5-year-old boy wanders off from after-school program

By KABC Staff

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    SANTA CLARITA, California (KABC) — A family is outraged after their 5-year-old son walked away unnoticed from an after-school program in Valencia and was later found alone near a McDonald’s a mile away from campus.

Natalie Epstein can’t stop thinking of the worst-case scenario that could have been.

“I feel like I wasn’t there to protect him,” she told Eyewitness News Wednesday.

Brett and Natalie Epstein assumed their 5-year-old son, Oliver, was safe in his after-school program at North Park Elementary in Valencia.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 4, Brett says he got a call from their panicked nanny. He found out his son had wandered off to a McDonald’s on McBean Parkway.

While the nanny went to go get Oliver, Brett called his wife.

When Natalie called the after-school program to check on Oliver’s whereabouts, she was told Oliver was still at the program.

“The after-care woman had seen him at some point during the day, I’m assuming, proceeds to tell my wife that he was there when in fact he was almost a mile and a half on a corner of a busy street, unaccounted for, unsupervised, with his backpack, alone,” Brett said.

Oliver had slipped away, unnoticed, and wandered more than a mile along a six-lane parkway.

Saugus Union School District Superintendent Colleen Hawkins told Eyewitness News the school district launched an investigation immediately.

“Based on what we learned from this incident, appropriate corrective action has been taken including but not limited to improvements in student supervision protocols and in securing facilities,” Hawkins’ statement said in part.

The Epsteins say Oliver still attends North Park Elementary, but he’ll stop going to the after-care program. The parents say they believe someone from the program should be fired and they’re not ruling out the possibility of taking legal action.

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The School Buzz: Cascade elementary school continues Thanksgiving ‘Literary Luncheon’

Josh Helmuth

Ute Pass Elementary School is celebrating Thanksgiving early for the third consecutive year, and they’re doing it with a fun lesson as well.

The Cascade school refers to it as the “Literary Luncheon.” Students plan their own Thanksgiving meals for lunch today (the Thursday before Thanksgiving), based on a book, and they make enough food to feed over 200 people.

All the students choose the book and create a recipe inspired by what they read. This year’s book is called “Stone Soup.” The 3rd-grade class also performs a play of the book.

Do you know something remarkable at your school? Email us! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.

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Stepbrother, 16, named a suspect after teen found dead on cruise ship

By Bob Hazen

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    BREVARD COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — The 16-year-old stepbrother has been named a suspect in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, court documents show.

Kepner, from Brevard County, was found dead on a Carnival cruise.

She was a student and cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville. The FBI has been investigating her death without disclosing any findings or the cause of death.

New details The new information comes from a court document filed in the divorce case of Kepner’s stepmother, who was on the cruise with her.

The document states, “An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein the Respondent/Mother will not be able to testify at the hearing at this time.”

It further notes that Kepner was on the cruise with her stepmother and her minor children, adding, “She has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action.”

The document indicates that the stepmother cannot testify as it could be prejudicial for her child in the criminal case.

However, it does not explain why the child could face charges or provide details about what happened.

The stepbrother has been released from custody, documents show. It’s not clear if he was arrested.

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At 85, Clayton Mannausau is still playing league hockey 3 nights a week

By Kevin Wallevand

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    MOORHEAD, Minnesota (WDAY) — Age really is just a number.

Ask Clayton Mannausau of Moorhead.

If you’ve ever set a skate down on a local sheet of ice, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Mannausau. Because, at age 85, he is still skating circles around hockey players half his age.

At 85, Clayton Mannausau proves you’re never too old to play hockey

The Moorhead Sports Center is just home away from home for Mannausau. It’s 8 p.m. on a Wednesday night.

“You can see they are well worn,” Mannausau says of his Bauer skates.

While his friends might be in the recliner getting ready for bed, he is lacing up his skates.

“How many times have you laced up skates?” a reporter asks.

“I am not a mathematician,” Mannausau said, with a chuckle.

It is yet another night of getting ready for league hockey. Skating with men who could be his grandkids. And he skates year round.

“During the summer, I had Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night,” he said.

Mannausau, like any kid who grew up by the border, laced up his skates at an early age. He was raised in the small town of Indus, Minn., where you could see Canada across the Rainy River. Hockey was a way of life. He skated at the local rink, which was heated — sort of.

“If you got there in time to start the stove,” he said.

Clayton Mannausau, Moorhead, can still outskate his teammates. He golfs everyday in the summer and finds time to play hockey three nights a week, after working out at his home gym.

Mannausau has made a name for himself. He is a member of the USA 80+ team. For years he has traveled to international competitions. He even played tournaments in Spain and Russia in the early 1990s. He just returned from Toronto. When people ask his age and he responds: 85?

“Yes, it is a surprise to them,” he said.

Mannausau is as humble as it gets. Never one to brag about his accomplishments. But on the ice, smooth as silk. He never tires but when he takes a break on the bench, it is just a matter of seconds before he hops over the boards like a teenager.

Remember, he’s 85.

“I am blessed, good genes. It is all about not stopping, just continually doing it,” he said.

By the way, Mannausau is also a great golfer. He hits the links every day in the summer.

“I keep very active, yes,” he said.

And when he isn’t playing hockey, he works out in his home gym.

“Five days a week, yep,” he said.

Mannausau has played hockey around the world but some of his favorite moments? Skating and playing with all three of his grandchildren. They don’t play as much.

But Grandpa Clayton? You will find him at local rinks at least three nights a week. Slowing down is not an option.

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More high school students considering careers in public works for El Paso County

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Five years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, county officials began courting high school graduates to offset worker shortages that limited how much snowplowing and other public works tasks could be done.

That effort appears to be a growing success.

The county’s CONNECT program periodically invites students to its transportation facility, near the intersection of Marksheffel Road and North Carefree Circle, to learn how to operate plows and other equipment.

The program also travels to schools, as it did yesterday to Calhan High School.

Scott Hall, the county’s training division manager, said that students received hands-on training in simulated and actual equipment.

He said that the true purpose of CONNECT is to provide a career option to high school graduates who don’t plan to attend college, join the military, or remain undecided about their future after graduation.

“I’ve been to 16 of the programs, just with current construction,” he explained. “And all told, right now, I’ve been through 22 kids, and I have ten full-timers working right now. My first three kids are still there.”

A partner in the effort is Careers in Construction Colorado, an organization created by the construction industry in 2015 to provide similar assistance to students.

“We started in one high school with 23 kids,” said coordinator Sydney White. “We’ve since grown to 91 high schools with over 4,700 kids. We’ve partnered with six different trade associations. We’re still sponsored by the industry, just to show students their options.”

During the pandemic, the county eased some job requirements to further encourage interest in a public works career: It waived the requirement for a high school diploma and provided free training for the required commercial driver’s license.

However, the county will help non-diploma students to earn their equivalency degrees if they are interested.

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Man arrested, weapons cache seized after suspicious activity at schools

By Daniel Macht

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — A 29-year-old Sacramento man has been arrested after an investigation into suspicious activity at schools in east Sacramento County led to the seizure of multiple firearms, law enforcement patches and tactical gear, the sheriff’s office said.

The investigation of Dalmin Muran began after he was repeatedly observed engaging in suspicious activity at schools, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. In one case, he allegedly drove his vehicle onto the grounds of Rosemont High School during the evening and was observed wearing military-style clothing and night-vision optics. After a security guard told him to leave, he allegedly said he should be allowed access because the schools are “public grounds.”

The sheriff’s office said during other visits he erroneously claimed to have prior military service and expressed interest in joining law enforcement.

Deputies executed a search warrant at a home last week in connection with Muran and found “numerous” guns that had been modified, including an unserialized “ghost gun” rifle hidden in an attic, the sheriff’s office said.

Hundreds of firearm parts and components for building or altering weapons were also seized, along with multiple smoke grenades, flash bangs and “pepper spray deployable smoke grenades.”

Deputies also found multiple law enforcement patches and tactical gear, “including those from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.”

Muran was released on bond hours after being booked into custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail, the sheriff’s office said.

Muran faces four felony counts related to weapons offenses, according to a criminal complaint filed on Nov. 13. One of the counts alleges that he stole firearm accessories from The Gun Range Sacramento. KCRA 3 has confirmed that he was an employee at the store.

An earlier complaint filed on Dec. 11, 2024, accuses Muran of unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm. He was arraigned on that case in June.

He is next due in court in connection with both cases on Jan. 14.

The sheriff’s office said it is concerned there may be unreported incidents where Muran represented himself as a law enforcement agent.

The Sacramento City Unified School District referred KCRA 3 to a statement that Rosemont High School Principal Mitch Jones sent to families on Tuesday. It said that “at no time was there reason to believe that students and staff were in jeopardy.”

See the full statement below:

“Good afternoon,

Nothing matters more to us than the safety of our students, staff, and campus. Today, we learned of the arrest of a person who had previously been seen trespassing at Rosemont High School at night when school was not in session. While some of the photos shared by law enforcement may be concerning, I want to assure you that at no time was there reason to believe that students and staff were in jeopardy.

Back in August, this person was spotted by SCUSD overnight security using the campus space to train their dog. The individual was asked to leave and did so. Several weeks later, the same individual was seen on campus a second time after hours. District security personnel alertly called law enforcement to investigate. That is the extent of Rosemont’s involvement in the matter.

Just as we train staff and students to “see something, say something”, this incident serves as an example of District safety protocols working as intended. I wish to thank District security personnel and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this matter.

If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please reach out to me directly.”

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Beloved chef released after spending nearly month in ICE detention facility in Newark

By Sonia Rincón

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    NEW JERSEY (WABC) — A restaurant owner from New Jersey walked out of an ICE detention facility in Newark after being held there for weeks.

He’s been in the United States for decades, and has a work visa that was just renewed a year ago, but only after spending nearly a month in immigration detention at Newark’s Delaney Hall, Ruperto Vicens Marquez is finally home.

“Really happy to get out and grateful for everything,” Vicens Marquez said.

He’s especially grateful to his community of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, where people attended rally after rally, demanding the beloved chef be released from the facility.

Vicens Marquez shares a pair of restaurants with his brother, Emilio. His brother says customers helped him get through the last four weeks without his right hand man.

“Many times, people were waiting so long. And I was so embarrassed but there was nothing I could do, so I was apologizing with the people,” Emilio Vicens Marquez said. “And most of the times I hear, ‘don’t worry Emilio. We know your situation. We can wait.'”

Ruperto Vicens Marquez, originally from Mexico, was pulled over on his way to work on Oct. 19, and was detained with someone else who was suspected of an immigration violation.

But the restaurant owner has been a legal resident of the U.S. since he was 18, and has work permit that was renewed last year and is valid through 2028.

“When I got detained, none of that seemed to matter. It was just like, ‘you’re coming with us.’ It happened just really quickly,” he said.

He spoke to Eyewitness News after getting home Tuesday night, and says his wife and three kids were thrilled.

“That was the first thing. When I came, they jumped in my arms,” he said. “We were hugging. They were really excited that I’m back and we have the family.”

The community is outraged that the 38-year-old with no criminal record, couldn’t explain his situation and verify his status with a judge until Monday.

The brothers say they’re working toward citizenship and have tried to take every step the right way, and can understand why so many immigrants like them are now fearful.

“Seems like whatever we do, we pay fees, we spend time, we pay taxes. So much money in taxes. We also hire people. We help other people, and nothing counts,” Emilio Vicens Marquez said.

Ruperto Vicens Marquez’s case continues, and one of the things he had to explain to the judge was an arrest 15 years ago for a non-violent incident in which he was never convicted.

As he and his brother Emilio pursue citizenship in the future, he says right now he wants to get back in the kitchen at his restaurant, which doesn’t feel like work.

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Bald eagle drops cat through windshield in North Carolina

By Deanna Sipe

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    SWAIN COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — An animal falling through the windshield of a car caused quite a cat-astrophe in Swain County on Wednesday morning.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, around 8:17 a.m. on Nov. 19, a bald eagle flew by an individual’s car on US-74, dropping a cat through their windshield.

Highway Patrol says the driver of the vehicle was not injured; however, the cat is deceased.

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Dali crew members in Baltimore hope for return home 19 months after Key Bridge collapse

By Mike Hellgren

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    BALITMORE (WJZ) — The Dali is long gone from the port of Baltimore, more than 600 days after the Key Bridge disaster, but several members of the 984-foot cargo ship’s crew remain in Maryland.

They are trapped in legal limbo, unable to return to their homes in Sri Lanka and India while lawsuits and a possible criminal probe wind their way through the justice system.

Uncertain future for Dali crew Andrew Middleton, with the nonprofit Apostleship of the Sea, has regular contact with the eight members of Dali’s crew who remain in Maryland.

“They’re free to move about Baltimore if they choose, but outside of that, it becomes a little more complicated even just to go to Washington D.C.,” he told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. “They all have hope that they will see home eventually. I don’t know that they’re necessarily of the mindset these days that it will be soon.”

The crew members have found camaraderie with each other. They are in extended stay housing in Baltimore and often take walks in the city. Middleton said they have taken several excursions, including trips to Gettysburg and baseball games.

“I just had dinner with all but one of them last week. We started to make plans for whoever was interested to come to my house for a Ravens game,” Middleton said. “It always impresses me that they are who they are and have maintained their sense of hope and a positive outlook on life. They are a group of generally good and well-intentioned men who are trying to make the best of the circumstances that they have and that have been dealt to them.”

He said the men receive regular welfare check-ins from the U.S. government and any trips outside of Maryland state lines require special permission.

Keeping in touch with family Crew members have given lengthy depositions in the ongoing legal fight and won the battle to have their testimony sealed for now.

“This incident was not the result of any malice on any of their parts. They were simply in Baltimore as part of their work, and if it had been up to them, they would have sailed out of Baltimore that night without the incident occurring and gone on about their lives,” Middleton said.

The Dali’s operator, Synergy Marine, wrote in a statement, “As part of the ongoing process and in consultation with the authorities, four of them have now been granted permission to visit their families back home in early December. We remain in close contact with all crew members and their families to ensure their well-being is fully supported.”

Crew members often use WhatsApp and are grateful for video calls to family members back home, Middleton said.

Some of the crew have not seen their family for more than two years, as they had already spent a lengthy period on the Dali prior to the incident.

“Several of the family members have been here to visit them, so that’s been a blessing for them, I’m sure. There’s nothing like home, but when you have been away from home as long as they have, I’m sure the desire to go home is even greater,” Middleton said.

Watching media coverage At this week’s pivotal National Transportation Safety Board hearing into the cause of the Key Bridge collapse, investigators found no fault with the crew’s conduct. Several board members praised their quick action and cooperation.

The NTSB blamed a misplaced label on a single cable for causing a loose connection leading to the initial power outage and a cascading series of problems, ultimately sending the Dali careening into the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and causing its collapse in March 2024.

Middleton said the crew members do keep up with media coverage and will likely watch the NTSB’s probable cause hearing.

“They weren’t vilified, and they weren’t blamed for the incident. That’s at least a ray of light for myself and for the crew members,” he said. “If they didn’t watch it live, I’m sure at some point they’ll find it on YouTube.”

The crew members will have plenty of time, with no end in sight to their stay in Baltimore.

“For the past 19 months, they’ve basically had nothing but time on their hands,” Middleton said.

He said his organization always takes donations for the crew and is interested in ideas to keep them busy. Here is how to contact Apostleship of the Sea.

At last check, the Dali was traveling through Chinese waters.

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Student hospitalized after near-drowning at UC Berkeley frat house dies of injuries

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A student at the University of California, Berkeley, has died days after being found unresponsive at a frat house pool during a large party last week, police said.

The Berkeley Police Department said the incident happened at the off-campus Alpha Delta Phi fraternity on Prospect Avenue at around 11:30 p.m. Officers and Berkeley Fire Department personnel responded to a report of a drowning at the location and found a 19-year-old man unresponsive outside the pool. Medics performed CPR and rushed him to a hospital in critical condition.

Police said Wednesday that the department has since learned the student had died. The student was not immediately identified and it was unclear when he died. The department added that the investigation does not indicate any foul play.

The student’s official cause of death will be determined by the Alameda County Coroner’s Office.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the student’s family, friends, and the wider campus community,” police said. “The harm felt by this tragic loss is profound.”

The case was also forwarded to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for potential charges against the fraternity’s safety coordinator for allegedly furnishing alcohol to minors.

The party at the Alpha Delta Phi house was estimated to have over 300 people in attendance, and officers observed conditions consistent with overcrowding and heavy alcohol consumption, police said.

The fraternity was issued a public nuisance violation for the loud and unruly gathering, and since it exceeded a 200-person limit, the Fire Department also issued a citation for violating its indoor event permit, and revoked a permit issued for an event the next day.

The national Alpha Delta Phi organization has been contacted for a response to the latest developments.

Following the incident, the fraternity said it was “fully cooperating with the local authorities; our priority is the safety and well-being of all members and guests. As this remains an active investigation, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”

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