Category: CNN Regional

By Denzen Cortez

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    EL DORADO COUNTY, California (KCRA) — A Sacramento woman is mourning the loss of her brother, who died while trying to save her service dog during a trip to Rock Creek Bridge.

Kia Hapoy-Clipper said the outing was meant to be a simple day trip with her brother, Robert Solomon III, and family. Hapoy-Clipper said her brother had recently visited the area and suggested they go.

“It wasn’t in my mind to go in there to have fun or go swimming,” she said.

However, things would take a turn. Hapoy-Clipper’s 5-year-old service dog, Sammy, slipped into the water.

“When my dog slipped, my brother automatically jumped in,” she said.

Authorities say the swimming area beneath Rock Creek Bridge contains a powerful hydraulic current, often described as a “washing machine” effect, that can trap swimmers and make escape difficult.

Hapoy-Clipper said both her brother and dog were swept away. She jumped in, trying to reach him.

“I kept pulling him, and I kept getting pushed back by the current,” she said.

She eventually brought him to shore and attempted CPR. Despite her efforts, Robert did not survive. Sammy remains missing.

Through her grief, Hapoy-Clipper wants people to understand her brother’s actions, saying, “His intentions were pure.”

“He wasn’t being reckless,” she said. “He jumped in there to save my dog.”

A GoFundMe has been created to support the family during this 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 Jacquelyn Quinones

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    HOLLISTER, California (KSBW) — A baseball game in Hollister brought together players with special needs and amputees this morning for a day of inclusivity, fun, and socialization.

The Challengers Little League and the Prosthetic Solutions team joined forces to show that disabilities are no barrier to enjoying a friendly game of baseball.

The San Benito Challenger Division is a special needs baseball program for children and young adults with mental or physical disabilities.

Their goal is to allow participants to play baseball at their own ability.

“I call it my ‘yes I can’ game because last year we introduced amputees for the first time to Little League, and it was just amazing,” one organizer, Shellie Vegelia, said.

“My kids, without knowing what an amputee was, took it in stride, and they were accepting and they played like they were playing any other ordinary team,” Vegelia added.

Prosthetic Solutions Inc. was invited to participate, bringing amputees who are finding strength and mobility through exercise.

“Our biggest thing is doing things we thought we’d never do again, and having fun is the best way to do that,” one participant, Wade Skardoutos, said.

Prosthetic Solutions staff said events like these empower them and others.

“We feel like we’re limited when we have limb loss, and what we want to show them is you’re not,” Skardoutos said.

One participant from the Prosthetics team shared their hope to inspire others.

“Show them that we can do everything and show the young kids to never give up,” the participant 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 Kristen Consillio

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    KALIHI, Hawaii (KITV) — Kalihi isn’t your typical visitor destination, but more and more tourists are venturing there just to get a taste of ube.

“It’s part of my bucket list,” said a customer visiting from California. “That’s for sure. Come and try it.”

It’s become a social media sensation — ube in everything from cookies, cheesecakes, soft serve and even liquor.

“It’s definitely something that I see a lot on social media so it’s coming out and the more people talk about it, the more we want to come try it,” said a woman who recently moved to the islands.

The vibrant starchy root vegetable — or purple yam — is a common staple in Filipino cuisine.

“It just shines light on ube and Filipinos and you take pride in that,” said Jeremy Jataas, owner of Ubae in Kalihi. “We share it with the world, we share with whoever wants to try it.”

Jataas started his Ubae dessert shop in 2017 and saw the wave coming.

“It’s becoming a huge craze, way more than it was in 2017 for sure,” he said. “It’s almost like the next chocolate and vanilla. It’s just being incorporated in all kinds of stuff.”

And it’s now gaining global popularity with demand for ube surging not only in the U.S. but in Europe and the Middle East.

And with the appetite for the purple delicacy not slowing down, it’s leaving a sweet taste in the mouths of up-and-coming customers.

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 Ramos

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    MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (KPIX) — On Monday, a neighborhood in Mountain View was still without drinking water because of contamination from a breach in a water main. It’s been more than 10 days, and the area is still under a “boil water” order from the state, with crews scrambling to restore potable water to the homes.

The neighborhood across from Cuesta Park has been undergoing a replacement of all the water main pipes, and the problem began on Friday, April 24th. A contract worker reportedly recharged a water main without properly closing a valve, sending some cement slurry into the line.

“Which apparently is something that hasn’t happened before in the State of California, to the best of our knowledge,” said Lenka Wright, Mountain View’s Chief Communications Officer.

She said the city responded quickly, shutting the supply down to all the homes, leaving them without any water for two days. Then, on April 26, they restored the water, but for toilet flushing only. And now, the 67 homes in the affected area can use the water for anything that doesn’t involve ingesting it, such as drinking, cooking or brushing teeth. For that, they have to boil the water first.

“And where we are now is that we still have tests that are coming back positive for coliform bacteria,” said Wright. “And it’s one section of the piping that is concentrated in an area where, as you’ll see on the map, it’s Drucilla Drive and Carla Court.”

That’s where Tom Piercy lives. Like everyone else, he had no idea what they were in for when it all began.

“You know, they came door to door, and they said we’re going to turn the water off for a half-hour, maybe an hour. They were just going to flush the system,” he said. “But after two hours we were going, ‘Uh, it’s a little bit longer than we thought.’ And then pretty soon we got the notice that we’re going to shut it off for a while, for a long time.”

The coliform they are finding is a bacteria that is often present in sewage spills. The State said there is no evidence of e-coli, which is usually an indicator of fecal matter, but it’s still creeping people out. So, most are using the free drinking water the city is providing on a daily basis.

“I mean, cement doesn’t give you bacteria,” said Piercy. “So, I don’t know. Whatever it was, like, how does a guy screw up that bad?”

On Monday, the neighborhood was full of activity, with workers cutting into the pavement and testing water coming from the hydrants. The plan is to isolate the supply line where they found the coliform and fill it with liquid chlorine to kill any living organisms. In the meantime, the city is paying for hotel rooms and meals for the neighbors who want them. But a homeowner named Lena said hotels lose their appeal quickly when you have children.

“I mean, we can’t live without water,” she said. “It’s hard. It’s been a very, very exhausting process, basically. Because, I mean, if you don’t have kids, you don’t have pets, it’s fine. But if you have kids, it’s a different process that you have to go through.”

Wright said the city is already pursuing a claim against the contractor who caused the initial contamination to recoup the costs involved with safeguarding the neighborhood. Once the “super-chlorination” is finished and the line is refilled, it must be retested, twice, and the results reviewed by the state’s Water Resources Control Board, who are the only ones with the authority to remove the “boil water” order. That process could take until Saturday or Sunday, even if all goes well. But even when they get the “all clear” Piercy said he plans to stick to bottled water for a while.

“I don’t know, I guess we’ll celebrate a little bit,” he 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 Briauna Brown, CBS Texas Staff

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    TARRANT COUNTY, Texas (KTVT) — A Tarrant County jury has sentenced Tanner Horner to death in the 2022 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand on Tuesday.

Horner pleaded guilty to the crime just moments before his trial began last month. The judge ordered that the trial transition into the sentencing phase, in which the jury had been hearing emotional testimony, watching and listening to graphic video and audio of Strand’s last moments as prosecutors made their case for the death penalty.

Among heart-wrenching testimony, the jury heard testimony from both of Strand’s parents.

After prosecutors wrapped their case, the defense presented its case in an effort to keep Horner from being executed. They called numerous expert witnesses to testify about Horner’s mental health and medical history. Horner’s mother and grandmother also took to the stand to speak on his childhood.

The defense rested its case on Monday.

In closing arguments on Tuesday morning, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton told jurors that the only just outcome of the trial is the death penalty. Horner’s defense attorneys argued that he should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The jury deliberated for over two hours before returning its verdict.

After the judge read the verdict, he said Horner would remain in the Tarrant County jail until he’s transported to the Texas Department of Corrections in Huntsville.

Athena’s uncle shares impact statement Elijah Strand, whose brother is Athena Strand’s father, stood to read an emotional impact statement on behalf of the family. As tears began to stream down his face, he told the courtroom, “There are no words that truly capture the devastation that Tanner Horner caused us.”

He said Horner not only took a daughter from this world, but a granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend.

“She had dreams she will never get to chase, she’ll have birthdays that she will never celebrate, a life she will never get to live, because of his actions,” Elijah Strand said as he pointed to Horner.

He said Horner stole a sense of safety from his family and that they had been scared to let their children play outside.

“He’s robbed of us safety, peace and our trust in the world and forever changed who we are as a family,” Elijah Strand said as Horner stared back at him.

Then, Elijah Strand had a direct message for Horner:

“You did not just take a life; you destroyed a family. You took a little girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations. You say you found God, but what you did to Athena stands in direct opposition of everything you claim to believe,” he said.

Elijah ended the impact statement by quoting a scripture, and told Horner he would be judged.

“You will face the wrath of God,” Elijah Strand continued. “I want you to know you are a footnote in Athena’s story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will be forever celebrated, and everyone will forget you.”

The murder of Athena Strand According to an arrest affidavit, Horner was working as a FedEx delivery driver when, on Nov. 30, 2022, he went to Strand’s home to deliver a package containing a Christmas gift. Investigators said Horner accidentally struck the child with his delivery truck while backing out of the driveway.

Authorities allege Horner told investigators that Strand did not appear seriously injured, but said he panicked, placed her into his van and strangled her out of fear that she would tell her father what had happened.

Horner was ultimately tracked down through digital evidence.

Two days later, Strand’s body was found about 9 miles away from her home, southeast of Boyd.

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 James Taylor, CBS13 Photojournalist

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KOVR) — More than 200 crime survivors and family members will be rallying at the California State Capitol on Tuesday, demanding better support and services for victims across the state.

These advocates are traveling from as far away as San Diego and Los Angeles. Their message is clear: Stop denying compensation to people and families who have suffered from violent crimes.

Bridgett Montoya was just 21 years old when she was gunned down while walking on a Southern California street.

“I was in the hospital for about 28 days and in a coma for about a week,” Montoya said.

The state offers funding for victims of violent crime to pay for expenses like physical therapy and mental counseling. It’s distributed by the California Victim’s Compensation Board, whose funding comes from restitution paid by people convicted of crimes.

Bridgett said she applied for financial help, but her request was denied.

“There are a lot of people like me that don’t have the support, and we struggle,” Montoya said.

She’s now one of the survivors and victim advocates coming to Sacramento this week – demanding the state reform it’s compensation criteria.

Tinisch Hollins, with the nonprofit Californians for Safety and Justice, said that about one in three applications are approved.

Hollins said the state needs to make it easier and quicker for victims to get financial assistance.

“When you become the victim of a crime, you’re already traumatized. You need immediate support,” Hollins said. “Most people don’t have the resources on hand and can’t go through a long application process.”

Her organization says the state gave out 27% less compensation last year than in 2019.

“There are dollars that are unspent,” Hollins said. “There are dollars that are not going out to crime victims that should be going out.”

CBS News Sacramento reached out to the victim compensation board, but they would not comment on camera.

Data from the compensation board shows that last year, they received more than 34,000 applications and paid out nearly $45 million in compensation. The agency says the majority of the denials were due to a lack of evidence that a crime occurred.

Bridgett said she has given up on getting state funding for her recovery, but she’s still fighting to make sure other victims don’t have the same problem.

“Unfortunately, we struggle on a day-to-day basis, and our lives have become way more harder because of this,” she said.

Tuesday’s rally begins at 9 a.m., with a march from Fremont Park in Downtown Sacramento to the California State Capitol.

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By Gabriela Vidal

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    AURORA, Colorado (KCNC) — An Aurora man whose dog was stolen while he was on military deployment is now grieving the loss of his furry friend.

“I was hoping that Maverick was still alive. I need my buddy back,” said Beckham.

Maverick is Beckham’s 11-year-old Siberian Husky, whose story went viral on social media after Beckham, a military airman, said a man he entrusted to watch Maverick disappeared with his dog and car.

Beckham was deployed for three months with the Colorado Air National Guard. Prior to his deployment, he said he went online to TrustedHousesitters.com where he hired Andrew Jansen to take care of Maverick at his home in Aurora. At first, Beckham said Jansen sent updates and photos, but after a month he went silent. In early April, security cameras captured Jansen leaving with Maverick in Beckham’s Subaru- he never returned.

“Maverick was a really good friend. He wasn’t necessarily a howler husky. He was talkative. He would talk sentences to you sometimes,” said Beckham.

On Saturday, Beckham got the call that Denver police located his vehicle in a parking garage off Logan Street. Maverick’s body was inside.

“He was trapped in the car for a long time,” said Beckham. “He had a lot of blood on his face. They’re still trying to figure out why and what happened.”

Beckham says he’s grateful for those across social media who showed their support for Maverick’s safe return.

“I know that there are people who care. I just have a hard time dealing with it right now,” he said.

While he focuses on honoring his best friend’s life, he’s also determined to work with the police to find the dog sitter he entrusted to keep Maverick safe.

“If he were house-sitting again, I think people need to know. If he’s using other agencies, people need to know. Because he made Maverick suffer a lot,” he said.

Beckham hopes other dog owners practice caution when hiring anyone to care for their best friend.

“Do yourself a favor and just pay some extra money to do a background check on somebody,” he 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.