Month: April 2026

By Mythili Gubbi

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    RIVERDALE, Utah (KSTU) — A city in Weber County is asking residents to reduce the amount of water they use outside, before it’s too late. The Weber Basin Water Conservancy District is reducing the amount of water allocated to Riverdale by 20 percent.

So, city officials are asking people to reduce their individual consumption by 20 percent, also including businesses and city properties.

Riverdale Mayor Braden Mitchell said they are one of the first cities to impose water restrictions.

“Riverdale residents have access to their water all year long, and so we have to kind of get ahead of it and let them know, we can’t have you watering early in the year,” he explained. “We don’t have secondary water, so there’s no way for Weber Basin to shut our water off.”

But, some residents said they want the city to step up, before residents must cut back on their usage.

“Since the 30 years that I’ve been here, there have been no real appreciable restrictions like we’re seeing now,” said Tim Lessard who lives in Riverdale.

He and Jordan Smith said they want to see more transparency from the city.

“I think it’s fair for residents to have transparency about why the wells have not been fixed, how much additional water could be ready for use in the city,” Smith said.

He said city reports show Riverdale also has an adequately full aquifer and loses about a fifth of water in delivery. They would like to see infrastructure improvements as well as more citizen input before restrictions are imposed. Lessard said residents have already significantly reduced water consumption, and this further reduction can be difficult. “We’re already doing the 20 percent, now we’re being asked to reduce 20 percent more,” he added.

The mayor acknowledged that challenge.

“It’s a little bit tough because Riverdale has always been very low on our usage because we’ve been metered and we pay for our water by the gallon,” Mayor Mitchell said. “So, when we ask some people to cut back 20 percent, it’s kind of tough because they’ve already been cutting back for years and years.”

This splashpad will also be off on Thursdays to help save water. No watering outside is allowed between May 1 and October 15, and water rates go up 25 percent for usage over 10,000 gallons.

“We’re being forced to do something we shouldn’t have to do,” Lessard added. “We’re also being penalized monetarily if we exceed their allotment.”

Mayor Mitchell said the city will work with businesses, using code enforcement to ensure they don’t overwater either. He does not want to inconvenience residents too much either. “And I would encourage people to feel free to still have a garden, that was never the intent of this to discourage people from having gardens.”

Smith said he’s worried about what could happen in the future.

“What’s it going to be next year or in the future if we have a down winter or a drier year than normal?”

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 Tracy Carloss

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    LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WEWS) — A Lake County mother is hoping the public holds the key to unlocking a Mother’s Day card mystery.

“I thought oh my gosh, I need to find out who this belongs to,” said Brittney.

Brittney is a mom to a little boy. She said she has fostered several children and, for that reason, asked that we not use her name.

“Mommy-hood is the best gift ever,” she said.

Brittney ordered a used parenting book from Amazon, and when it arrived, tucked inside was the handmade Mother’s Day card.

“It just tugged on my heart because it was not mine and didn’t belong here,” she said.

A hand-drawn card overflowing with love from a little girl in a pink coat to mommy from Juliana.

Brittney said she called the business that sold the book, but had no luck in tracking down the owner of the card.

She posted it on social media, still with no leads, and then she emailed News5.

“I was hoping you guys could spread the word,” she said.

Brittney is hoping to get the card to the mother of Juliana by Mother’s Day.

“I’ll definitely cry, it will make me very happy knowing she got the card back,” Brittney said.

If you have any information about the card, email Carloss@wews.com

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 Sara Tenenbaum, Marissa Perlman

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    CHICAGO, Illinois (WBBM) — The parents of Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman faced her accused killer in court for the first time on Wednesday, as they vowed to “get justice” for their daughter and spoke out about what they called failures that allowed her death to happen.

“Our family will be here every single step of the way,” said Sheridan’s father, Thomas Gorman. “Make no mistake about it, Sheridan’s death was not just a senseless tragedy, it was preventable.”

Gorman’s parents, in town from New York, stood alongside family and friends at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Wednesday, holding photos of their daughter from all ages of her life, as her accused killer, Jose Medina, appeared for an arraignment hearing.

Medina, 26, is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon and a federal gun possession charge for the shooting that killed Gorman on Rogers Park pier on March 19.

Police have said Medina jumped out of the bushes that night and opened fire on Gorman and her friends as they ran away.

At a brief arraignment hearing Wednesday, Medina pled not guilty to all charges through a Spanish language interpreter. His formal arraignment had been delayed multiple times as he was treated in custody for tuberculosis and other medical problems.

Medina has been in the custody of the Cook County Sheriff’s office since he was charged on March 23, largely while being treated at Cermak Hospital at the Cook County Jail, at the request of both the defense and prosecution. Medina’s attorney said he was one of the Venezuelan migrants bused to Chicago from Texas by Gov. Greg Abbot starting in 2022. He had been in the U.S. with his mother on asylum, his attorney said.

Gorman’s parents arrived with a large group of supporters to attend the hearing, then spoke briefly afterwards.

“Today is a step forward,” her father, Thomas Gorman, said. “But let’s not pretend it’s anything more than that. An arraignment is not justice, it’s the beginning of a long process and our family will be here every step of the way until there is accountability for what was done to our daughter Sheridan.”

Medina’s attorney has said he grew up in Venezuela and moved to Colombia after his mother relocated there following a sexual assault, and he was attacked and shot in the head in a 2018 robbery in Colombia.

The shooting caused severe brain damage and left him disabled, with stunted brain development and problems with both short and long term memory, his attorney said.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Medina entered the United States illegally in 2023. His attorney has said he was placed in a detention center in Texas and requested to be returned to Colombia, but instead was sent on a bus to Chicago and placed in a migrant shelter where he contracted tuberculosis.

Later that same year, court documents show Medina was arrested for retail theft at the Macy’s store on State Street in downtown Chicago, and was released on bond.

Police said he later failed to appear in court twice, leading to a warrant for his arrest, one that was still active at the time he allegedly shot and killed Sheridan Gorman.

Thomas Gorman thanked prosecutors and law enforcement for arresting and charging Medina in his daughter’s death, but said “gratitude does not erase what happened.”

“She is gone because systems that are supposed to protect the public did not do their job,” he said.

He denounced the use of his daughter’s death by politicians and for political purposes, declaring, “This is not about politics for us, this is about responsibility.”

“We are not interested in slogans, we are not interested in political spin, we are interested in one thing: that this does not happen to another family,” Thomas Gorman said.

He described the void left in their lives after his daughter’s death.

“Let me tell you what this actually looks like. It’s an empty seat the table, it’s silence where there used to be laughter, it’s waking up every day knowing that your child is gone, and nothing is going to change that.

He also said they want accountability both in the courtroom and “from those responsible for enforcing the laws that already exist” along with “real, meaningful change that puts policy over politics.”

Medina is due back in court on June 1. The Gorman family said they plan to be in Chicago for all of Medina’s court appearances, and will fight for systemic change in hopes this doesn’t happen to another family-

“Our daughter was beautiful on the inside and out. She really mattered. We’re going to get justice for her,” her mother 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 Deanna Sipe

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    BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY (WLOS) — Following an almost two-week search for two stray dogs on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the National Park Service has released an updated statement saying the dogs had returned to the parkway.

As previously reported, parkway rangers began looking for the dogs on Saturday, April 18, after receiving a report of two “aggressive” dogs near milepost 451 near Waterrock Knob.

During the initial search, park rangers closed the parkway between mileposts 443 and 455 in an attempt to trap the dogs. On April 24, the National Park Service released a statement saying that the dogs had appeared to have “left the area.”

In a new statement released Wednesday, April 29, the National Park Service said one of the dogs was injured following an incident in which they say park rangers observed one of the dogs behaving aggressively towards a visitor with two leashed dogs and a child.

“Based on the immediate safety risk, park rangers took action consistent with NPS regulations to protect visitors. During that response, one dog was injured and both dogs fled the area,” the park service said. The park service said that as of Monday, April 27, at least one dog has been observed in the area.

“The park continues working with local county partners to safely remove the dog and is also willing to work with established nonprofit animal rescue groups that are prepared to coordinate directly with park staff to retrieve the animals,” the park service said.

As previously reported, despite park rangers claiming the dogs were aggressive, the community says the dogs were nice.

“That dog was very nice but extremely scared. These dogs were dumped off by somebody, and they are scared and timid,” local resident Holly Greenwald told News 13 on Monday, April 20.

Rangers asked the public to immediately notify park officials if they see dogs off-leash in the area. Park officials also asked the public not to approach, feed or try to capture the dogs.

SEE FULL NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STATEMENT BELOW:

The National Park Service prioritizes visitor and staff safety. The park received multiple reports of aggressive behavior involving the dogs at Waterrock Knob, and on April 18, park staff observed one of the dogs behaving aggressively toward visitors, including an incident involving two leashed dogs and a child. Based on the immediate safety risk, park rangers took action consistent with NPS regulations to protect visitors. During that response, one dog was injured and both dogs fled the area. To reduce the risk of additional incidents and limit access to human food sources, the park also temporarily closed portions of the area while continuing efforts to monitor and safely recover the animals.

The area reopened on April 24, after several days without dog sightings. As of April 27, at least one of the dogs has again been observed in the area. The park continues working with local county partners to safely remove the dog and is also willing to work with established nonprofit animal rescue groups that are prepared to coordinate directly with park staff to retrieve the animals. These groups are encouraged to contact the park at blri_info@nps.gov.

The NPS continues to request public cooperation for the safety of park visitors and animals, both domestic and wild. Park visitors are asked not to feed or capture any dogs off leash and notify park officials immediately.

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 Fernanda Silva

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    RIVERTON, Kansas (KSHB) — For 101 years, Nelson’s Old Riverton Store has stood along Route 66. It predates the Mother Road itself, and stepping inside feels like a trip back in time.

For owner Scott Nelson, it has been a constant presence throughout his entire life. He started working there as a kid when his uncle and aunt owned the place.

He says many things haven’t changed in the old grocery store. “A lot of this has been up here since I was a kid,” Nelson said. The place is famous for its deli sandwiches and also includes a souvenir shop.

He says Route 66 is more than just a highway. “It connects all these small towns. And that’s why people call it the Main Street of America,” Nelson said.

A century after the store first opened, travelers are still making it a stop.

Producers of the Pixar movie Cars, for example, stopped by when they were working on the film.

Nelson says he doesn’t take it for granted — even though it’s hard to put into words. “I’ve been here all my life,” he said.

What began as a family business has become a must-stop destination for those chasing a piece of American history.

“You won’t find another place like this in America,” Nelson said.

A few miles down the road, in Galena, Kansas, the story of Route 66 continues with a newer chapter.

Gearhead Curios, owned by Aaron Perry, is a dream years in the making. He opened it in 2018 after stopping by a vacant building on his way to Springfield, Missouri.

The store sits along Kansas’ 13-mile stretch of Route 66 — the shortest segment of the historic highway in any state.

“No one could have told me what this would feel like,” Perry said.

His place is a roadside attraction, souvenir store, and information center.

Perry has built the store’s identity around the road’s history, from its decor to its smallest details — including a sink fitted with a gas pump nozzle.

But Perry said awareness of Route 66’s reach is sometimes lost on those closest to it.

“A lot of locals — and that’s not just Galena, it’s any small town along Route 66 — don’t realize the international impact of Route 66,” Perry said.

For Perry, the store is both a passion and a beacon.

“Look for that happy glow in the southeast corner of Kansas. And that’s where you’re going to find me,” Perry said.

From a store that has stood the test of time to one built on a dream, visitors continue to find their way to both — on a stretch of Route 66 where the past and present are open for business.

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By Michelle Hofmann

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    INGLESIDE, Texas (KRIS) — At 101 years old, Jose Noe Mendez is still ready for adventure.

The World War II veteran celebrated his birthday with a flight aboard a vintage aircraft, soaring above the Coastal Bend, a tribute that connected his past with the present.

Mendez was born in 1925 in Tampico, Mexico, and later moved to Texas. At 17, he went to Corpus Christi to train at a Navy aircraft engine school, working on the same kinds of planes he would encounter again decades later.

About a year into his training, he was drafted into World War II.

Assigned to the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, Mendez spent months on the front lines in Germany, including the brutal fighting in the Hurtgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge. He said he spent nearly a year in combat and lost many fellow servicemen fighting beside him.

Mendez ended his military career in 1947 as a technical sergeant. He earned several honors, including a Purple Heart and three Battle Stars for campaigns in the Hurtgen Forest, the Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe.

“I did what I did for my country,” he said.

For his 101st birthday, Vintage Air Tours and the Commemorative Air Force Museum organized a special flight in a World War II-era aircraft.

“This is our way to say thank you for his service and recognize the greatest generation.” said Jeremy Bushnell, president of Vintage Air Tours.

Bushnell said the organization has provided similar flights for veterans before, raising money throughout the year to make the experiences possible.

“These are people who have made sacrifices that are just immeasurable,” he said. “When we don’t have these people to tell their stories, we want to be the next generation to be able to do so.”

Before takeoff, Mendez shared a lighthearted moment with his pilot, joking about his age.

“You look kinda young, I don’t know,” he said with a laugh.

Moments later, he was strapped in and giving a thumbs up as the engine roared to life.

Friends and spectators watched as the aircraft lifted off, carrying Mendez over the coastline and past the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, a meaningful route chosen for its historical significance.

Bushnell said flights like these often bring out strong emotions in veterans.

“Everything from tears streaming down faces to smiles of excitement,” he said. “It just invokes so many memories.”

When the plane touched down, a crowd greeted Mendez with applause.

“It takes me back many memories,” he said.

At 101, those memories remain vivid. But his return home after the war brought new challenges.

Like many Hispanic veterans, Mendez said he faced discrimination.

“I was mistreated because I was Hispanic,” he said. “South Texas was bad. I was seeing signs around South Texas saying no Mexicans, no Blacks, no dogs allowed.”

Despite that, he said he remains proud of his service.

“I appreciate everything everybody’s doing for me,” Mendez said.

For Bushnell, the experience is about more than just a flight.

“It is the absolute peak of happiness to see the smiles when they get off these aircraft,” he said.

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By Samson Tamijani

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    OILTON, Oklahoma (KJRH) — While Oilton has grappled with the departures of police chiefs and revenue shortfalls recently, its first local restaurant in 11 years offers hope and appetites.

Lalo’s Grill On 99 is Oilton’s first sit-down diner that’s not a gas station or a two-table pizza chain. It’s something that Oilton’s mayor hasn’t seen around town since she was in high school.

“If you go by there on any lunch or dinner time, you can’t hardly find a table,” Mayor Julia Bagwell told 2 News Oklahoma about the grill, which had its soft opening on April 22.

City Hall was well aware of its restaurant desert and starving sales-tax revenue dating back for years, Mayor Bagwell said.

“We just made an agreement that they couldn’t turn down and made sure that they got into the restaurant with as little startup costs as possible,” Bagwell said.

Brian Montoya and Kayla Young of Mannford checked out the restaurant for the first time on April 28.

“I’m so happy for them. Their food truck is fantastic. Everything about that was great. I really love the carnitas,” Montoya said.

“The food has always been great, so for them to just have their spot here, we had to make the drive and just support local, you know? We’re all for that,” Young said.

Co-owner Angie Macias said she’s just fine opening in one of the smaller towns in the area.

“We just came to love it. I mean, I’m from Mannford. My heart’s with Mannford. But we love it here too,” Macias said, adding that the business’s first Monday open was a little too successful.

“We thought we bought enough and we stocked this kitchen enough for at least a week, and we ran out of food,” she said. “So we’ve had a very good response, and I really appreciate it.”

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By KOAA, Colorado Springs

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    4/30/2026 (KOAA) — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is turning to an AI software to answer calls for its non-emergency line: (719) 444-7000. This is the phone number people are encouraged to call for non-emergency public safety concerns that are non-life-threatening.

The first round of testing for the AI system took place Wednesday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. If someone calls during the next testing day, they’ll be greeted by the AI system called “Sarah”, it’s an acronym for “Service, Assessment and Response Assistance Helper”.

Callers may not realize it’s AI, but CSPD said the point of the software is about efficiency and improving response times for emergencies. Colorado Springs Police Deputy Chief John Koch said the non-emergency lines can sometimes get calls completely unrelated to public safety; people asking for directions to a gas station or even asking the start time for a Nuggets game.

“If a call taker is on the telephone for that call, they’re not able to immediately pick up a 911 call,” Koch said.

CSPD is testing the technology before fully implementing it, but it’s something that will likely be here to stay. After testing the system, an evaluation process will take place before it is fully rolled out.

“This is a system that we have purchased; we are testing it to ensure that it meets the requirements that we have and that it will do what we need it to do for our community members,” Koch said.

During the testing period, the department said activity will be monitored by communications personnel, and this will have no impact on 911 services.

CSPD has faced staffing issues both with its communications center, which takes the 911 and non-emergency line calls, and with officers. Koch said the goal is not for the AI system to eliminate call taker jobs, but to make it a more efficient process.

“The system has programmed safeguards into it where if it anticipates or hears that there’s an emergency situation, a disturbance, a fight, some type of violence, it routes that call immediately to a 911human call taker to be able to process it and first get responders out,” Koch said.

This is just the latest piece of technology the department has implemented over the years. CSPD, in a recent press conference with Mayor Mobolade, Chief of Police Adrian Vasquez discussed some of the technological advances the department has made and how that has impacted response times across the city.

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By KOAA, Colorado Springs

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    4/30/2026 (KOAA) — COLORADO (KOAA) – On Wednesday, Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1011 (HB26-1011), Transfers of Certain Pet Animals, prohibiting pet stores in Colorado from selling, leasing, or offering to transfer ownership of a dog or a cat.

Governor Police says this bill aims to target harmful breeding practices by puppy mills and protect the health of consumers and pets.

“Colorado’s furry four-legged friends deserve loving homes. We are stopping the harmful overbreeding of dogs and cats in terrible conditions in the puppy mill industry, and encourage Coloradans to adopt, not shop or purchase from a legitimate breeder. I am grateful to the sponsors of this bill for standing up for these animals, helping them find a forever home in our Colorado for all.” Governor Polis The new law, which will go into effect on January 1, 2027, will require pet stores to stop selling dogs or cats.

The following exceptions are below:

law enforcement animals can still be sold to a governmental agency adoption of a dog bred or trained for hunting can still be purchased/adopted by those with a valid hunting license guide, signal, or service dogs can still be purchased an animal shelter or a pet animal rescue may still sell animals health-related research facilities can purchase/adopt an animal

The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard The law says original breeders can still sell dogs and cats, but a bona fide owner, that isn’t the original breeder, can only sell a dog or cat to a new owner as long as they don’t do it more than three times per calendar year.

While pet stores will be prevented from selling these pets, HB26-1011 says stores can have displays by a licensed animal shelter or pet rescue as long as the store doesn’t receive a fee related to the display.

Dogs and cats that are displayed must be sterilized per state and local regulations.

The bill says that commercial breeding facilities, or puppy mills, are harmful to both animals and consumers, and current federal regulations aren’t enough to prevent animal cruelty to animals in these facilities.

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.