Boat captain rescues baby dolphin stranded in shallow water

CNN Newsource on November 25, 2025

By Alex Orenczuk

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    ST. JAMES CITY, Florida (WFTX) — A heartwarming rescue unfolded in St. James City when a charter boat captain helped save a baby dolphin that became stranded in shallow water near Monroe Canal Marina.

Captain Shane Kelly said he was heading out with his clients near the Monroe Canal Marina, where they spotted several dolphins.

“There’s a bunch of dolphins that hang out in that area,” said Kelly. “And it’s nice because clients get to see dolphins right away.”

But Kelly noticed the dolphins were staying in the same general area, not swimming up and down the canal which he said is typical.

“They just kept rolling around in the same area over and over and over,” Kelly told Fox 4.

That’s when Kelly said he heard a loud squeaking.

“So, I go a little closer and you could see the top of the baby dolphin sticking out of the water in half of his back,” said Kelly.

Video captured by a Fox 4 viewer shows the dramatic moment Kelly hopped in the water and guided the young dolphin back to deeper water, where it was able to swim away and reunite with its mother.

“I think the coolest part definitely wasn’t even being that close to him or touching him or anything like that,” Kelly said. “It was pushing him off and then him getting with his mom and just taking off. And then we were out there this afternoon again and he was sitting there jumping around playing with his mom.”

The rescue had a happy ending, with the dolphin pair swimming away together safely.

However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds the public that touching wild dolphins is not recommended. If you encounter a dolphin in distress, FWC asks that you call them first so an agent can provide guidance on the appropriate response.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WFTX verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate 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.

Anonymous donor provides thousands of families with turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving

CNN Newsource on November 25, 2025

By Julie Salomone

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (WFTS) — An anonymous donor provided The Salvation Army with nearly 13,000 turkeys for families ahead of Thanksgiving.

The Salvation Army St. Petersburg allowed people to pick up a free turkey on Monday, Nov. 24, from 3 pm. to 6 p.m.

It’s part of the annual Turkey Toss Giveaway.

Gary Sturdivant, The Salvation Army Area Commander for South Pinellas County, explained how the program got started.

“Some 20 years ago, a little lady had 5 to 6 turkeys in her car in the trunk. She stopped by The Salvation Army in Clearwater and said it’s my birthday. I got to get home to have Thanksgiving with my family. Can you all use these turkeys? The Salvation Army said we sure can,” said Sturdivant.

This year, the anonymous donor donated nearly 13,000 turkeys to be distributed across Salvation Army locations.

“It’s a blessing in disguise, all the sides, everything that you have to tally up is expensive when you have to pay out of pocket for everything with how expensive food is,” said Avetta Jones.

More than 700 people received a free turkey at the St. Petersburg location.

“It just means, you know, me and my family can have a nice meal together and just enjoy each other’s company,” said Deasia Waters.

Sturdivant said The Salvation Army sees people in need every day of the year.

“You have to make a choice to pay your light bill or do you put food on the table,” he said.

The Salvation Army also provides people with a free meal on Thanksgiving.

Sturdivant said anyone is welcome to attend on Thanksgiving Day at 340 14th Avenue South in St. Petersburg.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate 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.

Father says son was assaulted during Rancho Mirage HS soccer drill; PSUSD launches investigation

KESQ on November 25, 2025

Karen Devine

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Rancho Mirage father is speaking out after he says his 16-year-old son was assaulted during a soccer practice drill at Rancho Mirage High School.

Hugh Van Horn tells News Channel 3’s Karen Devine the incident happened during what his son described as a punishment.

Van Horn met with Devine at the news station, emotional as he remembered the moment he realized something was wrong. He said his son was visibly upset when he got in the car and then told him what had happened.

According to Van Horn, his son described a drill called a “Bamba,” where teammates line up in two rows and slap a player as they walk through. He says the drill was used as punishment for missing practice. Van Horn said coaches told his son to participate even after he expressed discomfort and said he didn’t want to be involved. He says four players hit his son despite his attempt to set boundaries.

Van Horn added that a text message sent to the team indicated the drill would be used as punishment. He said the text came from the Varsity coach, not the JV coach who has been placed on administrative leave.

Devine spoke with both coaches by phone. The varsity coach said “Bamba is not a punishment and not led by coaches” and declined further comment. The JV coach said he is leaving the matter to the district and had no additional comment.

The Palm Springs Unified School District confirmed an investigation is underway. In a statement, the district said it has contacted law enforcement regarding the allegations and that a JV coach has been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The district said it could not release additional information related to personnel matters.

Van Horn said he believes the district took appropriate initial action but wants accountability if the investigation substantiates his concerns. When asked whether he believes the varsity coach should be removed, he said he feels that would be an appropriate response, adding that his priority is ensuring no other student experiences what his son went through.

Van Horn said the incident has left his son uneasy, and the teen no longer feels comfortable returning to the team, something he had previously been excited about. He said it is upsetting that his son no longer feels safe participating in a school-sanctioned activity.

In the interest of transparency, News Channel 3 is not naming the coaches involved while the investigation continues. Van Horn said he chose to speak publicly to help protect other students.

News Channel 3 will continue following this story. 

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Cal Poly falls short at Northern Arizona

KEYT on November 25, 2025

Mike Klan

FLAGSTAFF, Arizona. (KEYT) – Guard Peter Bandelj led three Cal Poly men’s basketball players in double-digit scoring figures with 20 points Monday evening, but the Mustangs opened a two-game stretch at Northern Arizona’s MTE with a 93-87 setback to the host Lumberjacks inside the Rolle Activity Center.

Fellow sophomore Hamad Mousa added 17 points for Cal Poly (3-4), which led by double digits early before trailing by six at the break. Junior guard Jake Davis, who matched his Division I scoring high with 14 points, sank a third and final three-pointer with 11-and-a-half minutes remaining to hand Cal Poly a 67-66 lead.

With Northern Arizona (3-2) shooting 60.0 (15-for-25) percent during the second half, however, the one-point advantage was Cal Poly’s last of the night.

Freshman Ali Assran and Mousa co-led Cal Poly with eight rebounds apiece as the Mustangs sank 13 three-pointers.

Down 5-4 after two minutes, Cal Poly received a Davis three-pointer to kickstart a 9-0 run. A Mousa three-pointer – one of three he drained in the first half – then handed Cal Poly an 18-7 lead six minutes into action.

The Mustangs still led 27-18 with 11-and-a-half minutes to play before Northern Arizona – backboned by two three-pointers and a layup from guard Ryan Abelman – produced a 14-5 run to tie the matchup.

The Mustangs, who shot 50.0 (17-for-34) percent from the floor during the first half and knocked down nine three-pointers, saw Bandelj complete a three-point play four minutes before the break to regain a 44-40 lead. Cal Poly, however, produced just one bucket the remainder of the half and trailed heading into the locker room, 52-46.

Cal Poly faced a nine-point deficit early in the second half before Davis hit a second three-pointer and Bandelj finalized another three-point play. Freshman Austin Goode added a layup before Bandelj followed with another to place the Mustangs back in front at 60-59 with 15 minutes to go.

Cal Poly led once more behind the Davis three-pointer at 67-66 and tied the scoreline five times down the stretch without overcoming the Lumberjacks.

(Article courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics)

Image courtesy of Zach Melendez / NAU Athletics

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Pueblo strikes down measure requiring resturants to make milk, water default kids’ meal drink

KRDO on November 25, 2025

Michael Logerwell

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – Editor’s Note: We originally reported that the Pueblo City Council voted to pass this agenda item at Tuesday night’s vote. That was incorrect. Instead, they passed a motion against this ordinance, striking it down.

Pueblo City Council made a final vote on whether restaurants in Pueblo will need to make milk and water the standard drink for kids’ meals on Monday. The council voted to strike down the ordinance.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Pueblo County proposing program to ban soft drinks in kids meals within city limits

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The ordinance, which passed on its first reading back in May, would have made it so that soda pop isn’t the default drink in a kids’ meal.

“That would just mean that the kids’ meal would include water, unsweetened milk, or a milk alternative in the bundled meal,” said Gabby Singleton, Health Promotion Specialist with Pueblo County Public Health, in a May interview.

Several groups in Pueblo have come out in support of the ordinance. That list includes UC Health, CommonSpirit, Children First Pueblo, Colorado Blue Sky, and the Pueblo Food Project.

Megan Cover with the Pueblo Food Project wrote in a letter to the city council, “The average American child consumes 30 gallons of sugar per year, according to the American Heart Association. We believe that every child has the right to a healthy lifestyle.”

How would the ordinance have worked if it had passed?

According to the ordinance, the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment would enforce the rule. Singleton said that enforcement would work on a by-complaint basis. If someone reported that a restaurant didn’t have its menu updated to reflect the new changes, then the health department would have come out and inspect.

“I think it’ll have a great impact,” said Bruce Devereaux, the owner of B & C Tacos in Downtown Pueblo, prior to the council’s decision.

Devereaux said he’s had milk, water, and orange juice as the main options on the kids’ meals since he opened B & C Tacos years ago. He said parents are big fans, and about 75% of the time, the kids’ meal sticks with milk, juice, or water for the drink.

This ordinance wasn’t universally loved by restaurateurs. Singleton said that many had concerns about the cost of changing their menu or making milk, which isn’t shelf-stable, available. She said that having milk on the menu isn’t a requirement, making water the default meets the ordinance’s guidelines.

As for the cost of changing menus, Singleton said PDPHE would’ve had grant money available to help restaurants change their menus.

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Shaw and McGhee IV look sharp in tune-up win over Nobel University

KEYT on November 25, 2025

Mike Klan

UC SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) – Freshman CJ Shaw scored a game-high 23 points and Marvin McGhee IV added 14 points as UCSB cruised past Nobel University 84-49.

Shaw made 9-of-11 shots while the Bakersfield-transfer McGhee IV sank 5-of-7 from the field as he works his way back from a leg injury that delayed the start of his Gauchos tenure.

UCSB led 42-19 at the half as the Gauchos overwhelmed the Knights as expected who play in the National Christian College Athletic Association.

The Knights are coached by former Gauchos player Les Bean.

UCSB sophomore Zion Sensley recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds and 11 points.

(Freshman Michael Simcoe scored 10 points. Entenza Design).

A highlight in the second half was freshman Luke Zuffelato scoring his first collegiate points.

(Luke Zuffelato scores his first points as a Gaucho in lopsided win. Entenza Design).

The Santa Barbara High School graduate Zuffelato knocked down a three-pointer and threw down a dunk as he scored all 7 of his points after the break.

The Gauchos play in the Resorts World Classic in Las Vegas starting Friday versus Lehigh.

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Judge sentences Joshua Rocha to death by lethal injection in shooting of NKC officer Daniel Vasquez

CNN Newsource on November 25, 2025

By Chloe Godding

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    KANSAS CITY (KMBC) — A judge handed down the death penalty on Monday to the man convicted of killing North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez.

Joshua Rocha was found guilty in October of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of officer Daniel Vasquez. Rocha shot Vasquez during a traffic stop in July 2022.

After Rocha was convicted, the jury heard emotional testimonies from the defense and the prosecution while considering a sentencing recommendation.

Vasquez’s loved ones spoke about his bubbly personality and his dream to be an officer from a young age. Rocha’s loved ones asked for mercy, citing childhood abuse and diagnoses of PTSD and autism spectrum disorder.

The jury recommended the death penalty, and ultimately, the judge agreed with their recommendation.

“We are grateful to the jury for seeing through any attempts to justify the unjustifiable,” said Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson in a news release. “Officer Vasquez’s family, his fellow officers, and our entire community deserve nothing less than complete justice.”

A judge sentenced Rocha to death by lethal injection, court documents show.

After the verdict and jury recommendation, Rocha’s attorneys asked for the chance for a new trial or life in prison instead of the death penalty. That motion was denied Monday.

Thompson shared details from loved ones about Vasquez’s nature, how he shared home-cooked meals with others and impacted many in his community. His loss is particularly felt by his family and fellow officers.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate 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.

St. Joseph School Board votes to approve Central-Benton model, putting plan in motion

News-Press NOW on November 25, 2025

Patrick Holleron

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After multiple meetings and work sessions, the St. Joseph Board of Education has officially agreed on a long-term plan for reorganizing school facilities.

The board voted tonight to rescind Plan E — which would keep all three high schools — and instead enact Plan 4BR, which would maintain Benton and Central as a two high school model.

Both votes ended in a majority ruling of 5-2. The plan is expected to result in Lafayette transitioning into a middle school, part of a new four middle school model.

The next steps will be determining when this reorganization plan officially takes effect, as well as wide-ranging impacts on staffing, zoning and students, among other subjects.

Members of the SJSD Board of Education confer prior to tonight’s decision.

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Palm Springs City Council approves new economic development strategic plan

KESQ on November 25, 2025

Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  –  Dozens of Palm Springs business leaders and residents gathered at the Palm Springs City Council Special Meeting on Monday.

Councilmembers approved and discussed the new Economic Development Strategic Framework, a plan to move away from a tourism driven economy and build one that puts residents at the center.

The city’s economic development team describes the proposition as, “a comprehensive plan designed to guide the City’s economic growth and diversification over the next decade or so. The EDSF outlines a long-term vision that blends Palm Springs’ legacy as a world-class tourism destination with new opportunities in technology, sustainability, and the creative economy.”

To read the report in full, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 to learn more about the plan and why it’s happening now at 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.

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The heat under your feet: Pro geothermal bill sponsored by Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher introduced to the house

KIFI on November 25, 2025

Chris Nestman

In a push to speed up the approval and development of geothermal energy, Idaho Congressman Russ Fulcher (R) sponsored a bill to ease the regulatory burden on exploring potential geothermal sites.

“[The] biggest obstacle thus far has been just simply not getting permission or not getting access to where the resources are. And so that’s what this legislation is geared to try to do, is just make it available,” said Fulcher.

The bill, H.R. 5576, provides a new regulatory exclusion for geothermal exploration activities on federal land.

Currently, any geothermal exploration requires an Environmental Assessment (EA) that may take up to 10 months to get completed, with no guarantee the application will even get approved. Oil and gas wells do not need an EA for exploration, if land has already been approved for drilling. Fulcher’s bill would align geothermal exploration with oil and gas which he says will greatly speed up the process.

“So we think we’ve got a real win win situation here. We’ve got a great source of energy that’s a dependable baseload. It’s cheap, it’s clean, it takes a very small footprint that it disturbs on the land surface,” said Fulcher. “And and it’s just a great energy source at a time when our energy demands are really skyrocketing.”

Fulcher said Idaho in particular could benefit as we are one of the most prime states for geothermal exploration. He also said he doesn’t think other environmental concerns will hold up the development of geothermal plants as much compared to other sources of power like nuclear or coal.

The bill still has to make its way through the house, but Fulcher says he believes it has enough support on both sides of the isle to get the approval. If it does pass the house, it will then move onto the Senate. If it passes the Senate, then it moves to President Trump’s desk. Fulcher says he believes the President will support and sign the bill.

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