Akron deploys new weapon to fight potholes

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Bob Jones

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    AKRON, Ohio (WEWS) — City of Akron road crews are using specialized Dura Patch vehicles this week to fix troublesome potholes that have popped up this season.

The city purchased two of the specialized trucks for $300,000 each.

The trucks use an emulsion and an aggregate similar to tar, which crews aim with a hose to quickly fill a pothole.

Image (3).jpeg News 5 Cleveland Anthony Dolly with Akron Public Works said the patches aren’t just temporary.

“It’s very durable. It lasts longer. This is a permanent fix for these potholes. We will not be out in three to six months to fill this pothole again,” Dolly said.

Unlike other patches, the weather doesn’t really affect when the city can fill the potholes; it can be used down to 5 degrees.

Tasha Love, who drives one of the trucks, operates a joystick and pushes a button to fill the holes.

Image (5).jpeg News 5 Cleveland Tasha Love “It lasts longer than the cold patch. I deal with the cold patch as well as the hot mix, and on the concrete with the emulsion and the rock, it just seems to settle better,” Love said.

The city is using the trucks, along with road crews using the old-fashioned method of shoveling and tamping patch material, to fix potholes in the city.

“We have three, four or five crews out at at a time patching potholes, whereas this this is just a one-man opportunity,” Dolly said.

According to the city, each truck can fill about 150 potholes over a day and a half.

The city plans to deploy the trucks each weekday.

It’s good news for drivers like Mike Ciraldo and Karen Stallings.

“It’s just frustrating,” Ciraldo said about the potholes all over Akron. “When you’re getting like car-eating potholes, it’s a completely different problem altogether.”

Stallings had to get her car repaired due to the potholes.

“You got to get a wheel alignment because you’re hitting these holes. It’s really bad,” she 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.

$180,000 worth of collectibles stolen from Anaheim trading card store

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Matthew Rodriguez

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    ANAHEIM, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Four suspects stole about $180,000 worth of collectibles and Pokémon cards from an Anaheim store earlier this week.

The Anaheim Police Department said the burglary happened early Wednesday morning at Do-We Collectibles. Officers said the burglars broke into a neighboring business and tunneled through a shared wall to get into the trading card shop.

Security camera videos showed the suspects, all masking their faces, using sledgehammers to smash display cases and steal the valuable items.

This is one of the latest instances of thieves breaking into memorabilia stores to steal collectibles, including Pokémon cards.

Ken Goldin, who owns an online auction house of the same name, said people bid millions of dollars for Pokémon cards on his website.

“There’s jewelry stores, there’s fashion stores, there’s banks, and there’s collectible stores, and unfortunately, collectibles have become so valuable and so popular that they’ve now joined the ranks of a watch store or a jewelry store that makes itself a target,” Goldin said.

While most cards cost a few bucks, special limited-edition cards can fetch millions of dollars at auctions and among collectors.

“These are all kids, young adults, who are playing the game, treating it as a game in the late 90s, early 2000s, and they’re now in their 30s and 40s,” Goldin said. “A lot of them have much more disposable income, and they’re spending it on something they love, which is Pokémon.”

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Parts of iconic Colorado foothills El Rancho restaurant will be preserved, with demolition likely ahead

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Alan Gionet

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    EVERGREEN, Colorado (KCNC) — Parts of Evergreen’s history-rich El Rancho restaurant will be preserved, as a new filling station and convenience store moves ahead on the site.

Evergreen Park & Recreation District announced Thursday it will step in and preserve parts of the restaurant. The historic site is subject to demolition, as the new owner of the El Rancho property, QuikTrip, moves forward with development.

“We’re very excited and very humbled. This starts something very big for us,” said Cory Vander Veen, the park and recreation executive director.

Vander Veen said the district had looked at moving the building, but said, “Our engineers have advised us this is not able to be moved. We are now looking at how to preserve the essence of El Rancho.”

Parts of the remaining building, like the signature sign and parts of the fireplace, would be part of a new performance pavilion the district is planning to construct at the edge of a baseball field in Evergreen’s Buchanan Park. A permanent stage is already planned, and the new structure would connect with that. There is already construction at the site involving the district’s plans for a new playground and skate park nearby. It’s all part of a recent new master plan for Buchanan Park.

Crews make site improvements for a new playground and skate park at Buchanan Park in Evergreen, where a future performance pavilion incorporating parts of historic El Rancho will also be located.

“This is not just about saving pieces of the building. It is about retaining the legacy of a place that will shape those memories for decades,” said Craig Romrell, real estate manager for QuikTrip at a Thursday news conference in front of the old restaurant.

The rec district said the work will include, “salvaging, recycling, and repurposing elements of the physical building, landscaping, and hardscaping.” It called the project a warm and welcoming tribute to El Rancho that would keep many of the memorable parts of the inside and outside of the building, while crediting QuikTrip for a desire to partner with the district on the project.

The 75-year-old building does not have historic designation, which is typically sought by a building’s owners, but never has been. The Historical Preservation and Landmarks Committee of the Jefferson County Historical Commission wrote to Jefferson County Planning & Zoning, “It is a significant historic building that would be eligible for the county’s historic designation, as well as, likely eligible for State and National designation.”

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Team of scientists retrieve massive Antarctic core sample to better understand warming planet

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Molly McCrea, Zoe Mintz

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — Under bone-chilling conditions, an international team of scientists has unlocked the secrets to better understand a rapidly-warming planet.

The 29 scientists – including geologists, engineers, physicists, microbiologists, and polar specialists – have drilled more than 1,600 feet through the Antarctic ice sheet to reach into the seabed.

“It’s a project that has been more than 10 years in the making,” said Tina van de Flierdt with Imperial College London. She is also the co-chief scientist for the project known as the “Sensitivity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to 2 Degrees Celsius of Warming,” or SWAIS2C for short.

The group has extracted a record-breaking vertical core of sediment about 750 feet long. The sediment is packed with layers of mud, sand, fossils, and other debris accumulated for millions of years.

“We are the first people ever to see sediment from underneath that ice. Nobody has seen this before,” said van de Flierdt.

These layers provide a record of the Earth’s history over multiple climate changes – from the ice ages to when it warmed up and became more greenhouse and tropical.

“It’s unprecedented, and I’m really excited about it,” said Dr. Kurt Cuffey, an environmental geophysicist at the University of California at Berkeley who specializes in the physics of glaciers.

He was impressed with the technical achievement of retrieving the core and is looking forward to seeing the analysis from the team. Cuffey explained how an analysis of the layers could finally answer some critical questions

“If they succeed with the analysis, then we will have a definitive answer to questions that we’ve been wrestling with for decades about how the ice sheet will respond to warming,” Cuffey said.

Cuffey said there should be no confusion between weather and climate. While the weather might be cold at times, overall our planet is warming.

“The planet has been warming since the late 19th century,” Cuffey said. “The first 50 years or so of the warming had some human component, but it was largely natural. But then, starting around 1980, the planet continued to warm at a pretty good rate, and essentially all of that is due to human agency, due to changes, primarily in the composition of the atmosphere.”

The SWAIS2C team believes an analysis of the sediment core may guide plans for how coastal communities and cities can better adapt to sea level rise.

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Atlanta nonprofit’s cooking program works to get people off the streets and into restaurant careers

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Madeline Montgomery

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — A metro Atlanta community organization is offering an 11-week cooking program that’s getting people off the street and into a lifelong culinary career.

Open Hand Atlanta’s program teaches aspiring chefs and culinary professionals everything from new skills to restaurant management.

“We want everyone to come here and gain the skills that are going to have the ripple effect of changing their lives and getting them not just into a job, but into a career,” said Chef Kira Scott, who runs the program.

The nonprofit works with homeless shelters and advocacy groups to find apprentices like Kanecki Guischard. Guischard was living at Covenant House, a youth homeless shelter, when he first met Scott.

“Food’s been a part of my life, and I’ve always been like, ‘How am I going to get into this professionally? Like, where do I start?’ and they honestly jump-started part of my dream for real,” said Guischard, a graduate of the workforce development program.

The program has an 85% in-industry employment rate. The average salary for graduates is $18 an hour.

Guischard was hired at Natalie Bianca, a new restaurant in Southwest Atlanta, one week after graduating.

“It was pretty amazing. Chef Kira made sure she found a great environment for me. It wasn’t just about getting me a job; it was finding a place where I would belong,” said Guischard.

“It doesn’t even feel like charity. I feel like I won. You know, by getting someone on my team that’s so bright and is creative with new ideas, fresh ideas, but also a willingness to learn,” said Courtney Rucker, Natalie Bianca’s co-owner.

Open Hand Atlanta is always looking for new restaurants and chefs to partner with for the program and donors to help sponsor apprentices. To help, go to its website.

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Fire Academy graduate says faith and determination fueled her journey

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Nakell Williams

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — A dream years in the making became reality this week as Ashley Fields officially joined the ranks of South Fulton Fire and Rescue, the very community she now calls home.

Fields graduated after completing the department’s rigorous firefighter training program, marking what she calls a full-circle moment.

“You have their lives in your hands. That’s what you have,” Fields said.

Originally from New York, Fields said moving to Georgia felt like a fresh start.

“I looked at moving to many other places all over the country, but when I came to South Fulton, everyone seemed like family,” she said.

Fields became an EMT in 2018. By 2021, she knew she wanted to take her career further. In 2023, she committed to becoming a firefighter, despite pushback from people around her.

“A lot of people did not like it. Honestly, they tried to discourage me, and because they tried to discourage me, that was my motivation to keep going,” she said.

The training process was demanding. Recruits faced constant physical drills, written exams and performance evaluations. But Fields said the toughest battle was mental.

“The mental struggles, wondering if you could do it and questioning if it’s even worth it,” she said.

She made sacrifices along the way.

“It cost me friends; it cost me time, but time that I don’t regret losing,” Fields said.

There was also a financial strain. During her journey, she frequently traveled between New York and Atlanta, purchasing multiple flights as she worked toward her goal.

Through every setback, Fields leaned on her faith.

“My Bible, first and foremost. That’s the reason why I pushed through,” she said. “Every time I felt like giving up, I had to remember my purpose. I didn’t have a plan B, C, or D. This had to work.”

On graduation night, Fields admitted she felt nervous as she prepared backstage, repeating a quiet message to herself: “See it through. Everything is going to be worth it.”

Her aunt traveled from Charlotte to support her.

“This is definitely rewarding, just to see her actually do the things she wanted to do and not be intimidated, especially working with a lot of men in the department,” her aunt said.

Then came an unexpected moment. Fields’ mother, who had previously attended her swearing-in ceremony, told her she wouldn’t make it to graduation. But as Fields walked across the stage, her mother appeared, surprising her and bringing her to tears.

Now stepping into a field historically dominated by men, Fields says she understands the responsibility.

“I’m ready to take it on,” she said.

She also hopes her visibility will inspire other young girls.

“I hope they see no matter size, no matter weight, no matter height, you can do it. Just be mentally strong and push through,” Fields said. “Once you see someone that looks like you, that gives you nonverbal motivation to do it.”

For Fields, the badge represents more than a career. It’s a calling and a promise to serve the city that embraced her as family.

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With humor and history, this Atlanta tour guide gives visitors a new view of the city

CNN Newsource on February 20, 2026

By Donald Fountain

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Jeff Moore grew up in College Park with one goal in mind: to show people the best parts of his hometown. The question, he said, was how to do it.

“I did some research, and I kept telling my wife that I wanted to start a tour company,” Moore said.

Today, Moore serves as operations manager and tour guide for Roundabout Atlanta Tours and Transportation. The company offers several tours across metro Atlanta, but Moore says his favorite is the City Lights Atlanta Night Tour.

The two-hour experience takes guests to some of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks while also highlighting lesser-known spots.

“We get you outside of the touristy areas and show you parts of the city you don’t really get to see as a visitor,” Moore said.

The tour includes stops at large-scale murals and neighborhoods where local artists, including Grammy-winning singer India Arie, got their start.

“This is exclusive, y’all,” Moore said during one recent tour. “This is the kind of stuff you get on our tours.”

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Tucson gun shop owner defends helping FBI in Guthrie case

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Denelle Veselik , Pat Parris

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — A Tucson gun shop owner is defending helping the FBI in the Guthrie case.

Phillip Martin, Co-Owner and Manager of Armor Bearer Arms, says an FBI agent visited his gun shop on the Southside last week.

He’s now having to defend helping the FBI in the Nancy Guthrie abduction, after facing criticism over privacy concerns.

An FBI agent recently came to his gun shop with a list of possible suspects.

Martin says the agent gave him a list of names and asked if anyone on the list had been a recent customer of his.

“Well, to be honest, the FBI got no information from me. We gave no information. We provided no documents, we provided no names, less than 20 people were given to us,” Martin said. “And just said, hey, have any of these people been into your shop in the last year? I checked. I said no, slided them the paperwork back, and told them have a good day. No information was provided.”

After checking to verify the person was indeed an FBI agent, he says he looked at the list and checked.

After checking, he says none of those names had bought a gun from him.

Martin says working with the FBI was the right thing to do.

“I think it’s ridiculous that a lot of these quote-unquote patriotic Americans think that it was un-American for me to assist in a kidnapping case, ” Martin said. “Because if they if it was their mother or their daughter. I’m sure that they would want that gun shop owner to help.”

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Oro Valley flower shop sees surge in sales as community supports Nancy Guthrie search

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Marc Monroy

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    ORO VALLEY, Arizona (KGUN) — A flower shop in Oro Valley has become an unexpected hub of community support as neighbors rally around the search for missing Nancy Guthrie.

Casas Adobes Flower Shop, located about 10 minutes from Guthrie’s house, is experiencing a surge in sales as people from across the area purchase flowers to show their solidarity with the family.

For the past two weeks, the shop has seen a steady stream of community members dropping off flowers as a gesture of hope and support during the ongoing search efforts.

Shop owner Matt Biggs said he’s grateful to help serve the community during this difficult time.

Related: 88-Crime reward in Guthrie search increased after anonymous donation

“We’ve seen some definite support from the community – reaching out in efforts to generate some hope through some flower deliveries, things like that,” Biggs said.

The outpouring of support has included neighbors of all ages, with even young children participating in the flower deliveries to show their care for the Guthrie family.

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

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Tucson airman and spouse indicted in alleged multi‑million‑dollar fraud

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Don Davis

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — A federal grand jury has returned a 12‑count indictment accusing U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Richard Stefon Ramroop, 35, and his spouse, Manuel George Madrid, 32, both of Tucson, of a years‑long scheme to defraud the Department of Defense of millions of dollars and use the proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona said Thursday.

The indictment alleges the scheme ran from January 2022 through about December 2025. Prosecutors say Ramroop, who worked in the pharmacy at Davis‑Monthan Air Force Base, used his position to buy thousands of medical devices with taxpayer funds and then diverted those devices for resale. Court records show bank accounts controlled by Ramroop and Madrid received more than $11 million in proceeds from resale of medical test strips and devices while the orders placed with government funds cost the Department of Defense more than $3 million.

According to the indictment, the couple used alleged fraud proceeds to purchase high‑end real estate and vehicles. Prosecutors say purchases included a million‑dollar home in Tucson bought in February 2024, a 2024 Porsche Cayenne SUV for $141,443.34 and a BMW i7 SUV (pictured above) for $195,397.59. Officials say those vehicles and others were seized during a Jan. 15, 2026, search warrant execution.

“The defendants allegedly stole millions in taxpayer dollars from the U.S. Department of Defense to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, diverting critical resources away from their intended purpose,” U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said in a statement announcing the indictment. He added that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law‑enforcement partners will hold anyone who “profits illegally at the expense of the American people” accountable.

Ramroop and Madrid are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Property, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. Convictions on the counts carry maximum penalties ranging from up to five years for theft of government property to up to 20 years for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tucson is handling the prosecution.

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