Category: CNN Regional

By Lauren Lennon

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    DENVER (KMGH) — As several wildfires burn across Colorado, one non-profit’s evacuation tool is back in the spotlight as they attempt to bring assistance to people who may need help evacuating their animals.

Denver7 shared the resource, HorseAlert, in 2024, when the website first launched and was put to use during the Stone Canyon and Alexander Mountain fires.

Those behind the website describe it as an “Uber” for equine animals including horses, donkeys and mules.

“It connects people who need to be evacuated, need help evacuating their horses, with volunteer drivers who have signed up to say: we are there, we can be there for you,” said Colorado Horse Rescue CEO, Katherine Gregory.

“It will text the closest drivers and then it will only assign enough drivers to get the number of horses that that person has,” Gregory explained.

The volunteer trailer drivers would then help transport the animals to evacuation fairgrounds in the specific area.

It was an experience Christine Anderson didn’t think she’d have.

“I think it was like 12 or 1o’clock in the morning, and I, we were kind of in shock, even though we know fire is a real probability here, it’s still very shocking to like wake to multiple calls about leaving,” Anderson recalled.

Anderson evacuated during the 2024 Quarry fire and was left trying to figure out not only how to evacuate her and her family, but also their animals.

She said she signed up for HorseAlert “on a whim,” noting she saw it on Facebook.

“I went ahead and put in my information, asking, requesting assistance, and again, that must have been one or 2 o’clock in the morning, and I had no idea, like, who’s up at that time,” she said.

Someone from Longmont eventually reached out a few hours later and helped her evacuate her two donkeys Reggie and Beau.

“If nobody came to help us, we would have to let our animals go, which is a terrible thing to have to think about,” she said.

An emotional Anderson shared how grateful she was for the help during that emergency.

“Animal control would have helped us evacuate, but we didn’t have to use them, and we didn’t have to wait to be one of the people in line for that, because this wonderful person from Longmont came and moved our animals for us and took us to the fairgrounds,” she said.

“If the fire had been more pressing, and animal control hadn’t been able to get to us. We would have had to walk away and leave our donkeys here with the gates open, or cutting the fence in certain areas, and hoping for the best,” she added.

That sense of relief is something Anderson wants people who may be in the same situation as she was two years ago to feel.

“Obviously I became very emotional about it two years later. I’m still incredibly emotional about the kindness that people just offered us during that time,” she said.

But Gregory says right now there needs to be more exposure for the resource in the areas currently impacted by wildfires to get this resource to those who may need it. The service has the most people signed up in areas across the front range like Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson and Weld County, according to Gregory.

“What we’re trying to do is get the message out to more rural communities, and especially those communities that don’t have large animal response teams that can help,” she emphasized.

Colorado Horse Rescue is calling on community members to sign up for the website to help bring relief to people in the impacted areas.

“They’re going to rely on people helping people, neighbors helping neighbors, horse people helping horse people,” she added.

The impact of helping Anderson and her animals sticks with Gregory.

“Hearing the emotion in Christine’s voice and knowing that we could provide a tool to help keep her family, her donkeys safe. It’s why we do this, it’s to keep each and every horse giving them and donkey and mule a safe solution, and keep them with their families if we can,” Gregory said.

In addition to HorseAlert, Gregory says Colorado Horse Rescue is also in contact with staff running the fairgrounds in Pueblo County to see if they can provide any resources.

Gregory says since May of 2026, 690 more horses have been registered through the website and 60 more drivers have signed up to volunteer to help transport animals.

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 Chen

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    LAKESIDE, California (KGTV) — A Lakeside man is defying the odds after a motorcycle crash in mid-June left him with devastating injuries doctors feared he would not survive.

Matthew Harger, 20, was riding home from a family friend’s house in Campo on a Wednesday night when he crashed on Buckman Springs Road near Cameron Truck Trail. The cause of the crash remains unclear. Passing drivers discovered Harger in the middle of the road, about 15 feet from his mangled motorcycle.

Harger, who had been wearing his helmet, was airlifted to a San Diego hospital with a massive brain bleed. He suffered fractures throughout his skull, and injuries throughout his upper chest.

“Seven fractures in front of back of skull, everything in his upper chest is smashed,” his sister, Jeanette Aishman, said.

Doctors delivered a grim prognosis to the family.

“We were told to prepare for the worst, to say our goodbyes,” Aishman said.

Family members refused to give up hope, but days passed and the prognosis did not change. Then, about 4 days after the accident, with sedation dialed down following wrist surgery, a nurse gave Harger a simple instruction.

“The nurse told him, ‘Matthew, open your eyes’… and he opened his eyes and they rolled around. He closed them again, and that was my, ‘He’s there,'” Aishman said.

For Aishman, that moment was everything.

“The miracle moment was being in that room, watching him move and open his eyes,” she said.

About a week later, surgeons removed part of Harger’s skull to reduce pressure on his brain. Within 24 hours, more encouraging signs followed.

“As soon as I came into the room, (he) lifted his arm up to give me a hug. That was beyond special,” Aishman said.

Then last Saturday, Harger laughed — a moment his sister said told her everything she needed to know.

“Hearing his humor just makes me know he’s there. It’s just a miracle that he’s even this recovered at this point, so early,” Aishman said.

His doctors have been equally surprised by the progress.

“They are as dumbfounded as we are,” Aishman said.

Harger’s long-term prognosis remains unknown, but his sister says she has no doubt about what lies ahead.

“I have full confidence he’ll be living his adventurous life again, and becoming the man he wanted to be,” Aishman said.

A Gofundme campaign has been set up to help Harger with medical and other expenses.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGTV 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.

By Ryan Hill

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    BUHL, Idaho (KMVT) — After a local teenager passed away due to suicide, a memorial bench was installed this week in Buhl City Park.

River Silas Martinez-Howard passed away from suicide in 2023. Brent Howard, his father, said he and his wife didn’t see it coming. Thankfully, the Jae Foundation reached out to them and helped them heal. It was during this time, Howard said he wanted to find a way to honor his son’s memory.

“I saw a article online about some friendship benches in Rexburg at an elementary school actually. And I thought maybe we could create a bench as a safe place for people who are struggling,” Howard said.

Howard said he started researching for someone to do the job. one company said they could do it for more than $11,000, but Classic Stoneworks, offered to do it for much less.

“They reached out and said they’d like to help with the bench. They asked me to buy the stone for $3,000, they would build it for free,” Howard said.

The acts of kindness didn’t stop there. A business offered to pour the concrete, while another made the graphics for the bench, both free of charge.

“None of these people would let me pay for it. They kinda donated to make it happen and the community thought it was a great idea,” Howard said.

Even the Mayor of Buhl was enthusiastic about the bench and decided to put it in the city park with the flag covering the bench donated by Threads of Honor. On July 1st, the bench was dedicated and unveiled to the public.

“It was heartwarming, it was amazing. I’m really thankful for everybody who made it happen,” Howard said.

Howard explained the bench acts as a memorial for River, as well as a place for people who are struggling internally to sit. The goal is for another person to notice, and walk over and engage with them.

“One person sits down and asks are you ok? And leads them in a direction away from suicide. Away from self-harm, then the bench is worth it,” Howard said.

Howard added this bench is a reflection of what his son was like to others around him.

“He was the kid who helped everybody. He sat with the kids who sat alone at lunch and made them feel comfortable. I’ve had so many of his friends reach out and tell me about how they were struggling and he helped them find purpose and meaning,” Howard said.

Howard hopes hundreds of people use this bench and see it as an outlet to seek help.

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 Austin Pollack

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    MURFREESBORO, Tennessee (WTVF) — Every Friday morning, at a McDonald’s in Murfreesboro, a husband and wife sit down for breakfast together.

John Carroll is 101 years old and a World War II veteran. His wife, Jerry Carroll, just turned 100 in June. The couple celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on April 18.

The two are regulars at the Murfreesboro McDonald’s near the corner of Compton Road and Memorial Boulevard, where they gather with a group of friends every week.

“We have breakfast down here every Friday morning with our friends,” John said.

Their order has stayed consistent over the years.

“For breakfast we usually eat the egg McMuffin with sausage,” John said.

The Friday morning group has grown over time. They often sit in the back of the restaurant.

“We just love them,” said Christina Crisp, the location’s general manager. “They’ve been here for a long time.”

We introduced you to John back in December when he was approaching his 101st birthday. He told us the key to a long healthy life included exercise.

“Up until recently, I was coming in here sitting on the floor at 4:00 in the morning and touching my toes,” John said in 2025.

John said he’s still keeping up the routine. “Did my toe touches 200 times this morning at 4:00.”

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday this weekend, John and Jerry’s love story has stretched across nearly a third of the nation’s history.

When asked for the secret to a lasting marriage, John kept it simple.

“Treat your wife nice and try to help her all you can and work hard,” John said.

John’s 102nd birthday will be in December.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WTVF 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.

By Jamal Goss

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    DEKALB COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — Every summer for nearly three decades, one familiar face has been waiting for children with disabilities as they arrive at FOCUS Camp Hollywood. For 27 years, Timothy Strozier has welcomed campers into his recreation class with the same goal: making sure every child feels like they belong.

During the school year, Strozier teaches exceptional education students in the DeKalb County School District. When classes end, he trades the classroom for Camp Hollywood, a FOCUS program serving children and teens with physical and developmental disabilities.

“It’s the passion,” Strozier said. “I really, really enjoy FOCUS. I enjoy working with kids with disabilities. I just enjoy seeing the smiling faces when they return.”

Camp Hollywood offers recreation, arts, cooking, theater and other activities designed so every camper can participate, regardless of ability.

“When they come into rec, I want the campers to feel welcome and to feel included,” Strozier said. “No matter what type of disability they have, whether it’s physical or whether they’re nonverbal, I try to adapt activities so everyone can feel a part of it. That’s what FOCUS is about.”

One of those returning campers is 14-year-old Olivia Frey. Frey, who has cerebral palsy, has attended Camp Hollywood since she was about 3 years old.

“It gives me an opportunity to hang out with my friends and to just do kid things,” she said.

Her favorite part is seeing many of the same campers every summer.

“It’s a lot of the same kids every year,” Frey said. “So I get to see the same kids over and over and over again. We really build strong relationships.”

Those relationships extend to Strozier.

“Mr. Tim is a familiar face,” Frey said. “I almost can’t imagine what camp would look like without Mr. Tim.”

She says one thing that sets him apart is his ability to remember every camper.

“Most of the other staff tend to rely on our name tags,” Frey said. “Him remembering your name without having to use that name tag is really important.”

Strozier says his commitment to children with disabilities is deeply personal.

“My mom is paralyzed from a stroke,” he said. “She was a fighter. She never gave up.”

He grew up watching his mother adapt to everyday challenges after suffering a stroke before he was born.

“I grew up in a home with somebody with a disability,” Strozier said. “She didn’t let anything stop her.”

Those lessons continue to shape the way he approaches every child who walks into his classroom.

“I don’t look at them as, ‘This is the disability they have,'” he said. “I treat them as a normal human being.”

As campers arrive each summer, Strozier says his mission is simple.

“I often think, if that was my child, what type of experience would I want my child to have?” he said. “I want my child to be safe. I want my child to feel welcome. That’s something I try to give to the kids.”

For Frey, that effort doesn’t go unnoticed.

“He makes sure every kid is included,” she said. “He communicates beautifully with the nonverbal campers, and he just easily adapts to every camper’s needs.”

After nearly three decades, Strozier has watched generations of campers grow from young children into adults.

“Seeing them summer after summer, seeing how they’ve grown, that’s one thing that I really enjoy,” he said.

Some still recognize him years later.

“I might be at the grocery store,” Strozier said. “‘Mr. Tim! Mr. Tim! I remember you from FOCUS.'” Those moments, he says, remind him why he keeps coming back.

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 Ryan Lovell

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    LEE COUNTY, Alabama (WVTM) — It’s a happy ending for one Lee County boy who was reunited with his favorite toy after losing it following a trip to the movies with his family.

Co was at a movie theater in Opelika on June 21 seeing the newest “Toy Story” movie with his friend “Woody,” but realized hours later that Woody was missing.

In a Facebook post, his mom, Sandi Langley, described her son’s emotions following the devastating discovery:

“We have a heartbroken little boy who would love to have him back,” Langley said.

But little did Co or Sandi know, Woody just went on a little adventure with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

In a heartwarming update, the sheriff’s office gave a rundown of the activities Woody had been doing with his law enforcement counterparts.

Among the many things Woody got to experience, he learned about car seat safety, which deputies said is much safer (and better) than hitching rides on car bumpers.

Woody also got the chance to go through the office’s metal detector (talk about seeing what you’re made of) and ate a lot of doughnuts, pizza and candy.

Woody also had a sit-down with Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones, who told the toy how much his disappearance upset Co and reminded him not to go on a big adventure without telling someone again.

But all is well that ends well, as Woody is back home with his favorite deputy and fellow toys.

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 Khamari Haymer

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    WILKINSON COUNTY, Mississippi (WAPT) — “Two innocent lives gone,” said Terral McDonald, owner of the Orchard Cafe.

The shooting left shattered glass and bullet holes at the cafe. Three people were taken to a trauma center, while four others were treated and released.

“That kind of put an effect on us because we work hard every day. We could not open today because I did not want employees here, and I did not know what was coming in afterwards,” McDonald said.

Officials have not revealed a motive for the shooting. Witnesses said the incident began as an argument across the street, which escalated into gunfire in the cafe’s parking lot.

“I pulled up and saw a car in the yard, and a bunch of debris and stuff on the ground. I really did not know what was going on until police said there was a lot of stuff going on in the driveway,” McDonald said.

McDonald, who has operated his business in the area for six years, said he has never experienced anything like this before. He also expressed frustration about being unable to help law enforcement identify the suspects.

“We were in the midst of changing our systems so I do not have footage of anything, and I am not sure if other businesses around here do or not, but I know something happened that shouldn’t have happened, and I am praying for our youth,” McDonald said.

He stressed the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully to prevent violence.

“When I was growing up, we fought. I was raised in New Orleans. If we had problems, we fought, and then we were back friends. These kids here that are growing up, their emotions are too attacked. If someone tells them they are ugly, they want to fight and shoot,” McDonald said.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation assisting in the case.

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 Ben Frechette

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    DANVILLE, Vermont (WPTZ) — Summer is just getting started, but in Danville, work is already underway on one of Vermont’s most famous fall attractions.

The Great Vermont Corn Maze spans 24 acres and is known for its elaborate designs, bridges, blacklight section, and plenty of wrong turns. Each year, Mike Boudreau, better known as “Mike the Bridge Guy,” builds the maze by hand using graph paper, flags, and a rototiller.

What started in 1999 as a five-acre maze on his wife’s family farm has grown into a massive creative project that brings people back year after year.

For Boudreau, the maze is less about puzzles and more about creating something memorable. Every season brings a new theme, a new design, and a new way to get people lost before they finally ring the bell of success.

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.