Month: January 2026

By Sadie Buggle

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — In 2016, an orange cat bolted out the front door of his family’s home in Colorado Springs and disappeared. Last week, nearly a decade after he went missing, a routine microchip scan led him to finally be reunited with his family, who say after all these years they never thought the reunion would come.

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR) said Kennedy, an orange cat “with a healthy sense of independence,” went missing from his home ten years ago after he bolted out the front door and didn’t come back. His family searched extensively, posting flyers and filing reports, but over time, leads ran out.

“After years of waiting, his family had to accept the heartbreaking possibility that their little orange adventurer might be gone forever,” the shelter said.

Until about a week ago.

Ten years after Kennedy’s disappearance, a Good Samaritan brought an orange cat into HSPPR, who they said had been roaming their neighborhood for months.

Staff scanned him for identification, which is when they discovered a registered microchip containing his name and the contact information of the family, who had reported him missing over a decade earlier.

“Kennedy’s family could hardly believe what they were hearing. After ten long years, their cat, their baby, their 2016 mystery, was finally coming home,” HSPPR said in a social media post.

The shelter says stories like Kennedy’s are exactly why microchips are so crucial. Unlike collars or tags, microchips provide permanent identification that cannot be lost or removed. Clinics and shelters also routinely scan found animals, making microchips one of the most reliable ways to reconnect pets with their owners – even years later.

“When a pet gets separated from their people, a microchip gives us the fastest, easiest way to bring them back where they belong,” the shelter said.

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.

By Andrew Adams

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    SPRINGVILLE (KSL) — Family members on Thursday were remembering a Utah man killed in an avalanche in Wyoming as an adventurer who loved life and others around him.

According to his family, 31-year-old Nicholas Bringhurst was snowmobiling with one of his good friends Sunday in the backcountry near Star Valley when the avalanche came down.

Mother Cindy Bringhurst and other family and friends gathered Thursday afternoon and were reflecting on Nicholas’ life, including “his smile, his laugh, the joy he brought everybody.”

“One thing you’ll notice in a lot of Nicholas’ pictures is his smile,” the mother said during an interview with KSL. “He was just always there, loving others.”

Bringhurst described her son as an outdoorsman from the start, learning to snowmobile and waterski at the age of 4 and snowboard at the age of 5.

She said Nick met his wife when they were both working as river guides in Moab, and their outdoor adventures together were an ongoing part of their marriage.

“They loved rafting; he loves kayaking,” she said.

Bringhurst said her son was an extremely experienced snowmobiler and was well-equipped when he went out Sunday with his friend, Caden Spencer.

The mother called Spencer “our hero,” after he did what he could to save Nicholas’ life.

Spencer told KSL they had gone snowmobiling “hundreds of times” and it was a beautiful day before the avalanche struck.

“He was a dang good snowmobiler,” Spencer said, still visibly emotional over the unexpected loss.

Cindy Bringhurst said the family had a home at the south end of Star Valley, and it was a regular occasion for her son to go with his wife and friends into the outdoors there.

“We have loved our time up there with Nicholas and Lauren,” the mother said. “Because of this house, the last 4 1/2 years we got a lot of really quality time with Nicholas and Lauren when they would come up and we were all together.”

Relatives set up a GoFundMe* account to help Bringhurst’s widow in the near term with expenses.

The family shared many pictures of the couple appearing happy together in the outdoors.

“As we’re going through all these pictures, the thing that I love seeing is that he was with Lauren,” Cindy Bringhurst said.

She said she hoped others would reflect on how her son lived his life.

“That’s what I want people to take away from it,” Cindy Bringhurst said. “Live your life, live big and love other people.”

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

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.

By Angela Rozier

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — The Miami Hurricanes are set to compete for a national championship against Indiana, and fans and alumni are eagerly anticipating the game, drawing comparisons to past successes.

Roderick Carter, a former linebacker and 1987 national champion and Greenacres resident, reflected on the current team’s potential.

“It brings me back to the glory days. Brings me back to where we were competing at a high level,” Carter said.

He is now a behavior coach and case manager with the Palm Beach County School District, and says he sees similarities between his championship team and this year’s squad.

“I know there’s a lot of analysis and experts, you know, thinking that Miami is going to come up short. I just think that we have what it takes, you know, to be victorious come Monday night,” Carter said.

Fans are equally enthusiastic, especially after the team’s recent victory over Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl.

Canes fan Daniela Battisti said the win has bolstered their belief in the team’s ability to secure the championship.

“I think our defense has been really great this year. Our defense and our offense, we have some really great players; Malachi Toney has been killing it. Shout out to him, he’s amazing,” Battisti said.

The last national championship win for the Hurricanes was in 2001, and many current fans weren’t even born then. However, the spirit of the “U” remains strong.

The University of Miami is hosting a students-only watch party on campus Monday night, adding to the excitement surrounding the game.

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.

By Allison Petro & Spencer Tracy

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    LONGWOOD, Florida (WESH) — A man was shot by police at a Longwood gas station after officers responded to a mental health call that escalated into a dangerous situation on Tuesday night.

The Longwood Police Department responded to a convenience store at 1001 West State Road 434 around 9:11 p.m. after reports of an armed, suicidal man inside.

Once police arrived, they attempted to de-escalate the situation by speaking with the man.

However, police said he did not comply and kept his hands hidden inside his waistband.

Police said the man then suddenly moved his hands in a way the officer believed was threatening, causing the officer to fire his weapon and strike the man.

Officers immediately provided first aid until fire rescue arrived. The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

No officers were injured in the incident.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation, which is standard in cases like this.

Longwood police said this remains an active investigation.

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.

By Dave Elias

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — A bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Mike Giallombardo proposes mandatory AI education in Florida state schools starting as early as the fifth grade, with teachers and students expressing support for the initiative.

Biology major Xhesi Bano said, “Early on, teaching kids how to use it in a way to help them, I think it’s a smart way rather than let it get out of hand, and everybody is using it to do their homework.”

FGCU student Kai Inman reflected, “I think if AI was around when I was in 5th grade, I think, of course, teaching to use it responsibly would benefit me in the long run.”

Hospitality major Lilly Bomgardener emphasized, “It is a part of our culture, and it’s not leaving, and I think teaching people how to use it properly is going to help make sure it doesn’t become detrimental to society.”

Dr. Leandro Decastro from FGCU College of Engineering questioned, “How can we teach students to use AI and at the same time ensure they acquire the knowledge that we want them to acquire in our courses?”

Rep. Mike Giallombardo said, “We’re in a race to modernize the technology, against our adversaries.”

He added, “It really starts as early as 5th or 6th grade.”

The bill would need to pass in both the House and Senate and be signed by the governor before AI classes become part of the mandatory curriculum.

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.

By Kyle Schmidt

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    LEE COUNTY, Florida (WBBH) — In Punta Rassa, a thick algae known as Caulerpa, or “killer algae,” is spreading along the shore, posing a threat to marine life and the local ecosystem.

“It’s blooming. It’s getting fast. It’s taking over everything,” said Brandon Brown, a dock builder who has witnessed general algae in the water. Brown noted that while deep-sea fishing, he has caught fish with algae growing on them, something he had never seen before.

The macroalgae, first observed by Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation research scientist Richard Bartleson in 2006, began to thrive in 2018. It now covers the seafloor around Punta Rassa and Matlacha.

“It’s getting the perfect conditions to grow here,” Bartleson said. The algae thrives on nutrients from septic systems and fertilizers entering the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee.

The algae is called “killer algae” because it smothers native plants like seagrass and can irritate human lungs. However, its main impact is on marine life.

“So the other effects people will see is lack of fish, they go out fishing, there’s no fish. That’s because this killed all the fish food, all the things the fish ate. It takes all the oxygen out of the water, kills all the clams, oysters, worms, shrimp, kills everything,” Bartleson said.

The Caulerpa algae will eventually die off in the summertime due to higher water temperatures.

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.

By Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — Two Kansas brothers found themselves in federal court this week after being indicted on charges that accuse them of conspiring to traffic illegal machine guns and conversion devices over several months in late 2025.

A federal grand jury charged Markeese Fluker and Markel Fluker with a firearms trafficking conspiracy tied to the alleged transfer of multiple pistols that had been converted to fire automatically, along with dozens of machine gun conversion devices.

According to prosecutors, the activity took place between September and December 2025 and involved weapons moved in interstate commerce.

The indictment lays out several alleged transactions in which the defendants possessed or transferred machine guns or parts designed to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.

In one count, Markeese Fluker is also accused of possessing and selling a stolen handgun during the same timeframe.

Federal investigators later seized dozens of firearms, ammunition, and equipment during a December 2025 search, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors are now seeking forfeiture of the weapons, related equipment, and cash they say was tied to the alleged offenses.

Both men are facing multiple felony counts.

If convicted, they could each face lengthy prison sentences under federal law. Court records don’t list attorneys for the defendants, and no plea information was immediately available.

The case is scheduled to be tried in Kansas City, Kansas.

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.

By Phil Sanchez

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    WESTFIELD, Indiana (WISH) — A Westfield High School baseball player is stepping up to the plate for a cause far bigger than the game.

Westfield High School junior Lincoln Hoffman has launched a fundraiser inspired by his younger sister, Londyn, a two-time cancer survivor.

On the baseball field, pressure is part of the game, but for Hoffman, the toughest moments didn’t come under the lights, they came at home.

“Londyn is a two-time cancer survivor,” Hoffman said. “She’s my why. She’s my everything. I do everything for her.”

Hoffman says his motivation comes from watching Londyn battle a rare form of cancer, who was first diagnosed when she was just six years old.

“We kind of felt something was off, and then got hit with that train, that C-word we don’t like using in the house anymore,” Hoffman said. “Big emotions came from us. Obviously, we knew it was going to be a fight, but we knew Londyn was going to get it done. There was a lot of faith in that.”

That faith was tested and strengthened through hospital stays, long nights, and the overwhelming support of the Westfield community.

“It was hard to focus on school,” Hoffman said. “My parents were going back and forth to the hospital. All the people who dropped off food — the community here in Westfield is amazing.”

Londyn received care at Riley Children’s Health, where Hoffman says doctors and nurses became part of the family’s journey.

When Londyn entered remission for the second time, the moment was unforgettable.

“There was a big flow of emotions after all we went through,” Hoffman said. “When she rang the bell, I got chills. I wasn’t even there. I saw the video and thought, ‘She really did it.’

Londyn’s fight wasn’t about home runs or headlines, it was about hope. Something Hoffman witnessed every day.

“Seeing her go through treatment at Riley really motivated me to do something else,” Hoffman said. “I just wanted to see if I could make it better.”

That motivation turned into action.

Hoffman launched a fundraiser called “Play for the Ones Who Can’t,” a mission he carries with him onto the field. The phrase is stitched onto his baseball glove, a reminder every time he waits to be called into a game.

“Some kids can’t do what me and my teammates are doing,” Hoffman said. “I just want to do it for them.”

Within just a few days of launching, Hoffman’s fundraiser raised nearly $6,000 for cancer research.

“She literally defies the impossible,” Hoffman said. “I don’t know how she does it. She’s rarely sad. That’s a lesson we can all learn.”

For Hoffman, every swing is for his sister and for every child still fighting. The game taught him how to compete. Life taught him why.

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.