Invasive golden mussels run rampant in San Joaquin County, spark plea for federal assistance

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Carmela Karcher

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    SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, California (KMAX, KOVR) — Tony Faso has been in the boating business for 23 years. In that time, he’s never been able to see the fish swimming near the shores of the San Joaquin Delta, until now.

“The clarity of the water is wild,” Faso, owner of the Delta Marine Yacht Center in Stockton, explained. “It’s sad to say, but we could never even see that deep.”

That clear water is a clear warning sign of the invasion happening below the surface as hundreds of thousands of golden mussels filter the water while wreaking havoc on critical infrastructure.

“I don’t want to say it’s a foregone conclusion that we can’t stop it, but we have to find a way to slow it down,” Faso said.

The golden mussel is tiny but mighty, multiplying fast and nearly impossible to get rid of.

Thick colonies are already coating boats, piers and pipelines.

As the owner of the Delta Marine Yacht Center, Faso has a front-row view of the invasion as he hauls boats daily coming from the web of waterways around the region.

“We get to really kind of view a whole host of environments that these mussels are showing up in,” he continued. “It’s a really good kind of concentrated way to get a lot of data quickly and it’s just our normal course of business.”

He’s also part of a county committee trying to find ways to combat the invasive mollusk.

“That’s our big push. We need data, we need information and we need people to do little things like we’re doing,” Faso said.

His job is to test an ultrasonic transducer that sends pulses along a surface to deter mussels from attaching.

“We’re trying to specifically prove it out on agricultural pipes as the Delta is so agriculturally sensitive,” he explained. “We have a system in place but we need time to prove it.”

He says the results have been positive but the need to stop the spread of these mussels is urgent.

“If we have a problem here, and we do, it’s likely showing up in all other regions hundreds of miles away,” Faso continued. “These boats that are traveling from body of water to body of water can unwittingly be transmitting or conveying those mussels to an otherwise unaffected area.”

By working with local to federal partners, they hope it will bring in additional resources so waterways across California can be set free.

“We’re looking to find a solution and that seems unlikely,” he said. “In the meantime, what we’re trying to do is get education out there.”

The county Board of Supervisors is asking for funding, technical assistance, mitigation strategies and infrastructure protection resources through local, regional, state and federal partners through an emergency declaration, which was declared at the end of April.

They plan to review the status of the emergency every 60 days.

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.

After a long childhood cancer journey, this family is embracing life – and dancing

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Kate Bilo, Casey Kuhn

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    Pennsylvania (KYW) — For childhood cancer families, the journey never ends. Even when children are cured, there can be side effects from the treatment, and the possibility of a relapse is always lurking.

For the Isaacs family, life can be chaos.

But that has become pretty normal for this family of five. Life has thrown them more than one curveball.

“I remember my mommy saying I felt more tired,” Emilia says about the beginning of the journey.

When Emilia was about two years old, she had on-and-off fevers for about two weeks, her mom said.

They went to the doctor, and the next day, the family received an alarming message.

“She told us to take Emilia to the children’s hospital,” mom Kathrin Isaacs said.

Emilia had cancer — B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“You hear kids can get cancer, but you never thought it would be us,” Kathrin said.

It was the day before Thanksgiving 2021. Emilia started treatment immediately.

“The worst day ever,” Emilia recalled.

The first month of leukemia treatment, called induction, is intense, and there were complications.

“She couldn’t walk anymore after three weeks,” Kathrin said.

“And I just remember … thinking to myself, just not even get to the next day, just get to next hour,” Emilia’s dad said.

By Christmas Eve, Emilia was in remission.

But treatment wasn’t finished. In fact, treatment lasted about 2.5 years.

And there were more complications — pneumonia that required a breathing tube, lack of appetite and a feeding tube.

“You didn’t have time to think. You’re just really in survival mode,” Kathrin said.

Emilia finished treatment.

“We even celebrated, she rang the bell,” Kathrin said. “We actually had 19 months of thinking this life, this cancer life is behind us.”

That all changed in October.

“The one time she woke up because she was so sweaty … and she just looked at me, and there I knew, I knew that the leukemia is back,” Kathrin said.

Treatment started again.

“You always know this can happen. You always fear that this could be us again, but you still don’t think it’s gonna hit you,” Kathrin said.

The side effects were severe.

“She couldn’t talk anymore, she couldn’t walk, she couldn’t move,” Kathrin said.

“Well, I could talk, but it sounded silly,” Emilia said.

Emilia’s treatments didn’t clear all of the cancer, so she had CAR-T cell therapy.

“I remember the exact moment when I got the T-cells out of my body,” Emilia said.

So far, the treatment has worked: Emilia is in remission.

They say they couldn’t have gotten here without community support, especially from the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

“And as soon as another family has a child with cancer, I tell them, go to Alex’s. They will know how they can help you,” Kathrin said.

Right now, the Isaacs family is focusing on life and celebrating with the viral T-cell dance.

Join CBS Philadelphia for the 20th annual Alex Scott A Stand for Hope Telethon, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Funds are being raised for childhood cancer research.

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.

Worker dies after falling from construction scaffolding at school, police say

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Garrett Behanna

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A woman has died after falling about 30 feet from construction scaffolding at Obama Academy in Pittsburgh, authorities said on Monday.

Pittsburgh EMS, fire crews, and Zone 5 officers responded just before 9 a.m. to the 500 block of North Highland Avenue for a report of an injured person.

Police said construction workers were performing work on the school’s pool area, where scaffolding had been erected. Responders found the adult woman at the bottom of the empty pool after the fall.

According to a press release from a Pittsburgh Public Schools spokesperson, the woman was part of a contracted construction team performing work related to a pool lighting project at the school. No students or district employees were involved in the incident, the district spokesperson added.

The woman suffered severe head injuries and was transported by EMS personnel in grave condition. She was pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital shortly after arrival, according to police. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as 36-year-old Noelle Mansour.

Violent Crime Unit detectives responded to the scene as part of standard procedure, police said.

The incident remains under investigation.

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.

Eddie Andelman, known as “godfather of sports radio,” dead at 89

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Matt Schooley

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    Massachusetts (WBZ) — Eddie Andelman, a member of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame who is known by many as the “godfather of sports radio,” has died.

Andelman’s three sons announced their father’s death. Eddie Andelman was 89 years old.

“Eddie Andelman was loved by his wife of fifty seven years, worshipped by his sons, and adored by his grandchildren. From humble roots in Dorchester, he went onto great success in business and broadcasting,” the family said. “Some call him the godfather of sports radio. He certainly changed and elevated the sports radio game.”

Andelman was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2011 after a career on Boston radio that spanned 42 years. A biography on the Hall of Fame’s website says that Andelman “virtually invented the sports talk radio format.”

In 1969, Andelman and two other hosts debuted “Sports Huddle,” a live and interactive sports show on WEEI.

“Andelman’s astute observations and good humor attracted fans of all ages to join the discussions. The show became a model for similar programs across the country,” the Massachusetts Broadcast Hall of Fame wrote on its website. “As the audiences grew, the show expanded from a weekly Sunday night feature to a prime time weekday series and was a precursor of the all-sports radio format stations that we know today.”

In 1989, Andelman hosted the first “Hot Dog Safari” in Boston, giving participants the chance to travel around the city in search of the best hot dogs. Phantom Gourmet later took over the event.

Decades of Hot Dog Safari events helped raise millions of dollars for cystic fibrosis research through the Joey Fund.

“Eddie worked tirelessly on the Hot Dog Safari for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation because he loved to give people a great time and he was thankful that his own family was healthy,” Dave, Mike and Dan Andelman wrote. “There would be no Phantom Gourmet without Eddie Andelman. His passion and pride in the work, down to earth and sometimes irreverent style, and the reverence for small business owners and hard working people only enriched our lives and well as many others as well. We learned all that we do from our dad. He was one of a kind. He helped thousands and entertained millions. Eddie Andelman lived a truly incredible life.”

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.

Humpback whale caught in fishing rope freed off Massachusetts: “It was an honor,” rescuers said

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Neal Riley

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    Massachusetts (WBZ) — A young humpback whale was freed from entanglement in fishing gear off the coast of Massachusetts on Sunday.

The Provincetown-based Center for Coastal Studies said boaters spotted the “relatively small whale” struggling in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, which encompasses 842 square miles between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. The Marine Animal Entanglement Response team responded and found the whale with rope around the base of its tail that was essentially anchoring it in place.

The center said rescuers only had a short amount of time to act with storms in the forecast on Sunday evening. They used a hook-shaped knife at the end of a 30-foot pole to make a series of cuts to the rope – and it worked. The crew stayed with the whale until it was able to start swimming around again.

Researchers believe the whale has a good prognosis despite being injured by the entanglement. Whale watchers have repeatedly called the MAER hotline about the whale in the past month because it has deep wounds on its body from a previous entanglement, the center said.

A responder from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was part of the effort to free the whale.

“It was an honor to help this whale and great to continue the collaboration between our teams,” Maria Harvey said in a statement.

Entanglement and vessel strikes are two of the most serious threats to whales. Just last week, a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, recently seen off Cape Cod, was observed with fishing gear in its mouth in Canada’s Gulf of St. Lawrence.

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Atlanta nonprofit’s STEM summer camp inspires students to dream bigger through robotics

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Alexa Liacko

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — While school may be out for the summer, students at one Atlanta camp are still learning — this time through robotics, engineering, and problem-solving.

A new partnership between Atlanta nonprofit Children’s First and STEM education organization The STEM Plug brought a high-tech robotics camp to metro Atlanta this summer, exposing foster children and at-risk youth to hands-on STEM experiences designed to build confidence and creativity.

“We don’t want to just teach STEM to kids and for them to consume it,” said Rich Gilliam, founder of The STEM Plug. “We want them to feel like they can be creators.”

The STEM Plug operates robotics camps across the Southeast, introducing students to science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive projects.

This year, Gilliam partnered with Children First, an organization that serves foster children and at-risk youth throughout metro Atlanta. While Children First hosts summer camps every year, organizers said adding robotics programming gave students an opportunity many had never experienced before.

While school may be out for the summer, students at one Atlanta camp are still learning — this time through robotics, engineering, and problem-solving.

A new partnership between Atlanta nonprofit Children’s First and STEM education organization The STEM Plug brought a high-tech robotics camp to metro Atlanta this summer, exposing foster children and at-risk youth to hands-on STEM experiences designed to build confidence and creativity.

“We don’t want to just teach STEM to kids and for them to consume it,” said Rich Gilliam, founder of The STEM Plug. “We want them to feel like they can be creators.”

The STEM Plug operates robotics camps across the Southeast, introducing students to science, technology, engineering, and math through interactive projects.

This year, Gilliam partnered with Children First, an organization that serves foster children and at-risk youth throughout metro Atlanta. While Children First hosts summer camps every year, organizers said adding robotics programming gave students an opportunity many had never experienced before.

“As a kid, I didn’t have much confidence that I can do anything within STEM, right? So that’s why I struggled,” he said. “So that’s why I created STEM Plug to really help kids now at that earlier age that they can feel like they can have that confidence, that they could be creators.”

Gilliam hopes introducing children to technology early will help prepare them for future careers in growing industries.

“If there’s companies out here that have 10-, 15-year goals out, we need to reach the kids that are younger, right?” he said.

Students said the lessons extended beyond building robots.

“Robotics is important to me because it can help me in my everyday life,” participant Dante Hollis said.

Gilliam said he has watched students develop critical life skills throughout the program.

“A lot of times the kids might not notice it, but I definitely notice every day of them just really, really learn those skills that we want them to learn, which are critical thinking and problem solving,” he said.

Several students said Gilliam’s encouragement made a lasting impression during the two-week camp.

“He’s patient with people,” said 13-year-old Cach Arel. “He’s patient with people, even though people want to quit, but he still convinces them to keep going.”

Hollis said Gilliam helped him overcome one of his biggest challenges.

“He taught me how not to give up, and giving up was one of my hardest challenges because sometimes I messed up and I wanted to quit right then and there and stop, but he kept me pushing and helped me keep going and trying my best,” Hollis said.

Gilliam said he hopes this summer’s program will be the first of many collaborations in metro Atlanta, believing that a small amount of encouragement can inspire students to pursue lifelong opportunities in STEM.

The idea for the partnership originated at Invest Fest Atlanta, a convention that connects startups and organizations looking to collaborate on initiatives that benefit the city. Children’s First offers year-round programs serving Atlanta-area families.

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.

Paralyzed Minnesota man’s invention aims to help people with mobility issues walk again

CNN Newsource on June 16, 2026

By Derek James

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — At 17, a car accident left Alan Tholkes a paraplegic with a spinal cord injury. What followed has been a lifetime spent solving problems he understood firsthand.

“Being a user of the product, you start to train yourself to look at it. You can see the problems, right? I think that’s the foundation of any good designer invention is just identifying the problem, how can you make something better,” said Alan Tholkes, founder and inventor of the WalkPort.

For over four decades, Alan Tholkes designed wheelchairs, standing devices and mobility products used around the world.

His wife, Monaliza, says the drive to help others never switches off.

“He would have a pen and a paper on the side of the bed, and in the middle of the night would wake up and design a product,” said Monaliza Tholkes.

She says Alan Tholkes often includes their children in the process, as ideas become inventions. His latest is called the WalkPort. It’s designed to help people with paralysis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and age-related mobility issues experience walking again.

The idea came after Alan Tholkes spent hours traveling to a rehabilitation center for a brief walking session.

“I’m back home and I’m thinking, ‘Well, that was good, wow. I want to do it again, but I want to do it right now, right here at my house,'” explained Alan Tholkes.

For Janice Binstock, the results were immediate. Earlier this year, she suddenly lost the use of her legs and tried the WalkPort after finishing physical therapy.

“My balance was a big factor with what I dealt with, and when I got on the WalkPort, I could just walk. I didn’t have to concentrate on my balance. And I could see what I was doing,” said Binstock.

Today, she’s walking again without assistance.

A lifetime after losing the ability to walk himself, Alan Tholkes is still finding ways to help others take their next steps.

“The reaction on people’s faces when they get to experience something they haven’t been able to experience before is pretty gratifying,” said Alan Tholkes.

“I just think it gives each individual hope,” said Binstock.

The WalkPort will be built with manufacturing partner Data Metalcraft in Arlington, Minnesota. The first machines will roll off the assembly floor in August.

Alan Tholkes plans to retire in Florida at the end of this month.

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.

Colorado non-profit finds foster homes for 40 dogs after Oklahoma shelter floods

KRDO on June 16, 2026

Michael Logerwell

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) – Last Thursday, an animal shelter in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, flooded, putting the well-being of dozens of animals into question.

Photos from the City of Tahlequah

A city spokesperson says it was a member of the animal control who was monitoring the security cameras because of the heavy rain in the forecast when he heard the dogs whimpering and sprang into action.

But once the dogs and kittens were rescued from the brown flood waters, what happened next?

Some of those animals went to a shelter in California, a few stayed in the Oklahoma area, and 40 dogs made the +11 hour drive up to El Paso County, Colorado.

“We were rushing around trying to get as many animals out of there as possible,” Julie Cousino, operations director for El Paso County Canine Rescue, said.

Because El Paso County Canine Rescue is a foster-only organization, they needed to set up good homes for the impacted dogs before they could come up to Southern Colorado.

“Our team was making phone calls. We were texting fosters. We were posting on the main page. We have a foster group page that we are posting on. We are tagging everybody. It was a lot of legwork on our part to get fosters,” Cousino said.

Even with all 40 of the rescued Oklahoma dogs finding foster homes, Cousino said, foster families are still a big need for the non-profit.

“Summertime is the hardest time for fosters because people think of summer, they’re thinking vacation trips, things like that. So we have a constant need for fosters, especially in the summertime,” She said.

To learn more about becoming a foster family or about upcoming adoption events, visit the El Paso County Canine Rescue website.

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Pikes Peak isn’t just a race, it’s a community at 14,000 Feet

KRDO on June 16, 2026

Dylan Foreman

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Right before my first trip up Pikes Peak, veteran driver Fred Veach leaned over from the driver’s seat and gave me a warning I didn’t fully understand at the time.

He said the race was a combination of the Indy 500 and Woodstock.

After experiencing it firsthand, it turns out he was exactly right.

The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb isn’t your typical race. It’s a global showcase, bringing together 75 drivers from multiple countries, all competing across seven classes.

Every single one of them shares the same goal: get to the summit as fast as possible

But before they ever touch the mountain, they have to get cleared to race at tech inspection.

Before engines roar to life on the 12.42-mile course, every team must prove their car is ready.

“I’ve raced different places, and there’s nothing like Pikes Peak,” driver Matus Huska said.

That uniqueness showed itself long before race day for Earl O’Maley and his team.

O’Maley’s group arrived with high hopes, but those quickly turned into a week-long battle just to get their car running.

“We’ve been fighting it for over a week,” Earl O’Maley’s wife, Katie O’Maley, explained.

The mechanical issues with the engine and other electrical issues nearly ended their race before it began.

But then, something unexpected happened.

A rookie driver from Poland, Maciej Serafin, and his team stepped in, not as competitors, but as teammates.

“We are happy that he goes close to the race. So it was amazing,” Serafin said of the opportunity to help.

The group worked together, diagnosing and fixing the issue that had threatened to sideline O’Maley’s car.

“They found the problem, and they can start it for Pikes Peak,” Gabriel Kubit, who is acting as the lead mechanic on Maciej’s car, said.

Just like that, a race entry that was nearly done was back on track.

For the O’Maley team, the moment meant more than just getting to race.

“Never in a million years did I ever think these angels would come into our lives,” Katie said. “They really are. They are truly our guardian angels. We wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

It’s a reminder that while every driver is chasing a clock, something bigger is happening behind the scenes.

At Pikes Peak, competition and camaraderie exist side by side.

Drivers become friends. Teams become support systems. And everyone becomes family.

“You become friends and eventually family with everybody,” O’Maley said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re in our class or not. If you need help, just ask.”

For Kubit, what goes around comes around.

“When I can help, I help,” another driver said. “Because I don’t know when I’ll need help.”

The race to the top begins June 21 on Father’s Day.

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Five Skyline High School teens dive into creek to rescue family from car accident

KIFI on June 16, 2026

Kaelyn Blessinger

SWAN VALLEY, Idaho (KIFI) – A mother and her two children are alive and recovering after their truck flipped upside down in a creek along Falls Creek Road, near Porcupine Creek and Rash Canyon.

It took so many people to rescue this mom and her two sons from the creek.

A part of the rescue team were five Skyline High School students:

Jeremy (JJ) Thompson

Clay Lindula

Logan Mcalevy

Donald (DJ) Carney

Colton Johnson

“We were going down the road. I see some people on the side of the road, and I kind of pull over waiting for them to pass by,” Thompson said. “They don’t come, so I think, oh, they’re probably waiting for me. So we go around the corner, and then that’s when we see the truck tipped over in the creek.”

Without a moment of hesitation, not even taking the time to throw their wallets out of their pockets, these teens dove into the creek to save the family.

The mother was able to pry herself out of the front window with some help. But her two boys were still stuck inside.

“I feel a shovel on the bottom of the creek bed,” Mcalevy said. “From there I smashed the black glass, stick my arm in the truck, and then I feel the one year old kid grab my finger.”

After pulling both kids from the car, these five teens had to find the mentality of trained adults, setting aside their own fears to help calm a distraught four-year-old, while Rylie Albertson and Danielle Williams fought to save his little brother.

“He was screaming for his mom. He was screaming for his dad. He was screaming for his little brother – very worried about all of them,” Carney recounted. “But I’m glad we were able to pull him away and put him kind of by the trailer where he could, like, be away from where his little brother’s CPR was performed, because even seeing that, like for a minute, I was like, it got bad for us and we didn’t even know.”

The group wished they could’ve done more to help resuscitate the one-year-old.

When they got home, the first phone call they made wasn’t to their parents, but a friend and retired Fire Chief who could teach them CPR. When asked if they would take CPR classes if they were offered, they all offered a resounding yes.

Red Cross CPR Certification

American Heart Association CPR Training

Idaho Falls Community Hospital

Benefit Dinner for Family

A benefit dinner will be held to support the family who was caught in the crash next month.

It will be held at the Westbank Convention Center on July 11th with dinner beginning at 6 PM. 

More details will be posted on the Signature Events Facebook Page as the event gets closer. 

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