“Held in sexual servitude”: Jury indicts former school board member for human trafficking

CNN Newsource on October 17, 2025

By by Jennifer Emert & Ruby Annas

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    HENDERSON COUNTY, North Carolina (WLOS) — A Henderson County grand jury has indicted former Henderson County School Board member and Only Hope WNC founder Michael Absher on three counts of human trafficking of child victims.

The court records were published on Thursday, October 16. According to the indictment, the defendant, Absher, had three minors “held in sexual servitude.”

Only Hope is a nonprofit in Hendersonville dedicated to supporting homeless youth.

In a press release issued on Monday, Aug. 18, the board of directors of Only Hope WNC, Inc. confirmed that Michael Lee Absher “has been formally removed from all positions of authority.”

Per the release, Absher is no longer affiliated with the nonprofit organization.

“The safety, well-being, and trust of our clients and the community are our highest priorities,” Kyle Barker, interim chair of the Only Hope Board of Directors, said via the release. “While this is a difficult moment, it is necessary for Only Hope to completely separate itself from Mr. Absher. We are committed to transparency, stability, and moving forward with purpose.”

Absher is a former Henderson County School Board member elected in 2016, according to previous reporting. He served one term and lost reelection in 2020, per Henderson County election results.

On July 31, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that 35-year-old Absher was arrested and charged with multiple sex offenses related to minors. These included two counts of statutory sexual offense with someone 15 years old or younger, the sheriff’s office said on July 31.

On Monday, Aug. 18, District Attorney Andrew Murray confirmed Absher was also charged with seven counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

As News 13 previously reported and according to court records, additional charges were filed against Absher on Sept. 16: One count of indecent liberties with a child and seven counts of statutory sexual offense with a person who is 15 years of age or younger.

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Police warn against viral AI intruder prank after responding to fake home invasion

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Sadie Buggle

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    FOUNTAIN, Colorado (KRDO) — The Fountain Police Department (FPD) says a viral social media prank using AI-altered photos to fake home intrusions sparked a massive police response Tuesday, leading the department to warn residents about the serious risks behind the trend.

The recent trend, nicknamed the “AI Homeless Man Prank,” is gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, where users manipulate photos using artificial intelligence to create fake images of an intruder inside their home, intending to scare family members or roommates.

Officers with the Fountain Police Department say they responded to a reported burglary on Wednesday morning after a mother called 911, fearing for her daughter’s safety.

The mother told the dispatcher that she had received a text from her daughter saying, “Some strange guy just walked into the house asking to use the restroom.” Her daughter had also sent her a photo of the man in their house, whom the mother described as “homeless-looking.”

The mother said she was then unable to get in contact with her daughter, prompting her to call the police.

FPD said that due to the urgent nature of the call, every police officer and detective who was available was sent to the residence.

“Every available unit responded to this residence. When they got there, they knocked on the door. Originally, there was no response from anyone. So at that point, right now, the situation is now amping up even more because there’s no response. There’s a strange person in the home. Officers were preparing to do whatever they needed to do to get inside that home. That could have meant you know, busting down the front door, whatever that means. And eventually, thankfully, the daughter did come to the door and say that it was a prank,” explained Lisa Schneider, the Public Information Officer for the Fountain Police Department.

She says luckily, there were no other calls for service in Fountain at the time, but if there were, it could have pulled away police resources.

“Yesterday, there was a lot of wasted resources on this call. Thankfully, there were no other calls for service at that point. But if there had been, there would have been a delayed response to someone who was having an actual emergency,” said Schneider.

“While it may seem like a joke, this prank isn’t funny,” the department said in a post to social media. “These pranks cause panic to family members, have the potential of dangerous or violent reactions, and waste time and resources of emergency responders.”

FPD is now urging parents to talk to their kids about the serious consequences of these trends and how they could have serious emotional and legal consequences.

“Please ask questions of roommates or family members before calling 911 to report such an image. Make sure it’s real,” the department said. “Make sure your family members know you’re going to call 911 and they need to tell you then if it’s a prank, before it’s too late.”

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Student-built planes earn FAA certification in North Idaho

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Tori Luecking

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    SANDPOINT, Idaho (KXLY) — Middle and high school students in North Idaho achieved a noteworthy milestone when the Federal Aviation Administration certified two airplanes they built as airworthy this month.

On October 4, students from the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program received certificates of achievement from the FAA for their building of a Van’s RV12 plane and Zenith 750 STOL plane.

Eric Gray, a former student who worked on the Zenith in high school, will serve as the test pilot for both planes during the upcoming FAA-approved flight testing program.

The two aircraft represent years of work by students who gathered every Saturday in rented hangars at Sandpoint Airport.

Under guidance from volunteer mentors, the students developed both aviation-related skills and leadership abilities while constructing the planes from kits.

The nonprofit North Idaho High School Aerospace Program operates on approximately $15,000 annually and has guided nearly 60 graduates into aviation careers or training programs during its 13-year history.

The program offers academic credit courses at Sandpoint High School, discounted flight training, and hands-on aircraft construction through its Aerospace Center for Education and Skills (ACES) workshops.

As the certified planes move into flight testing, students are also working to build a Jabiru J430 composite aircraft.

The program relies heavily on donations and grants, and hopes to secure additional funding to purchase another plane kit. For more information and to support the program, visit highschoolaerospace.org.

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Falls of Clyde ship towed from Honolulu Harbor, sunk south of Oahu

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Jeremiah Estrada

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — The Falls of Clyde ship has been removed from Honolulu Harbor and the remainders of this maritime history was sunk south of the island.

The ocean disposal of Falls of Clyde was completed on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, after it first arrived in Hawaii in 1898. As one of the one of the oldest surviving ships from the Matson fleet, it transported goods between the islands and the West Coast.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) and Shipwright LLC began the operation at sunrise on Wednesday. Falls of Clyde was towed from its berth at Pier 7 to the disposal site approximately 25 miles south of Honolulu Harbor.

The sinking of the ship was completed as planned, which Shipwright notified HDOT about around noon.

Falls of Clyde was restored and became a floating maritime museum before it was condemned in 2016.

The Friends of Falls of Clyde held a small send-off ceremony ahead of the ship’s removal from the port on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Though the ship now rests in waters around Oahu, HDOT will memorialize it with a permanent display that will feature key artifacts such as the ship’s name board, wheel and bell.

“HDOT extends its appreciation to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard for its guidance through the regulatory process for the operation,” HDOT shared in a news release.

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Otter pirates surfer’s board in Santa Cruz, evoking memories of Otter 841

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Michael Rosales

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    SANTA CRUZ, California (KSBW) — A surfer at Steamer Lane says an otter bit her foot and then climbed onto her board Tuesday evening, holding it hostage for roughly 20 minutes as rescuers rushed in.

Isabella Orduna was paddling out when she felt “a nip” on her foot. She rolled off and turned to see an otter perched on her board.

Unsure what to do, Orduna called to another surfer for help. A full water rescue followed, with emergency crews arriving within minutes.

Ben Coffey, a marine safety officer with Santa Cruz Fire, helped escort Orduna out of the water. “You don’t go out thinking an otter is going to get on your board,” he said, adding she stayed calm and was not hurt.

The encounter revived memories of “Otter 841,” a female sea otter that went viral two years ago for repeatedly taking over surfers’ boards in Santa Cruz.

Whether it’s the same otter is unknown. Experts note there’s no current way to confirm 841’s identity; she previously had a tracker, but it’s no longer on her.

Orduna left the beach uninjured and in good spirits.

As a surfer, she said, it’s important to remember humans are guests in the ocean and to respect wildlife. She doesn’t hold a grudge—just plans to be a bit more cautious about who she shares the lineup with.

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New silverback gorilla “Cecil” debuts at San Francisco Zoo

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — The San Francisco Zoo on Wednesday gave a sneak preview of one of its newest residents, a male silverback Western lowland gorilla.

The 26-year-old gorilla named “Cecil” will make his official public debut on Saturday, after arriving at the zoo in early August from the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. An acclimation process began after Cecil’s arrival, along with an introductory phase with the zoo’s resident females, zoo officials said.

Robbie Graham, the zoo’s senior curator of mammals, said the acclimation involved quarantine protocols, and after several weeks of visual engagement with the female gorillas, the doors inside the enclosure were opened so Cecil and the females could mingle.

“They’ve had a couple of weeks with the exhibit and the holdings to get used to each other and figure out the rules,” Graham said. “The girls definitely showed him who’s boss and running the show. Luckily, Cecil is probably one of the most even-tempered, chilled-out silverbacks there is.”

“The arrival of Cecil is a welcome one, not only for our gorilla family, but for the City of San Francisco,” said the zoo’s COO and Interim co-CEO Cassandra Costello. “From the excitement I hear from the community, we know that visitors will come specifically to see him, as he takes reign of his new family troop.”

In February, the zoo’s 43-year-old silverback gorilla, “Oscar Jonesy,” died from complications after a medical procedure. Oscar Jonesy had lived at the Buffalo Zoo for many years before moving to the San Francisco Zoo in 2004, becoming the head of the zoo’s “troop” of gorillas.

Oscar Jonesy was the father of “Kabibe,” a 16-month-old gorilla who was fatally crushed by a hydraulic door in 2014 while the gorillas were being moved to their night quarters. The zoo paid a $1,750 fine for negligence over the accident.

In 2020, the zoo’s 39-year-old female gorilla “Zura” died after suffering from long-term digestive issues.

In August, longtime San Francisco Zoo & Gardens CEO Tanya Peterson retired weeks after Mayor Daniel Lurie called for her departure. Peterson and the zoo had come under fire following an October 2024 audit compiled by the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission that concluded the zoo was outdated and unsafe for animals and visitors.

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Two horses found dead, western Colorado man charged with over 80 counts of animal cruelty

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Christa Swanson

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    Colorado (KCNC) — A man in western Colorado was charged with more than 80 counts of cruelty to animals last week after reports of dead horses led to an investigation.

The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office said the first report they received came on May 31 when someone spotted a dead horse on the property of 61-year-old Scott Flores. Another passerby contacted the sheriff’s office on June 12 regarding another dead horse on the same property.

An animal control officer began investigating, speaking with Flores and photographing several horses on the property. They also contacted the Bureau of Animal Protection and the investigative division of the Colorado Department of Agriculture to look into the case.

BAP investigators obtained a search warrant on June 19, which allowed them to enter and document conditions on the property. Once a second search warrant was issued on July 3, veterinarians and investigators evaluated the animals located there. Authorities said they removed 79 horses, four dogs and one goat and took them to a BAP holding facility for further health assessments.

The district attorney for the 7th Judicial District said Flores has a previous offense and charged him with 84 misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals under his care.

Flores is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 21 for advisement of charges.

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Garbage truck hits, kills homeless man lying in driveway

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Carlos E. Castañeda

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    SAN JOSE, California (KPIX) — An unhoused man in the back alley of a San Jose strip mall died after being run over by a garbage truck early Thursday morning, authorities said.

The incident happened at approximately 4 a.m. Thursday on South Bascom Avenue between Curtner and Camden avenues. The San Jose Police Department said in a press release that officers responded to a report of a collision involving a garbage truck and a pedestrian.

The investigation found that a garbage truck headed west on Shamrock Drive from Bascom Avenue had turned into an alley and hit a man who was lying in the driveway and covered in blankets. The man was taken to a hospital where he died of his injuries, police said.

The driver of the garbage truck remained at the location and was cooperating with the investigation.

It was the city’s 29th fatal collision and 29th traffic death of 2025, along with the 14th pedestrian death of the year.

The Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner withheld the man’s identity until his family could be notified.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to contact Detective DelliCarpini #4103 of the Police Department’s traffic investigations unit at 4103@sanjoseca.gov or 408-277-4654.

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Siku, Lincoln Park Zoo polar bear, is moving to Madison, Wisconsin

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Adam Harrington

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    Illinois (WBBM) — A polar bear from the Lincoln Park Zoo is turning into a badger.

No, the zoo has not mastered shapeshifting. Siku, a 15-year-old male polar bear, is moving in the coming weeks to Madison, Wisconsin — home, of course, of the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

Siku is being transferred to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison as part of a nationwide conservation initiative to maintain a sustainable and genetically diverse polar bear population, the Lincoln Park Zoo said.

At an early-bird member morning recently, Lincoln Park Zoo members said goodbye to Siku, leaving messages on the window of the polar bear habitat at the Walter Family Arctic Tundra, the zoo announced.

The playful Siku arrived in Chicago in 2016, and has been a fan favorite ever since, the zoo said.

“It’s hard not to smile when you see Siku swimming, exploring, pouncing on one of his many balls, or foraging in ice,” curator Cassy Kutilek said in a news release. “He quickly won the hearts of his care team and while we’ll be sad to see him go, we’re excited to see him embark on his next adventure—hopefully as a polar bear dad!”

Talini, the resident female polar bear at the Lincoln Park Zoo, is now elderly and receiving specialized geriatric care. She will soon enter her den for the winter, the zoo said.

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Spa owner accused of giving “black market Botox” treatments

CNN Newsource on October 16, 2025

By Stephen Swanson

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    PRIOR LAKE, Minnesota (WCCO) — A spa in Prior Lake, Minnesota, is at the center of a criminal investigation into alleged “black market” Botox treatments.

According to the complaint filed last month in Scott County, the owner of the anti-aging spa, a 59-year-old Prior Lake woman, was using unlicensed Botox-like products and semaglutide weight loss drugs, also known as GLP-1, without the legal authority to do so.

The complaint states a longtime friend of the defendant tipped off authorities last year that she’s not a registered nurse and there was no medical director at the spa. The friend said the defendant told them “she gets Botox really cheap and makes a ton of money.”

A former employee also told authorities she had worked at the spa between 2022 and 2023 and said the defendant “would never let her inject people with Botox” even though she was qualified to do so, and instead did all injections herself, the complaint states.

Both the friend and the former employee also claimed the defendant’s ex-husband told them separately the Botox-like products were unregulated bootlegs.

Another witness told investigators the defendant ordered her products from China and “learned to inject Botox from watching YouTube.” A man who briefly worked as the spa’s former medical director told investigators he reported the defendant to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice after learning of the allegations.

In July 2025, a former customer told investigators she had “a terrible experience” at the spa during an open house when she had some painful injections of what they believed was Juvederm. The customer later asked the defendant to provide her with the drugs’ lot numbers, which she then gave to the company that makes Juvederm. The company confirmed “those numbers were not their product,” according to the complaint.

The defendant later told investigators she had neurotoxin training in Texas and was unsure if her certification was valid in Minnesota. The complaint states the defendant also claimed that she was “joking” when she said the product was from the “black market,” and blamed a voice text that “got messed up” for the misunderstanding.

She went on to say she was “providing a service to women, her heart is good, and all she does is give,” the complaint states.

The defendant is charged with one count of unlawful practice of medicine, a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail.

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