Category: CNN Regional

By Tia Maggio

Click here for updates on this story

    Georgia (WJCL) — Two Georgia senators are pressing federal officials for answers following a series of deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, including two that occurred in Georgia this year.

Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock sent a letter Tuesday to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, calling for immediate information about the deaths and a plan to prevent further fatalities.

In May, 68-year-old Abelardo Avellaneda-Delgado died while being transported to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Weeks later, 45-year-old Jesus Molina-Veya was found dead at the same facility in what officials ruled a suicide. These deaths mark the 13th at Stewart since 2006, including three suicides.

In their letter, the senators wrote:

“We write with serious alarm regarding the rise in the number of deaths in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody nationwide… We request that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE immediately provide information about these individuals’ deaths and about the [administration’s] plan to prevent further fatalities.”

The letter also highlights a troubling history at Stewart, citing allegations of medical neglect, solitary confinement, and overcrowding. Local advocacy group Migrant Equity Southeast says similar concerns exist at the Folkston Detention Center.

“Generally, what conditions look like is the lack of proper medical attention, a lack of decent food,” said Eduardo Delgado, civic and advocacy coordinator for Migrant Equity Southeast.

Nationwide, ICE has confirmed 14 detainee deaths so far this year, the highest number recorded since 2020. Advocates say each death affects not just the individual, but entire families.

“We’re talking about 14 families that were affected by this. I think that the administration really needs to take a look at this issue,” said Delgado

Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter called the senators’ claims misleading, stating,

“Having toured the ICE Processing Center in Folkston, I can assure you that the Trump administration] is prioritizing safety.”

ICE said in a statement to WJCL 22:

“Senators Ossoff and Warnock stayed quiet as the Biden administration lost 450,000 unaccompanied migrant children and opened our border to terrorists and gang members. Their silence on the demonization of federal law enforcement by their colleagues is equally as deafening. Just earlier this year Sen Ossoff released a “report” filled with false claims and inaccuracies. It is clear the Senator is now only taking an interest in this subject matter for political purposes. All in-custody deaths are tragic, taken seriously, and are thoroughly investigated by law enforcement. ICE takes its commitment to promoting safe, secure, humane environments for those in our custody very seriously. DHS responds to official correspondence through official channels.”

The senators have given the agencies until Oct. 31 to provide records, respond to questions, and outline a plan to prevent future deaths in ICE custody.

Please note: 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 Christian Petersen, Carrie Hodgin

Click here for updates on this story

    AVERY COUNTY, North Carolina (WXII) — When Helene slammed Avery County, one man found himself in the fight of his life.

First, raging floodwaters washed away the only bridge connecting him to the outside world, but then something even worse happened.

Tim Buchanan, 66, narrowly escaped a landslide on the morning of Sept. 27, 2024. He would spend the next 10 months finding ways to cross the Toe River after his bridge washed out. “I kept watching the water rise, “he said.

Buchanan watched from his front porch as the storm raged and debris started floating down the river. “Large trees, huge oak trees. Yeah. Big round was coming down the river, parts of houses. It would just be lumber and stuff by the time it got here,” he said.

Buchanan jokingly said that he lives on the wrong side of the river. Like so many folks in this part of Avery County, a small bridge led from his property to the highway.

“There were trees and stuff stuck up in the old bridge, where you could tell it was still there. And then the next minute, there weren’t any trees stuck in it, and I knew my bridge was gone,” he said.

But that wasn’t the end of Buchanan’s troubles. “I heard a sound and went out my back door, and there were trees coming like this, and I kept looking.”A landslide was barreling towards him and his home. “And then I saw rolling rocks, trees, and mud. But I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. I couldn’t run for watching what I was seeing, and I finally ran and got out of the way. But if I didn’t run, it would have, it would have gotten me for sure.”

With no power, internet, or cell service, Buchanan had no way to share with his daughter that he was alive and that his bridge was out.

“Just like it’s a dream, a nightmare,” he said. He also had no way to get help.”A couple of days later, she made it. She made it down, and I saw them, you know, they were yelling at me from the road, and I said, I’m alive.”

Buchanan spent the next several days walking over a mile through the woods to town when he needed supplies. When the water receded, he would walk through the river to the other side. Eventually, volunteers helped him build a small footbridge so he could cross the river.

“It was, it was hard, you know, I didn’t get out a whole lot. Mostly just staying home,” Buchanan said.

It would take 10 months before Buchanan, along with help from several nonprofit organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and the Appalachian Recovery Coalition, built him a new bridge.

“I never did clean the mud off the window. Just a memory I wasn’t ready to shake yet,” he said.

Buchanan’s back porch is also fixed, but the emotional scars from that day will take longer to heal.

“It just feels like I’m blessed beyond what I should be. And other people are suffering beyond what they should be,” he said.

There’s a nonprofit organization, Bridges for Avery, that’s helping folks like Tim who can’t afford to rebuild their bridges.

Please note: 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 Rachel Williams

Click here for updates on this story

    FORT PIERCE, Florida (WPBF) — A Florida man is recovering after surviving a shark attack while spearfishing off the coast of the Bahamas during a fishing-trip-turned-nightmare.

Eddie Jarmakowicz from Riviera Beach was diving during a three-day fishing trip to Grand Cay on Aug. 16 when he was bitten by a shark. The attack occurred just offshore and left him with serious injuries to his left hand.

“I never saw the shark that attacked me, but my wrist was hanging down, and I could see flesh, so obviously that was a concern. I swam back to the boat, and the whole rescue started from then,” Jarmakowicz said.

There were four people in his group at the time — two in the water and two aboard the boat. The other diver in the water said the type of shark that bit Jarmakowicz was a reef shark about 6 feet long.

He recalls, “It came from behind me, turned and grabbed the fish, and unfortunately got my hand as well, and then it swam behind me and my friend tried to poke it away with his spear a couple of times, and then it swam off.”

Because they were offshore, it took them about 45 minutes to return to land. The local emergency facility on the island wasn’t equipped to treat his injuries.

“Then we started trying to make plans to get back to the United States. Fortunately, there was someone who had a plane on Big Grand that offered to fly me home. From Grand to Stuart, Florida was the closest route, so we flew here. I was trauma-hawked to the hospital,” he said.

When Jarmakowicz arrived at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, his hand had been tightly wrapped in a tourniquet for more than four hours. Trauma surgeon Dr. Aleta Paschal said the extent of the injury was immediately alarming.

“He had a major injury where we consider it a mangled extremity, multiple muscles that were exposed, tendons that were involved. I could see down to his bone and his forearm. I slowly brought down the tourniquet just to see if the vascular flow was affected, and thankful to God it wasn’t,” Paschal said.

After losing about a liter of blood, Jarmakowicz underwent emergency surgery. Due to the complexity of the wound, Paschal consulted with a plastic surgeon to assist with the operation.

“We looked at all the tendons, and it was a very complex repair. I believe eight tendons that needed to be repaired in his forearm. There were also smaller tendons, because the shark had another bite towards the wrist,” Paschal said.

Jarmakowicz was discharged from the hospital the next day. Doctors say he’s fortunate not only to have survived but also to still have movement in all of his fingers.

As he begins a six- to eight-month physical therapy recovery, Jarmakowicz is already thinking about his return to the water with added precautions, sharing what he learned with others.

“Be conscious of sharks in the area, be conscious of barracudas in the area, have a tourniquet on your boat, and have a way to contact emergency care, whether that’s a satellite phone or another phone,” he said.

Doctors called the outcome a miracle, given the severity of the injury and how quickly he received care after being flown back to the U.S.

Please note: 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

Click here for updates on this story

    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WTVM) — Did you know the person recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for having the longest natural beard locks of a living person lives in Birmingham?

Rudolf Martino has beard locks measuring 3 feet, 6 inches. His beard is still growing after more than 10 years.

“It takes two to three days to dry. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour to wash it thoroughly,” Martino said. “Every day I kind of just put moisturizer in it, but when it’s time to shampoo it, I have certain shampoos and conditioners that I use.”

Martino said growing his beard has become part of a spiritual commitment, and winning the record signifies acceptance for his unique look and beliefs.

“Being an African-American, there’s stereotypes about locked hair,” he said. “For me personally, I was able to bring my own distinctive look and beliefs into the world and be accepted. It means a lot to me that I don’t have to change who I am to be accepted.”

He achieved the recognition on August 4, 2025.

Please note: 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 Gail Paschall-Brown

Click here for updates on this story

    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — Orlando police released on Tuesday surveillance and bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Benjamin Hale, 46, who charged at officers with scissors on Aug. 22 at 3:40 a.m. near West Amelia Street and Chatham Avenue.

The incident occurred after police responded to a disturbance between two roommates, although Hale was not involved in the initial dispute.

The video shows officers repeatedly commanding Hale to drop the weapon, which was later identified as a pair of scissors.

Roy Bedard, a former law enforcement officer who provides training in the public safety sector, reviewed the footage and noted, “There’s a lot of things happening there, first of all, the element of surprise.”

Bedard explained that Hale did not rush the officers but walked towards them, taking two to three steps before the shot was fired.

“He doesn’t rush the officers, but he does walk towards the officers, and I had to go through slow motion a few times to see he takes two to three steps towards the officers when the shot is fired,” Bedard said.

When asked if a Taser could have been used instead of a gun, Bedard said, “With the benefit of hindsight perhaps,” but added that a Taser against a weapon is not a good tactical choice.

He further explained, “We’re uncertain about what he’s going to do. We don’t know where he came from. We saw him bolt up to the door. He quickly turned around, still with the scissors in his hand, and refused to comply with officers’ orders. The best solution for that is to address that deadly threat with deadly force.”

Benjamin Hale died at the scene.

Orlando police stated that the officers had no prior contact with Hale and that it appeared he had been sleeping in Luminary Green Park near downtown Orlando.

The two officers involved in the shooting were not injured.

As with all officer-involved shootings, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident.

Please note: 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 Nick Catlin

Click here for updates on this story

    ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KOAT) — The FBI returned a historical map to the Mexican government after being reported stolen for more than a decade.

The map titled “Villa de Santa Fe” was presented and handed over to Mexico after it was recovered. The map was reported stolen in 2011. Justin Garris, special agent in charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, took part in the ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 23.

“On behalf of the FBI, it is my honor to return this historical artifact to the people of Mexico,” Garris said. “The FBI is committed to returning stolen art and other objects of cultural and historical significance to the communities to which they belong.”

The ceremony also included research scholars who offered insights into the map’s historical value.

The map is also connected to the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, a historical route that stretched from Mexico City to the San Juan Pueblo. The roadway was used from the late 1500s to the 1880s and was designated a National Historic Trail in 2000.

The planning map was initially named “La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís,” which translates to the royal town of the holy faith of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Please note: 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.