Month: May 2026

By Cassidy Wixom, KSL

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    SPRINGVILLE, Utah (KSL) — While most kids join clubs for soccer, video games or a book fandom, one 10-year-old from Springville decided to make a club that would help the world.

Raylan Jenkins started noticing that there was always trash on the school playground.

“So we started picking up trash, and it made a lot of us really happy, so we turned it into a club,” he said.

The Cool Cleaning Crew, or the CCC as he likes to call it, goes from park to park cleaning up trash so people can better enjoy them. So far, the CCC has cleaned three parks and has two more planned before the school year ends.

“We don’t do it for the money but for the world,” Raylan said.

Raylan’s mother, Becca Jenkins, said she picked up Raylan from hanging out with his friend Hank Skinner when he told her they started the CCC.

“They’re goofy, crazy boys, so I assumed it was something silly. And then it was the Cool Cleaning Crew, where they’d pick a different park every week to meet up and pick up trash,” she said.

After that, Raylan and Hank would not stop asking their moms about creating the club and kept pushing to get flyers made so it could actually happen.

“We wanted to make a club and also help the world. It makes me feel happy to see all the kids helping to clean up the parks,” Hank said.

Seeing the kids gather, hold their trash bags and run around the park cleaning is just “the sweetest,” Jenkins said. She is so impressed with how passionate her son and his friends are about helping the world at such a young age.

“The first day we met … it was snowing. There was only five of them, but they were out in the snow, the freezing cold, picking up trash at this park. They are very, very devoted to it,” Jenkins said.

Raylan said it was still fun to clean the park even when it was snowing. He said he always has more fun at parks and playgrounds when there isn’t trash around, so he wants to make sure the parks are clean for everyone.

“It makes me feel happy because I feel like I’m doing the right thing for everyone,” he said. “We’re just doing it to help out. We don’t want all the glory, we just want to feel good.”

Jenkins said seeing her son take charge of the club has affected her, and now she is always on the lookout for trash to throw away in public places.

“Raylan is just a natural-born leader, and he always has been. He could get a group of friends, whether they are younger or older than him, to do pretty much anything, so I think it’s really amazing that this is what he’s choosing to do with his influence,” she said.

Hank’s mom, Shaina Skinner, said she is so proud of her son wanting to make a difference. She said Hank has always cared about not littering and picking up trash.

“I was impressed that their plan wasn’t just about having fun. They truly wanted to do something that would make a difference,” Skinner said. “I am so proud that he and Raylan put this into action, and I hope more kids throughout Springville will join in.”

Springville city leaders highlighted the club on social media earlier this week, expressing their appreciation for the children’s initiative to beautify their community.

“Their ongoing efforts have already drawn widespread appreciation and stand as a powerful example of civic pride and community stewardship at any age,” the city said in a statement.

The Springville City Council and mayor said they are so proud of the young residents stepping up and taking ownership of the community. The city hopes others are inspired by the club’s actions to keep public spaces clean, safe and enjoyable.

“These kids are setting an outstanding example,” the city statement said. “Their actions reflect the very best of Springville — service, responsibility and care for one another. They are showing us that leadership is not defined by age, but by willingness to act.”

Raylan said he plans to continue the club through the summer, as that’s when the parks typically have more trash due to higher usage. He hopes more people will join in and help keep our world clean.

“Everything helps. Even just picking up a wrapper from the ground, that helps a lot,” Raylan 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 Nate Eaton, EastIdahoNews.com

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    AMMON, Idaho (eastidahonews.com) — Lisa Belnap is still smiling when she thinks about last Saturday night.

Her daughter, Brie Belnap, was among a group of students from Thunder Ridge High School and other Bonneville Joint School District 93 schools invited to a special needs prom at The Brickyard Event Center.

“Brie doesn’t talk, doesn’t walk and doesn’t eat by mouth. Her way of communication is by sound and her reactions,” says Lisa Belnap. “As far as we could tell, she was normal at birth but got really sick at six weeks, and then she never met any of her milestones. Doctors don’t know what’s wrong. She’s undiagnosed and is a medical mystery.”

Every day, Brie attends an adaptive needs Latter-day Saint seminary class during school hours. There are students like her with special needs, as well as other kids who signed up to serve as peer mentors.

Kaleb Brock is one of the mentors. The 18-year-old loves to snowboard, rock climb, ski, and was named “Lightning Player of the Year” on the Thunder Ridge football team.

“I met Brie in my adaptive needs seminary class. The class is definitely different, but it’s really cool and gives you a different perspective of how you can help and serve someone,” Kaleb tells EastIdahoNews.com.

Kaleb only has a few weekends left before he graduates, but when he heard about the special needs prom, he rallied his friends to go and decided to ask Brie to be his date.

“I got her mom’s phone number from my seminary teacher, and the next day I made a poster and asked her in class,” Kaleb recalls.

Because she’s in a wheelchair, Brie’s parents drove her to the dance, where Kaleb was anxiously waiting. Parents were asked to stick around in case their children needed them, so Lisa and her husband, Steve Belnap, watched as Kaleb danced next to their daughter for two hours.

“She’s been to two special needs proms in the past, but this one was different,” Lisa Belnap says. “This was the first time she actually really enjoyed her time there. At other dances, I’ve had to take over when Brie became upset, but I didn’t have to do that at all this time.”

Lisa had never met Kaleb before, but she was immediately impressed by how gently he cared for Brie. When Brie becomes overstimulated, she often hits her neck, so Lisa or Steve places a hand between Brie’s hand and her neck to keep her from hurting herself.

“At one point, she started to hit her neck and Kaleb put his hand between hers and her neck. He did that without being asked. He just naturally knew what to do and was so sweet,” Lisa Belnap says.

According to his dad, Kaleb has always been a kind-hearted boy, and he wasn’t surprised to hear that his son and friends were excited about going to the special needs prom.

“I don’t think we knew until Thursday that he was going to the prom on Saturday,” Jeremiah Brock tells EastIdahoNews.com. “He has a tender, good heart. He likes to care for people. He talks about these kids all the time and the fun things they do and how they’ve made him a better person.”

Surveillance cameras at The Brickyard Event Center caught Kaleb and Brie dancing throughout the evening. She is seen bopping her head side-to-side, smiling, and her date never leaves her side. Brian Wood, the owner of the event center, was so impressed by what he saw that he shared video clips with Kaleb’s parents.

“Everybody was so happy to be there. Nobody acted like these kids were eyesores or anything. It’s one of the only times this group of kids gets to be just like their peers. They’re not singled out as being different. They’re not special needs anymore; they’re just dancing and having fun,” says Lisa Belnap.

Kaleb is glad he went to the prom and says he will never forget the evening he spent with Brie.

“I thought I was going to have a good time, but I’m surprised at how much fun it was. And I was really surprised with how much fun she had, too,” he says.

Lisa Belnap will also never forget the dance and the young man who gave her daughter the experience of a lifetime.

“I honestly think this is the happiest I have ever seen her. She just was escastic. You could see it in her eyes,” Lisa Belnap says. “He is just an incredible young man to have acted the way he did toward her. He made her feel very special. I don’t think she’s felt that before because she was really shining.”

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 Angela Cifone

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — What started in 1994 with just six athletes, is now a program with more than 100 members.

The Honolulu Ducks Special Olympics team is built on inclusion, growth, and community.

“I have a Down Syndrome boy who loved doing things with his friends at school. And as he got ready to graduate, I thought, what’s going to happen to Ethan and his friendships? There’ll be nothing to tie them together and get them together,” said Barbara Poole-Street, founder of the Ducks’ Special Olympics team.

That question sparked the idea of the team.

“We started out as the Mighty Ducks, but now we have so many teams in various sports that we’ve just become the ducks,” said Poole-Street.

The program now offers multiple sports, but for many on this swim team, it’s the friendships that matter most.

“It’s become such a friendship group for everybody, not only for the athletes, but for the parents,” said Poole-Street.

That sense of support is something families say is life-changing.

“I didn’t realize when I started this how life-changing it would be for the families,” said Poole-Street.

Among the athletes is Kaylee, who has cerebral palsy, continues to break barriers. From completing the Honolulu Marathon, to now competing in the pool.

She is now preparing for the 2026 Special Olympics Hawaii State Summer Games.

“Kaylee’s overcome so many things. She was scared of the deep water. Now she’s asking to go into the deep water,” said Caranthia White, a volunteer coach with the Ducks’ Special Olympics swimming team

Her progress is powered by determination and the support around her.

“It brings so much joy and happiness to our whole family, and I couldn’t imagine not being here with them,” said White.

It’s that joy shared across athletes, families, and coaches that continues to define the Ducks.

“This whole program, the Ducks and Special Olympics, means so much to my family and me. They’ve done so much for my daughter. They’ve done so much for Kaylee,” said White.

The 2026 Special Olympics Hawaii State Summer Games swimming competition is set for June at the University of Hawaii.

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 Bianca Buono

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    SANTA ANA, California (KABC) — A longtime Transportation Security Administration officer at John Wayne Airport was celebrated this week as colleagues, friends and family gathered to honor his 90th birthday.

Lawrence Santucci, known throughout the Orange County airport for his upbeat greetings and steady presence, has spent years screening passengers, training new hires and assisting travelers with special needs.

“I love people. I’ve been a people person from day one,” he said.

Santucci’s life has been shaped by service, from working on a farm in Rhode Island to serving in the Army.

“It’s been a beautiful journey. It really has. All the people I’ve ever met, including my crew here,” Santucci said.

He joined TSA in 2008 in his 70s. He had gone through a challenging time financially after spending many years in the telecommunications industry and had to find a new career path. He was elated when he got the job.

“You had to be able to carry weights … Sixty pounds,” he recalled. “So I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods, I put two 60 pounds, I was walking around Dick’s Sporting Goods with these two weights to make sure when I came in here I could. I was in great physical shape.”

Now recognized as the oldest TSA officer in the country, Santucci arrived at work before sunrise this week unaware that a celebration was waiting for him. Colleagues described him as a positive force at the airport.

“He greets the day with a smile and it shows and he treats the passengers and his co-workers exactly that way. It’s uplifting,” said Kevin Gregory of TSA.

TSA Federal Security Director Jason Pantages called Santucci “inspirational”, adding that he “gets more compliments than probably most of our people here.”

Santucci’s daughter, Marie Pickard, said his dedication has always been rooted in putting others first.

“My dad is so special. He always puts people first and our country first before himself. I think that gives him the sense of purpose that he has to everyone,” Pickard said.

Asked whether he had plans to retire, Santucci brushed off the idea.

“What am I going to do if I retire? Sit down?” he 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 Chelsea Hylton

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    VENTURA COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Britney Spears pleaded guilty to reckless driving on Monday, a lesser charge that will allow her to avoid jail after she was charged with a misdemeanor of driving under the influence following her arrest in March.

Spears, 44, did not appear in Ventura County court and was represented by her attorney, Michael A. Goldstein. She agreed to a plea that’s commonly known as “wet reckless,” which allows a defendant to plead guilty to reckless driving involving alcohol and/or drugs. Under the offer, the defendant is placed on probation for 12 months, receives credit for any time spent in custody, is required to complete a DUI class, and must pay state-mandated fines and fees, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

This plea offer is common for defendants who have shown motivation to address their problems and seek treatment. Last month, Spears voluntarily checked into rehab, a representative for the singer told CBS LA. The court also ordered her to visit with a psychiatrist twice a month and a psychologist once a week.

“We do not want Ms. Spears to reoffend,” said Erik Nasarenko, the Ventura County DA. “We do not want her before our case load again.”

Nasarenko said that the reckless driving charge is priorable, which means that if Spears reoffends in the future, she will not be offered the same plea.

On March 4, Spears was arrested by the California Highway Patrol in Ventura County on suspicion of DUI. At the time, officers said they received a report of a speeding car on the southbound 101 Freeway.

When officers located Spears, she appeared to be impaired. She was arrested after undergoing field sobriety tests.

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 Tim Pulliam

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver accused of crashing into a car in Playa del Rey, killing a man and his 1-year-old baby nephew.

The crash also injured two other people, who were taken to the hospital in critical condition. It happened just after 4:30 a.m. on Sunday at Vista Del Mar and Culver Boulevard.

Police said a white Jeep collided with a blue sedan at the intersection. The driver of the white Jeep fled the scene and remains on the run.

A witness captured the aftermath of the crash. The video appears to show the driver frantically running away from the scene.

Now, a memorial honoring the victims’ lives is growing near the scene.

At the memorial, Elsa, a friend of the crash victims, pleaded for the driver to come forward.

“Please turn yourself in,” she said in Spanish.

“You kind of knew how bad it was because those screams — you can’t deny it. It was so hard to hear,” said Michael Moloney, who lives nearby.

It’s a familiar sound for Moloney as he woke up Sunday morning. He says people often drive too fast in the neighborhood.

“They come down that hill, and they hit it, and they think they’re cool. I hear screeches all the time, and there’s a lot of close calls, but that one was too close for comfort,” Moloney said.

Video from the aftermath of the crash shows car parts scattered across the intersection at Vista Del Mar and Culver Boulevard.

Police say the driver of the white Jeep ran away, while several victims inside the blue sedan were suffering.

A 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 1-year-old baby died at the hospital. Loved ones at the scene said the victims were an uncle and nephew.

“That little baby was always happy, always with a smile,” Elsa said.

Elsa says the boy’s father and aunt remain in the hospital. She says the group was visiting the beach and was on their way back to Van Nuys when they were struck.

Neighbors say they are frustrated, but are not sure what can be done to prevent crashes in the area.

“It’s just not right,” said neighbor Polly Rose. “People just need to slow down. They need to be considerate.”

Relatives of the victims grieved at the memorial by the crash site. They told Eyewitness News they were too distraught to talk on camera.

Anyone with information on the driver who ran away is urged to call police.

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.