Drivers rejoice as Willwood Tunnel reopens, restoring convenient route

KRDO on May 22, 2026

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Drivers on the city’s southwest side have been without a popular shortcut under I-25 between the Broadmoor World Arena and the south end of Janitell Road since February 2024.

Officials closed the one-way, single-lane Willwood Tunnel for safety reasons — explaining that there was too much traffic congestion from drivers using the tunnel to detour around the recent replacement of four bridges on South Circle Drive.

However, much to the pleasant surprise of many drivers, the tunnel reopened on Thursday.

“I wasn’t sure,” said Reilly Schiefelbein. “I feel like they had signage up for a while, and I just realized there was no signage. So, I said, Let me go see if they opened that back up. Because it was such a great way to take, you know?”

Traffic flows eastbound only through the tunnel because Willwood Road near the arena has more traffic than Janitell, which dead-ends a short distance to the south.

“You have I-25,” said Gregory Maasen, a cyclist. “How do you otherwise get to the other side? The only recommendation I would have is, for cyclists, that you make it a two-way (tunnel).”

City officials issued a press release on Thursday morning to announce that the tunnel would officially reopen on Friday, but a spokesman said that crews had finished removing concrete barriers and cleaning up accumulated trash and debris sooner than expected.

KRDO13’s The Road Warrior often heard from viewers who asked when the tunnel would reopen and when the area would be cleaned up; the city promised that the tunnel would reopen when the bridge project neared full completion.

Earl Harris disagreed with the city’s decision to close the tunnel for two years.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but I think that made it more congested by having to go around, everybody going around, than having a little shortcut,” he explained.

According to records, the tunnel was built in 1963 — three years after I-25 through town opened — as part of the original project to build the South Circle bridges.

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Prestigious ‘World Olympic Collectors’ Fair’ debuts in Colorado Springs for first time

KRDO on May 22, 2026

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The “World Olympic Collectors’ Fair” opens Friday morning at The Antlers Hotel. It’s only the fourth time a U.S. city has hosted the event, and the first time in Colorado Springs.

The fair is sanctioned and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee as they work to promote the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games. Prague was the host city last year.

Collectors from 11 countries and all across the United States will have booths at the fair. It’s free to come see their collections. Guests are welcome to buy, sell and trade.

The fair is in the Heritage room on the ground floor of The Antlers hotel. It’s from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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75-year-old woman dies after fight at Indiana restaurant

CNN Newsource on May 22, 2026

By WLKY News Staff

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    FORT WAYNE, Indiana (WLKY) — An Indiana woman is speaking out after her mother died following a fight inside a restaurant.

Investigators say 75-year-old Anita Grayson got into a fight with a teenage worker at the Tim Hortons in Fort Wayne.

A shift lead then stepped in and told Grayson to leave, which is when a fight broke out.

Video provided by Fort Wayne police shows Grayson sitting down then collapsing in the store.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she died.

Family and supporters gathered for a protest, accusing the city of editing the video and not being transparent.

“I want justice for my mom. Y’all cannot deny it. That everybody that seen what happened to her. Is that how we treat the elderly people in the community?” said Tawnda Grayson, Anita’s daughter.

Police say the incident is still under investigation.

The coroner has not yet determined her cause of death.

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.

Foxes, snakes, ticks, and more: Experts share what to do if you encounter animals amid increased wildlife activity

CNN Newsource on May 22, 2026

By Kelly Kendall

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    WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (WXII) — As warmer months bring increased wildlife activity in North Carolina, experts are sharing advice on how to safely handle encounters with local animals.

“For a lot of wild animals, this is breeding season,” Wildlife extension biologist Falyn Owens said.

“The mamas are out looking for food, and the babies are getting ready to leave the nest,” Davie County Animal Services director Lisa Nielsen said.

Residents may encounter animals such as cats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons more frequently during this time of year. Experts say it’s important to watch out for these mammals because they can transmit rabies to humans.

“The main rabies vector in North Carolina are raccoons,” Nielsen said.

Owens and Nielsen say it’s not unusual to see animals thought of as nocturnal during the day this time of year. However, people should watch for signs of strange behavior, including stumbling, drooling, aggression, or symptoms of brain damage such as seizures or paralysis.

“That is definitely an animal that you want to stay away from and potentially get help,” Owens said.

“If you’ve been bitten, try to keep eyes on the animal, because that way we can quarantine it for the ten days and hopefully keep you from needing rabies vaccines,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen says rabies vaccines can be expensive, but those who can’t afford them can apply for financial assistance through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

She added that the best way to prevent rabies from spreading is by vaccinating your pets.

Nielsen also emphasized the dangers of ticks, calling them “the scariest animal out in the woods.”

She recommended checking yourself and your clothes for ticks after spending time outdoors and using tick repellent beforehand.

“The repellent sprays are very effective,” she said. “And as long as you remove the tick within 24 hours, then it’s very unlikely that any diseases would be spread,” Nielsen said.

For snakes, the advice is simple: leave them alone.

“They’re secretive. They want to be left alone,” Owens. “And if you see any kind of snake, regardless of which kind it is, if you leave it alone, it’s going to leave you alone.”

Owens recommends being cautious around areas where snakes could be hiding, such as log piles, garden pots, piles of bricks or sticks, etc.

Owens says people may also come across more baby animals this time of year, such as newborn deer, bird fledglings, juvenile bunnies, and more.

“If you see a young animal that looks like it might be orphaned or abandoned, don’t assume that because the parents are not necessarily nearby all the time,” Owens said. “And if you try to help by picking it up or taking it inside, you could actually do harm, so always contact a wildlife professional before you try to intervene if you find a baby wild 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.

Woman diagnosed with rare disease plans celebration of life

CNN Newsource on May 22, 2026

By Luana Munoz

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    DELTONA, Florida (WESH) — Sharon Wyker is a 77-year-old woman in Deltona battling a rare infectious disease called Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) and doctors have only given her three months to live. With the help of her family, she’s now on a mission to plan an elaborate and very detailed celebration of life for herself.

“A flash mob. A video of me talking to them. One thousand people. I’m going to count,” Sharon said.

Her appetite for life has not slowed down.

Despite her diagnosis in 2014, Sharon was able to overcome the infection with antibiotics. However, the infection returned in 2021 and again this year.

This time, her body can’t handle the antibiotics.

“I’ve traveled to 22 countries, 20 states. I’m an adventurer. I’m a wonderer,” Wyker said.

Under the microscope, MAC looks like tuberculosis. However, it is slow moving and non-contagious. The disease is more common in people with underlying health conditions.

Dr. Jason Sniffen, an infectious disease specialist, says the bacteria lurks in everyday places including soil and water.

“They are waterborne, so exposure to things like a shower head, spas, hot tubs, even if these facilities are properly maintained,” Dr. Sniffen said.

Sharon worked in the mortgage industry and later as a toll collector, but her real passion is art.

“Then I went to college and learned in order to be famous, you have to be dead. All famous artists are dead. I was like, ‘Oh no, no, no,’” she said.

Sharon has hundreds of paintings and shares them with her followers.

While she may not be famous for now, she hopes people will remember her words of wisdom.

“If you are a dreamer of something that you are trying to get to, you have to believe your miracle and have no doubts and just keep going until you get there,” she said.

Like the stroke of her brush, she says the key to life is to, “go with the flow.”

Sharon says at the end of the video played during her funeral, she wants to sing Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”

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.

Confederate statues returning to Baltimore spark community debate

CNN Newsource on May 22, 2026

By Marshall Keely

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WBAL) — Four Confederate statues decommissioned nine years ago are being returned to Baltimore after spending months on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, sparking renewed debate about their future.

The statues, which include “Soldiers and Sailors,” “The Confederate Women of America,” “The Lee and Jackson Double Equestrian,” and the Roger B. Taney statue, were part of an exhibit called “Monuments.”

The exhibit examined the movements that led to the removal of Confederate symbols from public spaces nationwide over the past decade. The exhibit ended earlier this month, leaving questions about where the statues will go next.

“As a Black man, you can’t help but think about slavery and the whole Civil War and the ongoing oppression,” one resident said in response to the statues’ return.

“I don’t like that they’re coming back,” said Eve Addison of Baltimore. “I don’t think that they should be back.”

Addison suggested the statues could be placed in a museum rather than in public spaces.

“Maybe a museum just so that we can see where we’ve come from as a society, but not like out in the world where they can just be encountered,” she said.

Scott Ryan, another community member, disagrees.

“They should not be put back on display in the public as public art. Personally, I think they should be melted down and that we put the last remnants of the Confederacy to bed,” Ryan said.

Ryan raised concerns about the cost of maintaining the statues, which were displayed in their current conditions, some still covered in paint from protests.

“Especially metals like this, like most of them are, have their own conservation issues that cost money,” he said. “You need a full-time staff to take care of these things, and I don’t think money should go into it, personally.”

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott addressed the statues’ return during a press conference Wednesday, reiterating his previous stance that he would prefer the monuments be melted down.

“I think you know the answer to that. Yes,” Scott said when asked if he stood by his earlier comments.

Addison supported the mayor’s position, saying, “I’d be fine with that. Works for me.”

Another resident added, “I don’t see any reason for them to have been up initially, let alone see them now.”

City leaders have not provided a timeline for the statues’ return or detailed plans for their future. The mayor’s office released a statement saying it is staying informed as city agencies identify next steps for the monuments once they arrive in Baltimore.

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.

Grizzly Encounters: How the warmer weather has impacted Yellowstone wildlife

KIFI on May 22, 2026

Danielle Mullenix

YELLOWSTONE (KIFI) – As warmer temperatures arrive earlier than usual across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, wildlife experts say the current spring conditions are creating a dangerous rise in human-bear encounters heading into the busy summer tourism season.

Photo courtesy of Tim O’Leary

Bears emerged from hibernation early this spring after a mild winter with below-average snowpack, while millions of visitors and locals are already returning to Yellowstone National Park and surrounding recreation areas. Wildlife officials say the combination is increasing the likelihood of potentially deadly encounters.

Earlier this month, two hikers were seriously injured in a bear attack near Yellowstone’s Mystic Falls Trail, a popular southern bowl pathway close to Old Faithful. After conducting an investigation, Park officials believe a mother grizzly with cubs may have been involved in the attack. The incident prompted temporary trail closures and renewed safety warnings from the National Park Service and Idaho Fish and Game.

“Did they come out maybe earlier than they usually do? Yeah, that’s probably the case,” said Eric Freeman, regional wildlife manager. “Lack of snow on the landscape and warmer temperatures likely contributed.”

Wildlife experts at Idaho Fish and Game say bears are especially active during the spring as they search for food after months of hibernation. While some animals have benefited from the warm winter conditions, the overall food chain in the Yellowstone ecosystem has been affected by a decline in weakened prey, leading to significant changes in movement and behavioral patterns.

“It’s always a great idea just to give animals their space,” said James Brower with Idaho Fish and Game. “Any animal — whether it’s a bear, moose, or even a deer — if they feel cornered or think their young are being threatened, they may become aggressive.”

A recent encounter in eastern Idaho is also highlighting how quickly outdoor recreation can become dangerous during peak wildlife activity.

According to Idaho Fish and Game, a father fishing with his young son near Ashton in the Targhee National Forest was forced to shoot a charging grizzly bear in what officials described as a split-second decision to save their lives.

Wildlife educators say even experienced outdoorsmen can find themselves in unpredictable situations.

“Obviously, there have been recent incidents, and there are going to be risks that are outside of our control,” said Tut Fuentevilla, curator of education at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone. “You can do everything right, and things can still go wrong.”

Fuentevilla says the region’s mild winter may also be affecting natural food sources that bears rely on in the spring.

“We didn’t really have a strong snow year this winter,” Fuentevilla explained. “That means there are fewer stresses on elk and bison populations. Carcasses from animals that don’t survive winter are usually a significant spring food source for bears. This year, there’s a lot less of that.”

As a result, hungry bears may be traveling farther in search of food — including near campsites, trails, neighborhoods, and improperly secured garbage.

Officials are urging anyone spending time outdoors in bear country to carry bear spray, properly dispose of trash in bear-proof containers, make noise while hiking, and never leave food unattended.

“At the end of the day, be bear aware,” Brower said. “Don’t pretend like they don’t exist.”

Experts also stress the importance of knowing how to use bear spray before heading into the wilderness.

“Bears have an extremely reliable fight-or-flight response to bear spray,” Fuentevilla said. “If a bear approaches, use quick bursts aimed low. And if the bear gets close enough, empty the canister into its face.”

With outdoor activity expected to increase throughout the summer, officials say awareness, preparation, and keeping a safe distance from wildlife could save lives.

“Let animals be animals,” Brower added. “Let them be wild.”

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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Are you traveling this Memorial Day holiday weekend?

KMIZ on May 22, 2026

Matthew Sanders

There are at least a couple of significant factors making Memorial Day weekend travel less than ideal for drivers in Mid-Missouri this year.

One of them is the road work that runs along much of Interstate 70, in some places affecting important interchanges like the one with Highway 54 at Kingdom City.

Another is the high price of fuel. We’ve gone a few Memorial Day weekends (since 2022) without seeing gas prices at this level, and families who drive need to budget a lot more to do so this holiday.

Are you traveling this Memorial Day weekend? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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Little Victories Sensory Gym makes big impact on families living with neurodiversity

CNN Newsource on May 22, 2026

By Robert Boyd

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    DUNEDIN, Florida (WFTS) — When it comes to your average playground equipment, sometimes a regular slide or swing set just isn’t good enough for families living with Neurodiversity.

So, one Palm Harbor family decided to create their own playground, and now they are sharing it with the entire community.

“We’ve been doing down syndrome meet-up groups for two years, and through those meet-ups, it was really hard to find a space where we could let our kids play, where it was safe and inclusive,” said mother Christine Rittenhouse.

Rittenhouse decided: why not design her own playground, meant just for kids like her daughter, Scarlette? It’s called Little Victories Sensory Gym.

“Raising a child with special needs you celebrate those little victories, they mean so much more, because it’s harder for them to come to those victories,” said Rittenhouse.

Some of the specialized equipment includes a sensory swing, roller slide, and platform swing.

“It’s a little bit different than your typical swing that you would see at a park, where it’s hot and it’s hard,” said Rittenhouse about the platform swing. “This is actually really soft and calming, and offers a repetitive swinging, just like you do normally, but kids can lay on their belly, or on their back, or sit crisscross.”

Over the past year, Little Victories has traveled to churches, community centers, and libraries across North Pinellas County, like their latest visit to Coastal Christian Church in Dunedin.

Mother Kayleigh Zahn said she doesn’t know who benefits more, her or her daughter Summer.

“The equipment is great because it keeps the kids running around and playing, and then you can actually talk with the other parents and get information,” said Zahn.

Christine said she hopes to be a voice in the community for all families out there living with Neurodiversity.

“There’s a lot of special needs families that don’t feel like they belong,” said Rittenhouse. “The kids belong in a place where they can be themselves and have play equipment that can help them grow and build their confidence. And there is just not a lot of accessibility for that, so it’s just super important for us to help provide that.”

Little Victories Sensory Gym is also collecting special-needs-related equipment for at-home use, which will be distributed to families in need later this summer.

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.

Jamie Collins to replace Tony DeBone as Deschutes County commissioner

KTVZ on May 22, 2026

Spencer Sacks

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Jamie Collins will assume the role of Deschutes County Commissioner from Position One, taking over from Tony DeBone in approximately seven months. Collins secured the position with more than 55% of the vote in the recent election.

The transition marks a change of guard on the Deschutes County Commission after DeBone served for 16 years.

Outgoing Commissioner DeBone has been a consistent presence on the board, guiding the county through periods including the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing the county during its largest growth.

Incoming Commissioner Collins is not new to public service and has a background as a military veteran.

DeBone has dedicated 16 years to the Deschutes County Commission. DeBone described his dedication to his role, stating he is “just honored to be serving kind of keep. The more I do it, the more I want to just keep the county kind of going down the middle of the road, you know, do the services we do do it well. Serve everybody.”

Collins, a military veteran, commented on his new role, saying, “Well, this is a huge step. This is probably the biggest step I think I have taken in my career in public service. Other than swearing an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States as a member of the United States military.”

With seven months remaining until the formal change, Commissioner DeBone is focusing on current issues. He plans to manage homelessness and unsanctioned camping in partnership with the cities of Redmond and Bend. DeBone elaborated on his plans, saying, “So as I say, now that the budget is going to be passed, it will be six months into the end of this year. You know, managing the homeless, you know, just the unsanctioned camping. Working in partnership with Redmond and Bend on that.”

Commissioner Collins has outlined his immediate priorities upon taking office. Collins intends to establish a crisis task force to address the housing insurance crisis. He emphasized the importance of this issue, stating, “The biggest thing that I want to do on day one is stand up. A crisis task force to tackle our our housing insurance crisis here. This is probably far and away the most consequential thing that will affect our entire economy here in Central Oregon.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Commissioner DeBone said, “Well, as I say, I, when I run for office is big smile on my face. I’m here to serve. And it’s always been a very positive environment for me.” Commissioner Collins expressed his commitment to addressing challenges. “Well, I want to have no one say that. I did not try to tackle the tough challenges that we have here in Deschutes County,” Collins said.

The formal change from Commissioner DeBone to Commissioner Collins is set to occur in approximately seven months. Commissioner Collins plans to establish a crisis task force to address the housing insurance crisis on his first day in office.

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