Category: CNN Regional

By Ben Winslow

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    MOAB, Utah (KSTU) — With Utah’s emergency order banning fireworks set to expire next week, at least one city has decided it will continue a fireworks ban.

Moab’s City Council voted to declare a state of emergency and ban fireworks before Governor Spencer Cox decided to issue his own emergency order that led to a statewide ban. It was for the entire month of July.

“You could see the smoke coming in from the Babylon Fire,” Moab Fire Chief TJ Brewer told FOX 13 News. “We were getting concern from the community.”

The Babylon Fire, burning about an hour south of Moab, is the nation’s largest wildfire, having torched more than 106,000 acres. As of Wednesday, it is only 54% contained. It is one of many wildfires still burning across the state that has destroyed property and forced entire communities to evacuate.

Utah is in drought and wildfire conditions are extreme. Grasses and trees are dry, allowing fires to spread. So far, more than 382,000 acres have burned and the majority of fires are human-caused. Firefighters have pleaded with Utahns to do what they can to avoid sparking more wildfires.

When Moab declared a state of emergency and enacted a ban, it was testing state laws that blocked cities and towns from enacting all-out fireworks bans except in limited circumstances (such as when a community is entirely in a wildland area).

“It’s a little creative, I think. It was a way for us to really come up with some legislative backing to allow us to do that and we just really believe that fire is a huge issue,” Moab Mayor Joette Langianese said in an interview with FOX 13 News last month.

Then, Gov. Cox declared a state of emergency because of extreme wildfire risk and suspended the laws. It allowed the Utah State Forester to issue an order declaring a statewide fireworks ban — but giving cities the power to allow fireworks with restrictions. It also gave communities like Moab some political backing for enacting fireworks bans.

Utah State Forester Jamie Barnes told FOX 13 News last week that she is still evaluating whether to seek a new emergency order for the upcoming Pioneer Day holiday, but wildfire conditions had not improved. Gov. Cox’s office said Wednesday he was still reviewing things and no decision has been made.

Under laws passed by the Utah State Legislature during the COVID pandemic, a governor’s emergency order is only good for 30 days. Then the legislature has to meet in special session to vote on extending the ban. Gov. Cox could issue a brand new emergency order.

But if Gov. Cox opts not to issue a new order to cover the Pioneer Day holiday, Moab’s ban would remain in effect. Brewer said residents were supportive of the ban over the Fourth of July.

“The community has stood behind it. We thought we might have some complaints. We’ve had zero complaints that I’ve heard of,” he said. “We had zero firework incidents on the Fourth of July, which is outstanding. We usually have at least a dozen or so, but there was zero. We ended up having a structure fire that day but it had nothing to do with fireworks.”

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 Felix Cortez

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    HOLLISTER, California (KSBW) — The California Highway Patrol is investigating the death of Javier Becerril, a 42-year-old Hollister man, whose body was found last Thursday in the trunk of a Tesla off Highway 152 near the San Luis Reservoir.

CHP officials said the case is being treated as a homicide due to suspicious circumstances.

“There are circumstances that are suspicious, and that’s why we’re treating it as such,” a CHP investigator said.

Becerril had been reported missing by his family before his body was discovered. He was positively identified on Tuesday.

“Our detectives are exhausting every possible avenue to hopefully obtain a better understanding of what transpired and hopefully hold whoever was accountable for what happened, hold them accountable,” CHP officer Hector Carias said.

A small memorial has been set up in the Safeway parking lot in Hollister by fellow DoorDash drivers who say Becerril made regular deliveries from there.

CHP detectives are also analyzing the Tesla’s onboard computer system to determine if it can provide any details or video that might help identify the killer or killers.

Authorities said the family is fully cooperating with the investigation but is also desperately seeking answers.

Anyone who may have been driving on Highway 152 at Pacheco Pass last Thursday or in the days prior and noticed anything suspicious is urged to contact 911 or the CHP.

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 Natalia Gomez del Campo

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — From forgotten bank accounts to long-lost memorabilia, the State Treasurer of Iowa’s Office returned a record-breaking $38.2 million in unclaimed property to Iowans during Fiscal Year 2026, with officials saying more people are discovering money and valuables they never knew they had.

In FY26, the state processed 53,194 claims, which is an increase of 8,302 from the previous year. The total value of the claims beat previous records by more than $8.4 million.

“Great Iowa Treasure Hunt is about more than dollars and cents,” said Roby Smith, the state treasurer of Iowa. “Every claim represents a family, a business, or an individual being reunited with money or property they may not have even known that was missing.

When asked what caused such a drastic change, Smith said it’s mainly thanks to efforts in spreading the word, the people helping to get the word out.

The office showed some memorabilia items in safekeeping, including baseball cards, trading cards, autographs and basketball cards, and an unauthenticated signed baseball from the Cincinnati Reds.

“These items belong to real Iowans and their heirs. And we’ve committed to finding the rightful owners and returning these one-of-a-kind keepsakes,” Smith said.

Smith acknowledged that many believe the treasure hunt to be a scam, but reassures Iowans that the best way to verify if you have property items missing is to search your name on the Great Iowa Treasure Hunt website.

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 Andy Alcock

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    JOHNSON COUNTY, Kansas (KMBC) — Concerns are growing around the U.S. and the Kansas City metro due to a spike in a severe stomach bug.

Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite, is causing the issue.

The exact cause is unknown, but the best evidence suggests it’s coming from produce.

On Wednesday, Chef Sergio Lara with the Culinary Center of Kansas City shared his tips and demonstrated how he cleans fruits and vegetables.

There are a couple of ways: Put produce in a mix of one part vinegar to three parts water. Or, use two tablespoons of baking soda in water. Then, let the produce sit for five minutes in those mixes.

“So it’s going to wash off all the chemicals and all the bacteria,” he said.

As of Wednesday, the state of Kansas reported 55 confirmed cases, with 25 of them in Johnson County.

“This infection, generally speaking, is not terribly severe for, for healthy people, but for, for people with compromised immune systems, it can cause a risk for more severe disease,” said Charlie Hunt, Johnson County Health and Environment Department director.

The Missouri Communicable Disease Report, released Sunday by the Department of Health and Senior Services, lists 43 cases of Cyclospora in the state. The report does not break locations down by county. This number also differs from information provided by the CDC, which lists no confirmed cases for Missouri.

The best recommendations from Hunt and Lara include staying away from cut up produce at the grocery store, and washing what you do get thoroughly.

“We do serve a lot of people. Yeah. So that’s something that we actually started doing more often,” Lara said.

The Cyclospora outbreak is also happening across the country. The CDC issued a national alert Tuesday due to a spike in cases.

That federal agency reports there have been no deaths but 141 hospitalizations.

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 Chantelle Navarro

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    MOORE, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A close call in Moore on Wednesday afternoon sent police and firefighters rushing to a creek to rescue children who found themselves stuck in floodwaters.

Four boys were swimming in a creek by the Rock Creek Neighborhood when heavy rain moved in. Two of the boys were able to escape the water and run to a nearby home, where they knocked on a door to find help.

Neighbors said they are thankful the story ended with no injuries.

“Being young and being lured to this looks fun, and it’s not a good idea at all,” Moore Fire Chief Ryan Marlar said.

Marlar said it started just before 2:30 p.m. when storms came through, swelling the creeks in the area. The four boys, around 12 to 14 years old, were in the water, and two got stuck.

The two others swam out, ran down the street and knocked on a stranger’s door. The woman then called 911.

“We had a total of three engine companies assigned. We had a boat team assigned, and we had a battalion chief assigned to this incident, and they were able to locate all of those kids quickly,” Marlar said.

About 40 minutes later, the boys were reunited with their families.

“I’m thanking God that they were found,” Steve Autry, who lives in the neighborhood, said. “Creeks are dangerous. I don’t care how small we are or anything. Once that water gets going at that rate of speed, it will suck you under like this very fast. It doesn’t play right here.”

Moore police also responded to the call. The department had its mental health unit to help the boys. The chief said they were shaken up, but they are going to be OK.

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 Kilee Thomas

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    EDMOND, Oklahoma (KOCO) — An outbreak of a parasite linked to fresh produce has made dozens of Oklahomans sick this summer.

While health officials say there is no foolproof way to avoid it, local farmers are doing what they can to keep produce safe. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control hasn’t pinpointed what is causing this year’s cyclosporiasis outbreak, so farmers said the best thing they can do is follow safe growing practices every single day.

“We’ll cut these, wash them in our sanitizer, and then bag them for our customers in a pre-washed salad mix,” Kevin Marshall with Indigo Farms said.

At Indigo Farms in Edmond, Marshall said protecting his produce starts before the seeds are even planted.

“So, here at Indigo, we have well water, and we have our well water tested for food safety. We also, when we wash our stuff, use an organic sanitizer,” Marshall said.

That focus on water isn’t by accident. Food safety experts say irrigation water is one of the biggest causes of this parasite.

“The only way you are going to have an issue is that sewage or fecal matter is getting into the water and that water is ending up on the produce,” said Ravi Jaseja, an OSU extension food safety specialist.

The small farm has seen a spike in customers interested in buying local.

“Our orders were up, so I’m suspecting a lot of people are trying to buy local because they’re a little bit scared of the national chain,” Marshall said.

While the source of the outbreak remains unknown, local farmers said one benefit of shopping close to home is knowing who grew your food and having the chance to ask questions about how it was produced.

They encouraged Oklahomans to visit their local farmers market or the OKC Food Hub, which connects shoppers with produce grown by Oklahoma farms.

“We have some different tomatoes and peppers here. We have bell peppers growing. You see? It’s green. Just starting to turn red, and there’s one that’s starting to ripen,” Jaseja 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 Caleb Barnes

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    MADISON COUNTY, Kentucky (WLEX) — Teenage freedom typically looks like earning a driver’s license and exploring newfound freedom on the roads. One Madison County teen is spreading his wings – in a more literal sense – by taking to the skies with a pilot’s license.

17-year-old Gaige Neely has his driver’s license and his private pilot’s license.

“17 is the earliest you can get your private pilot’s license,” he said. “The goal was to take the check ride when I was 17. I took mine about a month after my birthday.

Neely started taking online courses when he was 15. He soloed on his 16th birthday, just before getting his driver’s license. Which one was easier?

“Driver’s license 100%,” Neely said.

“I think he drives well, but he flies excellently,” his dad, Chuck Neely said.

Flying has always connected the two.

“I took him to an air show in Owensboro. He saw an F-22 Raptor fly, looked back at me and smiled. I knew he was sealed,” he said.

“I just remember, there’d be planes flying around the air and Dad would be like, wish that was you, and I was like, yeah,” Gaige remembered.

With his private pilot’s license, Neely said he flies his Grunman Traveler three to four hours each week.

“I have the freedom to pretty much go anywhere I want,” he said. “I don’t have to wait in traffic. I can just get on the plane, go and enjoy the view and just have fun.”

Neely still has plenty of runway with his future decisions, like where to go to school, and what career path to take.

“I’ll definitely go to further schooling for aviation,” he said. “I’m not sure where.”

With his senior year of high school in front of him, Neely did tell me his main objective for the near future.

“The goal is to fly to every airport in Kentucky before I turn 18,” shared Neely. “I’ve probably already got half of them down.”

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 Chelsea Hylton

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A major water main break in Los Angeles caused severe flooding in West Hollywood and a sinkhole on Thursday morning.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said the water main break began near Palm Avenue and Harratt Street around 2:30 a.m. Crews quickly responded and began assessing the incident, working to find the cause of the break.

During an update around 7:45 a.m. Chief Operating Officer Anselmo Collins said the leak came from a 1916 36-inch trunk line. He added that the trunk line had been shut down, as well as two large valves on the east and west sides. He assured the public that clean and safe water was still being distributed to residents from an 8-inch pipe.

Collins explained that due to the highly pressurized water system, crews had to work slowly and carefully to avoid causing further damage.

“Usually what happens in the middle of the night, the pressures in the system are the highest and that’s because there’s no demand,” Collins said. “Everybody’s asleep. So consequently, normally, that’s when you’ll see a water main break take place.”

LADWP confirmed the water main break caused a sinkhole to open up. CBS LA crews saw that sinkhole on Holloway Drive and Palm Avenue outside of Dialog Cafe.

CBS LA reporter Rick Montanez also saw concrete buckled and about two dozen cars flooded in one West Hollywood parking garage. Several cars in other garages were also seen submerged in several inches of water.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and West Hollywood Mayor John Heilman warned the community about the traffic delays and road closures that were impacting the area. They urged people to use alternate routes.

Aerial footage of the incident showed water rushing down the streets and residents walking in several inches of water trying to get to their cars.

LADWP Interim General Manager David Hanson said crews have set up an emergency command center and are working in a collaborative effort with other local agencies. Personnel will remain on the scene to help with damage assessments and claims.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued several road closures. Even though the water has been shut off, mud and other debris remain in the roadway.

Eastbound Sunset Boulevard is closed between Larrabee Street and Sherbourne Drive. Eastbound Holloway Drive is closed between Sunset Boulevard and Westmount Drive. Eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard is closed between San Vicente Boulevard and Hancock Drive. Larrabee Street, Palm Avenue, and Hancock Avenue are all closed northbound and southbound between Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Metro buses operating in the area are also being diverted. Metro posted on X that the northbound and westbound buses of Lines 16 and 105 will layover on San Vicente in front of the Pacific Design Center. Eastbound and southbound buses will detour at Robertson between Santa Monica and Melrose.

LADWP officials said there is no timeline for when repairs will be made.

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.