Category: CNN Regional

By Juliegrace Brufke | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — Market Recap

Stocks fell Thursday as a deepening semiconductor selloff overshadowed generally positive corporate earnings and economic data. The S&P 500 declined 0.51%, the Nasdaq dropped 1.47% and the Dow slipped 0.20%. Technology was the weakest S&P 500 sector, falling 1.8%, while semiconductor shares tumbled 4.3%.

The pressure continued Friday morning. U.S. stock futures moved lower as investors reconsidered the durability of the AI-driven rally, while Netflix shares fell nearly 10% in premarket trading after the company forecast third-quarter revenue and earnings below Wall Street expectations.

U.S.-Iran tensions also remain a risk for markets after Iran reported fresh attacks on American facilities in the Gulf following a sixth consecutive night of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets. The escalation renewed concerns about energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and the potential for higher oil prices to add to inflation.

Today’s Focus

The technology pullback comes despite a strong start to earnings season. Taiwan Semiconductor reported a 77% increase in quarterly profit, while several major banks delivered better-than-expected results earlier in the week. But even strong reports have struggled to reassure investors concerned about lofty semiconductor valuations and the enormous amount of money being committed to AI infrastructure.

Borrowing costs remain another pressure point for households. Freddie Mac said the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.55% this week, up from 6.49% the previous week. That remains below the 6.75% average recorded at the same point last year.

This week also brought Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s first semiannual monetary policy testimony before Congress since taking over the role. Warsh appeared before the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday and submitted the same remarks to the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday. Investors are closely watching his comments for clues about how the Fed will balance inflation risks, elevated energy prices and signs of uneven economic growth.

Friday rounds out the week with reports on trade prices, residential construction, industrial production and consumer sentiment. Together, the releases will offer a fresh look at inflation pressures, housing demand, factory activity and how consumers are feeling about the economy.

ON THE SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2026

• 8:30 a.m. ET – June Import and Export Prices

• 8:30 a.m. ET – June New Residential Construction

• 9:15 a.m. ET – June Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization

• 10:00 a.m. ET – University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment (Preliminary, July)

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 Kathryn Merck

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    KENOSHA, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Sometimes life’s greatest gifts come from where we least expect them to. For a grandfather in need of a kidney, a Kenosha father’s organ donation following his sudden death turned grief into hope.

Kristina Vazquez says her ex-husband, Wilbert Toto, died suddenly while walking to work on June 10. According to a copy of a crash report she shared with CBS 58 from the Kenosha Police Department, heavy winds, severe winds and low visibility caused a driver of a vehicle to not see Toto as he crossed the intersection of 39th and 45th in Kenosha.

Vazquez said Toto was in a coma for over two-and-a-half weeks. Due to his severe injuries, his family knew this would forever change the life of the working father of two daughters, ages 9 and 17.

“This is the man who worked three jobs or two jobs for 26 years. We had to realize, Wilbert wouldn’t want to live that way,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez said even before the crash, Toto told her that he wanted to be an organ donor.

“We had this conversation,” Vazquez said. “He said, ‘When I go, what am I going to use it for?’ He goes, ‘Give it to somebody better. Give them, save them.’”

That’s when one family’s grief turned into another’s hope for life.

Evelyn Danecki’s father, Steve McNeill, was in need of a kidney for over two years. Vazquez knew Denecki through her photography studio. Denecki said she had been watching Vazquez’s situation unfold when Vazquez contacted her.

“She reached out to me and said, ‘Wilbert is not going to make it through this, he’s going to pass away either way,’” Denecki said. “And then, I was hit with, ‘Well, we want to give your dad the kidney.’”

From that point on, Denecki and Vazquez say their families were connected both physically and emotionally.

“We were with him the day before he passed, and we were praying with him and praying over him and just being with the family,” said Serena McNeill, Steve McNeill’s granddaughter. “That’s an incredible, very unique experience that doesn’t happen for most people that receive organ donations.”

Through Toto’s organ donation, Vazquez says Toto saved a total of six lives. Vazquez’s family found comfort in knowing that Toto’s legacy lives on through others.

“Wilbert Toto is a hero and he matters,” Vazquez said. “We always called him Super Papi, and now he is.”

Toto’s gift of life has already made an impact for people who have heard his story in Kenosha. On Aug. 21, Rumor’s Lounge in Kenosha is holding a benefit for Toto’s daughters as they grieve. Micklyn Kent with Rumor’s Lounge told CBS 58 they were interested in holding the event because the owner is also a donor recipient.

“He would not be with us today if somebody didn’t donate their organ,” Kent said. ““We take these for granted. Life is not promised to any of us.”

A fundraiser to support Toto’s family is available.

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 Steve Kaut

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — A court document revealed a blood test after a Johnson County, Kansas, crash showed Chelsee Chism’s blood alcohol level was over four times the legal limit.

Chism, who serves as the Unified Government economic development director, is charged with aggravated battery; DUI causing great bodily harm/disfigurement, per court records.

The crash happened May 13 on northbound U.S. 69 Highway and West 95th Street.

An affidavit filed in the case said Chism’s 2000 Lexus UX200 ran off the highway and slammed into a Kansas Department of Transportation 2012 Silverado. The KDOT vehicle was parked on the right shoulder and not on the highway.

Chism’s car was going at highway speed when her car hit the KDOT vehicle.

The KDOT employee was standing to the right of the Silverado at the time of the crash, and a tooth was knocked out of the employee’s mouth by flying debris from both vehicles and the road, according to the court document.

An Overland Park officer reported Chism admitted she was driving the Lexus.

The court document states she had “an extremely strong odor of alcoholic beverages, bloodshot eyes and extremely glassy eyes.”

Chism consented to a blood draw and the sample of her blood was sent to the Johnson County Crime Lab.

A blood test showed her “blood contained .35g of ethyl alcohol per 100ML of blood,” per a court document.

Chism is scheduled to be back in Johnson County Court at 10 a.m. Aug. 27 for a preliminary hearing.

She was placed on administrative leave following her July 2 arrest.

KSHB 41 News reporter Rachel Henderson reached out to the Unified Government on Wednesday on the status of Chism’s employment.

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 Melissa Blasius

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    PHOENIX (KNXV) — Xion Ervin-Jenkins’ bedroom is waiting for a boy who will never come home again.

His mom, Stephanie Combs, keeps the room just as he left it: drawers half-open, running shoes on the floor.

Combs says a juvenile judge ordered Xion, who was 15 years old, to attend a residential treatment program in spring 2025.

“I was under the impression that he was going to be safe,” Combs said.

He arrived at Canyon State Academy in Queen Creek on May 21, 2025, after a wildfire forced evacuations at a different facility. He disappeared a few days later.

After six weeks, on July 4, 2025, Phoenix police arrived on Combs’ doorstep.

“They came to the house to let us know that he had been found deceased,” Combs said.

Combs will never know why her son decided to run away.

“I don’t wish that type of pain on anyone,” Combs said.

Canyon State Academy for boys and Desert Lily Academy for girls are side-by-side campuses in Queen Creek.

Arizona’s foster care system and the juvenile courts keep sending kids here, but the tall walls don’t keep them all safe inside.

ABC15 reviewed call-for-service records from the Queen Creek Police Department between January 2022 and September 2025. In all, the campuses made more than 600 missing person calls to police in less than four years.

“We don’t need any more kids going missing or dying,” said Leila Woodard, founder of the Arizona Missing Child Taskforce.

Through her organization, Woodard makes runaway prevention presentations, assists families of missing children, and raises community awareness. She also keeps tabs on how many kids go missing from group homes, including Canyon State and Desert Lily.

“They’re going missing at rapid amounts, like, more than anywhere, any other home in the state,” Woodard said.

A spokesperson for the academies says they serve about 600 youth a year. Combined, they are the largest group home facility licensed by the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

Most of the kids on campus are teens who were sent by DCS caseworkers or the juvenile court system – after prior placements didn’t work out. They are provided housing, therapy, schooling, job training, sports, and other activities like horseback riding.

“People are like, well, what’s happening there?” said Queen Creek Police Chief Randy Brice. “These kids are at risk already, so when they leave the facility, that’s a high concern for us.”

Representatives from Canyon State and Desert Lily declined on-camera interviews. In a statement, a spokesperson wrote, “We report to the QCPD proactively because speed matters and child safety comes first. That practice can inflate the number of reports, but it reflects our commitment to safety, not a failure to care.”

DCS also replied with requests for comment by providing a statement, which said, “Call-for-service data does not necessarily indicate wrongdoing by the facility or staff. Many reported incidents reflect the significant behavioral and emotional challenges presented by the population the facility serves.”

“I’m very confident that they have a great mission, but I’m going to continue to hold them accountable,” Brice said. “I’m going to make sure that these kids are as safe as I can possibly make that.”

DCS rules prevent group homes from locking youth in or preventing a safe exit.

Brice said there are still ways to improve security, including expanding camera coverage and better tracking kids as they move from place to place.

Brice says he’s also worked to speed up response times to missing child calls.

“As soon as a call comes out there, the drone is en route. We have cameras all around the facility on our street cameras,” Brice said. “We’re seeing about 90% of the runaways — we’re catching within minutes to maybe an hour or two.”

Queen Creek police officials say these efforts are making a difference, and they’ve seen missing child calls from the facilities trending down.

According to the academy’s spokesperson, many of their missing child reports involve repeat episodes, brief absences, children located quickly, reports tied to home passes, appointments, or on-campus outings.

Most youth are located safely, but two remain missing as of Wednesday, July 15, 2026. They are Abrianna Madrid, 15, and Aiden Searcy, 16.

“They’re so vulnerable to things like trafficking or exploitation,” Woodard said. She added that reducing the number of missing children from such a large facility would have a significant impact.

Overall, Woodard said better conditions and more services for kids living in Arizona group homes could dissuade more kids from leaving. She has also lobbied for more resources to locate missing foster kids after high-profile deaths. These include the murders of Emily Pike and Zariah Dodd in 2025 after they ran away from different group homes in the Valley.

Xion turned 16 during the weeks he was missing. He died on a concrete bench in Phoenix, about a mile from his mom’s home. The day before he was found, the temperature hit 115º. The medical examiner determined it was a heat death.

Canyon State Academy’s spokesperson described Xion’s death as tragic, adding in a statement that “we immediately reported his absence to law enforcement and fully cooperated with their investigation.”

But an academy spokesman also wrote that Xion “was never a student of Canyon State” as “he was evacuated from another state-licensed open campus.”

ABC15 learned the evacuated campus is also managed by Rite of Passage, the same company that runs Canyon State and Desert Lily.

The one-year anniversary of Xion’s death just passed, and Combs said she is taking it “one day at a time.”

“Sometimes, I sit out in the backyard at night – and recently we’ve had a couple of full moons – and I see a big X in the sky. That’s my boy showing up,” Combs said.

Additional statement from Canyon State and Desert Lily Academies:

“Many youth in our care have experienced trauma, instability, exploitation, behavioral health challenges, and, in some cases, runaway episodes. For more than 25 years, we have provided a safe, normalized environment where children attend school, receive therapy, play sports, join clubs and vocational or equine programs, build trust with caring adults, and begin to see a different future.

The academies are licensed, regulated, and Qualified Residential Treatment Programs in good standing. By state design, they are not locked facilities. Youth who leave voluntarily are immediately reported.    

We are proud of our community partners, therapists, teachers, nurses, direct-care staff, and other professionals who do difficult work every day with children who deserve dignity, compassion, and a chance to heal.”

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 Paluska

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — As the United States marks 250 years of independence, some veterans say the battles they face after military service can be just as difficult as those fought overseas.

Army veteran Travis Horn is among those participating in a Florida-funded study examining ketamine therapy as a treatment for mental health challenges facing veterans. Horn recently underwent his fifth infusion at Complete Ketamine Solutions Tampa, a local clinic participating in the research.

Horn, a veteran of the first Gulf War and a member of the 82nd Airborne, described the treatment as transformative.

“It’s a near religious experience,” Horn told Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska as Paluska watched him receive his fifth ketamine treatment.

Horn told Paluska that it helped him process grief and reconnect with memories of loved ones. In family photographs, Horn is now the sole surviving brother after losing his two siblings to cancer.

“You feel like you’re in the presence of sometimes the people that you’ve loved, and/or that you’re near them somehow,” Horn said.

Before receiving treatment, Horn explained what he believes makes the experience different from traditional therapies.

“Here’s where you know you are able to divorce yourself from the pain and focus on what’s on your mind,” Horn said.

Researchers and veteran advocates are increasingly studying ketamine as a potential treatment option for conditions including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 6,000 veterans die by suicide each year.

The growing interest in treatments such as ketamine recently received national attention when President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing barriers to accessing certain alternative therapies, including ketamine.

Michael Hartford, a Navy veteran and program adviser with the Mac Parkman Foundation, a nonprofit focused on preventing veteran suicide, said the treatment remains under study but believes current approaches have not significantly reduced veteran suicide rates.

“So the ketamine therapy, although it’s not evidence-based at this point in time, it’s evidence-informed,” Hartford said.

Hartford pointed to decades of persistently high suicide rates among veterans.

“And if we look at the veteran population over the last 20 years, veteran suicide rates have not changed,” Hartford said.

“We’re celebrating 250 years, and our soldiers have been sacrificing their lives to protect us for 250 years from the very beginning. How can we celebrate if we don’t give them a chance to live out their lives after they serve?” Paluska asked.

“Spot on, Michael. And one of the things that we, as a nation, have done is take care of our veterans as much as we possibly can. My position, and I think Mac Parkman’s position, is that I believe that we are treating the symptoms, not the underlying cause of why veterans have mental health challenges, why they have suicidal ideation,” Hartford said.

Hartford argues that conditions such as traumatic brain injuries and other combat-related trauma deserve greater attention as part of veteran mental health treatment.

He also emphasized what he sees as a national responsibility to care for veterans after their service ends.

Horn believes ketamine therapy could help many veterans who have struggled to find relief through conventional treatments.

“This therapy helps you kind of open up your mind, and they’re in fact saying things like it helps your brain create new pathways and regenerates the brain in some regard, and that’s research that’s ongoing right now,” Horn said. “We’ve done the conventional therapies to sit around in a, in a kumbaya, hold hands kind of setting, and I’m not saying that that’s not part of it; it shouldn’t continue to take place, but this is really, from my perspective, a more substantive way to help the brain heal itself.”

After his latest treatment session, Horn recorded a video message describing the experience.

“Post-therapy session, just collecting your thoughts, and it is really difficult to convey to someone what the experience is like unless you try it for yourself,” Horn recorded on his cell phone.

Despite growing interest in the therapy, the future of the study remains uncertain. Funding for the program is secured for only one more year.

Hartford said organizers have been notified that the program was not approved for funding in the next fiscal year.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been informed that we have not been approved for the next fiscal year. We have submitted a request for bridge funding for the next fiscal year, and we continue to work on exploring ways that we can get funding through either the state of Florida or other philanthropic organizations that are passionate about taking care of our veterans.”

For participants such as Horn, the stakes extend beyond the fate of a single program. They involve finding new ways to address the invisible wounds many veterans continue to carry long after their military service has ended.

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.