Month: February 2026

By Anna Meiler

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    CHELSEA, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Chelsea, Massachusetts police officer who experienced homelessness while growing up has now dedicated his life to helping teens.

During this school vacation week, Officer Damian Strait launched a special camp at Chelsea High School called “Build the Base” to give boys a foundation they need to succeed.

“Going into it, I was like ‘I hope kids show up.’ Because it’s a police program, it’s February break,” Strait said.

Strait was pleasantly surprised when more than 30 students started showing up every day ready to work out, learn, and talk.

“Honestly he’s the best. You need someone to talk to, he’s there. You need someone to help you get better, he’s there,” said Migo Ramirez, a sophomore at Chelsea High.

Also known as Coach D, Straight grew up in Chelsea and overcame incredible challenges throughout his childhood.

“I can relate to a lot of things these kids are going through from being raised by a single mom with five kids, at times my family being homeless living in shelters, and at times being in the foster system,” Strait said. “I know what it’s like to have to struggle and feel like you have to figure out things on your own and I’m happy I’m in a role I can hopefully help these young men not figure out things on their own.”

That’s why he wanted to go above and beyond his role as a school resource officer to create the new camp.

The camp teaches students how to lift weights and understand the importance of nutrition and mental health.

“I know how much something like this would have meant to me when I was their age so to be able to be in this position and create that opportunity for them, it’s like a dream come true. This week has been one of the best weeks of my life,” Strait said.

Chelsea Police Chief Keith Houghton explained why the program is so important.

“That positive interaction today pays dividends so much down the line, not just for those officers and kids, but for the community. They’re going to have 35 very good citizens. I can tell already by meeting them,” Houghton said.

After just a few days, Ramirez said he’s noticed a difference.

“It has made me feel more energized. I’m ready to wake up, I’m waking up every morning ready to do this because I feel motivated from the way he’s teaching everybody,” Ramirez said.

Officer Strait said he would like to see this become a permanent after school program. There are also plans in the works for a similar program led by female police officers during April school vacation.

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.

By Zitlali Solache

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPTV) — A Palm Beach County woman is warning pet owners about a deadly incident after her two dogs ate a dead iguana following Florida’s recent cold snap.

Bridget Garrison is now caring for one of her blue-tick hound dogs, Karma, who survived the poisoning but remains partially paralyzed. Her other dog, Tally, died Monday after both animals consumed parts of a dead iguana they found in their yard last Wednesday.

“Both dogs got a hold of an iguana in the yard that had been dead, I believe. They ate the arms and legs off,” said Garrison.

Days later, Garrison noticed something was wrong with her pets. “She was sliding around trying to get up, and she couldn’t,” Garrison said.

She said that while the dogs are not trained to hunt, they typically eat other animals, making the incident particularly concerning.

“They’ve eaten animals in the yard before — squirrels, rabbits, a dead chicken. But an iguana, apparently, they develop botulism,” said Garrison.

Garrison took both dogs to Pet Emergency and Referral Center, where veterinarians believe they contracted botulism — a toxin found in iguanas. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the condition.

WPTV reporter Zitlali Solache spoke with Dr. Evan Kadish with Lantana-Atlantis Animal Hospital, who explained that during Florida’s cold snaps, iguanas can freeze, fall from trees and die.

“Once they die, you have bacteria starting to decompose and dogs come along,” said Kadish. “You can start seeing hind-limb paralysis, and that will ascend the body eventually, causing more and more problems.”

Garrison said she had no idea dead iguanas posed such a serious threat to her pets. “Had I known that even going near a dead iguana was possibly deadly, I would have gotten the activated charcoal, gotten the anti-toxins, but I had no idea,” said Garrison.

Kadish said botulism cases rise during Florida’s cold snaps and advised pet owners to be proactive.

“Just walk through your garden, have a look under your trees,” said Dr. Kadish. “Use gloves or whatever to dispose of them safely.”

Half-sisters Karma and Tally were always together, and Garrison said they were able to say their goodbyes before Tally died. “They got to say their goodbyes, and Karma was right next to her when it happened,” said Garrison.

Garrison expressed gratitude to the community and Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Loxahatchee, who helped her mobilize her 80-pound dogs during the crisis.

Now, Garrison is focused on Karma’s recovery while hoping to prevent other pet owners from experiencing the same tragedy.

“I want her to run around our yard and be happy and back to being Karma,” said Garrison. “I can’t wait to hear her normal howl again.”

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.

By Mary Regli

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    LINCOLN, Nebraska (KETV) — A virologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Qingsheng Li, was awarded $3.5 million to advance his work on a vaccine to prevent HIV.

“We strongly believe that, actually, a vaccine is going to be a very cost-effective means to stop this pandemic,” Li said.

Right now, there is medication for managing HIV, but no cure for it.

If Li’s project succeeds, he would be the first to develop an effective vaccine to prevent HIV.

“I’m not sure this can resolve the problem, but I think it’s a good step forward,” Li said.

Li will spend the next five years working on developing the HIV vaccine, using monkeys as his test subjects.

The Nebraska AIDS Project here in Benson provides community support and resources in order to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS here in Nebraska. They say Li’s project will be extremely beneficial for the HIV/AIDS community.

“We have a lot of good, you know, treatment options out there for people who are living with HIV, but the end goal is, you know, to be able to provide a cure at some point in someone’s lifetime,” said Tommy Calloway, the community outreach coordinator for the Nebraska AIDS Project.

Although Nebraska typically has low case numbers, the group says they’ve noticed a surge in recent years.

“2021 actually marked a 10-year high for us,” Calloway said.

They believe Li’s project can boost awareness and prevent the virus by helping to lower those surging numbers.

“Having this research right here in the heart of Nebraska, I think that says a lot about just kind of where we are at as a medical and research community,” Calloway said.

Both Li and the Nebraska AIDS project hope this research will get us closer to eradicating the virus.

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.

By Dean Fioresi

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Two Disneyland Resort parkgoers were injured late Tuesday night when a tree toppled onto them in the midst of powerful winds brought to Southern California by a winter storm.

Resort officials said that a tree fell on the patio of the Plaza Inn, just off Main Street U.S.A. when entering the park, at around 11:40 p.m. They said that due to the rain, no guests were sitting on the patio when the tree fell.

Two other guests who were in the area did sustain some injuries, though, and they were treated for minor grazes by park first aid officials and released, according to park officials.

CBS LA spoke with the couple, Mark and Lewanda Joseph, who recounted the quick sequence of events that happened as they were getting ready for a Valentine’s Day picture package.

“It knocked me over. So Superman, here, came and picked me up and lifted the branches and all that stuff off of me,” Lewanda Joseph said.

Mark Joseph said he heard a loud crack just moments before the tree came crashing down and that his first instinct was to check on his wife.

“In the moment that it happened, I didn’t feel anything hit me, because I was more worried about my wife than anything else,” Mark Joseph said.

Mark and Lewanda said that they’re extremely grateful for the quick response from park medics and that they feel fine after the incident. They said that they were quickly taken care of an have scheduled doctors appointments as a precaution since both still feel a little sore.

They said that above all, Tuesday night’s incident won’t deter them from visiting the park in the future.

Park officials said that the tree was removed overnight.

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.

By Amanda Hari

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    San Francisco (KPIX) — A Los Gatos mosque located in a quiet neighborhood has become the center of controversy, right as Ramadan begins.

The mosque is asking for more leeway when it comes to operation times, but neighbors are upset about the extra traffic and noise it will create.

Executive Director of West Valley Muslim Association, Lubna Shaikh, says in the last few years, the mosque has been gaining more congregants.

“This mosque specifically has become a place that people really, really feel, at home,” said Shaikh.

Shaikh went on to explain that Muslims pray five times a day. The first prayer is before sunrise and the last one is at night. The mosque’s current permit only allows it to operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

So, to do early and late prayers, they may be out of compliance.

Last year, on their busiest night of Ramadan, Shaikh says they had issues.

“They called the cops, and the cops came out and we went to talk to them and said is everything OK?” said Shaikh, recounting the experience of the mosque’s neighbors calling police on them. “And he said, ‘You know, there was noise complaints,’ and I asked if there were an issues and he said, ‘No, you all are eerily quiet.'”

WVMA has applied for an updated conditional use permit with the Town of Los Gatos to allow for extended hours.

But some neighbors say it’s not just the noise, it’s the volume of vehicles at strange times.

Kim Ratcliff lives next door. Her security camera caught video of dozens of cars driving out of the mosque around 9:30 Tuesday night.

“For 30 nights, there are hundreds of cars, a thousand people,” said Ratcliff. “We cannot sleep.”

Ratcliff has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years. She says the space used to be a Jehovah’s Witness church and they never had any issues.

It became a mosque shortly before COVID happened. As things returned to normal, it became busier.

“In 2024, during Ramadan, I had just been diagnosed with malignant melanoma and I was going into the hospital the next day for surgery and all of a sudden this huge crowd and traffic had just descended outside,” Ratcliff explained. “I remember I went outside and I was like, ‘What’s going on here?'”

She says most nights during Ramadan, the parking lot fills up, and they have to turn people away, forcing them to park on the street in front of their homes. The mosque has offered to put up cones, but it doesn’t always help.

“We do not want them to leave, we believe in religious freedom for all, but we’re asking, where does religious freedom end and our rights begin?” said Ratcliff.

The Los Gatos Town Attorney says they are having a public hearing on the planning application.

Shaikh is hoping they can come to a compromise, because she knows how special this place is to her community.

“The beautiful feelings I get from people who say that say this place changed my life,” said Shaikh when asked about the impact of the mosque. “This place helped me so much, and it’s so rewarding and at the same time, to feel like your neighbors hate you, no. I don’t want that. I wish we could teleport people here so they don’t have to drive in. But that’s not possible.”

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.

By Giacomo Luca

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — The harsh winter has taken a toll on streets across Cincinnati, sparking an aggressive and innovative response to fill potholes by city crews.

The brutally cold winter in Southwest Ohio brought mounds of snow, sheets of ice, and tons of salt poured by crews across the city’s 3,100 lane miles and 79 square miles to keep drivers moving safely. Those conditions have tattered city streets, opening up potholes across the Queen City.

“It’s too many to count,” said Jeff Newll of West Price Hill. “And sometimes you may not get a flat tire, but it throws your alignment off, and you can tell the difference when it starts to, your steering wheel starts to wiggle a little bit.”

Since January, Cincinnati drivers have made their concerns known through more than 1,700 citizen service requests, according to the city’s pothole tracker.

“It’s a lot of potholes, especially in Price Hill and on the West-Side of town,” said Reva Holmes of West Price Hill. “It’s a lot of potholes — like, and they’re deep too. Pretty deep holes. Like we need to get those filled.”

Despite the challenging conditions, including the February thaw that will bring even more potholes, crews with the City of Cincinnati have been working through it all. The city has been ramping up efforts to tackle potholes after 2025 brought one of the worst years for roads, including 8,500 pothole service requests.

The city even launched an innovative competition called “Pave the Way” to bring community-driven solutions to the problem.

In 2026, nine crews have been spread across the city, tackling the problem during the day, along with a winter night force patching problem pavement while residents are sleeping, said Mark Riley, the Director of Cincinnati’s Department of Public Services (DPS).

“They’re really putting in extra effort to address all the potholes — that even if they’re just driving down the street and they see a pothole, they’re stopping to fix it right now,” Riley said. “So, it’s not just a service request that they’re addressing. They’re addressing everything they see on the road.”

Street crews have filled nearly 4,500 potholes since Jan. 1, 2026, according to the city’s pothole tracker. Crews have also set the goal of responding to service requests within 24 hours. There are currently just over 200 patch requests left in the city’s queue.

A new and innovative winter mix is also helping crews reduce the number of potholes they have to return to. Considered a permanent winter solution, Aqua Patch is activated by water, then expands and bonds to existing pavement. Riley says the asphalt mixture is helping crews put more focus on responding to service requests, new potholes and areas that haven’t been patched.

“So, what we’re doing is we’re trying to prevent damages to vehicles,” Riley said. “So, our goal is to fill all the potholes that we can in a timely manner within 24 hours of receiving that service request.”

Those efforts will continue into the spring, when crews turn to preventative maintenance operations. Road crews will begin “mill and fill” projects later this year, where they’ll seal cut out potholes and seal them to protect roads in the long-term, Riley said.

The city has also invested in two new pothole-filling machines. Those are expected to arrive in March. That equipment can be operated by a single person and will double the speed at which the city can fill potholes in a single day, Riley said.

Drivers whose cars have been damaged by potholes may be eligible for reimbursement, but the burden of proof is high, and payouts are rare. Ohio law requires that the city have prior knowledge of the road condition and failed to act within a reasonable amount of time. DPS has received 66 requests so far this year, and no claims reviewed by the city have qualified for reimbursement, according to a DPS spokesperson. The city continues to review claims.

If there is a pothole in your Cincinnati neighborhood, the best way to have your voice heard is to report the damaged road online or through 311. Sharing photos and a specific location is important to help crews address the issue.

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.

By KCCI staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — It’s state wrestling week — the biggest and best time of year for those who pour countless hours into a sport that has become part of Iowa’s DNA.

In the words of one former state champion, this week is, “More than just a competition; it’s a celebration of passion, pride, and perseverance, not only for the athletes and coaches but for the entire community that stands behind them.”

Tim O’Brien, of Panora, wrote those words as part of a love letter to the state tournament that he shared in 2025 with KCCI.

You can read the full letter below, or watch the video above to hear KCCI reporter Beau Bowman, another former wrestler, voice it over decades of state wrestling highlights.

For O’Brien, and so many others, wrestling is less a sport and more a way of life.

O’Brien found the mats in 1978 as a first-grader joining other pee-wees in the Stuart-Menlo youth program and went to his first state tournament in 1981. He says he looked up to the older wrestlers who worked and sweat in the same wrestling room, including his brother Dave O’Brien, a fourth-place finisher in 1985 for Stuart-Menlo.

Three years later as a junior, Tim O’Brien matched his older brother when he finished fourth at state. He then became the Class 1A champion at 171 pounds in 1989.

But even someone who climbed to the top of the medal stand admits the accomplishments take a backseat to the journey to — and through — state.

“It’s about the stories of grit and glory, the bonds formed through fierce competition, and the legacy of excellence passed down by each wrestler who steps into that arena,” he writes. “It’s about the community coming together, celebrating the athletes who have poured their sweat and heart into their craft.”

O’Brien has owned and operated an insurance and investment agency in Guthrie Center for over 30 years. But he’s never left wrestling. He’s coached every age level and was commissioner of Iowa Games Wrestling for several years. And, for the last decade, he’s been part of a broadcast team covering high school wrestling for Raccoon Valley Radio.

Scroll to read his full letter below.

Iowa girls high school wrestlingIowa high school wrestling: Brackets, schedule for 2026 girls state wrestling tournament Anticipation of the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament: A Week of Excitement and Tradition The week of the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament is nothing short of electrifying — a whirlwind of anticipation that grows stronger with each passing day. As the event draws near, the buzz in the air is undeniable, and the excitement feels almost tangible. It’s more than just a competition; it’s a celebration of passion, pride, and perseverance, not only for the athletes and coaches but for the entire community that stands behind them.

Driving to work, I feel it — those butterflies in my stomach, fluttering with the kind of thrill that only this week can bring. It’s a familiar sensation, one that has been with me since my first taste of the tournament back in 1981. Just thinking about the matches ahead and the relentless dedication of these young athletes fills me with awe and a deep respect for their commitment.

Throughout this week, our minds are consumed by nothing but the tournament, the weigh-ins, the matchups, the strategies, and the camaraderie that only this level of competition can forge. Each day builds upon the last, leading to that one moment, the moment when the announcer’s voice rings out, echoing through the arena, sending chills down our spines and filling our eyes with emotion.

The phrase that defines this week, the one that has become a symbol of all that the tournament represents, still resonates powerfully after all these years: “Wrestlers Clear the Mats, Wrestlers Clear the Mats.” Those words hold a weight that everyone in the stands feels, whether you’re a seasoned coach or a first-time spectator. It marks the start of a journey, a test of strength, skill, and heart for every wrestler stepping onto the mat.

As the time draws closer, the energy in the arena reaches a fever pitch. We rise to our feet, clapping and cheering, our excitement building to an explosion. The wrestlers, calm and collected, clear the mats, signaling the start of an incredible spectacle — an awe-inspiring display of strength, strategy, and determination. It’s a moment steeped in tradition, a heartbeat of the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament that unites us all in pride and admiration.

But this week is about so much more than just the matches themselves. It’s about the stories of grit and glory, the bonds formed through fierce competition, and the legacy of excellence passed down by each wrestler who steps into that arena. It’s about the community coming together, celebrating the athletes who have poured their sweat and heart into their craft.

As we cheer and watch these incredible feats of athleticism unfold, we’re reminded of the core values this tournament instills — discipline, resilience, and the relentless drive to push the limits of what’s possible. The Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament is more than just an event; it’s a tribute to the human spirit, a powerful reminder of the passion and commitment that fuel greatness.

So, as we clap in unison, filled with exhilaration for those iconic words, we know we’re witnessing something much greater than just a competition. We’re part of a living tradition, one that honors the past, celebrates the present, and inspires the future. And when we hear the call, “Wrestlers Clear the Mats, Wrestlers Clear the Mats,” we know — we’re about to witness something extraordinary.

— Tim O’Brien, Feb. 17, 2025

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.

By Mike Murillo

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    ROCKVILLE, Maryland (WTOP) — The recent shooting at Wootton High School has many families and educators taking a fresh look at what safety inside school buildings should include.

A Montgomery County-based company says a device already being tested in some schools could help staff quietly call for help when an emergency strikes.

Silent Beacon is based in Rockville, Maryland, and makes a wearable panic button designed to reduce the steps taken when reporting an emergency.

President Kenny Kelley said the idea is to let people focus on getting to safety while the technology works in the background.

“I think there’s a lot of lawmakers and a lot of people in powerful positions that say, run, hide, call 911. With our product, you can call 911 and do everything else in the background,” Kelley said.

The device can be worn like a watch and connects to a teacher’s phone through Bluetooth.

How it’s used can vary depending on the situation, especially in schools.

“Not every single time they press the button is an escalation to 911,” said Tyler Charuhas, Silent Beacon’s director of client engagement. “So let’s keep it within our organization so that we can properly assess is this an escalation, or is this something that we can just keep and handle internally?”

During a demonstration, Charuhas explained how quickly the device can be activated.

“You’re going to press and hold it for about three seconds,” Charuhas said.

Once triggered, the device can place phone calls, send text messages and share a live location. It can be set up to alert school security or emergency services, and it can be used with or without speaking.

“You can make it seem like you did disable it,” Charuhas said. “But the microphone is still active, so emergency services can hear everything that’s happening in the room.”

School administrators can also see alerts on a live map and send mass notifications if a situation escalates.

Kelley said the technology is currently being piloted at one college and one K-12 school in the D.C. area, while other schools across the country are also using the product.

Right now, Silent Beacon relies on pairing with a smartphone, but Kelley said the company is working on a version that would not require a phone connection.

For Kelley, who is also a parent, the technology is personal. He said tools like this are meant to save time and remove hesitation when every second matters.

“When you have that two-way audio, you can actually kind of dissect what the situation requires, and 911 can actively act on that,” Kelley 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.