Category: CNN Regional

By Penelope Anderson

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    TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT) — Police have released new details about Saturday’s mass shooting at an In-N-Out restaurant, identifying the suspect as 24-year-old Chad Williams and confirming he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twin Falls Police Chief Matthew Hicks said officers received multiple 911 calls just before 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with dispatchers hearing screams and gunfire as first responders rushed to the scene.

Three people were killed and seven others were injured in the shooting. Of the injured, two have been treated and released, three are in stable condition and two are in critical condition, Hicks said.

The identities of the victims have not been released while families continue to be notified.

Investigators believe Williams acted alone. Hicks said social media claims identifying another individual as the suspect were false.

“We understand there are many questions and we will try to answer as many of those in time as we can,” Hicks said. “However, because some details cannot be released at this stage, doing so would compromise our investigation.”

An off-duty Idaho State Police trooper and an armed citizen returned fire at Williams during the shooting. Investigators believe those actions forced the gunman away from the crowded area and likely prevented additional casualties.

“We want to take a moment and commend the actions of the off-duty officer and the citizen and their heroic action to stop this incident,” Hicks said. “We believe their actions helped drive the suspect away from the scene, preventing further casualties.”

Investigators are still processing evidence and interviewing witnesses. The FBI is assisting with the investigation and has established a digital portal where anyone with photos, videos or other evidence from Saturday’s shooting is asked to submit it.

“We have committed the full weight of our resources to the Twin Falls Police Department, deploying every investigative and intelligence tool at our disposal,” said Robert, whose last name was not provided in the script.

Victim advocates and crisis counselors remain available for those impacted.

Crisis counselors are available for people who witnessed or were affected by Saturday’s shooting at the Twin Falls In-N-Out, according to Lori Stewart, public information officer for the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office.

About 50 therapists are on site at Rock Creek Elementary School, 850 Federation Road in Twin Falls, according to a KMVT reporter at the scene.

Dozens of people have already received support.

The free counseling services are available to anyone affected by the shooting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Services will also be offered from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the same location.

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 Jordan Scheufler

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    TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT) — A Dick’s Sporting Goods employee says he came face to face with the shooter during an active shooter incident and narrowly escaped after the suspect fired and missed him.

Braxton Stuebe said his shift started normally until he heard an unfamiliar sound.

“I kind of noticed like a ringing in my ear and I asked what it was and they said it was the alarm going off,” Stuebe said.

He said he initially dismissed it, as the alarm had gone off before. That changed when a group of people rushed into the store.

“A storm of people come in, like 5, 10 people come in and specifically this lady, she was yelling, there’s an active shooter, there’s an active shooter, running through the store, letting everybody know,” Stuebe said.

Stuebe said he began directing people toward the back of the store, where a locked door was the only way out. He said he located a manager and pushed through the crowd to get the door unlocked.

He and a coworker then ran toward a hotel under construction near the canyon. That is when Stuebe said he spotted a man near the visitor center.

“I saw the gun and I kind of just froze. I put my hands up and that’s when he pointed the gun directly at me,” Stuebe said.

Stuebe said he tried to stay calm and talk to the suspect.

“The only thing I was really thinking was, don’t try and make any sudden movements, don’t try and run. Just hopefully talk to him and hopefully he can change his mind,” Stuebe said.

“I said, I have a family. I said, you don’t have to do this. I’ll tell you whatever you want. I’ll do anything,” he said.

Stuebe said the suspect appeared to become emotional during the exchange.

“He started to like tear up a bit, it seemed like. And kind of just got like emotional, it seemed like. And he said to me, just get away from me, man. And a stuttering voice, like as if he was crying almost,” Stuebe said.

As Stuebe backed away, he said the suspect turned and fired in his direction.

“He turns back around and kind of has a firearm on his hip. As he’s walking backwards, he fires a shot towards me. Thankfully he had missed me. We decided to go to the sidewalk on Blue Lakes and we just started waving our hands trying to stop traffic after we went into Best Buy and called our parents,” Stuebe said.

Stuebe’s father, Chad Stuebe, said he raced across town after receiving the call.

“It’s not a situation you should be in as a parent. I just wanted to get there and get him home safe. There’s families in the area that aren’t getting to sit down with their kids or their loved ones,” Chad Stuebe 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 Ryan Hill

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    TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT) — The aftermath of the shooting has left many in the community feeling scared and confused. It’s why nearly 50 crisis counselors gathered to provide mental health help for free to those who need it.

Melissa Osen, the owner of Chance for Change said that Lori Stewart with the Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office saw a need and mobilized other local leaders. They decided to offer crisis therapy services and therapy dogs at Rock Creek Elementary School. Osen said dozens of people attended with most in a state of disbelief.

“It’s kind of sinking in for people, that this happened here in our community, and that concern people have,” Osen said.

The therapy sessions help people understand the emotions that come after a traumatic event like this.

“This is something that most of us have never seen in our lifetime especially here in Twin Falls and we’re just trying to help people normalize what they are feeling, these reactions that they are having, these feelings, how it’s showing up for them. These are normal feelings they are feeling to a very abnormal event,” Osen said.

For someone like Samuel Ferrell, those feelings are powerful. He said he was near the In-N-Out, originally wanting to go there to eat, when he saw it was too crowded.

As Ferrell pulled away, he heard popping sounds and originally thought his tires burst, then he saw people running.

“I remember just seeing people running, screaming, somebody was saying, ‘Shooting! Shooting! Shooting!’ and running the opposite direction of where I was driving to,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell said his first instinct was to try to help, then the police quickly closed off the area. He found himself put on lockdown inside his hotel room, where he remained for hours. He contacted his sister, wife, and parents to let them know he was safe.

Ferrell said that learning more about the victims and being in proximity to the shooting makes this very emotional for him.

“In the moment, you got an adrenaline rush and then when you come off of it, its like an extreme anxiety, depression, anger, being sad, all coming into one and like an atom bomb just blasting and it’s not really an easy scenario to comprehend,” Ferrell said.

Ferrell said he plans to go to counseling in the future and is grateful for the support of his family.

Osen added offering therapy sessions for free helps encourage people to seek help and heal through connection.

“We want this to be available for everyone. And we don’t want anyone to feel, ‘It didn’t happen to me as much, I wasn’t right there, I saw it on something somebody posted.’ If it’s coming up for you if you are thinking about it, if it’s a thought for you, if you can’t get it out of your mind, come in, meet with the amazing therapists that are here,” Osen said.

If you missed the sessions Sunday, Osen said they’ll be back at Rock Creek Elementary School Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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 Blake Phillips

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    TAMPA, Florida (WFTS) — MetroCon 2026, one of the biggest anime conventions in the country, is back in Tampa — and this year, the event has grown bigger than ever.

The convention, held at the Tampa Convention Center, draws thousands of cosplay enthusiasts, artists, vendors, and fans from across the region. This year, lines stretched out the door.

Heidi Craddock, the Director of Exhibits, said the numbers reflect just how much the event has grown.

“We grew from last year definitely we’re about over, I think believe we should break 18,000,” Craddock said.

The economic impact of the convention extends well beyond the convention floor. According to the Tampa Convention Center, tickets and hotel rooms alone historically generate around $3 million — and that does not include what the event brings to vendors.

Sara Pike and Tiffany Ciper own Epicycle Studios, a business built around drawing art and selling at conventions across the country. But MetroCon holds a special place for them.

Ciper has been attending since the early days of the convention, which was first hosted in 2003.

“I’ve been to every single MetroCon, way back when it was in the hotel. I’m pretty sure it was on MLK Street here in town. And I freaking loved it,” Ciper said.

Pike believes the reason fans and vendors keep coming back — and why the convention’s popularity continues to grow — comes down to the community feel inside the exhibit hall.

“There’s not a lot of people selling like generic corporate-made products. It’s mostly people and collectors; yeah, it’s mostly people who made their own stuff, and you’re getting something unique,” Pike said.

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

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    Texas (KTVT) — Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a trailblazing North Texas Republican who became the first woman to serve as Fort Worth’s mayor, has died, officials said Sunday night. She was 83 years old.

The longtime congresswoman wasn’t only the first female mayor of Fort Worth; she was the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first female Republican appropriations chair.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson released the following statement:

“Kay Granger devoted her life to serving her Fort Worth, Texas community — as a teacher and businesswoman, on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and City Council, as Mayor, and in Congress for nearly three decades, where she also served as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service.”

Republican Congressman Craig Goldman, who succeeded Granger, representing the 12th District, which includes Fort Worth, said Texas has lost a legend.

“Texas has lost a legend and I am deeply saddened by this news,” said Goldman. “Kay Granger transformed the city she loved. Across her many decades of service to the Fort Worth community and all of CD TX-12, she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those she represented. She was the first woman to lead Fort Worth as Mayor, the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Republican woman to chair the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. Kay will be greatly missed, but her incredible legacy will not be forgotten. I extend my sincere condolences to her family. May her memory be a blessing.”

Fort Worth leaders honor Kay Granger Former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said Granger set an extraordinarily high standard for women in public service and stood as a true Texas trailblazer.

“She was a force to be reckoned with — principled, determined, and among the most dedicated public servants I have known,” said Price. “Across decades of service, first as a Fort Worth City Council member, then as mayor, and later as a United States congresswoman and chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee, Kay devoted her life to strengthening our city, our state, and our nation. Her legacy will forever be ingrained in Fort Worth and will continue to inspire Texans for generations to come.”

Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement that Granger was a trailblazer and tenacious leader.

“Over the years that I worked with Kay, I learned from her indelible spirit, work ethic, constant sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to Texas and Fort Worth. I’m fortunate to have called her a mentor and friend,” Parker said. “To Kay’s family, my prayers are with you. What a lady, and the end of an era in political service.”

Kay Granger stepped down in 2025, After serving in the U.S. House since Jan. 3, 1997, the North Texas Republican stepped aside, addressing health challenges and extended absences from Washington before completing her final term and retiring in January 2025.

Her office released a statement at the time on her behalf:

“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years.”

A spokeswoman for Granger and Granger’s son said she was living in an independent living facility. Granger’s son told the Dallas Morning News she was “having some dementia issues late in the year.”

In 2025, Granger was named Fort Worth Inc.’s 2025 Person of the Year for her decades of public service and lasting impact on the city.

“Kay lived a life of historic firsts,” Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said in a statement. “For nearly three decades, she championed North Texas, our Armed Forces, and a strong national defense. We are praying for her family and all who loved her.”

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 Andrew Ramos

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — “The Sopranos” actor Vincent Pastore is being remembered as a fixture in his Bronx community.

He was found dead inside his City Island home Saturday morning.

Friends tell CBS News New York that Pastore had been under the weather the past couple of weeks, even canceling an 80th birthday celebration last month, and they hadn’t heard from him in recent days.

Pastore was raised in New Rochelle, but he was born in the Bronx and returned there even after making it big in Hollywood.

Aspiring actor Rob Becerra met Pastore when he signed on to become his acting coach nearly a decade ago.

“He always said, listen, you know, if you got talent, you got it. And he’s like, and you’ve got it and I’m going to help you out,” Becerra said.

The veteran actor even agreed to appear in a scene on Becerra’s film reel, lifting young talent while never asking for a dime.

“Everyone he met, he touched. He was such a positive person, such a happy person,” Becerra said. “He said the biggest thing, ‘Never give up.’ And that always stuck with me in anything I ever did.”

Pastore became a regular at some of the small businesses along Arthur Avenue in the borough and often highlighted them on podcasts and during interviews.

Pastore was 80 years old. A cause of death has not yet been released.

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.