Wildfire sparked by lightning strike in western Broward fully contained, officials say

CNN Newsource on July 27, 2026

By Zachary Bynum

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    BROWARD COUNTY, Florida (WFOR) — A wildfire sparked by a lightning strike in western Broward County has been fully contained, according to officials.

The wildfire, which ignited along U.S. 27 near Interstate 75, forced officials to shut the roadway down.

However, officials were able to reopen the road once the blaze was brought under control.

Firefighters and member of the Florida Forest Service remained at the scene to monitor the situation as drivers were urged to avoid the area.

No injuries were reported.

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Opa-locka man arrested after allegedly fleeing deputies at more than 100 mph on U.S. 1 in Florida Keys

CNN Newsource on July 27, 2026

By Zachary Bynum

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    OPA-LOCKA, Florida (WFOR) — A South Florida man is facing multiple charges after deputies say he led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through the Florida Keys early Sunday morning, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph before he was taken into custody.

According to Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old Harold Junius Walker, of Opa-locka, was arrested after deputies attempted to stop a Dodge truck for speeding near Mile Marker 29 on U.S. 1 at about 3 a.m.

Investigators said Walker instead sped away, prompting a pursuit southbound on U.S. 1.

Deputies deployed tire-deflation tools near the Sheriff’s Office substation on Cudjoe Key, but officials said Walker continued driving despite the flattened tires. The pursuit ended near Mile Marker 19, where the truck came to a stop.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Walker refused repeated commands to exit the vehicle. Deputies ultimately removed him from the truck by force, and officials said he continued resisting officers.

Walker was booked into Monroe County Jail on charges of fleeing officers, resisting lawful arrest, driving without a valid driver’s license and excessive speeding. He’s also obtained multiple traffic citations.

No injuries have been reported.

Police have not released additional information about what caused Walker to flee the initial traffic stop.

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How rising gas prices impact business at Chandler Driving School and tips they’re passing onto students

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Molly Hudson

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    CHANDLER, Arizona (KNXV) — Even though gas prices are on the rise again, Chandler Driving School has no choice but to fill up and be on the road.

Getting a driver’s license is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. Chandler Driving School says for some students, that worry now extends to gas prices and other costs.

And the pressure of rising prices extends beyond students. Owner Bryon Houy says the school also has to navigate the increases.

“As a business owner, like every raise, or every increase in price, we are going to feel it,” Houy said.

Houy says that means being more thoughtful about routes and possibly holding off on adding newer vehicles to the fleet.

Your Chandler Reporter Molly Hudson spoke with those who operate the driving school about what increased costs mean for their business and what they are teaching students to save on fuel.

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Ride along with Salvation Army’s Mobile Hydration Unit during extreme heat warning

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Lillian Donahue

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — When temperatures soar in Phoenix, the Salvation Army’s extreme heat team said it’s critical to go out and meet people where they are.

During warnings, the organization dispatches its mobile hydration units and opens emergency heat relief stations across the Valley, in addition to the area’s existing Heat Relief Network of cooling and respite centers, which are open daily in the summer.

ABC15’s Lillian Donahue went out with the mobile hydration team on one of the hottest days of the year as they handed out water, electrolytes, and other essential needs.

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Aurora’s Day of Resilience honors theater shooting victims while supporting long-term healing

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Kennedy Cook

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    AURORA, Colorado (KCNC) — Khloey Pace and Peyton Soltis are the young faces behind Veronica’s Lemonade Stand at Aurora’s Day of Resilience, where every cup served honors the memory of 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, the youngest victim of the 2012 Aurora theater shooting.

For Khloey, the stand is about more than raising money or cooling off on a summer day.

“I wish I got to meet her and hang out with her because I feel like she would have been a great cousin,” Khloey said.

Although Khloey was born a year after Veronica died, she has grown up hearing stories about her cousin’s kindness.

“They told me she was very kind, sweet, active with other people, always wanted to have fun, and loved her family,” she said.

The lemonade stand was part of the 11th annual Day of Resilience, held Saturday morning at the Aurora Municipal Center. The event honors Veronica and the 11 other victims of the theater shooting while providing a space for survivors, families and the community to come together in healing.

“We want survivors to know they’re supported and not forgotten, but also to show how strong our community is,” said Heather Dearman, CEO of the 7/20 Memorial Foundation.

The annual event featured a 5K, wellness fair, chalk walk, live music and family-friendly activities, all designed to encourage connection and support for those still impacted by the tragedy.

Dearman said the foundation continues to emphasize that healing after a mass tragedy is a long-term journey.

“The media’s there when it happens, and then after time goes away, they’re gone,” Dearman said. “But you’re here covering it, so we’re keeping it in front of people’s minds. People need to know there are still people affected by that who are still struggling, not only in Aurora, but in other communities.”

She said the Day of Resilience serves as a reminder that recovery doesn’t end after the headlines fade.

“To bring awareness to the long-term healing after a mass tragedy, there’s always someone who needs a hug or support,” Dearman said.

As families remembered loved ones and neighbors gathered in support, organizers said the event is ultimately about honoring the lives of those lost while helping those left behind continue to heal.

Peyton said the event is “less to mourn their death, but to celebrate the lives that they lived and the impact they made on the world.”

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Early voting underway in Michigan for August 2026 primary election

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Jordan Burrows

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    MICHIGAN (WWJ) — Early voting for the August 2026 primary election in Michigan started on Saturday.

The option for early voting has been available for state residents since the 2024 presidential primary. The Detroit Department of Elections on Saturday hosted a Get Out to Vote event, where voters said they loved being able to take advantage of short lines and cast their vote.

“We all come out here and support and make sure everybody’s voice is heard because that’s basically what voting is all about,” London Maiden, a voter, said.

“It’s important that your children see you doing the right thing,” Janice Winfrey, city clerk for the City of Detroit, said. “It’s important that it’s a learning opportunity for them so they can know what voting is.”

“It’s really important to have a vote because you want to be able to voice your opinion on what matters in your community,” Jordan Briggs, a voter, said.

Saturday marked the first of nine days of early voting throughout Michigan. During the early voting season, registered voters can check in during designated days and hours with an election clerk, complete a paper ballot and insert their ballot into a tabulator. Voters said they wish the state had early voting years ago. They said they feel empowered.

“People may not feel like it, but when you have a chance to be able to voice what you think is right, I feel like you should go out and take that chance every time,” Briggs said.

Voters can find the location and hours of operation of their early voting site on the state website. Some sites have different hours than others.

Voters can instead choose to vote on Election Day, Aug. 4, at their assigned polling locations or with an absentee ballot.

Winfrey is urging people to take advantage of early voting.

“Make a plan and vote because it is oh so important, in particular in this election,” she said.

Early voting goes through Aug. 2, with some jurisdictions extending to Aug. 3.

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After 5 car washes, driver’s car still “smells like a barn” after driving through manure on highway

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By WCCO Staff

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Thursday morning’s commute was tough for some on Minneapolis’ Highway 62.

Liquid manure covered a section of the road. The Minnesota State Patrol says it was “inches deep” in both lanes.

“There were a couple of cars ahead of me that actually slid off the road and onto the shoulder,” said Kristina Proffitt, who dealt with the spill. “I was able to stay on the freeway, but the smell lingered for miles after I had passed through the area.”

Proffitt told WCCO that despite taking her car through the car wash at least five times and parking it outside overnight to air out, the car still smells like a barn.

Proffitt now worries she’ll have to sell the car.

The state patrol says if they learn where the manure came from, the person responsible could face a fine.

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ICE detentions at airports spark backlash against Southwest Airlines

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Erin Jones

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — A viral video showing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detaining a woman as she attempted to board a Southwest Airlines flight in Colorado has sparked backlash against the Dallas-based carrier.

The moment ICE agents detained Chantal Rojas at the gate has been viewed more than 1 million times online.

“I couldn’t possibly keep up with the comments … and I think it has gotten Chantal the attention that she really should get for being unlawfully detained,” Alicia Dantzker said.

The video, recorded by Dantzker, has prompted some travelers to say they plan to cancel future flights and boycott the airline.

In response to questions about the arrest, Southwest said the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security have access to passenger information through the federal screening process. In a statement, the airline said Southwest “complies with applicable state and federal law.”

DHS said Rojas is from Ecuador and overstayed a visa that expired in January 2025.

Her attorney, however, said she filed the appropriate paperwork before her visa expired and has remained in the country with authorization while her immigration case is pending.

“She came here in 2023 on a J-1 visa to be a nanny for a dear friend, who said she has taught them so much about babies,” Dantzker said. “She is being really strong, and she has told us that she is safe. I’m just so grateful that the world, the country, and people outside of it, that they’re paying attention and that they’re horrified.”

Fundraising efforts have grown for both Rojas and Southwest flight attendant Lorenzo Thompson, who ICE arrested at Nashville International Airport on July 14.

The agency said Thompson, a Jamaican national, legally entered the United States in 2021 with authorization to stay for six months but remained after that authorization expired.

“I think anytime you see anybody being terrified and essentially abducted from something in their everyday life, that gets attention,” Dantzker said.

She hopes the attention surrounding her video continues to generate support for Rojas as her immigration case moves forward.

CBS News Texas reached out to Southwest to see whether the airline would like to respond to the most recent criticism on social media. The station has not yet heard back.

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Street named honoring Mamie Till-Mobley, Emmet Till in Marquette Park

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By CBS Chicago Team

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — July 25th is officially Emmett Till Day.

Gov. JB Pritzker signed the law designating the day on Thursday.

Till would have turned 85 years old on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, a new street designation was unveiled in his honor.

A sign for “Mamie and E.L. Till Road” now sits at the corner of 71st and Kedzie, honoring Emmett and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley.

Emmett, who was 14 at the time, was kidnapped and lynched while visiting family in Mississippi in 1955 after reportedly whistling at a white woman. The woman later recanted her story.

Local leaders were at the unveiling and spoke about.

The newly named street is an extension of Emmett Till Road, which was designated in 1991 and runs from South Lake Shore Drive to Kedzie.

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Little Debbie snack delivery driver charged in $17,000 fraud scheme

CNN Newsource on July 26, 2026

By Madeline Bartos

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    WASHINGTON COUNTY, West Virginia (KDKA) — A Little Debbie delivery driver is facing a slew of charges after police said he sold his snacks for cash at flea markets across Washington County and then submitted thousands of dollars’ worth of fake invoices to make it look like stores had bought his product.

The local investigation into 39-year-old James Powell of Valley Grove, West Virginia, began in May when the City of Washington Police Department said it was contacted by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office about an investigation involving Stewart Snacks, LLC, in Richmond, Ohio, and allegations of theft and fraud against Powell, who was a former employee.

The business owner told police that, as an employee, Powell ordered, transported, delivered, stocked and serviced Little Debbie snack products at various retail locations throughout Washington County.

Under the billing process, distributors delivered products to stores and submitted invoices, which stores would then pay, police explained. On top of that, investigators said Powell was paid on a commission basis. At the end of each week, Powell would get paid based on how many snacks he had sold in his assigned territory.

Investigators said they uncovered fraudulent invoices to stores like Shop ‘n Save, Giant Eagle and Walmart totaling more than $13,300 from July to September of last year. Police learned that Powell had been selling the Little Debbie snacks to people for cash from his delivery vehicle at flea markets, then submitting fake invoices indicating those products had been delivered. He also earned more than $3,700 in commission, police said, bringing the total loss to over $17,100.

Powell has been charged with forgery, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, deceptive or fraudulent business practices and tampering with records or identification.

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