Month: February 2026

By Marcus McIntosh

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    ATLANTIC, Iowa (KCCI) — A southwest Iowa day care provider entered her plea to involuntary manslaughter for the death of a baby boy and was sentenced on Thursday.

“Guilty,” said Alison Dorsey, saying she unintentionally caused the infant’s death.

Alison Dorsey entered her plea in a packed Cass County courtroom in Atlantic and was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday. She told the court she was caring for 11-week-old Luka Hodges in 2019 when she unintentionally caused his death by rocking him in her arms harder than she should have.

“I was carrying for LH. I picked him up as he was fussy and wouldn’t eat. I rocked him in my arms harder than I should have. I regret it. I unintentionally caused LH’s death,” said Alison Dorsey, pleading guilty.

Cass County Judge Richard Davidson accepted her guilty plea and sentenced her to up to 5 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Dorsey is also required to pay $150,000 in restitution to the boy’s family.

“I don’t believe there is any care or much remorse for what happened. I don’t believe she deserves any forgiveness … and I most certainly … she won’t get any from me,” said Nick Hodges, the infant’s father.

“We ask that the defendant receive a must stay for the max possible sentence. It is the only measure of justice available to us. And the only protection for children and families crossing paths with her,” said Caitlin Hodges, the infant’s mother.

Dorsey was originally charged with the boy’s murder in 2019. Her first trial ended with a hung jury; the second found her guilty of second-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death before it was overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court last year.

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 KCCI staff

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    ADAIR COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) — A man was killed and a house was leveled in an explosion Thursday afternoon in southwest Iowa.

Emergency crews were dispatched at approximately 1:15 p.m. Feb. 26 after the Adair County Communications Center received a report of an explosion at a home located at 2597 Marion Ave. in Adair County, about 3 miles south of Greenfield.

Firefighters from the Fontanelle and Greenfield fire departments, along with Adair County Ambulance and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene.

When first responders arrived, they discovered the body of a 51-year-old man inside the residence. Authorities later identified him as John David Christensen, who was the sole occupant of the home.

The Iowa State Fire Marshal Division has been called in to assist with the investigation. Officials said the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined.

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 Grace Rodriguez

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    HINESVILLE, Georgia (WJCL) — Rescue workers at K9 Battle Buddies took in an 11-pound chihuahua they suspect someone shot, and X-rays show a bullet lodged in the dog’s shoulder.

Rescue staff found the dog, named El Hencho, walking alone with what they first thought was a hit-and-run injury. Veterinarians in Savannah used X-rays and confirmed a bullet remained in his shoulder.

“You know, he was shot and left. Somebody shot him and just let him run off like that, you know? And you see it all the time,” said Patricia Durham, owner of K9 Battle Buddies.

The group posted El Hencho’s story on Facebook with dozens of people commenting to wish the dog well, and several offering to adopt him.

“Without that community support, we would not survive. We wouldn’t be able to help other dogs,” Durham said. “It’s hard when you’re in a rescue, you know, you see the worst of everything. And obviously, we’re passionate people. This isn’t the glorious job, you know?”

WJCL reached out to animal control multiple times, but officials did not confirm the circumstances surrounding El Hencho’s injuries. Hinesville and Liberty County police also said they could not confirm any related police reports.

Durham said El Hencho is not the only dog at the rescue with an abusive past.

“We got another dog, his name is Stubby. He has three legs. Somebody chopped his leg off,” Durham said.

Veterinarians told the rescue that removing the bullet from El Hencho’s shoulder could cause more harm than leaving it in place. For more information on the shelter and how to help, click here.

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 Sean MacKinnon

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    LITTLE MIAMI RIVER, Ohio (WLWT) — On her way home from work Sunday in Batavia, snowfall made State Route 222 slick and Andi Burns crashed down a 15 foot ravine.

Her truck flipped in the Little Miami River, immediately swallowed by water and darkness.

“Just remember hitting a tree, I closed my eyes, and I was under water,” Burns said.

After 10 seconds swallowing water, she found the only pocket of air, just a four inch gap at the floorboard while her truck lay upside down.

Her Apple Watch crash detection called 911.

“Oh God please. Please God,” Burns said on the call.

“I’m with you okay, they’re coming,” a Clermont County Dispatcher assured her.

Central Joint EMS Fire District firefighters and Clermont County Sheriff’s deputies and sergeants worked in tandem, calling each other out by name and passing tools between each other to smash the trucks window.

See the body camera video at the top of the story.

Firefighter Tommy Jetter says while he smashed the window, Burns also kicked it out. Adrenaline running, Burns wouldn’t let go of the steering wheel, her head still just inches above the water.

“And he just looked at me and he was just like you have to trust me, you have to just let go. We’re right here. So I just let go and at that same time they yanked me out by my legs,” Burns said.

After the minutes that felt like hours, Andi walked away with only bruises. On Thursday, the team that saved her paid her another visit at home.

“They saved my life, they did. They saved my life,” Burns said. “There’s no hesitation with them.”

“There was probably only four to six inches of air space in the floorboard of the truck where her head was,” Sgt. Bailey said. “The rest was completely submerged, so she really found that magic spot in the truck that kept her alive.”

“I got in the ambulance and I looked over at one of them and I was like am I dreaming? And they’re like no, this is very real. You’re very lucky,” Burns said.

Burns plans to become an EMT in Clermont County soon, making plans with Central Joint Fire EMS District at the reunion Thursday.

Jetter, the firefighter who was first in the water and saved Burns, is in his first year on the job.

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 DeAndria Turner & Alex Suckow

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — A homeless woman in Louisville died after being picked up by a garbage truck.

Calls made to 911 give a little more context of her condition after the incident.

Police say Tyrah Adams, 35, was injured after coming into contact with equipment on a city garbage truck during routine alley cleanup.

Someone inside a nearby convenience store called 911 after Adams walked in bleeding and disoriented.

The caller told operators she had blood coming from her nose and mouth and was unable to speak before collapsing.

The caller believed she had been injured during an assault or was overdosing on a drug.

Operator: Is she responding normally?

Caller: Yes, yes, yes, yes. But she is looking pretty rough. Rougher than I’ve ever seen her

Caller: She fell through the door. She came running in the door.

In parts of the call, she can be heard moaning in agony in the background.

Adams was rushed to a hospital, but later died of her injuries, we’re told.

The mayor described the incident as a tragic accident, but Adams’ family and their attorney argue it was preventable.

The investigation by LMPD’s Public Integrity Unit is ongoing.

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 Jessica Brown

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — A kidney donor drove nearly 18 hours through the recent blizzard to reach Boston in time for a life-saving transplant at Tufts Medical Center.

Colleen Richards, a nurse coordinator for the transplant team at Tufts Medical Center, was uncertain if the kidney transplant would happen. For months, she had February 25 circled on her calendar, marking the day Kelley Nixon was scheduled to donate a kidney to Michelle Wood.

“I think they get the date in their heads. It’s almost like a birthday. It’s a new birthday with their new kidney,” Richards said.

Wood had been living with Polycystic Kidney Disease, a genetic condition that is deadly without a transplant. She reached out to friends and family for help and discovered that Nixon was a match.

“She was very motivated, very excited, wanted to do something to help her friend’s spouse out, and she did,” Richards said.

Observed blizzardPowerful storm brings blizzard conditions to Massachusetts for first time since 2022 Nixon and her husband booked a flight from Anchorage to Boston but found themselves stuck in Chicago due to the blizzard.

“They opted to rent a four-wheel drive car on Monday morning and started the trek to Boston,” Richards said.

“It made things interesting, exciting, but routine and boring, which we like. We don’t want excitements in surgery,” said Dr. Manish Varma, a transplant surgeon at Tufts Medical Center.

Varma said there haven’t been any “excitements” during recovery either. Both Wood and Nixon are resting comfortably and looking forward to spring.

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.