State Trooper Warns Against the Dangers of Distracted Driving

KIFI on February 19, 2026

Par Kermani

Idaho Falls, Idaho (KIFI) — For a state trooper, the difference between a routine traffic stop and a life-altering tragedy is often a matter of “inches and seconds”.

As roadway fatalities and accidents continue to plague highways, law enforcement officials are speaking out about the primary culprit behind many of these incidents: distracted and inattentive driving.

“I think everything applies back to that — distracted, inattentive,” Sgt. Blake Higley said during a recent patrol. “Most of the accidents I’m seeing are where someone is just trying to get somewhere and not being respectful or courteous”.

Since the enactment of hands-free driving laws in 2020, troopers report seeing a “wild amount” of texting and driving. The temptation to respond to a message or glance at a phone for just a few seconds creates a dangerous environment for every family on the road.

“You’ve got to think about the people you’re interacting with,” Higley explained. “Every car is someone’s family. I treat everyone the way I’d want my family treated.”

The patrol’s focus extends beyond just speed violations. Troopers are trained to look for unsafe lane changes, expired registrations, and the common habit of “autopilot” driving, where a driver loses focus on their surroundings. These momentary lapses in judgment can lead to tragedy.

Law enforcement officials hope that by sharing the reality of the roadway, they can encourage drivers to slow down and stay conscious every time they get behind the wheel.

“Sometimes it’s a matter of inches or seconds between a minor accident and someone not coming home,” Higley warned

The goal for the state patrol remains simple: ensuring that every driver reaches their final destination safely.

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Jefferson City’s High Street viaduct closed for emergency repairs

KMIZ on February 19, 2026

Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Jefferson City Public Works Department shut down a portion of West High Street Thursday after what was initially reported as a pothole turned out to be a significant structural issue.

“It was not a pothole, it was indeed a hole in the structure,” said Molly Bryan, spokeswoman for the City of Jefferson. “There’s deteriorated concrete, and steel that fell through,”

The city closed the road around 11 p.m. for the safety of drivers and pedestrians and installed detour signs overnight. The damaged area has since been covered with a steel plate.

The road will remain closed until engineers complete a full structural assessment of the entire viaduct. The city expects to receive that report early next week.

“If they come back and say here’s the repairs that need to be made and it’s going to be anticipated X amount of dollars, we’ll give that to our leadership, our city council, to make the determination whether they want to make those repairs,” Bryan said.

City leaders will have to decide whether to spend potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars repairing the damaged section now or wait and focus on fully replacing the aging structure if grant funding comes through.

Last week, the city applied for a federal grant to replace the viaduct and construct a new connector bridge linking River Market to Deborah Cooper Park.

The viaduct replacement is estimated to cost approximately $16.9 million. The proposed connector bridge is projected at $7.5 million.

“The grant, the way it’s structured, is multi-modal transportation is favorable. So by having a vehicular bridge and then also a pedestrian bridge, it will score favorable in the grant selection process. We should hear back in June whether or not we receive that grant.”

Bryan said the city has been working out all the small details for this project for years.

“Currently there’s some land conveyance legislation with the state that we need some of their property to do the design. We’re about 95% of the design work, which is been almost $1 million,” she said.

The overall project was placed on hold last year due to rising cost estimates.

According to Bryan, the city last completed work on a portion of the viaduct in 2022, which cost around $100,000.

If the project does happen construction will begin in 2028.

City officials said public safety remains the top priority as they await the engineering assessment and determine next steps for the aging viaduct.

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Young boy awaiting heart surgery serves as Atwater’s ‘Mayor for the Day’

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By KFSN News Staff

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    ATWATER, California (KFSN) — A young boy in the North Valley had a special day on Wednesday as “Mayor of the Day” in Atwater.

Leo Rivero-Cameron has a life-threatening condition called Neonatal Marfan Syndrome.

His trip to Walt Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been postponed following urgent heart surgery.

While Leo waits to be medically cleared for traveling, the Mayor of Atwater presented him with the honor of being Mayor for the Day.

Leo toured city departments and took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new Planet Fitness.

He has also established his own nonprofit, which you can learn more about at LeosLegacyFoundation.org.

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.

 ABC-7 at 4: A warning to parents about violent digital group known by the name of “764” 

KVIA on February 19, 2026

Nichole Gomez

A violent digital group known by the name of “764” has been grooming, manipulating, and exploiting youth across Texas. What you need to know about the violent group and how to keep your children safe.

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Colorado woman charged with cruelty to animals after 150 livestock seized from Western Slope property

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Jennifer McRae

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — The Delta County Sheriff’s Office discovered more than 150 animals, including livestock and companion animals, in unsanitary conditions without proper access to food and water. Investigators said deputies were called to a residence on Peach Valley Road in Delta County on Colorado’s Western Slope on Feb. 5.

When deputies arrived, they began an investigation into alleged animal neglect and cruelty. Investigators said Mikaela Rivas, 40, of Delta, was charged with 141 counts of cruelty to animals.

Deputies worked in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Humane Colorado, and High Country Environmental Grazing to seize the animals. They were relocated and received immediate medical evaluations, veterinary care, and pain management. Investigators said they also found multiple deceased animals on the property.

The Delta County Sheriff’s Office said it is grateful to the community members who alerted law enforcement to this issue, and for the partner agencies that assisted with the transportation and care of all animals.

Investigators said additional charges will be announced pending the outcome of the investigation.

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.

Former Sacramento teacher launches platform to combat national literacy crisis

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Peyton Headlee

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    SACRAMENTO (KCRA) — A former Sacramento classroom teacher is tackling the nation’s literacy crisis. In 2020, Chandra Roughton founded Luminous Minds, an educational website and early learning platform.

The platform offers online resources for parents and teachers to improve children’s ability to read. It partners with districts and schools to support primary classroom and intervention teachers with supplemental reading and literacy resources.

Roughton hosts family literacy nights and workshops to empower parents with reading strategies and activities they can do at home.

Tyla Brown, a parent at Oak Hill Elementary in Antelope, attended one such event in January — seeking guidance on how to better teach her daughter to read.

“I learned a lot of activities that I never even thought of. I learned how to break it down in a fun way,” Brown said.

The platform aims to build foundational literacy skills at a time when national reading scores are falling short. Roughton addressed Congress in September at an informational session on the science of reading about the implications of low literacy rates.

“According to the most recent NAEP data, only 33% of fourth graders in the United States are reading at or above proficiency,” Roughton said in her testimony. “That means 67%, two out of every three children, aren’t.”

That’s why school districts like Center Joint Unified are investing in literacy initiatives.

“One of our districtwide focuses is literacy. And so how do we build that love of literacy, love of reading, and really help our parents with understanding how to help us and partner up with building those reading foundational skills,” Oak Hill Elementary Principal Parveen Saenz said.

Parents like Tyla Brown appreciate the support.

“They’re here because they genuinely want to help each kid grow. And I am just so grateful,” Brown said.

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Sacramento Police Canine Association covers cost of care for retired police dogs

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Lee Anne Denyer

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) — From sweeping for explosives to apprehending a wanted subject, the Sacramento Police Department’s Canine Unit serves a critical need for the department.

“The dogs are willing to sacrifice themselves for not only us as officers, but for the community at the drop of a hat,” said K-9 Officer Zachary Yasonia, president of the Sacramento Police Canine Association. “The dogs have an overwhelming drive and desire to be at work. I mean, their happy place is being in the back of a police car.”

When police dogs age out of the unit or become medically unable to continue in their job due to illness or injury, they retire. It’s then that the Sacramento Police Canine Association steps in to cover the cost of their care.

“We need to respect the dogs and look out for the dogs in retirement and provide them the best retirement we can,” Yasonia said.

At 10 years old, Czech Shepherd Jax still enjoys driving around in the back of a police cruiser, chasing his ball and spending time with Yasonia, his handler. Jax actively served with him on the K-9 unit for six years.

“I’ve trusted my life with him and he’s trusted his life with me,” he said. “We truly have a special bond.”

Yasonia, however, has been a Sacramento Police K-9 Officer for more than a decade, working with three dogs during his tenure with the department.

“He’s my second dog that I’ve had retired, so I truly am thankful and grateful for the association,” he said. “It wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the support that we have in the community.”

The association is a nonprofit organization separate from the police department, relying on fundraising efforts and private donations for its budget. The association pays for food, medical expenses, and — in time– burial expenses as the retired dogs live out their years.

The organization is currently financially supporting nine retired police dogs.

The Sacramento Police Department currently has eight active handler/dog teams. Sgt. Darby Lannom oversees the unit.

“I’ve really seen the joy that the dogs bring, not only to the community but the handlers,” said Lannom. “To extend that through retirement years is great — and that wouldn’t be possible without the Canine Association.”

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Watsonville mother sentenced 13 years for 1994 cold case death of newborn son

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Ricardo Tovar

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    SALINAS, Calif. (KSBW) — A Watsonville mother has been sentenced for abandoning her newborn son more than 30 years ago, leading to his death along Garin Road in the Las Lomas area, according to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.

Pamela Ferreyra, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of felony child abuse in connection with the 1994 death of her infant son.

She was sentenced to 13 years and four months in state prison.

“On December 3, 1994, the partial remains of a two-to-three-day-old baby boy were discovered off Garin Road in Prunedale. An autopsy confirmed that the child was born alive, outside of a hospital setting, and that he had not been fed for approximately 24 hours prior to his death,” Pacioni said.

The exact cause of the child’s death could not be determined.

The baby, known as Baby Garin, was found stuffed in a grocery bag by a man collecting aluminum cans, according to past KSBW 8 reporting.

Pacioni added that no missing person report was filed and, at the time, no leads were developed to identify the baby’s parents.

In 2024, DNA analysis identified Ferreyra as the child’s mother. She was arrested in October 2024.

When interviewed, Ferreyra said she hid her pregnancy from her husband and children and delivered the baby alive at home.

Ferreyra allegedly told investigators that she dressed him, put him in her car, drove to a remote location in Prunedale, and left him there. Pacioni said Ferreyra never went back to check on her son.

Both offenses are considered violent felonies and count as strikes under California law.

“Ferreyra’s guilty plea was the tenth conviction for a cold-case murder since the establishment of the Cold Case Task Force,” Pacioni said.

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San Benito flood crossing leaves passenger dead, driver found hypothermic

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Felix Cortez

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    SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) — A search and recovery mission was carried out on Wednesday morning off Panoche Road in San Benito County after the driver of a small sedan tried to cross a flooded Tres Pinos Creek.

“I know the river level rose, and sometimes it’s unpredictable. You leave for running errands, and you can make it, and you come back, and the river rises, and you don’t realize it, and you get swept away,” said Kaleb Simpson, a detective with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders say they were called to the area of Browns Valley Road on Tuesday night on reports of a car in the water. But following a thorough search, they found no one—until Wednesday morning, when the driver was seen walking down Highway 25, disoriented and showing signs of hypothermia.

“After talking to the individual, he said that he was one of the people who was in that vehicle from last night, and he was asking about where his friend may be, which prompted a larger-scale response to help look for the unaccounted individual,” said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire battalion chief.

Search and rescue teams eventually found the passenger more than a mile downstream from where the car got stranded. The deceased was identified by family members as 28-year-old William Son.

The Sheriff’s Office is now investigating whether drugs, alcohol, or foul play were involved. Alcohol may play a role in the investigation, as a Modelo beer can could be seen on the dashboard of the flooded car.

“If it was just an accident, then it was just an accident—it’s a terrible tragedy. If there is any sort of criminal negligence, then we certainly want to make sure that we are prepared in that event,” said Simpson.

Firefighters say the death could have been prevented if the driver had obeyed a road sign on Browns Valley Road warning drivers, “When flooded, turn around—don’t drown.”

A warning is now being issued to other drivers who may be thinking of crossing flooded roadways.

“Understand that, you know, most places do have access and egress from multiple points—it just might not be convenient. In this situation, the alternate route was an additional 40 minutes out of the way, but it could have prevented this tragedy,” said Silveira.

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Grandfather of Montana toddler found dead in pile of laundry now facing charges

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Nate Eaton

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    LIMA, Montana (eastidahonews.com) — A Montana grandfather has been charged with negligent homicide in the death of his 3-year-old grandson, adding a second arrest in a case that has shocked the small community of Lima.

Christopher Michael Cox, 48, is accused of failing to provide basic care and necessities for the child, who had spina bifida and was found deceased inside the family’s home in October. Cox faces felony negligent homicide and misdemeanor child endangerment charges.

Cox’s arrest comes months after the child’s mother, Nicole Lynn Boyer, 28, was charged with felony deliberate homicide after calling 911 and allegedly telling dispatchers, “Just take me to jail” and “He didn’t die today.”

Authorities responding to the home on Oct. 16 said they immediately noticed a strong odor of decomposition.

Court documents said investigators immediately noticed a strong odor of decomposition inside the home, which was described as being in “poor condition” with piles of trash, rotten food and animal feces. The child’s body was found in an upstairs bedroom on a pile of laundry and trash next to a mattress. He was covered with a sweatshirt that Boyer said belonged to her.

A doctor later confirmed the child had spina bifida, club feet, and hydrocephalus, leaving him severely disabled and unable to walk, according to court documents.

Investigators said Boyer admitted she confined her son to an upstairs room and stopped caring for him in September, saying she became “overwhelmed” and “didn’t prioritize him.”

She allegedly told agents she could not remember the last time she gave him food or water, and acknowledged she had known for weeks he was dead.

Other children in the home told police they had heard the toddler crying but believed he was dead when the cries stopped.

Both Boyer and Cox are being held in the Beaverhead County Jail on $500,000 bond each. Three other children have been removed from the home.

Cox faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Hearings for both defendants are scheduled for next week.

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.