Manhunt underway for six inmates who escaped a Louisiana detention center

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By KTSB Staff

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    LAKE PROVIDENCE, Louisiana (KTBS) — A massive search is underway in East Carroll Parish after six inmates escaped from the River Bend Detention Center Thursday night.

The East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the escape Friday morning and is being assisted by multiple law enforcement agencies in the search.

The sheriff’s office has identified the escapees as:

Destin Brogan, 22 Kolin Looney, 21 Krisean Salinas, 21 Kevin Slaughter, 25 Trenton Taplin, 30 Koplelon Vicknair, 20 According to court records, several of the inmates involved in the escape have ties to cases in the Baton Rouge area. Specifically, Brogan was awaiting a May trial for second-degree murder in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The sheriff’s office has deployed nearly all of its officers to locate the men and is warning the public not to approach any of the individuals if spotted. Residents are encouraged to keep their doors locked and report any suspicious activity to local authorities immediately.

The investigation into how the inmates were able to breach the facility is ongoing. Authorities have not yet released information regarding the direction of travel for the escapees, though law enforcement presence has been heightened throughout Northeast Louisiana.

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Iowa teen recovering after surgeon uses artificial intelligence to rebuild jaw

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Jodi Long

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    WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — While waiting in a West Des Moines exam room, Mya Buie nervously applies her lip gloss. Three months ago, the 17-year-old had multiple surgeries to reconstruct her jaw. In this moment, she is waiting to be seen for a postoperative checkup. She hasn’t liked medical settings since a shooting landed her in a Des Moines hospital’s intensive care unit for several days.

“It was kind of scary. It was traumatic,” she said of the night her mother’s ex-boyfriend shot her in the face during a fight just days before her birthday.

On the other hand, her surgeon, Dr. Simon Wright, has been looking forward to this appointment all week. He calls Buie one of his most memorable and brave patients.

“I’m gonna take a look under your chin,” he says to Buie while carefully touching her face. The teenager was shot in the face with a .40-caliber bullet at close range. The impact of the bullet fractured and shattered her jaw into tiny fragments and permanently damaged four teeth.

For years, Wright, a facial reconstruction trauma surgeon, has reconstructed facial bones by bending and molding titanium plates by hand to the injured area. It’s a time-consuming and often erroneous process.

“There is always a level of dissatisfaction, and it doesn’t feel good to do something just good enough,” Wright said.

The manual work has now been replaced with modern technology. Doctors used artificial intelligence to read a CT scan of Buie’s jaw, then a 3D printer turned that image into a custom jawbone plate.

“It’s so much easier than trying to bend a plate to get it perfect,” Wright said. “It’s no question a game-changer.”

Doctors say a customized jawbone plate allows for a more accurate fit, better aligns the jaw with a patient’s teeth, and cuts surgery time in half. What makes this process so unique, Buie’s customized plate was made in record time, a first for Des Moines trauma surgeons.

“The ability to make a custom plate has been around for 10 years or more, but the ability to do it very quickly has not been,” Wright said.

What would normally take several weeks took only a few days. The plate was created in a lab in Jacksonville, Florida, put on a plane to the Des Moines International Airport, then hand-delivered to the hospital on a Friday night before the teenager’s surgery first thing Saturday morning.

“There is a lot of things that have to go right to do any kind of surgery at all, and to do something complicated like this, it’s really an inspiring thing to be part of,” Wright said, smiling. He also said this advancement serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting medical research because of its impact on people.

“This came from the efforts of all kinds of people in different fields that have cross-pollinated. For example, 3D printing as a medical application, and at one point, it may not have begun with a medical endpoint in mind,” he said.

For trauma patients, time is of the essence. For Buie, time does heal. The high school junior is back to school with plans to graduate early. Doctors expect her to make a full recovery. Her new jawbone plate will eventually fuse to bone and be as strong as ever.

“I just thank God every day for giving me a second chance at life. I’m very grateful. I can tell my story and spread the word of God with this story, like a testament.”

Buie will likely undergo additional surgeries. Next month, she will receive dental implants for her missing teeth.

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Popular social media influencer supports his community through the current winter storm

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Brooklyn Joyner

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    YAZOO COUNTY, Miss. (WAPT) — A winter storm has left Yazoo City, Mississippi, grappling with power outages and debris-filled streets, impacting residents like social media influencer Matthew Mann, who has been without power for several days.

“I don’t think anybody was prepared for the severity of it,” Mann said.

He’s most known for his presence on TikTok with over 1 million followers going by the name “Mattness.”

Days after the storm, Mann noted the ongoing challenges faced by the community.

“Three or four days passed, and the lights still never came on, and we could really see the extent of how people were affected by the ice storm,” he said.

Not only are residents without lights, but powerlines and trees still clutter some streets. While efforts to restore power have been underway, Mann highlighted the widespread impact.

“They have gotten a lot of power back for a lot of people, but I know our entire city shut down, our entire city lost power, our hospital was running on a generator,” he said.

Despite juggling nursing school, work, and social media, Mann is dedicating his free time to help clean up his community.

“I feel like God gave me a good heart and he gave me a willing body. I feel like if I had any free time between school and work, me and brother Brian would pull limbs up to my truck and pull out as many as we could out the road,” Mann said.

The recovery process has been challenging, but Mann remains committed to helping his town through the winter weather. He believes the struggle has strengthened community bonds.

“It’s catastrophic, but it brought a lot of people tighter, a lot of people have come together,” Mann said.

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Maui police officer trains for tough 100-mile race to honor fallen colleague

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Island News Web Staff

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — A Maui Police officer and Native Hawaiian ultrarunner is preparing for one of the toughest endurance races in the world, all to honor a fallen colleague.

Frederick Welch IV will compete in the Leadville Trail 100 Run this summer in Leadville, Colorado. The race covers 100 miles and is known for its extreme elevation and demanding terrain.

Welch has been training nonstop, logging about 3,300 miles last year alone. Much of his training has taken place on Molokaʻi, where he hikes and runs steep terrain to prepare for the altitude challenges he’ll face in Colorado.

Because Hawaiʻi doesn’t have high elevations, Welch uses creative methods to train, including wearing an elevation mask and weighted gear while climbing local mountains.

Welch is a husband, a father of three, and an officer with the Maui Police Department on Molokaʻi. He says this race is deeply personal and is meant to honor Officer Suzanne O., a close friend and colleague who was killed in the line of duty.

He describes her as a dedicated officer who gave everything to serve both the department and the community. Welch says her commitment, honesty, and sacrifice are what inspire him to push himself to the limit.

Officer Suzanne O. was shot and killed on August 15 while responding to a terroristic threatening call in Paʻia. A suspect has been charged in her death and is scheduled to go to trial in June.

As Welch prepares for the race in August, he is also working to raise funds to cover travel, lodging, nutrition, and support crew needs. He says running the Leadville 100 requires a strong team, including pacers and crew members, and he’s asking for help to make it possible.

Welch says the journey isn’t easy, but honoring his friend makes every challenge worth it.

Donations and sponsorships can be made through Venmo at @Frederick-WelchIV or by check payable to Frederick Welch IV or KŪKINI O IESŪ LLC, mailed to P.O. Box 148, Kaunakakai, HI 96748.

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‘Making movie magic’: Louisville earns national recognition as top city for filmmakers

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Joyce Ogirri

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    LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY) — Louisville is getting national recognition as a place to shine on the big screen.

For the first time, MovieMaker Magazine has named Louisville one of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker, ranking the city 16 out of 25 nationwide.

The list highlights cities offering strong tax incentives, diverse filming locations, a growing crew base, and an overall high quality of life.

“I just want to see us keep working and keep building this. It’s been so nice to watch it come from nothing,” said Andrea Ahl, hairstylist on “Dead Man’s Wire.”

Film professionals say the ranking reflects years of steady, intentional growth.

“We have the majority of our crew and vendors, along with diverse locations, all within 30 to 60 miles of downtown,” said Soozie Eastman, president, Louisville Film Office.

The recognition comes as Kentucky’s film industry continues to expand. Since 2022, hundreds of film and television projects have been approved for tax incentives, bringing millions of dollars in investment to the commonwealth.

One of the most recent productions helping boost Louisville’s profile is “Dead Man’s Wire,” which was released in theaters on Jan. 16.

“It was special, watching the actors every day, seeing the sets, and how hair, makeup, and costumes transformed each character into the 1970s,” said Laura Moser, assistant production coordinator, “Dead Man’s Wire.”

For many filmmakers, Louisville has become more than just a filming location; it’s a place they’ve grown to love.

“I fell in love with the people. I fell in love with the location with Louisville as a city,” said Veronica Radaelli, producer, “Dead Man’s Wire.”

Industry leaders say the national recognition is also helping develop the next generation of film professionals right here at home.

“It came to me. People are realizing you can stay home, be with your family, and still make movie magic,” said John Travisano, set designer, “Dead Man’s Wire.”

Others say being able to work locally makes all the difference.

“It’s nice to go to work and sleep in your own bed instead of having to move away. It’s nice to stay in your hometown and do what you love,” said Trevor Thompson, makeup artist, “Dead Man’s Wire.”

The momentum isn’t slowing down. The deal for “Dead Man’s Wire” was first made at the Sundance Film Festival two years ago.

This year, the president of the Louisville Film Office, Soozie Eastman, is back at Sundance, networking with producers and filmmakers to bring even more productions to Louisville.

As filmmakers across the country take notice, industry leaders say Louisville’s future in film looks brighter than ever.

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Family and friends of school bus victims speak on bill to increase bus safety

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Jackie Mundry

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    AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) — The families of two Maine boys killed by school buses were in Augusta on Thursday for a public hearing on bus safety legislation.

“I’d hate to see anyone else go through this,” Shane Callahan, the dad of 12-year-old Brayden Callahan, said.

Brayden died after being hit by a school bus in Rockland.

“He was really smart, he loved his Legos, and I’m definitely gonna miss him,” Callahan said.

This bill is gaining bipartisan support in the Transportation Committee. It would increase technology on school buses and mandate that a control arm be installed on every school bus in Maine and deployed at bus stops.

“That stop sign you see, come out that arm come out, to let traffic know that the bus is stopping. The bumper arm goes down as well, and it forces the child to walk, much more in front of the bus so that the bus driver can clearly see that child,” Rep. Valli Geiger, the bill’s sponsor, said.

Family and friends of 5-year-old Simon Gonzalez, who was killed by a bus in Standish, have been advocating for these changes since that day.

“These are Maine’s children,” Jennifer Foster said. “Moving forward, we can’t bring back Simon, we can’t bring back Brayden, but moving forward, with technology in 2026, we need to get these buses up to date.”

This bill isn’t the only push to keep Maine kids safer on buses. Gov. Janet Mills announced a proposal of $4.3 million in her supplemental budget to make school buses safer. Her proposal includes funding the same cross-arm that is in Geiger’s bill, as well as anti-pinch door sensors.

Mills also signed an executive order to establish a commission to review school bus safety issues.

“Just to know that she is looking out for the children of the state makes me feel better about the state,” Callahan said.

During the committee hearing, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed their support for the bill.

Next, it will go to a work session before going to both chambers of the legislature.

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Greenville man sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for robbing same bank twice

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Marissa Barrett

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    MANCHESTER, N.H. (WMUR) — A Greenville man was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for robbing the same bank twice in 11 years.

Prosecutors said 55-year-old Eric Lord was arrested last year after taking more than $8,000 from a TD Bank in New Ipswich.

Officials said he spent some of the stolen money on drugs and lodging.

At the time, Lord was on federal supervised release for a 2014 robbery at the same bank, when he stole $4,000.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in both robberies, Lord passed a note to the bank teller threatening them with a gun.

Authorities said his probation officer helped police identify him.

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Man in Florida set to be executed for 1991 murder of Fort Pierce police officer

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Malcolm Shields, Caleb Califano

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    RAIFORD, Fla. (WPBF) — More than 30 years after the murder of a Fort Pierce Police Department officer, a man is set to be executed.

On Thursday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a death warrant for Billy Leon Kearse. Kearse, 53, was found guilty of shooting and killing Fort Pierce police Officer Danny Parrish during a traffic stop on Jan. 18, 1991.

Kearse’s execution is scheduled for March 3 at 6 p.m.

“With Gov. DeSantis’ courageous act, it is hoped that the Parrish family can finally find peace and repose,” Thomas Bakkedahl, the state attorney for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, said in a statement to WPBF 25 News Thursday evening.

The 19th Judicial Circuit includes Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties.

“It’s bittersweet because I’m not an evil person. I don’t wish harm or death on anybody and to think that somebody is going to lose their life is not what I want, but at the same token, it gives me that closure of the final step that I’ve been fighting for, for years,” Mirtha Busbin, the widow of Officer Parrish, told WPBF 25 News on Thursday night.

According to court documents, during the traffic stop, Kearse was ordered out of his vehicle by Officer Parrish and attempted to handcuff Kearse after Kearse did not produce a driver’s license.

Kearse was traveling the wrong way on a one-way street.

A scuffle occurred and Kearse grabbed Officer Parrish’s firearm and shot Parrish 13 times, including four bullets in Parrish’s bulletproof vest.

Officer Parrish was taken to a hospital, where he died from the injuries sustained.

A taxi driver, who was in the area and heard the shots, saw Kearse’s vehicle drive away.

The taxi driver called for assistance on Officer Parrish’s radio.

Kearse was convicted on Oct. 22, 1991, of first-degree murder and robbery with a firearm and was sentenced to death on March 24, 1997.

Busbin, who works for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office as a Victim Assistance, was informed of the governor’s signing on Thursday.

“I got the call this afternoon from the Attorney General’s Office and, you know, I, automatically, normal reaction, start crying. I couldn’t believe it,” Busbin said.

Working with the State Attorney’s Office and writing a number of letters to DeSantis, Busbin hoped DeSantis would sign the death warrant before the end of his final term.

On Thursday evening, she finally got that confirmation.

“I submitted everything, and I hadn’t heard back,” Busbin said. “And then when she called me this afternoon and told me, yeah, I was totally in shock. I was just like, ‘oh my gosh, it’s an answered prayer.'”

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‘Totally illegal’ attorney says he plans to sue Marion County Sheriff’s Office

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Hayley Crombleholme

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    MARION COUNTY, Fla. (WESH) — Two members of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office are accused of detaining one of their own and violating his rights against warrantless searches and seizures.

“Illegal arrest, illegal detention, illegal search, illegal everything. Literally the whole case is totally illegal,” Attorney Anthony Sabatini said of an incident involving his client, Jeremiah Ricketts, a deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

According to an arrest report from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Ricketts’ wife is also a Marion County deputy, and in December 2025, she requested law enforcement retrieve her patrol car and equipment she left inside of it from their home in Grand Island because of their “current domestic situation.”

The report says she told deputies the items that should have been inside included a rifle, a pistol, a duty belt, and more.

According to administrative review documents from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Benjamen Adams and Sgt. Jeffrey Boyles picked up the patrol car, but didn’t find the equipment inside.

The review documents say they went back to the home and confronted Ricketts, who the arrest reports claim was “currently on suspension”. But disciplinary documents for Ricketts shared by the Sheriff’s Office only seem to show an eight-hour suspension from 2024.

“You can use that keypad, go get the gear, show us where it is. We are collecting the gear,” one of the members of the sheriff’s office can be heard saying in body camera video of the encounter.

The exchange goes on, and Ricketts is told he’s being detained.

“You have authority to detain in Lake County?” Ricketts asks.

“Yes, I do,” a member of the sheriff’s office said.

Ricketts was ultimately put in handcuffs.

Though it’s redacted from the body camera video released by the sheriff’s office, administrative review documents said Ricketts handcuffs were removed and he, Boyles and Adams went into the home, but didn’t find the equipment and says after Adams “becomes accusatory” and asks what he did with the equipment, Ricketts asked them to leave his house saying he does not consent to any of this.

From there, it says Ricketts was handcuffed again, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was called out. Their arrest report says ultimately some of the missing items were found inside the home, and that Ricketts was being charged with armed burglary, grand theft of police equipment, and grand theft of a firearm.

Sabatini represented Ricketts in that case, which ultimately wouldn’t go forward. The State Attorney’s Office filed an announcement of no information on the grounds that the evidence was legally insufficient to prove guilt.

“I was thrown out because it was a completely illegal behavior by the police,” Sabatini said.

In an interview with Boyles included in the administrative review documents, Boyles said he believed the Florida statute related to “Fresh Pursuit” gave them the authority to detain Ricketts, as did Adams in his own interview.

Adams also said he believed that he did not coerce Ricketts.

Documents from the sheriff’s office say Boyles and Adams were found to violate warrantless searches and seizures, dereliction of duty, and use of discretion by supervisors.

Documents shared by the sheriff’s office say Adams was demoted to sergeant and suspended for 30 days. Boyles was demoted to corporal and suspended for 20 days. The sheriff’s office said they have appealed those findings.

WESH 2 asked Sabatini about his client’s current status with the department. He said he is on administrative leave. The Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed Ricketts current status with the department.

Sabatini said he plans to file a civil lawsuit against the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.

“Unlawful detention, unlawful arrest, the were no jurisdiction. There was no basis for what they did; they violated his rights to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures, they came into his house illegally, so there was a lot going on there was a lot of different constitutional violations in this case,” Sabatini said.

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Cold-stunned sea turtles rescued in Florida’s Panhandle

CNN Newsource on January 30, 2026

By Alexandra Igoe

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    GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WBBH) — Sea turtles in St. Joseph Bay were rescued by the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute after becoming cold-stunned due to dropping water temperatures below 50°F.

Members of the Sea Turtle Stranding Team from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute responded to the call to rescue the cold-stunned sea turtles.

The turtles were removed from the water and taken in to be evaluated and warmed.

If you see injured, distressed or dead sea turtles, report it.

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.