Category: CNN Regional

By Michael Paluska

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — Florida is in the grip of an extreme drought. Water restrictions, burn bans, and brown lawns have become the new normal across the state — with some areas turning into dust bowls. But in Tampa Bay, scientists say the lack of rain is producing an unexpected benefit: crystal-clear water and thriving seagrass.

This change in rainfall has had a noticeable consequence: with fewer heavy rains, less pollution is washing into the bay, allowing the ecosystem to respond in surprising ways.

To observe these effects firsthand, Tampa Bay 28 reporter Michael Paluska joined Jennifer Galbraith, a manatee research scientist with Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership, on a boat excursion.

Paluska has covered the impacts of pollution on manatees for years.

Galbraith was tracking Julian, an orphaned calf rehabilitated at ZooTampa at Lowry Park and recently released back into the wild. With a tracker beeping and spinning, she scanned the horizon for any sign of the manatee.

In 2021, Paluska also traveled to Florida’s East Coast to document the collapse of the Indian River Lagoon.

“Let’s keep on this track for a bit, he’s close,” Galbraith said.

After some near misses on the open water, she finally spotted him.

“That’s a crab trap,” Galbraith said with a laugh.

Finally success.

“I got him, ha!!” Galbraith said.

Julian was eating seagrass and swimming alongside other manatees — all signs, Galbraith said, that were encouraging. The habitat, she said, is functioning like a buffet for wildlife large and small.

“There’s a silver lining to this, but at the same time it’s more of a message, like, look, how much better things could be with just a little bit of work,” Galbraith said.

Explaining the relationship further, the connection between drought and water clarity comes down to what is not entering the bay.

“What that tells me isn’t, oh, drought’s good, it’s telling me maybe, maybe we should do a better job of keeping that stuff from getting in the water when it does rain, and it clearly doesn’t take that long or that much effort to make that happen,” Galbraith said.

Maya Burke, assistant director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, echoed that connection between rainfall and bay health.

“The one thing that Jen Galbraith said is, this is a message for people is… I’m out here every day, and she’s like, it’s beautiful. It’s a message that if we don’t get in the way, nature can thrive?” Paluska asked Burke.

“Yeah! “Nature’s resilient, and so you know, to the extent that water quality in the bay struggles, it’s mostly because of things that we’re doing,” Burke said. “The amount of rainfall that we receive is one of the strongest predictors of how much seagrass we have in the bay,” Burke said.

Despite these improvements, Burke noted there’s an important caveat to nature’s resilience.

Maya Burke, assistant director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, echoed that connection between rainfall and bay health.

“The one thing that Jen Galbraith said is, this is a message for people is… I’m out here every day, and she’s like, it’s beautiful. It’s a message that if we don’t get in the way, nature can thrive?” Paluska asked Burke.

“Yeah! “Nature’s resilient, and so you know, to the extent that water quality in the bay struggles, it’s mostly because of things that we’re doing,” Burke said. “The amount of rainfall that we receive is one of the strongest predictors of how much seagrass we have in the bay,” Burke said.

Despite these improvements, Burke noted there’s an important caveat to nature’s resilience.

Stormwater is not the only source. Burke also pointed to what is in the air.

“The second most common source is from atmospheric deposition, … the stuff that’s coming out of your tailpipes, the stuff that’s coming out of power plants,” Burke said.

With the rainy season approaching, scientists caution that this period of clear water may soon end and advise visiting now. Asked if technology could maintain the bay’s clarity, Burke was cautiously optimistic.

“I mean, we don’t know until we try. The bay is probably never going to be completely crystal clear or look, you know, like the sparkling blue waters down in the Bahamas, but we can get pretty close,” Burke said.

Galbraith reflected on the significance of seagrass loss for manatees like Julian.

“Have you had manatees that you were tracking that you found that were dead from starvation?” Paluska asked.

“Yeah. Unfortunately,” Galbraith said. “Devastating, devastating.”

For now, the drought is giving Julian a window of time to fatten up, learn from other manatees, and prepare for winter. Watching him surface and feed, Galbraith pointed out the telltale signs.

“That is him, but that is a clear indication he is feeding because they will do the head toss and bring that head up, so that’s one of those aha moments like ok good,” Galbraith said.

“Alright, checking all the boxes today, Mr. Julian,” Galbraith said.

“That’s a good day!” Paluska said, smiling.

“That’s a good day!” Galbraith said with excitement and joy that only someone who dedicates her life to this animal can understand.

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 Olivia Tyler

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — At the beginning of May, Brayden Harless, a senior at South Hardin High School in Eldora, was taking finals and preparing to close a major chapter in his life, until just about a week before high school graduation.

“I dozed off at the wheel, and then I crashed, like, nose-dived first, and then my car landed on all four wheels,” Harless said.

Life changed instantly. He fractured parts of his spine. Right now, he’s paralyzed from the waist down.

“It sucks I’m not gonna be able to walk normally again,” Harless said.

But Brayden’s family and the staff at MercyOne Hospital Des Moines Medical Center knew this was a milestone he couldn’t miss. So they did what caregivers do—fix what’s broken.

“It really started from this floor and the house supervisor and some of the people kinda got together, talked about it, got my team involved, and we were able to project his graduation,” said Diogenes Ayala, the public safety leader at MercyOne.

“I didn’t realize they were giving us a whole auditorium, I thought they were just gonna give us a small conference room. I was really surprised,” Harless said.

His whole extended family got to celebrate.

“Everybody was pretty emotional, because I mean, some of them, it was the first time they saw me after the accident,” Harless said.

His teacher even came to deliver his diploma.

“MercyOne made sure I was able to get that experience…they have been phenomenal here. I love them,” Harless said.

While his classmates at South Hardin High School in Eldora are reflecting on what comes next, Harless is reflecting on his uphill battle.

“The fact that I can’t take care of myself right now, the fact that I can’t have the freedom of moving around on my own is really hard on me right now,” he said.

He’s in pain. Full recovery could take months or even years. But he’s still full of potential, just like his classmates.

“Just because you don’t have control over your whole body doesn’t mean you can’t complete your dreams,” Harless said.

And nothing is going to stop Brayden from his.

“I plan on being a social worker, and I may not be able to walk around with them, but I’ll sure as heck be able to wheel around with them,” Harless 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 Pepper Purpura

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — For the first time since a fire tore through Spock’s Sanctuary earlier this month, volunteers were allowed back inside part of the building Monday to begin cleaning soot-covered enclosures and salvaging equipment.

The Des Moines reptile rescue lost 22 animals in the fire. Another 144 survived but had to be relocated to temporary foster homes, the Animal Rescue League and veterinary care facilities while the sanctuary searches for a new location.

The cleanup effort revealed just how extensive the damage was.

While Des Moines fire investigators say the fire itself was mostly contained to a small section of the building, smoke and soot spread throughout nearly the entire sanctuary.

“We’re just trying to scrub off the soot, and then we will clean it again when we find a location that we can move into,” co-founder Cam Reiman said Monday while wiping down tanks and equipment.

The sanctuary says salvaging those enclosures is important because many were custom-built by co-founder Cole Reiman and would be difficult and expensive to replace. Staff say even reusable equipment will still require additional treatment before it can safely house animals again.

“We’re gonna have to put a layer of sealant all over everything to make sure that there’s not any carcinogens being leached from the soot,” Cam Reiman said.

Other equipment cannot be saved at all.

“We’re going to have to start from scratch with a lot of our domes and bulbs,” Reiman said, that is because firefighters were forced to cut through cords and electrical systems in order to rescue many animals from the building.

Fire appears accidental According to Des Moines fire investigators, the fire appears to have started accidentally from a heating device used for the reptiles.

The sanctuary had recently completed a major expansion to accommodate growing interest from the public. Staff said the added space was built after attendance surged following increased community outreach and media attention over the past year.

Much of that expansion is now coated in soot.

Volunteers cleaning Monday described the scene as emotional and overwhelming.

“It was pretty shocking,” volunteer Stella said while helping clean.

Still, she said the number of people who are pitching in was encouraging.

“It’s hard, but it brings me hope that so many people showed up today.”

Relationships built before the fire now helping recovery

Spock’s Sanctuary has spent the past several years building partnerships across central Iowa’s animal care community.

The organization has worked with the Animal Rescue League to help staff and animal control officers safely handle reptiles and exotic pets. It has also partnered with Blank Park Zoo on animal care and outreach efforts while educating thousands of visitors about reptiles through tours, programs, and hands-on experiences.

One training KCCI covered previously ended up becoming critical during the fire response. Spock’s shared reptile handling guidance with first responders. That knowledge helped crews safely remove animals from the burning building the night of the fire.

The Animal Rescue League has also played a major role in the aftermath, temporarily housing animals and helping coordinate care for survivors.

Many reptiles are now being fostered in volunteers’ homes while staff monitors them for smoke inhalation and stress-related injuries. Some animals continue receiving specialized veterinary care, including treatment from reptile specialists in Omaha.

Reiman said the outpouring of support from the community has been overwhelming.

“To actually see that support come to fruition was very surreal for us and absolutely gives us a lot of hope in what our next steps are going to look like,” Reiman said.

How to help Spock’s Sanctuary

Spock’s Sanctuary says it still urgently needs financial support, reptile supplies and help finding a new long-term commercial space.

The sanctuary says donations can be made in several ways:

Monetary donations through the sanctuary website and GoFundMe Supplies through the sanctuary’s Amazon wish list Physical donations, including heat lamps, enclosures and bleach-free cleaning supplies, dropped off at 204 12th Street in Des Moines (see Amazon wishlist for needs) A fundraiser is planned for Wednesday at The Little Book bookstore on Euclid Avenue

The sanctuary says updates on rebuilding efforts and ongoing needs are being posted to its social media pages.

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 Scott Reister

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    HUXLEY, Iowa (KCCI) — The first day of this season’s football practice was one Chase Ihle will never forget. The Ballard senior was playing defense when a receiver landed on Ihle’s lower leg.

“I felt the ground,” he said. “I was like ‘something feels off.’ Then I looked. I grabbed my leg. It was dangling at a 45-degree angle to the right.”

He was carried off on a stretcher. “When the ambulance came up to me, my teammates were praying on the field. That made me cry, I’m not going to lie. My football season was over.”

Ihle broke his tibia and fibia. His career as a Ballard football player was over. Surgery to insert a rod and pins was successful, but his leg looked like spaghetti.

His track coach, Darren Herrold, assumed the worst. “I got the X-ray from his football coach,” Herrold said. “I thought, ‘Oh man, I lost one of my leaders, one of my seniors.’ It was not a good picture to see, and I was just hoping he’d be able to walk again as a normal person.”

Ihle did what was necessary. “I did a lot of rehab,” he said.

He healed and started jogging. Still, when track season began in late February, he was nowhere close to being able to run full speed. There was still a lot of pain.

“It still hurts to this day,” he said.

Bit by bit, he built himself up and returned to competition. Last Thursday, he was at the State Qualifying Meet as part of Ballard’s shuttle hurdle relay team.

“I was kind of worried if I was going to let them down.”

Chase didn’t need to worry. He got it done, helping the Bombers qualify for the State Meet.

“I’m kind of proud of myself for that,” Ihle said.

“It’s a great feeling for us,” Herrold said. “Knowing how far he’s come and the miracles of modern medicine.”

“It’s been a journey,” he said.

The state meet starts Thursday.

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 Angela Rozier

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    MARTIN COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a jury duty scam that has cost victims thousands of dollars.

Scammers are calling residents, claiming they missed federal jury duty and now have a warrant out for their arrest. The callers demand immediate payment to avoid being taken into custody, often requesting payments through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, payment apps, or even cash pickups.

WPBF 25 news was rolling when one of the reported scammers phoned the sheriff’s office Tuesday afternoon while interviewing Sheriff John Budensiek.

Budensiek said these calls happen all the time. He shared details about a similar case this weekend when someone claiming to be a member of the sheriff’s office called a resident.

“Told her that she had a warrant for her arrest and that she needed to buy $26,000 in bitcoin for bond — which she did,” Budensiek said.

The sheriff’s office said that over $40,000 was lost to these scams this past weekend alone, with one victim losing $12,000.

Budensiek admits the chances of the victims getting their money back are not good.

“Zero! Zero,” Budensiek said. “We’ve arrested nobody as a result of this scam, zero.”

Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News

“It’s frustrating, it’s so frustrating,” Budensiek said.

Officials said no legitimate law enforcement agency or court will ever call and demand money to avoid arrest.

Investigators said the scammers can sound very convincing, often spoofing real phone numbers, using the names of actual judges or deputies, and creating a sense of fear and urgency to pressure people into paying immediately.

The sheriff’s office is urging residents to warn their friends, family, and seniors to help prevent more people from falling victim to the scam.

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 Jaylen Baron

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    CAPE CORAL, Florida (WBBH) — John Lackey, a Cape Coral resident who has been disabled for more than 22 years, says he and his family have faced troubling interactions with their neighbor, Tam Nguyen, over the past year.

In a video from May 4, 2025, Nguyen appears to taunt Lackey, telling him to wave. Lackey, who has no arms, is seen riding his handicap-accessible bike.

“And he likes to tell me that I’m not waving here. Your he says, you know, waving because he knows that he’s taunting my disability because I don’t have hands to wave,” Lackey said.

The Lackeys claim Nguyen has mocked John’s disability by placing his arms inside his shirt. Nguyen was arrested in May 2025 following the incident, but the State Attorney’s Office initially declined to file charges. Less than a month later, the office reduced the charges to a felony battery charge, which was ultimately dropped in February 2026.

After experiencing other interactions with Nguyen, the Lackeys installed over $4,000 worth of security cameras on their property. Kim Lackey said she had another unsettling encounter with Nguyen last Saturday.

“I looked down there, and he walks into the middle of the street and unzips. And he grabbed his privates, and he shook them at me and then zipped up, and I was shocked,” Kim said.

Nguyen denied the allegations, telling Gulf Coast News, over the phone, that he did not flash anyone.

“I only grab my waistband,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen also claimed his neighbors are discriminating against him because of his race.

The Lackeys said they called the police after the incident. Officers came to their home and took a report, but did not arrest Nguyen. According to John Lackey, police told them they could not make an arrest because they did not witness the exposure, even though it was caught on video.

“He had come back for some additional evidence, and he said that they were reviewing the evidence and talking with the state attorney,” Lackey said.

John and Kim Lackey expressed concern about their children being exposed to vulgar actions and words.

“I think that anywhere you live, you can find individuals that you don’t relate to or even necessarily get along with. But I think it’s up to us to understand that and then not take it any further than that. It doesn’t need to become a more or a continuous battle,” John said.

The Lackeys said police informed them they would work with the State Attorney’s Office to determine if there is enough evidence to take further action.

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 Addison Kliewer

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    WICHITA, Kansas (KOCO) — An aircraft from Vance Air Force Base performed an emergency belly landing in Kansas on Tuesday afternoon.

An Air Force T-6A Texan II, a single-engine, two-seat aircraft used to train Joint Primary Pilot Training students, landed at McConnell Air Force Base, according to a news release from the Kansas Air Force base.

Both pilots exited the aircraft without injuries following the emergency landing, according to the news release. Emergency response crews were on the scene immediately, and the pilots were checked by medical personnel.

Students typically fly the aircraft to learn basic flying skills used by U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots.

The initial investigation is underway. A board of officers will be appointed to formally investigate the incident.

Vance Air Force Base is located in Enid, Oklahoma. The landing took place at McConnell Air Force Base, which is in Wichita, Kansas.

The two bases are about 120 miles apart.

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.