Northern California hit by 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Mendocino County

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Cecilio Padilla

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    MENDOCINO COUNTY, California (KOVR) — A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck Mendocino County on Wednesday morning, triggering ShakeAlert notifications across Northern California.

The quake hit at 8:10 a.m. Pacific Time, centered about seven miles north of Redwood Valley, a lightly populated area in inland Mendocino County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Residents received push alert notifications from ShakeAlert, which is a USGS early warning system for California, Washington and Oregon.

USGS also reported a preliminary 2.5 magnitude earthquake in the same area about seven minutes later, a possible aftershock, followed by likely aftershocks measuring 2.7 and 2.6 about an hour later.

Some injuries have been reported, according to the Mendocino County Executive Office. The extent of the injuries was unknown, but officials confirmed there have not been any deaths.

Shaking was felt as far away as Sacramento, and some power outages were reported in Willits near the earthquake’s epicenter. PG&E’s map showed the outage starting at the same time the earthquake struck, with the utility provider saying 8,000 customers were impacted.

PG&E added that there has not been any damage to its equipment, but it activated its emergency response plan for crews to respond to gas and electric hazards. The utility company will continue to patrol and assess for damage.

USGS placed the quake at a depth of about 5 miles. Its impact alert level was listed as yellow, meaning some damage is possible.

The National Tsunami Warning Center said there was no tsunami warning, advisory, watch or threat from the earthquake.

Fort Bragg police, about 50 miles west of the epicenter on California’s North Coast, said they were monitoring the situation and that no damage had been reported there. Mendocino County added that it’s not aware of any major damage, but crews were continuing to assess the area.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said he has been briefed on the earthquake. The governor also noted that more than 1 million Californians received the ShakeAlert, “giving them vital seconds to drop, cover, and hold on.”

“As we say, it’s not a matter of if, but when the next earthquake will occur. I encourage all Californians to download the MyShake app and allow emergency alerts on their cell phones to receive these timely notifications,” Newsom said in a statement released by his office.

A preliminary 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Venezuela on Wednesday evening, triggering tsunami advisories in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Moments after the Venezuela earthquake, a preliminary 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the east coast of Japan.

Redwood Valley is located about 120 miles north of San Francisco, and about 140 miles northwest of Sacramento.

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.

Student chosen to walk out World Cup players for pre-match ceremonies

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Sara Donchey

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    SAN RAFAEL, California (KPIX) — Nothing makes Giselle Avelar happier than being on the soccer field.

The fourth-grader from San Rafael discovered her passion for soccer after she saw her older sister play, and decided that she would give the sport a try herself. From the second she stepped out onto the field, she was hooked.

“(I love) the happiness I see on my teammates faces, and the passing, making goals, everything about it,” Avelar said.

Avelar is a part of an extracurricular program run by America SCORES Bay Area, a nonprofit that allows students to learn and play the sport of soccer, as well as honing some of their academic skills through poetry. Her family hails from El Salvador, and her father Oscar has loved the sport of soccer since he was a young child.

But for many Bay Area families, playing soccer is a luxury that is out of reach. Many club teams around the Bay Area charge upwards of $3,000 per year in club fees, plus uniform costs, making year-round soccer out of the question for working families.

America SCORES allows children to play regardless of their family’s ability to pay those high costs or travel.

America SCORES Bay Area Executive Director Colin Schmidt says the organization was founded after the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It was the last time the tournament was held in the United States, and is broadly credited with popularizing the sport in America.

“After the ’94 World Cup we had five schools and 150 kids,” Schmidt said. “Fast forward to today, 32 years later to the 2026 World Cup — in the Bay Area we’re at 180 schools with about 7,000 kids. We could fill a stadium with the people that we’ve touched.”

America SCORES Bay Area was tasked with selecting 11 of its Bay Area players for a chance to participate in the Quaker Player Escort Program. Quaker and Common Goal partnered to find young people all over the country to escort players onto the pitch during pre-match ceremonies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

SCORES wanted to highlight some of its exemplary student athletes, and told Giselle that she would be one of the lucky young people walking hand-in-hand with the players ahead of Thursday’s group stage matchup between Paraguay and Australia at Levi’s Stadium.

“I was so in shock,” Avelar said. “I was excited but also like nervous at the same time because of the camera and just everybody looking at me in the middle of the field, standing next to the best soccer player ever.”

Avelar’s father and her family are planning to watch Giselle on television at the beginning of the match Thursday, and said they were honored that she would be given such a unique opportunity.

“My kid walking in that field is going to be like the greatest experience,” said her father, Oscar Avelar. “We are just going to be so happy for her and our friends and family who are watching are going to be happy for her too.”

The match kicks off Thursday at 7:00 p.m. PST.

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At least 6 injured, hazmat teams deployed after water plant explosion

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By KTBS Staff

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    LOGANSPORT, Louisiana (KTBS) — First responders and hazardous materials teams remain on the scene of an explosion at the Logansport Water Plant on Water Plant Road.

The blast triggered a chemical release, but emergency officials confirmed the spill has been contained to the immediate facility. No evacuation orders have been issued for the surrounding area. There have been at least six people injured, with one injury being major.

Authorities have shut down through traffic on the roads immediately surrounding the water plant at 189 Water Plant Road to clear space for emergency vehicles and crews.

Local officials stated that the municipal water system continues to operate normally, and there is no evidence of a widespread threat to the community’s water supply. However, residents may experience brief service disruptions later today as repair crews inspect the facility and fix the damage.

“We understand incidents such as this can cause concern, but we want to reassure the public that the situation is being closely monitored by local officials and emergency responders,” a spokesperson said. “There is no known threat to the surrounding community at this time beyond the immediate response area.”

The public is urged to avoid the vicinity to give first responders room to work and to monitor official channels for further updates.

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A cat at a shelter is helping dogs find forever homes

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Itay Hod

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    SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — At Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco, an unlikely employee is helping increase a dog’s chance to get adopted.

His name is Little Dude. His title? Director of Feline Relations.

Every morning he has breakfast, a quick grooming, and he’s off to work. His human and coworker, Koreena Walsh, says he was born for this.

“He brings a lifetime of experience to this role,” she said.

His job is to give each dog a cat scan to help determine how open they are to living with a feline.

“The number one question we get from adopters is, ‘Is this dog good with cats?'” Walsh said.

A building full of dogs may sound like a hostile work environment. But Little Dude lives in a diverse household, speaks fluent canine, and has plenty of paws-on experience.

“Every time I bring a new foster dog home, he’s the first cat to greet them,” Walsh said.

At a time when shelters are looking for every possible way to help pets find homes, Muttville is thinking outside the litter box.

Gabriella Jew, Muttville’s Senior Program Director, says the idea is simple: the more cat-approved homes Little Dude can open up, the more lives get saved. To pass the test, walk in, stay calm, and whatever you do, don’t chase the cat.

As for Little Dude, he has a matching uniform, his own office, and a hefty salary paid entirely in treats.

“I think Little Dude does get a 401(k),” Walsh said jokingly.

After a long day at the office, Little Dude heads home for a well-earned cat nap.

“All in all, a good shift,” Walsh said. “We’re excited and ready to come back again.”

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University of Michigan hits milestone for student move-out donations, waste reduction

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Jack Springgate

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    Michigan (WWJ) — CBS News Detroit is taking a closer look at a pretty impressive accomplishment by the University of Michigan in reducing campus waste.

The university collected a record number of donated materials during spring student move-out and kept 90% of waste from commencement events out of landfills. Only 217 pounds of waste from U of M commencement events ended up in landfills, compared to the 1,850 pounds of compost they collected that now has an opportunity to be used again.

That compost ends up at places like Spurt Industries in Wixom, and it’s made up of more than just food waste.

“Our plates, and our silverware, and our cups, and even the wrappers that our cookies come in. Everything is able to be composted at the end of the event,” said Kenzie Winslow, program manager of the U of M Dining sustainability program.

That compost transforms into nutrient-rich soil, so instead of feeding us, it feeds plants.

“This would have otherwise gone to a landfill and produced excess methane, whereas here, that organic material is able to be combined in a specific blend to feed the microbes,” said Spurt Industries soil scientist Doug Keto.

That finished product is used all across Southeast Michigan, from landscaping to gardening to filling the pots of plants back on the University of Michigan campus.

“It’s really fun to see this big circle of life coming back to life on our campus,” Winslow said.

As students moved out of the dorms in the spring, the university collected a whopping 32,000 pounds of clothing, household items, shoes, bedding, and nonperishable food, setting a new record for move-out donations.

“It’s great that we got the record high amount, but it also got us thinking about how we can get some of these materials used more on campus in the fall. A lot of these materials, they have a lot of life left in them,” said UM Office of Campus Sustainability and Innovation program manager Alison Richardson.

One way they hope to do that is by saving some items over the summer and making them available at the campus’s free store, so students can use what’s already here instead of bringing in new items in the fall.

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.

Southern Minnesota lake cruise offers peek at plethora of pelicans

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By John Lauritsen

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — It’s a lake cruise in the middle of town, and there’s more than pelicans on the Pelican Breeze tour in Albert Lea, Minnesota.

“I like the feeling of closeness. I like the feeling of community. It’s just a beautiful spot in the world to be,” said Nancy Greiner.

Marion Ross thought so too. The mom on the ’70s sitcom “Happy Days” once called Albert Lea her home. Her bronze bench sits a block from Albert Lea Lake.

Nearly 30 years ago, Pelican Breeze Cruises began taking people on tours across the lake.

“We are traveling about 3 miles per hour in about 3 feet of water,” said Greiner.

They use a pontoon with a smokestack and a paddlewheel. Greiner, who is the first mate, will tell you that you only have to travel about 10 yards before you learn how the boat got its name.

“Never get tired of seeing the pelicans,” Greiner said.

That’s probably a good thing, because they’re everywhere.

What you see on the lake is essentially a pelican bachelor party. They are pretty much all males. The females don’t often venture to Albert Lea Lake because there are no islands, which is typically where they make their nests.

When the birds get together on the water, it’s called a pelican pod.

“When they are in the air, it’s a squadron,” said Greiner.

A squadron whose crew members have 8-foot wingspans. The birds use their beaks to scoop up whatever comes their way.

“They eat all kinds of fish. They eat crawdads,” said Greiner.

And they’re not alone. Eagles, egrets, cormorants and herons are fishing, too.

“I get out more in one year than I have gotten out in my entire life,” said Bruce Ness.

Ness has been a captain for 15 years. His tour also takes visitors close to the Interstate 35 bridge, which sees 25,000 vehicles cross it each day. But nature is the real reason people step on his pontoon.

“You hope they get the appreciation for kind of a gem that we have right in our community,” said Ness.

His first mate feels the exact same way.

“They just come out and enjoy and relax and have fun just being on the lake,” said Greiner.

Pelican Breeze cruises are an hour and a half and they take place every Friday and Sunday.

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Rep. Al Green Helps Put Housing Justice on the National Roadmap with Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Francis Page Jr.

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    June 24, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — HOUSTON, TX — In Washington, D.C., where bipartisanship can sometimes feel rarer than a cool August breeze in Houston, Congressman Al Green helped deliver a major victory for families, veterans, disaster survivors, and communities still fighting for a fair shot at the American Dream.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Rep. Green, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, announced that several of his legislative priorities were included in H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a sweeping bipartisan housing package that passed both the U.S. House and Senate. The legislation won overwhelming support in Congress — a significant sign that housing affordability, disaster recovery, and homeownership opportunity are not red or blue issues. They are kitchen-table issues.

For Houston and Harris County, this legislation hits close to home. Around here, families know that the word “recovery” is not theoretical. From hurricanes and floods to economic shocks and rising housing costs, Houstonians have had to rebuild more than homes. We have had to rebuild confidence, stability, and sometimes entire neighborhoods. That is why inclusion of Rep. Green’s Reforming Disaster Recovery Act is especially meaningful.

The provision would authorize and reform the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program, better known as CDBG-DR, for three years. Translation for everyday readers: when disaster strikes, communities should not have to wait in bureaucratic limbo while paperwork takes the scenic route. This reform aims to bring more certainty, transparency, and flexibility to disaster recovery funding, especially for low- and moderate-income communities too often left waiting at the back of the line.

Rep. Green framed the moment plainly and powerfully: “Housing is a matter of economic justice.” That sentence should be printed, framed, and placed on every policymaker’s desk. Because housing is not just about roofs, bricks, and mortgage rates. Housing is about whether a child has a stable place to study, whether a senior can age with dignity, whether a veteran can use earned benefits, and whether working families can plant roots without being priced out of their own future.

The bill also includes Green’s Systemic Risk Authority Transparency Act, which would require reports from the Government Accountability Office and federal banking regulators when the systemic risk exception is invoked after major bank failures. In plain English: when big financial decisions are made in moments of crisis, the public deserves answers. Accountability should not disappear behind mahogany doors and financial jargon.

Another people-first provision is the VA Home Loan Awareness Act, co-led by Congressman Green and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz. It would require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to include a disclosure in the Uniform Residential Loan Application, so veterans are informed of home loan benefits available through the Department of Veterans Affairs. After serving the nation, veterans should not have to stumble upon benefits they earned. They should be clearly informed and fully empowered.

Also included is the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, sponsored by Congressman Mike Flood and co-sponsored by Green, directing HUD to publish best practices for state and local zoning frameworks. That matters because America cannot solve a housing shortage by simply admitting the problem. Communities need practical tools to identify barriers, increase production, and build smarter.

To his credit, Rep. Green also acknowledged leaders across party lines, including House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, Ranking Member Maxine Waters, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren. That list alone tells the story: this was not politics as usual. This was relationship-building, persistence, and the kind of legislative bridgework democracy needs more often.

For Houston Style Magazine readers, the takeaway is clear. Democracy works best when it delivers — not just speeches, but shelter; not just hearings, but help; not just promises, but pathways to ownership and recovery.

And if Washington can find common ground on housing, perhaps there is still room in the national house for hope.

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.

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Owner of Dominion Voting Systems drops $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against MyPillow’s Mike Lindell

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Aki Nace

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — The company formerly known as Dominion Voting Systems agreed to drop a $1.3 billion defamation lawsuit against Mike Lindell, the MyPillow magnate and President Trump ally who has promoted false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

Dominion sued the businessman in 2021, alleging that Lindell knew there was no evidence to support his election conspiracy theories, but used the lies to sell pillows. When he was sued, Lindell told WCCO’s Esme Murphy that he was “very happy” about the lawsuit, saying the truth would come out.

In October 2025, Dominion was acquired by St. Louis-based Liberty Vote, which was founded by former Republican elections director Scott Leiendecker.

According to the arrangement filed in Washington, D.C. district court on Monday, both Liberty and Lindell must pay their own attorney’s fees and expenses.

Lindell, who recently lost the Republican Party endorsement for the Minnesota gubernatorial race, has faced mounting financial issues in recent years. He told the Associated Press in 2023 that he was out of money and owed millions in unspecified legal fees. In January 2025 he was ordered to pay DHL $780,000 after the company said the Shakopee-based MyPillow was in violation of their contract.

A federal judge has also ruled that he defamed voting machine company Smartmatic, as well as a former Dominion employee. A jury awarded the employee $2.3 million in damages.

After the 2020 election, Dominion became the center for several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against Fox News. The company alleged Fox broadcasted unsubstantiated allegations that Dominion’s software manipulated vote counts, and the news organization settled for $787 million.

Dominion also sued Trump ally Rudy Giuliani for $1.3 billion, but the lawsuit ended in September 2025 with an undisclosed settlement.

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Bally’s threatens lawsuit if Chicago keeps video gambling terminals legal, vows to halt $4M licensing payments

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By WBBM Team

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Bally’s casino is warning Chicago aldermen it will sue the city if the City Council does not reverse its decision to legalize video gambling terminals in bars and convenience stores — and the company is offering a deal it says would replace the revenue the city was counting on.

At a committee hearing, Bally’s senior vice president reminded aldermen that a 2022 agreement struck by the Lightfoot administration gave the company a monopoly on virtual slot machines within Chicago city limits. Legalizing video gambling terminals, known as VGTs, outside Bally’s property would render that contract null and void, the company said.

The City Council approved legalizing VGTs as part of its late 2025 budget.

If the contract is voided, Bally’s said it would halt its annual $4 million licensing payments to the city and would no longer honor its commitments to diversity and union hiring.

As an apparent olive branch, the company offered to immediately set up slot machine lounges at O’Hare and Midway airports. Bally’s said that move would effectively replace the $6.8 million in revenue the city was counting on from legalizing VGTs in the 2025 budget.

Bally’s is currently operating out of a temporary location in River West. The company’s permanent casino is still roughly a year away from opening.

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Teenager badly injured after explosive target material detonates prematurely

CNN Newsource on June 25, 2026

By Spencer Burt

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    IRON COUNTY, Utah (KSTU) — A minor was injured and had to be flown to the hospital Wednesday evening after messing around with explosive shooting targets turned into a disaster.

The Iron County Sheriff’s Office said four teenagers were “experimenting with explosive target material” when some of it exploded prematurely. They said this happened in the Desert Mount area west of Cedar City.

One teen suffered minor injuries; the other, a minor of unspecified age, suffered “traumatic” injuries and was transported via LifeFlight helicopter. Officials said he was taken to a hospital in either St. George or Las Vegas.

His exact condition or specific information about his injuries is not known.

Shooting with explosive targets is illegal in many areas, especially on public land, due to their risk of starting wildfires. It was not immediately clear whether this incident happened on land where it’s prohibited.

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.