Month: January 2026

By Adam Beam

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    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (KRIS) — For the past decade, Rev. Rico Ricarte and his wife have traveled across the Coastal Bend to help people in need. Ricarte says his work is driven by experience: he has been in their position before.

“I do this because at one point in my life I was homeless. I understand where they come from,” Ricarte told KRIS 6 News. “I understand the needs that they need. I understand that it’s not all about their lifestyle as drug addicts is, it’s more of their captivity and we do this because God has called us to do this.”

Ricarte and his are independent, but do their work as the Tribe of Levi.

“His word in Proverbs 19:17 says, He who gives to the poor man lends to the Lord and we, we give to the poor man, we’re lending to the Lord and we do it because Christ did it for us first.”

Riding along with Ricarte and his wife, Betty, Monday morning was spent on Corpus Christi’s Westside amid freezing and below freezing temperatures. The team of two spent the early hours finding anyone in need of coats, beanies, warm blankets and a warm meal.

“So that’s one of the reasons we do it, because we love what we do, and God’s called us into this ministry to go feed the homeless, feed his people, ministry, and we, and we do this from Beeville to Victoria all the way to Monterrey, Mexico.” Ricarte continued, “We travel anywhere the Lord will send us.”

Ricarte adds they are always looking for more volunteers and donations to assist with monthly travels every first Saturday.

Ricarte can be contacted via social media at Rico Ricarte on Facebook, as well as their group Proverb 19:17. Additionally, he can be contacted on Instagram at blueoyster22671 or his cellphone number 361-542-8994.

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 Drew Bishop

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    PADRE ISLAND, Texas (KRIS) — Volunteers and wildlife officials are working around the clock to rescue cold-stunned sea turtles along the Texas coast as water temperatures in the Laguna Madre have plummeted.

On Monday afternoon, volunteers combing the beaches of Padre Island National Seashore found a sea turtle in need of immediate help and warmth. The turtle was discovered about 100 yards down the shore of the Bird Island Basin Campground.

“He needs immediate help,” a volunteer said upon finding the distressed turtle.

Once the rescue team confirmed the turtle was still alive, they transported it to a rehabilitation center to tag the animal and begin the warming process.

State, local, and federal agencies are coordinating the rescue efforts. At the Briscoe King Pavilion, one of many local rehab sites, representatives from the Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries, and Nueces County Coastal Parks were caring for two other cold-stunned turtles found near the canals and off Highway 361.

“We’re looking to see if they have any movement in their eyes… to see if they have any movement in their flippers,” said Cynthia Rubio, a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

After confirming a turtle is alive, the rehabilitation team sends it to one of three facilities: the Texas State Aquarium, the Texas Sealife Center, or the Amos Rehabilitation Keep.

“They’ll be dry docked…. and the next day they’ll see if they pass a swimming test and if they do they’ll be able to swim in the water,” Rubio said.

The recovery process can be relatively quick under the right conditions.

“If the weather warms up in the next couple days… they can be released in a few days out in the gulf waters,” Rubio said.

Wildlife experts are urging anyone who encounters a cold-stunned sea turtle not to touch it, but to immediately call 1-866-TURTLE-5. By reporting these sightings, beachgoers could help save a shelled swimmer.

For the latest local news updates, click here, or download the KRIS 6 News App.

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

KPIX

By John Ramos

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — Beaches along the San Mateo County coast are a favorite visiting spot for Bay Area residents.

But one beach in Daly City has had much of its access cut off by a man who claims to own the property above and has erected a chain link fence to keep people out.

“It’s just beautiful, you know? Scenic trails and beach, and so a lot of folks–dog walkers, hikers, bikers, everybody is accessing this area,” said Annie Ellicott, who has made it her mission to protect and preserve the bluffs overlooking Thornton State Beach in Daly City.

It is a place of wind-swept, unspoiled beauty. Or, at least it was.

“So, this is the fence that has been put up over the last couple of weeks by the individual living in that trailer,” Ellicott said, walking along the 8-foot-high fence that went up, seemingly overnight.

“Because he has blocked off the entrance to this particular part of the path–which is again not on his property–at both the southern end and at this end, nobody can actually come from the vista down the path to access this trail. And this is the only trail down to the beach,” she added.

The beach’s parking lot is virtually cut off from access, with a handwritten “DO NOT TRESSPASS” sign. But that’s mild compared to the sign that was first put up, with a drawing of a pistol and warning that the property owner has a 9mm gun and “TRESSPASORS WILL BE SHOT!!”

The neighbors said the police made him take that one down, but the message is clear.

Zachary Leyden owns the Ocean View Stables on the north side of the fence. His trail rides used to access the trail down to the beach.

“This is the last part that they put up, which blocked us out of the whole thing. At first, they were being very cooperative saying, ‘No, the horses can ride on it.’ But when they put the last piece on it, they said, ‘Never mind, they can’t.’ So, like, wow…alright,” said Leyden. “He’s got a plan, I’m not sure what the plan is and he seems to be the kind that will bulldoze anybody who’s not aligned with the plan.”

That includes San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, who lives near the beach. He has written a letter of objection to the California Coastal Commission, demanding the access be restored.

There is still some question about whether the man in the trailer actually owns the property. And there are concerns that first responders have lost vehicular access to the beach because of the fence.

“We’re going to fight really hard on this,” said Canepa. “We are working in concert with the City of Daly City. He has not sought permits from the City of Daly City for that fencing. And I firmly believe, in terms of access, he’s in violation of the law.

That’s yet to be determined, especially since technically Thornton Beach has been “closed” for years by the state, meaning there are no ranger patrols to the area. But people have still been arriving to take in the beauty, and that’s something the Coastal Commission has worked to protect in the past.

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 John Ramos

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — Beaches along the San Mateo County coast are a favorite visiting spot for Bay Area residents.

But one beach in Daly City has had much of its access cut off by a man who claims to own the property above and has erected a chain link fence to keep people out.

“It’s just beautiful, you know? Scenic trails and beach, and so a lot of folks–dog walkers, hikers, bikers, everybody is accessing this area,” said Annie Ellicott, who has made it her mission to protect and preserve the bluffs overlooking Thornton State Beach in Daly City.

It is a place of wind-swept, unspoiled beauty. Or, at least it was.

“So, this is the fence that has been put up over the last couple of weeks by the individual living in that trailer,” Ellicott said, walking along the 8-foot-high fence that went up, seemingly overnight.

“Because he has blocked off the entrance to this particular part of the path–which is again not on his property–at both the southern end and at this end, nobody can actually come from the vista down the path to access this trail. And this is the only trail down to the beach,” she added.

The beach’s parking lot is virtually cut off from access, with a handwritten “DO NOT TRESSPASS” sign. But that’s mild compared to the sign that was first put up, with a drawing of a pistol and warning that the property owner has a 9mm gun and “TRESSPASORS WILL BE SHOT!!”

The neighbors said the police made him take that one down, but the message is clear.

Zachary Leyden owns the Ocean View Stables on the north side of the fence. His trail rides used to access the trail down to the beach.

“This is the last part that they put up, which blocked us out of the whole thing. At first, they were being very cooperative saying, ‘No, the horses can ride on it.’ But when they put the last piece on it, they said, ‘Never mind, they can’t.’ So, like, wow…alright,” said Leyden. “He’s got a plan, I’m not sure what the plan is and he seems to be the kind that will bulldoze anybody who’s not aligned with the plan.”

That includes San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa, who lives near the beach. He has written a letter of objection to the California Coastal Commission, demanding the access be restored.

There is still some question about whether the man in the trailer actually owns the property. And there are concerns that first responders have lost vehicular access to the beach because of the fence.

“We’re going to fight really hard on this,” said Canepa. “We are working in concert with the City of Daly City. He has not sought permits from the City of Daly City for that fencing. And I firmly believe, in terms of access, he’s in violation of the law.

That’s yet to be determined, especially since technically Thornton Beach has been “closed” for years by the state, meaning there are no ranger patrols to the area. But people have still been arriving to take in the beauty, and that’s something the Coastal Commission has worked to protect in the past.

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 Charlie Lapastora

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KOVR) — A faith group in Stockton held a vigil as a show of support for those in Minneapolis after the killing of Alex Pretti.

“Today, we say to the people of Minnesota, you are not alone,” Al Sheppard, First Thessalonians Missionary Baptist Church associate pastor, said. “To grieving families and fearful communities, the church sees you. The church stands with you. The church is praying for you.”

Clergy and Stockton residents wanted Minneapolis to know that they are not alone, and so they held a ‘Prayer Vigil for Justice, Unity, and Healing’.

“Just because this is happening in Minnesota and we’re here in California, don’t mean the same kind of injustices can’t happen to us here, and us, as clergy, we are called to pray,” Pastor Sheppard said. “And not just the clergy, our whole society. It is a time right now, in these times, this dispensation of time we’re in right now, it calls for prayer from everyone. All denominations across all creeds, all colors.”

Dozens of people throughout the community joined together in prayer in front of the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, including the Smith family. Faith in the Valley executive director Pastor Curtis Smith was joined by his wife, Kristen, and their son, 7-year-old Joshua, who said he wants to see peace for the country and wants “everybody to be safe and nice”.

“This next generation is seeing it all,” Kristen Smith said. “This morning, seeing him watch the news and seeing just the tragedies that are happening in our country, it’s almost like I want to shield him but I can’t because it’s all around. And the fact that he wants peace for our country, he doesn’t want to see people fighting, it really makes a difference for him to say out of his own mouth that peace is what he wants to see for the next generation.”

Pastor Smith said he would like to see unity in the country.

“There’s so much division, polarization right now, especially things that are politicized,” Pastor Smith said. “However, there is much more that brings us together if we don’t allow systems and the forces that try to divide us and tell us that we’re different (than) each other. So, I would like us to create a culture of honor, where we love each other for who we are and not punish the other for who we’re not.”

Faith in the Valley community organizer Richard Stoeckl told CBS News Sacramento he organizes with around 17 clergy in the San Joaquin clergy caucus, spanning different denominations. Clergy united in solidarity in light of what happened in Minnesota.

“Just feeling what the national climate is right now, it’s a dark time, what it (feels) like, right, we’re seeing constant images of people being brutalized on a national scale,” Stoeckl said. “People are just afraid. People are wondering if it’s going to happen in the community that they live in. So, right now, we just thought to invite clergy and allow clergy to do what they do best, which is pray for our people.”

Pastor Sheppard said as clergy they fight on their knees, in prayer, and that they gather not as Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or progressives, but as people of faith who “believe justice still matters”.

“Presidents and stuff, they come and go, parties, they come and go,” Pastor Sheppard said. “But the only real thing that’s going to stay here forever is going to be my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and He, in some kind of way, in our darkest time, is through prayer. That we put our trust in Him, that He will pull us through.”

Faith in the Valley is a multiracial grassroots organization representing more than 120 congregations throughout the Central Valley, working to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.

“My initial thought was, ‘Here we go again.’ But after the shock of just knowing that this can continue to happen, I just felt the need that I had to pray,” Pastor Sheppard said. “And we was just out here, just praying about MLK Day, and his concept was that he didn’t have to march alone or he didn’t have to be alone.”

Pastor Sheppard, in his message, also shared one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known quotes: “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

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 Charlie Lapastora

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KOVR) — A faith group in Stockton held a vigil as a show of support for those in Minneapolis after the killing of Alex Pretti.

“Today, we say to the people of Minnesota, you are not alone,” Al Sheppard, First Thessalonians Missionary Baptist Church associate pastor, said. “To grieving families and fearful communities, the church sees you. The church stands with you. The church is praying for you.”

Clergy and Stockton residents wanted Minneapolis to know that they are not alone, and so they held a ‘Prayer Vigil for Justice, Unity, and Healing’.

“Just because this is happening in Minnesota and we’re here in California, don’t mean the same kind of injustices can’t happen to us here, and us, as clergy, we are called to pray,” Pastor Sheppard said. “And not just the clergy, our whole society. It is a time right now, in these times, this dispensation of time we’re in right now, it calls for prayer from everyone. All denominations across all creeds, all colors.”

Dozens of people throughout the community joined together in prayer in front of the Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, including the Smith family. Faith in the Valley executive director Pastor Curtis Smith was joined by his wife, Kristen, and their son, 7-year-old Joshua, who said he wants to see peace for the country and wants “everybody to be safe and nice”.

“This next generation is seeing it all,” Kristen Smith said. “This morning, seeing him watch the news and seeing just the tragedies that are happening in our country, it’s almost like I want to shield him but I can’t because it’s all around. And the fact that he wants peace for our country, he doesn’t want to see people fighting, it really makes a difference for him to say out of his own mouth that peace is what he wants to see for the next generation.”

Pastor Smith said he would like to see unity in the country.

“There’s so much division, polarization right now, especially things that are politicized,” Pastor Smith said. “However, there is much more that brings us together if we don’t allow systems and the forces that try to divide us and tell us that we’re different (than) each other. So, I would like us to create a culture of honor, where we love each other for who we are and not punish the other for who we’re not.”

Faith in the Valley community organizer Richard Stoeckl told CBS News Sacramento he organizes with around 17 clergy in the San Joaquin clergy caucus, spanning different denominations. Clergy united in solidarity in light of what happened in Minnesota.

“Just feeling what the national climate is right now, it’s a dark time, what it (feels) like, right, we’re seeing constant images of people being brutalized on a national scale,” Stoeckl said. “People are just afraid. People are wondering if it’s going to happen in the community that they live in. So, right now, we just thought to invite clergy and allow clergy to do what they do best, which is pray for our people.”

Pastor Sheppard said as clergy they fight on their knees, in prayer, and that they gather not as Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or progressives, but as people of faith who “believe justice still matters”.

“Presidents and stuff, they come and go, parties, they come and go,” Pastor Sheppard said. “But the only real thing that’s going to stay here forever is going to be my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and He, in some kind of way, in our darkest time, is through prayer. That we put our trust in Him, that He will pull us through.”

Faith in the Valley is a multiracial grassroots organization representing more than 120 congregations throughout the Central Valley, working to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice.

“My initial thought was, ‘Here we go again.’ But after the shock of just knowing that this can continue to happen, I just felt the need that I had to pray,” Pastor Sheppard said. “And we was just out here, just praying about MLK Day, and his concept was that he didn’t have to march alone or he didn’t have to be alone.”

Pastor Sheppard, in his message, also shared one of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s well-known quotes: “an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”.

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 KEZI

Click here for updates on this story

    COOS BAY, Oregon (KEZI) — A Coos Bay man has been arrested following an armed robbery at a local Taco Bell restaurant thanks to K9 officer Arco, according to the Coos Bay Police Department.

CBPD officials said the incident occurred at about 11 p.m. on Jan. 14 when a suspect, identified as 29-year-old James Love, allegedly robbed the Taco Bell drive-through on South 1st Street. Wearing a mask and brandishing what appeared to be a pistol, he stole the cash register and fled, police said.

CBPD officers responded swiftly and gathered video surveillance, which led them to identify Love as the suspect. On Jan. 19, officers located him near Elrod Avenue, but he fled on foot. An officer deployed K9 Arco, who successfully apprehended Love. He was taken into custody without further incident. Police said the incident marked Arco’s first capture, police officials said.

Love is now facing multiple charges, including second-degree robbery and second-degree theft, along with unrelated warrants from Coos County and Washington state. Coos County Jail records show Love is in custody as of Jan. 26.

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 KWWL

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KWWL) — Changes could be coming to how medical examiners document child deaths under a new bill advancing at the statehouse. House File 20-97 focuses on how the state medical examiner records vaccine information when a child dies from unknown causes.

The bill would require medical examiners to document the date and other details about the last immunization given. Supporters believe this change will provide important information that could protect other children.

“The US continues to have higher SIDS rates compared to other industrialized nations so I just think it’s time we start gathering data and information,” Rep. Samantha Fett of Warren County said.

A representative from Blank Children’s Hospital expressed questions about the bill. They noted that the child death review process is already very extensive when there is an unexplained death, and the hospital remains undecided on whether to support the bill.

Critics fear the bill could lead to more vaccine hesitancy. “What is the harm? The harm is talking about this bill, giving it a hearing in the Iowa House of Representatives, let alone passing it, gives the signal to Iowans out there that vaccines are dangerous,” Dr. Austen Baeth of Polk County said.

A medical examiner from Wright County testified that there are approximately 30 child deaths each year due to unknown circumstances.

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 Dillon Thomas

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — January is National Blood Donor Month, and as part of it, both UCHealth and Colorado State University are calling on people and their pets to donate. You read that correctly, pets are also being asked to donate their blood to those in need.

At the Garth England Blood Center in Fort Collins, thousands of people donate their blood to UCHealth’s blood bank every year. But recently, Stacey Cooper visited for the first time.

“I am here donating blood for the first time,” Cooper said. “It is much simpler than I thought it was going to be.”

But the simplicity of the donation was only easier, thanks to the companionship of her dog, which rested by her side during the donation.

“This is Cora. This is my golden retriever. She is 5 years old,” Cooper said. “She has been by my side since a little one.”

Cora is not only a calming presence for Cooper, but she is also a great example of a blood donor herself.

“She is also a blood donor for Colorado State University,” Cooper said.

Down the street from Garth England Blood Center, Cora is a regular at CSU’s veterinary teaching hospital.

CBS News Colorado was invited to join Cora for one of her blood donations.

There, Cora was given a quick medical checkup. She was provided treats and plenty of petting before lying down on a medical table.

She was surrounded by calming staff who helped her stay lying down as a small patch of hair was shaved from her neck. Then, the staff gently inserted a needle into one of her veins and began drawing blood.

“You would be surprised at how many dogs actually need blood,” Cooper said.

During the donation, the room was largely quiet. Staff were seen petting and calming Cora while she gently closed her eyes during the donation.

The donation went fairly quickly and Cora was thrilled to be given plenty of treats after she was wrapped with a bandage as a safety measure.

CSU is one of the top veterinary medical centers in the region and provides emergency medical services to many kinds of animals. However, cats and dogs are their primary clients.

“We are definitely in need of donors,” Cooper, who is also on staff, said.

Dogs and cats have multiple different types of blood, underscoring why it’s important for there to be a wide range of donors.

The university does have some standards that its animal donors must meet. That includes making sure most donors are middle-aged pets.

“I’m always surprised people don’t realize dogs and cats donate just like people donate,” said Amanda Cavanaugh, emergency and critical care vet for CSU.

CSU gives free food for take-home to pet families that donate.

“Most people don’t realize we have a full blood bank,” Cavanaugh said. “Having a blood bank is really important to us, as vets. It allows us to provide that level of care dogs and cats need.”

UCHealth is also seeking more human donors at its blood banks, which help provide critical supplies of blood to hospitals across Northern Colorado.

Much like UCHealth, CSU’s team says they are always seeking more donors to help those in need.

“We use blood products every single day,” Cavanaugh 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 Dillon Thomas

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — January is National Blood Donor Month, and as part of it, both UCHealth and Colorado State University are calling on people and their pets to donate. You read that correctly, pets are also being asked to donate their blood to those in need.

At the Garth England Blood Center in Fort Collins, thousands of people donate their blood to UCHealth’s blood bank every year. But recently, Stacey Cooper visited for the first time.

“I am here donating blood for the first time,” Cooper said. “It is much simpler than I thought it was going to be.”

But the simplicity of the donation was only easier, thanks to the companionship of her dog, which rested by her side during the donation.

“This is Cora. This is my golden retriever. She is 5 years old,” Cooper said. “She has been by my side since a little one.”

Cora is not only a calming presence for Cooper, but she is also a great example of a blood donor herself.

“She is also a blood donor for Colorado State University,” Cooper said.

Down the street from Garth England Blood Center, Cora is a regular at CSU’s veterinary teaching hospital.

CBS News Colorado was invited to join Cora for one of her blood donations.

There, Cora was given a quick medical checkup. She was provided treats and plenty of petting before lying down on a medical table.

She was surrounded by calming staff who helped her stay lying down as a small patch of hair was shaved from her neck. Then, the staff gently inserted a needle into one of her veins and began drawing blood.

“You would be surprised at how many dogs actually need blood,” Cooper said.

During the donation, the room was largely quiet. Staff were seen petting and calming Cora while she gently closed her eyes during the donation.

The donation went fairly quickly and Cora was thrilled to be given plenty of treats after she was wrapped with a bandage as a safety measure.

CSU is one of the top veterinary medical centers in the region and provides emergency medical services to many kinds of animals. However, cats and dogs are their primary clients.

“We are definitely in need of donors,” Cooper, who is also on staff, said.

Dogs and cats have multiple different types of blood, underscoring why it’s important for there to be a wide range of donors.

The university does have some standards that its animal donors must meet. That includes making sure most donors are middle-aged pets.

“I’m always surprised people don’t realize dogs and cats donate just like people donate,” said Amanda Cavanaugh, emergency and critical care vet for CSU.

CSU gives free food for take-home to pet families that donate.

“Most people don’t realize we have a full blood bank,” Cavanaugh said. “Having a blood bank is really important to us, as vets. It allows us to provide that level of care dogs and cats need.”

UCHealth is also seeking more human donors at its blood banks, which help provide critical supplies of blood to hospitals across Northern Colorado.

Much like UCHealth, CSU’s team says they are always seeking more donors to help those in need.

“We use blood products every single day,” Cavanaugh 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.