9-year-old boy honored by fire department after saving family from fire

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Yazmin Rodriguez

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — On New Year’s Day, 9-year-old Shivansh’s quick thinking during an oven fire in his home, aided by fire safety education from the Mount Lebanon Fire Department, prevented a potential disaster.

“My mom was making pizza and then she yelled that there’s a fire. I told my dad to pull the fire alarm and call 911,” Shivansh said.

He made sure that everyone evacuated from the building, a decisive action that stopped the fire from becoming catastrophic, according to the Mount Lebanon Fire Department.

“Kind of like, I can do it,” Shivansh said.

The department highlighted its 30-year partnership in teaching fire life safety to elementary schools.

“We’re very fortunate that we have this partnership and we’re able to get these lessons. Being able to prevent that from happening, knowing our kids know what to do so that they can help themselves, that’s fantastic,” said Kristopher Siegert, lieutenant and fire life safety educator at the Mount Lebanon Fire Department.

Shivansh sent a message to others, saying, “You can be a hero if you listen in class.”

He also shared, “You can buy stuff at any time, but you can’t (buy life), life is priceless.”

Last Tuesday, the Mount Lebanon Fire Department recognized Shivansh’s efforts with a ceremony, a golden fire truck, and a truck ride.

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.

Florida police officer shoots armed man at gas station after mental health call escalates

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Allison Petro & Spencer Tracy

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    LONGWOOD, Florida (WESH) — A man was shot by police at a Longwood gas station after officers responded to a mental health call that escalated into a dangerous situation on Tuesday night.

The Longwood Police Department responded to a convenience store at 1001 West State Road 434 around 9:11 p.m. after reports of an armed, suicidal man inside.

Once police arrived, they attempted to de-escalate the situation by speaking with the man.

However, police said he did not comply and kept his hands hidden inside his waistband.

Police said the man then suddenly moved his hands in a way the officer believed was threatening, causing the officer to fire his weapon and strike the man.

Officers immediately provided first aid until fire rescue arrived. The man was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

No officers were injured in the incident.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is conducting an independent investigation, which is standard in cases like this.

Longwood police said this remains an active investigation.

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Florida bill wants mandatory AI education starting in fifth grade

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Dave Elias

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — A bill sponsored by Republican state Rep. Mike Giallombardo proposes mandatory AI education in Florida state schools starting as early as the fifth grade, with teachers and students expressing support for the initiative.

Biology major Xhesi Bano said, “Early on, teaching kids how to use it in a way to help them, I think it’s a smart way rather than let it get out of hand, and everybody is using it to do their homework.”

FGCU student Kai Inman reflected, “I think if AI was around when I was in 5th grade, I think, of course, teaching to use it responsibly would benefit me in the long run.”

Hospitality major Lilly Bomgardener emphasized, “It is a part of our culture, and it’s not leaving, and I think teaching people how to use it properly is going to help make sure it doesn’t become detrimental to society.”

Dr. Leandro Decastro from FGCU College of Engineering questioned, “How can we teach students to use AI and at the same time ensure they acquire the knowledge that we want them to acquire in our courses?”

Rep. Mike Giallombardo said, “We’re in a race to modernize the technology, against our adversaries.”

He added, “It really starts as early as 5th or 6th grade.”

The bill would need to pass in both the House and Senate and be signed by the governor before AI classes become part of the mandatory curriculum.

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Former national champion wrestler inspires youth through Florida wrestling program

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Bradley Shimel

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    CAPE CORAL, Florida (WBBH) — Having an impact on a young child’s life goes a long way, and one wrestling instructor in Cape Coral is proving that every day at Irons Elite Wrestling Club.

Jabari Irons said, “I started out wrestling in high school because I got hurt from football. I didn’t know how much I loved the sport, but it was a great outlet emotionally, physically and mentally.”

It turns out, he was pretty good at wrestling.

Irons earned a scholarship to FGCU, where he took home a collegiate national title and ended up with a third place finish in the World Wrestling Championship, but something significant happened in between.

Irons said, “There was an altercation. I went to pull my teammate back and try to de-escalate the situation and a shooting occurred. I ended up getting hit a couple of times as well as him. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it. We don’t know the number of our days, so we have to be thankful to be here, grateful for the opportunity. I feel like my soul mission on this Earth is to help the others around me, help everybody be the best that they can be daily.”

With that goal in mind, the Irons Elite Wrestling Club was established.

For the past six years, Irons has helped athletes earn college scholarships, but his impact goes deeper than that.

Irons said, “I coach up the little kids, I coach up the middle and high schoolers. I help them figure out who they want to be, what they’re capable of. My youth pastors and my coaches were there for me, so I took what they did for me, and I try to give it right back to the kids of Southwest Florida.”

The next generation of wrestlers is in good hands thanks to Irons.

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‘Killer algae’ spotted in Florida, threatening marine life and ecosystem

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Kyle Schmidt

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    LEE COUNTY, Florida (WBBH) — In Punta Rassa, a thick algae known as Caulerpa, or “killer algae,” is spreading along the shore, posing a threat to marine life and the local ecosystem.

“It’s blooming. It’s getting fast. It’s taking over everything,” said Brandon Brown, a dock builder who has witnessed general algae in the water. Brown noted that while deep-sea fishing, he has caught fish with algae growing on them, something he had never seen before.

The macroalgae, first observed by Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation research scientist Richard Bartleson in 2006, began to thrive in 2018. It now covers the seafloor around Punta Rassa and Matlacha.

“It’s getting the perfect conditions to grow here,” Bartleson said. The algae thrives on nutrients from septic systems and fertilizers entering the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee.

The algae is called “killer algae” because it smothers native plants like seagrass and can irritate human lungs. However, its main impact is on marine life.

“So the other effects people will see is lack of fish, they go out fishing, there’s no fish. That’s because this killed all the fish food, all the things the fish ate. It takes all the oxygen out of the water, kills all the clams, oysters, worms, shrimp, kills everything,” Bartleson said.

The Caulerpa algae will eventually die off in the summertime due to higher water temperatures.

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Kansas brothers indicted on federal charges tied to illegal machine guns and gun trafficking

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — Two Kansas brothers found themselves in federal court this week after being indicted on charges that accuse them of conspiring to traffic illegal machine guns and conversion devices over several months in late 2025.

A federal grand jury charged Markeese Fluker and Markel Fluker with a firearms trafficking conspiracy tied to the alleged transfer of multiple pistols that had been converted to fire automatically, along with dozens of machine gun conversion devices.

According to prosecutors, the activity took place between September and December 2025 and involved weapons moved in interstate commerce.

The indictment lays out several alleged transactions in which the defendants possessed or transferred machine guns or parts designed to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.

In one count, Markeese Fluker is also accused of possessing and selling a stolen handgun during the same timeframe.

Federal investigators later seized dozens of firearms, ammunition, and equipment during a December 2025 search, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors are now seeking forfeiture of the weapons, related equipment, and cash they say was tied to the alleged offenses.

Both men are facing multiple felony counts.

If convicted, they could each face lengthy prison sentences under federal law. Court records don’t list attorneys for the defendants, and no plea information was immediately available.

The case is scheduled to be tried in Kansas City, Kansas.

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Indiana baseball player turns family’s cancer fight into fundraiser

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Phil Sanchez

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    WESTFIELD, Indiana (WISH) — A Westfield High School baseball player is stepping up to the plate for a cause far bigger than the game.

Westfield High School junior Lincoln Hoffman has launched a fundraiser inspired by his younger sister, Londyn, a two-time cancer survivor.

On the baseball field, pressure is part of the game, but for Hoffman, the toughest moments didn’t come under the lights, they came at home.

“Londyn is a two-time cancer survivor,” Hoffman said. “She’s my why. She’s my everything. I do everything for her.”

Hoffman says his motivation comes from watching Londyn battle a rare form of cancer, who was first diagnosed when she was just six years old.

“We kind of felt something was off, and then got hit with that train, that C-word we don’t like using in the house anymore,” Hoffman said. “Big emotions came from us. Obviously, we knew it was going to be a fight, but we knew Londyn was going to get it done. There was a lot of faith in that.”

That faith was tested and strengthened through hospital stays, long nights, and the overwhelming support of the Westfield community.

“It was hard to focus on school,” Hoffman said. “My parents were going back and forth to the hospital. All the people who dropped off food — the community here in Westfield is amazing.”

Londyn received care at Riley Children’s Health, where Hoffman says doctors and nurses became part of the family’s journey.

When Londyn entered remission for the second time, the moment was unforgettable.

“There was a big flow of emotions after all we went through,” Hoffman said. “When she rang the bell, I got chills. I wasn’t even there. I saw the video and thought, ‘She really did it.’

Londyn’s fight wasn’t about home runs or headlines, it was about hope. Something Hoffman witnessed every day.

“Seeing her go through treatment at Riley really motivated me to do something else,” Hoffman said. “I just wanted to see if I could make it better.”

That motivation turned into action.

Hoffman launched a fundraiser called “Play for the Ones Who Can’t,” a mission he carries with him onto the field. The phrase is stitched onto his baseball glove, a reminder every time he waits to be called into a game.

“Some kids can’t do what me and my teammates are doing,” Hoffman said. “I just want to do it for them.”

Within just a few days of launching, Hoffman’s fundraiser raised nearly $6,000 for cancer research.

“She literally defies the impossible,” Hoffman said. “I don’t know how she does it. She’s rarely sad. That’s a lesson we can all learn.”

For Hoffman, every swing is for his sister and for every child still fighting. The game taught him how to compete. Life taught him why.

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.

Local leaders chime in after reports of ICE touring south Kansas City locations for possible detention center

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Chloe Godding & Andy Alcock

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — After rumors of a possible detention center began swirling in Kansas City this week, federal agents were spotted in south Kansas City on Thursday.

KMBC 9 saw Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the area of East 149th Street on Thursday morning. Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca said on social media that he confirmed they are looking to build what he called a “mega detention facility.”

Plans for these possible detention facilities were first reported in the Washington Post. U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., first spoke against the possible detention sites, which he said would aim to hold 8,000 immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly awarded a $29.9 million no-bid contract to an organization to carry out the plan. The DHS has not confirmed reports of these facilities.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver IIRep. Cleaver says possible immigration detention center in Kansas City will ‘degrade our society’ Cleaver strongly condemned the reported plan, saying it will “degrade our society, divide our communities, waste taxpayer dollars, and stress the civility of our institutions to the point of fracture.”

And he is not the only local leader who has expressed disapproval of the detention center, should it come to fruition.

Mayor Quinton Lucas said his office was working to verify reports of a potential detention center but that it would work to ensure that “no such facility” comes to the Kansas City area.

“I want to reaffirm our city’s commitment to being welcoming and inclusive,” Lucas said in a news release. “Kansas City has always been a place that embraces growth and opportunity, not fear and division. We believe in ensuring that all who live and visit our community feel valued and respected.”

On the other hand, some local leaders seem to think that some language and actions involving recent ICE rumors have gone too far.

Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith referenced Cleaver’s letter on the reported detention center, saying Cleaver is “stoking fear and insulting federal law enforcement efforts.”

“Such actions are inappropriate,” Smith said on social media. “Obstructing, threatening and insulting law enforcement is disgraceful. And elected officials doing so erodes any potential we have for keeping our discourse civil.”

Where could this facility be built?

Concrete plans for a detention center are not available, and may not exist yet, but one rumored location is an industrial building in the area of the 4000 block of East 149th Street.

Port KC issues a statement regarding the site of the former Richards-Gebaur Airbase and its involvement, or lack thereof, in it.

“To be clear, the building referenced was built and occupied solely as an advanced logistics and industrial facility. It is wholly owned by a private entity,” Port KC said.

Port KC said the building and the land are owned by Platform Ventures, a Kansas City-based real estate company.

“Port KC has very limited ability to disallow a sale of the facility,” Port KC continued. “Under no circumstances would Port KC offer any development support to a use that is not consistent with our mission to bring quality industrial and logistics jobs to the community.”

After speaking out against a possible ICE or DHS detention center, Lucas and the City Council approved an ordinance Thursday to block permits and licenses for any pending or future applications to establish non-municipal detention facilities in Kansas City.

The five-year moratorium applies to any application for a detention, corrections or carceral facility not owned or operated by the city. This would last through Jan. 15, 2031.

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.

Young IU Football fan gets team invite to CFP National Championship game in Miami

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Hernan Gutierrez

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A young Indiana University football super fan is gearing up for the trip of a lifetime this weekend. The team surprised him with an invitation to cheer them on in Miami for the CFP National Championship Game.

Drew Shouse has been a friend of the team for a few years now. He spent the first day of 2026 cheering his Hoosiers on in California at the Rose Bowl.

Earlier this week, he received a special message from his favorite player, IU quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and his teammates asking him to join them in Florida.

“Hey Drew, we knew you were with us at the Rose Bowl,” Mendoza said in the video message. “There’s no way we could go to the National Championship without you.”

He’ll be there to watch his Hoosiers battle it out against the No. 10-ranked Miami Hurricanes for a national title.

The Decatur County native knows a thing — or three — about battles.

He has a heart condition. At 10 years old, he’s already had open-heart surgery three times.

His mom, Ashleigh Shouse says he spent his first months of life at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital.

“He has severe aortic stenosis and mitral valve regurgitation,” Shouse said. “We found out about it when I was 23 weeks pregnant.”

Today, she says most people couldn’t tell he’s sick by looking at him.

In 2023, he was connected with Team IMPACT. The nonprofit matches young children with serious illnesses or disabilities to college sports teams.

Through Team Impact he’s been at IU Football practices and games. He even got to score a touchdown at the IU’s 2025 spring game.

Shouse says her son was a bit shy around the guys at first.

“They would play catch or something like that at practice or whatnot,” Shouse said. “Then he’d loosen up a little bit.”

He’s clearly made an impact on the Hoosiers, too.

Team IMPACT Development Officer Kiernan McGheen says he’s always hearing from student athletes about the program’s influence on their lives.

“They’re able to graduate and go into the world better humans because of their interactions and engagements with the kids that they’re paired with.”

For the Shouse family, it’s been a surreal experience to watch Drew grow up alongside the team.

“It’s just been the biggest blessing to get to be a part of it all,” Shouse said. “We’ve gotten to watch the transition when Curt Cignetti took over. It’s been really cool to see it all go down.”

To top it all off — Drew’s favorite NFL team is the Miami Dolphins who play at Hard Rock Stadium where the National Championship game will be played on Monday.

His family will head to Florida Saturday night.

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.

Georgia officer’s attempt to help stranded driver ends with wanted man’s arrest, police say

CNN Newsource on January 16, 2026

By Dan Raby

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    GWINNETT COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — A Gwinnett County officer’s attempt to help a stranded driver ended in a foot chase and the arrest of a man wanted on multiple outstanding warrants, officials say.

According to the Gwinnett County police, Officer Richard was patrolling on Nov. 7, 2025, when he noticed a vehicle that had stalled on a local road.

The driver, identified as Michael Stafford, told the officer that his vehicle was not working and that he accidentally left his driver’s license at home. While speaking to Stafford, officials say the officer reported smelling the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.

After the officer helped push the car into a nearby parking lot, Stafford left his vehicle and walked to a nearby building.

“I’ve got to pee, sir. I’ve got to pee,” Stafford is heard saying on the body camera recording.

Instead of peeing, Stafford tried to flee on foot, leading to a foot chase that ended in a nearby parking lot.

“I was just trying to help you out, bro,” the officer said while putting handcuffs on Stafford.

“I know,” Stafford replied.

Stafford was charged with possession of a Schedule I substance, possession with intent to distribute, obstruction, impeding the flow of traffic, failure to display a driver’s license, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

Investigators say they later learned that Stafford had 10 active warrants in Gwinnett County, as well as other warrants from Hancock County, Cobb County Police Department, Johns Creek Police Department, and the Atlanta Police Department.

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