Author: CNN Newsource

By Sooji Nam

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    SAN LEANDRO, California (KPIX) — Transforming their home into a free community haunted house has been a 20-year-tradition for a San Leandro family — but recent thefts of expensive decorations have put a damper on their Halloween spirit.

“Well he was right here,” homeowner D.W. Nutting told CBS News Bay Area.

He said that two of their animatronics have been stolen off their lawn recently.

“Like a lot of the props, they discontinue. So, we’re not able to find him anymore,” he said.

Nutting estimated their loss to be about $700 total for both stolen animatronics.

This isn’t the first time they have fallen victim to thieves during the Halloween season. Last year, another decoration theft was caught on video.

“It was a mannequin type of guy and he was on the lawn. And we had it on camera, someone ran onto the lawn in the wee hours in a pickup truck on the lawn, snatched the whole thing,” he said of last year’s theft.

Since the incident, his family has increased security and started an online fundraiser. The community has already pitched in more than $1,400 to go towards more props.

“Come, observe. Look, touch, but don’t take. We got to store it, reuse it, just so we can keep it going every year,” Marisol Rico, Nutting’s sister-in-law told CBS News Bay Area. “We would hate to have to shut it down because people keep taking all the stuff that we either build, put together, reuse and that stuff.”

Meanwhile, Nutting said he and his family will keep working to complete their haunted house this year despite the thefts.

“We can only hope that wherever he is now, he’s bringing some kind of joy where he is,” Nutting said of the stolen animatronic.

He added that the haunted house has about 15 people working to keep the tradition going, including extended family and school friends of his children.

“It’s a labor of love. We do it for the community. we never charge, it’s a full walkthrough for whoever wants to come,” Nutting said. “So, we definitely are disheartened when things like this happen.”

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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    SAN FRANCISCO, California (KPIX) — San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has declared a local emergency to help speed up the city’s preparedness for El Niño storm conditions this winter.

Lurie announced the emergency declaration on Friday, joining other counties and jurisdictions in the Bay Area and the state in declaring local emergencies to prepare for severe storms, flooding, and the continuity of essential services. In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide emergency proclamation to help state agencies move faster on El Niño storm preparations.

San Francisco’s declaration suspends certain contracting requirements to allow for city departments to secure goods and services needed for storm preparations.

“Today, I am declaring a local emergency to ensure San Francisco is ready for the severe storms, flooding, and high tides that El Niño could bring this winter,” said Lurie in a prepared statement. “We are acting now to make sure our departments have the resources they need to protect San Franciscans quickly throughout the season. We will continue preparing across city departments, and I’m asking every San Franciscan to do their part so we can keep our communities safe—because the time to prepare for a major storm is before it arrives.”

The declaration streamlines the procurement and contract awarding processes allowing city departments to quickly obtain items such as flood barriers, pumps, and generators to protect infrastructure and keep essential services running. The city will also be stocking up on first-aid and shelter supplies and portable restrooms for residents and frontline workers during severe weather.

In addition, the declaration directs all departments to cooperate with requests from the city’s Emergency Operations Center, and allows the mayor to reallocate funds within and between departments as needed during the emergency.

San Francisco residents were also urged to prepare for the upcoming storms by elevating objects in basements or garages in flood-prone areas, and securing loose items before the onset of high winds. The city’s Public Works offers free sandbags to residents who can check sfpublicworks.org/sandbags for current information.

People seeking flood insurance are reminded that policies typically have a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. The city said property owners who have experienced flooding from public right-of-way or sewer-system backflow can apply for up to $100,000 toward flood-assistance protection projects from the SFPUC’s Floodwater Management Grant Program.

Also, businesses were referred to the city’s free business preparedness webinar on November 4 at 10:00 a.m. for guidance on emergency planning, insurance, documenting losses, and operating during power outages.

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 Austin Turner

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    MONTCLAIR, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Halloween-themed group bicycle ride in Montclair ended in tragedy Saturday night after an allegedly drunk driver plowed into several riders, killing two, authorities said.

According to the Montclair Police Department, the crash was reported in the area of Kingsley Street and Tudor Avenue at about 10:39 p.m. Investigations revealed that about 30 bicyclists, as part of a self-coordinated Halloween ride, were riding eastbound on Kingsley when a driver collided with several individuals.

The driver fled the scene immediately following the collisions.

Police said one bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. An additional rider, identified only as a woman, died at a local hospital.

Another person was hospitalized with major injuries. They remain in stable condition. An additional rider suffered minor injuries and declined treatment, police said.

Law enforcement later identified the driver and found him at his home about a mile from the crash scene. The man, identified as 38-year-old Valentin Alberto Rodriguez, was arrested on suspicion of DUI causing injury or death, felony hit-and-run involving death and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, at about 2:40 a.m. Sunday. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center.

A memorial of flowers and balloons marked the corner where the collision happened, with family members of the victims stopping to pay their respects throughout the day Sunday.

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 Christa Swanson

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    JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado (KCNC) — Some Colorado high school students are getting a head start on their future healthcare careers, gaining hands-on experience before they graduate.

This week, students from Bear Creek, Golden and Wheat Ridge High Schools spent time shadowing healthcare professionals at Lutheran Hospital. It’s part of a partnership with Jeffco Public Schools that gives students a behind-the-scenes look at careers in the medical field.

From emergency rooms to the pharmacy and lab, students explored different career paths. They even learned lifesaving skills through a “Stop the Bleed” training session.

CTE student Kenny Chiv said, “It’s nice to see the different environment of the medical field and to talk to all of the personnel and see jobs they go through every day and the struggles and easiest parts and why they enjoy it the most.”

So far, 90 students have participated in or are completing the program, and two have already landed jobs through the partnership.

The goal is to show students that they don’t have to wait until after college to get their feet in the door in healthcare.

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 Veronica Ortega

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    DETROIT, Michigan (WWJ) — After nearly 70 years in business, an iconic Metro Detroit restaurant is set to close.

Sign of the Beefcarver in Royal Oak, Michigan, is welcoming customers for one last time on Sunday. Patrons started lining up before 6 a.m.

“I got here at 5:45 a.m. I knew the line was going to be around the building,” Christopher Cooley, the second person in line, said. “I knew if I didn’t make a good jump on it, that I wasn’t going to get my meal and, you know, have my last meal at the Beefcarver.”

Ever since the announcement about the closure, massive crowds have flocked to the restaurant for the past week.

“I’ve been trying to come all week, and every time I come, like later at night, and they sell out of the beef. So we decided, let’s go the last day and get in line early before they even open,” Chelsey Watson, from Livonia, Michigan, said.

People say the eatery is where they made some of their fondest childhood memories.

“As a kid, it was my responsibility to go to, like, the condiment section where they had, and people will know this, they had pickles and beets, horseradish sauce and stuff like that. And I was the one that had to go get the plates and take them to the table,” Kurt Kochenderfer, of Royal Oak, said.

Sign of the Beefcarver, located on Woodward Avenue, gave many of them their first job opportunity.

“My first job was at the Oakland Mall location. I worked the entrees and the vegetables, the side orders,” Leo Del Pilar, from West Bloomfield, said. “I liked working there. All the people there were very friendly. It felt like a family environment working at the place, and I loved eating for free on my breaks.”

“Twenty-five years ago today, if you will, I was a dishwasher here. The Beefcarver brought me in out of juvenile detention and offered me employment as a 17-year-old,” Cooley said.

It’s where family traditions started.

“I came here with my grandparents for eight years, and then I came with my parents and then I came with my own kids, and so I’ve been coming here regularly for 55 years,” Kevin Ketels, from Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, said. “Celebrating my birthday and Father’s Day with my own dad and my kids bring me here, and so it has a lot of memories.”

Customers embraced servers inside on Sunday. The atmosphere was both joyful and somber.

“I’m kind of sad because this [is] part of our history. It’s our life, history as a family, you know? I used to meet my in-laws here every other weekend since they [my kids] were six weeks old,” Clarita Ketels said.

Some cling to hope that the restaurant will be saved.

“I hope they stay open since we’re all giving them so much business this week and they’ll change their mind,” Watson said.

Others accept it’s time to say goodbye.

“You know, it’s just these things that we love that are slowly becoming unavailable anymore. Just enjoy while you can,” Kochenderfer said.

You’ll have a chance to own a piece of the restaurant’s story. The antiques, decor, fixtures and furniture will all be sold at a garage sale sometime in the next few weeks. Look for the announcement 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 Jeramie Bizzle

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    GILBERTS, Illinois (WBBM) — A Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District firefighter has died after suffering a medical emergency during training last week.

The district announced the death of firefighter Greg Witt on Sunday.

Witt was hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Details about the emergency were not released.

Witt, who also served as a U.S. Marine, joined the Rutland-Dundee Fire Protection District in January 2019.

“Greg was a member of our family,” said Chief Reedy. “He served his country as a Marine and served this community as a firefighter, and he did both with honor. Our hearts are with Greg’s family, and with every member of this department who served alongside him. We ask that everyone give them the time and space they need to grieve.”

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

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 Kelsy Mittauer

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    TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KTVT) — The organization featured in millions of transgender rights flyers is now suing to find out who is behind the mass mail campaign.

The Transgender Education Network of Texas, or TENT, has filed a petition asking a Travis County judge to allow them to take oral depositions or written questions before a lawsuit is officially filed. According to the petition, the author of the mailer “co-opted TENT’s name, materials (including photographs), branding and website without TENT’s knowledge or consent, violating state law.”

Form 202, which was filed on Thursday, is a procedural tool typically used to identify unknown defendants.

The filing goes on to say the mailers were “deliberately distributed in a manner calculated to cause maximum harm to TENT and to create confusion and strife among the Texas electorate.” The petition “seeks to reveal the person or persons responsible for meddling with Texas elections and smearing TENT’s name,” as “Texas voters are being deceptively targeted and tricked en masse.”

Also, on Friday, the United States Postal Service identified the company whose bulk mail permit was used to ship the flyers.

According to the USPS, the permit is held by Three Z Printing, located in Teutopolis, Illinois, whose website proclaims, “We help you look good on paper.” The I-Team contacted the company; as of late Friday afternoon, we had not heard back.

It is not clear what role, if any, Three Z Printing had beyond the use of its permit; owning the permit does not mean the company printed the flyers, just that it allowed the use of its permit so the sender could qualify for discounted postage.

Who that sender is, remains unclear. The company listed on the return address section of the mailer is Texas Transgender Student Union, LLC. Business records show it was formed a month ago using a registered agent service in Sheridan, Wyoming. The registered agent company is associated with more than 300,000 LLCs. Hours after the I-Team visited the office in Sheridan, Northwest Registered Agent said it was cutting ties with the Texas Transgender Student Union.

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.