After facing threat of demolition, Fred Astaire’s birth house no longer has code violations

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Aaron Hegarty

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — In 2021, an Omaha housing inspector came to Fred Astaire’s birth house.

They noted several violations at the home overlooking 10th Street just south of Martha, including household debris, with some areas piled up to three feet high. A bright yellow “Danger – Closed” sign was placed on the home.

Ron Hug, before he was an Omaha City Council member, took notice.

“I used to flip houses,” Hug said. “I got pretty excited. I thought, oh, there’s an opportunity there.”

Hug leads the nonprofit that owns the home.

He said the goal is to prevent it from becoming a rental property again.

The city has no more code violations on the property, according to a city official. The final violations were removed in December, Hug said.

Hug shared the progress with KETV. Built in 1880, the house originally had gas lights, so Hug had the first outlets put in the floors rather than the walls.

“It’s a great thing for Omaha, because there’s one more thing we can draw people’s attention to from around the country, around the world,” said Bruce Crawford, who has hosted classic film tributes in Omaha for 33 years. “He created things that people can’t even touch today and come close to what he did. Anything connected to him in Omaha must be preserved.”

Astaire briefly recalls his time in Omaha in his autobiography, Douglas County Historical Society Executive Director Tom Neal said. But he remembers a home on 19th Street. Omaha World-Herald archives report it was on the 1400 block of North 19th Street.

But it appears that home is long gone. But 2326 S 10th Street, the home he was born in, is still there.

Hug said they’re working to make the birth house look like an average late-1800s, early 1900s home.

At one time, he said the goal was to make it a museum. That’s in flux, he said. It could become an event venue.

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.

Men create carousel on frozen pond

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Renee Maloney

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — When temperatures get chilly, the winter fun has just begun.

James and Bob Pike spent hours working on their latest cold creation.

An ice carousel!

The pair spent hours carving it into a pond using chainsaws and attached a motor to help it spin.

They were inspired by seeing someone do something similar in a YouTube video. They even invited friends and family over enjoy it together.

According to Bob’s most recent post on Facebook, the fun may have come to an end as the spinning circle of ice cracked in several places. Thankfully, no one fell in.

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.

Portland ICE protest chaos; ONA condemns protest; and Bend motorcyclist arrested for endangering protesters

KTVZ on February 2, 2026

KTVZ – News Team

OREGON (KTVZ) — Pandemonium erupted in Portland Saturday as federal agents unleashed tear gas on thousands protesting ICE actions during a peaceful march organized by Oregon’s labor unions, while a motorcyclist was accused of endangering participants of a Bend rally, by circling through crowds and blocking traffic.

Portland ICE protest

KGW reports thousands flooded downtown Portland for a second straight day, fueled by outrage over the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in the Twin Cities. Workers, children, and community allies at the labor-led march faced chemical agents near the ICE Building in the South Waterfront neighborhood. Federal law enforcement fired tear gas, pepper balls, and flash bangs—new volleys every 20 minutes—scattering the crowd and injuring one person treated on scene. KGW video captured the frenzy: protesters demanding “ICE Out” accountability clashed as streets near Elizabeth Caruthers Park stayed barricaded into the night, joining nationwide calls for change.

ONA condemns actions of federal agents

The Oregon Nurses Association (ONA) strongly condemned the response to nonviolent demonstrators as “dangerous, unacceptable and an attack on Oregon’s working families.” ONA highlighted frontline nurses who immediately provided care to those exposed, reflecting their commitment to health, safety, human dignity, and rights amid crisis. ONA vows to defend Oregon’s immigrant community through street action, hospital accountability, patient protection, and policies like the Healthcare Without Fear Act.

Motorcyclist arrested during Bend ICE protest

Just hours later in Bend, around 3:51 p.m., police rushed to NW Wall Street and Newport Avenue where protesters gathered on all four corners. According to the Bend Police Department, a motorcyclist began doing dangerous laps through the intersection, blocking traffic and endangering demonstrators.

Officers tried to pull him over away from the crowd, but 34-year-old Bend resident Kurt Patrick Greenwood sped off east on Franklin Avenue. True to department policy, no chase ensued through busy areas. Greenwood soon returned, circling again—until traffic jammed him on Wall Street.

Cops swooped in; Greenwood refused to dismount, resisted, and was forcibly detained on the ground—but sustained no injuries. He’s now jailed in Deschutes County on suspicion of Disorderly Conduct II, Eluding a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device, Improper Display of Validating Stickers, and Driving Uninsured. His uninsured bike was impounded, briefly shutting Wall Street.

From Portland’s fury to Bend’s close call, Saturday’s unrest underscores rising tensions around the clock.

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Father and son rivalry as Super Bowl 60 approaches

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Yunier Martinez

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    UNDERHILL, Vermont (WPTZ) — For the Rodriguez family in Underhill, Sunday football is a tradition, even if it means cheering for opposing teams.

Dad Gerber Rodriguez has been a Seattle Seahawks fan since his youth in Seattle, where the city’s teams were central to his sports identity.

When his son Sam was born, he introduced him to the Seahawks, dressing him in team gear. But growing up in New England, Sam developed his own loyalty to the New England Patriots, embracing a sports identity distinct from his father.

The experience goes beyond wins and losses, creating a bond between the two. One defining moment occurred during Super Bowl 49, when a goal-line interception became a lasting point of memory for the family. Sam recalls the play vividly and has never allowed his father to forget it.

As Super Bowl 60 approaches, the Seahawks and Patriots will meet again, bringing a renewed sense of excitement to the Rodriguez household.

The game will be marked by friends, food, and spirited debate, but at its center is the connection between father and son, grounded in shared dedication to the sport.

“This is something that brings us closer together,” Sam said. “It’s a time we can spend together watching the game that we both love.”

For Gerber, the most rewarding part has been watching his son develop his own passion for football.

“It’s been remarkable seeing him grow and how much love he has for the game. It’s just great,” he said.

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Man gets life-saving gift from best friend

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Alanna Flood, Nicole Poitras

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    MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (WMUR) — Adam Soucy and his friend, Lee Card, grew up riding bikes and jumping off decks in Manchester. Now, they’ve shared an experience that gives the term “blood brothers” new meaning.

Earlier this month, Card gave a portion of his liver to Soucy through a living donor transplant.

Following a series of health problems, Soucy was diagnosed with a rare type of liver cancer. He was 40 years old and had just gotten married two months prior, in August 2024.

His medical team first tried to fix the problem with stents.

“And then they said, this isn’t going to work. Let’s put you on the transplant list,” Soucy said.

He was put on the national donor database. That’s when Card asked what it would take to be a donor.

“When Lee stepped up, they were like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is so much easier. We have a living donor who could possibly be a match,'” Soucy said.

After 15 months of testing, the two were cleared and the transplant took place Jan. 20.

The two friends got released from the hospital Jan. 29.

For more information on how to become an organ donor, visit organdonor.gov.

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.

Columbia City Council passes controversial median ordinance

KMIZ on February 2, 2026

Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council voted 5–2 on Monday to approve a median ordinance that had been delayed since November.

The ordinance, which takes effect in July, regulates the use of medians, road crossings and traffic islands for both motorists and pedestrians at intersections with speed limits of 35 miles per hour or higher, average daily traffic volumes of at least 15,000 vehicles, or medians narrower than six feet.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Valerie Carroll and Ward 2 Councilwoman Vera Elwood voted against the ordinance. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was among those who voted in favor of the measure.

Carroll said none of the boards or commissions that reviewed the proposal supported the ordinance. Elwood argued the measure was not data-driven, citing limited information to support claims it would improve pedestrian safety.

Elwood added that while she believed the ordinance was well-intentioned, she was concerned about how it could be enforced in the future. She said the council cannot guarantee the measure will be applied consistently once current members leave office or as the police force turns over, leaving the ordinance’s intent and enforcement open to interpretation.

However, Buffaloe argued that the eight reported incidents involving pedestrians on medians are more than she would like to see and that data showed pedestrains that get hit by a car traveling just 30mph have just a 50 percent survival rate.

The approved ordinance will:

Prohibit crossing a major road anywhere except in a crosswalk, a pedestrian-control signal, or an intersection if those things aren’t available.

Prohibit being on a median fewer than 6 feet wide except when crossing the road.

Prohibit getting out of cars while in a traffic lane or within a major intersection.

Prohibit approaching cars on a major road unless the car is legally parked.

Prohibit people in vehicles from engaging with pedestrians at major intersections.

In November, the council voted to table the ordinance, noting that they needed more clarification on the ordinance.

The discussion of the ordinance was split amongst the community. Some comments from a city survey say the ordinance will keep pedestrians and drivers safe. Others, however, say the ordinance targets panhandlers and criminalizes homelessness.

At the meeting

Public comment stretched more than an hour Monday night, with 39 speakers largely focused on how the proposed ordinance could affect people experiencing homelessness and residents with disabilities.

While a handful of speakers supported the measure, calling it a “common-sense” step to improve public safety, the overwhelming majority of those who addressed the council spoke in opposition.

City staff told council members earlier in the meeting that Columbia has 115 designated street-crossing segments, 58 of which do not have traffic signals — a point opponents cited as evidence the ordinance could make crossing major roads more difficult.

City Manager De’Carlon Seewood said the city applied for a federal grant to help overhaul some of those intersections. While Columbia did not receive the construction funding it sought, Seewood said the city was awarded a planning grant that positions it to compete for a larger grant that could fund improvements at several intersections affected by the ordinance.

Before public comment began, the council voted on five amendments to the ordinance, most of which involved clarifying language or technical changes.

One amendment addressed accessibility concerns raised by Ward 3 Councilwoman Jacque Sample, who cited instances where the absence of sidewalks has forced people using mobility scooters into traffic lanes, including along Providence Road.

The council approved revised language stating pedestrians may not be prohibited from using a major roadway when there is no available sidewalk or path of travel that complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act

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Gold Star family pushes for new state license plate

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Jon Schoenheider

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    GORHAM, New Hampshire (WMUR) — A bill moving through the state legislature could give New Hampshire Gold Star families more options for license plates, led by Gorham parents who lost their son overseas.

In November 2023, SSgt. Tanner Grone died in a helicopter crash before being brought home to a town-wide ceremony to honor him.

The 26-year-old was one of five U.S. Special Operations aviation soldiers to die during a routine training flight near Cyprus. Reports indicated the crash was due to an in-flight emergency, and not due to hostile actions.

To honor him in her own way, Tanner’s mom, Erica, got a “Gold Star Mother” vanity license plate in August 2024. At the time, she was the only family member who could get such a plate.

“It just didn’t seem right that I was the only one receiving this,” she said.

Since there were no additional vanity plate options for other family members, the Grones decided to make a change. The goal was to create a Gold Star plate for Steve as Tanner’s dad, and one for their daughter, Emily

“(Emily) was by my side the whole time,” said Erica, “and Steve and I made choices raising them together, it wasn’t me on my own.”

The family reached out to their local representatives to ask for more options. That included contacting State Rep. Michael Murphy, who is now the prime sponsor for House Bill 1070, the bill that would add more options.

Murphy said this wasn’t the first time other plates were suggested, as others have tried in years past.

“It wasn’t feasible monetarily,” Murphy said. “It cost a lot of money to change things over the plates, and that was taxpayer money. So that’s kind of why it all got shot down before.”

With support from other lawmakers and the state Department of Motor Vehicles, the Grones say they were informed the design would stay similar. Instead of “Mother” on the bottom of the star printed on the left side of the plate, the word would change to options like “Father” and “Family” on the new additions.

“We just wanted everybody to have their choice of what they wanted,” Murphy said.

It’s a choice that the Grones have heard other families want, too, which has bolstered their efforts. They say the idea has received traction online from other Gold Star families, some of whom tried to propose the same idea in the past.

“The time has come for it,” said Tanner’s father, Steve. “It’s the right thing to do.”

The bill was approved by the State House Committee and Finance Committee last week. It’s now waiting for approval in the State Senate.

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.

Engineers monitor rare ice buildup on Pittsburgh’s three rivers

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Felicity Taylor

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — Ice covering Pittsburgh’s three rivers causes extra work for the Army Corps of Engineers as they try to keep barge traffic moving. Most years, folks only expect the Allegheny River to look the way all three do.

“This is exceptional. We are seeing ice formation on the Monongahela River, which, of course, flows south to north, so typically it’s warmer than the Allegheny,” Col. Nicholas Melin said. “But even on the Ohio, we’re seeing freezing temperatures and ice formation that we’ve not seen in quite a number of years.”

Barges are still moving on the Monongahela and Ohio rivers, though less frequently than usual. That is because the Army Corps of Engineers has kept all 22 locks and dams across the three rivers open. There is still ice on the river.

“Ice buildup on the gates, ice buildup on the dam can cause excess weight on the gates, which can cause issues and breakages,” Sean Myers, a maintenance mechanic supervisor at the Emsworth Lock and Dam, said. “We have to be able to respond to that when it does happen.”

Officials stressed that while the rivers may look frozen solid, the water beneath the ice is still moving and dangerous. They are warning people against walking out onto the ice, noting that falling into water this cold can be deadly.

“The river is still flowing. Even if you don’t see the water, it is still moving underneath the ice,” Melin said. “The ice is under pressure, so it’s shifting and reforming. Even though it might look as though the river is solid ice, there could be cracks and fissures, and ice could be moving without you knowing it.”

Eventually, the ice will melt, and how that happens will decide their next steps for the river.

“If the temperatures rise gradually, the ice will melt, and we’ll move it through our locks and dams and move it down the Ohio River,” Melin said. “If we see a rapid rise in temperature and a lot of rain, that’s when we would potentially see high water conditions on our rivers.”

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.

Southwest Florida residents join effort to collect cold-stunned iguanas

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Natacha Casal

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are collecting frozen, cold-stunned green iguanas Sunday and Monday, following a temporary executive order that allows residents to remove the invasive species from the wild without a permit and take them to designated FWC offices.

Marlin Smith from Bonita Springs said, “I’ve kind of learned in a lot of my classes that they’re, they’re really bad for the environment here. So I figured it would be best to kind of collect him and properly dispose of them to kind of overall help the environment here.”

Smith expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to assist wildlife officers and contribute to the ecosystem. “It’s nice to engage the public in this too, because, I mean, there’s only so many FWC officers and so many environmental scientists. So to allow the public to do this and help them out is a really large collective effort. And I think it’s ultimately going to do a lot of good for the ecosystem,” he said.

Smith traveled from Bonita Springs to drop off an iguana he found in a pool. “I was doing my rounds this morning at our field station. Just putting all the coolers and furniture that blew blue around last night with that cold front. And I saw this iguana basically frozen in time, right? Right by the side of the pool. So I scooped him up, put him in this box. And then I saw on the news that FWC was taking live iguanas,” Smith said.

John Magyar from Fort Myers also found two frozen iguanas this morning. “So woke up this morning and sister-in-law went to go out, go studying, and turns out these were on of her car, so we think one of them fell out of a tree. The one was right next to the car, so we ended up having to push it off the car. Then we try to figure out how to get rid of them humanely,” Magyar said.

FWC emphasizes safety when capturing these reptiles, advising anyone collecting iguanas to wear protective gloves, long sleeves, and pants to avoid scratches.

The iguanas must be placed in a secure, escape-proof cloth bag, then put inside a second locked container labeled “prohibited reptiles.”

The bags must remain sealed until handed off to FWC staff, as iguanas can thaw out and act defensively with sharp teeth, claws, and powerful tails.

Magyar added, “Honestly, we’re just trying to figure out if when we were moving them off the car, if they were going to like, spring to life So we were really hoping they would stay frozen.”

Outside of this executive order, people who need help removing iguanas should contact a professional wildlife control operator.

FWC will be collecting cold-stunned iguanas Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Crews free worker trapped in elevated sand hopper

CNN Newsource on February 2, 2026

By Greg Ng

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    COCKEYSVILLE, Maryland (WBAL) — Crews rescued a worker who became trapped in an elevated sand hopper in Cockeysville, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.

County fire officials said rescue crews were called around 1:21 p.m. Friday to the 10800 block of Beaver Dam Road, where a worker was trapped waist-deep in an elevated sand hopper.

County fire officials said first responders helped free the man from sand nearly 75 feet in the air, and h was able walk out with assistance.

A Medevac helicopter and the Shock Trauma Go-Team were called to the scene, and Baltimore City sent mutual aid.

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.