Month: June 2026

By Meagan Halbardier Moore

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    GRANTS, New Mexico (KOAT) — An Oklahoma TikToker who found a 1954 high school diploma at a Goodwill bin in Oklahoma City spent more than a year trying to return it before finally finding its home back in Grants.

Eddie Sein said he found the diploma while searching through the bins at an outlet in Oklahoma City. He saw it belonged to Ted Arvizo, who graduated from Grants High School in 1954.

Sein said the diploma’s condition immediately stood out.

“Mr. Ted Arvizo graduated, what, 70-plus years ago in 1954, and the diploma was in such great condition that I suspected that maybe it was donated by mistake,” Sein said.

The diploma was not stained, creased or otherwise damaged, leading him to believe it had been carefully preserved over the years.

Sein posted the discovery on TikTok hoping to find Arvizo or his family, but the initial effort gained little attention. He kept the diploma at home for about a year, saying he could not bring himself to throw it away.

When he posted about it again a year later, the video began drawing comments from people connected to Grants High School here in New Mexico.

“One of the first comments I got was, you know, ‘Hey, that’s my high school,” Sein said. “So I was like, you know what? At least it’s in the right area of the United States.”

As more people commented, Sein said some users began to connect him with Grants High School Assistant Principal Miranda Barajas, who told him the school would be glad to receive the diploma.

He said he has since mailed it back to Grants High School, where he hopes it can be preserved as part of the school’s history.

“For me, this is almost like a time capsule,” Sein said. “Now the students of today at Grants, they can go back and see some of the students that came before them.”

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 Rosales

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    PACIFIC GROVE, California (KSBW) — A dead juvenile humpback whale washed ashore near Hopkins Marine Station in Pacific Grove, prompting research efforts and drawing attention from residents and tourists.

The whale was first spotted floating in the water on Wednesday, leading the Pacific Grove Police Department to close Lover’s Point Beach, located about a mile away from the marine station.

Whale experts from UC Santa Cruz’s Long Marine Lab are conducting tests on the whale to gather samples that could provide insights into marine mammal health in the area.

“Our team was able to successfully get a fecal sample, and that’s one of the samples that we need to determine whether there was domoic acid in its body,” a spokesperson from UCSC Long Marine Lab said.

Currently, the cause of death for the juvenile whale remains unknown, but the samples collected may offer clues. Once testing is complete, the whale will be towed back into the ocean to allow nature to take its course.

“We don’t always tow whales. We really take into consideration the beach that the animal has landed on, whether it’s kind of highly accessed by the public, whether there’s any safety concerns,” the spokesperson said.

The whale, estimated to be two years old, has drawn significant attention from residents and tourists, many of whom have stopped by to take photos.

“There was a couple of years ago, a beached whale at Asilomar. But there’s a lot more decompose. This one’s, like, fresh. It’s brand new,” said Chris Fenstermaker, another observer.

Some visitors expressed surprise at the whale’s size, mistaking it for an adult due to its large appearance.

“It doesn’t look that big when you’re just looking at it. And then when you see these people, they’re not even the size of a fin,” said Heather Cool.

According to Colleen Talty, director of operations at Happywhale, the whale had been tagged and was seen twice in March.

It may take 24 to 48 hours before the whale is towed back into the ocean, leaving the reopening of Lover’s Point Beach uncertain for now.

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 Maricela De La Cruz

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    YUBA CITY, California (KCRA) — A McDonald’s employee in Yuba City is recovering in the UC Davis ICU burn unit after police say a coworker threw hot liquid on him Saturday night.

Jacob Smith, 20, suffered burns on the side of his face, neck, right arm, and back, according to investigators. His mother, Amber Smith, said her son was preparing to end his shift when the assault occurred.

“He was in the office getting ready to count the money when he saw out of the corner of his eye something, and he just turned, and the oil was just thrown on him,” Amber Smith said.

Nearly a week after the alleged assault, Jacob remains hospitalized, undergoing specialized treatment for his injuries. His family believes the liquid thrown on him was hot oil.

“The pain he’s experiencing is so excruciating that they can’t give him a level of pain medicine outside of the ICU,” Amber Smith said.

She added that medical staff are working to reduce the size of the burns on Jacob’s back and neck to minimize the need for skin grafts, though she fears it could potentially become more painful.

The Yuba City Police Department identified the suspected assailant as Jalani Bluett. Authorities say Bluett left the McDonald’s after the incident and was later arrested by Sutter County deputies. But what led up to the alleged assault remains unclear.

He faces multiple felony charges, and according to police, he was being held at the Sutter County jail without bail as of Friday.

Amber Smith expressed her hope for accountability in the case.

“I want justice to be served. I want him to serve the time he needs to serve for what he’s done to my son. I mean, I don’t wish bad things towards him. I just want him to understand that what he did—really understand what he did—and the pain that he caused to my son is excruciating,” she said.

Jacob is expected to undergo surgery next week, but his family doesn’t know how long his recovery will take, so they’re taking it day by day and staying by his side. The family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover expenses as he remains hospitalized.

KCRA 3 reached out to McDonald’s for a statement, and we haven’t heard back.

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 Emily Pofahl

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    WEST ALLIS, Wisconsin (WISN) — West Allis police and the bomb squad responded to Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping near Rogers and Highway 100 on New Year’s Eve, after receiving a report of a man allegedly making bombs inside the business.

The search led to prosecutors charging Joseph Godlewski with one felony count of possessing an improvised explosive device. Officers searched Metropolitan Maintenance and Landscaping and found what police say were materials to make bombs.

Body camera footage from that day shows officers searching the property, where they found various powders, fuses, glue sticks, a scale, and disassembled bombs with wicks. Investigators photographed the materials, which an expert on Milwaukee police’s hazardous device unit said were consistent with bomb-making supplies, according to court documents.

The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Godlewski, was an employee at the business. Court records show that an anonymous individual told police Godlewski “…was making pipe bombs…” at the site, and claimed to have been given a bomb by Godlewski in July 2025. The individual also alleged they saw Godlewski detonate a bomb behind the business that same month.

Godlewski has been charged with felony possession of an improvised explosive device. He is currently out on bond and awaiting his plea and sentencing hearing next month.

Godlewski declined an interview but told 12 News over the phone that he was not making bombs. When asked what he was doing with the materials, he said, “No comment.”

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 Waverle Monro

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    OMAHA (KETV) — The Douglas County Health Department is using wastewater surveillance to monitor pathogens and protect public health during the College World Series in Omaha.

Dr. Justin Frederick, Chief of Infectious Disease Epidemiology for the department, said the method is relatively new.

“I would say within the last year, two years, it’s very new,” Frederick said.

Frederick explained that wastewater testing involves collecting water from treatment facilities and sending it to a laboratory for analysis.

“It’s based on the wastewater treatment facilities; they collect the water and actually send it off to the laboratory for testing,” Frederick said.

The process works by detecting pathogens and illnesses shed in stool and urine, making it a community-wide test that can identify emerging infections.

“The way the wastewater surveillance works is that all of us can shed the pathogens and illnesses in stool and urine. It’s a community-wide kind of test, and it’s good to identify any emerging infections,” Frederick said.

Samples are taken from one of Omaha’s wastewater treatment facilities and sent to the Nebraska Public Health Lab for molecular testing.

“It’s a molecular test where it detects the genetic material of these viruses and bacteria,” Frederick said.

If a pathogen is detected, Frederick said health officials are alerted promptly.

“If we’ve identified it in the wastewater and we can warn our health care community, then it’s on their radar,” Frederick said.

Frederick emphasized the importance of this preventative work to ensure the College World Series remains a safe event for attendees.

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 Caleb Califano

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    WELLINGTON, Florida (WPBF) — Law enforcement maintained a visible presence at the Mall at Wellington Green on Friday after an online post promoted a “teen takeover” event at the shopping center.

The viral trend involves large groups of teenagers gathering at unsanctioned events, sometimes drawing hundreds of people. Similar events across Florida in recent months have resulted in arrests, fights and shootings.

By Friday afternoon, signs posted at entrances to the mall read, “The mall takeover is over.”

Inside the mall, operations appeared largely normal. However, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies were visible throughout the property, particularly near the food court.

PBSO said it became aware of the planned gathering after seeing reports of social media posts advertising the event. One flyer stated, “Let’s take over.”

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the number of deputies assigned to the mall was consistent with what would normally be expected, but additional resources were available if needed.

By Friday afternoon, signs posted at entrances to the mall read, “The mall takeover is over.”

Inside the mall, operations appeared largely normal. However, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies were visible throughout the property, particularly near the food court.

PBSO said it became aware of the planned gathering after seeing reports of social media posts advertising the event. One flyer stated, “Let’s take over.”

Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said the number of deputies assigned to the mall was consistent with what would normally be expected, but additional resources were available if needed.

The trend has also drawn attention from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.

Earlier this week, Uthmeier posted on social media that his office is developing plans to investigate and prosecute those responsible for organizing teen takeover events.

“Whoever is organizing these ‘teen takeovers,’ congrats: You have my attention,” Uthmeier wrote. “This behavior is unacceptable, and I’m having our statewide prosecutors develop a plan to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for these events.”

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 WRAL Staff

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    VANCE COUNTY, North Carolina (WRAL) — The FBI joined the search on Thursday for two armed and dangerous inmates who escaped the Vance County Detention Center.

The FBI and Vance County Crime Stoppers are offering a combined reward of up to $40,000 to find and capture Michael Miles, 33, and Lishawn Knott, 21, who escaped around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials said a reward of up to $20,000 is offered for each individual.

On Thursday, the FBI and Vance County Sheriff’s Office distributed a brief clip of the two men running down a hallway at the detention center. Authorities believe they were sprinting toward two vehicles.

Digital billboards are going up across the state to expand the search.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, both Miles and Knott knew each other before they were arrested. Officials said both men were being held for multiple state drug trafficking and gun-related charges.

WRAL’s Sky 5 flew over a nearby scene on Ransom and Breckenridge streets where authorities were searching for the two missing inmates. Sheriff’s Deputies say both are considered armed and dangerous.

Not long after the search began in Vance County, law enforcement in Wake County was told to be alert.

“Wake units, be advised of a jail break: inmates from Vance County, going to be two black males heading towards the apartments on Young Street, two possible suspect vehicles, including an older model Chevy Tahoe… a black Ford pickup truck,” according to Broadcastify emergency response radio traffic.

Officials said Miles is 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and a prominent neck tattoo.

Knott is 5’11 and weighs about 160 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and has numerous face tattoos, including a large cross on his forehead.

Officials ask nearby residents to check their home security cameras or trail/hunting camera footage to assist in real-time tracking of the two inmates.

Officials also ask residents to lock their cars, close their garage doors and lock up their sheds.

This escape had brought other concerns about safety and security at the jail to light. Ashley McSwain, whose fiancé is incarcerated there, said she contacted jail officials in the last week about safety and security concerns, including cell doors not locking and a lack of inmate supervision.

“There has been reports that a lot of the cells are broken; they don’t lock or latch,” McSwain said. “So if there is an inmate with some issues on the streets, you’re probably gonna get beat down because the cells are not locking.”

In April, a Vance County jail supervisor was accused of raping an inmate. During a January county commissioners meeting, Sheriff Curtis Brame said the detention center was “scrambling” and “hurting” and that he worried for officer and inmate safety.

WRAL News reached out to the Vance County Sheriff’s Office about McSwain’s claims, as well as how the inmates were able to escape and how they were able to gain access to a firearm so quickly after getting out. We have not yet received a response.

Deputies encourage anyone who may see the inmates not to approach them but instead to call the Vance County Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2200 or Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. People can also submit anonymous tips through the P3 Tips mobile app.

The investigation is still ongoing.

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 Willie Daniely, WRAL reporter

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    DURHA, COUNTY, North Carolina (WRAL) — Durham County officials reversed a decision to remove Pride Month displays from public libraries just one day after the directive was issued, a move that sparked criticism from library workers, LGBTQ advocates and community members.

The controversy prompted supporters of the LGBTQ community to gather at Durham’s main library, where drag performer Stormie Daie hosted a children’s reading event to show solidarity with librarians and residents concerned about the decision.

“If the librarians are having their hands forced, we as a community see them, understand them and are going to help them have Pride despite administration’s decisions,” Daie said.

Several Durham County librarians told WRAL News that the directive to remove Pride displays was not an isolated incident. They said library staff have repeatedly been instructed over the past year to remove displays or alter programming that officials believed could fall under diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives.

According to those librarians, this was the first time such instructions were communicated in writing.

Library staff who spoke with WRAL said many library leaders disagreed with the decision but believed county officials were attempting to avoid potential federal scrutiny or retaliation tied to DEI-related policies.

Daie said the controversy reflects broader concerns about the political climate surrounding LGBTQ issues.

“It is truly a time that we are living in where the discriminations are coming from the highest of offices and they are happening right in front of the faces of even the most liberal communities like Durham,” Daie said.

Not everyone attending Saturday’s event supported the displays.

“You’re kind of forcing stuff down other Durham residents’ throats that they may not want to deal with,” attendee Justin said.

In a statement, Durham Library Workers United called for transparency surrounding the decision.

“We want transparency from all parties involved to understand what happened and appropriate, measured actions to restore confidence in the public and staff,” organizers told WRAL News.

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam attended the event with her children. She said local leaders must be clear about their support for marginalized communities amid political debates playing out across the country.

“We’re trying to learn and grow in the face of this fascist government ourselves, and we don’t want that to be at the detriment of any of our marginalized minority community members,” Allam said.

WRAL News reached out to the Durham County Library director seeking answers about why Pride Month displays were initially ordered removed and what led officials to reverse the decision.

While the displays remain in place, library workers and community advocates say questions remain about how the decision was made and whether similar directives could be issued in the future.

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.