Volunteers build owl nesting platforms to tackle growing rat problem

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Brooke Kinebrew

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    CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, California (KSBW) — Seven volunteers in Carmel have launched Carmel Owls to address a growing rodent problem, with rats chewing through wires and HVAC systems in the area.

“Carmel has rats. Monterey Peninsula has a lot of rats because it’s a healthy forest,” Paul Falworth, a volunteer with Carmel Owls, said.

The volunteers are building nesting platforms made of redwood and cedar shingles for great horned owls.

These platforms are installed high up in tall, non-oak trees to attract these owls to nest and naturally reduce the growing rat population.

Falworth explained, “We said, hey, perhaps there’s a better way than paying, you know, 125 a week for exterminators.”

Falworth noted that great horned owls typically nest in February, so the timing is ideal; however, the owls might have checked out other nesting areas before this week, which could mean it may take a year for them to settle.

So far, six platforms have been installed in the Carmel-by-the-Sea area, with plans to build and install more across the peninsula.

Currently, about 20 to 25 homeowners are on a waiting list for the platforms, which are built to last at least 30 years and are provided at no cost by the volunteers.

“We are trying to keep the rats at bay, but also keep the animals safe,” said Nicole Parker, another volunteer with Carmel Owls. “The great horned owls prey on the rodents. We want to keep the rodents free of poisons and that type of thing, so that everybody can be healthy and we can have this natural cycle, resume here.”

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.

Kindergartener surprised as Marine dad returns from 7-month deployment

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Ricardo Tovar

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    KING CITY, California (KSBW) — A King City kindergarten student got a surprise on Friday when his dad returned home after a seven-month deployment.

King City Arts and Magnet School said the student, Joey, was reunited with his father outside the school.

The video starts with Joey saying, “I see somebody.” An adult asks, “Who do you see?” and Joey replies, “My daddy!”

Joey then runs toward his father and yells, “Dad!” before hugging him. His father picks him up and says, “I missed you,” to which Joey responds, “I missed you too, Dad!”

His father asks, “Are you happy?” Joey replies, “Yeah, I ate pizza.”

Joey’s dad, a U.S. Marine, had just returned from deployment.

Joey’s grandmother, mother, and other members of the Camarena family were there to celebrate the reunion.

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.

Michigan family speaks out one month after 75-year-old man attacked by DoorDash driver

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Heath Kalb

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    Detroit (WWJ) — It has been over a month since 75-year-old Lloyd Poole was found unconscious in the roadway in front of his Wixom, Michigan, home after a DoorDash driver allegedly got out of his car and punched him before driving away.

“They were able to put back the part of his skull, but as of right now, he’s still not fully awake,” said Poole’s stepdaughter, Lindsey Gonzalez.

Gonzalez said that Poole is a veteran who loves to sail, travel, walk his dogs, and volunteer with the American Legion.

“He is starting to respond to voices and squeeze hands. He just started to do that over the last couple of days. But other than that, there hasn’t been much change since the whole incident happened,” Gonzalez said.

The incident back on Dec. 28, 2025, began when the delivery driver, 40-year-old Ryan Turner, allegedly attacked Poole after he told him not speed in his neighborhood. Turner was arraigned on one count of aggravated assault. As of last Wednesday, he is now back in jail with his bond revoked.

“We’re very happy that he is back behind bars, I mean, when the original charge happened, being that aggravated assault in the state of Michigan is just a misdemeanor, we were kind of shocked when we read up that he could maybe only do up to a year in jail,” said Gonzalez.

Turner will now be behind bars for at least the next few weeks until the next pretrial hearing on Feb. 18.

Poole’s family says they have been receiving an overwhelming amount of support through this difficult and uncertain time as they are praying he can make a full recovery.

“They believe he will eventually come out of this, but it’s going to be months, maybe even like years of therapy just to get back everything,” said Gonzalez.

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.

Shootout at Oglethorpe Mall: What happened, the suspects and where the case stands

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Graham Cawthon

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — Six suspects are behind bars facing dozens of charges stemming from a shootout inside a Savannah shopping mall.

The incident left three people with gunshot wounds and later led prosecutors to pursue murder and gang charges.

Here’s what we know about the shootout at Oglethorpe Mall.

Police said two adult men and a juvenile were shot inside Oglethorpe Mall in the late afternoon of July 2, 2025 and were taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

After the shots were reported, Savannah police evacuated the mall and the department’s SWAT team swept the building to ensure there was no ongoing threat, police said. Investigators initially asked the public for tips through CrimeStoppers and the Savannah Police Department’s mobile app.

Chatham County District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones later said a mall patron, Olislene “Tina” Smith, suffered cardiac arrest while trying to flee after hearing gunfire. Smith was found unresponsive outside the mall and taken to the hospital, where she was placed on a ventilator, the district attorney said. Her family later chose to remove her from life support after brain activity did not resume, Cook Jones said.

In the immediate aftermath, Savannah Mayor Van Johnson urged caution about labeling the violence while the investigation was ongoing. In an email response to questions about claims the shooting involved rival gangs, Johnson said the city would not “deal with hearsay from anyone not directly involved in the investigation,” adding, “We will do the responsible thing and wait until the facts are known and call it what it is.”

After the grand jury indictments were announced months later, Johnson responded by emphasizing accountability. “Our citizens demand accountability. Mrs. Tina’s family deserves justice, and we will wait to see what the legal process yields,” he said in a statement. “But to those who choose to pull triggers in this community, you can expect a similar result for your dangerous actions.”

On Oct. 1, 2025, the Chatham County District Attorney’s Office announced that a grand jury indicted six suspects — Royce Haynes, Aujawan Hymon, Franklin James, Dahmil Johnson, Johnathan Elijah Jones and Theron Robbins — on felony charges stemming from the shooting.

In a statement, the district attorney’s office said the grand jury found probable cause to charge the defendants with offenses including felony murder, aggravated assault, unlawful gang activity and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Prosecutors said the indictment also includes multiple counts of unlawful criminal gang activity and alleges the crimes were committed in connection with a criminal street gang identified as the “1100.”

The district attorney’s office said several defendants were under 18 at the time of the offense but would be tried as adults.

A trial is expected in early 2026.

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.

Woodbury sisters transition from rival college dance teams to a shared professional career

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Marielle Mohs

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Two Woodbury, Minnesota, sisters competed for rival dance teams in college. Now, they’re reuniting on the same team as professionals.

For the better part of the last decade, the University of Minnesota and the Ohio State University have been taking home the top two spots in jazz and pom at Universal Dance Association College Nationals.

But this rivalry was personal for Woodbury sisters Ava and Ellie Wagner.

“We grew up together, we went to school together, we did everything together, so I think it was really important for us to take our own paths and what was best for both of us,” Ellie Wagner said.

Ellie Wagner competed for the Buckeyes for the last four years. Her younger sister, Ava Wagner has been a standout for the Gophers the last two years. They welcomed the intense competition each season.

“It just pushes each program to be so much better,” Ellie Wagner said.

It put their parents in a unique position of rooting for both competitors. And they had fun with it, wearing split jerseys to nationals.

“I know they were loving it last year. They were sprinting from arena to arena,” Ellie Wagner said.

Even though they’re done competing, the Wagner sisters still have their mark on the competition. Ava Wagner choreographed her former team’s jazz this year, which earned a third-place finish.

“I’ve never really got to watch all my best friends dance before because I’m always focused on myself to see if I hit all my stuff. So, just to be on that side and be able to watch it [and] just acknowledge everything they’ve worked so hard for, it was honestly just a blessing and I was really grateful to be there,” Ava Wagner said.

The two are no longer rivals but teammates. They work as professional dancers, teaching kids of all ages at a dance convention that travels across the country.

“When we were at another convention when I was little, I was like, ‘I want to do this when I’m older.’ Now that we get to do it now, it’s like a dream come true,” Ava Wagner said.

“And we get to do it together. I said this is the most I’ve seen her in like five years,” Ellie Wagner 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.

A growing sinkhole frustrates city leaders and residents

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Brooklyn Joyner

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    JACKSON, Mississippi (WAPT) — A massive sinkhole near Corner Stone Baptist Church in Jackson has been causing disruptions for nearly four years, prompting local leaders and residents to call for urgent repairs.

Councilman Kenneth Stokes highlighted the dangers posed by the sinkhole, stating, “Someone trying to go to Lanier High School or trying to come to the church, they can end up hurt or dead and killed.”

The sinkhole, located in front of the Rev. PJ Walker Bridge on Doctor Martin Luther King Drive, has become a routine obstacle for drivers.

Pastor Mareck Walker of Cherry Grove Baptist Church has been urging city officials to address the issue.

“It’s not able to be used at all and we need it to be repaired today if it was possible,” Walker said.

The Rev. PJ Walker Bridge is not the only infrastructure in need of repair. Another bridge on Coleman Street has been blocked off for the past three months due to outdated materials, causing inconvenience for residents like Bobby Gross.

“We all use this to get from off Medgar Evers and get to sunset and all that, so without it being fixed, we have to do all that extra driving,” Gross said.

Councilman Stokes has been advocating for improvements in his ward and supports the 1 Percent Sales Tax Commission’s decision to allocate funds for repairing the Rev. PJ Walker Bridge.

“It’s more than just a bridge, it’s more than a sink hole, it’s going to be a bridge repair, plus you have to make sure that the water lines and all that are done,” Stokes said.

Stokes said they have no timeline for when the bridge repair project will begin, but he knows it will cost millions of dollars. He also mentioned that once the Rev. PJ Walker Bridge is repaired, focus will shift to the bridge on Coleman Street.

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.

Hutchins officials push back on rumors of immigration detention center near I-45

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Erin Jones

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — After rumors started swirling that a massive building off I-45 near I-20 could become an immigration detention center, Hutchins resident Paul James started digging and documenting what he found on social media.

“Finding out who is the realty company that’s involved, who is the owner of the current property, and whether or not there is such a thing going on,” he said.

Monday night, he brought his concerns to the City Council meeting, where Mayor Mario Vasquez addressed residents directly.

“I know we’re all here and you have a lot of questions,” he said.

Vasquez said the city has not been contacted by the federal government. There have been no applications, building permits, or certificates of occupancy filed.

“So in other words, we haven’t had no communication with nobody,” he said.

Last week, a spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told CBS News Texas that while the agency is actively working to expand detention space nationwide, there are no new detention centers to announce at this time.

During the meeting, Vasquez directed everyone’s attention to a new billboard campaign: “A city on the rise.”

“We’re building a community here, and this doesn’t match what we’re trying to do here, so if you think that anybody up here is on board with it, you’re in the wrong building,” he said.

Several residents told him that’s exactly what they wanted to hear.

“It’s crazy what’s going on in this world,” one resident said. “I got four kids, I don’t want my kids having to go to school and deal with this in our city.”

The mayor said that when the city does receive new information, the citizens will be the first to know.

He also suggested hosting a town hall to provide updates and reminded residents that the city council will meet with the city attorney on Wednesday to further discuss the building.

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.

Nurse due in court on charges of giving fake Ozempic to Chicago patients

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Adam Harrington, Jessica Popowcer

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — A nurse was expected back in court on Tuesday after she was charged with giving fake Ozempic to patients in Chicago.

Prosecutors said Sharon Charitine Sackman, 52, gave the counterfeit weight loss drugs to three people in Chicago in 2023.

The drugs were labeled as Ozempic, but were not manufactured by Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk, and did not even contain semaglutide, the active ingredient in the weight loss drug, prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, prosecutors Sackman was a registered professional nurse, but did not have a license to prescribe, administer, dispense, or sell Ozempic.

Sackman previously pleaded not guilty to one count of distributing misbranded drugs and three counts of dispensing counterfeit drugs, prosecutors said. Each count could result in a year in federal prison upon conviction.

Sackman’s status hearing is set for 11 a.m. at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

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.

Man plans to sue Department of Homeland Security after encounter with ICE agents

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Ronnie Parrillo

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    SCARBOROUGH, Maine (WMTW) — A Maine man has filed a notice of claim to inform the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that he plans to sue the agency for $7.5 million.

South Portland resident Robert Peck and his attorney said they have a case because they claim Peck’s First Amendment rights were violated and that he suffered emotional trauma. The legal action is one of the first to come from the enhanced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Maine that was known as “Operation Catch of the Day.”

Peck said after he saw ICE activity outside of his South Portland apartment on Jan. 22, he decided to drive down to the Scarborough ICE facility. Once he was there, he started to follow an ICE vehicle that pulled out of the parking lot. Peck claims he did it to “observe the officers,” but officers disagreed. After the ICE SUV pulled over, Peck pulled off the road, as well, and officers approached his vehicle.

“We had this interaction. I tried to film, I tried to watch their hands. I tried to be careful, and I tried in every way not to antagonize them or be confrontational,” said Peck.

The ICE officers said Peck was violating 18 U.S.C. § 111, which, in part, makes it illegal to impede or interfere with federal law enforcement while they are engaged in or involved in their official capacity. They threatened to arrest Peck if he did not stop following their vehicle.

Peck’s attorney, David Webbert, said he filed a notice of claim against ICE for violating Peck’s First and Fourth Amendment rights, in addition to emotional trauma.

“This is the first time in my lifetime, in a very long time, that the executive branch has taken the FBI, U.S. attorneys, law enforcement and turned them into whatever he wants including lawless behavior,” Webbert said.

The U.S. government now has six months to respond to the notice of claim.

Maine’s Total Coverage contacted DHS with a request for comment on this case and on Peck’s conduct, but has not heard back.

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.

Jury selected in wrongful raid trial of Southwest Side family by Chicago police in 2018

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Dave Savini

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — The civil rights trial of a wrongful Chicago police raid on an innocent family began on Monday.

The case involves a Chicago grandmother, her daughter, and her four grandchildren, who all said police pointed guns at them. It’s a case CBS Chicago first exposed years ago.

The botched raid happened back in 2018. The family said they’ve been living with trauma from it ever since. On Monday in a packed courtroom, they sat behind the officers involved as a jury was selected.

Attorney: “How did you feel when all this happened?

Lakai’ya: Scared.

Attorney: Why were you scared?

Lakai’ya: Because I didn’t know what was going on.”

Lakai’ya Booth and her siblings answered questions during a pre-trial deposition as part of their federal civil rights lawsuit against the city. She was just four years old when CPD officers wrongly raided her family’s home.

She’s one of dozens of children documented over the last eight years who said police pointed guns at them during similar raids.

Attorney: What do you remember happening that day?

La’niya: A big boom sound.

Her older sister, Laniya, was 11 at the time of the raid.

“A lot of like five to 10 police officers rushing in with these big guns,” she said.

One after another, they relived that moment in 2018 when officers burst into their family’s home in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Attorney: Why do you think you felt afraid when the guns were pointed at you?

E’Monie: Because there’s weapons pointed at a 13-year-old.

Now, over seven years after the raid, they will testify against the officers involved, accusing them of excessive force, pointing guns at them, and leaving them traumatized.

Their mother and grandmother were also there when police raided the home looking for a gang member and a handgun, but an investigation by CBS News Chicago found they were in the wrong house.

They took the word of a paid informant and didn’t properly vet the information.

“I’m like, oh my god. Please don’t let him shoot my baby,” Cynthia Eason said in 2018.

The CBS News Chicago investigators have spent years exposing how innocent people are treated by officers during these raids, especially children.

Some of the children from other wrongful raid cases are also expected to testify as part of the trial. Attorneys for the family will work to prove that CPD engages in a pattern of pointing guns and using excessive force against children.

“What are you doing, pointing guns at innocent young children? Wake up,” said Attorney Al Hofeld Jr.

Hofeld is the family’s attorney and said the jury will also hear the traumatic impact on the adults who were in the home at the time of the raid, like Eason, the children’s grandmother, who was in her underwear when officers burst into the home.

Eason said police forced her outside in a state of undress in front of her neighbors.

“When I was sitting there, one officer was laughing at me,” she said.

She said she kept asking for clothes but was denied.

“I looked at him, he’s laughing, and imagine how that feels,” she said.

Data shows the cities already spent $600,000 on legal fees for private law firms to defend the officers involved, and that number is expected to increase as the trial is expected to last a month.

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.