Month: May 2026

By Julia Sandor

Click here for updates on this story

    ELKO COUNTY, Nevada (KSTU) — It was a bit of luck for one pilot that rancher Jordan Brough and his friends knew how to navigate the snowy mountains.

“I saw on the alert, it said it was a pilot, crashed plane. These guys were sitting next to me, and I went back in, and I said, ‘Do you guys want to go look for a plane?'” recalled Brough, who also serves as a volunteer firefighter.

For the three ranchers and local Search and Rescue teams, technology that nearly everyone carries with them helped locate the plane crash in the remote parts of the East Humboldt Mountain Range on Sunday. The airplane had hit a mountain at more than 10,000 feet, but luckily, the pilot’s iPhone crash notification was sent to dispatch.

The crash detection feature can be found on the iPhone 14 and newer models and allows GPS locations to be shared with the local dispatch center, which can help search and rescue teams respond fast when someone is in need.

“We couldn’t see anything for a long time, and we couldn’t hear the guy, so we almost turned around, but we hollered one more time, and we heard him, so that kept us going,” said Ballard Ranches manager Braden Whitaker, who was among those who went out to search for the plane.

“I don’t think we would have found him that day if it hadn’t been for those coordinates,” added Jacob Taylor, owner and operator of the Antelope Peak Ranch.

From the mountains to the desert, search and rescue teams are seeing technology advancements to help them during emergency operations.

“People maybe have a watch or a phone or something. It senses the impact, and it calls, activates the 911 system,” explained Scott Solle, Vice Commander, Grand County Search and Rescue. “We don’t always know what we’re going to. Sometimes it’s a false alert, but sometimes it’s not. That’s why we have to treat every mission as if we’re going to help someone.”

This time of year, Solle and his team are busy, and tools such as Starlink, inReach, or an iPhone help them do their job.

“I think having one of those things is key because there’s just so much terrain that is not covered by a cell provider,” he shared.

But Solle added that the technology only works if you know how to use it, so everyone should be prepared and know what to do in an emergency. Just like this weekend in the Nevada mountains showed, one notification can make all the difference.

“Whether you’re flying a plane or you’re exploring or hunting,” said Taylor, “I think that makes, from what I’ve seen yesterday, that could be a life changer, 100%.”

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 Cameron Polom

Click here for updates on this story

    SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (KNXV) — A 9-year-old from Scottsdale is turning backyard curiosity and desert adventures into a mission to protect wildlife, and people across the country are starting to notice.

Luke has climbed into the top 1% of the nationwide Jr. Ranger Competition, a contest supporting the National Wildlife Federation that celebrates kids passionate about conservation and the outdoors. If he wins, he gets to go on a real-life adventure with wildlife conservationist Jeff Corwin.

But what makes Luke stand out isn’t just the ranking; it’s the way he’s using his growing voice to inspire other children to care about the planet around them.

Whether he’s hiking Arizona trails, rescuing small animals, climbing trees with his dog Booker, or sharing wildlife adventures on his budding YouTube channel, Luke approaches nature with the excitement of a kid and the heart of a true conservationist.

His love for animals, especially parrots, has become the foundation for a message centered on curiosity, stewardship, and protecting wildlife for future generations.

His family says the competition has become less about winning and more about encouraging kids to unplug, explore outdoors, and realize they can make a difference too.

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 Greenlee Clark

Click here for updates on this story

    NORTHWEST BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — The effort to solve a growing rat problem in the Treasure Valley appears to be causing new problems of its own — and one Boise neighbor is speaking out after his cat died from rat poison.

Kellen Williams has lived in Boise for 21 years, growing up in Ketchum, Idaho. He and his family intentionally avoid using poisons of any kind, relying instead on spiders to mitigate pests and cats to mitigate rodents. Williams says his cat, Jekyll, had always been a mouser, keeping rodents away from his Boise home.

Jekyll was 12 years old and had grown up alongside Williams’ oldest child, who was a toddler when they got the cat. Named after Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — sweet most of the time but occasionally feisty — Jekyll was mostly blind from fighting with neighbor cats, but was still a reliable mouser who mostly stayed in the backyard.

But earlier this month, an emergency vet visit revealed Jekyll had been exposed to rat poison. After about 36 hours of not eating or drinking, Williams took Jekyll to Intermountain Animal Hospital — other clinics like Cat Doctor were fully booked.

“They did a full blood workup, and his blood wasn’t clotting; he was bleeding internally from poison,” Williams said.

The doctor delivered the news after about 20 minutes of waiting. Williams said it was a shock.

“We didn’t do an autopsy or anything like that, so I don’t know if it was from eating a rodent or eating poison directly. But that it was really unlikely, she said, that it was from something else,” Williams said.

Jekyll went from showing symptoms to passing away in just three days. The family buried him on Mother’s Day.

Williams said he has noticed pest control companies visiting his neighborhood 3 to 4 times in the last two months, including twice in the last three weeks. Jekyll died three to four days after one company was in the neighborhood. Williams noted the company claimed their poison doesn’t have tertiary effects, but said he wasn’t sure how that works.

Williams posted about Jekyll’s death on Facebook and Nextdoor. The Nextdoor post received some negative responses, with people suggesting he should keep his cats inside. He felt that response missed the point.

“There’s a huge impact to a much wider array of animals, not only pets, but all the good rodent mitigators that live here,” Williams said.

He specifically mentioned Idaho Birds of Prey as an organization that has worked hard to recover raptor populations, which are now at risk from rodenticide poisoning.

Since Jekyll’s death, Williams also found a dead squirrel in his yard with no marks of attack, which he suspects may also have been poisoned. The family was considering getting two more kittens before Jekyll’s death, but is now reconsidering.

Williams recommends snap traps as a safer alternative to poison, noting they kill instantly and have a much lower risk to non-target animals. He also raised concerns about the cumulative environmental impact.

“As more people live here in Boise, the more poison and the more things we put on our grass and our yards, the more that ends up in the river and in the rest of the environment that we all depend on,” Williams said.

Local veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Norman, owner and medical director of Ada Animal Hospital, has been a veterinarian for 10 years and has been in the field since she was 15. She has treats poisoning cases at her practice and warned that some varieties have no antidote.

“Depending on how much they ate, we really are just trying to race against the clock,” Norman said.

Norman explained that there are two main types of rat poison. Anticoagulant rat poisons have better treatment options, though she emphasized they are still not safe. Other types have no true antidote, making them far more dangerous.

She warned that rat poison is designed to attract rats, but dogs, cats, and wildlife find it just as appealing. She has seen dogs chew through heavy-duty plastic containers to get to rat poison stored inside, because the poison smells and tastes good to them.

“My biggest concern is always for our furry, you know, family members, our cats and dogs, and the other wildlife. So, my biggest thing is just knowing what products you’re using,” Norman said.

Norman also warned about secondary poisoning: a cat or other wildlife can be poisoned by eating a rat that has already ingested poison, if the concentration in the rat is high enough. The rat may run off and die in a different yard before the cat finds and eats it.

If you think your pet got into any type of rat poison or pesticide, Norman said to act immediately.

“Call your vet or just get them to the nearest vet. Because the sooner we can get them assessed and decontaminated, the better chance we have for them all,” explained Norman.

Norman recommends asking pest control companies for the specific product name and active ingredients, not just whether it is “pet safe,” so your vet can look up the exact treatment protocol if needed. She also recommends notifying your neighbors when pest control is coming so they can keep their pets inside.

“Be nice to your neighbors’ pets. We all live here, and it’s nice to have animals in the neighborhoods and things like that, um, and try to look out for the wildlife that makes Idaho so special,” Williams 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 Austin Grabish

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Parents stood in horror outside the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday after learning a mass shooting had taken place at San Diego’s largest mosque.

“It’s very disturbing, especially when there are kids in both the mosque and both in school, and I understand some of the kids were exposed to what happened there, so very, very disturbing,” said Nati Gabizon during a live interview with ABC 10News Investigative Reporter Austin Grabish.

Gabizon has four daughters who attend the Kavod Charter School next door to the Islamic Center. He said he received an email from the school around noon informing parents that his daughters had been sheltered in place while the campus was locked down.

When he spoke with ABC 10News, there were at least 50 police vehicles and a SWAT team at the scene. Many officers had their guns drawn and a police helicopter was circling above.

“I just hope that everybody will be safe and that we will not have such things here again here,” Gabizon said.

Arad Rastgaran lives down the street from the mosque and used to play basketball there as a child. He said he still has friends who go there and learned about the shooting after his family went into lockdown.

“My mom actually texted me, told me that and then I got scared because I love my parents,” he said during a live interview.

Rastgaran, 16, said he never felt unsafe at the Islamic center.

“They just welcome you in, even if you’re not Muslim. I’m not Muslim, but I’m Persian but they just welcome you in it’s so heartwarming.”

Clairemont resident Aaron Nigro’s son goes to school near the mosque and said he found out about the shooting when he was at a nearby shopping center. The doors had been locked, which he thought was odd. He checked the Citizen app and learned there was an active shooter.

“It’s nerve-racking. I mean, out of all places, like a mosque, I mean, you’re dealing with two schools right here, another school right down the block where my son goes.”

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said three people died in the shooting, which is being investigated as a hate crime, including a security guard who worked at the mosque.

“There was hate rhetoric involved,” he said.

Wahl said the two suspected shooters, ages 17 and 18, were found dead inside a car about two blocks away from the Islamic Center.

According to Wahl, one shooter had been reported missing by his mother around 9:30 a.m. Monday, who told police she was concerned because her son was suicidal, had taken her car and weapons, and was dressed in camouflage.

Police used license plate readers to track the vehicle and sent officers to the Fashion Valley mall as a possible threat location, Wahl said.

By 11:43 a.m., police received reports of an active shooter at the Islamic Center. When police arrived, they found three people dead.

“This is every community’s worst nightmare,” he told reporters.

Wahl said between 50 and 100 officers entered the mosque, breached doors and searched the building during what he described as an “extremely chaotic” operation.

He also said gunfire was later reported a few blocks away, where a landscaper was shot.

The victim was not injured and may have been protected by the helmet he was wearing, Wahl said.

Wahl said one of the shooter’s mothers found a note left behind from her son but the chief wouldn’t disclose what it 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 Michael Chen

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Years before a shooting prompted an investigation into security at a San Diego mosque, leaders there had already taken significant steps to protect worshippers — steps ABC 10News Jared Aarons was given a firsthand look at in 2022.

Imam Taha Hassane showed Jared Aarons a row of bulletproof windows at the Islamic Center of San Diego.

“It says purchased with funds provided by the US Dept. of Homeland Security,” Hassane said in 2022.

More bulletproof windows were planned at the time.

“This is my office and we’re going to replace all these glasses with bulletproof glasses,” Hassane said.

Over a period of several years, the center also added a wall around the playground, cameras in the parking lot, a perimeter fence, and an armed guard at the entrance. Those measures were put in place with the help of a $200,000 grant from the state.

“We know that places of gatherings especially places of worship are always the target of criminals,” Hassane said in 2022.

The increased security came with a tension Aarons noted between safety and the mosque’s mission of faith.

“The extra security also has a cost that can’t be measured with dollars. It’s difficult to find a balance between being a welcoming, open, hub of a community while building things that keep people out,” Aarons said.

Hassane, who remains imam at the center, also spoke to that balance.

“It’s a very, very hard choice, a very hard decision to make,” Hassane said.

Hassane said he wants everyone to feel welcome but also safe.

The grant money could also be used on active shooter drills, situational awareness training, and facilities assessments.

When asked about the tighter security and the prospect of violence at his doorstep, Hassane reflected on the approach he and the center had taken.

“Just doing our best. Whatever is available to do, and taking our precautions—and praying,” Hassane said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGTV verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Cyera Williams

Click here for updates on this story

    OWINGS MILLS, Maryland (WMAR) — At Atrium Village, prom is not just for teenagers.

The senior living facility is getting ready for its senior prom, and for two veterans, the celebration is also a chance to honor companionship, laughter and love at every age.

Robert Merritt served three years in the Navy. Henry Goodman served three years in the Marines. The two men bring different branches, different life stories and a little friendly rivalry to the table.

Merritt joked that Marines still need the Navy.

“Well, tell Marines learn how to walk on water. They need us,” Merritt said.

Merritt’s prom date is Joyce, a woman he met after she sat down at his table at Atrium Village. He said their relationship grew from simple conversations and time spent together.

“I was sitting at this big round table. With the group. And we had an empty seat, and she came in and sat down with us,” Merritt said.

Two veterans share love stories ahead of Atrium Village dance Screenshot 2026-05-18 at 11.17.12 AM.png Photo by: Cyera Williams Robert Merritt asks Joyce to the Atrium Senior Prom. By: Cyera Williams Posted 6:00 PM, May 18, 2026 and last updated 6:00 PM, May 18, 2026 OWINGS MILLS — At Atrium Village, prom is not just for teenagers.

Two veterans celebrate love, laughter and senior prom at Atrium Village

The senior living facility is getting ready for its senior prom, and for two veterans, the celebration is also a chance to honor companionship, laughter and love at every age.

Robert Merritt served three years in the Navy. Henry Goodman served three years in the Marines. The two men bring different branches, different life stories and a little friendly rivalry to the table.

Merritt joked that Marines still need the Navy.

“Well, tell Marines learn how to walk on water. They need us,” Merritt said.

The video player is currently playing an ad. Merritt’s prom date is Joyce, a woman he met after she sat down at his table at Atrium Village. He said their relationship grew from simple conversations and time spent together.

“I was sitting at this big round table. With the group. And we had an empty seat, and she came in and sat down with us,” Merritt said.

Merritt says he is looking forward to getting dressed up for prom and enjoying the night with Joyce.

“Get all dressed up, smell good. Make everything right. Wish I had more hair, but what the hell?” Merritt said.

Goodman’s love story with his wife, Odessa, goes back much further. The two met in high school and have been married for nearly 68 years.

Goodman said he still remembers visiting Odessa’s family for the first time. He came from a small family, while Odessa’s home was full of siblings.

“Oh, man, it was like, it was like a party going on all the time, you know,” Goodman said.

Goodman went to his high school prom, but about 10 days later, he left for Parris Island to serve in the Marines. Decades later, prom is giving him and Odessa another chance to celebrate together.

After nearly seven decades of marriage, Goodman says Odessa is still the person he depends on most.

“I wouldn’t know how to go on without her, to tell you the truth,” Goodman said.

For Merritt, Goodman and their partners, Atrium Village’s senior prom is more than a dance. It is a chance to dress up, share a laugh and make a new memory, no matter your 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.

By Rachel Henderson

Click here for updates on this story

    KANSAS CITY, Kansas (KSHB) — A man barricaded inside a home exchanged gunfire with police Sunday night, injuring two neighbors and damaging several homes and cars on the 3400 block of North 40th Street.

911 dispatch received multiple reports of active gunfire in the 3400 block of North 40th Street at approximately 9:37 p.m., with residents reporting that homes and vehicles were being struck.

Several neighbors called police, including Sharon Castellanos, who initially thought the sounds were fireworks or an electrical issue and went outside to investigate.

Her Ring camera captured all eight minutes of the gunfire.

“We’re really shocked by it,” Castellanos said, who was home with her roommate and boyfriend. “The time that we’ve been living here, nothing like that has ever happened. It’s a really quiet neighborhood, so I’m just really sad that this took place.”

Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department officers arrived at 3428 North 40th Street at approximately 9:41 p.m. and immediately came under fire from inside the home.

Multiple officers discharged their firearms during the encounter.

Castellanos said her house had seven bullet holes and her garage had two, including one that went all the way through.

“My car got hit twice. The bullets didn’t go through, but it hit the taillight and kind of broke it,” Castellanos said.

Gunfire continued from the residence into the surrounding neighborhood until approximately 10:02 p.m., when suspect Terry Lee Frye, 62, of KCK, exited the home and surrendered.

Frye was arrested without further incident and was not injured.

However, two neighbors were injured.

One sustained a gunshot wound before police arrived and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.

The other sustained a minor injury while seeking cover and was also transported for medical treatment.

No law enforcement officers were injured.

“We’ve never lived through anything like that, so it’s just really scary,” Castellanos said.

KCKPD requested assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at approximately 10:25 p.m.

KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team then responded to the scene.

Once the investigation is complete, findings will be presented to the Wyandotte County District Attorney for review.

This is the second officer-involved shooting in KCK in the last week. The KBI is investigating both incidents.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSHB’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Olivia Acree

Click here for updates on this story

    LENEXA, Kansas (KSHB) — Lenexa first responders are promoting a location app they say could make reaching people in emergencies faster and easier, especially with large World Cup crowds expected next month.

The app is called What3Words. It divides the world into small squares, each assigned three unique random words. Opening the app immediately displays the three words tied to your exact location.

Lenexa Fire Chief Travis Vaughn said the tool is especially useful in parks, trails, and other places without an obvious street address.

“It’s very helpful for us. We’re in a business where time matters greatly. And if we can locate someone that’s kind of on a trail or in a park more quickly, the outcomes will be better,” Vaughn said.

When someone shares their three words with emergency crews, dispatchers type them in and get a map directly to that location.

Vaughn said his department used the app just this week during an incident in one of Lenexa’s larger parks.

“We had an incident in one of our larger parks that we used What3Words to locate someone on the dam of a little lake area that we have, and it just works perfectly,” Vaughn said. “So even if I were to use What3Words right from here to get to the middle of that park, it will show me where to drive to and then where I’m going to have to walk to.”

Vaughn said the app does not rely on cell signal strength — only a phone’s GPS — which makes it practical in crowded venues like tailgates and sporting events. He said it can be useful not only for first responders, but for anyone trying to locate a friend in a large crowd.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSHB’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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.