Weekend storms impact commuters at Cromwell Light Rail station amid continued power outages

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Breana Ross

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    GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBAL) — Weekend storms caused significant damage, closing the Cromwell Light Rail station in Glen Burnie and leaving many residents without power and struggling with disrupted commutes.

A Baltimore Gas and Electric representative described the damage in Glen Burnie as severe, with 24 broken utility poles and power lines resting on Light Rail equipment. Crews are working to repair the damage, but the station remained closed Tuesday, forcing commuters to find alternative transportation.

“I’ve never seen this before in the 13 years I’ve been living here,” said Georgina Brown, of Glen Burnie.

Commuters arriving at the Cromwell Light Rail station were met with a shocking sight: Power lines draped across the station.

“I live 15 minutes from here, but I always catch the bus over here, but I didn’t know it was a disaster like this,” said Angel Montejo, a resident.

A Maryland Transit Administration representative stood across from the Light Rail station on Tuesday, directing commuters to use free shuttles and buses as alternatives.

However, some people are frustrated with the situation.

“I have appointments I need to go to at the doctor’s and stuff, and because now that the Light Rail is shut down, you have to catch the bus, and the buses, half of them don’t even come on time,” said Patrick Allen.

“Basically, the buses are crazy right now because they don’t know where they are going to go,” Montejo said. “I know that there are a lot of people that are using buses, and that’s terrible for them because they’re going to be late for work or things like that.”

A BGE mobile command center is parked across from the train station. A BGE representative told WBAL-TV 11 News the utility has an increased number of staff and more than 400 contractors working around the clock to clean up and restore power across the region.

Peter Dunn, of Glyndon, said he has been receiving text updates from BGE since Saturday, but the estimated restoration times keep changing.

“It just keeps getting pushed back again and again, and that’s very frustrating because I can’t quite plan things,” Dunn said. “When your power is out, you realize just how many things you depend upon. I mean, you know, I go to use my microwave, and of course it doesn’t work, or any other appliance that I’ve gotten spoiled enough to be accustomed to.”

BGE representatives acknowledged the frustration and asked for patience as they work to repair the damage.

“Customers have every right to be frustrated when they don’t have power again for even one minute,” BGE spokesman Nick Alexopulos told WBAL-TV 11 News. “Estimated times of restoration, that’s an ETR, that’s when we estimate you’ll get your power back, they fluctuate based on a lot of different variables. It’s an initial estimate based off our assessment of the damage. As we begin the work to make repairs on the job that would restore your power, things may change. The damage may be more severe than we thought. There may be additional weather that comes in that means we have to pause the work … What’s important is that customers continue checking for updated estimated times of restoration.”

BGE stated that most customers affected by Saturday’s storm should have their power restored by 11 p.m. Tuesday, while those impacted by Sunday’s storm should expect restoration by Wednesday night. Repairs at the Cromwell Light Rail station are expected to take several days.

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.

Stockton animal advocates outraged over image of dead dog in dumpster circulates social media

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Carmela Karcher

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    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KOVR) — A startling image is circulating on social media showing a dog left for dead at a Stockton apartment complex. Police are now taking action, but those who retrieved the pet say this is unacceptable.

It’s an image that stopped many in their tracks: a picture of a dog in its crate, thrown away in a dumpster.

“I saw the picture, I was like, wait, is this a dog?” Claudia Martinez said. “Someone said, ‘Go ahead and go and check it out to see if the pup is still there.'”

That’s exactly what she did, and she wasn’t the only one.

With an address to the Riverbank apartments in Stockton and a startling picture, two strangers, Martinez and Alexandria Galindo, rushed over to the complex with the hopes that this little animal was still alive.

“You’re driving out there with hope in your heart,” Galindo shared. “It was very, very unsettling to see it just tossed like that, like trash.”

Both Martinez and Galindo arrived and found it was too late.

“I had pulled it out and then I put it into my truck, covered it, and then All Creatures [Veterinary Emergency Clinic] on West Lane went ahead and took it from me,” Galindo explained.

The picture of the dog hit social media over the holiday weekend.

Stockton police were called and now, the department and Stockton Animal Services are working closely as part of an active animal cruelty investigation.

For these animal advocates, it’s a sign of troubling times.

“It’s happening way, way too many times,” Galindo said. “It’s not so much even just the deceased, we’re seeing that a lot more often, but it’s the constant abandonment of dogs.”

“If you can’t take care of the dog, give it to someone who can,” Martinez added. “It’s sad. It’s like a baby human in the dog’s body. They can’t say anything.”

For them, it’s past time that action needs to be taken so the voiceless can finally have a way to speak up.

“Something should be done, and has to,” Martinez said. “This has to stop. We need to put an end on this.”

“I’m hoping there’s a solution,” Galindo continued. “[We need] more extreme laws on the abandonment of dogs and the cruelty of animals…see if there’s something that we can’t go ahead and try and do to get it going on a different path.”

CBS Sacramento reached out to Stockton Animal Services and they said they did not want to comment on this incident.

The Riverbank apartment complex said they were unaware of the situation and are now looking into exactly what happened.

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Toddler severely injured after LA-area daycare employee allegedly throws him into air, lawsuit says

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Dean Fioresi, Luzdelia Caballero

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — A Los Angeles family has filed a lawsuit against an El Segundo-based club after their toddler sustained severe injuries when he was allegedly dropped after being thrown into the air by an employee last March.

Family members say that their 23-month-old son suffered a traumatic brain injury and hearing loss in the incident. They’re now suing The Bay Club El Segundo for negligence, battery, fraud and emotional distress.

According to the suit, which was filed by Rosen Saba, LLP., the incident happened at around 9:20 a.m. back on March 17, 2025, sometime after the 23-month-old child, referred to as C.K., was dropped off at The Bay Club El Segundo’s clubhouse for daycare by his father. He then left for the nearby Manhattan Country Club, another Bay Club location.

The lawsuit alleged: “A female employee was holding C.K. by his hands. The employee intentionally swung C.K. between her legs. Then the employee hoisted C.K. up into the air over her head. The employee released C.K.’s hands while he was above the employee’s head, at which point C.K. was approximately 6 feet above the ground,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit went on to say that the employee allegedly failed to catch the toddler, who fell to the floor and “smashed his head on the hardwood floor.” At this point, the lawsuit alleged the employee fell backwards and landed on top of the child.

Attorneys for the family said that the club called the child’s father, Matthew Kittle, to say that C.K. had fallen, but had “since calmed down,” and asked if he would like to pick him up.

“The staff member stated that she did not think they needed to pick up C.K., but wanted to let them know that an incident took place,” the lawsuit said. “In doing so, she downplayed the significance of what actually happened.”

A short time later, the staff again called Kittle to say that they were actually unable to settle his son down and that he needed to be picked up, according to the lawsuit.

“Mr. Kittle observed that his son’s injury was far more serious than he was led to believe by The Bay Club. The right side of C.K.’s face was badly bruised. His right eye was swollen shut and his mouth was swollen,” the lawsuit said. “Upon arriving home, C.K. was extremely drowsy, lethargic, and irritable.”

Later that morning, the family took C.K. to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed the brain injury, the lawsuit said.

According to the suit, the boy’s mother called and spoke with an employee at The Bay Club, who told her that her son was being held by an employee about a foot and a half off the ground when the fall happened. However, security footage obtained by the family’s attorneys from the club proves that their “description of the incident was intentionally false and misleading.”

The lawsuit claimed that the club was operating its childcare center without a required California daycare license while improperly declaring an exemption.

According to the California Department of Social Services, childcare programs that offer temporary services to parents are exempt from maintaining a license when certain requirements are met, including services that are only provided to parents and guardians who are on the same premises as the site of the child program.

Attorneys for the family say that C.K.’s parents were not in the same location as their child when the incident happened.

CBS LA reached out to CDSS, which reported that after a record search they were unable to locate a license, pending application or record of an unlicensed facility at The Bay Club.

A spokesperson for The Bay Club shared a statement with CBS LA upon request. It said, “We are unable to comment on ongoing litigation. At the Bay Club, the safety of our members, team members, and the families we serve is our highest priority.”

The Bay Club is a large network of lifestyle centers with more than 30 fitness and country club locations across California, Oregon and Washington.

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.

Some Colorado City residents return home after Aspen Acres Fire evacuations, thousands remain displaced

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Sarah Horbacewicz

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — As firefighters continue making progress against the Aspen Acres Fire, some Colorado City residents were allowed back into their neighborhoods Monday after days of uncertainty. Others, however, remain under mandatory evacuation orders and are still waiting for permission to return home.

The Aspen Acres Fire has scorched more than 145 square miles southwest of Pueblo, that’s 93,916 acres, and as of 6 p.m. Tuesday is 16% contained. Fire officials believe at least 263 homes have been destroyed across Pueblo and Custer counties, while approximately 12,000 people have been forced to evacuate. Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for residents across roughly half a dozen communities as crews continue battling the fire.

Near Colorado City, a National Guard checkpoint has become the gateway for residents hoping to return home.

Anyone entering a reopened area must first obtain a disaster assistance card, which verifies their address. This card is then used by the National Guard to verify that the resident lives in a neighborhood that has been deemed safe to access. National Guard members were checking each vehicle in Colorado City alongside other checkpoints.

Officials say residents who are still under evacuation orders can obtain a disaster assistance card now, allowing for a quicker return once their neighborhood is reopened.

Among those waiting in line on Monday was Lorenzo Duarte, who was finally able to return home after days of wondering what he would find.

“It’s been a rough one, not knowin’ whether I was gonna come home, and there was anything left,” Duarte said.

Before being allowed through the checkpoint, Duarte showed his disaster assistance card to National Guard personnel to verify his residence. He was getting ready to see his home for the first time since evacuating.

“I’m pretty sure our property’s still intact. So, we’ll know in the next five minutes,” Duarte said.

Not everyone waiting in line was able to return home.

Doug, who lives in a nearby area that remains under mandatory evacuation, said he hoped he would be allowed through but was instead told he would have to continue waiting.

“We’ve been camping out with my son down across the interstate, but it’s all good, we get by,” he said.

While reporting at the checkpoint, CBS Colorado also spoke with another resident who said his home sits about a mile outside the reopened area. Although he was not allowed to stay at home, officials escorted him into the evacuation zone so he could pick up insulin, which he said he urgently needed.

Others who were among the first residents allowed back on Monday are trying to return to their routines.

“I was staying at my house to make sure nobody robbed it. I just went back to work today,” said Wiatt.

Even after returning home, residents say they’re worried they could be forced to evacuate again if fire conditions worsen.

“It’s a nice community and stuff, it’s just it’s kind of sad, everything’s burned up now, so I’ll be looking at that for the rest of my life,” Wiatt said.

While the destruction left by the wildfire is visible across the Colorado City area, residents say they’ve also experienced an outpouring of support from their neighbors.

“The community’s been great,” Doug said.

“[First responders are] all angels, and they’ve all come from heaven,” another resident shared.

Residents waiting at the checkpoint said they were grateful for the National Guard members managing reentry and for the community support they’ve received as they navigate the uncertainty of what comes next.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says a 9 p.m. curfew remains in effect for the area checkpoints. PCSO says residents will receive automatic emergency notifications when their neighborhoods are cleared for reentry, but encourages residents to ensure they are signed up for local emergency alerts to ensure they receive that message, and urges residents to frequently check official social media posts. In the meantime, they encourage anyone under evacuation orders to obtain a disaster assistance card now, which will help speed up the process once access to their neighborhood is restored.

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.

The Quincy News Morning Brief | Wednesday, July 8, 2026

CNN Newsource on July 8, 2026

By Jacqueline Policastro | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — Market Recap Chip fears hit Wall Street again Tuesday, sending the Nasdaq sharply lower and weighing on the broader market. The S&P fell 0.45% to 7,503.85, the Nasdaq dropped 1.16% to 25,818.69, and the Dow slipped 0.25% to 52,925.15 after briefly touching a record intraday high. Micron fell 4.7% and Sandisk lost roughly 5%, sending chip stocks lower as investors questioned how much room is left in the AI trade. Oil rose after Iran attacked three commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the 10-year Treasury yield climbed to about 4.54%.

Today’s Focus The Iran situation escalated overnight. President Trump declared the U.S.-Iran ceasefire “over” following attacks on several commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian military sites. Oil is surging more than 6% in premarket trading, and yields are climbing on renewed inflation fears. The Fed’s June meeting minutes are released at 2:00 p.m. ET, which should offer a fuller look at how policymakers were weighing growth against still-elevated inflation at the June meeting.

ON THE SCHEDULE Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. ET – 10-year Treasury note reopening Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. ET – FOMC minutes from the June 16-17 meeting Thursday, 8:30 a.m. ET – Initial jobless claims Thursday, 1:00 p.m. ET – 30-year Treasury bond reopening

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.

California community dealing with rotting smell, rodents, health concerns after warehouse fire

CNN Newsource on July 7, 2026

By Luzdelia Caballero

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    BOYLE HEIGHTS, California (KCAL, KCBS) — After a Boyle Heights warehouse fire wreaked havoc on neighbors near and far last week, those living near the site say it’s not just the overpowering smell of rotting food they are dealing with now; there are also rodents and health concerns.

As crews continue hauling away millions of pounds of spoiled food from the nearly 500,000-square-foot warehouse, community members say they’re trying to hold on to a sense of normalcy while living beside an ongoing cleanup, and that the need for relief brought people together on Tuesday.

“We have seen like a lot of rats, literally coming out of the sewers, out of the drainage. You go drive by and there’s literally rats on the street that are run over,” Boyle Heights resident Cecilia Cruz said.

In partnership with Fuente Learning Center, Breathe Southern California distributed free air purifiers to families seeking at least one layer of protection in their homes.

“I cannot open my window because it’s so bad,” Mariano Rangel, Boyle Heights resident, said.

For many, the purifier represents more than a machine; it’s peace of mind.

“Now my two littles are starting to cough, and we need one for our room,” Cruz said, adding that it’s a way to sleep a little easier and worry a little less about what’s circulating inside their home.

“They are really expensive. They’re like $120, I want to say, and I mean, we don’t have $120 to spare with two little ones, and my grandma too,” she said.

Organizers say the goal of the air purifier distribution is to help residents reduce exposure while the massive cleanup continues outside.

“We were able to procure 3,000 air purifiers that we’ve committed to the Boyle Heights community, and we’ve distributed in two days approximately almost 800 air purifiers,” Jonathan Mercado, Breathe Southern California, said.

Mayor Karen Bass has ordered that all biohazardous food waste be removed within the next 45 days, but until then, neighbors say they’re counting the days, hoping the smell fades, hoping the rats disappear, and hoping something as simple as cleaner air inside their homes can help them make it through until the cleanup is finally complete.

Residents are skeptical that the 45-day time frame can be met.

“I don’t know if they’re being 100% truthful or realistic about the time frame,” said Yesenia Adame. “This is not our fault, but we’re living with the consequences of their negligence.”

The Mayor’s Office also said that several clinics will offer health services on Wednesday to Friday.

Remaining health clinics for the week:

Thursday

Barrio Action Youth & Family Center – 4927 N. Huntington Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90032, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ruben Salazar Park – 3864 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community Resource Center; Lou Costello Jr. Recreation Center – 3141 E. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90023, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday

Ruben Salazar Park – 3864 Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90023, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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.

Roseville Fire plans major drone expansion to speed emergency response

CNN Newsource on July 7, 2026

By Conor McGill

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    ROSEVILLE, California (KOVR) — What once required firefighters on the ground can now be done from the sky, and Roseville Fire says it’s only the beginning.

While drones have been part of the department’s toolbox since 2020, fire leaders are now looking to expand the program with a long-term vision of placing a drone at every fire station in the city. The goal is to launch drones to emergencies within moments, giving firefighters and police real-time aerial intelligence before crews arrive on scene.

Within about a minute of a request, firefighters can already have a drone airborne, streaming live video back to incident commanders.

“We can see if we’re starting to get thermal runaway, an incident that might be too dangerous to put people in,” said Roseville Fire Captain Jonathan Davidson. “We can start getting video and transmitting it down to people on the ground who need that intel.”

Davidson became the department’s first licensed drone pilot when Roseville Fire launched its drone program in 2020. Now, city leaders are looking at the next evolution of the technology.

“They want to put a drone on every single fire station in town,” Davidson said. “That drone can launch from the fire station, and there would be a person in the control center able to fly that drone and provide the aerial reconnaissance.”

The expanded system would allow drones to respond automatically to vehicle crashes, fires and other emergencies while being operated remotely from a centralized control center. Fire officials say the added aerial perspective can help incident commanders make faster, safer decisions before firefighters enter potentially dangerous situations.

As the program grows, so will the need for trained drone operators.

Roseville Fire Battalion Chief Thanh Pham believes military veterans are especially well-suited for the role because of their experience making critical decisions with limited information.

“We’re pretty much problem solvers,” Pham said. “A lot of times in an emergency, we’re given about 60 to 70 percent of the facts and you have to take action. I think that’s a skill set a lot of veterans have that can translate to civilian life or the fire service.”

That’s where the Veterans Workforce Alliance hopes to help, connecting former service members with departments building drone programs.

“When an organization needs drones and drone operators, the military has them,” said Veterans Workforce Alliance board member Nathan Champion. “About 200,000 military personnel transition out of the military every year, so that’s a perfect source for organizations that have that need.”

For Davidson, the expanding drone program reflects how much the fire service has evolved over the past 25 years.

“There’s so many different things that we do in this profession that are outside of just taking a hose into a burning building and putting water on the fire,” he said.

From boots on the ground to eyes in the sky, Roseville firefighters say drones are becoming an increasingly important tool, helping crews gather critical information faster, improve firefighter safety and shape the future of emergency response.

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Colorado officers use drone to help capture bank robbery suspect

CNN Newsource on July 7, 2026

By Jennifer McRae

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    ARVADA, Colorado (KCNC) — Arvada police used a drone to help capture a bank robbery suspect. According to investigators, the suspect entered the Community Banks of Colorado branch located at 7530 Grandview Avenue about 5 p.m. on July 1.

The suspect allegedly announced, “This is a robbery.” Investigators also said the suspect made statements indicating there could be guns and additional people involved.

The Arvada Police Department’s Drone First Responder program deployed a drone to the scene, which allowed officers to observe the suspect through the bank’s front windows and entrance.

Investigators said that allowed officers to establish a perimeter around the bank and wait for the suspect to exit, which happened after receiving money from bank employees.

Officers were able to capture the suspect as he exited the building and arrest him.

The suspect was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on charges of aggravated robbery.

Officers said all bank employees and patrons should be commended for remaining calm and composed during the situation, which helped bring the incident to a safe resolution.

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.

D4vd murder case moves forward with judge finalizing preliminary hearing date

CNN Newsource on July 7, 2026

By Chelsea Hylton, Dean Fioresi, Matthew Rodriguez, Austin Turner

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KCAL, KCBS) — The murder case against singer and songwriter D4vd, who pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, will move forward with a preliminary hearing later this month.

D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, appeared for a hearing inside a downtown Los Angeles courtroom on Tuesday after three postponements. A judge scheduled the preliminary hearing for July 21. It is expected to last three to five days.

Burke, 21, is charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, lewd and lascivious acts with an individual under 14 and mutilating a body.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office alleges that Burke and Hernandez were romantically involved and that he stabbed her “before she ruined his music career,” according to court documents.

Prosecutors argue that he killed Hernandez in 2025 after she threatened to expose his criminal conduct. They also claim that Burke tried to cover up the killing by texting and calling Hernandez, asking her where she was, even though she was already dead.

According to court documents, prosecutors allege that Burke paid for a ride-share driver to drop Hernandez off at his Hollywood Hills home on April 23, 2025.

The District Attorney’s Office claims that Burke, under a fake name, purchased a shovel, body bag, heavy-duty laundry bags, two chainsaws, a blue inflatable pool and a burn cage. All of the items were ordered on Amazon or Postmates and delivered to his home, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also add that the burn cage was part of Burke’s alleged “plan to incinerate evidence.” He used the “blue inflatable pool to prevent her blood from spilling onto his garage floor” while she was dismembered, the DA’s Office wrote in the court filing.

Burke and his attorneys have denied all allegations.

Medical examiners determined that Hernandez was killed with “multiple penetrating wounds” in April 2025, several months before her dismembered, decomposing body was found in the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke. Hernandez’s remains were discovered on Sept. 8, 2025, after police responded to reports of a foul smell attracting flies at the Hollywood Tow yard.

“For several weeks, or possibly months, defendant left the victim’s body to decompose inside his Tesla,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing in April. “He lied to friends, business associates, and others who noticed the strong smell of decay in and around his home and vehicle.”

During a court appearance in April, prosecutors claimed that Burke possessed a “significant amount of child pornography.” The attorneys representing the Rivas Hernandez family declined to comment on the development

“Celeste was just a child, under 14 years old, when David Burke allegedly engaged in repeated lewd and lascivious sexual relations with her,” Hochman said in a news release announcing the charges earlier this month. “But Burke’s actions did not allegedly stop there. When she threatened to expose his criminal conduct and devastate his musical career, Burke allegedly murdered her, cut up her body and stuffed her body in two bags that were placed in the front trunk of his car.”

The murder charges included special circumstances — lying in wait, committing the crime for financial gain and murdering the witness in an investigation. If convicted as charged, Hochman said that Burke could face the maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

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.

Lack of accessibility; Woman and daughter stranded at auto repair shop

CNN Newsource on July 7, 2026

By Claire Graham

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — July is Disability Pride Month, but for one local family, a recent incident left them feeling more frustrated than proud.

Adiba Nelson and her 17-year-old daughter Emory Webster are a well oiled machine. But what should have been a quick errand for them, exposed a bigger community problem. They brought Adiba’s car to an auto-repair shop for what should have been a one-hour fix. Instead, they suddenly learned the work was going to take four hours, and it left them stranded.

“They offered to call us an Uber,” Adiba explained. “Which I thought was wonderful. And I said, ‘Well, but I have my daughter with me, we need a wheelchair-accessible Uber.’ They said ‘No, it’s fine, they have those available.'”

But when the driver showed up, his idea of “wheelchair accessible” was to fold up Emory’s wheelchair and put it in the trunk.

“I said, ‘Sir, this is not a wheelchair accessible vehicle,'” Adiba said. “He said people put their wheelchairs back here all the time. I said, ‘A foldable wheelchair, sure, a manual wheelchair, sure, but this is a 300 pound electric wheelchair. I can’t fold that and put it in your vehicle.'”

With that, the driver left, leaving them both feeling helpless.

“You were sad, mad, and frustrated,” Adiba said about her daughter, as Emory spoke through her tablet.

Claire Graham reached out to Uber to ask about the incident, but without the driver’s specific information (which wasn’t readily available) the company wasn’t able to comment on that particular ride.

Sitting at the auto shop that day, Adiba posted on Facebook, looking for a ride to get them home. Claire also saw her post, and they both started looking for options online.

It turns out Uber’s fully accessible rides aren’t available to request in Tucson. Claire spoke with VIP Taxi, when a friend saw a wheelchair-accessible van driving through Tucson, but the company said the van is only available from the airport.

“There were a lot of medical transport companies, but you have to book those in advance. There were non-medical transport companies, but you have to book those in advance,” Adiba explained.

Those companies also tend to charge a flat rate that costs a lot more than a quick taxi ride. Several did tell Claire they were willing to help out if they could – but there might be a wait for their services, and they weren’t guaranteed if you don’t schedule ahead.

The Sun Tran was also an option, but Adiba and Emory didn’t want to turn what should have been a seven minute drive home… into an hour and 15 minute bus ride in the summer heat. There was also Sun Van, which is the city’s mobility service.

“Sun Van is a viable option in the situation where you can make a reservation in advance, or you can wait an hour, that is a viable option,” Adiba said. “That is not the viable option for the person whose friends call them and say like, ‘Hey, we’re going out, you want to meet us out tonight?'”

Sun Tran says all of their buses and vans accommodate motorized wheelchairs. But between Sun Shuttle Dial-a-Ride, Sun On Demand and their other services, it’s complicated. So they recommend calling customer service to help you plan a trip — again, ahead of time.

Thankfully Adiba and Emory got a ride home from a friend who had a car specially fitted for a motorized wheelchair. They didn’t have to wait too long, but they know they got lucky. It comes down to the fact that it’s just not fair.

“A convenience should not be limited to ability,” Adiba said. “If there’s an option available for a person without a disability, the same option should be available for a person with a disability. That is a truly accessible community.”

As an author who writes children’s books about inclusivity, especially with two of her books now in the Obama Presidential Center and Library, Adiba sees the irony in what happened. But she says this whole incident also feels like a reason to keep going.

“It was also kind of like confirmation for me that I’m doing exactly what I need to be doing now,” she 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.