Month: June 2026

By Taylor Locke

Click here for updates on this story

    CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — Google executives announced plans Thursday to build on the company’s existing investment in Virginia; it aims to expand the state’s workforce and reduce energy costs for residents.

The announcement includes a $50 million nationwide commitment to train and expand the workforce needed to build new infrastructure, with a portion directed to Virginia. The goal is to increase the state’s projected pipeline of new electricians 135% by 2030.

Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Google, said the company is building on a previous commitment to the state.

“I was last here in August to announce a $9 billion to build cloud and AI infrastructure across the state including a data center that’s just south of here in Chesterfield County. And I’m thrilled to be here and expand our partnership in Virginia,” Porat said.

Google currently has several data center projects underway in Chesterfield County.

“We’ve got some under development here in Chesterfield County. We have three campuses that are in the pipeline between now and 2029,” Cathie Vick, a Google executive, said.

Vick also addressed concerns from residents that construction jobs tied to data center development are not permanent.

“The construction jobs, temporary, again a misnomer, because when we start a campus, we build one building that typically employs 1,800 construction workers at one time, and then we move to the next building and then the next building and that’s just one campus and then we have two other campuses in just Chesterfield. There’s 600 data centers in Virginia and there’s a lot of construction activity for years to come,” Vick said.

The second part of the announcement is a $15 million Energy Impact Fund aimed at helping Virginians struggling with rising power bills. Spanberger and Google executives say the fund will go toward home upgrades to make them more energy efficient, as well as training for workers who weatherize homes.

Spanberger said the investment goes beyond workforce development.

“And Google’s investment doesn’t stop at workforce training and here in the Commonwealth we are grateful for that. The Energy Impact Fund will drive down monthly energy bills and help Virginians who most need that support,” Spanberger said.

Porat said the fund will deliver immediate results for residents.

“Funding local organizations that will help with valuable actions like going in and weatherizing homes so you can avoid the leakage and immediately see a reduction in utility bills,” Porat said.

Google says its focus will start in areas where the company is developing or already has data centers and will expand from there.

In 2025, Google data centers supported 17,000 jobs in Virginia and generated $2 billion in economic impact across the state. Google executives say this announcement is a plan to build on that investment.

Responding to the announcement, Governor Spanberger said Virginia is grateful for its partnership with Google and emphasized that the company’s investments are ultimately investments in people.

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 Brian McBride

Click here for updates on this story

    HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — Highlands County deputies were warning people about scammers posing as Duke Energy workers after two men tried to gain access to a resident’s property on Wednesday.

According to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, the men were in the Sebring Hills neighborhood claiming to work for a company employed by Duke Energy.

They were trying to gain access to the property to check the meter, HCSO officials said. However, they were not affiliated with Duke Energy.

Imposters posing as utility employees may knock on doors claiming to be employed or hired by Duke Energy to repair or inspect your meter or other utility-related equipment, utility officials said.

In addition, they may say there is a charge for the service, and if you don’t pay, they will come back later to remove your meter.

Always ask for identification, officials said. Duke Energy employees should have an official employee identification badge.

If you’re still in doubt, contact Duke customer care center to confirm the employee’s name, photo and number on the ID badge are legitimate.

In some instances, representatives from private companies may be working on behalf of Duke Energy. If they do not have an official identification card, ask for their name and the reason for their visit. Then contact Duke Energy to verify the information.

Some scam artists claiming to be Duke Energy employees are telling customers they can wipe out entire account balances – for a cash fee. Duke Energy will never offer to pay your bill in exchange for a fee, officials said.

If you see them, HCSO said to call the agency at 863-402-7200, option 1. Or call 911 if you feel you are in immediate danger.

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 Larissa Scott

Click here for updates on this story

    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Right off of busy Henderson Boulevard in Tampa, sits Head’s Flags.

It’s a family business that was started in 1984 by Tony Clayton’s grandfather.

He started working with his grandfather in 1995 and took over the business in 2000. Now he’s working with his sons.

“I think this whole thing is part of my grandfather’s vision too, so it’s working out well for the whole family,” said Tony Clayton, owner of Head’s Flags.

They’re cranking out all kinds of flags across Tampa Bay for different sports teams, companies, you name it.

“We do a lot of custom flags, banners, flag pole installations— both commercial and residential. And of course, we have a fully stocked retail store also. We screen print. I have a seamstress who does appliqué work, and we can do embroidery. We’ve also started doing some promotional stuff too,” said Clayton.

Their most important flag is the American flag.

“We get patriotic customers and they’re just dependable good people,” said Clayton.

It’s one reason why his shop is always stocked with American flags. There’s no shortage of red, white, and blue there.

For America 250, he added some special flags to celebrate the milestone anniversary.

“It’s a big deal, 250 years. That’s a long time,” said Clayton.

They’ve already sold out of those twice and have stocked up again as people gear up to observe the semiquincentennial.

“It started selling much earlier than we thought,” said Clayton.

It’s a sign that people are excited for this July 4th.

Clayton is excited, too.

“We’re throwing a big party. We’re going to have a lot of fireworks, a lot of the neighbors, and a cookout so I’m very excited,” he said.

As a flag maker, Clayton told Tampa Bay 28 that the American flag has a very important meaning, and he’s honored to be part of helping people celebrate our country.

“It just means what we hold dear. The idea of freedom and we can have opinions and we can speak our minds and I really embrace that,” said Clayton.

Home of the free, as signified by these stars and stripes.

“This country is a great country. It’s been around for 250 years. I think it’s worth celebrating,” said Clayton.

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 WFOR News Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — A Florida woman is facing felony battery and disorderly conduct charges after being accused in a slew of disturbances, including yelling at people, stripping down to her underwear in public and spitting in the face of a deputy – twice.

The deputy’s response, seen on bodycam video slapping the suspect during her arrest, is under review, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies were called to a gas station in Brooksville, north of Tampa, on June 9 to investigate reports that a woman was yelling at customers, behaving erratically and was disrupting the business.

When deputies arrived at the scene, employees said they wanted the woman, who has since been identified as Iesha Field, 33, trespassed from the property. After being issued the trespass warning, Field left the gas station and then went to a nearby mobile home park and continued to cause a disturbance.

While she was there, deputies said that Field removed her clothes and was only wearing her underwear. In addition, Field appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, was yelling, acting belligerently and was disturbing residents, including a mother with young children.

The mother had also requested that Field be trespassed from the property.

According to the sheriff’s office, deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation by telling Field, who had previous injuries to her knee and eye, that she needed to return to her home.

She refused, became combative and then was taken into custody. However, the sheriff’s office said Field resisted the efforts to be placed into the patrol vehicle and tried to hit and kick them.

Once she was placed inside, deputies said Field was banging her head and feet against the window of the patrol vehicle, and when deputies opened the door to talk with her, she fell out.

As Deputy M. LaPalme was trying to help get Field back into the patrol vehicle, deputies said Field spit on the left side of his face. LaPalme continued to try and buckle her into the seat when the sheriff’s office said Field spit in his face once again.

That’s when LaPalme hit her in the face to prevent her from spitting again, a recording from the deputy’s patrol camera showed.

The sheriff’s office said that Field continued to resist, and was kicking and trying to damage the vehicle. Because of this, additional restraints and a spit hood were used for the safety of Field and the deputies.

She was taken to the Hernando County Detention Center and was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, breach of peace/disorderly intoxication.

She was being held on a $3,000 bond.

The incident was captured on multiple body cameras and on an in-car camera. The actions of Deputy M. LaPalme are under review.

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 WCCO News Staff, Adam Duxter

Click here for updates on this story

    WASHINGTON COUNTY, Minnesota (WCCO) — Investigators in Washington County, Minnesota, say they’ve identified the human remains found in two Twin Cities lakes more than three decades ago.

Denise Elaine Sexton Hartley, the youngest of 15 siblings from St. Paul, disappeared in 1993 at the age of 27. In June of that year, a severed human head was discovered near Bone Lake in Scandia, and a foot was found in Pig’s Eye Lake in St. Paul a day later.

Investigators were unable to identify the remains until they harnessed investigative genetic genealogy in 2024. Ultimately, they were led to Hartley and were able to obtain a DNA sample from her daughter. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigators were able to identify the remains as Hartley’s, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.

Traci Onders and the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit that has found leads on more than 150 cases by using powerful new genetic genealogy technology.

“Somebody obviously went to great lengths to make sure that Denise’s name was taken from her,” Onders said. “It was very important to us to be able to give her her name back and give her family an answer.”

Still, investigators say they’re unsure of the manner and cause of Hartley’s death. No one has been arrested.

“Cases like this stay with you,” said Washington County Sheriff’s Detective Clayton Evens, the lead investigator in the case. “Even after decades, there’s always hope that one day the science will catch up to the questions that couldn’t be answered at the time, and it finally did.”

Anyone with information connected to the case is asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 651-430-7850.

“We’re trying to make connection with any acquaintance, family member, friend, anyone we can find that had some interaction with her life,” Evens said. “It would be a huge sigh of relief, not just for me, but for our entire team.”

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 Paula Wethington

Click here for updates on this story

    DEARBORN, Chicago (WWJ) — A 6-year-old girl was rescued from the debris of her home in Dearborn, Michigan, after a tree came down due to high winds early Friday.

Moe Makke, who owns the home just off Telegraph Road, said his 6-year-old daughter was sleeping in a third-story attic bedroom at the time of the damage.

Makke said he and his wife were sleeping after they attended a family member’s high school graduation party the night before. He heard a crash when the giant red oak tree fell about 1:30 a.m. Friday, and rushed up from the basement to where he was to where his daughter was sleeping.

The father sustained minor injuries when trying to get through the broken glass and rubble.

The 6-year-old was taken to an area hospital and remained there mid-morning Friday. Makke said she is expected to recover from her injuries.

“My children are everything to myself and my wife,” he said.

He’s also thankful that he was sleeping where he was, or he might have been trapped himself and unable to rescue the girl.

Tree removal crews were on site Friday morning to clear out the brush and limbs away from the 100-year-old house.

A severe weather system that spun up tornadoes in the Chicago area on Thursday came through the Metro Detroit area, including Dearborn, late Thursday. Tree limbs and branches were reported down in multiple communities; over 25,000 had lost power in Southeast Michigan.

A tornado watch was in effect for several hours in Southeast Michigan overnight.

Jordan Burrows contributed to this report.

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.