Month: June 2026

By JJ McKinney

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Catholic bishops from across the Southwest gathered in Nogales on Friday for Border Mass 250, a service centered on faith,migration, and human dignity.

Catholic dioceses from the U.S. and Mexico preached to a united congregation on the state of the country, focusing on the plight of immigrants just ahead of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.

Tucson Bishop James A. Misko led the congregation in prayer with a message of support to immigrants across the Catholic faith.

“First and foremost, the human condition is a migrating experience. Humans have been migrating for centuries. For hundreds of thousands of years, people have been migrating to improve their lives,” Misko said.

Bishop Misko and the diocese from across the southwestern United States gathered at the Nogales border as a show of unity within the congregation.

Deacon Robert Vigil of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe said the gathering carried a message of solidarity.

“I think tonight is going to be a good representation of solidarity, that people are people, and we all need each other,” Vigil said. “So I think tonight’s going to be a sign of hope, especially for our immigrant community, who is struggling and continues to struggle.”

The meeting of faith came after the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump Administration to end Temporary Protected Status for thousands of asylum seekers on Thursday, scaling back protections for immigrants.

Misko addressed the Church’s position on border policy directly.

“The Church holds to be true is that nations do have a responsibility and a right to manage their borders,” Misko said. ” The Church has never been for open borders, but rather the Church is for borders being managed properly.”

At the end of the service, Misko led the congregation to the border to join hands with the dioceses in Nogales.

While Misko and church leaders acknowledged sovereign borders, they emphasized that the Church and the country should treat each other with grace.

“The Church always holds to be true that human dignity is the very foundation of migration. And so we do hold to be true that nations should manage their borders based on human dignity, on the care of the human person,” Misko 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 Tiarra Braddock

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Glenn Bradley lost his 14-year-old daughter, Aamina Bradley, after she drowned in the Detroit River on Saturday.

According to Detroit police, Aamina’s body was recovered from the river at Maheras-Gentry Park on Detroit’s east side.

Bradley said his family was at a graduation party at the park when Aamina and her 9-year-old cousin went near the water. The cousin fell in, and Aamina jumped in to save her.

“Aamina, she loved the water, I’d take her to the pool, she would swim, different things like that, they’d play games.. just in a river, in that type of setting, in that current, it pulls you out,” Bradley said.

Bystanders were able to pull the 9-year-old cousin from the water.

Bradley said he went into the water to help his daughter but was unable to save her.

“Her last words were ‘dad help me’, she looked at me. When I went out there, she disappeared, she went under and never came back up. Somebody had to save me because I was drowning,” Bradley said.

Bradley said Aamina’s death has been very hard on her siblings as well.

“Everybody tore up but they maintaining,” Bradley said.

Bradley said Aamina loved her family and dreamed of becoming a scientist when she grew up.

“My daughter was my baby girl, she was my everything so right now I’m numb. The people you love, you have to cherish them because you never know,” Bradley said.

“At the end of the day, my daughter, she was a warrior, she had a beautiful heart,” Bradley said. “She had the most beautiful smile.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ 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 Jeffrey Lindblom

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    CLARKSTON, Michigan (WXYZ) — Nearly 40 years after a retired teacher began dreaming of a safe, permanent place for his son with special needs to live, that dream has become a reality — thanks to a former student and a generous community.

Dick Moscovic taught high school for 47 years. One of his students was Mike Hoeksema, who credits his former trades teacher with setting the course of his life.

“I have a high school teacher that I’m friends with today. How many people have a high school teacher they’re friends with?” Hoeksema said.

Moscovic taught Hoeksema to build homes from the ground up, starting in 1980. Hoeksema still calls him Mr. Moscovic to this day.

“Every day he’d look you in the eye and smile… and say, it’s going to be a good day,” Hoeksema said.

When Moscovic’s third son, Drew, was born, Hoeksema saw a change in his mentor.

“He took some time off and came home from Drew’s birth and you could see his bubble had burst,” Hoeksema said.

Drew was born with special needs. Moscovic said the experience reshaped him.

“It’s a different level of love for your child when you have a handicapped child. You don’t take anything for granted. You get through it,” Moscovic said.

Now in his 40s, Drew has been what his father calls his greatest teacher — of patience and endurance.

Moscovic, a licensed builder, went on to found Drew’s Home of Clarkston, a nonprofit with a mission to provide a safe, permanent home for people with severe disabilities. A year and a half ago, the nonprofit purchased an apartment building, now known as Drew’s Home of Clarkston, and got to work making it accessible — expanding doorways and replacing bathtubs with accessible showers to accommodate Drew and nine residents with severe disabilities.

Everything, from the cabinets to the building as a whole, is funded through community donations.

The residents are known throughout the community. Moscovic said Drew, whose smiling face has made him a neighborhood fixture, is recognized wherever he goes.

“If he goes to the grocery store, I bet there will be four or five people who say hi to him at least,” Moscovic said.

The residents also contribute to their own quality of life through a can drive that generates funds for recreation and education.

“Gives them an opportunity to do something other than sit on the couch,” Moscovic said.

At 10 cents a can, the crew has accumulated a $10,000 fund for activities like music and dancing.

Drew has a permanent lease at the home — with no end.

“He’ll be here until the end,” Moscovic said.

“Through the end of his time,” Hoeksema said.

Hoeksema now serves as building manager, dedicating his time to the teacher who once asked him for help.

“I jumped in and said, ‘OK. What do we need?'” Hoeksema said.

He makes sure everything is in working order — from the security cameras in case of a slip or fall, to caretakers staying in rooms across the hall. It is a mission that began with Drew and has only grown.

“What would I say to him? I love you immensely,” Moscovic said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ 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 Jolie Sherman

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    PONTIAC, Michigan (WXYZ) — Thousands of car enthusiasts are in Pontiac this weekend for the 54th annual Pontiac-Oakland Club International — a convention the state has only hosted twice in its history.

The timing is no coincidence, as this year marks 100 years since the Pontiac brand was introduced.

Among those making the trip is 83-year-old Gary Cummings, who drove his 1937 Pontiac 2,446 miles from his home in Seattle, Washington to Pontiac, Michigan for the centennial celebration.

“They would honk at me, and I would [pushes horn] honk at them,” Cummings said.

“Like the Pontiac factory, it wasn’t one employee who built the car, and it hasn’t been one person to keep the car running. It’s with friends, and I’m giving back to my friends by driving out here,” Cummings said.

The car holds a lifetime of memories. Cummings’ girlfriend — who would later become his wife — found it at a yard sale.

“I actually purchased it for $175… He wanted $300 for it, which is still a great price. But I told him, I can’t afford it. Remember, this is 1961 dollars,” Cummings said.

The very next day, he drove that Pontiac to his high school graduation. The car went on to become a fixture in his family’s life.

“I used it as our only car when got married, our honeymoon, and for two children brought them home in the car. So it is truly a family car,” Cummings said.

Cummings made the six-day cross-country journey with a good friend. The trip wasn’t without its challenges — the two dealt with a dead battery along the way — but a good Samaritan stepped in to help.

“There’s lots of people out there to help you when you need it,” Cummings said.

Cummings made it to Pontiac just in time for this weekend’s festivities, which include a parade in downtown Pontiac Friday night and a car show at the Oakland Expo on Saturday.

The Pontiac Transportation Museum organized the event. Terry Connolly, the museum’s board chair, encouraged people to visit.

“This city has a wonderful legacy in car culture, and come and visit the Pontiac Transportation Museum as well. You can see it all on the floor in air conditioned comfort,” Connolly said.

Connolly also spoke to the enduring appeal of the Pontiac brand.

“As you may have found out talking to people, Pontiac has probably the largest following of any retired brand of automobile,” Connolly said.

For Cummings, the car is a time capsule in more ways than one — carrying both his personal stories and a piece of living history.

“When I get into the car, and I’m able to feel the transmission when I shift, and look out the window, and see the emblem, the Pontiac Indian head, I feel like I’m in a time machine, traveling back in time,” Cummings said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ 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 Janice Allen

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    BATTLE CREEK, Michigan (WXMI) — Anne Barea has found a second act that is changing lives — one puppy at a time.

The Battle Creek woman retired after more than 30 years at Kellogg and found herself at a crossroads.

“I was starting to think, what am I going to do next?” Barea said.

The answer came on four paws. Barea began raising puppies for Paws With A Cause, a nonprofit that provides custom-trained working dogs that bring confidence, comfort, and life-changing support.

She has since raised 7 puppies, training each for more than a year as they begin their journey to becoming service dogs.

“I believe so much in their mission,” Barea said. “And, just knew I wanted to work with dogs.”

It all started with a dog named Jordy.

“He was our first dog. He ended up going to a woman in New York City,” Barea said.

The dogs that followed have gone on to serve people across the country in a variety of roles. Austin became a facility dog at an elementary school in Three Rivers. Tiger is with a little girl with autism in Pennsylvania.

Jeter became an electronic storage detection dog. Bogey went to a man in New Jersey. Oscar is serving a veteran in Michigan. Jingles, her 7th dog, is currently continuing his training in a Michigan prison.

That leaves Wallace — her 8th dog, a black lab currently in her care.

“The more I learned about Paws, and the more dogs I got, the more I just fell in love with Paws,” Barea said.

For Barea, the mission is personal.

“I do have [multiple sclerosis], one of the things that really drove me also to go to Paws, because I thought, how cool would it be if I could raise a puppy that went to a person with MS,” Barea said.

The hardest part of the work is saying goodbye.

“I always say it’s like sending your kid to college, right?” Barea said.

But hearing from the people her dogs go on to serve makes it easier.

“It makes it easier as we go along, you know, we hear more and more stories. They get in touch with me a lot of the time. They’ll see on Facebook that I turned my puppy in, and I’ll hear from a few of them, either with a text or a Facebook, and just say, ‘Hey, thanks again for doing this. Thank you for changing my life,'” Barea said.

Barea’s commitment to Paws With A Cause has grown beyond raising puppies. She launched a charity golf tournament in 2022 that raises roughly $10,000 each year.

“We are really trying to make it number one, fun, number two, a chance for people to learn about Paws,” Barea said.

Along the way, Barea has also become a professional dog trainer — trading one career for a new calling.

“It’s life changing for us as well,” Barea said.

She has no plans to slow down.

“I will be involved with Paws Forever. I will tell you that,” Barea said.

The effort has become a family affair. Barea’s daughter serves as a finisher home, helping raise the puppies as they prepare for advanced training.

Barea’s annual fundraiser, the Battle Creek Classic, is set for July 11 at Binder Park Golf Course (7255 B Dr S, Battle Creek, MI 49014)

As the FOX 17 and Lake Michigan Credit Union Pay it Forward Person of the Month, Barea receives a $250 prize.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXMI 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 Sharon Phillips

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    TULSA, Oklahoma (KJRH) — A security guard’s quick thinking and training potentially saved a baby’s life during a community baby shower in South Tulsa on June 18.

Todd Sloggett, a security guard with PHD Security, was working the event at the South Tulsa Community House when he noticed a young mother interacting with guests.

“During all of this, I noticed a young mother who was interacting with a lot of people and somebody gave her a little toy ring, a little plastic-like spider ring or something,” Sloggett said.

He said the mother may have become confused while tending to her children and gave the small plastic ring to her approximately 1-year-old daughter, who was sitting in a stroller.

“She had another child and she was doing things and she might have got confused I don’t know instead of giving it to the older child, she actually gave about a 1-year-old baby girl in a stroller the plastic ring,” Sloggett said.

Sloggett continued watching the baby and saw what no one else around him did.

“I continued to watch the baby and immediately the baby took the ring off and put it in her mouth, gummed it a couple of times and then swallowed and started gagging and choking and nobody knew it was happening,” Sloggett said.

He removed his gloves and pushed through the crowd to reach the child.

“Fortunately, the first thing I did was get a hold of the baby’s jaw and get the mouth open and I could see the whole ring still lodged at the very top of the throat so I got my thumb around the ring and popped it and as soon as I popped it, the baby started breathing again,” Sloggett said.

Tony Martinez, owner of PSD Security Services, said Sloggett’s actions went far beyond the standard duties of a security officer.

“When an officer goes above and beyond the way that he did and to be able to notice that child choking and asphyxiating at that moment it took some huge situational awareness and then for him to just jump into action as quicky as he did, he deserved to be commended for it,” Martinez said.

Sloggett’s security company awarded him an award for his heroic efforts.

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 Stephanie Molina

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    KINGSVILLE, Texas (KRIS) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott delivered the keynote address at the Kleberg County Republican Party’s Lincoln Reagan Dinner at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center on Friday evening, about 40 miles from Corpus Christi, where thousands of Democrats gathered for their state convention.

Abbott thanked local supporters and rallied Republicans ahead of the fall midterm elections.

“I wanted to be here and say thank you to Kleberg County for turning out to vote,” Abbott said.

Abbott criticized Democratic policies during his speech while encouraging Republicans to stay engaged in local and statewide races.

“They are trying to expand the socialist leftists in Austin, Texas to places like Kleberg, Corpus Christi,” Abbott said.

Abbott also outlined several Republican priorities, including border security.

“Part of our core agenda will be to ensure that we’re using every step, using every tool that we secure the Texas border, not for just the next four years but forever is what our goal is to secure our border,” Abbott said.

On education, Abbott said improving schools should remain a top priority.

“The time has come to add another number one ranking. Texas must become number one in educating our children,” Abbott said.

Abbott also promoted his plan to lower property taxes.

“Your future property tax bill should look like this… when it comes to the school district property tax, the number in it should be zero,” Abbott said.

Abbott closed his remarks with a message to supporters.

“Our job next session is to keep Texas Texas. Thank you all. God bless you all,” Abbott said.

Abbott’s appearance came as both parties continue mobilizing voters ahead of the fall midterm elections, with Republicans and Democrats holding separate events in South Texas to energize supporters before November.

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By Ricardo Tovar

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    CALIFORNIA (KSBW) — Months after making national headlines for advertising her search for a husband on Bay Area billboards, a Salinas native says her story has reached a happy new chapter: she has found love.

Lisa Catalano, a Salinas High School graduate who drew attention in the fall for promoting her dating website, marrylisa.com, on billboards from San Francisco to Santa Clara, recently shared that the effort ultimately helped lead her to the relationship she had been hoping to find.

While she did not meet her boyfriend directly through the billboard campaign or through an application on her website, Catalano said the entire experience played an important role in getting her there.

“I don’t feel like any of it was a waste of time or effort or resources,” Catalano said in an interview with KSBW 8. “All paths led me to where I am now.”

Catalano, 42, launched the campaign after growing frustrated with dating apps and wanting a more intentional path toward marriage and family.

Her website laid out her values, goals and non-negotiables, serving as a deeper filter for compatibility than traditional dating profiles.

Catalano said she received roughly 4,000 applications between September 2025 and May 2026, with 3,221 deemed genuine.

She said many of the responses came from men outside her area or from people who did not meet the basic qualities she was seeking in a partner.

She contacted 20 local men and went on first dates with five of them.

At the same time, Catalano continued using dating apps, often directing matches to her website to help assess compatibility early on.

In January, she matched with a man on a dating app who had also seen one of her billboards. That connection eventually turned into a relationship.

Catalano said the two went on 19 dates over three and a half months before becoming exclusive.

In June she announced on her website that she is now in a relationship with a Bay Area man she described as kind, intelligent, and aligned with the values most important to her.

She said he meets the standards she had been seeking all along, including shared views on marriage, family, lifestyle, religion and politics.

Catalano also revealed more details about the cost of her widely discussed campaign. She said the billboards themselves cost about $967, while the website and taxi-top ads in San Francisco brought the subtotal to about $1,980.

After adding follow-up expenses tied to the attention the campaign received — including wardrobe, makeup and increased security — her total spending came to $4,746.

Despite public speculation that the campaign may have cost tens of thousands of dollars, Catalano said she was strategic in choosing billboard locations and ad timing to stay within budget.

She said she started the process without ever imagining the amount of attention it would receive. Some people speculated that she was doing it for attention or fame, while others supported her. She also faced nasty and hateful comments directed at her efforts. Some even accused her of being AI.

She said she had tried all the traditional approaches, including meeting people in public and using dating apps, but none of them were working, and she was not finding dates.

She even said she turned down offers for Bachelorette-type shows in an effort not to muddy her real goal of finding love.

“I wasn’t getting dates, and I really wanted to find love, get married and have all of that,” she said. “I was like, ‘Okay, my current trajectory on things is not working. How am I going to make this work?’ I had to change something, so I decided to go big on it. And, you know, I didn’t meet my boyfriend off of the website or billboards, but I think the whole combination of everything that happened led me to where I am now.”

She also said she would not necessarily recommend billboards as the answer for everyone, but she does believe in finding creative solutions when something in life is not working.

“I don’t know if I would necessarily recommend going the billboard route per se, but I think that with anything in life, if you have a problem, it can be beneficial to try to think about creative solutions to the problem,” she said. “And that’s essentially what I did in this situation.”

Now, Catalano says she is simply grateful the story ended the way it did.

For a woman who once put her love life on Highway 101, the road appears to have led exactly where she hoped.

She said that despite the costs and effort, she does not regret what she did because it led her to where she is today.

She said she is very optimistic about her future with her new boyfriend and that they are both very happy right now. She would not disclose much about him other than to say he is a 35-year-old Bay Area man who is not bothered by her website or the media attention she has garnered.

She said she is trying to keep details about her relationship private, but added that they have spoken about a future together.

“He’s just way better than I thought I could even find in one person,” she said. “So I’m very lucky. I’m very happy. And he feels the same way about me.”

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.