This special K-9 sniffs out hidden evidence used in internet crimes against children

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Caitlin Ashbaugh

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    GREENVILLE COUNTY, South Carolina (WYFF) — An organization based in Greenville County provides special K-9 units trained to protect vulnerable children in cases involving child abuse or exploitation.

K-9 Scooby is on a team of 27 electronic detection dogs assigned to law enforcement agencies across the United States through a nonprofit called Defenders for Children. The K-9s are used during searches to find hidden devices and items an investigator may miss, like micro-SD cards, cameras, mics or burner phones.

Nonprofit CEO Toni Clark said 90% or more of cases involve digital content stores on these hidden items, but they often go undetected or overlooked by the human eye. K-9s close the gap in detecting these devices through scent.

“Devices are smaller and easier to hide. It is becoming more difficult and the dogs can smell them,” Clark said.

Each K-9 officer, on average, can detect two or more devices missed by law enforcement agencies in every search. The team has collectively raised $2 million and located more than 3,200 hidden devices, helping more than 1,000 children.

In many cases, this essential evidence leads investigators to other criminals, confessions and victims.

“We have been on 76 search warrants and found over 150 devices that were hidden or missed,” K-9 Scooby’s handler, and a Greenville County Sheriff’s Office investigator, Alicia Turner, said. “The more social media outlets and things that are out there, that’s just a way to trade or share this material. The more that report it, the more our work rises.”

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported 518,720 CyberTipline reports of online enticement in 2025, a jump from 292,951 in 2024. Cases involving artificial intelligence soared from 6,835 to 440,419.

Defenders for Children aims to spread awareness of the skills these K-9s have and implement them in all law enforcement agencies.

“We need about 3000 of these dogs out there. If you like, look at it. Numbers in different agencies. And that includes federal. It’s hard to keep up because we have some going, others are going to retire,” Clark said.

When Scooby is off the clock, he is still making a difference in the lives of children as a therapy dog. The group intentionally chooses gentle breeds for this reason.

“Scooby comes in, and you can see them light up. Not just the children. It’s wives, the other people that are in the houses. He’s able to bring their stress level down just a little bit and let them forget about what’s going on,” Turner said.

The nonprofit offers the K-9, its training, and covers the cost of staff needed to implement the program.

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.

‘Kidnapping wildlife is illegal’: SC wildlife officials say leave lone fawns, bear cubs alone

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Stephanie Moore

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    GREENVILLE, South Carolina (WYFF) — South Carolina wildlife officials are urging residents to leave young fawns alone this spring, reminding the public that kidnapping wildlife from the wild is illegal.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources says a fawn found lying alone is usually not orphaned or abandoned. In the first weeks of life, mother deer often leave their young bedded down in a safe spot while they feed and rest nearby. The doe typically returns only a few times each day to nurse and groom the fawn, a strategy that helps protect it from predators.

Authorities warn that although it may be tempting to rescue a seemingly helpless animal, removing a fawn from the wild can do more harm than good. Deer raised in captivity often have poor long-term survival rates, and fawns that become used to people can grow into dangerous or nuisance animals, sometimes leading to their death.

Wildlife officials are asking anyone who spots a fawn alone in the coming months to leave it where it is and allow its mother to return.

The same is true for baby bears. SCDNR says they are often left alone but their parents are nearby and will return.

They ask if you find a bear cub, do not pick it up. Instead, mark its location and report it to wildlife biologists by calling 1-800-922-5431.

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.

Iowa toddler thrives after rare abdominal defect treated with Botox

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Olivia Tyler

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A toddler in central Iowa is defying the odds after a rare and life-threatening diagnosis, thanks to a doctor at MercyOne Des Moines.

Hendrix Ayala is now an energetic, almost-2-year-old who loves mac and cheese, hot dogs and cars. But during his mom’s pregnancy, his future was uncertain.

“They did state termination at 20 weeks. And I was like, I cannot do that,” Riley Ayala said.

Hendrix was diagnosed in the second trimester with a giant omphalocele, a condition in which the abdomen does not fully develop in the womb. As a result, his stomach, intestines, spleen and liver were left outside of his body without protection.

“I didn’t want to talk about it. I didn’t want to think it was real,” Riley said.

Doctors say complications increase when the defect exceeds five centimeters. In Hendrix’s case, it measured closer to 10 centimeters.

For the first year and a half of his life, Hendrix lived with a protrusion larger than a grapefruit.

That changed when Dr. Ulises Garza Serna learned of a newer technique to treat the defect involving Botox. Garza believes this is the first time the method has been used in Iowa.

After two surgeries, Hendrix is making steady progress.

“He’s achieving some milestones that we did not have before,” Garza said.

Though Hendrix’s mobility is delayed, and he’s only 20 pounds, his status is improving — now learning to walk with the help of physical therapy. His mom and dad are now focused on him retaining weight and preparing for future surgeries.

“He is thriving. He’s growing slowly but surely,” Riley 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.

Driverless cars in California can now get traffic tickets under new DMV rules

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Kenny Choi

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    SAN FRANCISCO, California (KOVR) — For the first time, autonomous vehicles in California, such as Waymo robotaxis, can effectively be cited for breaking traffic laws.

The new Department of Motor Vehicles regulations allow law enforcement agencies to issue notices of traffic violations to autonomous vehicle companies when their cars commit moving violations. The rules also require companies to respond to calls from police, firefighters and other emergency officials within 30 seconds.

Ahmed Banafa, an engineering professor at San Jose State University, said the rules could force companies to improve.

“That’s going to force them to do it better, because this is the only way they can force a company to do better,” Banafa said.

The changes come after several high-profile problems involving autonomous vehicles in San Francisco, including Waymo vehicles stalling and blocking intersections during a blackout in December. The San Francisco Fire Department has also repeatedly complained about driverless cars entering emergency zones and affecting responses.

Under the new rules, AV companies can face penalties if their vehicles drive through active emergency zones.

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, which represents Waymo’s industry interests, did not specifically address the ticketing provisions but praised the broader DMV regulations.

“Autonomous vehicle innovators operating in California have a clear, workable path to test and deploy, ensuring the state will continue to benefit from autonomous technology through safer roads, enhanced accessibility, and strengthened supply chains,” said Jeff Farrah, the group’s CEO.

State Sen. Dave Cortese, a Democrat from San Jose, has called autonomous vehicles “unfinished technology” and introduced Senate Bill 1246, which would add more oversight.

The bill includes limits on how many vehicles one remote operator can monitor at a time.

“If you don’t have a driver in the car, where is the nearest human?” Cortese said. “It’s a remote operator. We want those remote operators to be at the right ratio. We want them to understand California laws, just like we’d want a human driver to understand California laws.”

Cortese said the new DMV rules may not dramatically change how companies such as Waymo operate in the short term.

But Banafa said additional oversight could eventually give the public more safety data and push companies to make changes to both hardware and software.

The DMV said the new autonomous vehicle regulations are the “most comprehensive” in the country. Under the updated rules, AV manufacturers may also apply for permits to test and deploy heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology on California roads.

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.

Walk this way: How an Iowa marathon runner turned into one of the fastest walkers in the country

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By DES MOINES, Iowa

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Nathan Limas, a senior at Grand View University, has become one of the top five race walkers in the United States by pure determination and resilience.

“I probably go through about a pair of shoes a month,” Limas said, describing the physical demands of walking an estimated 70 miles a day.

Race walking, a sport often seen during the Olympics or World Championships, was not Limas’ initial passion. He went to Grand View to run the marathon and distance.

After an injury during his freshman year, he decided to give it a try.

“I tried it once, and I absolutely hated it,” Limas said. “It was the worst experience of my life.”

But he didn’t give up.

With a few years of training, the Grand View senior has competed in big-time events, including the 2024 Olympic trials as well as the April 2026 World Championships in Brazil.

His ultimate goal is the 2028 Olympics.

KCCI’s Shannon Ehrhardt details how Nathan Limas became one of the best race walkers in the country.

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.

Lawsuit filed after Pennsylvania grandma searching for cat falls 20 feet into abandoned mine

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Raquel Ciampi, Ed DiOrio

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    WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pennsylvania (WTAE) — A lawsuit has been filed following the death of a grandmother who fell into a sinkhole above an abandoned mine outside a restaurant.

Elizabeth Pollard, 64, was with her grandchild, searching for a pet cat, when she pulled over behind the Monday’s Union Restaurant in Westmoreland County in December 2024.

“The Pollard family is looking for answers and accountability,” said the family’s attorney, Mark Malone. “They don’t want their wife, their mom, their grandmother’s name, in death to mean nothing.”

Pollard got out of her vehicle and fell into an approximately 20-foot-deep sinkhole above an abandoned mine.

It took four days to recover Pollard’s body, which was found around 30 feet from where the mine would have sat and 12 feet from where the original sinkhole occurred.

“Elizabeth Pollard should still be alive. The defendants’ alleged failure to provide and maintain a safe environment caused her preventable and untimely death. This lawsuit seeks to hold these entities accountable for their alleged negligence, which has robbed a family of a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. The Pollards deserve justice, and we will fight to ensure no other family is forced to endure a devastating loss like this,” Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and Malone said in a statement.

The lawsuit looks to hold both U.S. Steel and the owner of the restaurant responsible for her wrongful death. It alleges that U.S. Steel, as the owner of the mine, and the restaurant, which owns the property, were responsible for the maintenance and safety of the area.

The lawsuit claims the area where Pollard fell through the sinkhole was susceptible to collapse after years of mining, adding that no one took measures to address the risk.

“The restaurant is included because they’re the property owner. They’re a necessary party at this point,” Malone said. “Their knowledge of the property since they purchased it and operated on it is important to the lawsuit.”

A spokesperson for U.S. Steel said they are reviewing the lawsuit at this time. No comment was made by the owners of Monday’s Union Restaurant.

“This isn’t just about seeking money for damages,” Malone said. “If we can change U.S. Steel’s approach here on how they approach their abandoned mines to be more proactive than reactive, that’s a huge win for them. They just want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to anybody else in the future.”

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.

Woman loses nearly $100k in gold bar scam after caller posed as federal agent

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Brya Berry

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — What started as a normal day quickly turned into a nightmare.

A Missouri woman says she lost nearly $100,000 after a stranger convinced her she was under federal investigation and needed to move her money to stay safe.

How It Started

According to a probable cause statement, the scam began on Sept. 10, 2025, when the victim was trying to set up an Amazon account.

A message appeared on her screen warning of fraudulent activity and prompting her to call customer service.

That call led her to someone who claimed to be a federal agent.

The Deception Investigators say the suspect told the woman she was connected to:

money laundering drug trafficking fraudulent financial activity

The man allegedly claimed to be with federal agencies, including the CA, and even sent a badge photo to appear legitimate.

The victim told KMBC she was convinced.

The affidavit states the suspect warned her not to tell anyone, claiming she was under a “gag order” and that even family could be involved.

How The Scam Escalated Over several days, the suspect stayed on the phone with the victim, directing her actions in real time.

When she attempted to withdraw cash, her bank limited access due to fraud protections.

But the scam didn’t stop there.

Instead, the suspect instructed her to:

Wire money to purchase gold bars Pick them up from a jewelry store Bring them home According to court documents, the victim wired $97, 240 to complete the purchase.

The Pickup Investigators say the suspect arranged for someone to come to the victim’s house to collect the gold,

On September 11, 2025, a driver arrived in front of her house.

A Chilling Detail The affidavit reveals another troubling detail.

The victim’s family later reviewed Ring doorbell footage and discovered that during the pickup, the camera feed had gone dark.

A cybersecurity expert told KMBC that criminals can use relatively inexpensive tools to interfere with cameras and communications.

What Happened Next

After the gold was taken, the victim says the phone numbers she had been using to communicate were disconnected.

That’s when she realized she had been scammed.

She reported the incident to:

Excelsior Springs Police Department The FBI Federal agencies Arrest Made According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Excelsior Springs Police Department, suspect Sai Kommana was arrested in connection with the case and charged with financial exploitation of the elderly.

In coordination with the FBI and ESPD, Kommana drove to the victim’s house to get the gold.

Court documents indicate the suspect may be connected to a broader scam operation.

Why This Happens Experts say scams like this are designed to manipulate emotion, not logic.

Psychologist Shawn McDaniel with the Kansas City Psychology Center told KMBC:

Victims are often:

Isolated Pressured Overwhelmed And in many cases, they feel too ashamed to report what happened.

“It Can Happen to Anyone” Experts stress that scams like this don’t just target one type of person.

Authorities say these are major red flags:

Someone claims to be from the government and demands immediate action. You are told not to tell anyone. You are asked to move money, buy gold, or purchase gift cards. You feel pressured, afraid, or rushed. What to Do If you receive a call like this:

Hang up immediately. Contact the agency directly using an official number Talk to someone you trust before taking action The victim says she now hopes others can learn from what happened to her.

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.

Family still fighting for stricter texting while driving laws nearly 20 years after 12-year-old’s death

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Yasmine Julmisse

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    FLORIDA (WPBF) — “When he was born, it really changed things. I feel like he completed us,” said Delpha Clarke Samuels, owner of Queens Academy and former Mrs. Florida International.

Samuels is remembering her younger brother, E’arron James Haley, during what would have been his 30th year of life.

“He definitely was a person who had a lot of energy. He was the life of the party,” Samuels said. “He was just an overall lovable child — like what you would expect out of a 12-year-old.”

On a summer day in 2008, E’arron went to play outside near their Broward County home.

“E’arron decided he wanted to go skating, ride his bike, and do different things at a park with a group of his friends,” Samuels said.

Shortly after, his family got a call that the sixth grader had been in an accident.

“We ended up getting to the hospital, thinking that maybe he had an injury, only to find out that he had lost his life. And I think what made it even worse was the way he lost his life to a distracted driver,” Samuels said.

Samuels said the person behind the wheel was an 18-year-old who was texting and driving and was never prosecuted for her little brother’s death.

And although it’s been 18 years since E’arron died, her family is still grieving the moments they never got to have with him.

“You know, when I got married, when I had my two sons, they don’t know their uncle. They’ve only seen pictures of him,” Samuels said.

She went on to say she doesn’t know what it would be like to see him get married and have his own children.

“I always look over at Thanksgiving and wish he was there. I always wake up on Christmas morning and wish he was there,” Samuels said.

Samuels, her twin sister, and their mom are doing what they can to make sure no other family faces the same pain.

Shortly after he died, they started the E’arron James Haley Foundation.

They also stood alongside Florida legislators to help pass the current texting-while-driving ban in 2019.

And now they want to take it up a notch — advocating for a stricter hands-free law to ban holding a phone altogether while driving.

The state of Florida has seen distracted driving increase by more than 45% between 2021 and 2025.

Samuels said today there are even more distractions competing for our attention, so the law is needed more than ever.

“Speeding in the car while on TikTok, on Instagram, creating reels or videos — or even live streaming — there are so many reasons why we need this law to change,” Samuels said.

Until then, the foundation continues to spread awareness — giving out 12 scholarships annually for $1,200, representing the 12 years E’arron was alive, and making sure their brother’s legacy lives on internationally, starting an orphanage in his name in South Africa.

Current Florida law requires drivers to be hands-free when driving through work zones and school zones. However, bills to expand the law beyond those areas failed to move forward in this year’s legislative session.

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.

Paddleboarder bitten by shark in Flagler Beach speaks about encounter

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By Pattrik Perez

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    FLAGLER BEACH, Florida (WESH) — A paddleboarder is recovering after being bitten by a shark in Flagler Beach over the weekend.

Brian Miller, who lives in South Carolina, said he was on his board less than 200 yards from shore near South 17th Street on Saturday morning when he decided to get in the water to cool down. That’s when he quickly realized he wasn’t alone.

“It felt mostly like you’re in a deep pool and your friend is messing with you and grabs the bottom of your foot firmly, gives it a little tug,” Miller said.

That tug turned out to be a shark biting his left foot.

“I wasn’t, like, in severe pain, like screaming in pain. It was more like, ‘No way, I just got bit by a shark. I cannot believe I just got bit by shark. This is unbelievable,'” Miller said.

His friends, whom he was visiting nearby, took him to the hospital, where doctors stitched him up. He says he was fortunate the damage wasn’t worse.

“Luckily, [the shark] didn’t crush any of the bones or take any of the bones. All the bones were intact,” Miller said.

But the shark definitely left its mark.

“It’s like four distinctive lines on my foot. It looks like four razor blades,” Miller said.

Even after being treated, Miller said he had a hard time believing what happened.

“I still asked the doctor, ‘Was it a legit shark bite? Could it have been anything else? And he’s like, ‘No, we’re pretty confident this is a legit shark bite,'” he said.

Miller has to stay out of the water for the next few weeks as his stitches heal, but once he’s ready, he says the encounter won’t keep him away.

“I don’t think it’s gonna hold me back. I’m confident that I’ll be able to be right back out there,” Miller 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.

10-year-old boy who crashed stolen car can’t be charged, Baltimore City sheriff says

CNN Newsource on May 1, 2026

By David Collins

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — The 10-year-old boy who officials said crashed a stolen car in Baltimore on Wednesday can’t be charged due to his age and the nature of the crime.

Still, WBAL-TV 11 News Investigates has learned the Baltimore City sheriff is seeking a Child in Need of Supervision petition.

The Sheriff’s Office can petition the Department of Juvenile Services to look at the circumstances of the case. If accepted, the agency would discuss with a parent or guardian appropriate interventions and services available.

“I heard a big boom. Then I just looked out the window and saw the police chasing somebody,” said Desha Ivory, a witness.

The boom was the sound of the stolen car crashing into a fire hydrant. Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen said a 10-year-old boy was behind the wheel, joyriding a stolen car with a 12-year-old passenger.

Investigators have not determined who stole the vehicle.

“Ten years old. It’s young, real young,” Ivory said. “To me, it’s sad because this generation is gone. It’s gone. I just pray for the younger generation, because we need our kids out here.”

Investigators said the kids caught the attention of sheriff’s deputies when they blew past a stop sign.

Deputies followed with their police lights flashing. After the crash, the kids fled. Deputies caught the 10-year-old but not the passenger. State law prohibits charging the child.

“Under state law, it has been this way for a while, individuals between the ages of 10 and 12 can only be charged with violent crimes and crimes involving firearms. So, the mere theft of a car does not even qualify to be charged as a juvenile, let alone with anything else,” said Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger.

“What to do as a city when we have children that we care about, committing these criminal acts and using really poor judgment,” Cogen said. “How do we stop them from doing this and get them off this path and get them the help that’s out there?”

According to investigators, the car owner is upset about the theft. It was their primary source of transportation. Prosecutors said in cases like this, it’s difficult to charge the parent.

“You would have to show knowledge on the part of the parents. The fact that they knew the car was stolen and that their kid was driving it,” Shellenberger said.

The CINS petition has not been filed yet.

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.