Month: April 2026

By Lillian Donahue

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    YAVAPAI COUNTY, Arizona (KNXV) — After a harrowing rescue from deep in the Yavapai County mountains, a 76-year-old Vietnam veteran and his family want to thank the many men and women who helped save his life.

Mark Eric Young said he went camping in the Verde Valley area on Thursday. After his GPS lost signal and he took some wrong turns, his one-day excursion turned into five.

He said he lit a fire at night to stay warm, killed a rattlesnake when it tried to bite him, fought dehydration and kept his faith to stay strong.

“Each mountain that I climbed, there was another one,” Young said. “I said God, I need your help…I recited scriptures that I remembered. ‘Don’t be discouraged, be of good cheer. Consider it pure joy when you’re facing trials of many times.’”

Monday afternoon, Young’s sons heard his cries and rescue crews were able to airlift him from the mountains.

“My gratitude is inexpressible. I could never pay them back,” Young said. “Thank you. Your love, your faith, your hard work will be remembered as long as I live.”

Monday afternoon, Young’s sons heard his cries and rescue crews were able to airlift him from the mountains.

“My gratitude is inexpressible. I could never pay them back,” Young said. “Thank you. Your love, your faith, your hard work will be remembered as long as I live.”

Thank you to everyone who prayed, supported, and stood with us. We are forever grateful.

On behalf of my siblings,

Emily”

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 Rachel Whelan

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    SOUTH LEBANON, Ohio (WLWT) — A man accused of sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl inside a South Lebanon store has been found competent to stand trial.

A Warren County judge made that determination this week in the case against Robert Deweese, 37. A trial has been scheduled for Aug. 10-12.

Investigators say Deweese followed the girl and her mother into a Five Below store in South Lebanon just three days after being released from prison for a previous sex-related offense.

According to prosecutors, the girl’s mother briefly left her in a locked family restroom to get clean clothes after an accident, instructing her to only open the door after hearing a specific knock.

Investigators say Deweese overheard that conversation, mimicked the knock and entered the restroom, where he allegedly assaulted the child.

But deputies say the girl was able to scare him off by screaming — using a technique known as the “Lion’s Roar,” something she learned through Scouts.

What is the “Lion’s Roar”? Local Scout leaders say the “Lion’s Roar” is part of a broader personal safety program designed to help children recognize danger and respond quickly.

“It helps them develop the confidence to say no or to speak up when something feels wrong, building confidence, not fear,” said Tara Noem, a Tiger Cub Scout den leader with Pack 367.

Noem says even the youngest Scouts are taught simple, actionable steps: “Yell, run away, and tell a trusted adult.”

“We actually practice that,” she said. “So they’re not doing it for the first time when something is happening.”

The training also focuses on helping children understand boundaries and identify unsafe situations.

Conversations that continue at home Noem says the lessons aren’t just for kids; they’re meant to spark conversations with parents.

“It can be a good way for families to open that dialogue and take something scary and turn it into something empowering. You have the ability to do this,” she said.

Case background Deweese was arrested about a mile away from the store shortly after the incident.

Court records show his criminal history spans nearly two decades, including multiple sex offense convictions across several Ohio counties.

He has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and his attorney has requested a second evaluation of his mental state at the time of the alleged assault.

If the court determines he was not legally insane, the case will move forward to trial as scheduled.

Deweese faces multiple felony charges, including rape — the most serious charge he has ever faced.

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 Emily Sanderson

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — Teresa Theetge is out as Cincinnati’s police chief.

City Manager Sheryl Long made the announcement Thursday that she has dismissed Police Chief Teresa Theetge from City service, effective immediately.

City manager announces dismissal The decision came weeks after an independent firm’s monthslong review found Theetge to be “not to be an effective leader.”

“I recognize Chief Theetge’s more than 35 years of service to the Cincinnati Police Department and to this City. At the same time, after completing this review, it’s become clear that a change in leadership is necessary for the department moving forward,” said Long.

Theetge’s attorney responds Theetge’s attorney Stephen Imm released a statement following the dismissal announcement, calling today a “sad day for the City of Cincinnati.”

“Its leaders have taken the shameful step of dismissing one of its most accomplished and beloved public servants for no legitimate reason. They know their phony excuses for this disgraceful action are entirely false, but still chose to put this black mark on our great city. We will get justice for Terri Theetge, and those responsible for this disgusting act will be held accountable,” Imm said.

Dismissal comes after review findings The nine page review released at the beginning of the month from the firm FBT Gibbons summarizes the findings of the independent investigation, categorizing it by the chief’s effectiveness as a leader, communication style, ability to work with larger city government, culture of retaliation, ability to communicate, ability to take accountability and effectiveness in driving positive culture.

Theetge was at city hall earlier this month for a pre-disciplinary hearing with Long, following the release of the review. It was her first visit since she was placed on administrative leave nearly six months ago.

Long said after the review, she concluded that a change in leadership is necessary for the department moving forward.

“The decision was a hard decision to make,” Long said.

City manager answers questions from media When asked why she made the decision after the independent review when Theetge hadn’t had a prior review for years before that.

“This is not about 7 years. Different concerns rose at different times. Once there was enough information to warrant a formal review, the city acted. My focus today is on the decision for us, and what we need on the department moving forward,” Long said.

Theetge is the city’s first female police chief, sworn in on Jan. 9, 2023.

Long did not speak on rumors a settlement being offered, but said she gave Theetge a chance to step down before she was placed on leave.

Following the release of the review, Theetge’s attorney, Stephen Imm, said the review is filled with falsehoods.

“We didn’t start this fight, but by God we’re going to finish it,” Theetge said following the review.

Theetge had been on leave since October.

Cincinnati mayor answers questions Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval says he “fully supports” the city manager’s decision to terminate police chief Teresa Theetge.

“Not collaborative, not proactive, did not put in place the procedures and strategies to be an effective leader,” Pureval said of Theetge.

Pureval answered questions from the media on Theetge’s dismissal, saying a lack of communication and collaboration over the past year led to the decision.

“I was eager, desperate, for support last year, particularly around our public safety plan,” Pureval said, saying Theetge would say she supported the plan in public, but in private would “refuse to fulfill these details…or she was dragging her feet.”

Pureval said since Theetge was placed on leave and an interim chief, Adam Hennie, has been in charge, the relationships with the sheriff’s department, state police and Cincinnati Public Schools are much stronger.

“I have been frustrated without the summer of last year, that I communicated to her and the administration that we had to deal with the perception of crime. The best way to do that was walking patrols, bike patrols, more visibility in general. I was willing to double the amount of overtime. In my opinion, she disagreed that that perception should be a priority, and she never fully staffed those kinds of details and those kind of patrols,” Pureval said

In what was perhaps the most surprising thing to come out of the presser, Pureval shared that the chief communicated on several occasions that she was willing to step down in a process where she’d resign, but then said she changed her mind and demanded $7.5 million.

“The answer was no. That’s a non-starter,” Pureval said.

Search for new chief The city named Adam Hennie as interim police chief after Theetge was placed on leave.

On Thursday, Long said Hennie remains in command as the city will provide an update on permanent leadership of the department in the coming weeks.

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 Addison Kliewer

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A Thunder fan battling lung cancer got the chance of a lifetime during the NBA Playoffs.

Seth Viher, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was sitting courtside as the Oklahoma City Thunder played the Phoenix Suns in Game 2 of Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs at the Paycom Center. But this trip was extra special for Viher. It was his wish.

He came to Oklahoma City, attending his first ever NBA game, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Viher is battling synovial sarcoma in his lung.

As he sat with a basketball in his lap, one by one, the Thunder players came to sign it and take pictures with Viher.

“It’s my first time in Oklahoma City. It’s my first NBA game. So, a really good one to be at,” he said.

The Thunder are looking to move 2-0 against the Suns. The Thunder had a blowout win over Phoenix in Game 1.

When asked if he had a favorite player, the answer was obvious.

“Shai, obviously, because he’s Canadian, and I’m from Canada,” Viher said. “And then Chet. Followed him during his rookie year and just haven’t really stopped following since.”

Wearing his orange No. 2 jersey for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Viher sat front and center, ready to see his dream of watching his favorite players become a reality.

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 KCCI Web Staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Rescue crews were called Wednesday to a scene in downtown Des Moines where a man fell multiple stories from a window-washing platform.

Des Moines police say police and fire crews responded to a scene in the 400 block of Walnut Street shortly after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a person falling approximately three floors.

First responders found a man with serious injuries and a second man trapped on a collapsed window-washing platform.

“This building that we’re on top of had a lot of tie-off systems, which we’re able to use for anchors, which is a huge obstacle we have to overcome at times,” said Lt. Tyler Mark. “There are a lot of times these buildings don’t have tie-offs, and we have to create our own anchor system. Today, with the system in the building that was in place, we’re able to install our ropes very quickly and get the ropes down to the rescuers.”

The man was successfully rescued at around 1:35 p.m. through the collaborative efforts of the Des Moines Police, Des Moines Fire, and the Des Moines Fire Special Operations team.

“The second victim was holding himself up on the scaffolding and did have a harness on,” said Lt. Tyler Mark, with the Des Moines Fire special operations team. “I’m not sure if he was restrained in the system or not. I know we removed his harness and put our harness on to rescue him.”

Walnut Street from 4th Sreet and 5th Street reopened once crews cleared the scene.

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 Abigail Kurten

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    WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A casual night out at an axe-throwing venue turned into a world championship moment for a central Iowa man who last week outperformed more than 100 competitors from across the globe.

Shane Funke of West Des Moines claimed the World Knife Throwing League Championship in Tulsa, capping a journey that began with little expectation of ever competing — let alone winning.

His introduction to the sport came as it does for many: a visit to Ironside Axe Throwing, where early attempts brought mixed results. But what started as a social activity with friends quickly evolved into something more serious, eventually leading Funke to teach the sport and refine his skills at a high level.

Asked if he ever envisioned becoming a champion, Funke didn’t hesitate.

“For knives? No,” he said.

Despite practicing for at least an hour nearly every day, he said the victory still felt surreal. In the final moments, as his last throw struck the target, he found himself overwhelmed.

“I was definitely having a mini — like not a panic attack — but I’m over on the side like, ‘Oh my God,’” Funke said.

He describes knife throwing as a discipline that demands patience, persistence and a willingness to fail repeatedly. Years of practice — and thousands of missed throws—are part of the process, he said, noting that success isn’t the only measure of growth.

“This isn’t the kind of sport you master in a day,” Funke said.

Beyond competition, Funke finds fulfillment in coaching others, especially when his students surpass him. He prides himself on encouraging those who struggle to stay motivated.

“I’m a very positive, optimistic person,” he said. “When people get discouraged, I like being that little light at the end of the tunnel — like, ‘You’ve got this. We can get it done.’”

Funke has no plans to slow down. He hopes to defend his title next year and is aiming for a perfect game, something no competitor has achieved so far.

Until then, he continues working alongside his students, many of whom now share a new goal: beating the reigning world champion.

“They all have the goal right now — like, ‘If I beat the world champ, I need to get a pin,’” Funke said. “And I’m like, you know what? If it makes you feel better, yeah — why not?”

From first-time throws to world-class competition, Funke’s story is now helping inspire the next generation of knife throwers — one throw at a time.

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 Barclay Idsal

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    BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — Albertsons has reached a settlement to resolve any federal, state, or tribal-based legal claims involving opioids.

In a news release, Albertsons Companies, Inc. clarified that the settlement, which totals $774 million, “is not an admission of wrongdoing or liability.”

Meanwhile, Purdue Pharma, the creator of the prescription opioid OxyContin, is working to reach a settlement to resolve the thousands of lawsuits that name the company as a defendant regarding its role in the opioid crisis. The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo will soon order the company to forfeit $225 to the Department of Justice before it can finalize a settlement.

“[Albertsons] is continuing its ongoing commitment to patient safety, responsible pharmacy operations, robust training and tools for pharmacy teams, and being a constructive partner in addressing the opioid crisis,” concludes the company statement regarding the settlement.

Albertsons currently operates 2,244 grocery stores and 1,713 pharmacies across 35 states.

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 Michael Chen

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — A week after Category 5 Typhoon Sinlaku struck islands near Guam, a 16-year-old girl with a special connection to one of the hardest-hit areas has launched a relief campaign.

Devi Balachandra, a junior at High Tech High International, was born in Saipan. The island is part of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. territories lying east of the Philippines.

Typhoon Sinlaku decimated the island when it made landfall more than a week ago. The historic typhoon caused island-wide power outages, destroyed thousands of homes, and led to a shortage of food and water.

Balachandra told me she hopes to head out to the place she once called home next week to help deliver supplies. She had been planning to fly to Saipan on May 1 for a month-long internship studying a coral reef, but that trip will now turn into a relief mission.

Balachandra’s family has about 15 family friends on the island, and about five of their homes were destroyed. Images from the island show water dripping from the ceiling of one family friend’s home after the roof peeled off, and another friend’s property was left wind-ravaged.

When I asked for her first reaction to seeing those images, her answer was simple.

“Shock,” Balachandra said.

“One of our friends, it looks like the island in her backyard, because all the trees fell over,” Balachandra said.

“Just in survival mode,” Balachandra said.

“Our family friend were hunting for coconut crabs in the forest for dinner. Others are just trying to keep the family up and going. Others are standing in line for 8 hours, laundry, standing in line for water, for gas,” Balachandra said.

“It’s unrecognizable, small island, nowhere to go for life to feel normal,” Balachandra said.

Balachandra and her family have started a GoFundMe campaign and a donation drive out of their garage in Point Loma. They are asking for everything from water to canned goods to wipes. She will take some of the supplies on her flight, and the rest could head out on a cargo ship.

“This is way for us to make some sort of difference. It was our home,” Balachandra said.

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

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    FARIBAULT, Minnesota (WCCO) — For more than 50 years, Steve Nesseth has answered the call, not for the recognition, but because for him service is simply a way of life.

“It became a part of me, I guess. I just really enjoy working with people and especially all the other partners,” said Nesseth, an EMT for North Memorial Health Ambulance in Faribault.

Nesseth started working in emergency services at just 22 years old.

“Volunteers were needed in Kenyon, my hometown just 15 miles east of here. A quasi-thing between the fire department the police department and anyone else who wanted to help,” said Nesseth.

Back then, emergency care looked and sounded very different.

“We only had a two-way radio that could do the sheriff’s department and it could do county. We showed up at the hospital back in the early 70s, unannounced, we’d just walk in with a patient,” explained Nesseth.

He has gone from those bare-bones beginnings to the advanced care on wheels of today.

For Nesseth, service didn’t stop at the ambulance bay.

He balanced EMS with full-time work, family life, and 19 years as a volunteer firefighter.

“Skipped some dinners, events with some of the family but as long as the family was involved, which they were, it really made it much easier. Without family involvement it wouldn’t work,” said Nesseth.

In March, Nesseth marked a rare feat: five decades as a nationally registered EMT.

“We started to look at it and it is tremendous. There’s only a couple of people around that we can find that have hit this milestone,” said Kelly Goodnature, captain at North Memorial Health Ambulance.

Now, he’s not just responding to calls, he’s helping guide the next generation.

“He has so much experience that he mentors all our new team members, existing team members. He’s a pleasure to have,” said Goodnature.

Even after five decades, Nesseth isn’t quite ready to step away.

“As long as I’m still feeling good and I’m able, and they’re willing to keep me here, I’ll be here,” said Nesseth.

He hopes sharing his story will empower others, especially those in small towns to consider becoming an EMT.

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.