Category: CNN Regional

By Deb Farris

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    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — Kiah Duggins was just 30 years-old when she died in the crash of Flight 5342. At such a young age, she was already so accomplished. Setting goals for herself as young as 10 years-old. Her mom describes her daughter as inquisitive and compassionate, standing up for the underdog all throughout her life.

“My faith in God. That is what got me through,” said her mom, Gwen Duggins. “I’m so grateful that I got to birth such an amazing human like Kiah and that’s what really gets me through.”

Gwen Duggins relies on her faith. In a year filled with grief. As she remembers her firstborn, Kiah. A daughter who lived a lifetime of adventure in her short 30 years.

“She was my child, but she was a remarkable human being and an incredible role model for young women to pursue your dreams and to never limit yourself in what you can do,” said Gwen. “And I think that’s a story every young woman needs to hear.”

Curious, smart and caring. Kiah started young. In first grade, she came home with her first idea.

“When she was young, she came home from school one day and was like, ‘Mom, I want to write a petition,’” said Gwen. “She was in first grade, and I was like, ‘a petition for what?’ And she’s like, ‘Well, you know, I’ve just noticed that the letter c is really not needed in the alphabet. It just copies k and s, and so we really could have a 25-letter alphabet.’”

By age 10, she had already set goals.

“She came to my husband and I and opened a notebook, ‘Mom and Dad, here are my five and 10-year goals,’ and she was 10 years-old,” said Gwen.

Kiah achieved things in her life that most could only dream of. An accomplished ballet dancer. She graduated from East High School’s International Baccalaureate Program, at the top of her class, Summa Cum Laude from Wichita State with several degrees.

“I think in college is where she found her voice in advocating for others, and decided that in order to change the system, you have to know the system from the inside out,” said Gwen. “And so she decided to become an attorney for that very reason.”

One of the highlights of her life was interning with her idol, former First Lady Michelle Obama, in the White House for five months, helping with the ‘Let Girls Learn Initiative’.

Then shortly after college, Kiah became a Fulbright Scholar, moving 8,000 miles from home to a tiny town in Taiwan where she taught English to elementary students for a year.

“It was very hard for me having her 8,000 miles away,” said Gwen. “But she insisted, and she loved it, and I got to take my first international trip because we went to visit her when she lived in Taiwan, and she says it was the best experience of her entire life.”

Kiah then turned to law school, graduating from Harvard.

“Kiah had very lofty goals, and one of the reasons she wanted to go to Harvard is she felt like, as a woman of color, people don’t really listen to you,” she said. “ And she said, ‘Mom, maybe if I have Harvard behind my name, it’ll give me a little bit of clout, and maybe people will listen.’”

In January of 2025, doctors diagnosed Gwen with breast cancer for the second time. Kiah insisted on coming home from D.C., where she was a civil rights attorney, for her mom’s surgery.

“A friend of ours knew that Kiah had come home for my surgery, and she was watching CNN, and she saw the news of the crash,” said Gwen. “So she called my husband and asked if Kiah was still in Wichita. And we were like, ‘No, she left a couple of hours ago. And so once we knew the flight number, we knew that Kiah was on that flight.”

And that was it. The beautiful, brilliant and bright light of her daughter was gone. Along with 66 other lives on flight 5342 and the army helicopter it collided with.

“So I, you know, wailed and cried and then at about 4:00 that morning, I had intense chest pain and called my surgeon,” said Gwen. “I ended up having to go back into the hospital to remove hematomas and blood clots that had formed from me grieving.”

Kiah’s body would be one of the last recovered. More waiting, more anguish. Now, the Duggins try to move on without her.

“I love talking about her and who she was, because I believe that it’s important for young people to understand that even somebody from Wichita, Kansas who went to Wichita Public Schools can really make an impact on the world,” said Gwen. “And that’s the thing that we have seen the most since she passed. Her impact and her reach was incredible and far more incredible than we even knew.”

While in college, Kiah started her dream of starting a nonprofit for underrepresented girls, a college readiness program she named The Princess Project.

“She named it that because, when she was young, someone told her that princesses were not brown, and so she understood that with her gifts and the privilege that she had been given, that she could be that metaphorical princess for a lot of girls and help them to see that they could reach their goals and their full potential,” said Gwen.

Since her death, her family has renamed it Kiah’s Princess Project. They hope to start working with girls starting in the fall. One more way Kiah’s legacy will live on.

“What makes me really sad is the world lost some amazing humans,” said Gwen. “And you know, the world doesn’t get to experience their light and their gift and their genius, and that’s really hard. You know, as I read about other families, I wept, amazing human beings on that flight with my daughter. So it’s not even just losing my daughter, but the collective loss is incredible.”

After Kiah’s death, Barack and Michelle Obama sent a letter to Kiah’s parents sharing their grief and what an incredible person she was.

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 abc15.com staff

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    SPRINGERVILLE, Arizona (KNXV) — Authorities are seeking information after multiple horses were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest.

Forest officials say nine horses were found recently on the Black Mesa Ranger District.

The horses appeared to have received bullet wounds, indicating they were shot.

Officials say necropsies were completed and the carcasses were buried.

The USDA Forest Service is urging anyone with information to contact the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office tipline at 928-524-9908.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

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 John Lauritsen

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — So much coverage on immigration enforcement has focused on the Twin Cities, but rural Minnesotans are also following what’s happening.

“I think what’s happening is deplorable,” said Emma Wettstein of Litchfield, Minnesota.

On Thursday morning, Wettstein and her mom Christina Garcia had breakfast at Swan’s Café in Litchfield, one of the bigger communities in Meeker County. President Trump ran on immigration enforcement in 2024, and he won Meeker County, by 30% of the vote.

But for the mother-daughter pair, their minds were on Minneapolis and how federal agents have handled immigration enforcement.

“It makes me very sad,” said Garcia. “I can see getting rid of the criminals. I’m all for that. But there’s a right way and a wrong way and they’re doing it the wrong way and they need to leave.”

The women weren’t the only ones reacting to the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, and the clashes between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and protesters.

Brian Smith of Willmar said he’d like to see ICE back off. He said, along with Dean Rueckert of Grove City, that Mexican immigrants help fill labor voids in central Minnesota.

“Take them so they get licenses and everything else, so they can work here. Instead of throwing them in jail and kicking them out and everything else,” said Rueckert.

Further down the cafe counter, Mike Katleck mostly agreed.

“It’s just bullying people around. There is no apparent reason for it. You are almost looking for conflict rather than going the other way around,” said Katleck.

Across town at the new rec center, pickleball players Troy Weich and Linda Kuhl, both from Hutchinson, shared their thoughts.

“It’s really concerning. I don’t know if I’d say scared, but I’m really concerned because it escalates. It seems like it’s always escalating,” said Weich.

Kuhl said both Democrat and Republican leaders are to blame for the added tension.

“They don’t want to listen to each other. It’s my way or the highway. Kind of feels like that,” said Kuhl.

“I think it’s really an unfortunate situation,” said Dean Urdahl of Litchfield.

Urdahl was a Republican state representative for 22 years. He agrees that state and federal officials need to cooperate for the safety of Minnesotans.

“The ICE officers are trying to enforce federal law. I think most Minnesotans want to see the worst of the worst illegal immigrants taken back and deported,” said Urdahl.

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 Marissa Armas, Doug Myers, Amelia Mugavero, Briauna Brown

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — A North Texas mother is grieving the loss of three of her sons after they drowned Monday in a frozen pond near the home where the family had been staying, according to the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office.

Multiple state and local agencies responded to a call about three brothers who had fallen through the ice on a private pond off Rec Road #3, just outside Bonham, about 70 miles northeast of Dallas.

The pond sits about 100 feet from the house, separated by an embankment.

The mother of six, Cheyenne Hangaman, said she was outside with her children when they were playing and that “it all happened in an instant.” She said she had warned the boys to stay away from the water, but they didn’t listen.

Hangaman told investigators her youngest son tried to “ice skate” on the frozen pond and fell through.

His two older brothers jumped in to try to save him.

Mother describes frantic rescue attempt “I tried to pick one up and put them on the ice,” Hangaman told CBS News Texas. “It would just break and keep falling in.”

“There was three of them and only one of me,” she said. “That’s why I couldn’t save them.”

First responders and a neighbor pulled the two older boys, ages 8 and 9, from the water and began life‑saving measures before they were taken to a hospital, where they later died. The youngest child, age 6, did not resurface and was recovered after an extensive search.

Authorities did not release the children’s names, but family members identified them as 6‑year‑old Howard Doss, 8‑year‑old Kaleb Doss and 9‑year‑old EJ Doss. All three were students in Bonham ISD.

Community mourns three young brothers Hangaman said she realized something was wrong when her daughter ran to her yelling that the boys had gone into the water.

“When I seen them, they were struggling, and I know their bodies were already in shock,” she said. “The water was freezing cold.”

“I tried to fight for my kids’ life,” Hangaman said. “I had to watch them struggle and drown, and I couldn’t help them.”

She described her sons as full of personality – EJ dreamed of becoming a football star, Kaleb loved to dance and sing, and Howard “liked making people laugh.”

Bonham ISD said counselors would be available for students and staff this week.

“We are devastated by this unimaginable loss, and our thoughts are with the family, friends, and all who knew and loved these children,” the district said in a letter to families.

Good Samaritan recounts rescue effort A neighbor who heard the screams ran to help and was able to pull Hangaman from the water, she said.

Hangaman said she might have lost her life as well if it weren’t for a good Samaritan who pulled her from the water.

“He said he heard the screaming or the call for help and came running. My friend had a horse rope, and he pulled me out with it,” Hangaman said.

That good Samaritan – Bonham ISD’s athletic director and football coach, John Ramsey – declined an interview but shared a statement.

“Right now, all focus should be on supporting a family that is suffering unimaginable loss. They need privacy, prayers and support as they navigate this incredibly difficult time,” Ramsey said. “I’m asking the media and our community to direct all attention toward helping them.

“I was nearby helping a neighbor when I heard someone calling for help and went to assist. Any person in that situation would have done the same thing. I was simply close enough to help in a moment of crisis, doing what I hope anyone would do for someone in need.

“I will not be doing interviews at this time. Instead, I ask that we all come together to support this family however we can. Thank you for your understanding.”

Mother urges parents to stay vigilant As she prepares to bury her children, Hangaman said she hopes her tragedy serves as a warning to other parents.

“It can happen to you,” she said. “Make sure that you hold your kids tight. Always tell them that you love them.”

The family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses.

The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate. Authorities have not said whether any charges will be filed.

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 S.E. Jenkins, Bo Evans

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    TEXAS (KTVT) — The woman whose life was saved from the dangerous cold and the Fort Worth store manager who rescued her were reunited on Thursday.

Surveillance video captured the moment the manager of Evans Food Mart rushed to rescue his customer, Bobbi Burrell, out of the cold.

“I didn’t think anyone was going to help at first, or could hear me,” Burrell said.

Burrell says last Friday was her 50th birthday. She was trying to get to a warming shelter, but said it had closed.

She said she was out in the cold all night Friday into Saturday morning. Just before freezing rain and sleet started to fall, the manager at Evans Food Mart found her frozen on the street. He was the only one strong enough to lift her.

“So I couldn’t stand up, couldn’t walk,” said Burrell. “I started crawling through the ice to try to get some help, without my shoes on. I just couldn’t get them on. So I left my hands and feet, just my body frozen.”

That’s when Faris Hussain stepped in.

Fort Worth store manager helps save homeless woman found frozen outside Faris Hussain, a manager at the store, said another regular customer rushed in Thursday morning after spotting Burrell on the ground.

Hussein said Burrel is a regular, coming in every day for the past 5 years.

“When I heard her name, it was one of my good customers, so I instantly was like, ‘Hey man, no no no, there’s no way. We gotta go help her right now,'” Hussain said.

Hussain ran outside and lifted her himself.

“She felt like a rock, as stiff as a rock,” he said. “I mean, it was, when I picked her up, her entire body was just, it was like, no matter which way you picked her up, her body was going to stay the same form.”

The Fort Worth Fire Department confirmed crews responded and paramedics took Burrell to a hospital.

“Think about it,” said Hussein. “It’s like, God’s watching her. She’s been through a car accident just a few months before that; her birthday was the same, one night before it froze over. It’s kind of like God’s watching over you, like, ‘No, we’re gonna make sure you’re good.'”

Burrell said she’s thankful to everyone involved.

“Definitely with the prayers, you feel blessed that great things will happen,” said Burrell. “And live all your life, go back to work and be off the street, and a big turn of events. Hopefully, to inspire others to help, you know, if somebody is screaming for help, help them.

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.