Author: CNN Newsource

By Logan Ramsey

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    IDAHO (eastidahonews.com) — UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): East Idaho News viewers have been alerting us to toppled semi-trucks along Interstate 15, particularly in Bannock County and the Malad Pass.

“Widespread incidents are causing traffic impacts such as downed trees, power lines, toppled semi-trucks and more,” the Idaho Transportation Department said in a news release. “Drivers should be aware that road and travel conditions are rapidly changing. This is expected to continue until the storm passes late tonight.”

UPDATE (2:25 p.m.): According to an Idaho Power representative, there are 83 active power outages across its eastern region of coverage, adding up to 3,518 customers without power. This is down from around 300 total power outages from earlier in the day.

The representative, Brad Bowlin, said that Idaho Power’s current outage map isn’t reflecting all power outages because of the high volume of weather-related outages taking place.

Bowlin confirmed that Idaho Power has received multiple reports of downed power lines.

“We have crews either on site or en route to those outages, working to restore power safely,” Bowlin said.

Bowlin said that people who come across downed power lines should stay at least 100 feet away, and call 911 to report them.

“We always work with law enforcement and other first responder agencies to remind people that especially in a wind event like this, it’s not uncommon to have downed power lines,” Bowlin said. “We do de-energize those lines as soon as we are made aware that we have lines down, but people should always just assume that any downed line is energized.”

ORIGINAL STORY (12:30 p.m.): ABERDEEN — As strong winds blow through eastern Idaho, some people are losing power, and authorities are warning the public to avoid the area west of Aberdeen.

At 11:30 a.m., the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office put out a post on Facebook, informing the public that “multiple” power lines are damaged. It’s unclear how extensive this damage is.

The Pocatello Police Department also issued a news release, saying it had also received reports of storm damage.

“We are receiving reports of fallen trees and downed power lines due to extreme weather. Please use caution when driving and when exiting your home if you are near these hazards,” the release reads. “Police and fire personnel are working to reopen roads and secure affected areas while utilities work to shut off power to impacted lines.”

The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Wednesday morning, a little before 10 p.m. The warning was in effect for parts of eastern Idaho until 10:45 a.m. for “destructive 80 mph winds.”

An EastIdahoNews.com reader sent us a number of photos showing fallen power lines and irrigation equipment blown into the road. Another reader from American Falls sent in a photo showing damage to a large structure, presumably due to the storm.

Idaho Power’s outage map shows hundreds of customers without power in various places in Bannock and Bingham counties. Rocky Mountain Power’s outage map shows a number of power outages in Madison, Fremont and Butte counties.

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 KGO Staff

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    REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (KGO) — On the Peninsula, workers have a huge mess to clean up at a Redwood City Ace Hardware after an SUV smashed right through the front wall.

The quick actions of a teen employee made sure everyone got out safely as a fire ignited with flames shooting from where the SUV stopped.

It happened just after 5 p.m. at the Ace Hardware on Woodside Road.

The Redwood City Fire Department says when they arrived at the scene, both the car and the store were on fire.

Ricky Pera, a 16-year-old employee, said the driver hit two cash registers and ended up in an aisle.

“And we looked to our right, and a SUV came straight through the window, and we have a lot of butane tanks and lighters which started catching on fire so we had to ask fast get her out of the vehicle and stopped the fire,” Pera said.

Pera and other employees got everyone else outside safely before the fire spread to the Christmas decorations in the store. SKY7 showed all the smoke billowing out before the fire was extinguished.

Pera said the driver didn’t appear injured, just shaken up.

“She’s told me that she stepped on the gas instead of the brake, which caused her to go flying into the store,” he said.

Pera is glad no one got seriously injured and said it’s the last thing he would’ve expected to have happen.

The fire department says building inspectors on Monday night were trying to determine the stability of the building’s structure. For now, the store will be shut down.

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 Nate Eaton

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    IDAHO (eastidahonews.com) — A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season. Every day, from now until the end of the year, the East Idaho News elves will be delivering gifts from Secret Santa and we’ll be sharing the surprise videos here.

Christina has spent years making sure no child in her community goes hungry — often at her own expense.

Through her work with a local school food program, Christina has helped ensure students who cannot afford lunch still receive a meal each day. She also created a food pantry exchange program, encouraging community members to donate items for families in need.

Christina successfully wrote a grant that allowed the school to purchase an additional walk-in freezer, increasing storage capacity so more food could be kept on hand for students who rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition.

But while Christina has consistently given back to others, her own family has been facing overwhelming hardship.

Her husband, Eric, suffered a traumatic brain injury in a tragic accident while cutting down a tree. One tree fell onto another, causing it to flip upward and strike Eric in the back of the head. The injury has left him with serious, long-term complications and generated extensive medical bills.

With Eric unable to work, Christina has taken on extra jobs, including shifts at a gas station, to support their three children and keep up with mounting expenses.

Secret Santa heard about Christina and her situation and asked the East Idaho News elves to surprise her while working at school in Challis.

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 KABC Staff

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said cases of the highly contagious norovirus are on the rise.

The department told Eyewitness News that they use a method called wastewater sampling to detect viruses, and that norovirus concentrations detected in wastewater have been increasing.

Health officials said recent wastewater tests covering a three-week period showed norovirus detection increased 154% in the city of Los Angeles and over 250% in the county.

“Based on past trends, Public Health expects norovirus activity to rise between November to April, when outbreaks are more common during the cooler months,” said the health department in a statement.

What is norovirus? Norovirus is spread easily through direct contact with an infected person, eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, or touching contaminated surfaces then touching your mouth without washing your hands.

Symptoms may start 12 to 48 hours after exposure and can include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach cramping, body aches, and fever.

What should I do to stay safe? The public health department shared the following tips to protect yourself.

Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.

Wash fruits and vegetables carefully and thoroughly cook shellfish. The department say norovirus is killed above 60C /140F – freezing does not kill it.

Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, clothes, or linens immediately after getting sick with a bleach-based household cleaner.

If infected, don’t cook food for others for three days after recovering from the illness.

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 Jose Fabian

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    SOLANO COUNTY, California (KOVR) — At least one Solano County Jail employee is on administrative leave after a partially written racial slur targeting the Black community was allegedly found taped on a wall, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday.

The slur was allegedly used as the answer in a game of “hangman,” a child’s word game in which players guess letters to reveal a word, according to Daily Republic, who first reported the story.

The sheriff’s office did not say where in the facility the word was found.

“We are aware of the incident and take these allegations seriously. It is under investigation, and the involved parties are on administrative leave pending its outcome,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

The sheriff’s office did not specify how many people were on administrative leave.

“The alleged acts are contrary to the values we hold at the Sheriff’s Office and will not be tolerated if true,” the sheriff’s office 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.