CR INVESTIGATION: Contaminants in Children’s Snacks

KIFI on September 14, 2026

Consumer Reports

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIVI) — Parents know how convenient packaged snacks can be for feeding hungry kids. But what’s actually in those products may go beyond what’s written on the label. A new Consumer Reports investigation found potentially harmful contaminants in some popular children’s snacks.

Earlier this summer, Consumer Reports testing found high levels of additives and contaminants in popular processed snack foods. Now, CR’s food safety scientists have taken a closer look specifically at snacks marketed to or commonly eaten by children.

Consumer Reports tested 21 packaged kids’ snacks and found that 14 had concerning levels of at least one chemical contaminant, including acrylamide or phthalates.

Acrylamide is a chemical that can form naturally in some foods during high-temperature cooking and processing. Certain health organizations consider it a probable human carcinogen based on animal studies. Consumer Reports found concerning levels of acrylamide in several types of snacks, including granola bars, chips, pretzels, and even graham crackers.

CR also tested for phthalates, chemicals that can migrate into food from packaging and other materials during manufacturing and processing. High exposure to certain phthalates has been linked to potential long-term health risks, including interference with the body’s natural hormones, and children’s developing bodies may be especially vulnerable.

Consumer Reports found concerning levels of phthalates in three products: Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies Original, Chocolate Chip Z Bars, and Slim Jim Mild Snack Size Sticks.

In a statement to Consumer Reports, the trade group Consumer Brands Association said, “Many of the substances highlighted in the report occur naturally in food, including fruits, vegetables and grains, or are formed during preparation.”

Consumer Reports’ Jessica D’Argenio Waller says some exposure to contaminants is unavoidable and parents can only control so much. Manufacturers and regulators, she says, also have a responsibility to reduce contaminants before foods reach store shelves.

There was some reassuring news. Seven of the products tested were below CR’s level of concern in all of its tests, including Pirate’s Booty cheese puffs, Welch’s fruit snacks, and Frigo string cheese.

For parents, Consumer Reports says moderation, variety, and awareness are key when it comes to processed foods. Try rotating snack choices rather than relying on the same product every day, and choose whole foods or homemade snacks whenever possible.

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Back-to-school bugs: what parents should know

KESQ on September 14, 2026

Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As students return to classrooms, health experts are reminding families that COVID-19 and other illnesses are still circulating.

COVID can cause symptoms similar to the flu and other respiratory illnesses, including fever, cough, sore throat, congestion and fatigue.

Experts recommend washing hands regularly, covering coughs and staying home when sick to help prevent illnesses from spreading at school and at home.

Parents should also monitor their child’s symptoms and contact a health care provider if they have concerns or if symptoms worsen.

Some antiviral treatments work best when started early, so experts say it’s important to talk with a provider about treatment options if symptoms begin.

Stay with News Channel 3 for the latest updates.

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The School Buzz: Pueblo teacher a finalist for Colorado ‘Teacher of the Year’

KRDO on September 14, 2026

Josh Helmuth

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) — One Pueblo teacher just got some pretty big recognition — and he found out about it in a surprise visit to his classroom.

Fifth-grade teacher Arjun Sahdev teaches at Minnequa Elementary and he’s now one of just eight finalists for Colorado Teacher of the Year — and that’s out of 297 applicants from 76 school districts across the state.

Sahdev is in his sixth year at Minnequa and came to Pueblo District 60 through Teach For America. He was also named D-60’s Elementary Teacher of the Year last school year.

Education Commissioner Susan Cordova surprised Arjun in his classroom recently to tell him he made the finalist list.

She praised him for shaping his teaching and classroom to meet the community’s needs. She said it shows his dedication and “commitment to every aspect of the students and their lives.”

Katie Harshman, his principal, said he represents so much of what makes Minnequa special, saying, “He leads through his actions and builds genuine relationships.”

We’re told Arjun is also known for bringing enthusiasm and creativity into the classroom.

As a finalist, he’ll receive a $1,000 award. The Colorado Teacher of the Year will be announced later this fall.

Is there someone or something remarkable at your school? Email Josh! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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Some relief from the heat Monday, warming back up by the weekend

KEYT on September 14, 2026

Andie Lopez Bornet

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Happy Monday! It is expected to be a great week ahead with temperatures below average for this time of year, only by about 5-10 degrees.

Coastal clouds are expected every morning, with the most dense marine layer expected on Tuesday.

Thanks to a trough of low pressure sitting near the PNW and increased onshore flow, temperatures will steadily drop the next couple of days until Thursday. North West winds over Santa Barbara will decrease over two days which will allow marine layer to expand.

Temperatures on Monday will be in the 70s and 80s for the coasts and valleys, while the inland areas will be in the high 80s and 90s.

Enjoy the next couple of days of relief from the heat, because by Friday temperatures will start to warm right up again! The weekend will be a toasty one. Enjoy!

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World of Outlaws sprint car series returns to Colorado for first time in a decade

KRDO on September 14, 2026

Bradley Davis

CALHAN, Colo. (KRDO) – The World of Outlaws NOS Sprint Car Series takes on the El Paso County Speedway Monday night for its first Colorado show in 10 years to the day.

Sprint cars race on dirt. They are compact racing machines, weighing less than 1400 pounds while pumping out over 1000 horsepower.

The race starts at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 4 p.m. World of Outlaws is hosting a fan fest starting at 2 p.m. with live music, meet-and-greets and autographs with the drivers and more.

Tickets are $43 per person. You can find a ticket link here.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.

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Video shows car crashing through backyard fence, narrowly missing toddler in pool

CNN Newsource on September 14, 2026

By Briauna Brown

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    FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — A car crashed through a fence into a Fort Worth backyard Sunday evening, narrowly missing a toddler and two other children who were playing, the family said.

According to the Fort Worth Police Department, at about 7 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to a major accident near the 1500 block of Heritage Trace. When officers arrived, they found a car had collided with a fence.

The family who lived in the home told CBS News Texas that their three children were playing in the pool when the crash happened, and the car almost hit their 2-year-old child.

The family’s surveillance video captured the moment, showing their 2-year-old walking away just seconds before debris flew in the toddler’s direction. The parents called it an “act of God” that their child wasn’t struck. They rushed to gather their children, and all three were okay. Then, the father went to check on the driver.

FWPD said there were two people inside the vehicle that crashed, the driver and one passenger. The passenger was transported to the hospital in an unknown condition.

Police said the driver, who hasn’t been identified, “was cited” for reckless driving.

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.

Widefield School District 3 reports high number of bus stop-arm violations in first month of new school year

KRDO on September 14, 2026

Scott Harrison

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — In the second year of a new state law mandating when drivers should stop for school buses loading and unloading students, a local school district is already seeing more violators.

Officials at Widefield District 3 told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior that they have 18 confirmed violations of the law in the first month back to school, and believe there are more that haven’t been confirmed.

Jason Schwartz, the district’s transportation director, said that there were ten violations at this time last year.

“I just think that people are in too much of a hurry,” he said.

As The Road Warrior reported last summer when the law took effect, drivers in both directions — behind a school bus or in opposite lanes — are required to stop when a bus has its flashing lights on and its stop-arm extended.

The only exception is when a median or other physical barrier separates opposite traffic lanes.

The law is designed to increase safety for students as they board or depart from school buses.

In a report last fall, The Road Warrior saw numerous violations at a bus stop outside the Elm Crest Mobile Home Park, along southbound Highway 85/87.

However, because the bus stop is on the highway shoulder near the park entrance, many drivers may believe they don’t have to stop.

The Road Warrior saw the same trend at the stop on Monday morning; most of the drivers behind the bus stopped, while most in the opposite direction didn’t.

Many buses have cameras that can record the license plates of violators and turn them over to law enforcement for investigation, but traffic often passes stopped buses so fast that the cameras can’t record the plates.

Violators cited by law enforcement face stiff penalties, such as a mandatory court appearance and losing points off their driver’s license.

Stop-arm violations were also a concern a year before the new law took effect, in Academy District 20.

Schwartz told The Road Warrior in last fall’s report that officials were considering the use of better camera technology to identify violators, but funding to do that is currently unavailable.

A reminder to drivers: The law requires you to stop for buses that are loading and unloading students, especially because kids often have to cross the street in front of the bus to walk home.

Every violation increases the danger of a student being struck, hurt, or killed by a passing vehicle.

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Trial begins for man charged with killing 1-year-old Wichita boy

CNN Newsource on September 14, 2026

By KAKE Staff

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    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — Trial begins this week for one of the three people accused in the shooting death of a 1-year-old Wichita boy in 2024.

Sedgwick County court records show the trial for 20-year-old Roames Bonner is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday. It’s unclear when opening statements, which typically follow jury selection, will begin.

Bonner is charged with first-degree murder, two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm, and two counts of aggravated battery.

The shooting happened on February 19, 2024, at Sugar Creek Apartments in the 2500 block of South Oliver. Police arrived to find Taidyn Anderson, who also went by the name Blaire Jobe, and two 24-year-old women with gunshot wounds. The baby was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Prosecutors claimed the shooting stemmed from an argument over an Amazon package.

Bonner was allegedly was a major contributor to the DNA found on the fence and had pictures on his phone of the gun used in the shooting. He was 17 at the time and is charged as an adult

A co-defendant, 27-year-old K’veion Richard, was sentenced in April 2025 to life in prison. He’s eligible for parole after serving 54 years.

The third suspect, 23-year-old Jonathan Tillery-Matthias, faces a jury trial scheduled for September 21. He’s also charged with first-degree murder, two counts each of aggravated battery, and two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm.

Bonner and Tillery-Matthias remain in the Sedgwick County Jail.

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.

Family and friends honor Sophie, demand justice after fatal shooting

CNN Newsource on September 14, 2026

By Keira McGuire

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — Family and friends of Sophie, a transgender woman who was killed in Charles Village, gathered Sunday for a candlelight vigil to honor her life and demand justice.

“She was somebody’s child, and she deserved to live,” said loved ones who came together on the street where Sophie was found.

Denise Jackson, Sophie’s mother, shared her grief, saying, “She was a wonderful person, and she brought joy to everybody. And they just took my baby away from me.”

Baltimore police said they were called to the 2300 block of Hunter Street on Sept. 11. When officers arrived, they found Sophie suffering from gunshot wounds. She died at the scene.

During the vigil, Jackson reflected on her daughter’s vibrant personality.

“She would brighten up the party. If the party was down, here she’d come; she would start laughing, dancing. That was my baby,” she said.

Sophie’s grandmother expressed her heartbreak, saying, “She loved so many people, and we loved her deeply. My heart aches.”

Leaders of Baltimore Safe Haven, an organization supporting the LGBTQ+ community, also spoke about Sophie’s impact.

“It’s a solemn day. I’m gonna try to do this without crying,” said Renee, a representative of the organization. “Sophie was a friend to many people in our organization.”

As loved ones continue to mourn, they are also calling for justice.

“It’s devastating, and it puts a lot of fear in our hearts,” Renee said. “City of Baltimore, the trans community is here to help you—help us.”

Jackson added, “I’m lost for words. I just want justice for my child—that’s it. I just want justice.”

Baltimore police are asking anyone with information about Sophie’s death to come forward.

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.

‘State situation, not federal’: President Donald Trump responds to Lindsay Clancy pardon request

CNN Newsource on September 14, 2026

By Jamy Pombo Sesselman, Phil Tenser

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    NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (WCVB) — President Donald Trump responded Sunday to a request from Lindsay Clancy’s attorney for a pardon after a mistrial was declared in the case of the Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three children in 2023.

Defense attorney Kevin Reddington spoke on “Good Morning America” and said he planned to ask Trump to pardon his client.

“I’d like to say that perhaps Donald Trump, who felt compelled to speak out about this case, may very well … Mr. President, I would hope that you would consider this young lady, the type of person she is, what she has been through, and consider a pardon,” Reddington said.

Clancy is accused of murder in Massachusetts, but does not face federal charges. Trump’s power to pardon is strictly limited to federal offenses.

“It’s a very sad situation,” Trump said. “There is no winner there. There is no win no matter what you do. Three children are dead. So, I don’t know. It’s actually a state situation, you know, not a federal.”

A pardon is also not within the purview of Gov. Maura Healey at this point.

“I don’t have the authority to pardon,” Healey said Tuesday. “It’s in the middle of the court case, so there’s no existing conviction.”

The 75-year-old, Brockton-based attorney received national attention for his fiery defense during Clancy’s murder trial. She is accused of murder for the strangulation of her three children in 2023 and now faces a potential retrial as soon as this fall.

Retired judge Jim Barretto commented on Reddington’s appeal to Trump, saying, “Perhaps he’s seeking somehow to leverage the bully pulpit of the presidency itself.”

Clancy didn’t dispute that she killed the children, but Reddington argued that she should not be found criminally responsible because she was in the throes of postpartum psychosis at the time. Reddington said the jury, which had deliberated for seven days, was ultimately stuck at 11-1, with one juror holding out to convict.

Reddington said he respects the juror’s right to be a holdout; however, he believes the juror did not follow the law as it was laid out by Judge William Sullivan.

“(The juror) had agreed, according to the note from the forelady, that he had doubt but he would not apply the law of reasonable doubt as presented by the judge. That is not right,” Reddington said.

Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz has not indicated if he plans to retry the case; however, Reddington said he is hopeful they can avoid another trial.

“I hope, however, after sitting through this trial and seeing the evidence that was presented from the government, as well as from the defense, that he would revisit that issue and hopefully would be willing to work something out that would be acceptable to both sides,” Reddington said.

Clancy is scheduled to return to court later this month for a status hearing, trial assignment and a hearing on a rule that allows a judge to review a jury’s verdict. While a timeline for the case remains unclear, Reddington has previously said that he’s “ready to go” as early as next week, if need be.

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.