$15.4M+ in December storm damages prompt Oregon governor’s plea for federal support

KTVZ on February 20, 2026

Kelsey Merison

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — Governor Tina Kotek requested a major disaster declaration from President Donald Trump following severe storms in December that caused more than $15.4 million in damage across Oregon. The request seeks public assistance for nine counties and statewide access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

The storms, which occurred from December 15th to December 21st, brought record rainfall, high winds and an atmospheric river. This weather system triggered widespread flooding, landslides and mudslides that impacted communities throughout the state.

A joint preliminary damage assessment validated more than $15.4 million in eligible damages across the state. Tillamook County recorded the highest per-capita damage at $154.29 per person. Without federal help, state officials said rural communities and consumer-owned utilities could face significant financial strain.

Gov. Kotek emphasized that the scale of the destruction has exhausted local resources. “The scale of damage from December’s severe storms impacted multiple Oregon communities, with more than $15 million in losses and needed repairs. Rural communities are stretched beyond their limits and help from FEMA is urgently needed,” Gov. Kotek said. “I’m requesting a major disaster declaration from President Trump because Oregonians did the hard work of showing up for each other and they deserve federal support to rebuild.”

At the peak of the weather event, more than 300,000 Oregonians lost power and multiple highways and interstates were forced to close. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management has developed an interactive StoryMap to provide a detailed timeline and geographic overview of the storm’s impact. One person died in Yamhill County as a result of the storms.

Erin McMahon, the director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, noted that the storm arrived with very little warning. McMahon previously led the agency through other recent recovery efforts. “This storm struck our communities with little warning, leaving widespread damage and compounding the hardships from earlier storms and ongoing recovery efforts,” McMahon said. “Local governments and utilities have worked tirelessly to protect lives and restore essential services, but the scale of destruction far exceeds what local resources can manage alone. Federal assistance is critical to help communities recover and build resilience against future disasters.”

The request for public assistance specifically targets nine counties: Clackamas, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Tillamook, Union and Yamhill. Additionally, the governor requested statewide access to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. If the declaration is approved, federal funds will support debris removal and repairs to roads, bridges, utilities and other public infrastructure.

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President Obama’s comments spark renewed interest into the extraterrestrial in Colorado

KRDO on February 20, 2026

Bradley Davis

SOUTHERN COLORADO, Colo. (KRDO) – Unknown, at the time, to former President Barack Obama, his two words on a podcast earlier this week sparked a viral interest that made it all the way to President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One. In an unexpected domino effect, Trump now says he is working to get the government files on UFO’s declassified.

On a podcast with host Brian Cohen, Cohen asked Obama if aliens are real. Casually, Obama replied, “They’re real.”

In the same breath, he qualified his statement by saying there were no aliens at Area 51, and he had never seen an alien. After the moment went viral, he clarified on Instagram that he personally believed aliens were probably real, but he did not see any proof while president.

The story really heated up when Fox News Reporter Peter Doocy asked Trump about Obama’s comments on board Air Force One.

“He gave classified information. He’s not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake,” Trump said. “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying them.”

“So, aliens are real?” Doocy said.

“I don’t know if they’re real or not,” Trump said.

Trump said later in a Truth Social post that he would direct “relevant department agencies” to begin “identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life.”

This isn’t the first time the federal government has hinted at the existence of aliens. In 2021, KRDO13 brought you an investigative report after the Air Force released footage of pilot encounters with UFOs.

Colorado has the 13th most UFO sightings in the country, despite only having the 20th greatest population, according to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC). The site is operated by a private non-profit. Its sightings map unsurprisingly resembles the U.S. population density map. Colorado’s disparity between UFO sightings and population density suggests a higher sightings-per-capita than the average state.

The alien culture has also grown deep roots in Southern Colorado. One ranch in a tiny town outside of Alamosa has become a must-stop for alien enthusiasts on their Rocky Mountain road trips.

The “Alien Watchtower” in Hooper, Colorado, has welcomed guests for over 20 years to camp and watch the sky for UFOs. The tower is nestled within the San Luis Valley, which is famous for stargazing. Owner and Cattle Farmer Judy Messoline said it’s a safe space for believers where they can search for clues without being made fun of.

Starlinks have added a whole new challenge to UFO viewing. KRDO13’s staff have received multiple emails and text messages over the last two years with pictures of freaky-looking, blinking, segmented lines in the sky, asking us to investigate if it’s one of those Air Force UFOs. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what a starlink looks like. If you’ve never seen one before, it certainly looks extraterrestrial.

NUFORC lists 115 civilian-reported UFO sightings in Colorado over the last 12 months. Surprisingly, that number is slightly lower than reported during our report in 2021, despite the Starlink confusion.

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Father-son referee duo pin down lifelong dream on wrestling mat

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Olivia Tyler

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Dale and Jared Acheson are celebrating a major milestone as they officiate the Iowa high school boys state wrestling tournament together.

Dale Acheson has refereed wrestling in Iowa for 46 years and has worked the state tournament for 37 of them. He is a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Officials Hall of Fame, recognition that reflects decades of dedication to the sport.

His son, Jared Acheson, has been a referee for 16 years, but it’s his first time officiating the state tournament, which he says has been a goal for as long as he can remember.

“Started coming to this tournament before I could even walk,” Jared said.

Dale reflected on past experiences at the tournament, saying, “I was here when Jared wrestled for Urbandale and finished 8th here. And to be here again with him on the mat in an official perspective is a great and lifelong dream.”

Earning a spot as a state tournament referee is no small feat, Dale said, that is why he’s so proud of his son.

“It’s difficult to get here. To be recognized by your peers that you’re good enough to be here,” he said. “To be sharing that with my son is wonderful.”

While several wrestlers are chasing the rare accomplishment of a fourth consecutive state title this year, the Achesons have achieved a milestone of their own — working Iowa’s premier high school wrestling event together.

“Somebody else is making a dream, and we get to be part of that,” Jared said.

For Dale, the significance runs even deeper.

“To be involved in this capacity at this level with my son — we’re a part of history,” he 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.

‘It was just so scary’: Driver takes off after truck slams into southwest Oklahoma City home

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Jordan Ryan

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A driver fled after a pickup truck crashed through the side of a southwest Oklahoma City home and into a family’s living room.

The crash happened in a neighborhood near Southwest Grand Boulevard and South May Avenue. Two people were asleep inside, but they were not hurt.

The collision left a large hole in the side of the house, and Oklahoma City fire crews had to ensure the home’s structural stability as there was a danger of collapse.

Police told KOCO 5 that the person driving the pickup truck got out and ran away. Along with damage to the home, the driver crashed into another truck and moved the second vehicle completely across the front lawn and smashed it into another vehicle.

A girl who heard the crash told KOCO 5 that she called 911.

“I was just scared for my neighbor because, like, what if they weren’t OK,” Karely Fierro said. “I was surprised because my brother’s truck is really, really heavy. And just to see that it got all the way over there from my driveway, it was just so scary. And I felt bad for my cousin.”

Information about the driver has not been released.

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.

Alyce Clarke Award: Hazlehurst teacher finds strength in students after personal loss

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Brooklyn Joyner

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    HAZLEHURST, Miss. (WAPT) — Dr. Veronica Wiley, a teacher at Hazlehurst High School, has been named the Alyce Clarke Award recipient for February.

Wiley has been working at Hazlehurst High School for seven years, teaching biology and environmental science courses. She believes it’s important for students to see someone who looks like them succeed in this field.

“I spent a year interning at NASA. I earned a couple of degrees while I was here so, my students have really seen that as an option,” Wiley said. “They never really paid attention to that before and that means a lot to me.”

In addition to her teaching duties, Wiley coaches the boys basketball team and sponsors the robotics team, maintaining a busy schedule.

“I try to stay busy; it keeps me out of trouble,” she said.

At the start of the year, Wiley faced unimaginable loss.

“The beginning of the school year, I lost my grandfather, my cousin and my dad in the first 30 days of school so it has been very difficult,” she said.

Despite her grief, Wiley finds motivation in her students, who serve as her inspiration to persevere.

“What they have and who they are is good enough. Never minimize yourself because God created you a certain way,” she said.

Her students, in turn, express their admiration and support for her.

“Congratulations, Ms. Wiley, and we love you so much, and just continue to do you because that’s just everything that a student could ask for from a teacher,” said Lundyn Collins, a student at Hazlehurst High School.

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.

Maine resident who spent weeks in ICE custody describes ‘brutality’ of his detainment

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Jim Keithley

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    SACO, Maine (WMTW) — A man who lives in Maine is back home after spending three weeks in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency more commonly known as ICE.

Saco resident Makengo Nzeza, an asylum seeker from Angola, said he was heading back to his family’s house from Maine Medical Center on Jan. 23, five days after his wife delivered their fourth child following an emergency C-section.

Nzeza said two vehicles with six ICE agents pulled him over at gunpoint and took him into custody.

“Two guys come in my car and one pointed a gun,” Nzeza said.

Nzeza said he was then put in a van with 10 other detainees and driven to Burlington, Massachusetts, where he and dozens of others spent six days and five nights.

“The conditions were not good, no,” he said. “They put maybe 40 to 45 people in the same room, and not so big a room.”

Nzeza said there was some food, but they had to sleep on a cold floor.

“It was stressful,” he said. “It was not good conditions for humans, for days and days.”

After those rough days in Burlington, Nzeza was transferred to a facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where he spent two more weeks.

Nzeza said his immigration lawyer met with a judge and after posting $2,000 bond, he was released and returned home on Feb. 12.

“Everybody was happy to see me, and thanks to them for what they did for my family and myself, too,” Nzeza said.

Nzeza thanked the community at the First Parish Congregational Church in Saco, which rallied behind his family in his time of need.

The Rev. Scott Cousineau, the church’s senior minister, spoke with Maine’s Total Coverage several days after Nzeza was apprehended.

“He’s not the ‘worst of the worst.’ He’s the best of the best,” Cousineau said of Nzeza.

Nzeza said Thursday that he is grateful to be home and to be able to hold his newborn daughter in his arms. His entire family returned to the church on Sunday, Feb. 15. During the service, Cousineau called Nzeza up to the pulpit and he received a standing ovation from the congregation.

Nzeza called his ICE detainment a terrible ordeal.

“The brutality they used on me, I did not understand because I did not do nothing bad,” he said.

Nzeza said he is in the United States legally, but his asylum case is pending. He will have to return to Massachusetts sometime in the next two to three months and defend his case in front of a judge.

On Friday, Nzeza plans to return to work at an assisted living facility for people suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Nzeza said he is active and involved in the community. He is also a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

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.

After bankruptcy, solar panel customers say they’re left in the dark

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Ben Simmoneau

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    FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (WCVB) — Leasing solar panels is an easy way to avoid the upfront cost of owning your own system. But it comes with other potential problems, including one most people might not think about: What happens when the company that owns the panels goes bankrupt?

That’s exactly what has happened for customers of Sunnova, and numerous homeowners across Massachusetts say the replacement management company — SunStrong — is leaving them in the dark, letting their systems go unrepaired for months on end. At the same time, they’re still being charged hefty lease payments.

Emilio Spagnuolo is sick and tired of simply trying to get what he’s paying for: power produced from the solar panels on the roof of his Framingham home.

“I feel like I have been taken and that they have not followed through with anything they told me that they would ever do,” he said. “Four times they told me they were coming out. They canceled without notifying me.”

In 2023, he leased his solar panel system from Sunnova, entering a 25-year agreement for $329 per month. He says most months of the year, his electric bill is $0. But that changed last June when he had the system disconnected to put an addition on his home and upgrade his electric service. The same month, Sunnova filed for bankruptcy, and the company was sold a few weeks later.

Construction wrapped at Spagnuolo’s home in August, but he hasn’t been able to get Sunnova or SunStrong Management, the company that took charge of Sunnova’s operations, to reconnect his panels. There are still loose wires hanging from the side of his home where his system should be tied into his electric meter, and he hasn’t been able to obtain a final inspection to close his building permit.

In the meantime, his electric bill skyrocketed, yet SunStrong was still charging him hundreds of dollars in lease charges for the panels each month. Unable to get any resolution, he eventually changed his bank account and told them to stop payment.

“I was paying for something I was not receiving,” he said.

On the South Shore, Ali Cash said she spent far too much time trying to get her solar panels back online after they stopped working last summer. She said calling SunStrong tested her sunny disposition.

“Each call that I placed to SunStrong was anywhere from four to five and a half hours,” she said. “Anytime you call, you don’t talk to a service department. You talk to the department who transfers you to the department that will transfer you to the service department.”

She said she only learned her system was down after she received several electric bills in a row during a time of year when her solar panels should be producing the most power, and her electric bill is typically nothing.

“When they tell me that they can see it’s not working, I don’t understand why they wouldn’t have reached out to begin with,” she said. “As a customer, I had to realize it a few months into the problem.”

Cash pays $228 per month for solar panels that didn’t work for half a year, and like Spagnuolo, has also been paying electric bills she wouldn’t have received if her system was working properly. In the Sunnova lease is a clause that says a customer “will not be charged for the System being offline due to Sunnova’s fault.” Despite that, neither Cash nor Spagnuolo was offered credits for the time their systems were down.

They also believe SunStrong needs to strengthen its maintenance response.

“There’s been no follow-up from the company at all, knowing that I’ve been through all of this,” Cash said.

Her system is now back up and running, but Spagnuolo’s is not. After NewsCenter 5 contacted SunStrong, the company sent a technician to his home but could not get it back online without additional equipment. A follow-up visit this week did not happen as scheduled.

Both customers believe SunStrong owes them credits for the time their systems were down, and a company spokesperson said they will “evaluate customer credits, at a customer’s request, once the system is repaired. This enables us to see the full timeline of any outage.” That indicates a customer must actively ask for the reimbursement.

Other solar lease customers experiencing long waits for maintenance should file a complaint with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

Those complaints could be helpful for the state to consider action on solar providers who aren’t responsive.

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.

Nashville woman makes history as first recorded Black female violin maker in U.S.

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Eric Pointer

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    NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) — After being laid off from her job in hospitality, Amanda Ewing needed to find a new rhythm in life. The answer she landed on is one that’s blazing trails and paving the way for others one piece of wood at a time.

Ewing is turning ordinary wood into art that will one day make music. Working from her studio at the Forge, a shared creative workspace, she has become what researchers believe is the first Black female violin maker on record in U.S. history.

When looking for a new career, Amanda decided to reprise old hobbies, like playing violin. So, she joined a local symphony and met a luthier.

“I never needed to think about where violins came from outside of the violin shop,” Ewing said.

She started to shadow them, just to see how it was done. But it wasn’t until someone told her that they’d never heard of a Black woman making instruments that her perspective changed.

“I was like this doesn’t make any sense to me. How is this possible given the contributions of Black Americans in music for a very long time?” Ewing said.

That’s when she decided to change her tune.

“I decided to take it a bit more seriously, go a bit more often, do a bit more research on my own, dive into instrument making so that I can have a full understanding of exactly what I was doing and eventually set myself up to be teaching individuals to make instruments after I finished my apprenticeship,” Ewing said.

“I did not want anyone else searching and searching and searching and searching for hours and hours looking for instrument makers who look like them,” Ewing said.

She spent five years learning the craft, mastering each note of the process. She has been independently making instruments for the past three years. So far she has made four violins one banjo and is in the process of making a bass.

“I want to be a resource for anyone who wants to make an instrument in the wood string family. My goal is to learn how to make all instruments so that I can teach individuals to make any instrument that they want to make,” Ewing said.

She said representation matters.

“It seems so unattainable when you don’t see someone like you reflected in whatever you want to do,” Ewing said.

Amanda may be the first and only Black female luthier on record, but she doesn’t want to be a solo act. She plans to continue and hopes to discover others who may have come before her. Even if she is the first, she plans to mentor and help others so she won’t be the last.

This story was reported by Eric Pointer and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Eric Pointer and 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.

Tri-State barber teams up with law enforcement to mentor teens

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Taylor Woods

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    GREENHILLS, Ohio (WCPO) — A local barber is teaming up with law enforcement to keep teens out of trouble.

Antonio Spicer is building bridges with young men ages 12 through 18 by turning a barbershop into a safe space.

“He’s been my barber for as long as I remember,” said Rob Parker Jr., a seventh grader at Gamble Montessori who looks forward to the monthly program.

Teens gather once a month for mentorship and learning opportunities. The program focuses on building confidence, creating connections and helping keep teens off the streets.

“At our last meeting, we were talking about firefighters, the equipment, what it does, how it helps you. I think the program is really good for people like me,” Parker Jr. said.

For Spicer, the mentorship role came naturally from his position as a barber.

“I’ve been able to mentor and pour into young men ever since I was a barber, and before then, it started out with me seeing some of the absences in our community and some of the things we needed,” Spicer said.

The program has gained support from law enforcement agencies in Greenhills, Forest Park and Springfield Township, who help mentor the young men.

“I’ve made good connections with the chief and some other policemen,” Parker said.

They learn about possible professional careers, mental health care and even how to treat gunshot wounds — practical skills that could prove lifesaving.

Parker’s parents, Rob Parker Sr. and Lanae Billings Parker, said they have noticed significant growth in their son’s confidence and engagement.

“He gets to see his uncle Tone every week, so that is normal, but seeing the other professionals there and watching him month after month as the program goes on, how he gets more comfortable and how he asks more questions,” his father said.

For Parker, the program’s impact is clear in how it encourages honest communication.

“I give my honest answers, honest questions, and that’s what made them grow into me,” said Parker.

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.

Parents file wrongful death lawsuit after daughter, 11, dies by suicide after ‘severe and pervasive bullying’

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Kara Kenney

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    JENNINGS COUNTY, Ind. (WRTV) — The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died by suicide have filed a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the school district failed to address “severe and pervasive bullying.”

Brooklyn Cook, a 5th grader in the Jennings County School Corporation, died by suicide on February 17, 2025.

Her parents, Benjamin and Sarah Cook, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana on Tuesday.

The complaint details accounts from the 2024-2025 school year in which students repeatedly told Brooklyn to kill herself, physically groped her at school, and sent abusive messages.

“On multiple occasions, male students inappropriately touched Brooklyn’s body without her consent,” read the lawsuit. “Examples of the male students’ verbal harassment included, but were not limited to, telling Brooklyn that she smelled, calling her “Megamind”, laughing at her, calling her fat and ridiculing her in the presence of others. The male students repeatedly told Brooklyn that she needed to kill herself.”

The lawsuit says several of Brooklyn’s friends tried to look out for her and reported the allegations.

According to the complaint, one friend showed a guidance counselor a text message in which a male student told Brooklyn, “f*ck you, kill yourself, I f*cking hope you die in a shit show you dumb f*cking whore.”

Her parents allege Brooklyn was the victim of“severe and pervasive bullying, sexual harassment, and sexual touching by male classmates.”

Brooklyn’s parents allege these incidents were reported numerous times by Brooklyn, her friends, and staff to North Vernon Elementary School teachers, counselors, and administrators in the Jennings County School Corporation.

“The bullying, harassment, and sexual misconduct directed at Brookyln was repeatedly reported to school officials,” read the lawsuit. “The male students engaging in the bullying, harassment and sexual abuse of Brooklyn were never disciplined for this bullying during the 2024-2025 school year.”

The lawsuit also alleges:

During the 2023-2024 school year, while Brooklyn was in the fourth grade at North Vernon, she was subjected to regular severe bullying and harassment by two (2) male students in her class. The bullying was reported to school administrators and as a result of these reports, the male students were removed from Brooklyn’s classroom. After the male students’ removal from the classroom, the bullying ceased, and the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year passed without further incident. During the 2024-2025 school year, when Brooklyn was in the fifth grade, the same male students were in Brooklyn’s classroom again. Shortly thereafter, the same male students, along with additional male students resumed and escalated the bullying Brooklyn experienced in fourth grade. WRTV Investigates reached out to the school corporation for comment on the lawsuit.

“We strongly deny the allegations and will have no further comment on this pending legal matter at this time,” the Jennings County School Corporation superintendent said in an email to WRTV.

The law firm representing the Cooks issued a statement on the lawsuit.

“Despite repeated reports, clear signs of emotional distress, and specific warnings about sexual assault concerns and suicide threats, we believe school officials failed to take reasonable and effective steps to protect Brooklyn or remove the offending students from her classroom, even though similar action had stopped bullying the prior school year,” read a statement from CohenMalad, LLP. “On behalf of Brooklyn’s parents, the complaint alleges that this failure to act allowed the abuse to continue and escalate, contributing to Brooklyn’s severe psychological harm and death. Through this federal lawsuit, Brooklyn’s family seeks accountability from Jennings County School Corporation and individual school officials.”

Counts in the complaint include:

COUNT I: Inadequate Polices and Protection, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 Against all Defendants COUNT II: Violation of Title IX, 20 U.S.C. 38 § 1681 et seq. Against Jennings County School Corporation, Superintendent Nicole Johnson and Principal Leonard Collett COUNT III: Wrongful Death Against All Defendants COUNT IV: Negligence Against All Defendants COUNT V: Negligent Hiring, Training, Supervision and Retention Against JCSC, and Defendants Johnson, Collett and Hill COUNT VI: Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Against All Defendants

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.