Author: CNN Newsource

By KATC

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    Carencro, LA (KATC) — LAFAYETTE PARISH — Three people were killed in a plane crash near Gloria Switch Road and La. Highway 93, according to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Chris Cormier with the sheriff’s office said the plane crashed into a field after circling in the air.

Cormier identified the plane as a Baron Beechcraft.

Cormier said investigators were waiting for the FAA to arrive.

Deputies urged drivers to stay away from the area.

This is a developing story. We will update as we learn more information.

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Damien Richard
news@katctv.com
337-236-6351

By WGAL Staff

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    HARRISBURG, Pa. (WGAL) — The family of 18-year-old Marion Holmes, who was killed in a crash involving a Harrisburg police officer, was awarded a $500,000 settlement.

The crash happened on Oct. 3, 2023, at the intersection of Holly Street and 19th Street in Harrisburg.

Holmes was killed after investigators said Officer Brendan Kovach drove the wrong way down the street and hit the car Holmes was in. Police said Kovach was responding to assist another officer.

Holmes died at the hospital, according to police. Two other passengers who were in the car were treated for their injuries.

Family files lawsuit In Feb. 2024, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo decided not to file any charges against Kovach.

Holmes’ family later filed a lawsuit against the City of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Police Department and Officer Kovach.

On Oct. 7, a judge approved the $500,000 settlement, with $400,000 going to Holmes’ family.

The remaining $100,000 will go to one of the passengers who was in the car with Holmes at the time of the crash. This passenger filed a separate lawsuit, which was later merged with the Holmes family’s suit.

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By Gio Insignares

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — Eight Pacific Palisades properties, including a mansion featured in the HBO series “Succession,” could face hefty bills for failing to clear debris from the January wildfires.

Los Angeles’ Board of Building and Safety Commissioners declared the properties public nuisances on Oct. 8 after they missed the deadline to cleanup hazardous debris after the Palisades Fire.

“You can see some of the insides and it looks like a public nuisance,” resident Nida Barber said. “Some of it looks like it could be historical but it’s just an eysore. I get how [the city] would think that.”

In the wake of the wildfire, residents and businesses had two options for hazardous debris removal: a free program through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or pay for private contractors to do it.

The eight proporties are a mix of businesses, large estates, apartment complexes and a mobile home park. Federal workers and private constractors cleared streets, including Barber’s, relatively quickly. However, she said the larger properties lagged behind.

“I think maybe the people who have not been paid out yet are dragging their feet because they’re still waiting, or maybe they’re litgating,” Barber said. “Their price tag is a lot higher.”

Councilwoman Traci Park’s office, which represents the Pacific Palisades, said its top concern is the potential environmental impact from toxins left behind at these properties. Park’s office said it is exploring all available options to clear the debris.

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By KNXV Web Staff

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    GILBERT, Arizona (KNXV) — A 13-year-old boy was taken into custody Monday morning after allegedly taking his mother’s vehicle and evading officers at high speeds in the East Valley.

Mesa Police Department’s helicopter spotted a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling around 80 miles per hour on residential streets around 2 a.m. Monday, Gilbert officials say.

Multiple Gilbert officers attempted to stop the car, but the driver failed to stop and “made multiple evasive maneuvers to flee and elude the officers,” before running a red light at high speed.

Police say the driver reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, drove without headlights, ignored traffic control devices, and “was even seen going airborne over uneven terrain, both on major roads and through residential neighborhoods.”

The vehicle eventually crashed into a railing at a business near Cooper and Baseline roads, where an unknown passenger was seen exiting the car. The vehicle continued driving and stopped in a neighborhood near Recker and Warner roads.

Police say the driver got out of the car and jumped into a backyard before he was taken into custody by Gilbert and Mesa officers.

According to officials, the driver, identified as a 13-year-old boy, told police he took his mother’s vehicle without permission.

He was arrested and booked into juvenile detention on numerous charges, including unlawful flight, reckless driving, and more.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

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By KVOA Web Staff

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KVOA) — The Tucson Baseball Team has canceled its second homestand at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium due to ongoing issues with the U.S. visa process for team officers and players.

Originally, the team was set to face the Yaquis de Obregón in a three-game series from Oct. 24-26. However, these matches will now take place at the Yaquis de Obregón’s home stadium, according to a news release.

The team, which recently relocated from Navojoa, Sonora, Mexico, is in its first season in the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacifico (LAMP). The team had already canceled its home-opening series scheduled for Oct. 16 due to similar visa complications.

Victor Cuevas Sr., the team owner, reported that the U.S. Consulate General in Hermosillo communicated on Oct. 3 that the B1/B2 visas issued were not appropriate for the team’s operations now based in Tucson.

The Cuevas family expressed dedication to resolving the visa issues and maintaining their Tucson base in the LAMP.

“We have been in daily contact with the Cuevas family as they continue to work with the federal government to resolve their visa issues,” said Sarah Horvath, director of the Kino Sports Complex and Stadium District. “Pima County and our partners continue to support them in their efforts.”

Pima County, Visit Tucson and the Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism, & Film Authority have collectively sent a letter to the U.S. Consul General in Hermosillo advocating for the team.

Currently, the team is playing its regular season games at the stadiums of its scheduled opponents. Tucson’s debut in the LAMP took place in Hermosillo on Oct. 15.

The team’s next planned home series at Kino Stadium is set for Oct. 31.

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By Danny Stipanovich

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    MEDFORD, Oregon (KDRV) — Tuesdays at McLaughlin Middle School are special for students who participate in the SMILE Club with Ms. Loni Strong, where science is brought to life through engaging activities.

Over the summer, a select group of students won an all expenses paid trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center after competing in a science contest at Central Washington University.

After completing a series of space themed challenges that included working together to program a rover, fly drones and create and launch rockets. The team was one of nine clubs nationwide that earned a trip to Florida and watched two rockets launch.

“It was one of the craziest experiences of my life. Watching that rocket launch made me feel like, wow, I could be one of the people who makes that happen one day,” said Izzy Real, a seventh grader at McLoughlin Middle School.

For students like Izzy, hands-on experiments and group projects at the SMILE Club ignite curiosity and spark a passion for science.

“In the classroom I’m not as intrigued because we aren’t learning the things that I wanna know,” said Izzy.

The inspiration behind the club comes from when Mrs. Strong noticed one of her students, seventh grader Samuel Sunday, struggling to stay engaged during the school day.

“The curriculum doesn’t encourage kids to think outside the box. Sam was bored to tears,” Ms.Loni said. “I knew I needed to offer something more.”

“It’s more fun doing all this interactive stuff rather than just doing the stuff on a sheet of paper,” Samuel said.

Sunday said the club has created a safe third space for students that provides a valuable social and educational experience. Seventh grader Khloe Snow said the same.

“Me and my friends don’t really hang out outside of school, but we would look forward to the club to hang out and just learn together,” Snow said.

The club’s mission goes beyond teaching science; Mrs. Strong aims to show students how the world works.

SMILE Club emphasizes that science is more than memorizing the periodic table; it’s about equipping students with skills that can take them far beyond the classroom.

Play Video Students earned a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center after winning a national science competition.

“Science is why kids want to read,” Ms. Strong said. “It’s not the other curriculum, it’s ‘how does the world work?’”

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By John Lauritsen

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — There were some scary moments at a Bethel, Minnesota, bus stop earlier this month. A school bus caught fire while driving kids home.

The end of the school day is normally routine in Kari Thorp’s neighborhood. But a couple weeks ago, as her daughter was getting dropped off, Throp noticed smoke and flames coming from under the bus and alerted the driver.

“It was crazy. I’m just thankful that he was very calm,” said Thorp.

They worked quickly to get all 22 kids off, safely. Her Ring doorbell captured the East Bethel Elementary students gathering in front of her house, as the flames began to spread.

“Kids were crying. Kids were scared and freaking out,” said Thorp. “It was quite emotional and kind of frantic.”

Within minutes, the fire had taken over the front of the bus.

“It moved pretty fast. It was probably within 15 minutes that thing was engulfed,” said Throp. “It was crazy to see the tires and hear the tires explode.”

School staff and volunteer firefighters arrived quickly. They got the flames under control, and it was when the bus was finally towed away that you could see just how intense the fire was. The heat melted part of the road in front of Thorp’s house. There is still some glass in parts of the road.

In the end, some backpacks, some lunch boxes, and a school bus were lost in the fire. But Thorp and other parents along this street know things could have been much worse.

She and the bus driver were recognized by parents and school leaders for their heroic efforts. As investigators work to figure out what caused the fire, Thorp thinks about what might have happened if she hadn’t seen the flames.

“I don’t think he would have gotten very far. And I don’t think we would have been able to get those kids off the bus as fast. I don’t know what would have happened. Because a lot of little ones sit up front and that’s where it all started, was right up front,” said Thorp.

In a statement, St. Francis Area Schools recognized Thorp, bus driver Rick Gratton and others for helping the kids to safety. Parents say a recent bus safety course at school may have helped with the quick evacuation.

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