Author: CNN Newsource

By Charlie Lapastora

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — Barry Hickerson has more than four decades of experience as a paramedic and worked as an EMS chief for 12 years for Farmington Fire in San Joaquin County. That is, until a few weeks ago, when he tendered his resignation after seeing his Battalion Chief Conni Bailey and Assistant Chief John Kalebaugh also resign.

Hickerson worked closely with both of them and said he talked to Bailey on Wednesday. Bailey’s been with the department for 34 years, and Kalebaugh for 25 years.

“It was tragic to see what happened to them,” Hickerson said. “I mean, the chief should’ve left with a retirement party, not being kicked to the curb. When you do that, when you have a small community like that and these people are connected and have been there for two or three decades, when you see that happen to one or two of them, the other ones are affected gravely.”

Hickerson said he thinks the “community is heartbroken” and told CBS News Sacramento why he decided to leave, as well, claiming there were “oppressive” conditions.

“I think anybody, you just couldn’t work under those conditions where somebody is oppressive. They’re over your shoulder every day, micromanaging what you’re doing, and just talking negatively about them every day, so it was just very challenging to see,” Hickerson said. “I wound up turning in my resignation after they did, given what the department was left with, I didn’t feel the department was safe to function as a firefighter or EMS responder.”

Two captains and a majority of volunteer firefighters also left, according to Hickerson.

“The community is left with now a couple of hopeful and willing probationary firefighters, but they have no senior members there now. They can’t even drive fire apparatus, so they had to have one of the board members that was involved in this, who was a former firefighter, I believe that he has his license to drive fire equipment,” Hickerson said.

This all came around six months after the board changed leadership, including a new board president, Jeff Briggs.

“It was the board’s decision to create that atmosphere that ran those leaders out,” Hickerson said. “They could’ve chose a different way to do it. If they wanted change, there’s definitely better ways to do it. But, literally, they created such a terrible atmosphere. They literally forced the hand of those fire executives to leave. And, believe me, that’s the last thing they wanted to do.”

Hickerson called the work environment “toxic.”

A San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors’ emergency meeting was recently held regarding a new ad-hoc committee looking into the Farmington Fire Department practices. Farmington Fire Board Vice President Jake Samuel represented the board at the meeting.

“At our last board meeting, after we presented that as a recommendation to move forward with the posting of that acting chief, is when we had some, guess you could say, distaste to the direction of where the board of directors was going with an acting chief, someone else from the outside of Farmington coming in and, hence, this is where we’re at today,” Samuel said. “But, we’re trying our hardest to make it right for our community.”

Samuel was appointed to the board in October 2025 and admitted they’ve had struggles.

“I live in the community,” Samuel said. “I want to make sure we have adequate coverage. That’s been the concern of a lot of the people in the area, to make sure we have that adequate coverage.”

Samuel also mentioned the board is looking to add someone outside of the fire district to help with the department administration work, including payroll and paying bills.

“The department ran fine,” Hickerson said. “Those individuals that lost their positions, they counted every dime in that place. There was no funny business, nothing. I mean, they ran that department tight. They never took an extra dollar out of it, and they did a great job year-after-year-after-year-after-year.”

The Farmington Fire board motioned to hire Collegeville’s chief, Vanessa Herrero, as their temporary emergency acting chief until they can find another acting chief while Conni Bailey’s son, Matt, who is Farmington’s Fire chief, is on disability leave.

Hickerson told CBS News Sacramento that if the situation were right, Bailey would come 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.

By Dean Fioresi

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — FBI officials are investigating “suspicious materials” that were found at a home in a gated community in Irvine earlier this week.

Police were called to a home near Cartwheel and Iluna on Monday after a landlord called to report suspicious circumstances, an Irvine Police Department spokesperson told CBS LA.

When officers arrived, they found suspicious materials in what was believed to be a homemade science lab that had caught fire. While investigating, they found that there were possible indications of chemical nerve agents, a source familiar with the investigation told CBS LA.

Police contacted Orange County Fire Authority officials for further assistance, who sent a hazardous materials team to the scene. They determined that the chemicals found at the home were concerning due to written evidence that was also found at the scene.

The investigation was later handed off to FBI investigators, who have been working at the home since Monday, police said.

An FBI spokesperson told CBS LA that their Evidence and Response Team and Hazardous Evidence Response Team were both on scene per request from OCFA.

“There is no known threat to public safety,” the FBI’s statement said. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we are not able to provide additional information at this time.”

Neighbors told CBS LA that the National Guard also arrived outside of the home on Monday afternoon, and some of the members were seen wearing shirts that said “Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team.” Video and pictures from the scene showed a massive presence of federal and local law enforcement personnel as their investigation continued.

No arrests or injuries have been reported.

SkyCal flew over the ongoing investigation on Wednesday afternoon, where people in plain clothes and hazardous materials gear were seen walking in and out of the home’s garage.

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 Eva Andersen, Atheer Hussein

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    PHILADELPHIA (KYW) — A woman whose allegations helped lead to child sexual abuse charges against a former part-time Delaware County police officer is speaking publicly for the first time, after he was shot and killed during a confrontation with officers.

Victoria Collier Payne told CBS News Philadelphia she experienced a range of emotions after learning her uncle, Francis Collier, had been killed Wednesday when police attempted to arrest him in Bala Cynwyd.

“My initial emotion was shock, just because something I had been dealing with for so long was finally coming to an end,” Payne said. “And then sadness more for the child within me.”

Authorities said Collier, 38, was charged Tuesday by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office with crimes, including rape of a child. Officials said the charges stemmed from allegations made by multiple women. Police said officers spotted Collier in his vehicle Wednesday while serving an arrest warrant. Investigators said Collier opened fire, and officers returned fire, killing him.

Payne said the abuse began in 2004, when she was 6 years old and Collier, her dad’s brother, was living in her family’s home.

“[The abuse] was happening on a regular basis,” she said. “I would’ve been about 6 years old and about to finish kindergarten. I was a vibrant and outgoing student, and then all of a sudden, I shifted.”

She said she told her mother, who believed her. Payne said she recalls that Collier, who was a teenager at the time, underwent a mandated psychosexual evaluation and that recommendations were made to his parents.

“It was challenging for my family,” she said.

For years, Payne said she kept her experience largely private. That changed late last year after someone sent her a social media post showing Collier being welcomed to a special victims unit and reading to children.

“It honestly disturbed me. And I feared for the kids,” she said. “I have to find the strength to come forward because if I don’t, there’s potentially so many more victims.”

Payne said she reported the abuse in December, contacting local police in the community where the abuse occurred. She later spoke with investigators from the Attorney General’s Office. She said she and the second accuser were interviewed separately.

“We were interviewed independently completely,” she said. “We ultimately knew similar things had happened to us.”

Collier had also served as a part-time police officer in Morton Borough in Delaware County. The department previously said he was placed on unpaid leave in December after being contacted about the investigation and later resigned. The department said no criminal allegations were made against him during his tenure there.

Payne said knowing there won’t be a trial brings complicated emotions.

“It’s bittersweet,” she said. “I’m grateful I don’t have to rehash all of this through a court process.”

She also questioned Collier’s actions during the attempted arrest.

“If you’re truly innocent on this many charges, then why did you take a very guilty way out,” she said. “I think that it proves the truth, and because of that, I am at peace, in a sense.”

Payne said she decided to speak publicly with the support of her husband and therapist. She said she has been in therapy since early 2022.

“I finally had the strength,” she said.

She said she hopes sharing her story encourages other survivors to come forward.

“Do not ever blame yourself,” Payne said. “And don’t think that you’re alone.”

Today, Payne lives in Clifton Heights with her husband. She said she is proud of the life they are building together and hopeful about starting a family.

“It took a lot of strength,” she said. “There’s nothing I take more pride in than being his wife and building the little family we’re trying to create. Knowing the person that hurt me isn’t here anymore makes a big difference.”

Authorities have said there is no ongoing threat to the public in connection with the shooting.

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 Kerri Corrado, Scott Jacobson

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    SALEM COUNTY, New Jersey (KYW) — For Jane and Guy Gaudreau, the 2026 Winter Olympics are a golden moment the two will never forget.

After the United States men’s hockey team won the gold medal over Canada, they honored their sons, Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed by an alleged drunk driver in Salem County, New Jersey, in 2024. Team USA skated around the rink while holding Johnny’s No. 13 jersey.

The moment left Jane and Guy Gaudreau, Johnny’s parents, proud and emotional.

“Right there in the moment, I knew that John and Matty were so happy we went,” Jane Gaudreau said. “That we were there to be able to honor both of them.”

Along with holding Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey, the U.S. men’s hockey team had his children be a part of the team picture.

“That picture is worth 1,000 words to me, like it is so beautiful and so genuine,” Jane Gaudreau said. “For the team to give John’s children that opportunity, he wasn’t able to be there, but they were both there for him.”

The Gaudreaus said at first they declined the Olympic invitation because they thought it would be too hard, and then changed their mind. They said the hockey team embraced them with so much love and respect.

“I said, I just have a feeling this is a sign from John, saying, ‘I can’t be there. Can you be there for us?'” Jane Gaudreau said.

Jane and Guy Gaudreau said playing for their country was a dream. Guy even helped Johnny train.

“He worked all summer with me and was in tremendous shape and was ready to go, and obviously he didn’t get a chance to do that,” Guy Gaudreau said. “But that was his dream to get a gold medal.”

Many family and friends were watching from home and saw the special tribute.

“Everyone in the house lost it, and I thought, well really everyone in the world lost it,” Jane Gaudreau said.

An American flag hangs at the memorial where the brothers were killed on County Route 551 in Oldman’s Township in Salem County.

The Gaudreaus said they are touched by the outpouring of support.

“These are professional athletes playing, just showing the love they had for him was really it tells you a lot about your sons and what they were all about,” Guy Gaudreau said.

To continue to keep Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau’s legacy alive, they will hold the second annual Gaudreau Family 5K in May at Washington Lake Park in Sewell.

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By Tara Molina

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — The mother of an 8-year-old boy who was allegedly put in a chokehold and dragged by the neck by a Chicago Public Schools employee hopes her lawsuit and choice to speak out will help protect children in the future.

Prosecutors have charged Tamika Odeh, 44, a former special education assistant at Parker Elementary in Englewood with aggravated battery. She no longer works for the school or for CPS.

But the boy’s mom said more needs to be done.

“She could have really killed my son,” Tangi Reynolds said. “He didn’t do anything to cause this. He’s just a child. An 8-year-old child. He’s a great kid and a great student.”

In an effort to protect the boy’s identity, CBS News Chicago is not reporting his name or showing his face. His mother said he suffered a ligament injury to his C2 cervical spine, which doctors told her is considered a very serious injury.

Reynolds said her son was an all-A honor roll student with no prior incidents with teachers. She shared photos of the neck brace she said he had to wear for two months after the incident, which happened during breakfast before school had started for the day in November 2025.

“She put him in a chokehold. She dragged him by the neck. And she slammed him to the floor, and his head hit a chair,” Reynolds said. “My son said he went unconscious and when he came to, staff members were above him asking his name and how many fingers he was holding up. And then they sent him back to class.”

She said his 7-year-old brother saw the whole thing and was also sent back to class.

“They did not notify the Chicago Police Department. They did not notify the Department of Children Services,” she said.

Reynolds said the school didn’t even tell her about the incident until the next day and, according to the lawsuit, “despite being placed in a chokehold, losing consciousness and striking the ground, no medical assistance was offered.”

And what incited this incident?

“This all happened over a bag of chips,” Reynolds said. “She confiscated his chips and he attempted to retrieve them back from her.”

The incident report from the school is minimal, but CBS News Chicago found it details exactly what Reynolds says happened, including noting that her son didn’t put his hands on the employee. She said those are the only details she’s received.

“Still to this day they never told me what happened to my son,” she said.

Odeh was arrested and charged with aggravated battery of a child. A CPS spokesperson said Odeh was “removed from duty” after the incident.

The 8-year-old had only been a student at Parker Elementary for less than a year when the incident happened, after moving to the city from the western suburbs. Now in a new CPS school and still getting medical treatment, Reynolds said his injuries were so severe that he still can’t run, jump, play or go to gym class. She said the injury caused him to lose range of motion in his neck, so now he undergoes physical therapy.

“He’s a great kid. He’s very respectful. He’s very active. Well he was active. He loves soccer. He loves Messi. He loves art. He’s a great artist,” Reynolds said.

“So he basically can’t do anything he could do before,” his mother said. “It’s heartbreaking, especially when the doctor told us last week it could stay like that for the rest of the year.”

Reynold said she wants to see change in Chicago Public Schools for children moving forward.

A spokesperson for CPS said they remain committed to student safety and can’t comment on pending litigation, writing in a statement, “Chicago Public Schools (CPS) remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its students. In accordance with District policy, CPS does not comment on pending litigation.”

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By Liz Crawford, Kyle Burton

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    WEST DEPTFORD, New Jersey (KYW) — Two people are recovering after being pulled from their overturned truck Wednesday morning by good Samaritans who came to their rescue.

John Reilly and Dalton Applegate were working Wednesday morning as usual. Reilly drives a tow truck for Johnson Specialized Transportation, and Applegate follows in a flatbed. Around 7:30 a.m., they spotted an overturned utility truck on the side of Interstate 295 in West Deptford, New Jersey.

Reilly and Applegate said they pulled over and immediately ran over the guardrail and down the embankment where the truck was.

“As I ran down, I heard them beeping their horn to let us know someone was in there. I kept yelling, ‘Are you guys OK? How many people are in there?'” Reilly said.

Reilly said he saw two men inside and was able to get the door open and pull out the passenger, but he said the driver was in much worse shape because he was trapped by his seatbelt and half his face was submerged in water. Applegate ran and got a knife that Reilly said he used to cut the seatbelt so he could get the driver out.

“The second guy was so cold, he had no clue what was going on,” Applegate said.

The men said when the driver was finally out, he was limp and shaking.

Emergency officials said both of the men in the overturned truck were taken to the hospital and only ended up with minor injuries.

The wreckage caused a fuel leak and hazmat crews responded before the lanes reopened hours later.

As for Reilly and Applegate, they got right back to work after rescuing the men.

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By Paula Wethington

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — A truck became stuck in a sinkhole that formed on Wednesday near Orangelawn Street and Chatham Street in Detroit’s west side.

The cave-in appeared to be several inches deep, based on the impact of the front tires of the truck that sank into the street.

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said it learned of the sinkhole late Wednesday evening, after a motorist had tried to drive through the area and the front tires of their truck fell into the hole. Water had obscured the depth and impact of the sinkhole.

The truck was later towed out, and the intersection blocked off, city officials said.

Repair crews were sent to the area Thursday morning to make repairs.

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 Hannah Kliger

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A Jewish congregation in Brooklyn is fighting to save their historic house of worship.

Congregants say they want to continue worshipping at the institution their community built a century ago.

The once-vibrant Kingsbrook Shul is now covered in tarps, with a large puddle on the floor and water stains on the ceiling.

The synagogue sits on the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center campus, now owned and operated by One Brooklyn Health. The congregation was founded 100 years ago, along with the hospital, when members of the Jewish community felt mistreated at other hospitals in the city and wanted a place where they felt welcome.

Services were paused during the pandemic, but years after all restrictions were lifted, the congregation says hospital management refused to allow them back inside.

“This dragged on and on ’til finally in June 2024, they admitted, which we had begun to suspect, that they don’t want to open up the synagogue again,” Rabbi Zalman Goldstein told Brooklyn reporter Hannah Kliger.

The dispute stems from a plan to build affordable housing on part of the campus. In 2019, officials assured the congregation in writing that “access to the synagogue will be preserved throughout and after development is complete.”

“Once they saw that the synagogue was closed and we’re not in there, they said, ‘hey, wait a second, why don’t we also take the synagogue?'” Goldstein said.

Last year, the congregation filed a lawsuit against One Brooklyn Health.

A spokesperson for One Brooklyn Health said the matter is in active litigation and they cannot comment.

Goldstein has been unable to attend to his longtime synagogue, where he celebrated his son’s bris, in nearly six years.

“The lights are off right now. And God willing, very soon, the lights will be back on,” Goldstein said.

Mendy Rendler, a longtime congregant, described the scene as a sad reminder that the congregation is displaced and not allowed to make repairs.

“We don’t have like a big building like this that can house all the families that used to come together over here as a community center,” Rendler said.

On the recent 100th anniversary of the congregation’s founding, the community gathered outside in the cold to pray.

Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she is spearheading efforts to save the synagogue, though her office did not specify the nature of her involvement.

“We’re very appreciative of the governor’s office and their support to open the synagogue,” Goldstein said. “Saving it is great. But a synagogue that’s not open is not in use.”

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