Month: January 2026

By Alyx Sacks

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a high level of respiratory illness in Iowa. With babies being especially vulnerable to RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, Iowa native Shawn Johnson East is raising awareness about methods of prevention.

Johnson East, an Olympic gold medalist and mother of three, joined a pediatrician to provide advice for parents, inspired by her experience when her two oldest children contracted RSV as babies, leading to her son’s hospitalization.

“It took a really quick turn to where he was struggling to breathe, and so we ended up in the emergency room, which was a very, very scary experience for a mom,” Johnson East said.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the RSV monoclonal antibody treatment Beyfortus for babies under 8 months.

“When I got pregnant with our third, our due date was, like, peak RSV season. I had two babies at home, a bunch people visiting for the holidays,” Johnson East said. “My pediatrician had a really great conversation with me about before this, which gives just an extra line of defense to babies at a young age for their first RSV season, which gave us more confidence going into it.”

Pediatrician Dr. Mona Amin said it’s important for parents to look for warning signs.

“It’s a highly contagious and unpredictable virus that can spread person to person. So, sneezing, coughing, contaminated surfaces. And the reality is that for many of us, it could be a mild cold,” Amin said. “But for some babies, especially those under 1, it can lead to serious lung infections. And so, no baby is too healthy or too strong to get RSV and to also potentially have those serious lung infections.”

Symptoms to look for: runny nose, eating or drinking less, or a cough, which may progress to wheezing or difficulty breathing

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 Rachel Whelan

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    INDIAN HILL, Ohio (WLWT) — An Indian Hill High School senior is turning a delayed medical diagnosis into a mission to help others.

Aiden Kincaid blends right in at baseball practice, working drills alongside his teammates. But for years, he says he felt like an outsider. In fifth grade, Kincaid went from being one of the tallest kids in his class to watching others pass him by.

“I remember it went from, like, I was looking down on people, to people were looking down on me,” he said.

His mom, Amber Kincaid, said concerns became clearer during annual physicals as Aiden’s growth percentile steadily dropped.

“It was like 80%, then 75%, then 60%, then 50% — it got down to 30%,” she said.

Despite visiting multiple doctors, the explanation was often the same: Aiden was just a late bloomer. Amber didn’t accept that.

“I’m a scientist, and I needed real data,” she said.

After years of searching for answers, the family was referred to Dayton Children’s Hospital, where a four-hour diagnostic test confirmed Aiden had growth hormone deficiency.

“It was just relieving. Finally, I had an answer and an explanation for why things were happening to me,” Aiden said.

Once treatment began, the changes came quickly. Amber said her son grew about six inches within the first six to nine months.

“I’m now 5-8, and three-fourths. I could round up, but I like staying true to who I am,” Aiden said.

Now, Aiden is using that experience to help others. He started a nonprofit called “Teens Together,” focused on raising awareness for growth hormone deficiency and other conditions that can be overlooked or take years to diagnose.

“It’s just been a dream of mine to give back,” Aiden said. “Internally, I feel like this is something I need to do, especially with how much they’ve done for me.”

On Friday, Aiden will present a $10,000 check to Dayton Children’s Hospital — the same hospital that helped diagnose and treat him.

For Amber, watching her son turn uncertainty into purpose carries an important message for other families.

“Listen to your gut. Listen to your kid,” she said. “And if you think something’s off, keep looking.”

To learn more about Teens Together, click here:

teenstogether.org/donations.

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 Pete Cuddihy

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    OMAHA (KETV) — After more than three weeks away from home, a nine-pound dog donning a Patrick Mahomes jersey has finally been reunited with his owner.

Milo the dog traveled four miles in 24 days, and one of the most unlikely heroes helped save him. When Milo ran away, he was still wearing his Kansas City Chiefs jersey. As the weeks passed, his owner began to lose hope until she received a call 24 days later. She never imagined the person who would save her dog would be a rival fan.

Rain or shine, Roy LaMark III delivers his mail route. He said it is not a job where you are constantly rewarded or thanked. LaMark continues his work with a smile, even after his world was rocked by a cancer diagnosis and the death of his father in 2025. He said those hardships can make it tough to get up every day and fight through it.

The positives in life keep him going, including his love for the Buffalo Bills. As a proud member of Bills Mafia, LaMark never imagined a highlight of his career would be saving a missing little dog wearing a Patrick Mahomes jersey.

Milo ran away from his home in Blackstone more than three weeks earlier. His owner, Terilyn Beilke, searched everywhere for him, posting flyers on social media and handing them out in person. She later said she did not realize how much emotional support Milo provided until he was gone.

LaMark said people often approach him with flyers about missing dogs, but nothing had ever come of it. That all changed three weeks later while he was on his delivery route. While walking up to a porch, LaMark noticed a dog hiding under a table. He called the number on the flyer and reached Beilke.

Beilke said she saw LaMark’s name come up on her phone and learned he was likely looking at her dog. Milo had traveled a total of four miles during the three weeks he was missing. Beilke said she does not know how he survived on the streets.

Now reunited with her dog 24 days later, Beilke said she finally feels whole again. Unlike most days, this time, the postal worker was thanked for doing his job. LaMark said it was a happy ending and that he was grateful to be a part of it and witness the reunion.

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 Jordan Ryan

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    CHICKASHA, Oklahoma (KOCO) — The urgent search continues for a 12-year-old Oklahoma boy who was last seen a week ago in Chickasha.

Ryan “RJ” Davis was reported missing on Jan. 2, and he was last seen at Fourth Street and East Grand Avenue near the Quality Inn. Police and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation have been investigating the “suspicious disappearance,” and the community is now coming together to help search.

This story has inspired a lot of people from the area to volunteer to search for Davis, whom law enforcement officials believe is still alive.

A Facebook group was created less than 24 hours ago, designed to organize volunteer search efforts. The group already has more than 650 members.

“Seeing everything that he has been through and knowing that he is out there needing adults that are going to help guide him to safety, I think we just see our own kids and other members of our community in him and just say if it was my son, I would really want the community to rally,” Allana Taylor said about creating the Facebook group. Davis’ parents, George and Kimberly Cole, were arrested and booked into the Caddo County Jail. OSBI officials said they face child abuse charges.

“It was learned that there was apparent harm done to this child while he was living with these two parents,” Hunter McKee with the OSBI said.

If the 12-year-old boy is found, authorities have made it clear he would not return home.

Authorities have searched several properties connected to Davis’ parents, but they have not provided any updates on those searches.

Volunteers are meeting Friday morning to start their search. A vigil is also scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Train Depot Park in Chickasha.

Anyone with information about Davis’ location is asked to call 911 or contact the OSBI tip line at tips@osbi.ok.gov or 1-800-522-8017. People can also call the Chickasha Police Department at 405-222-6050.

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 Alan Shope

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    BELTON, Missouri (KMBC) — A stolen cowbell at a Belton cookie shop has turned into a show of community support.

Owners of Mary’s Mountain Cookies say the shop’s familiar cowbell, used to alert staff when customers enter, was taken Saturday night. The bell had become part of the store’s routine, especially when employees were working in the back.

“We create 17 or 18 different varieties of cookies,” said Penny Booth, who owns the shop. “We have quite a few regular customers.”

Booth said the cowbell, about six or seven inches long, sat on the counter and was often rung by customers to signal someone was inside. After noticing it was missing, staff reviewed the security video and saw a woman placing the bell into her purse before leaving the store.

“Somebody decided they needed it more than we did,” Booth said.

Word of the stolen cowbell spread quickly among customers and neighbors in Belton. Since then, at least a dozen replacement cowbells have been dropped off at the shop, turning the loss into an unexpected outpouring of support.

“I love our community,” Booth said.

The cowbell tradition began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the bell was used to alert staff someone was waiting at the front door. A new cowbell is now in place, and Booth says it has become an even bigger conversation piece.

“The kids come in and ring it all the time,” she said.

To thank customers for their support, Booth said the shop plans to offer cowbell-themed cookies this weekend.

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By Angela Williams

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    JACKSON, Miss. (WAPT) — The search for a missing 81-year-old woman which turned into a death investigation also led to the rescue of 17 neglected dogs.

The Yorkie and Yorkie mixes were recovered from a home in the 200 block of Baybury Lane after human remains of what is believed to be Carol Ryan were found in the backyard. Hinds County Coroner Jeramiah Howard said an autopsy, which was completed Wednesday, determined that there was no trauma to the body. Howard said DNA is being used to confirm if the remains are indeed Ryan. He said he results should be released next week.

“I’m just glad that, first of all, that we were able to identify these issues during our normal investigation,” Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones said. “And to make sure that we can get these dogs the proper treatment, care and possible adoption.”

The Mississippi Animal Rescue League has the dogs, which rescuers say have matted fur, irritated skin and nails so overgrown it makes it difficult for some of them to walk.

“These dogs have not known comfort in a long time,” MARL said in a Facebook post that included pictures of the dogs.

The dogs are all undergoing medicated baths, flea and tick treatment, vaccinations, deworming, microchipping and daily care before they will be healthy enough for adoption.

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 Lindsay Jones

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    DORSET, Vt. (WPTZ) — Four rescued horses are recovering after years of neglect. Staff at the Dorset Equine Rescue said they found the animals in some of the most horrific conditions they’ve ever seen.

The Dorset Equine Rescue said they helped save 11 horses from a farm in Melrose, New York last week. A local rescue contacted the group to help move the surrendered horses after they realized the situation was much worse than expected.

They say four of the horses were trapped in their stalls, stuck in large piles of frozen manure.

“One of the horses had to be actually cut out of the stall. You know, the stall itself was so compacted with manure and frozen manure over the years,” said Tiffany Vittum, barn manager and trainer at Dorset Equine Rescue.

The team had to create a ramp for another horse to help it exit the stall because of the amount of manure there.

“He had been trapped in for so long, you know, that was all he knew. So, stepping out of that was a very foreign thing to him. So, it took a lot of encouragement,” Vittum explained.

Vittum predicted the horses could have been left in their stalls for several years, based on the amount of manure that had piled up. The remaining horses were found in a field, dehydrated and hungry. According to Vittum, these animals had been getting the bare minimum care.

“They had no water when we got there. And so, we gave them water, and they all drank it down immediately,” she said.

The rescue was a team effort. Dorset Equine Rescue worked directly with a local volunteer fire department and the New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to move the horses.

“You can’t really fathom that somebody could leave these horses in stalls like this year after year after year. So, you know, you kind of just— it can be very emotional, but you kind of just buckle down and you do what you have to do, and you get the horses out. And we got every one of them out, we weren’t going to leave them behind,” said Vittum.

Four horses are being cared for in Dorset, and one is still overcoming injuries at an animal hospital. Rescue centers in Maine and New York have also taken some of them in.

Vittum said it is extremely rewarding seeing them improve every day and turn into normal horses.

“One of the horses we have here is only six years old, and he probably spent his whole life in that stall. So, to be able to introduce him to the outside world, the world that he’s supposed to be living out in, is a really cool thing to be able to do,” she said.

Dorset’s four new horses will continue to be rehabilitated at their rescue. Then, once they are ready, the center will help find these horses forever homes through adoption.

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.