Category: CNN Regional

By Spencer Wilson

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    ASPEN, Colorado (KCNC) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has received more than 6,000 bear reports so far this year, roughly double the number during the same period last year. Wildlife officials say drought conditions are reducing natural food sources and pushing bears into communities as they search for calories. The encounters have happened across the state.

A bear recently wandered into a restaurant in Aspen, while another was spotted on Colorado State University’s campus during move-in week. In Colorado Springs, a 250-pound black bear got into an unlocked car, became trapped and eventually died inside the vehicle. In Eagle-Vail, CPW is also investigating after a bear encountered a person at an apartment complex, resulting in a minor injury.

The U.S. Forest Service says the reason we’re seeing so much activity right now is simple: bears are hungry.

“They just don’t have the natural food source that they normally would have this time of year,” said David Boyd with the U.S. Forest Service. Late summer is normally when bears are packing on calories for winter, eating foods like berries and acorns. But the USFS said drought and late frosts have affected those food sources this year.

“They’re just really hungry and just getting a little desperate to start getting those calories,” Boyd said.

That search for food is bringing bears into campgrounds, dispersed campsites, communities and even deeper into the backcountry.

“I think it’s pretty much off the charts for the number of encounters,” Boyd said.

The Forest Service says people can help prevent those encounters by making sure bears never get a “food reward.”

“We want to make sure that they don’t get anything,” Boyd said. “Once they’re rewarded, then they just get more persistent and eventually, typically, become more aggressive and dangerous.”

Colorado also recently changed the law regarding people who leave food or edible waste in a way that attracts bears. House Bill 26-1342 became law Aug. 12 and changes the standard for the offense while removing the requirement that a first violation receive a warning.

For people heading into the backcountry, the Forest Service recommends using bear-resistant food containers and storing food away from campsites. At home or in town, officials say the basics still matter: lock your vehicle, remove food and trash, and secure your garbage.

The goal is to keep bears wild and healthy, and keep them from learning that being around people means an easy meal.

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 Karma Sabbah

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    ANN ARBOR, Michigan (WWJ) — Michigan Athletics will be displaying advertisements for Coca-Cola, Meijer and Google Gemini at the 99-year-old Michigan Stadium for the first time.

The Leaders and Best Champion Partners Program, announced Wednesday, is described as a strategic approach to supporting student-athletes amid the fast-changing college athletics landscape.

Historically, Michigan Stadium was known for avoiding extensive commercialization and limiting in-stadium branding to select elements.

The program was developed in collaboration with Learfield’s Michigan Sports Properties and designed to align revenue opportunities with Michigan’s traditions and fan expectations, according to the university.

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The program can include on-field and stadium-based branding, scoreboard integrations and end zone placements, digital and in-game sponsorship activations, with an exploration of jersey patches and additional premium assets.

University of Michigan Director of Athletics Warde Manuel described the program as the next step in Michigan Athletics’ proud tradition of excellence.

“This is not a departure from who we are, but an evolution that strengthens our ability to remain a national leader, compete for championships, and support our student-athletes in the modern era of college athletics,” Manuel said.

“Michigan Stadium is one of the most iconic and cherished venues in all of sports, and we have been deeply intentional about preserving its tradition, character, and identity. As we introduce this partner program, we will do so with care and purpose, ensuring that any brand partner presence is strategic, tasteful, and aligned with the values of the University of Michigan,” he adds.

The vice president of Frontline Marketing at Coca-Cola North America, Felicia Hale, thanked the University of Michigan for selecting Coca-Cola as its exclusive beverage provider.

“As an organization, we share many of the same values as U-M, including a focus on sustainability and community engagement,” Hale said.

“As a Michigan-based company, we’re honored to stand alongside an organization committed to creating memories and incredible experiences for our communities,” said Melissa Conway, director of community partnerships and giving at Meijer.

“We are grateful for the meaningful investment these partners are making in Michigan Athletics and, most importantly, in our student-athletes. Their support will help position Michigan to thrive in the evolving revenue-sharing and NIL landscape while continuing to pursue championship success at the highest level,” Manuel 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 Ubah Ali

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    ZIMMERMAN, Minnesota (WCCO) — When your heart stops, time is everything.

Michelle Brant suffered a cardiac arrest while at her home in Zimmerman, Minnesota, back in March. In the United States, survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest are less than 12%.

That day, something went right. Her family was home, EMT quickly responded and an ECMO helicopter was called to Fairview Princeton from Fairview East Bank University.

“If they didn’t do that, I probably would not be sitting here now,” Brant said.

“During a cardiac arrest, there is no blood flow. Hearts [are] unable to pump blood,” said Dr. Jason Bartos, a cardiologist and lead for Fairview’s mobile ECMO program.

For years, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, has been available only in major Twin Cities hospitals. It’s a machine that temporarily takes over the work of the heart and lungs, keeping oxygen flowing through the body after a cardiac arrest.

In January, the program expanded giving rural Minnesotans a better chance at survival by flying in lifesaving equipment and specialists when time is running out.

“In the United States we are the number one program delivering this type of care with ECMO via helicopter,” Bartos said.

Months after cardiac arrest, Brant is happy and healthy and Thursday, she finally met the people who helped save her life and the vessel they used.

A rare reunion and a stark contrast to the emergency that brought them all together back in eight months ago. This time no emergency just smiles and gratitude.

“They risk their lives everyday for people like me and I just wanted to thank them,” smiled Brant.

For her, the helicopter and ECMO machine are more than emergency equipment but symbolized a second chance at life.

So far, 12 patients have benefitted from this program, with 50% survival rate. Three of those patients were flown from Princeton.

Dr. Bartos says he has one main goal for future of medicine in the state.

“My hope is every Minnesotan has this therapy available to them between 1-5 years,” he said. “So, everyone has a chance to survive like Michelle.”

Michelle has a device implanted to prevent another cardiac arrest.

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 Todd Feurer

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    LAKE BLUFF, Illinois (WBBM) — A dog was presumed dead after a coyote snatched it from a yard and carried it into the woods on Thursday afternoon in north suburban Lake Bluff.

Village officials said the coyote grabbed a small dog from a yard in the Tangley Oaks subdivision.

Police were unable to locate the dog after searching the area, and authorities believe the dog died as a result of the attack.

Village officials said they believe it is the first incident of its kind in Lake Bluff.

Officials said that coyotes are a natural part of the area, and seeing one is not necessarily a threat to people or pets, but warned people with small pets should take precautions, such as keeping them under supervision when outdoors, even in fenced yards.

They also offered the following tips if you see a coyote:

– If you encounter a coyote, do not run. Stand tall, make yourself appear larger, yell, clap your hands, wave your arms, or use a whistle or other noise-making device. – If the coyote moves away but stops and looks back, continue making noise and appearing large until it leaves the area. – Never intentionally feed coyotes, and remove outdoor food sources that may attract coyotes or their prey. – If a coyote behaves aggressively or poses an immediate threat to people, move to a safe location and call 911.

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By Bryan Lynn, Drew Aunkst

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — A man has been arrested at Dulles International Airport after U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers discovered 368 pounds of khat in his luggage, the latest in a string of khat seizures at Baltimore-area airports in recent weeks.

A news release from CBP confirmed Thursday the arrest of 25-year-old Mohamed Diawara, a resident of New York, after the incident on Aug. 14.

Police from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) charged Diawara with felony offenses of possession with the intent to distribute and transporting a controlled substance into Virginia.

CBP officers initially referred Diawara for a secondary inspection after he arrived on a flight into Dulles from Paris, France, the news release said.

CBP personnel then inspected his eight checked luggage bags and discovered “a commercial quantity of a dried organic substance.” Testing identified the organic substance as khat, a controlled substance that has a stimulant-like effect, similar to amphetamines.

Diawara was found to be carrying a combined 367 pounds and 9 ounces of the substance, which CBP said had a street value of about $44,000. CBP officers then seized the khat and turned Diawara over to MWAA officers.

“This is a brazen attempt at smuggling a bulk amount of illegal khat into the United States, but an attempt that failed due to the exceptional work of highly skilled Customs and Border Protection officers,” said CBP Area Port Director Christine Waugh.

“CBP continues to prioritize intercepting dangerous drugs along our nation’s borders, and we work continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold smugglers accountable,” Waugh added.

3 recent khat seizures at area airports The incident is the latest in a series of recent khat seizures at Washington D.C.-area airports. CBP confirmed in the news release that officers are seeing an increase in khat being smuggled in traveler baggage.

In one recent incident, CBP officers recovered nearly 331 pounds of khat from five suitcases at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) that arrived from London on Aug. 11. An additional suitcase containing 81 pounds of khat arrived on Aug. 12, bringing the total to approximately 412 pounds. The material was estimated to be worth $50,000.

Another incident involved CBP officers seizing nearly 850 pounds of khat from two U.S. travelers arriving at BWI who had arrived from London on Aug. 13. Officials said each traveler had six suitcases full of the substance, weighing a combined 846 pounds, with a street value of about $100,000.

Why are khat seizures on the rise? Every day at BWI, a meticulous process takes place behind the scenes, as CBP searches, scans and screens for illegal substances.

“We use certain algorithms, certain techniques to try to identify people that might be smuggling or bringing illicit materials into the United States,” explained Adam Rottman, area port director with CBP.

Rottman told CBS News Baltimore there have been two big factors in these recent busts: Travel from regions where khat is typically grown, and passengers making little or no attempt to hide the drugs.

“There were just drugs, just khat, in their suitcases. So these were, in the one case, I think there were five suitcases. There’s no clothes, no toiletries, nothing but khat in there,” said Rottman.

He said the flights started in Senegal, with connections in the U.K.

“We very seldom used to see in the air environment, so we are seeing a lot more in the air environment — coming in on passengers,” said Rottman. “It generally hasn’t been a really popular drug within the United States, but it’s starting to trend right now.”

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 Mike Hellgren

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — Advocates for Baltimore’s homeless community are calling on Maryland’s General Assembly to investigate living conditions at several hotels the city purchased and turned into shelters.

This comes one week after an inspector general report detailed mold and mushrooms growing inside one of the properties, along with other health issues.

The city said it has taken steps to address maintenance issues and make sure problems do not arise again, but some residents are still scarred by what they went through.

A family’s battle with mold Two years ago, city leaders celebrated as they cut the ribbon on their newest purchases — several downtown hotels to house the homeless. They cost more than $15 million in federal taxpayer funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.

But for Marcus Clark and his family, their room at the former Sleep Inn on Fallsway turned into a nightmare when he went to the hospital experiencing severe breathing problems.

“I started experiencing symptoms that felt like a heart attack,” Clark told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren.

Then, his children got sick.

“[My son] had symptoms that would be like a really, really terrible case of RSV, and his lungs sounded like they were collapsing. You would hear his breath catching and it sounded like something wet,” Clark said. “And when we brought this to their attention, they told us it was nothing. We found spores — growing spores in our air conditioning unit where he was sleeping. We brought this to their attention. They did nothing. They said they were putting in a work order. Nothing happened.”

He said things changed when Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming got involved. Last week, she released a report detailing mold in multiple rooms, possible raw sewage bubbling into tubs, mushrooms growing out of carpets, and vent fans that did not work.

Clark told WJZ tests showed more than 1,000 toxic mold spores in his family’s room. He said all three of his children went to the hospital.

“It wasn’t just once. It was multiple times for all of our kids,” Clark said.

He said he now lives with his family at another shelter.

“It’s very scary. We wouldn’t even know if the same thing is going on where we are now, because they wouldn’t tell us,” he said.

Quinetta Cooper told Hellgren she lived at the former Sleep Inn last year with her children who also got sick from mold.

“I have a kid who suffers from severe asthma. I had to take him to the hospital due to him having an asthma attack. It was bad,” she said.

Cooper became emotional when asked what she would say to people in power.

“To the mayor, it’s not fair that people have to live this way in these shelters,” the mother said. “We are children of God.”

Pushing for further investigation Advocates for the unhoused gathered outside the former Sleep Inn on Thursday to call on the Maryland General Assembly to conduct an investigative hearing into the millions spent on the shelters, the past maintenance issues, and what is being done to secure permanent housing for vulnerable people.

They previously called on the city council to conduct a hearing, as well.

“We’re talking about the effects on these families, the children. They could be your children that have to go through some of the issues that a lot of these children had to endure in these shelters,” said Reverend Christina Flowers, an advocate for the community.

Zulieka Baysmore, who ran for mayor in Baltimore and also advocates for the community, told the crowd gathered outside the shelter there must be a more permanent solution.

“We have people who have been in this shelter for more than two years. That’s absurd. It’s not sustainable. It’s wasteful of the taxpayer dollars,” Baysmore said.

City response Ernestina Simmons, the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS), responded to the inspector general’s findings on Aug. 7 and said progress has been made with contractors to ensure safety issues do not arise again.

She noted monthly pest control requirements, including biweekly treatment for bedbugs in residents’ rooms, and said there are weekly inspections of the ventilation systems. She stressed a new maintenance plan has been implemented.

“MOHS agrees that stronger preventive maintenance, clearer accountability, more direct on-site oversight, and consistent resident feedback mechanisms are necessary to protect resident safety and dignity,” Simmons wrote. “The new facilities-management framework establishes defined tasks, frequencies, staffing, response times, escalation requirements, performance measures, and audit-ready documentation. MOHS will monitor implementation and will take corrective or contractual action when performance does not meet the established standards.”

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 Matt Schooley

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    WAYLAND, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Family members have identified the boy killed by a falling tree branch at a summer camp in Wayland, Massachusetts, as 8-year-old Mason Sundberg of Sudbury.

Sundberg was taken by MedFlight to Massachusetts General Hospital on Tuesday in critical condition after a large tree came crashing down at YMCA Camp Chickami, causing what firefighters described as a domino effect. He later died due to his injuries. On Thursday, Mason’s family released a statement identifying him.

“Mason left us yesterday, but his kindness, love and smile never will,” the family said. “A fiercely loyal, loving, and empathetic friend to old friends and new. A perfect son, grandson, nephew and cousin – he loved his family more than anything (and his dog River.) Mason was funny, goofy and crazy in all the right ways; he will be remembered for singing and dancing around the house with a wide smile on his face and a skip in his step.”

The Sundberg family said Mason loved video games, good sushi, swimming and skiing. They added that he loved to draw and create stories with his friends and carried a notebook in his bag everywhere he went.

Funeral services have not yet been announced.

“His brightness will be missed, but never forgotten to those who loved him,” the family said. “He may be gone, but his soul lives on in the hearts and minds of everyone who knew him.”

The Sudbury Police Department is providing grief counseling for students in Sudbury on Thursday.

“Today, our Sudbury community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of one of our youngest residents,” police said. “Words cannot fully express the sorrow so many are feeling, and we understand how difficult it can be to help children process the unimaginable loss of a friend or classmate.”

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 Mike Darnay, Erika Stanish

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    CALIFORNIA, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — An 18-year-old man and his mother are facing charges after his girlfriend, an 18-year-old soccer player from PennWest California, was found dead inside a vehicle near the Washington County campus early Thursday morning.

Karoline Heintz of McMurray was found dead inside a vehicle near the California Public Library along Wood Street around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, according to a release from the Washington County Coroner’s Office.

Man, mother charged in college student’s death Royce Moser, who Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh confirmed was in a relationship with Heintz, was charged with homicide. His mother, Rachel Moser, was charged with hindering apprehension, tampering and obstruction. Both mother and son, who are from Beallsville, were taken into custody.

Walsh called Heintz’s death “the result of a domestic situation.” In an update on Thursday night, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said the two met up on Wednesday to discuss the future of their relationship, leading to Royce Moser fatally stabbing the 18-year-old. He then allegedly recruited his mother to help move the body and clean up.

“We’re talking about an 18-year-old girl that was ready to start life, and now she no longer gets to pursue her dreams, which is really unfortunate,” Gagliard said.

The coroner’s office said that Heintz was with family earlier in the day on Wednesday and was to return to campus housing. Family members tracked the location of her vehicle and contacted 911 after she failed to check in at an agreed-upon time.

Gagliardi said when officers saw “some indicators from the vehicle which indicates blood” on the Jeep Cherokee, they opened the vehicle and found Heintz in the back hatch.

She was stabbed in the chest area after Moser said he heard “demons” telling him to hurt his girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint.

PennWest “deeply saddened” by “tragic death” A spokesperson for the university confirmed to KDKA that Heintz was a first-year student at the California, Pennsylvania campus of Pennsylvania Western University and was a member of the university soccer team.

“PennWest University is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, who was a first-year student at the California campus,” a statement from the university read. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.”

A university spokesperson said that while the incident occurred off campus, PennWest University police are “cooperating with the investigation.”

A woman whose daughter played soccer with Heintz for years described her as “the sweetest girl” who was always positive and made the other girls feel like they belonged.

Heintz was a recent graduate from Peters Township High School, according to her bio on the soccer team’s roster. A spokesperson from the school district said the community was “deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a member of the PTHS Class of 2026.” Additional counselors and social workers will be made available to high school students.

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By Carolyn Gusoff

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — Disturbing attacks by two dogs were caught on camera in the Dix Hills neighborhood on Long Island.

Video from Aug. 10 shows the two pit bulls exploring a neighbor’s front yard as a woman jogs by on the opposite side of the street. Suddenly, the dogs start chasing her and maul her. The attack goes on for several minutes.

A good Samaritan is seen trying to help, but he is also attacked. Moments later, the dogs turn on the jogger’s husband, Larry Ballerau.

“I was spinning around saying, ‘Stop, stop, stop, get off, get off,’ and the dogs were just gnawing at me,” Ballerau said. “I’m black and blue … everywhere, and slashes and cuts.”

The Huntington Department of Public Safety’s Animal Control Division was called and responded.

Ballerau says his injured wife is afraid to come outside.

Dix Hills neighbors say the same two dogs attacked a teen on a bike in July, and after this second attack, now they fear for their lives.

“I’m a dog lover, but this is not like a chihuahua. This is a dog that can do grave bodily harm,” resident Patrick Stanton said.

“These dogs are just out, and they’re vicious. They’re predators, you know?” Ballerau said. “And the [owner] comes up to me and says, ‘Oh, that dog’s a mush.’ I said, ‘Really? Because it was biting, it was eating my hand.'”

The dogs’ owners, mother Helen Tarnaras and daughter Anastasia Tarnaras, defend their pets, named Buddy and Henna. They say Henna is an 18-month-old rescue who was badly abused.

“The little one has fear issues,” Helen Tarnaras said. “Why would we want vicious dogs?”

Anastasia Tarnaras says back in July, the dogs escaped through a gate left open by gardeners, and this month, a realtor left the gate open. She insists it won’t happen again, saying the gate is now padlocked.

“I feel horrible. I went to the hospital. My mother went next door to check on the woman, OK? We don’t have vicious dogs,” Anastasia Tarnaras said.

The owners are due to appear before a district court judge for a hearing about the dogs. The judge will then determine whether the dogs should be legally designated as dangerous, which could result in strict requirements for confining the dogs or even in dogs being euthanized.

“I’m not putting my dogs down, no matter what,” Anastasia Tarnaras said.

“I want these dogs not hurting anyone else,” Ballerau said.

A judge will hear both sides on Friday morning.

The owners of the dogs have also been issued a notice to comply for state and town violations regarding containment and control of animals.

Officials say the Aug. 10 attack is the first time any complaints or issues have been filed against the dog owner.

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By Noelle Lilley

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    NEW YORK, New York (WCBS) — New York City sanitation workers say their job has been pricklier than usual after the Department of Sanitation reported an increase in needle stick injuries.

According to DSNY, as of Aug. 10, there have been 49 sanitation workers injured by needle sticks in 2026, compared to 46 in 2025 and only 18 in 2020.

“It makes our jobs a lot harder and a lot more dangerous,” sanitation worker Jason Leavy said. “We don’t know what’s in these bags when we’re picking them up day-to-day, and we just want to go home the same way that we came in.”

Doctors say it may be in part due to an increase in Americans using injectable medication, such as GLP-1s for weight loss.

While DSNY says it cannot confirm exactly what kind of needles caused these injuries, healthcare professionals say injectable medication is becoming more common, including for in vitro fertilization treatment, EpiPens and insulin shots.

“Whenever we puncture the skin, there’s also a risk of bacteria that normally live on the skin and don’t cause any issues to travel inside that puncture wound and cause a localized infection,” Dr. Valeria Grijalva, with Mount Sinai Health, said.

In a new PSA, DSNY is reminding residents of how to properly dispose of needles. Patients should put any items in a leak-proof, puncture-resistant container, such as a laundry detergent bottle. Then, be sure it is sealed, labeled as “SHARP,” and placed it in trash.

DSNY also says it is taking steps to increase the fine for improper disposal of needles from $100 to $250.

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.