Author: CNN Newsource

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A 17-year-old was arrested at his high school class in Fairfield on Wednesday in connection with a gang-related stabbing last week. police said Thursday.

The Fairfield Police Department said in a press release on Thursday that on Dec. 12 at about 4 p.m., dispatchers received a report of a stabbing victim needing medical attention. The 19-year-old victim had taken himself to the hospital with stab wounds to his arm and chest, police said.

The victim reported he was driving near the intersection of San Remo Street and San Juan Street, east of N. Texas Street and north of E. Travis Boulevard, when a group of six to seven teens approached and confronted him. A verbal exchange then led to a fight, during which the victim was stabbed, police said.

After interviewing the victim, officers were able to locate the crime scene and collect evidence. The initial investigation determined the incident was likely gang-related, police said.

Over the weekend, school resource officers conducted a follow-up investigation and identified the suspect as a 17-year-old high school student. On Wednesday, the SROs coordinated with school administrators to safely take the student into custody during class, police said.

Neither police nor the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District identified which high school the student attends.

“We appreciate and value the ongoing positive partnership with the Fairfield Police, and at their request we facilitated the safe removal of the student from a campus in Fairfield,” said district spokesperson Ilana Israel Samuels in an email to CBS News Bay Area. “FSUSD will continue to collaborate with the police, prioritizing keeping our students and staff as safe as possible.”

The teen was booked into the Solano County Juvenile Detention Facility for assault with a deadly weapon. After the arrest, detectives executed a search warrant at his home and found additional evidence in his bedroom, along with a stolen gun and gang indicia, which will lead to additional charges, police said.

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 Zach Boetto

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s detective is being praised for his swift actions to stop a motorcyclist accused of killing a deputy in October.

Two months ago, Detective Shaun Wallen was driving around on his day off when Angelo Saldovar, the man charged in the deadly shooting of Deputy Andrew Nunez, led a high-speed chase through the 210 Freeway near Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario. The pursuit, which reached 200 mph at times, ended when a gray sedan collided with Saldovar’s motorcycle.

“It was me driving the gray car on the freeway, and it was me involved in that incident,” Wallen said.

San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus commended Wallen’s actions, saying that it’s what the department looks for in recruits.

“We need people like Shaun out there that are willing to do the things that, as a civilized public, we’re not willing to do,” Dicus said. “They’re willing to stop the things that go bump in the night.”

This wasn’t the first time Wallen jumped into action. A decade ago, he was involved in a shootout with the suspects in the Inland Regional Center terrorist attack that killed 14 people.

“This incident happened, when the IRC thing happened 10 years ago, everyone wasn’t surprised that it was me,” Wallen said.

Dicus and Wallen did not provide details of what motivated Wallen to crash into Saldovar because of the case is still working through the court system.

“Very proud of all the actions that Shaun took in this case,” Dicus said. “I would just say to the public, as we saw it, I would certainly hope that they expect that we have men and women out there that are willing to go out and take actions like this in order to protect us.”

In his 14 years with the department, Wallen said he was well-trained for both scenarios and swore to continue to protect his community even in its darkest moments.

“The right thing for the right reasons,” Wallen said. “If you have the capability and the ability to do something to help the public, to help your partners, and you don’t do it, then the job’s not for you.”

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 Olivia Young

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — As of Thursday afternoon, 13 schools in the Boulder Valley School District were still without power following the outage that started on Wednesday. The windstorm busted out several windows at Fairview High School in southern Boulder.

Around 5 p.m. Thursday, the district announced that after Thursday’s closures, schools will be closed again Friday across the district.

Wind gusts that reached hurricane levels caused damage to 10 entryway windows at Fairview, disrupting students taking their finals inside.

“It’s pretty scary. You know, if you’re in school and your windows are rattling, it was definitely some tense moments there,” said Randy Barber with the Boulder Valley School District. “When the windows broke, we pulled kids out of that area and, you know, kind of closed that specific section off.”

Barber says other damage to their schools includes fallen limbs on playgrounds and fencing, and minor damage to roofs and HVAC units.

“There are a lot of impacts following the windstorm. We had more than half of our schools that had power out. And additionally, you know, with all the other impacts like traffic lights being out and that kind of thing, debris in the roads,” said Barber.

Those impacts leading the district to close all schools Thursday — it’s the first time they’ve done so because of wind.

“Ever since the Marshall Fire, you know, we as a community have been very concerned about wildfire and the winds get pretty high here,” said Barber. “It’s never been driven to the place where we’ve had to look at an actual school closure.”

They’re not the only school community impacted.

Jefferson County closed more than two dozen schools Thursday, and Poudre closed three.

As districts across the Denver metro area decide whether or not to open Friday, Barber says it’s a protocol they’re preparing to use again.

“We’ll be ready for the next time it comes around — as early as tomorrow,” said Barber.

With Boulder Valley School District announcing that school will be closed again on Friday, it means an early start to winter break for the students. Barber says that the finals that they were supposed to take on Thursday and Friday will be rescheduled for January after break.

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By KOVR staff

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — Marshall Hospital in El Dorado Hills celebrated the opening of a new rehabilitation center that is helping people get back on their feet with some futuristic technology.

Step by step, new technology is giving people with physical and neurological impairments the hope that they will one day walk naturally again.

“I would say patients love it,” said Dr. Ryan Ebersole, a physical therapist at Marshall Hospital.

Ebersole is unveiling this new zero-gravity robotic therapy device that allows patients to move around on foot without the fear of falling.

“It just offloads a portion of a patient’s body weight, allowing them to move a little bit freer,” Ebersole said.

The harness is connected to a grid in the ceiling, allowing protected movement across an entire room.

“I found it very stabilizing, I felt that it helped me walk more normal,” said John Raslaer, an El Dorado resident.

“I got polio when I was 3 years old,” said Diane Marchesi.

Marchesi is one of the first patients to get the groundbreaking treatment.

“Once I got into it and felt how snug it was and I did fall, it caught me right away,” Marchesi said.

She’s hopeful the therapy will eventually allow her to move around without assistance.

“I’ve been doing it now since October, and I’m getting better and better. My goal is to get out of here walking,” Marchesi said.

Marshall Hospital says it’s the first of its kind three-dimensional therapy on the West Coast, harnessing new technology and offering a chance to change the lives of those who struggle to take a step.

“We hope that it will get used by a broad swath of people in the Northern California area,” said Robert Pepper, a Marshall Hospital donor.

“It’s very impressive and it gives them such independence,” said Star Pepper, a Marshall Hospital donor.

“The little things, taking the stairs instead of the ramp, or being able to walk a little quicker or just feeling like they’re a little more balanced,” Ebersole said.

The hospital said about three to five patients a day are currently getting the treatments, which are billed to insurance just like other types of physical therapy.

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By Alicia Roberts, Scott Jacobson

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    Philadelphia (KYW) — Families impacted by gun violence gathered at the School District of Philadelphia’s headquarters Wednesday for the Mothers In Charge toy giveaway, a night of holiday cheer complete with music, presents and a special visit from Santa Claus.

Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, the national director of Mothers in Charge, hosted the night focused on lending a helping hand to those who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

“I lost my mom when I was very young, so I know the pain of that, especially at a time when everyone is happy, but maybe you’re not happy because you had a death in your family,” Johnson-Speight said.

This is the third annual Mother’s in Charge Toy Giveaway, and this year more than 200 children received a special gift just in time for Christmas.

Erica Reason brought her son Malik.

“We seen this at Target a month or so ago, and I didn’t have enough funds for it, so I told him no, and then we seen it here, so like that’s just a blessing in itself,” she said.

Shannon McCance attended the event with her 5-year-old daughter, Willow.

“I don’t think there is anyone in the city that doesn’t know gun violence,” McCance said. “I’m just happy there are still good people out there. There’s a lot of good people out there, and it’s from all walks of life, it’s just nice to see.”

‘Tis the season for giving — one smile at a time.

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By Celeste Springer

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    WASHINGTON (KRDO) — A prolific child predator from Colorado, who prosecutors say had victims in nearly every state in the country, has been sentenced to prison.

Austin Ryan Lauless, 31, will go to prison for 84 years after pleading guilty to 13 counts of sexual exploitation of a child, five counts of sex trafficking of a minor, two counts of advertising child sexual abuse material, and possession of child sexual abuse material, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say, besides having victims across the United States, he also had victims in at least five foreign countries.

The Department of Justice says that Lauless posed as a teenager, using the fake identity of “Cason Fredrickson.” Meanwhile, he was in his late 20s, unemployed, and living in hotels in Colorado and Texas.

Using his fake teenage identity, prosecutors say he found children on social media, later gaining their trust and coercing them into sending explicit videos of themself. He admitted to having a collection of child sexual abuse material, including prepubescent children, and children subjected to bestiality and sadomasochistic abuse. At least five minors were trafficked and forced to engage in sexual acts with adult men while being videoed.

In order to prolong his abuse, prosecutors say Lauless threatened to release the images of the children if they stopped sending him content or went to a parent or the police for help.

“This case represents one of the most egregious forms of exploitation the FBI investigates,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “This was not an isolated crime – it was a nationwide and international campaign of exploitation that victimized at least 84 people, including children, and involved the trafficking of human beings. The FBI is committed to identifying offenders who use technology to abuse, manipulate, and control others, and to ensuring they are held fully accountable. Today’s sentence delivers justice for the victims and reinforces that these crimes will not go unanswered.”

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By KABC Staff

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    WEST HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The brother of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua was arrested over the weekend for stealing a BMW that reportedly belonged to Lakers forward Adou Thiero.

According to the West Hollywood sheriff’s station, the incident happened Friday, December 12, when deputies were flagged down in the 8400 block of Sunset Boulevard.

They said the victim, who was not identified by the sheriff’s department, told deputies that his newer model BMW had been stolen and that he was able to track it to that location.

Samson Nacua, 27, took the BMW from a location on Wilshire Boulevard, according to the sheriff’s department. Another suspect, identified as 27-year-old Trey Rose, was the one who drove the vehicle to the West Hollywood location, investigators said.

Both Samson Nacua and Rose were arrested for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and were released the same day.

Samson Nacua previously played for the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.

No further details were released and the sheriff’s department said the investigation is “active and ongoing.”

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By Amari Saxton

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    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KOAT) — The New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness held a memorial on Wednesday honoring the lives of several homeless people lost and to highlight the severe human toll of homelessness in New Mexico.

The annual vigil, which has been taking place for at least the last 30 years, is held yearly to celebrate the lives of the people in the last 12 months who have died and were experiencing homelessness.

The organizers of the event state the importance of the involvement of community volunteers who have helped with the planning process.

“While it’s both somber and about remembrance, it’s also a call to action that something needs to be done about the problem,” says William Bowen, program manager for the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. “It’s important that we create space to remember people who are often ignored and whose deaths are not often honored.”

As far as what’s next for the organization, Bowen says in January, the coalition hopes to lead the annual point-in-time count event to count everyone who is experiencing homelessness. He says it will be a time and an opportunity for people to volunteer and distribute resources to those on the street.

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By Zoe Hunt

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    HOLLISTER, Calif. (KSBW) — For the owner of JAS Family Farms Organics, Tony Serrano, it was a successful growing year on the Central Coast.

While everything looked like it was on track, it wouldn’t stay that way for long.

The farm quickly faced a labor shortage as its workers were scared to show up due to immigration fears.

“We hit a roadblock with the labor and the shortage. Not necessarily because there aren’t enough people around, but because everybody’s afraid to come out and work in the fields or anywhere if you’re my color,” said Serrano.

Serrano said what also added to the fear of ICE showing up was that his Hollister farm and Watsonville farm are both located off main roads, meaning workers were scared ICE could have easy access.

The lack of labor got so severe that Serrano said they had to start abandoning crops. There was simply not a large enough labor source to harvest it all in time.

“We end up leaving behind sometimes as much as 90-95% of our crops in the field. Something that’s completely edible, that’s total grade one, that would pass any type of inspection, that would definitely nourish some people who are in desperate need of it,” said Serrano. “But we’re leaving it on the plant, in the ground, because there is no way to collect it.”

The result of all this was various crops, from artichokes to strawberries and peppers, dying in his fields.

“We grew a beautiful crop of chiles, Filipino peppers, serranos … and managed to get them to the right maturity stage, and then right as we were getting ready to harvest … we didn’t have enough labor,” said Serrano. “We had to sacrifice about 80% plus of it.”

With the winter season slowing things down, Serrano said he’s left with a lot of uncertainty just thinking about the upcoming harvest season.

“Just kills your next year’s plan,” said Serrano.

His concern is not just for his farm, but for the wider Central Coast agriculture industry.

“If I’m in the same boat as everyone else around here and they’re thinking the same thing and start to reduce the acreage that they have, that will create a shortage of food that’s available to everybody,” said Serrano. “We need agriculture because we need to eat. We need food.”

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