Author: CNN Newsource

By Edward Franco

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — Maria Mejia, a Fort Myers resident, was threatened with violence and deportation during a racist rant by another driver in a parking lot outside TJ Maxx near US-41 and Cypress Lake Drive on Tuesday.

Mejia said, “She was just trying to, like, reach out to me. It was just hate after hate!” The confrontation was captured on Mejia’s phone, where the driver said, “We don’t want you. I hope you’re [expletive] illegal. I’ll call ICE! I would love to! And they’ll shoot you like they shoot the others! Go back to where you came from!”

Mejia described the attack as unprovoked and said the driver blocked her from walking to the store, even threatening her with an Uzi, a type of gun. Mejia said, “I don’t know if she was following me. I don’t know if I made a mistake, and if I did, I apologize because obviously it wasn’t on purpose.”

That driver is also heard in the video saying, “I hope you die in traffic! The way you drive, you’re going to anyway,” and asking, “Where did you learn to drive?”

When Mejia reported the incident, Lee County deputies initially told her there was not much they could do. However, after Gulf Coast News reached out the next day, the sheriff’s office stated they are now investigating the verbal altercation. Mejia expressed her fear, saying, “Yeah, I’m, I’m afraid!”

Criminal attorney Michael Raheb commented on the situation, noting, “Those last words, they do kind of possibly cross that threshold between free speech and fighting words and hate speech.”

Having lived in Fort Myers for over 20 years, Mejia hopes for a change in community attitudes, saying, “It’s just sad. The hate out there. We need to stop it as a community. We need to show that love is greater.”

Law enforcement advises that if you find yourself in a similar situation, the best course of action is not to engage and walk away.

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 Dave Elias

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — James Fishback, a candidate for Florida governor, is using Tinder to connect with young female voters as part of his campaign strategy, drawing mixed reactions from the public.

“Tinder is not for dating. It’s for connecting with young women where they are,” Fishback said.

Alexa Avila-Martinez, from Fort Myers, expressed her concerns, saying, “Going on Tinder and saying you’re targeting younger women … that’s where it’s weird … that doesn’t sound okay.”

Fishback detailed his campaign plan to those he matches with on Tinder, which includes initiatives like helping young couples buy their first home, opening statewide pregnancy centers, and providing paid maternity leave.

“I like the message that he wants paid maternity leave for women. Now, the way he is going about it on Tinder, of all things … that’s where I draw the line. It gets a little creepy,” Avila-Martinez said.

Fishback acknowledged the unconventional nature of his approach. “Well, it’s certainly unconventional, I’ll tell you that,” he said.

Some people have asked why Fishback is reaching out only to young women and whether he might use Grindr to connect with young men. Fishback humorously dismissed the idea, stating, “I have no plans to be joining Grindr! What I will be doing is meeting young men on the campaign trail.”

Despite his intentions, some young men find Fishback’s Tinder profile odd. Kaleb Brown, from Naples, commented, “You might be talking to like 19 or 20 years old who just got out of high school going into college. That is a little strange.”

Daniel Andred from Fort Myers suggested there are better ways to connect with the community, saying, “Going on a dating app may not be the best way.”

Republican political consultant Terry Miller also questioned the strategy. “You target the people with voting history … not random girls on Tinder,” Miller said.

Fishback defended his approach, emphasizing the importance of connecting with female voters. “There does have to be a connection, and it’s important that there is a connection between me and female voters. That’s exactly why I joined Tinder,” he said.

Fishback faces off against Byron Donalds, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins — none of whom are on Tinder.

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 Kennedy Mason

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    CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Florida (WBBH) — A house fire that nearly took her life has led Nikki Bostic down a path of resilience and recovery.

After a devastating blaze in November that left her in a medically induced coma for weeks, Bostic is walking again, without the help of physical therapy.

“I shouldn’t be able to walk as good as I do,” Bostic said with a smile. “Last night, I went out without my wheelchair, which was really cool. That was the first time I had done it.”

The fire, which investigators believe started from her husband’s motorcycle, trapped Bostic inside her home on McGuire Avenue by hurricane shutters. After three months of physical and emotional recovery, she and her husband, Roy, have made the difficult decision to move forward — by demolishing the home they once shared.

The decision to not rebuild on the land where she nearly died was an important one for Bostic.

“I don’t think I want to rebuild on a piece of land that I technically died on and came back,” she said.

While the emotional scars may never fully fade, Bostic is determined to embrace her recovery. She’s left with permanent scars on her neck and head, and she lost some toes in the fire. But her strength is undeniable.

“I didn’t want to look at the fact that I had scars on my body,” she said. “Now I just wear them as badges of honor.”

Bostic’s journey is far from over, but her spirit remains unbroken.

“Nobody’s going to smother that light,” she said. “Nobody’s going to take it away. I control that light, and that light’s going to go from that little ember to a blazing fire, but it’s going to be a good blazing fire. Not one that takes houses down.”

Looking ahead, Bostic hopes to use her experience to inspire others.

“I’d like to work with kids who have gone through something like this and tell them, hey, you don’t let this stop you.”

Nikki and Roy plan to sell the land and have already signed a lease for a new apartment. Their focus now is starting fresh and creating new, brighter memories.

The journey continues, but the fight is far from over.

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 Taylor Hess

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    WEST EARL TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania (WGAL) — A sinkhole has emerged at the intersection of State and Locust streets, causing disruption but also bringing the local community together.

Daryl Stoltzfus recounted how his wife noticed the sinkhole forming just minutes after she had been outside.

“My wife was out here five minutes before. Five minutes later, she goes to leave the driveway and sees a sinkhole starting to open up,” Stoltzfus said. She quickly alerted him, saying, “You might want to come down here. I think there’s a sinkhole.”

Crews had spent hours searching for a broken water main until the ground revealed the issue. The sinkhole, initially beside a driveway, has now expanded to the entire intersection.

Stoltzfus took precautions to protect his property.

“I told my wife to back the car up. I didn’t want it going into the sinkhole,” he said.

While their cars were spared, their mailboxes were not as fortunate.

“Both of our mailboxes. We had them on the same post. It was sitting there, and then today, that’s when it all went down,” Stoltzfus said.

Despite the road closure, neighbors have found a silver lining in the situation.

“It’s kind of interesting. These tragic things happen in the middle of our little community. Route 772 is usually so busy when it shuts down, you really see people come together. It’s like family,” said Jonathan Duty.

For residents like Stoltzfus and Jonathan Duty, who live close to the sinkhole, maintaining perspective is crucial.

“When you put things in perspective, we’re just without water for a few days,” Stoltzfus said. Duty echoed this sentiment, saying, “We’re only out of water. It’ll come back on. We might’ve missed a shower, but we’ll get ourselves back together.”

The community has rallied not only for each other but also for the workers fixing the sinkhole. Residents have provided donuts, hot coffee, and pizza as a gesture of thanks for their hard work.

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 Brian Sherrod

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority and the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force are implementing a new camera to help with evidence investigations.

The Blind Site is a UK-created tool that can identify evidence ten times faster than a regular camera and see 650 times better than the human eye. It is used to search and capture invisible evidence. This includes finger marks and prints, fluid, traces of DNA, and blood. The company says these cameras allow for faster and more precise processing of crime scenes.

Alexander Smyth, Smytec CEO and creator of Blind Site, says this camera can even show markings of things that are covered up.

“We can even detect tattoos that have been covered by gangs,” Smyth said. “So obviously the tattoo can mark and identify them if they belong to a gang. We can actually see through what they covered that tattoo with and get those tattoos to basically identify what part of the gang they are affiliated with.”

The systems on this camera are fully automated and include autofocus, autoexposure, and automated evidence modes. They can be used in bright sunlight or in the day, can remove backgrounds for better contrast or can keep the background for context, and can connect to agencies’ existing case management systems.

The company says they can also be used for covert operations, intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance operations.

The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority and the Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force are purchasing one camera for starters. Each unit costs between $45,000 to $50,000, and it takes about a month to receive them.

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 Shane Rackley

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    CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (KRIS) — Texas authorities arrested a Nicaraguan man for human smuggling and apprehended a Chinese national during a traffic stop in Maverick County as part of Operation Lone Star.

Juan Alfonso Merlo Ibarra, 35, an undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua, was charged with four counts of smuggling of persons after a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper discovered four people being transported illegally in his vehicle.

The traffic stop occurred on US 277 just after 11:30 p.m. on Friday. During the stop, the trooper found four undocumented immigrants, all dressed in camouflage clothing, inside a gray Toyota Camry.

Among those being smuggled was Beibei Liu, 34, a special interest alien from China. Special interest aliens are individuals from countries that could pose national security concerns to the United States.

The other three undocumented immigrants were from Mexico, including one juvenile.

Merlo Ibarra was booked into the Maverick County Jail. Liu and the three other individuals were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol agents.

The arrest was part of Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security initiative launched to address illegal immigration and drug trafficking along the state’s southern border.

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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    BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (WXYZ) — As we continue News Literacy Week, we’re lifting up the voice of one Birmingham librarian. She is making it her mission to make sure students learn how to separate fact from fiction early on.

The library at Birmingham Covington School recently turned into a full-on news literacy adventure with different learning stations — and students led their families through each one to learn how to think critically about the information they see every day.

Students at Birmingham Covington School are signing the news literacy pledge — promising to pause, question, and verify before believing or sharing information.

“It’s never too young to start these skills,” said Laura Amatulli, the librarian who organized the literacy night event.

It’s designed for third and fourth graders and their families, and the goal is simple.

“To learn how to slow down, think critically, and ask smart questions before trusting and sharing information,” said Amatulli.

Amatulli says this is especially important as artificial intelligence, or AI, becomes more prevalent in our lives.

“We’re building habits of asking good questions. We want students to think, ‘who created this? Why was this picture made?’ Or ‘why was this article made? What evidence supports this article?’ and these critical thinking skills give them a lifelong piece in their toolbox,” she said.

And it seems like those lessons are already sticking for fourth grader Melia Farr.

“How do you make sure what you’re looking at is truthful?” I asked.

“Well, it’s hard to make sure, but you have to like think about it and make sure it is, because it’s important, because if it’s not factual, then it’s not really that useful,” she said.

Melia attended the event with her mom, Jasmine Farr, who says growing up, the news looked very different.

literacy to elementary students Birmingham librarian Photo by: WXYZ Birmingham librarian By: Carli Petrus Posted 1 hour and 59 minutes ago and last updated 1 hour and 57 minutes ago BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (WXYZ) — As we continue News Literacy Week, we’re lifting up the voice of one Birmingham librarian. She is making it her mission to make sure students learn how to separate fact from fiction early on.

The library at Birmingham Covington School recently turned into a full-on news literacy adventure with different learning stations — and students led their families through each one to learn how to think critically about the information they see every day.

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Students at Birmingham Covington School are signing the news literacy pledge — promising to pause, question, and verify before believing or sharing information.

“It’s never too young to start these skills,” said Laura Amatulli, the librarian who organized the literacy night event.

It’s designed for third and fourth graders and their families, and the goal is simple.

Laura Amatulli WXYZ Laura Amatulli “To learn how to slow down, think critically, and ask smart questions before trusting and sharing information,” said Amatulli.

Amatulli says this is especially important as artificial intelligence, or AI, becomes more prevalent in our lives.

“We’re building habits of asking good questions. We want students to think, ‘who created this? Why was this picture made?’ Or ‘why was this article made? What evidence supports this article?’ and these critical thinking skills give them a lifelong piece in their toolbox,” she said.

Literacy event WXYZ Literacy event And it seems like those lessons are already sticking for fourth grader Melia Farr.

“How do you make sure what you’re looking at is truthful?” I asked.

“Well, it’s hard to make sure, but you have to like think about it and make sure it is, because it’s important, because if it’s not factual, then it’s not really that useful,” she said.

Melia Farr WXYZ Melia Farr Melia attended the event with her mom, Jasmine Farr, who says growing up, the news looked very different.

“I remember getting the newspaper twice a day and it came on your porch and that was kind of it, you just took that for what it was but now we have it on internet, we have it on social media, you’re getting it from left and right and all these different forms, you have to find out what really is the news,” said Jasmine.

Jasmine says she wants her daughter to stay on the offense as AI technology continues to advance — and she believes events like this one give kids the tools they need to do just that.

“It takes a village so schools can’t do it alone, parents can’t do it alone, and children definitely can’t do it on their own so we all have to come together collectively and make sure that they’re protected, that they’re safe, that they’re learning and we can all do it together as a community,” said Jasmine.

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 Nicole Griffin

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — This weekend in Indianapolis, families touched by the pain of a missing loved one will gather, not only to grieve, but to take action.

The grassroots group The Missing Struggle was born out of heartbreak. Members say they know all too well the uncertainty, the sleepless nights and the desperate search for answers.

Five years after Katrina Overstreet’s sister Cieha Taylor went missing, her family held a celebration of life.

“It’s like having a funeral for someone when you don’t know if they’re alive or dead. That’s really hard,” Overstreet said.

Overstreet told WRTV what pushes her to help others who are struggling.

“Her. That’s the only reason,” Overstreet shared.

Overstreet founded The Missing Struggle to help other families navigate the difficult journey of having a missing loved one.

“We print flyers, host events like the one coming up. We actually look for people. I have a search and rescue dog now, so we can go on searches,” Overstreet said.

She helps others while still waiting for answers in her sister’s case. Taylor was last seen in Plant City, Florida.

“She dropped her boyfriend off around 4:30 p.m. on February 6, 2020. A couple of hours later, her car was found running, abandoned, with the driver’s side door open and her cell phone on the ground. We haven’t seen her since,” Overstreet said.

From memorial tributes to sharing missing persons alerts online, Overstreet says every action counts.

According to the Indiana State Police, the most recent update shows 898 people on the ISP’s missing persons bulletin. However, state police say that number is typically between 930 and 1,000 missing people.

Tiffany Tyler joined The Missing Struggle after her own heartbreaking experience. Her youngest son, Zachariah Tyler, went missing in July 2021.

After four years of silence and searching, Tyler was notified that her son’s remains were found in Indianapolis. She joined the group, hoping to help other families.

“We want this to grow, and we want them to know we are here for them,” Tyler said.

This weekend, their mission comes to life at the group’s missing persons awareness event called Miss-versary in Indianapolis.

“Before I began this missing journey, I had no idea how many people go missing, who to call or what to do. It’s just to educate the public, let them hear from families, share statistics,” Overstreet said.

The Miss-versary event is Saturday at The Intimate Space Indy on East 71st Street from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Overstreet hopes the event provides a healing space for those affected by loss and uncertainty.

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.