Acupuncture & avocados: How the Palm Beach Zoo cares for its senior anteater

CNN Newsource on February 25, 2026

By Frances Peyton

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    WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — The Palm Beach Zoo is using acupuncture to help one of its oldest residents stay comfortable as he ages.

Cruz, a 26-year-old anteater, has been experiencing mobility issues, prompting zoo veterinarians to explore acupuncture as a treatment option.

Dr. Carrie Ullmer, the director of veterinary services and conservation medicine, said the treatment is part of a comprehensive, personalized approach to animal care at the zoo.

“Here at the zoo, we provide concierge medical service, so we have a team of two veterinarians and two vet techs that provide the healthcare for all the animals,” Ullmer said.

Ullmer said Cruz’s age has brought on some familiar challenges.

“For animals as they age, sometimes they start to show their age in different ways, and Cruz has developed a little bit of arthritis,” Ullmer said. “He’s 26, so his latest treatment that we have started is acupuncture.”

One of the keys to Cruz’s treatment is the trusting bond he has built with his care team — and a very specific reward.

“We really work hard on developing our relationships with animals at the zoo, and so his zoologists have this very trusting relationship with him, and so they have worked to train him to basically hold still for an avocado smoothie reward and we can go in and do the acupuncture safely,” Ullmer said. “It’s totally voluntary. He can walk away if he chooses to participate in his own healthcare.”

Ullmer said Cruz’s care also highlights the zoo’s commitment to working with outside specialists.

“It’s a good example of how we work with our community partners,” Ullmer said. “We actually bring in a veterinarian, Dr. John Block, from outside of the zoo who comes in to provide this specialty service for us.”

Zoo visitors are encouraged to stop by and visit Cruz on their next trip to the Palm Beach Zoo.

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

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.

Couple trapped by abandoned construction site for over a year

CNN Newsource on February 25, 2026

By Kayla McDermott

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    WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (WPTV) — A West Palm Beach couple says they haven’t been able to use the street outside their home for more than a year due to an abandoned construction project that has become a hub for drug activity.

Christopher Young and his wife live on 20th Street, where blockades, garbage and water leaks now dominate the landscape outside their front door.

The construction project came to a halt about 14 months ago, leaving residents dealing with safety concerns and daily inconveniences.

“It is absolutely a ticking time bomb,” Young said. “We just want to be safe. We just want to have a normal place to live.”

The couple says they haven’t seen construction workers at the site in several months. The abandoned project has created multiple problems for residents, including limited parking and difficulty receiving deliveries.

“The parking is a bad situation,” Young said. “Good luck getting a delivery here.”

More concerning are the safety issues that have emerged. Young says people have started camping between the barriers at night, and he has found drug paraphernalia inside his gate.

“I’ve seen fights in the streets. I’ve seen drug usage,” Young said. “We have seen somebody defecating in front of my house.”

The situation has become so problematic that Young says no one in his household goes outside after dark. If nothing changes, he and his wife are considering moving.

“We want out, and we want out badly,” Young said.

The city of West Palm Beach provided a detailed timeline of the construction issues. Code enforcement officers initially cited the property for violations in July 2025. The property owner obtained the required permits to continue construction at that time, and the case was closed. However, the property was later sold while construction was still underway.

“Following the sale, construction activity paused, and the initial permits expired after six months of inactivity,” the city said in a statement. “In January 2026, Code Enforcement opened a new case after observing ongoing impacts to the street and sidewalk and work occurring in the public right-of-way without active permits.”

The project is associated with private development at 2032 N Dixie Highway and is not a city engineering project. The new owners, Essential Living, are now responsible for completing the work.

The city says the property owner has been advised of the steps needed to become compliant, including obtaining updated permits.

“The City understands that the property owner is working to improve the building, and our goal is to work collaboratively with them to address safety concerns, keep the right-of-way clear and accessible, and ensure the site is properly maintained as the project moves forward,” the city said.

ChenMoore, the engineering company involved in the project, said they were hired in 2023 by the property’s previous owner to design and certify a new water main extension.

“The project did not advance at that time due to a lack of required resources from the owner,” ChenMoore said in a statement. “The property has since changed ownership, and we have worked with the surveyors engaged by the new owner to obtain the data required for certification. We received comments from the City of West Palm Beach dated February 20, 2026 and are actively addressing those items.”

A violation notice from the city gives the owners less than two weeks to fix the site, obtain required permits to finish the work and stop blocking the street. If these requirements aren’t met, a hearing is scheduled for next month where the owners could face fines of $1,000 to $15,000 per day.

“I would love to see that this road gets reopened,” Young said. “Go back to normal, the way (it was) three years ago when I moved in.”

If the problem isn’t fixed by the owners, the city says it might clean up the site itself and send Essential Living the bill.

When contacted about the issue, Essential Living declined to comment.

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

98-year-old woman holds world record as oldest competitive pool player

CNN Newsource on February 25, 2026

By Tyler Hatfield

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    MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPTV) — Age is just a number for one woman in Martin County.

Maggie Kennedy, a 98-year-old woman from Jensen Beach, holds the world record as the oldest competitive pool player according to Guinness World Records.

“I fell in love with the game,” Kennedy said. “I think it’s because I’m old, I think that surprises people.”

At pool halls on the Treasure Coast and around the country, Kennedy is a legend.

“That’s what they say,” Kennedy said with a smile.

Kennedy has held the title since 2021, when she was 94 years old competing in Las Vegas. Next Tuesday, she’s making history again, flying to Las Vegas to compete in the BCA Nationals Pool League Tournament with her team: Sunday Funday.

“We’ll be playing every day from Wednesday through Sunday, and then, of course, the slot machines will be right handy,” Kennedy said. “That’s fun.”

But she’s not traveling to Vegas without some style.

On Sunday night at Raxx Billiards in Stuart, the pool community on the Treasure Coast donated over $2,000 for her trip and a seat in first class.

“I’m still flabbergasted,” Kennedy said. “I was just so touched by what they did.”

Two of her sons, Louis and Greg Arsenault, are by her side, watching her get ready to compete.

“She is an inspiration,” Greg Arsenault said.

“I’m just so proud of her,” Louis Arsenault said. “It’s great to see her doing something she loves to do, and she’s pretty good at it.”

How does she do it at her age? Maybe genetics.

“I come from good, hearty New England stock,” Kennedy said.

Or it could be just being Maggie.

“I was taught to be nice and be happy,” Kennedy said. “And here I am.”

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.

COS City Council approves new downtown development; neighbors worried it will price them out

KRDO on February 25, 2026

Michael Logerwell

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A large group, all wearing blue shirts, filled most of the chairs in the Colorado Springs City Council Chambers on Tuesday. Their big ask was a majority ‘no’ vote on a project that the Colorado Springs Urban Renewal Authority says would improve their neighborhood.

“Our job is to cure blight and to bring in projects all over the city,” Jeriah Walker, executive director of the URA, told KRDO13 after the council voted to approve and create the Moreno and Cascade Urban Renewal District.

Phase 1 of the project will build a 7-story hold called Catbird off Moreno Street, where an abandoned property sites now, but it’s phase two that has Walker really excited. That phase aims to build between 75 and 115 attainable housing units.

“We’re hoping it builds in more affordability in the Mill Street [Neighborhood] and actually acts to not displace people,” he said.

So then why is the neighborhood group against it?

“We thought that they should have to provide some benefits to the neighborhood, especially because a luxury hotel on the board of a working-class neighborhood pushes up prices and has the potential to force people out of the neighborhood,” said Max Kronstadt, a resident of the neighborhood who showed up wearing a blue ‘Mill Street’ shirt.

Even when talking about the attainable housing units, the neighbors aren’t sold.

“We don’t feel there’s any guarantees of [the units being affordable]. They’ve been using the word attainable. It feels pretty unclear what they mean when they say attainable versus affordable,” Kronstadt said. “Jariah seemed to suggest that attainable means above 80% of AMI, above 80% of AMI is not something that’s affordable to people in our neighborhood.” 

“[URA is] hoping that this is a good thing, you know, for the community. But I sympathize with them. I think, you know, it is scary times where you have rising rents, etc., that’s exactly why the URA approved this project was to build in more affordability into that neighborhood,” Walker said.

KRDO13 reached out to Norwood Development, the group that will be building the hotel and housing, about the city council’s vote today. Also, to address some of the Mill Street Neighbors’ concerns. They responded with the following statement:

“Norwood appreciates City Council’s approval of the Moreno and Cascade Urban Renewal Plan and supports the neighborhood’s right to passionately participate in today’s meeting.

The Catbird Hotel will be an excellent addition to downtown and a good neighbor to the residents of Mill Street. Phase II of the plan includes approximately 75–110 new attainable housing units. As Phase II advances, we will refine key project components such as the household incomes served, exact unit count and mix, and available funding mechanisms to support long-term affordability.

Todays meeting proves that public dialogue, discourse and disagreement can be both difficult and productive. We look forward to meeting with the residents of Mill Street as Phase II planning advances.”

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Beyond the Books: Upcoming Elections

KIFI on February 25, 2026

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — It’s filing week, and the 2026 races are officially underway. With the primary election approaching fast, 105 legislatives seats, seven statewide offices, and the gubernatorial seat are up for grabs. Governor Brad Little filed to run for reelection Tuesday, and will appear May 19th on the Republican Primary ballot.

There are several high-stakes races in Eastern Idaho, among those are the following:

District 32 (Idaho Falls and Ammon) – Republican Representative Stephanie Mickelson already has a primary challenger, Kelly Golden

District 35 (Bonneville and Caribou Counties) – Former Republican Representative Chad Christensen is back, challenging representative Michael Veile

District 30 (Bingham and Butte Counties) – Another former Republican State Representative, Julianne Young, has filed to run against Representative Ben Fuhriman – Fuhriman defeated Young in 2024, winning by only 4 votes

In the State Superintendents race, no challengers have emerged as of yet

Idaho Districts lean heavily Republican, so in some races a win in the May Primary could send the victor straight to the statehouse. Cuts that could go into effect after this session would largely impact higher education, but this election year’s changeups will have an impact on future budget decisions.

The deadline to file is Friday at 5 P.M., and any entries made before then have the potential to shake things up.

For information on the contested primaries, open seats, and who’s drawing money and endorsements early, visit idahoednews.org.

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Black History Month: Meet El Centro’s first Black fire battalion chief

KYMA on February 25, 2026

Danyelle Burke North

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – To celebrate Black History Month, we’re highlighting locals leaving a lasting legacy in our community. This week, we highlight El Centro’s first Black fire battalion chief, Albert Newton.

The local father wore many hats in the community from a deacon to a cadet to a teacher, president of the NAACP, and even served in the U.S. Navy.

He also served the fire department for 25 years, all while being a teacher at the same time. He went back to school at the national fire academy and went on to earn several more high honors.

“I was graduated into the senate, and then I become senator representing the Imperial County and the California Senior Legislature which I still retain,” said Newton.

Newton just celebrated his 90th birthday surrounded by several locals inspired by his story.

“His story does inspires me. He’s very important in the community. He’s done a lot. He’s contributed to a lot of people,” said Rosalind Summers, Albert’s friend.

His legacy is forever engraved in the city. His name is on the first responders wall in the valley, recognizing those who have been in the fire department for more than 15 years.

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CIF Regional Girls Water Polo: San Marcos pulls out nailbiter, Santa Barbara loses heartbreaker

KEYT on February 25, 2026

Mike Klan

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) –

CIF SoCal Water Polo Championships Division 1: San Marcos 7, Bishop’s 6: Junior Shea Estabrook snapped a 6-6 tie by scoring a goal with just :34 seconds to play to give the Royals a road win over San Diego’s top team. Harvard-bound goalie Bethany King made 11 blocks for San Marcos who improved to 27-7 on the season.

USC-bound Charlotte Raisin and sophomore Ella Grube each scored 2 goals for the Royals.

Oaks Christian 16, Beckman 13: The Lions, who won the CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship last weekend, will host San Marcos in a CIF-Regional semifinal on Thursday at 5 p.m.

Division 2: Carlsbad 10, Santa Barbara 9: Standout sophomore Jules Horton scored a game-high 6 goals for the Dons who finish their season at 26-10. Madison Thomas scored the final two goals for the visiting Lancers, the game winner coming with :56 seconds left to snap a 9-9 tie.

(Rose Nelley scored the first three goals for the Dons. Entenza Design).

The game was tied at 2 after one quarter and Rose Nelley’s third goal of the game put the Dons up 3-2 early in the second quarter.

Horton scored back-to-back goals to push the lead to 5-2. Her third goal in the second quarter helped the Dons to a 6-4 halftime lead.

Horton scored one a goal in the third quarter but the Dons were down 8-7 after three quarters.

The star Horton tied the game at 8 early in the fourth quarter and her highlight-reel backhanded goal with 4:15 remaining put Santa Barbara up 9-8.

But the offense dried up from there with Horton just missing some contested outside shots as time was winding down.

(Jules Horton put on an offensive show for the Dons scoring her team’s final 6 goals. Entenza Design).

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Free Dog Adoptions Wrap Up This Weekend at County Fair, Date Festival

KESQ on February 25, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Free dog adoptions at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival will conclude this weekend, the Riverside County Department of Animal Services announced today.

Adoption specialists will be on-site Thursday through Sunday at the county fairgrounds, 46350 Arabia St., to help prospective adopters choose from dogs of various breeds and sizes.

“Our commitment to saving lives means making the community part of the solution,” county Supervisor Manuel Perez said in a statement. “The fair has always been about bringing families together, and this is another meaningful way to do just that.”

Adoption hours are scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.   

Officials said adopters must be at least 18 years old. Each adoption includes spay or neuter surgery, vaccinations, a microchip and an engraved ID tag.

A total of 43 dogs have been adopted at the fair so far, according to the agency.  

“We’re excited to help families find their new family member and seeing new connections between people and pets is especially magical at the fair,” Jaclyn Schart, the agency’s deputy director of programs and operations, said in a statement.

More information is available at rcdas.org.

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Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez introduces proposal to suspend state gas tax

KESQ on February 25, 2026

Luis Avila

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Saving at the gas pump. Some state lawmakers introduced a bill to temporarily suspend California’s gas tax.

Local Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez was among those leading the effort during a news conference in Sacramento on Tuesday. Lawmakers calling for immediate relief, they say, as California drivers pay among the highest gas prices in the nation.

The bill, known as AB 1745, would suspend California’s 61 cents per gallon gas tax for one year. The gas tax is used to fund transportation infrastructure, but Gonzalez says not everyone reaps the benefits of the tax, including local communities in and around the Coachella Valley.

“For many communities in Assembly District 36, driving isn’t optional. It’s essential. There is no subway in Blythe. There’s no light rail in needles. In rural and desert communities, a car is not a luxury, it’s a lifeline,” Gonzalez said.

The average price for a gallon of gas in Riverside County is around $4.50, its highest amount since Dec. 2. The average price has risen 38.1 cents over the past 27 days, including six-tenths of a cent on Monday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service.

The proposal would also require all savings be passed directly to drivers and ensure transparency by showing the tax savings on fuel receipts.

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Local journalists honored at CV Journalism Foundation Awards

KESQ on February 25, 2026

Dakota Makinen

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – Local journalists gathered under one roof Tuesday to celebrate great accomplishments in storytelling.

The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation Awards, honoring local reporters and journalists, were held at the Omni Rancho Mirage resort in Rancho Mirage. It’s the 3rd annual event that’s quickly become the organization’s most important fundraiser.

“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, and the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation raises money so that we can financially help support local media organizations, whether that’s through staff positions, funding interns, helping to underwrite reporting projects so that they can do more work,” said

Kevin Fitzgerald from the Coachella Valley Independent won Journalist of the Year, and News Channel 3’s Shay Lawson won the Rising Star Award, which honors an early-career journalist.

“This means everything to me. I am so grateful for the Coachella Valley community for allowing me to tell their stories. I have met extraordinary people over my time here in the desert. It just has a special place in my heart,” Lawson said.

Journalists were also added to the Coachella Valley Journalism Hall of Fame, including:

— Lina Robles, co-host of morning radio show “El Show del Grenas” on our sister station La Poderosa.

— Jimmy Boegle, founding editor at the Coachella Valley Independent;

— Larry Bohannan, golf writer at The Desert Sun;

— Ric and Rozene Supple (posthumously), radio station owners and philanthropists.

During the ceremony, there was a surprise induction of CVJF co-founder Ricardo Loretta into the Media Hall of Fame. Loretta, executive director of the Carreón Foundation, founded the Coachella Valley MediaFoundation in 2020 along with Joe Wallace, the former CEO of the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership.

“Surprised but proud to have been included as an inductee to the CV Media Hall of Fame yesterday,” Loretta wrote in a social media post. “What an honor!

Ricardo Loretta

Over the past year, the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation has raised a quarter of a million dollars to support local journalism students.

For more information, visit cvjf.org.

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