‘She was watching over those babies’: Six children survive crash that killed their 25-year-old mom

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Kilee Thomas

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    CHOCTAW, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A 25-year-old mother of six died in a crash in Choctaw on Thursday, leaving her six children, who were in the car, behind.

All of her children survived the crash, but the incident left the family heartbroken and changed forever.

On Thursday night, one phone call changed Kristen Tabor’s life forever. She found out her sister, Kaitie, died in a rollover crash along Northeast 23rd Street. Her six children were in the car, including her youngest, who is 3 months old.

“Even though I look like I’m not hurting, it’s killing me. But I have to be strong,” Kristen said. “She was always there for everyone. It didn’t matter what they were going through or what she was going through. She’ll give the shirt she has on her back for everyone.”

Now, her family is just trying to do the same for Kaitie’s children.

“She was just one of a kind. She would do anything for her kids,” Kristen said.

Kristen said five of the children are currently in state custody. The 3-month-old baby is with another one of Kaitie’s sisters.

“The 3-month-old that got ejected, her daughter, walked away with no bruises, nothing. So, we knew as soon as it happened, she was watching over those babies,” Kristen said.

The family said they are now working to get the children with family and ultimately back together.

“All they’ve known is their mom. That’s all they’ve ever had, and their mom bent backwards,” Kristen said.

The cause of Thursday’s crash remains under investigation.

As the family waits for answers, they are also trying to figure out how to lay Kaitie to rest and provide for her children.

“The GoFundMe wasn’t to beg people for money. It was simply to lay my sister down to rest,” Kristen said.

A close friend of Kaitie’s told KOCO that she was always there to pick her up when life was falling apart. She called Kaitie the “type of friend I wish everyone could have.”

Anyone who would like to donate to Kaitie’s children and family can support them through their GoFundMe. Another GoFundMe was created to help her 3-month-old child and her sister who has custody of the baby.

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.

76-year-old Omaha woman recounts being forced out of her home at gunpoint before standoff

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Aaron Hegarty

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    OMAHA (KETV) — A 76-year-old Omaha woman is speaking out after being forced out of her home at gunpoint by an intruder.

The intruder, who police said had a felony warrant and fled from police, died by suicide following a standoff. The incident happened Sunday evening in the Harvey Oaks neighborhood northwest of 144th and West Center Road.

Cleanup crews began working on Labor Day at Renee Corcoran’s home.

Neighbors said they heard gunshots as Read shot his way inside Corcoran’s backyard basement door Sunday evening.

“I just was worried about Renee,” said neighbor Staci Wise. “She was there by herself.”

Corcoran said she didn’t initially hear the gunshots.

“I was watching something on TV where there was an alarm going off,” she said. “Some movie where there was a break-in at a jewelry store.”

When her 10-year-old cat Archie became anxious, she realized the alarm she was hear wasn’t only on TV.

“He got all flustered,” Corcoran said. “And that’s when I started going down the stairs and encountered my visitor. He yelled at me, ‘Turn off that alarm.’ And I said, ‘Get out of my house.'”

Corcoran refused to turn off the alarm.

“I wanted it on if he’s going to stay in my house,” she said.

When Read pointed a gun at her, Corcoran left. She sought refuge with Wise and her family at another neighbor’s home across the street. A police officer stayed with them.

Corcoran commended the police response.

“I was hoping he (Read) would just walk out,” she said.

Omaha police said they negotiated with Read extensively via text messages for hours.

“I just feel sorry for him. Because from everything that I’ve heard, it’s somebody that really needed help,” Corcoran said.

Neighbors praised Corcoran’s strength in handling the situation.

“This is a safe area,” Wise said. “You never know. So be aware. Always be aware of your surroundings.”

The Harvey Oaks Homeowner’s Association is rallying to support Corcoran, who learned Monday it could take six to nine months to restore her home. They set up an online fundraiser that’s raised $2,750 as of Monday evening.

Corcoran said she understands the city will pay for damages caused by police. She plans to make an insurance claim for damage caused by Read.

Despite the ordeal, Corcoran has no plans to leave the house she has lived in for 31 years.

Corcoran also asked for people to stop driving by her house just to look at it.

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Nobody injured in early morning trailer fire in Columbia

KMIZ on September 8, 2026

Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Emergency crews on Tuesday morning were called to a trailer fire in north Columbia.

Columbia firefighters responded to a double-wide trailer in the 4500 block of North Range Line Street. Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer told ABC 17 News on scene that firefighters found the trailer with a large column of smoke. Fire crews prevented the fire from spreading to a neighboring trailer.

Schaeffer said the siding in the office area inside the trailer was damaged, the other half of the area was saved from the flames. Fire and police will be present at Rangeline and Brown School Rd. to investigate the fire.

Firefighters searched the trailer and found no one inside.

Fire crews are working on the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire.

ABC 17 News crews arrived on scene just after 3:30 a.m. and saw multiple Columbia Fire Department trucks and one Boone Health Ambulance.

The Columbia Fire Department announced in a Tuesday afternoon press release that the fire was an accidental electrical fire.

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Man charged after Good Samaritan hit, killed while helping driver on Big Mac Bridge

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Giacomo Luca

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    NEWPORT, Kentucky (WLWT) — A Campbell County Grand Jury has indicted John K. Ray on reckless homicide in connection with crash that killed a man who was assisting a stranded driver on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge last year.

The indictment comes more than a year after his alleged involvement in an early morning crash that killed Antonio Conrad, 36, and seriously injured the man’s fiancée.

Newport Police say Conrad had gotten out of his vehicle on the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge early in the morning on July 13, 2025 to help a stranded driver after their vehicle broke down.

While helping push the broke-down vehicle, another driver crashed into the back of Conrad’s stopped car, pinning him between the vehicles and killing him. Newport Police said the driver stayed on scene following the crash.

Conrad’s hazard lights were on and the driver should have been able to avoid the crash, said Sienna Thompson, the victim’s aunt. His mother Silver Conrad says the past year has been filled with grief, but the indictment is giving their family a step toward closure.

“I often wonder how come he wasn’t arrested previous to this,” Silver Conrad said.

Conrad’s family say he was a father of six and a grandfather. They described him as a person with a big heart who would always stop to help someone in need.

WLWT “He didn’t care what he was doing or if he had to be somewhere at a certain time,” Silver Conrad said. “If he saw somebody in need, he was going out. That was just him. His whole goal was, I just want to help people.”

Anieya Phillips, the eldest daughter of Antonio Conrad, says her mother was in the passenger seat of her father’s car and was also seriously injured. The woman is still recovering from her injuries after multiple surgeries and physical therapy.

Conrad’s mother says family members plan to attend the arraignment on Tuesday. She says the indictment is a step forward for their family after this tremendous loss.

“I feel like this is the beginning of some sort of closure for me, for us,” Silver Conrad said.

Ray is set to be arraigned in Campbell County Court on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

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QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should the U.S. Supreme Court take up Missouri’s congressional map case?

KMIZ on September 8, 2026

Matthew Sanders

Missouri has made the midterms that much more interesting with its down-to-the-wire battle over which congressional map will be in effect this November.

Now, the lawsuit over whether a Republican-friendly map approved by the legislature last year should be the law of the land, or the map drawn after the normal census in 2022, has found its way to the Supreme Court.

Missouri’s attorney general has asked the court to take up the case — something that was still under consideration late Monday. But the time is running out to get ballots printed ahead of the November election.

Do you think the Supreme Court will take up the case, or pass on it? Let us know by voting in the poll.

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1 dead, 2 hospitalized following hit-and-run of Howard County police vehicle in Jessup, police say

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Tara Lynch

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Police are investigating a fatal crash following the hit-and-run of a police vehicle early Sunday morning by the border of Howard and Anne Arundel counties.

A 2018 Infiniti Q60 backed into a parked, occupied Howard County police car around 2:15 a.m. at a Royal Farms in the 7100 block of Montevideo Road in Jessup, the police department said.

The driver of the Infiniti fled the scene, prompting the officer to pursue the vehicle, according to police. The Infiniti then crashed into a retaining wall about a mile away.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and two other people were taken to a hospital in stable condition, police said. According to the dispatch call, all three people were ejected from the car, and the driver was conscious. The officer involved was not injured.

Montevideo Road was closed at the Howard-Anne Arundel County line following the crash but has since reopened.

“They drive really crazy out here” Neighbors said the Infiniti narrowly missed two utility poles, and the car appears to have taken out a traffic sign and two mailboxes. They said they weren’t surprised that something like this happened in the community, adding drivers need to slow down on the roads.

“They drive really crazy out here. I’ve been living in Howard County for the past 15 years, and there are no safe drivers,” Howard County resident Jasmine Ortiz said. “Even out in Annapolis, I even work out there. They don’t even put on their signal. They’re zigzagging, it’s ridiculous.”

“That’s a tragedy for whoever got killed. But, you know, I mean, that’s how people drive nowadays around here,” said Catonsville resident Ed Fisher.

So far this year, 281 people have been killed in car crashes in Maryland, and more than half of them have died since May. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day is considered the deadliest time of year on the road, because of an increase in impaired, distracted and reckless driving.

“People feel very empowered when they’re behind the wheel,” Melissa Green Parker, of North Laurel, said. “The speeding, the people who are just driving illegally on the curbs, on the highway. Just so they can get around the so-called slow people.”

The Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division (IID) is now leading the investigation.

Investigators say the officer involved was equipped with a body-worn camera, and the video will be released publicly in accordance with state protocols.

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Wisconsin farmers are feeling the impact as tariffs and beef imports shift the market

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Meredith Hackler

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    DELAFIELD, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Farming is an economic driver in our home state. With new Canadian tariffs and more beef imported from other countries, farmers are concerned about their bottom line.

Dave Morris Farms in Delafield is feeling the strain. The farm has been around since the 1940s. They farm corn, soybeans and cattle, but with the ever-changing tariff and import policies, their input costs have become even more unpredictable.

“Much like anything in agriculture, we can’t predict the weather, we can’t predict the price, we can’t predict the income, so tariffs are another thing on that list that we can’t predict,” Jim Renn, with Dave Morris Farms LLC, said.

For Renn, farming is a family affair. His family raises a variety of agricultural products, but he says the payment timeline can make budgeting difficult.

He says that often, farmers are not paid until after their products have already been processed or consumed. By then, market prices may have shifted, affecting the profit they ultimately receive. And as the market changes, so do the costs of necessities.

“Obviously, you know, diesel fuel is probably the biggest one. Fertilizer costs for the crops has been terrible and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to get any better,” Renn said.

Those increases in costs can change a farmer’s yield and potentially how many acres they plan to farm. On top of his crops, now the United States is importing more beef under a Trump-era policy.

According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, the U.S. is already importing beef at record levels. This decision translates to a nearly 60% increase in beef imports over the next 90 days. The goal is to lower beef prices, but Renn says it’s not likely and is impacting his bottom line.

“Not quite a dollar but pretty close to a dollar less, so when you are talking about a 14-1500-pound steer, that’s a lot of money,” Renn said.

Renn says one of the reasons beef is more expensive is due to environmental impacts. Drought in the west and wildfires have caused cattle herds to dwindle. Those herds are starting to increase, but it takes time since the gestational period for a calf to be born takes nine months.

He recently sat down with staff from Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s office. He says he is happy that his staff sat down with him to discuss the impact of the policy decisions being made, but he hopes it translates to change.

“There is hope that we possibly can reverse some of it, but the hard part for us as farmers and ranchers is how do we keep those numbers up to rebuild that herd when that dollar amount goes down,” Renn said.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates the President’s goal of reducing costs and securing fair trade, but they say farmers and rural communities bear the brunt of these actions.

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Kaska, 16-year-old gray wolf at Detroit Zoo, compassionately euthanized after health decline

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Max White

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Kaska, a 16-year-old gray wolf at the Detroit Zoo, was compassionately euthanized on Thursday after zoo officials said there was a noticeable decline in his health.

Kaska had dealt with longstanding arthritis, and in recent days, zoo officials said there was a noticeable decline in his mobility, appetite and overall comfort.

He was born in Quebec and spent time at the Minnesota Zoo before coming to the Detroit Zoo in 2015.

“Naturally curious, perceptive and a little bit shy, Kaska loved to observe the world around him. But he also had a playful side, whether he was interacting with his zookeepers, shredding his favorite piñatas or encouraging his mate, Renner, to chase him around their habitat. Even at 16, he was still trotting food over to her favorite sand bed, just to see her happy,” the zoo said.

In his later years, as one of the zoo’s geriatric animals, Kaska received specialized care to help him remain comfortable, active and engaged as he grew older, according to the zoo.

“He also received targeted treatments to support his quality of life, including innovative therapies to help reduce inflammation and keep his joints moving smoothly,” the zoo said.

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David D. Itz Leaves a Legacy of Leadership as Houston City College Foundation Chair

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    September 8, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Leadership, at its best, is not measured by how loudly someone enters the room, but by how much stronger the institution is when that leader leaves the chair. By that measure, David D. Itz has given the Houston City College Foundation plenty to celebrate.

Itz recently completed his 2024–2026 term as Chair of the Houston City College Foundation Board of Directors, concluding two years at the helm and moving into the role of Immediate Past Chair. The leadership baton officially passed September 1, 2026, to Tracy Janda, who will serve as chair for the 2026–2028 term.

For Houston, however, this is more than a routine changing of the guard. It is another chapter in a long civic tradition of business leaders, philanthropists and volunteers investing their time, credibility and resources in one of the region’s most important engines of opportunity: Houston City College.

Itz’s relationship with the Foundation reaches back more than a decade. Foundation records listed him as treasurer in 2016, and his service has included years of board leadership before his elevation to chair. Outside HCC, Itz also brought substantial governance and business experience to the table, including decades in the energy industry and longtime service with First Service Credit Union, where he previously served as board chair.

That background made him a natural fit for a Foundation whose work is ultimately about stewardship — stewarding donor dollars, student dreams and Houston’s workforce future.

Established in 1976, the Houston City College Foundation is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charity created to expand opportunity for HCC students, including nontraditional learners and students facing financial barriers. Its work centers on scholarships and endowments, support for college programs and capital projects, and grants that help faculty strengthen student learning.

Over the years, the Foundation has awarded thousands of scholarships. Its long-term ambition is even larger: building scholarship resources strong enough to help every qualifying HCC credit-hour student who needs assistance begin a college career.

That mission has taken on added significance as HCC itself enters a new era. The institution changed its name from Houston Community College to Houston City College in 2025, signaling a broader identity while continuing its historic commitment to affordable, accessible education across the Houston region.

Itz helped guide the Foundation through that institutional transformation — the kind of moment that requires continuity without complacency. While logos and names may change, the central assignment remains the same: connect generous Houstonians with students whose talent deserves a chance to flourish.

Now Tracy Janda steps into the chair with her own deep record of community leadership. The Foundation’s 2025 Gratitude Report described her as a longtime advocate for collaboration among business, nonprofits and education, with previous leadership and community-relations experience at CenterPoint Energy. She is also a Rice University graduate and longtime volunteer in education and civic organizations.

That makes the transition feel less like an ending than a relay race run well: one leader carrying the mission forward, then placing it carefully into capable hands.

Houston Style Magazine salutes David D. Itz for a chairmanship defined by service, continuity and commitment — and, perhaps more importantly, for understanding that philanthropy works best when the spotlight stays on the students.

The title may now read “Immediate Past Chair.” The impact, however, remains very much present.

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LEARN MORE: Houston City College Foundation — official website, scholarships and giving opportunities.

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Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
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Detroit voice actor turns a lifelong love of superheroes into a thriving career

CNN Newsource on September 8, 2026

By Faraz Javed , Brandon Speagle

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Mark Cooper has built a career voicing superheroes and video game characters — all from a home studio in metro Detroit.

One look around the room makes it clear where many of those voices begin. Comic books, superhero memorabilia and microphones fill the space, including a “Power Ranger” helmet that holds a special place for Cooper.

“Oh, yeah. I’ve always been a fan of ‘Power Rangers’ stuff. A lot of the stuff I enjoy is from my childhood. That’s my official helmet from ‘Power Rangers Beast Hunters.’ Some of the stuff on the wall are legends and individuals I was able to meet,” Cooper said.

At 39, the Detroit native is a musician, producer, teacher and voice actor — a career he only started pursuing a few years ago.

“Voiceover acting is being able to bring a character or any kind of piece of art to life,” Cooper said.

Voice acting stretches far beyond cartoons and video games. Voice actors can be heard in commercials, audiobooks, phone systems and animation, among others — including one of Cooper’s latest roles, playing a 10-year-old superhero named Jet Boy.

“My name’s Jet Boy and I’m here to save the day,” Cooper said in character.

It’s not exactly what you’d expect from someone whose normal voice sounds nothing like that. Cooper said the ability to shift between voices comes down to dedication.

“It’s really about practice. I’ve always been a fan of trailer voices. But I also think about the passion behind a kid as a superhero. Being able to have that ability to go back and forth with that is rewarding at the end of the day,” Cooper said.

The transitions between voices can even catch Cooper off guard in everyday life.

“Yes. Absolutely. Sometimes, I’ll be at the grocery store like the other day and they were like, are you getting a case of water? I was like, that is correct,” Cooper said.

AI poses a growing challenge for voice actors

As the technology behind voices evolves, many voice actors are now competing against something that doesn’t need a microphone at all: artificial intelligence.

Cooper said his work has been affected.

“Absolutely,” Cooper said, when asked if his gigs have dropped because of AI.

A recent National Association of Voice Actors survey found roughly 1 in 5 voice actors say they’ve lost work to an AI-generated voice. Cost is a major factor. Human voice talent can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per project, while AI voices can often be created for a fraction of that.

But Cooper sees a silver lining in AI’s rise.

“But the thing is, what’s interesting is that now because of the fact that AI can be so accessible to anybody, now it sounds like everybody else. So it’s bringing back the organicness of a voiceover person for that,” Cooper said.

Cooper also noted that the impact of AI extends beyond performers.

“Even when you’re thinking about gigs dropping, you got to also think about the engineers and everybody that’s behind the scenes too. They’re also suffering. So now, it’s gotten to the point where you can literally just get a microphone. I’ve seen individuals use their cellphone, like their iPhone and stuff, have a live or any kind of things like that and done voiceover that way,” Cooper said.

Advice for aspiring voice actors

For those looking to break into the industry, Cooper’s advice is straightforward: “Start doing your research. Find your passion. Find where your inspiration is actually coming from. Then you can get into the technical stuff.”

And when it comes to the legacy he hopes to leave behind, Cooper keeps it simple.

“I want to be remembered as a person who did what they love to do, enjoyed life and being able to touch anybody’s soul that wants to be inspired,” Cooper said.

He then slipped back into character one more time.

“You think you know me, but you don’t know me at all. My name’s Jet Boy, and I’m here to save the day,” Cooper said.

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This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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