Category: CNN Regional

By John Lauritsen

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    SPOONER, Wisconsin (WCCO) — Walleye openers are just a few weeks away in Wisconsin and Minnesota. That means you’ll see more lines in the lakes, and more fish in the hatchery.

“We have the capacity to raise a lot of fish here at the hatchery,” said Ruth King, an educator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

King is talking about thousands upon thousands of little walleyes and muskies.

As the Gov.Thompson Hatchery in Spooner, Wisconsin, celebrates three decades in operation, they’re getting ready for another season of raising fish. But first, they have to catch them. Not with bait, but with nets.

“Tedious. It takes a long time to fix these nets,” said fish technician Ben Oldenburg.

The nets capture spawning fish for their eggs. They are fertilized in the lake and then taken back to the hatchery, disinfected and put in jars where they hatch into holding tanks.

“They’ll spend a couple of days in the tanks and then we spend all summer feeding them in our ponds out back,” said King.

There are 46 rearing ponds at the hatchery. In September, the fish are taken out of the tanks and relocated to lakes and rivers across northwest Wisconsin.

“If you were to draw a line from Hudson to Eau Claire and up to Ironwood, Michigan, that’s roughly the geographic area we cover,” said King.

The entire operation gets support from a pretty unique group: Friends Into Spooner Hatchery, or “FISH.”

“They can see through the murals on the wall the story of how the hatchery works,” said Larry Damann, a FISH board member.

Damann takes guests to the visitor center which has its own fish tales to tell. His group is known for promoting conservation, including their “Adopt a Musky” program where the fish are tagged, and when caught, people can learn where they’ve been and how much they’ve grown.

“Even guys who fish will come here and learn a lot about things they didn’t know about their sport,” said Damann.

When it comes to trophy fish, the goal here isn’t to reel them in but to raise them — creating new generations of fish, and hopefully new generations of anglers.

“I highly recommend stopping anywhere around the fishing opener. We almost always have something to see,” said King.

The hatchery and visitor’s center are open Monday through Friday.

The Wisconsin DNR is also turning the old 1914 hatchery on site into a walk-through museum that will be open to the public.

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 Conor Wight

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    ST. PAUL, Minnesota (WCCO) — If you heard the audio of St. Paul Fire Captain Brian Buxton introducing himself to Department of Natural Resources Officer Annette Schlag, you’d think the pair had just met for coffee.

Instead, Schlag was in a neck brace, lying on the ground in the woods. Buxton had just descended some 130 feet from a hovering helicopter to help her.

“Hey Annette. My name is Brian, I’m a medic with St. Paul,” Buxton said. “We called everything to get you out of here today.”

According to the DNR, Schlag was dismantling an illegal deer hunting stand when she fell about 20 feet on March 30. It happened in the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area near Plainview, east of Rochester.

At first, state trooper Lt. Craig Benz said that local first responders were able to locate the officer and provide care. But when those local firefighters realized Schlag may have internal injuries, they contacted the Minnesota Air Rescue Team (MART). Benz serves as chief pilot, taking off with Buxton and his fellow St. Paul Fire Captain Frank Tate.

The DNR shared video of the rescue. As Benz keeps the chopper steady, Tate mans the winch, helping to lower Buxton to the forest below. Once on the ground, Buxton’s bedside manner takes over. The camera on his helmet captures what he says to Schlag.

“My job is you. That’s my sole job, alright?” Buxton said.

He coaches her as he secures the DNR officer in what’s called an ARES bag; it’s like an enclosed gurney that secures a patient before they are taken up into the sky. Buxton is alongside her as they ascend; Tate is there, hanging out of the helicopter, to bring them inside.

“I don’t think there’s any time for fear,” Tate said, “When you do get a call, it’s very rewarding. We put hundreds if not thousands of hours into training to do this.”

Buxton said that part of that training is helping people feel safe as they are brought skyward.

“If the patient is not in a position to be rescued, we did our job poorly,” Buxton said.

The team brought Schlag to an ambulance waiting in a nearby field. Schlag is now recovering, putting out a statement via the DNR to WCCO.

“On behalf of my husband Ben and I, as well as our friends and family, we want to extend our most heartfelt thanks to all the incredible first responders and medical staff who assisted in the rescue and follow-up medical care. This was certainly unexpected, but we are grateful it didn’t lead to a more undesirable outcome,” Schlag said. “The outpouring of support we have received has been nothing short of incredible.”

Schlag went on to thank eleven agencies involved in emergency response and medicine.

Benz said it’s all a team effort. The equipment is also critical for MART; the helicopter they used in this rescue operation was purchased about one year ago. Benz explained that it has newer technology that ensures they can remain in the air during a rescue, avoiding the process of landing that was required with their previous aircraft.

Benz said that state police use the helicopter often for patrolling work. These kinds of rescue operations happen about 30 times a year, he 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 Conor McGill

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    CITRUS HEIGHTS, California (KOVR) — A normally quiet neighborhood in Citrus Heights is recovering after a weekend Airbnb party grew out of control, causing chaos and costly damage.

According to the homeowner, the property on Dunmore Avenue was rented using a fake profile, allegedly posing as an elderly person.

Video obtained by CBS News Sacramento shows a large crowd gathered at the home, with some people even climbing down from the roof as the situation intensified.

The Citrus Heights Police Department says calls began coming in around 10 p.m. reporting a large gathering in the 6700 block of Dunmore Avenue.

At first, officers believed the home was vacant. After contacting the property owner, they confirmed it was being used as an Airbnb rental.

Law enforcement flooded the area, bringing in a drone and air support to help disperse the crowd.

A neighbor who has lived in the area for three years but did not want to be identified by name said the response was overwhelming.

“They came from all directions… they blocked it off so people could only get out the main street,” the neighbor said.

The same neighbor noted that while parties at short-term rentals can happen, they are typically much smaller.

“A lot of the Airbnb parties that are thrown are not as big… maybe 50 people and they keep it on the low,” the neighbor said.

Despite the size of the crowd and numerous calls for service, police say they did not have legal justification to make arrests, in part because the gathering was taking place at a rented property.

The neighbor said the incident was unlike anything they’ve seen in the typically calm area. They added that more safeguards may be needed to prevent similar situations in the future.

“I definitely think there needs to be an extra step of precaution… I don’t know what the action would be, but there should be something,” he said.

In a statement, Airbnb said it has a strict ban on disruptive parties: “This type of behavior has no home on our platform or in the communities we serve.”

The company says the guest responsible has been suspended and that it is cooperating with law enforcement.

The homeowner says they are now dealing with thousands of dollars in damage and emotional distress following the incident.

Questions remain about how the fake profile was able to book the property. Police say what happens next will likely depend on Airbnb’s investigation.

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 Dean Fioresi

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    KERN COUNTY, California (KCAL, KCBS) — Three Southern California men were arrested for their alleged part in a $1 million Lego heist in the Inland Empire, according to authorities.

Deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Mojave Substation were called to the 400 block of Silver Queen Road on Wednesday, April 8, after learning of suspicious vehicles in the area, according to a news release shared by the department on social media.

“When deputies arrived, two box trucks were seen fleeing the area,” the release said.

Traffic stops were conducted on both vehicles, and deputies were able to identify the suspects as 37-year-old San Bernardino man Jose Lopez, 25-year-old Los Angeles man Ruben Lopez Flores and 35-year-old Chino man Freddy Hernandez Polinar.

Deputies searched both of the box trucks and discovered a large amount of Lego products, and upon searching the surrounding area, found two freight trailers.

“A thorough investigation, deputies discovered the trailers were stolen while in transit from Fort Worth, Texas to Moreno Valley, California,” the release said. “The loss was reported to be approximately $1,000,000 worth of Lego products.”

All three of the suspects were arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, cargo theft and conspiracy. It’s unclear where they were booked.

Deputies said that the stolen freight trailers and the stolen Legos were recovered.

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 Joan Murray

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    CORAL SPRINGS, Florida (WFOR) — Marlon Moraes spent most of his life in the ring, passionate about the sport near and dear to his heart: mixed martial arts. Moraes says he was only nine years old when a friend approached him about learning the sport in his native Brazil, where he says he grew up in poverty.

He was hooked after that, pursuing a lifelong dream of getting to the top. Moraes won a championship title for his weight class division nearly a decade ago, and soon after joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) organization.

Regarded as one of the best mixed martial artists to ever step into the ring, Moraes decided a couple of years ago to pursue a career in law enforcement. He was sworn in as a Coral Springs police officer and now patrols the streets on the night shift.

“Every time I go to work, I want to help someone,” he says. “When the call comes, I want to be the one”.

That community spirit impressed Coral Springs Deputy Chief Ryan Gallagher, who interviewed and ultimately hired Moraes.

“I found a professional, compassionate, charismatic individual who wants to serve the community,” Gallagher said.

Part of that service is passing along everything Moraes has learned to the next generation of would-be fighters at his Coral Springs studio.

Moraes says his wife and kids keep him grounded. His sport remains the center of everything: “the friendship, to be a good teammate, to be a good son, father, husband. It’s everything—you bring the whole circle.”

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 La’Tasha Givens

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — While most students are spending their spring break relaxing, a group of young women in metro Atlanta is gathered in a classroom for a different kind of lesson, one that serves as both an education and social therapy.

This week marks the 5th annual Youth Aviation Exploration Week, a flagship program hosted by the Motherless Daughters Foundation. Rassalyn Uter created the nonprofit to provide support for young girls and teens navigating life after the loss of their mothers.

Whether a mother is absent due to death, incarceration, mental illness, or emotional detachment, the foundation steps in to provide the guidance typically found at home.

“Losing a mother is very hard. So imagine losing her so young,” Uter said.

The program caters to the unique needs of each girl, offering everything from grief therapy and career counseling to getting them ready for prom.

Hailey Buggs joined the foundation in 2022 following the loss of her mother. The grief, she says, led to a brief depression that made it difficult to focus on school or her future.

“I was honestly thinking about what my life would be,” Hailey shared. “It made me feel like, why did she have to go so early? Why did that happen?”

Recognizing her grief and her potential, the foundation’s mentors worked to help Hailey find her voice. When she expressed a desire to overcome her shyness, they enrolled her in Toastmasters. The result was a newfound confidence that would prove integral to her success in the air and on the ground.

This week, that support system took Hailey and her peers to Hartsfield-Jackson International, Atlanta Regional/Falcon Field, and Fulton County Airport/Charlie Brown Field.

The girls received personal training from a fleet of industry professionals, including pilots, aerospace engineers, and air traffic controllers. avionic technicians and more.

The highlight of the experience was the Discovery Flight, where the students moved beyond the hangar and into the pilot’s seat.

“They’re actually flying the plane with a licensed certified flight instructor,” Uter said. “It’s so exciting for them and all of us.”

For Hailey, the experience has been a powerful reminder that she doesn’t have to navigate life’s turbulence alone. She says her “mother mentors” consistently motivate her to pursue her goals, proving that her past losses do not define her future.

“That push made me want to strive harder,” Hailey said. “I may fall, this is not the end for me.”

As the week concludes, these young women will walk off the tarmac with more than just a new perspective; each will receive a special aviation certification for students, a tangible reminder that, for them, the sky is truly the limit.

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 Kathryn Merck

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    MILWAUKEE (WDJT) — A birthday card is bringing anything but celebration for a Milwaukee 19-year-old and her mother.

Essence Barrow-Lee says she was pulled over on Milwaukee’s northwest side by an officer with the Wisconsin State Patrol on Feb. 2. Through her own video of the arrest she sent to CBS 58, an officer asked Barrow-Lee to step out of her vehicle. When she refused, the officer broke through her window to remove Barrow-Lee from the vehicle, according to Barrow-Lee.

“I was scared,” Barrow-Lee said. “I already have bad anxiety, so it just worsens everything.”

Online court records show Barrow-Lee was ticketed for excessive speeding and lacking vehicle registration. The WisDOT Office of Public Affairs said the Wisconsin State Patrol arrested her for obstruction.

Barrow-Lee and her mother, Jennifer Lee, say they believe the force used by the officer was excessive given the two tickets she ended up receiving.

“I really want him to have some type of consequence,” Barlow-Lee said.

Lee filed a complaint with the Wisconsin State Patrol about the arrest. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Office of Public Affairs said they are investigating the complaint.

Of all the things Barrow-Lee was expecting in the mail after the arrest, what she ended up receiving was not one of them: a birthday card signed by “Wisconsin State Patrol.”

“It had confetti all through the card, so when you opened it, it was nothing but a mess,” Barrow-Lee said. “It was a joke.”

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Barrow-Lee’s mother, Jennifer Lee said.

The WisDOT Office of Public Affairs said Wisconsin State Patrol did not send the individual a birthday card. The agency told CBS 58 it believes the card came from somewhere outside of Wisconsin State Patrol.

The entire situation is frightening Barrow-Lee.

“I am scared. I feel like I’m being followed. Every time I leave the house, I’m checking up and down the street to make sure cars are not just sitting and doing unusual things,” Barrow-Lee said. “I’m just more cautious now.”

Lee says she is reaching out to other agencies to help figure out where the card came from and bring some sense of justice to her daughter.

“I don’t know where to go with this and I don’t know what to do with it,” Lee 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.