Author: CNN Newsource

By Beau Bowman

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    IOWA (KCCI) — The family of one of two Iowa Army National Guard members killed in a terrorist attack Saturday confirmed his identity in a Facebook post Sunday morning.

Meskwaki Nation Police Chief Jeffrey Bunn posted on the department’s page that his son, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, is one of the victims.

“My wife Misty and I had that visit from Army Commanders you never want to have. Our son Nate was one of the Soldiers that paid the ultimate sacrifice for all of us, to keep us all safer,” Bunn wrote. “He loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out, no one left behind. Please pray for our Soldiers all around this cruel world. We will see you again son, until then we have if from here.”

In a news conference Saturday night, Gov. Kim Reynolds said she had been in contact with the families of the two slain soldiers.

“Earlier, I had the opportunity to reach out to the families of the two soldiers who were killed, and as you can imagine, they are devastated,” Reynolds said.

Iowa Army National Guard officials on Monday officially identified the slain soldiers as Howard, of Marshalltown, and 25-year-old Sgt. Edgar Brian Torrestovar, of Grimes. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment.

“Today, we honor the memory and sacrifice of Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar by sharing their names with a grateful state and nation,” Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard. “They were dedicated professionals and cherished members of our Guard family who represented the best of Iowa. Our focus now is providing unwavering support to their families through this unimaginable time and ensuring the legacy of these two heroes is never forgotten.”

Three Iowa soldiers who were injured in the attack will not be publicly identified, according to a news release Monday.

Flags in Iowa will be flown at half-staff now until sunset on the final day of interment, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds.

“Sgt. Howard and Sgt. Torrestovar served our state and nation with honor, and in doing so, gave the ultimate sacrifice. We are grateful for their service and deeply mourn their loss,” Reynolds said. “Kevin and I offer our prayers and condolences to their families and ask that Iowans stand united in support of them during this difficult time.”

A group of IANG soldiers was in Syria early Saturday morning when a lone ISIS gunman attacked. The soldiers were part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, currently serving in the Middle East.

Two were killed, as was a civilian interpreter. Three others were injured.

One of the injuries was described as “superficial,” and that soldier was evacuated back to base for treatment. The other two injuries were “significant,” and the soldiers were evacuated to a military hospital at an air base in Jordan.

“They are stable in critical condition, but both stable and both have made progress throughout the day,” IANG Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn said.

Osborn said that following the ambush, U.S. and partner Syrian forces engaged and killed the attacker. He said at the time of the attack, U.S. personnel were conducting a key leader engagement.

“The mission was in support of ongoing counter-ISIS and counterterrorism efforts in the region, and this incident remains under investigation,” Osborn said.

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By Cornell Barnard

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The Bay Area’s Jewish community gathered for the first night of Hanukkah, but there is sadness, along with safety concerns, in the wake of the deadly shooting in Australia.

There was a Hanukkah gathering in Union Square near the city’s giant menorah on Sunday.

“Hanukkah is all about bringing people together in community, just spreading the light in a world that can be very dark,” said Nikki Childs from San Francisco.

That darkness surfaced Sunday when a gunman targeted the Jewish community gathered for a Hanukkah celebration on Australia’s Bondi Beach, killing more than a dozen people.

“Our hearts are heavy right now. My dear friend Rabbi Eli Schlanger was gunned down in cold blood in Sydney,” said Rabbi Moshe Langer from Chabad of San Francisco.

Langer was remembering his classmate from rabbinical seminary in Brooklyn, New York.

Schlanger sent a Rosh Hashanah wish last September on his Instagram page.

“Since I heard the news and started talking about him, it’s been difficult. I’m getting emotional, not because I knew him personally but that could have been me,” Langer said.

Langer said security for Sunday’s menorah lighting has been stepped up. We saw an increased presence of SFPD officers around Union Square on Sunday afternoon.

In a statement to ABC7 News, the department says it’s monitoring the horrific attack in Australia, saying that hatred and antisemitism can never be tolerated.: “The SFPD has increased patrols at places of worship and Jewish events throughout the city. Our officers remain vigilant and are prepared to respond to any emergency.”

A security guard was posted at a Hanukkah event at Temple Sherith Isreal in San Francisco, where rabbi Jessica Graf condemned the violence.

“We have to stop the antisemitism, which is rampant and anti-Jewish sentiment. We need to turn dialogue and find a peaceful solution for everybody,” Graf said.

Jewish leaders say the first night of the holiday is bringing light and hope.

“Our answer to darkness like this — when you have a terrorist committing acts of violence — is to bring more light and redouble our efforts,” Langer said.

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By Web Staff

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    RIVERSIDE COUNTY, California (KCAL/KCBS) — A school officer was arrested in Riverside County nearly a month after investigators began looking into allegations of sexual assault on a school campus, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

“In November 2025, deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a school in the 23000 block of Cougar Canyon Road, Moreno Valley, regarding a report of inappropriate contact between a Campus Supervising Officer and a student,” the release said. Canyon Springs High School is located on the same street as noted in the news release.

Because of the nature of the investigation, RSO’s Special Victims Unit was contacted to assume the investigation. They were able to identify the suspect as 51-year-old Perris man Richard Feliciano Romero, according to the release.

On Dec. 11, investigators served a search warrant at Romeros’ home in the 20000 block of Marcheta Place, with the help of the Perris Sheriff’s Station, deputies said.

Romero was arrested at the residence and booked for sodomy by force, solicitation of child sexual abuse material and other child sexual abuse charges, according to RSO’s release.

“This is an active investigation, and we are cooperating fully with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department,” said a statement from the Moreno Valley Unified School District. “Due to the sensitive nature of the allegations and to protect the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be shared.”

District officials did not note if Romero was placed on administrative leave or dismissed from his position.

Anyone with more information was urged to contact investigators at (951) 955-1718.

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By Logan Smith

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    DENVER (KCNC) — A Denver Sheriff’s Department deputy accused earlier this year by female inmates of sexual harassment has resigned. A second deputy is being disciplined for failing to report one of the inmate’s complaints to superiors.

Deputy Cristian Gondor resigned Sept. 19, four days before the department concluded its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. The department issued a letter Sept. 23 sustaining the allegations.

Two female inmates filed reports accusing Gondor of telling inappropriate jokes, hugging them, describing his arousal, leaning over their bunks with arms extended “in a way that would have prevented them from exiting,” as stated in the letter, and to repeatedly following them into the showers area. One of the inmates reported Gondor approached her bunk, rubbed her foot with the crotch of his pants, and groaned.

The inmates cited specific encounters on Feb. 28, March 14 and March 15, according to the letter. Both complaints were filed by March 15. Video recordings from the Downtown Detention Center’s surveillance system confirmed the many of the allegations.

“There were no exigent circumstances presented that permitted you to intentionally enter the shower area while female inmates were showering,” the letter stated. “Facility videos also show that you permitted inmates to walk outside of their bunks areas and around the dayroom wearing only a bra.”

Jail policy, according to the letter, allows deputies to search the shower area during routine checks, but only after announcing their intent to enter and giving inmate sufficient time to cover themselves.

In an interview with jail supervisors earlier in the department’s investigation, Gondor defended his actions. According to the letter, he denied they were for sexual gratification, and were instead intended to “diffuse” inmates, “keep the peace,” and “keep the pod safe and mellow,” in his words.

Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins released a statement Friday:

“We found Mr. Gondor’s conduct abhorrent and a violation of the trust placed in us by the community, which is why he is no longer a member of our Department.”

Another jail staff member, Deputy Ahmed Al Obaidi, was recently disciplined for not reporting Gondor’s possible infractions in the days after they occurred. An inmate approached him with allegations and named Gondor specifically.

Dep. Obaidi listened to the inmate and handed her a pencil and complaint form, but failed to report the allegations himself, according to his disciplinary letter. Dep. Obaidi begins a six-day unpaid suspension on Monday.

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By Jose Fabian

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR/KMAX) — Sacramento police on Sunday said a thief stole a portion of a public artwork that is located in North Sacramento.

Titled “Happiness,” the bronze sculpture stands at 2109 Del Paso Boulevard, between Cantalier and Oakmont streets. Police said a portion of it was taken on Dec. 6, and they ask anyone with information about the theft to call them at 916-808-5471.

The sculpture, which features a mother and daughter, was created by Numan Begovic in 2007, and it is one of many public artworks created by Begovic and commissioned by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency, according to the city’s public art map.

Other sculptures created by Begovic are also on permanent display on the Del Paso Boulevard Streetscape.

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By Web Staff

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    STEWARTVILLE, Minnesota (WCCO) — A boy on the Stewartville High School wrestling team is still in critical but stable condition after he was shot in the school parking lot Friday morning by a former member of the team, authorities say.

Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson identified the shooter as 19-year-old Logan Moyer, who lived in the Stewartville community. Torgerson said that according to the preliminary results of an autopsy, Moyer died by suicide at the scene.

According to the investigation, Moyer graduated from Stewartville High School in 2024 and was a former wrestler. Torgerson said he was not a coach or volunteer for the current team, and it’s unclear the connection between Moyer and the student who was shot. Torgerson did not say if the two had been on the team at the same time.

Roughly 40 members of the wrestling team were at the school when the shooting happened at around 5 a.m. Coaches tended to the injured student before he was taken to the hospital. Torgerson said they were rendering first aid when they heard a second shot and found Moyer on the ground nearby with a rifle in his hand.

Torgerson said that while investigators may never know Moyer’s motive, the focus is now on taking care of the community.

“We have two families here that are part of our community, and we have to find a way to help and support them and sometimes putting additional information out there, it doesn’t help at all in what they’re dealing with, so we have to honor and respect that too,” he said.

Superintendent Belinda Selfors said the wrestling team will continue to compete for the rest of the season, though their plans for this current week are unclear.

Classes resumed on Monday with several mental health support staff on site for the roughly 1,100 students who attend the middle school and high school.

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By Hunter Geisel, Sergio Candido

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    Miami, Florida (WFOR) — A death investigation is underway after a woman was found dead inside a Dollar Tree store freezer on Sunday morning, City of Miami Police said.

Around 8 a.m., Miami Police officers responded to the Dollar Tree location at 968 SW 8th St. in Little Havana after an employee called saying that there was a deceased woman inside the business.

According to Miami Police, the woman, later identified as 32-year-old Helen Massiell Garay Sanchez, was found inside the Dollar Tree’s freezer.

“Complainant found a naked female in the cooler of the store,” dispatchers are heard saying over the police scanners.

Video from the scene on Sunday showed police and fire rescue officials headed to the back of the store, gloved and carrying equipment.

“I’m also advised by the staff that they don’t recognize her as well,” dispatchers said.

Miami Police is investigating the discovery as an unclassified death at this time, as the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain unclear.

GoFundMe says family raising funds to bring woman’s body back to Nicaragua According to a GoFundMe page said to be set up by her family, Garay was a physician originally from Nicaragua. The fundraiser page described Garay as a devoted doctor and a beloved mother of two children.

The page said Garay was an anesthesiologist who specialized in congenital heart disease, noting that her work brought “hope and healing to countless children and families.”

According to the fundraising page, Garay died following what the family described as a “tragic accident while abroad.” The family’s stated goal is to bring her body back to Nicaragua so she can receive a funeral and final resting place surrounded by loved ones.

The fundraiser said donations will go toward repatriation, transportation and funeral expenses in Nicaragua.

“Her strength, warmth, and unwavering love for her family will always be remembered,” the page said.

Little Havana residents react to Dollar Tree body discovery People who showed up at the store on Sunday morning were shocked by the deadly discovery.

“I got to be honest with you, I’m totally devastated,” said concerned resident Margarita Puig. “I can’t believe in the Dollar Tree you’d find a dead body.”

Hugo Morales, another concerned resident, said he was concerned about when the woman’s family would find out.

“I think it’s crazy,” Morales said. “I’ve never heard of something like that in my life.”

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By Lauren Linder

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    Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Troopers at the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Greensburg arrested six teenagers accused of sharing an intimate image of a minor on their cell phones. It’s unclear how many charges each teen faces or what the charges are.

State police said ChildLine contacted them about an incident that took place on Kimberly Drive in Unity Township, Westmoreland County. According to investigators, six 14-year-olds disseminated an intimate image of a minor on their phones in August. They arrested and charged all of them, including the victim, a teenage girl from Latrobe.

Three others are also teenage girls from Latrobe and two are teenage boys: one from Latrobe and another from Indiana. Multiple of them are students at the high school, though an exact number is unclear.

KDKA reached out to the Greater Latrobe School District for comment. Superintendent Kim Rieffannacht released a statement that said, in part, “Upon learning of the matter, district administrators took immediate and appropriate action in accordance with established policies and fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout their investigation.”

KDKA contacted state police for more details on the case, but did not hear back on Friday.

Danielle Carroll, a parent with two daughters ages 16 and 13 in the district, said she’s hearing more and more about teenagers using their cell phones inappropriately.

“It’s a shame, nowadays, that this is happening more frequently,” Carroll said.

“It’s sad at this point that we have to have these conversations with our kids,” Carroll added.

Carroll hopes teens are listening and realize that, under Pennsylvania law, they can face serious charges for sharing explicit images of minors.

“It’s something that you as a parent want to make sure that it doesn’t happen to your child and anyone that your child is around,” she said.

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