Local fire departments stay prepared as a red-flag warning is issued for majority of the state

KMIZ on February 18, 2026

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The National Weather Service office in St. Louis is warning of an elevated fire risk until Thusday evening due to breezy winds and dry conditions, leading officials to encourage people to avoid outdoor burning this week.

Cooper County Fire Protection District Chief David Gehm told ABC 17 News operations don’t change with the increased risk however, stations are staying prepared.

“We send notice out to all the stations, make sure all their trucks are filled up and all their equipment is fueled up and working properly,” Gehm said.

According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be especially concerning, with conditions throughout the week not being favorable for outdoor burning.

Boone County Office of Emergency Management is coordinating with the Columbia Fire Department, Centralia Fire Department and the Boone County Fire Protection District to monitor conditions and ensure readiness.

ABC 17 News also spoke with the Cooper County Fire Protection District and Boonville Fire Department who have joined automatic mutual aid to help assist.

“Everybody’s limited on manpower, so with this new agreement, we share a lot of resources in certain areas that butt up to the city, butt to the county, so we try and be prepared in those ways with manpower,” Boonville Fire Chief Tim Cooper said.

Gehm, Cooper and Chief Chris Wilhoit with the Howard County Fire Protection District all also reported having tools like leaf blowers and rakes to help respond, with crews also trained in digging ditches or back burning to get ahead of any brush fires.

“Sometimes you’re limited on water supply, so you have to resort to old school tactics, manual tactics, raking, shoveling, digging lines, using leaf blowers to help get the fire to go in the direction you would like it to go,” Cooper said.

According to the ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Team, warm, dry air will lead to less moisture, making vegetation, such as dry grass and branches, easy to catch fire. The breezy winds fan the flames, providing oxygen to the fire and carry embers to create new spot fires that can grow.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety says there are many ways people can help reduce the spread of fires.

When grilling, position the grill far away from siding, deck railing, and away from any leaves and overhanging branches. Do not add charcoal or starter fluid when coals or kindling have already been ignited.

Be extra careful with fire pits and campfires. Consider the risks before lighting the fire, and if you do decide to light it, check the wind direction. Keep a fire extinguisher or garden hose nearby.

Any controlled burns should be reported to local fire departments, including details of when, where and how long the burns will be.

“It’s a beautiful day to day. People want to burn their trash and that’s when it can run into problems,” Gehm said. “A lot of times they’ll try and take control of a fire with a garden hose. Something we ask them to call immediately to the fire department, call 911 and get the fire dispatch.”

The NWS advises against open burning leaves, brush or debris. Smokers should be extremely careful in extinguishing cigarette and cigar butts completely before disposal. Do not throw away cigarettes from moving vehicles.

Secure trailer chains to prevent them from dragging and creating sparks that could ignite dry grass. If you’re driving off-road, use caution as sparks from the vehicle or equipment could come in contact with dry grass and start a fire.

According to the Boone County Fire Protection District, fires that start in these conditions can behave unpredictably and move faster than expected.

People are encouraged to call 911 immediately to report smoke or fire.

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Detroit police chief plans to “terminate” two officers who contacted Border Patrol amid traffic stops

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By DeJanay Booth-Singleton, Joseph Buczek

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says he plans to “terminate” two officers after they contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection during two separate traffic stops, adding that their actions were against the department’s policy.

In a Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, Bettison says that under policy, officers are prohibited from contacting federal agents for translation services. Bettison says the calls resulted in the individuals being detained by federal agents.

“Contacting Border Patrol, ICE or other federal agencies for translation services is strictly prohibited, as it subjects individuals to extreme scrutiny,” Bettison said, adding that the department is working with a company that offers certified translation services.

“There’s absolutely no reason to contact federal law enforcement agencies to assist with translation services,” Bettison said.

Bettison says the two incidents happened in the last few months, on Dec. 16, 2025, and Feb. 9, 2026.

According to Bettison, the December incident was found during a routine audit of body-worn cameras.

Bettison said that a police officer was investigating an individual on a felony warrant at a location on the west side. The officer, according to Bettison, believed the individual was not a U.S. citizen and contacted Border Patrol. Border Patrol responded and took the individual.

Two months later, in February, a sergeant responded to a request for a supervisor at a traffic stop. The sergeant learned that the person involved in the traffic stop did not speak English and he called Border Patrol, Bettison says. The police chief says federal agents “conducted their investigation” and determined that the person was not a U.S. citizen. The person was then detained, Bettison says.

Both the officer and the sergeant were suspended with pay, but Bettison requested on Feb. 12 that the Board of Police Commissioners suspend the two officers without pay.

“I will say this to everyone that 98, 99% of our officers do it the right way each and every day. They’re out there working hard. But I do have 1, 2% that decide to violate our rules, our policies and our procedures. And to those officers, I will hold them accountable,” Bettison said.

The Board of Police Commissioners said it will discuss the matter during a closed-door session this Thursday.

“We’ll be making a decision on whether these officers violated a policy,” said Detroit Police Commissioner Darryl Woods

Woods says any decision to fire these officers will come from Bettison after the board makes its decision.

Detroit City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero released a statement on the two incidents, saying in part:

“This moment requires us to listen and to be intentional, in order to not cause greater harm. We, as a beloved community, above all else, need to practice mutual aid. I call upon residents across this great city to join together and build communities of care, whereby folks of all backgrounds support one another, care for one another, and love one another.”

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.

Dogs abandoned amid investigation into alleged neglect in far West Valley

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By KNXV Staff

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    MARICOPA COUNTY (KNXV) — Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after nine dogs were found in “filthy” conditions in the far West Valley.

MCSO’s Animal Crimes Unit responded to the property near Old US 80 and Salome Highway, west of Buckeye, on Wednesday for reports of neglect.

Neighbors reportedly made numerous complaints about the alleged neglect of the animals. MCSO said they were found without adequate food, water, or shelter.

Video from the scene on Wednesday showed a large area of debris surrounding kennels and fenced areas.

The suspect had reportedly been living on the property in an RV, and when she became aware that the investigation was underway, she abandoned the dogs and moved the RV, MCSO says.

Sheriff’s officials have been working to contact the owner.

No additional information has been released.

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Teen dating violence cases surge in Canyon County as advocates sound alarm

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — Teen dating violence is not just a statistic; it is happening in Canyon County, and local advocates say the numbers are rising.

At Advocates Against Family Violence, Outreach Coordinator Tiffany Ruiz says the scope of the problem is alarming.

“We served last year, 250 teens that were survivors of sexual assault, and that is an extremely high number,” Ruiz said.

February is recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, but Ruiz said the nonprofit’s work extends far beyond a single month.

She has worked at the agency for 20 years, with the last 15 years focused on teens in various capacities, including supporting survivors navigating court cases and at-risk youth in need of case management.

Ruiz said teen dating violence is often minimized by adults, allowing unhealthy behaviors to become normalized across generations.

“Their parent experienced it, their grandparent experienced it, and so they aren’t noticing those red flag behaviors,” she said. “They’re seeing it as normal behavior or expected behavior.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, one in twelve high school students will experience physical abuse before eighteen, and one in ten will experience sexual abuse.

In Canyon County alone, Ruiz said the nonprofit served 9,047 youth last year through school presentations, juvenile detention programs and other outreach efforts.

“Specifically, through our program last year, we served 9,047 youth,” she said.

The number of teens needing direct services is already trending upward this year.

“We have already served just in January alone, 105 youth, and we’ve provided 276 youth services,” Ruiz said. “And we’ve served 24 that are survivors of sexual assault.”

Ruiz said the increase reflects a continuing trend.

“If we keep heading this way, we will surpass the number that we saw last year,” Ruiz said.

Abuse does not always present as physical harm. Ruiz said technology is increasingly being used as a tool of control.

“We have a lot of teens that don’t identify repetitive text messaging or always needing to have your location on and checking your location by a significant other is not a normal, healthy behavior,” she said.

Beyond prevention education, the organization also responds when assaults are reported. Advocates Against Family Violence is part of the local Sexual Assault Response Team and works alongside law enforcement agencies in Canyon County.

When an assault is reported, advocates are called to the hospital to meet survivors — teens and adults — often within hours. Ruiz said their role begins at that moment and continues as long as the survivor wants support.

The nonprofit recently launched what it calls Roar Again Kits, comfort bags given to survivors at the hospital through grant funding.

The kits include new clothing in various sizes, including undergarments, sweats, sweatshirts, slippers and shoes. Because clothing worn during an assault is typically collected as evidence, survivors are often left with hospital scrubs. The kits allow them to leave in regular clothing.

Each bag also contains a blanket, sensory items to ease anxiety, a handwritten note and a small stuffed lion named Roarie. Separate kits are prepared for youth and adults.

“It’s kind of being looked at as teen drama or not that big of a deal because they are just teens, but the reality is, is that if that’s the way that we’re responding to it, they’re then going to think it’s not a big deal and think that it’s normal, and it’s not,” she said.

She said one of the most important steps adults can take is to listen when teens speak up.

“When I talked, they didn’t listen, so maybe they’ll listen to how I act,” Ruiz recalled teens telling her.

Advocates Against Family Violence will continue year-round outreach in Canyon County schools and community programs to reduce the number of teens who experience dating violence.

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

Beautiful blooms surprise Iowa cancer patients

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Laura Terrell

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    DES MOINES, Iow (KCCI) — Sometimes the most colorful surprises come during the darkest times. That’s exactly what happened at John Stoddard Cancer Center in Des Moines.

“I have a friend who is a cancer patient here, and she told me about so many of the wonderful programs that have enriched her life, and when I had the opportunity to make a donation in kind, I took advantage of it,” said Catherine Schut.

Schut owns a beekeeping flower farm in Prairie City called Hive and Petal. She often drops off beautiful bouquets of flowers at John Stoddard Cancer Center to brighten the day of cancer patients. Schut was dropping off 40 bouquets the day KCCI was there.

“This was such a shock and a very pleasant surprise,” said Meddy Paulus.

Paulus, 45, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2025 after a routine mammogram. It came as a shock as she had just arrived back in Des Moines after competing in a elite level weight lifting competition.

“Since I have gone on this journey and continue to go on it, I am just a huge advocate of changing the narrative for cancer patients,” said Paulus.

Paulus says her cancer journey has been tough, but acts of kindness, like a surprise gift of flowers brightens her day and inspire her to keep going.

“It was a really great way to just kind of lift the spirits,” said Paulus.

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‘What a gal’: Tooele woman remembered for vibrant spirit following fatal auto-pedestrian crash

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Curtis Booker

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    TOOELE (KSL) — A Tooele woman is being remembered for her vibrant and resilient spirit after she was hit and killed while crossing an intersection last week.

J. Dawn Drapper described her friend Sherrie Jolley, 57, as loyal, fierce and full of life.

“What a gal,” she said. “I mean, she found something she believed in, and she fought to the end for it.”

Jolley leaves behind her two children and a host of other family members, according to her obituary.

Drapper said she’d known Jolley for about five years; the two met as they were a part of a local group.

Last Tuesday, Feb. 10, Jolley was struck by a vehicle near 1000 N. Main and later died from her injuries, the Tooele Police Department said.

On Sunday, community members united to create a memorial for Jolley alongside a pole near the intersection where she was hit. Flowers, balloons, teddy bears and a poster that reads “We Love You Sherrie” now decorate on the pole.

“There were just so many nice posters and stuff up — the whole pole was decorated,” said Drapper, who also participated in creating the memorial.

Although the two only knew each other for a short period of time, Drapper said her friend didn’t have an easy life — but Jolley always remained resilient in the face of adversity.

“She’d been through a lot of trauma in her life, and she had come to the point where she was so happy-go-lucky,” Drapper told KSL. “She would walk down the street singing and riding in her wheelchair or pushing her wheelchair; she just would have a smile on her face and (be) singing a song — she was just always as happy as she could be.”

Tooele police said they were investigating the crash; KSL reached out to the department for an update on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response.

But even before last week’s crash, county officials were seeking ways to enhance safety on the roads.

Tooele County has asked residents to take its safety action plan survey to gather feedback on what efforts could be made to reduce serious crashes and save lives.

They invite residents to weigh in on the survey to share their concerns about traffic safety and identify key problem areas in the county.

“This helps us move closer to our goal of zero fatalities,” said Brittany Lopez, Tooele County’s assistant manager.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe* has been launched in honor of Jolley “to cover any end of life expenses,” the crowdfunding campaign reads.

Drapper said she hopes her friend is remembered as someone who displayed care and kindness for those around her.

“She’d uplift women as much as possible and she would always tell everybody they were amazing (and that) they were beautiful,” she said.

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

Registered sex offender accused in LA is sent to prison after judge rules he violated probation

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By KABC Staff

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A registered sex offender who was accused of targeting women across Los Angeles has been taken back into custody and sent to state prison after a judge ruled that he violated his probation.

Matthew Werner, a 48-year-old Las Vegas resident, traveled out of state without permission from probation department, marking his third probation violation, the judge said. He was ordered to serve four years in prison with credit for time served.

Werner was charged in 2023 with three counts of sexual assault, including rape, against two different women.

Werner was arrested Feb. 28 of 2023 on suspicion of a series of violations of rape dating back to 2015 in the areas of North Hollywood, Mid-City, Hollywood and Woodland Hills, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Investigators said he targeted women using social media and dating apps while using various aliases to avoid getting caught. Police identified five women who Werner allegedly assaulted in L.A.

He took a plea deal in 2023, registered as a sex offender and was placed on probation — a result that angered many of his victims. One of them spoke out on Tuesday after Werner was sent to prison.

“You don’t get to violate anyone and just walk free,” Shira Scott Astrof said. “I hope that more women come forward now that he’s in jail and he can stay there for a lot longer.”

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.

Crews work to clear fallen trees across San Diego after Monday’s powerful storm

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Dani Miskell

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Cleanup crews are working across San Diego to remove fallen trees and debris from Monday’s powerful storm, with city officials reporting 49 tree-related calls and 16 confirmed fallen trees.

The urgency comes as another storm is expected to roll in Tuesday night.

The talk-of-the-town has been a massive Torrey Pine that toppled in Pacific Beach on Monday afternoon. West Coast Arborists carefully sawed the 30-foot tree piece by piece because a parked car was blocking access to the full trunk.

“We have to make sure the right of way is clear for not just vehicles and pedestrians, but emergency responders, like ambulances or things like that that need to get through,” said Brian Widener, the City of San Diego’s Forester.

The City must clear downed trees regardless of whether they fall on city property or private land. Widener said homeowners had previously reported that the Pacific Beach Torrey Pine was leaning before Monday’s storm hit, and it’s now being evaluated by the City.

“We had unprecedented winds in the last 24 hours, and with a good amount of saturated soils,” Widener said, explaining that taller, mature trees are more susceptible to wind damage than shorter ones.

The City is actively responding to tree-removal requests across multiple neighborhoods. Residents who spot additional hazardous trees can submit requests through the Get It Done app or website.

“Our arborists will respond to those requests fairly quickly within 24 hours, 48 hours,” Widener said.

The storm also caused a major fire event overnight near Escondido, where lightning struck around 1 a.m., igniting about 100 palm trees. San Diego Fire-Rescue, Escondido Fire, Cal Fire, and rainfall worked together to extinguish a blaze that burned approximately one acre in a couple of hours.

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.

Jewish student, director speaks out after UA Hillel building vandalized

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Marc Monroy

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    TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A window at the University of Arizona Hillel building was cracked early Saturday morning after an object struck it, leaving Jewish students and community members on high alert.

The incident occurred at the Hillel building, a Jewish student organization’s building on campus, where an object hit and cracked two windows but did not break them completely. No one was inside the building when the incident happened.

Ziva Goldfein, a freshman at the university, said the incident has made her feel less secure on campus.

“It terrifies me for lack of a better term and I hate that we’re living in a world full of hate,” Goldfein said.

The New Mexico native said while her life as a freshman at the University of Arizona has been relatively calm, this recent incident has left her more alert about her surroundings.

“In the short term, it’s definitely scary and definitely worries me and shapes how I live my life,” Goldfein said.

While some students and directors at the Hillel building are unsure if this was a targeted attack, Interim Executive Director Eddie Lang believes it was intentional.

“For us, this feels like a continuation of the hate speech and hate speech that goes unannounced that turns into action,” Lang said.

Goldfein said she has experienced some antisemitism before, but nothing violent has happened to her personally. She remains hopeful the incident was accidental.

“Hopefully this is just a foolish mishap and I’m confident the university and everyone involved will make sure it gets handled,” Goldfein said.

Both Tucson Police and University of Arizona Police are investigating the incident.

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

Hospital sweethearts take on Boston Marathon together

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Jessica Brown

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Love is in the air as a couple who met while trying to help their patients heal takes on a new challenge to support the hospital that brought them together.

“We met working on North Sixth, which is an inpatient cardiology unit,” said Hannah Russell, a nurse practitioner at Tufts Medical Center. “Which really kind of started our foundation as good friends, trusting one another and trusting the process.”

Russell and partner Dana Weaver have seen each other through plenty of milestone moments. He encouraged her to become a nurse practitioner. She was by his side as he graduated as a physician assistant.

At the heart of it all: their careers in the cardiology unit at Tufts.

“Putting someone else’s heart into somebody else and then having that patient thrive is just a really amazing thing to see,” said Weaver.

Russell added, “It’s really important to be able to connect with people quickly when they’re in such a critical place and probably one of the worst weeks of their life.”

Connecting with patients — and each other — is now pushing this team to take on a new challenge: this year’s Boston Marathon.

“I think Boston has been on both our bucket lists,” said Russell.

The pair actually took on their first marathon together in Maine, but they know this race will be a whole new experience.

“It’s so much different when you’re running and everybody’s cheering you on,” said Weaver.

And, of course, they will be putting in the miles to raise money for the hospital that brought them together.

“It is really special to be able to, while we’re running, be running for Tufts Medical Center and actively be trying to make changes for the better for patients,” said Russell. “We dubbed ourselves the ‘Tufts Marathon sweethearts.'”

They even started an Instagram account with that name.

Both say those training runs are a great way to relieve stress from the day and connect.

“After some long days, getting a run, just like talking it out, I think it’s kind of nice,” said Weaver.

Russell agreed.

“When I’m running, I find myself thinking about my patients in the past, my patients that are currently on our patient load, what we can do better for them,” she 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.