Month: April 2026

By Michael Logerwell

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    PHOENIX (KRDO) — It was more than her parents and siblings cheering on Chloe Huddle in the crowd at Grand Canyon University on Friday.

“You know, I, I got very teary-eyed when she graduated from high school, so it’s just the next step,” Alan Kent, a former 35-year Colorado Springs firefighter, told KRDO13 over a video call hours before Chloe walked on Friday.

This graduation was at most the second-most important milestone of Chloe’s life that Alan has been present for.

“As we pulled up, I remember the sun coming up, and it was a gorgeous, gorgeous morning,” Alan recalled. “But I remember a scream coming out of the house.”

Alan was working as a firefighter at Colorado Springs Fire Station 15 when his crew got the call for a medical emergency. That morning, Alan would help deliver a healthy baby girl who was coming into the world more than a week before her due date.

“I do remember after Chloe was born, we were in the ambulance and we were headed to the hospital, and Alan was right there, [in] the back of the ambulance. I could see the beautiful sun rising in the mountains there in Colorado Springs,” Stacy Huddle also said she remembered that beautiful sunrise amid the hectic morning.

After they were released from the hospital, Stacy brought Chloe to the fire station to meet Alan in a calmer situation.

“I think I just instinctively just knew Alan was just going to be part of our family. And just really wanted to go back to the fire station and say thank you,” Stacy said.

22 years later, and those instincts have been proven right.

“I honestly don’t know, like anything different. I feel like it’s just it is family. And so whenever there’s like a big celebration, we expect them to come, because they are family,” Chloe Huddle said.

“It means the world to me,” Alan said. “Right now, she’s making the next steps in her life, and I’m glad she wants me to be a part of her family.”

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 Dacia Johnson, Pamela Comme

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    VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Volusia County announced lawsuits against the promoters of massive gatherings that caused chaos in Daytona Beach over spring break.

“What we’re doing is we’re setting the tone here,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “I don’t think this has been done anywhere before. We are not going to stand for this, and we’re going to come after you.”

Chitwood earlier this month slammed party promoters for encouraging people to take over Daytona Beach in what he called unsanctioned events.

Chitwood on Friday said lawsuits were filed earlier this week against two women accused of promoting a spring break takeover. The sheriff’s office is seeking more than $100,000 in damages.

“If you come in here, and you try to hold us economically hostage, with these pop-up events that are unpermitted, unsanctioned, we are going to come and get you…,” said Chitwood. “We’re coming civilly for everything you got.”

Seven separate lawsuits were filed, and more are on the way, attorney Aaron Delgado said.

“The barbecue place (Stroud’s Hog Heaven), they closed down, they sent their employees home. So they lost several days of revenue,” said Delgado. “…If you damage the reputation, if people don’t think it’s safe to come here, they don’t think it’s safe to bring their families here. That’s a lifetime to rebuild that.”

The sheriff’s office will work with the state attorney to determine whether criminal charges can be filed.

“We’re looking at the aggravated rioting statute because I think when you read that statute and watch the videos they posted, to me, I’m not an attorney, that’s a riot,” said Chitwood.

A video that went viral on social media shows a large crowd running on the beach after they heard what was thought to be gunshots. Chitwood later said it was people crushing water bottles.

VSO in the lawsuit said it had to spend more than $800,000 for extra deputies and resources on two separate weekends to keep the peace.

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 Gail Paschall-Brown

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Sloth World, a planned attraction on International Drive in Orlando, has permanently closed before opening after Florida Fish and Wildlife officials uncovered details of 31 sloth deaths at a nearby warehouse.

Thirteen surviving sloths from Sloth World were delivered Friday to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Sanford, where they are now being housed and cared for. Richard Glover, CEO of the Central Florida Zoo, said his team quickly set up quarantine areas for the animals after being contacted earlier in the week.

“They reached out on Monday and said, you know, would you be interested in taking some animals as a donation?” Glover said.

The sloths, imported from Guyana and Peru, will remain in quarantine for 30 days to assess their medical conditions.

“We have cared for sloths for decades here at the Central Florida Zoo, so we have the team that understands what they need and how to care for them,” Glover said. “So we’re prepared, we’re ready, and we want to give them the best chance they can have.”

Glover added, “How long will they be here at the Central Florida Zoo? That’s a good question. They’ll be here at least 30 days. Some of them will be here permanently, maybe a few, but the rest of them will be placed with AZA-accredited zoos like us, across the country.”

The closure of Sloth World follows an unannounced inspection by Florida Fish and Wildlife last month, which revealed the facility was clean, including its food preparation area.

“Each enclosure is spot cleaned daily. The food prep area was very clean,” Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said.

However, a spokesperson for Orange County noted that the building was last inspected in 2021 and was only permitted to store cars, not animals.

Congressman Maxwell Frost criticized Sloth World, saying, “You killed 31 sloths. You don’t know what the hell you’re doing. You’re trying to evade accountability from both the public and the government.”

Frost later posted on social media, “Good news: Sloth World has been shut down and will not open… I’ll keep fighting for accountability and animal welfare.”

The Central Florida Zoo anticipates medical expenses and testing for the sloths will cost thousands of dollars. The zoo plans to provide updates on the animals and welcomes donations to support their care.

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 Kaleb Clark

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    KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon (KDRV) — A Ponderosa Middle School seventh grader saved her best friend’s life after she started choking on a burrito during lunch.

Lilly Jannicelli was recognized Thursday by the Klamath Falls Police Department with a certificate of achievement and a custom police badge. She stepped in to help her friend, Alison Cruz, who was choking on her food during a recent lunch at school.

“I was sitting next to my best friend at lunch when she started choking on a burrito,” Jannicelli said. “I tried calling for a teacher, but nobody heard me, so I knew I had to act. I just thought, ‘We’re not losing my best friend today,’ and I got up and did the Heimlich Maneuver.”

Jannicelli relied on instinct and a small amount of prior knowledge to take action. Her dad had shown her how to do the Heimlich, and she had learned it once in health class.

“It was just enough for me to remember and try my best,” Jannicelli said. “It was really scary, and I think I did it wrong at first, but she’s alive and okay and that’s what matters most.”

Cruz recalled just how serious the situation had become. She couldn’t breathe at all and was really scared.

“Lilly got behind me and did the Heimlich, and that’s what saved me,” Cruz said.

Afterward, Cruz made sure her best friend knew just how much her actions meant. She told Jannicelli, “This is why you’re my emergency contact … you saved my life.”

Ponderosa staff reviewed the incident on video and coordinated a surprise recognition for Jannicelli. During the presentation, she was honored with her certificate signed by School Resource Officer Alex Davenport and Klamath Falls Police Chief Rob Detinger for her quick thinking and bravery.

Klamath County Fire District 1 firefighter Dean Limb presented Jannicelli with her certificate after calling her name from the student risers, where she was met with cheers from her peers just before first period. Limb added that her actions reflect the kind of qualities they look for when hiring firefighters and policemen.

“I didn’t know any of it was happening,” Jannicelli said. “I walked into the gym and saw my family there and thought, ‘Something’s up.’ It was really special to be recognized like that.”

Jannicelli hopes the experience highlights the value of being prepared. She said you don’t have very much time in a situation like that, and it’s not always obvious when someone is choking.

“You have to pay attention and act in the moment,” Jannicelli said. “I think more students should learn things like the Heimlich. You might not think you’ll ever need it, but moments like this show how important it is.”

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 Christine Stoddard

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    OROVILLE, California (KHSL) — Oroville Hospital nurses voiced concern over how HR-1 federal funding cuts will affect their patients at a Red Alert rally at the Southside Oroville Community Center on Saturday.

Oroville Hospital nurses represented by the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United held a Red Alert rally and community awareness event. The rally focused on the financial threat posed by HR-1 budget cuts to the hospital and its patients.

“Our population is vulnerable,” said See Vang, a registered nurse at Oroville Hospital. “They’re elderly. They live in fifth-wheelers trailers after the fire in 2018. And they’re very vulnerable. And we rely so much on Medicare and Medicaid to keep our hospital running.”

National Nurses United has put Oroville Hospital on a Red Alert status due to the financial threat of HR-1 budget cuts. More than 85% of the hospital’s net revenue comes from Medicaid and Medicare, federal programs now facing more than a trillion dollars in cuts.

Organizers say that rather than fund ICE, the Iran war and billionaire tax breaks, the money should go toward nonprofit and community hospitals like Oroville. Already bankrupt, Oroville is one of 600 hospitals identified by National Nurses United for being at high risk due to HR-1 cuts.

“You know, as a registered nurse, I don’t feel threatened for my job,” Vang said. “But I do worry about our community and the patients that actually do rely on the hospital for their care.”

National Nurses United has even commissioned a children’s book to help kids understand the importance of having a hospital right in their community: Medi Bear Saves the Hospital.

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 Denzen Cortez

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    FOLSOM, California (KCRA) — A group of Vista del Lago High School sophomores in Folsom has raised more than $50,000 for local classrooms through a running fundraiser they created in middle school.

The students Asher Chang, Minho Kim, Rocco Jerwers, Jack Armstrong and Landon Simpson organize the event called Lace Up for Learning, which includes a 5K, 10K and a kids fun run.

The five have been friends since sixth grade and share a passion for running, competing together in track and cross country. Organizers say the fundraiser began as an idea Chang had in eighth grade to give back to classrooms in need, and the group worked together to bring it to life.

“We offer a 5K, 10K and kids fun run. It’s created by the five of us,” Chang said.

The fundraiser supports teacher-requested classroom needs across the Sacramento region through the DonorsChoose platform, which allows organizers to select specific projects to fund.

“We donate all the proceeds through a platform called DonorsChoose, which allows us to select which teachers to donate to across schools across Sacramento,” Chang said. “We support things like calculators, Chromebook chargers and school libraries. We support a wide variety of requests.”

This year marked the third event, with more than 200 participants and a fundraising goal of $20,000. As of race day, organizers said they were close to reaching that goal.

Participants said the event helps support teachers, who often pay for classroom supplies out of pocket, while also teaching students the importance of giving back.

Parents of the organizers said they have seen the fundraiser grow each year and praised the group’s commitment to supporting their community.

Those who would like to donate or support classroom projects can do so by visiting the Lace Up for Learning website.

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 Lauren Seaver

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    MONTEREY COUNTY, California (KSBW) — Dr. Michael Davis, a longtime physician at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, has completed 100 marathons and is sharing his passion for running to inspire others.

When you walk into the inpatient rehab unit at the hospital, you will likely see Davis greeting patients.

“How you doing? I’m good,” Davis said.

Davis has been a doctor at the hospital for 32 years and the director of its inpatient rehab program for the last nine.

“We help people get back on their feet, literally,” Davis said. “Folks who have had stroke or brain injury, amputation.”

The former Army doctor and pediatric physical therapist is passionate about his work and finds inspiration in the resilience of his patients.

“To see the struggles they go through is motivation for me,” Davis said. “Just to be able to be physically fit, I feel so fortunate, and I feel a responsibility to use that.”

At 72, Davis is also an avid runner who has completed 100 marathons.

“I didn’t start marathoning until I was 55. But I got hooked,” Davis said.

Davis, a former soccer player, signed up for his first marathon on a whim less than three months before the race. He received training advice from a colleague who introduced him to Olympian Jeff Galloway’s run/walk method.

“Before run/walk, I always thought of running as being punishing, it’s punitive, but run/walk isn’t,” Davis said. “Run/walk is joy-producing for me. I don’t even listen to music. I don’t feel like I need to. I just enjoy the process.”

Davis met Galloway the day before his first Big Sur International Marathon and ended up running it with him. Since then, every marathon Davis has completed has been done using the run/walk method.

He now teaches the method to others through his Fleet Feet running group.

“Folks who really never thought they could ever be a marathoner have now done marathons,” Davis said. “Jeff Galloway, my hero and mentor, he made running and distance running accessible to the general population. And what a gift to humanity.”

From 2009 to 2026, Davis has completed 100 marathons, including 15 Big Sur International Marathons, as well as races like the California International Marathon, Honolulu Marathon, and Austin Marathon.

“I’m proud of having done that. Marathons are hard. Everyone I’ve done is hard. But so is life,” Davis said. “Life did, does, and will give us challenges. And how do we prepare ourselves to overcome obstacles? Marathoning is a way to do that.”

He added, “Where is the accomplishment in doing only what we’re good at, what’s easy? The accomplishment is in challenging oneself and overcoming that challenge.”

Davis also uses his running to promote fitness, citing a recent Harvard study that concluded physically fit individuals can add four to eight years of healthy longevity to their lives.

“I want to promote fitness for longevity, for healthy longevity, for feeling good, for good mood. And I love supporting people to accomplish something they never thought they were going to be able to do,” Davis said.

It is a message he is determined to share, one mile and one marathon at a time.

“I don’t know if I’ll make it to 100, but at least I want to give it a stab. I want to keep going,” Davis 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 Erin Clark

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    MONTEREY, California (KSBW) — Dan Shapiro is training for the Boston 2 Big Sur challenge, which involves running the Boston Marathon on Patriots Day and the Big Sur Marathon six days later.

“I run for four minutes and then I walk for 30 seconds and then run for four minutes and walk for 30 seconds and do the whole marathon like that,” Shapiro said. “Before I started using this method, I ran a marathon. I could barely walk for like a month after my first run.”

Shapiro said active recovery during the race makes all the difference and allows him to complete two iconic marathons back-to-back.

“On Boston, you have the spectators encouraging you away. And then in Big Sur, you just have that beautiful view. I mean, to be able to run up Highway One that’s closed off to traffic, there’s just nothing like it,” Shapiro said.

A week and a half before the Big Sur Marathon, Shapiro began his journey across the country, taking a red-eye flight from San Francisco to Boston. He landed in the early hours of the morning and had a few days to rest and acclimate before race day.

“With a marathon, you never know how you are going to feel, so we’ll see how it goes. It’s fun being here. The excitement, all the runners here. You’ve never seen so many fit people in one place, it’s incredible,” Shapiro said.

On race day, Shapiro joined 30,000 runners at the starting line. He admitted to feeling some anxiety but settled into the race once it began.

During miles 23 and 24, Shapiro faced a challenging stretch.

“During those miles 23 and 24 where I was really struggling, I was thinking, or trying not to think, I have to do this again in six days! But once it’s done, I’m kind of excited. Excited about it, looking forward to it,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro finished the Boston Marathon in under four hours, earning another medal. Back home, he now has his sights set on Big Sur. Confident and eager, Shapiro said he plans to enjoy the scenery and is already planning his next Boston to Big Sur challenge.

On Sunday, April 26th, wake up with KSBW 8’s exclusive live coverage of the Big Sur International Marathon.

The race begins at 6:45 a.m., with KSBW coverage starting at 7 a.m. in a special edition of Action News 8 Weekend Sunrise and streaming live on Very Local.

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 Melea VanOstrand

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    CARMEL, Indiana (WRTV) — A Hamilton County fire department will be one of the first in the country to use augmented-reality helmets to help firefighters see through smoke.

The Carmel Fire Department says it’s the only department in the Midwest that will use the technology called C-THRU from Qwake Technologies.

Tim Griffin, the department’s public information officer, said, “It gives you not just possibly a body here, or a warm spot here, it outlines it. It’s almost like a sci-fi movie. You look at it and you think, this is the future.”

It’s designed for one of the most dangerous challenges firefighters face: zero visibility.

Inside a smoke-filled mock house, the helmet used augmented reality and thermal imaging to help navigate rooms, see heat signatures, and find people.

Griffin said, “It can give you that navigation inside, it gives you those real-time really detailed visuals of what you have inside those buildings.”

The system also livestreams video back to commanders, which will give crews more information in real time. The commanders can send back visual messages through the helmet.

Sam Cossman, co-founder and CEO of Qwake Technologies, said, “The combination of data from both of these places allows us to now, say a structure is going to collapse in a few minutes, get out.”

Carmel is one of 10 U.S. departments that will have access to the technology. The Carmel Fire department will receive 16 helmets and four command tablets by midsummer.

Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam, a Republican, said, “There’s a cost of $375,000 for the three-year pilot period. We are partnering with our Heroes Club here to provide that technology for our Carmel residents.”

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.