Hikers complete 75-mile Sonoran Desert walk to bear witness migrant deaths, pushing immigration policy change

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Marc Monroy

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Hikers from across the country completed a 75-mile walk through the Sonoran Desert’s borderlands, arriving at Kennedy Park on Tucson’s southwest side to mark the end of a journey aimed at raising awareness of migrant deaths.

At Kennedy Park, food and music offered a way to celebrate the end of the long journey. The Spanish word “presente,” translating to “present” in English, served as a symbol that those who have died along the borderlands are still with us in spirit.

Matthew Bridges drove in from Oakland, California, to take part in the walk.

“We’re here because we want to remember those who have died in the desert and those that the desert has taken because they are seeking a better life in this country,” Bridges said.

“We walk to remember them,” Bridges said.

After walking from the Sasabe border to Kennedy Park, Bridges said his perspective on the border changed.

“We saw military jets flying over head and we saw surveillance infrastructure,” Bridges said.

Despite favorable weather throughout the week, Bridges said participants still felt the exhaustion many migrants experience making the same walk.

“Still many in our group struggled with heat exhaustion and dehydration,” Bridges said.

Jamie Wilson reflected on the community’s mission and why the Migrant Trail group began its work 23 years ago.

“We walk as a community to avenge these deaths,” Wilson said.

“I wish to send a prayer to the families of these folks who perished in our borderlands,” Wilson said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGUN 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.

Teen graduates at 16 earns college credits while chasing dream career

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Chantaye Imani

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    BAKERSFIELD, California (KERO) — At just 16 years old, Samuel Carranza is graduating near the top of his class with a 4.0 GPA, college credits, and a clear vision for his future all through online education.

For Samuel, the road to success wasn’t always easy.

His school day begins at home, where online learning at IQ Academy in Los Angeles became the foundation of his academic achievements. But just a few years ago, he found himself struggling in school and unsure of what the future might hold.

“When I was in middle school, I was actually failing all my classes because ever since COVID, I’ve been online,” Carranza said.

Rather than allowing those challenges to define him, Samuel decided to set a goal for himself.

“It’s been a goal I’ve had since 9th grade,” he said. “It’s something me and my family talked about, and I was like, ‘I want a goal,’ and my goal was to graduate maybe a year early or two years early.”

Determined to make that happen, Carranza took advantage of online coursework, dual-enrollment opportunities, and a flexible learning schedule that allowed him to move ahead academically while still pursuing his interests outside the classroom.

“I feel like when you’re online, you have dedicated time to do hobbies and study what you like,” he said.

That dedication paid off.

Samuel is now graduating with a 4.0 GPA, earning college credits, and finishing among the top students in his class an accomplishment that once seemed out of reach.

His hard work has not gone unnoticed by those around him.

“He has grown academically,” said Spanish teacher John Molina. “He is respectful, dependable, and consistently motivated.”

While graduation marks a major milestone, Samuel is already looking ahead to his next chapter.

Inspired by a childhood fascination with firefighting and a desire to serve others, he is preparing for a future career as a firefighter.

“I used to watch this show called Fireman Sam. I really loved it,” Carranza said. “It always interested me. I love the trucks, and I really love helping out the community. I feel like it’s something I’d be good at.”

When asked what advice he would give to other young people, Samuel’s message was simple:

“Work hard, stay in school, and if you can believe, you can achieve.”

As graduation season continues, Samuel hopes his journey serves as a reminder that setbacks do not have to determine someone’s future. Through determination, hard work, and a willingness to embrace new opportunities, he has transformed academic struggles into success — and he’s just getting started.

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On Juneteenth, I’ll Celebrate Black Music at Andrew Jackson’s Plantation

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Ben Jealous

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    June 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — This Juneteenth I will stand at the Hermitage and help celebrate Black music. The Hermitage was Andrew Jackson’s plantation, outside Nashville. I want to be honest about how strange that is.

I am descended from slaves and from the men who owned and abused them. The men who denied them their God-given right to freedom. My family was enslaved by the Blands of Virginia. Richard Bland was the famous one. He was a patriot before there was a country. He told the king and Parliament that a shackle chafes a man no matter how well you polish it. His young cousin Thomas Jefferson asked him to bring a bill to make it easier to free the enslaved. Bland did it. He was denounced as an enemy of his country. Then he went home and kept his thirty. He died still holding them.

That is my inheritance. My grandmother, Mamie Bland Todd, is the griot of our family. She carries two hundred years of it. Her great-grandfather Frederick was the only enslaved man named in his owner’s will, and the will was written to protect him. The man who owned Frederick was his own brother. That is how close the blood runs. Thomas Jefferson is my cousin. He wrote that all men are created equal. Robert E. Lee is my cousin too. He took up arms to keep my other ancestors in chains. I carry the blood of the man who argued for freedom and the blood of those he would not free. I resent his cruelty. I pray my children show his courage against the men who would be kings. That is the duality of this nation.

So I know something about awkward ground.

The Hermitage is beautiful. A thousand acres. A white mansion. Gardens. The tombs of the seventh president and his wife. It is also a graveyard. More than three hundred men, women, and children were enslaved there. Archaeologists are still finding their graves. The land was Native land first. He signed the Indian Removal Act. He set the Trail of Tears in motion. Settlers’ bones are in that ground. The bones of the enslaved. The ground is sacred for what is buried in it. It is stained for the same reason.

And we are going to sing on it.

Jackson owned the people there. He fathered no children, white or Black. Betty cooked for him, as her mother had before her. Her son Alfred was born on that land and lived there longer than any man. After freedom came he stayed. They put “Faithful Servant” on his stone. But once a white man told him slavery had its comforts, and Alfred asked him, “How would you like to be a slave?” The man had no answer.

For a while that felt like trespass. Who brings a celebration into a wound? Black music was not made in spite of that ground. It was made on it. The field holler. The spiritual. The work song that timed a hoe. People who were called property made them, and the songs said they were not. “Follow the Drinking Gourd” was a map to freedom. They sang it where the men who owned them could hear.

Juneteenth is the right day for it. Freedom came late, two and a half years after it was declared, to people who had been free in the eyes of God the whole time. The day does not pretend the delay away. It celebrates anyway.

So I will go. I will stand where Jackson stood, and where the people he enslaved stood. I will not soften either truth. I will say their names if they let me.

We are more curious now than ever about how we are joined. I have a cousin who descends from the people who owned mine. We are kin. The country is like that.

Nothing feeds the American need for unity and hope like the music made by enslaved people and their children. It is the truest thing this country has made. And we are still singing it.

So this Juneteenth, on sacred and stained ground, we will sing. And we will remember the oldest truth Mamie Bland Todd ever taught me: our people were always free.

And — oddly, ironically, and even somewhat poetically — it happens to be the same lesson her own slaveholding forebear, Richard, helped teach both his young cousin Thomas and King George.

Freedom is inherent. It belongs to us from the beginning.

Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.

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.

Kierra Lee
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Moms create hiking group to get kids outdoors and build friendships

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Karla Sosa

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    BAKERSFIELD, California (KERO) — Three years ago, a group of moms from Bakersfield started a hiking group designed for children to enjoy the great outdoors. Today, Little Hikers of Bakersfield has grown into a thriving community of families hitting the trails together.

The group was founded by three moms who wanted to create a space where parents could do fun outdoor activities with their kids.

“We figured we all have small children. Why don’t we start something together? And we did.” Co-founder Gregoria Gonzalez said.

What began as just the three founders has grown significantly. On average, 10 to 20 people now hike together on any given outing.

Gonzalez said the connections formed on the trail have become some of the group’s most meaningful outcomes.

“All these people here, we met hiking. It’s not that I knew them before and said, ‘Hey, friend, come and hike.’ We met hiking. And so that’s why that’s how this saying came about. Making friends by the mile.”

Co-founder Priscila Negrete says social media has played a big role in the group’s growth. The founders regularly share their monthly activities online.

“Blown up on Instagram, and we get new people every hike. We’ve made amazing friendships throughout this group, so, you know, it’s grown a lot.” Negrete said.

Little Hikers of Bakersfield schedules trips on different days of the week. Gonzalez says the group intentionally chooses hikes they consider easy, so children of all ages can participate.

The kids themselves say they love what the group has to offer.

“Making friends.” “Play with my friends.” “We go have so much fun.” “We go hiking.” “We went to caves.”

Gonzalez says watching the children grow up together has been one of the most rewarding parts of building the group.

“Our children are growing up together, and then we also say that when they get older, they’re probably gonna say, ‘Hey, Mom, I’m gonna go hike with Matthew.’ My son’s gonna be like, ‘See you later.’ And that’s something that we want, we want. We want to see them do that and experience the outdoors.” Gonzalez said.

In addition to hikes, the group also organizes camping trips and field trips.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KERO 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.

CMCH Legacy Project Returns for Black Music Month at Eldorado Ballroom

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Lisa Valadez

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    June 1, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — The Community Music Center of Houston (CMCH) will mark Black Music Month with the return of its annual Legacy Project, a citywide celebration honoring Black musical heritage, community storytelling, and live performance in Houston’s Third Ward.

The 2026 program will feature the debut of the Firey String Sistas of New York City, alongside tributes to musicians, educators, and artists whose work has shaped Houston’s Black cultural landscape.

The celebration opens Sunday, June 7, at the historic Eldorado Ballroom in the Third Ward Cultural District. The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with a Black Music Month art opening in the Dupree Room, featuring the exhibition “Music is My Sanctuary” presented in partnership with the Community Artists’ Collective. The exhibition highlights visual interpretations of music as cultural memory and community expression.

The program continues from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the Legacy Honoree Celebration and Concert, featuring a performance by the Firey String Sisters, a New York City-based ensemble led by Nioka Workman (cello), Marlene Rice (violin), and Mala Waldron (piano and vocals). The group blends jazz, soul, global funk, and world music and has performed with artists including Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Lauryn Hill, and India.Arie.

CMCH’s Legacy Project builds on that national foundation by bringing together visual art, live performance, and public memory. This year’s honorees include Dr. Anne Lundy, Dr. Ruth Stewart, Ina Zellers, and Dr. Gloria Quinlan, recognized for their contributions to music education and cultural preservation.

The Eldorado Ballroom, a landmark in Houston’s cultural history, has long hosted some of music’s most iconic performers, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B. King, and the late Jewel Brown.

This year’s programming also expands through a partnership with the Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum in Freedmen’s Town, extending Legacy Project activities throughout June as part of “Harmonies of Heritage: A Juneteenth 2026 Celebration of African American Music.” Events will take place at the J. Vance and Pauline Gray Lewis Museum Home of Legal and Education Professions.

Additional June activations include community programming on June 18, June 25, June 27, and June 30, featuring tours, public events, and educational offerings in partnership with Community Artists’ Collective and Freedmen’s Town Museums Houston / Rutherford B. H. Yates Museum. Private tours are available for $25, with proceeds supporting the museum’s preservation work spanning more than three decades.

The Legacy Project concludes its opening week with a donation-based concert experience on June 7, supporting CMCH programming and continued community access initiatives.

Attendees may RSVP via Eventbrite: eventbrite.com/e/11th-annual-legacy-project-music-art-and-heritage-tickets-1988478108551

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.

Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
4096658446

SCAD fashion graduate turns motherhood and perseverance into runway success

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Lydia Blackstone

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — When Samantha Covey walked across the stage at graduation this weekend, she wasn’t just celebrating a degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She was marking the culmination of years of hard work, family sacrifice and a dream that began with a sewing machine.

Covey was among the members of SCAD’s largest graduating class in school history. Just weeks before commencement, the fashion design graduate showcased her work in the university’s internationally recognized SCAD Fashion Show.

“My husband bought me a sewing machine and said, ‘Let’s chase your dreams together,'” Covey said. “So we did. I learned how to sew, and we packed up a U-Haul and came to Savannah so I could study here.”

Her latest design, featured in the fashion show, was inspired by French fashion house Lanvin and created as part of a project alongside designer Peter Copping.

For the assignment, Covey selected actress Goldie Hawn and her daughter, actress Kate Hudson, as her muses.

“I wanted to pick a modern mother-daughter duo,” she said. “I picked Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson.”

The gown’s vibrant yellow hue drew inspiration from Hudson’s iconic dress in the 2003 romantic comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”

“I don’t want to imitate it,” Covey said. “I just want it to embody the feeling of the color.”

While fashion icons helped shape her creative vision, Covey said some of her greatest inspiration came from her own life.

During her sophomore year at SCAD, she became a mother.

Balancing coursework, fashion design projects and raising a young child proved challenging, she said.

“I said a lot of prayers,” Covey said. “We had a lot of help, but it was really difficult.”

Like many working mothers, she learned to maximize every spare moment.

“When you have to prioritize your time, when it’s nap time, it’s go time,” she said.

That determination is reflected in the details of her work. Some of the handmade floral elements featured in her designs took two to three hours each to create.

After graduation and a successful runway debut, Covey and her family are preparing for another major transition.

The family is packing up a U-Haul once again, this time headed to Philadelphia, where her husband will attend graduate school.

Covey plans to continue building her fashion career through custom eveningwear and bridal design.

“I’ll be doing some custom eveningwear and bridal looks,” she said. “Just continuing to gain experience, keep designing and keep growing.”

For Covey, the move marks the next chapter in a journey fueled by family support, perseverance and a passion for fashion — one stitch at a time.

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Parris Island drill instructor found dead in Florida

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Graham Cawthon

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    PORT ROYAL, S.C. (WJCL) — A Marine drill instructor assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island was found dead Saturday in a hotel room in Starke, Florida, according to information released by depot officials on Monday.

Sgt. Albert Haynes II, 24, was assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion. At the time of his death, he was on temporary additional duty and taking part in a poolee event with Recruiting Station Jacksonville, officials said.

Investigation underway The circumstances surrounding Haynes’ death are under investigation by the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. The Marine Corps said it is fully cooperating with local authorities.

The Bradford County Sheriff says no foul play is suspected. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Service background Haynes’ home of record is Austin, Pennsylvania.

He served in the military occupational specialties of field artillery cannoneer and drill instructor. His training included the Field Artillery Basic Course at the Marine Corps School of Artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and Drill Instructor School at Parris Island.

Awards and family His awards included two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and three Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

Officials said Haynes was married and had no children.

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Family wants to ‘save Florida farmers’ with coffee farming

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Britt Leoni

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    MOORE HAVEN, Fla. (WBBH) — When it comes to Florida farmland, we typically think sugar or citrus.

On one family farm in Moore Haven, typical is nowhere to be found.

Three years ago, Matt Davis decided to stop selling citrus and start harvesting coffee. He didn’t know if it was possible.

“What can we do in Florida that no one’s doing?” said Matt. “We were like, let’s do coffee. No one is doing coffee. Everyone likes coffee.”

“Old Okeechobee Coffee Company” was born. Matt started planting coffee trees in his greenhouse.

“This is a second harvest,” said Matt. “That’s unheard of, and that’s what we’ve created on accident is a microclimate. This should not be happening right now at all.”

The coffee cherries grown on the farm are then processed and roasted.

Being the first to start and own a coffee farm in Florida hasn’t come without its challenges.

“When Ian came through, I got rain on top of saturated ground,” said Matt. “I lost 400 trees at 20 dollars a pop and had to start over one section.”

But no matter the cost, the Davis family has kept going. Matt’s daughter, Darien, says their mission is bigger than themselves.

“I think our goal is to help save Florida farmers,” said Darien. “To help the farmers not sell their land and help them provide for their families and prove that it can be done. I think that’s amazing if we could just help one farmer and their family.”

The Davis family proves that with determination, anything is possible.

“No matter how many people say you’re crazy, it can never be done; we’re proving that it can be done and we’re doing it,” said Darien.

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Rare blue micromoon dances through Massachusetts sky

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Cindy Fitzgibbon, Phil Tenser

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    NEEDHAM, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Less than two days after a meteor surprised people across Massachusetts, another rare celestial phenomenon danced more gracefully across our skies.

A rare blue micromoon set early Monday morning, but rose Sunday, making it the second full moon of May.

What’s so “micro” about it?

Since the moon’s orbit isn’t a perfect circle, this full moon was farther from Earth than usual at a distance of 252,360 miles (406,135 kilometers), making it seem a bit smaller and dimmer.

It’s the opposite of a supermoon when a full moon comes closer to us than normal. The most recent supermoon, for instance, was just 225,130 miles (362,312 kilometers) away.

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Man charged after throwing five kittens from car window on I-65, police said

CNN Newsource on June 1, 2026

By Ryan Lovell

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    HOMEWOOD, Alabama (WVTM) — A Birmingham man has been arrested after police say he threw five kittens from a moving vehicle on Interstate 65 near Lakeshore Drive.

Homewood police responded to the area around 1 p.m. on May 30 after witnesses reported seeing the animals tossed from the car.

All five kittens were struck and killed by other vehicles.

Officers took Thomas Liccione, 21, into custody. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

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