Video shows NYPD response as ICE agents take Columbia student into custody

CNN Newsource on March 7, 2026

By Ali Bauman, Lisa Rozner

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — The New York City Police Department has released bodycam footage of officers arriving to the off-campus Columbia University residential building where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents took a student into custody last week.

Elmina “Ellie” Aghayeva was detained by ICE in her apartment on Feb. 26 before Mayor Zohran Mamdani called in a favor to President Trump to get her released several hours later. The legal case against her has since been dismissed.

NYPD bodycam footage released Video released Friday afternoon shows two NYPD officers arriving to the apartment last Thursday morning, responding to a 911 call about two suspicious men trying to gain entry to the residence.

When the NYPD officers arrive, they see two plainclothes agents in the hall.

“What are you guys here for?” an officer asks.

“Homeland Security investigation,” an agent responds.

“Oh … you’re the suspicious person,” an officer says.

The officers read back the description from the 911 call.

“Were you holding the door? Was somebody holding the door … downstairs by the main entry?” an officer asks.

“Yeah, to get in,” an agent says.

The agents show the officers their badges and let them in the apartment, where there are two more plainclothes agents. After checking their badges, the police exchange pleasantries with the agents and leave.

Conflicting details from ICE, Columbia Columbia Acting President Claire Shipman has claimed Aghayeva was detained by ICE agents posing as police searching for a missing child.

“Our security cameras captured the agents in the hallway showing pictures of the alleged missing child,” she said in a video message on Feb. 26.

The Department of Homeland Security has denied that claim.

“The Homeland Security Investigators verbally identified themselves and visibly wore badges around their necks. They did NOT and would not identify themselves as NYPD,” a spokesperson said in a statement, in part, released Feb. 26.

The NYPD has maintained it had no involvement in the DHS enforcement whatsoever. A spokesman for the police department said it released the video to ensure full transparency and show that officers responded appropriately.

Columbia, meanwhile, says since the incident, it has told residential staff that, unless it is an emergency, they are not to allow any law enforcement into residential buildings without guidance from school administration.

Calls for Columbia to release video The release of the NYPD footage comes four days after several Democratic state and local lawmakers wrote a letter to Columbia’s acting president and the NYPD commissioner calling for the release of the video, writing, in part, “While there are obstacles to the prosecution of federal officers in this context, it is important to understand nonetheless whether they violated the law … Moreover, release of this footage would help New Yorkers … be better prepared to counter actions by ICE in the future.”

Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal is calling on Columbia to release their security footage “so we can fully understand how ICE gained access to this off-campus housing and to the extent civil rights violations occurred.”

While Columbia is still not releasing its footage, it says the NYPD bodycam video was taken well after DHS detained Aghayeva.

The university has said it does not release CCTV footage “without a lawfully issued subpoena.”

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.

NYPD watching “heightened threat environment” week into war with Iran

CNN Newsource on March 7, 2026

By Jennifer Bisram

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — The New York Police Department says the city remains in a “heightened threat environment” one week after the start of the war with Iran.

In order to keep New Yorkers safe, the NYPD monitors threats 24 hours a day from its Joint Operations Center, where intelligence analysts scan city streets, bridges and sensitive locations and infrastructures.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said Friday the department started ramping up operations when the U.S. and Israeli military strikes started.

“In those initial hours, NYPD enhanced our high-visibility patrols, specialty counterterrorism units, as well as patrol officers around the city, and that posture remains to this day,” Weiner said.

She said units have been stationed everywhere from sensitive locations to transportation hubs.

“Whenever something this seismic happens, we expect to see ripple effects happening around the world. That’s why we do enhance our posture. Also, behind the scenes, you have teams of investigators and analysts, who are the part of our process that you don’t see. They’re looking for threats, they’re monitoring tips, investigating any leads, and making sure that we stay ahead of any potential threat to New York City,” Weiner said.

Partners around the world NYPD said it is also working with hundreds of law enforcement partner agencies across the country and a team of detectives globally, including in the Middle East.

“NYPD has considerable experience investigating and mitigating threats linked to the Iranian government,” Weiner said regarding fears of a potential cyberattack by Iran.

New Yorkers can report suspicious activity to the NYPD’s hotline at 888-NYC-SAFE (692-7233).

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.

Recovery center will be using a unique approach to help treat opioid addiction, focusing on withdrawal symptoms

CNN Newsource on March 7, 2026

By Bri Buckley

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — A new recovery center in Miami is using a unique approach to treat opioid addiction, focusing on a noninvasive device that stimulates nerves to help with withdrawal symptoms.

The device, which is cleared by the FDA for withdrawal mitigation from opioid use disorder, works by abating severe symptoms such as stomach aches, back aches, sweats, and the inability to keep food down, according to George Rizk, an executive board member with NET Recovery.

“What makes the device incredibly unique is that it operates completely pain-free,” Rizk said. “The electrodes are attached on top of the skin, so nothing pierces the skin. You can detox without pain, without the need for pharmaceuticals.”

For Rebekah Mutch, the device changed her life during her ninth time in rehab. Mutch said she became addicted to opioids after being prescribed Suboxone during a previous rehab stay for alcohol. Her addiction led her to a path of homelessness, drug charges, jail time, and eight stints in rehab.

Mutch used the device at a facility in Kentucky. “It was a completely different experience than I had ever had and I wasn’t thinking I need to get out of here, I need to get some heroin, I need to get some fentanyl, I need that I need that, I need that – that wasn’t running through my head for the first time ever in this situation,” she said. She wore the device for seven days straight and met with a medical technician daily to monitor her symptoms.

At the new Miami office, patients will have to come in once a day for up to a week for treatment. Rizk said the cost will be roughly $8,000, which compares to “$15,000 – $25,000 per month in residential rehab.” He noted the treatment is not covered by insurance yet.

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, the use of electrical neurostimulation to treat addiction is promising, but there are still some unknowns regarding long-term outcomes.

Mutch, who said the device saved her life, hopes her story can help others. “It’s definitely not too late, there is still time and chances, and don’t give up, just keep realizing that there is more on the other side,” Mutch said.

The Net Recovery facility in Miami is set to open at 860 NW 42nd Avenue on March 17.

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.

High school wrestler Julia Horger inspiring other girls: “It shapes you as a person”

CNN Newsource on March 7, 2026

By Krystle Rich

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A Bucks County high school wrestler is going for a three-peat this weekend. Julia Horger three-peated at a top-level tournament, and now, the Conwell-Egan Catholic High School senior is seeking to three-peat as a state champion.

Horger first walked on the mat when she was 7 years old.

“I remember always going to the youth tournaments,” Horger said. “I was really into wrestling ever since I was younger. I loved the sport.”

“She was tough. She was beating up boys all the time as a little kid,” Chuckie Connor, head wrestling coach at Conwell-Egan, said. “She’ll do a lot of throws and exciting moves. Even as a little kid, she was tossing boys around. It was great.”

Ten years later, Horger became a two-time state champion, winning both her sophomore and junior years.

“That sophomore year after she won states, she went on to win Fargo, which is the highest level of wrestling in the country,” Connor said.

Her high school career started at Bensalem High School. In her freshman year, she only wrestled boys in matches, and at 95 pounds, she wrestled up at 106 and won 25 contests.

“It kind of brought down my confidence getting beat up by the guys all the time,” Horger said. “I thought I was doing so bad. I’m losing all the time, but looking back on it now, I’m like, ‘Wow, I actually did really good.’ It definitely toughened me up.”

With a new toughness to draw from, Horger transferred to Conwell-Egan in her sophomore year. She helped the Eagles start a girls’ wrestling program and was finally able to compete against girls.

“It was a weight off my shoulders,” Horger said.

“It almost wasn’t fun how much she was able to dominate,” Connor said.

Finally feeling free on the mat, Morger won the Beast of the East, a top-level tournament, in her sophomore and junior years.

“Her junior year, she went the entire season without having a match go the distance,” Connor said, “which means she pinned or technical fought every single opponent, which is crazy.”

“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m a two-timer.’ That’s pretty cool,” Horger said.

The only thing cooler? Three-peating at Beast of the East, also winning her senior year.

At Beast of the East, Horger avenged her only senior year loss, against the same opponent, for her 100th career win.

“The best part for me was seeing the fire and spark in her,” Connor said. “You can see her training after she lost a match stepped up a whole other level.”

“I worked really hard that week,” Horger said, “and to know all my hard work was actually paying off was a really great feeling. This year was the first year that I started to see it. All these girls come up to me and tell me I’m inspiring them, and they want to wrestle in college. I’m so proud to be able to inspire people. This is such a great sport to come into as a woman. It shapes you as a person.

“My dedication, even if something goes wrong, I’m not the type of person to give up, that just makes me want it more.”

Horger hopes to one day wrestle in the Olympics.

States started Thursday in Hershey. Horger advanced and will wrestle in the championship match Saturday after Friday’s semifinal victory.

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.

Nonprofit opens resource room to support students and families at Fulton County elementary school

CNN Newsource on March 7, 2026

By Leondra Head

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Filling a need and providing basic resources for students! That’s the goal for ‘Love Beyond Walls,’ a non-profit meeting the needs of students who need clothes and access to computers at A. Phillip Randolph Elementary in Fulton County.

Volunteers worked hard painting and assembling furniture to transform a classroom into a resource room known as Zion’s Closet. It will be filled with donated clothes and a washer and dryer for students and parents to use.

“For clothes and the food, there’s people that need help out there. They don’t ever want to admit it but it’s kind of hard out there right now. So I would definitely utilize it,” said Renita Knight, a mother at A. Phillip Randolph Elementary said.

Knight plans to use the resource room once it opens.

“I believe parents will use the washer and dryer, and me as a parent, I would,” Knight said.

This is something Brittany Burns, the school principal, says is needed.

“The washer and dryer is going to be essential. A lot of our students are impacted. They live in the Fulton Industrial Corridor, where there’s a lot of extended stay hotels. If you look at the area, there’s no local laundromats,” Burns said.

The resource room will also have school supplies.

“The supplies would be utilized definitely because it’s hard to get school supplies,” Knight said.

The room will give families access to computers.

“Parents can use it for jobs or use the computers to fill out applications,” Knight said.

Principal Burns says students can worry less and focus more on learning.

“Zion’s Closet is gonna provide an opportunity for kids to be able to show up and receive those supports so that they can be their very best academically and emotionally in class,” Burns said.

Zion’s Closet is already open at three other schools.

“It’s a resource room to support students in Title I schools. It’s a room where parents can actually come in and don’t feel the shame,” Terence Lester, the founder of Love Beyond Walls, said.

The resource is set to open inside A. Phillip Randolph Elementary on March 27.

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.

Grocery Outlets in Pocatello and Idaho Falls to close

KIFI on March 7, 2026

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Two local Grocery Outlet Bargain Markets will be closing their doors in the coming weeks.

Prior to the announcement, Idaho had 17 Grocery Outlets, and the Idaho Falls and Pocatello locations are just two of the 36 Grocery Outlets being shuttered nationwide, according to New Jersey Biz.

The California-based chain has approximately 570 stores in 16 states, according to Grocery Outlet President and CEO Jason Potter in an earnings call this month.

Customers said they are devastated their favorite store is leaving the area.

“I am so sad to learn that Grocery Outlet is closing later this month,” said Jennifer Duarte, a Grocery Outlet shopper. “It’s been my favorite grocery store. I’d usually find something I wasn’t expecting that turned out to be really great, too.”

The close-out sale at both locations begins on Sunday, March 8.

“We’re really upset about it because no other places are as affordable here,” said Jessica Supry, a frequent Grocery Outlet Shopper. “That impacts us money-wise, ’cause we’re low income.”

The Grocery Outlets’ final day for shopping will be Saturday, March 21.

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Elks Lodge food drive giving away 800 boxes Saturday morning

KIFI on March 7, 2026

David Pace

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – More than 800 boxes of food will be distributed to 400 families in need at the Elks Lodge starting at 9 A.M. Saturday. 

Forty-five volunteers helped stuff those boxes with pasta, canned soup, oatmeal, rice, cereal, canned chicken and tuna Friday in preparation.

Among them were 37 students from Elevate Academy.

“One in six American children or one in six Americans face hunger every day,” said their teacher Jess Jenkins. “A lot of these students that were here today truly are affected by hunger at different points. Sometimes not all of them, but there are quite a few of our student body that have experienced hunger themselves.”

In two hours, the students packed 500 boxes.

“There’s still so many families and so many people, especially our veterans, our senior citizens, that don’t have the help that they need to just make it through the week, let alone a month or a winter,” said Julie French, the food drive organizer. “So we try to use a lot of the staple items that they can actually use to build on – when it comes to making meals and making things stretch further.”

The Elks Lodge is located at 640 East Elva Street in Idaho Falls.

Each family will receive two boxes of food, along with a 10-pound bag of potatoes.

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Winter Pridefest brings LGBTQ+ celebration to Mt. Bachelor

KTVZ on March 7, 2026

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– Mt. Bachelor and OUT Central Oregon are hosting the eighth annual Winter Pridefest this weekend. The multi-event celebration honors the diversity and inclusivity of the LGBTQ+ community and allies.

The festival features a series of events both in town and at the mountain resort. These include social gatherings and various on-hill activations designed to promote community engagement.

On-mountain highlights for the weekend include group Pride Rides and festive decorations throughout the resort. Visitors can also access specific food and beverage specials during the festivities.

An après party is planned for the West Village Lodge Deck, depending on mountain conditions. Organizers have designated the Rock Bar as an alternative indoor location if a move is necessary.

Weather conditions are expected to remain clear for the outdoor activities. Forecasts for the weekend call for sunshine and high temperatures in the mid-40s.

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Bend’s Campfire Hotel celebrates Winter PrideFest with weekend events

KTVZ on March 7, 2026

Triton Notary

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)– Campfire Hotel is hosting a series of events this weekend in coordination with OUT Central Oregon’s annual Winter PrideFest. The festivities, held at the hotel and the adjacent Dogwood at the Pine Shed, include the Diva Drag Brunch, winter pool parties and nightly dance sets.

Located in the Bend Central District, Campfire Hotel has been recognized for its efforts in fostering an inclusive environment since opening in October 2020. The property became one of the first Travel Proud certified hotels in Oregon through Booking.com in 2021 and received Travel Oregon’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion Award in 2023.

Keagan Parks serves as the general manager of Campfire Hotel. Parks noted the importance of providing a space where visitors can be themselves during the festivities.
“Campfire Hotel is honored to serve as a safe, welcoming and inclusive basecamp for Winter PrideFest celebrations year after year,” Parks said. “We want everyone who walks through our doors to feel comfortable being their authentic selves. Whether they’re staying with us, attending an event, or simply stopping in to relax by the pool, creating a place where all are invited to gather, celebrate and connect is at the core of who we are.”

The Winter Pride Diva Drag Brunch takes place Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8. Produced by Justin Buckles Productions, the event features drag, burlesque and live singing performances. Doors open at 11 a.m. with the show running from noon to 2 p.m. Tickets are $30 for those age 21 and older, though the price does not include food or alcohol.

Following the brunch, the hotel will host Winter Pride Pool Parties from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. both days. Local performers DJ Aloso and Fruity Pebblez will provide music at the outdoor heated pool and hot tub. The parties are free for hotel guests, while non-guests may purchase a pool pass for $20.

Celebrations also extend to the adjacent Dogwood at the Pine Shed. The venue hosted the OUT Central Oregon Welcome Mixer to start the weekend. Winter Pride Dance Parties are scheduled there on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 from 9 p.m. until midnight.

Throughout the weekend, the on-site Canteen Bar serves as a gathering spot between scheduled events. The bar offers a variety of beer, wine and non-alcoholic options, as well as signature cocktails like the Rye An’ Gosling.

The weekend of events concludes on Sunday, March 8. The Dogwood at the Pine Shed will host Okay Karaoke from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for attendees to sing iconic favorites.

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Day 2 of Annual Midnight at the Oasis in Yuma

KYMA on March 7, 2026

Danyelle Burke North

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Friday marks day two of the 33rd Annual Midnight at the Oasis event in Yuma.

It’s been around in yuma for over three decades and keeps bringing locals and tourists together.

They had their “Cruise to Yuma” Parade of vintage vehicles followed by a concert with live music for the community to enjoy Friday night.

The fun continues all weekend long as they’ll have gates open at 9 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Saturday with concerts all day long.

On Sunday, they will announce the winners and have their car raffle drawing, along with unveiling the card that will be raffled off for next year’s Midnight at the Oasis.

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