Author: CNN Newsource

By Lorien Nettleton

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    TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KIVI) — Two Magic Valley residents — a refugee-turned-advocate and a child of immigrants — are sharing their personal stories as part of a community storytelling event called “Becoming Idaho.”

Chandra Upreti, director of the Twin Falls office of the United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, is a refugee himself. He said his parents fled their home country of Bhutan when he was only 6 months old. After leaving Bhutan and before arriving in the United States, Upreti and his family lived in a refugee camp in Nepal for nearly 17 years.

“My parents fled when I was only six months old. I did not choose to become a refugee,” Upreti said. “Today I’m a very proud U.S. citizen, a parent, and also in a place where I’m able to help fellow refugees. It means a lot to me, and I’m looking forward to sharing my own personal story.”

Upreti is one of the guest speakers at the Feb 26 “Becoming Idaho” event, part of Idaho Solutions ‘The More You Know’ lecture series.

The event is an opportunity to highlight the diversity that has long defined Twin Falls.

“It’s really nice to see folks coming from different parts of the world,” added Upreti. “And live in a community that we all share.”

Twin Falls has welcomed refugees since the 1980s, resettling people from 47 countries over the past 46 years. Prior to the Trump administration’s restrictions on refugees, the office resettled about 200 individuals each year. Today, the center is on track to resettle fewer than half that number.

A pediatrician in Twin Falls and the child of immigrants from Honduras and Costa Rica, Dr. José Peña said he grew up in a bilingual household. He said those language skills allow him to connect with patients and community members who do not speak English.

“America has always been known as a land of opportunity, a land that’s welcoming to immigrants or to people that are from outside, and one of the ideals that I hope that a lot of people really cherish is that [we are] kind of a melting pot,” Peña said.

Peña said he hopes the event changes minds about immigration and diversity.

“I think it’s good to hear a different accent or hear someone speaking a different language,” Peña said. “My hope would be the people who can go to this experience and come away thinking ‘OK, this is actually a really good thing.'”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KIVI verifies 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 Jon Dowding

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    MORRISVILLE, North Carolina (WTVD) — A Morrisville mother shares her experience being saved by firefighters during Monday night’s fire at the Camden Westwood Apartments.

A fire started on the balcony outside of a first-floor apartment on Monday, then quickly spread up the building. The flames moved through the attic, engulfing the entire top floor of the building.

Amanda Blanchard says she, her husband, and her 10-month-old daughter live in a third-floor apartment in the complex. They just moved there in November.

She says the evening started normally. Her husband came home from work, and she was heating a bottle for her daughter, when she smelled smoke.

I said, we’re trapped. Like, we’re trapped, – Amanda Blanchard

“When I went to the door to open it up, I was just met with a wall of smoke and fire,” she said.

ABC11 asked Blanchard whether her smoke detectors went off.

“No, I didn’t hear anything,” said Blanchard. “The only time I was aware of a fire was when I opened that door and saw fire.”

She shut their front door, went to their balcony, and was met by heavy black smoke.

“I said, we’re trapped. Like, we’re trapped,” she said. “I don’t know if anyone knows we’re here.”

Scared and not sure of a way out, she grabbed her phone.

“I called 911, and I said … I have a 10-month-old baby. We’re stuck. Help us,” said Blanchard.

Moments later, she heard a heavy knocking on her door from the firefighters who came there to rescue her and her family. She shared a tearful message for them as she shared her experience.

“They were my angels. My angels, for sure,” she said. “Thank you. Thank you for getting us out and not leaving us behind.”

Blanchard and her family are staying at a local hotel as they find a new place to call home.

Still, she is so thankful for the help from her neighbors and the Morrisville community.

“The amount of love I’m feeling from everyone around is incredible. For someone who’s not even grown up here. It’s amazing,” she said. “Check your fire alarms. Check that your documents are safe. Make a plan. Cherish your loved ones. That’s all I can say.”

ABC11 reached out to Camden about her claim that her smoke detectors did not go off during the fire. They have not returned our request for comment.

If you want to help affected residents like Blanchard, the property group shared details here about how you can help.

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 Eyewitness News

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    LONG ISLAND CITY, New York (WABC) — Nine cars crashed on the westbound Long Island Expressway in Queens, with some cars piled on top of others.

It happened Friday morning on the LIE at 25th Street in Long Island City.

Four people were hurt. One person was critically injured.

At least one victim could be seen being lifted on a backboard over the center median to a waiting ambulance on the other side.

The HOV lane remained open, but all others on the westbound side were closed as the vehicles were towed from the scene.

Traffic at 10 a.m. was backed up all the way to Elmhurst, Queens.

The cause of the crash is under 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 Brandon Downs

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    SANTA ROSA, California (KPIX) — A suspect is accused of animal cruelty after hundreds of birds and evidence consistent with bird fighting were located at a home just outside of Santa Rosa city limits on Wednesday, authorities said.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said a search warrant was served at a home along Stony Point Road, located near Elsie Allen High School.

Deputies said they discovered 833 roosters and evidence of cockfighting, such as slashers, timers, veterinary medication and conditioning supplements, identification bands, betting slips and small-denomination currency.

Authorities said they arrested 30-year-old Saul Villalobos-Delacruz on suspicion of animal cruelty and charges related to bird fighting. Deputies said he was later released on pretrial supervision.

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 Olivia Young

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    PRADERA, Colorado (KCNC) — Douglas County officials say a hiker discovered human remains this week on undeveloped land near Crowfoot Valley Road and Pradera Parkway.

“I guess surreal is more of like the word to think about it,” said Shane Moody, a Pradera resident.

Hundreds reacted with shock on social media to news of a grisly discovery made by a hiker.

“My mom actually got some news onto her phone, I think, on the Nextdoor app,” Moody said. “She showed me an article about the remains back there, and we were pretty shocked, because we grew up here, and I’ve been here for a lot of my life.”

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is calling what that hiker found human remains, rather than a body. After those remains were found, multiple agencies searched the area near Crowfoot Valley Road and Pradera Parkway. Responders included Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigators, Douglas County Search and Rescue and El Paso County Search and Rescue’s K-9 team.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says the human remains were found on open space owned by the county. The land is near Parker’s Pradera neighborhood and the Crowsnest properties currently seeking annexation into Castle Pines.

“I know there’s a lot of open space over there, so that’s what we heard on kind of the other side of the road,” Moody said.

The sheriff’s office is investigating and can’t share more right now.

“Just scary to hear in our area,” Moody said.

The news is disconcerting for nearby residents like Moody.

“I think, right now, it’s kind of just a little bit more being kind of on alert,” Moody said. “With family and kids here, it is something to kind of look out for, especially, if you’re hiking by yourself and those type of things.”

Douglas County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death, as well as the identity of the remains.

It’s not clear if foul play was involved at this time, or how long the remains were there.

“It’s sad, sad to see that,” Moody 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 Alyssa Munoz

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    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KOAT) — In Albuquerque’s South Valley, Soilutions, a local company, is celebrating 30 years of business by recycling landscape and food waste into compost, soil, and mulch, keeping hundreds of thousands of pounds of food out of landfills each week.

The company receives about 500,000 pounds of food waste weekly, with most of the finished product remaining in New Mexico. Their goal is to keep organics out of landfills, reduce methane gas, and return nutrients to local soil.

They have partnered with about seven local businesses, including M’Tucci’s, and aim to collaborate with 30 by the end of the year.

“I always wanted to make a difference with sustainability in this industry, the restaurant industry. I think we’re all just really proud that we get a chance to make sure the model works and then we would love to encourage other restaurants and companies all over New Mexico to do the same thing,” said Howie Kibel, brand manager at M’Tucci’s.

In 2024, the company also partnered with recycling company Denali, which helps recycle unsold grocery food from big corporations like Walmart across the state and West Texas. Dawn Dewey, president and owner of Soilutions, said, “We actually have a really cutting-edge technology of food waste recycling called a D packaging machine. So, we can bring food in that’s in packaging still, we run it through this special piece of equipment, and it separates the food from the packaging, which really just enables us to scale the amount of food that can be recycled.”

Homeowners can drop off yard waste for free and order compost and soil for delivery through their website. The company is located on Bates Road near Second Street and Broadway.

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 Cecil Hannibal

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    YUBA COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — A major pipe rupture at the New Colgate Powerhouse in Dobbins, Yuba County, has caused a mudslide, evacuations, and left a road completely washed out, leaving truck driver Cesar Garcia unable to work for almost two weeks as his rig remains trapped.

“My truck, trailer, and my equipment was at the bottom of the mountain when it happened,” Garcia said.

Garcia was picking up a load when the pipe rupture forced him to evacuate, leaving behind his truck and his only source of income.

“The fact that I can’t work and I’m just using my savings, it’s really putting a strain on our family right now,” he said.

Over the past two weeks, Garcia has contacted various agencies and companies involved, losing nearly $15,000 in potential earnings as bills pile up and his savings dwindle.

Willie Whittlesey from the Yuba Water Agency said, “This is an absolutely unfortunate situation, and we have spoken to Cesar about this situation.”

He explained that Garcia’s truck appears to be in fine condition, but the road is completely washed out, making it impossible to drive the truck out.

“We don’t have an exact time, we know that the contractor is going to start tomorrow…we don’t have an exact time of reopening the road,” Whittlesey said. “We feel bad for Cesar, and this incident has impacted all of us, and I feel terrible that he hasn’t been able to work, and if I could go down there and drive his truck out personally, I would.”

As contractors work to repair the road, Garcia said, “Bills are coming in, and I’m really struggling right now…I really am.”

He remains stuck in limbo, waiting to get his truck back.

“At this point, I don’t really know what else to do,” Garcia 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 Maricela De La Cruz

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    SACRAMENTO (KCRA) — Local leaders, lawmakers, and immigrant advocates rallied in downtown Sacramento, demanding the return of a Natomas woman they say was wrongfully deported after a scheduled green card appointment.

Janet Gallegos, Maria’s niece, described her as an inspiring woman and said her aunt has been “Doing everything right, coming in for her appointments as a DACA recipient and petitioning for her green card on behalf of my cousin… she is a manager at her hotel who serves Sacramento residents. They have a contract with the city to shelter homeless people. She is not a criminal. Do you call that a criminal? Because I don’t.”

Family members say Maria has lived in the U.S. since she was 15 years old and was a

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient navigating the immigration process, which advocates say has become concerning for immigrant communities.

“This is incredibly nerve-wracking and anxiety-inducing for our community in Sacramento. We have individuals who are following the process,” Jessie Mabry from Opening Doors said. “They are following the steps. They are coming to their ICE check-ins. They are coming to their immigration court hearings. They are doing their appointments with USCIS. They are following the rules, and then, in an instant, the rules are changed.”

Her relatives describe the unexpected arrest and detention at the John Moss Federal Building as traumatic, alleging she was denied critical medical care while in custody.

Janet Gallegos said, “They fed her frozen wrapped burritos and toilet paper as she told me. They grabbed all her belongings and put her in potato sacks. She is a diabetic, so my cousin brought her her medicine, but they did not give her the medicine. They humiliated her, saying her medicine as a diabetic is Ozempic, and they said that it is for obese people, not for diabetics, and she was without her medicine for more than 48 hours.”

The family is now seeking legal assistance, hoping to bring Maria back to Sacramento, the place they say she calls home.

Attempts to reach ICE for comment have not been successful, but advocates say they will continue pressing federal officials until she’s allowed to return home.

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.