Author: CNN Newsource

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.

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.

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 Michael Paluska

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    ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (WFTS) — A dilapidated St. Petersburg home where the owner’s skeletal remains were found years after his death has been transformed from a neighborhood eyesore to a dream home.

The house sat seemingly abandoned for years during the COVID-19 pandemic, with neighbors unaware that the reclusive owner was dead inside. The body was discovered only after the bank sent a representative to investigate when automatic payments stopped.

“The representative went inside the house and thought they saw a Halloween decoration. It was not a Halloween decoration. It was the skeletal remains of the owner, and they had been there for a while,” said Alex Jandick of 131 Cash Home Buyers.

St. Petersburg police told Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska the case is inactive, and that the body was too decomposed for the medical examiner to determine the cause of death.

“During COVID, when a lot of people just weren’t outside and just staying inside, no one went to check on him, and they said he was a bit of a recluse anyway, so he’s just a private person, didn’t go outside and was not close with any of his family,” Jandick said. “It’s just kind of like the perfect storm, essentially.”

Jandick specializes in finding the most run-down houses and sold this property to Andrew Strong, a real estate investor who spent more than seven months gutting and renovating the home. The project transformed the one-bedroom, one-bath into a three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home.

“This house got the full nine, everything,” Strong said.

When Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska first visited the house in 2024, it was infested with rats and roaches, piled high with trash, and had an overwhelming smell. The transformation is stunning.

The room that was once piled high with trash is now the master bedroom. The living room has been completely transformed. What was once a study full of junk is now a bedroom. The kitchen didn’t just get updated – it went through a complete metamorphosis.

“I think in the beginning it’s always a little overwhelming at the beginning stages, because you’re putting together your budget, you’re trying to envision the house coming together,” Strong said. “You have to be creative. You have to have confidence that you’re turning this blank slate into something beautiful.”

The renovation represents more than just a house flip – it’s about changing communities one property at a time.

“This has literally gone from the by far the worst house on the block to by far the best house on the block,” Jandick said.

Strong described the finished product as “a beautifully rehabbed home, a home that’s waiting for a buyer and that’s gonna spend several years in here. Very happy, yeah, no more zombies, no more zombies. No critters, just a home waiting to be lived in.”

If you are interested in the home at 5820 Fairfield Ave S., St. Pete, you can reach out to the realtor, Laura Marie 727-350-7003.

This story was reported on-air by Michael Paluska and converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Paluska and Scripps editorial team verify all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Annette Gutierrez

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    INVERNESS, Florida (WFTS) — A day of fun and adventure for two friends turned into an unimaginable loss for their families in Citrus County.

George Watts and his best friend, Derrick Hubbard, both 14 years old, died after a sand tunnel they were digging collapsed on them near Sportsman Park.

The boys’ former neighbor, Zachariah Roberson, who owns Doggylicious Florida, remembered them as joyful, energetic kids that everyone loved.

“They were just being kids – they were just playing in sand. We always encourage our kids to get off the tablets, electronics to go play outside, and that’s exactly what they were doing and unfortunately you never really think about the dangers of sand, and we live in Florida. So this is a very eye-opening experience for myself and I’m pretty sure a lot of others,” Roberson said.

Citrus County deputies said on Sunday afternoon, they responded to a call about two teens who had gotten lost near Sportsman Park. Authorities found the boys inside a hole they had dug after the sand tunnel collapsed on them. Both boys passed away, leaving an entire community mourning.

“They were kids who were part of the community in a very positive way and they’re definitely going to be missed for sure,” Roberson said.

The Watts family made the decision to donate George’s organs. Roberson joined dozens of community members at UF Health Shands Hospital to support the family, capturing a powerful moment of unity and prayer over the grieving families.

“Knowing that they’re going to save other kids with their donations, and that they will live on somehow, that’s a blessing,” Roberson said.

The teens attended Inverness Middle School. The superintendent of Citrus Schools shared the following message to the teachers and staff:

I want to take a moment to reach out to you during this incredibly difficult time for your school community. The tragic events involving two of your students have deeply impacted all of us, and I know many of you are carrying the weight of this loss alongside your students.

Our district support team is on the IMS campus and will remain available throughout the week to support students, staff, and families. I encourage you to reach out to them if you need any support throughout this difficult time.

I am appreciative of the care, professionalism, and dedication each of you continue to show your students, especially during moments of grief and uncertainty. The relationships you have built make a meaningful difference in helping students feel supported.

Thank you for looking out for one another and for continuing to support each other with empathy and grace. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Hermann, Mrs. Lulenski, or Mrs. Cassidy if you need additional assistance. Statement from Dr. Scott Hebert Superintendent, Citrus County Schools Community members are organizing different types of fundraisers, both online and in-person.

If you’re interested in supporting the donation, you can do so with the Citrus County Education Foundation.

Roberson and his company have teamed up with Cleveland’s Catering to throw a BBQ fundraiser event in the coming weeks. They will also be selling shirts made by LandShark Elite Custom Printing & Design. Stay with Tampa Bay 28 for all the updates on this event.

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 Reg Chapman

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    MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A couple and their six children say they were trapped inside their vehicle in the Twin Cities when a tear gas canister exploded underneath them during an interaction with ICE officers.

Shawn and Destiny Jackson have an 11- and 7-year-old, 4-year-old twins, a 2-year-old and a 6-month-old baby boy. They were on their way home from basketball practice when they were caught between protesters and ICE agents.

“They stopped at my car, and they proceeded to yell in and said, ‘Get out of here.’ Well, they used profanity. And my husband screamed and said, ‘We’re trying,'” Destiny Jackson said.

The couple stayed calm, they said, while ICE agents ramped up their demands.

“They said it again, and we said, ‘We’re trying, if you guys will move.’ And of course, everybody saying what happened with Renee, you know, we weren’t going to pull off while they were right there. That’s what we were trying to avoid,” Destiny Jackson said.

She said the agents walked to the back of their vehicle and released a canister of tear gas under their vehicle.

“Within seconds, there was a big boom and our car was up in the air and we slammed down and all of our airbags deployed and all of our doors locked. And tear gas just started forming, a ball of gas just started forming around the car,” Destiny Jackson said.

WCCO has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment about the incident.

When the tear gas was released, Destiny Jackson says panic set in.

“I managed to feel around and open up everybody’s, like, I unlocked everybody’s door and I hopped out, and I just started pulling as many kids as I could out,” she said.

Bystanders stepped up. Destiny Jackson said she was taken inside a house nearby, and total strangers began helping her children out of the smoke-filled vehicle.

“The last person to get out of the car was my infant child,” she said. “And when he came in, he was, like, lifeless. It was like foam or bubbles coming out of his mouth. I had to give him mouth-to-mouth and CPR. I couldn’t even breathe myself, and all I remember is between every breath, I was saying, ‘I’m going to give you every breath I have until you get yours back.'”

The couple has been together since their days at North High School. Shawn Jackson, who was coached by Minneapolis and Metro Transit police officers, says he has respect for law enforcement. Now, their lives are forever changed by ICE agents and a canister of tear gas.

“It was like they didn’t have a care in the world for us,” Shawn Jackson said.

“The windows were down. You could see my kids in the car, the lights were on in the car,” Destiny Jackson added.

The parents say their children are traumatized and are not sleeping, but are physically OK. A fund has been set up to help the family with medical bills and to replace the family vehicle.

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 Juli McDonald

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — In a world where it can be awfully hard to agree, here in New England one thing is for certain: it sure feels good to be a Patriots fan right now.

“Some people don’t like that we’re back in the good times, but we are,” said a New England native who now roots for the Pats from Tampa.

There are of course some clear factors at play in these good times.

“Coach Vrabel’s done a great job of bringing the team culture back to what it used to be years ago,” said a Norwood fan.

But even prior to the playoffs, before early in the season back-to-back wins, the return of football always feels good, and experts say being a fan is good for you.

“In New England just walking by someone it’s very interesting if someone says ‘hi.’ But at a sporting event you’ll turn around and you’ll high five a stranger and it’ll be an intense great moment, and you’ll never think about it again,” said licensed independent clinical social worker Dawn Perry.

Perry, a Pats fan herself, is the co-clinical director for AVIV Mental Health. She explains that regardless of the scoreboard, cheering for a team with fellow fans can be like medicine for your mind and mood.

“Sports allows us as a community to get outside of that isolation and to really go into what feels good and it’s being with one another, feeling connected, and feeling connected to your life, the life that’s happening in front of you,” Perry added.

A way to bond with family and friends on the couch, at the tailgate, or even through social media memes… and also, find comfortable common ground throughout your community.

“You can go to Mass on Sunday, and you can see people in Patriots jerseys. In business, I’m in sales, so I talk to clients about business opportunities. And the first thing we say, ‘what a great win.’ So, it kind of lightens the moods,” said the Norwood fan.

“In these times, when times are so tough and how the world is split right sports brings us all together,” a Patriots fan 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.