CSU’s ‘hoseover’ operation brings water to businesses amid valve repair

KRDO on June 4, 2026

Scott Harrison

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — The ongoing improvements project on the north end of 8th Street has presented its share of challenges for drivers, pedestrians, business owners, and city officials.

But the latest challenge is an issue separate from that project.

Because of repair work next week by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) to fix a broken water valve, water service to 26 businesses must be shut off for three days.

Therefore, CSU has started a “hoseover” operation that will provide water to affected businesses from individual hoses to fire hydrants.

“We don’t really love running unknown water into the machines, because the sediment really messes up the espresso machine,” said Liana Horrace, a manager at Corto Coffee Roasters. “But having some water is better than nothing at all. I don’t think we’ll be affected because we use a different water line — at least I hope that’s the case.”

The operation started on Wednesday and continues on Thursday, with a crew of 14 connecting hoses and, in some cases, carrying them over hills and across fence lines.

Water from the hydrants will connect to CSU service lines that provide water to the affected businesses.

“We’ll be using 6.5 miles of hose in this operation,” said Michael Myers, CSU’s manager for water and wastewater. “And while we’re underground, we’ll also take the opportunity to repair a cross junction, where four pipes meet.”

Water leaking from the valve flows onto 8th Street.

CSU said that the businesses are between Fountain Creek and Motor City Drive, and include a car wash and several restaurants.

The water valve repair will occur Monday through Wednesday, and CSU expects to return to normal water service by the end of next week.

Construction in that area has had significant traffic impacts; both southbound lanes of 8th Street between Costilla Street and Moreno Avenue will be closed for two weeks, and westbound Moreno traffic also will be closed at the intersection

The water valve requiring repair is connected to a smaller distribution line, and not to the water main that is currently being replaced under 8th Street.

Most passers-by likely won’t notice the temporary lines because most will be attached to hydrants that are behind the affected businesses.

KRDO 13 is one of the affected businesses.

Click here to follow the original article.

Local taekwondo center breaking thousands of board to raise thousands of dollars

KRDO on June 4, 2026

Bradley Davis

MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) – The U.S. Taekwondo Center in both Monument and Colorado Springs is celebrating 40 years this Saturday with its annual Break-A-Thon to help children of fallen Veterans.

Each student makes their own fundraising website to raise money for Angels of America’s Fallen. The Break-A-Thon is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vista Ridge High School. It’s a pep rally-type environment open to the public where students will break board after board.

The center will have a bounce house, face painting, and will teach board breaking to beginners in the audience who make a donation to Angels of America’s Fallen. If you would like to break a board, they ask you get to Vista Ridge before 11:30 a.m.

Grand Master Sang Lee founded the U.S. Taekwondo Center in Colorado Springs in 1986 after becoming the first U.S.A. Taekwondo Olympic team head coach. An immigrant from South Korea, Lee was undefeated with 12 Korean national titles and is in the country’s sports hall of fame. He’s the most decorated U.S. Taekwondo Olympic head coach in history. His son, master Jay Lee, now leads the program.

Click here to follow the original article.

Deputy involved in crash with teen scooter operator

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Malcolm Shields

Click here for updates on this story

    BUNNELL, Florida (WPBF) — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday evening that one of its deputies was involved in a crash with an electric scooter operated by a 15-year-old teenager in the city of Bunnell.

According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was driving through an intersection Wednesday afternoon when the operator of the scooter “ran a stop sign and collided with the patrol vehicle.”

The sheriff’s office said the deputy had the right of way and was traveling about 19 mph.

The sheriff’s office said the teenager was evaluated by Flagler County Fire Rescue and was not seriously hurt.

The dash camera video from the deputy’s patrol vehicle appears to show the teenager fall backwards off the scooter before the scooter collided with the patrol vehicle.

The video shows an attempt to shift the patrol vehicle away from the scooter moments before impact.

“Parents, please take a few minutes to talk with your kids about riding safely,” Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement on Facebook. “These devices are fun, but they share the road with cars, trucks, and deputies. Let’s all do our part to keep our riders safe.”

The sheriff’s office said the Bunnell Police Department is investigating the collision.

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.

Idaho Falls residents invited to weigh in on proposed kratom ban at Thursday council meeting

KIFI on June 4, 2026

Danielle Mullenix

Idaho Falls, ID (KIFI) – Idaho Falls residents will have an opportunity Thursday night to share their thoughts on a proposed ban of kratom within city limits as city leaders continue debating the controversial substance.

The discussion comes after the Idaho Falls City Council heard official comments from local law enforcement and the Bonneville County Coroner about the potential risks of kratom—a plant-based product commonly available in smoke shops, convenience stores, and specialty shops.

City of Idaho Falls // photo from Monday evening’s work session with Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez and Idaho Falls Poilce Chief Bryce Johnson

Kratom is typically promoted as a natural remedy for pain, energy, and wellness. However, officials cautioned that the substance can act as a stimulant in small doses and produce opioid-like effects in larger amounts. It is currently an FDA-unregulated drug and legal in the state of Idaho.

At Monday’s work session, Bonneville County Coroner Shante Sanchez reported that her office has examined six kratom-related deaths in the past 18 months, most involving young adults. She urged city leaders to consider the public safety risks of allowing continued sales.

Bonneville County Sheriff Sam Hulse also raised concerns about accessibility, pointing out that Idaho does not currently regulate the age for kratom purchases. He mentioned that some products are sold near schools and that law enforcement has received reports of student use. Idaho Falls Police Chief Bryce Johnson also noted that enforcing a local ban could be difficult, as officers do not have a straightforward field test for kratom. Local law enforcement believes retailers within the city limits would comply with an adjusted market.

The proposed ban has been under consideration for several weeks and is just a small portion of the growing topic of conversation among city officials statewide. Last month, Idaho Falls city council members delayed a decision to collect more information and hear from experts, law enforcement, and the public before making a final call.

The issue is now set to return to the council at its regular Thursday evening meeting.

Residents who wish to comment on the proposed ban are invited to attend the meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Idaho Falls City Hall, 680 Park Avenue.

Members of the public may speak during the comment period, with each speaker typically required to state their name and city of residence, and limited to three minutes.

Meeting agendas and additional details are available on the City of Idaho Falls website here.

It is not yet clear whether council members will make a final decision on the ban Thursday night, but the meeting will offer another chance for city leaders and residents to weigh the pros and cons of restricting kratom locally.

Click here to follow the original article.

Negligence lawsuit blames gator bite on airboat company

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Brandon Hogan

Click here for updates on this story

    ORANGE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A man who sued an Orange County airboat company last month claimed negligence led to him being bitten on the face by an alligator.

Edil Kasenov, of Broward County, filed the lawsuit May 20 against Airboat Rides at Midway, which advertises daily airboat rides on the St. Johns River east of Christmas.

The Airboat Rides at Midway website further states it offers an “Alligator Encounter where you can hold an alligator and take pictures” for free at the end of an airboat tour.

Kasenov’s lawsuit demands $50,000, pointing to an incident on June 9, 2025, during which — as a business invitee to the property — he claims to have been bitten in the face by an alligator that was handed to him by an employee, resulting in serious injuries, during one of these free alligator encounters.

“As a result of the Defendant’s failure to properly train and/or supervise (its) employees in a safe and reasonable manner, and/or warn the Plaintiff of the dangerous and hazardous condition, the Plaintiff suffered serious injuries,” the lawsuit states, going on to claim Kasenov was never warned “of the alligator’s vicious nature.”

WESH 2 News has reached out to the airboat company for 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.

Man accused of holding victim, who walks with crutches, under water over use of lake

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Jamy Pombo Sesselman

Click here for updates on this story

    HOPKINTON, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A Hopkinton, Massachusetts, man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly held a man who walks with crutches under water during an altercation over the use of a residents-only lake Wednesday, police said.

Steven Dana, 70, got into a fight with a 21-year-old man at Sandy Beach on Lakeshore Drive just before 7 p.m. after he confronted the victim about his use of Lake Maspenock.

The only boat ramp to the lake, which straddles Hopkinton and Milford, is on Lakeshore Drive, and use of the ramp is limited to Hopkinton residents from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, police said.

Police reviewed video footage that showed Dana slapping the victim across the face before they ended up in a struggle in the water, at which point Dana forcefully held the victim under the water, officials said. Bystanders then pulled Dana off the man.

“This is an incident of senseless violence that could have had tragic results, and we treat matters like this with the utmost seriousness,” Deputy Police Chief Scott van Raalten said. “The Hopkinton Police Department asks that residents contact the proper authorities to investigate incidents that involve the enforcement of the town’s bylaws rather than taking matters into their own hands.”

Dana and the alleged victim declined medical treatment.

Officials learned that the 21-year-old had been involved in an accident a few months prior that caused severe injuries and that he was walking on crutches.

Dana was charged with an attempt to murder, two counts of strangulation/suffocation, and assault and battery on a disabled person and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

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.

New Hampshire man arrested for 1993 cold case murder of Maxine Bitomski in Kittery, Maine

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Russ Reed

Click here for updates on this story

    KITTERY, Maine (WMTW) — A New Hampshire man has been arrested for the murder of a Maine woman who was found dead inside her Kittery home more than 30 years ago.

Daniel Jolly, 59, of Portsmouth, was arrested shortly before 6:15 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with murder in connection with the 1993 killing of 73-year-old Maxine Bitomski, according to the Maine State Police.

Bitomski’s body was found on Jan. 16, 1993, by Kittery police officers who responded to her Colonial Road home. An autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner the following day. The cause of Bitomski’s death remains withheld pending the unsealing of court documents, but the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide.

Detectives from the Kittery Police Department and Maine State Police continued to work the case over the next three decades and determined that Jolly knew Bitomski through his employment with Medical Market, a Portsmouth-based medical supply company that provided oxygen equipment and services to Bitomski prior to her death.

Beginning in 2021, the case was re-examined by the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – South. Detectives continued to pursue leads, review evidence and utilize advances in DNA testing, which ultimately led to Jolly’s arrest.

“This arrest reflects the determination and commitment of investigators who never stopped working this case,” said Maine State Police Lt. Tom Pickering, who oversees the agency’s Major Crimes Unit – Unsolved. “The work completed by current and retired Maine State Police detectives, members of the Maine State Police Crime Laboratory and the Kittery Police Department over the past 33 years was instrumental in bringing this case to this point.”

Jolly was transported to the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood, New Hampshire, where he will remain held pending extradition proceedings.

The investigation into Bitomski’s death remains ongoing. State police are asking anyone who has information related to the case to call Major Crimes Unit Sgt. Justin Huntley at 207-624-7076, ext. 9.

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.

‘Record-setting’ $101M award granted in horrific North Carolina wall collapse

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Caitlin Ashbaugh

Click here for updates on this story

    HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (WYFF) — The jury in a horrific wall collapse from 2021 has decided a record-setting, multi-million-dollar verdict for the state of North Carolina, bringing a yearslong dispute and six weeks of trial to a close.

$101 million will go to two of the four workers involved and one of their wives. Hajoca Corporation, the defendant and site of the incident, opted for a confidential settlement.

Hajoca provided the following statement to WYFF News 4:

“Hajoca disagrees with, but respects the jury’s verdict in this case. Rather than endure a lengthy appellate process, we were able to settle the case after verdict, and the terms of that settlement are confidential. Hajoca is pleased to conclude this matter after more than five years of ongoing litigation, and looks forward to continuing to serve its customers and the community of Hendersonville.”

The remaining workers settled cases before the trial began.

A 54-page complaint describes the moment a 12-foot retaining wall toppled over in 2021, burying four construction workers under tons of dirt and construction materials. The crush killed one man, a brick mason, and for hours the survivors were stuck and waiting for rescue.

Three of the workers survived with excruciating injuries, revealed in X-rays provided to WYFF News 4.

“As you can imagine, it is one of the most difficult things for them to talk about. He was conscious. He was slammed face down into the pavement. He was broken,” Attorney John McCabe said. “They define themselves by their work and by their family. And just were very committed. The voids in their lives are huge. When that wall fell, it shattered their bodies, and it shattered their lives. Their lives will never, ever be the same.”

Court documents claim the original wall was damaged in a storm months before, and this was an attempt to rebuild the structure. The complaint accuses Hajoca Corporation of negligent practices, including a lack of required permitting.

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.

2 managers, 48 employees at South Carolina business detained by ICE while working, officials announce

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Stephanie Moore

Click here for updates on this story

    ABBEVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WYFF) — Two managers and 48 employees were detained by ICE for immigration violations at a business in South Carolina on Wednesday, according to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.

The arrests were made at Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting in Abbeville, officials announced Thursday morning.

A viewer shared the picture below of what it looked like outside the business on Wednesday afternoon.

State officials said an investigation, dubbed ‘Ghost Story,’ began in the fall of 2024.

They said a “multi-jurisdictional law enforcement operation” at the business on Wednesday led to two managers being arrested on state grand jury charges, and 48 workers being detained by ICE for immigration violations.

“If you are unlawfully aiding illegal immigrants in South Carolina, you are going to be investigated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “If you are taking advantage of hard-working Americans, stealing their identities, and are intentionally ignoring your responsibilities as an employer in an effort to circumvent the law, we are coming for you,” he added. “These crimes are not only stealing jobs from American employees but also pose a serious risk to national security. When criminals make it easy for illegal aliens to get fake identification documents, we don’t know who is working in our country, and in this operation, specifically, our national security and manufacturing sectors.”

Wilson said that these indictments reflect “the extensive problem of how easily illegal immigrants in South Carolina can get fake US and state identification from ‘document vendors’ throughout the state.”

He added that it reflects allegations that a business in South Carolina knowingly facilitated the use of fraudulent identification by illegal immigrants they employed.

Wilson said the indictments say that two managers of Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting, Christopher Douglas Ramey and Sandy Lynn Willis, violated their legal obligations to verify the legitimacy of IDs before hiring employees, and facilitated the use of forged identity documents by illegal immigrants at the business.

He said the remaining defendants were accused of using document vendors who obtained forged state driver’s licenses, USA social security cards, or other fake identification for illegal immigrants to use.

According to Wilson, these fake identity cards included the use of the dates of birth and Social Security numbers of actual United States citizens.

The following arrests were made public, others remain sealed: Jose Luis Aguilar Mejia: Wanted

Forgery of value more than $10,000 (2 counts) Identity fraud (3 counts) Lazaro Hernandez Hernandez: Bond was denied on April 22, 2025

Forgery of value more than $10,000 Identity fraud Xavier Martinez Adorno:

Forgery of value more than $10,000 (4 counts) Identity fraud (3 counts) Zenon Rojas-Cabrera: $50,000 surety bond was set on September 17, 2025

Identity fraud to obtain employment (2 counts) Forgery of value more than $10,000 (4 counts)

Christopher Douglas Ramey: Arrested on June 3

Criminal conspiracy Identity fraud to obtain employment Forgery of value more than $10,000 Sandy Lynn Willis: Arrested on June 3

Criminal conspiracy Identity fraud to obtain employment Forgery of value more than $10,000

Reaction from authorities: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark A. Keel: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark A. Keel said: “This raid is the direct result of an exhaustive, years-long investigation. It should serve as a deterrent to anyone who participates in illegal employment. Employers who knowingly and willfully hire illegal labor must be held accountable. Employees who provide fraudulent documents in order to gain employment will be brought to justice. I want to be clear: illegal employment schemes will not be tolerated in South Carolina. This case would not be possible without our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.”

Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina: “The crimes uncovered in Operation Ghost Story are not victimless. When illegal aliens use stolen identities and forged documents, they victimize law-abiding citizens whose personal information is misused and undermine the security of our communities. These actions also enable businesses to profit from illegal labor at the expense of honest workers and employers,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina. “HSI is committed to working with our partners to aggressively investigate and dismantle these criminal operations, protect victims, and hold offenders fully accountable.”

Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo: Eighth Circuit Solicitor David Stumbo said, “This is a great example of seamless coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies, working shoulder-to-shoulder with prosecutors, to finally hold accountable those who are facilitating and insulating criminal migration into our country. My office will continue to fight the scourge of illegal immigration and, most importantly, call out enablers of those entering and remaining in our country illegally. I welcome migration into our country, but it must be done the right way.”

Attorney General Alan Wilson: “I want to commend the hard work of the State Grand Jury staff and their law enforcement partners at SLED, HSI, ICE, the Abbeville, Greenville, Newberry, and Greenwood County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office,” Wilson added. “Yet again, the South Carolina State Grand Jury division of the Attorney General’s Office brings together partners across jurisdictions so we punch harder together than we ever could apart.”

Bond hearings for defendants Ramey and Willis are scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 10:00 a.m. before the Honorable Heath P. Taylor at the Richland County Courthouse.

Agencies that investigated the case: The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eighth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The cases will be prosecuted by State Grand Jury Division Chief Attorney Creighton Waters and Assistant Deputy Attorney General David Fernandez.

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.

Ohio County stitches together kids’ dreams for massive America 250 postcard display

CNN Newsource on June 4, 2026

By Clay LePard

Click here for updates on this story

    AUSTINBURG, Ohio (WEWS) — Inside the garage of Shawn Shannon’s home, a team of volunteers operates like an assembly line, building a massive display for America’s 250th anniversary.

The display, dubbed “Project Postcard,” consists of drawings made by kids at Jefferson Area Local Schools, St. John School, Grand River Academy and SPIRE Academy, as well as from area churches.

“We used the theme of where would you like to go in America for your vacation or around the world — and draw your picture of where you want to go,” Shannon said.

Shawn Shannon remembers watching an enormous flag fly over Geneva Elementary during the Bicentennial in 1976.

“I believe it was 35 feet high and 90 feet long, and all the kids, they sewed the stars, and they sewed the stripes,” Shannon said. “This was really the thought that started all this.”

That memory inspired Shannon to dream big for America 250, an idea that is now inching closer to the same size as that bicentennial flag.

“We’re probably going to have 1,000 or better posters, and these are all going to go up,” Shannon said. “We have kids in kindergarten, preschool, all the way to high school. My guess is we’re going to be 20 feet up this way. So you’re looking 20 feet by 150 feet, so it could be very massive.”

For Shannon, an Army veteran and longtime history teacher, the project is personal.

“I get nostalgic when it comes to history, so this is right up my wheelhouse,” Shannon said. “We’re just trying to give America a little bit of love, make our community a little bit better at a time where community is fighting and a lot of things [are] going on in our world — here’s one day we put all of it away and celebrate together.”

The completed postcard display can be seen at two upcoming events.

The first is this Friday at Austinburg Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as part of the annual Nickel Day Carnival.

The second is on the Fourth of July in downtown Jefferson as part of Ashtabula County’s America 250 celebration.

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.