Author: CNN Newsource

By Leo Stallworth

Click here for updates on this story

    WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — A pack of coyotes has taken up residence in a stalled construction project in West Hollywood, prompting concern from some neighbors over nightly howling and barking.

Residents nicknamed the vacant residential construction project at Romaine Street and North Spaulding Avenue — which they say has been abandoned for three years — the “coyote condo” after the animals moved into the property.

The city of West Hollywood says the construction of a new 22-unit condominium building was halted in 2024. The construction permits previously issued by the city have since expired.

Records list the property owner as Clement Tung.

The city says it has been in contact with Tung’s representative, requiring him to hire a wildlife control operator to assess the site and humanely remove the coyotes.

There’s no word on what will be done about the building itself. Eyewitness News has also reached out to Tung. We’re still waiting to hear back.

Eyewitness News spoke to a wildlife expert about what that removal may look like.

“All the time they’re howling and hooting,” West Hollywood resident Ryan Liske said.

Videos shared by residents show coyotes lounging on balconies and strolling around the abandoned construction site. Liske said he hears the animals loudly howling regularly.

Liske said he came face-to-face with one of the animals.

“And I survived,” Liske said. “I looked the coyote dead in his face, and he looked right back at me, and I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to just go that way.'”

He said he later saw multiple coyotes nearby.

“I was just walking down to my house over here down the street. I swear I saw like three coyotes trying to circle me over here. I was a little frightened, I can’t lie. And I started booking it, I’m like, ‘I got to go home. I can’t be attacked by some coyotes.’ You know what I’m saying?” Liske said.

Most residents who spoke about the issue said they were more concerned about the nightly howling than being attacked.

“Coyotes are skittish,” resident Beth said.

Mary Cummins with Animal Advocates said coyotes generally do not pose a threat to people.

“No, coyotes don’t attack humans. Their main prey is small animals. It’s generally California ground squirrels, gophers, chipmunks and bunnies,” Cummins said.

Cummins said there are safe ways to encourage the animals to leave the area.

“The best way to get them to move out of this area is to exclude and deter. By exclude, I mean we make it so they can’t go under, over, or through the fencing. And to deter is, after we’ve excluded them from the fencing, we go inside, and we deter them by basically hazing and scaring them out. We leave one exit for them, and we herd them all in that direction, and we get them all out of the building. And then we secure that one last gate,” she said.

Wildlife experts said the coyotes are not a danger to humans, but residents are encouraged to keep small pets inside.

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

Click here for updates on this story

    SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (KCRA) — South Lake Tahoe, a favorite destination for millions of vacationers, is grappling with scams involving fake vacation rental listings.

Ryan Lundquist, a visitor to the area, described his experience after renting a property through Airbnb.

“I was just surprised to see a placard on the back of the house that said ‘if you rented on Craigslist, you’ve been scammed.’ And so that’s the gist of it,” he said.

The warning highlights a fraud scheme in the area involving fake vacation rental listings, particularly on Craigslist.

“Most of the scams come off of Craigslist. Someone takes our photos and our description and posts it online onto Craigslist,” said Michelle Benedict of Pinnacle Lake Tahoe Getaways.

Benedict shared how these scams have financially impacted travelers.

“I have property back here about a block behind the office. A neighbor called one day and there was a young girl sitting in the driveway in tears,” she said. “She had gotten a work visa from South Africa and she paid someone $10,000 for the summer to rent a cabin that was a vacation rental. We ended up calling the police and they came and helped her find other accommodations.”

Benedict also pointed out that one of the biggest red flags is being asked to pay through cash apps like Venmo or other methods that offer little to no buyer protection. She recommended verifying the legitimacy of a rental before making any payments.

“The city of South Lake Tahoe maintains a database. You can search to see is it actually a real vacation rental,” Benedict said.

Experts added that unusually low prices are another major warning sign. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” they said.

They also advised that whether in the city or county, travelers should look for signs outside the property with information such as a permit number and contact details for code enforcement or to file a complaint.

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 Jazmon DeJarnette

Click here for updates on this story

    SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KSBW) — A teenage lifeguard at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz is being celebrated for rescuing a young boy caught in rough surf, an act that has drawn national attention and praise.

California State Parks expressed pride in the lifeguard’s actions, highlighting the extensive training that prepared him for the moment.

“It’s great to see our lifeguards out there working. This is what we train them to do, and this is what they train for all year long,” said Tyler Leamer, a California State Parks Peace Officer Lifeguard.

President Donald Trump acknowledged the lifeguard’s heroism, writing on Truth Social that he wants to invite the lifeguard, his family, and the boy he saved to the White House to receive “a high civilian honor.”

“He did a great job, and we’re really proud of him,” said Leamer.

Lifeguards emphasized that such rescues are the result of years of preparation.

California State Parks and the city of Santa Cruz offer junior lifeguard programs that teach children ocean safety, build confidence in the water, and develop lifeguard skills.

“We really push on them getting into the water every single day with a positive attitude and, like, pushing themselves to be the best that they can be and, like, incrementally getting better and better in the water,” said Amos Fishbein, Lieutenant for Santa Cruz Junior Lifeguards.

As participants grow older, the training becomes more demanding, both physically and mentally, to ensure they are ready for real-life situations.

“They’re doing all of the physical things that they would need to do to try out to be a lifeguard. We have them practicing, doing the swim test that they would have to do before they could, when they want to try out to lifeguard the following year,” said Fishbien.

State Parks emphasized that this training is what enables lifeguards to act decisively in emergencies.

“It’s nice to see all the training we put in and all the hard work they put in pay off and be able to help the people that come and recreate safely in our beaches,” said Leamer.

Local lifeguards said their focus remains on the training that prepares them for moments like these and on keeping beachgoers safe.

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 Stratton

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Milwaukee police and the Milwaukee Department of Emergency Communications are investigating a home invasion and why it took nearly three hours for police to respond to a home to help a victim on Milwaukee’s south side.

Milwaukee police said at around 5:15 a.m., a 22-year-old broke into a 99-year-old’s home near 14th Street and Layton on Monday. The suspect “…forcefully entered the victim’s residence and battered the victim.” EMS took the victim to the hospital for “non-fatal injuries,” according to police.

Police say a squad was dispatched at 8 a.m.

Tony Bueno, director of Milwaukee Department of Emergency Communications, says the first call came around 5:15 a.m. Monday from a voice over internet protocol call center. VoIP is a technology that allows callers to use an internet connection to make phone calls. The call center called again, a short time later, concerned about what they heard from the person. The first call was classified as a welfare check, according to Bueno, and the second call was classified as a threat call.

The victim then called a third time about 2.5 hours later, according to Bueno, and the dispatcher classified it as a battery call, sending police and EMS immediately.

Bueno said his office is investigating the calls internally and will take appropriate action. He declined to say if anyone was placed on administrative leave or fired.

Milwaukee police said they referred charges for the 22-year-old to the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office. MPD referred questions about the 911 calls to the Department of Emergency Communications.

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 Stephen Cohn, James Stratton

Click here for updates on this story

    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — New body camera video obtained by 12 News shows the moment Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo last week.

Romo was arrested Thursday, July 23, on suspicion of operating while intoxicated.

A search warrant obtained Tuesday by 12 News stated Romo’s vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, passing other vehicles during heavy rush hour traffic in the Marquette Interchange.

According to the search warrant, a deputy said they detected a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage” in Romo’s breath. Video shows Romo told her he had zero drinks.

The body camera video shows the deputy coming up to Romo’s vehicle on Interstate 43, saying she stopped him for unsafe passing on the right and lane deviation. Romo tells the deputy he lives in Dallas, was heading from a golf event to his grandparents’ house, according to the video. The pair have difficulty hearing each other due to the noise of interstate traffic.

When the deputy asks Romo to step out of the vehicle, he says he’s going to call his lawyer, the video shows.

“Because I’m coming from the golf course you think that I’m drunk?” video shows him asking while exiting the vehicle.

Romo asked to record video of the incident on his phone, according to the search warrant and body camera video. Video shows him asking the deputy if he can set his cell phone on the tailgate of his vehicle once he is out of the car.

The deputy then took Romo to the Milwaukee County Jail sally port for a standardized field sobriety test, according to the video and search warrant.

Once in the sallyport at the jail, the deputy releases him from handcuffs and Romo agrees to do the field sobriety tests, according to the video.

“Can I do an exercise?” Romo says, appearing to stretch using the front brush guard on the deputy’s squad car.

“Any head injuries?” The deputy asks.

“Excuse me?” Romo responds with a small chuckle.

“Any head injuries recently, any concussions?” she asks.

“Well, over the years, yes, but not recently. No,” Romo responds.

The search warrant stated that during the sobriety test, Romo could not keep his balance, stopped walking, started too soon, missed the heel-to-toe, and made an improper turn.

When asked to submit a preliminary breath test, Romo declines, in the video.

“Oh no. We’re not doing that,” he says in the video. “I’ve heard from multiple lawyers don’t ever do that.”

The deputies then place Romo under arrest. Later, he denies giving a blood sample as well.

“No,” he said, according to the video. “Like I said, I want my lawyer, for the eighth time.”

Court records show Romo was cited for refusing to take a test for intoxication. A letter from his lawyer to the court states he was also cited for operating while under the influence, first offense. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation also filed a notice of intent to revoke Romo’s license, according to court documents.

In Wisconsin, a first-offense OWI is generally a traffic ticket, not a criminal charge. The citation typically carries a fine ranging from $150 to $300. The arrest report doesn’t indicate any blood alcohol or breathalyzer testing.

Romo grew up in Burlington and graduated from Burlington High School. He was the first Burlington High School student-athlete to be named all-state in three sports: football, basketball, and golf. The search warrant states he told police he was in town for a golf event and was driving to his parents’ house.

Romo is a four-time Pro Bowler and is part of CBS’ lead NFL broadcast team.

Romo’s lawyer did not respond to calls for comment Tuesday.

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 Farrah Reed

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW ORLEANS (WDSU) — A woman in Metairie is making sure Who Dat Nation knows about a Saints rookie and his good deed in the grocery store.

Leslie Pedigo says she was standing in line at Rouses and saw a man walk up behind her with one item. She told the cashier to let him go since he only had a bag of shrimp.

She says he smiled and told the cashier to ring up all the groceries together. After she refused, she said he told her “My Momma always taught me to do good deeds, and I’d like to bless you today. Please don’t take that blessing from me.”

Moments later, the cashier told her who footed the bill. It was Saints rookie Christen Miller. The Saints drafted the Defensive End from Georgia earlier this year. She ran after him to get a picture in the parking lot.

Pedigo posted the story on Facebook and said this about Miller:

“To the New Orleans Saints—you didn’t just draft an athlete. You drafted a young man of character. And to Momma Miller… thank you. Thank you for raising a son who understands that true strength is shown through humility, generosity, and faith. Your words clearly stayed with him, and because of that, a complete stranger went home reminded that there is still so much good in this world…thank you for your kindness. You reminded me that there are still good people in this world.”

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 Patrick Talbot

Click here for updates on this story

    EDMOND, Okla. (KOCO) — The Edmond Police Department is investigating the theft of $300,000 worth of collectibles.

Dustin Barton, owner of Pack Smashers Card Store, was preparing to purchase a house in Edmond with his wife using the earnings from his collection.

“It was basically our house fund. We had been looking to move that product, to be able to buy a home here in Edmond to be able to continue to grow our family,” Barton said.

His goal to buy a home has been put on hold after his entire collection of trading cards and other collectibles have been stolen from his storage unit.

Edmond police have made an arrest and are preparing to present charges. Ten percent of stolen items have been recovered, including his son’s custom signed jerseys.

Items have also been spotted online by other collectors that they believe came from the Dustin’s collection.

“It’s a trading card community. It’s in the name. It’s a community,” Barton said.

Barton is asking anyone who may have recently purchased high-end trading cards or collectibles to contact Edmond police.

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.