Category: CNN Regional

By Libby Smith

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — It’s tough to be a teen in the foster care system. For many of them adoption is no longer an option, and they face aging out of the system without any support. A 2023 study of Colorado youth who age out of foster care with no support will end up costing the state an average of $343,000 per person over their lifetime. The costs stem from higher rates of homelessness, incarceration, and unemployment. Raise the Future works hard to find one caring adult to stand by those teens as they transition into adulthood. Heather Piper is one of those caring adults. She’s a foster parent who specializes in being a “bonus mom” to all who need her.

“It has absolutely been my jam. So I only take teenagers now. 15 is probably on the youngest end that I take, all the way up to 21,” Piper explained.

She said that she loves teenagers because they’re doing all the things she likes to do, like learning to drive, working on graduating, putting a house together, and applying to colleges.

“It’s important because sometimes their parents aren’t able to be there for them in the way that young adults need them,” Piper said.

Piper has been a foster parent for 10 years with about 100 young people coming through her home. Many of them come back or continue to call her for support.

“My two goals for any child when they are here is for them to feel safe and loved. If I have done that…I’m winning,” she said.

“She’s just an extra parent, an extra role model, an extra person I can count on to be there with me,” said Gabrielle.

Gabrielle is 21-years-old now. She’s lived in and out of Piper’s home for many years, and still turns to her for love and support.

“I think that not a lot of teens realize there are options out there. Some things that I was told was, ‘You’ll never make it.’ ‘You’ll never be something.’ ‘You’ll end up on the same level as your parents.’ and to prove those people wrong. I did make it to college. I did graduate high school,” Gabrielle explained.

Emberleigh is 18-years-old. She also lived with Piper while she was in foster care. She’s currently back living with her biological mother, but still relies heavily on Piper.

“I’d call her if I was stuck somewhere or if I needed help. I would call her in any situation I needed her,” Emberleigh said. “I definitely feel like going into being an adult, I am fully prepared to do so because of everything she’s taught me. And I know if I don’t get it right away, she’s right there to help me.”

Emberleigh credits her time in Piper’s home as being the inspiration for change in her life.

“I was very naughty,” she said with a laugh.

She explained that she would protect herself with big behaviors that often got her moved from foster home to foster home.

“They understood that I was coming from a hard place. They didn’t judge who I was as a person, and I think that just changed me and helped me want to change who I was for the better,” Emberleigh recalled.

“For a lot of my teenagers, they have parents. I’m not trying to replace anybody. I don’t need to be anybody’s mom. I’m okay being an extra mom. I’m okay being the weird aunt. I’m okay being a bonus…whatever they allow me to be,” Piper added.

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 T.J. Wilham, Jason McNabb

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    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KOAT) — The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has launched a crackdown on motorists who fail to comply with the state’s move over law, which requires drivers to move over for first responders, tow truck drivers, or anyone pulled over on the side of the road.

The crackdown comes following the death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Sergeant Michael Schlattman, and a subsequent Target 7 Investigation has found the law is rarely followed and rarely enforced until now.

In a matter of two hours, 67 motorists were pulled over for not moving over when there were emergency crews on the side of the road.

“I wasn’t expecting 67 just in one day,” Sheriff John Allen said. “You would think there would be a lower number and people would have been paying attention, moving over and following the law, but of course that’s not the case.”

The consequences of not following the move over law can be deadly. Last month, Bernalillo Schlattman was killed during a traffic stop when a semi-truck slammed into the back of his patrol car.

“I’m very fortunate, I’m very fortunate. Almost sometimes there’s a little bit of guilt because why did I survive and why do others have to die?” said Former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Jacobs.

Twenty years ago, Paul Jacobs was nearly killed on the same stretch of road, prompting him to lobby for the state’s move over law.

“It was a similar situation, and why did I walk away? I wish everybody could walk away, but it’s not the reality that we live in,” Jacobs said.

At the time Schlattman was killed, Target 7 discovered the law had only been enforced 16 times statewide since it was passed in 2005.

“So I think now we always have to look at what we can do better,” Sheriff Allen said. “And Sergeant Schlattman’s death brought more attention to this.”

Sheriff John Allen launched Operation Schlatty, the nickname of the fallen sergeant.

“It’s designed to protect first responders,” Sheriff Allen said. “Everyone thinks it’s just for law enforcement, even for tow truck drivers, ambulance, roadside workers. Slow down, pay attention, move over because anything can happen. We want everybody to be safe, including workers.”

The investigation into Schlattman’s death is being conducted by the Rio Rancho Police Department, and there has been no determination whether charges will be filed against the semi-truck driver.

“I wouldn’t doubt if charges were brought, but I don’t know, so I can’t say as a fact,” Allen said, “I will tell you, I watched the body camera. That was rough to watch. And then I watched it in slow motion. And you can tell that the driver’s not paying attention, and he should have moved over.”

Sheriff Allen plans to order more operations in the future to crack down on people who don’t move over and wants to strengthen the penalties. Currently, if caught, motorists face the same penalties as someone caught for speeding.

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 Alvieann Chandler

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    UNION CITY, Georgia (WXIA) — A man, who was recently released from jail, allegedly shot and killed the mother of his children following an argument, where he accused her of cheating while he was incarcerated.

Arrest warrants state that Harvey Roberts shot 38-year-old Keanna Johnson in the head, killing her on Feb. 13 in the Westbrook Road area. Warrants indicate that the shooting was the result of an argument because Johnson was accused of seeing another man, who was later identified as his cousin, while Roberts was in jail.

Roberts was released in October 2025 after spending about two weeks in jail on multiple charges, including willful obstruction of a law enforcement officer and a drug charge. However, his criminal history goes as far back as 2004, including multiple felony charges as well as charges of aggravated assault on a police officer.

On the day of the deadly shooting, a witness told investigators that one of Roberts’ and Johnson’s kids called them, stating that their parents were arguing, according to warrants. The witness said that when they drove to the location, they noticed that Roberts was “hysterical,” and he stated, “….. they are going to come get me.”

Following the incident, warrants mention that a Union City Police Department detective was called to the scene and arrived at around 1:57 a.m. to find Johnson lying on her back, not conscious and not breathing, with a black & silver Smith & Wesson .38 revolver firearm in her right hand. It was later discovered that Roberts placed the gun in her hand to make the shooting look like a suicide, according to arrest warrants.

During the investigation, two women helped detectives figure out what happened on the day of the shooting. One woman came to the police department and told detectives that Roberts confessed to her about what happened. According to warrants, the woman told detectives that Roberts stated that he tried to give the gun to Johnson when a shot was fired and staged it to make it look like a suicide, then fired two more shots.

Detectives also traveled to Florida to speak with a woman who was allegedly present on the day of the shooting. The woman was being held at a detention facility in Daytona Beach. The woman stated that she walked away while Roberts and Johnson were arguing, but ran back after hearing one gunshot and observed Johnson lying on the ground, according to warrants. The woman also said Roberts tossed the gun over a fence and later asked her to help him look for it, but she ran away, according to warrants.

Roberts was taken into custody on March 31 on multiple charges, including murder, possession of a firearm or knife during commission of or attempt to commit certain felonies, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Court record show he entered a negotiated plea in June 2021 to aggravated assault on a police officer, getting a sentence of five years of probation. He was taken into custody in Fulton County again both in February 2025 for probation violation and in June 2025 for willful obstruction of law enforcement officers and methamphetamine possession, jail record show. He was transferred to another agency in October 2025, but Fulton County Jail record are unclear which agency took custody of him and how he ultimately came to be released again.

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 Nate Larsen

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    WEST JORDAN, Utah (KSTU) — At Oakcrest Elementary in West Jordan, the sound inside the gym said it all. A roar of cheers and dozens of students on their feet, all excitement for one person: Music teacher Scott Knight.

It’s not every day an elementary school teacher gets that kind of reaction. But for Knight, it’s well earned. For the past five years, he’s been turning after-school musicals into something much bigger — giving students a place to grow, perform, and find confidence both on and off the stage.

Parents say what he’s built goes far beyond a typical school production.

Eric Dryer, the nominator, described being “amazed” at how Knight transforms a group of students into a full-scale performance, often lasting hours and involving dozens of kids. But the real impact, they say, isn’t just what happens on stage — it’s what happens within each student.

Some children discover talents that their families never knew they had. Others find the confidence to step out of their shell for the first time. Students themselves say the experience is something special.

They talk about the excitement of performing, the nerves, and the pride that comes after, when a room full of strangers suddenly knows their name.

For Knight, that transformation is exactly why he started the program. He says he’s seen firsthand how musical theater can change lives by giving students who may struggle in the classroom a chance to shine in a completely different way.

That dedication is what led to a surprise celebration as part of the FOX 13 Dream Team, powered by Mountain America Credit Union.

In front of his students, Knight was honored for his impact. He was presented with a director’s chair, along with additional gifts and experiences to support his program. He also received a $1,500 donation to help continue building opportunities for his students.

The moment was emotional, but for Knight, the focus quickly returned to the kids. He says seeing students grow in confidence and discover who they are is the most rewarding part of the job. And judging by the reaction inside that gym, the feeling is mutual.

Scott Knight’s story is a reminder of what can happen when a teacher goes above and beyond — creating not just performances, but lasting impact.

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 Sarah Schulte and WLS Digital Team

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    CAROL STREAM, Illinois (WLS) — An aluminum spool fell from a crane onto a worker, killing him at a west suburban warehouse on Tuesday.

Carol Stream fire and police officials responded to a warehouse at 457 Saint Paul Blvd. just after noon.

What is being called a workplace accident happened inside the warehouse, which belongs to S&S International, a small, family-run stainless steel company.

A truck driver had pulled his rig into one of the bays to load up spools of aluminum. An employee, a 55-year-old man, was helping load a large metal spool onto the flatbed truck.

Cranes are attached to the rafters to transport the spools to trucks. Police say a piece of the crane broke, possibly a strap, causing one of the spools to fall on the employee.

Police say spools are possibly about 48,000 pounds. The man died immediately.

One truck driver waiting outside to load up his truck says he heard a loud pop when the accident occurred.

The employee’s identity was not immediately released.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials arrived on scene before 4 p.m. to investigate, and the fire department was there to help remove the body safely.

The Carol Stream Police Department is conducting its own non-criminal death investigation.

No one from the company was immediately available for comment on Tuesday.

Further information was not immediately 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 Reeves Jackson

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    DUNWOODY, Georgia (WXIA) — A driver remarkably escaped with only minor injuries after a Porsche split in half during a crash that police say involved significant force in Dunwoody on Tuesday night.

Officers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Meadow Lane near Ridgeview Road, where the vehicle struck a tree and was torn apart. Authorities said the driver’s seat was the only portion of the cabin that remained intact. The road has a 35 mph speed limit.

Despite the severity of the crash, the driver sustained only minor injuries, according to police.

The investigation is ongoing, with speed being considered a primary factor in the crash. All lanes in the area remain closed as crews work to clear the scene, and motorists are being asked to avoid the area.

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 Kameron Macrorie

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    Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — A judge decided the death penalty will stay on the table for the man accused of killing a married couple at Devil’s Den State Park.

The defense for Andrew James McGann had filed motions asking the judge to exclude the death penalty. He is charged with two counts of capital murder in the deaths of Clinton and Cristen Brink.

One motion argued Arkansas’s death penalty is unconstitutional because it allows jurors to conclude that any reason can justify a sentence of death.

Gag order motions

Other defense motions accused prosecutor Brandon Carter of violating the gag order in the case.

When Carter was running for an Arkansas Court of Appeals position, his campaign posted videos online where he talked about the case.

The defense brought up one main example of a campaign ad by Carter in which he referred to McGann as a “dangerous criminal” and said the video showed Carter in front of McGanns mugshot.

Judge Joanna Taylor agreed that Carter violated the gag order in this statement and the inclusion of McGann’s photo. However, Taylor did not agree to remove the death penalty as a result.

Carter lost the race to Sarah Capp last month.

Other motions

Taylor granted a motion to apply a heightened standard of review and care to this case because the state is seeking the death penalty. She also ordered the state disclose any prior bad acts they discuss to the defense at least 60 days before the trial date, and granted a motion requesting the transcription of this case in its entirety.

The judge also granted a defense motion asking the state to disclose all discoveries they have.

Taylor also ruled that the state must provide all written victim impact statements to the defense in advance of sentencing, but didn’t give a specific time frame.

She denied the defense’s motion to omit submission of any evidence for aggravating circumstances that aren’t supported by substantial evidence, said it was “untimely,” advised the state to follow the law

She denied all motions by the defense to quash info for various reasons.

Devil’s Den killing

McGann is accused of killing Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, in July 2025.

The couple had just moved to Prairie Grove from another state. Prairie Grove is about a half-hour drive from Devil’s Den.

They were hiking on Saturday with their two daughters, 7 and 9. The girls weren’t hurt in the attack.

State Police arrested Andrew James McGann after a five-day search and a flood of tips. He was captured in Springdale, a city about 30 miles north of Devil’s Den, while getting a haircut.

“My heart just hurt as a parent, as a friend, thinking about what their daughters are going through,” Danikka Harrell, who has been close friends with the Brinks since 2017, said. “Like my heart, my mom heart hurts for them, and I just, they are such sweet people, and they’re so genuine. I’m really struggling to understand why or how this could happen to such sweet people.”

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 Jaiden Singh

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    California (KCRA) — Two people died Tuesday morning after a pursuit involving Bay Area law enforcement ended in a fiery crash at Travis Air Force Base, officials said Tuesday.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office said its night shift patrol deputies tried to pull a driver over on Highway 12 just east of Highway 29 around 12:04 a.m. The vehicle drove off, prompting a chase.

At 12:17 a.m., the sheriff’s office said the vehicle crashed at Travis AFB’s visitor parking lot, immediately being engulfed in flames. Deputies tried putting out the fire with fire extinguishers, but they were unsuccessful.

At 12:25 a.m., the sheriff’s office said Travis AFB arrived at the scene, declaring both the driver and his passenger dead at the scene.

Details were not released on why the vehicle was pulled over. The identities of the driver and passenger are also not known.

KCRA 3’s Melanie Wingo has been at the scene for hours. She observed caution tape and gurneys where the crash happened.

As of 9:55 a.m., crews were seen clearing debris, and the vehicle involved in the crash had yet to be cleared.

The Fairfield Police Department said at 1:39 p.m. that the main gate has been reopened.

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 Pamela Comme

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    DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (WESH) — A series of 911 calls is shedding light on a chaotic scene at Daytona Beach International Airport after a driver crashed through a perimeter fence and onto restricted airfield property, authorities said.

Callers described a blue Mustang barreling through the airport fence at high speed.

“I just had a blue Mustang go through the fence and through the field of the airport. The whole fence is busted down,” one caller told dispatchers.

Witnesses said the car tore across the airfield, kicking up dust as it sped away.

“But then he zoomed across, like in a really, really high speed,” another caller said. “He tore off through the field, leaving dust behind. So I don’t know where the actual car is, but it did go through the airport.”

Moments later, another caller reported spotting the vehicle stopped on airport property.

“There’s a blue Mustang sitting in the middle of the taxiway, and there’s a civilian over here peeing on the runway,” the caller said.

According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the driver, identified as 58-year-old Bryan Parker, was later seen attempting to enter multiple aircraft.

“He’s trying to get into a plane right now,” a caller reported.

Authorities said Parker appeared to be “highly intoxicated” during the incident.

He was taken into custody and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on multiple charges, including aircraft piracy and DUI property damage.

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.