Category: CNN Regional

By Mythili Gubbi

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    OGDEN, Utah (KSTU) — Ogden has always been known as a railroad town, but one of our country’s treasures at sea was also named after the city, carrying a legacy of history and service for over 40 years.

The USS Ogden LPD-5 was commissioned in 1965 and aided in combat efforts during the Vietnam War, Desert Storm and crucial periods in our nation’s history.

“We were going over to Da Nang to load up Marines that were coming home,” explained Loren Argall, who served on the USS Ogden from 1971 to 1973.

“I was a boiler technician,” said Douglas Parker, who served on the USS Ogden from 1976 to 1979. “I worked down in the engine room providing steam for the entire operation of the ship.”

He grew up in Ogden, so he was proud to serve on this ship — holding onto his roots and making heroic strides.

“Fortunate to be stationed aboard the USS Ogden, named after my hometown,” Parker said.

“We would operate the ballast tanks to sink the ship down to launch the Marine Corps amphibious crafts,” explained Howard Lincoln, who also served on the USS Ogden. “We did a lot to support all of the operations throughout Vietnam, and I think we made major contributions to the war effort and also to the United States.”

He is from Washington Terrace, so the USS Ogden holds a special place in his heart.

“They said even though he’s far from home, he’s still in Ogden,” Lincoln said.

The ship was christened in 1964 by Janice Shupe Burton, wife of then U.S. Congressman from Utah, Laurence J. Burton.

For the first time, this year’s annual reunion for shipmates aboard the USS Ogden was in Ogden. Mayor Ben Nadolski signed a proclamation recognizing the heroic efforts of these service members.

“May the name of the USS Ogden forever remind us that the ship is more than steel machinery. Her true legacy is found in the women and men who served aboard her, and the sacrifices they made and the bonds they carry with them for a lifetime,” part of Mayor Nadolski’s proclamation read.

Parker said he is proud of what they have all accomplished and that the USS Ogden was so special to all of them.

“The people you served with, we had a mission to serve for our country, and we did it,” he said. “I was very proud and honored to be able 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.

By Lily O’Brien

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    SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kansas (KAKE) — A Wichita-area mother is on the hunt for a go-kart, which was gifted to her sons and stolen days later from a family member’s house off Seneca Street in south Wichita.

She says the most hurtful part isn’t just the theft; it’s how much her two boys — who have autism — have been affected emotionally.

“It kills me that this happened to them,” said that mother, Miranda Tyler. “We try to keep them as independent as we can, and we got it for him [the oldest son] to kind of start learning how cars work and driving to see if maybe that’s going to be a goal for him.”

Less than a week after they were gifted the go-kart, it was stolen in the middle of the night.

Days later, Tyler says her oldest son understands what happened. Her younger son, she says, isn’t non-verbal but is limited in communication, still expressing fears about what strangers could do to the family and having nightmares.

A compilation of security camera videos from multiple neighbors shows someone breaking down the Tylers’ fence, taking the go-kart back over it, and pushing it down the block.

“We found the tracks leading all the way back to the woods,” said Tyler.

Those woods, she says, have a homeless encampment. The family says they haven’t had any issues until now, and assumes the black and red go-kart was dumped back there, or taken through it somewhere else.

She notes that she, her husband, and police officers searched the area but found nothing.

“It’s just a waiting game,” said Tyler. “It’s one thing if you take from me and my husband, but you’re not going to take from my special needs children … this world can be harder on them anyway.”

She says all she wants is for her sons to be able to jump camp on the worn leather seats that brought them so much joy in just a few days.

“It was everything. They had been begging for one, and you know we live within our means because my boys are special needs,” said Tyler. “I would forgive him if he brought it home because I get how hard it is right now.”

The family created a GoFundMe to replace the go-kart if it isn’t found.

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 Lindsay Tuchman

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    NEW YORK (WABC) — A Brooklyn resident is drawing attention to a long-standing traffic bottleneck on the westbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway with a viral song about Exit 31 at Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg.

Drivers who use the BQE are familiar with congestion at the exit, which often backs up onto the highway because the off-ramp merges with a local road that ends at a traffic signal. The bottleneck can snarl traffic for motorists traveling through the area.

Clinton Hill resident Andrew Rose Gregory recently lampooned the exit in a song, a video that quickly gained attention online.

“It turns out hundreds of thousands of people live in Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights and Fort Greene and downtown Brooklyn and Clinton Hill, and, a lot of people have to drive by this every day. And it has, as you can see, the exit snarls up the whole road. The traffic over here is miserable,” Gregory said.

Gregory is a member of the musical comedy quartet the Gregory Brothers, known for internet hits including the 2010 series “Auto-Tune the News” and “It’s Corn.”

Gregory said the song resonated with viewers because it not only highlighted the problem but also suggested a potential improvement.

“I think people really connected with that emotionally, and I think people were pleasantly surprised that I actually offer that pretty clear and concise, not solution, but improvement in the second half,” Gregory said.

Traffic improvements at the exit were discussed during a community board meeting in 2025. Neighbors were told the state Department of Transportation was planning to separate the off-ramp and adjacent Williamsburg Street West with a physical barrier, widen the exit lane and optimize traffic signals.

According to a project portal, the effort remains in development, with construction expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029. No official start date has been posted.

Some drivers said they are frustrated by the delays and the lack of progress.

“We try to be very patient and wait there and you know, as much as we can, but it would be nice if they would do something,” Ryan Vereen said in Brooklyn.

Eyewitness News contacted the state Department of Transportation for an update on the status of any construction project.

The agency released a statement saying, “The New York State Department of Transportation shares the community’s frustration with frequent backups at Exit 31 (Wythe Avenue) of the westbound Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and we are taking action to fix this traffic headache by progressing a project to enhance safety and improve traffic flow. The project, which is in the final design stage, will reconfigure the exit ramp to two lanes, physically separate traffic approaches at Wythe Avenue, optimize signal timings, and install pedestrian curb extensions to provide improved mobility for vehicles and pedestrians. Final steps in the planning process will be completed over the next year, with construction set to begin in 2028.”

Meanwhile, Gregory said another version of the Exit 31 song is also on the way.

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 John Rupolo

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    HOBBS, New Mexico (KOAT) — On Friday, September 25, a 13-year-old student was taken into custody after allegedly shooting teacher Kelly Matthews at Highland Middle School in Hobbs.

KOAT has learned from the Lea County District Attorney’s Office the juvenile will be in federal court.

Hobbs Police Chief James Jones released a statement to KOAT

“The juvenile laws in our state are not the strongest. We feel the federal system is a better fit for such a tragic event,” Jones wrote.

Some details in the case, such as where and how the student obtained the gun and 50 rounds of ammunition, have not been publicly released. KOAT legal expert John Day said this information could be a factor in the decision to move the case to federal court.

“The possibility that there’s an adult who may have allowed the child to [have] the gun, or let the child have access to a gun. And penalties for those adults would be somewhat tougher than in the state courts,” Day said.

Day also noted that cases tend to move faster in federal court and that sentencing would be similar if the student is found guilty in either state or federal court.

“They can be kept in custody until they’re 21, both under state law and under federal law. So they’re not, it’s not a lot of difference in terms of how a sentence might be carried out,” Day said.

Below is the full statement from Chief Hobbs:

“Our thoughts remain with Mr. Matthews, his family, the students and teachers of Highland Middle School, and all of those impacted by this tragic event. The Hobbs Police Department takes acts of violence against our schools and our community extremely seriously. We will use every legal option available to us, to hold those responsible for such actions accountable at the highest level, regardless of their age. Our commitment to the safety of our students, teachers, and community has not changed, and it will not change. We will work closely with our federal partners and federal prosecutors as this case proceeds through the federal system. Our pursuit to move this case into the federal system is not a result of any lack of confidence in our local judges. They do a great job and are amazing at what they do. However, the juvenile laws in our state are not the strongest. We feel the federal system is a better fit for such a tragic event”.

This statement from attorney Adam Oakey who represents the 13 year old juvenile:

“What I can say is this case should come back to New Mexico state jurisdiction. I see no viable reason why the federal government needs to meddle in cases with our citizens. This is not a federal case. We have the resources to deal with and are able it to rehabilitate our own children in our community. I believe that federal policy from the executive branch may be what’s pushing decisions like this.”

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By Richard Bourne

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    OXFORD, Mississippi (WAPT) — Advocates for Kratom want to set the record straight when it comes to the substance following the deaths of two Ole Miss students.

A representative of the American Kratom Association spoke in front of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office in Oxford Wednesday.

Law enforcement originally said that kratom was found at each scene of the students’ deaths last week. They now say there was packaging associated with kratom-related products.

The American Kratom Association wants the public to be very clear on the difference.

“We’ve heard this media frenzy for the past two weeks about kratom was associated with these tragic deaths here at Ole Miss University, and we find out now it’s not. What that product is is a federally controlled, as of the third week in August, synthetic opioid that is illegal federally,” the AKA representative said.

Experts say when used correctly and responsibly, kratom can assist in pain relief, mood enhancement and opioid withdrawal.

On Aug. 26, 2026, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration temporarily placed three synthetic opioid compounds into Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substances Act: Mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI), MGM-15 (dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine) and MGM-16 (9-fluoro-dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine).

Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said investigators are still waiting on official autopsy and toxicology findings from the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office to determine how Aidan Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, CO, and Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta, GA, died.

Lafayette County Metro Narcotics is urging the Mississippi Legislature “to address synthetic kratom-related products with the urgency this public safety issue demands.”

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 Rachael Perry

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    STUART, Florida (WPBF) — A Treasure Coast nonprofit is adding a new four-legged resource to its work helping child victims of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Catch the Wave of Hope is an anti-exploitation and anti-trafficking organization focused on awareness, education and survivor support. The organization works with children, parents, law enforcement, and other community professionals while also connecting survivors with therapy and other resources.

Now, Hanalei, a certified therapy dog, is joining that effort. Hanalei was rescued from Big Dog Ranch Rescue at three months old. She is a Labrador-Boxer mix and will turn two in November.

Sarah Marie Henry, the executive director, is Hanalei’s owner and handler.

“We have just kind of heard this overwhelming need for more therapeutic options, especially for children,” Henry said.

Hanalei will work with children at the Treasure Coast Child Advocacy Center, where some children go through the forensic interview process. She will also be available during therapy sessions and potentially during court proceedings.

“She is there to be a support to really help them feel safe and comforted,” Henry said.

Henry said Hanalei was a natural fit for the role because she has always responded well to children. She was trained and assessed before becoming certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Henry said children have already responded positively to Hanalei, including children with different learning disabilities.

“It’s almost instilled in them that she knows and is excited to see them and really gets down on their level and is just available,” she said.

Hanalei is also a rescue, something Henry said gives her story another meaningful connection to the children she serves.

“I think that she just has a different understanding because of where she came from and what she’s overcome to now be here,” Henry said.

The organization plans to add two more therapy dogs, with one already in the process.

For Henry, the goal is to give children another source of comfort as they work through difficult experiences.

“She’ll be there to help encourage communication when kids are having a harder time articulating what maybe happened to them,” she said.

And while the work can be difficult, Henry said the message behind Hanalei’s role is simple:

“What’s happened has happened, but there is hope,” she said.

Catch the Wave of Hope has a list of educational resources on their website, along with ways for people to seek help.

People can also follow Hanalei’s journey through an Instagram page.

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 Lisa Crane

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    KIMBERLY, Alabama (WVTM) — A North Jefferson Middle School parent says a school employee made an inappropriate, sexually suggestive comment to his 12-year-old son in front of classmates. The Jefferson County School Superintendent said the comments were unacceptable and the matter was reviewed and addressed under district policy.

Austyn Mayes said the incident happened in the school library while his son was horsing around with another student. Mayes said his son reported the comment to the principal.

“He said, ‘You boys have a seriously strange relationship. Why don’t you just go ahead and grab each other’s crotches?’” Mayes said.

More than a week later, Mayes and the boy’s mother met with the principal and the employee. The family recorded the meeting, which lasted more than an hour.

During the conversation, Mayes challenged the employee’s handling of the incident. The employee described it as an effort to embarrass the students.

“Wasn’t a bully issue; it was an embarrassment issue. I thought if I embarrassed the two of them,” the employee said.

“So that was your solution was to embarrass him in front of a classroom because you were, because he had behavior issues,” The student’s mother replied.

In the recording, the employee later said, “I understand you’re upset, and, yeah, I probably shouldn’t have said what I said.”

According to Mayes, the principal suggested the employee review the school handbook and receive support from a classroom behavior specialist. Mayes said that response did not go far enough.

Jefferson County School Superintendent Dr. Walter Gonsoulin said in a statement:

“We hold our faculty and staff to high standards of conduct and professionalism. Certain comments made in this situation were unacceptable and fall well short of our expectations for how employees interact with students. The matter was thoroughly reviewed and addressed in accordance with district policy, and while privacy considerations limit further detail, Jefferson County Schools remains committed to ensuring every classroom provides a safe, respectful environment for our students.”

Mayes said he may file a lawsuit to push for changes at the school.

“I will not accept a dime from the school. All I want to see is reform,” Mayes 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.

By Charlotte Hancox

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    BURLINGTON, Vermont (WPTZ) — ReSCUED is a new UVM-led research project aimed at patients in the intensive care unit. Researchers will use artificial intelligence to create what they call a “digital twin” of a patient’s immune system.

By collecting blood samples and monitoring a patient’s condition, the system would create a virtual model that updates in real time.

“[It] gives us a platform to be able to evaluate, discover and test potential therapies, often requiring multiple medications,” said Dr. Gary An, the vice chair of surgical research.

An said while today’s technology can keep more critically ill patients alive, some can become stuck in the ICU when their immune system struggles to recover. He said that immune response can be too complex for any one person to fully analyze in real time, and that’s where the AI system comes in.

“It processes that information and says, ‘oh, I’ve seen this before. If we don’t do anything, this patient will go this way, but we can do X, Y, and Z, and maybe that will make them better,'” said An.

The five-year project is the largest research award in UVM history, with federal funding worth up to $38 million.

“This is our mission to do good in the world. This is our common ground values, our commitment to our state and to people all over the world. And it’s going to save lives,” said Marlene Tromp, the president of UVM.

The patient data will not be collected in Vermont. Instead, three partner sites around the country will collect information from a broader range of patients including Wake Forest University, the University of Alabama, and Washington University.

At UVM, researchers will lead the project and develop the model behind the digital twin.

“This may improve survival from critical care illness. It may then also shorten the time in the ICU shorten their hospitalization. This could reduce health care costs,” said Richard Page, the Dean of Larner College of Medicine.

With the hope that by the end of the project, the technology will be ready for clinical trials. The ultimate goal is to reduce ICU stays by at least 25 percent and improve outcomes for some of the most critically ill patients.

And while this project is specifically focused on ICU patients, researchers said if the digital twin model proves successful, it could be applied to any health care problem.

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.