Category: CNN Regional

By Catherine Ross

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    AVON LAKE, Ohio (WEWS) — Avon Lake and the Ohio EPA are monitoring the city’s waterways after a chemical spill into a creek blocks away from Lake Erie.

During an Avon Lake City Council meeting Monday night, Mayor Mark Spaetzel and councilmember Rob Shahmir shared details about an “environmental release” on Sept. 16.

“The discharge of liquid of a diluted product entered our storm system and exited to the outfall into Powdermaker Creek at the Lake Road culvert,” Spaetzel said.

Shahmir said a resident first spotted the issue and alerted the city. The city then notified Avon Lake manufacturer Lubrizol Corporation, which determined the leak was the result of human error.

A viewer photo showed a milky-white liquid flowing from a storm drain into Powdermaker Creek near the Lake Road culvert.

Lubrizol said 10-20 pounds of a polyurethane polymer dispersant mixed with stormwater had leaked into the creek. The Lubrizol product is a commercial-grade polyurethane coating.

“We’re not anticipating any risk to our residents, but we are working collaboratively with Lubrizol and [the Ohio] EPA,” Spaetzel said.

The city said its public works employees assisted Lubrizol with containing the spill. The company initially used pieces of driftwood to stop the creek flow before Lake Erie and then improvised a contamination boom with plywood, plastic, fabric, clay and rebar.

“There’s actual buffers that they could’ve been using, versus driftwood. They needed to have those other items in stock. They needed to have their response team within moments of discovery,” Council President Jennifer Fenderbosch said during Monday’s meeting.

The Ohio EPA and U.S. Coast Guard both responded to assist with cleanup and remediation. The Ohio EPA said its Office of Emergency Response found the spill consisted of 20 pounds of polyurethane polymer mixed with 6,600 gallons of storm water.

It said Lubrizol and Avon Lake used vacuum trucks to remove the affected water from the creek before it reached Lake Erie. The Ohio EPA was still monitoring the area as of Tuesday afternoon.

Neighbors near the spill were concerned to hear about the incident so close to where their families were enjoying a lakefront park.

“It’s unfortunate to hear,” said Brandon Snyder, who lives in a nearby city and was playing with his son at Miller Road Park.

Anne Rister from Sheffield Lake added, “It’s a big concern and I think it should be taken seriously and investigated. And then come to a conclusion so it doesn’t happen again or at least prevent it.”

City leaders raised additional concerns about the company not realizing the spill had occurred.

“What needs to be looked at is what sort of controls, procedurally, need to be put in place so nothing like this occurs in the future?” asked Shahmir.

Some neighbors echoed a need for more safeguards to respond and prevent future issues.

“We do have that social responsibility of making sure that we protect the people that are living here, that visit here,” Snyder said.

Rister added, “Things will happen, but they need to investigate it and have prevention for it for the next time.”

Lubrizol Corporation sent the following statement to News 5 regarding the incident:

On Sept. 16 a dilute solution of water and a polyurethane polymer dispersant was released into a storm sewer nearby our Avon Lake facility due to an unexpected valve issue. Lubrizol swiftly mobilized our internal teams, as well as external experts, to assess and address potentially affected areas. By the following day, all potentially impacted areas were visually clean. During the response, Lubrizol notified and closely coordinated with relevant authorities.

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By Maya Lockett

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    MANSFIELD, Ohio (WEWS) — It’s been nearly a year since Amanda Craft’s oldest son went missing, and the family spent days looking for 16-year-old Trentin Isaac.

“It was the sickest feeling kicking leaves over, hoping my son wasn’t laying underneath of them,” said Craft.

But the search would end when his body was discovered on November 15, more than 80 miles away from his Mansfield home, in Harrison County.

“His body was burned, and they wouldn’t let me see him because of how he looked and smell. I never had a chance to truly say goodbye,” said Craft.

Since then, the family has lived with many unanswered questions.

“Police have told me they have evidence; I don’t know exactly what evidence because they don’t share evidence with us. However, our detective has been amazing, as far as like calling me back, and the detective in Harrison County has also been amazing. I just feel like it is very timid here and if they don’t have a slam dunk case, they will not take it to the grand jury,” said Craft.

Mansfield Police say it is a complicated case because it involves two counties.

However, they do have people of interest and say prosecutors in both counties are working on figuring out possible charges.

But waiting for justice was not an option for the family. Michelle Isaac wanted to do more for her nephew and to help bring closure to her family, so she started organizing rallies. “It gave us an outlet and a chance to come together and lean on one another,” said Isaac.

A chance to honor Trentin, who they say was the best big brother, always laughing and known as the light of his mother’s life.

“He was so funny, he could make a stale-faced person smile and laugh in a second and he was amazing,” said Craft.

Eventually, they invited other Mansfield families who are also seeking justice, like Brandi Matthews, whose son, Joey Matthews, was shot seven times.

“Police say they will tell us they’ll get a hold of us when there’s something in the case that we need to know and that I call too much. I don’t understand because I’m a mother and I just want to know what happened to my child,” said Matthews.

Matthews says she has felt discouraged the last few years.

“It’s discouraging that there’s so many families that are seeking the same thing. You can’t find any peace, and you can’t get a night’s sleep. These are our kids and our teenage babies that we will never get back,” said Matthews.

Over the years, the cries for answers have grown, but so has the support.

Twelve pictures of Mansfield victims lay across Isaac’s dining room table, and together their families find comfort in each other.

“It gives me peace and it’s comforting that I’m not alone in this,” said Brittany Osterland.

Osterland still remembers the day she found her sister Kayla Osterland’s lifeless body.

“I was angry, because how could somebody do her like that? She was 75% decomposed,” said Osterland.

The cause of death was ruled undetermined by Richland County Coroner, and the last few years without answers have been difficult for Osterland.

“We were ride or dies and I just want to know what happened. I can’t put into words what that would mean for me,” said Osterland.

But until then, the families plan to keep fighting on November 15, they will unite for a justice rally in Mansfield.

“I think it would bring me just a bit of peace knowing that somebody has suffered the consequences for what they’ve done to my son. He deserves that and I’ll never get my son back, only thing that I can get for him is justice and I want it,” said Craft.

Isaac started a memorial page for murder victims in Mansfield, hoping to bring awareness and closure for families.

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By Shelby Lofton

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    PARK CITY, Utah (KSL, KSL-TV) — The state’s first girls’ high school flag football league has started its inaugural season.

The Utah High School Girls Football Association has teams in high schools across the state, including Park City High School.

That’s where Erin Miller coaches 34 girls in eighth through 12th grade.

“It went from eight the week before school started, before we knew it, we were just like, ‘We don’t have enough jerseys,'” she said.

She and her co-head coach, Brandon Heaney, said the interest was so high, they created two teams. They also have some members from neighboring high schools.

“I think the sport’s going to get bigger throughout the years, and we’re going to try and get a team at Wasatch next year,” said player Lily Millett, a senior at Wasatch High School.

Flag football is an official, sanctioned high school sport in 17 other states, but not yet in Utah. The sport will also be played at the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

Heaney said football should be more accessible. He played at Brigham Young University from 2001-2004.

“We’re watching the men play, and these girls grew up in that culture, and they love it,” he said. “And now they have an opportunity to express their athleticism on the football field.”

He said he wasn’t sure if his sons would ever play football, much less his daughter, Brighton, who is in eighth grade.

“She’s been actually playing flag football in the rec leagues for the last three years with the boys,” Heaney said. “The problem was there was not an avenue for her to keep playing.”

Miller said she was recruited to coach the team. She works for the Park City School District and plays football.

“I played for the Utah Falconz; we’re a part of the Women’s National Football Conference,” Miller said. “I’ve been playing tackle football for 12 years. I’ve been playing flag since I was 6.”

Miller said the Las Vegas Raiders are helping flag football expand in Utah.

“They’re going to cover our registration fee to get into the tournament, and they provide some swag for us,” she said.

She said the sport allows girls to try something new, and it helps them build on their strengths.

“(You got) to see the athleticism, like, these girls from day one to now, it’s a different team,” Miller said. “I don’t think that there’s haters. And if they want to continue to hate, then I welcome them to stand on the sidelines with us and so that they can understand what we’re trying to build.”

Park City senior and quarterback Coco Crawford said when the team started practice a few weeks ago, it was awkward. A few weeks in, and a few games under its belt, she’s impressed with its progress.

“Even after a month, I feel like we’ve grown so much together, and I’m honestly so happy that I decided to join this sport because I’ve made so many new connections with the underclassmen and even some of the eighth graders,” she said.

The league aims to make flag football more inclusive and move toward making it an officially sanctioned high school sport in Utah.

“My goal has been to play fast and have fun, and start building the foundation for the program and the league,” Heaney said.

He said he’s seen his daughter grow in the past few weeks.

“Seeing the competition rise has made her also have to rise to that competition level and create a belief in herself that she belongs out here and she absolutely does,” he said.

Miller and her players said there’s a lot of support for the team. Members of the Park City boys’ football team came to cheer for the girls at Tuesday night’s games.

“We’re probably going to get the cheerleaders, we’re going to get the band (and) we’re playing senior night, so the community, just, it’s a vibe up here,” Miller said. “They love what we’re doing up here, and they just want to support us full-heartedly.”

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By Kelly Hallinan

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    KIMBERLY, Wisconsin (WGBA) — On Friday nights at Papermaker Stadium, Kimberly junior Maddux Hermus can be found just about anywhere on the field.

“He’s clearly a top-flight athlete on our team and you can’t have kids like that standing on the sideline,” Head Coach Chad Michalkiewicz said. “He’s just an all-around exceptional athlete that we’re just trying to get on the field.”

Michalkiewicz said Hermus’ athleticism makes him nearly impossible to keep in just one role.

“I don’t really know my position that much, I kind of just bounce around, so I just know I’m a football player,” Hermus said.

That versatility has him lining up at quarterback, shifting to receiver, and handling punting, kicking and extra points.

“Yeah, he’s just a dog,” said teammate Cam Wong. “We need him on the team. He’s one of the best athletes on the team and he’s pretty awesome.”

Michalkiewicz said Hermus handles the workload like a champion.

“He’ll do anything that he’s asked first of all cause he wants to and second because he’ll do whatever the team needs,” Michalkiewicz said.

And Hermus embraces the challenge with enthusiasm.

“Michalkiewicz was like, ‘yeah, I’m going to use you everywhere this year.’ And I kind of thought he was joking a little bit, so I gave him a little laugh. But once I knew he was serious about it, I was excited. I was ready. I want to do this,” Hermus said.

Michalkiewicz said Hermus changes games with his leg, even breaking a state record with a 91-yard punt, the longest in Wisconsin history.

“I mean, it felt really good off my foot. It was a little rugby punt… I saw the spiral, and I was like, oh yeah, that’s carrying. And then I saw the bounce. I was so excited. I was running down the field, jumping around and stuff,” Hermus said.

Beyond the numbers, Michalkiewicz said Hermus is building a legacy.

“He’s one of those kids that will kind of transcend time,” Michalkiewicz said. “You’ll be talking about the Maddux Hermuses 10 years from now — just how he conducts himself and what he means to this team is an example that will be set for generations to come.”

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By Alvieann Chandler

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WXIA) — Some birthday wishes do come true. One Navy veteran who celebrated turning 103 in August can attest to this fact after he had his wish granted.

Claude “Captain” Levinge was surrounded by loved ones and dignitaries at the Retreat at Canton in August to ring in his 103rd year. Some notable attendees included representatives from the White House, U.S. Navy’s Admiral James W. Kilby, Governor Brian Kemp’s office and more.

Levinge served as a fighter pilot in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. He graduated from the very first Top Gun program and mastered more than 34 aircraft. Levinge still holds the Navy record for the most single-piloted flight hours and has earned a long list of medals from the years he spent serving his country.

During his celebration in August, Levinge wished for a chance to meet a NASCAR driver. That wish came true in September after a social media post of the Levinge went viral, and eventually reached NASCAR.

On Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2024, Atlanta race winner Daniel Suarez stopped by to meet Levinge.

“Super excited to be able to meet somebody that has meant so much for this amazing country. That has given so much for our freedom,” said Suarez,” getting to meet somebody, that you know, he’s a real Top Gun.”

EchoPark Speedway GM Brandon Hutchison also met with Levinge and made him an honorary race official for the next race. The Autotrader 400 is scheduled for February 22, 2026.

When asked what he loves so much about NASCAR, Levinge said he loves the speed and the way the drivers handle the turns.

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By Tia Maggio

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    Georgia (WJCL) — Two Georgia senators are pressing federal officials for answers following a series of deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, including two that occurred in Georgia this year.

Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock sent a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, calling for immediate information about the deaths and a plan to prevent further fatalities.

In May, 68-year-old Abelardo Avellaneda-Delgado died while being transported to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Weeks later, 45-year-old Jesus Molina-Veya was found dead at the same facility in what officials ruled a suicide. These deaths mark the 13th at Stewart since 2006, including three suicides.

In their letter, the senators wrote:

“We write with serious alarm regarding the rise in the number of deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody nationwide… We request that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE immediately provide information about these individuals’ deaths and about the [administration’s] plan to prevent further fatalities.”

The letter also highlights a troubling history at Stewart, citing allegations of medical neglect, solitary confinement, and overcrowding. Local advocacy group Migrant Equity Southeast says similar concerns exist at the Folkston Detention Center.

“Generally, what conditions look like is the lack of proper medical attention, a lack of decent food,” said Eduardo Delgado, civic and advocacy coordinator for Migrant Equity Southeast.

Nationwide, ICE has confirmed 14 detainee deaths so far this year, the highest number recorded since 2020. Advocates say each death affects not just the individual, but entire families.

“We’re talking about 14 families that were affected by this. I think that the administration really needs to take a look at this issue,” said Delgado

Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter called the senators’ claims misleading, stating,

“Having toured the ICE Processing Center in Folkston, I can assure you that the Trump administration] is prioritizing safety.”

ICE said in a statement to WJCL 22:

“Senators Ossoff and Warnock stayed quiet as the Biden administration lost 450,000 unaccompanied migrant children and opened our border to terrorists and gang members. Their silence on the demonization of federal law enforcement by their colleagues is equally as deafening. Just earlier this year Sen Ossoff released a “report” filled with false claims and inaccuracies. It is clear the Senator is now only taking an interest in this subject matter for political purposes. All in-custody deaths are tragic, taken seriously, and are thoroughly investigated by law enforcement. ICE takes its commitment to promoting safe, secure, humane environments for those in our custody very seriously. DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels.”

The senators have given the agencies until Oct. 31 to provide records, respond to questions, and outline a plan to prevent future deaths in ICE custody.

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By Christian Petersen, Carrie Hodgin

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    AVERY COUNTY, North Carolina (WXII) — When Helene slammed Avery County, one man found himself in the fight of his life.

First, raging floodwaters washed away the only bridge connecting him to the outside world, but then something even worse happened.

Tim Buchanan, 66, narrowly escaped a landslide on the morning of Sept. 27, 2024. He would spend the next 10 months finding ways to cross the Toe River after his bridge washed out. “I kept watching the water rise, “he said.

Buchanan watched from his front porch as the storm raged and debris started floating down the river. “Large trees, huge oak trees. Yeah. Big round was coming down the river, parts of houses. It would just be lumber and stuff by the time it got here,” he said.

Buchanan jokingly said that he lives on the wrong side of the river. Like so many folks in this part of Avery County, a small bridge led from his property to the highway.

“There were trees and stuff stuck up in the old bridge, where you could tell it was still there. And then the next minute, there weren’t any trees stuck in it, and I knew my bridge was gone,” he said.

But that wasn’t the end of Buchanan’s troubles. “I heard a sound and went out my back door, and there were trees coming like this, and I kept looking.”A landslide was barreling towards him and his home. “And then I saw rolling rocks, trees, and mud. But I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I couldn’t run for watching what I was seeing, and I finally ran and got out of the way. But if I didn’t run, it would have, it would have gotten me for sure.”

With no power, internet, or cell service, Buchanan had no way to share with his daughter that he was alive and that his bridge was out.

“Just like it’s a dream, a nightmare,” he said. He also had no way to get help.”A couple of days later, she made it. She made it down, and I saw them, you know, they were yelling at me from the road, and I said, I’m alive.”

Buchanan spent the next several days walking over a mile through the woods to town when he needed supplies. When the water receded, he would walk through the river to the other side. Eventually, volunteers helped him build a small footbridge so he could cross the river.

“It was, it was hard, you know, I didn’t get out a whole lot. Mostly just staying home,” Buchanan said.

It would take 10 months before Buchanan, along with help from several nonprofit organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and the Appalachian Recovery Coalition, built him a new bridge.

“I never did clean the mud off the window. Just a memory I wasn’t ready to shake yet,” he said.

Buchanan’s back porch is also fixed, but the emotional scars from that day will take longer to heal.

“It just feels like I’m blessed beyond what I should be. And other people are suffering beyond what they should be,” he said.

There’s a nonprofit organization, Bridges for Avery, that’s helping folks like Tim who can’t afford to rebuild their bridges.

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