Ranch offers free equestrian program for riders with special needs

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Rebecca Petit

Click here for updates on this story

    BARTOW, Florida (WFTS) — A free equestrian program in Bartow is helping people with special needs gain independence and compete in the Special Olympics.

A mother reached out to Tampa Bay 28 reporter Rebecca Petit, wanting to highlight how the owners of Rockin’ W Ranch are changing lives.

What started as a riding lesson four years ago has turned into a newfound sense of independence for Stephanie Pappas.

“The horses just make me happy. I groom them and just love being here,” said Pappas.

Her once-uncertain demeanor has been replaced with confidence, and she now guides her horse with control and pride.

“They taught me a lot of stuff and ever since they taught me, now I’m like a pro,” Pappas said.

That transformation is exactly the mission behind A Heart for HERO’s,” a nonprofit program run by Kathy and Cowboy Everly at their Bartow ranch. Since 2017, the program has provided support for riders with disabilities to compete in the Special Olympics. Offering free access to horses, expert instruction, and a place to train.

“We’re working to make these students as independent around the horses as possible. The Special Olympics national program has three horse master levels, a beginner, intermediate and advanced,” Kathy Everly said.

Many of the horses are retired and donated to the ranch, giving them a second purpose while helping athletes thrive.

“It’s amazing how you can see the transition with the horses also, and how they adapt and care for the kids,” said Cowboy Everly.

The nonprofit is looking to expand its operations and build an indoor arena at the ranch. The husband and wife are creating a space where athletes of all abilities can grow not just as riders, but as individuals.

“We’ve had autistic kids, that they won’t talk to you, but they’ll talk to the horse. We had a young man with Angelman syndrome and when he started, he could not even walk,” Kathy said.

With the help of dedicated volunteers, the ranch has brought joy to hundreds of families with children who have special needs.

“I get choked up every time I come here. They’re always in a good mood. They’re very patient with the athletes,” said Colleen Pappas.

Now the riders are preparing to compete in the Special Olympics Florida at the 2026 State Equestrian Championships in Ocala this weekend.

Getting a chance to show just how far they’ve come.

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.

Sonoma County high-speed pursuit ends with crash into vineyard, driver arrested

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Tim Fang

Click here for updates on this story

    SONOMA COUNTY, California (KPIX) — Authorities in Sonoma County arrested a driver following a high-speed pursuit that ended with a rollover crash into a vineyard on Wednesday.

The sheriff’s office said the incident began when CHP attempted to stop an SUV on Highway 101 in Santa Rosa. Deputies said the suspect initially yielded on the College Avenue onramp but left the scene as the sheriff’s office helicopter flew overhead.

Video from the helicopter showed the suspect as he was driving northbound on 101, then on multiple surface streets. At Brush Creek Road and Fountaingrove Parkway, the suspect briefly stopped, but the driver took off again.

“He continued driving in an extremely reckless manner, causing multiple traffic collisions and posing a serious danger to the public,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The pursuit continued onto Highway 12, where the sheriff’s office said he was traveling at speeds exceeding 90 miles per hour.

Deputies said the pursuit ended in the community of Kenwood. Video shows the driver losing control and his SUV rolling into a vineyard.

The driver is seen escaping the vehicle, which was on its side. With his hands up, the driver surrendered and was taken into custody.

“Given the suspect’s dangerous and unpredictable driving, stopping him was critical. Air support and teamwork were key to bringing the incident to a safe conclusion,” the sheriff’s office said.

Deputies did not release the driver’s name.

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.

Police catch felony suspect napping in stranger’s attic

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Sadie Buggle

Click here for updates on this story

    WHEAT RIDGE, Colorado (KRDO) — A man wanted on a felony warrant is now in custody after police in Wheat Ridge say they found him hiding in a stranger’s attic.

The Wheat Ridge Police Department (WRPD) says the unusual arrest began on March 13, when an officer patrolling in the area of West 44th Avenue and Dover Street spotted a vehicle whose registered owner had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

Police say the suspect was later seen leaving the car and walking into a nearby home. After confirming the man’s identity, officers contacted the homeowners, who gave them permission to search the residence.

Officers called in a drone team to assist – which quickly located the suspect hiding in the home’s attic.

Body camera video released by the department shows officers confronting the man as he climbs down from the attic, with one officer telling him, “You could’ve saved us like an hour, man.”

The suspect responded plainly: “I was taking a nap.”

“Weird place to take a nap, man,” another responding officer can be heard saying.

Police say the suspect, who wasn’t publicly identified, was taken into custody on his felony warrant and booked into jail – where he can hopefully get some more rest.

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.

Road rage turns into social media threats, Orange County bicyclist says

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Matthew Rodriguez

Click here for updates on this story

    ORANGE COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A road rage incident between an irate BMW driver and an Orange County bicyclist turned into social media threats, the bicyclist said.

“I ride probably 20,000-30,000 miles a year, and I’ve never encountered anything like this,” Laguna Beach resident Luke Fetzer said.

Fetzer said he was riding with his friends along Pacific Coast Highway through Corona Del Mar, near Cameo Shores, last Saturday, when the blue BMW driver started swerving, swearing and honking at the group.

“It’s kind of typical, being a cyclist. Drivers do that,” Fetzer said. “In the heat of the moment, I squirted my water bottle at him, at his car as he pulled up to the red light.”

Fetzer shared a video of the driver veering into the bike lane, tailgating the group, and then throwing a bottle of water at the bicyclist.

“He then stopped, got out of his car, ran into the road, tried blocking the road and yelled at us that they were going to kill us, and tried knocking us off of our bikes,” Fetzer said.

The professional bicyclist worried about what would have happened if a less experienced rider had encountered the driver.

“Thankfully, I do have the experience that I have,” Fetzer said. “I’m a six-time national champion. I race my bike for a living. But, if it that was anybody else, if it was a less experienced rider, he could have killed them.”

After the road rage, Fetzer said the man tracked him down on Instagram and challenged him to an MMA-style fight after boasting that his car was worth $100,000.

Luke Fetzer shared the messages the BMW driver sent him after the road rage incident in Orange County.

“Hey bro let’s both sign waivers and meetup for a consensual Full MMA sparring session,” the man wrote. “Let’s settle this like Men.”

Fetzer said he took the man’s license plate number and reported the incident to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“I’m just trying to ride my bike on a nice Saturday with my boys,” Fetzer said. “I’ve got a big race the next day. I’m out there training in the sun, and he’s trying to cause physical harm to me.”

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.

Former principal back at his old school as its new handyman

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Kaley Fedko

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Retirement did not last long for one Atlanta school principal.

After 10 years leading Burgess Peterson Academy, David White is back, and this time he’s making sure everything inside the school’s building runs smoothly.

White retired last September from being the school’s principal, but home didn’t suit him for long.

“I found myself really kind of lonely and disconnected,” White said. “I had lost my sense of community, for sure, so when this position became available, I kind of laughed because I used to say that it would be the perfect retirement job.”

White applied for the open site manager position and got the job. Now he enjoys being back in the same halls that bring him joy.

He is six weeks into the new job.

“I find myself now always looking to see if there are lights that are burned out, if there are issues that need to be addressed,” said White. “There’s always the need for touch-up painting, right? Because kids have dirty little hands, and they love to pick paint.”

During CBS News Atlanta’s visit, White was repairing a broken lightbulb in the boy’s bathroom.

“The light started flickering, like, just blinking off and on, and so of course the kids were saying it was haunted,” he said.

Around the school, his impact hasn’t faded.

Students and staff light up when they see him.

“It’s been really great to see their excitement to be here every day and to see Mr. White,” said principal Dr. Holly Brookins. “I really feel that having him back has added so much value to our community, and it’s really been a joyful thing for all of us.”

With a tool belt and new titles, White proves that no matter the role, some people never stop showing up for the places they love.

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.

Two python snakes stolen from pet store

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Athena Kehoe

Click here for updates on this story

    TUCSON, Arizona (KGUN) — It’s not your typical theft. Tucson police are searching for the people accused of stealing two python snakes from a midtown pet store. The theft happened Monday at Desert Pet Center.

Police say the suspects are an adult man and woman who were with several children in a wagon.

One of the owners of the store, Jennifer Sherry, said she just wants the snakes back.

“The cheapest one they took was $200,” Sherry explains.

The surveillance footage appears to show a suspect put a snake into their purse.

“I feel bad for the kids,” Sherry explains, as the footage reveals the adult suspects also had kids accompanying them.

“Now we’re a little on edge,” Sherry says, “we’re an independent business and just trying to help our customers.”

Sherry said ball pythons are generally calm, but they need a humid environment to stay healthy, which can be difficult to maintain in Arizona. “We want them to thrive. These snakes have a hard time shedding when the humidity is not right. If they don’t shed right, they don’t eat right. There’s different things that go into the care of these snakes, so just getting them back would be the best thing.”

Tucson police said the case has been assigned to Midtown Neighborhood Crimes detectives and remains under investigation.

Officers also said some photos circulating online may be from a different store, and they are still working to confirm which images and descriptions are connected to the Desert Pet Center incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tucson police or 88-CRIME to remain anonymous

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.

‘I can still taste the smoke’: California high school wrestling coach survives near-death fiery car explosion

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Denzen Cortez

Click here for updates on this story

    ANTELOPE, California (KCRA) — A Roseville High School wrestling coach is sharing his story after a frightening early morning drive nearly turned deadly.

Onterrio Burris, 20, says he was heading home from Elk Grove Monday morning when his brakes suddenly gave out just a mile from his house.

“I’m pushing it all the way down, like, to the floorboard. And there’s no brakes at all,” Burris recounted.

Burris, who relies on his vehicle to get to work and helps transport student-athletes to practices and matches, says he pushed the brake pedal to the floor, but nothing happened.

Thinking quickly, he used his emergency brake to bring the car to a stop. But within moments, the situation escalated.

Burris says smoke began pouring through the vehicle’s air conditioning vents, and he could see flames inside the cab. He says he inhaled some of the smoke before jumping out and attempting to open the hood, but couldn’t get it open.

“I’m also super lucky that it didn’t lead to my rear end, because my gas tank was right there, and I had about a half a tank, and if that would have caught on fire, would have just blew up completely,” Burris said.

Realizing the danger, Burris grabbed his belongings and moved away from the vehicle. Seconds later, the car burst into flames.

Burris was not injured, but the fire was so intense that it melted a nearby vehicle as crews worked to extinguish the flames.

Beyond the close call, the loss is also personal. Burris says the truck was a gift from his grandfather and carried significant sentimental value.

He has been a wrestling coach at Roseville High School for three years and says the loss of his vehicle could impact how he supports his athletes, especially with summer training approaching.

A GoFundMe has been created to help Burris following the explosion.

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.

Hot dog! Giants fans can take on viral ‘9-9-9’ challenge at Oracle Park this season

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Christina Holiday

Click here for updates on this story

    SAN FRANCISCO (KSBW) — A hot dog and beer at the ballpark are something of a staple, but maybe not nine times in one game.

Unless you can “mustard” enough courage and have a strong stomach.

It’s one of the newest attractions at Oracle Park this season. It’s called the “9-9-9” challenge.

The 9-9-9 Challenge Box costs $54.99, plus tax and tip, while buying nine beers and nine full-size hot dogs separately would cost more than $180 with tax and tip included.

The box includes nine mini hot dogs, nine small glasses estimated at 3 to 4 ounces each, and one tall can of Coors Light. There is not enough beer to fill all nine glasses to what most people would consider a standard pour. Even with each glass filled only about two-thirds full, the Coors Light ran out after the eighth glass, according to the SF Gate.

To sum it up, you must consume nine beers and nine hot dogs during a nine-inning baseball game.

It’s a new collaboration between Aramark Sports + Entertainment and competitive eating star Joey Chestnut.

The food flight includes nine beers and nine hot dogs with custom team packaging. It should also be worth noting that neither the drinks nor the hot dogs are a standard size, so that may make it easier to finish.

If you “relish” such an opportunity, you can give it a go at the Doggie Diner concessions stand in Section 121.

In addition to Oracle Park, it will be sold at five other Major League Baseball ballparks this season.

Citi Field (Willets Point Brewery)

Citizens Bank Park (Section 128)

Coors Field (Fanfare, Section 139)

Daikin Park (Crawford Dogs, Sections 109, 418)

Kauffman Stadium (Double Dip Hoagies, Section 247)

The challenge itself was first introduced at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia during the 2025 postseason but has come under fire for only using only one can of beer, which some even claim doesn’t fill all nine cups.

Some are even calling it more of a “one-inning challenge.” Even Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming is questioning the legitimacy.

Furthermore, an Arizona Diamondbacks farm team has even created a more “accurate” version of the challenge for the truly brave souls.

But if you do plan to take on the challenge, you must be 21 and up with a valid ID.

And hopefully, you come out a “wiener.”

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.

‘Zombie Lots’ are leaving residents in crisis

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Geneva Zoltek

Click here for updates on this story

    PAHRUMP, Nevada (KTNV) — It’s the land of the undead — or perhaps land that is undead — as dozens of Pahrump locals are stuck paying taxes on property they can’t legally use.

They’re dubbing it the “Zombie Lot” crisis.

“This was supposed to be our home, and instead it’s turned into our nightmare,” said Jack Schluneger, who owns property in Pahrump,

Schluneger’s place is a 5-acre empty plot off Z Street which he purchased from a real estate agent in 2019. He said, the hurdles are non-stop.

“We got over $200,000 invested in this property already,” Schluneger told Channel 13 that cost includes drilling a well over 200 feet deep to access the aquifer.

“This is going to be a zombie lot,” Schluneger said.

Schluneger said he cannot afford to move forward on the development, and is currently facing red tape and citations from Nye County — including for shipping containers he’s using to store his belongings.

“To tell you the truth, it’s hurt us a lot financially,” Schluneger said.

He’s not alone. According to sources Channel 13 spoke with, thousands of these “Zombie Lots” are scattered across the unincorporated community.

Over the weekend, dozens of people who are dealing with the problem took to the streets outside the Golden Nugget in Pahrump to raise awareness.

Here’s the crux of the problem: Those who own the plots are unable to build on their land because they aren’t connected to water or sewage lines. And according to state law, some of those lots are too small for wells.

That’s an expensive infrastructure problem.

And according to Nye County Commissioner Ron Boskovich, it’s a problem that’s decades old. He said the issue comes down to cost, not zoning.

“Where do you get money to fix a multi-million dollar problem that you didn’t create, and the taxpayers didn’t create, but another company 50 something years ago did and now, it’s providing a problem that no one ever wanted,” Boskovich said.

He said the company, Preferred Equities Corporation, has long-since been dissolved.

“I want them here. I want them to develop, but I also can’t have other taxpayers pay for that,” Boskovich said.

Until a solution is found, the lots remain in limbo, leaving buyers stuck paying taxes on land they once hoped to call home.

Channel 13 will continue to follow this story as it develops.

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.

Denver International Airport adds first-of-its-kind barbershop kiosk on Concourse B

CNN Newsource on March 26, 2026

By Justin Adams

Click here for updates on this story

    DENVER (KCNC) — Travelers passing through Denver International Airport now have a new way to freshen up before takeoff.

“A Shaving Grace Hairport,” a barbershop kiosk located on Concourse B, is a first-of-its-kind concept designed specifically for an airport setting, offering grooming services in a fast, convenient format.

The shop is owned by Houston entrepreneur Vida Humphries, who relocated to Denver for the opportunity.

“So, we have a lot of foot traffic, a lot of people who are just interested in having a haircut before they fly or even when they land,” Humphries said.

The kiosk serves both passengers and airport employees, offering haircuts, beard trims, styling, and other grooming services, even during tight layovers or unexpected schedule changes.

Unlike traditional barbershops, the concept was engineered with airport safety in mind. Humphries developed a system that secures barber tools in a lockbox built into the back of the barber chair, ensuring compliance with Denver International Airport’s security requirements while still delivering a high-quality experience.

The business is part of the airport’s kiosk program, which aims to expand amenities for travelers. The goal is to provide a quick, efficient option for those looking to clean up before a flight or immediately after landing.

The shop offers a full menu of services, including men’s and children’s haircuts, beard trims, lineups, shampooing, and hair coloring. A variety of grooming products is also available for purchase.

The kiosk is currently operating under an 11-month contract with the airport. Early demand has been strong, and Humphries said he hopes to expand to Concourse A in the future.

He is also hiring as the business grows. Haircuts at the kiosk range from $45 to $70.

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.