Category: CNN Regional

By Allison Petro, Michelle Meredith

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    CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (WESH) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating after a truck driver was accused of running over nearly 50 birds in Brevard County.

FWC officials said they responded to a call from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office regarding an incident at the Port Canaveral Cargo Dock.

Initial reports indicate that a person drove a truck through a large group of birds, killing 35 at the scene, while 13 others were euthanized due to injuries.

Only one bird survived, according to officials.

Heather Pepe, co-founder of Wild Florida Rescue, described the heartbreaking situation:

“All killed in an instant … left the 13 to suffer until they were put down or died,” she said. “How this person hit them though, even in the road. I don’t know, they would have had to gun it. Step on the gas and gunned it.”

After the incident, the FWC reviewed video evidence, collected physical evidence and interviewed the suspect.

The birds were run over while resting in a parking lot, possibly drinking water from a puddle.

“But these animals…we see their souls,” She said. “That’s what we see … we see their eyes wide open. And we see them looking at us for help.”

The incident remains under investigation, and additional evidence will be submitted to the Brevard County state attorney’s office for review before any charges are filed.

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By Pepper Purpura

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    POLK COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) — Iowa farmers are voicing frustration and concern after President Donald Trump hosted Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House this week — just days after announcing a $20 billion U.S. bailout for Argentina aimed at stabilizing its financial markets.

The bailout, structured as a currency swap through Argentina’s central bank, comes as a trade dispute is costing U.S. soybean producers sales to the South American nation —raising concern that the administration’s focus on foreign financial aid is coming at the expense of American farmers.

“Our farmers are angry,” said Polk County farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union Aaron Lehman. “We’re facing a financial crisis because we’ve been avoiding common-sense trade policies and instead have started trade wars with many countries around the world.”

Lehman said the bailout will directly benefit Argentina’s agricultural industry — one that competes with U.S. farmers for access to the Chinese market.

“Now the U.S. Treasury is helping Argentina with a $20 billion bailout that is directly helping Argentine farmers sell their soybeans to China, undercutting the Chinese market for U.S. soybeans,” he said.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the deal, saying in a post last week that “Argentina faces a moment of acute illiquidity” and that the U.S. is “prepared to take exceptional measures to provide stability to markets.” Trump praised the move during Milei’s visit, calling Argentina “on the verge of great economic success.”

But Iowa agriculture leaders say the decision couldn’t come at a worse time.

China, once the top buyer of American soybeans, stopped purchasing U.S. crops in May in response to Trump’s ongoing trade dispute. Since then, China has ramped up imports from South America — particularly from Argentina, which recently cut export taxes to make its soybeans more competitive.

Chad Hart, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University, said the ripple effects are already visible.

“When you add all this together, it leads to falling soybean prices, which means lower farm incomes,” Hart said. “At the same time, they’re facing some of the highest costs they’ve ever seen.”

Lehman added that farmers are also still waiting for a promised domestic aid package — one that’s been delayed amid the ongoing government shutdown.

“In the meantime, a promised aid package to U.S. farmers sits on the government’s back shelf,” he said. “This is putting U.S. farmers at risk. How can the current administration justify a bailout for Argentina, continue a trade war with China, and then fail to deliver a promised aid package to U.S. farmers?”

Hart said the strain extends beyond individual farms.

“Agriculture is dragging the general economy down in Iowa,” he said, pointing to layoffs at John Deere and a rise in farm bankruptcies.

Lehman said the state’s leaders need to step in.

“Our Iowa congressional delegation should be demanding answers,” he said.

White House sources said the agreement is also contingent on President Javier Milei remaining in office and maintaining his market-reform agenda, which the Trump administration views as essential to the deal’s success. U.S. officials emphasized that continued U.S. financial support depends on Milei’s government upholding its austerity measures, anti-corruption efforts, and commitment to economic liberalization aimed at restoring investor confidence in Argentina.

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By Austen Erblat

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    DENVER, Colorado (KCNC) — A Denver metro area spa was the target of a recent undercover prostitution sting, which ended with the arrest of the spa’s owner, according to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said it received a complaint from a customer who said he was offered sexual acts in exchange for money at Mango Spa, at 6650 S. Vine St. in Centennial. Soon after, a deputy went undercover as a customer at the spa. According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy was given a similar offer and declined, and then the owner, 46-year-old Sun Jingli, was arrested.

Singli faces charges of prostitution and keeping a place of prostitution, a misdemeanor. She’s due in court on Nov. 7. No one else at the spa is facing charges, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office didn’t say it believed there was evidence of human trafficking in this case, but said that businesses with high employee turnover and other suspicious behavior, such as being open later than advertised, only accepting cash, and having to buzz customers in, can point to human trafficking.

And while some experts, advocacy organizations, and law enforcement say prostitution can sometimes be tied to human trafficking, a growing movement is calling for decriminalizing or legalizing sex work to reduce stigmas and increase safety for both sex workers and customers.

Prostitution is illegal in most of the United States, except for several counties in Nevada. In Maine, selling sexual acts is decriminalized, but paying for sexual acts remains illegal.

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KCBS

By Matthew Rodriguez

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    SAN BERNARDINO, California (KCAL, KCBS) — San Bernardino police arrested a school bus driver after he allegedly threatened a tow yard worker on Tuesday.

The driver arrived at the yard in a school bus that was towing a trailer to pick up one of his other cars. He allegedly got angry and pointed a handgun at one of the employees, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.

Officers, who were nearby, responded to the tow yard and detained the suspect. The officers found a rifle and a crossbow sitting on the trailer.

San Bernardino PD booked the man for attempted assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators said he does not work for the school district and is a private bus driver.

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By Matthew Rodriguez

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    SAN BERNARDINO, California (KCAL, KCBS) — San Bernardino police arrested a school bus driver after he allegedly threatened a tow yard worker on Tuesday.

The driver arrived at the yard in a school bus that was towing a trailer to pick up one of his other cars. He allegedly got angry and pointed a handgun at one of the employees, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.

Officers, who were nearby, responded to the tow yard and detained the suspect. The officers found a rifle and a crossbow sitting on the trailer.

San Bernardino PD booked the man for attempted assault with a deadly weapon. Investigators said he does not work for the school district and is a private bus driver.

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By Kelsey Jones

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    NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia (WTKR) — A mother who works at Riverside Cancer Care Center in Newport News battled breast cancer while pregnant. Now, she’s sharing her story during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to encourage other women to prioritize early detection.

Kelsey Halley, now a breast cancer survivor, still gets emotional when reflecting on her diagnosis five years later.

“It’s traumatic to be able to be told that you have cancer and to suddenly have the future and the health you thought you would have taken away,” Halley said.

Halley was 30 and in her third trimester of pregnancy when her world changed in December 2020. As an oncology nurse at Riverside Cancer Care Center, she understood the importance of self-breast examinations. When she felt a lump in her breast, she instantly knew it was something more serious than pregnancy symptoms.

Three days before Christmas, she was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.

“Everything was suddenly quick acting and they had me see maternal fetal medicine to make sure everything was okay with baby, make sure we were going to make the best option for him,” Halley said.

Despite her high-risk pregnancy due to the cancer diagnosis, Halley was able to deliver a healthy baby boy. According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, rates of breast cancer in women under 50 are rising quickly, with women under 40 tending to have more aggressive forms. Halley does not have a family history of breast cancer.

“I was very fortunate that my doctors were listening to me and reacting,” Halley said.

Shortly after giving birth, Halley underwent a mastectomy and started chemotherapy. After ringing the bell, she began hormone therapy to ensure the cancer wouldn’t return. She’s now in remission and credits her family and community for getting her through her darkest days.

When asked if there were days she wanted to give up, Halley was honest about the struggle.

“There were plenty of days that I was just tired of it all and overwhelmed,” Halley said.

Through it all, she’s urging women not to ignore potential cancer symptoms.

“It’s better to say something and have a test come back negative than to not say anything at all and then suddenly the cancer is everywhere,” Halley said.

Her message serves as a reminder that early detection can save lives, making her an advocate not only for herself but for others diagnosed with breast cancer.

Halley is looking forward to walking in this year’s “Making Strides of Peninsula Walk 2025.” The event is Oct. 19 at Newport News Park from noon to 3 p.m., and she encourages survivors, advocates and caregivers to come out.

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By S.E. Jenkins

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    FORT WORTH, Texas (KTVT) — Home together at last. A Fort Worth firefighter who nearly died in the line of duty is home with his premature son.

While Caleb Halvorson was at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, fighting to survive after an engulfed garage roof collapsed on him last month, his son, Hudson, was in a NICU.

Trapped under a burning, collapsed roof and pulled from debris Just over a month ago, Caleb Halvorson was trapped under a collapsed garage roof while fighting a fire on South Williams Street in Fort Worth’s historic Southside neighborhood. A mayday call went out — every firefighter’s worst fear.

He was trapped for nearly two minutes before his crew pulled him from the debris. Since then, the road to recovery has been long, with multiple skin grafts, infections and burns deeper than doctors initially thought.

Motivated by newborn in NICU Through it all, his greatest motivation, his newborn son, was waiting for him. Baby Hudson was born 13 weeks early, weighing only 1 pound and 9 ounces.

Hudson spent nearly four months in the NICU.

On Monday, the two fighters reunited at home.

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By Erin Miller

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    CHESAPEAKE, Virginia (WTKR) — A server at Applebee’s on Sam’s Circle in Chesapeake became a hero when he saved a choking customer’s life during what was supposed to be a birthday dinner celebration.

Harvey Miller had only been working at the restaurant for a couple of weeks when the emergency unfolded on a Sunday evening. A customer enjoying her steak dinner suddenly began choking, and the bartender quickly alerted the rest of the staff.

“One of our patrons was enjoying a lovely steak, and she got it lodged in her throat, and the bartender summoned us in the kitchen that there was somebody choking,” Miller said.

Without hesitation, Miller sprang into action, drawing on years of experience as a Boy Scout and later as a Boy Scout leader.

“Fortunately, I was a Boy Scout most of my life, and a Boy Scout leader after that. So, it was an easy fix. It was easy to come to the rescue to help her,” Miller said.

He said he didn’t think twice about helping. He immediately approached the customer, asked if she was choking, and when she confirmed she was, he performed abdominal thrusts that successfully dislodged the food.

“I just, I hopped to it. It was no thought at all. You know, we knew she was choking. You always ask the first question, can you breathe? Are you choking?’ She acknowledged she was and then I grabbed her and was able to give her some, some thrust in her abdomen, and fortunately, it came right out,” Miller said.

The customer Miller saved was Deborah Goldsmith, who was celebrating a birthday dinner with her fiancé that evening. Goldsmith reached out to News 3 that night to share Miller’s heroic actions.

During a surprise reunion arranged by News 3, Goldsmith met Miller properly for the first time since the incident.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to even learn your name that day. I’m Harvey,” Miller said.

“Hi Harvey, Thank you so much. You just don’t know a blessing,” Goldsmith replied.

“Oh, my goodness, I couldn’t have been here today. So, thank you. You just saved my life. That’s what you did. I appreciate everything I really do,” Goldsmith said.

Miller received News 3’s Everyday Hero Award and a $300 Visa gift card from partner Southern Bank for his quick thinking and life-saving actions.

Miller credits his Boy Scout background for preparing him for the emergency and encourages others to learn similar skills.

“I would advocate for the Boy Scouts. I would advocate for First Aid, CPR, and just being around some positive people like my family here at Applebee’s,” Miller said.

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

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