Category: CNN Regional

By Marshall Keely

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — A University of Maryland School of Pharmacy professor, Berhanu Kibret, remains in ICE custody nearly a month after being arrested at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport while returning from receiving a national teaching award.

Kibret’s attorney said he should not have been arrested and argued for his release during a bond hearing on Friday.

The federal immigration judge handling the case denied the request on Monday night.

The attorney said Kibret has valid work authorization and was on a period of authorized stay after applying for relief on his J-1 visa. ICE said Kibret, an Ethiopian national, entered the U.S. legally, but his visa expired in May 2024.

During Friday’s hearing, lawyers submitted 18 letters of support for Kibret, many from colleagues at the University of Maryland and his former workplace, William Paterson University in New Jersey.

“During this process of receiving this award and returning back, he was arrested and detained and transferred I believe to Oklahoma. You can see how disturbing, scary, annoying this is,” said Emmanuel Onaivi, a professor of biology at William Paterson University and Kibret’s former colleague.

Kibret has been held at the Diamondback Correctional Facility in rural Oklahoma since his arrest on July 21.

His former colleague said Kibret has a wife and two children in Africa and praised his research on drug abuse.

In a statement, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Sarah L. J. Michel said:

“The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is disappointed by the news that Dr. Berhanu Kibret was not granted bond and remains in detention. We are concerned for his welfare but remain hopeful this matter will be resolved soon. We are continuing to monitor this situation and evaluating the impact on the fall semester and on the students who Dr. Kibret serves.” Kibret’s attorney said the judge provided a reason for the bond denial but could not share further details about the case.

ICE released the following statement on Kibret’s case that read in part:

“Berhanu Geresu Kibret is an illegal alien from Ethiopia. He entered the United States lawfully on June 21, 2021, at Newark, New Jersey, but violated the terms of his admission by remaining in the United States for more than two years after his authorized stay expired on May 31, 2024.” “ICE Dallas arrested Kibret without incident on July 21 at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. He remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of immigration proceedings. Kibret had an immigration hearing on Aug. 17 and was denied bond due to potential flight risk.”

Immigration court records for Kibret’s case do not list any future hearing dates.

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 Juliegrace Brufke | Quincy News Correspondent

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    Washington (Quincy News) — Market Recap: Stocks fell Thursday as Treasury yields rebounded, largely reversing the decline that followed the Treasury Department’s announcement that it would expand long-term debt buybacks. The S&P 500 dropped 0.9%, the Nasdaq fell 1.0% and the Dow lost 1.3%.

Walmart led the decline, with its shares falling more than 9%, after the retailer reported its slowest U.S. comparable sales growth in six years. Walmart said higher gasoline prices were contributing to changes in consumer spending.

The Treasury said Wednesday it would at least double certain long-end debt buybacks to $4 billion per operation. Yields rebounded Thursday, with the 10-year ending around 4.70% and the 30-year around 5.25%. Oil also rose after President Trump said the U.S. would intensify economic pressure on Iran.

Today’s Focus: The calendar is relatively light Friday, with S&P Global’s preliminary August U.S. manufacturing and services PMIs due at 9:45 a.m. ET. BJ’s Wholesale Club reported stronger-than-expected second-quarter results before the opening bell and also raised its full-year profit outlook.

Attention is also turning to next week’s Jackson Hole symposium, which runs Aug. 27-29 and will mark Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s first appearance at the annual gathering as chair. Investors will be watching for signals on the path of interest rates as Fed officials remain divided over whether further tightening is needed.

ON THE SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2026

-Friday, 9:45 a.m. ET – August S&P Global Flash US PMI

-Earnings – BJ’s Wholesale Club

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By Ashley Sharp

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    DAVIS, California (KOVR) — The first known detection of the invasive golden mussel in all of North America happened in California.

This invasive species has prompted states of emergency, both in San Joaquin County, where they were found at the Port of Stockton, and in Yolo County, where they were found to have spread to the Port of West Sacramento. It’s posing a huge threat to Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta waterways.

It’s threatening billions of dollars in losses for farmers and could choke California’s water supply. Working to help stop it is the Davis-based Invasive Species Corporation, which is stepping up with a possible solution.

Research scientist Brady Hirschfeld studies how to stop the rapid golden mussel invasion.

“It’s really rewarding to be on this side of things,” Hirschfeld said. “I’m really proud to be part of the solution to kill golden mussels.”

The patent-protected product being tested is zequanox, created first to kill other invasive zebra and quagga mussels. Now, it’s being redeveloped and retested to root out the goldens, which are notoriously resilient and hard to kill.

Also trying to slow down the spread is Pam Marrone.

“These mussels are ranked the top five worst invasive species on the planet, causing many billions of dollars of damage,” Marrone said. “So we’re really tackling a big problem. We’re excited we can do that.”

She is working to get zequanox approved for full use in golden mussels.

“We’re alone. In fact, we’re the only company, I think, in the world that’s actually tackling invasive species in water,” Marrone said.

How it works In the lab, the mussels are exposed to zequanox, where Marrone says, “they’ll eat it, it’ll slowly take effect and they’ll die.”

Marrone noted that zequanox is biodegradable, with no impact on surrounding creatures and habitat.

“It doesn’t harm fish or the native mollusks or anything, anything else,” he said.

The test subjects were collected in Stockton, and a local marina there will be the first site to test zequanox on golden mussels in the wild this fall.

The city’s port is ground zero for the delta invasion.

“Eradication is, in my opinion, unthinkable. They’re here to stay,” said San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea. “It’s about mitigation.”

Gardea sits on a board committee to tackle golden mussels and said the response requires local, state and federal action.

“Anything that touches our delta, anything that has to do with water is going to be affected,” he said.

Golden mussels can eradicate fish populations and erode delta habitats, and California farmers could lose their water.

Marrone said the impact on community members could mean water flows being stopped due to infestations.

Next steps involve getting zequanox approved for use in golden mussels through the California Environmental Protection Agency and hoping to get this rolled out in local waterways next year, possibly sooner, if California approves an emergency use.

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By Web Staff

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    ST. HELENA, California (KPIX) — St. Helena residents say they are still dealing with discolored, foul-smelling water months after the city’s water system came under scrutiny in a Napa County Civil Grand Jury report.

Resident Michelle Liu Covell, who sent us video of the discolored water back in March, says the problem has only gotten worse.

“Discoloration, esthetics, smell, it’s hard to shower because sometimes you’ll shower and smells like you are showering in a swamp,” Covell said.

Covell is a St. Helena planning commissioner, but she says she is speaking to us as a resident. She says this has been the worst summer of brown water she can remember.

“I’m in a group chat with about twenty neighbors right now and it’s just pictures from people of their water that’s brown,” Covell said.

Covell says the problem peaked on July 18, when a private bus hit a fire hydrant, leaving some residents without water they felt was safe to drink for days.

And she says she’s not alone.

Covell walked us over to her neighbor Kelly’s house, where Kelly showed us the water filter she had just replaced as an example of what she has been experiencing.

In late June, a Napa County Civil Grand Jury released a report also calling out St. Helena’s water system, saying it found years of deferred maintenance and poor planning. The report also noted that water rates rose about 183% between 2011 and 2025.

The city has acknowledged the report and told us it is working on a final copy of its response to send back in the coming weeks.

The city also recognized the frustration some residents had following the July 18 bus crash and encouraged them to submit formal claims.

In a statement Thursday, a city spokesperson said, in part:

“System improvements are the City’s top priority. Nearly $15 million has been invested recently or is committed to active projects, with additional bond financing planned for future rounds of infrastructure work.”

Covell says she appreciates the people working to fix the system. But she says the bottom line is simple: The bills keep coming, and the problem remains.

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 Matthew Rodriguez

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    LOS ANGELES, California (KCAL, KCBS) — A Los Angeles County deputy shot a dog that attacked him while he was arresting a grand theft suspect in a Sunland park on Thursday.

The LA County Sheriff’s Department said deputies spotted the suspect near the Sunland Park Recreation Center in the 8100 block of Foothill Boulevard at about 4 p.m.

The suspect tried to get away by running into the park, but deputies quickly caught up and apprehended the woman. While they were arresting her, the woman’s dog attacked the deputies and attempted to bite them. One deputy tried to use a taser to get the dog to stop, but to no avail.

The sheriff’s department said the deputy shot the pit bull after it continued to attack. The dog was taken to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.

“This is an unfortunate incident, and I applaud the deputies for their extraordinary efforts to de-escalate the situation with the animal before resorting to potentially lethal force,” Capt. Ryan Vienna said. “Thank you to the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments for their response and assistance to our personnel during this incident.”

Deputies encouraged anyone who witnessed the shooting to contact Detective Salvador Ponce at (818) 248-3464.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.