‘Jaw dropping’: Billboard demands accountability from President Trump over Epstein files

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Ayron Lewallen

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    BIRMINGHAM (WVTM) — If you’ve driven down Red Mountain Expressway recently, you might have noticed an interesting billboard. It calls President Donald Trump out for the number of times he’s accused of being listed in the Epstein files.

The billboard was recently taken down, but there are plans for it to be back up as soon as Tuesday.

This isn’t the first time the woman behind the organization Bright Blue Dot has done this. Joellyn Beckham, who leads the grassroots organization, put up another billboard back in July. That one asked, “What the secret was, big fella?” With the Epstein files released now, she’s calling for accountability from Trump.

The most recent billboard accused Trump of being named in the Epstein files 38,000 times. Beckham feels that number is jaw-dropping and damning. She hopes the billboard will encourage people to have conversations about what’s happening or educate them of issues they may not be aware of.

“Hopefully people can walk away from what we post and know that’s why it’s important,” Beckham said. “It’s not jaded by one side or the other. It’s just the facts, and it’s important that people know the facts when they’re voting and making decisions that come back to them—whether children or the economy. It’s just really, really important.”

During an interview with journalists on Monday, Trump addressed the Epstein files. He told reporters that Jeffrey Epstein didn’t want him to become president and said he has nothing to do with him.

“I have nothing to hide, I’ve been exonerated,” Trump said. “I have nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein. They went in hoping that they’d find it. They found just the opposite. I’ve been totally exonerated.”

WVTM 13 reached out to the state Republican Party, elected officials, and to a political expert, but hasn’t heard back yet. As for the billboard, keep your eyes open on your commute to and from work Tuesday to see if it’s back up.

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Former classmate shares impact young Jesse Jackson had

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Naomi Popa

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    GREENVILLE, South Carolina (WYFF) — Just a mile from downtown Greenville and beside several new housing developments is Jesse Jackson’s first home. The civil rights trailblazer was born in Greenville on Haynie Street. He left a lasting impression for many who knew him, especially Freddie Clinkscales.

Clinkscales was born just two months before Jackson in 1941. She attended Sterling High School, a prominent all-Black high school in Greenville County alongside Jackson. They would later share a classroom together and many fond memories.

After the Jackson family had moved out, the Clinkscales bought the home and lived in it for several years. She told WYFF 4 that she was always convinced that Jackson would become somebody influential because he was a born leader and that his heart was filled with kindness. While Jackson will be dearly missed in the Upstate, she believes the nation will forever remember the civil rights activist.

“He was trying to, I guess, get people to see that Black people can do just as well as white people,” said Clinkscales, “If it wasn’t for him, where would we be?

Clinkscales can remember a time when she was required to sit on the back of the bus, had no access to public restrooms and could only ever enter buildings designated for colored people.

“Really if it hadn’t been for him, we would be sitting in the back of the bus unless someone was going to be as brave as he was,” said Clinkscales.

Clinkscales said Jackson’s work changed the trajectory of not only her life but millions of other African Americans. Looking back, she says she’s thankful to have had a relationship with Jackson and will fondly remember him.

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“Don’t look away,” Lewiston shooting survivor confronts city council

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Francis Flisiuk

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    LEWISTON, Maine (WMTW) — Nearly three years after the worst mass shooting in Maine, a city councilor in Lewiston believes the city still has work to do to address the lasting financial impacts among the victims’ families and survivors.

During a city council meeting that stretched late into the night on Tuesday, leaders took up Councilor Susan Longchamps’ proposal that would launch a city-led assessment of the shooting-related needs and financial burdens of those impacted by the Oct. 25, 2023 attack.

“The events of that night deeply affected our city and our nation and the impact continues to be felt today,” said Councilor Longchamps. “Many victims and survivors are still living with lasting emotional, physical and financial effects. Over time, members of our community have come before this council asking us to look into the donations that were generously given to support those affected.”

The council ultimately voted 7-0 to table the issue to the next meeting, after the city administrator cited legal questions that still need to be answered and a lack of clear goals in the resolution.

The vote also came after several residents, including a survivor who was critically wounded at Schmengees, demanded answers from city leadership about how money raised by the community for victim’s families and survivors was spent.

“I spent 19 days in the hospital when the foundations that you guys set up for fundraising, I wasn’t part of it because I was still in that hospital bed fighting for my life,” said survivor Ben Dyer during public comment. “The money you guys raised is missing. We’re not asking to get rich. This isn’t about money, it’s about survival.”

Other residents raised similar concerns about how the $6.6 million raised in the aftermath of the shooting was distributed, alleging that donors were misled and money intended to go directly to survivors went to community nonprofits instead. City leaders have maintained the fundraising and distribution process has been transparent, and that the Maine Community Foundation had clearly given donors the option to choose where their money would go.

According to the Maine Community Foundation, of the total raised, $4.7 million was allocated to 162 people directly impacted by the shooting and $1.9 million went to community groups.

Back in October of 2024, the Maine Attorney General’s office cleared MCF of any alleged wrongdoing or mishandling of donations.

Lewiston councilors, including the resolution’s sponsor, also reiterated that MCF handled fundraising appropriately, but also recognized that some of the questions raised by concerned survivors are “valid, reasonable and understandable.”

“I think those questions have been answered over and over and over again and I’m not certain that this council can answer those questions to the satisfaction of people who are not satisfied with the answers that have already been provided,” said Councilor David Chittim.

The resolution will be taken up for further discussion and a possible vote on March 3.

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Man who tackled shooter at hockey game recounts chaotic moments

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By David Bienick

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    PAWTUCKET, Rhode Island (WCVB) — A man who tackled a shooter during a deadly attack at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on Monday said he told his wife to run before he “went for the gun.”

The shooting happened during scheduled high school hockey games at Pawtucket’s Dennis M. Lynch Arena on Andrew D. Ferland Way just before 3 p.m. Monday.

According to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, the shooting was domestic in nature, as the victims included members of the suspect’s family and a family friend. Two people were fatally shot, and three were wounded before the shooter died of a self-inflicted wound.

“A good Samaritan stepped in and interjected in the scene, and that’s probably what led to a swift end of this tragic event,” Goncalves said.

Michael Black said he was in the bleachers to support a friend’s son who was playing in the game when he heard the first shots.

“I heard two shots, and I said, ‘balloons popping,'” he said. “I heard another popping and recognized it was not a balloon.”

Black said he told his wife and a friend to run. Black said he then stood on the bleachers and lunged toward the gunman.

“I just grabbed, went for the gun and I got my hand caught,” he said.

Black said his left hand was stuck in the chamber of the weapon, preventing it from being fired again. Meanwhile, he said other bystanders jumped in to help restrain the shooter.

“They’re trying to tackle him. And then he fell down, and he fell right towards me. So he was on his back,” he said.

Some additional magazines loaded with ammunition fell out of the shooter’s possession when they were tackled, Black said.

Black said the shooter took the second gun out of a pocket and turned it on themselves.

Black said he turned one of the firearms over to responding officers. He praised the emergency response, including ambulance crews and hospital staff who cared for his hand injury.

Additionally, Black said he was burned on the face by one of the shells ejected during the initial gunfire.

Despite being called a hero, Black rejected the label and shifted attention to others who intervened.

“That’s not the right definition for me,” he said. “There’s heroes in my life, and I would definitely not put that definition towards myself.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

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Detroit police chief plans to “terminate” two officers who contacted Border Patrol amid traffic stops

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By DeJanay Booth-Singleton, Joseph Buczek

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison says he plans to “terminate” two officers after they contacted U.S. Customs and Border Protection during two separate traffic stops, adding that their actions were against the department’s policy.

In a Board of Police Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, Feb. 12, Bettison says that under policy, officers are prohibited from contacting federal agents for translation services. Bettison says the calls resulted in the individuals being detained by federal agents.

“Contacting Border Patrol, ICE or other federal agencies for translation services is strictly prohibited, as it subjects individuals to extreme scrutiny,” Bettison said, adding that the department is working with a company that offers certified translation services.

“There’s absolutely no reason to contact federal law enforcement agencies to assist with translation services,” Bettison said.

Bettison says the two incidents happened in the last few months, on Dec. 16, 2025, and Feb. 9, 2026.

According to Bettison, the December incident was found during a routine audit of body-worn cameras.

Bettison said that a police officer was investigating an individual on a felony warrant at a location on the west side. The officer, according to Bettison, believed the individual was not a U.S. citizen and contacted Border Patrol. Border Patrol responded and took the individual.

Two months later, in February, a sergeant responded to a request for a supervisor at a traffic stop. The sergeant learned that the person involved in the traffic stop did not speak English and he called Border Patrol, Bettison says. The police chief says federal agents “conducted their investigation” and determined that the person was not a U.S. citizen. The person was then detained, Bettison says.

Both the officer and the sergeant were suspended with pay, but Bettison requested on Feb. 12 that the Board of Police Commissioners suspend the two officers without pay.

“I will say this to everyone that 98, 99% of our officers do it the right way each and every day. They’re out there working hard. But I do have 1, 2% that decide to violate our rules, our policies and our procedures. And to those officers, I will hold them accountable,” Bettison said.

The Board of Police Commissioners said it will discuss the matter during a closed-door session this Thursday.

“We’ll be making a decision on whether these officers violated a policy,” said Detroit Police Commissioner Darryl Woods

Woods says any decision to fire these officers will come from Bettison after the board makes its decision.

Detroit City Councilwoman Gabriela Santiago-Romero released a statement on the two incidents, saying in part:

“This moment requires us to listen and to be intentional, in order to not cause greater harm. We, as a beloved community, above all else, need to practice mutual aid. I call upon residents across this great city to join together and build communities of care, whereby folks of all backgrounds support one another, care for one another, and love one another.”

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Dogs abandoned amid investigation into alleged neglect in far West Valley

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By KNXV Staff

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    MARICOPA COUNTY (KNXV) — Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after nine dogs were found in “filthy” conditions in the far West Valley.

MCSO’s Animal Crimes Unit responded to the property near Old US 80 and Salome Highway, west of Buckeye, on Wednesday for reports of neglect.

Neighbors reportedly made numerous complaints about the alleged neglect of the animals. MCSO said they were found without adequate food, water, or shelter.

Video from the scene on Wednesday showed a large area of debris surrounding kennels and fenced areas.

The suspect had reportedly been living on the property in an RV, and when she became aware that the investigation was underway, she abandoned the dogs and moved the RV, MCSO says.

Sheriff’s officials have been working to contact the owner.

No additional information has been released.

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Teen dating violence cases surge in Canyon County as advocates sound alarm

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Leslie Solis

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    CALDWELL, Idaho (KIVI) — Teen dating violence is not just a statistic; it is happening in Canyon County, and local advocates say the numbers are rising.

At Advocates Against Family Violence, Outreach Coordinator Tiffany Ruiz says the scope of the problem is alarming.

“We served last year, 250 teens that were survivors of sexual assault, and that is an extremely high number,” Ruiz said.

February is recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, but Ruiz said the nonprofit’s work extends far beyond a single month.

She has worked at the agency for 20 years, with the last 15 years focused on teens in various capacities, including supporting survivors navigating court cases and at-risk youth in need of case management.

Ruiz said teen dating violence is often minimized by adults, allowing unhealthy behaviors to become normalized across generations.

“Their parent experienced it, their grandparent experienced it, and so they aren’t noticing those red flag behaviors,” she said. “They’re seeing it as normal behavior or expected behavior.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics, one in twelve high school students will experience physical abuse before eighteen, and one in ten will experience sexual abuse.

In Canyon County alone, Ruiz said the nonprofit served 9,047 youth last year through school presentations, juvenile detention programs and other outreach efforts.

“Specifically, through our program last year, we served 9,047 youth,” she said.

The number of teens needing direct services is already trending upward this year.

“We have already served just in January alone, 105 youth, and we’ve provided 276 youth services,” Ruiz said. “And we’ve served 24 that are survivors of sexual assault.”

Ruiz said the increase reflects a continuing trend.

“If we keep heading this way, we will surpass the number that we saw last year,” Ruiz said.

Abuse does not always present as physical harm. Ruiz said technology is increasingly being used as a tool of control.

“We have a lot of teens that don’t identify repetitive text messaging or always needing to have your location on and checking your location by a significant other is not a normal, healthy behavior,” she said.

Beyond prevention education, the organization also responds when assaults are reported. Advocates Against Family Violence is part of the local Sexual Assault Response Team and works alongside law enforcement agencies in Canyon County.

When an assault is reported, advocates are called to the hospital to meet survivors — teens and adults — often within hours. Ruiz said their role begins at that moment and continues as long as the survivor wants support.

The nonprofit recently launched what it calls Roar Again Kits, comfort bags given to survivors at the hospital through grant funding.

The kits include new clothing in various sizes, including undergarments, sweats, sweatshirts, slippers and shoes. Because clothing worn during an assault is typically collected as evidence, survivors are often left with hospital scrubs. The kits allow them to leave in regular clothing.

Each bag also contains a blanket, sensory items to ease anxiety, a handwritten note and a small stuffed lion named Roarie. Separate kits are prepared for youth and adults.

“It’s kind of being looked at as teen drama or not that big of a deal because they are just teens, but the reality is, is that if that’s the way that we’re responding to it, they’re then going to think it’s not a big deal and think that it’s normal, and it’s not,” she said.

She said one of the most important steps adults can take is to listen when teens speak up.

“When I talked, they didn’t listen, so maybe they’ll listen to how I act,” Ruiz recalled teens telling her.

Advocates Against Family Violence will continue year-round outreach in Canyon County schools and community programs to reduce the number of teens who experience dating violence.

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

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.

Beautiful blooms surprise Iowa cancer patients

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Laura Terrell

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    DES MOINES, Iow (KCCI) — Sometimes the most colorful surprises come during the darkest times. That’s exactly what happened at John Stoddard Cancer Center in Des Moines.

“I have a friend who is a cancer patient here, and she told me about so many of the wonderful programs that have enriched her life, and when I had the opportunity to make a donation in kind, I took advantage of it,” said Catherine Schut.

Schut owns a beekeeping flower farm in Prairie City called Hive and Petal. She often drops off beautiful bouquets of flowers at John Stoddard Cancer Center to brighten the day of cancer patients. Schut was dropping off 40 bouquets the day KCCI was there.

“This was such a shock and a very pleasant surprise,” said Meddy Paulus.

Paulus, 45, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2025 after a routine mammogram. It came as a shock as she had just arrived back in Des Moines after competing in a elite level weight lifting competition.

“Since I have gone on this journey and continue to go on it, I am just a huge advocate of changing the narrative for cancer patients,” said Paulus.

Paulus says her cancer journey has been tough, but acts of kindness, like a surprise gift of flowers brightens her day and inspire her to keep going.

“It was a really great way to just kind of lift the spirits,” said Paulus.

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‘What a gal’: Tooele woman remembered for vibrant spirit following fatal auto-pedestrian crash

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By Curtis Booker

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    TOOELE (KSL) — A Tooele woman is being remembered for her vibrant and resilient spirit after she was hit and killed while crossing an intersection last week.

J. Dawn Drapper described her friend Sherrie Jolley, 57, as loyal, fierce and full of life.

“What a gal,” she said. “I mean, she found something she believed in, and she fought to the end for it.”

Jolley leaves behind her two children and a host of other family members, according to her obituary.

Drapper said she’d known Jolley for about five years; the two met as they were a part of a local group.

Last Tuesday, Feb. 10, Jolley was struck by a vehicle near 1000 N. Main and later died from her injuries, the Tooele Police Department said.

On Sunday, community members united to create a memorial for Jolley alongside a pole near the intersection where she was hit. Flowers, balloons, teddy bears and a poster that reads “We Love You Sherrie” now decorate on the pole.

“There were just so many nice posters and stuff up — the whole pole was decorated,” said Drapper, who also participated in creating the memorial.

Although the two only knew each other for a short period of time, Drapper said her friend didn’t have an easy life — but Jolley always remained resilient in the face of adversity.

“She’d been through a lot of trauma in her life, and she had come to the point where she was so happy-go-lucky,” Drapper told KSL. “She would walk down the street singing and riding in her wheelchair or pushing her wheelchair; she just would have a smile on her face and (be) singing a song — she was just always as happy as she could be.”

Tooele police said they were investigating the crash; KSL reached out to the department for an update on Tuesday but did not immediately receive a response.

But even before last week’s crash, county officials were seeking ways to enhance safety on the roads.

Tooele County has asked residents to take its safety action plan survey to gather feedback on what efforts could be made to reduce serious crashes and save lives.

They invite residents to weigh in on the survey to share their concerns about traffic safety and identify key problem areas in the county.

“This helps us move closer to our goal of zero fatalities,” said Brittany Lopez, Tooele County’s assistant manager.

In the meantime, a GoFundMe* has been launched in honor of Jolley “to cover any end of life expenses,” the crowdfunding campaign reads.

Drapper said she hopes her friend is remembered as someone who displayed care and kindness for those around her.

“She’d uplift women as much as possible and she would always tell everybody they were amazing (and that) they were beautiful,” she said.

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

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Registered sex offender accused in LA is sent to prison after judge rules he violated probation

CNN Newsource on February 18, 2026

By KABC Staff

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    LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A registered sex offender who was accused of targeting women across Los Angeles has been taken back into custody and sent to state prison after a judge ruled that he violated his probation.

Matthew Werner, a 48-year-old Las Vegas resident, traveled out of state without permission from probation department, marking his third probation violation, the judge said. He was ordered to serve four years in prison with credit for time served.

Werner was charged in 2023 with three counts of sexual assault, including rape, against two different women.

Werner was arrested Feb. 28 of 2023 on suspicion of a series of violations of rape dating back to 2015 in the areas of North Hollywood, Mid-City, Hollywood and Woodland Hills, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Investigators said he targeted women using social media and dating apps while using various aliases to avoid getting caught. Police identified five women who Werner allegedly assaulted in L.A.

He took a plea deal in 2023, registered as a sex offender and was placed on probation — a result that angered many of his victims. One of them spoke out on Tuesday after Werner was sent to prison.

“You don’t get to violate anyone and just walk free,” Shira Scott Astrof said. “I hope that more women come forward now that he’s in jail and he can stay there for a lot longer.”

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