Category: CNN Regional

By Bill Folsom

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KOAA) — A little girl who is too young to fully understand she is lucky her dad is alive watched as her father returned to UCHealth Memorial Hospital to greet the team that saved him with smiles and hugs.

“Every time I think about, ‘Hey, I’m so grateful to be here for my daughter,’ I just think about how many people it took to get me here,” said accident survivor Cowboy Lopez.

“In a really bad situation, I’ve come out really good. I feel like really blessed, blessed by the best, I say,” said Lopez.

The phrase “really bad situation” is an understatement.

“I was dead a few times for sure,” said Lopez.

“He was mostly dead,” said UCHealth Memorial trauma surgeon Dr. Brian Leininger.

“Outcomes like this are a true testament to the hours of training that we put in every year. It’s a testament to the system that we have in the city,” said Colorado Springs Firefighter Paramedic Lt. Joshua Buck.

Working on a skid loader at his shop TrueFixAuto, in an instant, Lopez was trapped under body-crushing weight from it.

“The hydraulics collapsed, and then the bucket is what fell on top of my back,” said Lopez. “The realization of what had happened and the amount of pain I was in was almost unbearable.”

“It broke most of the bones in his chest, collapsed one of his lungs, caused serious internal bleeding in his abdomen, major damage to his pelvis,” said Dr. Leininger. “The injury also suffocated him because the weight had been sitting on his chest long enough that he could not breathe and blood could not circulate.”

A lot aligned that day for help to happen in rapid succession.

The accident happened less than a mile from Fire Station 8 near South Academy Boulevard. The firefighters happened to already be at their truck, and the medical lieutenant in a mobile unit with whole blood was already in the area, just two to three minutes away.

Whole blood carried by Colorado Springs firefighters was added to trauma protocol a little more than two years ago.

Out of a little more than 200 cases where it has been given, Lopez’s is among the worst-case scenarios.

“Out of all of the drugs that we carry, hundreds of drugs, this is one that has an immediate impact that you can see,” said Buck.

“To have a shot at doing anything for him, he had to not be dead when he got here, and the fact that the firefighters and the medics were able to give him whole blood, I believe, is why he arrived here alive,” said Dr. Leininger.

Even with the blood, doctors say Lopez was actively dying when he arrived at the hospital. The skill of UCHealth Memorial’s emergency department team made way for several trauma surgeons to work on countering his injuries.

“We figure out what is the biggest threat to the patient’s life right at that moment and we address that, and then once we’re satisfied with that, we move on to the next thing and the next thing,” said Dr. Leininger.

A half dozen surgeries, months in the hospital, and more than a year of rehab followed. Firefighters, doctors, nurses and therapists are the reason he is telling his story.

“When you have had so many injuries that you never know if you’re going to be the person you were before, and in a lot of ways, I’m not,” said Lopez.

“He got hurt so badly that he needed just about every single thing that Memorial had,” said Dr. Leininger.

A man whose expertise is car repair experienced firsthand what it takes to fix people.

“They [the medical staff] would come in for their job, but whenever they were in that room with me, it just felt like they were my aunt or my sister or a family member caring for it,” said Lopez. “I had no idea what whole blood was, but I certainly do now.”

Lopez thanks his higher power and the dozens of pros on the UCHealth Memorial team who were determined to help him live after dying.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KOAA verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Kenny Darr

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Two young brothers are getting used to a new home at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. They’re mountain lions, and just months ago, they were alone in the wild with no mother to care for them.

Moonbead and Pretzel were found near the Washington-Idaho border earlier this year after wildlife officials noticed something was wrong.

“Washington Game and Fish noticed that mom wasn’t coming around, and so they set trail cams out and saw that she hadn’t been there for three days,” said Shawnee Riplog-Peterson, the museum’s curator of mammalogy and ornithology. “That sets off an alarm for them that something happened to her.”

Riplog-Peterson said state wildlife officials set up a bear trap and were able to capture both cubs. From there, a network of agencies that respond to orphaned wildlife got involved.

“We have a network that we all work with. If there’s orphaned animals out there from different local agencies, and Arizona didn’t have any, and California didn’t have any, but came across these two,” Riplog-Peterson said.

After a health check, the cubs were flown to Phoenix.

“Then put them on a plane…and they came to Phoenix, and we went and picked them up and brought them here,” Riplog-Peterson said.

The brothers spent about two months behind the scenes before ever going on public exhibit, acclimating to their new surroundings and bonding with keepers.

“That’s where all the fabulous things happen. They get all their treats, all their enrichment back there, and so that’s their go-to place. So their recall is phenomenal,” Riplog-Peterson said. “We call them in, they come right in.”

The cubs are not the first mountain lions to call the museum home. Last year, both museum staff and visitors were saddened by the loss of Cruz, a mountain lion who lived at the museum for 13 years.

“We had the loss of Cruz, which was devastating to all of us and visitors alike. But then we got these two in,” Riplog-Peterson said.

Cruz spent much of his time near the exhibit’s viewing window, a favorite spot with guests.

“This glass is really great because it gives people an up close, very, very personal experience with them,” Riplog-Peterson said.

Moonbead and Pretzel have claimed a different favorite spot of their own — a rock ledge no previous mountain lion at the museum had ever explored.

“They’re number six and number seven of lions who called this home,” Riplog-Peterson said. “No one has ever been up there before, except for these two. And you saw how easily they traversed. I don’t think you want to climb a tree if you see a puma.”

The cubs arrived thin, but in otherwise good health, according to Riplog-Peterson. They had parasites that have since been treated, and they’ve taken well to their new exhibit, which includes a moat.

“They’re big time swimmers,” Riplog-Peterson said. “So if you come out on a Saturday summer evening or a cool summer night, you may want to look down and look in the moat. You’ll see them down there.”

Riplog-Peterson said the brothers’ personalities have started to shine through in recent months.

“They’re very curious. One’s more curious than the other, and it’s fun to see,” she said. “If something comes into their enclosure, like a bird flies in, they’d be off of that cliff so fast.”

Keepers use enrichment activities to mimic behaviors the cubs would display in the wild, hiding food and scents around the exhibit to keep them mentally stimulated.

“That could mimic, oh, I don’t know, a squirrel moving around. So they’ll chase these sorts of things,” Riplog-Peterson said. “They have to find their food in different places. So they have to work a little bit. That’s okay, further acclimation, but also mental stimulation.”

There’s another part of this story that makes the cubs even more special: their names. Moonbead and Pretzel came from kids at Tucson’s Beads of Courage, a nonprofit that supports children living with serious illness.

“It’s really great to be able to partnership with another local nonprofit that does really great work,” Riplog-Peterson said. “So these are chronically ill children.”

Riplog-Peterson said a donor at the museum’s annual gala purchased the naming rights and passed the honor along to the kids.

“They came up with a bunch of different names. We looked them over, and we said these are all very appropriate. You guys can pick, and that’s how they came up with Moonbead and Pretzel,” she said.

Pretzel is the cub with the pink nose, and Moonbead has the black nose, though Riplog-Peterson said their markings could still change as they grow.

The Beads of Courage name ties back to the nonprofit’s signature program, which gives children facing illness colorful beads to represent their medical journey with some containing real meteorite.

“What’s neat about this nonprofit is they make like mood rings, but mood beads, but they actually have real meteorite in them, so this is another way that they give back,” Riplog-Peterson said.

For museum staff, watching visitors discover the cubs has become part of the daily routine.

“Everybody just comes unglued every morning. We have people that come every single day to see them,” Riplog-Peterson said.

Moonbead and Pretzel are now on exhibit daily at the Desert Museum’s Mountain Woodland habitat. Riplog-Peterson said the pair have access to their behind-the-scenes area throughout the day and choose when to come out.

“It’s all about choice and control,” she said. “They could have not come out today, and we would have been like, ‘Okay, we’ll do the interview, but they won’t be present.’ But they love it out here.”

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 Ashley Holden

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    GILBERT, Arizona (KNXV) — A local surgeon is now raising new questions after an East Valley toddler was pronounced dead only to be found alive hours later in the hospital morgue.

The ABC15 Investigators broke the story, giving the public a first look at the body-camera video from inside Gilbert Mercy Medical Center.

The video is from Super Bowl Sunday but was just released this month. The heavily redacted and blurred video, provided by Gilbert police, captures the response to a near drowning involving an 18-month-old.

“I mean, when you read the police report, it’s a little shocking,” said Dr. Keith Zacher.

Zacher is a local doctor who has over a decade of experience as a trauma surgeon.

He has reviewed the public records released in this case but has not seen the medical records associated with the call.

Along with body-camera video, Gilbert police have released a more than 150-page police report detailing key moments from the response and a minute-by-minute breakdown of what happened at Mercy Gilbert

At 6:03 p.m., the ambulance carrying the toddler arrived at the hospital

Ten minutes later, at 6:13 p.m., one officer noted the doctor talking about measurements that were “incompatible with life” before walking toward the room where the boy’s parents were waiting.

Another officer writes that a nurse can be heard saying, “I have a pulse.”

That’s when one of the officers tries to alert Dr. Toosi.

According to the report, a tense exchange plays out somewhere between 6:17 p.m. and 6:19 p.m.

“Toosi arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing,” wrote the officer.

The doctor requested another pulse check, and at 6:20 p.m. Dr. Toosi pronounced the toddler dead.

Over the next hour, police officers, family and hospital security staff reported seeing signs of life.

Those signs included what witnesses described as “gasping for air”.

Staff was alerted, but according to the report, nurses said it was “agonal breathing”.

When the medical examiner’s transport showed up, four hours later, the boy was found breathing.

Those warning signs noted in the report are something Dr. Zacher says he would have taken seriously.

“I mean, that would prompt me to maybe go back and take another look or, you know, reevaluate,” said Dr. Zacher.

The police report said first responders found the toddler in a pool that was 57.2 degrees. It also said the child had a light blue coloring to his skin.

“It’s not like an iced over lake in the Midwest, but 57 degrees, especially toddlers and infants are way more susceptible to hypothermia,” said Dr. Zacher.

He told ABC15 that hypothermia can mimic death and now questions if the cold pool water may have played a critical role in what happened.

“Actually, it mimics death when you’re hypothermic and actually preserves life,” said Dr. Zacher.

He said before you can pronounce someone dead, you need to first warm the patient.

The records reviewed by Dr. Zacher and obtained by the ABC15 investigators do not show if that happened.

“I don’t know if a temperature was even taken,” said Dr. Zacher. “I haven’t seen a medical record, but just the timeline tells you that the hypothermia probably wasn’t even entertained as a diagnosis.”

He believes “without a doubt” that more time should have been spent evaluating the toddler.

The ABC15 Investigators have continued to push for answers regarding the doctor who pronounced the 18-month-old dead.

After reviewing the police report and state records, ABC15 also spoke with the lawyer representing Dr. Aryan Toosi.

Online records show a biography for Toosi that was once posted on Dignity Health’s website.

The summary listed his title as GME Director of Clinical Teaching and said Toosi is an Arizona native who once attended Arizona State University.

That page appears to have been removed from Mercy Gilbert’s website.

ABC15 also contacted Dignity Health over several weeks to ask if that page was removed and why. Our team also asked if Dr. Toosi was still employed or if he was teaching.

A communications director for Dignity Health only responded once and did not answer our follow-up requests.

“Like many hospitals, we have both employed and independent physicians who are affiliated with our facilities,” said the email. “We are unable to comment on those involved in patient care.”

Our team also reached out multiple times to Dr. Toosi’s attorney with follow up questions, but we did not hear back.

He previously told ABC15 there is much more to this case and that there are important medical facts that have not been reported.

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 Chloe Godding, JoBeth Davis

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    KANSAS CITY, Kansas (KMBC) — Newly released renderings are showing fans what the Chiefs’ new stadium could look like in 2031.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared the renderings, credited to the Kansas City Chiefs and Manica.

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One focal point of the new design is the domed roof, which is shown in the renderings.

“It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement shared with Schefter.

Along with Manica, the Chiefs are working with HNTB on the project.

The plans were first announced in December 2025 after years of debate about whether the team would jump across the state line.

The stadium is expected to cost $3 billion. It is planned to open at the beginning of the 2031 NFL season.

“Today we are excited to show Chiefs Kingdom a first look at our new home,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a statement Wednesday morning. “From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that improved the gameday experience for every single fan. This new stadium will do just that.

“It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom.”

Hunt said the stadium will hold 70,000 fans, it will be built for noise and he says it will still be the best place in the world to tailgate.

In Wednesday morning’s release, the team said the project will be a $3 billion state-of-the-art stadium. It will be fully enclosed using translucent ETFE panels for the roof.

According to an article in The Architect’s Newspaper, ETFE panels, or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, were developed by Depont for aerospace applications. The material has gone on to be transformative for new stadium architecture due to its light transmission, structural efficiency, durability and light weight properties.

The team also said the stadium will have more than 20,000 parking spots.

Wednesday’s announcement comes after a six-month lead design competition between two finalists.

“The $3 billion state-of-the-art stadium will be fully enclosed with a translucent ETFE roof and is expected to have a total capacity of approximately 70,000,” said David Manica, president and owner, MANICA, in a statement. “The team, along with MANICA, has worked to incorporate – and improve – many of the club’s and fanbase’s beloved traditions.

“Parking lot infrastructure will be built specifically to enhance the tailgating experience. The stadium’s size, shape, and roof geometry have been studied by audio engineers to maximize crowd noise and help ensure that Chiefs fans can continue to provide an unrivaled homefield advantage. The stadium’s seating bowl is reminiscent of Arrowhead Stadium; it will include a Drum Deck for pregame and in-game ceremonies, as well as the prominent placement of the Chiefs Ring of Honor above the bowl. The roof will also include more than 400,000 square feet of translucent panels directly above the playing surface, maximizing visibility for military flyovers.”

The stadium is also expected to anchor a mixed-use development to lend to the gameday experience.

The team also released expected economic impact numbers for the new stadium development along with the team’s new practice center in Olathe, Kansas.

Between the districts, the project is expected to deliver 36,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) job-years and $8.2 billion in economic impact for the Kansas City region during the construction period. The stadium – along with the practice facility and surrounding developments – is slated to support 8,500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and generate $1.5 billion in economic impact annually for the region once operational.

The project is still being financed through a public-private partnership using STAR bonds and the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund.

The team said in Wednesday’s release that, “Both funding mechanisms were established specifically to ensure that there will be no new state taxes and no negative impact on the state budget.”

The Chiefs and Hunt family are also contributing to the project.

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 Cameron Polom

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    PEORIA, Arizona (KNXV) — A Glendale teenager is turning a family tragedy into a mission that could save lives.

Fourteen-year-old Kenna Wasson, a student at BASIS Peoria, recently launched Candles in the Dark, a youth-led nonprofit focused on infant safe sleep education and SIDS prevention.

The cause is deeply personal — Kenna’s mother lost two children to SIDS, inspiring Kenna to make sure other families have access to information that could help prevent similar heartbreak.

Now, Kenna and a team of local teenagers have partnered with Phoenix Children’s hospital to launch The Safe Sleep Initiative, providing free infant sleep sacks and safe sleep education to families throughout the Valley.

ABC15’s Cameron Polom met the young founder behind the mission to see how they’re working to protect Arizona’s newest and most vulnerable residents one family at a time.

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 Jenna DeAngelis

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — An attorney representing a New York City woman whose husband just died from Legionnaires’ disease is planning to take legal action.

Robert Goldstein and four other people connected to the cluster on the Upper East Side have died.

Ida and Robert Goldstein would have celebrated 50 years of marriage in August, but Ida Goldstein says on Friday, Legionnaires’ took the love of her life.

“It’s something you don’t see, an invisible monster, a vapor that just went into his lungs and just took him away from me,” she said.

She says, before that, the 88-year-old retired businessman and Air Force veteran was in good health.

“He got sick very quickly, and he kept declining every single day in the hospital,” she said.

According to her attorney, the Goldsteins’ Upper East Side building tested negative for Legionella bacteria, but once the city determines the source of the outbreak, he plans to sue.

“The intended action will target the owner of an Upper East Side building who failed to properly maintain its rooftop cooling tower,” attorney Ronald Katter said.

As of Tuesday, there have been 82 cases, including five deaths, linked to the Upper East Side cluster.

Health officials say no new cases have been identified since July 15, leading them to believe the source of exposure to the bacteria has likely been eliminated.

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said.

Menin is calling for greater transparency from the city Department of Health.

At a news conference Tuesday, she announced the council is introducing a new legislative package to strengthen public education, require a hotline for better communication, and push the city to take a more proactive approach.

“Once the health department had indicated to us that they had identified the epicenter, why not start proactively disinfecting, several weeks ago, those towers, which presumably could have prevented many of these cases?” Menin said.

Menin also announced an oversight hearing on the cluster planned for September.

The DOH argues it has been proactive.

A department spokesperson said in a statement:

“The NYC Health Department has responded rapidly and aggressively to this to this Legionnaires’ cluster on the Upper East. In the past, city protocol has been to begin an investigation after three cases have been confirmed in a tight area and time frame. The NYC Health Department did not wait for that. With only two confirmed cases, we launched our investigation and directed every building with an initial positive test result to immediately clen and disinfect its cooling tower. These actions have saved lives. We’ve also been holding regular town halls, elected briefings, press briefings, and updating the public daily. We believe that through our aggressive strategy of testing and remediation we have eliminated the source of exposure. We will learn more as our investigation unfolds and look forward to updating our existing policies and procedures to preventing future clusters. For now, our minds are focused on identifying a source and holding accountable anyone found out of compliance with local laws.”

The next step is DNA testing between the towers and patients to ultimately track down the source.

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 Taylor Locke

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    LOUISA COUNTY, Virginia (WTVR) — A 29-year-old man is charged with murder and aggravated sexual assault in connection to the death of a 2-year-old girl in Louisa County, Virginia.

Raul Ortiz Moran, 29, of Mexico, faces charges of second-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault in connection to the July 4 death, according to the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

Louisa County Sheriff Donnie Lowe says the case began when Ortiz Moran, his girlfriend, and her toddler left their home in the 1500 block of Owens Creek Road in Louisa and showed up at the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office saying they needed emergency help for the child.

“Goochland deputies stepped in. The baby wasn’t conscious at the time. They tried to revive the baby along with the fire rescue that showed up immediately after, but their attempts were unsuccessful,” Lowe said.

The child was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Henrico County, where she was pronounced deceased.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

Deputies launched an investigation into what happened to the child after noticing numerous injuries to her head and body.

That same day, deputies went to the magistrate to request an arrest warrant for Ortiz Moran — they were denied and told to bring back more evidence.

When asked why the couple went to the sheriff’s office rather than a hospital, Lowe said he could not comment on that at this time.

He also said he could not yet disclose what led deputies to suspect Ortiz Moran in the toddler’s death.

Ortiz Moran was initially taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement based on his immigration status.

“We were afraid that he was going to bolt. So we called ICE, and yeah, they picked him up,” Lowe said.

Ortiz Moran will remain in federal custody without bond pending Louisa County judicial proceedings, a sheriff’s office spokesperson said.

“It’s a heartbreak to our community. It’s a heartbreak to every parent. It’s a heartbreak to every journalist that has to cover this, from every cop that has to deal with it,” Lowe said.. “It’s a total heartbreak. It’s not just devastating one family. You devastate a whole community when you do that, and I have no sympathy for them.”

Lowe says this remains an active investigation and that deputies are seeking any information that can help the case.

“I’m going to do everything in my power, in my ability, pull every resource I can, to put this man in jail for the rest of his life,” Lowe said.

CBS 6 reached out to the Goochland County Sheriff’s Office about its efforts in helping the child.

“This was a heartbreaking and tragic incident for everyone involved. I am incredibly proud of our deputies, who immediately responded with compassion and professionalism by doing everything they could to save this young child’s life. We extend our deepest condolences to the child’s family and loved ones during this unimaginable time,” Sheriff Steven Creasey, Goochland County Sheriff, said. “I also want to recognize the outstanding work of the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent investigation and commitment to pursuing justice. The Goochland County Sheriff’s Office will continue to assist in any way necessary as this case moves forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office at 540-967-1234 or Louisa Crime Solvers at 800-346-1466.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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 Brady Halbleib, Lyanne Wang

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    YOLO COUNTY, California (KOVR) — The Yolo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a local state of emergency declaration in response to the invasive golden mussel species.

The first North American detection of the species occurred in the Port of Stockton in October 2024, and the mussels have since spread as far north as West Sacramento, where they were spotted in the port last month.

Yolo County joins Sacramento, Kern, and San Joaquin counties in declaring local emergencies over the species. West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero is calling for immediate action to remove the mussels as they overtake crucial city infrastructure, including drainage pipes and pump stations, putting the city at risk of flooding.

“Say there’s heavy rain. We have to get the water out of the city. We live in a bowl,” Guerrero said. “My concern is, the only way to be able to do that is by sending divers in.”

She hopes for the state to send resources soon, given that the longer the mussels spread, the more expensive it will become to remove them from water infrastructure.

“We need to get that immediately here in West Sacramento, in partnership with the reclamation district, to make sure those discharge pipes are clear.”

Guerrero says that Reclamation District 900, which oversees West Sacramento’s drainage system, is working with port leaders to address the issue.

The invasive species clog irrigation pipes and other water infrastructure, damage boats, and outcompete crawfish and native species, which decreases the food source for fish and other wildlife.

“They go into pipes and drains in areas where we are required to either bring in water or to pump water out,” Guerrero said.

Some researchers have also linked golden mussels to toxic algal blooms.

Officials call upon anyone who spots a golden mussel to report it to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife through its Report an Invasive Species Sighting page, emailing Invasives@wildlife.ca.gov, or by calling 866-440-9530.

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 Kenny Choi

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A historic neon sign is glowing again in San Francisco’s Chinatown, bringing renewed attention to the couple who pioneered what’s believed to be the first Chinese-language radio program in North America.

Tommy and May Chin Tong launched the Golden Star Radio Company and began producing “The Chinese Hour” from their basement studio in 1939. The couple purchased airtime on San Francisco radio station KSAN, broadcasting news, music and entertainment to Cantonese-speaking listeners across the Bay Area.

“The new immigrants feel wanted and comfortable to hear stories and news in their own language when nobody else was doing it,” said Steve Kushman of the California Historical Radio Society.

May Tong prepared and delivered the news, while her husband managed the technical side of the broadcast.

“I hear it every day,” their son, Ron Tong, said while recalling his childhood. “My mom is preparing the news, and my father is the technician.”

For immigrants adjusting to life in the United States, the program offered both practical information and a cultural connection.

“I think it was important for people coming to a new land, not being able to speak the language or starting to assimilate, but still wanting a tie to the homeland,” Ron Tong said.

The Chinese Hour continued for 40 years, from 1939 until 1979. Researchers examining the Tongs’ broadcasting legacy last year discovered photographs showing the Golden Star Radio sign, which remained attached to the company’s building at 846 Clay Street.

“We’re looking at the pictures, I scratch my head and go, ‘Look at that sign. Why don’t we restore that sign?'” Kushman recalled.

The California Historical Radio Society launched a campaign that raised approximately $65,000 for the project. Restoration crews repaired the once-rusted and deteriorating sign piece by piece, applying customized paint that matched its original colors and installing new neon lights.

The restored sign was recently relit after remaining dark for decades.

Many people who pass the building may not notice the sign or know the history behind it. Ron Tong said he did not fully understand the significance of his parents’ work when he was young.

“As a kid growing up, you don’t realize the significance until you’re older,” he said. “You start to appreciate history and culture more and realize the impact it actually had.”

Few, if any, recordings of The Chinese Hour are known to have survived. But the restored sign now provides a visible reminder of the Tongs’ contributions to broadcasting and San Francisco’s Chinese American community.

The Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame inducted Tommy and May Tong as broadcasting pioneers in 2025.

For their family, seeing the Golden Star Radio sign shining once again carries a simple but powerful meaning.

“It puts a smile on our face,” Ron Tong 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.