Month: January 2026

By Kaitlyn Ross

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — Flights are moving again at Atlanta’s airport tonight, with planes arriving and departing for destinations across the Caribbean.

But for some Atlantans who were already overseas when Caribbean airspace suddenly closed, the journey home is still far from over.

Lizz Kuhn and Alex Hait were vacationing in St. Maarten when a middle-of-the-night alert changed their plans.

“It was a Delta alert that everything was canceled,” Kuhn said. “So I woke him up and said, we have problems, but we didn’t know it was Venezuela.”

The couple says they scrambled to figure out how to get their family home, opening laptops and searching for the next available flight.

“We took the soonest available,” Hait said. “So at 5 in the morning Saturday, the soonest was Wednesday. For us, that’s not a big deal, but for others, this is a huge deal.”

While Kuhn and Hait say their airline honored the cost of their ticket, the unexpected delays are adding up in other ways. Extra nights in hotels, extended rental cars, and daily expenses have become an unplanned financial burden.

“We’re still paying for food, we are still paying for the room, I extended our rental car,” Kuhn said. “These are all costs we weren’t expecting to have to do.”

They say they’ve also seen other families struggle to find lodging as hotels fill up with travelers unable to leave.

“They have to check in every morning,” Hait said. “They think they’ll get out Tuesday, they have to check in every morning to see if they can keep their room, because the people from the states are coming in and they don’t know where they’re going to go, and they’re a family of five.”

Airlines said they are working to clear the backlog. In a statement, Delta Air Lines says its teams across the global network continue to focus on supporting customers following the federal government’s shutdown and recent reopening of Caribbean airspace.

Delta said it has added more than 2,600 seats through extra flights across its Caribbean network for Monday, Jan. 5, and expects all affected customers to be reaccommodated by Tuesday, Jan. 6. The airline warns some delays could still occur due to increased capacity, but says teams are coordinating to support customers with tight connections.

Delta recommends customers with confirmed or rebooked tickets for Monday arrive at least three hours early because of heavier traffic. Travelers without confirmed tickets are urged not to come to the airport until they have been rebooked.

At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport tonight, there are no additional flight cancellations reported. Travelers here say they’re grateful flights are moving again — even if some still don’t know exactly when they’ll land back home.

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 Kelly Doty

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    ASHEVILLE, North Carolina (WLOS) — A man accused of defrauding local charities and providing false information on apartment rental applications has been taken into custody.

Asheville police said in a news release Monday that Masieuh Dewayne Morgan, 19, was arrested Jan. 3 near the 200 block of Long Shoals Road on 25 outstanding felony warrants.

According to court documents, Morgan is accused of securing rental assistance from Eblen Charities and ABCCM Charities under false pretenses. Investigators said he claimed to need the assistance to avoid homelessness when, in fact, he had multiple other residences in Buncombe County.

The warrants claim Morgan secured funding for several apartments he had fraudulently obtained, then subsequently resold or attempted to sublet. Other arrest warrants accuse Morgan of providing false information to multiple apartments in the Asheville area to “cheat and defraud.”

Asheville police arrested Morgan on the following charges:

eight counts of obtaining property by false pretense five counts of accessing computers five counts of conspiracy two counts of fraud – free text three counts of uttering forged endorsement uttering forged instrument forgery of instrument three counts of driving while license revoked

Asheville police said he was found in possession of a stolen gun during his Jan. 3 arrest, resulting in another felony charge.

Morgan was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center under a $362,500 secured bond (or $36,250 to a bondsman) issued by a magistrate, according to police. He remains in custody as of Jan. 5.

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 Jeffrey Lindblom

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    WIXOM, Mich. (WXYZ) — A 75-year-old Wixom veteran remains unconscious in the hospital after allegedly being punched by a DoorDash driver who he asked to slow down in his neighborhood.

Family members say Lloyd Poole walked out of his driveway near Windingway Circle and Barberry Drive to tell a driver he believed he was going too fast. What happened next has left them devastated.

“Punched him in the side of the head. My dad fell. Never got up. Never moved. And the DoorDash driver got back in his vehicle and drove away,” said Jen Shaw, Poole’s daughter.

Poole has been hospitalized for five days with a black eye and has undergone emergency brain surgery, where doctors removed part of his skull. Shaw said her father has never fully regained consciousness since the attack.

“He’s not responding. He can’t talk. He’s not awake,” Shaw said. “We don’t know when he’s going to get out of his hospital bed. It may never happen.”

Police say 40-year-old Ryan Turner, a DoorDash driver, admitted to hitting and leaving Poole on the street. Turner maintained he felt threatened when he found himself face-to-face with Poole after stepping out of his car to confront him.

Turner acknowledged the misdemeanor aggravated assault charge in court, saying “I do” when asked if he understood the charges.

Court records show Turner has prior appearances for assault and battery in 2022, which was pled down to a lesser charge. He also has multiple offenses related to driving, including driving with a suspended or invalid license. Turner now faces up to one year in prison and posted bond on Thursday.

“You know, going about his life as normal as can be, and we’re definitely not over here,” Shaw said.

In a statement, DoorDash called the incident “appalling,” saying they removed Turner from their platform and are working with local law enforcement to ensure justice.

Shaw describes her father as a strong man who volunteers regularly in the community. She said he never expected to be hit, hospitalized, and hanging onto his life.

“You just don’t know with the brain. We’re really concerned. Yeah, very worried,” Shaw said. “He’s out. He’s wandering around, and I think you just need to be careful, because people are unpredictable.”

The family is taking shifts at the hospital day and night, hoping Poole regains consciousness soon.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ 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.

KCNC

By Austen Erblat, Ashley Portillo

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    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — A former school bus aide in Colorado pleaded guilty on Monday to 12 out of 13 charges related to allegations that she assaulted three students with autism in 2024.

Kiarra Jones, 29, was arrested in April 2024 and later charged with 10 counts of third-degree assault of an at-risk person, two counts of child abuse causing injury, and one count of child abuse causing serious bodily injury related to the incidents when she worked for Littleton Public Schools. She initially pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

She pleaded guilty on Monday, the day her trial was supposed to start. Attorneys for the victims’ families say the victims were three 10-year-old non-verbal boys with autism. At least one of the incidents was caught on video.

“Today marks a step toward accountability and a step closer to justice and safety for our community. Ms. Jones’ actions weren’t just criminal, they were cruel,” Ciara Anderson, an attorney representing some of the victims’ families, said at a news conference after the hearing ended.

Anderson, who works for the law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, said the families are seeking the maximum prison sentence of 15 years. Anderson estimates a prison sentence of 5 to 7 years, but said it could be more, depending on whether the judge issues consecutive or concurrent sentences for each charge.

When asked for his reaction to the plea, Kevin Yarborough, whose son, Hunter, was one of the victims, said, “mixed emotions to say the least.”

“It’s frustrating. My son is not able to speak, so I feel my job as a father is to represent him in court, so it is frustrating,” he said. “That being said, I am happy that the next step in this process is going forward. I’m happy that after 2 years of delays, she was finally able to take some accountability for what she did to our kids.”

“It is frustrating that we don’t get that day in court to display what our kids had to go through for everyone to see,” said Jessica Vestal, whose son Dax was also one of the victims.

“Between the things that the kids have all experienced with the abuse, today was their first day back at school from winter break,” Vestal continued. “Most people have to prep their kids’ teachers, like, ‘he doesn’t like carrots’ or ‘he didn’t sleep well this morning,’ we have to let our kids’ teachers know what we noticed that’s triggering them lately and what things seem to be on the forefront of their minds in terms of the trauma they experienced.”

Vestal and her attorneys say they’re pursuing legal action against Littleton Public Schools and The Joshua School, and the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into the school and school district.

Christopher Gallo, chief deputy district attorney in Arapahoe County, said he was “very happy” with the outcome of the case.

“Any time someone’s in a position of trust, in regard to our children, takes accountability and we find justice in that situation, we’re always pretty gratified that that’s the resolution it comes to,” he said. “Any time someone endangers children, when they are charged with keeping those children safe, especially children who have special needs, children who cannot look after themselves, that’s always particularly concerning.”

Jones is set to be sentenced on March 18. She was represented by the Public Defender’s Office.

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 Austen Erblat, Ashley Portillo

Click here for updates on this story

    LITTLETON, Colorado (KCNC) — A former school bus aide in Colorado pleaded guilty on Monday to 12 out of 13 charges related to allegations that she assaulted three students with autism in 2024.

Kiarra Jones, 29, was arrested in April 2024 and later charged with 10 counts of third-degree assault of an at-risk person, two counts of child abuse causing injury, and one count of child abuse causing serious bodily injury related to the incidents when she worked for Littleton Public Schools. She initially pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.

She pleaded guilty on Monday, the day her trial was supposed to start. Attorneys for the victims’ families say the victims were three 10-year-old non-verbal boys with autism. At least one of the incidents was caught on video.

“Today marks a step toward accountability and a step closer to justice and safety for our community. Ms. Jones’ actions weren’t just criminal, they were cruel,” Ciara Anderson, an attorney representing some of the victims’ families, said at a news conference after the hearing ended.

Anderson, who works for the law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai LLC, said the families are seeking the maximum prison sentence of 15 years. Anderson estimates a prison sentence of 5 to 7 years, but said it could be more, depending on whether the judge issues consecutive or concurrent sentences for each charge.

When asked for his reaction to the plea, Kevin Yarborough, whose son, Hunter, was one of the victims, said, “mixed emotions to say the least.”

“It’s frustrating. My son is not able to speak, so I feel my job as a father is to represent him in court, so it is frustrating,” he said. “That being said, I am happy that the next step in this process is going forward. I’m happy that after 2 years of delays, she was finally able to take some accountability for what she did to our kids.”

“It is frustrating that we don’t get that day in court to display what our kids had to go through for everyone to see,” said Jessica Vestal, whose son Dax was also one of the victims.

“Between the things that the kids have all experienced with the abuse, today was their first day back at school from winter break,” Vestal continued. “Most people have to prep their kids’ teachers, like, ‘he doesn’t like carrots’ or ‘he didn’t sleep well this morning,’ we have to let our kids’ teachers know what we noticed that’s triggering them lately and what things seem to be on the forefront of their minds in terms of the trauma they experienced.”

Vestal and her attorneys say they’re pursuing legal action against Littleton Public Schools and The Joshua School, and the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an inquiry into the school and school district.

Christopher Gallo, chief deputy district attorney in Arapahoe County, said he was “very happy” with the outcome of the case.

“Any time someone’s in a position of trust, in regard to our children, takes accountability and we find justice in that situation, we’re always pretty gratified that that’s the resolution it comes to,” he said. “Any time someone endangers children, when they are charged with keeping those children safe, especially children who have special needs, children who cannot look after themselves, that’s always particularly concerning.”

Jones is set to be sentenced on March 18. She was represented by the Public Defender’s Office.

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 KAKE Staff

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    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — A Wichita man charged with abuse for allegedly causing critical injuries to a 1-year-old girl last month told a detective that she “flew” out of his arms while he was spinning her around.

Kevin Mitchell has been in jail on $75,000 since December 17. He’s charged with felony child abuse, and his second court appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

EMS responded at around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 16, to the report of a child not breathing at a home in the 5500 block of South Handley Street, near 55th and Seneca. They arrived on scene and discovered an unresponsive 1-year-old girl on her back on top of the couch. A probable cause affidavit states that an EMS captain felt the Wichita Police Department should be involved, as “this did not appear to be a medical issue.”

Mitchell, the person who called 911, told the EMS captain that he had been swinging the girl around, playing with her, when she became unresponsive. He said he didn’t know if she’d suffered any head trauma. In the ambulance, a bruise was discovered on her left temple. The child was taken to a local hospital and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in extremely critical condition. She had suffered head trauma and multiple bruises on her left leg, stomach and chest, the court document states. He also had abrasions and scars.

The child was listed as critical but stable the following morning, according to Wichita police.

The child’s mother told a detective that she left her children with Mitchell so she could give plasma. She said she received a text from Mitchell, who stated that the 1-year-old was unresponsive and the ambulance was taking her to the hospital. Mitchell picked her up and took her there.

The mother reported that before she left to give plasma, her daughter was acting normally and did not appear to be sick or injured. During an interview on December 17, the mother said she saw Mitchell grab the girl’s face around her mouth when she was misbehaving.

“(The mother) reported that on December 13, 2025, she was in the bedroom with all three of her kids when (the victim) would not go to sleep and was talking. (The mother) stated she used Kevin’s brown leather belt and spanked (the victim) twice on the left leg. She said this was in the middle of the night.”

A detective asked about scratches on the child’s shoulder, and she said they could have been caused by her grabbing her daughter by the shoulder. She said in a later interview that an abrasion on her daughter’s left shoulder must have been from Kevin. She said bruising and scarring on the child’s left thigh were from spankings with a belt.

“She said that if she must physically discipline the kids, she usually just slaps them with an open hand on the thigh,” she told the detective.

A forensic nurse found injuries, including bruising and scratches, on two other children, ages 6 months and 2 years. Some she attributed to Mitchell, and others, she said, were from her spanking one of the kids with a belt.

As far as the 1-year-old’s head injury, Mitchell said he did not know how she would have received such an injury. He said he picked her up, was throwing her up into the air, and then spun her around and tossed her on the bed.

“Kevin eventually told the Detective he was inside the bedroom spinning around with (the victim) lying in his arms when he tripped over the edge of the bed and (the victim) ‘flew’ out of his arms and struck her head on the windowsill/shelf and fell to the ground between the wall and the bed.”

WPD spokesperson Kristopher Gupilan said five children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years were in the home at the time of the incident. All were placed in police protective custody. Mitchell is the only one charged in the case, court records show.

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By WISN Staff

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    FRANKLIN, Wis. (WISN) — Managers at a Franklin strip club tied to a human trafficking investigation said they were making and had made several changes to the business operation since news of the investigation became public.

Investigators made 4 arrests in the case, but managers said only one suspect, Brian Hopkins, actually worked at On the Border Gentlemen’s Club in Franklin.

In a Facebook post to the Franklin community, Jerry and Mary Hay said they fired Hopkins after learning of the investigation.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court last month, a tipster told investigators staff at the club benefited from commercial sex acts, including ‘sex dates’ in private rooms. The informant also told investigators staff trafficked women to multiple states across the country, the complaint said.

In the Facebook post, managers said they reminded current staff of the zero-tolerance policy on illegal activity. They also said they were implementing programs to detect any similar problems.

“Our most immediate goal is to select a trafficking awareness and prevention program from those available. We are committed to safeguarding our patrons, staff, and community. Our plans also include outreach and relationship-strengthening activities within our community and industry, as well as local, state, and federal agencies.”

Four men, including Hopkins, are charged. He is the only suspect to face a judge. He pled not guilty.

Jimmy Durant, Dantavia Rule, and Maurice Russell have yet to be appointed lawyers.

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By Valerie Zhang

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    GRAVETTE, Ark. (KHBS, KHOG) — A father-son duo based out of Northwest Arkansas is picking up old real Christmas trees to raise money for the Gravette High School baseball team.

Chris Murphy said he and his son, Kyle, take the trees to local lakes where fishermen sink them to build fish habitats.

The contactless pickup project began during COVID-19. Over the past three years, they’ve raised a little more than $5,000 for the Gravette High School baseball team.

“It helps the high school get a lot of cool stuff and helps us get better as a team as well,” said Kyle Murphy, who is a senior baseball player at Gravette High School. He is committed to playing baseball at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

The funds helped upgrade their equipment, including a new pitching machine.

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.