Weber State students show local residents innovative ways to cut energy use, lower bills

By Mythili Gubbi

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    OGDEN, Utah (KSTU) — Students at Weber State University are taking what they learned in the classroom out into a neighborhood in Ogden. Their goal is to help families be energy-efficient and save money with lower bills.

At the corner of 28th Street and Quincy Avenue in Ogden is the Weber State Sustainability home.

“It’s a net-zero, 100 percent electric home,” explained Adriana Van Vliet, a student who helped work on it. “We have 39 solar panels. Our heating and cooling is run through a heat pump system.”

The home demonstrates what living solely on solar power can look like. Students and staff will also host free workshops to give people ideas about what they can do in their homes, and provide supplies and consultations for free.

“You can still install door sweeps, you can use caulking tubes to seal the cracks by windows, and that alone is making your house a lot more airtight,” explained Van Vliet. She has lived in Ogden for most of her life and is looking forward to the opportunity to help her neighbors.

The home officially opened on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We’re really excited to finally have our doors open and start working with the community more,” Van Vliet said.

Weber State construction students built the sustainable home in 2020 for a competition. A family bought the home, has lived in it for the past five years, and has kept their energy bills low. They sold the house back to Weber State, and it is now a playground for students to show what they’ve learned and for neighbors to come by and take free classes to try to implement some of these ways.

“This is our ventilation system that pulls fresh air from the outside and then heats or cools that air with the energy already inside,” staff member Joshua Taylor explained while giving a tour of the home to show people how it functions.

Kaylee Anderson is a Weber State alumna and is now a homeowner in Roy. She came by to see how she can make her own home more energy efficient.

“Taking care of our planet is the biggest thing to me,” Anderson said. “You can see pictures and diagrams all day long, but as soon as you see it actually implemented somewhere and see the data and the energy savings that’s actually happening, it helps be like, ‘This is actually an opportunity for me.'”

After the tour, Anderson said she already learned something to take home with her.

“They talked about just lowering the automatic water heater temperature from 140 — which is the standard — to 120,” she said. “You don’t ever really need 140 degrees, so 120 is great, and that’s a really easy way to reduce your energy consumption.”

Anderson was grateful that she and others got a chance to see how it all works.

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Doctor sues surgery center after patient dies following “tummy-tuck” procedure

By Emily Sanderson

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    CINCINNATI (WLWT) — A doctor has filed a lawsuit against a surgery center, claiming negligence and underqualified staff led to the death of his patient following a “tummy-tuck” procedure.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Dr. Shahryar Tork, a plastic surgeon practicing in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Tork is suing JourneyLite Surgery and its anesthesia partner Associated Anesthesiologists of Springfield, Inc., claiming the company’s lack of care led to the death of his patient, Rachel Tussey.

Tussey’s death made headlines after she went in for an abdominoplasty, commonly known as a “tummy-tuck” procedure at JourneyLite Surgery, but while recovering she was found to be unresponsive and was rushed to the hospital where she was found to be “brain dead.”

Her family said in videos online that Tussey died over two weeks later.

Tussey’s husband took to TikTok to share the story, alleging “incompetence.” The video quickly went viral on the social media platform.

In the suit, Tork claims he performed a nearly nine-hour surgery on Tussey, saying it went smoothly and she had “minimal blood loss” and required “very low doses of pain medication throughout the procedure.”

The suit claims Tussey was alert and talking post surgery and Tork left thinking she would be in good hands.

He alleges two of the nurses at the surgery center administered a 150 micrograms of fentanyl and .5 mg of Dilaudid, saying it led to her fatal overdose.

JourneyLite responded to the suit, saying its staff acted within the standard of care, that state auditors found no wrongdoing, and that the family refused an autopsy that could have determined the cause of death.

“It is unfortunate and somewhat shocking that Dr.Tork claims to be the victim here due apparently to the loss of his reputation in a case where the Tussey family tragically lost Rachel,” a law firm representing the surgery center stated.

The firm refuted the claim Tussey was given more opioids than needed, saying an independent review found the medications given were appropriate and within the standard of care and that her sudden unresponsiveness was not opioid related, claiming multiple doses of Narcan were administered and had no effect.

The suit claims the nurses did not call 911 until four minutes after telling Tork the call had been made. It also alleges one of the nurses improperly used a bag mask, leading Tussey to go without oxygen to her brain for six minutes.

In its response to the lawsuit, the surgery center claims it urged the family to allow an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but says the request was refused.

Tork is alleging the surgery center has a history of this kind of behavior with “over-sedating” patients and that one of the nurses had previously been fired for “incompetence” but was later rehired and another employee was fired for raising concerns about the nurse.

Tork also alleges the anesthesia team left the surgery center during post-anesthesia care violating Ohio administrative code.

The lawsuit also alleges the surgery center tried to cover up what happened by altering records, hiding the identity of the nurse involved and pressuring Tork to change his notes.

“I expressed my concerns to the facility regarding the orders that had been placed and the dosage that had been administered,” Tork said. “The following week, the phase one order sheet had become completely different.

JourneyLite denies any record tampering or cover-up and that any allegations that they attempted to are “false and defamatory.”

Tork is demanding a trial against those named in the suit, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

The attorney representing the family of Rachel Tussey said a temporary restraining order is being filed against JourneyLite, to stop them from “further destroying, fabricating, or deleting evidence.”

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Reclaiming the Range: Northern Colorado’s 11-year journey to restore the west’s most iconic species

By Maggy Wolanske

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    LARIMER COUNTY, Colorado (KMGH) — The American bison’s story could have ended in extinction — but the species endures, and in northern Colorado, one herd is proving bison can flourish once again.

A partnership between Colorado State University, Fort Collins and Larimer County is proving that collaboration can bring back America’s most iconic species. In 2015, 10 bison with ancestry from Yellowstone herds arrived at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Over the years, the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd has grown in size and currently has three adult females and 29 calves on the land.

CSU associate professor Jennifer Barfield has been with the original herd since the beginning. She explained the cultural significance of this herd coming from the Yellowstone lineage, as they are known to be the more free-ranging of the animals.

“The idea is that this herd will be here for the foreseeable future, which does mean that the generations will pass through this herd here and that they will continue to live here and be bison,” Barfield said.

This marks the 11th year of the herd out on the prairie, with Barfield seeing the animals thrive from “beginning to end.” Her reproduction research benefits directly from the herd, which provides invaluable data and learning experiences for students back in the laboratory.

“It’s really special to see them out here on the prairie where they should be and should remain, and it’s great to know that we have a project where the community is engaged,” Barfield said. “We have the support of the city and the county to keep this herd here for the indefinite future to have bison on the landscape, to be the ecological engineers. They are to be the cultural connection that they can be for our community, and all of those things make this project really special.”

CSU offers a one-year master’s program in assisted reproductive technology, with Barfield serving as the director. The program teaches students how to become an embryologist while studying techniques and technology used in reproductive clinics for humans.

“There is no other program really like it in the U.S. that gives you as much hands-on experience in the lab, making embryos, freezing them, and thawing them out and doing all of those things, that you can find in reproductive clinics and labs across the world,” said Barfield. “So it’s a really special program, and yeah, it’s housed right here at CSU.”

A poster of a bison and calf is visible outside one of the labs. Barfield explained they have used reproductive technologies to support the bison herd and ensure the species exists for a long time. Specifically, they have embryos that are frozen, which can be used “decades or hundreds of years from now.”

“We have a few animals in the herd that have been produced by these technologies,” said Barfield. “Now, all of the bison out at Soapstone in the Laramie Foothills herd, they are all breeding naturally, and when we do the reproductive technologies, we do them here on the campus of the university and then introduce those animals back into the herd.”

For students in the program, like Jacob Cook, he was excited to have the opportunity to work with bison embryos and learn from Barfield.

“Anybody who comes here truly cares and loves the bison,” Cook said.

“It’s inspirational to see what we can do here and how it truly impacts other national parks and herds and other science programs that could start their own program one day,” he added.

The program has transferred more than 200 bison to Native American Tribes and to conservation programs like the Bronx Zoo and the Crane Trust. Being out in the prairie surrounded by this herd, Barfield sees her life’s work in action, a thriving conservation story that she helped create.

“I have known these animals, many of them, for more than 10 years now, and so just to see them living our lives out here is probably the best part,” Barfield said.

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Man reunites with the heroes who saved him from a widowmaker heart attack 4 months later

By Deiah Riley

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    PASCO COUNTY, Florida (WFTS) — Four months after suffering a “widowmaker” heart attack while driving, Randy Yingling reunited with the people who saved his life at HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital.

Tampa Bay 28 anchor Deiah Riley was invited to celebrate this emotional reunion. She sat down with Randy Yingling and his son, Lucas Yingling, to learn about the incredible chain of events that led to this reunion.

In December 2025, Randy was driving with his 13-year-old son, Lucas, when his heart suddenly stopped.

Randy’s wife, Patty Yingling, was on the phone with Lucas at the time of the medical emergency.

“I heard Randy say, ‘I feel like I’m going to pass out.’ And then Lucas said, ‘Dad,’ and then he screamed, um, call 911, and the phone went dead,” Patty said.

Lucas sprang into action, grabbing the steering wheel and guiding the car off the road.

“I screamed his name because I didn’t know if he was just like messing with me, so then I screamed it, and I knew something was wrong,” Lucas said.

Former Hillsborough County Deputy Gianfranco Tascione was driving behind them, saw the crash, and ran to help.

“He was slumped over the wheel and Lucas was asking for help. So I immediately just jumped into action, try to get him out of the car, um, and I started chest compressions on him,” Tascione said.

First responders arrived and transported Randy to the hospital, where doctors and nurses were ready. Dr. Rami Akel, chief of staff and one of the cardiologists who treated Randy, noted the collaborative effort required to save his life.

“Every person played a role. Every interaction mattered. And together we help guide Randy and the family through these darkest days,” Akel said.

During the reunion, Pasco County Fire Rescue presented Lucas with a Lifesaver award.

“For his heroic efforts, we would like to give Lucas our Lifesaver award. Nothing I can say can carry the weight of what you did by seeing him here today, so I’m just going to hand you this,” a Pasco County Fire Rescue representative said.

HCA Florida Bayonet Point Hospital honored Tascione with a Hero’s award. Hospital CEO Sally Seymour emphasized the teamwork involved in the rescue.

“We often talk about the chain of survival, and today we get to see that chain in real life,” Seymour said.

“It’s about a life saved. Not by one person, but a chain of people who did exactly the right thing at exactly the right time,” Seymour said.

For Randy and his family, the reunion represented courage, quick thinking, and second chances. Without Tascione’s courageous actions, Randy would not have survived.

“It’s overwhelming. I can’t thank them enough. I just can’t thank them enough,” Randy said.

Everyone in the hospital conference room echoed the importance of knowing CPR, noting that people never know when they will need it to save a life.

This story was reported on air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WFTS’s editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Americans are changing end of life traditions and Tucson funeral homes are looking to adapt

By Alex Dowd

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Very few things are certain, and while death is one of them, after-death rituals are not. They’re constantly changing and embracing new traditions.

In the past two decades, that trend has been cremation. The National Funeral Directors Association says the U.S. burial rate has been declining. In 2025, over 60% of bodies were cremated instead of a traditional burial.

At nearly a century old, Bring’s Broadway Chapel and Funeral Home on Tucson’s Eastside has lived through decades of trends and traditions.

In the past few years, Funeral Director Joseph Stone says he’s seen cremations outnumber burials in Tucson as well.

“People who live here in Tucson—particularly the Western United States— didn’t grow up here, don’t have roots here,” he said. “So, cremation affords them the opportunity to take their loved one either back to a place that’s home for them, or a place that’s with other family members, or a place where they might be permanently.”

Increasingly, families who choose cremation are asking to stay with their loved one’s body until the final goodbye. Though it’s common in Buddhist and Hindu practices, the trend seems to be spreading.

Faitha Bailey is the first point of contact when families call Bring’s or other Foundation Partners group homes.

“The first time I heard about someone asking to witness a cremation was my first week here at FPG,” she said.

Quickly, she realized those calls came in at least once a week, sometimes more, from a range of religious and cultural practices.

“From spiritual, to atheists, to Hindus, to Buddhists, to Sikhs, to Baptists,” she said. “There’s something about humans, we need to see, touch and feel that our loved one is gone.”

Bring’s has on-site cremation, allowing about 50 families and friends to stay in the room with the cremator, sometimes even letting them press the button that starts the process. Though Stone says not everyone is comfortable with that option, so they also offer rooms where loved ones can sit nearby and pay their respects.

“It’s like watching someone being laid to rest in a cemetery,” he said. “It is a very beneficial thing for families to be able to be part of the process, to know that it is their loved one who is being cremated, that those cremated remains that they’re getting back are their loved one. These are all important things, and families have conveyed that to us.”

Stone says Bring’s is eyeing new renovations to their facility to accommodate this growing trend.

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Feds: Ohio man becomes 1st in nation convicted under new law targeting AI-generated images

By Fletcher Keel

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLWT) — An Ohio man is believed to be the first person in the nation convicted under the Take It Down Act, a law that prohibits the publication of nonconsensual intimate images and AI-generated forgeries, according to the Department of Justice.

James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to cybercrimes involving both real and AI-generated sexually explicit images, as well as threats of violence against multiple victims, officials said.

According to prosecutors, Strahler installed more than 24 AI platforms and more than 100 web-based AI models on his phone. Officials said he used phone calls, voicemails, text messages and online posts to harass victims.

Strahler pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, producing obscene visual representations of child sexual abuse, and publication of digital forgeries. The DOJ said his conviction on the digital forgery charge falls under the Take It Down Act.

Enacted in 2025, the Take It Down Act prohibits the nonconsensual online publication of intimate visual depictions and AI-generated forgeries.

“We believe Strahler is the first person in the United States to be convicted under the Take It Down Act,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said in a press release. “We will not tolerate the abhorrent practice of posting and publicizing AI-generated intimate images of real individuals without consent. And we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to hold accountable offenders like Strahler, who seek to intimidate and harass others by creating and circulating this disturbing content.”

Officials said Strahler sent harassing messages to at least six victims, all adult women, from December 2024 through June 2025. The messages included nude images of the victims, both real and AI-generated.

In one case, officials said Strahler used AI to create pornographic videos depicting a victim engaging in sexual acts with her father. The video was then distributed to the victim’s co-workers.

Prosecutors said Strahler also posted AI-generated obscene images of children online, using the faces of boys from his community.

Authorities said Strahler created more than 700 images of real victims and animated people and posted them to a website dedicated to child sexual abuse. An additional 2,400 images and videos on his phone were flagged as depicting nudity, morphed child sexual abuse material or violence.

Strahler’s criminal conduct was first reported to Hilliard police and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office before being referred to the FBI. He was arrested on federal charges in June 2025.

Strahler will be sentenced at a later date.

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Orphaned young javelinas nursed back to health, reunited with families

By Don Davis

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    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — Two young javelinas that were accidentally separated from their herds have been successfully rehabilitated and reunited with their families, according to the Tucson Wildlife Center.

The animals, found in different locations and belonging to separate herds, were brought to TWC after being left behind during sudden herd movements—a situation the org says can happen when javelinas are startled and flee quickly, unintentionally abandoning vulnerable young.

The older of the two arrived in critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration, weakness, and difficulty standing. Despite initial concerns, X-rays showed no major injuries, though she was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. After receiving fluids, medication, and weeks of care, she regained enough strength to attempt a return to the wild.

That effort was made possible with help from the individuals who rescued her. By tracking the herd’s daily movement patterns, wildlife staff were able to release the young javelina at precisely the right moment. As her family passed by, her mother and siblings paused, allowing her to rejoin them before continuing on together. As you can see in this video below, her mother and siblings stopped and waited for her to catch up before continuing up the hill together.

The second, younger javelina faced a different challenge. She arrived dehydrated and suffering from severe diarrhea, a condition that can often be fatal in young animals. Caregivers adjusted her diet with rice cereal and pumpkin to stabilize her digestion. As her health improved, Tucson Wildlife Center says her energetic and feisty personality became apparent—often seen playing with a stuffed toy in her enclosure.

After recovering, she too was returned to her natural habitat and successfully reunited with her herd.

Wildlife officials say such reunions are among the most rewarding outcomes of rehabilitation work and highlight the importance of public awareness. They urge anyone who encounters a seemingly abandoned wild animal to contact professionals before intervening, as premature rescue attempts can sometimes do more harm than good.

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Father arrested in fiery crash that killed 16-year-old son, family says

By Ricardo Tovar

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    MONTEREY COUNTY, California (KSBW) — The California Highway Patrol has identified the driver suspected of driving under the influence in a fiery solo-vehicle crash Friday night in unincorporated Monterey County.

The crash was reported around 8 p.m. on Meridian Road east of Revilla Drive, according to CHP.

CHP said Edgar Banuelos Sr., 37, of Castroville, was driving a Volkswagen sedan westbound at a high rate of speed when it veered off the road and crashed into a tree. CHP confirmed the driver’s identity but did not describe his relationship to the passengers.

The car was carrying three juvenile passengers from Castroville: a 16-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy and a 7-year-old boy.

The 16-year-old died as a result of the crash, CHP said. The driver suffered suspected major injuries and was taken to a local hospital. The 14-year-old and 7-year-old passengers were transported to a San Jose hospital with suspected moderate injuries.

The 16-year-old was identified as Edgar Jeremiah Banuelos-Gonzalez of Watsonville, according to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

Banuelos Sr. was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, manslaughter and child endangerment.

CHP said alcohol and speed are believed to have been factors in the crash.

Edgar’s mother, Jessica Gonzalez, told KSBW that Banuelos was Edgar’s father. She also urged the community to respond with forgiveness rather than anger.

“We don’t have room for hate in our heart. Just love and peace,” Gonzalez said. “I ask the community to please don’t have anger toward anyone. Toward his dad. Let’s forgive.”

In a statement dated April 6, North Monterey County Unified School District said its community was “heartbroken by the tragic traffic accident on April 3, 2026, involving one of our families, that resulted in the passing of one of our high school students.”

The district said every student is a valued member of the community and that the loss is being felt deeply. It also extended condolences to the student’s family and loved ones.

The district said additional mental health and crisis support services will be available when students return to school on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. It also shared resources for families and community members who may need support.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call CHP at 831-796-2160.

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.

Santa Cruz County cities fight proposal to house sexually violent predator in city

By Ricardo Tovar

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    SANTA CRUZ, California (KSBW) — The City of Santa Cruz says it strongly opposes the California Department of State Hospitals’ proposal to place a twice-convicted rapist into its city.

The California Department of State Hospitals recently issued a formal proposal for the Santa Cruz County Superior Court to consider releasing Michael Cheek, a Sexually Violent Predator, to a hotel located at 111 Ocean Street in Santa Cruz.

However, the Santa Cruz hotel is a backup option if a hotel in Watsonville, located at 970 Main Street, is no longer a viable option, per the city of Santa Cruz.

“The City of Santa Cruz, the SCPD, and the Santa Cruz City Attorney’s Office are united with the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office in forceful opposition to this placement proposal,” said the city of Santa Cruz in a media statement.

Michael Cheek, now in his 70s, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1980 kidnapping and rape of a 21-year-old woman in Santa Cruz County. In 1981, Cheek escaped from a probation violation proceeding in Contra Costa County and raped a 15-year-old girl in Lake County.

He has been declared a sexually violent predator under the SVP Act. Sexually violent predators may be considered for conditional release under supervision.

Proposed SVP placements must be more than a quarter-mile from any K-12 school, including private schools and homeschool programs.

“The City of Santa Cruz strongly opposes placing Mr. Cheek at 111 Ocean Street and will take all appropriate legal steps in furtherance of that opposition,” said the City of Santa Cruz police.

They gave the following reasons:

Cheek should not have any contact with minors, yet the proposed location is extremely close to at least a dozen youth-serving facilities, including parks, beaches, a preschool and a youth center.

Cheek also should not live in a hotel setting. The city said its understanding is that GPS monitoring would not be able to ensure he is actually in his room, and hotel guests would be unaware they could encounter him on the property. The proposed location is frequently occupied by families and children, creating unavoidable contact with potential victims. It is also near other visitor-serving motels.

In addition, the city said 111 Ocean Street is a low-cost visitor accommodation in Santa Cruz’s coastal access zone. Housing Cheek would require a coastal development permit under the California Coastal Act.

The city also objected to focusing on Santa Cruz County as the location for Cheek’s potential housing. Officials said Cheek’s connection to Santa Cruz County is that he committed sexually violent crimes there, and noted that he has the same connection to Lake County.

A previous proposed placement in Aptos was withdrawn in 2024 after the property owner backed out of an offer to rent to Cheek, according to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office. That proposal involved a home near Spreckels Drive, about four blocks from Rio Del Mar Beach, and drew opposition from neighbors.

At the time, Liberty Healthcare of California told Santa Cruz County Superior Court that the homeowner had rescinded the rental agreement, making the property unavailable for placement. Prosecutors said then that they were pleased to hear the proposal had been withdrawn because of what they described as significant public safety concerns.

The City of Watsonville also issued the following statement:

“The California Department of State Hospitals has proposed placing Michael Cheek, a designated Sexually Violent Predator (SVP), at a hotel located at 970 Main Street in Watsonville as his primary residence.

“The City of Watsonville strongly opposes this proposed placement and does not believe it is in the best interests of our community.

“A hotel setting is not appropriate for SVP placement and raises serious public safety concerns. The proposed site is located in a busy commercial corridor near youth and family-serving spaces, and hotel guests would be unaware they could encounter an SVP on the premises.

“We are actively working to organize a town hall to gather the community’s voice, but in the meantime, we urge residents to submit comments to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court by April 27, 2026, at criminalinfo@santacruzcourt.org. A placement hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2026.”

The Department of State Hospitals’ response to written comments must be filed with the court by May 11, 2026.

A placement hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 22, 2026, in Department 6 of Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

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Principal recovering after being shot by former student; classes canceled Wednesday

By Jordan Ryan

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    PAULS VALLEY, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Classes at Pauls Valley Public Schools have been canceled for Wednesday after a former student injured the high school principal during a shooting on campus.

Authorities say Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore was injured when he was shot in the leg by 20-year-old Victor Hawkins Tuesday afternoon in the school lobby. Moore was flown to OU Health in Oklahoma City, where officials said he is in stable condition.

Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation officials said Hawkins went into the lobby at Pauls Valley High School around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday while armed with a gun. Moore and other staff members saw Hawkins and tried to subdue him.

Several shots were fired, and investigators said Moore was shot in the leg.

Students told KOCO on Tuesday how shocking the incident was.

“I didn’t expect this to happen, especially because this is a small town,” Pauls Valley High School junior Belen Dominguez said. “And it just came out of nowhere. It’s scary. I would never expect this to happen, especially to our school.”

Moore is now being hailed a hero.

Authorities found Hawkins and arrested him at the scene. He was booked into the Garvin County Jail on two counts of pointing a firearm, one count of shooting with intent to kill, and two counts of unlawful carry.

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