Month: May 2026

By Dillon Thomas

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — The Drake Center in Northern Colorado was filled with joy, hope, and tears this week, not because of the loss of life, but because of lives saved.

Poudre Fire Authority’s annual Survivors Event in Fort Collins reunited people who survived life-threatening emergencies with the first responders, dispatchers and medical teams who helped save them.

Among the stories shared was that of Irene Catania, who was seven years old when she was bitten twice by a rattlesnake while hiking with her mother at Lory State Park.

“My daughter Irene, who was seven at the time, we’re going down trail, and she runs up to me, freaked out, and she’s been bit by a rattlesnake twice,” said Sara Bartel, Irene’s mother.

Fortunately, the family had cellphone service and called 911.

“So it’s pretty urgent to get there,” said Lincoln Jacoway, a park ranger with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Jacoway was the first responder to arrive on the scene. As Irene’s condition worsened, responders worked quickly to get her off the trail.

“With how rapidly she was deteriorating, we decided to just put her in what we call a big wheel, and then wheel her out of the Well Gulch (Natural) Trail to a landing zone,” Jacoway said.

“She started reacting by that point, and then the helicopter came,” Bartel said.

UCHealth’s LifeLine team flew Irene to Children’s Hospital Colorado, administering antivenom during the flight.

“She was walking a few weeks later and has made a full recovery and is doing really great,” Bartel said.

At the Survivors Event, Irene and her mother reunited with the people who helped save her life.

“Nobody contacts them after to say she’s okay, we’re fine. So it was really special to be able to thank them,” Bartel said.

For first responders, the event also served as a reminder of why they do the job.

“Usually you kind of just focus on the bad ones, and today you get to really focus on the good ones,” Jacoway said. “Getting to help people is why I do what I do, and so seeing the people you get to help really helps keep that fire going.”

Inspired by the park rangers who first responded to the emergency, Irene now says she wants to become a park ranger when she grows up. Those with CPW honored her at the event with a “future park ranger” award and stuffed animal.

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 James Stratton

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    MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (WISN) — Already in jail for domestic abuse, Amier Jones Jr. now faces felony murder and threatening a police officer charges in two new, separate cases.

Prosecutors say Jones Jr. helped plan and carry out an armed robbery that ended with a homicide in a parking lot at 84th Street and Bender Avenue on Jan. 13.

Jones is already in jail, accused in three separate felony cases in Milwaukee County, including stalking, hitting and pointing a gun at the mother of his child.

Prosecutors say he violated a no-contact order, trying to contact her more than 1,500 times since his January arrest.

Thursday, prosecutors charged Jones with threat to cause harm to certain individuals involved with a court or legal system. Prosecutors say he threatened the officer investigating his domestic violence case from his jail tablet.

“…u already on my hit…” he said on his jail tablet, referencing the officer, according to court records.

On May 7, prosecutors filed a motion to suspend his communication privileges, citing the threats to the victim and to the officer.

“The State asserts that Jones’s communication privileges must be rescinded to prevent further intimidation and dissuasion,” Assistant District Attorney Jessica Behling wrote in the motion and also verbally motioned to increase his bail to $75,000.

Judge Ana Berrios-Schroeder denied both requests, according to court records. The move prompted a call for change from Milwaukee’s Fraternal Order of Police Cream City Lodge #8.

A transcript for the May 7 hearing shows Judge Berrios-Schroeder “hesitantly” denied taking away the communication privileges.

“You go into your cell now, and you think it’s smart to send one more message like this one, against anyone; you will pay the price. Clear?” the judge said.

“Yes, ma’am,” he responded.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office took away his ability to communicate and restricted his access to attorney-client contact, a sheriff’s spokesperson told WISN 12 News.

“It is very common for people in jail to use coercion and control directly through phone calls, text, or through a third party to get the person to change their story, make the person feel guilty, have them not show up in court,” said Carmen Pitre, CEO of Sojourner Family Peace Center. “We see that there’s a pattern that begins in the communication. The amount, the 1,500, is excessive, which says to me that’s a dangerous situation.”

Pitre says that the break in communication is designed to stop coercion and control of domestic violence survivors.

“Survivors need safety, and protection, and options,” she said. “Also, people who cause harm need to be held accountable and given opportunities to change behavior.”

Domestic Violence survivors can come forward and get help by calling Sojourner at 414-933-2722 or texting 414-877-8100. The 24.7 national hotline is 800-799-7233. For specific resources in southeastern Wisconsin, click here.

A bail hearing for Jones Jr. is set for Tuesday.

Judge Berrios-Schroeder did not respond to a request for comment on the case or the decision. Chief Judge Carl Ashley did not comment on the open case, either.

Ashley appointed Judge Berrios-Schroeder to lead the court’s misdemeanor and domestic violence division, and she will start Aug. 1.

Chief Judge Carl Ashley sent the following statement to WISN 12 News.

“The presiding judge for misdemeanor domestic violence court holds an administrative assignment that includes managing a full court docket. This role requires experience, sound judgment, strong courtroom management, and the ability to oversee a high-volume calendar involving sensitive and complex matters.

“I selected Judge Ana Berrios for this role because she possesses the qualifications, temperament, and professional experience required for the assignment. Her prior service as Milwaukee County Family Court Commissioner, where she supervised the Deputy Family Court Commissioner and 10 Assistant Family Court Commissioners, along with her experience as a circuit court judge, have prepared her well for this responsibility.

“Judge Berrios began her service in the Family Court Commissioner’s Office in 2001 as an Assistant Family Court Commissioner. She was promoted to Deputy Family Court Commissioner in 2012 and became the Family Court Commissioner in 2016. In 2023, she was elected to the Circuit Court Judiciary and is currently assigned to the Criminal Domestic Violence Court.

“She completed the mandatory Domestic Violence National Training while serving in the Family Court Commissioner’s Office and participated in annual domestic violence training sessions provided by Sojourner and Legal Action of Wisconsin.

“Judges make thousands of decisions throughout their service, many of which are difficult and based on urgent circumstances and the specific record before the court. I appointed Judge Berrios to this administrative role because of her extensive record of service, her qualifications, and my confidence in her ability to handle these cases seriously, fairly, and in accordance with the law.”

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By Allie Ware

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    JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — Archaeologists at the University of Mississippi Medical Center have unearthed 1,070 graves from the site of the former Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum, uncovering artifacts and insights into life at the institution more than a century ago.

The excavation, part of the Asylum Hill Project, began in 2022 and has been hindered by Yazoo clay and poor drainage, which have left little preserved over the past 100 years. A construction crew digging for a road initially came across the caskets in 2013.

“We have a few bone fragments, a few teeth, and the nails from the wooden coffin,” said Jennifer Mack, lead archaeologist.

The team is working under strict legal and ethical protocols, aiming to eventually reunite the remains with their families. However, records from the 18th and 19th centuries are limited, and families who were not nearby often lacked the means to retrieve their loved ones.

“It seems if the family was not contacted in 24 hours, they were buried in the cemetery,” Mack said.

While death certificates from 1912 to 1935 exist, no cemetery map or markers remain to positively identify the remains. Archaeologists noted that the burials appeared to have been conducted respectfully.

“Every single person buried here was in his or her own coffin and in [their] own grave, and they were lined up neatly,” Mack said.

The findings are shedding light on the lives of individuals who lived at a time when mental illness was poorly understood and care for many diagnoses was limited.

“Someone may have depression, but they may have a heart condition, so there were many comorbidities and a lot of elderly people that came here,” said Lida Key, director of the Medical History Museum.

“Most fascinating to me is what demonstrates personal relationships in the asylum,” Mack said.

Artifacts such as coins, jewelry, and makeshift formal clothing have been found in many of the graves, suggesting care and connection.

“That’s not something you do for a random stranger,” Mack said.

“What we have learned is there was good and bad, and we want to learn from that and see what we can learn from mental illness today,” Key said.

UMMC researchers are asking families to share photographs, letters, memories, or stories about loved ones connected to the asylum. With an estimated 7,000 graves on the grounds, much work remains to uncover clues and restore lost names.

Plans are underway to build a mausoleum to house unclaimed remains and showcase possessions found, providing a final resting place and preserving the stories of those buried at the site.

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 Grace King

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WXIA) — Travelers flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may notice a new security measure before they even enter the terminal: concrete barriers now line parts of the drop-off and pickup areas.

Airport officials say the barriers, installed over the past few weeks, are part of an expanded security focus as Atlanta prepares for a busy summer travel season and the upcoming World Cup.

With about 2.7 million passengers expected to pass through the airport during the Memorial Day travel period, airport leaders say safety remains a top priority.

“We are the world’s busiest airport, so operationally we are always ready,” Monica Coleman, the airport’s marketing director, said. “Safety and security are first on our agenda.”

Coleman said the airport’s emergency management team has spent the past two years preparing for FIFA-related events in coordination with federal law enforcement partners and local agencies.

Some passengers said the barriers were inconvenient but understandable.

“It was a little bit hard because we were trying to find my brother, and we were over there, and then I was, wait a minute, I can’t just cross wherever I want to cross,” one traveler said.

Another passenger added, “I didn’t really notice it until we started talking about it. Now it’s a little bit of an obtrusive thing in a way. I would probably rather it not be there, but I guess if it’s for safety, it’s better.”

Officials said the barriers create a larger buffer between vehicles and pedestrian areas and were installed, in part, to prevent incidents like a January crash at Detroit’s airport, where a vehicle entered a secure area.

Atlanta’s airport staff also have hosted extra training exercises to ensure they are prepared for heightened summer travel and special events.

The airport plans to release more details soon about its security plan ahead of the World Cup and urged travelers to allow extra time as they navigate the updated traffic patterns.

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By Reeves Jackson

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    ATHENS, Georgia (WXIA) — The University of Georgia Athletic Association has received the largest philanthropic commitment in its history after UGA graduate and Adam Wexler donated $10 million to the school’s men’s basketball program.

University officials announced the historic contribution this week, saying the gift will help fund personnel, operations and future growth for Georgia basketball.

Wexler, the founder of PrizePicks, is a University of Georgia alumnus and one of the most prominent business figures connected to the school in recent years.

The university said the donation represents a landmark moment for the athletic department as Georgia looks to continue investing in and expanding its basketball program within the Southeastern Conference.

School officials did not immediately release details on how the funding will be distributed, but said the investment is expected to support both immediate needs and long-term development for the program.

The contribution surpasses previous athletic donations to the university and sets a new benchmark for philanthropic giving within the UGA Athletic Association.

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By John Dodge

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    ATHENS, Georgia (WXIA) — A trash truck fire sparked by improperly discarded batteries forced sanitation workers to dump a full load of garbage in a residential neighborhood, highlighting ongoing safety concerns for waste crews and the public.

Officials said the fire broke out while crews were on their collection route, requiring the driver to immediately unload the truck’s contents to access and extinguish the flames. The incident occurred in the Country Club Estates area.

No injuries were reported, and crews later returned to clean up the debris.

Waste management officials say the fire was caused by batteries improperly discarded — a growing issue that has led to multiple fires in garbage trucks across the country in recent years.

“These fires put our drivers, first responders, and the public at risk,” officials said in a statement, urging residents to take proper precautions when disposing of batteries.

Authorities stress that batteries must be removed from devices and taken to designated recycling locations rather than placed in household trash. Improper disposal can lead to fires that damage equipment and endanger lives.

Free battery recycling is available at several locations in Athens-Clarke County, including the CHaRM facility on College Avenue, the Solid Waste Department on Hancock Industrial Way, the county landfill on Lexington Road, and fire stations on Cleveland Road, Danielsville Road, and Jefferson Road.

Officials warn that a single mistake can have serious consequences and are urging residents to follow proper disposal guidelines.

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.