Month: January 2026

By Olivia Tyler

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    AMES, Iowa (KCCI) — During the first semester of her senior year at Ames High School, Katelyn Okerlund took a class about sustainable growing practices and the science of food systems.

At the same time, in the fall of 2025, a federal government shutdown forced millions of Americans to rely on food banks, and as more families began turning to the Ames Community School District’s food pantry, Okerlund was inspired to take action.

She created grab-and-go meal kits for families in need. Since October, she and volunteers have assembled about 50 taco bowl kits, along with other options such as chili, chicken noodle soup, and even birthday cake kits.

“We looked for things that are completely shelf stable and high in protein,” Okerlund said. “Things that’ll be filling and that everyone should like.”

Each meal kit includes cooking instructions to make preparation easier for families. Okerlund said the simplicity helps families spend more time together in the evenings instead of worrying about what to cook.

The kits are made at the HOPE Pantry located inside the Ames Center, which serves Ames High School, Northwood Preschool, and Fellows, Meeker and Sawyer elementary schools. The pantry has operated in the building for about a year and now serves as a meal-kit hub for two other district pantries. It partners with the Food Bank of Iowa and is open to any family with children enrolled in the district.

Okerlund spends about four hours each week volunteering at the pantry and hopes the program will continue after she graduates.

“I don’t want it to end when I leave Ames High School,” she said. “If there is a junior who’s interested, I hope they’ll come talk to me.”

As graduation approaches, Okerlund is focused on expanding the program by developing new recipes and listening to feedback from families about what foods they want most.

For those interested in getting involved or those who may need the pantry’s assistance, contact the Ames Community School District Family Resource Support Advocate, Jacque Burkhart, at jacque.burkhart@ames.k12.ia.us.

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 Olivia Hickey

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    CHICKASHA, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Volunteers with a Texas nonprofit organization found the 12-year-old Oklahoma boy at the center of a “suspicious disappearance” after he was reported missing on Jan. 2.

On Sunday, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced that Ryan “RJ” Davis had been found and was safe after he had been missing for nine days. Davis was shaken and terrified when he was found Sunday in Caddo County.

The news that the 12-year-old boy had been found sent a wave of relief through Chickasha. OSBI officials said Davis was found inside a shelter of sorts near Cement, not far from where he lived with his parents.

After being found, Davis was taken to the Quality Inn in Chickasha, which is where he was last spotted before his disappearance on Jan. 2. Community members applauded his departure to an area hospital while first responders covered him with a sheet.

Davis came forward with his hands up to Luke van Ryn and Thomas Gentile, who are with the United Cajun Navy, on Sunday.

“He was apologetic, terrified, super scared, like he was gonna be in trouble,” Gentile said. “We reassured him this wasn’t his fault. He’s safe, and we gave him a big hug.”

“We had to get a tissue. I had to wipe his tears,” van Ryn added.

The two drove up from Texas as volunteers with the United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit dedicated to life-saving rescue operations and humanitarian assistance. Being fathers, they say the mission hit home.

“To say we’re excited is an understatement,” Shaun Schraeder, the incident commander with the United Cajun Navy, said. “We’ve been on plenty of these where it’s the other way. So, when you get to bring one home, it’s pretty rewarding. It’s quite the high.”

Chickasha Police Chief Goebel Music got emotional when talking about the community effort – online and on the ground – that went into getting Davis to safety.

“Our community, regardless of socioeconomics, regardless of race, creed, regardless, came together because a 12-year-old needed help. And that’s important,” Music said. “I’ve never seen nor ever heard of these three men. Somebody somewhere contacted them somehow. They came and aided our community. That’s what’s important. It means a lot.”

OSBI officials said Davis is doing well. He will be in state custody, and the agency said they will work to ensure the 12-year-old boy won’t return to the property or his parents, who remain in jail on multiple child abuse complaints.

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 Zitlali Solache

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    RIVIERA BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — A paraglider miraculously survived a 500-foot fall into the waters off Ocean Reef Park in Riviera Beach, thanks to quick-thinking lifeguards and a helpful bystander.

WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with Sarah Williamson, a lifeguard with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue who helped with the rescue.

On Friday, Williamson was scanning the waters when she noticed the motorized paraglider moving unusually.

“I noticed the paraglider kind of going in an interesting pattern,” Williamson said.

The paraglider lost control after hitting a wind gust, prompting Williamson to spring into action.

“I just started running, and I radioed my other partner,” she said. “We grabbed our rescue tube and our rescue board and paddled out in tandem.”

Williamson and her partner, John Swendel, swam toward the paraglider, who had fallen about 500 feet from the air into the water.

Cellphone video recorded by a witness captured the dramatic fall.

“When I heard the number (that the paraglider fell from), I was quite blown away,” Williamson said. “Five hundred feet is an incredible thing to survive.”

A nearby snorkeler dove underwater and helped free the man from the paraglider lines.

“(The snorkeler) was a godsend because we did not have a mask, and he was able to get underwater and free the man while we secured him,” Williamson said.

Multiple agencies, including Riviera Beach Fire Department, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and the Riviera Beach Police Department, responded to the call. The paraglider was brought back to shore with only cuts and scrapes. He was wearing a helmet during the incident.

“Once I got out there and I saw that he was above water, not drowning, and alive, I was so proud to like just get out there and bring him back in because it could be so much worse,” Williamson said.

The rescued man was full of adrenaline and in shock from the experience, according to Williamson.

She said the incident serves as a reminder for people to stay visible when participating in water activities because seconds matter in emergencies.

“Fly near a lifeguard, swim near a lifeguard,” Williamson said. “Always be near safety.”

The name of the paraglider has not been released.

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 Christina Fan, Aziza Shuler

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — The largest nurses strike in New York City history has begun after negotiators for five major hospitals and the state nurses union failed to agree to a new contract by Monday’s deadline.

The New York State Nurses Association said nearly 15,000 nurses are now walking off their jobs at five privately-run hospitals, including Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West and NewYork-Presbyterian in Manhattan, and Montefiore Einstein in the Bronx.

NYSNA said nurses at Mount Sinai started the strike at 6 a.m., while nurses at the remaining hospitals started picketing an hour later.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in anticipation of the strike amid worries it could jeopardize critical care for thousands of patients in the city.

Montefiore said it was preparing for the strike to last multiple weeks.

A Mount Sinai spokesperson said, “Unfortunately, NYSNA decided to move forward with its strike while refusing to move on from its extreme economic demands, which we cannot agree to, but we are ready with 1,400 qualified and specialized nurses – and prepared to continue to provide safe patient care for as long as this strike lasts.”

The union said it will provide an update on the strike during a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday.

Both sides bargained throughout the weekend, but were unable to make a deal.

NYSNA has accused Montefiore, Mount Sinai and NewYork-Presbyterian of putting profits over safe patient care.

The union said the wealthiest hospital systems in the city are refusing to compromise on issues like pay raises, safe staffing levels, full health care coverage, pensions and workplace protections against violence.

Cecilia Barreto, a registered nurse picketing outside Mount Sinai West, said striking was a last resort.

“I have been here to two years and I’ve made such great bonds with the nurses here, and I know that there are nurses who have battled cancer and depend on their health care. So we need to make sure that the health care we receive stays intact because their lives depend on it,” Barreto said.

“Instead of guaranteeing health care for nurses, these wealthy hospitals are pushing to cut health benefits for nurses who put their own health on the line to care for New Yorkers,” Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA, said on Saturday.

An earlier statement from Montefiore called some of the demands “reckless and irresponsible.”

The hospitals all called the strike “reckless” in a joint statement accusing the nurses of abandoning patients.

“NYSNA leadership has chosen to abandon patients in their time of need, but Montefiore Medical Center, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian will not. Their decision to walk out on our patients can only be described as reckless,” the hospitals said.

Some hospitals in the area were able to reach a deal with NYSNA, including all of Northwell Health facilities in Nassau County, while others previously pulled back their strike notices.

Gov. Hochul last week signed executive orders to ensure the State Department of Health has staff at the impacted hospitals for the duration of the New York City nurses strike, ensuring patient safety and continuity of care.

Montefiore said that emergency rooms will remain open.

Hospital officials said no one should delay treatment or put off appointments, but patients should be alert for any direct updates from their health care providers.

NYSNA also said patients should continue to seek care, with leaders at a news conference Sunday saying going to get care is not crossing a strike line.

The bottom line for patients is that the hospitals will remain open and care will continue during the strike.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani acknowledged the impending strike Sunday night in a post on X. It read:

The safety and wellbeing of this city is my top priority and ensuring New Yorkers have the care they need is critical, especially during flu season.

The city’s Emergency Management team, FDNY, health department, public hospital system, and my senior leadership team are in constant communication and closely monitoring the situation. We are prepared for any and all scenarios, including a strike.

No New Yorker should have to fear losing access to health care — and no nurse should be asked to accept less pay, fewer benefits or less dignity for doing lifesaving work. Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable.

I’m relieved that most hospitals have reached an agreement and urge the remaining parties to stay at the table and reach a deal that both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.

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 Leigh Searcy

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    MAYSVILLE, Kentucky (WLEX) — A stray dog’s unusual devotion to a single grave has captured the hearts of Maysville residents.

For nearly a week, the dog, now named Peanut, was spotted spending entire days lying beside the grave of Kenneth G. Bramel at the local cemetery.

“My walks the past six days I noticed there was a dog up here every day, and I was wondering whose dog it was,” said Raymond Doyle, who regularly walks through the cemetery.

Kim Muse, county project director with the Mason County Animal Shelter, said the dog’s behavior initially led locals to believe he belonged to Bramel.

“He was seen every day at one grave site and he would lay there and spend the entire day there. So I know that at first we thought and all the public thought also that maybe it was the owner of the dog,” Muse said.

After posting that story on Facebook, shelter staff learned it wasn’t true. Bramel’s niece confirmed her uncle never had a dog and had lived in Lexington.

“It’s funny because I don’t remember him ever having a pet. But he had a gentle, kind spirit about him and I think animals can sense that,” Carrie Silver, Bramel’s niece, wrote. “I think the dog that has been visiting him can sense that, too, and has found a friend in him. I think my uncle would get a good laugh out of it and be happy that it’s warmed some hearts.”

Concerns about Peanut’s well-being grew as temperatures dropped. Shelter staff began visiting daily with food, water and treats to earn his trust.

“We were going over daily and giving him really special treats and water and food and just trying to establish his trust, make friends,” Muse said.

They eventually caught Peanut, who earned his name because staff say he resembles one. He is currently on stray hold. The shelter says they are hoping to find his owner.

The reason Peanut chose Bramel’s grave remains unknown. If only Peanut could talk.

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 Ajay Patel

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    MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Kentucky (WLEX) — A century-old World War II veteran from Montgomery County has been reunited with his military dog tags after they were lost for more than 80 years, thanks to the dedication of a stranger who spent six years tracking him down.

Ewell T. Moore, 100, never expected to see his dog tags again after losing them sometime in the 1940s during training in Texas, before he was sent to Europe to serve as a machine gunner.

“I didn’t even look for them in the sand where people been tramping around,” Moore said. “They were lucky to find them, I guess.”

The remarkable reunion began when Moore received an unexpected phone call from Phillip Bergman, a man he had never met.

“I said, ‘Do you remember serving as a soldier in that area of Texas?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I do,'” Bergman said.

Bergman’s friend, Jimmy Murillo, lives around 40 miles from the El Paso area. Murillo discovered the dog tags while metal detecting near a former military training base. The tags were buried in the sand, preserved by decades underground.

“I happened to be visiting him in New Mexico and he gave me a few old things. He gave me this dog tag. And I said, because I showed an interest, I said, ‘Let me see if I can try to maybe find his family,'” Bergman said.

What followed was a six-year mission to locate the owner of the tags. Bergman’s persistence finally paid off when he successfully tracked down Moore.

“It’s a real honor, really. It’s just very appreciative that I can be a small part of it. But, you know, to bring him some joy and reconnect with his past,” Bergman said.

The dog tags appeared remarkably well-preserved after more than eight decades buried in Texas sand.

“Well, that’s sand cleaned them up,” Moore said with a laugh. “I don’t know how they found them,” Moore 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.

KOVR

By Steve Large

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — The U.S. Trademark Office is rejecting the A’s request to trademark the “Sacramento Athletics” name. The team was also denied “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics,” making their bid to sell their new identities a little more difficult.

Newly revealed documents show the U.S. Trademark Office rejected their request to trademark the name “Sacramento Athletics,” with an examining attorney ruling the request has “unacceptable wording” and is “generic for some goods.”

In a separate filing, the shortened “Sacramento A’s” trademark was approved.

“I was thinking this examiner was an Oakland Athletics fan,” trademark attorney Craig Simmermon said.

Simmermon is a trademark attorney who calls the trademark loss a bad break.

The U.S. Trademark Office is rejecting the A’s request to trademark the “Sacramento Athletics” name. The team was also denied “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics,” making their bid to sell their new identities a little more difficult.

Newly revealed documents show the U.S. Trademark Office rejected their request to trademark the name “Sacramento Athletics,” with an examining attorney ruling the request has “unacceptable wording” and is “generic for some goods.”

In a separate filing, the shortened “Sacramento A’s” trademark was approved.

“I was thinking this examiner was an Oakland Athletics fan,” trademark attorney Craig Simmermon said.

Simmermon is a trademark attorney who calls the trademark loss a bad break.

“In the trademark game, the federal registration is everything in court, you can’t even get into federal court without it,” Simmermon said.

The A’s can file an appeal.

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 Steve Large

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — The U.S. Trademark Office is rejecting the A’s request to trademark the “Sacramento Athletics” name. The team was also denied “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics,” making their bid to sell their new identities a little more difficult.

Newly revealed documents show the U.S. Trademark Office rejected their request to trademark the name “Sacramento Athletics,” with an examining attorney ruling the request has “unacceptable wording” and is “generic for some goods.”

In a separate filing, the shortened “Sacramento A’s” trademark was approved.

“I was thinking this examiner was an Oakland Athletics fan,” trademark attorney Craig Simmermon said.

Simmermon is a trademark attorney who calls the trademark loss a bad break.

The U.S. Trademark Office is rejecting the A’s request to trademark the “Sacramento Athletics” name. The team was also denied “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics,” making their bid to sell their new identities a little more difficult.

Newly revealed documents show the U.S. Trademark Office rejected their request to trademark the name “Sacramento Athletics,” with an examining attorney ruling the request has “unacceptable wording” and is “generic for some goods.”

In a separate filing, the shortened “Sacramento A’s” trademark was approved.

“I was thinking this examiner was an Oakland Athletics fan,” trademark attorney Craig Simmermon said.

Simmermon is a trademark attorney who calls the trademark loss a bad break.

“In the trademark game, the federal registration is everything in court, you can’t even get into federal court without it,” Simmermon said.

The A’s can file an appeal.

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.