Category: CNN Regional

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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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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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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Kevin Harrington
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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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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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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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By Taylor Epps

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    BUFFALO, New York (WKBW) — You can only invite so many people to your wedding. A Buffalo principal was able to squeeze in all of her school students; she just didn’t know it.

Brianna Lenoye, Principal at Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School (BuffSci), mentioned wishing all of her students could come to her wedding.

They didn’t go. Instead, they brought the wedding to school a few days before, and she had no idea it was coming.

“I was completely overwhelmed with joy and emotion,” said Principal Lanoye. “To see the love and effort the students and team poured into this for me was one of the most touching moments of my life. This is a day I will truly never forget. They are all a part of my family.”

It was a normal day until Ms. Lenoye, now a Mrs., was led to the courtyard, which was transformed into a wedding venue, with the entire elementary school waiting as guests.

Courtney Champlin, her assistant principal, walked her down the aisle in a tuxedo t-shirt, and at the end of the aisle, her groom, Zach, was waiting.

A student officiated the ceremony, and classmates gave speeches.

“I want to personally thank you for all you did for me,” one student said. “I will never forget the difference you have made in my life.”

Ms. Lanoye and her groom exchanged candy rings and wedding vows. Students showered her with love and dance moves on a day she will never forget.

“It was more than I ever thought anyone would do for me,” said Lanoye. “It was really special.”

It was good practice for the actual wedding, which was also at BuffSci.

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By Steven Rosenbaum

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    MESQUITE, Texas (KTVT) — The Mesquite Police Department is praising one of its officers for a heroic act that was caught on camera.

A video posted to Facebook shows dashcam video of an officer on patrol just after midnight on September 30, when he sees sparks fly and a car catch fire on the other side of the highway. After exiting the highway and turning around, the officer pulls up to the scene on I-30 and Big Town Boulevard and sees a sedan in flames.

The video switches to his body-worn camera, showing the officer running up to the car. The driver can be heard crying in pain.

The door was stuck, so the officer tried to pull her out of the window but he was not able to. He was eventually able to pry the door open and get the driver out, about 30 seconds after reaching the car.

The video then shows he and another officer providing first aid before paramedics arrived, including applying a tourniquet to her leg, which had a significant laceration, police said.

“This act of bravery serves as a powerful reminder of the courage and commitment our officers show every day,” the Facebook post said.

Mesquite PD identified the driver as 21-year-old Jacqueline Tenorio of Dallas. She was later charged with driving while intoxicated.

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