Category: CNN Regional

By Emma Benson

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    SALT LAKE CITY (KSL) — Five years after the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, her case continues to have an impact on domestic violence awareness and policy.

Petito was 22 when she disappeared in 2021 while traveling across the country with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Her body was found weeks later in Wyoming, and her death was ruled a homicide.

“I can’t think of another family that’s been more dedicated to policy change than the Petitos,” said Steve Jensen, partner at Parker & McConkie and one of the attorneys representing the Petito family.

Jensen said the family has worked to turn the attention surrounding Gabby’s case into lasting change.

“It’s not like they carry this animosity toward anyone,” Jensen said. “They just genuinely want to effect change.”

In Utah, that work has included a 2023 law, known as SB117, requiring law enforcement officers responding to domestic violence calls to use a lethality assessment. The assessment is designed to help officers identify victims who may be at particularly high risk of serious harm or death.

Under Utah law, officers who identify a high-risk situation are required to connect the victim with a local emergency shelter hotline.

Similar lethality-assessment laws or programs have been adopted in states across the country, including Florida and New York.

The Petito family also created the Gabby Petito Foundation, which works to support victims of domestic violence and raise awareness about warning signs.

“Any time you have a policy change, it doesn’t happen overnight,” Jensen said.

Jensen said Gabby’s story has helped more people recognize the warning signs of domestic violence.

“I think there are steps that have been taken that will, and have, helped domestic violence victims … but there’s obviously much more that can be done,” he said. “Education is going to continue to be really important.”

Meanwhile, the Petito family’s wrongful-death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department is still moving through the courts.

The family sued the department, alleging officers failed to properly handle a domestic violence incident involving Gabby and Laundrie weeks before her death. The department has denied wrongdoing.

The Utah Supreme Court is considering the family’s appeal, and attorneys expect the court to set a date for oral arguments in the coming weeks.

This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSL 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 Abby Smith

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    FLORENCE, Colo. (KRDO) — An inmate was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead Monday at the United States Penitentiary in Florence, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

George Hall, 55, was found unresponsive at the facility around 12:10 p.m. on Aug. 24. Responding employees began life-saving measures and requested emergency medical services. Hall was later pronounced dead by EMS personnel, officials said.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, no employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured, and there was no threat to the public.

Hall had been serving a 120-month sentence after being convicted in the Southern District of Florida of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm to another inmate. Officials also said he was sentenced to three years of supervised release.

According to the Bureau of Prisons, Hall had been incarcerated at USP Florence since Aug. 6. The circumstances surrounding Hall’s death have not been released. The FBI investigation is ongoing.

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 Madilyn Destefano, Hayley Crombleholme

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    SUMTER COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — A man is in custody after deputies say he crashed his vehicle Tuesday morning into a school bus in Sumter County that was transporting 19 kids, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies reported observing Qahiem Williams, 23, going almost 20 mph over the speed limit just before 7:30 a.m. in a school zone.

The deputy pursued Williams and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Williams accelerated and sideswiped two vehicles at the traffic light, the sheriff’s office said.

Leeanna Feeley said one of those cars was hers.

“All of a sudden I just hear bam and realize I got hit. It took me a couple of seconds to register what was happening,” Feeley said.

The crash damaged the axle of his vehicle, causing him to collide head-on with a Sumter County school bus, SCSO said.

Williams then fled from the vehicle and attempted to run toward Walmart, where he was quickly apprehended and taken into custody, deputies said.

East County Road 466 and County Road 103 were shut down as crews responded to the scene.

The sheriff’s office said none of the children were injured.

Feeley said her hit sent her to the hospital. She was just glad she had just dropped her daughter off.

“She’s only two years old… the rear side is where he hit so I can’t imagine the impact it would have had for her,” She said.

Williams is currently held without bond. He is charged with fleeing law enforcement, driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana and fleeing the scene of a crash. Deputies said he could face additional charges.

The sheriff’s office said Williams also had two outstanding Sumter County warrants for fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license.

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 Reginald Dominique

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    August 26, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — Houston, we have a new look — and Houston Style Magazine is officially stoked. The Houston Texans unveiled their new HOUSTON/US alternate uniform Tuesday, August 25, giving H-Town a football fit that feels less like somebody designed a jersey and more like somebody drove down Westheimer, cruised through Third Ward, looked up at the city’s street signs and said, “Put all of that on the uniform.”

Created through the Nike x NFL Rivalries program, HOUSTON/US arrives drenched in Liberty White, H-Town Blue and Battle Red, celebrating Houston culture through details inspired by the city’s historic blue-and-white street tiles, customized automobiles and the celebrated “Be Someone” bridge imagery. The Rivalries initiative allows participating NFL clubs to develop community-rooted alternate uniforms designed around their local identity.

And this one is unapologetically Houston.

photo

Start with the Texans’ first-ever Liberty White helmet, a nod to the white helmet prototype late franchise founder Robert C. McNair displayed in 1999 before Houston ultimately adopted Deep Steel Blue. Then give it a candy-paint-inspired finish, Houston street-tile graphics reading “H-Town” and “Texans,” plus a chrome H-Town Blue facemask that looks like it could have rolled straight out of a Houston custom-car showcase.

The jersey numbers borrow their block styling from the “Be Someone” bridge, while player nameplates echo Houston’s iconic tiled street signs. The Bullhead logo also moves over the heart for the first time in franchise history. Even the inside collar carries the concept home: HOUSTON/US, emphasizing that this uniform is supposed to represent the millions of people who make Greater Houston one of America’s most diverse metropolitan communities.

Texans Chair and CEO Cal McNair said the organization wanted something meaningful and uniquely Houston as the franchise celebrates its 25th season. Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Doug Vosik called the design the team’s most Houston-centered uniform yet. Judging by the details, that might be an understatement.

The NFL’s national Rivalries campaign adds even more hometown horsepower, featuring Texans star Nico Collins alongside Houston cultural heavyweights Bun B and Slim Thug — because apparently this uniform needed just a little more H-Town credibility.

Now comes the real show.

The Texans will debut HOUSTON/US under the lights at Reliant Stadium on Thursday, November 19, at 7:15 p.m. CT, hosting AFC South rival Indianapolis in Week 11 on Thursday Night Football. Fans are being encouraged to wear H-Town Blue.

Rivalries merchandise goes on sale September 1, with a Texans Mobile Team Shop appearance at City Centre September 5.

Houston has always understood that style is storytelling. Now our hometown football team is wearing the story.

By the H. For the H. For US.

Explore the Houston Texans HOUSTON/US Uniform and Official Rivalries Collection

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Kierra Lee
KIELEESTYLE@GMAIL.COM
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By Paul Drewes

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — Cocaine is involved in a cluster of overdoses on Oahu. But the powerful stimulant is not the only drug believed to be behind this rash of resuscitations.

Many who live on the streets are used to seeing fentanyl mixed with illicit drugs like crystal methamphetamine

“Methamphetamine is one of the largest substances used, but it’s all adulterated with fentanyl at this time,” said Dr. Christina Wang, the Medical Director for Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.

Homeless resident Isa Lei Denyia-Marrotte said she has not only seen others use fentanyl-laced drugs, she has used fentanyl, known on the street as fetty, herself.

“I had it once, when I overdosed from it.”

The powerful synthetic opioid is roughly 100 times stronger than morphine, but can be fatal because it severely slows or stops breathing.

On average, fentanyl has led to 18 fatal overdoses each year for homeless Oahu residents over the past few years.

“I found out that my friends passed away from it, and then it really shocked me,” added Denyia-Marrotte.

But the lastest cluster of overdose cases didn’t involve homeless residents.

“It does appear that most of the folks related to the seven cases that we’re tracking were housed individuals. So it’s very likely these are folks might be more recreational users,” said Dr. Wang.

Last Thursday morning, there were five overdose cases in Waikiki alone, with people ranging in age from 22 to 32 years old.

“People thought they were using cocaine. And then, unfortunately, it might have been other substances like fentanyl leading to the overdose,” stated Dr. Wang.

Those patients were all able to be revived by Narcan.

But because cocaine isn’t typically used with fentanyl, the Department of Health issued a bad batch alert. In the hopes people will take precautions including only using the drug with others — who can watch and respond in an emergency, and to test their drugs for fentanyl.

“It’s important to get the messaging out that we’ve got fentanyl test strips if folks are planning to use substances that are illicit. Because there’s no way of knowing whether the supply has been adulterated with fentanyl,” added Dr. Wang.

The Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center is one of the locations where people can get free fentanyl test strips and Narcan kits.

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.