Author: CNN Newsource

By Andrea Lucia

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    Texas (KTVT) — Former Gateway Church pastor Robert Morris walked out of the Osage County jail in Oklahoma overnight, after six months behind bars as part of his sentence on child sex abuse charges.

An automated notice sent by court officials showed Morris left the jail in Pawhuska just after midnight.

Morris, who built his church in Southlake into one of the largest congregations in the country, pleaded guilty last October to charges he molested Cindy Clemishire, the now adult woman he admitted to molesting beginning in 1982 when she was just 12 years old.

Morris will serve 9.5 years of probation and spend the rest of his life on the sex offender registry.

Plea deal reached The plea deal was reached with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office and Clemishire.

“The most important thing for me was that he pled guilty to all five counts, and that he’d served some amount of time,” she told CBS News Texas following the verdict. “And, while most people think it’s not enough, for me, it ensured that he would spend time behind bars.”

Court records indicate Morris now plans to serve out his probation at his $1.5 million lakefront home in Palo Pinto County.

He’ll be required to report his whereabouts to a probation officer and be barred from consuming alcohol, carrying a gun, or associating with other convicted felons.

How the case began The allegations against Morris first came to light in 2024, after Clemishire shared her story with the Wartburg Watch, a blog chronicling cases of church abuse. The revelation led to Morris’ resignation from Gateway.

At the time, Morris had radio and television programs with a global reach. He’d also written books and served as an advisor to President Trump.

Morris’ son, who had been chosen to take over leadership of the church the following year, in 2025, also left, as well as elders who were alleged to have known about Morris’ history with Clemishire.

Ongoing legal issues Morris and the church are still immersed in several legal battles linked to his conviction.

Clemishire and her father have sued both Morris and the church, alleging they tried to cover up her abuse and defame her by suggesting she was to blame. The church has denied those claims.

Morris has also sued Gateway, claiming it promised him and his wife a retirement package paying out between $600,000-800,000 a year as long as either is alive. The church has denied that, as well.

A jailhouse visit Morris received in February from Fort Worth pastor Landon Schott has raised questions about Morris’ future in the church.

Schott, who has criticized what he calls “cancel culture,” proclaimed God had forgiven Morris.

“I loved the religious foul comments I got of, ‘Why are you platforming him?'” Schott joked in a video posted to Instagram in response to criticism of his visit.

Morris family remains involved in ministry

Morris’ family remains involved in various Texas churches and ministries.

James and Bridgette Morris, his son and daughter-in-law, now lead Passage Church in Southlake, just two miles from the Gateway campus.

Ethan Fisher, his son-in-law, leads Newlands Church in Katy, Texas, where Morris’ daughter, Elaine, also serves as a pastor.

The Morrises’ son Josh left Gateway and now heads up a life and leadership coaching company that serves the church community and non-profits.

Morris himself has not commented on his future plans.

CBS News Texas has reached out to Gateway Church for a statement about Morris’ release, but the spokesperson declined to comment.

Giles Hudson contributed to this report.

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 Beth Carlson

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    ASHBY, Nebraska (KETV) — A new wave of wildfires hit central Nebraska Thursday, causing evacuations as crews worked to contain the Ashby and Minor fires.

As of Sunday, the Ashby Fire is now 51% contained and the Minor Fire is now 30% contained, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Combined, they total more than 64,000 acres.

“We had to experience this two weeks ago with the Morrill fire, which came within 20 miles of our home, and we had evacuated twice. And so, everybody took a breath and said, OK, we’re in the clear,” Linda Lacy, who lives near Ashby, said.

But early Thursday morning, residents were evacuated in the early hours of the Ashby wildfire. Lacy and her husband returned home to a nightmare.

“It was totally black, totally black, both sides of the highway for as far as you could see. It was just devastating,” Lacy said.

She said the flames came within feet of their home. But miraculously, their family home was untouched.

“It just missed it by feet, not yards, feet. And, the wind shifted, went back out and went straight east and just a half mile to the east, it totally took out our neighbor’s home,” Lacy said.

She said it’s nothing short of a miracle.

“It’s like God took a big, huge bucket and turned it upside down and put it over my house and protected it because it’s black all the way around,” Lacy said.

Cody Rohrig worked tirelessly with crews from the Gordon Volunteer Fire Department on the Morrill Fire. Now, they’re responding to the Ashby Fire.

“We’re going to be in this for quite a while, so we’re making sure we’re prepared for it. With the fuel loads that we have out there in the fields right now, it’s not a matter of if, but when, honestly,” Rohrig said.

Rohrig said the lack of moisture and the high winds mean the area could face even more fires. But he said his crews are prepared for what’s to come.

“It’s going to happen again. I’ve never seen some of these fuel lines or fire lines as long as they’ve ever been. So that’s something new to me,” Rohrig said.

In moments of darkness, both Rohrig and Lacy say they’ve seen their community support one another.

“I don’t know how many ranchers I’ve seen with their own personal vehicles out there fighting with black, ashed-out faces. They’re in there with the rest of us, fighting alongside us,” Rohrig said.

“The Sandhills are tough, and we’re all pulling together, helping each other, supporting each other, doing anything we can for everyone,” Lacy 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 Jake Anderson

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    BARTLETT, Iowa (KETV) — A 66-year-old man died after an explosion at a salvage yard in Iowa, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said.

The explosion happened at J-Dog Salvage in Bartlett, Iowa on March 24.

Deputies said an employee, identified as Blaine Schoening, died in the explosion, which occurred around noon.

Investigators said Schoening was in the process of disassembling a large commercial fuel tank when the explosion happened and he was fatally injured.

The explosion is being investigated by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Fremont County Medical Examiner’s Office, with help from the Iowa State Fire Marshal. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also notified and is helping with the investigation.

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 WGAL Staff

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    WAYNE TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A bridge on Powells Valley Road in Dauphin County is closed after a milk tanker crashed into it early Saturday morning, according to dispatchers.

Authorities said the tanker, which was carrying milk, struck the bridge around 4 a.m.

According to the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team, the crash caused both fuel and milk to spill into a nearby waterway.

Crews worked for several hours to slow and contain the flow from the tanker and reduce the environmental impact.

No injuries were reported, and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the crash, according to dispatchers.

PennDOT said the bridge, located just east of the intersection with Dividing Ridge Road in Wayne Township, remains closed until further notice.

Officials are assessing the damage and developing a repair plan. Drivers are advised to use alternate routes.

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 Layza Pinero Resto

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    SAN CARLOS PARK, Florida (WBBH) — Firefighters with the San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue District had to get creative to save some kittens stuck in the middle of a culvert Friday morning.

In a post on Facebook, firefighters said that they received a public assist call for the three kittens. They say that with the diameter of the culvert and the location of the kittens, the best course of action was to make a “kitten water slide.”

Low-pressure water was sprayed into the higher end of the culvert, and firefighters say that all three kittens rode the wave down to the other end and into the arms of residents.

The kittens and their mom were taken to Guardians of Florida by a volunteer.

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 David Jones

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    EUSTIS, Florida (WESH) — A camp in Lake County serving children with serious illnesses is celebrating 30 years of service and bringing kids together to just be kids.

Camp Boggy Creek, located in the forests northeast of Eustis in Lake County, was founded in 1996 by actor Paul Newman and General Norman Schwarzkopf.

Newman and Schwarzkopf’s families were at camp on Saturday as donors, camp staff, former campers and families came together to mark three decades of providing kids dealing with unimaginable hardships with free opportunities to attend camp, meet other children going through similar situations and share life experiences.

The families of Camp Boggy Creek said they get as much, if not more, out of the experience than the kids who participate.

“The connections that are made are lifelong. It’s just lifelong friendships, they’re accepting,” said Mathew Taylor, whose son has participated in Camp Boggy Creek life.

“You’re safe, respected and loved here. It’s really fun,” his son said.

Since its founding, Camp Boggy Creek has helped more than 90,000 campers.

It’s part of Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Gang Camp” network, and serves as a year-round destination fueled by volunteers and accommodating to kids with a number of different illnesses.

“They can come here and not worry about their illness or what’s going on or not feel like they’re the child who is different in their community or their school,” said camp director Nick Sano. “They get to meet so many other children who understand what they’re going through and feel like their illness is one part of who they are and not making up entirely who 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 Allison Petro

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Tussock moth caterpillars are emerging in large numbers, and their hairs can cause skin irritation and rashes.

Experts said the insects are looking for a good place to form cocoons and are often drawn to oak trees.

While they don’t bite or sting, the hairs on their bodies can irritate the skin and even cause a rash.

“Those hairs actually kind of can poke into the skin and then break off,” explained FGCU entomologist Joyce Fassbender. “So they’re called urticating hairs, but that’s basically what they do. It’s a defense mechanism. It’s compared usually to fiberglass. So if you brush up against fiberglass, little tiny pieces of glass will break off and get under your skin. And that’s basically what’s happening with these hairs.”

Kids playing outside may encounter the caterpillars this time of year around trees and outdoor playground equipment.

Fassbender said to avoid spraying your tree if they are all over it.

“If you spray your oak tree, you’re actually spraying and killing all the food to feed our birds,” Fassbender said.

You can take some tape and stick it to the area that touched the caterpillar, or you can run it under cold water.

The adhesive on the tape will pull tiny hairs out of your skin.

If irritation worsens, be sure to contact your doctor.

In a few weeks, the caterpillars will cocoon, but you still need to be aware that the hairs will still be present.

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.