Florida family races clock to stop dad’s deportation decades after coming from Cuba legally

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Meghan Moriarty

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    PALM BAY, Florida (WESH) — For the past five months, a Brevard County woman has been doing everything she can to get her father back home to Palm Bay.

“He’s just completely and emotionally spent,” Sheena Allende-Smith said.

Her father, 58-year-old Jose Manuel Allende, came to the United States legally from Cuba through the Freedom Flights, a large-scale operation that brought hundreds of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. He has an American driver’s license and a Social Security card.

However, a decades-old criminal history and lack of citizenship led to a deportation order.

Central Florida family is ready to self-deport with husbandOrlando family, US citizens ready to self-deport to Honduras with immigrant husband WESH 2 first told you about his case in September, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him in his driveway.

Initially, he was held at “Alligator Alcatraz” for more than two weeks. Allende-Smith said ICE agents threw away her father’s dentures when he arrived, and he has not been able to get a replacement while detained.

“‘Alligator Alcatraz’ has 24-hour LED lights on, so there’s no way to know what time of day it is,” Allende-Smith said. “There’s no way to know if it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner because they’re feeding you the same foods for every single meal.”

Her father is now being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami.

“He is not allowed outside at FDC. ICE rents the 11th floor from the federal prison, and they are not allowed recreation time,” Allende-Smith said. “They are not allowed outdoor time.”

Allende-Smith said she hired an attorney, and they were able to secure a motion to stay.

“Which means the deportation order is removed from his record. We also got a motion to reopen his case approved. That included 375 pages of records — 20 years of tax returns, medical records, proof that he owns a business, proof that he owns his home and letters from the community,” Allende-Smith said.

She said he should have been released by now, but he remains in custody.

“He is now in legal status because they removed the deportation order and granted the motion to reopen his case,” Allende-Smith said. “We applied for his green card, and it’s pending. He can’t complete the green card process as long as he’s being detained. The judge says it’s not his jurisdiction. Homeland Security says they’re detaining him. Then the judge says if they continue detaining him, we’re deporting him April 6 if he’s not released by then.”

The family is now up against the clock, hiring a federal attorney and working to obtain a signature for his release.

“My dad is a good man. Of course, every daughter says that about their father, but I really mean it. My father is a man of faith, and he has helped this community so much, quietly. He has helped so many people — elderly, veterans, disabled. He’s done work on their houses for free,” Allende-Smith said. “There’s no reason for him to be there.”

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.

Florida farmers face billions in losses due to cold weather

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Edward Franco

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    LABELLE, Florida (WBBH) — Farmers in Florida are facing billions of dollars in losses as they struggle to protect their crops from freezing temperatures.

In LaBelle, Felix Hernandez, field manager at Blueberry Bunch Farm, is taking measures to protect his crops from another cold blast.

“I’ve been here for 18 years, and this is the hardest winter,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez explained that when temperatures drop, he must act quickly to protect the plants.

“When the temperatures drop, I have to be here running. I’m doing everything. Everything is ready to run. 2,000 gallons per minute,” he said.

He uses a water pump to irrigate and spray water on the plants, which freezes over them to help keep most berries alive. Despite these efforts, Hernandez reported losing more than 4,000 plants and around 30,000 pounds of blueberries worth around $100,000 due to the cold wind and temperatures this year.

Florida’s recent cold snaps have caused over $3 billion in estimated losses to the state’s agriculture.

Elizabeth Etnoyer, owner of Southwest Florida Produce in Punta Gorda, is also feeling the impact.

“It’s not going to be good. It’s not good. Twice that’s happened. It’s hard for us to even get supplies here quickly because this is something we don’t expect,” Etnoyer said.

Etnoyer described the challenges faced due to the last frost, including the destruction of plastic sheets used to protect crops.

“Due to our last frost, a lot of them blew, like, far. We had to go far to pick up all of the sheets and the plastic. And then they all got destroyed from the wind. So we can’t even get any more plastic in for tonight,” she said.

Farmers hope this is the last cold snap of the year, as freezing temperatures in the Gulf Coast not only damage their crops and supply but also hurt their business.

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.

Family speaking up about toddler’s rare disease in hopes of helping others

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Mindy Basara

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — Carmen Akras seemed perfectly healthy when she was born in August 2022.

She progressed into a loving, beautiful and vivacious toddler; however, she suddenly stopped developing and began regressing.

Now, her family looks back on memories — like when Akras was 2 years old and playing with her baby brother, Albie.

“It’s Carmen kind of reaching out to Albert to give him something or help him, and that was who Carmen was, that was her spirit,” said Tom Akras, Carmen’s father.

The family began to notice developmental delays over the course of around a year. Carmen was eventually diagnosed with a rare pediatric neurodegenerative disease called metachromatic leukodystrophy.

“When babies are born, they appear normal — really in the first 3 to 6 months of life,” said Dr. Eric Mallack, a neurologist with Kennedy Krieger.

Mallack said patients begin to regress after around 6 months.

“It is a really sad thing to monitor because once patients become symptomatic, we can’t address the disease. We provide supportive care, but patients will degenerate and unfortunately succumb to the disease — more or less in slow motion — over the ensuing next couple of years. That’s so cruel. It’s extraordinarily cruel,” Mallack said. “Nobody can even fathom, I think, what it’s like to watch a kid die.”

Doctors told the Akras family they’ve never seen a patient live past the age of 10. It was hard for the family to process when Carmen received the diagnosis in the fall of 2024.

“She could still walk and talk and eat and play and laugh and do all those things,” said Annie Akras, Carmen’s mother. “We were like, how could there possibly be anything? And they said all of these abilities that she has are going to slowly go away.”

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a gene therapy to treat MLD, but you have to catch the disease early.

“Prior to getting sick, in that pre-symptomatic phase, we treat them with gene therapy, and they go on, they develop, they maintain function, they go to school. The longest-term data for the trial, it’s probably about 10 years out now, but it’s been very promising. It’s life changing. It’s lifesaving,” Mallack said.

MLD can be diagnosed at birth with a blood test. Mallack said federal guidelines changed in December 2025, and the MLD blood test is now recommended for newborns.

Per a Maryland mandate, it must be instituted in the state within 12 to 18 months, which was way too late for Carmen.

“Just the tragedy in all this is Carmen never had a shot,” Tom Akras said.

Now, the family is speaking out in the hopes that the state can implement the MLD newborn blood test sooner — perhaps saving another family from experiencing the devastating pain they’re going through.

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.

One arrested, another taken to hospital after domestic dispute prompts large OKC police presence

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Shanice Hopkins

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Police detained several people and arrested one person after a domestic dispute led to a barricade situation Tuesday morning at a southwest Oklahoma City home.

What police say happened

Police told KOCO 5 that the incident started after a woman called 911, reporting that someone had tried to run her over near Portland Avenue and Newcastle Road, near Southwest 29th and 44th Streets.

Authorities said the situation stemmed from a domestic dispute between two women who got into a fight. One person was arrested, and another was taken to a hospital.

That second person’s condition and the nature of the domestic dispute are unknown.

The others who were seen being detained have since been released.

Sky 5, which is the only news helicopter in the air on weekday mornings, showed police with guns drawn and at least a dozen units at the scene.

Three people were seen being taken away in handcuffs. Officers had the area surrounding the home blocked off.

The large police presence wound down around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

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.

Viewer asks why east end of Space Village Avenue in El Paso County remains closed for extended period

KRDO on February 24, 2026

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A mystery has developed regarding the mile-long east end of Space Village Avenue between Highway 94 and Marksheffel Road.

“It’s been closed for several years,” said Brenda Perkins, a Yoder resident who contacted KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior about the situation.

Perkins said that she and her husband, Jerry, use the segment of the avenue as a shortcut to restaurants and other businesses at the west end of the avenue, along US 24 and near the north gate of Peterson Space Force Base.

“To get to it now, with this road closed, we have to go clear up to Marksheffel, and try to make a left turn,” she explained. “But there’s too much traffic, and there’s too many accidents.”

Perkins also said that many people from Yoder, Rush, Ellicott, and other rural communities east of Peterson often make the same trip.

The pavement has also been removed from the avenue, and several piles of small boulders have been placed along the roadside, apparently to control drainage.

Perkins said that she’s heard new homes will eventually be built along the avenue.

Some earth-moving equipment is operating south of the avenue, and two signs are posted regarding future homes or property available for sale.

Pikes Peak Regional Building said that platting activity — mapping for future home construction — is happening at the site, but no building plans or permits have been submitted yet.

In housing projects, developers often close an existing road to improve it, but the time limit for the process is unclear.

El Paso County officials are looking into the matter.

Ironically, the west end of the avenue is where two roundabouts will be built, which has led to temporary closures and the permanent closure of the northbound exit road from Peterson to the avenue.

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Professional football days away from debuting in Steel City

KRDO on February 24, 2026

Bradley Davis

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) – The Pueblo Punishers start its ignagural season in the National Arena League with a preseason game this Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

“We wanted to change the look for people in Colorado towards Pueblo,” team owner Lisa Rohrich said.

The Punishers are part of the National Arena League (NAL), a professional indoor football league. Indoor football teams have a long reputation of being short-lived. Rohrich said she’s moved to Pueblo full-time, and she is all-in on the Punishers.

“I’m building this, so I know there’s been a lot of stigma around arena teams, that they’re not gonna stay here. That’s what’s different,” Rohrich said.

Two coaches on staff are Hall of Famers from the Indoor Football League. On the field, the team has collected talent from all over the country, with former D-1 and NFL ball players on the roster.

The team will host its home games at the Colorado State Fairgrounds inside the Southwest Motors Event Center. Its first preseason game is Saturday against the Northern Colorado Nightmares at 6:30 p.m., followed by its regular season home opener against the Colorado Spartans, an NAL team based out of Denver. Tickets start at $30.

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‘The photos will speak’: mother refutes GRPD, attorney narrative of shooting after seeing son’s body

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Josh Berry

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan (WXMI) — The mother of Da-Quain Johnson was allowed to see her son’s body for the first time Friday morning, two days after he was shot and killed by Grand Rapids police in an officer-involved shooting.

“I was not prepared for what I walked into. I still have not processed what I saw,” Angelica Johnson said. “I will not rest until I get answers.”

The shooting occurred Wednesday night in an apartment complex parking lot near Eastern Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Street. According to Grand Rapids Police Department, one officer fired their department-issued weapon. Johnson later died at the hospital.

Multiple videos were released Thursday showing different perspectives of the incident. GRPD revealed three clips from officers’ body and dash cameras. Hours later, activists shared video from a bystander.

Attorney Marc Curtis confirmed via email that he’s representing the officers involved. He released a statement regarding the incident that reads in part: “Officers have the legal and moral right to protect their own lives and the lives of others when faced with an imminent threat.”

The statement goes on to say: “We also urge the community to be cautious of incomplete information and speculation circulating on social media.”

Curtis added: “Many are focused on only portions of videos, but no one is reporting or acknowledging the third video that the Grand Rapids Police Department released where the officer states, ‘I saw the barrel pointed right at my face’ at the 6 min 14 second mark of the GRPD press conference on YouTube.”

In body camera footage, an officer can be heard saying, “I saw the barrel pointed right at my face.”

Johnson’s family pushes back on that assertion, questioning how that was possible based on evidence they’ve now seen.

Friday, the family and community activists spoke publicly. Johnson’s mother shared that she was allowed to see her son’s body for the first time Friday morning.

“I don’t have too much to say on it, because the photos will speak for their self. The police won’t spin a narrative on my words or the pictures,” she said.

As the family fights for justice, Johnson’s mother has a message for the community.

“If you’re going to protest, please make it peaceful. Because if you can’t do it peacefully, please don’t March at this time and say that you’re doing it on behalf of my son, because I can’t get justice if we’re being violent, too,” she said.

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.

TwoGuys Brewing in Wyoming & middle school students team up to feed neighbors in need

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Waleed Alamleh

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    WYOMING, Michigan (WXMI) — A Wyoming brewery and H.O.P.E. Gardens are partnering to feed neighbors in need — and teaching middle school students valuable life skills along the way.

TwoGuys Brewing owner Tom Payne and students from Godwin and Godfrey-Lee Middle School joined forces to prepare community meals, with students learning knife skills, safe food handling, and how to make salsa and burritos.

Tom Payne, Owner of Two Guys Brewing teaching students how to safely cut vegetables. “We’re cutting a bunch of different vegetables. We’re cutting peppers, tomatoes, and we’re squeezing limes,” student Omarion said.

“We show how to roll a burrito, we are making salsa in the kitchen. So we’re going to be learning knife skills, safe food handling,” Payne said.

Payne has long made giving back to the Wyoming neighborhood a priority. TwoGuys Brewing provides more than 100 free meals every week through its community meal program.

“We provide free meals, no questions asked if you’re hungry, or if your neighbor is hungry, you come in, you get a meal,” Payne said.

TwoGuys Brewing has given out over 3000 community meals since last year.

The need in the community is real, according to Payne.

“Sadly too many of our neighbors are food deprived,” Payne said.

Julie Brunson, executive director of H.O.P.E. Gardens, said the partnership is about more than just food — it’s about rebuilding community connections.

“We just all need to start coming together, because there’s a lot that seems to divide us these days, but good food, food for everybody, right? And community can really change, change our lives,” Brunson said.

Brunson, who grew up in Wyoming, said she hopes the effort inspires others.

“People really care about their neighbors, and so, we really need that today. So I think this could just spread the joy and spread others to do the same,” Brunson said.

The students were able to make chicken burritos, salsa, and drinks for their families and the neighborhood. For students like Omarion, the experience carries personal meaning.

“I feel pretty good to do it. I like helping out different people and stuff, because I know it might be hard to live and buy food,” Omarion said.

Fellow student Eli said the work feels important.

The students also made meals for their families, with any extra food prepared during the sessions going into the community meals fridge at TwoGuys Brewing.

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.

Police say Michigan vape shop was selling marijuana to kids in candy-inspired packaging

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Randy Wimbley

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    YPSILANTI, Michigan (WXYZ) — Ypsilanti police raided a downtown vape shop in mid-February after months of complaints that children were buying marijuana there — and authorities say the store wasn’t even licensed to sell it.

Officers shut down Ypsi Smoke and Mart, chaining and padlocking its doors. Inside, police seized marijuana packaged in ways that Police Chief Tim Anderson says could easily fool parents.

Watch Randy Wimbley’s video report below:

“Again, if you pay attention here — this packaging. Got Slimer here. This is what some of the young kids are carrying around. At first glance, you may think this is candy or cookies and cream, but what’s really inside is THC, marijuana,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the shop was allegedly selling marijuana to children who may have been coming from school or the nearby transit center.

“It was being distributed to children, maybe as they came from school or left the transit center. We were able to substantiate some of those claims through investigations, which led us to the vape shop,” Anderson said.

The shop had a sign on its door stating customers must be 21 or older to enter.

Some customers said they were shocked to learn marijuana was being sold inside at all.

“I didn’t even know they sold marijuana,” Russell Shropshire said.

Lee Tooson, who frequents the area, said he was not surprised by the enforcement action.

“Police were saying that they believe the shop was selling weed to kids. I wouldn’t doubt it — from what I saw coming in and out of here, it was nothing but kids. A lot of little kids. They jump off that bus and come over here and crowd around,” Tooson said.

Ypsilanti parents Halie Gatz and Xavier Anderson said the allegations left them stunned.

“It’s irritating because what if my child was 15 or a little older, and next thing you know, he comes home and says, ‘Mom, look what I got.’ Like, no,” Gatz said.

“That’s kind of messed up because you never know what kid might walk in there, then come home to their parents looking all high and can’t do anything for themselves. Next thing you know CPS is calling and kids get taken because they came home high,” Xavier Anderson said.

Calls to the listed owner of the building were not returned.

Chief Anderson said the bust should serve as a warning to other smoke shops in the area.

“We take these complaints seriously, we’re going to investigate, and we have no problem coming in and shutting you down when you’re involved in illicit and illegal activity,” Anderson said.

Police say this is an ongoing investigation. Their report has been forwarded to the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office for review.

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.

Detroit first responders rescue Siberian Husky stranded on ice near bridge

CNN Newsource on February 24, 2026

By Jolie Sherman

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — A Siberian Husky stranded on ice near the Gordie Howe Bridge in Detroit was rescued by first responders after spending at least 24 hours in bitter cold temperatures, showing signs of hypothermia in its paws.

Two fishermen, Cedric Humphrey and his uncle Walter Cross of Detroit, spotted the 2-year-old dog Sunday around 8:30 a.m. while out on the water.

The pair, who are part of group known as the Metro Detroit Walleye Stalkers, noticed the husky stuck on a sheet of ice in front of what appeared to be a culvert and immediately tried to help.

“It stood out… being a white dog with a black silhouette of a drainage tube behind it. It stood out like a sore thumb if you were pretty vigilant and you were looking,” Humphrey said.

Cross said the discovery was almost accidental.

“We hit the river and we weren’t catching anything, so we said let’s go to another area and see if there’s fish there. We were riding up river, and it was actually Cedric that spotted it,” Cross said.

Humphrey said the dog did not appear aggressive, only frightened.

“It just looked more scared than anything. Uncertain of which way to go or what to do,” Humphrey said.

The two attempted to reach the dog themselves but were unable to get close enough.

“Thought we were going to be able to pull up in there, but the pillars were too close together,” Humphrey said. “and then there was part of a seawall that was under the water… that you couldn’t see.”

Cross then contacted his wife who called an emergency rescue group known as The Karens. Co-founder Chantal Rzewnicki and her team arrived on scene but could not access the culvert because it was fenced in.

“My guess is it probably jumped down when everything was frozen. Just over the last couple of days, it warmed up and kind of broke and now it’s stuck,” Rzewnicki said.

Rzewnicki contacted Michigan Humane, and first responders arrived Monday morning. The Detroit Fire Department deployed a ladder and crews attempted to coax the dog out of the tunnel with treats, but the dog was too scared to come out at first.

After a couple of hours, crews successfully got the dog out of the tunnel and up over the wall. Michigan Humane thanked everyone involved, saying the rescue is exactly why they train.

“Michigan Humane puts resources to work for those that need it the most. Thank you to those that were the voice for this dog. Collaboration got the job done. Thank you to Detroit Police Department, Detroit Fire Department, Detroit Animal Care and Control, and our dedicated rescue team, along with supporters who help make this work possible,” Matt Pepper, Michigan Humane CEO and president, said in a statement.

It is still not clear how the dog ended up on the ice. For Humphrey and Cross, the experience reinforced a simple but important lesson.

“It could save your life, you could save someone else’s life, a dog’s life at that — it pays off to be aware and vigilant while you’re out and about not just on the water, but just in everyday travel” Humphrey said.

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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.