Author: CNN Newsource

By Chloe Godding

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    OLATHE, Kansas (KMBC) — The Olathe Fire Department says that fireworks are to blame for a fire that displaced more than a dozen people Sunday evening.

Firefighters were called to the 1300 block of East 152nd Street around 7:30 p.m. on reports of a fire on one side of a duplex-style home.

While the fire was stopped before it reached the other side of the residence, damage was described as “significant.”

After some investigation, the fire department said Monday that the use of fireworks set a wooden deck ablaze, leading to the fire that caused $150,000 in damage.

Thirteen people were displaced, but fortunately, no one was injured.

The Olathe Police Department and Johnson County MED-ACT assisted at the scene.

The Olathe Fire Department reminded residents that the sale, use or possession of fireworks is prohibited.

“Have a safe Fourth of July season by leaving fireworks to the professionals — attend a public display,” the department said on social media.

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 Liacko

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    FULTON COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — For students riding the “Red Elephant Bus” to Lake Windward Elementary School, the drive is more than transportation. It’s a daily celebration filled with singing, dancing, and encouragement from a bus driver who has become one of the most beloved adults in their lives.

For the past decade, Lisa Jacobs has transformed her school bus into a place where students feel seen, supported and connected before they ever step into a classroom.

“Miss Lisa always makes everything fun. Even when you’re having one of those bad days, you always look forward to a day on the bus because every day is different and special,” fifth-grader Magnolia Rumsey said.

Jacobs never expected to become a school bus driver. A floral designer who creates arrangements for weddings and parties, she took the job because she needed health insurance.

“This is what I’m supposed to be doing. Which I never thought I would be a bus driver. I’m a floral designer. I do weddings. I do parties. That’s what I do. And this was an addition. And it just became that I love it,” Jacobs said.

What began as a practical decision quickly became a calling.

“That first thank-you note and that first little gift that they made, it just … I was sold,” she said.

Today, students know her bus by its nickname, the Red Elephant Bus. Each day brings a different tradition, from Tell Me Something Good Monday to Joke Wednesday and Dance Party Friday.

“When they have a bad day, I try to reassure them, this is one day, it’ll get better. We all need a cheerleader on our side. And I try to be their cheerleader for every single one of them,” Jacobs said.

Lake Windward Elementary Principal Lauren Busing said Jacobs’ impact extends far beyond transportation.

“Miss Lisa is an extension of our wonderful staff here at Lake Windward, as is the bus is an extension of the classrooms here. She does a great job of building community and making sure our students feel appreciated and welcomed and safe,” Busing said.

For some students, that encouragement has helped build confidence.

Rumsey said Jacobs inspired her to run for bus monitor.

“I put in an essay and did a little speech in front of the whole bus telling why I should be a bus monitor and my promises… kind of like becoming president. And yay, I got elected,” Rumsey said.

The sense of community on the bus became so meaningful that Jacobs turned it into a book featuring the students who ride with her.

“Everybody had their own page. It was your own drawing and a paragraph about the bus,” fifth-grader Adrina Izadi said.

Izadi said being included in the project was a memorable experience.

“I really don’t have big moments. I’m just a regular person. But it was really exciting when I heard I could be a narrator,” she said.

Students say Jacobs has a gift for making everyone feel important.

“She always wants to make everybody happy. She’s always that type of energetic person you would go to if you’re feeling down,” Izadi said.

Rumsey described Jacobs as a trusted source of support during the school year.

“Miss Lisa is a friend, so I can talk to her when I need to and just get my stuff out whenever I really need to or want to. She’s kind of like my rock for school,” Rumsey said.

Busing said that positive energy carries over into the school day.

“After they leave our building and they ride home on the bus, and then when she picks them up in the morning, she greets them with a big smile. And they’re just so excited to then arrive at school. When they get off, and I get to see them in the morning. So we’re just so grateful for her,” Busing said.

Jacobs said the students have given her just as much as she has given them.

“It just makes me feel so warm. It feels like a great purpose. Like I’m supposed to be doing this. I am supposed to be their cheerleader. Because they bring me up,” she said.

Her commitment doesn’t end when the bus route is over. Jacobs regularly attends her students’ extracurricular activities and events, continuing to support them long after they leave her bus.

And she hopes every child who rides the Red Elephant Bus remembers one thing.

“I want them to remember that they have somebody on their side, they have somebody that has their back, and that will never change no matter how old they get,” Jacobs said.

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 Cameron Polom

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    MESA, Arizona (KNXV) — Mesa firefighter Derek Andresen is going viral – again -for something that has nothing to do with sirens or flashing lights.

After responding to a medical call at a local senior living community, Andresen and his crew made sure the patient was cared for. But before leaving, Andresen noticed a piano sitting in the community gathering space and decided to take a seat.

What happened next stopped the room in its tracks. Residents gathered around as the self-taught pianist-firefighter filled the space with music, turning an ordinary day into an unforgettable one.

The impromptu performance brought smiles, tears, and applause from seniors who never expected a concert from the first responders who had just answered a call.

Someone captured the moment on video, and within days it had been viewed more than a million times online, with comments pouring in from across the country.

Even Andresen’s mother joined the conversation, proudly sharing that her son taught himself how to play.

This isn’t the first time Andresen has put aside his gear for the keys. During the pandemic, he gathered attention online with another musical performance that delighted the community.

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 Joshua Sidorowicz

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    PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (KYW) — A blind man traveling through Philadelphia International Airport says he was effectively “forgotten” by airline staff after his flight was canceled. It’s an experience he says that happened more than once and highlights concerns about how airlines assist passengers with disabilities.

Tony Maglione says he was traveling through Philadelphia in March when weather delays disrupted his flight. En route from Pittsburgh to Sarasota, Florida, he said he was escorted to a gate and then left alone even after his flight had been canceled.

“I just got abandoned,” Maglione said.

Maglione, who is blind, says his ticket clearly indicated he needed assistance. Federal rules require airlines to provide help to passengers with disabilities, including escorting them through airports and assisting during delays or cancellations.

But Maglione says that didn’t happen.He eventually enlisted the help of a fellow passenger.

“I stood up and said, ‘I’m blind and I need help getting to the American Airlines ticket counter,'” he said.

American later rebooked Maglione on a flight leaving the next day and put him up in a hotel for the night.

Problems continue during connection Maglione says the situation repeated itself the next day during a connection in Charlotte, North Carolina.

After landing, he says he was again left without assistance, this time causing him to miss his flight.

“I’ve been abandoned in a second airport for the second time in two days,” he said he thought to himself at the time.

For travelers who are blind, missing visual cues like gate displays and announcements can make navigating airports especially difficult without help.

Advocates: Experiences can vary widely Disability advocates say Maglione’s experience, while extreme, reflects broader issues.

Scott Thornhill, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, says assistance for visually impaired travelers can be inconsistent.

“It can vary from airport to airport and airline to airline,” Thornhill said.

He says airlines often rely on third-party contractors to provide assistance, and the quality of service depends heavily on those vendors.

“They contract with third-party vendors,” Thornhill said, adding that service can depend on who they contract with.

Training is another concern.

“There’s often just not that level of training for them to know… how do I help this person with a visual impairment?” Thornhill said.

He says the rules governing accessibility already exist but are not always followed.

Calls for better training and accountability Maglione says his experience shows a breakdown in the system meant to help passengers like him. He says he is not seeking compensation, but wants airlines to improve training and ensure assistance is consistently provided.

“No one seems to know what the guidelines are, let alone to follow them,” he said. “I want that fixed.”

Airline response

In a statement to CBS News Philadelphia, American Airlines said it is reviewing the incident with its vendor, Prospect, which provides special assistance services at Philadelphia International Airport and for multiple airlines.

The airline apologized to Maglione and issued him a $350 travel credit.

Maglione says that’s not what matters.

He hopes sharing his story will raise awareness and prevent the same situation from happening to someone else.

What passengers should know Advocates say visually impaired travelers can request assistance in advance, but gaps in communication and staffing still exist, particularly during delays or cancellations.

Thornhill says better training and consistent enforcement of existing rules could make a significant difference.

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By Scott McKane

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    JUNCTION, Utah (KSTU) — With flames from the Cottonwood Fire now visible on the Piute County side, and smoke filling the valley below, residents gathered Friday to go over emergency plans in case the situation gets worse and evacuations are ordered.

The meeting at Piute High School in Junction began somberly, with an emotional apology from one of the first responders who was on scene Monday.

“We did everything we absolutely could. We called for every bit of help we could find. And about all we could do was get people out of the way of it,” said Nick Schenk with Great Basin Team 5.

But the dozens of people in attendance knew those responders were facing an uphill battle fighting the now historic Cottonwood Fire.

“Lots of anxiety, lots of worry, lots of stress,” said resident Laramie Leavitt of what this week has been like.

Leavitt is one of the lucky ones, as he went to check on his family’s cabin early Friday and was amazed that anything survived.

“From what I’ve seen, I think [firefighters] are working hard and I’m pretty happy with that,” he said. “Mother Nature is going to do what she’s gonna do.”

Like others, Leavitt realizes it’s not over yet.

“Friends and neighbors have come together. This is a great community. This is my home, this is your home, and by God we’re gonna defend it!” said Piute County Attorney Scott Burns.

Unfortunately, for everyone involved, things may get worse before they get better as the high, unpredictable winds are expected to kick up again throughout Saturday. It means it will be very difficult for crews on the ground and the planes and helicopters overhead to resume attacking the fire in earnest.

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 Madilyn Destefano, Christian Bussiere, Pattrik Perez

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    SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A woman died after being bitten by an alligator while swimming in the Econlockhatchee River near the Barr Street Trailhead in the Little Big Econ State Forest on Sunday afternoon, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FWC said the woman was swimming with friends in the river around 1:30 p.m. when she was bitten by an alligator, resulting in serious injuries. She was transported to a hospital as a trauma alert, where she later died from her injuries.

FWC, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and a contracted nuisance alligator trapper responded to the scene. FWC officers remained on site for hours, using a boat and a UTV as part of their investigation. The entrance to the trailhead was also closed off with caution tape, forcing hikers to go elsewhere.

FWC cleared the scene around 7:30 p.m. The identity of the woman has not yet been released. The agency hasn’t said yet whether its trapping efforts were successful.

News of the attack came as a shock to hikers who frequent the area.

“I’ve seen really big gators in here. I’ve never heard of an attack, though,” said Leia Vieira.

Nancy Palmer, who hikes the area about once every other week with her husband Rodney, said those who come to the trailhead often are familiar with a large alligator in the water.

“There’s a place where a female gator hangs out to lay her eggs … and most people that come out here very often know that she could be there, and so keep your eyes open and don’t get in the water,” Palmer said.

Several signs near the trailhead entrance warn visitors of alligators in the area.

This attack is the third reported in the past seven days and the second in the past 24 hours in Central Florida.

FWC said serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida. The agency administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program to address complaints concerning specific alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets, or property.

People with concerns about an alligator should call FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286). When someone is concerned about an alligator and calls the Nuisance Alligator Hotline, FWC will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation.

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 Mike Anderson, KSL

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    BEAVER, Utah (KSL) — Saturday morning, Mo Larsen and her family were met by a small army of neighbors, ready to help them recover from their loss in the Cottonwood Fire. Larsen says she was hesitant at first to accept the help, but eventually agreed when offered by friends at church.

“I think it’s awesome,” Larsen said in gratitude. “It’s the most Christlike thing that I could think of, to be able to serve a neighbor in need; someone who did lose a home in the fire.”

Larsen and her family were in the process of moving into a home they purchased in Beaver a few months ago. Until a very recent, abrupt turn of events, their condo near the Eagle Point Ski Resort was also their primary home.

“There was still stuff and furniture and memories in that house,” Larsen explained. “And we were going to just be renting it out over the winter and in the summer.”

Larsen says her husband, a volunteer firefighter, happened to be near the condo when the fire erupted, but couldn’t gather their belongings.

“Instead of grabbing our stuff, my husband was knocking doors, making sure everyone else was evacuated because he’s a hero,” Larsen said.

Meantime, Larsen’s home in Beaver was not quite move-in ready. Volunteers on Saturday were helping bury a water main, sanding and painting wooden wall panels, and helping run wires for lighting. Neighbors like Nick Pray were eager to help.

“We’re all kind of a big family around here,” Pray said. “Even people that come from out of town, they notice that and that’s why they end up sticking around.”

Larsen also points out that the community around Beaver, Iron, and Garfield counties is raising funds for people who have suffered losses in the Cottonwood Fire, with accounts set up at Utah Independent Bank and the State Bank of Southern Utah.

“This is an amazing community, and we’re a really tight-knit community,” Larsen said. “And I know that if somebody needed help, then people would be there.”

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 Andrew Adams, KSL

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    BEAVER, Utah (KSL) — Firefighters were battling the Cottonwood Fire with caution Friday as winds picked up in the middle of a particularly dangerous situation red flag warning.

The first-of-its-kind warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday and in effect through Saturday surrounded low humidity levels projected to bottom out at 8% and wind gusts expected to reach 50 miles per hour.

Alyssa Mason, Great Basin Team 5 spokeswoman, said the conditions weren’t immediately changing the strategy for firefighters, who were continuing to build contingency lines and protect what they could as they attempted to slow or halt the progress of the massive fire that had already burned 71,841 acres.

However, Mason said over 650 firefighters assigned to the blaze were proceeding carefully.

“As firefighters, we have stories in our culture about wind shifts and weather changes that have killed entire crews on fires before, in even some of our recent history, and so that’s always kind of in the back of our minds,” Mason said. “It was kind of a solemn feeling at briefing this morning as they’re talking about these weathers and they’re talking about safety and they’re talking about all these things that can go wrong today, and so it was a pretty sobering kind of morning for a lot of us.”

Mason said firefighters received a warning as they headed out for the day.

“We always have safety first out there and as soon as we see things or we start getting feelings, we’ve told the guys (if) they don’t like it, disengage, get to a safe place,” Mason said.

The spokesperson said that with extremely low humidity and high winds, the flames can become extremely volatile.

“With winds of that speed, we’ll get a surface fire that is going to move quickly, and you can see some pretty extreme spotting, where at the onset of this fire we saw spotting up to a mile ahead of the fire,” Mason said. “If this thing stands up with those winds, we can see extreme spotting again. There’s going to be heavy smoke. There’s probably going to be ash falling on places like Richfield, and we’re going to see just very quick flame movement across the landscape.”

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.