Month: March 2026

By Rachel Whelan

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    BURLINGTON, Kentucky (WLWT) — Boone County deputies say drone technology helped them track down a man accused of firing a shotgun at a home before hiding in the woods for hours.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office released drone and body camera video showing the moments deputies located and arrested 56-year-old Richard Zornes Wednesday morning.

Deputies say the incident began just after 1 a.m. Wednesday on Locust Grove Road in Burlington.

Investigators say Zornes arrived at a home armed with a shotgun and confronted a woman he had been in an on-and-off relationship with. During the confrontation, deputies say Zornes fired a shot that grazed the woman’s head.

No serious injuries were reported.

Authorities say Zornes fled the scene, prompting a search that lasted several hours.

When daylight arrived, deputies deployed a drone near Zornes’ home on Rabbit Hash Hill Road, a rural area in Boone County.

Drone footage released by the sheriff’s office shows the aircraft flying over wooded terrain before spotting Zornes moving around near a tent in the woods.

Deputies say the drone operator was then able to track Zornes as he left the tent and walked back toward his home.

Body camera video shows deputies moving in and taking him into custody.

Major Philip Ridgell with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office said drone technology has become an important tool for law enforcement.

“What we have accomplished with the drones, I think, is something that is absolutely a game changer in our industry,” Ridgell said.

Ridgell said drones also help protect deputies by allowing them to monitor suspects from above before officers move in on the ground.

While the technology helped locate a suspect in this case, Ridgell said drones are most often used to search for missing people.

“Especially children who have found themselves in rural or dangerous parts of the county — creeks and waterways and things of that nature– the into the drones has paid for itself 100 times over,” Ridgell said.

Zornes later appeared in court where he faced charges including attempted murder in a domestic violence case, wanton endangerment, terroristic threatening and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

He is currently being held in the Boone County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.

Ridgell also said the Boone County Sheriff’s Office was recently approved to upgrade its drone fleet as part of the sheriff’s latest budget.

The department expects the new drones to be deployed in the field in the near future.

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 Breana Ross

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — Baltimore police’s Advanced Imaging and Rendering Team is improving crime scene investigations with its all-women drone team.

The AIR Team uses advanced technology to document crime scenes from above.

“I believe in this technology and what it can do for the city,” said Megan Descalzi, a forensic scientist with BPD, who leads the team of 11 crime scene technicians on the drone team.

Descalzi said the concept of an all-women drone team is rare within the drone community, which is predominantly male.

“A lot of individuals within the world of drones and public safety and law enforcement are mostly men. So, for us to have an (all-woman) drone team is something that a lot of agencies are really impressed by,” Descalzi said.

“It’s really cool just to put ourselves out there and be like, ‘Yes, we are an all-women’s team,’ and it’s exciting,” said Erika Schmidt, a crime laboratory technician on the drone team.

In 2025, the team deployed drones at over 100 crime scenes. Rachel Hare, a crime laboratory technician with BPD, highlighted the benefits of aerial photography in investigations.

“With an aerial photo, you can see the whole crime scene. It gives the jury a better layout of where everything happened. You can show potential escape routes and things like that, so it’s one of those things that gives you such a good perspective to be able to put together the evidence and give the jury a better picture of what happened,” Hare said.

The drones aren’t limited to just outdoor investigations, though. They can also be flown indoors.

“The purpose of this in the world of crime scenes is when we have scenes inside of locations that are not safe for us to enter,” Descalzi said. “These drones will allow us to fly in while our technicians are safe outside, and still be able to document the scenes and capture videos or photographs so that we can still make sure that the scene and all of the evidence within it is maintained properly.”

The capability is crucial for investigations in vacant homes, and it also assists the fire department in large fire scenes where safety is a concern.

“It’s placing eyes inside of the location without putting anyone in harm’s way,” Descalzi said.

Descalzi hopes the team’s work will inspire more women to pursue drone piloting.

“I want to show other women, I want to show girls that you can be a drone pilot and you can be just as good as anybody else in this field,” Descalzi said.

Please note: This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting. This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Forrest Sanders

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — We all need to ask our loved ones to share their stories. You never know what they’ve lived. A group is helping connect someone with an amazing story with a well-deserved trip. There’s a way you can help.

“Do you mind if I ask how old you are?” I asked Leigh Walker.

“Well, if I live until November, I’ll be 100!” she laughed.

Until the past few years, there’s this story Leigh didn’t really share. People didn’t know this woman from Burns lived an important part of history.

“When the war broke out, they just took all the young men and put them in the Army,” Leigh remembered, thinking back to the era of World War II. “President Roosevelt told all young women to report to your nearest college. If you were able-bodied, you went. We didn’t know what we were going for. I was 16 when I went in.”

Leigh left her home in Oakland, California to become a welder at the Richmond Shipyards. Both Leigh and her mother Esther were among the many women part of the war effort.

“Women were welders and carpenters, and it didn’t make any difference what field you went into,” Leigh continued. “It was all for the war. A woman can do anything she puts her mind to!”

I asked Leigh why she didn’t talk about this for so long. Her answer has to do with memories of WWII.

“You wanted to forget it,” she nodded. “It was awful, and if people would see what war is like, it might be different.”

It was two years ago at Dickson City Hall, Leigh shared her story publicly for the first time.

The story was a shock for daughter Marcia Chandler and son-in-law Johnny Chandler.

“I knew nothing about this!” Marcia said.

“I didn’t think she was telling the truth,” Johnny added.

“We thought she was kidding, but she wasn’t!”

No, Leigh had proof.

“I found my welding certificate from the union,” Leigh said.

That night in Dickson was the beginning of many accolades that now cover Leigh’s walls.

“I’m a Tennessee colonel!” Leigh said.

Leigh’s still having adventures. Shortly after this interview, Leigh left on her first flight in 30 years. She headed to New Orleans to visit The National WWII Museum.

Even though she’s already left, the Valor’s Voice non-profit is still raising money to pay for Leigh’s trip.

Before she left, I had one last question for Leigh. Why did she change her mind about sharing her story? Leigh said she realized she has a lesson to give.

“I think if more people listened to what war is like, they wouldn’t be so anxious to get into one,” Leigh said. “That’s the way I feel about it. If people would think how awful wars were, they wouldn’t have wars. You have to go through one to understand.”

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 Austin Pollack

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — At Seven Minutes Fitness in East Nashville, gym members are getting more than just a workout.

Owner and operator Ashley Shanks fosters rescue dogs and brings them to her gym, in hopes of helping them find new homes.

Shanks’ love for dogs led to her involvement with the rescue nonprofit Wags and Walks. She often brings foster dogs to the facility, providing members with both two-legged and four-legged coaches to support them during their fitness classes.

“It’s a gym that brings happiness with dogs,” Shanks said.

The initiative has become a central part of the gym’s culture. Katie Palmer met her dog, Gus, at the gym and adopted him a year and a half ago.

“The puppies are just a really great value add and of course this is where we met Gus and he’s been with us for a year and a half, and we love him,” Palmer said.

“These are my buddies,” said Marcus Cole. “The place I come to to decompress and work out.”

“Yeah it’s really turned into kind of the core of our gym,” Shanks said. “A lot of the members and two of our coaches have actually adopted.”

The dogs offer mental benefits as well, lifting spirits even when physical activity is not possible. Cole said the puppies help do the mind some good.

“Oh this is a daily thing,” he said. “There were times when I was injured and wasn’t really able to workout, I still came in to play with the puppies.”

“I feel like if people come in and there isn’t a dog here, there’s something off and people are like, where are the dogs?!” Shanks said.

Several members and two coaches have adopted dogs they met at the facility.

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

By Kelby Wingert

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — Nine students were transported to hospitals after a vehicle struck multiple pedestrians at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School in Ankeny on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

According to Ankeny Police Sgt. Trevor McGraw, the incident happened at about 3:15 p.m. in the school’s pickup line when a vehicle went up and over a curb where students were waiting, striking several of them.

Nine students were taken to local hospitals, with patients split between Blank Children’s Hospital and MercyOne. Officials have not released any updates on their conditions, but say all affected parents have been notified.

The crash occurred during dismissal, when “there were a lot of students out… and parents coming through picking up kids,” McGraw said.

Authorities say the driver remained on the scene and was not injured. Investigators do not believe the incident was intentional, but the crash remains under investigation.

Other parents in the pick-up line were quick to respond to those injured students, McGraw said.

“A lot of parents stepped up and were helping stabilize injuries and care for those who had been affected by the car accident,” he said.

A KCCI crew at the scene shortly after the incident reported more than a dozen emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire trucks and police.

School staff and the district assisted students in the immediate aftermath and have been in communication with families. Officials also confirmed that some students remain on site for an after-school program and are safe.

The school, which serves students from elementary through eighth grade, implemented adjusted pickup procedures following the incident.

“An accident occurred today during student pickup at St. Luke the Evangelist Parish and School,” the school posted on its website following the incident. “School personnel responded immediately, and emergency crews arrived within minutes. The safety and well-being of our families and staff remain our highest priority. Out of respect for those involved and their families, we are not sharing additional information at this time.

“We ask you to pray for healing, comfort, and peace for all those affected.”

Authorities are urging the public to avoid the area to allow emergency crews clear access. More information is expected to be released as it becomes 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.

By Robb Coles

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — The Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery put out a call on social media asking for people to attend a burial service for a veteran who had no known surviving family in the area.

We picked up the story and shared that call on our newscasts on Monday for Newschannel 5.

That ceremony was held on Tuesday morning, and I met some of the people who answered that call.

Francis Quin and Bobby Hampton were among those who showed up for the somber ceremony for a stranger.

“I would like to attend for those men who fought so bravely,” said Francis Quin, who traveled from Waverly to attend.

“I saw it on Channel 5, just caught a little bit of what was happening, and I said I gotta go,” said Bobby Hampton, a veteran from Brentwood.

“A friend of mine called me up last night around five and said that he saw on Channel 5 News that a veteran had passed away, and nobody would be attending his funeral,” Quin said.

The veteran is Hugh Willis.

He served in the Army before having a civilian career. He died in February.

A few friends gathered to say goodbye on Tuesday for his burial at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery; they were joined by many folks who’d never met Willis.

“I know there was a call for some support for this veteran who’s outlived his family, so I really appreciate all the support I see here today,” said Robert Million, Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery Director.

Willis’ friend and former co-worker Philip Patterson received his ceremonial flag.

“He started working with me in 1994, and so he was a co-worker and friend ever since that point,” Patterson said.

Thanks to an outreach effort, those friends were joined by many members of the public.

The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association also rolled in to pay respect.

“We try to come out to these every time we hear about them. If we have guys that are free and off of work that day, we try to attend as many funerals as possible,” said Daniel Van Leuven with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

While most of Willis’ human family has passed, his beloved dog Peanut was in attendance with the neighbors who took him in.

According to cemetery officials, situations like this happen just a few times a year, when they put out word asking for members of the public to ensure no veteran is alone at the very end.

“They’re willing to put their life on the line for our freedoms and liberties here, so I think it’s an important thing for us to remember and honor the service sacrifices they’ve made for us and our country,” said Million.

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

By Logan Dubel

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    BRADLEY COUNTY, Tennessee (WRCB) — When Jennifer Carothers resigned from her role as a case manager at Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services (DCS) last month, she tried to escape what she called a “moral dilemma” after spending 50+ nights in Bradley and McMinn offices with children. She says the children did not have access to showers, and some offices had mice issues.

“I felt ashamed for the first time in my career to be working for the department,” she said. “I felt like I was participating in helping to harm children instead of help children, and it was weighing very heavily on my conscience.”

Carothers talked with Local 3 just weeks after leaving DCS for the second time. She worked for the department from 2019-2020, before returning in April 2022. Local 3 reviewed a letter to Carothers from DCS as well as a tax form verifying her employment.

Local 3 learned she worked on a drug team and investigated cases of babies born positive for illegal substances.

“I was really passionate about what I did, and I’m sad to have left doing that, because I feel like I’ve lost my access to help children,” she said. “I’ve just really been trying to figure out what the best way is for me to speak out and to still continue to help children from the outside.”

Carothers spent more than 50 nights staying with children in Bradley and McMinn County offices. Children staying in offices often have higher levels of need and would not be placed in traditional foster homes.

In a 911 call obtained by Local 3 and aired as part of our previous investigation, a DCS employee called for help after an 11-year-old boy tried to “self-harm” himself in the Bradley County office.

Carothers said she spent time with the child, who is heard yelling in the background.

“He was very unhappy, very vocal about being unhappy,” she said. “He was telling workers during the shifts that he didn’t want to be there. In particular, he said to me, he just wanted to live somewhere where there were windows.”

No children have stayed in DCS offices since late January, DCS spokesperson Ashley Zarach said.

An email obtained by Local 3, sent by a regional secretary for the Tennessee Valley region at the end of February, said there would be “no more offices shifts going forward.” This would mean there is not the expectation staff would be needed to watch any children in offices.

But for Carothers, it’s too late.

She provided an affidavit as part of an emergency preliminary injunction, in an ongoing class action complaint, filed in May 2025 by A Better Childhood, a nonprofit litigation firm.

Carothers writes, “I cannot continue to participate in a system where the harm occurring in my presence outweighs the good I am attempting to do.”

She alleges children slept on four-inch-thick camping mattresses, and rooms in Bradley County had mice. She sometimes took children to First United Methodist Church in Cleveland before sunrise to take showers, so they could get the hygiene they needed.

“It sent workers who have good hearts and good souls and who are trying their best, and it’s put them in a place of crisis,” Carothers said. “It’s not uncommon to have workers crying in the office… The situation that is most heavy on my heart, honestly, is a young child who had some learning disabilities and was sleeping in offices for several months. [She] couldn’t keep her belongings together, would suddenly not have a coat, not have her toothbrush and she’s so young.”

Carothers said a 2025 reorganization of DCS regions, cutting the number of coverage areas in half to six, led to greater instability and burden for employees. She said she’d often have days where she needed to be in court for one case but quickly respond to another in a county far away.

Zarach said the restructuring helped standardize practices across the state.

Many comments on Local 3’s previous story praised the work of Isaiah 117 Houses, which provide a bed for children awaiting placement, typically for about 72 hours. Viewers suggested greater support for the nonprofit.

However, Zarach explained many of the children who were awaiting placement in offices had high levels of need and could not be safely placed in an Isaiah House. Additionally, the children in Isaiah Houses are often younger, and those 12 or 13 and above would not be placed there.

Rather, some of these children who were in offices may instead go to transitional homes, sometimes located on donated properties, and managed by private, licensed providers.

Additionally, a $421 million DCS real estate plan includes six welcome places, three wellness places and two youth development campuses.

However, Carothers said that isn’t the answer, at least right now.

“As a worker on the front line, coming to talk to me about a real estate plan when the building is on fire, is a little bit like bringing a fire prevention kit when the building’s already completely engulfed in flame,” she said.

Carothers doesn’t deny that some of the children in DCS custody can become aggressive and even violent. However, she disagreed earlier this month with a now-amended bill, SB 1868, which some advocates said would allow youth without criminal charges to be placed in juvenile detention centers.

“I don’t think that’s a solution, and it’s very concerning to me, the vague language of that bill,” she said.

An amended version removes language about children “in need of heightened supervision” and “authorizes a court to order a child to remain in custody of the Department of Child’s Services (DCS) for up to an additional six months if the court finds after a hearing or stipulation that the child has committed an assault against a staff member at the child’s residential placement.”

The legislation would also require DCS to establish a task force examining issues for children in custody.

As of early March, there were nearly 7,800 children in DCS custody, compared to around 4,800 in foster homes.

In search of solutions, Carothers said blame isn’t all on DCS. She’d also like to see reforms within the juvenile courts system and more resources for families.

“I heard a lot of the time when we were sitting in offices, ‘Well, we’re just doing the best that we can,’” she said. “But to me, that sounds like the same language that the parents are using. They’re also saying they’re just trying their best. So, if they’re just trying their best, and we’re just trying our best, at the end of the day, of the day, who’s helping the children?”

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 Jonathan Raymond

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — A Georgia Senate bill passed on Monday has generated a lot of attention in the last 24 hours for its seemingly radical proposal: Move the Peach State to the Atlantic Time Zone.

The Atlantic zone is an hour ahead of Georgia’s current time zone, Eastern. The places that use Atlantic Time include the easternmost parts of Canada and some parts of the Caribbean, such as Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Putting Georgia in that time zone may seem like a puzzling arrangement. But let’s break it down in the simplest possible terms.

Also, an important note: It faces a long way from actually becoming reality. It still needs to pass the Georgia House, be signed by Governor Brian Kemp, and then be approved by the U.S. Transportation Secretary.

(It’s also important to note this bill lays out as a guiding preference observing Daylight Saving Time year-round in the Eastern Time Zone, and would default Georgia back to Eastern Time if permanent DST within the Eastern Time Zone were facilitated by Congress.)

Why would Georgia want to be in the Atlantic Time Zone?

Georgia senators voted overwhelmingly (45-5) to end the twice-a-year time change and preserve more evening daylight.

To that end, they’ve already passed a bill in recent years to put Georgia on year-round Daylight Saving Time, but —

States that pass permanent DST bills (and there are more than a few) need those laws ratified by Congress, but —

Congress hasn’t ratified them. However —

States can opt out of DST on their own. Arizona does this, for instance. So Georgia’s proposed workaround to get “permanent” DST would put the state an hour ahead to Atlantic Time and opting out of DST from there.

What’s the difference between permanent DST and opting out of DST from an hour-forward time zone?

Essentially none. The law only allows you to do one without Congress (opt out), not the other (permanently opt in). Thank the Uniform Time Act of 1966 for that quirk.

Why doesn’t Georgia just opt out of DST in the Eastern Time Zone?

As mentioned above, the Georgia proposal wants to maximize evening daylight.

If you’re not doing time changes while everyone else does, that means you’ll be aligned with two different time zones during the year: One during DST after the “spring forward” and a different one when DST ends and the “fall back” occurs.

If you opt out of DST from where you’re already at, you’ll spend part of the year aligned with your current time zone and part of the year aligned with the time zone behind you. This is what happens with Arizona, which is aligned with the Pacific Time Zone in the summer and the Mountain Time Zone in the winter. Technically, they’re on Mountain Standard Time all year, but that’s how it works out.

So, in the summer months, Georgia would be aligned with the Central Time Zone if it simply opted out of DST.

Instead, what the state Senate lawmakers want to do is be aligned with the Eastern Time Zone during the summer and then be an hour ahead, with the Atlantic Time Zone, in the winter. This provides more daylight at night.

I’m still confused, just show me the times

Fair enough!

It’s just about how you flip-flop, really. The Senate bill would flip-flop from an hour ahead in the new time zone, while Arizona flip-flops from exactly where it’s at.

Right now it’s 9:30 a.m. in Atlanta, in the Eastern Time Zone. In the Atlantic Time Zone, under DST, it would be 10:30 a.m.

Come winter, when DST ends, Atlantic Time Zone locations that observe DST would “fall back” to 9:30 a.m. In Atlanta, where there would theoretically be no DST changes throughout the year, it would simply stay 9:30 a.m. New York City, meanwhile, would “fall back” to 8:30 a.m.

So, again, in summer it would be: Atlanta 9:30 a.m., New York 9:30 a.m. In winter, it would be Atlanta 9:30 a.m., New York 8:30 a.m.

In Bermuda, which observes DST, it’s 10:30 a.m. right now. So once more, for illustration, in summer it would be: Atlanta 9:30 a.m., Bermuda 10:30 a.m. In winter, it would be Atlanta 9:30 a.m., Bermuda 9:30 a.m.

What’s the argument against doing this?

There are two main arguments, really. One was raised in the state Senate yesterday by Senator Ed Setzler, who raised concerns about “chaos” for business and logistics if Georgia moved on its own when none of the rest of the East Coast does.

The other is about safety. The flip side of more evening daylight is less morning daylight during rush hour. There is research, most often cited from a University of Colorado study, that car crashes increase during DST after it extends morning darkness. That Colorado study found a 6% spike in fatal crashes nationwide in the week after “spring forward.”

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.