Category: CNN Regional

By Adria Iraheta

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    ADAMS COUNTY, Colorado (KMGH) — Unusually warm temperatures in the 90s are bringing rattlesnakes out of hibernation early along Colorado’s Front Range.

Dr. Stephen Mackessy, a biology professor at the University of Northern Colorado, said the abnormal weather is altering the snakes’ usual cycle.

“This kind of unusual weather is challenging for them, because they typically would be under cover in hibernation for another couple of weeks,” Mackessy said.

Mackessy noted that while snakes are emerging earlier than usual, they are not straying far from their dens just yet and prefer to avoid humans.

“There’s really no evidence to suggest that there would be any change in their attitude. And you know, in reality, people that are out hiking in the springtime have probably walked by rattlesnakes at close proximity many, many times and not even known it,” Mackessy said.

Ken Kapelke took his four grandsons on their first fishing trip of the year to enjoy the spring sunshine on Wednesday — yet another record-breaking heat day this March in Colorado.

“Gosh, I can’t believe this weather,” Kapelke said.

Kapelke made sure his family was prepared for the outdoors as they soaked up the sunshine at Barr Lake State Park.

“Plenty of sunscreen, and bug spray — bug spray, because all the bugs are out right now,” Kapelke said.

Not just bugs — it’s snakes, too.

“I just try to be aware of my surroundings and, like, try to see if I see any like, animals to get out of the way or, like, try to avoid them,” his grandson, Easton, said.

Experts say that’s your best defense against a snake bite.

Prairie rattlesnakes are the only venomous snakes across the Front Range. While all bites are venomous, the amount of venom in each bite could vary, according to clinical expert and Ophirex Chief Medical Officer Dr. Timothy Platts-Mills.

“If it just ate a meal, then it might have less venom in its glands, and so you might get less venom. Or if it’s maybe very angry, or you step on it and really hurt it, it might give you more venom, let’s say, than if it’s just sort of a warning bite,” said Platts-Mills. “You don’t really know how much venom was injected into you when you’re bitten, and so you kind of have to just assume that it could be bad.”

If you encounter a snake and get bitten, experts recommend carrying a marker outdoors. You should draw a circle around the snakebite, note the time, and use the marker to keep track of the edge of the swelling every few minutes.

Morgan Jared, director for emergency services at HCA HealthONE Swedish, said this helps doctors figure out how much the venom has spread once you get to the hospital.

“That allows us to not only see how quickly the venom is engaging with the tissue and causing problems, but whether or not our treatment is working,” Jared said.

Jared advised against cutting or sucking on the wound. Instead, he said victims should limit their movement and act fast.

“Biggest thing is isolate it and then just get it, get to get to an ER,” Jared said.

Rattlesnake deaths are rare, with fewer than 10 occurring each year nationwide.

Jared told Denver7 the hospital has not yet seen any snake bite patients needing treatment this season.

Still, residents are urged to be cautious as the weather warms up.

“Especially on these type of days. 90-degree weather and stuff,” Kapelke said.

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

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 Sophia Villalba , Robert Garrison , Maggie Bryan

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    DENVER (KMGH) — Denver Water has enacted Stage 1 drought restrictions for all customers across the service area, effective immediately.

The Denver Water board approved the plan Wednesday morning, aiming to cut water use by 20% due to worsening drought. They warned that this year’s low snowpack could impact supply.

What does a Stage 1 drought declaration look like for you?

This summer, customers in single-family residential properties may water no more than two days per week and must follow a set schedule:

Addresses ending in even numbers: Sunday and Thursday.

Addresses ending in odd numbers: Wednesday and Saturday.

All other customers, including multifamily properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations, and government properties, may water only on Tuesdays and Fridays.

In addition, customers must follow Denver Water’s annual summer watering rules:

Water only during cooler times of the day, between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.

Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.

Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.

Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds.

Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

Additionally, Denver Water is strongly urging customers to delay watering lawns until at least mid-May. The restrictions will remain in place through April of next year.

Denver Water has three levels of mandatory restrictions in its drought management plan, with Stage 3 being the most restrictive.

This is the first time a level of restriction this high has been in place since 2013, according to Denver Water. Other areas, such as Thornton, Erie, and the mountain communities of Fairplay, Bailey, and Shawnee, are also under restrictions.

The move comes as drought conditions deepen across Colorado.

Denver Water warns that snowpack levels in both the South Platte and Colorado River basins have plunged to historic lows, and supply reservoirs are only at 80% capacity, which is below the historic median for storage at this time of year.

Those numbers help explain why the utility is acting now, adding that its drought response aims to protect landscapes and ensure enough water for public health, safety, and the region’s economy.

Irene Andress, a Denver resident, said she believes the water restrictions are a responsible move. She recently started a low-water landscape in her backyard by removing turf and planting buffalo grass and blue grama grass instead.

“We wanted to lower our carbon footprint. Basically, we try to do that in everything that we do,” said Andress. “I think it’s something we have to do. Everybody has to become more conscious about our resources.”

Large water users are also preparing for changes. Denver Water said all customers are being asked to cut water by 20%, including commercial businesses. A spokesperson for the utility said staff will be bringing recommendations on drought pricing to board members on April 8, which would ultimately send a price signal on higher water use. Commercial and industrial customers can avoid that premium by finding efficiencies and reducing water use.

Denver International Airport has implemented several water-saving measures in recent years.

A DIA spokesperson reported that improvements in restrooms and low-flow fixtures reduced annual water use by 25% from 2022 to 2024, despite a 19% increase in passenger traffic.

The airport will implement irrigation restrictions soon.

“Denver Water has not communicated specific restrictions that will impact the airport’s day-to-day operations. DEN has a small irrigation system at our Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Station 1 that will be put on restrictions,” a DIA spokesperson said.

Other businesses are also bracing for the ripple effects.

Hello Deluxe Car Wash manager Chris Heckle said the business uses 80% recycled water and recently made additional water-saving changes.

“We did reduce the amount of chemicals we’re putting on cars, so we are putting them on a little bit later and turning them off a little bit sooner just to conserve that water,” Heckle said. “But when we do let our customers clean their mats, they’re using fresh water, so we would ask them to use less.”

With restrictions now in place, the utility hopes early action will prevent deeper cuts later.

City Floral gardening center in Denver, which grows and sells plants, said it has always worked to conserve water by hand watering instead of using automated sprinklers. General Manager Trela Phelps said using mulch on top of soil can help retain water throughout the water restrictions. She said the business’ inventory has shifted to include more drought-resistant plants as science advances.

“Now there’s been a lot of changes in genetics in plants… and it’s for the best on a lot of things, you know, they’re stronger, they can tolerate heat. And so I think the plants are in better quality now,” said Phelps.

Denver Water said violating Stage 1 Drought restrictions as a single-family residential customer will land you a warning on the first violation, a $250 fine on the second warning, and a $500 fine on the third violation. A spokesperson for Denver Water said officials are developing an enforcement approach ahead of irrigation season in late May, but will rely on some personnel in the field and online reports from the public.

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 Kendall Keys

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Milwaukee police say they’re working to establish a “curfew center” for young offenders.

Last weekend, three people, including two teenagers, were shot on Water Street. Dylan Jackson, 22, died. There were crowds of young people gathered downtown that night, and it’s something Milwaukee police plan to crack down on before summer.

Days after the shooting, WISN 12 News asked Milwaukee police about their plans to restore order downtown.

“We’ve really worked with the Department of Community Wellness and Safety, and we’re going to be establishing a pilot program for a curfew center on Fridays and Saturday nights,” Milwaukee Police Capt. Robert Thiel said.

According to city ordinance, anyone 17 and younger is not allowed on the streets from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

“The goal is to, we’re able to get some of these youth and then take them to the facility. We can drop them off and get those police officers back into patrol as fast as we can,” Thiel said.

The location of the curfew center is still in the works.

“We are going to partner with some community advocates that take potential curfew violators and try and get them some wraparound services to figure out what’s causing the curfew. Is it home issue? Is it food issues? What’s causing this for them to be out past curfew and to try and mitigate it from occurring in the future,” Thiel said.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said he’s on board.

“I’m having conversations about everything. Every possible tool, every possible option to keep the citizens of Milwaukee safe,” Johnson said.

MPD said it has been working on the curfew centers with the city’s Department of Community Wellness and Safety.

“I believe Karin Tyler is going to be official director, I think it’s today. And then, we can keep moving forward on this,” Thiel said.

“This summer?” WISN 12 News reporter Kendall Keys asked.

“Oh, absolutely. I’m hoping with the next week or two,” Thiel said.

In a twist, the Milwaukee Common Council moved to delay confirming Karin Tyler as director on Tuesday.

“I have some grave concerns in regards to the appointment’s ability to run a department,” Alderwoman Sharlen Moore said at the Tuesday meeting.

Moore told 12 News Wednesday she had concerns about funding for the department and wanted more time for the common council to further vet the mayor’s appointment.

“It’s not necessarily about the individual. It’s about what is it that the council is in charge to do? And it’s making sure that there are qualified individuals and leaders that are heading city departments,” Moore said.

“Is the delay of this going to potentially delay that program?” Keys asked Mayor Johnson. “Well, evidently so,” Johnson said. “You can’t have direction in that office without a director. I believe the spirit of state law says exactly that. You can’t hire, you can’t fire. It causes a delay, not just in the appointment, but in some of the exercising the powers of that office. So I think there’s a lot of sense of urgency in getting this done. I hope the council shares that urgency.”

“This is something that is so important, not only to me, but to the city. We understand what has been going on in the city over the last few weeks. We need the support of the Department of Community Wellness and Safety. OK, then we need the mayor to tell us how are they planning, what’s the plan to fund the department?”

The mayor’s office said the mayor is very interested in making sure the necessary resources are directed to the department during the regular budget planning process.

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 Sam Schmitz, Derrick Rose

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A search warrant affidavit obtained by WISN 12 News revealed the woman found dead at a home near 37th Street and Townsend Ave. had been stabbed 107 times and appeared to have been “deceased for several days.”

The affidavit said Milwaukee Police detectives learned of the discovery March 13, just after 4:15 p.m.

According to the document, investigators initially believed the victim, Janie Pendleton, had “suffered upwards of 20 stab [wounds] throughout her body.”

During an autopsy, detectives learned more specific details about the death.

“Detectives observed a distinct shoe pattern on Pendleton’s right forearm,” Det. Michael Braunreiter wrote in the affidavit. He said the doctor performing the autopsy reported Pendleton, 41, “suffered a total of 107 stab wounds and ruled her death a homicide.”

The search warrant, signed by Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Williams Sosnay, granted detectives permission to search the home of a man investigators said knew Pendleton and gave inconsistent statements to detectives.

Despite that knowledge and information, the page reserved for investigators to list what they found had one brief sentence.

“No evidence obtained.”

WISN 12 News is not identifying the man or other individuals named in the affidavit because none have been publicly named suspects in the killing.

Milwaukee police have not announced any arrests or whether they have referred criminal charges to the district attorney to review.

Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 414-224-tips.

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 Jason Burger

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — A nationwide cybersecurity hack impacted Intoxalock, a company that provides court-ordered ignition interlock devices, causing some drivers to be unable to start their cars and leading to financial issues for an Oklahoma City resident.

An Oklahoma City man, who chose not to be identified, shared his experience with Intoxalock.

“It’s just been ongoing, ongoing, ongoing, and I’m like…I am so done with this,” he said.

Earlier this month, Intoxalock experienced a cybersecurity incident, resulting in a hack that left many unable to start their cars without a clean breath test.

“Taking Ubers, called friends, anyway I could get to work,” he said, describing how he managed to commute while his car was out of service. He dropped his car off at a shop until they could uninstall the system, which took several days. Many others across the country faced similar issues.

“You need groceries, you gotta go to work…you gotta do something,” he said, emphasizing the inconvenience caused by the hack.

He had completed his time with the breathalyzer system and was in the process of having it uninstalled.

“Monday is when I got it uninstalled, Tuesday is when they said my account was closed when I was done with them,” he said.

However, a new problem arose when Intoxalock automatically withdrew money from his account after the equipment was removed and his account was paid in full.

“I asked them if there was anything else owed, and stuff like that, and they said ‘no,’ so I said OK, I don’t need to call or check in again? They said ‘no,’” he said.

“I had to go to the bank, and I had to shut that card down, and I had to dispute the charges because I’m not going to sit on the phone with them for days to see where the $70 went,” he said, explaining his efforts to dispute the charge.

Despite his efforts, he is not optimistic about getting the money back.

“If I could get some of that money back and if I could reimburse the people that helped me out, that’d be great, but it’s going to come out of my pocket,” he said.

Attempts to reach Intoxalock for comment were unsuccessful.

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On their Facebook page, the company posted on Monday that their systems were restored, but further information about the cyber hack has not been released.

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.