Fire Academy graduate says faith and determination fueled her journey

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Nakell Williams

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — A dream years in the making became reality this week as Ashley Fields officially joined the ranks of South Fulton Fire and Rescue, the very community she now calls home.

Fields graduated after completing the department’s rigorous firefighter training program, marking what she calls a full-circle moment.

“You have their lives in your hands. That’s what you have,” Fields said.

Originally from New York, Fields said moving to Georgia felt like a fresh start.

“I looked at moving to many other places all over the country, but when I came to South Fulton, everyone seemed like family,” she said.

Fields became an EMT in 2018. By 2021, she knew she wanted to take her career further. In 2023, she committed to becoming a firefighter, despite pushback from people around her.

“A lot of people did not like it. Honestly, they tried to discourage me, and because they tried to discourage me, that was my motivation to keep going,” she said.

The training process was demanding. Recruits faced constant physical drills, written exams and performance evaluations. But Fields said the toughest battle was mental.

“The mental struggles, wondering if you could do it and questioning if it’s even worth it,” she said.

She made sacrifices along the way.

“It cost me friends; it cost me time, but time that I don’t regret losing,” Fields said.

There was also a financial strain. During her journey, she frequently traveled between New York and Atlanta, purchasing multiple flights as she worked toward her goal.

Through every setback, Fields leaned on her faith.

“My Bible, first and foremost. That’s the reason why I pushed through,” she said. “Every time I felt like giving up, I had to remember my purpose. I didn’t have a plan B, C, or D. This had to work.”

On graduation night, Fields admitted she felt nervous as she prepared backstage, repeating a quiet message to herself: “See it through. Everything is going to be worth it.”

Her aunt traveled from Charlotte to support her.

“This is definitely rewarding, just to see her actually do the things she wanted to do and not be intimidated, especially working with a lot of men in the department,” her aunt said.

Then came an unexpected moment. Fields’ mother, who had previously attended her swearing-in ceremony, told her she wouldn’t make it to graduation. But as Fields walked across the stage, her mother appeared, surprising her and bringing her to tears.

Now stepping into a field historically dominated by men, Fields says she understands the responsibility.

“I’m ready to take it on,” she said.

She also hopes her visibility will inspire other young girls.

“I hope they see no matter size, no matter weight, no matter height, you can do it. Just be mentally strong and push through,” Fields said. “Once you see someone that looks like you, that gives you nonverbal motivation to do it.”

For Fields, the badge represents more than a career. It’s a calling and a promise to serve the city that embraced her as family.

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.

With humor and history, this Atlanta tour guide gives visitors a new view of the city

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Donald Fountain

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Jeff Moore grew up in College Park with one goal in mind: to show people the best parts of his hometown. The question, he said, was how to do it.

“I did some research, and I kept telling my wife that I wanted to start a tour company,” Moore said.

Today, Moore serves as operations manager and tour guide for Roundabout Atlanta Tours and Transportation. The company offers several tours across metro Atlanta, but Moore says his favorite is the City Lights Atlanta Night Tour.

The two-hour experience takes guests to some of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks while also highlighting lesser-known spots.

“We get you outside of the touristy areas and show you parts of the city you don’t really get to see as a visitor,” Moore said.

The tour includes stops at large-scale murals and neighborhoods where local artists, including Grammy-winning singer India Arie, got their start.

“This is exclusive, y’all,” Moore said during one recent tour. “This is the kind of stuff you get on our tours.”

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.

Night one of the State High School Wrestling Tournament

KRDO on February 20, 2026

Rob Namnoum

The Sand Creek Scorpions came out stinging. Achilles Evans is giving up thirty pounds in the 215 pound weight class but that didn’t stop him from pinning Palmer Ridge’s Skyler Tolbert in the opening round. The Scorpion wins. Evans later advanced to the state semifinal, “I’m just my mindset and I’m just practicing hard with my coaches is the reason why I can go from one weight and 184 to wrestling to fit in and still winning. It gives me more confidence. I’m going to win the tournament this year,” says Evans.

Another Scorpion wins and this time it’s freshman Karris Carter who pinned her opponent in the first round to advance to the state semi’s and you wouldn’t know how ferocious she is by talking to her, “Oh, I’m so excited. I didn’t think I was going to make it this far my freshman year. It’s just part of the fun, you know, just having fun with the game and just wrestling the best you can,” says Carter.

Coronado Bella Arellano is off her rocker. After pinning her first opponent in the second round. She turned around and did it again by pinning Widefield’s Angelina Roller to clinch a spot in the semi’s. Once again. this is someone who can flip the rage switch at will because she has a pretty tempered mindset heading into Friday, “Take it one match at a time, period at a time, and stay confident and stay moving. I know I can work through anything if I’m down. I can always come back. So staying calm and composed,” says Arellano.

Then there’s Widefield’s Manny Mota, great name, in fact, it’s an exceptional name. Anyway, his name is exceptional as his skill. He won a tough match over Pueblo East’s Noah Sanchez despite getting bloodied up during the match. Luckily, winning is in his DNA, “I mean, it was a distraction, but I just had to keep pushing through it. And especially because I was down or we were tied up going in the third, just kind of keep wrestling,” says Mota.

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Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission recommends definition for ‘data center’

KMIZ on February 20, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday night recommended a definition of “data center” to the City Council.

The Commission unanimously recommended to revise definitions in the Unified Development Code to include “data center.”

The building and inclusion of data centers have been highly contested around the country, including Mid-Missouri.

Amazon has sought to build a data center in Montgomery County and saw intense pushback from its residents at several public meetings, which culminated in a lawsuit to attempt to block it from happening. Critics of data centers typically point to excess water usage and increased use of electricity.

Columbia’s commission started the discussion over local definitions last month. According to meeting documents, the new definition is:

“Data Center. A building, facility, or premise used for the storage, management, processing and/or transmission of digital data that typically contains computers, network equipment, systems, servers, appliances, and other accessory components necessary for digital data operations. A facility may also include air handlers, power generators, water cooling and storage facilities, utility substations, and other associated utility infrastructure to support the operation. This definition does not include facilities in which data storage, management, processing and/or transmission is incidental to the primary use.”

Commission OK with new townhomes near existing complex

Lake Broadway Townhomes and Burlington Street LLC are looking to add more townhomes next to their existing buildings.

The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended the new development near the corner of Pershing Street and Gary Street in west Columbia on the condition that a 6-foot-high fence is placed between the new building and the doctor’s office near it.

Owners are looking to build 13 units at the 2.27-acre site. Lake Broadway Townhomes are in the 1100 block of West Broadway and are just east of the newly suggested building site.

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Wildlife advocates concerned with border wall construction effects

KVIA on February 20, 2026

Heriberto Perez Lara

SUNLAND PARK, New Mexico (KVIA) – Construction projects along the U.S.-Mexico border continue, and wildlife experts and biologists raise concerns about the number of endangered species along the path.

Species such as the Mexican Wolf and dozens of other animals native to the area have difficulty finding the resources they need on the land because of the explosions used to break ground for the new border wall construction, according to biologist Damian López.

According to experts, there are more than 500 species throughout the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez biological corridor.

“So, these types of constructions, by affecting specific species—let’s think about the Mexican wolf, coyotes, and so on—affect the entire food chain. That is, it’s not just one or individual species that are affected, but the entire ecosystem,” said biologist López. “Some species take advantage of the available resources; they take advantage of small rodents, and rodents eat plants. Coyotes and other larger animals hunt smaller animals, and it’s a whole complex food chain we’re talking about; in other words, we can’t just talk about one or another specific species.

“These types of constructions, with their explosions, affect and stress the natural populations there, displacing them from their normal distribution areas, and that impacts the health of the ecosystems. It’s important that we feel like we’re part of an ecosystem. We’re not outside of ecosystems; they affect us sooner or later,” biologist López added. “All this life we ​​have here, flora, fauna, the hills themselves, is part of what gives us identity as people, as natives of this region.”

‘Colectivo Sierra de Juárez’ has also been very active regarding the new border wall construction, raising concerns with CBP about the environmental impacts this project could have along the border and its wildlife corridor.

“Our concern lies in the fact that the ‘Sierra de Juárez’ and the ‘Sierra de Franklin’ form a biological corridor. This biological corridor is like a highway, where various species exchange genetic information, adapt to changes in their environment, reproduce, and even distribute food, among other things; however, as we knew, this was a strip that was totally unprotected and unfortunately was being used for illegal activities that we already knew about, right?” said Ray Aguilar.

“We see that they have now begun the process of clearing land so they can build the border wall. These actions are obviously putting the biodiversity that inhabits this area at risk. But it’s not just biodiversity that’s at risk; the geological reservoirs in the area are also threatened,” Aguilar added. “This is a very important area geologically. It allows us to identify and study the origin of our city, and we even know that there are dinosaur footprints there. There’s a significant fossil record that’s very useful for understanding our community. And now, with these kinds of activities, we’re seeing an immediate risk to our ecosystem, especially to our ecologically valuable areas here.”

‘Colectivo Sierra de Juárez’ also says that this area (Mt. Cristo Rey) will now be available only for small species such as reptiles and birds. However, Aguilar says the new wall will separate all mammals and other species that also require sufficient space to use these areas for feeding, reproduction, and genetic exchange.

“Some mammals are too important for controlling other populations; it’s a complete chain of life, without one, another cannot live. For example, if a predator is important in one area, we’ll see a rise in another population in other places, right? So, we know that all of this is a chain; they’re cogs, they’re elements that are important for each one, right? And what we’re going to see is an increase in some populations, in some individuals that need a predator that’s no longer there. But we’re also seeing that perhaps some predator that remains in a certain place won’t have the capacity to feed on the other species,” Aguilar said.

“We are seeing a total ecological imbalance and ‘ecocide’,” added Aguilar.

“Ecocide” refers to the destruction of ecosystems by intentional acts and is derived from Greek and Latin terms for “killing one’s home”, according to the World Economic Forum.

“I’d like to extend an invitation to the entire border community here, from Juárez and El Paso, to the entire Santa Teresa area in New Mexico, and everyone in the Paso del Norte region, to be very attentive to all these projects and other projects that are also being carried out at the same time, in addition to the border wall. All these projects could, in some way, put ecosystems at risk and at the same time put us at risk as humans, as citizens,” biologist López added.

KVIA reached out to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for comment since Tuesday, but has not received a response.

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Day one of the state high school wrestling tournament

KRDO on February 20, 2026

Rob Namnoum

The Pueblo Central girls wrestling team came out strong, eight girls won their opening round matches. One of them, Maliyah Sandoval in the 170 pound weight class. She kneaded her opponent like dough on her way to win by major decision, “I just really want to, like, do my best and perform well, even though I did score a lot of points. It wasn’t like my best performance, so it makes me glad to fire under me to have the next one better, like ten times better,” says Sandoval.

Central’s dominance continued in the quarterfinals. Acelyn Duran apparently had places to be, so she stuffed her opponent into a box and shipped her off to Timbuktu, pinning her early in the second round. She’s one of four Wildcats to reach the semifinals.

Calhan junior Kayleigh Reese treated her opponent like she was paper mache, folding her into oblivion on her way to a third round pin. The small town girl making big time noise at state, “It really gives me a lot of confidence coming from such a small school, coming out, performing at the highest level for girls wrestling. It’s really only good to be a part of that whole small town get up thing,” says Reese.

On the boys side, Alamosa’s Ryan Cordova put on a show in his opening round match, pinning Sierra’s Donnie Herrera late in the third round of his 3A 165 pound bout, “Feel great. I’m happy with where I’m going in the tournament now. It was a big step in going forward and it’s just setting the tone for the rest of the tournament,” says Cordova.

In the Class 2A 120 pound weight class, Fowler’s Stockton Sharon decided to clean the mat with his opponent’s face, winning by major decision and clinching a spot in the state semifinal.

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Suspect arrested in connection with Mecca stabbing

KESQ on February 20, 2026

Jesus Reyes

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ) – A suspect was arrested in connection with a stabbing that left a person in critical condition after being stabbed Thursday night in Mecca.

The stabbing was reported just before 7:00 p.m. on the 91000 block of 2nd Street, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

“… deputies located a subject with injuries consistent with a stab wound. The subject was transported to a local hospital in critical condition,” Lieutenant Deirdre Vickers, RSO spokesperson, told News Channel 3.

Additional details on the stabbing were not available.

RSO confirmed a suspect was taken into custody on Friday, just before 10:30 a.m. in the 91000 block of 3rd Street.

As of Friday, authorities said the victim was in stable condition.

The investigation remains ongoing. Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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Solar power developer settles case with Riverside County over discrepant practices

KESQ on February 20, 2026

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A former solar power developer sued by Riverside County and other jurisdictions over deficient business practices settled the legal action in a pretrial agreement requiring the remnants of the enterprise to pay $4.3 million in restitution and penalties, it was announced today.

Vivint Solar Inc., previously headquartered in Lehi, Utah, reached the settlement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office as part of a stipulated judgment formally entered at the Riverside Historic Courthouse Wednesday.

Along with Riverside County, prosecuting agencies in Alameda, Fresno, San Diego and San Francisco were also plaintiffs in the civil action and will receive portions of the payout. The case originated in Riverside County, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Vivint Solar was absorbed by Sunrun Solar, which existed prior to the lawsuit and was not in any way involved in Vivint Solar’s disputes, according to prosecutors. A Utah company now bearing the Vivint brand specializes in home security. Its representatives emphasized in an email to City News Service that it is a “different company” and requested that there not be “and misidentification” so as to implicate it in the civil suit.   

Attorneys for the defunct Vivint Solar Inc. were not listed in the Riverside County Superior Court register.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, Vivint Solar repeatedly misrepresented its terms of sale of residential photovoltaic systems to customers between August 2016 and October 2020.

Prosecutors further alleged that disclosures which should have been made to buyers were not, including projected savings from “Solar Power Purchase Agreements.” The civil complaint also alleged that consumers’ ability to cancel solar PPAs were not adequately addressed prior to sales.

The settlement calls for $1.3 million in civil penalties, and that $3 million be set aside in a “restitution fund” that consumers who were allegedly harmed by agreements covering the period in question may qualify to access.

Riverside County will receive $510,000 from the penalty distribution, according to the DA’s office.

The agency said directions on how parties may apply for disbursals from the restitution fund will eventually be posted on the Sunrun web portal, www.sunrun.com.

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Race for Santa Barbara County Clerk-Recorder, Assessor Underway with Melinda Greene Filing for the Post

KEYT on February 20, 2026

John Palminteri

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A 30-year veteran with Santa Barbara County, Melinda Greene, says she is uniquely qualified to be the next County Clerk-Recorder, Assessor.

She paid her fees and began filing papers to run for the post Thursday morning.

This is done at the county elections office, a department she would be in charge of if elected in the June race. If there are two candidates, the win is decided in that election. If there are more than two, a candidate can win with 50 percent plus one vote. Otherwise the top two are in a November runoff.

Greene says she has seen the elections office go through many phases since she first volunteered prior to becoming an employee.

She says in her job at the Hall of Records now she is “boots on the ground” and handling the budget, department efficiencies, public assistance at the counters and carefully monitoring anyone who may be trying to misuse the system or commit a crime through government records.

She has also worked in the assessors office and says she is has been actively involved in new technology that is needed in all three areas.

“I’m the only person that’s worked in every division. Clerk, recorder. I’m the Chief Deputy. Assessor. I built software systems for them. I’ve done their admin with financial oversight and their cash handling and their calendars for years. Elections. I started volunteering for elections before I even worked for the department,” she said. With three decades of experience, “I’m clearly the most, technical of the candidates.”

She stresses training and being accessible as a manager.

She says there are also many systems available to make the office more efficient for the public, and she has been looking into adding those in the future. There would also be overall cost savings.

Greene says she will be campaigning with appearances at community meetings and talks with government leaders about issues across the board in the three departments. She plans to be in all points of the county from Cuyama to Carpinteria.

She wants to respond to the the “needs of the whole county.”

Joesph Holland was first elected in 2003. He will announce his future in the post in the coming weeks but has not made an official statement on his possible reelection at this time.

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Police Investigating Death in Idaho Falls Neighborhood; No Threat to Public Safety

KIFI on February 20, 2026

Phillip Willis

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The Idaho Falls Police Department is investigating a death in the 1700 block of Rainier St.

The details surrounding the death are limited at this time, but IFPD spokesperson Jessica Clements did confirm to Local News 8 that authorities do not believe there is any threat or safety concern related to this to the community.

IFPD expects to release additional details by tomorrow morning.

This is a developing story. Local News 8 has a reporter at the scene and will provide additional updates as they become available from IFPD.

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