Month: January 2026

By Brian Neal

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    LOON LAKE, Wash. (KXLY) — Stevens County Fire District One crews rescued a stranded deer from the ice at Loon Lake Tuesday morning after neighbors spotted the struggling animal.

The yearling deer was discovered from shore on the frozen lake, unable to gain traction after recent cold weather caused area lakes to freeze over.

“It was yearling deer about 200 feet or so off of our property on ice, struggling, trying to get up,” said Ginger Poleschook, who lives near the lake. “And it was making no progress.”

Poleschook and her husband Dan called Fish and Wildlife officials. Stevens County Fire District One rescue crews responded using new ice rescue procedures involving a firefighter in a specialized cold-weather flotation suit.

“They came with two fire trucks and they’re doing a new ice rescue routine,” Poleschook said. “One person suited up in like, a wetsuit for cold weather and flotation and went out.”

The rescue proved challenging as the deer became nervous when the firefighter approached. After multiple attempts with a lasso, the firefighter secured the animal.

“When he reached the deer had a big lasso so that he could put around the deer, and the deer jumped through it. So he had to do it twice, and he wasn’t able to really secure. The deer was struggling, so he laid on it,” Poleschook explained. “And the crew then on shore use the rope that the fireman had holding on to the deer and himself. So they just kept pulling and pulled the firefighter in with the deer.”

Crews warmed the deer before releasing it back into the forest, away from the hazardous ice.

“It’s just amazing how rapid it was. They’re very efficient with their rescue,” Ginger Poleschook 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 Kaitlyn Hart

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    FREEDOM, Wyoming (eastidahonews.com) — The family and friends of a Wyoming mother who was killed by her soon-to-be ex-husband are remembering her as an advocate for mental health awareness and a daughter, sister, and parent who loved fiercely.

Cassandra Moon, 23, also known by her maiden name Cassie Clinger, was shot and killed on the morning of Jan. 21 by her husband, 43-year-old Christopher Moon, Bonneville County Sheriff’s deputies reported. Moon later took his own life.

Cassie’s mother, Cynthia Clinger, says her daughter lived her life to the fullest, securing her place as an impactful advocate of mental health awareness.

“Cassie was fun-loving, and she was very compassionate. She loved to help others,” Cynthia says. “She was a wonderful mother, sister, and daughter. She was just a good person.”

The second youngest of six girls, Cassie was a force to be reckoned with, even as she struggled with her own mental health issues throughout her life.

According to Cynthia, Cassie had aspirations to become an inspirational speaker and dreamed of helping others in her community and around the world to know they were not alone.

“She struggled with her own mental health issues and wanted to be able to help others,” Cynthia says. “She decided to start a (Facebook page) just to help somebody, anybody, to not have to struggle the way that she struggled, and to let people know that it’s okay to talk about it.”

Around 2016, Cassie started a Facebook Group titled “We Are Not Alone” to provide a safe space for those struggling with mental health issues to find companionship and support.

Hours before her death, Cassie shared a photo with the group, expressing her hopefulness that hard times would soon turn into something good.

Addie Garn, a close friend of Cassie, says the Facebook page was a great outlet for many people and says she will always remember Cassie’s strength and dedication to her children.

“No matter how much she was struggling, she was always the most positive, joyful, and was always the kindest in the room. She loved being a mother over everything else,” Garn says. “Her kids were her everything and gave her a sense of purpose. I think that’s what ultimately drove her to get out of that bad relationship because she wanted to make sure her kids knew they all deserved better.”

Cassie was also very involved and a dedicated member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to her mother, and spent the majority of her time doting on her three young children, as well as Moon’s four other children.

“When she had her first (child), she said that he saved her. I think that really helped give her purpose in life, to help with her mental health,” Cynthia says. “It gave her purpose and direction, and she just loved her kids.”

The three young children would often attend community mental health walks with their mother, says Cynthia, something she felt was very important to share with them.

“She did several mental health walks. In May, she did one for mental health awareness, and in September, we did one for suicide awareness,” Cynthia says. “She always took her kids along with her with front packs, strollers, whatever she needed; they went, and they were involved. She took them everywhere with her.”

Cynthia says the community’s support has been tremendous as the family struggles to cope with the sudden loss.

“The reach out from the community has been super overwhelming; good-overwhelming,” Cynthia says. “The outpouring of love and support. It just really rocked out the whole little town.”

Garn says the day before Cassie’s death, they had a conversation about her relationship with Moon.

“The day before she passed, we had talked, and she told me she was starting to feel better about everything and knew she made the right decision leaving Chris,” Garn says. “I told her she should be proud of all her efforts, and she was a huge example to so many women. We talked about how this would be the hardest part of the journey, and it’s heartbreaking that he took that from her.”

Fundraisers and auction to support the Clinger family Garn has organized a GoFundMe to raise funds and continue supporting the family, especially Cassie’s children.

“Cassie was a devoted mother whose love for her children knew no bounds. This fundraiser has been created to help support them during this devastating time and to honor Cassie’s life,” says the GoFundMe. “Funds raised will go toward funeral and memorial expenses for Cassie, immediate and ongoing support for Cassie’s kids, including basic needs, stability, and care, (as well as) any additional unforeseen expenses as the family navigates this profound loss.”

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 Christopher Harris

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Hundreds of students across metro Atlanta have already walked out of class this week, and with more demonstrations planned, several Georgia school districts are now speaking out.

Officials are warning that while student voices matter, disruptions during the school day will carry consequences.

On Tuesday, large groups of students left class at Archer High School and Parkview High School as part of protests tied to immigration enforcement concerns. More walkouts are planned for Wednesday in Newton, Paulding, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties, according to organizers. Last week, hundreds of students also walked out at Meadowcreek High School.

The demonstrations follow a broader wave of student activism earlier this month. On Jan. 20, metro Atlanta students joined a nationwide walkout in solidarity with Minnesota residents protesting an immigration crackdown in that state. The “Free America Walkout” took place that afternoon at universities and high schools across the region. At Lakeside High School in DeKalb County, more than 1,000 students participated. Walkouts also occurred at Emory University, Kennesaw State University, and other locations, ending with a citywide rally at Hurt Park in downtown Atlanta.

As protests continue, school districts are emphasizing safety, instruction, and adherence to student codes of conduct.

In Cobb County, school officials said they are aware of efforts by outside groups to recruit students for a rally related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement scheduled for Friday, Jan. 30. The district said those efforts encourage students to leave class or authorized school areas during the school day, which officials say would disrupt learning.

“While we respect the right of students to express their views in a non-disruptive way, students are expected to be in class and engaged in learning throughout the school day,” the district said in a statement.

Cobb County warned that violations of the student Code of Conduct, including skipping class or leaving authorized areas, could lead to disciplinary action, including out-of-school suspension and the loss of parking, sports, or extracurricular privileges. District leaders also cautioned that such consequences could have long-term impacts that may be considered by colleges or future employers.

The Paulding County School District issued a similar message to families, saying it has seen online posts, potentially from individuals or activist groups outside the community, encouraging student walkouts or demonstrations tied to ICE-related events.

While the district said it respects students’ rights to peaceful expression, officials said the suggested actions could jeopardize student safety and disrupt academic instruction. Any activity that interrupts the instructional day or involves leaving campus without permission is not school-sponsored and will result in discipline under district policy, the statement said.

“Our focus is providing a safe, positive learning environment focused on instruction, and classes will continue as scheduled throughout the week,” Paulding County officials said, adding that administrators and safety staff will monitor campuses to maintain order.

In DeKalb County, district leaders acknowledged the strong emotions surrounding recent national events and said they recognize students’ desire to speak out on issues they care about. The district emphasized its commitment to developing globally engaged citizens while maintaining safe and orderly schools.

“Students have the right to free expression; however, that expression must occur in a manner that does not disrupt instruction or compromise their safety,” the district said.

DeKalb County encouraged students to work with school administrators to find school-approved ways to share their perspectives, such as facilitated discussions or service activities. The district also reminded families that walkouts and other disruptive actions are prohibited under the Student Code of Conduct and may result in discipline based on the severity and context of the behavior, in accordance with state law.

With more walkouts planned in the coming days, districts across metro Atlanta say they are urging families to talk with students about appropriate civic engagement, balancing the right to be heard with the responsibility to keep schools safe, and focused on learning.

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 Celeste Springer

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A car crashed into the Circle K on Constitution and Powers Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon, the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) confirms.

CSFD says the incident happened around 1:23 p.m. An SUV crashed through the front of the gas station.

The fire department says that the driver was assessed at the scene for injuries and did not require medical transport.

“This is exhausting,” wrote a spokesperson with CSFD on social media. “It’s been exactly 0 days since someone ran into a building in COS [Colorado Springs]”

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.