Category: CNN Regional

By Ricardo Tovar

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    SALINAS, California (KSBW) — Salinas police said a teenage girl was sexually assaulted while on her way to a local school.

Police said they arrested 30-year-old Jose Ramirez Zurita on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Investigators said she was walking to Alisal High School on Saturday.

The victim said she did not know the suspect, so the attack appears to have been random.

“The victim fought back and was able to get away. Surveillance video from the area and information provided by a witness helped officers identify Zurita as the suspect. Investigators obtained a Ramey warrant, and Zurita was taken into custody,” police said in a social media post.

The suspect was booked into Monterey County Jail for assault with intent to rape and for attempted rape, per the Monterey County Jail log. His bail was set at $100,000.

Police want to hear from anyone who may have had similar encounters with the suspect because the assault appeared to be random.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dorantes at 831-758-7148.

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 Kilee Thomas

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    OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Doctors at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital performed the state’s first partial heart transplant, giving one-year-old Angelica Moreno-Roman a chance at a brighter future after being born with a rare heart defect.

“She’s always been a pretty happy girl. I feel like you wouldn’t be able to tell she had a heart surgery,” said Angelica’s mother, Jeneliz Moreno-Roman.

Angelica, who recently celebrated her 1st birthday, was born with truncus arteriosus, a rare condition where only one artery forms instead of two. At just 2 days old, she underwent her first heart surgery.

“She was supposed to have her second surgery around two years old, but she got sick with the rhinovirus at four months old, and that’s when they found her aorta was leaking,” Moreno-Roman said.

In April, Dr. Harold Burkhart, director of the pediatric cardiothoracic surgical program at OU Health Oklahoma Children’s, performed the partial heart transplant, replacing Angelica’s failing heart valves with living valves from a donor.

“We’ve put two valves in a baby that typically would require multiple heart surgeries through life as that child grew, and I’m hoping that she won’t have these anymore,” Burkhart said.

He explained the benefits of using living tissue valves instead of mechanical ones.

“If we pull a valve off a shelf, a mechanical valve, it wouldn’t grow. But if you can get a tissue valve that’s donated, that their body doesn’t reject, and you put them on medicines that help with that, then in theory, that valve will grow like a heart grows with them,” Burkhart said.

Today, Angelica is thriving.

“Yeah, she’s very curious, as you can see,” Moreno-Roman said, as Angelica grabbed her hair.

Angelica loves Elmo and spending time with her big brother.

“My hope for her, of course, is for her to grow and be the bright baby girl that she is. We’re hoping that she doesn’t need any more surgeries in the future since those valves will grow with her,” Moreno-Roman said.

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 Norman Seawright

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — Louisville leaders and community members are speaking out after the detention of Armelle Bondonga, a 21-year-old immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who became integral to her community.

Bondonga was detained last week while at her final green card hearing with her husband, who is an American citizen.

Kentucky state Rep. Nima Kulkarni and Sadiqa Reynolds are part of Bondonga’s legal team. They and Bondonga’s former Waggener High School teacher, Ryan Davis, said the case has hit close to home.

“When I was talking to her with her attorneys — barely talking about herself, talking always about her family and her community and about the other women she was detained with and how she could help them,” Kulkarni said.

“She’s just really positive. You can’t, as a mother, you have to imagine every day that you’re going to be reunited with your child, that you’re going to be reunited with your husband,” Reynolds said.

“Everything inside of me just feels gutted knowing the pain that the separation is causing for her family, for her, for our whole community,” Davis said.

Bondonga is known for co-founding Future Ancestors, which helps develop leadership in Louisville-area youth.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson provided a statement about Bondonga’s detention:

“On August 12, 2026, ICE arrested Armelle Bondonga, an illegal alien from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Bondongo [sic] legally entered our country on September 10, 2013, on a visa that was set to expire on March 9, 2014. She overstayed her welcome in violation of our nation’s immigration laws, and under the Obama administration began accruing more than a decade’s worth of unlawful presence in the United States. On November 6, 2025, she was given a final order of removal by an immigration judge. She received due process.

“Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”

Her attorney, Arianit Osmani, sent a statement in response:

Yes, there is a final order of removal. However, that does not tell the entire story.

Armelle was included as a derivative in her father’s asylum proceedings, which began when she was a child. The family attempted to appeal the Immigration Judge’s decision, but the BIA dismissed the appeal as untimely without reaching the merits of the underlying asylum claims. A Motion to Reconsider that decision, which includes Armelle, remains pending.

Separately, Armelle’s circumstances have fundamentally changed. She is married to a U.S. citizen, they have a young U.S.-citizen child, and her husband has filed an I-130 petition on her behalf. She is pursuing an independent marriage-based path toward lawful permanent residence that is separate from her family’s prior asylum claim.

We also do not believe Armelle presents a flight risk. She has an established home and family here, including her husband and young child, and her own conduct demonstrates her willingness to participate in the immigration process. She voluntarily appeared for her scheduled USCIS interview, where she was taken into custody.

Our position is that Armelle should not be removed before her pending marriage petition and the significant legal issues in her case have an opportunity to be meaningfully considered. Removal is irreversible, and we are pursuing the available legal remedies to prevent that from occurring prematurely.

Kulkarni and Louisville Metro Council member Shameka Parrish-Wright said her detention never should have happened.

“It is beyond inhumane to hold a person like that under these circumstances, given the fact that she was almost, almost on the very last step to becoming a permanent resident,” Kulkarni said.

“For someone that’s so deep into the pathway to citizenship and to and has been on this record of doing everything right and came over here as a young girl. I don’t think that that is the best way to use those resources,” Parrish-Wright said.

Bondonga’s husband, Terrance Bradshaw, thanked the community for their support in a statement of his own:

First and foremost, I want to say how deeply grateful I am for every bit of support Armelle and I have received — especially for our son. To everyone who has spoken up, shared a post, prayed, or reached out: I truly appreciate you.

​Our goal is simple: to get Armelle back home to me, and even more importantly, to our 19-month-old son. As an American citizen who legally married an asylum-seeking immigrant, I believed that our full cooperation with the requirements of USCIS would be met with fair and just treatment from immigration services.

​Everything was seemingly going smoothly. We felt like we were making real progress during our interview at the USCIS building, but things quickly took a turn for the worse—becoming a living nightmare for our family. ICE agents brought us into separate rooms, attempting to explain how and why they were detaining Armelle. I am still processing how this could happen and I do not know why this is happening. Armelle is not dangerous. She is not a threat to anyone, and she has hidden nothing from immigration services.

​I felt completely powerless kissing my wife goodbye, not knowing when I would see her next. Wheeling our son out of that building in his stroller without his mom is a feeling no human should ever have to endure. We left feeling trapped, betrayed, lost, and uncertain of what lies ahead for our family.

​I truly hope this brings light to Armelle’s case and reaches a judge who is genuinely fair and just. Armelle deserves to feel welcomed in the country, city, and community she has poured so much of her heart into. ​Thank you all. Please help us bring Armelle home.

Reynolds said the moment may reflect American society, while Davis said the support shows what Bondonga means to her community.

“We quote Anne Frank, and we think about all of these people and the trauma that they lived through. And who would you have been in that moment?” Reynolds said.

“I think it’s all a reflection of that innate, just sense of care and responsibility that she has that she just brings out in other people,” Davis said.

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 Jordan Benavides

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    KINGSVILLE, Texas (KRIS) — Felicity Hernandez, 17, recently opened Felicity Faith Jiu Jitsu Academy in Kingsville, where she teaches children jiu jitsu, strength, and conditioning.

Hernandez said her journey to the mat started with a desire to protect others. From a young age, she stood up for children with special needs who were being bullied — and that drew unwanted attention from those bullies.

“I would always stand up for kids who had needs… and kids who were bullies to those children with special needs didn’t like that. My dad said ‘Hey we don’t do the fighting but we want to make sure you can defend yourself.'”

At age 10, she enrolled at South Texas Martial Arts in Kingsville before transferring to Five Points Jiu Jitsu Academy in Corpus Christi.

“I started at South Texas Martial Arts in Kingsville, Texas and then I transferred to Corpus Christi at Five Points Jiu Jitsu Academy.”

After years of training and competing, Hernandez brought her skills back to Kingsville — this time as an instructor and business owner.

“I love to teach little kids. We do Jiu Jitsu and we strengthen and condition.”

Opening a business at 17 is no small feat, but Hernandez said she had help every step of the way.

“I really didn’t struggle, because I have a village behind me… my mom and dad… I have a lot of support. I didn’t do this by myself.”

For Hernandez, the academy is about more than the sport. She wants every child who walks through the door to leave believing in themselves.

“I want kids to know they can do whatever they put their mind to. Any dream they have they’re able to achieve.”

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 Kristi Harper

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WMAR) — Tucked inside Farring-Baybrook Park between Curtis Bay and Brooklyn Homes, the Farm Alliance of Baltimore is showing city residents that farming is not just for rural communities.

The organization operates the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm, a space that serves as a working farm, educational center, and business incubator for aspiring urban farmers. Along with producing fresh vegetables and honey, the farm helps people learn how to grow their own food and build agricultural businesses in the city.

One of those entrepreneurs is Shanice Daniels, founder of Feel Good Florals. @theeverydaybloomer

Daniels did not grow up on a farm, but she was surrounded by plants. Her mother kept houseplants, and visits to her father’s family in Jamaica showed her how much food could be grown at home.

“My dad’s side of the family is from a part of Jamaica where they grow a lot of the food that they eat,” Daniels said. “And I remember being in awe of how much produce was just around on their property.”

Back in Baltimore, Daniels built a career as a social worker, helping people through difficult circumstances. Over time, she said, the work led to burnout.

“I found myself experiencing a lot of burnout, just as a social worker in the Baltimore City area,” Daniels said. “There’s a lot of need.”

A colleague gave her a houseplant, and the experience changed her perspective.

“I was able to see how I could actually mimic that care for that houseplant onto myself,” she said.

That realization grew into a new passion. Daniels and her husband began planting vegetables and flowers, eventually connecting with the Farm Alliance of Baltimore. What started as a small garden evolved into Feel Good Florals, a business focused on the connection between flowers and healing.

“Feel Good Florals is a business that was born after I realized that flowers can also lead to healing,” Daniels said.

Today, she teaches clients how caring for plants can support mental wellness and personal growth.

“The practice of growing flowers has taught me how to prioritize learning how to pivot instead of panic,” she said.

The Farm Alliance provided the resources and support needed to help Daniels develop her business. Executive Director Denzel Mitchell Jr. said creating opportunities like that is a major part of the organization’s mission.

“An incubator space gives a burgeoning farmer a place to grow their business, operate their business with a lot of support,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell founded the organization after wanting to teach his own children where food comes from and how to grow it themselves.

“I started growing to introduce them to local seasonal food but then also to teach them gardening and preservation and homesteading,” he said. “And that original idea grew.”

As interest in local food expanded, partnerships with Baltimore City helped the Farm Alliance secure a 15-year lease on nine acres in South Baltimore’s Farring-Baybrook Park, where it operates the Black Butterfly Teaching Farm.

The farm produces nearly 50,000 pounds of food annually on just over two acres of cultivated land. Much of that produce is distributed to restaurants and nonprofit organizations throughout Baltimore. Beginning in the spring, visitors will also be able to purchase fresh produce directly from a farm stand on site.

For Daniels, the experience transformed her understanding of what is possible in an urban environment.

“Prior to moving to Baltimore City, I thought that farms and just growing happened in more rural areas,” Daniels said. “And actually, as part of the Black Butterfly Urban Farmer Academy, it opened my eyes to what was possible.”

The farm’s success demonstrates that even in a densely populated city, a small plot of land can grow food, support local businesses, and help cultivate new opportunities for residents.

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 Dominick Philippe-Auguste

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WMAR) — For those Marylanders who have out-of-state plates, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) is handing out notices that only 45 days remain to register in the state.

Those who do not register their vehicles in the state by October 1 will incur tougher penalties and enforcement actions.

“Properly registering vehicles helps keep Maryland’s transportation system running safely and smoothly,” the MVA said.

An estimated 79,000 courtesy letters were sent at the end of July to Maryland residents who have out-of-state plates, reminding them of the registration requirements and encouraging compliance.

The MVA launched its “Plate Where You Live” campaign in July, alerting drivers to increased enforcement. The push came after the agency mailed warning letters in January to about 54,000 drivers connected to nearly 80,000 vehicles that may be improperly registered — and that was for Virginia plates alone. The new law applies to all out-of-state plates.

Under Maryland law, new residents must register their vehicles within 60 days of moving to the state.

If a vehicle is not registered before the 60-day grace period, the owner may be fined $7 a day, up to a maximum of $420 per vehicle.

After 120 days, the MVA will send a notice to the local jurisdictions for additional penalties, which could result in civil action, including booting, towing, vehicle impoundment, and possible seizure of the out-of-state plates.

Drivers who are new to the state of Maryland or have out-of-state plates can find resources here.

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 Michael Cusanelli

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    WEST RUTLAND, Vermont (WPTZ) — A West Rutland church elder has been accused of distributing child pornography, according to federal prosecutors.

The United States District Attorney’s Office of Vermont said Andrew Buzzell, 34, of West Rutland, was charged earlier this month with distribution of child pornography.

Court documents obtained by NBC5 show that Buzzell used the instant messaging app Kik to share child porn with users in November 2024.

According to those documents, Buzzell is “an elder at the Green Mountain Baptist Church and State Director at the Child Evangelism Fellowship.”

Police said Buzzell admitted to them that he used several usernames on the Kik app that were being investigated to distribute the pornographic images and video. He also allegedly admitted to having a conversation with an undercover FBI agent to discuss traveling to have sex with a 10-year-old minor.

Buzzell appeared in federal court on Aug 10 to answer the charge of distributing child sexual abuse material. He was ordered to be released on 24-hour home incarceration.

If found guilty, Buzzell faces up to 20 years in prison.

In a statement shared with NBC5 on Monday, a spokesperson from the Child Evangelism Fellowship said Buzzell has been terminated.

“CEF has zero tolerance for such misconduct and is fully cooperating with law enforcement,” they wrote. “Due to any future legal proceedings, no further information can be provided at this time.”

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.