Category: CNN Regional

By Dean Hensley

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    MAGGIE VALLEY, North Carolina (WLOS) — An elk with a toddler’s swing entangled in its antlers was seen by Maggie Valley residents on Friday, Nov. 28, and was reported to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

On Monday, Dec. 1, just after 11 a.m., the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office reported that the swing had been taken off of the antlers of the elk by N.C. Wildlife Resources agents, including District Biologist Justin McVey, Wildlife Sgt. Tanner Baldwin and Wildlife Officer Melinda Parish.

A resident who lived nearby was monitoring the elk’s location, according to the NCWRC. Agents said it took less than 30 minutes to dart the elk, which was a 3-1/2-old male, to get it sedated, get the swing off and wake it back up. Agents said the elk then “went on its merry way.”

NCWRC said the swing looked to be an old child swing as the rope was “really old and the swing part looked like it was about to fall off of it from being so worn.”

The night before, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post that it was aware of the elk and had contacted the NCWRC.

“We are aware of the elk with a swing tangled in his antlers. Our team has been in contact with N.C. Wildlife, and with the assistance of wildlife officers and an N.C. Wildlife biologist, they are working on a plan to safely help this elk in the morning,” the Nov. 30 post said. “At this time, wildlife officials believe there is no immediate harm to the elk. Thank you to our caring community for reaching out with your concerns.”

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission also got in touch with News 13 on Dec. 1 and said a biologist was on the way to the elk and would also provide updates.

A News 13 viewer first shared a video of the elk in our Chime In feature on Friday and said the elk was walking along Moody Farm Road. When asked if she had called officials about the elk, in an email reply, she said there was a man there who had called officials.

News 13 also reached out to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on Friday. An agent serving the counties of Buncombe, Haywood, Madison and Jackson told News 13 that she had left a message with the district biologist but had not hear back yet.

The sheriff’s office said it was working with the Wildlife Resources Commission to make sure the elk is safely tended to.

“Since last evening, we have been in close communication with NC Wildlife, and with the assistance of wildlife officers and an NC Wildlife biologist, a plan is being put in place today to safely help this elk,” Gina Zachary, the public information officer with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, told News 13 on Dec. 1. “We are grateful for our partners at NC Wildlife for their quick support, and we appreciate the community members who reported this situation. We care deeply about our local elk population — they are a cherished and iconic part of Maggie Valley.”

The Wildlife Resources Commission has tips on its website for viewing elk and what to do if anyone sees an elk in distress in the wild. To report unauthorized interactions with elk or any wildlife violations, contact NCWRC Law Enforcement at 800-662-7137.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Tim Pulliam

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Dramatic video shows the moment a neighbor and an off-duty paramedic saved a little girl from a raging fire in Larchmont. Meanwhile, burning embers rained down all around them.

Families survived hot flames burning dangerously close to their homes over Thanksgiving weekend. The inferno gave them another reason to count their blessings.

The stunning blaze was captured on Citizen App video in Larchmont. It happened on Thanksgiving, just before midnight, when trees near a two-story duplex caught fire.

“I was upstairs, and I heard what sounded like a snowstorm, like snow hitting the window. I looked up, and it was ash. It was all sort of bright red outside,” neighbor Ari Vokydis said. “I told my wife to call 911. I woke up the kids. I came down here and banged on the door to wake my neighbors up. Their kid was the first one to wake up.”

That kid is 7-year-old Savannah Vasquez, who was actually awake, waiting for her mother to come home, but was greeted by her neighbor and the blaze.

“At first I thought it was just my imagination, but then it got warm, too,” Savannah said. “I just standed there for like 10 seconds. I didn’t know what to do.”

Then, Savannah said she remembered her school’s fire safety messages.

“Don’t grab anything, leave the house, leave wherever you are,” she recalled. “I told my grandma that there was fire, and she went to go alert everybody at the house.”

Firefighters arrived to the blaze on West Oakwood Avenue, including Richard, an off-duty paramedic who saw the fiery flash from his home.

“That guy just came out of nowhere, and then I was there, and then he helped me get out of the fire,” the 7-year-old said.

Video shows the dramatic moment Richard ran with Savannah in his arms away from danger as ash and embers fell around them.

Firefighters were able to quickly put out the flames.

In daylight, you can see the fire’s devastation. The family’s vehicle was destroyed, but firefighters have not condemned their property.

The family says they’re grateful to still be alive and able to still live in the home.

“Grandma’s car is now like a marshmallow,” Savannah said.

Savannah has minor burns and blisters on her feet from the hot debris.

She saved lives.

“It’s really kind, because that’s what kind people do,” Savannah said.

Firefighters say it’s still not clear what caused the fire.

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By KTNV Staff

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    HENDERSON, Nevada (KTNV) — A vigil for Bailey, the dog who was found inside a garbage can and eventually died, was held on Sunday afternoon.

The vigil was held at Pontenza Park at 3 p.m. to honor the life of the dog whose life was cut short after being found barely alive inside a sealed trash bag on Nov. 4. After being found, she was rushed to the vet, where she later died.

Attendees honored Bailey with a bubble release ceremony and collected donations for pet supplies. Dog owners who brought their pets received free pup cups during the memorial event.

Inspirada resident Chantel Corradino said her community has a deep love for their pets, adding that she wanted to give Bailey the send-off she felt he deserved.

“I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, the first thing on my Facebook was our Inspirada group page, and it showed a video of this poor baby on the sidewalk in the trash bag fighting for his life, and it just struck me, and it sat with me,” Corradino said. “I think we’re all just so shocked, and it was like we need to do something. Something needed to be done.”

Corradino said the city of Henderson will be donating a tree and a bench in Bailey’s name to be placed in the city’s parks as a permanent memorial.

Bailey’s owner, 60-year-old Randy Katz, is accused of animal cruelty and is expected to be back in court on Dec. 2.

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By Allie Triepke

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    BOISE, Idaho (KIVI) — The first Indigenous fashion show in Boise is using style and storytelling to spotlight a crisis affecting communities across the country — Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP).

The sold-out event, presented by Your Voice Is Heard Foundation, brought together Native communities from across the Pacific Northwest to honor culture and raise awareness.

“So YVH Foundation was originally the YVH Fashion Show. I created it in 2019 after my assault was set to go in front of a grand jury… unfortunately for me, my case was dropped the day before, so I actually used it to create a fashion show for survivors to tell their story,” said Samantha Townsend, founder of YVH Foundation. Townsend is Acoma Pueblo and part of the Parrot tribe.

The foundation has grown into a full nonprofit, now turning its spotlight on MMIP and raising funds for the Indigenous Idaho Alliance. Townsend emphasized the ongoing need for awareness:

“Native people are 10 times more likely to fall victim to violent crimes. So we’re shedding light on that today,” said Townsend.

The event featured all Indigenous creators: models, performers, makeup artists, and designers.

One of the highlighted designers, Boise native Raynie Hunter, has been creating jewelry since 2018 and was showing her work at a live fashion event for the first time.

“I draw a lot of inspiration from color… I can be outside and see a really pretty tree that has a bunch of colors on it, and like I need to go home and make something in that color palette,” Hunter said.

Hunter, who is Shoshone Paiute, incorporates modern and contemporary design into her native bead, crystal, and shell jewelry. She owns Beadiful Vibes jewelry.

“I want women to feel like they can wear an everyday outfit like this but still rock a statement piece,” she said.

Organizers hope the show sparks more conversations and creates greater visibility for Indigenous communities whose stories are too often overlooked.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

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By Luz Pena

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    LOS GATOS, California (KGO) — A car plowed into a coffee shop in Los Gatos on the night of Thanksgiving. The driver was a 90-year-old man.

It happened around 9 p.m. on November 27 when the vehicle was captured speeding down University Avenue in Los Gatos. Seconds later, it crashed into Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company.

“Just devastated with the destruction, but incredibly grateful that no one was injured aside from the driver of the vehicle,” said Teri Hope, Founder and Co-owner of Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company.

The vehicle ended up in the middle of the coffee shop. Hope got the call on Thanksgiving night and ran to find her business destroyed.

“Fixtures and furniture in half the building have been demolished. The coffee roaster itself is still intact and wasn’t affected. That is the heart of our business,” said Hope.

According to Los Gatos Police Department, the driver was taken to the hospital, and is in serious, but stable condition.

In a statement, the police department said in part:

“It is suspected alcohol may have played a role in this incident, but all factors are being looked at as part of the ongoing investigation.”

One of the businesses in the area installed surveillance cameras for safety, but never thought their footage would end up capturing footage that police will later use.

“We implement something, you know, fortunately, it paid off as far as assisting the police department, you know, the town and coming up to a conclusion and possibly coming up with some other better safety measures to ensure this doesn’t happen again,” said Geoff Beale, CEO of Surveillance Solutions.

Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company is a community gathering space that has been in the neighborhood for over four decades. People who frequent the business were shocked and thinking about the what ifs.

“So many times, we’ve sat in that room that’s been devastated and it’s just to think that you could be sitting there drinking coffee, eating pastry, watching a musicians and that could just suddenly happen,” said Sheila Lebedenko, a resident in the area.

“Tragedy for us and it’s a sad day for Los Gatos too. This is one of the most favorite places we got to,” said Dima Lebedenko, a resident in the area.

Hope said normally her coffee shop would be busy with people inside and pedestrians on Main Street. On Thursday night, the shop was closed due to the holiday. And more than ever, the word “gratefulness” has deeper meaning.

“We are just very grateful that no one was injured,” said Hope.

Now they are focused on picking up the pieces to reopen.

“I believe we are going to be back on our feet shortly,” said Hope.

Here is the full statement from Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department:

“This past evening, as Thanksgiving was coming to a close, Officers responded to report of a vehicle that had collided with the Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Company around 9pm. The Santa Clara County Fire Department responded and extricated the male driver, a 90-year-old Los Gatos resident from the vehicle. It is suspected alcohol may have played a role in this incident but all factors are being looked at as part of the ongoing investigation. The business was closed and unoccupied at the time of this incident and the driver was the sole occupant in his vehicle. He was transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition. Anyone who may have witness this incident is urged to contact the LGMSPD at 408-354-8600.”

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By Dean Fioresi

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    SIMI VALLEY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Police say that a married couple in their 60s was shot and killed inside their Simi Valley home on Sunday afternoon and that they’re now looking at their stepson as a possible suspect.

Officers were dispatched to the Wood Ranch neighborhood just after 12 p.m. upon learning of shots fired at a home in the 500 block of Hawks Bill Place, according to a news release from the Simi Valley Police Department.

When officers arrived at the home, they found two people suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to the hospital in critical condition, according to police. They were both pronounced dead at around 7 p.m.

Adventist Health Simi Valley later identified the victims as Dr. Eric Cordes and his wife, Vicki. Cordes was a “highly respected” radiologist for more than 30 years, the healthcare non-profit said.

Investigators told CBS Los Angeles that they did not believe the incident was random and that it did not appear to be a domestic incident. Callers told SVPD officers that the suspect walked up the driveway of the home and into the garage before opening fire.

Police later said that they were looking into a potential connection with a car fire and death by suicide that happened more than 70 miles away at Ayala Park in Chino.

Chino Police Department officers told CBS Los Angeles that they responded to a death by suicide at the park, located at 14225 Central Avenue, after learning that a car had been set on fire next to a deceased person. They say that they’ve been communicating with SVPD and are looking into possibilities that the incidents are connected.

SkyCal flew over the spot of the shooting, where a large amount of blood could be seen inside the garage of a home at the end of a cul-de-sac. There was a large presence of law enforcement officers as the investigation was underway. It also flew over the investigation in Ayala Park, where a burnt-out sedan was seen surrounded by investigators before it was towed from the area.

People were asked to stay away from both areas as the investigations continued, but SVPD and CPD officers said that they did not believe there were any further threats to the public.

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By Dean Fioresi

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    California (KCAL, KCBS) — An Altadena homeowner says that he’s been living with an unwanted guest for the better part of a week, after a large bear took up residence in the crawlspace underneath his home.

The massive bear has been caught on camera several times as it comes and goes from the small hole underneath Ken Johnson’s house, starting on Monday last week. Other videos show the bear walking around the property, as well as the first time the animal gained entry to the crawlspace, easily ripping away a small screen before squeezing inside.

“I noticed that the camera showed the bear coming out in the middle of the night,” Johnson said. “But the batteries died, so it never showed where it went. So, I didn’t know if it went to the backyard, the front yard, or it was still under there.”

He says that when he went to the side yard to replace the batteries on the camera, the bear growled at him from the crawlspace.

“I was just terrified, shaking,” he said. “That’s when I called the sheriff.”

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials told Johnson to call the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, which he did on Friday. They told him that he would have to wait until Monday for a response from their personnel due to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

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KDKA

By Mike Darnay

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It was a potentially historic afternoon for Pittsburgh cookie table lovers as members of a Facebook community gathered to try and break the world record for the largest Christmas cookie exchange.

The “Wedding Cookie Table Community” group on Facebook made their best effort at breaking the world record as many of the community’s members gathered at the Kringle Kitchen at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Sunday.

33 teams of 10 people from within a 75-mile radius of the fairgrounds worked to make and exchange the sweet treats along with teams from across the country and even New Zealand taking part in the Christmas cookie spirit.

Event organizers say at least 80,000 cookies were at Sunday’s exchange.

Each team had their own theme along with all of their tasty creations on display.

“We hope to establish a world record,” said Laura Magone, the founder of the Wedding Cookie Table Community group.” Right now, there is not one, but I think we’ll establish one today. We’re doing everything we can with the paperwork and trying to do it right.”

It’s unclear right now exactly when information will be released if the world record was reached.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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 Mike Darnay

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It was a potentially historic afternoon for Pittsburgh cookie table lovers as members of a Facebook community gathered to try and break the world record for the largest Christmas cookie exchange.

The “Wedding Cookie Table Community” group on Facebook made their best effort at breaking the world record as many of the community’s members gathered at the Kringle Kitchen at the Washington County Fairgrounds on Sunday.

33 teams of 10 people from within a 75-mile radius of the fairgrounds worked to make and exchange the sweet treats along with teams from across the country and even New Zealand taking part in the Christmas cookie spirit.

Event organizers say at least 80,000 cookies were at Sunday’s exchange.

Each team had their own theme along with all of their tasty creations on display.

“We hope to establish a world record,” said Laura Magone, the founder of the Wedding Cookie Table Community group.” Right now, there is not one, but I think we’ll establish one today. We’re doing everything we can with the paperwork and trying to do it right.”

It’s unclear right now exactly when information will be released if the world record was reached.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: 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.