Fatal pedestrian crash at North Academy & Vickers in Colorado Springs restricts traffic for three hours Wednesday morning

KRDO on March 18, 2026

Alexander Brunet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – A man has died after being struck by a car just before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday on northbound Academy Boulevard, east of Vickers Drive.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), the victim tried to cross the busy street away from the crosswalk at Vickers when he was hit.

“It was probably too dark at the time for the driver to see him,” an officer at the scene said. “The driver remained on-scene and is cooperating. He doesn’t appear to have been impaired or anything like that. He said that he looked behind him for a second, and when he looked forward is when the impact happened.”

Southbound traffic on Academy was reduced to one lane around the crash scene, and northbound Academy traffic was detoured at Vickers before authorities cleared the scene just before 9:30 a.m.

CSPD’s Major Crash Team is investigating the incident.

“Traffic crashes like this one should be a stark reminder to always keep your head on a swivel,” said CSPD spokesman Ira Cronin. “Keep your eyes on the road. Be mindful of where you’re crossing. If you’re a pedestrian, or even a motorcyclist or bicyclist, never assume that a vehicle sees you.”

Shortly after authorities cleared the scene, KRDO 13’s crew saw a man jaywalking on Academy, just a few feet from where the pedestrian died.

“Use the crosswalk, make sure you wait for the light and the sign to be in your favor,” Cronin advised. “The small things can add up a lot. But these things can happen. No one plans on them, and they’re always unfortunate.”

This is a developing story. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.

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Video shows Michigan State Police directing horse to shelter during blizzard

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By Paula Wethington

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    UPPER PENINSULA, Michigan (WWJ) — A horse that was wandering outside amid blizzard conditions in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula found shelter with the help of Michigan State Police.

The horse had escaped from its farm on Monday and ran about a mile north along M-129 during the winter storm, state police said.

Michigan State Police helped direct a horse to safe shelter during a winter storm on March 16, 2026, in the Upper Peninsula.

Troopers from the MSP Sault Ste. Marie post and a U.S. Border Patrol agent coaxed the horse to walk into a neighbor’s barn and stay there until the owner could arrive and retrieve the animal.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula were hit by a late-season winter storm over the weekend that resulted in ice and blizzard conditions.

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.

‘Means the world’: Bend local Bella Emry reflects on American Idol journey

KTVZ on March 18, 2026

Kelsey Merison

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Under bright lights and national attention, 22-year-old Bella Emry is quickly becoming a name to watch. But behind her recent appearance on American Idol lies a story rooted in small-town Oregon, family influence, and a deep connection to the Central Oregon community.

From Yamhill to Bend

Bella Emry’s journey began in the small town of Yamhill, Oregon.

“I am originally from Yamhill-Carlton, Oregon. So I am Oregon born and raised,” she said. “But I moved to Bend about seven or eight years ago, my freshman year of high school.”

Bella and her family // Credit: Bella Emry

The move, prompted by family, marked a major shift from a tight-knit town of roughly 1,000 people to a growing Central Oregon hub.

“You literally know everybody,” she said of her hometown. “You walk down the street and there’s Bob and Janet. You know everybody.”

Despite the change, Bend quickly became home.

“Bend was our favorite vacation spot (growing up) and Yamhill is very small. My parents came to me and my brother and were like, ‘Wanna do something different?’ And we were like, ‘Sure.’ And so then we moved,” Bella said. “That’s how I ended up here.”

A Lifelong Connection to Music

Music wasn’t a sudden discovery for Bella. It always had a presence in her life.

“I’d say music was just… always there,” she said. “My dad was the lead pastor and worship leader of our church growing up in Yamhill. My sister, she’s six years older than me, and she always did music. So I was just her little shadow and wanted to do everything she did.”

Young Bella // Credit: Bella Emry

She quickly found herself in piano lessons and also learned how to play the guitar.

“My repertoire is just singing piano and guitar at this moment. But, you know, I haven’t really crazy obsession with the cello,” she said with a laugh.

The ‘American Idol’ Break

Unlike the long audition lines many associate with the show, Bella’s path to American Idol started online.

“I sent in a video to American Idol… I saw an ad online. And then they emailed me,” Bella said. “I thought it was a scam, but tried it anyway. I was like, ‘I’m not going to get scammed.’ It was real!”

After several virtual auditions, she was flown to Nashville to perform in front of celebrity judges including Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie.

“That was just scary,” she admitted. “But honestly, the exact moments of going in there, I completely blacked them out.”

The audition process // Credit: Bella Emry

Watching her audition later was almost like seeing it for the first time.

“There were things I didn’t even remember happening,” she said, laughing. “Like Luke Bryan saying ‘Hella Yella Bella’, I had no memory of that.”

Bella was relieved to find that some of the moments had been edited out.

“There’s also things that happened that got cut. For example, when Lionel Richie said I had a ‘cool vibe’, I responded with, ‘Period, thank you very much.’ Regretted it so badly walking out of that room,” Bella said. “And they did cut it out. So, thank you.”

She even had a camera crew follow her home to Central Oregon.

“I ended up getting a full story, a full home story. So they came to Bend,” she reflected. “They came to my house, they met my family. They came to my my work. It was super cool.”

A Community Behind Her

Bella made it to the Top 30 before she was ultimately eliminated–but she said she’s forever grateful for the opportunity and support.

Local businesses, like General Duffy’s in Redmond, hosted watch parties, and social media lit up with encouragement.

Bella with some young fans // Credit: Bella Emry

“It’s a different form of validation that I’ve never received for my music,” she said. “It’s been nothing but positivity.”

That support has shaped her future goals—not just as a performer, but as a local artist.

“I think right now I’m trying to build this kind of goal aspect of looking at what comes next, so I’m still learning that as well… A big part of it is going to be putting my own songs out there, putting my own music out there,” Bella said. “I sing music that I love and that I resonate with lyrically now of other people’s. But I want to be the one to create that.”

Looking Ahead

While her journey on American Idol helped build confidence, Bella says it also clarified her direction.

“My mindset going into this whole process wasn’t necessarily, I’m going to be the next American Idol. It was just… I haven’t really done anything to actually pursue music. It’s just been my hobby,” she said. “But this, it was kind of that moment where I was like, I can prove to myself that I can, I could do something like this. Or that I can sing in front of people, specifically very famous people that have a lot of history and experience.” 

And she couldn’t have done it without Central Oregon’s support.

“I just want to say a big thank you to Bend, to Central Oregon. I have received nothing but positivity and it really means the world to me,” Bella said.

As she continues to grow as an artist, Bella remains grounded in the place that helped shape her.

“I want to be in Bend, I want to stay in Bend. I love Bend. And now I’ve got a big backing of people that I don’t really even know, but that are here for me. And that just feels amazing,” she said. “My goal is to play music here and locally. I’ll go around Oregon because I love Oregon, but I want to live in Bend, Bend’s my home base. So, I think that’s really special.”

Bella playing guitar by the river // Credit: Bella Emry

If you want to see Bella perform live, she’ll be opening for Jacquie Roar on May 22nd at General Duffy’s in Redmond. You can also follow along on her journey and get performance announcements on Instagram, @bellaemryofficial.

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Yellowstone sees nearly 4.8 million visits in 2025 despite government shutdown

KIFI on March 18, 2026

Danielle Mullenix

Yellowstone, Montana (KIFI) – Yellowstone National Park welcomed nearly 4.8 million recreation visits in 2025, according to a new release from the National Park Service.

The park recorded 4,762,988 visits over the year—an impressive number that comes despite a 43-day partial federal government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During that time, the National Park Service worked to keep parks open and accessible whenever possible, allowing visitors to continue accessing some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes.

2025 Visitation Highlights

4,762,988 recreation visits

86,891,452 total visitor hours spent in the park

1,238,983 overnight stays

Park officials say these numbers reflect not only Yellowstone’s enduring popularity, but also the importance of maintaining access to public lands—even during challenging circumstances.

courtesy of the Yellowstone National Park Service

Visitation data plays a key role in how the National Park Service manages park resources, staffing, and visitor experience. Officials use these trends to balance conservation efforts with public access, ensuring parks remain both protected and enjoyable.

That demand is also spilling into nearby communities like West Yellowstone, where in-town employees and locals like Cam Carter are already preparing for a busy summer. Carter, who helps operate the Holiday Motel in town, shared that they’ve seen rooms consistently booked out during the summer season.

“The whole town is only one square mile, so it can become very packed,” Carter shared. “We’ve had to turn away people in our motel room every single night at peak season. We definitely have felt that, in the last couple of years, especially since Covid, it’s been a lot busier in the park, since Covid.”

The National Park Service also noted that Yellowstone’s numbers are part of a broader national dataset. Of the 433 sites in the National Park System, 406 parks reported visitation in 2025, with records dating back to 1979 in some locations.

For visitors and park managers alike, the data offers a snapshot of how Americans continue to connect with the outdoors—even in uncertain times.

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Overnight change Wednesday on 8th Street project in Colorado Springs as Fountain Creek bridge phase winds down

KRDO on March 18, 2026

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Travelers along 8th Street will see one last major traffic shift on the Fountain Creek bridge starting with work overnight on Wednesday, March 18, as the west side of the 75-year-old structure will close so that crews can continue bridge repairs.

Traffic will remain open in both directions during this work. The bridge is scheduled to open in its new, final configuration next month.

Work will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and should be completed by 5 a.m. on Thursday.

Northbound traffic will have one open lane across the bridge, and southbound traffic will have two open lanes.

Officials expect this phase of construction to last four weeks and include rehabilitating the bridge deck and repairing the sidewalk on the west side of the bridge.

When this phase is complete, the bridge moves into its final configuration, with two through lanes in each direction and a third northbound lane that feeds into the eastbound frontage road to U.S. Highway 24.

The new multi-use sidewalk will open on the east side of the bridge.

Crews will return to the bridge in late spring for final asphalt paving and striping.

South of the bridge, crews have finished drilling to locate utilities under 8th Street and found many previously unmarked underground utilities between Motor City Drive and the Fountain Creek bridge.

Officials said the project team is now revising the design documents and construction phases to reduce additional impacts on motorists and businesses.

It’s unclear whether that means a possible delay in the overall project, but two previous projects — the new bridge on Voyager Parkway and the relocation of utility lines on Austin Bluffs Parkway — were delayed months after unmarked utility lines were found.

Remaining work on 8th Street includes replacing a water main, installing sidewalks and curbs south of the Fountain Creek bridge, and stormwater upgrades to eliminate flash flooding from two hilly streets above the corridor.

Officials had intended to start the water main replacement this winter.

Access to local businesses remains open and clearly marked.

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Michigan wrestler defying all odds to get back on the mat after losing his leg to cancer

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By Sidney Moore

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    DOWAGIAC, Michigan (WBND-LD) — Weski Wesaw is a son, brother, but most of all a fighter; after going through a traumatic event, he managed to come out on top. But before that event, Wesaw had a very ordinary childhood. Wesaw was the first baby in the family who loved to play and wrestle, but unfortunately that all changed one winter day. Wesaw says, “I was wrestling, and my coach fell on it, so, like, he bruised it, and, like, my legs started, like, hurting really badly when I started walking. So we got to check that.”

The family then found out Weski had a form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. Felicia Wesaw, Weski’s grandma tells ABC57’s Sidney Moore that the whole family tried their best to stay strong for Weski after hearing this devastating news. Felicia says, “You don’t cry in front of them. That’s because they’re already fighting the biggest battle of their life, which is life and death. And how do you explain that to a child? He was just a child. He was just a just a little kid, you know.”

Unfortunately, this diagnosis felt all too familiar as Felicia’s daughter, Yvonne Rosario Ortiz, had the same form of cancer, which she was able to fight until 2009, when she passed away. Weski quickly had to make a decision that would shape his life forever, to keep his leg or to lose it. His aunt chose to not amputate anything after her diagnosis, which then led the cancer to spread throughout her body.

Felicia Wesaw, Weski’s Grandma explains, “He got his leg amputated, a little bit above his knee, but they had to go back in and shave it again. So that was twice, and he was like, he’s just a young guy.”

After losing his leg, Weski explains that he fell into depression after this big change. “I didn’t go to school at all, like, I think I missed, like, I had to have award for like, missing the greatest number of days, or something. I didn’t go to school at all, and I didn’t have no motivation. I felt like I was out of place. I felt like by having one leg and walking around with a whole bunch of kids around my age, I felt like I was alone.”

But one day that all changed when speaking with the school secretary Tonya Brooks Weski decided he wanted to wrestle again. They brought the idea to Athletic Director Brent Nate who was unsure about the outcome but was all game. “I’m not going to lie to you, in my mind, I’m like, thinking, how in the heck is this going to happen? And Coach Brandt was like, absolutely. I think I just looked at him, like, okay, you say it. I go. The coach says it’s going to happen. We’re making it happen.”

After that conversation, it was game on. Tonya Brooks the School Secretary says, “You could see the light in his eyes, and you could tell how excited he was to have it was almost like an A moment of acceptance for him after everything had went on, and it gave him the drive, or it gave him a reason to come to school.”

With only one leg, Weski had to relearn the sport, telling ABC57’s Sidney Moore it’s a completely different approach. “It’s a whole different ballpark from normal wrestling. I have to really think about it like my moves and what works the best for me.”

Now he is competing between 144-to-165-pound bracket depending on where the team needs him.

Weski now is pushing to the future hoping to continue wrestling in college along with a double major in business and engineering.

He also hopes to get a prosthetic leg come may to be able to walk across the stage at graduation so Secretary Tonya Brooks can turn his tassel.

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.

North Phoenix arson suspect caught using license plate readers, GPS tracking and ATF dog

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By Jordan Bontke

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A suspect has been charged with arson in connection with a north Phoenix strip center fire that left several business owners without their livelihoods, after investigators used security video, license plate readers, GPS tracking, and a specially trained ATF dog to crack the case.

The fire broke out at a north Phoenix strip center in early February. Among those affected was America Ortiz, owner of Pawdazzle, a dog grooming business that sustained fire and smoke damage in the blaze.

“I’m bummed out, I’m sad. I’m sad because I’m a single mom and I have to support my kids, and that’s all I have,” Ortiz said.

The smoke smell damaged her product inventory and grooming materials, much of which had to be thrown away. Ortiz has gone weeks without operating Pawdazzle, with still weeks to go before she can reopen.

“We’re very sad that we can’t operate right now,” Ortiz said.

While Ortiz works toward reopening, fire investigators brought in a one-of-a-kind resource to help determine how the fire started — a Labrador Retriever named Xanadu.

Xanadu is the only ATF Accelerant Detection K-9 in the entire state of Arizona, we’re told. If she smells an accelerant, she will sit or point with her nose toward the location to help investigators determine how a fire started.

“She’s a state asset that any agency can call upon, and we’ll take her out to run those fire scenes,” an investigator said.

While Xanadu worked on the scene, police reviewed security video from the night of the fire, including footage of a white Prius pulling up to the strip center. Court paperwork shows the car was a rental from a business on Van Buren Street near downtown Phoenix.

A license plate reader — used throughout the Valley — discovered where the Prius was registered: a car rental business for rideshare drivers. The owner told police the car is GPS tracked, and that information led police to find the Prius and the driver, who was charged with arson.

Ortiz said she was relieved to see some justice — and she had a special offer for Xanadu.

“Once we reopen, I just want to say Xanadu will always have free grooming, free nail trims, everything. We are just so proud of him,” Ortiz said.

The arson suspect has pleaded not guilty. A trial is currently set for July.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. ­­­KNXV 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.

Jail inmates and 4-H students bond through agriculture and art

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By Michelle Reyes

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    EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KOAA) — More than 250 inmates across seven wards at the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs took part in the Cultivating Change: Agriculture and Mental Health Initiative, a collaboration between the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Jail-Based Behavioral Services program and the local Country Style 4-H Club.

The program, launched in recognition of National Agriculture Month, connected incarcerated individuals with 4-H youth through agricultural education, mental health awareness and creative expression.

Workshops were facilitated by a licensed therapist and an agricultural business owner. The workshops incorporated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy concepts to help participants build coping strategies and foster self-reflection.

Seven youth members from the Country Style 4-H Club developed presentations on agriculture’s role in daily life and career pathways across Colorado. The materials also included messages of encouragement delivered to inmates through structured workshops.

“We showed off what we know in agriculture,” said Moriah Hudson, a 17-year-old who has been part of 4-H for five years.

Ten-year-old Carson, another participant, said he and his brothers presented on market goats, one of several topics covered in the program. Other subjects included the following:

horse health sheep cow horses livestock genetic rodeo horsemanship For some inmates, the experience offered a rare connection to life outside.

“It meant a lot because… I grew up in the country,” said one inmate.

The workshops also gave inmates an outlet for mental health challenges.

“I have bipolar depression, it actually took me out of my negative thoughts and took me out of this place, even for a moment it’s a bliss,” said one inmate.

The initiative culminated in murals painted on jail walls, inspired by the agricultural themes introduced by the 4-H students.

“Probably one of the best days I’ve ever had in jail,” one inmate said of the experience.

For those who worked on the murals, the process itself carried meaning.

“Working on this mural, it’s something we had to ask for every day. They don’t just open the door and say get to work,” said one inmate.

Eric Carnell, Detention Support Commander at the El Paso County Jail, said the program was designed to give inmates a constructive way to express themselves.

“If they have something to say, why not give them the correct platform where they can express themselves,” said Carnell.

Carnell also reflected on the broader impact of bringing youth and inmates together.

“Maybe instead of giving a plethora of medication and other things, maybe our children are that inspiration,” said Carnell.

One inmate summed up the lessons left behind on the walls.

“Don’t be afraid to be different. Yeah, you know, it’s okay to be odd like the little sheep right here. Gotta take it one day at a time, just like agriculture,” said the inmate.

The public can now vote for their favorite mural online. Voting opens March 18 at 11 a.m and runs through early 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.

Husband was chasing wife before violent multi-car crash in Covina, police say

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By KABC Staff

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    COVINA, Calif. (KABC) — A violent multi-vehicle crash near an intersection in Covina early Wednesday morning stemmed from a domestic violence incident, police confirmed.

The crash involving five vehicles was reported just before 5:50am at Hollenbeck Avenue and Cypress Street, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Covina police later confirmed to Eyewitness News that it happened as a husband was chasing his wife at a high rate of speed. He eventually crashed into the other cars.

A view from AIR7 showed the widespread wreckage across the street as firefighters rushed to treat and transport several people. Most of the cars sustained significant damage. One of those cars was overturned.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said four people were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. At least one person who was trapped in one of the cars had to be extricated. Several ambulances were seen at the scene.

It’s unclear if the wife was one of the people injured in the crash. Her husband, however, fled the scene was later found hiding at a nearby home before he was taken into custody.

Additional details were not available.

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.

Pocatello man charged with rape, child porn and sexual exploitation accepts plea agreement, dismissing nearly all charges

CNN Newsource on March 18, 2026

By Daniel V. Ramirez

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    POCATELLO (eastidahonews.com) — A 21-year-old facing multiple charges of child pornography, rape, and exploitation has accepted a plea agreement that will drop nearly all of the charges.

Taisen Lopez-Scharer currently has two active cases, with each impacting a different victim.

In the first case, which was filed in 2024, he was charged with four felony counts of rape. The second case, which was filed last year, he faces two charges of felony sexual exploitation of a child and two felony charges of possession of child porn.

On March 4, a plea agreement was submitted and signed by Lopez-Scharer, which states that the 21-year-old will plead guilty to only one count of rape, with the remaining charges in both cases being dismissed.

The agreement is nonbinding, meaning the judge does not have to accept it. The document does not state a sentencing recommendation.

Lopez-Scharer is scheduled to appear before District Judge Javier Gabiola for a change of plea at 9:30 a.m. on March 30.

Rape Charges On Sept. 17, 2024, Lopez-Scharer, 19 at the time, was arrested after a mother called the Pocatello Police Department and said he was attempting to kick down the front door of her home. The mother told officers that her daughter was having a miscarriage and that Lopez-Scharer was the father.

Lopez-Scharer was interviewed by detectives, where he admitted to having sex with a woman’s daughter, who was 16, on four different occasions, and knew the girl was a minor.

Child porn and sexual exploitation charges In September, Lopez-Scharer was charged with four new felonies after a different mother in Iowa contacted the PPD after finding her daughter had sent explicit images to Lopez-Scharer.

According to a 134-page court document, Lopez-Scharer, 20 at the time, had been talking with this girl since December 2023, when the pair had been sending each other explicit videos. The documents also state he had talked with the girl about the rape charges and hoped to have that case dismissed.

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.