Month: September 2026

By Shelly Garzon

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    ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Helene exposed vulnerabilities in Asheville’s water infrastructure. Now, local leaders and environmental advocates say preparing for future storms will require looking beyond pipes and treatment plants.

Asheville City Council member Maggie Ullman recently brought Asheville’s experience to Climate Week in New York City, where she discussed how communities can become more resilient to extreme weather.

“A lot of times the conversation is about how to prevent climate change, which is extremely important, but what we’re really facing in many communities around the country is how to adapt and how to become more resilient,” Ullman said.

Ullman said that includes investing in natural systems alongside traditional infrastructure.

“They’ll build back the pipes that we’re missing, but we’re really advocating now for them to support us doing nature-based solutions. How we get our river riparians back so that we’re protecting our neighborhoods from the river flooding. How we build back our tree canopy so that that natural forest can do the protection and water quality work we want. That’s harder to get federal money for,” she said.

French Broad Riverkeeper Anna Alsobrook said forests and other vegetation can help protect water quality.

“Protecting our water system is a lot about improving infrastructure, but it is also a lot about restoring and rehabilitating the land around our waterways,” she said.

“When you’re in a forested area, the trees and the soils and all the shrubbery, their root systems can act like filters and filter out anything that might fall down in terms of rain or any kind of pollution,” she added.

Alsobrook said Helene also showed how restoration work can make a difference. She said previously restored sites held and slowed water better than areas that were already eroding or unstable before the storm.

But expanding those projects requires money.

“Those do require a good bit more funds. It’d be great to see more state investment to those types of projects. There is a pot of money that we can go after for those types of projects, but the demand for it is really high,” Alsobrook said.

Ullman is also advocating for FEMA to recognize nature-based solutions as recovery investments, including restoring damaged forests and stabilizing slopes in watersheds above Asheville’s reservoirs.

At the same time, she said Helene highlighted the need for redundancy in traditional infrastructure. Asheville is looking at building backup water lines outside the floodway to reduce the risk of future storm damage cutting off service.

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 Eliezer Sherman

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    HOBBS, New Mexico (KOAT) — Hobbs Police Chief James Jones briefed the public on Sunday, addressing the shooting of a teacher at Highland Middle School on Friday in Hobbs, New Mexico.

At 11:39 a.m., officers responded to Highland Middle School after an initial report of a stabbing was updated to a possible shooting, Jones said. Two officers arrived in less than a minute, and Highland and Coronado middle schools were placed on lockdown.

Authorities said teacher Kelly Matthews was shot by a student outside the rear doors of a building. The student had been inside the school then exited. As Matthews encountered the juvenile, the student started to fire. Police said the suspect fled east toward a residential area.

A blade was also found near the scene. EMS took Matthews to a Hobbs hospital within minutes, and he was later transferred to Lubbock.

Officers established a perimeter around both schools. Statements from the victim helped authorities identify the suspect as a white male wearing a black hoodie, black pants and a long white shirt.

Authorities located him moments later, but he began running from officers.

The middle student has been charged with aggravated assault and battery of a school personnel, unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon and shooting threats, and evading law enforcement, among other charges.

Officials said the motive is still unclear, and they have not determined if Matthews was a pre-identified target. They said, at this time, there has been no established history of criminal offenses with this student.

Officials said they know how the student obtained the firearm but said they are withholding that information at this time. No criminal charges have been pursued against the parents at this time.

Jones said there would be a heightened police presence at the school over the next several days, and Superintendent Gene Strickland said school would resume on Monday.

“We continue to pray for [Kelly’s] recovery,” said Jones.

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 WLOS Staff

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    ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — With more cool nights ahead with the arrival of fall in western North Carolina, there will be more campfires and bonfires lit.

That’s’ why the North Carolina Forest Service is issuing a warning, urging people to take extra care before lighting the match.

The Forest Service said in a news release that when building a fire, it’s best practice to keep the fire small, not tall. The Forest Service said there is also still Helene debris that could catch fire quickly.

Other tips for fire safety include the following:

Never use kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel or other flammable liquids to speed up burning. When it comes to tending to the fire, never leave your fire. You must stay until it is completely out. A good rule of thumb – if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave. Remember, it is illegal to burn anything other than natural vegetation.

The Forest Service said in the release that wildfire activity typically increases from October through early December when falling leaves, dry vegetation and changing weather conditions can allow fires to spread quickly. Human activity continues to be responsible for more than 99% of wildfires in in the state, making individual actions one of the most important tools for preventing wildfires.

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 Peyton Headlee

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    DIXON, California (KCRA) — A beloved display of hay bale Minions at Cool Patch Pumpkins in Dixon, located along Interstate 80, was nearly removed after the owners said Solano County raised concerns about its impact on freeway traffic.

Michelle Cooley, manager of the family-owned farm, said their goal is to bring joy to visitors. She explained that the farm offers activities for everyone, with its 35-acre maze being the main attraction.

“We had the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 and again in 2014,” Cooley said.

For six weeks each year, families from all over visit the farm, but even after pumpkin season ends, the farm tries to keep the smiles going. They move their hay bale minions from the pumpkin patch plaza to a spot bordering westbound Interstate 80.

“It’s more of a 365-day enjoyment,” Cooley said. “We just moved them aside so we could farm the land and give someone joy throughout the year.”

The painted, stacked hay bales have become a roadside attraction, with Cooley describing them as “a bright spot every morning.”

However, a few weeks ago, Cooley said the county informed them that the minions had to be removed.

An email from the Solano County Department of Resource Management Planning Services Division requested the farm, “Please place any sculptures, artwork, etc (like the hay bale sculptures) on the Dixon Avenue side rather than the freeway frontage to help minimize impacts to freeway traffic.”

“When we heard that, we were indignant,” Cooley said. “Why did this get blamed on the Minions?”

Cooley said they were prepared to move the display to get their permits approved for the season when Assemblywoman Lori D. Wilson stepped in to help.

“She did some magic behind the scenes, and they kind of dropped the issue,” Cooley said.

Wilson said she learned about the issue during a community meeting and reached out to the county and the California Highway Patrol.

In a statement to KCRA 3, she said, “During a community meeting I hosted Sept. 3 at Dixon City Hall, a Cool Patch Pumpkins owner raised concerns that the farm would have to remove the minions at the direction of the county. I heard their concerns and reached out to both the California Highway Patrol and the county to better understand the situation. The CHP told me the agency had not received feedback indicating the minions were causing significant traffic concerns, and after a subsequent conversation with the county, the issue was resolved on Sept. 18. I’m happy we were able to help find a solution to an issue brought directly to me by a local business and community member. The minions are a cute attraction and a fun Solano County staple. They help let you know you’re home.”

Cooley said the display brings joy to many people.

“I hear stories of so many adults that say, I go to work and the Minions just put a smile on my face every morning. I just want you to know that I think, well, that’s worth it,” she said.

Ultimately, Cooley said they were able to sort out their permits without moving the Minions.

As of Sunday afternoon, Solano County officials have not yet responded to inquiries about the matter.

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 Jacquelyn Quinones

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    MOSS LANDING, California (KSBW) — For more than a month, large numbers of sea lions have been gathering in Moss Landing, spreading from the embankment beneath the bridge onto the pedestrian path and even the roadway, slowing traffic in the area.

The unusual sight has drawn dozens of people to Moss Landing, but the Marine Mammal Center says the growing crowds are creating safety concerns for both the sea lions and the public.

“One of the big things that our team here at the Marine Mammal Center has been doing is public outreach,” said Gincarlo Rulli, with the Marine Mammal Center. “We’ve been working with Public Works, we’ve contacted NOAA, we’ve had communications with the CHP, especially given that there is a public danger both for the animals’ safety but as well as people that are utilizing that bridge.”

The center explained that the sea lions are coming to the area to forage and urged the public to keep their distance and avoid the area if possible.

“We had an instance over the weekend where an animal that was entangled in the area was flushed back down the side of the hill adjacent to the bridge because people were getting too close to it,” Rulli said. “It actually prevented our team’s ability to respond.”

Visitors to Moss Landing shared their thoughts on the unusual sight.

“The interaction that are remarkable…some seem so aggressive, some seem absolutely convivial…it’s just an amazing situation for us to see,” one visitor said.

Others emphasized the importance of keeping a safe distance.

“It’s important for us to realize that they are still wild animals, so they can be aggressive and they can turn on us at any time, and so if you keep your distance, you are safe and you are still able to view what is happening right in front of you,” another visitor said.

“They are wild animals, and you don’t know what to expect, and you don’t know what they’re thinking and what they’re going to do,” a third visitor said. “You just have to respect their distance.”

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 Jose Fabian, Tim Fang

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    DUBLIN, California (KPIX) — An elderly couple in the San Francisco Bay Area is suspected of shooting and killing their son-in-law in the parking lot of a community park over the weekend, police said.

According to the Dublin Police Services, a sergeant was driving near the Dublin Sports Grounds at 6700 Dublin Boulevard when he saw a man lying on the ground in the parking lot. The sergeant stopped to investigate and around the same time, police received multiple 911 calls about the incident.

Officers found the man in the parking lot who had been shot multiple times. The man, identified as 40-year-old Jonathan McKinsey of Dublin, was pronounced dead at the scene.

McKinsey had worked as head of engineering at New York Times Games. A company spokesperson confirmed to CBS News Bay Area that he had been an employee since January 2023 and was based in Dublin.

Multiple people who said they witnessed the crime told CBS News Bay Area that a man and woman were involved in the shooting. The man, according to the witnesses, shot the victim and then handed the gun to the woman, who also shot the victim. Both were wearing masks, the witnesses said.

Several minutes later, officers detained two suspects, who had remained nearby. Police identified the suspects as 77-year-old Shouyong Zhang and 77-year-old Shili Chen, who are both Dublin residents.

According to officers, the suspects are a married couple and McKinsey’s parents-in-law. Both Zhang and Chen were booked into the Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of murder.

In a statement, police said there are no outstanding suspects and no threat to public safety.

In October 2025, McKinsey was charged with child endangerment and corporal injury to a child. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Days after being charged, Alameda County court records show that McKinsey’s wife, identified as Candace Jang, filed for a restraining order against him. In December 2025, court records show McKinsey filed for his own restraining order against Jang and also filed for divorce days later.

Police did not address the previous charges against McKinsey nor the court actions between him and his wife, and said that the circumstances that led to the shooting were under investigation.

Jail records show Zhang and Chen were scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

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 Charlie Lapastora

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    MOUNTAIN HOUSE, California (KOVR) — Drones are becoming an increasingly common tool for first responders, giving firefighters and law enforcement an aerial view that can provide critical information during emergencies.

CBS News Sacramento got an inside look at the Mountain House French Camp Fire Department’s drone program, one of a growing number of public safety agencies using the technology to supplement the work of crews on the ground.

Mountain House French Camp Fire Captain Shane Duburg, 25, leads the department’s drone team.

“This job is unpredictable, and giving that extra edge to us that says, ‘Hey, we have this new eye from the sky, safety factor,’ really helps,” Duburg said.

Duburg saw the value of the technology firsthand during the Tracy Medline warehouse fire.

The drone provided crews with live overhead images, giving commanders another perspective as they worked to battle the blaze.

“Being able to give the on-scene responders, whether that’s the battalion chiefs and the chiefs, the overhead on-scene, those images, it was great and helped out a lot,” Duburg said.

Duburg currently leads a team of three drone pilots, including remote pilot-in-command Landon Stevens. The department plans to add three more pilots by the end of the year.

Stevens said drones give firefighters another way to assess a scene when visibility from the ground can be limited.

“They could point out hazards to us that maybe people can’t see from the ground,” Stevens said. “Especially when there’s a fire going on, there’s a lot happening at once.”

Firefighters conducting what they call a 360-degree assessment of a building are trained to look at every side of a structure to determine what is happening inside and around it.

A drone can provide another vantage point without putting an additional firefighter in a potentially dangerous position.

“It’s just another tool we have to get an even better angle,” Stevens said.

The use of drones isn’t limited to fires.

Charles Werner, a retired fire chief who spent 37 years with the Charlottesville, Virginia, Fire Department, including 10 years as fire chief, founded the nonprofit DroneResponders to help public safety agencies develop and safely use drone technology.

Werner said he created the organization after seeing departments across the country attempting to develop drone programs independently.

“I just saw this way that departments were trying to figure out how to do this,” Werner said. “They were all starting from scratch.”

Werner said the number of public safety drone programs has grown dramatically in recent years — from about 2,000 in 2019 to more than 10,000 today, according to figures he provided.

He said roughly 70% of those programs are used by law enforcement, while about 25% are operated by fire departments.

DroneResponders has more than 15,000 members across 94 countries, according to Werner.

The technology is now being used for wildfires, structure fires, hazardous-material incidents, traffic enforcement, searches for missing people and hostage situations, among other applications. Thermal cameras can also help crews locate people who might otherwise be difficult to see.

“We’ve seen police officers often having to chase people across fences and backyards,” Werner said. “Well, now the drone does that, and a lot of times it’s even combined with a drone with a K-9.”

Werner said drones and helicopters have different capabilities and limitations, and he does not expect drones to replace traditional aircraft.

“There’s a misconception that somehow drones are going to replace helicopters, and they’re not, because they have two uniquely different missions and limitations,” Werner said.

Drones can fly lower and provide high-resolution images in situations where a helicopter may not be able to provide the same perspective, he said.

One of the fastest-growing trends Werner has seen is the use of automated drone docks. The systems can launch a drone from a rooftop almost immediately after a 911 call, potentially giving first responders an aerial view before crews arrive or while they are responding.

Werner said that capability could be particularly useful for departments dealing with staffing shortages.

Drones are also being used in wildfire operations to drop devices sometimes called “dragon eggs,” which can ignite vegetation ahead of a wildfire to create a controlled backfire and remove fuel from the fire’s path.

“The technology is pretty new right now,” Stevens said. “This isn’t what I ever expected, joining the fire service. But it’s a great tool to have, and it’s really exciting to be able to just kind of expand our skill set.”

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 Carmen Blackwell

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    DALLAS, Texas (KTVT) — One knot at a time, Rita Tobianski turns thread into lace. She cannot see the finished piece, but her hands know the patterns by heart.

Tobianski, who is blind, has earned an honorable mention in the 2026 State Fair of Texas Creative Arts competition. It is her third year competing and her third recognition: she won first place in 2024 and received an honorable mention in 2025.

She learned to tat as a child, long before she began losing her sight at 23.

“I think that for me, the hardest part was losing the color,” she said.

Tatting has since become a way for Tobianski to feel close to her grandmother, who shared the craft with her.

“This was my way to center. Be in touch with my grandmother,” she said.

Now, she teaches others.

Tobianski says she can hear whether a stitch is right by listening to the thread as someone works. Her service dog, Bobby, stays close by, helping her keep moving. That determination echoes advice from her father: “Don’t let the grass grow between your feet. Keep moving, keep moving.”

Some of Tobianski’s work carries deep personal meaning. A piece called Darla’s Garden, made with pinks, yellows and greens, honors her daughter, who died years ago. Through tatting, Tobianski has found a way to remember her daughter and offer something of herself to others.

“I feel grounded and whole, and I have something to give back,” she said.

Taylor Pulfer, the State Fair of Texas director of communications, said the Creative Arts competition is meant to welcome artists of all abilities.

“Creative Arts is somewhere we want everyone to feel like they can be a part of,” Pulfer said.

As fairgoers see Tobianski’s work this year, she hopes they take away more than an appreciation for the lace. Asked what she wants people to find in her art, Tobianski said: “Some peace and some hope in the world.”

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.