Month: August 2026

By Kayla Moeller

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    ELK GROVE, California (KOVR) — A routine drive home on Highway 99 turned into a frightening ordeal for an Elk Grove family when a large metal bolt crashed through the windshield of their minivan, narrowly missing their 12-year-old daughter.

This happened somewhere between 12th Street and 47th Avenue; the driver was so flustered during the incident, they can’t pinpoint exactly where it happened.

With three kids in the car, it was a close call. The family says they are grateful no one was seriously hurt.

“I was driving, and all of a sudden heard a boom sound,” said Gulnaz Siddiqui, the driver and mother

The bolt flew into the passenger-side windshield, where Siddiqui’s 12-year-old daughter, Aisha, was sitting. The impact shattered the glass, sending fragments across the front seat.

“Then there was glass all over her,” Siddiqui said.

Aisha said she was stunned in the moments after the impact.

“I didn’t really know what happened for a few seconds,” she said. “This just came, and I felt like something exploded in the car.”

The bolt lodged into the glass just inches from Aisha’s face. This was her first time riding in the front seat.

“I just screamed,” Aisha said.

Siddiqui said her first concern was making sure her daughter wasn’t seriously hurt.

“I looked at her and I was like, OK, she’s not injured. There’s no bleeding, nothing,” Siddiqui said. “Then there was all this glass on her and in her shoes too.”

With nowhere to safely pull over immediately, Siddiqui continued driving until she could stop and assess the damage. During that time, Aisha kept her eyes closed.

The family said it’s unclear where the bolt came from. Siddiqui believes it may have been kicked up from the roadway by a vehicle traveling ahead of them. She said she was following a passenger car, not a truck, at the time.

“Just watch out. Be safe on 99, of course, because there’s a lot of construction going around,” Siddiqui said.

Mohammed Kazi, Aisha’s father, said the experience left the family shaken.

“These things you can never expect. It can happen to anyone,” Kazi said. “It happened to us. Luckily, no one was that badly injured. They have a shock, a trauma.”

Although no one suffered serious injuries, the family said the frightening experience will stay with them. Aisha said she plans to wear her eyeglasses whenever she’s in a vehicle as an added layer of protection.

The family is also asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured it on a dash camera to come forward with video that could help determine where the bolt came from.

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 Brittney Ermon

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    WEST COVINA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A West Covina family learned about Saturday’s deadly mass shooting at an In-N-Out in Idaho the same as many did — a news alert on their phone. And for the ensuing moments, time felt like an excruciating, panic-inducing eternity.

Their Southern California-based 24-year-old daughter was part of an “all-star team” assembled to travel to Twin Falls, Idaho, to help train new associates as they open the new location. Around 2:30 p.m. local time, shots rang out as a gunman entered the store.

The Ahern’s were alerted to the shooting through the Citizen App, and knowing their daughter was there, they awaited a phone call from their daughter. It never came, at least from her phone, they said.

While the shooting was active, their daughter fled the scene without her cell phone, delaying her ability to contact family to let them know she was OK. She was later able to reach her parents from a friend’s phone, but for Nikki and Micheal Ahern, that wait was excruciating.

“All she could get out [on the initial phone call] was ‘mommy, mommy, mommy,’ crying, ‘mommy, I’m alive’,” Nikki said.

Micheal said he asked his daughter if police officers had arrived yet and if she was safe, which she said yes to, but added that a co-worker had been shot.

The Twin Falls Police Department later confirmed that three died and seven others were wounded after 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire at the restaurant. In-N-Out President Lynsi Snyder said a female employee was one of those killed.

Williams later turned the gun on himself and died.

Even hundreds of miles away, the fear centered in a Southern Idaho city was felt in West Covina.

“[It felt like] being powerless,” Nikki said. “It took a long time for clarification.”

The Ahern’s turned their attention to In-N-Out, saying that the company failed to alert them to the active situation and didn’t provide crucial information.

“There’s got to be a protocol,” Micheal said. “Like, you have an emergency contact list, right?”

CBS LA reached out to In-N-Out to ask about those protocols, but is yet to hear back.

The Ahern’s said their daughter still is without a cell phone, but she’s expected to return to Southern California on Monday.

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 Mike Holden

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    LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WEWS) — The City of Lakewood is making it easier for businesses to offer gender-neutral, single-user restrooms through a new voluntary program approved by City Council.

The resolution, which passed unanimously, allows businesses to convert existing single-user men’s or women’s restrooms into all-gender restrooms.

City leaders say participating businesses can also receive restroom signage at no or reduced cost.

Officials stress the program is entirely optional.

“This is not a mandate,” Ward 3 Councilwoman Cindy Strebig said. “People are just like, ‘Well, that makes sense.’ It’s easy. It’s not a controversial thing here.”

Strebig sponsored the resolution, saying the goal is to improve accessibility while giving business owners more flexibility.

She said the effort was supported immensely by members of the Lakewood Youth Council, who highlighted how all-gender, single-user restrooms can benefit LGBTQ+ individuals, parents with children of the opposite sex, caregivers and others who may need assistance.

The city says businesses with eligible single-user restrooms can opt into the program, and officials will help guide them through the signage process.

Some Lakewood businesses have embraced the concept.

At Cleveland Vegan on Detroit Avenue, co-owner Laura Ross said the restaurant has offered gender-neutral, single-user restrooms since it opened more than a decade ago.

“We always felt just keep it very simple,” Ross said. “It’s just a basic everyday thing to use the restroom.”

Ross believes the approach reflects the welcoming atmosphere she hopes customers experience when they visit.

“I mean, that absolutely all are welcome,” Ross said. “I think it’s a testament.”

Some residents who spoke with News 5 also supported the change, provided it doesn’t create an unnecessary financial burden for small businesses.

“I think it’s fine, as long as it’s done in a way that doesn’t burden small businesses financially,” Lakewood resident Chuck Greanoff said. “I think something that’s more accessible to everybody is good.”

Another resident, Zandra Mannion, said the change could help families.

“I myself have a grandson who would benefit from that and not worry about whether it’s for women or men,” she said.

Strebig said she reviewed similar programs in other communities, including Cincinnati, before introducing the resolution in Lakewood.

City officials are now accepting interest from businesses that want to participate in the voluntary program.

Strebig says interested businesses should contact the mayor’s office for additional guidance and ways to participate in the program.

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 Joshua Sidorowicz

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — When Marisa Penate bought a brand-new Toyota Sienna, she says safety was her top priority.

The grandmother from Mount Airy in Philadelphia paid more than $63,000 in cash for the vehicle using retirement savings. She needed a minivan large enough to transport her four young grandchildren.

“The most important thing, I bought it because it was safe,” Penate said.

Months later, Penate says that sense of security disappeared when a recall notice arrived from Toyota.

Penate purchased the 2025 Toyota Sienna last March.

In December, Toyota notified owners of certain 2025 Sienna vehicles that second-row seat rails may have been improperly welded. The recall notice warned that in certain high-speed crashes, the seats could lose structural integrity, increasing the risk of injury.

Penate says she immediately thought about her grandchildren, who regularly rode in those seats.

“Panic! I said, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been driving my little babies,” she said.

The recall notice also included a recommendation from Toyota until repairs could be completed.

“The warning says, ‘no one sit in or use a child restraint in the second row … until the remedy is performed on the vehicle,'” Penate said while reading from the notice.

Toyota informed owners that dealers would replace the affected seat rails at no cost once parts became available.

Penate says when she brought her Sienna to the dealership, she learned there was another problem.

There was no repair available yet.

Attorney Bob Silverman, who now represents Penate, says situations like this have become increasingly common across the auto industry.

“You’ve got these recalls, ‘hey your car’s unsafe but we can’t fix it,'” Silverman said. “That’s crazy.”

Consumer Reports has found millions of vehicles are recalled each year before a remedy is ready, leaving some consumers waiting weeks, months, or even years for repairs.

Penate told CBS News Philadelphia her Sienna remained out of service for 102 days while waiting for replacement parts and repairs.

She was provided with a loaner vehicle during that time.

Penate filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas alleging the vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Pennsylvania law because it was out of service for more than 30 days due to a warranty-related defect.

Lemon laws are different in every state.

Penate is asking Toyota to buy back the vehicle and refund the purchase price, along with other damages and attorney fees.

Court filings show she initially tried to work directly with Toyota to resolve the issue, including seeking a trade-in or buyback. When those efforts failed, she filed suit.

Toyota declined to address the allegations.

A spokesperson told CBS News Philadelphia the automaker can’t comment on pending litigation.

Silverman says consumers should not ignore recall notices, especially when safety concerns are involved.

“Read those recalls carefully,” he said. “You should immediately contact the manufacturer and the dealer and say, ‘fix my car, and if you can’t, put me in a safe car while I’m waiting,’ and document everything.”

He advises drivers to keep:

Repair orders Emails Text messages Recall notices Records of conversations with dealers or manufacturers That documentation, he says, can become crucial if a dispute develops later.

For Penate, the case is about more than a vehicle.

“You have rights,” she said. “You have rights, and you need to exercise them.”

If your vehicle is recalled and a repair is not immediately available:

Read the recall notice carefully Ask the dealer for written documentation Request a loaner vehicle if safety is a concern Save every repair order, email and text message Keep records of all communications with the manufacturer and dealership

Consumer advocates say those records can make a significant difference if a warranty, recall or Lemon Law dispute later arises.

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 Ryan Hughes

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    HADDON TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (KYW) — The “Skip the Stuff” law went into effect in New Jersey on Saturday.

At the Haddon Diner in Haddon Township, Jose Lopez was working the window to help pack takeout orders, and for years he says he’s always thrown extra items inside the bag.

“Automatically, we always put silverware in the bags and ketchups, syrups, and other condiments,” Lopez said.

Starting Saturday, Lopez no longer has to include single-use plastic utensils, napkins, or condiments. Now, customers must request them. It’s a change he says will take some getting used to.

“I don’t think a lot of people will know about the law at the beginning and maybe there is going to be some conflictions between them and us,” he said.

Officials say the goal is to reduce unnecessary plastic waste and help keep it out of landfills while also minimizing litter. The New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association says businesses will also benefit.

“It can certainly save them money in the long run, most of our restaurants have been moving toward a more sustainable approach already,” said Amanda Stone, Vice President of Public Affairs.

Under the law, mobile orders will also not include utensils or condiments unless you check a box requesting them.

Kathleen Burns thinks the law is a great idea.

“I can’t stand the waste that comes with those utensils, which I can’t ever remember using, so in my pantry I have a giant bag of these utensils,” Burns said.

Derrick Williams called the change awful.

“Because I’m not going to always remember to ask for condiments or a fork and if I’m going somewhere where I need to eat quick, then I don’t have what I need,” Williams said.

Like it or not, New Jersey will issue warnings to businesses that don’t comply, with violations and fines to follow.

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 Andrew Ramos

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A New York City protester claims she was pepper-sprayed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, and she’s now planning to file a lawsuit.

Linda Wolff, 72, says the incident unfolded Thursday when masked ICE agents were trying to get their disabled vehicle towed in Inwood. She says she joined demonstrators, screaming at the agents to leave the neighborhood.

“I said to the tow truck driver, ‘You know, you should be ashamed of yourself, working for ICE,’ and he got crazy,” Wolff said. “The ICE guys came over, and they just Maced me.”

Video shows Wolff on the sidewalk, filming the agents with her phone, as an agent approaches her and sprays pepper spray toward her head.

In the video Wolff filmed herself, an agent tells her to back up, then sprays her with the pepper spray at close range.

Wolff can later be heard saying, “Well, you just Maced me.”

“I’m gonna do it again,” the agent responds.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CBS News New York in a statement, in part: “At the time in question, a group of individuals swarmed, became combative and verbally assaultive, and refused to move out of the way, in an effort to obstruct law enforcement, a federal crime. Law enforcement provided ample notice to these individuals to clear the street and used appropriate measures.”

Days later, Wolff says she’s still recovering from the effects of the pepper spray.

“My eyes, they’re burning, and so they’re very sensitive to the light,” she said.

Wolff tells us she is now pursuing legal action.

“It’s in the Constitution,” she said. “I can stand on the sidewalk and protest.”

“You do have a legal, constitutional right to film federal officers, especially in public spaces like that,” public interest attorney Kaivan Shroff said. “You don’t have the right to interfere or obstruct a law enforcement action. It’s very clear she wasn’t doing that from the video.”

Despite the fallout from the incident, she says she has no plans on slowing down her work of protesting and exercising her First Amendment right.

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 Lynne Keenum

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    TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (WVTM) — The funeral for Tuscaloosa County teen Will Roberts, whose courageous battle with stage 4 bone cancer inspired supporters around the world, was held Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Roberts, 15, of Ralph, died July 23 at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego after an 18-month battle with stage 4 osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

His journey drew national attention after his video went viral on social media in which he asked for help accessing an experimental treatment. Thousands of people across Alabama and beyond followed his story, donated to his care and prayed for his recovery.

Even after losing a leg to cancer, Roberts continued to encourage others with his faith, optimism and determination.

On Wednesday, Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed Aug. 1 as Will Roberts Day in Alabama, honoring the teenager’s bravery and the inspiration he provided throughout his fight against cancer. “Alabama is remembering Will as a brave young man whose courage inspired us all,” said Ivey. “He inspired me, and he inspired us all.”

Roberts was the son of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Bureau of Investigation Capt. Jason Roberts and his wife, Brittney. He is also survived by his younger sister, Charlie.

Public visitation was held Saturday morning followed by the funeral service at noon at Shelton State Community College Gymnasium, 9500 Old Greensboro Road in Tuscaloosa. Burial is at Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Ralph.

Magnolia Chapel South Funeral Home livestreamed the service for those unable to attend in person.

The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to organizations supporting childhood cancer research and families facing pediatric cancer: Aveni Foundation or Beats the Odds Sarcoma.

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.