Glendale teen mistakenly declared dead reunites with firefighters who saved him

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Ford Hatchett

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    GLENDALE, AZ (KNXV) — A West Valley teen who was hit by a truck on his way to school reunited with the first responders who saved him on that August day when he nearly lost his life.

In August, ABC15 reported on a truck hitting a 13-year-old on his way to school near 67th Avenue and Deer Valley Road.

Zeyad Elsuhimi, now 14, was the boy pinned under the pickup truck. When firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene, he was in critical condition.

“He has no pulse, and he’s not breathing, and when you look at him, this kid’s head was purple,” Glendale Fire Captain Gregg Lentz told ABC15.

“The first thing we initially saw was that front left driver side tire was directly over his chest and all that weight was pinned on top of him,” firefighter-paramedic Aaron McMurdie said.

Crews deployed a jack, spreaders, and cribbing to lift the truck off Elsuhimi.

“When that tire did finally come off of his chest, he took a breath!” said Captain Tommy Gobster.

Crews determined he was bleeding internally. Firefighter paramedic Kasey Gallagher described inserting a needle into Elsuhimi’s ribs to restore air to his lungs, and Firefighters Nathan Calles and Gene Tracy helped work on Zeyad’s bike — still wrapped around his leg — cutting it away before he was rushed to the hospital.

“We’ve been on similar calls like this, all of us have, throughout our whole career, and the outcomes usually aren’t favorable to the patient,” Lentz said of the time crews spent waiting for news. “It was an emotional roller coaster for all of us.”

A local newspaper even reported that Elsuhimi had died. His family still has a copy of that newspaper, but Zeyad is very much alive. Now 14 and a freshman at Mountain Ridge High School, Elsuhimi missed class Wednesday to, for the first time, shake the hands of his heroes and deliver his thanks in person.

“You are one tough kid,” Gobster told him. “Kudos to you for being strong and tough man.”

“Thank you guys for saving me, because I honestly wouldn’t be here without you guys and the doctors who helped me and everybody who helped me along the process,” Elsuhimi said. “I don’t think I would be like this if it wasn’t for all the firefighters, doctors, medical personnel, friends, family, and community. They’ve helped me a lot throughout the process.”

After months of recovery, Elsuhimi said he is nearly back to his usual self.

“I’ve done almost a full recovery. I’m feeling a lot better,” Elsuhimi said.

The experience has also given him a new sense of direction.

“I hope to be a doctor actually, one day,” Elsuhimi said. “Because after this experience, it’s made me realize the beauty of saving lives, and I would like to do it for other people.”

For the crews who saved him, Wednesday’s visit offered something they rarely receive.

“We don’t usually get closure from these calls,” Lentz said.

“I mean, this is why we do this job. We all signed up to save people’s lives, and so when we get to do that, it makes it worth it, and when we get to meet the person, it makes it even more worth it,” said Gobster.

Elsuhimi thanked all the members of the crew who helped him from Engine 156 and Ladder Truck 155.

A spokesperson for the Glendale Fire Department provided the following names of heroes who helped save Elsuhimi’s life:

Engine 156: Captain Tommy Gobster, Engineer/Medic T. Love, Firefighter/Medic Brian Millick, Firefighter Paramedic Kasey Gallagher.

Ladder Truck 155: Captain Gregg Lentz, Engineer Paramedic Aaron McMurdie, Firefighter Paramedic Josh Boothby, Firefighter Gene Tracy, Firefighter Nathan Calles.

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.

Former Colorado doctor wanted for drugging, assaulting woman injured in Florida shootout

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Sadie Buggle

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    VERO BEACH, Fla. (KRDO) — A former Colorado doctor wanted for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in Grand Junction is now recovering in a Florida hospital after being shot multiple times by law enforcement in Florida, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office says.

Deputies say 72-year-old Thomas Steffens was arrested in Vero Beach after he opened fire on U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement during a traffic stop connected to a warrant out of Colorado.

Steffens, a former neurosurgeon, was wanted following an investigation by the Grand Junction Police Department into a reported sexual assault on Jan. 28. During the investigation, detectives developed probable cause that a man had sexually assaulted a woman after drugging her with prescription medication. Steffens was identified as the suspect, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, police said.

On Monday, just over a month after the initial report, detectives with the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force received information that Steffens was traveling by bus to the Treasure Coast of Florida. They were also informed he had repeatedly made statements indicating he would not be taken into custody alive.

According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, Task Force members located the vehicle Steffen was riding in near Vero Beach, and attempted to pull the driver of the car over. Steffens, who was in the passenger seat, refused multiple commands to get out of the vehicle.

Steffens then opened fire on the five Task Force members while still inside the car. The Task Force members immediately returned fire, hitting Steffens multiple times.

The sheriff’s office said he was taken to a hospital. Despite being struck by gunfire multiple times, he’s expected to survive. During the shootout, one U.S. Marshal was also shot in the leg, who was treated for his injuries and released.

Steffens faces multiple charges out of Colorado, including two charges of sexual assault, third-degree assault, and second-degree assault – strangulation. He’s now also facing attempted murder charges related to the shooting in Florida.

Officials with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office say Steffens was issued a medical license in Colorado in 1982. He worked as a neurosurgeon at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Grand Junction until last year, when his license was restricted.

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.

Founders of Opportunity Center for the Homeless honored for their dedication

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Rosemary Garcia

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    EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Each year, El Paso Inc. honors a person or group that embodies El Paso’s spirit, generosity and values. The 2025 Community Spirit Award went to Ray and Lilia Tullius, the founders of the Opportunity Center for the Homeless.

Today, the Opportunity Center is the largest provider of services to the unhoused within the El Paso community.

“We want to help everybody. It’s a challenge because we can’t. Sometimes we can’t,” Lilia explained.

For more than three decades, they have been committed to improving the lives of El Paso’s homeless population. Both Ray and Lilia were once homeless, so they sought to create a shelter that was inclusive and offered a wide variety of resources.

“We’re a little bit older than when we started. We look at some of the pictures, and I had hair, and she had dark hair. And, but we made it all work,” Ray said.

The couple began with an empty warehouse.

“And so, it’s come a long way from where it was before,” they said.

Now, their shelter spans over 10 different facilities across El Paso.

“I see the finger of God in this, in this work because it’s started to come together without us really knowing a lot about what to do and how to how to make it work,” Ray explained.

The shelter now takes in over 400 people every single night. The shelter assists thousands of people every single year.

The generosity and dedication of Ray and Lilia continues to be on full display.

Ray is still heavily involved in leadership, and Lilia continues to lead programs for women. They visit the facilities every week.

“I hope that we can retire someday. I don’t think so. No. We will stay in here as long. Retirement is not in our schedules,” they both explained.

John Martin, the shelter’s current deputy director, has been an employee for nearly 13 years. He has witnessed Ray and Lilia’s dedication firsthand.

“Ray is such an incredible man, and I think you even saw, he’s very humble. He truly, he said he does things because he knows it’s the right thing to do.”

Ray and Lilia feel humbled to receive this award that honors their service and generosity.

“I don’t think I have done anything to deserve it. I don’t think I, I’ve done, I think we did what we had to do. It’s something that everybody should do,” Lilia explained.

El Paso Inc. will celebrate Ray and Lilia Tullius during a luncheon. It’s happening on Tuesday, March 3rd at Hotel Paso Del Norte.

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.

Bouldering community provides outlet for people struggling with addiction

KRDO on March 5, 2026

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – David Jung has been sober for 2.5 years. He says every day was a constant battle – until he found bouldering nine months ago.

Jung shares a common experience with recovering addicts. You get sober, but what next?

When Jung kicked the bottle, he said he lost his friends and his community. He still had the anxiety and depression that first pushed him toward alcoholism. Those problems didn’t magically go away.

He said he was constantly “white knuckling” day after day. He said he was ready to give up and go back to the bar. That’s when he found Phoenix Multisport.

Phoenix Multisport plans activities and outings for people looking to find a sober community, from yoga to weights to painting classes. Jung found his in the bouldering community.

Jung said bouldering gave him friends he could rely on and a challenge to overcome. Not only did it clear his head, but it gave him the courage to confront and attack the problems that drove him to addiction years before.

Now, Jung said he’s on a mission to help others find his path. He spearheads many of the bouldering programs with Phoenix Multisport.

Every activity through Phoenix Multisport is free. It’s not just for people in the recovery stage. Jung said anyone who has pushed themselves to be sober for 48 hours can come to any of the events for free.

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US 24 Frontage Road reopens along 8th Street in Colorado Springs after two-month closure

KRDO on March 5, 2026

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Northbound drivers on the north end of 8th Street likely will have mixed feelings about the latest changes in the ongoing improvements project there.

The good news is that crews reopened the two eastbound lanes on the US 24 Frontage Road between 8th Street and Cimarron Street (US 24), as well as the right turn lane to the road.

We believe that happened around midnight.

The traffic alignment in that area will continue: One northbound lane and two southbound lanes open on 8th Street across the Fountain Creek bridge.

However, the closed lanes have shifted to the west, opening the right northbound lane for the first time in months and requiring a street sweeper to clean up accumulated dust on Thursday morning.

The single northbound lane creates frequent backups that often stretch to the 8th Street hill at Motor City Drive, which is the project’s southern boundary.

Officials said that the continued traffic alignment is necessary for crews to continue repair work on the 75-year-old bridge, and for them to keep drilling to locate underground utility lines under 8th Street.

The drilling is in advance of a water main replacement that Colorado Springs Utilities expects to start later this month.

You can see numerous colored markings to indicate the utility locations.

Earlier this week, a crew replaced crosswalk markings at the 8th Street/Cimarron Street intersection, which is the project’s northern boundary.

The initial plan was for the frontage road to reopen on Tuesday night, but rain delayed it, and crews were able to reopen the road in advance of snow expected overnight Thursday.

Officials also had planned to reopen the road at 7 p.m. Thursday, but needed to finish lane shifting and restriping first.

The frontage road had been closed since a week before Christmas — except for briefly reopening between Christmas and New Year’s.

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Help feed hungry elementary students in United Way’s “Power of $10” one-day food campaign

KIFI on March 5, 2026

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – A small donation could make a big difference for hundreds of students in Eastern Idaho.

United Way of Eastern Idaho is inviting the community to take part in its “Power of $10” campaign on Thursday, March 5th — a one-day online fundraising event aimed at helping local children who may not have enough food over the weekend.

Organizers say many families in the region struggle to cover basic expenses even while working full-time. According to the nonprofit, nearly 45% of households in Eastern Idaho fall into the “ALICE” category — Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — meaning they earn enough to get by but often have difficulty affording essentials like food after paying for housing and childcare.

To help address the need, the organization runs its Ready. Set. GO! program, which provides weekend food bags to elementary school students. Each week, school counselors quietly distribute bags filled with kid-friendly meals and snacks to more than 200 students, helping ensure they return to school on Monday nourished and ready to learn.

“No child should have to worry about their next meal,” said CEO Chris Wiersema. “Power of $10 is our community’s way of saying, ‘We’ve got your back.’ Every single cent raised goes directly toward buying food for these kids.”

The concept behind the fundraiser is simple:

Donate $10, which organizers say provides one child with food for an entire weekend

Tag 10 friends and encourage them to participate

Help reach the $10,000 goal to keep the food bag program stocked throughout the year

Organizers say community members who want to make a longer-term impact can also set up a recurring $10 monthly donation, which would provide weekend meals for one student for the entire school year.

Those interested in participating can learn more or donate online at the Power of $10 campaign page by clicking here.

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Albuquerque Police Department identifies woman after 35 years

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Amari Saxton

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    ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — The Albuquerque Police Department has identified a woman nearly 35 years after her disappearance.

The woman, who has been known as “Becca Doe” for the last 35 years, was identified by APD as Becca Mallekoote through a collaborative effort involving forensic genealogy and extensive multi-agency cooperation.

According to APD, Mallekoote was born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1973, and today would have been her 54th birthday. Police say she was 18 at the time of her death.

Police began their investigation on June 6, 1991, when staff at the Super 8 Motel on 2500 University NE discovered a woman’s body in a hotel room after she overstayed her reservation.

The woman was found dead inside the bathtub of a hotel room with a suitcase full of clothing and $500. Police say she had no identification at her time of death, and her death was ruled a suicide by the OMI.

In December, an OMI investigator contacted Ramapo College in New Jersey to conduct a genealogy investigation. By January 2026, investigative leads pointed towards a half-brother and stepfather in California.

The FBI and APD were able to work closely together to identify the stepfather in Ventura, California, who confirmed he had last seen Becca in 1991 when she left the Los Angeles area.

Detectives followed this lead and were able to locate the half-brother, who provided a DNA sample to police and confirmed that Becca was the man’s half-sister with 100 percent confidence.

“Becca’s identity was discovered through collaboration between multiple agencies and advancing technology,” Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner, says. “With this kind of partnership and a new frontier of forensic genealogy, I’m optimistic that we will be able to provide more answers to more families who mysteriously lost a loved one.

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.

Drone helps Santa Fe first responders save man’s life

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Cody Thomason

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    SANTA FE, New Mexico (KOAT) — First responders from the Santa Fe Police Department and the Santa Fe Fire Department successfully saved the life of a 47-year-old man Wednesday afternoon with the assistance of a drone near Las Acequias Park.

Emergency crews responded to the scene after reports of an unconscious male in the area. Using a Drone as First Responder (DFR) system, a drone was rapidly deployed and flown to the location ahead of some responding units.

Officials say the drone’s aerial perspective helped responders quickly locate the man, allowing officers and firefighters to reach him and begin life-saving care without delay.

Responding officers credited the skilled unmanned aircraft system pilot and the department’s DFR deployment model for helping first responders pinpoint the man’s exact location. The rapid identification of the patient directly contributed to the successful outcome, officials said.

The incident marks the first time a life has been saved in Santa Fe with the assistance of a Drone as First Responder system.

The city is currently conducting a test and evaluation of the DFR program using technology from Axon and Skydio. The evaluation will continue through Friday as officials assess how the system can enhance situational awareness and response times.

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.

Sacramento Planned Parenthood now offering Botox, menopause care

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Michelle Bandur

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — Sacramento’s Planned Parenthood is offering beauty services to women as a response to losing millions of dollars from the federal government due to the “Big Beautiful Bill,” with the organization seeking alternative funding sources.

Outside Planned Parenthood on B Street, anti-abortion protestors continue to send their message, while inside, changes are underway as the reproductive health organization faces an uncertain financial future.

Dr. Laura Dalton, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, which operates 30 clinics in Northern California and Nevada, is creating a new beauty business model for women.

“We are resilient and innovative, and I like to say that when faced with a crisis, our doors did not close. They opened wider,” Dalton said.

In addition to cancer screenings and contraception, patients can now receive cosmetic injectables.

“We’re providing [a] neurotoxin which is commonly referred to as Botox. And hopefully in a few weeks we’ll be launching fillers and sclerotherapy,” said Dalton.

Planned Parenthood is evolving into a med spa of sorts, also offering care for perimenopause, menopause, hormone replacement therapy, GLP-1, and anxiety and pain management with nitrous oxide, or laughing gas.

Dalton emphasized the importance of patient care.

“It’s about patients feeling like we’re hearing them and we’re listening to them, and that we’re in touch right back to the, ‘We’re not your mom’s Planned Parenthood,'” she said.

While some are relieved by the federal government’s decision to cut off $100 million to the nation’s largest Planned Parenthood, state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom stepped in earlier this month to provide Planned Parenthood Mar Monte with $90 million. This state funding is intended to compensate for the $100 million lost in revenue from billing Medicaid on behalf of 80% of their patients.

Critics may question why more funding is needed despite the recent state support.

“That helps to backfill all of the visits that we were not reimbursed for this last year in the Sexual and Reproductive Health program,” she said.

Dalton said Planned Parenthood remains committed to its core reproductive services while expanding its offerings.

“If you were going to get this service anyways and you want to support Planned Parenthood, why not do it together?” said Dalton.

One patient said the ideal situation would that there were no funding cuts that threaten the ability for community members to receive essential health services.

“I am personally interested in receiving Botox now and again, and I’d be going somewhere to do that anyway. The fact that I now get to do that Planned Parenthood and am supporting the effort to offset the devastating budget cuts they’ve experienced,” she said.

Currently, only a couple of clinics offer these beauty services, but the plan is to expand them to all 30 clinics. Additionally, Planned Parenthood is offering Botox at a much cheaper price than med spas, at $9 a unit compared to $12 or $15.

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.

‘Loved her students fiercely’: California community honors beloved teacher Shelley Snyder

CNN Newsource on March 5, 2026

By Peyton Headlee

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    SHINGLE SPRINGS, California (KCRA) — The Buckeye Elementary School community in Shingle Springs gathered Wednesday to remember Shelley Snyder, a third-grade teacher who was shot and killed two weeks ago, with her husband charged in her death.

The school’s blacktop became a place of remembrance as more than 100 students, parents, and colleagues shared their favorite memories of Snyder.

“I have a lot of memories of her. She was one of my favorite teachers,” one student said.

“Mrs. Snyder would always make me smile in class when I’m sad and stuff,” another student said.

Snyder’s impact was profound, with many recalling her empathy and care for everyone at the school. Many also spoke about her humor and love for science.

“She taught with dedication. She loved her students fiercely. And she advocated for their needs. And year after year, her students grew not only academically, but as kind and capable young people,” said Kevin Cadden, Buckeye Elementary School’s principal.

Snyder impacted hundreds of lives over her 20 years of teaching. However, her proudest accomplishment was her own children.

“She would tell you her very best accomplishment was her two boys. She was so proud,” a friend said. “Just beaming with pride all the time for her boys.”

The school collected donations for her two sons in a box made by her third-grade class on Wednesday evening.

“We will never forget her. We will honor her legacy by continuing to love, support and inspire students the way she did for two decades,” Cadden said.

“I loved every day that I got to see her and every day when she was there,” one student said.

“I miss her and love her so much,” another student said.

Geoffrey Snyder, 57, is facing a murder charge and is being held at the El Dorado County Jail without bail.

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.