Author: CNN Newsource

By Cody Alcorn

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    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Georgia (WXIA) — Days after a Douglas County high school teacher was arrested and accused of having sex with a student, parents are now raising a new set of concerns, questioning not only what was happening inside the classroom, but whether students were being properly taught at all.

Parents reached out to 11Alive over the weekend, alleging students in Maris Nichols’ biology classes at Alexander High School were not taught the curriculum expected throughout the school year.

Parents said the allegations involving a student are already disturbing, but now fear some students may have fallen behind academically as testing, grades and course credit deadlines approach.

Nichols, a biology teacher at Alexander High School and operations manager for the school’s football team, was arrested Friday after investigators accused her of having sex with a student on two occasions, including inside a classroom closet on campus and later inside an SUV off campus in Douglas County.

Court records obtained by 11Alive show Nichols is charged with two counts of improper sexual contact by employee, agent or foster parent.

According to warrants, investigators allege Nichols had sex with a student inside a closet shared between classrooms at Alexander High School in April. A second warrant accuses Nichols of having sex with the same student earlier this month inside a Hummer H2 parked at the end of a driveway at a Douglasville home.

Nichols bonded out of jail over the weekend. The criminal investigation remains ongoing.

Now, parents said their frustration is growing not only over the allegations themselves, but over what they describe as a lack of communication and transparency from both the school and district leaders.

Some parents told 11Alive their children described an environment where little instruction was taking place inside the biology classroom throughout much of the school year. Others questioned how the situation was allowed to continue without intervention.

One parent, who asked not to be identified to protect their child’s privacy, said families are still searching for answers.

“As parents, our highest priority is the safety and well being of our children, a responsibility we expect every institution and individual involved to share,” the parent said.

“We’re not asking for special treatment. We are asking for transparency, accountability, and fairness. Unfortunately, our concerns have repeatedly been met with resistance, limited communication, and a lack of meaningful reassurance that appropriate measures are being taken to protect all children involved, including our own.”

11Alive reached out to the Douglas County School System regarding the allegations that Nichols failed to teach the required biology curriculum throughout the school year.

In a statement sent Monday evening, a district spokesperson said, “The Douglas County School System is committed to the academic success of every student. We are not able to comment further on this matter at this time.”

11Alive has also repeatedly asked district leaders whether Nichols remains employed by the school system. Those questions have gone unanswered.

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.

By Kaitlyn Ross

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — Rodney Taylor, the Georgia barber whose immigration detention case drew national attention, spoke publicly for the first time Monday since he was released from ICE custody after spending 15 months inside Stewart Detention Center in south Georgia.

Taylor was released on conditional parole while he continues appealing his deportation case, according to his attorneys.

Taylor, a triple amputee who worked as a barber in Tucker, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over a conviction from his teens that was later pardoned by the state of Georgia.

“Me walking through that door, it’s a feeling, it’s a feeling I can’t even describe,” Taylor told 11Alive after his release.

Taylor came to the United States from Liberia as a child to receive medical treatment. Born with a genetic condition affecting his limbs, he underwent amputations after arriving in the U.S. and has lived in the country for decades.

When he was 16 years old, Taylor pleaded guilty to burglary. He later received a pardon from the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles in 2010.

Despite the pardon, ICE detained Taylor in early 2025 and moved to deport him to Liberia, a country he said he has no memory of since arriving in the United States as a toddler.

His case sparked criticism and concern from immigration advocates, elected officials and supporters across Georgia.

During his detention, Taylor alleged he was denied proper accommodations for his disability and retaliated against after speaking out about conditions inside the facility.

11Alive reached out to ICE and CoreCivic, the company that operates Stewart Detention Center, for comment regarding Taylor’s allegations. In a statement, the company claimed Taylor had “every accommodation made for his disability.” (Read more of the statement at the bottom of this story).

Taylor said leaving detention brought relief, but he remains focused on the people still being held inside.

“These are human beings, yet they treat us like cattle ready to be slaughtered, or in this case, deported,” Taylor said.

Over the course of his detention, Taylor’s family regularly traveled several hours to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin to visit him.

Even while detained, Taylor continued cutting hair for fellow detainees preparing for immigration hearings, according to his family and attorneys.

His case also drew support from members of Congress, including Lucy McBath.

“They spoke out and they refused to let Rodney’s story be ignored,” McBath said. “That’s the kind of love and determination that creates change.”

Taylor’s wife, Mildred Pierre, told 11Alive the couple faced significant challenges while trying to maintain their relationship during his detention, including while planning their wedding.

“Even the simple thing of getting married, that was not easy,” Pierre said with a laugh. “And Rodney owes me a big wedding.”

Taylor remains on conditional release while his immigration appeal continues. His attorneys say they are continuing to fight for his right to remain in the United States permanently.

“One thing remains true,” Taylor said. “The power is still with the people. That power cannot be deported, it cannot be detained. And it definitely cannot be silenced.”

Below is the statement 11Alive received from the company.

Mr. Taylor had every accommodation made for his disability. He was offered the option to come to the medical unit daily to charge his prosthesis equipment, which he did regularly. On days he chose not to come to the medical unit, he had access to charge his medical equipment in the multipurpose room in his housing unit. SDC medical staff and his unit manager were all aware of the situation and helped facilitate his needs.

Individuals at SDC have daily access to sign up for medical care, and our clinic is staffed with licensed healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors and dentists who contractually meet the highest standards of care, as verified by multiple audits and inspections. ICE’s Health Services Corps (IHSC) conducted a site audit of SDC’s health services on June 2, 2025, and found no deficiencies.

SDC’s water comes from the same municipal source that serves the surrounding community and is subject to regular independent testing. Our staff regularly drinks the water. The physical conditions of the facility, including plumbing and infrastructure, are maintained in accordance with federal detention standards and subject to regular inspection and audit by our government partners without prior notice.

CoreCivic maintains a zero-tolerance policy for retaliation against individuals in our care. Detainees have multiple avenues to raise concerns, including toll-free telephone numbers and direct access to management staff. Concerns can also be submitted through ICE’s ERO Detention, Removals and Information Line.

CoreCivic is proud of the more than 400 dedicated staff members at SDC who show up every day committed to the safety, dignity and well-being of everyone in our care.

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.

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    HAYWARD, California (KPIX) — A family injured in a massive explosion in their Hayward home from a gas leak in December 2025 filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric and Alameda County on Wednesday, their attorneys said.

Three members of the Dueñas family were severely injured when their home in the unincorporated Ashland community was destroyed on the morning of December 11, 2025. The explosion happened more than two hours after a gas line was damaged during roadwork construction in front of the home on East Lewelling Boulevard, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The blast completely destroyed the home and left three members of the Dueñas family with severe injuries, including broken bones, burns, and other injuries requiring multiple surgeries as well as lingering trauma, according to the complaint. The family also lost all of their belongings.

Three PG&E workers also suffered minor injuries.

The lawsuit alleged that even though PG&E was notified that a county subcontractor had damaged a gas line across the street from the home, no one notified the Dueñas family of the gas leak or told them to evacuate.

“The Duenas family’s home exploded around them without warning,” said attorney Niall McCarthy in a prepared statement. “For more than two hours, these defendants knew gas was leaking near this family’s home, and not one of them knocked on the door and told the Duenas family to leave. This was yet another devastating Bay Area home explosion that was completely avoidable.”

PG&E told NTSB investigators that its crew at the scene had knocked on the doors of the home, and the two houses on either side of home, to make contact with the residents but no one responded. The lawsuit alleges this claim was false and was contradicted by the family’s account and by video footage from a neighbor’s camera, adding that PG&E made the false statement to cover up its failure to notify residents.

“PG&E is reviewing the lawsuit and will respond appropriately,” said spokesperson Tamar Sarkissian. “The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation process is ongoing and as a party to the investigation we are restricted from commenting further at this time under NTSB rules.”

The NTSB report said that following the initial gas leak, a PG&E responder initially told Alameda County firefighters that assistance was not needed. PG&E reported squeezing off the damaged service line about 8:18 a.m. and later detected gas near the home.

About 20 minutes later, a PG&E crew began digging and squeezed off a 2-inch gas main at 9:29 a.m., stopping the flow to service lines in front of the home, eight minutes before it exploded, the report said.

Aside from PG&E, its parent corporation, and Alameda County, the lawsuit names Oakland-based Redgwick Construction, which was contracted by the county for the East Lewelling roadwork, and Fremont-based Mayo Asphalt Milling, subcontracted by Redwick to do excavation work and whose crew punctured the gas service line. The complaint also names the homes’ landlord.

Redgwick has previously told CBS News Bay Area that its crews were working about two blocks away when a Mayo Asphalt Milling crew ruptured the gas line. The company stated that the incident should have never happened and that it was cooperating with authorities.

Mayo has not responded to previous CBS News inquiries about the incident.

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.

By Nikki DeMentri

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — Oftentimes, the spotlight at a golf major is on the professionals teeing off, but their caddies are just as important.

Delaware County native Braden Shattuck qualified for his third PGA Championship late last month, and he’s sharing this dream with his young caddy.

“He’s pretty settled down,” Beau Riviere said, “and I think he’s getting a good look at the course, and I have good expectations for this week.”

Riviere is on the bag this time.

“I’m pretty lucky,” Riviere said. “I don’t know why he had me caddy for him, but it worked out.”

Shattuck said Riviere is one of the best caddies around.

“I will selfishly say that,” Shattuck said. “He’s very good.”

Riviere started caddying for Shattuck last year and was with him last month at the PGA Professional Championship in Oregon. That’s how this week the two ended up on one of golf’s biggest stages in practically their own backyards.

“It was a pretty stressful few holes before that,” Riviere said, “but it was very special, very just cool. It’s not every day you get this chance.”

Certainly, an experience not many 18-year-old high school seniors get to have.

So how did the two meet? At the Rolling Green Golf Club in nearby Springfield.

“It was great when he was my teacher,” Riviere said, “and it’s great now when he’s my player.”

It’s not a statement many can make.

Riviere first met Shattuck during a lesson at Rolling Green, where Shattuck is the director of instruction, and as they say, the rest is history.

“I think we get along pretty well,” Riviere said. “I try not to say too much to him because I don’t get in his way at all.”

“One of my favorite things about him is — he doesn’t talk unless you talk to him,” Shattuck said. “And I know that sounds crazy, but I’m the same way when I’m playing golf.”

Sounds like the right person to have by your side.

Whatever happens this week, Riviere is soaking it all in, especially when he looks out and sees familiar faces cheering the two of them on.

“It’s special, you know?” Riviere said. “I don’t think many people out here get to do that when they look in the crowd and see people they know.”

Riviere is quite the golfer himself, winning the individual Public League championship three years in a row as well as the Public League MVP.

The soon-to-be Science Leadership Academy graduate is heading to Allegheny College this fall, where he’ll golf.

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.

By Alexa Herrera

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A New York native is among the 18 American passengers who are quarantining in Nebraska after being on the cruise ship at the center of the deadly hantavirus outbreak.

Jake Rosmarin is one of three New Yorkers who were on the M/V Hondius. Rosmarin, originally from Monroe in Orange County, described his time so far in the quarantine facility.

“I know I’m in the best care possible, and I’m just trying to stay positive,” he told CBS News New York’s Mary Calvi.

Rosmarin said the trip went downhill during the last 24 to 48 hours when passengers learned there was a confirmed case of hantavirus.

“It was that week following before we could get off the ship and repatriated by the United States, that was a really scary time, specifically for me,” he said.

Rosmarin said it was frightening that no government wanted the ship to disembark at their ports due to the virus.

Rosmarin described the trip as an expedition journey, and said the passengers weren’t on a typical cruise. He said there were only 113 passengers and everyone knew each other.

He said some of their destinations included South Georgia Island, where they saw the largest king penguin colony in the world, and Tristan da Cunha.

“We got to swim in the middle of the ocean, not far from the equator, where the ocean was over 15,000 feet deep,” he said. “Overall, I mean it was a really, really unbelievable experience.”

In quarantine, Rosmarin said he doesn’t do much during the day besides blood work, temperature checks and relax. There’s also a stationary bike inside the room for exercise.

Rosmarin said he feels well and he has no symptoms. He will continue to be monitored in quarantine for a total of 40 days.

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.

By Erin Jones

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    MELISSA, Texas (KTVT) — In Melissa, firefighters are being honored. A local senior known around town as the “Braum’s Granny” is recognizing them for supporting her during her husband’s final days.

Earlier this year, longtime resident Judy Smith took a job at Braum’s. At the time, her husband Forrest Smith was battling several health issues, including dementia. His doctors thought working might be good for her.

“Dementia is a horrible thing, and they want you to get out of the house and get some time for yourself,” she said.

It didn’t take long for Judy Smith to become a local favorite. Among her regulars were Melissa firefighters, who had already known Judy Smith for several years.

“You know they started this journey with dementia with me,” she said. “They had come to my house so many times because he would fall, and I couldn’t get him up.”

One fire captain in particular went above and beyond. Judy Smith became especially close to Captain Tyler Wine.

“Long before she was Braum’s Granny, she was the station granny,” Wine said. “So, she became family almost immediately, and she reminds me a lot of my own grandmother.”

Last month, when her husband’s health started to rapidly decline, Wine wasn’t on duty, but Judy Smith said he came anyway. He was determined to make sure she wouldn’t face those final hours alone.

“He spent the night at the house, and he set his clock for every hour to administer the medicine and told me to kick back in the recliner and go to bed, and he would go in there and stay with Pop,” she said.

During a Melissa City Council meeting, the entire fire department was honored, and Judy Smith got to publicly say thank you.

“We signed up to do this for a job, but for a lot of us, it goes past that,” Wine said. “I think in today’s world we’ve lost a little bit of taking care of each other, so that’s why I was there for her when I was off duty. It goes past just showing up for work.”

“He’s top shelf,” Judy Smith said. “They’re all top-shelf. They have been nothing short of angels and heroes. You know, first responders—I don’t think they get enough credit for what they do.”

She said she hopes this recognition shows the department just how loved and appreciated they are.

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.

By Nina Burns

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    MODESTO, California (KOVR) — For the first time this year, the average price of a gallon of gas in Northern California has climbed above $6, and food truck owners in Modesto say the rising fuel costs are taking a serious toll on their businesses.

At Modesto’s downtown Grub Hub food truck park, vendors say the pain at the pump is hitting far beyond their personal commutes. For many, fuel powers nearly every part of their operation.

“It’s killing us. It’s crazy,” said Marshall Solorio, owner of the seafood food truck “Crab In Your Pants.”

Solorio says it costs him roughly $250 a week in diesel alone just to move his truck between events and storage.

According to AAA, California’s average gas price has now surpassed $6 per gallon, while diesel prices have climbed even higher.

“It’s jumped up about $1.26 in the past year,” said AAA spokesperson Doug Johnson.

Johnson says diesel prices have seen an even steeper increase.

“It was $5 for a gallon of diesel this time last year. Right now it’s $7.44, so that’s $2.44 higher today than it was this time last year,” Johnson said.

For food truck operators like Solorio, those increases are especially difficult because many rely on both diesel and gasoline every day.

Solorio uses a diesel pickup truck to tow his trailer and a gas-powered generator to keep his kitchen equipment running during service.

“The generator is about five gallons. Those five gallons last me about six hours running the generator because it runs the AC, the hood, the rice cooker,” he said.

At the same time, food costs continue rising.

“Even though our prices went up with corn, potatoes, lemons, gas, diesel — everything in general — we still have the same prices than we had three years ago,” Solorio said.

But that may not last much longer.

If fuel prices continue to surge, Solorio says he may have no choice but to raise menu prices.

“If diesel does go back down, then we can bring our prices back down,” he said. “But at this moment, we’re just hoping for the best.”

Even food trucks that remain parked at Grub Hub still face significant transportation costs, as many owners tow their trucks to catering events and move them into storage overnight.

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.

By Conor McGill

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — For many aspiring teachers, the path to the classroom is becoming increasingly difficult.

Between the cost of credential programs and California’s rising cost of living, some educators say the financial pressure is pushing them to reconsider the profession before their careers even begin.

At Hollywood Park Elementary School in Sacramento, second-grade intern teacher Anthony Pagliassotto spends his days helping students learn the value of money, counting coins, solving problems, and building confidence in the classroom.

But outside of school, Pagliassotto has been doing his own kind of math.

Trying to balance tuition costs, debt, and everyday expenses while completing his teaching credential nearly forced him to step away from the profession he loves.

“At the money you are paid right away, there’s not buying a house, there’s not buying more than a practical vehicle,” Pagliassotto said.

Like many educators, he faced the steep cost of becoming a teacher. Credential programs can range from $20,000 to $40,000, depending on the school and living expenses.

A state grant initially helped cover the cost of his credential program, but when that funding ended near the finish line, he had to quickly adapt.

“When it dried up, I had to shift gears completely and become completely independent and self-efficient to find a way to pay for school,” he said.

Even during the toughest moments, Pagliassotto said that giving up was never truly an option.

“It was never I wasn’t going to do this anymore. It was more of, ‘Am I able to maintain the ability to keep going?’ ” he said.

Through the uncertainty, music became an outlet that helped him stay grounded.

When financial challenges mounted, Pagliassotto turned to SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union for support.

At the Roseville branch, manager Travis Marra said many teachers across California are facing similar financial stress as inflation and interest rates continue to impact affordability.

“We live in a very expensive state and that hasn’t gotten any cheaper. Over the past couple of years we kind of saw rates increase,” Marra said.

According to a 2025 report from the Learning Policy Institute, more than six in 10 teachers took out student loans to pay for their education.

Marra said SchoolsFirst is working to support educators with financial tools and programs designed to help them stay on track.

“We’re rolling out a first-time homeowner grant for about 266 members. It’s a way for us to give back and help for that,” Marra said.

Back in the classroom, Pagliassotto’s students proudly hold up their coins as they work through lessons together.

For a teacher who nearly couldn’t afford to continue his journey, those small moments now mean everything.

“I knew for a fact that it would be a struggle, but it was worth it,” Pagliassotto said.

Pagliassotto is expected to finish his teaching credential in June and begin his master’s program in August.

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.