Month: June 2026

By Allie Triepke

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    GARDEN CITY, Idaho (KIVI) — Just weeks after facing the possibility of closure, the Idaho Reptile Zoo is continuing its mission of rescuing animals and educating the public, thanks in part to a strong show of support from the community.

The nonprofit organization, now located near Chinden Boulevard and 37th Street in Garden City, serves as both a reptile rescue and educational resource for schools, families and state agencies across Idaho.

Among its many residents is Hope, a ball python rescued from a local pet store after she became ill. Hope’s story is just one of thousands the zoo has encountered over the years.

In 2024 alone, the Idaho Reptile Zoo took in more than 1,000 animals. Many arrived sick, abandoned, surrendered by owners or at risk of euthanasia.

Oscar, a bearded dragon at the zoo was found abandoned. “He was found in a dumpster with his whole enclosure broken and glass everywhere. We rescued him and nursed him back to health,” a volunteer said.

The rescue efforts have inspired volunteers like Sophia Smith, a local high school student who spends her free time helping care for animals and teaching visitors about reptiles.

“I’ve always loved snakes. I’ve been holding snakes since I was like 2 years old,” Smith said.

She says one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is seeing visitors leave with a new appreciation for reptiles.

“Every single time someone’s like, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ll tell my friends about this,’ or we get a donation, I just feel so appreciative because I really do love this place,” Smith said.

The zoo’s future became uncertain last October when the organization was forced to leave its Boise location after the building changed ownership.

Founder Tyler Messina said the sudden relocation came with significant expenses and nearly forced the nonprofit to shut down.

“The community didn’t like that response. They didn’t like that we were going to have to close, so they stepped up,” Messina said. “It definitely validated our hard work and showed us the community loves what we do and loves having us here.”

Community donations helped stabilize operations and allowed the zoo to continue caring for its animals.

Beyond public education, the Idaho Reptile Zoo works alongside agencies such as Idaho Fish and Game and the Idaho Department of Agriculture to care for rescued and surrendered reptiles.

The zoo has also become an important resource for red-eared slider turtles, an invasive species that cannot legally be released into Idaho waterways.

“We are one of three licensed facilities that can legally take them in,” Messina said. “As far as I know, we’re one of only two that don’t euthanize them on the spot.”

Messina, who originally studied to become a teacher, says education remains at the heart of the zoo’s mission.

“I love teaching kids and adults alike. For a lot of people, reptiles are completely new to them. The more interactive we can make it, the more people actually want to learn,” said Messina.

That mission was on full display during a recent field trip to the zoo, where students explored exhibits, fed turtles and learned about animals they may never encounter elsewhere.

“I like feeding the turtles,” said student Brooke.

“I like getting to learn about animals that you wouldn’t be able to have at your house,” added student June.

As the Idaho Reptile Zoo moves forward, staff and volunteers say community support has allowed them to continue rescuing animals, educating visitors and providing a home for reptiles that have nowhere else to go.

The Idaho Reptile Zoo is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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 Paris Flannigan

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    Louisiana (KATC) — At least five police officers turned in their badges at the Basile Town Council meeting Monday night.

The council’s meeting is streamed live on the town’s Facebook page, and at the end of the video officers can be seen walking up to the council table and placing their badges on the table.

The move sparked confusion among those in attendance.

“I didn’t understand it at first,” said District 1 Councilwoman Jessica Ceaser. “I was like, ‘What are they doing? Are they quitting?’ Everybody was confused.”

The officers’ action came after discussion surrounding a policy requiring police units to remain at the station when officers are off duty, ending the department’s longstanding practice of allowing officers to take patrol vehicles home.

Chief Nick Richardson said the action was symbolic; his officers were trying to make a statement. None of them have left, and they’re working, he said.

Richardson said the dust-up is about a policy that’s been in place for some time that allows officers to drive their units home from work when they’re off-duty. He said it was in place last year under former Assistant Chief AJ Frank and was in place when he took over in February. No issues were raised since then, he said. Richardson said he has three POST-certified officers – one that makes $14 an hour, another making $15.50, and the third makes $16 an hour. Taking the units home “is considered a perk – them taking their units home makes up for the low pay,” he said.

But then a couple weeks ago there was a question put before voters, which would have converted the chief position from elected to appointed. Voters rejected that, 79 percent to 21 percent. Richardson says he believes that is why the issue was raised at Monday night’s meeting.

“They didn’t have a problem until they lost the election,” he said.

However, the Mayor, Mark Denette said such claims are ridiculous.

He says the issue is not as simple as fuel costs alone. He says town leaders must also review insurance requirements and liability concerns before making a final decision.

“We need to check with our insurance carrier to see what they require,” Denette said. “This was never really approved by the council prior to the new chief taking over.”

Despite the public display, Richardson emphasized that every officer remains on the job and committed to serving the community.

“I just want to let the people know, the community, that you’re never abandoned,” Richardson said. “We will always be there to answer the call.”

The officers were “trying to make a statement, but they’re all working because they care about this community. We’re a family over here,” Richardson said.

Officer Austin Young, one of the officers who participated in the badge protest, said the vehicles help officers remain available when additional manpower is needed.

“It was a perk because I’m full-time,” Young said. “I could respond if they ever needed help at nights or just in general if they needed me to come in so we can do some extra patrol. I was able to do that instead of bringing my personal car. It was just an extra perk.”

Alderman Kenny Burgess spoke to us and give a deeper insight as to what took place.

Burgess says the take-home policy raises several issues, including insurance coverage, maintenance costs, wear-and-tear on vehicles and fuel costs. The council has to know what the policy costs, and ensure that neither the town, nor the officer nor the chief are exposed to liability without insurance coverage, Burgess said. He said the council had asked the former chief about that, but never got information on it.

Basile is a Lawrason Act community, meaning there’s an elected mayor, council and police chief. The council approves the budget, meaning they’re responsible for making sure taxpayer money is spent correctly, Burgess explained. He said the chief didn’t bring his policy to the council with the fiscal impact, and that’s why the council voted to pause the vehicle policy.

“I don’t think he realized this policy he wrote is illegal,” Burgess said. “We’ve put a temporary pause on it until we can figure it out.”

Burgess said he believes there will be a special meeting soon to discuss all these issues.

He said he believes the officers have resigned, but he also said he feels like they’re trying to intimidate the council.

“To me, they resigned. They abandoned their posts, and they put our community and our citizens in harm’s way because we’re trying to correct a problem that their chief could have prevented if he had brought to the council,” Burgess said. “I took it as an intimidation tactic. If we back down, then the next time there’s something they want and the council says we can’t afford it, guess what? Now instead of three agencies, you’ve got one dictating what the rest of them do.”

Burgess said there are lots of rumors and discussions happening in Basile about this.

“It breaks my heart to see this going on in our small town. We’re not dealing with kids we’re dealing with grown adults who are professionals. I’m 100 percent all actions have consequences. Their actions last night, our town and the citizens in our town are the ones who are going to suffer from the consequences, because we no longer have an active Police Department. They put all of us in danger.”

That actually is one thing that Burgess and the chief agree on: that the town is in danger.

“I have four officers, one per shift, which is a safety hazard, and I have a reserve every other weekend,” Richardson said. “There’s myself, the deputy chief and the secretary – and that is it. I’ve presented two budgets to the council to see if I can get an increase, but after last night I guess I won’t. This puts the town in jeopardy. This isn’t what our citizens deserve.”

Richardson also echoes what Burgess said about Basile.

“I’m more hurt than angry, because this is my community,” he said. “But the fight’s not over with, we will prevail.”

A special meeting is scheduled June 11th with the council, mayor and police chief regarding the police officers who turned in their badges.

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 Jamarcus Fitzpatrick

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    OPELOUSAS, Louisiana (KATC) — For years, Jonah Manuel’s dream was to play professional baseball.

Now, the Westminster Christian alum has a chance to continue his baseball journey in one of the sport’s fastest-growing entertainment brands.

Manuel recently received an invitation to participate in a Banana Ball tryout this fall, putting him one step closer to potentially joining one of the six teams that make up the popular Savannah Bananas organization.

“It’s still kind of surreal,” Manuel said. “At one point it seemed unrealistic and crazy, but so many people have been telling me I’d be perfect for this that eventually I bought in. I think I’d regret not trying.”

Banana Ball has exploded in popularity since its inception in 2023, drawing sellout crowds across the country with a baseball-meets-entertainment format that emphasizes fan interaction, trick plays, dancing and player personalities.

Manuel said his connection to the opportunity dates back several years when a former trainer mentioned a Banana Ball tryout before the sport’s popularity surged. After years of encouragement from friends and family, he recently submitted an application and personality-focused video before receiving an invitation.

Unlike traditional baseball tryouts, Banana Ball evaluations focus on more than athletic ability.

Participants are expected to showcase energy, dance routines and entertainment skills alongside their baseball talents.

The tryout will include choreographed dances, batting practice and defensive drills where players can display trick plays and creativity.

“I’m going to try and land a couple of backflip catches if I get the chance,” Manuel said. “These next few months, that’s what I’m going to be working on.”

For Manuel, the appeal extends beyond simply returning to the diamond.

The former Delgado Community College, Loyola (New Orleans) and LSU Alexandria player believes Banana Ball aligns with his personality and his original love for the game.

“We played this game because we love it,” Manuel said. “Somewhere along the line, baseball stopped letting players show that. In Banana Ball, you can show emotion, be yourself and have fun. That’s what drew me to it.”

A multi-sport athlete during his high school years, Manuel played football and baseball before continuing his baseball career at the collegiate level. After finishing his playing days, he moved to the Houston area, where he now works as a sports performance specialist and coach.

Despite stepping away from competitive baseball, he said the sport never fully left him.

“Every now and then you get that itch to get back into it,” Manuel said. “I can’t fight that feeling.”

If selected, Manuel could be drafted by any of the organization’s six teams, including the Savannah Bananas, Party Animals, Firefighters, Indianapolis Clowns, Texas Tailgaters, or the recently added Loco Beach Coconuts.

The draft is scheduled for November following a series of tryouts that will run through the fall.

Regardless of the outcome, Manuel said the experience has already reignited his passion for baseball and strengthened his connection to the community that pushed him to pursue the opportunity.

“Even if this doesn’t go the way I want it to, I’m going to have so much fun preparing for it,” Manuel said. “Because of this community, I get one more day as a baseball player. For that, I’m eternally grateful.”

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 Sam Jackson, KOMU 8 Reporter

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    COLUMBIA, Missouri (KOMU) — One hundred butterflies were delivered and released at Jefferson Farm and Garden Wednesday morning, just days before the 9th Annual Butterfly Festival.

Tim Reinbott, who’s been working as the director of field operations and communication at MU Extension for nearly 40 years, release day is one of his favorites.

“To me, this the culmination of all that we do in our research programs, in our outreach,” Reinbott said.

In early May, Reinbott started talking to Michigan Butterfly Farm about what butterflies MU Extension was seeking for Jefferson Farm and Garden. Jefferson Farm had a lack of variety of butterfly species, so MU Extension requested specific species from the Michigan farm.

The butterflies were shipped just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, and they arrived at Jefferson Farm around 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The butterflies were shipped in cooled envelopes. FedEx delivered the package, and once it was opened and the butterflies adjusted to the warm weather, they started flying around their new home.

“What’s so nice is that it brings together the insect as well as the plant (and it) all comes together, and that benefits all of us in the food that we eat, so the release is such a fun time to see them come to life,” Reinbott said.

Reinbott is retiring this year after four decades of serving. Saturday will mark his last festival as an MU Extension employee. But he said he plans to continue his research on butterfly habitats.

“This was very special when we got the butterflies and unpacked them today knowing it will be the last time I get to do this,” Reinbott said.

Second-graders from Hallsville saw the Wednesday butterfly release on their first field trip of the summer.

Macy Atwood, the kindergarten through second grade teacher, gives a butterfly unit every school year.

“When we do our butterfly unit, they don’t get a lot of opportunities to interact with them, and it’s only a couple butterflies, so to have … 100 butterflies flying around, they were really excited to get to see them so close,” Atwood said.

The Butterfly House at Jefferson Farm and Garden will be open to the public Saturday for the 9th Annual Butterfly Festival, where families and community members can enjoy food, activities and the friendly insects.

The festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4800 E. New Haven Road in Columbia. It includes tours of the native Butterfly House and the gardens, kids activities, interactive exhibits and a plant sale, according to MU Extension.

To report an error or typo, email news@komu.com.

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 Jacqueline Aguilar

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    MARANA, Arizona (KGUN) — Every bin Isaiah and Aiden Ocejo clean brings them one step closer to the basketball court. The two Marana brothers launched a bin cleaning business this summer with one goal in mind: making it to the NBA.

The brothers offer pressure washing, scrubbing and deodorizing services for trash and recycling bins across Marana and Tucson.

“What inspired me was just like I wanted a quick and easy way to raise money and with all the materials we had, I just felt like this was the easiest way we could do it,” Isaiah said.

One bin costs $20, two bins cost $35, and each additional bin is $15. They say business has been steady since they launched.

“It’s been pretty good, pretty active. We’ve done like 10 different people’s bins so far,” Aiden said.

The money they’re earning is helping cover the costs of attending the Nike Basketball Camp starting in July at Mountain View High School.

“We’ve played basketball our entire lives, and we want to make it to the NBA. That’s our dreams,” they said.

The business idea came from their parents, Ariella and Alberto Ocejo, who wanted to give the boys a way to work toward their goals while serving the community.

Ariella says Isaiah had already been working with his dad at his construction company and that Aidan wanted to start earning money, too.

“They are straight-A students, they are on honor roll. It’s just like, okay, what can the boys kind of do together,” Ariella Ocejo said.

“I just thought about easy way, an easy way that I could, something I could teach them to do by themselves. It’s not something that complicated, something that was going to take a lot from them to do,” Alberto Ocejo said.

But for Ariella and Alberto Ocejo, the business is about more than raising money.

“It’s teaching them that things are not free and don’t come easy,” Ariella Ocejo said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGUN 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 Sean Daly

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    SEMINOLE, Florida (WFTS) — Addison Parapon wants to be a police officer when she grows up.

But the 11-year-old middle schooler at Madeira Beach Fundamental knows life can throw you curveballs.

“If I can’t be a police officer, this would be my Plan B,” she says.

“This” is construction.

In fact, Addison is one of dozens of students attending Girls Only Construction Camp this week, a 4-day experience hosted by Pinellas County Schools at Jacobson Technical High School in Seminole.

No boys here learning a thriving trade? Addison is fine with that.

“They’re always like, we’re so much better than girls,” she says with a shrug.

Instructor Christine Ferry, past president of the National Association of Women in Construction, says women have become a coveted hire in this field.

“This is something females should be flocking to,” she says. “There is money to be made. There is construction in Florida happening all over the place.”

Girls Only Construction Camp packs a lot of teaching in just a few days. The students will learn general construction techniques, build chairs for Habitat for Humanity and even make themselves a keepsake cutting board.

For more Pinellas County camps, including a Girls Only Automotive Camp, go here.

For more with Sean Daly, go here.

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 Erin Jones

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    Texas (KTVT) — EDITOR’S NOTE: Recently, we introduced you to a North Texas girl whose transplant journey captured hearts across the country. Now, the nine-year-old is sharing an emotional meeting with the family of the donor who saved her life.

Penny Martin constantly inspires others, whether through her music or her remarkable journey.

She was born with complex heart defects and spent months waiting for a life-saving heart transplant.

Now, there’s a new chapter in her story.

“At first, I was nervous, but then I was… we’re going to be good friends,” she said.

Meeting the donor’s father She recently met the father of the donor whose heart now beats inside her.

“Emma was a great girl,” Ryan Ainsworth said. “She loved to draw. She played music.”

Like so many teens, Ainsworth says his daughter struggled with her mental health. And last year, she took her own life at just 15 years old.

“The night before, she came to me, and she sat at my shop, and we talked that night, and she got up that night on the pickup that we were sitting on and gave me a big hug,” he said.

Ryan never imagined that would be their last conversation.

Turning loss into purpose There have been a lot of dark days, but because Emma chose to be an organ donor, a part of her life on through multiple recipients, including Penny.

“The day of our transplant.. donation.. one of my mother’s friends lives in Weatherford and saw Penny on Facebook that had her sign up that said today is the day that I get my new heart,” Ainsworth said.

Ryan couldn’t believe it. This week, he is in town for a work trip and didn’t want to miss the opportunity to finally meet Penny and hear her heartbeat.

“It was awesome,” he said. “Awesome. It was pretty tough, but it was great. We walked out, and there were some pink skies, and that was one of the songs that we played at her funeral, and I was like, ‘Holy cow, there’s things all over this that Emma is saying.'”

A bond that feels like family “It feels like we’re already family,” Paula White, Penny’s mother, said. “Penny and him are already two peas in a pod. She has really met her match. They just really hit it off.”

Their video has now touched millions of people online, and they hope the attention helps save even more lives.

Ryan is raising money to install benches at schools with QR codes that link students to suicide prevention resources. He’s also hoping to one day meet the other recipients of his daughter’s organs.

“This isn’t about us,” he said. “This is about sharing with other people.”

Together, they want to turn heartbreak into hope.

Website: Nobodysitsalone.org

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 Marissa Sulek

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — A scary scene in Portage Park after a massive tree fell on top of a van full of kids as strong storms swept the area on Wednesday afternoon.

Michael McIntosh says he was driving a van with six kids. He pulled up on Henderson Street to drop off 11-year-old Ethan Duran when a giant tree crashed down on the van with the kids inside.

McIntosh says the roof caved in.

“It just bounced on my head and came back up, and I look back, and I just see the kids, and I am like, ‘let’s get the kids out of here,'” he said.

“Good thing the car did not smoosh or else Mr. Michael would be squished,” Ethan said.

“It was a loud boom, just boom,” said his mom, Soledad Galban.

Galban says her family grabbed all the kids, brought them inside their house, and called their parents.

“I started crying because I got so scared and my legs started shaking,” Ethan said.

“It’s crazy out here on Michigan Avenue. You got downed trees everywhere,” a city worker said.

In the Loop, severe weather knocked down branches near Grant Park. Crews were working to clear the debris shortly after. In Park Manor, the roof at a winery was blown off.

“They trusted me, they trusted my word when I told them to get out and everything,” McIntosh said.

He says parents came to pick up all the kids, but they did call 911.

“No ambulance showed up. The news showed up before the ambulance and the police,” he said.

Neighbors came together to remove some of the branches. A few cars and a lamppost were also damaged, but everyone is glad the tree did not break through the windshield or collapse on the van any more than it did.

“I’m just happy to be alive, I’m just happy to be alive,” McIntosh said.

No injuries were reported, and the tree along with the van has since been removed.

Forestry crews with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation are clearing trees across the city. They say if you have a downed tree, first be cautious and report it to 311. The city reminds everyone to be patient as they work through requests.

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.