$15 million traffic project begins outside north gate of Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs

KRDO on January 16, 2026

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A project that The Road Warrior first reported on last April, and was scheduled to start the following month, is finally getting underway at the interchange of US 24, Peterson Road, and Space Village Avenue.

Officials stated that the right southbound lane of Peterson, between the US 24 overpass and the north gate of Peterson Space Force Base, will be closed for three weeks for the first phase of work.

Courtesy: City of Colorado Springs

The closure allows workers to install a storm sewer; the left southbound lane will remain open for base access.

Gayle Sturdivant, the city’s deputy director of public works, said that the project is starting later than intended as officials awaited the arrival of federal funding for the $15.3 million effort — two-thirds of which was provided by an infrastructure grant from the U.S. Department of Defense.

“When you get grant awards, they are sometimes for future monies, or you have to go through grant agreements,” she explained. “So, even though you know you’re going to get the money when you can physically have access to it, the timing can be a little bit different.”

Since 2017, local leaders have studied how to address what they describe as present and future “extreme” traffic congestion in the area.

Officials have revealed that traffic in and out of the base recently has been slowed by two projects: the construction of a new interchange at Airport Road and Powers Boulevard, which leads to the main entrance at the west gate, and a utility project outside the east gate along Marksheffel Road.

Additionally, Peterson’s leadership wants to change its north gate configuration to correspond with the latest improvement project, and that likely will result in more daytime traffic.

Previously, the north gate was the main entrance into the installation.

“They were asking us to get more people in that queue, to get in that southbound lane to go into that gate,” Sturdivant said. “We actually have taken over control of that signal right there — the traffic signal — so we can get more folks queued up to go into the gate, through security.”

The project’s overall focus is to improve travel onto and off of the base — not just for traffic, but also for pedestrians, cyclists, and trail users.

A major feature of the project involves building two roundabouts just north and south of the US 24 interchange.

In The Road Warrior’s April 2025 story, managers at several of the eight businesses in a Space Village shopping center expressed concern about how the project may affect them and their customers, citing negative impacts to businesses at some other projects.

Officials expect to finish the project early next year.

Partners in the project include Colorado Springs, El Paso County, the U.S. Department of Defense, Peterson Space Force Base, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments.

Click here to follow the original article.

Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro files a personal injury lawsuit

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Bill Heltzel, Westchester County Business Journal

Click here for updates on this story

    Westchester County, NY (westfaironline.com) — Consolidated Edison Co., the mammoth public utility that serves the New York City region, is facing a rather formidable opponent in a local personal injury lawsuit.

Jeanine Pirro, the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, accused Con Ed and the City of Rye of negligence, in a complaint filed on Jan. 8 in Westchester Supreme Court. Rye is in Westchester County, which is north of New York City.

“Defendants were negligent, careless, and reckless,” the complaint states, “in failing to warn Ms. Pirro of [a] dangerous condition.”

Pirro, 75, has close legal ties to Westchester, as a former county court judge and district attorney from 1991 to 2005. She also has hosted the Judge Jeanine Pirro show on The CW and Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox News. She has been an ardent supporter of Donald Trump, and last May the president named her as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

The D.C. prosecutorial position is considered one of the most powerful in the nation because of its location at the seat of the federal government and for the types of civil and criminal cases that often are of national significance. She recently announced, for instance, a criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell.

On Aug. 2, she was confirmed as the full U.S. attorney.

Weeks later, around 1:45 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 28, Pirro, 75, was injured near the intersection of Purchase Street and Library Place, in Rye, according to  the lawsuit. She claims she was walking on the roadway, tripped over a large wooden block, and sustained “bruises and contusions to the head, eye, face and shoulder areas, together with pain, discomfort and limitation of movement.” She was confined to bed, required medical treatment, and “continues to experience pain and suffering, inconvenience, loss of enjoyment of life, and economic damages.”

Con Ed had been working near the intersection and failed the leave the roadway in a safe condition, according to the complaint. The city knew about the dangerous condition, but failed to remedy it within a reasonable time.

The complaint does not say why Pirro was walking on the roadway. She owns a house about a mile away, and the scene is near City Hall and the Rye public library.

She is demanding unspecified monetary damages.

Pirro is represented by her former husband, attorney Albert J. Pirro Jr., who also has a connection to President Trump. He was pardoned on conspiracy and tax evasion charges five years ago, on the last day of the president’s first term in office.

The lawsuit was filed as a verified complaint, whereby a plaintiff affirms the accusations as true, to the best of her knowledge, under penalty of perjury. In this case, Albert Pirro attested to the truthfulness of the accusations, based on his review of records and conversations with Jeanine Pirro, and because “plaintiff is not in the county in which I maintain my office.” Albert Pirro has an office in the Westchester city White Plains. Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury said the company does not comment on pending litigation. The Rye law department did not reply to message asking for its  response to the allegations.

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

Peter Katz
pkatz@westfairinc.com

Suspect found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2021 SF ‘Grandpa Vicha’ murder case

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Dan Noyes and Suzanne Phan

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man who was killed in San Francisco’s De Anza neighborhood in 2021.

Antoine Watson is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and guilty of force likely to produce great bodily harm, but not guilty of murder in the first or second degree.

Vicha Ratanapakdee’s daughter told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she’s “disappointed and painful.”

It was five years ago this month “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.

Surveillance video showed Watson running and then pushing Vicha to the ground.

He struck his head and died days later.

Watson was 19 at the time and testified he didn’t call 911 because he was scared the police would arrest him and panicked.

Vicha’s death became one of the flashpoints in the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.

I’m very surprised by the outcome of this verdict,” said Clark.

“What you saw on that video appears to be an intentional attack of an elderly man. It was a very vicious attack which could suggest implied malice — enough for a second degree murder,” said Clark.

The victim’s daughter and many others believe the attack was because Grandpa Vicha was Asian.

But the case was not charged as a hate crime.

“I think what the defense was able to demonstrate was this was an impulsive act by a young man, not a targeted attempt to kill,” said legal analyst, Steven Clark.

Watson testified he did not notice Grandpa Vicha’s age or race, but was angry after a bad day.

Experts say Watson may soon be walking out of jail with time served.

“When you look at what he is facing, now that it’s involuntary manslaughter, which is a maximum of four years, he’s likely to receive credit for time served and walk out the door,” said Clark.

Watson has already spent five years in custody while waiting for the trial.

Thursday afternoon, Watson’s mother declined to speak ABC7 News.

The prosecution and the defense in this case return to court Jan. 26.

Thursday night, San Francisco Supervisor Alan Wong released the following statement:

“I have no words for the disappointment I feel from the verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Grandpa Vicha inspired me and so many community members to step up, volunteer our time, and Stop Asian Hate. The murder of Grandpa Vicha was malicious, evil and the perpetrator should be dealt an adequate punishment for his crimes. My heart is with the Ratanapakdee family today. No verdict can undo their loss, but they deserved better than this outcome. Justice was not served.”

Stewart Chen, an adovciate for public safety in Oakland’s Chinatown area, AAPI leader in Oakland shared this text:

“Calling this ‘involuntary’ does not reflect the reality or the fear it caused Asian elders everywhere. Justice should fully recognize the value of our seniors’ lives and send a clear message that violence against elders will not be minimized.”

“The system just told every Asian elder in America: your life is negotiable,” said Forrest Liu, a Stop Asian Hate activist.

“The brutal and senseless attack on Grandpa Vicha Ratanapakdee was a catalyst for San Francisco’s younger generation to mobilize and raise our voices to protect our elders,” said Amy Lee, co-founder of Dear Community, an organization that originated in response to anti-Asian hate violence. “For far too long, Asian elders have been treated as martyrs for others’ trauma, pain, and bad days-no more. These arguments minimize Asian lives, and we stand with Grandpa Vicha for justice.”

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

Granddaughters accused of stealing hundreds of thousands from Omaha restaurateur

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Connor Schmidt

Click here for updates on this story

    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — Authorities alleged that the granddaughters of Caterina Malara, the founder of Malara’s Italian Restaurant in Omaha, stole over $500,000 from her through forged checks and illegal credit card transactions while her health was failing.

Police said the victim was Caterina Malara, who died in 2023.

Her granddaughter, Ashley Gomez, faces two counts of theft.

She is accused of opening several fraudulent credit cards and paying them off using the restaurant’s bank account, totaling more than $250,000. However, investigators said only about $10,000 of this amount is still within the statute of limitations.

Gomez and her sister, Alexandria Kuta, are also accused of writing themselves $150,000 checks, claiming they were gifts from Malara.

Family members stated that Malara never mentioned these gifts and was a vulnerable adult at the time the checks were written.

The sisters eventually returned the money to a trust a couple of months after cashing the checks.

Authorities said that despite the money being returned, they have recordings showing the sisters pressed Malara to authorize the checks, which she never did.

Both sisters are facing felony charges and potentially years behind bars.

They are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

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

Van narrowly escapes train collision in Iowa

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By KCCI staff

Click here for updates on this story

    STATE CENTER, Iowa (KCCI) — A van in Marshall County narrowly avoided a collision with a train after crossing railroad tracks despite warning signals, according to a video posted by the State Center Police Department.

The driver initially stopped, then weaved around the arm blocking the railroad. The train passed by just seconds after the van crossed.

State Center police said they are still looking for the driver. They emphasized the importance of stopping at crossings, reminding the public that “your life is more valuable than the few minutes saved.”

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

‘Banks,’ a dog pulled from the muddy Iowa River, may soon have a new home

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Marcus McIntosh

Click here for updates on this story

    MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (KCCI) — A Great Pyrenees dubbed “Banks” was rescued Wednesday after getting stuck in mud along the Iowa River just outside Marshalltown, prompting a boat response from the Marshalltown Fire Department because the heavily wooded area prevented police from reaching the dog on foot.

“They tried to reach him by foot, and they couldn’t, so they asked us to take our boat out,” said Deputy Fire Chief Curt Raue.

Firefighters freed the dog quickly.

“This one was as textbook as it could be,” said Raue.

Banks was turned over to the Marshalltown Animal Rescue League, where veterinarians cleared him.

“Vets gave us a clear bill of health,” said Austin Gillis, the executive director of the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown.

Gillis says the positive outcome was helped by the dog’s thick coat and the fact that he was in mud, not water.

“If the animal is dry, we’ve got time to make this as safe as possible,” Gillis said.

Less than a day after his rescue, Banks was energetic, though still caked with mud, and expected to be cleaned up after grooming.

No information has been released about possible owners or how he ended up there.

For the time being, “Banks” will be cared for by the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown.

It is likely he will not be there very long.

Deputy Chief Raue says a firefighter who played a role in the rescue has filed paperwork to adopt him, saying Banks “made an impression on a lot of the people who rescued him.”

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

Vermont hot sauce to appear on spicy interview series ‘Hot Ones’

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Cameron Silloway

Click here for updates on this story

    BARRE TOWN, Vermont (WPTZ) — Big news for Scoville connoisseurs: A hot sauce by one Vermont bakery will be making its debut on the popular spicy interview YouTube series “Hot Ones.”

This concoction from South Barre’s Butterfly Bakery of Vermont is called Smoked Serrano Squash Reaper X. It pairs Vermont-grown butternut squash with serrano peppers, bringing a complex flavor to the show’s “super-hot” category.

“This sauce is proof that Vermont crops are part of the national conversation,” said Claire Georges, founder of Butterfly Bakery. “‘Hot Ones’ has an enormous reach, and having a sauce built on Vermont-grown ingredients in the lineup means that small farms are part of the story every time someone takes a bite.”

VT Agency of Agriculture releases drought survey resultsSummer drought costs Vermont farmers over $15 million in coping costs, production losses The hot-sauciers of Butterfly Bakery say the sweetness of the roasted squash creates a unique depth of flavor when combined with the smoked serrano peppers. They add that the sauce lets the heat follow rather than lead, forming a spicy sensation that playfully lingers on the palate.

It’s the fourth time Butterfly Bakery has had one of its sauces appear on the show. It is the state’s largest purchaser of Vermont-grown chili peppers and sources most of its ingredients from within 200 miles of its home base in Barre.

Butterfly Bakery’s Smoked Serrano Squash Reaper X is already sold out, but you can browse more of its hot sauce offerings and check out its other products online.

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

Massachusetts police officer on leave after high-speed, head-on crash, officials say

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Jamy Pombo Sesselman & Peter Eliopoulos

Click here for updates on this story

    MARSHFIELD, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A Marshfield, Massachusetts, police officer is facing felony operating under the influence charges after a high-speed, head-on crash Sunday night that seriously injured another driver, officials said.

Officer Richard Perry was off-duty and driving a Jeep westbound on Route 139 at a high rate of speed when the Jeep crossed a double-yellow line and struck a Honda Civic head-on. Another vehicle was also struck in the collision, police said.

“There’s a Jeep upside down in the grass right on the corner, and there’s another car across the street, the front driver side corner, completely smashed in up to the door,” said witness Michael Torchetti.

The driver of the Civic became trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Marshfield Fire Department. Perry was able to get out of the Jeep on his own.

Both drivers were taken to hospitals to be treated for serious injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Perry faces charges of operating under the influence resulting in serious bodily injury, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violations and speeding.

Perry was placed on administrative leave, police said. He’s been a police officer in Marshfield for about four years, according to the department’s social media pages.

“No matter who you are or what position you hold, conduct that endangers the public will be addressed through the appropriate legal process,” Marshfield Police Department Chief Philip A. Tavares said.

A family member of the person in the Honda told WCVB in an email that the victim remains in the intensive care unit and has undergone several surgeries after the crash.

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

Aurora police find horses, goats and chickens during stolen vehicle investigation and seizure

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Jennifer McRae

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — Police in Aurora were conducting a seizure of stolen vehicles and stolen vehicle parts when they discovered horses, goats and chickens on the property. According to investigators, police officers arrested six people, recovered four stolen vehicles and a large amount of stolen vehicle parts from a property near Chambers Road on Wednesday morning.

Investigators said it was the result of months of investigative work that uncovered a sophisticated motor vehicle theft operation. Detectives said that they were not “quick grab and go” crimes but instead, the suspects were reprogramming vehicles in a matter of seconds. They also said that after stealing the vehicles, the suspects would change license plates within 30 minutes to avoid detection.

Using Flock, investigators said they were still able to track the vehicles.

When they arrived, officers discovered horses, goats and chickens on the property. They said many of them were not being properly cared for and some showed signs of animal abuse.

Aurora police said Aurora Animal Control units helped take the animals to a safe place.

The Aurora Police Department released this statement: This is what commitment looks like. Our officers and investigators do not stop. They will track down those who victimize Aurora residents and they will use every tool available to do it.

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

WATCH: Alhambra educator receives $25K award for accomplishments

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Elenee Dao

Click here for updates on this story

    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A lucky educator in the Alhambra School District received a surprise $25,000 award from the Milken Family Foundation on Thursday.

The foundation honors educators across the country, with this recipient being the only one from Arizona this year.

“Recipients are heralded early to mid-career for what they have achieved—and for the promise of what they will accomplish in the future,” the Milken Family Foundation says about the award, which some call the “Oscars of Teaching.”

It was a surprise to everyone involved.

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