friday morning. We’re learning more about her mother, who was a marriage and family therapist in Wichita, as clients say they want her to be remembered for who she was.

Sedgwick County court records show a charge of intentional and premeditated first-degree murder was filed against Angelynn Mock on Tuesday. She made her first court appearance that afternoon.

Alexandra Brewer was one of many clients who commented on KAKE News posts to express their sadness at 80-year-old Anita Avers’ passing, trying to make it clear how helpful she was to them.

“I never expected to hear something like that, especially because no one deserves that ever,” said Brewer. “It was just so shocking, because of who she was and because of how she was as a human and her age.”

Brewer struggled to describe the shock of learning that her therapist of over a year, Avers, was stabbed to death in her Wichita home, police say, by her own daughter.

Brewer describes Avers as a wise and empathetic guide — one she grew close to while seeing her for marriage counseling during her engagement. She says she was supposed to see Avers at Wichita Counseling Professionals on Rock Road just last week, but she never scheduled it.

“I just was behind on the homework she gave me,” said Brewer. “She was just very warm, very loving, and had a way of just making you feel compassionate towards yourself.”

Brewer says Avers was extremely professional — so much so, she never knew if the woman had any issues with her daughter.

“If she was teaching from experience, she wasn’t letting you know that was from experience. She just– she just was there for you,” said Brewer, now having to grapple with the fact she won’t be.

Investigators say when they showed up to Avers’ home in South Wichita on Friday, they found her daughter, Angelynn Mock, outside with cuts on her hands, and Avers in bed with multiple stab wounds.

Mock is a former TV news anchor who worked in Oklahoma City and St. Louis. Her LinkedIn says she left the business in 2015.

Tuesday Mock appeared in court for the first time, facing charges of intentional and premeditated first-degree murder. Brewer says it’s too soon to feel relieved about it.

“I just wish that everyone could see that part of Anita, not just this tragic ending. I wish you could see the rest of what made her, her,” Brewer said.

Brewer says Avers’ teachings made her a better parent and will have a lasting impact on her family and the families of all of her clients.

“When someone like her passes, it’s like, ‘oh,’ you know, ‘that’s the end of a life,’ but really, her impact is going to be something that just continues to go on throughout generations,” said Brewer.

She says Avers was like a grandma — strong in her faith with a genuine love for her clients. Brewer says that love must have carried over into her personal life.

“That love was felt like when I was there,” said Brewer. “I only had a short amount of time with her, and I’m just I can’t express how happy and grateful I am that I got to experience her for a little bit of time that I did.”

Mock is being held on a $1,000,000 bond. Brewer says she has no doubt Avers was a good person despite the complexities of what happened to her.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Abner Sosa

Click here for updates on this story

    PRAIRIE GROVE, Ark. (KHBS, KHOG) — A Prairie Grove business owner is speaking out after her husband was taken into federal immigration custody following a traffic crash last week.

According to Prairie Grove police, 27-year-old Waldin Sanchez was arrested Friday night after he allegedly drove off the road and struck a utility box near the city library. Police said an officer reported smelling alcohol on him and, because of a language barrier, took him to the Washington County Jail for sobriety testing.

Sanchez was arrested on charges of driving without a license and careless driving. Prairie Grove Police Capt. Jeff O’Brien said that once Sanchez was booked into jail, county protocol required checking his immigration status. When officials discovered he was in the country illegally, he was held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Maria Verde, who co-owns Del Rio Supermarket with her husband, said she is struggling to keep the family business open while he remains in custody hundreds of miles away in Louisiana.

“They said that if he wasn’t drunk, he would be released. But obviously…” Verde said.

Verde said she later learned her husband had been transferred to a federal detention center in Louisiana, where he is awaiting a hearing later this month. She said she has only received two brief phone calls from him since his arrest and has had to track down information about his case on her own.

“You have to be on top of these things because nobody tells you where your family member is or even gives you a call,” she said.

Immigration attorney Aaron Cash, who is not involved in the case, said detention does not necessarily mean deportation. He said people in Sanchez’s situation typically have a right to see a judge and may apply for asylum or cancellation of removal, depending on their circumstances and family ties in the United States.

“Certain people can apply for asylum,” Cash said. “Others can apply for what’s called cancellation of removal if they can show a certain amount of time in the U.S. and hardship to family members who are citizens or permanent residents.”

Cash said he has seen more ICE detentions triggered by minor traffic violations after local jails share information with federal immigration authorities.

Verde said the past few days have been overwhelming but that her Prairie Grove neighbors have offered support.

“The community; I never knew these people until I opened the store,” she said. “Now I have friends. They come and check on me. We’re all so close, all neighbors.”

As of Tuesday night, Sanchez remained in federal custody in Louisiana. ICE did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Verde said she plans to keep Del Rio Supermarket open as long as she can while also raising her three children.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Nick Sloan

Click here for updates on this story

    OLATHE, Kan. (KMBC) — Police say a roadside disturbance near Interstate 35 and 119th Street on Monday led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia and nearly $7,000 in stolen checks.

According to the Olathe Police Department, officers were called to the area to investigate a “rolling disturbance.”

Police said the investigation revealed drug-related items and more than $6,900 in stolen checks belonging to several victims from Missouri and Oklahoma.

No charges have been announced.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.