Month: March 2026

By Mary Lee

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    SAN JOSE, California (KPIX) — As we gear up for the start of wildfire season, a South Bay high school team has developed an AI-powered system that can detect and suppress wildfires within minutes.

The Valley Christian High School team called Wildfire Quest in San Jose is a finalist in the $11 million global XPRIZE Foundation Wildfire competition, competing against the top AI and defense innovators.

“I’m wiring together here the stepper motor here to our stepper motor driver,” said Joshua Guo, Valley Christian Wildfire Quest Student.

Guo knows all too well how devastating wildfires can be. He and his family were forced to evacuate when a fast-moving wildfire broke out dangerously close to his home.

“We were collecting like, suitcases, memories like all the photo albums, everything we could salvage, and it was like, in that moment I was just thinking, ‘Is there really nothing I can do about this?’ said Guo.

Guo is part of the Valley Christian High School’s Wildfire Quest team which just became a finalist in the $11 million XPRIZE Foundation Wildfire Competition. He is using his electrical engineering and software skills to come up with a solution that’s never been done before, autonomously detecting and suppressing a potentially catastrophic wildfire within 10 minutes.

“We have school and then we get to work on our system for XPRIZE Wildfire and every day I come to school like, well in just a few hours I’m going to be able to engineer something to help out the world,” said Guo.

Their unique solution is mounting fire-retardant balls on top of drones and then dropping them directly over the wildfire. They’re using their own AI technology as well as partnering with the drone company Kaizen Aerospace and the AI-based fire detection company Sensory AI.

Olivia Ahn is also on the Wildfire Quest team. She explained how their wildfire solution works.

“Essentially, there’s fuse around the ball and inside there’s a chemical fire suppressant powder that when the fuse is set off when it lands on a fire, it basically explodes and chokes out the fire,” said Ahn. “The drone would fly out to a fire, detect the fire, and then drop these over the fire, and the fuse would set off, and then ‘Bam, our fire would be suppressed!'”

Paul Doherty is with PG&E, a co-sponsor of the XPRIZE Wildfire competition.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see a team like them, competing against some of the large defense contractors and other big corporations and organizations that are also working in this space to end catastrophic wildfire,” said Doherty.

Danny Kim is leading the Wildfire Quest team. He’s proud and inspired to work with these bright young minds.

“I will say the secret weapon we have with using high school kids is yes, they’re inexperienced, but that inexperience translates both to energy, enthusiasm and creativity,” said Kim. “The kids are kind of set loose to think of any idea and try and solve this thing that no one else has solved, and they come up with ideas that we never thought about.”

“I feel like we’ve experienced it, like I mean back in 2020 there was like a huge wildfire that turned our skies orange, and it was like very scary and it was honestly like, I felt like there’s nothing that I could do personally but now as high school students and teenagers, we have the opportunity to actually create this physical change,” said Arissa Cao, Valley Christian Wildfire Quest Student.

For these Wildfire Quest students, it’s not just a competition, it’s a calling.

“Especially since we are still teenagers, exploring like, what means most to us, I think this is where I really found it,” said Guo.

PG&E is the co-title sponsor and is supporting the next phase of the competition.

In the summer, the final round of testing will take place in Alaska where finalists must autonomously detect and fully suppress a wildfire across an area as large as the entire Bay Area within 10 minutes.

The winner of the XPRIZE Foundation Wildfire competition will be announced in September.

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 Carmela Karcher

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    LODI, California (KOVR) — A woman in Lodi is pleading for help after two of her horses disappeared nearly a week ago. After extensive searches, she’s worried someone stole them.

“It’s been now six days and not a single person has even seen them, like on the side of the road, nothing,” Trina Homer said.

Two of her beloved horses vanished without a trace.

“There’s no reason for them to be wandering off that far like at all,” she continued.

Homer, a Lodi local, is now pleading for their safe return.

“I take very good care of my animals. They’re my whole world,” she said. “This has to be hands down the worst thing I’ve ever experienced owning a horse.”

Chip and Angus are the two horses that have been missing since Saturday afternoon.

They both have distinctive markings. Chip has a scar on his hip and Angus has white spots.

They were last spotted on a family property in the Acampo area near the intersection of Lower Sacramento and Woodland Road. There’s been no sign of them since.

Homer worries they were stolen to be sold at an auction.

“I did contact three rescues. That’s what they do. They go save horses from those auction yards, and they’re they said they look for them,” she explained. “I know that some of those auctions, you have kill buyers who go and they’ll buy the ones that are cheap and then they ship them out of the United States.”

If you know horses, Homer said they don’t wander far. Their search has been extensive, from the ground on horseback to drones in the sky.

This isn’t only heartbreaking for Homer, but for the countless youth who come to Lodi for her summer camp through Trina Homer’s Horsemanship. They look forward to spending time with Chip and Angus every year.

“That’s my thing. If you stole from some adults, whatever. You took them from all my lesson kids,” Homer said. “That’s what bothers me the most. I hate telling my kids I can’t. I don’t even like to call my kids and tell them that they are sick or hurt or they can’t be ridden. I hate it.”

She’s all but begging for their safe return.

“Just bring them back. I’ll give you your money and go about your day and then you don’t ever have to talk to me again,” Homer said. “We’ll pretend like it never happened.”

An anonymous donation was made to provide a reward for the horses’ return. Homer says whoever has these horses will make more money from the reward than trying to sell them elsewhere.

She has also filed an official stolen horse report with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

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 Matthew Rodriguez

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    RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — The Riverside County Department of Animal Services rescued more than 60 dogs from a house fire near eastern Hemet on Thursday.

The pups were taken to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus and are available for adoption.

“This type of large-scale rescue requires all of our teams to jump into action, and now we need the public’s help to give these dogs a home,” said Field Commander Lesley Huennekens. “We know other dogs will need a safe spot to land today and tomorrow, and we’re here to help both people and pets by serving as a safety net during an emergency or crisis.”

With more than 1,000 dogs at its facilities, Riverside County said its shelters are 240% overcapacity. After the recent rescue, the San Jacinto Valley campus reached 300% overcapacity.

Animal Services asked for help either fostering, adopting or rescuing the dogs to free up kennel space. As an incentive, Riverside County has waived all adoption fees at each of its shelters through March. Each adoption will include spaying or neutering surgery, microchipping, vaccinations and an engraved ID tag.

Animal services said walk-ins are welcome and encouraged, so staff can help. Visit rcdas.org for more information.

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 Erin Jones

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    MESQUITE, Texas (KTVT) — For so many students, prom is a night they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. And on Friday in Mesquite, teens with special needs are getting the chance to experience that moment too.

Jianna Ramon has already picked out her dress, and now all she needs is a hairstyle.

“My hairstyle is going to be straight, and then it is going to be wavy a little way,” she said.

Cosmetology students step in to help Students from Mesquite ISD’s cosmetology program at Poteet High School are volunteering their time to make it happen.

“Give these students the best experience they can have with their hair looking nice,” Kayla Royal said.

For Jianna’s mother, Amy, getting ready for prom is an experience she always hoped her daughter would have.

“You know, she doesn’t get to get all dolled up and have a night where it’s specifically for them,” she said.

All the teens here are part of Mesquite ISD’s Transition Program. It’s designed for students with special needs who have graduated from the district and are working to build independence.

“I just went to an interview at CiCi’s,” Jianna said.

“It gives them an opportunity to get out in the real world and see what it’s like and get jobs and get paid, so it’s amazing,” Amy said.

A chance to celebrate like everyone else It also gives the teens a chance to experience those once‑in‑a‑lifetime milestone moments so many students look forward to — like going to prom.

“This night is truly about her,” Amy said. “The real world isn’t made for our kids, that’s the reality, so to know that they go so hard for our kids, I get emotional because our kids get overlooked sometimes.”

Amy says this is a moment she knows her daughter will cherish forever.

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 DeJanay Booth-Singleton

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    CASS COUNTY, Michigan (WBBM) — At least four people have died, and several others were injured after multiple tornadoes ripped through Southwest Michigan on Friday, authorities say.

The Branch County Sheriff’s Office says that three people were killed and 12 others were injured in Union City, CBS-affiliate WWMT in Kalamazoo reports. The sheriff’s office says three of the injured people were taken to a hospital for treatment.

In Cass County, Sheriff Clint Roach confirmed at least one fatality, and several others were injured. In response to the storm, County Board Chair Jeremiah Jones issued a local state of emergency.

“Emergency Management personnel will be conducting damage assessments in the affected area as required by the State of Michigan. Residents should expect these personnel to wear yellow vests and identify themselves as Cass County Emergency Management staff,” Cass County officials said.

At least two tornadoes were reported in Southwest Michigan amid severe weather earlier on Friday, according to CBS Detroit’s Chief Meteorologist Ahmad Bajjey. The tornadoes were reported in Union City (Branch County) and Three Rivers (St. Joseph County), while a possible third tornado may have also been in St. Joseph County.

Cass County officials later confirmed that a tornado touched down near Edwardsburg.

The tornadoes caused significant damage, including destroying a roof on a Menards store in Three Rivers, as well as trees, homes and pole barns in Cass County. According to Consumers Energy, more than 3,000 customers are without power as of 9 p.m. on Friday.

Consumers Energy says crews are on site in Union City and are “setting up a mobile command center in Union City to help coordinate our response.” The utility company says it hopes to restore power overnight.

“Our hearts are with our friends and neighbors who are affected by today’s tornado, and we will help the community any way we can. We are in touch with the American Red Cross and have offered to assist them as they set up a community shelter,” the company said in a statement. “We continue to follow these ongoing severe weather conditions, with the prospect more storms could strike Michigan tomorrow.”

Consumers urge residents to follow these safety tips:

Be alert to crews working along roads. Drivers should slow down or stop and wait for oncoming traffic to clear so they can go safely past. Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and report unguarded downed lines by calling 9-1-1 and Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050. Consumers Energy reminds people that falsely calling in downed lines actually slows down the restoration process for everyone. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas.

The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center in response to the storms in Branch, Cass and St. Joseph counties. The department says the center will be supporting local requests for assistance.

“Tonight, I am activating our State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate an all-hands-on-deck response to severe weather in southwestern Michigan,” Whitmer said in a statement. “By taking this action, we can ensure the state can monitor and respond to local requests. I want to thank all the first responders on the ground who reacted quickly to keep Michiganders safe.”

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is urging residents to avoid traveling through Three Rivers and Fabius Township.

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 Ricky Sayer

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Neighbors in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood are concerned about a deer with a Halloween bucket stuck on its head.

The bucket, which appears to be a plastic jack-o’-lantern, may seem like a laughing matter to some, but not Karen Bloch.

“For five days, I’ve had a deer that has not eaten and has not had a drink,” Bloch said. “If it doesn’t get removed in the next day or so, this animal is going to die. I can see it getting weaker now.”

The deer is a member of a herd that Bloch says she sees next to her home every day.

“I have watched this deer with its siblings since it was born, and now it’s a yearling,” she said. “They’re here every night. There’s a herd of five. It’s a family that comes.”

Bloch even leaves apples for the deer, but now she says the deer with the bucket on its head can’t eat. Bloch said she would remove the bucket herself, but the deer has not gotten close enough to her.

She said she has tried calling agencies like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the city’s Bureau of Animal Care and Control, but those calls have fallen on deaf ears. She’d like them to tranquilize the deer, remove the bucket, and let it free.

“They said they only look in the daytime. They don’t come at night,” Bloch said.

Night is when she always sees the deer.

“It sickens me because I happen to love animals, and it sickens me that there are people who could help and are not willing to do it in the time frame that the deer is here,” Bloch said.

She said she doesn’t want to see the animal die from human neglect — the neglect of whoever left the bucket out and those who could be helping but are not.

However, Bloch recognizes that many people don’t like deer, but she said they are still animals that should not have to struggle.

Bloch said she did not see the herd of deer on Friday night, which was strange.

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 Stephanie Stahl

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Thousands of gymnasts from all over the country are in Philadelphia for the 18th annual Pink Invitational. The event helps raise money for women with breast and ovarian cancer.

The young gymnasts are flying through the air this weekend at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to help support the Malvern, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit, Unite for HER.

“I love it because I hope people with breast and ovarian cancer know they are not alone when they’re struggling, people are with them, supporting them,” 12-year-old Marlowe Osika said.

Osika and 14-year-old Anna Waddell are among 5,000 gymnasts competing in the event.

“I love seeing so many girls come together to support the same cause,” Waddell said.

Over the past 16 years, the invitational has raised over $5.5 million for Unite for HER, helping fund integrative therapies

Sue Weldon, a former gymnast and coach, says after a difficult struggle with breast cancer at 39 years old, she decided to start the nonprofit to help other patients.

“We deliver them over $2,000 worth of services, access to med acupuncture, yoga, massage and fresh vegetables delivered to the home,” Weldon said.

The Pink Invitational has become the largest gymnastics fundraising event in the United States, now topping 116 teams.

“I think gymnastics helps me with problem-solving and mental strength,” Waddell said.

Flipping and tumbling for a cause, this sisterhood in pink is learning the importance of health in the fight against cancer.

The invitational continues through the weekend and is expected to raise more than $800,000 for the organization that helps cancer patients nationwide.

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.