Author: CNN

KCBS

By Dean Fioresi

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — An infestation of mosquitoes in one El Segundo neighborhood has created a months-long nightmare for residents, who are hopeful that mitigation efforts from Los Angeles County leaders will finally make a difference.

Los Angeles County Vector Control officials say that the influx of mosquitoes is likely from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant, which has created breeding grounds for the annoying pests. They say they’ve been working to try and solve the issue since it was first brought to their attention in mid-December.

In an update to the mitigation plan posted on Jan. 2, city officials said that an inspection of the site revealed several breeding areas.

During a city council meeting on Tuesday night, LA County Vector Control Executive Director Aaron Arugay spoke on the infestation.

“Because of the time of year, it was a little unusual to see the spike in the winter; it’s not what we’re really accustomed to,” he said. “I think it was a rain event, then some warm weather in addition to some maintenance issues in the facility, all combined to create the issue.”

Some residents say that they’ve spent hundreds of dollars in recent weeks to try to solve the problem, with temporary solutions ranging from traps to essential oils.

“The community, we all started buzzing about it right before Thanksgiving,” said Samantha Hedding, an El Segundo resident. “We went through our holidays like this. It was miserable. Then the weather got nice, it’s still been miserable.”

Vector Control and Hyperion staff are expected to set six new traps along the greenbelt between the water plant and El Segundo on Wednesday, which they hope will help ease the large amount of mosquitoes.

“LA County Vector Control staff have been applying pesticides as needed,” said the City of El Segundo’s website. “Hyperion also has a private contractor on standby to apply pesticide, if needed.”

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.

KCBS

By Nicole Comstock

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — An Eaton Fire survivor said thieves stole $16,000 of equipment from his contractors while they rebuilt his Altadena home.

“He had some expensive equipment in there, and they stole their equipment,” Altadena resident Jim Osterling said. “They broke into another truck right there. That worker came out and saw them and chased them.”

Osterling’s home is only a half mile from where the Eaton Fire started. He said thieves have also targeted his neighbors’ construction sites.

“It’s deplorable and inexcusable,” he said. “These folks are coming up and seeing what they can steal.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Altadena Station said they have not seen an uptick in crime. In December 2025, they received only two residential burglary reports, compared to 12 in December 2024. LASD has increased patrols in the area, with extra deputies checking on construction projects and residential properties.

Osterling hopes the ongoing immigration enforcement operations in LA County have not discouraged contractors from reporting burglaries. He urged his neighbors to remain vigilant and contractors to keep their equipment locked up.

“All of these contractors coming up, helping us rebuild, we need to alert them,” he said. “They need to be vigilant.”

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station believes that the $16,000-burglary may have been a random crime of opportunity.

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.

KCBS

By Matthew Rodriguez

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A man with a machete terrorized laundromat customers in Pomona over a San Francisco 49ers jersey, according to the owner.

“He was kind of looking at my son, and he saw my son with his red 49ers jersey on,” owner Phil Hernandez said. “He made a comment to the effect of get that red shirt off.”

The Pomona Police Department said the incident occurred on Saturday at 9:14 a.m., the same day the 49ers played the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL playoffs.

Security cameras showed the suspect walking into the laundromat and going after the owner’s son, who was wearing a George Kittle Niners jersey.

“He kind of made it look like he was going after him,” Hernandez said. “My son took off, I think, appropriately.”

Hernandez said the suspect left the business after the encounter but came back. After calling the police, Hernandez tried to hold the door closed while the suspect continued to yell outside. Security cameras showed the suspect swinging the machete and breaking the glass front door.

Hernandez said the suspect also made a comment about his red hat.

No one was injured during the altercations. The suspect left the area before officers arrived. Pomona PD said they have not located the suspect.

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.

KCBS

By Joy Benedict, Dean Fioresi

Click here for updates on this story

    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A Corona family is outraged after learning that the hit-and-run driver who killed their son in 2020 is being released less than three years into her nine-year sentence.

Benjamin Montalvo was just 21 when he was struck from behind while riding a bike with friends in front of his old high school back in June 2020. His parents say the group was heading to meet his brother for a late dinner when it happened.

“She was texting,” said Kelli Montalvo, Benjamin’s mother. “Twenty-four texts were exchanged in the six minutes surrounding the crash.”

The driver, Neomi Renee Velado, was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run for the crash. In 2023, she was sentenced to nine years in prison, but now, she’s due for release in February, just over two years into her sentence.

“Stabbed in the heart when it happened, and now a punch in the gut,” said Benjamin’s father, Eddie Montalvo. “When do they care for the victims?”

The Montalvo family received a letter from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation notifying them that Velado would be released next month, adding to what they say is nonstop pain for their son’s loss.

“I keep hoping there is a mistake, that they’ve done a miscalculation,” Kelli Montalvo said.

The family says that they’ve been told that even with her nine-year sentence, it was more likely that Velado would serve half of the time before she was released, assuming she stayed out of trouble.

“Nine years, four and a half, now two and a quarter. … What about us?” Eddie Montalvo asked. “Does anyone think about our family?”

They’ve reached out to CDCR to ask why she’s being released so early, but haven’t yet heard back. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office says it hasn’t been informed why yet either.

Though they believe in second chances, the Montalvo family says they haven’t seen any remorse from Velado since the tragedy occurred.

“This was her fourth hit-and-run,” Kellie Montalvo said.

While they know nothing will bring Benjamin back, they hope that his memory continues to live on and that VElado will somebody understand what was lost.

“The best thing that could happen, is her to attempt to reach out to us and show any kind of sadness, remorse and accept responsibility and then go on and change her life,” Kellie Montalvo 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.

KCNC

By Tori Mason

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — Hospitals across Colorado are urging people to roll up their sleeves and donate blood as supplies drop during one of the most demanding times of the year.

At Denver Health, a Level 1 trauma center that also handles elective surgeries and major medical emergencies, doctors say blood is a resource they can’t function without.

“It’s extremely important that we have an adequate blood supply,” said Dr. Bailee Olliff, Trauma Medical Director at Denver Health.

Denver Health’s blood bank administers about 500 units of red blood cells every month, along with about 100 units of fresh frozen plasma, which contains clotting factors.

To help put that into perspective, Olliff explained that each unit is about 250 milliliters, meaning it takes about four units to make one liter of blood.

A typical blood donation is also about one unit.

“In your body right now, you have about five liters of blood circulating most of the time,” she said. “When people donate, they’re giving about a unit of blood.”

The need for blood goes far beyond one type of patient.

Trauma patients may require transfusions after everything from car crashes and falls to penetrating injuries, and Denver Health also treats many patients dealing with medical emergencies like gastrointestinal bleeds or those undergoing heart procedures.

“We get a lot of transfers,” she said. “And especially right now for ski season, blunt traumas, falls, car accidents, really anything where you have experienced an injury, you could be at risk for losing blood.”

While Denver Health can work with community partners to bring in additional blood if needed, shortages are still a concern.

She said hospitals have to be judicious and ensure patients are receiving the right products at the right time.

“We’re going to do the right thing for the patient every time,” she said. “We’re going to make sure that we find the resources to take care of our patients here.”

Type O blood is among the most important donations because it can be used quickly in emergencies.

“The most common product transfused here is O blood – either O positive or O negative,” she said. “So if you are an O blood type, it’s actually very important that you donate.”

In severe trauma cases, patients may not be able to tell doctors their blood type or there may not be time to wait.

“We check your blood type right away when you come in for a trauma,” she said. “But O is what we can give to everyone … just as an emergency, until we know your blood type.”

Blood products do have a shelf life, though Denver Health moves through supplies quickly.

She added that Denver Health is able to extend usability by separating whole blood into components when it gets closer to expiration.

“We’re very fortunate to have whole blood here,” she said. “When we see that that is getting close to expiration, we actually spin that down into the different products.”

Most people can sign up to donate, but donors are screened to ensure it’s safe.

“They’re going to ask you a very extensive list of screening questions,” she said. “And then they’re also going to check to make sure that you’re not anemic.”

Some donation organizations also provide extra health information, including blood type and cholesterol screening.

The American Red Cross says the shortage is being driven by a significant drop in donors and disruptions across the country.

“We’re seeing about a 35% decrease in our inventory,” said Andrea Miller, Regional CEO for Colorado and Wyoming.

Miller said winter weather and illness have contributed to the decline.

“We’ve had a lot of storms across the country that have caused over 400 blood drives to be canceled,” she said. “The flu season has really hit them hard, so we’re seeing a lower amount of donors turnout.”

The Red Cross is urging people to make an appointment as soon as possible.

“The easiest way to get ready to donate blood is to go to RedCrossBlood.org and schedule your donation, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS,” Miller said.

For people looking to donate locally, Denver Health will host its own blood drive later this month.

“On Feb. 19, you can actually register through the Red Cross to come to Denver Health and donate and help our community directly,” she said.

Doctors and donation leaders say even one donation can make a difference, especially when it comes to trauma patients who may need blood without warning.

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.

KCNC

By Dillon Thomas

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — The city of Fort Collins has temporarily closed the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship church building in Old Town Fort Collins amid detection of methamphetamine contamination. Fort Collins Police Services told CBS Colorado the building was closed to access in mid-December after concerning levels of meth traces were detected in the building.

The church, which is widely known for its outreach to the unhoused and those overcoming addictions, continues to meet off property while they navigate next steps for the building.

“For more than 25 years, the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship has opened its doors and hosted those without homes,” said Steve Ramer, pastor of the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship.

The church has been in Fort Collins for more than 50 years. The facility in Old Town has become known for its outreach to those needing assistance. That included the church once offering lockers for the unhoused, as well as overnight shelter services for up to 15 people per night. The church would also offer their building, bathrooms and more to those in need of warmth during cold days

However, Ramer said FCPS visited their church Dec. 8 and placed red placards in their windows. Those same placards remain, stating the building is not to be entered due to meth contamination.

“We did get the church tested. There is contamination,” Ramer said.

Ramer said the church did receive bids to have the building cleaned so they could return to hosting services, recovery meetings and more. However, the bids were significantly more costly than they had hoped.

“That range over $70,000 to over $100,000. For a small congregation that will not be easy to do,” Ramer said. “Shutting us down has a very wide reaching impact.”

Fort Collins Police confirmed it’s not seeking criminal charges against anyone involved with the church amid the contamination investigation.

Ramer said he felt Colorado’s laws around methamphetamine contamination were too stringent and made it to where places like churches and libraries could easily be susceptible to being shut down over otherwise healthy levels, in his opinion.

Ramer said he would not allow the church building being closed to prevent his church congregation from continuing to help the unhoused or those battling addictions.

“Of course not. We do not give up,” Ramer said. “We will continue to serve those who God called us to serve.”

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.

KCNC

By Karen Morfitt

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A Denver judge on Tuesday denied bond for a 38-year-old man accused of killing a 2-year-old child. Nicolas Stout is facing charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death.

Stout was arrested on Sunday. Police received a call early that morning reporting that a child was unresponsive. When officers arrived at a home on South Vrain Street in west Denver, CPR was being performed on a 2-year-old girl. She did not survive.

According to arrest paperwork, Stout was the boyfriend of the child’s mother. Police interviewed several roommates at the home. All of them reportedly described Stout as “short fused,” “hot headed” and “very aggressive.”

Stout and the child’s mother initially told officers the girl had been jumping on a bed the previous day and fell, hitting her head. Later, the mother told investigators she saw Stout slap the child twice that night. She said the girl cried briefly, fell asleep and did not wake up the next morning.

Investigators documented bruising across the child’s body — some in various stages of healing — along with a raised bump on her forehead and other injuries. Police also found several bloody towels and wipes in the trash, as well as a bloody handprint. Stout told officers the blood came from trying to clean a bloody lip the child got after falling off the bed.

The child’s father, David Erickson, lives in Pueblo but raised the young girl for the first 18 months of her life before she went to live full-time with her mother. He said he has had his own struggles with drugs and the law, but had turned his life around for his daughter.

“She was the light of my life,” he said. “She completely changed who I was. She showed me the world isn’t as dark as I thought. I’ve been dealt a bad hand, and she was my savior. She taught me how to be tough and strong.”

Throughout the court documents, Stout denies hitting or abusing the child.

A review of his criminal record shows prior cases, including kidnapping and burglary. Denver police records also show multiple calls for service to the home over the past year for issues including weapons and theft.

The Colorado Department of Human Services responded to a CBS Colorado request, saying they are not allowed to provide information about any specific reports made to Child Protective Services. A report from their office, anonymously tracking child fatalities, however, was updated with information correlating to the 2-year-old’s death, showing there was prior interaction with this child.

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.

KCNC

By Austen Erblat

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A trial date was set on Tuesday for the former Colorado town councilman who’s accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy in the face after the teen and his friend tried asking for permission to take prom photos on the foothills property that belongs to the man.

A court hearing determined the trial for Brent Metz will start in Jefferson County on May 22 and should last about a week.

Attorneys for Metz, who served as a councilman for the town of Mountain View, say the September 2024 shooting was accidental and that Metz’s gun went off without him pulling the trigger.

The two teens hopped the fence of the property to knock on the door for permission to take those photos, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. When no one answered the door, they walked around the property, saying they heard music playing, before returning to their car. One of the boys started writing a letter asking for permission to take the photos at the house, the sheriff’s office said. That partially-written letter was recovered at the scene by investigators.

Metz’s girlfriend, who was home at the time, saw the boys on security cameras and called Metz and 911. Metz arrived before deputies and, according to investigators, got out of his truck, pulled a handgun, and pointed it at the teens’ car when it went off. Metz maintains he never pulled the trigger.

The boy who wasn’t injured told investigators he also believed the shooting was accidental, saying he heard Metz, 40, say, “oh s**t, my gun went off.”

Metz’s attorney, Chris Decker, told CBS News Colorado in May that the gun Metz used that day — a Sig Sauer P320 — is at the center of several safety recalls and lawsuits, both resolved and ongoing, due to instances of it reportedly going off without the trigger being pulled.

Metz was arrested at the scene and has since been released on bond.

He’s charged with second-degree assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, two counts of menacing with a weapon, and illegal discharge of a firearm — all felonies. He pleaded not guilty in April.

A message was left with Metz’s attorney on Tuesday seeking comment about the trial.

In addition to the criminal case, the teen who was shot is suing Metz in a civil case in Jefferson County. A hearing for that case is set for March 3.

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.

KPIX

By Amanda Hari

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A shocking video of a coyote swimming to Alcatraz has been circulating on social media.

The video shows a lone coyote swimming in the Bay, its head bobbing above the water as it makes its way to Alcatraz Island.

“Astonished, of course,” said Janet Kessler after seeing the video, sent to her by a friend.

Kessler is a self-taught naturalist who has been documenting coyote behavior in San Francisco for about 20 years. In the video, the coyote crawls out of the water and struggles to get his footing once on the rocks.

“He can barely make it,” said Kessler. “He’s depleted. He is shivering. He is cold.”

Coyotes can be found on nearby Angel Island, but this is the first time one has been documented on Alcatraz. The coyote likely swam over a mile to get there.

Kessler believes the animal may have felt interspecies population pressure in the city, and it needed to find a new territory.

“This one was probably pushed around by other territorial owners and decided that he could make this trip,” said Kessler. “So, he attempted it, and he made it.”

It’s still unknown if he survived the first night on the island, but she thinks he had the resources to do so.

“There are banana slugs,” said Kessler about what is on Alcatraz, “There are rats. There are mice. There are birds. There is plenty for him to eat. Although there is no running water, there has been rain so there are big puddles lying around. So, in that sense, he would be able to make it.”

A man who works on Alcatraz shared the video on Facebook, saying it was given to him by a tourist. Kessler believes they did the right thing by keeping their distance.

“Leave the coyote alone because this is it doing what it does best,” said Kessler.

After two decades studying the species, Kessler has learned they can adapt to many environments, some have lived in San Francisco for generations, and this one could potentially adapt to Alcatraz.

“They are survivalists,” said Kessler. “And ready to push their envelopes, and that’s why they continue to expand.”

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.