Author: CNN Newsource

By Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — With Idaho under a statewide drought emergency, farmers face tough decisions heading into this year’s crop season.

At Williamson Orchards and Vineyard in Sunnyslope, co-owner Mike Williamson said the biggest concern is simple but critical.

“How are we going to keep our vines and trees alive through the end of the summer?” Williamson said.

Drought conditions are not new to Idaho’s agricultural industry, but they pose unique challenges for farmers who rely on permanent crops like grapevines and fruit trees. These crops take years to establish and cannot be easily replaced or rotated.

“Our crops out here are permanent, that meaning they’re gonna stay here year in and year out, and as a farmer, it’s my job to guide my employees to care for these that includes applying the right amount of water,” Williamson said.

Unlike other farms that can pivot to shorter-season crops such as beans or peas, Williamson said vineyards and orchards require consistent care and water throughout the entire growing season. He noted the long-term investment makes water management even more critical.

“These vines behind us, they’re over 20 years old,” Williamson said.

To stretch limited water supplies, Williamson said his team will adjust by pruning their grapevines more heavily this season. The strategy reduces the plant’s need for water but also lowers overall production.

“If we use the strategy to reduce our crop through pruning to help mitigate water usage and reduce our water usage, that can reduce our yield, our overall yield, and it does affect our bottom line,” Williamson said.

Earlier this season, Williamson said farmers were warned water access could be cut off as early as August or September, a scenario that could have devastating consequences.

Recent rain helped improve conditions slightly, but uncertainty remains about how long water supplies will last.

Idaho’s agriculture depends heavily on snowpack in the mountains, which feeds reservoir and canal systems used for irrigation throughout the year.

To adapt, Williamson said his family’s century-old farm invested in water-efficient practices and technology.

“We use water-thrifty practices, including drip irrigation. The emitters put the water right where the plant is. We use technology out in the field as well. We have water sensors that go four feet down in the ground… to measure and monitor how the water table in our fields are doing, so that we can more precisely water. And water right when we need to and not overwater,” Williamson said.

Those systems allow farmers to deliver water directly to plant roots and avoid waste, a crucial strategy during drought conditions.

“Water’s a treasure, and we have to spend it wisely,” Williamson said.

Williamson said each farm faces different challenges depending on crop type, water access, and long-term investments. Many are working through the same uncertainty as they try to protect both their harvest and their livelihood.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, 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 WXYZ Staff

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    Michigan (WXYZ) — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said fish stocking is taking place in hundreds of lakes and streams across the state.

According to the DNR, there is a fleet of 18 specialist fish-stocking vehicles that are used to stock more than 20 million fish annually, weighing more than 350 tons.

Species stocked include: steelhead; Atlantic, Chinook and coho salmon; splake (a hybrid of brook and lake trout) and brown, brook, lake and rainbow trout; muskellunge and walleye.

The stocking begins in mid-March and ends in early June, and officials say the stocking trucks will travel over 100,000 miles to stock more than 1,000 locations.

According to the department, fish stocking is a valuable tool for fisheries managers, and can be used to provide a range of fishing opportunities, restore balance to ecosystems, rehabilitate fish populations and more.

“In some cases, stocking would be unnecessary or even detrimental to a lake or stream or to fish populations,” Jeremiah Blaauw, DNR fish marking and stocking biologist, said. “If a fish population is producing well naturally and in alignment with angling demand and management goals for that species, we don’t stock on top of those wild populations.”

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 Itay Hod

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — On a cool April morning in the Presidio, a team of volunteers fans out across the dunes, cameras in hand, and lenses ready. At first glance, it looks like they’ve come to capture something. But on this particular day, they were here to set something free.

For the past three years, Durrell Kapan, a senior research fellow at the California Academy of Sciences, has been trying to right what he calls an 80-year-old wrong.

“The Xerces blue is sort of a black spot on our record,” he said.

The story began in the late 19th century, when San Francisco paved over its coastal dunes for development, taking with it a tiny, iridescent butterfly known as the Xerces blue. By the early 1940s, it was gone, widely recognized as the first butterfly in North America driven to extinction by human activity.

Decades later, conservationists brought the dunes back, the sand, the native plants, and the ecosystem. But not the butterfly. So, Kapan and his team turned to the Xerces Blue’s closest living relative: the silvery blue butterfly.

Collected near Big Sur, the butterflies have been transported north and released under small mesh enclosures placed over deerweed, their host plant. The idea is simple: let them discover the habitat before they have a chance to leave it.

Restoring habitats isn’t new. But using one species to stand in for another, hoping it can fill the same ecological role, is a more unusual approach.

“Butterflies are an important part of the ecosystem,” says Phoebe Parker-Shames, a wildlife ecologist with the Presidio Trust.

And there are early signs it’s working. Researchers have already spotted unmarked Silvery Blues, an indication that some are being born here, not just brought in. So far, 46 butterflies have been released at the Presidio this spring, 167 in total.

“That’s the proof of all these little improbable pieces coming together,” Parker-Shames said.

By the end of the day, 14 more butterflies have a new home. For Kapan, the work is about more than restoration.

“By changing this, we’re learning how to repair nature,” he 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 Carli Petrus

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    FRENCHTOWN TOWNSHIP, Michigan (WXYZ) — A Monroe County Sheriff’s deputy shot and killed a man armed with a knife Sunday morning after officials say the man threatened a citizen while soliciting money.

The incident happened just after 11 a.m. near the I-75 off-ramp at North Dixie Highway in Frenchtown Township, near the TownePlace Suites hotel.

Kris Blanchett said he had just exited I-75 with his 9-year-old daughter when they spotted a man near the off-ramp holding a sign. Blanchett said the sign was explicit, asking for money in exchange for a sexual act.

“When she read it out loud to me, I was just totally stunned, like what did you just, what did you say? And then I looked and he’s just standing there with a grin on his face,” Blanchett said.

“And it kind of blew my mind, so I opened my door and I had words with him and told him that he probably shouldn’t be out here. There’s kids out here. My concern for my daughter and everyone else’s kid that reads that,” Blanchett said.

The interaction quickly escalated.

“And he started to approach me and had something in his hand, I can’t say if it was exactly a knife or if it wasn’t, but I locked my door and he kept threatening me. I just drove off and called central dispatch,” Blanchett said.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said a deputy was dispatched to the area after reports of a man soliciting money, threatening a citizen, and armed with a knife.

When the deputy arrived, officials say he tried to use a Taser twice, but it was ineffective. The deputy then fired his weapon, striking and killing the man.

The scene shut down the nearby TownePlace Suites hotel for hours. Philip Patel, TownePlace Suites by Marriott developer and operator, said the closure impacted guests.

“My hotel is closed, and it’s a part of major hotel and customer complaints are piling up, and some customers are stuck. They want to go home, or new customers want to come in, but we cannot allow that,” Patel said.

Blanchett said he regrets opening his door and never imagined his 911 call would end this way.

“I was actually, I didn’t think about it at first when I opened my door but it was a stupid move. Nowadays you never know what you’re going to get out of people,” Blanchett said.

“I’m really sorry that it escalated to this, you know, my thoughts are with his family and with the officers involved and I really hope that in the future these things can get handled without violence,” Blanchett said.

The deputy involved was not injured and has been placed on administrative leave. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them as the investigation continues.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ’s editorial team 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 James Taylor, CBS13 Photojournalist

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — Last year, more people checked out digital books and media in Sacramento libraries than traditional books, and that’s causing the city to re-evaluate funding.

“We don’t just have books. We have way more than that. We have community,” Donna Vega said.

Vega is a librarian in the Fair Oaks branch of the Sacramento Public Library, where patrons can check out some more unusual items, like an electric guitar.

“It’s a great way to test out things that maybe you don’t want to spend that much money on,” she said.

The Fair Oaks branch even has power tools.

“Our pressure washers are very, very popular,” Vega said.

The library also offers programs, classes and reading clubs. But Vega said the best part of her job is still helping kids find just the right thing to read.

“There’s no greater feeling because their eyes light up and they’re so excited to get that book,” Vega said.

Last year, the Sacramento Public Library added more than 90,000 new cardholders and saw an 18% increase in visits.

The growing popularity comes at a time when future funding for public libraries is uncertain.

The library gets 20% of its annual budget from the City of Sacramento, which is facing a multi-million-dollar deficit. And there could be impacts from proposed cuts to federal grants, too.

Patrons like Tony Brisbane say libraries serve a crucial role in the community.

“The library is needed. The kids come in and enjoy it,” Brisbane said.

Volunteers have been raising money to keep programs running.

“We have our Friends of the Library that work really hard at this branch to make sure that we get the help to shore up funding where we need it,” Vega said.

So it’s not the final chapter for these walls filled with books, so long as customers keep coming in and taking advantage of the free community benefit.

“It feels good to be able to provide that service,” Vega said.

Library officials say there are no planned closures or reduced hours, but final budget discussions are coming up later this spring.

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 Rina Nakano

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    THOUSAND OAKS, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Thousand Oaks woman in her 80s is the latest recipient of the most prestigious aviation award in America, breaking gender stereotypes and inspiring other women to join the field.

Most people her age are giving up their driver’s licenses, but 83-year-old Cecilia Stratford is still in the cockpit.

“Well, there’s nothing like going up in the air and controlling the machine that you’re flying in and seeing the Earth,” Stratford said.

She still remembers feeling that thrill, 51 years ago, when she took her first solo flight.

“Well, I was dating a fellow who had an airplane, and he invited me to use his airplane to learn to fly. How could I say no?” Stratford said.

The boyfriend didn’t stick, but her love of flying endures. Over the last 50 years, she’s created seven giant scrapbooks highlighting her aviation career, most as a volunteer.

“I wasn’t interested in being paid to fly. Like to for the airlines. It did not interest me at all,” Stratford said.

Her passion is to share her love and skills with others. She’s flown medical supplies for relief organizations, given 900 introductory flights to kids, and mentored dozens, mostly women, to become instructors, commercial, and military pilots. One of them is Captain Genevieve Anonsen of the Air National Guard.

“Your impact reaches much further than any one airplane or any one career. It lives in the hundreds of young people who you have introduced to flying and the pilots you have helped along the way,” Anonsen said to Stratford during the award ceremony.

Before becoming a fighter pilot, Anonsen was Stratford’s mentee. Last month, she presented Stratford with the FAA’s highest honor, the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. Something awarded only to licensed pilots with a perfect safety record of 50 years, and less than one percent of airline pilots — only a handful of women — have received it.

“I am so privileged to reach that milestone,” Stratford said, noting that she does not plan to stop flying any time soon.

“I think it’s really important that we keep doing it — and the sky is not the limit!” Stratford 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 Lesley Marin

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    CHINO, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Chino man’s decision to remove the grass from his front yard and replace it with a home garden has sparked debate among neighbors, leading to complaints and potentially fines for code violations.

Michael Sherman’s “Food Forest” grows a variety of fruits and vegetables that he uses daily, including passionfruit, radishes, calendulas, sunflowers, aloe vera, Swiss chard and bananas. He started growing the garden seven years ago to help his family save money.

“It’s getting more expensive, you don’t know what’s sprayed on it,” Sherman said.

Despite sharing some of his produce with neighbors, a recent complaint has placed his beloved home garden in danger of getting removed.

Since Sherman replaced his front yard in 2019, Chino city officials say that they have received multiple complaints for what some neighbors believe is an eyesore. They recently issued $750 in fines to Sherman for several code violations, asking that he do three things: remove all overgrown vegetation, maintain a line of sight on his property and keep crops from growing within 15 feet of his neighbor’s yards.

“The motto of our city is ‘Where everything grows.’ But, why won’t they let me?” Sherman joked.

While many of his neighbors support his efforts at sustainability, including his next-door neighbors, who say he’s always offering them food and asking if the garden is too much, some say that it’s a nuisance.

“I’m worried about rodents,” said Monica Siepert, one of Sherman’s neighbors. “They’re not always trimmed. … It’s not always kept up.”

Sherman says that everything on his property, from the ground to the trees, has a purpose.

“Everything that grows, like the leaves and the trees, I let it fall, I leave them there, they decompose and the soil has improved significantly,” he said. “Everyone’s view of what looks nice is different. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Sherman appealed the city decision and is scheduled to meet with officials on Wednesday 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.

By Kelly Doty

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    PIGEON FORGE, Tennessee (WLOS) — Dollywood, the famed East Tennessee theme park, announced plans to educate visitors on how to safely coexist with one of the Great Smoky Mountains’ most iconic residents: black bears.

Attendees will soon notice BearWise signs throughout the theme park, featuring information about black bear behavior and how to protect them, according to an April 28 news release.

The program is in partnership with BearWise Tennessee, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and the city of Pigeon Forge.

“Dollywood taking this initiative to educate visitors from all over will have a lasting impact on not only guests, but the community and black bears, current and future,” Janelle Musser, assistant Black Bear Program coordinator for TWRA and Tennessee BearWise, said in a written statement.

Dollywood officials said the information shared on the BearWise signs will help visitors know what to do if they encounter a bear while visiting the area or Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The park has also implemented new policies and procedures to ensure bear attractants are secure, helping keep Tennessee’s bears wild, according to the news release.

“At Dollywood, we believe part of our role in this community is teaching people how to enjoy the Smokies safely,” Jerry King, Dollywood’s safety manager, said in a written statement. “Becoming BearWise isn’t just about rules — it’s about understanding bear behavior and making smart choices, like keeping food secured and giving bears plenty of space.”

The goal of the program is to quickly and succinctly share important information about area wildlife with a constant rotation of visitors to Pigeon Forge and the Smokies.

“Because of the millions of guests who visit our properties each year, we can share the BearWise message with an even broader audience. We hope that if everyone does their part, we can help protect these incredible animals and keep the mountains a place we all can enjoy for years to come,” King said.

BearWise is a national education program dedicated to safe coexistence between people and black bears. Learn more about the program and bear safety at bearwise.org.

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 Karen Morfitt

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    WESTMINSTER, Colorado (KCNC) — A man in Westminster spoke to CBS Colorado this month about the deaths of his husband and son. They died when they couldn’t escape a fire that started in their family home.

Travis Whitson also responded to a CBS Colorado investigation that uncovered the gaps in 911 coverage for the area where his family lived.

“Everyone got out of work on time and ate pizza together,” Travis Whitson told CBS Colorado.

Whitson described a simple night following a busy day, the kind families have all the time, never realizing how precious those moments are, until they’re gone.

“It was a good day — a really good day,” he said, reflecting.

It is also the last memory Whitson has with his family.

“It’s still crazy,” he explained. “We really had everything we wanted.”

On Jan. 13, just after midnight, Whitson woke up to the barking of the family dog Charlie. A fire had started on the back patio.

Jeff Whitson, Travis’ husband, tried to get Elijah, their 9-year-old son, out of the house. Travis Whitson grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to keep the flames from spreading to the deck.

Jeff decided the front door was unsafe and attempted to escape with Elijah through the boy’s bedroom window, next to the carport — a route the family had often discussed as an emergency exit. Jeff broke the window open, but the sudden rush of air pulled heat and flames upstairs from the already-melting sliding glass doors.

Jeff and Elijah never made it out of their home.

Inside the house, Whitson remembers a home built around togetherness. Jeff loved to cook, gathering family and friends around the long breakfast bar. The den was Elijah’s world, filled with toys and family movie nights.

“This was a good space,” Whitson said. “It was a good house,” walking through the charred rubble left behind.

Whitson says Jeff was a lifelong public servant. He worked as a social worker, served as a court clerk and spent time as a middle school teacher.

“You always knew if my husband was in the room,” Whitson said. “He had a lot of light, a lot of charisma.”

Whitson described Elijah as a serious child just beginning to discover his passions.

“He loved karate,” Whitson said. “He was dedicated for his age. He earned his brown belt. He loved Cub Scouts and soccer.”

CBS Colorado had already begun to uncover a gap in the 911 dispatch system covering the area before speaking to Whitson. And, when he learned about that, he wanted to share his family’s story.

“Just hearing there was a closer fire station, with Arvada, but they didn’t get the word because the systems don’t always talk to each other,” Whitson said about the report.

CBS Colorado learned that, despite the proximity, Westminster dispatchers could not see Arvada units in their computer-aided dispatch system. Fire chiefs from both departments say connecting those systems could save time.

While Whitson agrees the issue deserves closer examination, he does not believe it would have changed the outcome for his husband and son.

“The firefighters were great,” Whitson said. “There’s nothing they could have done.”

Months later, Whitson continues to navigate grief and a rebuilding process with no roadmap.

“You see on TV when someone’s spouse died of a heart attack or a car accident, and then they have that moment where they’ve got to get rid of the clothes and the shoes and let it go. And, you know, I don’t even have a shirt that smells like them. I don’t have anything like that,” he said.

What he does have are memories — and the knowledge that many others share them.

Travis Whitson is planning a public celebration of life for Jeff Whitson and Elijah Whitson on May 8 at Arvada United Methodist Church, 6750 Carr Street. The reception is at 1 p.m. and service at 2 p.m.

There is also an online fundraiser setup to help support Whitson with unexpected expenses.

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.