Author: CNN Newsource

By Madison Perales

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — A mother and daughter living in Omaha are sharing their story after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this year.

Maria and her daughter came to the United States from Guatemala in 2014 to reunite with Maria’s husband, who is seeking asylum. While Maria was denied an asylum interview, she was granted a work permit and allowed to stay in the U.S. under an order of supervision.

“I never expected that they were going to detain us,” their daughter said.

Maria said she leaned on faith during their time in custody.

“I told her that we have to believe in God, that he was the only one who would take us out of that place,” Maria said.

In May, Maria went to a routine check-in at a local immigration office. After the appointment, she received a text message from ICE.

“I had to bring all my family in the office,” Maria said. “I was scared because I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

On June 4, Maria arrived at the ICE office near 19th and Douglas with her husband and two children. She did not expect that she and her daughter would be separated from the rest of the family and taken into custody.

Maria and her daughter were sent to a detention facility in Texas, more than 1,000 miles away from Maria’s husband, Abel, and their 10-year-old son.

“When we were detained, I didn’t feel good because I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Maria said. “They didn’t give us an answer or tell us what’s going to happen.”

Their daughter added, “There was a lot of officers watching if someone tried to escape.”

Their personal items were taken, and they were issued facility clothing. Maria’s daughter described their living quarters as “little houses” separated by colors.

“We were in the yellow side,” she said.

There were phones available for calls, but Maria’s daughter said they didn’t know how to use them at first.

“Since no one teach us how to use the phone, we wasted our five minutes. And so we couldn’t call my dad,” she said.

The facility also had a gym and a library. During their stay, the two met another mother and daughter.

“I got so close to her daughter,” Maria’s daughter said.

The girls planned to go to the library together.

“The same day I got the pass, she got deported,” she said.

Maria and her daughter remained in detention for five weeks.

“When we would go to the cafeteria, the days were up on the wall,” Maria said.

Her daughter did not receive an asylum interview until she was already inside the detention facility.

“They asked me, why did I enter United States?” she said. “But I really didn’t know how to answer because I was 3 years old.”

A few days later, ICE called Maria in to discuss the interview.

“I couldn’t go inside the room, just my mom,” the daughter said. “So she went there, and she was crying, and I thought they told her something bad.”

“At that moment, I hugged her,” Maria said. “I told her that we are going to leave here soon.”

“The fact there was a biological connection made a big difference,” the family’s immigration attorney, Rachel Yamamoto, said. “I think they also grant a little more consideration to children.”

After their release, Yamamoto made the emotional call to Maria’s husband, Abel.

“When they told me I was happy because I didn’t think you were going to come back,” Abel said.

Maria’s daughter said her younger brother was emotional during the reunion.

“My brother started crying when he saw, and he hugged me first, and then he hugged my mom,” she said.

Despite being released, Maria said she still wears an ankle monitor and faces new restrictions, without explanation from ICE.

“She just has to have one whole day available every 14 days to be checked on or to go check in,” Yamamoto said. “So she can’t work even though she has a valid work permit.”

“I’m scared to leave or work,” Maria said. “I don’t feel good, I feel like they’re going to detain me again.”

Still, the family is determined to stay together.

“It’s not easy, but we can,” Maria said. “That’s what’s important, that our family is reunited.”

“Follow the process,” Abel said. “Because if you miss anything — an appointment or a date — the situation becomes a lot bigger and harder than it already is.”

Yamamoto said she’s working to consolidate Maria, Abel and their daughter’s cases. Abel continues working full-time while Maria stays home with their children, who remain in school.

Resolving their immigration cases may take time. The daughter’s next court hearing is scheduled for next year. Maria and Abel’s court dates have not been scheduled, as Yamamoto said the court system is overwhelmed.

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By Kelby Wingert

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    OSKALOOSA, Iowa (KCCI) — An Oskaloosa High School art teacher is suing the school district, claiming it violated his constitutional right to free speech when the school board voted to fire him over a post he made in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.

The Oskaloosa School Board voted to terminate art teacher Matthew Kargol’s contract following a closed session meeting on Wednesday.

On Thursday morning, Kargol filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. He is suing the school district and district superintendent Michael Fisher.

The lawsuit claims that a social media post Kargol made in the hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting death on Sept. 10 was “rhetorical hyperbole” and nothing about the post connected his words to his employment with Oskaloosa Schools.

The lawsuit notes that Kargol’s profile did not identify him as a school district employee and was not made in the classroom, during working hours, or using school resources.

Within hours of Kargol’s post, the district began receiving calls from community members who were upset about the post. On Wednesday, the district told KCCI they received over 1,200 phone calls.

Kargol was then placed on leave.

The day after the post was made, Fisher told KCCI, “This has created substantial material disruption to our learning environment.”

The lawsuit disputes that claim.

“The politically motivated pressure campaign did not allege any disruption in Mr. Kargol’s classroom, any failure or inadequacy in his performance, or any threat to disrupt the learning environment,” the lawsuit says.

Instead, “the complaints were about the viewpoint Mr. Kargol expressed — the content of his speech,” the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit also alleges that Fisher publicly announced that he would recommend to the school board that Kargol be fired, and that Fisher’s condemnation was based on his own disagreement with Kargol’s speech and the public disapproval, not based on evidence of disruption of the learning environment.

“Instead of respecting his right as a citizen to comment on political events of the utmost public interest, they chose to silence and punish him,” the lawsuit says.

On Thursday, the district released a statement acknowledging it was made aware of the lawsuit, adding:

“The Board acted on the Superintendent’s recommendation to terminate Mr. Kargol’s employment with the District on Wednesday, September 17. This matter was handled in accordance with applicable federal and state law and Board policy. Because this is both a personnel matter and pending litigation, Oskaloosa Schools cannot provide further comment at this time. Our focus remains on creating safe, healthy, and kind schools that engage all students to embrace the power of learning.”

Kargol started teaching at Oskaloosa High School in 2012. He also coached wrestling and track and field.

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By Brittany Decker

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    TALLADEGA, Alabama (WVTM) — A visit to Talladega uncovers the Marianna Greene Henry Special Equestrian Program, where therapeutic horseback riding offers children with disabilities a chance to thrive.

Erin, a blind participant, exemplifies the program’s impact. She has been part of the program since she was three, spending seventeen years in the saddle and proving, “Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.”

The program was founded by Pat Greene, who started with a small initiative in his side yard with six kids and two horses. Now, at 94, Greene has seen it grow into one of the largest therapeutic equestrian centers in the nation, serving 300 to 400 children annually, including those who are deaf, blind, deafblind, or living with multiple disabilities.

“I feel like my life has been so much more meaningful going something like this, as opposed to just, playing golf and being a, you know, a typical retiree,” Greene said.

The program was inspired by Greene’s daughter, Marianna, who loved horses and children with disabilities. Tragically, she passed away at 32 while waiting for a heart transplant, followed by her youngest daughter.

“And, I know Marianna would be delighted to see what is what’s happening in her name,” Greene said.

Erin, who grew up in the program, now gives back, saying, “Here I have everything I need. I really have everything I need. I can teach the kids what I’ve already learned.” The program offers unbridled joy and limitless possibilities for its participants.

Dennis Gilliam, President of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, praised Greene’s contributions, saying, “So the legacy of Mr. Greene can’t be understated. The impact that he’s made not only to AIDB, but to the community and to people all over the nation. I think we should all aspire to give back to the community like Mr. Greene has.”

Greene, who spent 40 years at BellSouth and served 36 years with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, is retiring from the board of trustees but will remain on the foundation board, where he has been the longest-serving member since 1989.

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By Kelcie Bolden

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    CLEVELAND, Mississippi (WAPT) — Classmates of a Delta State University student found hanged on campus are paying their respects.

They held a vigil and balloon release Thursday night in remembrance of Trey Reed.

The events came hours after the Cleveland Police Department announced Reed’s death was ruled a suicide.

The 21-year-old was found in a tree Monday morning near the pickleball courts in the middle of the university campus.

Students say they’re thinking of Reed’s family during this difficult time.

An initial report from the Bolivar County coroner said there was no sign of assault or foul play.

Final toxicology results may take two to four weeks to complete.

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By Alexis Crandall

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    RUTLAND, Vermont (WPTZ) — When you think of viral videos, a local public works department probably is not the first thing that comes to mind. But that is exactly what has happened to the Rutland Department of Public Works.

The video showing crews removing more than 100 feet of roots from a pipe has racked up millions of views.

It started simply enough when the department responded to reports of flooding after a quick heavy rain in early September in a neighborhood off of Dorr Drive.

Its work to get to the root of the problem is now captured in a video seen around the world.

“I said, ‘Well, let me get my phone out just in case it works,'” said DPW Commissioner Bob Protivansky. “So, the rest is kind of history.”

He said he never expected the video posted to the department’s Facebook to go so far.

“I was just trying to highlight a big accomplishment from our crew to city residents. It was quite surprising what they found when they started pulling on that root.”

In the video, crews pull nearly 100 feet of willow roots from a sewage pipe — something Protivansky has never seen before on this scale.

“Maybe our sewer cleaning truck has found things like bike tires and weird stuff like that, but not roots. Usually, roots are dangling from the top of the pipe, down a little bit. We find those and deal with them before they grow 100 feet,” said Protivanksy.

He never expected so many people would see the video, which has now racked up millions of views on TikTok.

“I’m sure the people in the industry have been through a little bit of this before, but never to that scale. So they’re like, let’s look at what Rutland did. But mostly shocking to see.”

Protivansky praised the crew’s quick thinking that saved the city from having to dig up more pipes in the neighborhood.

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By Terry Stackhouse

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    PORTLAND, Maine (WMTW) — A Maine mother is suing the developer behind some of the most popular video games for kids.

The 83-page lawsuit was filed this week in U.S. District Court.

The legal documents claim makers of the games added features they knew would be addictive, without implementing safety features.

“The most important thing is to hold these manufacturers accountable for their actions,” said attorney Brett Dwight Baber.

He is representing Casey Henderson, a mother from Somerset County.

She is suing Microsoft and the makers of popular video games, including Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft.

The lawsuit claims they’re marketed to young children with features they knew would be addictive to maximize time spent and improve the odds of in-game purchases.

The lawsuit claims these games have caused her 9-year-old “diminished social interactions, lack of interest in other hobbies, and withdrawal symptoms such as rage, anger, and physical outbursts.”

“Any attempt to remove [the child] from their games is met with severe withdrawal symptoms, including anger, and refusal to maintain proper hygiene or sleep,” the lawsuit also claims.

None of the defendants named immediately responded to requests for comment.

“They’ve intentionally built these psychological devices into their games to get kids to play constantly. The more the better. And they profit off it, and this is a billion-dollar industry with a capital B,” Baber said.

The lawsuit seeks monetary relief and claims the plaintiff has suffered and continues to suffer injuries and damages exceeding $75,000.

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By Phil Tenser

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — Federal prosecutors accuse a Harvard Business School graduate of targeting other alums in a Ponzi scheme that lasted more than two years.

Vladimir Artamonov, 46, of Maryland, is accused of defrauding investors who participated in an investment opportunity he called “Project Information Arbitrage.” According to the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York, Artamonov told investors he would put their money into investments ahead of public announcements of moves by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Federal prosecutors said Artamonov raised more than $4 million from investors, but actually used the money for “risky short-term” investments that did not implement the strategy he promised and led to millions of dollars in losses. Other money from investors was used for personal expenses.

Prosecutors said he concealed major losses while continuing to solicit new investments and promised customers that profits were coming.

“When investors eventually demanded the return of their funds, Artamonov repaid old investors with new investors’ funds, or declined to repay investors altogether. Ultimately, Artamonov returned less than $400,000 to investors,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton’s office said in a statement.

Artamonov faces one count of securities fraud and one count of investment adviser fraud.

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