Santa Cruz County reinstates mask mandate in acute care facilities

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Jazmon DeJarnette

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    SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) — Santa Cruz County will require masks in acute care facilities starting November 1 due to rising respiratory viruses, with the mandate lasting until March 31. The new health order comes as county health leaders warn of increasing respiratory viruses heading into the winter season.

Respiratory virus season is approaching, prompting Santa Cruz County to reinstate masking requirements in acute care facilities.

“We were focused on making sure that people who are at highest risk for either getting respiratory infection or who would have the highest risk for getting really sick were protected,” said Lisa Hernandez, Public Health Officer for the County of Santa Cruz.

This time of year typically sees a rise in infections due to COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. While officials hope not to extend the mandate, they will if necessary.

“We may extend it, though our hope is never to extend the order. If we see that there’s still a lot of COVID or flu or RSV in the community,” Hernandez said.

In addition to masking, individuals are encouraged to protect themselves by washing their hands, covering their coughs, and getting vaccinated.

“One thing I would say is get vaccinated as well,” Hernandez said.

The California Department of Public Health has issued recommendations for COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines, and the state has expanded access to make it easier for people to get vaccinated.

For those hesitant about masking, officials emphasize the importance of community protection.

“Why do I have to do this? I’m not at risk. It’s because you’re helping other people. You’re helping your community members, especially those that are more at risk for getting really ill,” Hernandez said.

Officials urge everyone to keep themselves and others safe during this virus season.

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Wisconsin forester remembered after fatal lightning strike

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Emily Pofahl

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    KEWASKUM, Wis. (WISN) — Adam Zirbel, a 48-year-old state Department of Natural Resources forester, was killed by a lightning strike while working in the New Fane Trail area near Kewaskum on Sept. 22, leaving behind a legacy of conservation and community service.

Lucas Schmidt, who worked with Zirbel, reflected on his colleague’s dedication to preserving Wisconsin’s natural beauty and his impact on the community.

“What we do today isn’t for today. It’s for tomorrow,” Schmidt said.

Zirbel, a forester for more than two decades, worked across the state before settling in Plymouth with his wife and three children. While committed to his work, Schmidt said Zirbel was even more committed to his family, making sure to attend his children’s sports games and spending quality time with his wife.

“Growing his children or growing his relationship with his wife was equally as important as growing those trees,” Schmidt said.

Zirbel spent most of his time over the last eight years in the DNR working in the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, contributing to the preservation and growth of the woods that thousands of Wisconsinites enjoy annually. Zirbel also responded to emergencies, including natural disasters and search and rescue events, as part of the DNR’s incident management team.

“We think in terms of decades and centuries. Most of the time in today’s day and age, we think in terms of minutes and hours.” Schmidt said. “Adam really embodied that. Not only was he growing the next crop of trees, he was growing the next crop of foresters that would tend to his work after, you know, when he was gone.”

The National Weather Service says lightning kills about 20 people every year but injures hundreds more.

“Although extremely rare, this case illustrates the need to take the threat of lightning and the dangers it poses seriously,” said the Washington County Sheriff’s office in a statement posted to social media. “Adam dedicated his life to the service of others as a father, husband, community leader, and DNR forester. We are better off because of Adam’s contributions to society, and he will be missed by many. He died performing a civil service to the people of Wisconsin, and for that, we are all forever grateful for his service.”

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Tulsa officer busts a move responding to noise complaint

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Josh Wallace

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    TULSA, Okla. (KOCO) — A Tulsa officer showed off his best moves after responding to a noise complaint at a recent gathering.

Tulsa police officials said at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 27, police received a noise complaint from a caller who complained “her neighbors had been playing loud music all day,” according to a social media post.

It being the second time officers were called out to the home, Tulsa Police Department Officer Greene issued a nuisance sound citation, but while he was still at the gathering, he decided to get into the groove and bust a move.

“The people out there appreciated his style, and also agreed to turn down the music,” Tulsa Police Department officials said. “Nice moves, Officer Greene!”

After dancing for a few minutes and entertaining those at the home, they agreed to turn down the music and officer Greene was back on the beat. So far, the video has more than 500,000 views on Facebook.

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Couple indicted after 3 children found malnourished in home, hospitalized

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Matthew Dietz

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    ELMWOOD PLACE, Ohio (WLWT) — Two people have been indicted on felony charges after three children were found severely malnourished in an Elmwood Place home, including a 9-year-old boy who was put on life support.

Angel Holland, 32, and Aaron Stalling, 34, are each facing charges of child endangerment and felonious assault.

The investigation began on Sept. 13, when Elmwood Place police responded to a home on Helen Street for a report of a child not breathing.

The 9-year-old boy was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where police say he had a temperature of 80 degrees and weighed 30 pounds.

Police say the child showed signs of physical abuse and was put on life support in critical condition.

Two other siblings in the home, an 8-year-old and 6-year-old, were also taken to Children’s Hospital. A detective in court said the 8-year-old weighed 23 pounds and the 6-year-old weighed 22 pounds.

Hollard is the legal guardian of the children and has been since 2020, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office said. The prosecutor said Stalling is Holland’s boyfriend who lived at the home.

“This appears to be one of the most insidious examples of child abuse that I’ve seen in 25 years,” a Hamilton County prosecuting attorney said in court, while asking for a high bond.

Both were given a $600,000 secured bond on all charges and have been ordered to have no contact with the victims if bond is posted.

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Chatham County commissioner pleads with state to keep brother’s killer behind bars

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Tia Maggio

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    CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WJCL) — A Chatham County commissioner is pleading with the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to keep his brother’s killer in prison — nearly four decades after the crime.

Commissioner Dean Kicklighter says his family was blindsided by a letter notifying them that his brother’s murderer, Christopher Lucas, had been tentatively granted parole.

“I woke up yesterday morning and opened a whole piece of hell out of my mailbox,” Kicklighter said.

Lucas was convicted in the 1987 murder that left 23-year-old Randy Kicklighter dead outside his home at Foss Mobile Homes. Investigators later revealed that Lucas — Randy’s father-in-law — had hired a man, James Edward Smith, to kill him.

Kicklighter still vividly remembers the night his family’s life was shattered.

“He was laying outside beside his truck on his back, shot in his head, and my mother was begging me to go wake him up — that was when all the hell began,” Kicklighter said.

Lucas was sentenced to life in prison. He has served 32 years and been denied parole 11 times. But Georgia law allows parole eligibility for life sentences after seven years. In a statement, the parole board said:

“This offender has been considered for parole according to statute and denied parole eleven times. The tentative grant is not a final decision.”

The board is required to review new information during a 90-day period before making a final ruling. That decision is expected in December. Still, Kicklighter is determined to stop his brother’s killer from being released.

“When a person takes a life, they should atomically be giving up their life — whether that be by the death penalty or spending their entire life in prison,” he said.

The commissioner has taken to social media, urging the public to contact the parole board and ask them to reverse course.

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles says it will make a final decision after the 90-day review period ends.

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Dozens of undocumented migrants flown from Maine to Michigan following detention

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Adam Bartow

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    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WMTW) — Dozens of people detained by United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) in Maine have been flown out of the state.

Border Patrol says on Friday, May 23, they flew 42 detained undocumented migrants on a single flight from Presque Isle to Detroit, Michigan for further removal proceedings.

Maine’s Total Coverage previously reported that Border Patrol agents in Maine made 113 arrests in the month of April, the highest number of immigration arrests made in the state in a single month in nearly 24 years.

CBP said 113 people from 16 countries were arrested in Maine last month after they were accused of living in the United States without legal permission. There have already been more total arrests by CBP in Maine in 2025 than in any year since 2002.

“Houlton Sector Border Patrol Agents work tirelessly to keep our nation and communities secure,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Christopher Kuhn on Friday. “The rise in apprehensions over the course of this year reflects the hard work credited to the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol in carrying out national security priorities with interagency partners. This flight demonstrates those partnerships in action to ensure that individuals illegally present in the U.S. are apprehended and repatriated to their country of origin.”

CBP Home is now offering a voluntary, incentivized process for undocumented migrants in the United States to return to their home country or another country that will accept them. Participants use the CBP Home App to record their intention to voluntarily depart the United States. Eligible migrants may qualify for travel assistance, document help, and de-prioritization for detention and removal while preparing to leave. Any undocumented migrant who uses the app and confirms their departure through the app will receive a $1,000 stipend.

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Methuen forms task force after several spas shut down for human trafficking, code violations

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Emily Maher

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    METHUEN, Mass. (WCVB) — The mayor of Methuen introduced Thursday a new task force designed to hold spas accused of human trafficking accountable, after several businesses were shut down by city inspectors.

Earlier this week, two spas were shuttered, with employees now facing charges and accused of trafficking women for sex.

A warrant is out for the arrest of another employee.

Police said they found living quarters for two women in the basement of one of the spas, Beauty Garden Spa on Wallace Street, after a lengthy investigation.

Methuen Mayor D.J. Beauregard said five spas were shut down and four others closed on their own accord.

“When inspectors arrived at those four locations, they were ghost towns,” Beauregard said.

In a press conference on Thursday, Beauregard said that the newly-formed task force would also hold accountable the people frequenting the spas.

“To the so-called Johns who fuel these crimes: you are not invisible. The city of Methuen is continuing to invest in enhanced law enforcement technology, including new license plate readers and an expanded public camera network,” Beauregard said. “If you engage in this vile activity, we will know who you are, and we will hold you up to public shame.”

Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara said it is possible that letters could be sent to vehicle registration addresses of those who visited the spas.

“We’re currently exploring sending written notifications to the homes of registered owners of vehicles repeatedly observed at locations known or expected to be involved in human trafficking,” McNamara said.

He also said that some of the women forced to work at the spas have been taken to New York.

A website has been launched to provide support and resources to these victims.

The task force came as positive news to Methuen residents like Beth Foote, who saw suspicious activity at the spa in her neighborhood and called the police.

“I am thrilled that this is happening,” Foote said. “We have serious people doing serious things about serious problems.”

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‘We are ready’: Already facing challenges, the Maryland Food Bank prepared to meet an increased need

CNN Newsource on October 3, 2025

By Breana Ross

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    BALTIMORE (WBAL) — The Maryland Food Bank and its partners across the state are bracing for a potential increase in food insecurity as the government shutdown continues.

The groups are working to meet the need if the shutdown lasts for a prolonged period of time.

“At this point, what we’re doing is we’re making sure we’re having a lot of good communication with our partner network,” said Anne Wallerstedt, vice president of government relations and strategic initiatives at the Maryland Food Bank. “We have about 800 partners located all across the state. Making sure that they know that we are ready in case they have an increased need.”

The potential increased need comes as the Maryland Food Bank has already lost around $4.5 million in federal funding. At the same time, Maryland is already seeing a growing need.

“We know that Marylanders were already facing economic challenges. One in three Marylanders are at risk of food insecurity just this year,” Wallerstedt said.

Wallerstedt expects the number of people at risk of food insecurity to grow as the shutdown continues.

“Realistically, once paychecks start going away, when public benefits start to see sort of a rollback in any way, that’s really what we’re preparing for,” she said.

The National WIC Association anticipates that the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, has enough funding to remain open for about one or two weeks.

In a statement, the group said: “The timing of this shutdown at the start of the new fiscal year puts WIC at risk of rapidly running out of funds. This failure needlessly jeopardizes the health and nutrition of millions of pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children who rely on WIC.”

A prolonged shutdown could also impact SNAP benefits.

The food bank is no stranger to filling in the gaps, having experienced the 35-day government shutdown that started in 2018 and carried into 2019, during which the food bank set up pop-up food pantries. They’re prepared to do that again if needed.

“If need be, we can do targeted food distribution events and really make sure the food is going into the right geographic areas in the state and for the right populations as well,” Wallerstedt said.

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Fenly Foxen
Fenly.Foxen@cnn.com
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Freight train derails in city of Industry, spilling packages onto tracks

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Dean Fioresi

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    California (KCAL, KCBS) — A freight train derailed in the city of Industry early Thursday morning, causing dozens of packages to spill onto the tracks and force a large cleanup effort.

The derailment was reported at around 7:20 p.m. in the Union Pacific rail yard located in the 1700 block of Arenth Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters said that they were initially called to the scene for reports of downed electrical wires, but when they arrived they found the derailed train that had knocked over several power poles.

Fifteen cars derailed during the incident, which remains under investigation. No passenger cars were attached to the train.

No injuries were reported and despite a hazardous materials team being called to the scene, there was no word of any spillage from the derailment.

“Cleanup is underway and the incident is under investigation,” said a statement from a Union Pacific spokesperson.

SkyCal flew over the spot of the incident, where the rail cars could be seen laying on the side just off the tracks. One of the cars appeared to have split open from the fall. It was surrounded by packages that were strewn across the ground.

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Man arrested after calling 911 44 times, harassing dispatchers, police say

CNN Newsource on October 2, 2025

By Pat Reavy, KSL.com

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    OREM, Utah (KSL) — A Taylorsville man is facing charges after police say he called 911 more than 40 times, was “vulgar and profane” with dispatchers, and at one point made reference to the killing of Charlie Kirk.

John Wayne Pickett, 41, was charged Thursday in 4th District Court with emergency reporting abuse, a second-degree felony; electronic communication harassment, a class B misdemeanor; and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.

On Sept. 28, police say Pickett called 911 in Orem to report that he had been assaulted.

“When the dispatcher asked for additional information, (Pickett) became vulgar and profane, insulting the dispatcher,” according to charging documents. “Over the course of about an hour and a half, (he) made 44 calls to 911.”

After first claiming he was being assaulted, he then alleged he was a victim of sexual assault, theft and “eventually claiming that his child was being withheld from him illegally,” the charges state. “Throughout his calls, (Pickett) was insulting, made sexually suggestive comments, mentioned a recent shooting in Orem of a national figure, and implied shooting officers.”

A police booking affidavit further states that “he has previously made overt threats to officers and stated he would shoot them if they knocked on his door.”

He claimed the crimes were happening at an address in Orem, but when police went there, they found nothing. Police eventually traced Pickett’s calls to a storage unit near 1450 W. 800 North in Orem, the affidavit says.

“I located John standing outside of his storage unit … and ordered him to the ground. John had his phone in one hand, actively on a call with dispatch, and an open beer in the other,” the arresting officer wrote.

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