Author: CNN Newsource

By Jason Burger

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    MINCO, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A full 24 hours after a softball bus crash ejected and injured several players and coach, families in Minco are still in disbelief.

Five people were ejected from the bus, and seven people were hurt. But there were no deaths reported in the crash.

While still shaken from the rollover, the town of Minco chose praise over pain. Parents, students, players and law enforcement call it a miracle.

“How great thou art. How great thou art,” a crowd sang during a prayer vigil at the Minco softball field.

Every person on the bus survived. Some have stitches, crutches and casts, and others remain in the hospital. But in Minco, they chose to sing.

“And my heart will sing,” sang the crowd.

Minco is not just a community. They look at it like one big family.

That was the mentality of career educator, Ann Frisbie, who planted her roots in Minco, spending almost four decades in the classroom.

“You go to your second 10 years, and then low and behold, your third 10 years you’re starting to get teachers where you had their parents,” Frisbie, who taught at Minco for 38 years, said.

Retired now, Frisbie said all of the facts and curriculum in the world don’t explain how every softball player and person on the bus was able to survive.

“God showed up, because that’s the only way those kids could be all OK,” Frisbie said.

It all hits way too close to home.

“When you hear the bus flipped, you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness’ — and then God showed up,” Frisbie said. “As a cheer sponsor, I would be driving the cheer girls behind the buses, and thinking, ‘Oh, please coaches don’t be so tired that…you know?'”

Now, the healing begins — physically and emotionally — and athletes are wondering what the future holds.

“There were quite a few good athletes on that team, and so it breaks your heart that their season is over, and a couple of them are seniors,” Frisbie said.

Classes at Minco were canceled on Tuesday, but they will be back in session on Wednesday.

The superintendent said some of the players and a coach are still in the hospital.

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By Matt Flener

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    WYANDOTTE COUNTY, Kansas (KMBC) — Charles Adair died after deputies put him in handcuffs in the Wyandotte County Detention Center on July 5th of this year.

But a new update on Friday from a medical examiner calling Adair’s death a homicide brings up two new questions:

What else happened in the moments leading up to Adair’s death?

Should any Wyandotte County deputies or jail staff involved be charged?

The homicide ruling on the final autopsy report stops short of a criminal homicide definition.

But it gives Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree another lens to view Adair’s death and determine if charges are necessary for any deputies or staff on duty in the detention center.

A final autopsy released Friday found Adair, 50, died from complications of mechanical asphyxia, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

“Mechanical asphyxia generally means that the officers physically did something,” said Dr. John G. Peters Jr., President and Chief Learning Officer of the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths. “Usually there’s some type of activity that the correctional officers or the deputies may have done. I’m sure there’s more information in an investigative report somewhere.”

The autopsy report also cited hypertensive cardiovascular disease and liver cirrhosis from chronic alcoholism as “contributing factors.”

But, after questions from KMBC 9 Investigates on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday, no one from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s office will say anything about Adair’s death, beyond two press releases from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

The KBI also said that it has closed its investigation and presented its findings to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.

KMBC 9 Investigates has filed multiple public records requests to learn more.

ADAIR’S ARREST AND DEATH Adair was booked on July 4 after being arrested on misdemeanor failure-to-appear warrants tied to traffic violations.

A KBI news release from July said Adair received treatment in the jail’s infirmary for a pre-existing leg wound.

When staff tried to escort him back to his cell, a press release from the KBI said Adair allegedly caused a disturbance, resisted deputies, and was handcuffed.

Deputies placed him on the lower bunk in his cell and removed the handcuffs.

Jail staff called medical personnel shortly after Adair became unresponsive.

EMS arrived and attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.

The KBI said agents did not observe “any obvious signs of physical injury.”

But there are several holes in the details released so far, including the number of officers involved, when and how Adair stopped breathing, how else his medical conditions may have affected his breathing, and any other restraints used in this case.

“CULTURE OF SAFETY” NEEDED Adair’s in-custody death becomes the latest inmate to die in the United States after trouble breathing while restrained.

KMBC’s recent RESTRAINED investigation found jailers across the country often put inmates in positions where they struggled for air.

Those deaths are often complicated by external restraint devices like restraint chairs.

But other deaths include the prone position, where someone is lying down and officers are placing pressure on their back, restricting airflow.

KMBC 9 Investigates asked if Adair was ever placed in a restraint chair or other restraint device beyond handcuffs.

The KBI, Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office declined to answer.

As for the homicide definition, “The medical examiner chose that phrase for a reason,” said Peters. “It’s commonly used in these types of cases. And, you know, some follow up on exactly what he or she meant by that term, I think would be important.”

KMBC 9 Investigates has filed a records request for a physical copy of Mr. Adair’s autopsy.

Peters said all law enforcement departments also need to preach a “culture of safety,” including a safety monitor for any time multiple officers are restraining someone.

“This isn’t some abstract academic concept,” Peters said. “This is a real practical piece of tactical guidance for people in these situations.”

The organization is planning a November conference to train officers on how to safely monitor situations, among other training opportunities.

If you have a tip about this situation, KMBC 9 Investigates needs to know. Email investigates@kmbc.com.

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By Austen Erblat

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    BOULDER COUNTY, Colorado (KCNC) — A snowboarder in Boulder County was rescued by rescue crews after falling down Skyscraper Glacier, west of Nederland.

The 27-year-old man was going down the glacier Monday afternoon when he fell about 100 feet down the snowfield, the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said on Tuesday. He eventually landed in a bergschrund — an ice crevasse that forms when ice separates.

The Boulder County Communications center received a call about the fall around 2:30 p.m. and rescuers from several law enforcement, fire rescue, and search and rescue agencies and organizations responded, surveying the terrain and mapping evacuation paths.

Video posted by the sheriff’s office shows rescue crews hoisted on the side of the steep glacier with the snowboarder in a rescue basket.

Around 5:45 p.m., members of the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group got to the man and began treating his injuries. At the same time, crews began building an uphaul system, where he was hoisted up over the ridge, while continuing to be treated.

Around 8:10 p.m., he was airlifted to a local hospital for further treatment. By 1 a.m., the remaining rescue crews had finished hiking out of the area.

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By Quanecia Fraser

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — A new artificial intelligence chatbot created by a group of teenagers aims to make it easier to understand the American health care system.

Beginning their senior year of high school at Millard North, Pavan Athota, Anthony Le, and Wesley Chen have had anything but a normal summer. They spent part of it in Brazil, presenting a project, months in the making.

“This project’s our baby,” Athota said.

“Technology is taking over, and AI is becoming a big thing, so we decided to use AI as a tool,” Le said.

That tool is called MedFinanceAI, a conversational chatbot to help people understand medical costs and how to navigate the health care system.

“One of the things about our chatbot that’s different from Google or Chat GPT is we gather information from local hospitals, local medical databases,” Chen said.

Target audiences are younger people or those from immigrant backgrounds who may not have the best understanding of the American healthcare system.

“Healthcare in the US is a big culture shock. All our parents are first-gen immigrants, so they know firsthand how difficult it was to get accustomed,” Athota said.

Part of what inspired the project was 17-year-old Chen’s experience going to the ER. His parents were surprised to see they had a $600 bill, even with insurance.

“And I started thinking about how people who don’t know about medical finances and don’t have insurance coverage, how they’d be able to handle an emergency when they needed to,” Chen said.

The chatbot functions in both English and Spanish, but the boys hope to expand it in other languages.

“Right now, we’re just focused on Nebraska because we’ve only uploaded the files and information from Omaha, but we’re trying to get it more accessible in other states as well,” Athota said.

The boys see it as a positive that can come from the ever-emerging field of artificial intelligence.

“The connotation of AI right now is sometimes negative at school… but I think the tool can definitely have some positive impacts, and it can really create some useful things,” Athota said.

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By Jordan Bontke

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    EL MIRAGE, Arizona (KNXV) — A 17-year-old Arizona student suffered severe heat stroke and burns after being forced to walk home from school in 112-degree heat due to changes in her district’s transportation policy.

June Shaver was looking forward to starting her junior year at Dysart High School. She wanted to join volleyball, make new friends, and get her learner’s permit.

But her plans were derailed on her second day of classes when she had to walk the approximately two-mile trek home in extreme heat.

“I didn’t get the opportunity to do that because of what happened,” Shaver said.

During her walk home, Shaver stopped at a corner store for water but began feeling the effects of heat stroke about a block from her El Mirage home.

“I started hallucinating, I felt like I could see someone walking towards me. But it felt like it was like that for hours. But also my vision was colored, it was blue and green,” Shaver said.

El Mirage police body camera video shows the moment officers arrived after a good Samaritan noticed Shaver on the hot asphalt and called 911. She doesn’t remember how long she was there, but it was long enough for her to have a seizure and reach a body temperature of 107 degrees.

Shaver suffered second and third-degree burns up and down her body, keeping her hospitalized for all of August.

“Remembering what happened, it just sort of bugs me a little bit. I wanted to be able to have a normal year,” Shaver said.

District changes transportation policy With her guardians at work, Shaver didn’t have the option to take the bus. This year, the Dysart school district changed its transportation policy so high school students who live within two radial miles aren’t eligible for district transportation. Shaver’s house is right near that mark.

The district previously said in a statement that the new boundaries were a necessity to ensure the district can operate in a fiscally responsible manner. The district added that its bus fleet is aging, something a failed November 2024 bond would have helped address.

Another bond is on the ballot this November. The district says if that passes, they would certainly re-evaluate the transportation situation.

Read the full statement from the Dysart School District below:

“Due to laws regarding student records and medical privacy that we must abide by, we are not able to provide any information on this type of incident. However, we can share that anytime a student has a medical condition or health incident, we work very closely with the family to support the student’s education and ensure they have what they need.

Regarding our transportation policy – Last spring, we had the difficult task of notifying our families about the need to extend our transportation eligibility requirements [dysart.org] in order to reduce the daily strain on our aging bus fleet and remain within our budget. With the majority of our buses being 15-20 years old, it is becoming more and more difficult and expensive to maintain them. It has been over 19 years since voters approved a bond for Dysart, which has impacted a number of needed projects, including bus replacements, along with school safety improvements, AC unit replacements, roof repairs, building a new elementary school, and obtaining land for a high school. The new transportation boundaries were a necessity in order to ensure the district can continue to operate in a fiscally responsible manner. With safety as a top priority, we have shared information about safety to and from school, including heat-related precautions, with our families.

It is important to note that a bond question that would have provided funding for new buses was defeated in November 2024. A bond question is on the ballot again this November, along with an Override Continuation. If the bond measure is approved by voters, we would certainly re-evaluate our transportation situation to determine what would be feasible moving forward.”

“I’m more so not wanting it to happen to anyone else,” Shaver said.

Shaver says her recovery may keep her out of in-person classes until next semester. She’s still looking forward to getting that learner’s permit and plans to help other students avoid her experience. “If I have friends who have to walk home, I’ll be like, ‘Hey, get in my car!'” Shaver said.

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

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By Ford Hatchett

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — A dog who survived being shot and losing her leg has found her perfect match with an Arizona man who also lost a limb, creating an extraordinary bond between two amputees who understand each other’s journey.

Mika, now renamed Cleo, was first discovered by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office after being shot. The injury was so severe that her leg had to be amputated. ABC15 first introduced you to her in late July at the MASH Unit.

“Once the case was won, she was turned over to us and she was just waiting for the right adopter to come along, snatch her up,” said the MASH Unit’s Sgt. Gary Miller.

That perfect adopter turned out to be Zack Monticello, who lost his arm in a UTV crash in 2024 and said meeting Cleo felt like fate.

“On the one-year anniversary of my accident I saw a video you guys shot of her hopping down a hallway – I was up there a day or two later and she was coming home,” Monticello said. “My wife and I just want to provide her a happy home for the rest of her life and she’s really fitting in real good…She’s just the most loving and sweetest respectful dog I’ve ever encountered.”

The emotional intelligence Cleo displays has amazed her new family, particularly in how she interacts with Monticello.

“I will tell you she’s extremely emotionally intelligent. After we loaded her in the car leaving MASH, not long after she came up and came between the driver’s seat and was sniffing what’s left of my arm, and she just put her head right here on the shoulder and kept it there for a while. So, I do think she understands we, we share something,” Monticello said.

The mutual healing between the pair has been evident to everyone around them.

“It’s helped me out a lot and I hope in return I’m helping her too,” Monticello said.

Sgt. Miller, who has witnessed many adoptions through the MASH unit, recognizes this pairing as something special.

“This is pretty special. Something like this just doesn’t happen every day. A match made in heaven. So, it’s amazing how well they’ve clicked together and how they’ve bonded,” Miller said. “We’re just super happy for her and for him.”

The sheriff’s office continues to care for many other animals through the MASH unit, all available for adoption with no adoption fees. Just this week the MCSO Animal Crimes Unit rescued dozens of dogs.

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

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By Rachael Perry

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    PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida (WPBF) — A Florida woman is accused of threatening to kill a cable company employee multiple times.

According to court records, the employee was installing a concrete fiber-optic box on an easement when the suspect, Charmaine Borger, approached him and demanded that he give her a permit.

Video from the Port St. Lucie Police Department shows the victim explaining what happened to officers as they arrived on the scene. The victim told police he could not give Borger a physical copy but offered to show her the permit. However, the employee said Borger became more and more agitated and began threatening to kill him.

The probable cause statement lists a few of the alleged threats, including the following:

“Don’t play with me, I’ll go get my axe and chop you.” “You better leave, I do have a gun. Ima go get it if you don’t leave.” “Boy, you’re tall, but don’t play with me. I’ll go get my gun if you don’t leave right now.” “If you don’t leave, you’re a dead man.” “You’re not going to leave? I’m telling you Ima go get my gun and shoot you.” Officers with the PSLPD interviewed a witness who had recorded some of the incident as well. According to the witness, while pointing at the hole in the ground, Borger stated, “This is my property; if I was to put a bomb in here, I can.”

When the employee told her she cannot, Borger allegedly told him not to tell her what to do and that she would kill him.

Borger can be seen and heard in the body camera footage of one of the responding officers becoming upset and telling the officers, “No,” while they tried to arrest her.

She was eventually taken into custody. She faces an assault charge along with a charge of resisting an officer.

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