City plans female surfer statue to honor women in surfing

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Jacquelyn Quinones

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    CAPITOLA, California (KSBW) — The organization behind a proposed female surfer statue, “Honor,” is moving forward with plans to bring the project to Capitola after months of discussions with the city of Santa Cruz.

The statue is designed to honor women’s contributions to surfing and would serve as a counterpart to the iconic male surfer statue on West Cliff Drive, which has been in place for over 30 years.

“This is only going to be the third female surf statue in the world. There are only 40 male surf statues, so for us to find such a prominent spot in Santa Cruz County to honor her is phenomenal,” said project founder, Kari Lockhead.

The statue, named “Honor,” is not modeled after a specific person but represents all women who find connection to the water.

“She’s a strong, athletic, confident woman,” Lockhead added.

Kaila Pearson, a member of the committee behind the project, said the initiative is personal for her.

“As a female, I was able to see myself in three other females, and that gave me the confidence and the capacity to assert myself in the lineup and go into male-dominated areas in life,” Pearson said.

Pearson also shared that her father, Bob Pearson, who shaped the board for the male surfer statue in Santa Cruz, will shape the board for the female statue if the project is approved.

Capitola Vice Mayor Gerry Jensen expressed his support for the project and its proposed location.

“It was just an opportunity that I thought Capitola should just jump on the opportunity, embrace the statue, and it really symbolizes what the surfer reserve is about,” Jensen said.

“I think this will be a nice resting place for her. I think she’ll be seen all throughout the day. We get tourists year-round, and I think [it will provide] really great visibility for our young gals that do the Junior Guard program,” Jensen added.

A local female surfer also shared her enthusiasm for the project.

“I love the idea. I love it. I feel like it will be inspirational to all the young girls,” she said.

The city of Capitola stated that the next steps involve the organization submitting an application to the Arts and Cultural Commission. The commission will make a recommendation, and the proposal will then go to the city council for a vote.

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.

Outrigger race turns wild as sea lion hops aboard crew’s canoe

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Ricardo Tovar

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    MONTEREY, California (KSBW) — A Memorial Day weekend outrigger canoe race in Monterey came with an unexpected passenger when a sea lion hopped onto a Santa Cruz team’s canoe in the middle of the competition.

Outrigger Santa Cruz said the incident happened during a race at Del Monte Beach, where crews were surrounded by marine life throughout the event.

“We were at an outrigger canoe race at Del Monte Beach in Monterey. It was super active with wildlife. There were a ton of dolphins surrounding us most of the race, and multiple clusters of sea lions too,” the team said.

According to the team, the sea lion may have been startled before jumping onto the racing canoe.

“I guess we got in this guy’s way and he may have gotten a bit spooked,” they said.

The surprise encounter sparked plenty of screaming from paddlers, but the team said its coaches, who were also in the canoe, quickly told everyone to keep paddling because they were locked in a close race with rival teams.

“Most of us in the canoe screamed our heads off, but we happened to have both of our coaches in our crew. So they immediately were yelling at us to keep paddling,” the team said.

Despite the chaotic moment, Outrigger Santa Cruz said the crew finished in third place and was happy with the result.

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.

Dealership’s viral bird tenants have officially moved out

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Nick Sloan

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    OLATHE, Kansas (KMBC) — The viral bird saga at an Olathe car dealership appears to have reached its happy ending.

Days after a robin built a nest on the tire of a brand-new Ford F-250, the baby birds have officially flown the coop at Olathe Ford Lincoln.

The dealership shared the update Wednesday on Facebook.

“What started as a little nest on an F-250 turned into a story shared around the world,” the dealership wrote.

They weren’t exaggerating.

The unusual story, involving a sold pickup truck stuck on the lot because of federally protected birds, quickly took off online earlier this month and was shared across the country.

Back on May 17, employees said a robin had built a nest directly on the truck’s tire.

Once the eggs hatched, federal protections meant workers couldn’t touch the nest or move the vehicle until the birds were ready to leave on their own.

The dealership said it plans to leave the nest in place for a few more days just to make sure the bird family has fully moved out.

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.

Teacher gives students personalized gifts in her final goodbye

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Laura Terrell

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — A Westwood Elementary School teacher is gifting her students a handmade goodbye ahead of her retirement after 35 years.

Ahead of her final lesson on Friday, second-grade teacher Kim Rohlf gifted all of her students homemade quilts as a way to remember their time together and remind each student they were special.

“I love teaching and I love quilting, so it gives a little to share my love with them as they leave and I end my chapter of teaching,” she said.

Some were themed after holidays, students’ birthdays, or even special interests like dinosaurs or sports.

“Every quilt is made based on our personalities,” second grader Gabrielle said. “She would add special details about us and she would make sure that it is very nice.”

In addition to making these quilts and personalizing them to each of her students, she also hand-wrote notes to each of them.

That’s when she realized it was going to be much harder to say goodbye than she thought.

“It’s very heartwarming, it makes this harder than I thought it was going to be, but I’m excited to start that new chapter in my life,” Rohlf said. “I thought it could just be at the end of the year and walk out the door. They’re making it a little bit harder than that.”

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.

Local Bride Gets “Dumped” on AFV

KIFI on May 28, 2026

Megan Lavin

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — A local group of friends went from a snowmobile photoshoot to national television. A vow renewal gone wrong landed them on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

Most people helping a friend with a photoshoot hope for a few good pictures. This local group of friends ended up with something a little bigger — a viral moment, a spot on America’s Funniest Home Videos, and a chance at winning some serious money.

OOPSIE DAISY

What started as a vow renewal photoshoot quickly turned into a moment nobody planned.

All because the bride got dumped — but not in the traditional way.

She got dumped off the back of a snowmobile while her husband attempted a wheelie… while she was wearing a wedding dress. And it was all caught on camera.

Thankfully, the snow was soft.

Bailey Clark and her husband, Red, have been married for seven years and have been snowmobiling together nearly as long. When their friend — and wedding officiant — Patricia Naumoff needed models to show off the extreme wedding packages she offers, they signed up. Or should we say revved up?

Clark and Red decided to turn the photoshoot into a vow renewal of their own, featuring snowmobiles. When they decided to take action shots, Clark had no idea just how much her husband would sweep her off her feet.

“I knew I needed to hold on because we were getting ready to pop some wheelies,” Clark recalled. “I told him to go too soon and off I went… I got bucked off.”

If you zoom in closely on the footage, you can see Clark trying to get a good grip.

While Clark was snowmobile somersaulting, Naumoff had already finished the vow renewal and was filming extra footage at just the right moment. She had a front-row seat to the bridal blunder.

“It was just so priceless to have her upside down like that,” Naumoff said. “When you slow it down and go back and forth, all you see is her feet in the air. I panicked, and all you see is snow [at the end of the clip], because I’m running toward her to make sure she was okay.”

And she was okay.

Photographer Abbey Morales said the concern quickly turned into laughter.

“She got right back on and we got more shots, and we just laughed so hard,” Morales said.

“I heard my husband kind of chuckle and then I started laughing,” Clark remembers.

AFV APPROVES

Turns out, the footage Naumoff caught was pure gold.

She immediately knew she needed to send it to AFV. She didn’t even ask permission, knowing her fun-loving friends would be on board.

Naumoff said the process was painless — just an easy form to fill out — and soon after, she received a text saying they’d made it onto the show.

She still remembers the excitement.

“I go, ‘You can’t believe this,'” Naumoff said. “I forwarded the text and of course everyone goes, ‘Oh my God!'”

When the episode aired later in the year, the group knew they had to have a watch party.

Clark grew up watching AFV and said it was surreal to suddenly be part of the show she watched as a kid.

Her two sons even wondered if she was okay after watching the crash play out on TV.

SOCIAL STORM

The fame from the marital mishap didn’t stop there.

After the clip was posted to Instagram, even photographer Abbey Morales didn’t expect what came next.

“We had no idea the number of users it would potentially get,” Morales said. “It did not get featured in any magazine, which was our goal, but it surpassed our goals of getting people to see what fun you can have out here.”

The original plan was simple: Morales and Naumoff wanted to showcase the unique weddings and elopements Wyoming has to offer — from beautiful scenery to breathtaking photos.

Instead?

The video of Clark snowmobile somersaulting in a wedding dress exploded online, earning more than 200,000 Instagram views.

“It’s hysterical that it’s become so popular,” Clark said.

MORE TO COME

And the three friends may not be done yet.

Naumoff said both Klim and Polaris have hinted they may send some kind of gift for helping show off their products, though they still haven’t heard anything official.

After the original AFV airing in November, the group was awarded a single T-shirt — which, of course, went to the bride.

But AFV says they’re still in the running for bigger prizes. They’re hoping the snowmobile snafu keeps gaining momentum.

When asked what her dream outcome from the whole experience would be, Naumoff said:

“It would be lovely if we won a hundred thousand dollars.”

But even without a prize, she says the memory itself is worth it.

“Oh my gosh. It’s forever in our memories.”

And if they did win?

When asked whether they’d buy more snowmobiles with the money, Naumoff’s answer was simple:

“Probably.”

We’ll update this story if they advance on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

To follow along with more of their adventures, you can find Patricia Naumoff, Bailey Clark and Abbey Morales on Instagram.

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‘Transplant Games’ teammates become family through kidney donation

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Stef Manchen

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    TULSA, Oklahoma (KJRH) — Two mothers, united by unimaginable loss, connected by extraordinary love.

Cheryl Manley and Stephanie Baker never imagined they’d meet over matching tragedies.

Cheryl’s daughter, Amanda, died in a traffic accident. Years later, so did Stephanie’s son Cody.

Both young lives saved so many others, donating their livers, kidneys, and hearts.

“If they had met in life, it would have been a good friendship, I think,” said Stephanie.

“I think they’re friends in heaven making fun of us,” said Cheryl.

The mothers found each other through the Transplant Games of America, competing on Team Oklahoma, where donors, families, and recipients celebrate life’s second chances.

“The games are a lot of fun, but it’s in your face what brought you here every day,” said Cheryl. “She liked helping people, and that’s probably what solidified the decision to donate because we knew that even in death, Amanda would want to help.”

The shared tragedy brought the mothers together at the games, creating a friendship forged in grief but strengthened by hope.

“There are times of the year that are harder for her, and there are times of the year that are harder for me, and we know this, we don’t have to wonder, there’s no second-guessing,” said Stephanie.

But friends became family when Stephanie learned she needed a transplant of her own.

Cheryl said she didn’t hesitate to give up a piece of herself to help her friend.

“If Stephanie had needed me to sit with her at the hospital because she was going through something, I would have done that,” she said. “For me, donating a kidney was just donating a kidney. It wasn’t, I wasn’t a hero or anything like that, I was just her friend, I was just doing what she needed me to do. We had been supporting each other for all those years, why would I not?”

This June marks Cheryl’s 13th Transplant Games and Stephanie’s 9th. They’ll travel to Denver together June 18-23, competing and honoring the lives saved because of organ transplants.

The 2024 Transplant Games hope to set a Guinness World Record for the most donors, recipients, and families in one place.

“It’s really a solidification of our decision when I can see somebody, they didn’t have to be Amanda’s recipient, the fact that they’re a recipient and would have died without a transplant is enough for me,” said Cheryl. “They’re on my team, and I love them so much.”

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.

Salon owner hosts “Dads do Hair” workshop

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Erin Christy

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    TULSA, Oklahoma (KJRH) — When Becca Wollman opened Cultivate Hair Studio, she immediately saw a need for parents.

“I noticed a need to understand how to take care of their children’s hair, and a lot of times there are obstacles keeping them from that,” said Wollman.

She found dads particularly having trouble, as many had not had the opportunity to learn, or needed the opportunity to learn. So, she started a workshop, Dads Do Hair, welcoming all ages and all hair types.

“Things as simple as brushing hair, de-matting, detangling, ponytails, but especially things like brads and twists,” she said.

Robert Burrell is attending with his daughter, Taliyah, 6.

“I grew up with a single parent, so my mom did my hair all the time,” said Burrell. “I never had to worry about it. But now having a daughter with hair as thick as mine, and has so much of it. My wife is the primary for hair everything, but I feel like I can help out a little bit.”

Wollman also put together a style guide for dads. In it, the message, “your child will remember the effort long after they remember the style.”

“I just want to be able to give her a couple of braids, my son some braids, look presentable, and get out the door,” said Burrell.

Six-year-old Taliyah gave some advice for staying patient through the process.

“iPad and watch something, or sometimes I color,” she said.

Her favorite part?

“I like it when it’s finished,” she laughed.

And when it’s finished, it’s worth it.

“Our confidence starts with our hair,” explained Wollman. “When these kids go out into the world, and they don’t have the confidence walking out the door, it makes their day a lot harder.”

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.

Pebble Ranch Senior Living hosts volleyball tournament for East Valley communities

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Adam Schumes

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    GILBERT, Arizona (KNXV) — Pebble Ranch Senior Living hosted its first annual volleyball tournament Wednesday, bringing together teams of seniors from communities across the East Valley — walkers, wheelchairs and all.

“Welcome to the first annual Pebble Ranch volleyball massacre,” Ron Stuewe said.

Stuewe, a Pebble Ranch resident, said the inclusive format was one of the event’s highlights.

“It’s nice because people in their walkers and wheelchairs can play,” Stuewe said.

For many participants, the scoreboard was beside the point. Briana Watson, Pebble Ranch Senior Living’s executive director, said the tournament was about more than athletics.

“It’s better for their overall health and wellness, right? Being with humans is very important, and just for them to compete and have fun,” Watson said.

For Stuewe, the tournament was also a chance Wednesday to finally put faces to names he had heard about for years.

“It’s fun seeing other people, where they are from and at. We have heard about all these different places but now we can associate names and faces,” Stuewe said.

One team took home a trophy Wednesday, but Stuewe made clear he wasn’t finished competing.

“We won one game, lost one game, I’m ready to do battle again,” Stuewe said.

Fellow resident Arvella Merrill said what happens off the court matters just as much as what happens on it.

“We are social animals whether we like it or not and it’s therapeutic to converse with others,” Merrill said.

Merrill summed up the spirit of the day simply.

“When you’re in this position it’s a good place to be,” Merrill 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.

Man pleads guilty to 2025 death of 13-year-old Missouri boy

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By KSHB News Staff

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — A Linn County, Kansas, man pleaded guilty on Friday, May 22, to abandoning the body of a 13-year-old boy who died from multiple dog bite injuries in December 2025.

Damon Leonard is charged in Bates County with abandonment of a corpse.

Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies asked for the public’s help in locating Airen Andula, who disappeared on Sunday, Dec. 21, from his home in Pleasanton, Kansas.

A day later, police recovered the boy’s body in a ravine just across the state line in Bates County, Missouri.

Authorities were led to Andula’s body after receiving a call from Leonard, who told them he knew where Andula was located and that the child was deceased.

Exactly one week after Andula’s body was found, Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department detectives filed new charges against Leonard, including interference of law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large.

A KCKPD spokesperson said several dogs were seized from Leonard’s property in Linn County.

KCKPD was asked to lead the investigation by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Leonard is set to be sentenced on May 29 in Bates County District Court at 3 p.m.

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.

90-year-old man prepares to run his first-ever marathon

CNN Newsource on May 28, 2026

By Cameron Polom

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    MESA, Arizona (KNXV) — Bill Schwarz has been running most of his life. At 90 years old, he’s about to do something he’s never done before.

The Mesa, Arizona, resident is preparing to run his first marathon later this month at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series in San Diego — proving that adventure doesn’t come with an expiration date.

Three days a week, Schwarz trains at an EōS Fitness in Mesa, combining runs with Pilates, strength work, mobility training, and recovery sessions as he prepares for the biggest race of his life.

Stretch trainer Christine Hopkins has been alongside him every step of the way, watching his determination inspire everyone around him inside the gym.

At an age when many people are slowing down, Schwarz is pushing himself into completely new territory — showing others that goals, growth, and excitement for life don’t have to fade with age.

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.