Category: CNN Regional

By Dean Fioresi

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    PASADENA, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Pasadena city officials are warning local business owners about a string of copper wire thefts during which rooftop air conditioning units are being targeted.

In a news release shared Sunday, Pasadena Chief Communications Officer Lisa Derderian said that both Sweet Red Peach on Arroyo Parkway and the Petsadena Pet Hospital on S. Raymond Avenue were victimized by thieves.

“Both continue to conduct business, but it has had an impact financially … and with unseasonably high temperatures the past several days, it takes a toll on working conditions,” Derderian said.

She said that the impacted business owners have resorted to portable AC units and ice to try keeping employees cool until the rooftop units can be repaired.

Officials advised people to install heavy-duty, tamper-resistant steel cages around their rooftop units, to keep all ladders locked away and set up motion-activated security cameras that would immediately alert landlords and business owners about unauthorized rooftop activity.

“Rooftop units are particularly vulnerable because they are out of sight and often situated on flat, easily scalable commercial buildings,” Derderian said.

She also advised that cutting live grounding lines or tampering with transformers could put alleged thieves at risk of lethal shocks, and that the exposed wires left behind could cause fires, traffic hazards or severe shocks to utility workers or innocent bystanders.

Anyone who knows more or who notices suspicious activity is urged to contact the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241.

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 Richard Ramos

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    MODESTO, California (KOVR) — An early morning fire tore through an auto wrecking yard in Modesto on Sunday, destroying about 100 vehicles before firefighters stopped the flames from spreading to nearby homes and businesses.

The Modesto Fire Department said crews were initially dispatched at 3:38 a.m. to the 500 block of Crows Landing Road for a reported vehicle fire. While firefighters were en route, additional information prompted the call to be upgraded to a commercial structure fire response.

When crews arrived, they found an auto wrecking yard engulfed in flames, with approximately 100 vehicles burning.

Firefighters immediately prioritized protecting nearby mobile homes and neighboring businesses while working to contain the blaze. Officials said crews successfully prevented the fire from spreading beyond the property.

The fire was brought under control in about 80 minutes, officials said.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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 Jose Fabian

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    SAUSALITO, California (KPIX) — Sausalito’s city manager was arrested over the weekend, just weeks after taking office, the city said Sunday.

Elaine Forbes was arrested around 7 a.m. Saturday on suspicion of criminal charges, according to the city.

The city said it would not comment on the allegations as the Marin County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating, but stated she was arrested within city limits. CBS News Bay Area reached out to the sheriff’s office but has yet to hear back.

Forbes was appointed unanimously on May 5 and took office on July 1, according to the city. She was previously the director of the Port of San Francisco from 2016 until December 2025.

The Sausalito City Council had recently approved a leave of absence for Forbes during a closed session on Thursday.

“The work of the City of Sausalito continues without interruption under the leadership of Acting City Manager Brandon Phipps and our dedicated municipal staff. It is anticipated the City Council will discuss next steps at its upcoming City Council meeting,” the city 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 Sooji Nam

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    SAN FRANCISCO, California (KPIX) — San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan recently introduced two proposals aiming to protect small business owners against skyrocketing costs.

One of the proposals, Small Business Tenant Unions, would allow businesses to unionize and negotiate leases and other costs with landlords.

“Rent has always been the biggest cost, the most burdensome cost to doing business for them,” Supervisor Chan said on Friday.

The second part of the proposal, the Workers’ Opportunity to Purchase Act, is to streamline a process where owners could sell their business to their staff if they are ready to move on.

“Really giving the workers to empower them to really be able to, when the opportunity comes, they have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs,” the District 1 supervisor said in a press conference in Japantown.

Linda Mihara is the co-owner of Paper Tree in Japantown. It’s a legacy small business founded by her parents in 1968. They have been selling origamis and paper materials for nearly 60 years as the second-oldest business in Japantown.

“For the first time in a long time, I’m seeing a lot of the European visitors, tourists, and I haven’t seen that since the pandemic,” Mihara said. “Everybody was struggling to get people to come to San Francisco.”

“The Japanese culture itself is really popular, the Japanese food is really popular. It’s a huge draw for everybody,” she added.

Mihara is always fighting for small businesses to excel in San Francisco and is looking forward to seeing how the supervisor’s new proposals will pan out.

“I’m all for anything that supports small business. And so, if there is language in that unionization that would support that, I’d be into it,” she said. “Unionizing does support huge groups of people.”

Christin Evans is the co-founder of Small Business Forward.

“We want to have a sustainable ecosystem that small businesses can thrive in,” Evans told CBS News Bay Area. “Our organization is thrilled to support Supervisor Chan’s proposals, where we’re extremely excited she is tackling an issue that is really central to many small businesses at this moment, which is the challenge of increasing rents.”

She adds that if passed, the legislation can empower small business owners who battle skyrocketing costs against corporate landlords.

“We’re seeing landlords demand double-digit, even triple-digit increases. And what that means is businesses are often not able to absorb those additional costs. And so as a result, they will close,” Evans said. “What used to be like a simple lease agreement between a mom-and-pop landlord and mom-and-pop small business owner that was maybe 4 or 5 pages has now become 45+ pages for legal fees. A lot of risk is being placed on the small business tenant. It’s really not sustainable.”

And Mihara understands firsthand the challenges of rising costs, and is worried about a city project in the near future.

“This whole street is going to be under construction for 18 months. That’s going to put a big hit,” she said. “If we can get grants to the businesses that are going to be affected when this happens. Everyone is going to be affected on the streets. My foot traffic is going to be hugely compromised.”

Meanwhile, Mihara and small business owners will continue to fight for small businesses to thrive and stay in San Francisco.

“Our city and our communities thrive when our small businesses and workers thrive,” Supervisor Chan said. “The Workers Opportunity to Purchase Act and the creation of Small Business Tenant Unions will empower our workers, stabilize our commercial corridors, and protect our small businesses, helping to create more vibrant and successful neighborhoods and a more stable workforce.”

Supervisor Chan is expected to introduce the proposals before the legislative recess, which would then be assigned to a committee for discussion.

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 Christa Swanson

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    MONTROSE, Colorado (KCNC) — On Monday, a procession will honor a firefighting pilot who died in Colorado while helping with containment efforts on the Gold Mountain Fire.

56-year-old Nicholas Dale of Sooke, British Columbia, died last week when his K-MAX helicopter crashed into the Silver Jack Reservoir in western Colorado. The Federal Aviation Administration says its preliminary investigation determined that the helicopter “crashed under unknown circumstances, becoming inverted.” His body was later recovered from the submerged helicopter.

A procession will be held to honor Dale’s sacrifice as his remains are transported from Montrose to Denver International Airport on Monday. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control said the convoy will leave the Crippin Funeral Home in Montrose at 7 a.m. and travel eastbound on I-70, arriving at the airport around noon.

They encouraged the community to gather safely on overpasses and exit ramps to watch as the procession passes. The CDFPC urged everyone not to park or gather on the shoulders of the highway, which would pose a risk to public safety and potentially disrupt the flow of traffic.

Last week, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced that flags will fly at half-staff to honor Dale on the day of his memorial service.

The Gold Mountain Fire is burning north of Ouray and has covered approximately 37,809 acres. Incident Command says 992 personnel are currently assigned to the fire, which is approximately 13% contained.

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 Michael Abeyta

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    AURORA, Colorado (KCNC) — Sunday morning, protestors once again gathered outside the GEO Group ICE detention facility in Aurora to protest the conditions in which detainees are being held, with Thursday’s shooting by a GEO Group employee fresh in their minds.

“To see it happen or to hear that it happened so close to home, it’s always a bit of a shock, but not unexpected,” said Emil Mondragon.

Mondragon was there with Aurora Unidos, one of the groups who organized the event. They said knowing that a protester was shot here slightly more than 48 hours ago did make them consider whether coming out was a good idea.

“I was a little bit nervous, but we need to be out here, and we need to be speaking about this,” said Mondragon.

The crowd was encouraged, however, by Emma Landis and Maeve, who are the two women reportedly shot at by GEO employee Brandon Booth on Thursday evening. The Aurora Police Department says the two women were involved in a verbal confrontation with employees who could not enter the facility due to a protest. Police say Booth used his pistol to fire a single shot in their direction as the women were walking away.

Landis was shot in the foot, and despite the pain she is in, she decided to come out to speak to demonstrators on Sunday.

“This put a pause on my life. And because somebody was hurt by the words that I was saying to him, that doesn’t give you the right to shoot somebody,” said Landis.

The women say that, while they appreciate the concern for their well-being, they don’t want to take attention away from the confirmed case of tuberculosis that was found in the facility and the well-being of the people being held there.

On Monday, the Adams County Health Department said it confirmed an active case of tuberculosis at the detention center, but has not received all of the information from the facility that it needs to complete its investigation. In a statement to CBS Colorado on Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security said there are no confirmed active cases of tuberculosis at the Aurora facility.

Maeve said the shooting on Thursday has brought even more attention to the detention center.

“Although this should have never happened, it has now brought so much attention to this GEO facility that has needed attention on it for far too long,” said Maeve.

Mondragon said they would understand if the women had chosen not to come back.

“It’s just a human response to not want to go back to where you got hurt, right? But they did anyway,” said Mondragon.

And they hope the duo’s courage will unite the community to join them in protesting.

“That is what’s going to help you humanize what’s going on today, in your community. And that’s what’s going to fuel the change that we need to see desperately,” said Mondragon.

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 Bo Evans

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    SOUTHLAKE, Texas (KTVT) — Southlake police officer Joshua Swisher had just begun writing a speeding ticket when he spotted smoke pouring from a car on Highway 114. Moments later, he was sprinting toward a vehicle engulfed in flames.

Swisher said he had pulled over a driver for a speeding violation when radio traffic reported a possible vehicle fire nearby. He looked left and saw thick smoke rising from a car on the highway.

He instructed the first driver to remain stopped and directed the smoking vehicle to pull over. As soon as it did, the car burst into flames.

Swisher tried to open the door, but the handle broke off in his hand. He put on a glove, shattered the window, and reached inside.

“Hey, come out through the window. Sir, come out through the window now,” Swisher yelled in body camera footage. “Give me your hand. I got you. Are you OK? Anybody else in the car?”

He pulled the driver to safety as the fire intensified.

Swisher said he relied on instinct.

“When you’re in the moment, you’re just thinking you have to act,” he said. “There’s not a lot of time to process. My thought was just to get him out of the car as quickly as I could.”

After the rescue, Swisher returned to the driver he had initially stopped.

“Met with the other driver after – here’s your driver’s license, it’s a warning, slow it down,” 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 Veronica Ortega

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    DETROIT, Michigan (WWJ) — A Detroit nonprofit’s annual summer celebration was in jeopardy after 400 pairs of shoes were stolen from its warehouse. Thanks to the community, Hoopfest was able to move forward.

Day three of NW Goldberg Cares’ Hoopfest started with a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Curtis Jones Park.

“I love Hoopfest. I like seeing the happy people, and some people don’t have this every day, and I’m glad that they can have it, at least this summer and all the other summers,” Detroit resident Addison Washington, 9, said.

The event is something the children in the neighborhood have been looking forward to for the past four years.

“I like that I get to come here with my friends and my family, and that I get new shoes every year,” Avery Ponders of Detroit said.

From the entertainment on the basketball court to the barbershop pop-up, everything is free.

“I think, for so long, this community hasn’t had someone to give back and just show them love and appreciation for free. Enjoy yourself, eat, get something to eat, drink, everything, enjoy the festivities. I think it’s much needed for the community,” Devon Larkin, a parent, said.

More than a week ago, the nonprofit made headlines after 400 pairs of name-brand custom sneakers intended for a giveaway were stolen.

“It just was sad, man, to know that they do so much for the community and they give back so much. Why would you come take something that is going to the children?” Larkin said.

Thanks to donations from the community and sponsors, the organization secured the amount needed to reach its goal of handing out 1,000 pairs of shoes.

“That was the number we had set in mind, and we’re going to hit that number. We’re so thankful to the Detroit community. We were able to secure enough shoes to still continue this event and that’s what we’re most proud of,” Brandon Daniels, treasurer for NW Goldberg Cares, said.

Whether it’s on the basketball court or off, students can start the school year feeling ready and confident.

“I am looking forward to a new pair of shoes. It’s going to be really great and I’m super excited,” Washington 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 Cole Premo, Jason Rantala

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    MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (WCCO) — Minneapolis police are investigating after a mass shooting seriously injured two people and wounded seven others outside a nightclub in the Uptown neighborhood early Sunday morning.

According to police, officers responded shortly before 12:30 a.m. to a report of a shooting outside Reign Event Center, which is located on the 2900 block of Hennepin Avenue.

Police from all five precincts were called in to respond due to the number of victims and the crowd outside the club. According to preliminary information, gunfire erupted outside the club following an altercation, police say, with a large crowd present during the shooting.

At the scene, officers found four people suffering injuries. They included a 20-year-old man with potentially life-threatening injuries, and three others with apparent non-life threatening injuries. The latter three were a 21-year-old man and two women, ages 22 and 27. All were taken to Hennepin Healthcare.

Police say a man, 18, later walked into Hennepin Healthcare with an apparent non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

Police say four additional people arrived at Abbot Northwestern Hospital, including a 21-year-old man with potentially life-threatening injuries. Three other men, ages 20, 21 and 22, had non-life threatening injuries. The man with potentially life-threatening injuries was taken to Hennepin Healthcare.

In an update Sunday afternoon, police said the two men who suffered life-threatening injuries are expected to survive.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement, called the shooting “intolerable.”

“This is a stark reminder that keeping our streets safe requires every tool available. We need partnerships where the perpetrators of these acts are arrested and prosecuted, we need to continue hiring more police officers to both investigate and prevent gun crimes, and we must embrace proven technologies from drones to ShotSpotter that allow our police to do their jobs with greater efficiency,” Frey said.

Ali Salah, who lives in the neighborhood, was a witness to the aftermath.

“A lot of people were running down the street,” he said. “A lot of police and enforcement vehicles driving by, first responders.

“This was a brazen act of violence in a crowded entertainment district where innocent people were placed at tremendous risk,” Interim Minneapolis Police Chief Bill Peterson said.

Peterson said the Minneapolis FAST nonfatal shooting task force — which includes the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and county sheriff’s offices is investigating.

Ward 7 Council Member Elizabeth Shaffer said in a Facebook post that she hopes to meet with Reign nightclub ownership this week.

“I pray for the victims and all those affected by violence on our streets. We will not tolerate this outrageous activity,” Shaffer wrote.

City leaders say preventing future violence will require cooperation beyond law enforcement.

“That takes partnerships with the county, who provides a lot of the social services, the state, but more importantly, it really does take the community to help with prevention,” Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette said.

“You hope that nothing is fatal. You hope that people are able to walk away and learn from this situation,” Salah said.

There have been no arrests and the investigation is ongoing. Police are looking into whether gunshots were fired from a vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call the police or CrimeStoppers.

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 Nick Lentz, Ubah Ali

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    ST. LOUIS PARK, Minnesota (WCCO) — Around 90 apartment units are damaged after a massive fire at a complex in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, on Friday, according to city officials.

Crews responded to a report of smoke at the Helix Apartments, located at 7500 Hwy. 7, at 4:47 p.m. Once at the scene, they saw a “working fire,” officials said.

Flames were shooting out of the roof of the 167-unit complex early on Friday evening.

As of 8:30 p.m., the fire is under control, according to officials. Crews were working Friday night to extinguish hot spots and ensure there were no more flames. The cause is under investigation.

Roughly 20 “mutual aid fire departments” responded to the incident, according to the city.

Officials said one person was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening and two firefighters were treated at the scene for heat-related injuries.

“It is just a lot for me and scary,” resident Jasmine Kellogg told WCCO on Friday evening.

Kellogg is a single mother with multiple sclerosis. She says the fire is a setback she doesn’t know how she’ll come back from.

“To know this was something we cherished, we worked hard for, and then it’s gone. How do I tell my daughter her place is gone?” Kellogg said.

The Salvation Army has been called to help with displaced residents, though officials have yet to disclose how many. The American Red Cross said a temporary evacuation point was open on Friday night at The Ark Church on Quebec Avenue, where food and water were available.

The complex was built in 1985 and was “extensively renovated between 2020 and 2022,” according to a news release discussing the sale of the Helix Apartments last year.

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.