Young boy awaiting heart surgery serves as Atwater’s ‘Mayor for the Day’

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By KFSN News Staff

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    ATWATER, California (KFSN) — A young boy in the North Valley had a special day on Wednesday as “Mayor of the Day” in Atwater.

Leo Rivero-Cameron has a life-threatening condition called Neonatal Marfan Syndrome.

His trip to Walt Disney World through the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been postponed following urgent heart surgery.

While Leo waits to be medically cleared for traveling, the Mayor of Atwater presented him with the honor of being Mayor for the Day.

Leo toured city departments and took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new Planet Fitness.

He has also established his own nonprofit, which you can learn more about at LeosLegacyFoundation.org.

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Colorado woman charged with cruelty to animals after 150 livestock seized from Western Slope property

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Jennifer McRae

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — The Delta County Sheriff’s Office discovered more than 150 animals, including livestock and companion animals, in unsanitary conditions without proper access to food and water. Investigators said deputies were called to a residence on Peach Valley Road in Delta County on Colorado’s Western Slope on Feb. 5.

When deputies arrived, they began an investigation into alleged animal neglect and cruelty. Investigators said Mikaela Rivas, 40, of Delta, was charged with 141 counts of cruelty to animals.

Deputies worked in conjunction with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Humane Colorado, and High Country Environmental Grazing to seize the animals. They were relocated and received immediate medical evaluations, veterinary care, and pain management. Investigators said they also found multiple deceased animals on the property.

The Delta County Sheriff’s Office said it is grateful to the community members who alerted law enforcement to this issue, and for the partner agencies that assisted with the transportation and care of all animals.

Investigators said additional charges will be announced pending the outcome of the investigation.

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Former Sacramento teacher launches platform to combat national literacy crisis

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Peyton Headlee

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    SACRAMENTO (KCRA) — A former Sacramento classroom teacher is tackling the nation’s literacy crisis. In 2020, Chandra Roughton founded Luminous Minds, an educational website and early learning platform.

The platform offers online resources for parents and teachers to improve children’s ability to read. It partners with districts and schools to support primary classroom and intervention teachers with supplemental reading and literacy resources.

Roughton hosts family literacy nights and workshops to empower parents with reading strategies and activities they can do at home.

Tyla Brown, a parent at Oak Hill Elementary in Antelope, attended one such event in January — seeking guidance on how to better teach her daughter to read.

“I learned a lot of activities that I never even thought of. I learned how to break it down in a fun way,” Brown said.

The platform aims to build foundational literacy skills at a time when national reading scores are falling short. Roughton addressed Congress in September at an informational session on the science of reading about the implications of low literacy rates.

“According to the most recent NAEP data, only 33% of fourth graders in the United States are reading at or above proficiency,” Roughton said in her testimony. “That means 67%, two out of every three children, aren’t.”

That’s why school districts like Center Joint Unified are investing in literacy initiatives.

“One of our districtwide focuses is literacy. And so how do we build that love of literacy, love of reading, and really help our parents with understanding how to help us and partner up with building those reading foundational skills,” Oak Hill Elementary Principal Parveen Saenz said.

Parents like Tyla Brown appreciate the support.

“They’re here because they genuinely want to help each kid grow. And I am just so grateful,” Brown said.

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Sacramento Police Canine Association covers cost of care for retired police dogs

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Lee Anne Denyer

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) — From sweeping for explosives to apprehending a wanted subject, the Sacramento Police Department’s Canine Unit serves a critical need for the department.

“The dogs are willing to sacrifice themselves for not only us as officers, but for the community at the drop of a hat,” said K-9 Officer Zachary Yasonia, president of the Sacramento Police Canine Association. “The dogs have an overwhelming drive and desire to be at work. I mean, their happy place is being in the back of a police car.”

When police dogs age out of the unit or become medically unable to continue in their job due to illness or injury, they retire. It’s then that the Sacramento Police Canine Association steps in to cover the cost of their care.

“We need to respect the dogs and look out for the dogs in retirement and provide them the best retirement we can,” Yasonia said.

At 10 years old, Czech Shepherd Jax still enjoys driving around in the back of a police cruiser, chasing his ball and spending time with Yasonia, his handler. Jax actively served with him on the K-9 unit for six years.

“I’ve trusted my life with him and he’s trusted his life with me,” he said. “We truly have a special bond.”

Yasonia, however, has been a Sacramento Police K-9 Officer for more than a decade, working with three dogs during his tenure with the department.

“He’s my second dog that I’ve had retired, so I truly am thankful and grateful for the association,” he said. “It wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the support that we have in the community.”

The association is a nonprofit organization separate from the police department, relying on fundraising efforts and private donations for its budget. The association pays for food, medical expenses, and — in time– burial expenses as the retired dogs live out their years.

The organization is currently financially supporting nine retired police dogs.

The Sacramento Police Department currently has eight active handler/dog teams. Sgt. Darby Lannom oversees the unit.

“I’ve really seen the joy that the dogs bring, not only to the community but the handlers,” said Lannom. “To extend that through retirement years is great — and that wouldn’t be possible without the Canine Association.”

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Watsonville mother sentenced 13 years for 1994 cold case death of newborn son

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Ricardo Tovar

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    SALINAS, Calif. (KSBW) — A Watsonville mother has been sentenced for abandoning her newborn son more than 30 years ago, leading to his death along Garin Road in the Las Lomas area, according to Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni.

Pamela Ferreyra, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of felony child abuse in connection with the 1994 death of her infant son.

She was sentenced to 13 years and four months in state prison.

“On December 3, 1994, the partial remains of a two-to-three-day-old baby boy were discovered off Garin Road in Prunedale. An autopsy confirmed that the child was born alive, outside of a hospital setting, and that he had not been fed for approximately 24 hours prior to his death,” Pacioni said.

The exact cause of the child’s death could not be determined.

The baby, known as Baby Garin, was found stuffed in a grocery bag by a man collecting aluminum cans, according to past KSBW 8 reporting.

Pacioni added that no missing person report was filed and, at the time, no leads were developed to identify the baby’s parents.

In 2024, DNA analysis identified Ferreyra as the child’s mother. She was arrested in October 2024.

When interviewed, Ferreyra said she hid her pregnancy from her husband and children and delivered the baby alive at home.

Ferreyra allegedly told investigators that she dressed him, put him in her car, drove to a remote location in Prunedale, and left him there. Pacioni said Ferreyra never went back to check on her son.

Both offenses are considered violent felonies and count as strikes under California law.

“Ferreyra’s guilty plea was the tenth conviction for a cold-case murder since the establishment of the Cold Case Task Force,” Pacioni said.

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San Benito flood crossing leaves passenger dead, driver found hypothermic

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Felix Cortez

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    SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) — A search and recovery mission was carried out on Wednesday morning off Panoche Road in San Benito County after the driver of a small sedan tried to cross a flooded Tres Pinos Creek.

“I know the river level rose, and sometimes it’s unpredictable. You leave for running errands, and you can make it, and you come back, and the river rises, and you don’t realize it, and you get swept away,” said Kaleb Simpson, a detective with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.

First responders say they were called to the area of Browns Valley Road on Tuesday night on reports of a car in the water. But following a thorough search, they found no one—until Wednesday morning, when the driver was seen walking down Highway 25, disoriented and showing signs of hypothermia.

“After talking to the individual, he said that he was one of the people who was in that vehicle from last night, and he was asking about where his friend may be, which prompted a larger-scale response to help look for the unaccounted individual,” said Josh Silveira, a Cal Fire battalion chief.

Search and rescue teams eventually found the passenger more than a mile downstream from where the car got stranded. The deceased was identified by family members as 28-year-old William Son.

The Sheriff’s Office is now investigating whether drugs, alcohol, or foul play were involved. Alcohol may play a role in the investigation, as a Modelo beer can could be seen on the dashboard of the flooded car.

“If it was just an accident, then it was just an accident—it’s a terrible tragedy. If there is any sort of criminal negligence, then we certainly want to make sure that we are prepared in that event,” said Simpson.

Firefighters say the death could have been prevented if the driver had obeyed a road sign on Browns Valley Road warning drivers, “When flooded, turn around—don’t drown.”

A warning is now being issued to other drivers who may be thinking of crossing flooded roadways.

“Understand that, you know, most places do have access and egress from multiple points—it just might not be convenient. In this situation, the alternate route was an additional 40 minutes out of the way, but it could have prevented this tragedy,” said Silveira.

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Grandfather of Montana toddler found dead in pile of laundry now facing charges

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Nate Eaton

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    LIMA, Montana (eastidahonews.com) — A Montana grandfather has been charged with negligent homicide in the death of his 3-year-old grandson, adding a second arrest in a case that has shocked the small community of Lima.

Christopher Michael Cox, 48, is accused of failing to provide basic care and necessities for the child, who had spina bifida and was found deceased inside the family’s home in October. Cox faces felony negligent homicide and misdemeanor child endangerment charges.

Cox’s arrest comes months after the child’s mother, Nicole Lynn Boyer, 28, was charged with felony deliberate homicide after calling 911 and allegedly telling dispatchers, “Just take me to jail” and “He didn’t die today.”

Authorities responding to the home on Oct. 16 said they immediately noticed a strong odor of decomposition.

Court documents said investigators immediately noticed a strong odor of decomposition inside the home, which was described as being in “poor condition” with piles of trash, rotten food and animal feces. The child’s body was found in an upstairs bedroom on a pile of laundry and trash next to a mattress. He was covered with a sweatshirt that Boyer said belonged to her.

A doctor later confirmed the child had spina bifida, club feet, and hydrocephalus, leaving him severely disabled and unable to walk, according to court documents.

Investigators said Boyer admitted she confined her son to an upstairs room and stopped caring for him in September, saying she became “overwhelmed” and “didn’t prioritize him.”

She allegedly told agents she could not remember the last time she gave him food or water, and acknowledged she had known for weeks he was dead.

Other children in the home told police they had heard the toddler crying but believed he was dead when the cries stopped.

Both Boyer and Cox are being held in the Beaverhead County Jail on $500,000 bond each. Three other children have been removed from the home.

Cox faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Hearings for both defendants are scheduled for next week.

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WATCH: Gila River among tribes with most to lose in Colorado River water negotiations

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Adam Klepp, KNXV staff

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    SACATON, AZ (KNXV) — As the Colorado River negotiations continue, Arizona tribes could potentially lose a lot of water they have received for years.

The Gila River Indian Community is one of the tribes that could lose as much as 50% of the water they have been receiving each year.

The tribe has done its part to conserve every drop of water it can, from solar panels over canals to automated irrigation systems.

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.

Kennewick Council opposes home for sex offenders as residents ask for action, transparency

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Caleb Stipkovits

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    KENNEWICK, Wash. (KAPP) — Dozens of frustrated Central Kennewick residents filled the city council chamber Tuesday night, advocating for action and transparency as a home for level three registered sex offenders is set to open in their neighborhood.

In a joint action with the Kennewick School District, the Kennewick City Council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution opposing the opening of the Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA) home after community members have been voicing concerns for over a month.

“We’re setting the stage for the whole state to understand that these are things that need to be changed statewide, and the resolution sends that message directly back to Olympia that they need to be recognizing the needs of our communities,” Kennewick Mayor Jason McShane said.

While some residents applauded city leaders for taking action, others questioned whether the resolution would actually prevent the home from opening.

“What does this joint resolution accomplish exactly, and what action does it take on this current proposed LRA?” resident Janette Romero asked during public comment.

According to Mayor McShane, the city is limited in taking further action due to state laws. The mayor added that it’s been hard for the city to get answers from state leadership on how it can legally stop the LRA home from opening.

The city has identified one potential way to fight the proposal.

“There are very few restrictions on these LRA homes for sexually violent predators,” Mayor McShane explained. “They do, however, identify certain facilities in the city as being places of concern. And they call those a risk facility. And one of those is a publicly dedicated pathway.”

The publicly dedicated pathway would be less than 400 feet away from the home’s front door, and Mayor McShane believes it could assist in residents’ fight to stop the LRA from opening.

While the need for action was atop many residents’ minds during the meeting, another issue arose in the council chamber: transparency. Several residents expressing frustration over how late they were informed about the proposed facility.

“For us, you’ve failed us. I want to know what you are going to do,” resident Tina Gregory told the council.

“You guys had a golden opportunity to give legislation a chance to help us out more,” another resident said.

The transparency concerns intensified when Councilmember John Trumbo made a surprising revelation near the end of the meeting, claiming he had learned about the proposal months earlier.

“This city councilman [I] learned about this proposed idea months ago. And I learned about it in a setting that prevented me from going public. I could not talk about it. There’s something called an executive session, I could not talk about it,” Trumbo told residents.

However, one day after the meeting, Mayor McShane disputed Trumbo’s account.

“I was quite surprised about Councilman Trumbo’s comments last night. I spoke with him this morning, Councilman Trumbo was mistaken. He was inaccurate in his depiction of that. This was not at any time discussed in an executive session. He was referring to a meeting he had in December of last year after the closing of the property had been completed,” McShane clarified.

Mayor McShane added that he first heard of the proposed LRA around the time the city and state legislators sent out a joint statement to the community about the plan. He explained that he was briefly off of the city council before taking the position of mayor, and he did not fully understand the situation until after the statement was shared.

During the meeting, one councilmember proposed hosting a community workshop to discuss the timeline of the proposed home and share additional information the city has gathered about the situation. The proposal is set to be discussed at a further date.

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Officers jumped in to save 30 farm animals that escaped a trailer in the Pueblo I-25 crash

CNN Newsource on February 19, 2026

By Jessica Porter

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    PUEBLO, Colo. (KMGH) — Animal Law Enforcement officers with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region jumped in to rescue 30 sheep and a goat caught in the chaos of a deadly crash on I-25 in Pueblo on Tuesday.

“It’s one of those days where you know everything’s going okay until it’s not,” said Nicole Michon the Animal Law Enforcement Training and Response Manager.

High winds whipped up dust, creating “brownout” conditions on the highway. Low visibility ultimately contributed to a massive crash involving 30 vehicles, shutting down both sides of the highway. Colorado State Patrol confirmed Wednesday that five people lost their lives.

Among the vehicles was a trailer carrying 30 sheep and a goat. According to Humane Society of Pikes Peak Region, some of the animals were trapped inside the damaged trailer, others were running loose along the interstate.

“It’s a stressful environment in terms of this gigantic situation unfolding, but their training really comes in handy at that point to just be able to focus on the animal and remove them from that safely,” said Michon.

Two Animal Law Enforcement officers were called to remove the animals from immediate danger. They successfully transported the animals to a new trailer and reunited them with their owner. Four of the sheep were severely injured and did not recover.

There are 45 officers on the Animal Law Enforcement team who are trained in animal handling and transportation. They serve El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial.

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