‘A true inspiration’: Imperfect heart leads Omaha boy to adoption

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Bill Schammert

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    OMAHA, Neb. (KETV) — When Amy Beethe first met True, he was 4 years old in a hospital room at Children’s Nebraska.

“He was sitting there all alone,” she said. “It took me back that this 4-year-old was going to go through heart surgery, and nobody was there.”

True doesn’t remember much about that lonely hospital room. But Beethe remembers what the little boy did just before surgery.

She was his pediatric anesthesiologist.

“He faked me out,” she said. “I thought he was asleep, then I pulled down his mask, and he said, ‘Boo!'”

That’s True. He’s a young boy who pushes life to the limits despite his imperfect heart. He was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome or HRHS.

“He has a severe form of congenital heart disease where essentially one side of his heart is underdeveloped,” said Dr. Jason Cole, a pediatric cardiologist and the medical director of Advanced Pediatric Heart Failure & Transplants at Children’s Nebraska. “He has one side of the heart to do two sides’ worth of work.”

True is one of the roughly 1-in-110 kids born with a CHD. That’s about 40,000 births per year, according to the American Heart Association.

“He’s a true inspiration to us all,” Cole said. “We get strength watching him go through his battles and seeing his successes as well.”

After meeting True, Amy couldn’t shake the sight of the little boy all alone.

“We don’t love True’s heart disease,” she said. “But we know it had a bigger purpose.”

After the heart surgery, Amy told her husband Ryan about True.

“We went up and met True in the hospital and immediately fell in love with him,” Ryan said. “It wasn’t long before we knew we needed him in our family.”

That surgery was in January 2021. By February, True was staying with the Beethes.

Now, True goes by True Beethe. Amy and Ryan adopted him.

“There are so many people who need the extra help,” Ryan said. “To fulfill their lives and the trickle effect it has — they make us better people. You can’t imagine your life without him.”

“He’s truly become my son,” Amy said. “I would battle for him like anybody else. When it comes to his health, I’m a mama bear, and I fight hard.”

True pushes life to the limits, but he also knows his limits. He loves to play sports like basketball and kickball. He’ll get short of breath, and he knows to slow down.

“I like to go to the courts and play with my siblings,” he said.

He’s gone from that lonely hospital room to the love of a large family. In fact, Amy and Ryan didn’t stop adopting after True.

They also adopted his biological sister.

“It’s been good because they’re nice and caring,” True said. “They’re my mom and dad.”

And True has four other biological siblings — two were adopted by another anesthesiologist at Children’s Nebraska, another by Amy’s sister, and another by Ryan’s brother — keeping the whole family close by.

“We found a home for everyone,” Amy said. “It’s like one big extended family.”

But True’s fight isn’t over.

“His strength and resiliency is something we all can learn from,” Cole said.

His multiple heart surgeries don’t equal a permanent fix.

“This isn’t a long-term solution for him,” Amy said. “We’re trying to buy him as much time until he’ll need a heart transplant.”

The Beethes know that day is coming, but they don’t know when.

Until then, they’re all embracing True’s attitude.

“Just keep going and don’t stop,” True 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.

Having an ice dream: Coyote spotted napping on the frozen Ohio River near Bellevue

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Kurt Knue

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    BELLEVUE, Ky. (WLWT) — The Bellevue Police Department spotted a coyote that was napping on the frozen Ohio River on Sunday.

“Warning for any boaters or ice fishers out there,” wrote the department on Facebook on Sunday afternoon. “Sgt. Bonar spotted a coyote napping on the ice. If you have small pets on your boat, or in your ice fishing shack; be sure to keep an eye on them.”

The coyote could be seen resting near the riverbank on the Kentucky side of the river, with the Cincinnati skyline visible in the background. In one image, the coyote later appeared to be walking back toward land.

It was not immediately clear what drew the coyote to the unusual napping spot, or how long it may have stayed there.

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.

UCHealth using new technology to identify cancer cells previously missed

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Ryan Fish

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    AURORA, Colo. (KMGH) — Surgeons at UCHealth Anschutz Cancer Pavilion in Aurora are using new technology to identify cancer cells they normally would’ve missed.

Pafolacianine, also known by the brand name CYTALUX, is a molecule that binds to cancer cells and lights them up with fluorescent markers, making them glow. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for use in the lungs and ovaries.

Patients get an infusion hours before surgery where doctors use a robot a camera and a near-infrared light to make that fluorescent light visible.

Denver7 spoke with Dr. Robert Meguid, who specializes in surgery on the lungs, esophagus and chest wall. He said pafolacianine is effective in flagging cancers missed by CT scans and the naked eye, and it gives his team more confidence they’ve removed all cancers during a surgery.

Meguid said it’s especially helpful in patients with cancers elsewhere in the body that spread to the lungs.

“This is, to me, a really exciting time in healthcare,” Meguid told Denver7. “Because there’s so many advances that are making it to patient care delivery that are improving their outcomes, to help patients be cancer free or have improved quality of life.”

Meguid said at this point, very few medical centers nationally are using pafolacianine, but that it’s gaining traction. UCHealth Anschutz Cancer Pavilion has been using it for about a year and a half, Meguid said, and it was the first medical center in Colorado to use it on adult lungs.

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.

Two inmates charged with murder escape from southwest Georgia jail

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By CBS News Atlanta Digital Team

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    SUMTER COUNTY, Georgia (WUPA) — Two inmates facing serious violent crime charges escaped from the Sumter County Jail late Sunday, prompting an urgent manhunt and warnings from law enforcement across southwest Georgia.

According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the escape happened around 9:30 p.m. when Rickey Martin, 20, and Kentravious Holmes, 21, fled custody under circumstances that remain under investigation. Authorities did not immediately release details on how the inmates were able to get out of the jail.

Both men were being held on multiple felony charges, including murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Martin is described as a Black male, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing roughly 120 pounds, with untwisted dreadlocks. Holmes is described as a Black male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 155 pounds. He has untwisted dreadlocks and several distinctive tattoos on his face and neck, including a dollar sign, a broken heart and the words “Baby Kay” above his right eye.

Investigators say Martin had been booked into the Sumter County Jail after being charged by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation with felony murder, aggravated assault and aggravated battery. Those charges stem from a violent incident in Americus in which a 19-year-old victim, later identified as Jotavis Roshon Leverette, died from his injuries at a hospital. That investigation remains active.

Holmes was arrested earlier this month by the Americus Police Department in connection with the fatal shooting of Amon Kevone Harvey, 21, at a home on Glory Court. Police said Holmes was taken into custody without incident and transferred to the Sumter County Jail, where he was being held when the escape occurred.

The sheriff’s office says multiple agencies are now involved in the search and is urging the public not to approach either man.

“If you see either of these individuals or have information about their whereabouts, call 911 immediately or contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office,” officials said.

Authorities emphasized that both escapees should be considered dangerous. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 229-924-4094.

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.

Barber rises from homelessness to Forbes 30 Under 30 social media list

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Donald Fountain

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — Sylvester Brewster goes by the name Dr. Huncho, and while he’s not a medical doctor, he says the title reflects the impact he believes he’s making.

“I’m basically portraying a doctor because I’m saving lives,” Brewster said.

Brewster is an Atlanta barber and social media content creator who moved to the city a few years ago to grow his barbershop business. While the shop has continued to expand, it’s his online presence that has taken off at a much faster pace.

Across his social media platforms, Brewster has amassed more than 8 million followers, building an audience drawn to his personality, humor, and message.

“I did that, and people really started rocking with it,” Brewster said. “When people rock with it, you’ve got to keep feeding them. You’ve got to give them what they want.”

That momentum recently earned Brewster a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in the social media category.

“When I first saw it, I thought it was a scam,” Brewster said. “I checked the email, told my girlfriend, then started calling my family like, ‘I got a show. This is real.'”

Brewster’s rise, however, wasn’t overnight. He says his success followed one of the most difficult periods of his life, including a brief time when he was unhoused in 2020.

“I knew that wasn’t the end,” he said. “Whatever tough time you’re going through, it’s only for the moment. It’s there to shape you, not break you.”

Now, with millions watching and a growing national profile, Brewster says his mindset remains his foundation.

“You can accomplish anything you want in life as long as you stay in that mode,” 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.

Patriots player Kyle Williams chases down fan who ran onto field during Super Bowl

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Matt Schooley

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — There weren’t too many noteworthy plays for the New England Patriots during Super Bowl LX. But rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams made one that wasn’t shown to the massive television audience watching at home.

Late in the fourth quarter with the Seahawks controlling the game, a shirtless man ran onto the field at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

The television broadcast did not show what played out, as is usually the case when a similar incident happens during NFL games.

Cellphone footage from the stands showed that the fan was able to make his was down the field, avoiding multiple security guards.

As he got close to the Seattle end zone, security got help from an unexpected source in Williams, who is in his first season out of Washington State.

Williams, who was in the huddle with the Patriots offense on the field, chased the man down and was the first person to get a hand on him. As he did, the man slid to ground and security guards piled on top of him.

The man had a message written on his chest and back in black ink.

Game action was halted for several minutes while the fan was taken down and eventually escorted off the field.

New England didn’t have much to celebrate on the night. The Patriots fell behind on the opening drive and never made a serious threat on the scoreboard, as Seattle won the Super Bowl, 29-13.

Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker was named Super Bowl MVP as he was the best offensive player for either side, totaling 161 yards from scrimmage.

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.

Mother plans to self-deport after missing child’s death while in ICE custody

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Mike Hellgren

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — An undocumented Maryland mother whose teenage son died while she was in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody has now asked to be deported to her native Mexico.

Officials did not release Arlit Martinez-Carrada in time for her to see her son before he died of cancer. She was able to attend his funeral in late January.

An official with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told WJZ that Martinez-Carrada entered the country illegally four separate times before her arrest on January 3 in Salisbury, Wicomico County.

Three days into the new year, ICE agents pulled Martinez-Carrada over as she drove her husband’s car on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

She had no criminal record, but had been living in the U.S. illegally since 2004 after she entered from Mexico, according to court records.

At the time of her arrest, Martinez-Carrada’s 15-year-old son, Kevin Martinez, a U.S. citizen, was fighting cancer.

The day after Martinez-Carrada’s arrest, her son’s condition worsened significantly.

Immigration attorney Sarah Takyi-Micah remembers getting an urgent call the day after Martinez-Carrada’s arrest.

“In this case, time was not on my side. A mother needed to be with her son on his deathbed,” said Takyi-Micah with the Silmi Law Firm. “That was a lot of pressure.”

The oncologist warned it was likely Kevin would die that day.

Kevin held on while ICE transferred Martinez-Carrada to a holding facility inside the federal building in downtown Baltimore.

Takyi-Micah rushed there.

“My first line of action is to go straight to the Baltimore holding room, which is about a 20-minute drive from our office,” she said.

But as she waited to speak to an officer, she got the heartbreaking news that Kevin had died.

Takyi-Micah recalled how she told Martinez-Carrada about her son’s death with the help of her paralegal and Kevin’s oncologist on the phone.

“It was traumatic, and unfortunately, I had to be the bearer of bad news in that moment. I had to inform Arlit in detention that her son had just died, and that was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do,” Takyi-Micah said. “…I had to watch Arlit break down right in the interview room in the detention center. We were separated by glass. I couldn’t console her. I couldn’t…I mean, if I’m being honest, I was in tears.”

She said she touched the glass between them, and Martinez-Carrada wiped away her tears with all she had—a roll of toilet paper.

“Even to this day, it’s still hard, but as a professional, what I could do is to get her out so that she could be with her family and be able to grieve, to comfort her children,” Takyi-Micah said.

She said an officer in Baltimore made her a promise when she asked, “Are you going to make sure she’s here for the funeral? He gave me his word they were not going to transfer her out. They did after a few days, unfortunately.”

Getting Martinez-Carrada to her son’s funeral was no easy task.

“They couldn’t tell me exactly where they had taken her,” Martinez-Carrada’s lawyer said. “I was able to locate her in New Jersey a few days after that.”

ICE had transferred Martinez-Carrada to Delaney Hall in New Jersey, a controversial detention center that has been the target of protests. A Haitian immigrant died there in December.

Delaney Hall has 1,000 beds and is one of the largest detention centers in the Northeast. CBS News got a rare look inside last year.

Martinez-Carrada’s three surviving children and husband waited in Maryland, desperate for her return.

“She’s never going to see him no more and we tried to take her out, but they not let her out. I said bye to the last time to my son,” her husband, Rigo Mendoza-Lopez, told CBS station WBOC.

Takyi-Micah worked with Carolina Curbelo, an immigration lawyer in New Jersey, to free Martinez-Carrada in time to attend her son’s funeral on January 31 in Salisbury.

She stressed that it took a team of people to navigate this single case and secure her client’s release.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen’s office also asked the federal government to release Martinez-Carrada so she could attend the funeral.

“No thanks to ICE. That’s thanks to all the members of the community and everybody who pushed to make sure at least she could be present for the memorial service,” Senator Van Hollen told Hellgren.

The Democrat has been critical of the Trump administration.

“It appears this lawless Trump ICE operation is designed to terrorize members of the community. They are clearly not focused on the worst of the worst. That’s what they said they were going to focus on, but this is a case where clearly, they’re lying when it comes to that test, because Arlit is someone who’s been in the United States more than 20 years with no criminal record.”

The senator had this message to Martinez-Carrada’s family: “Please understand that there are a lot more standing with you and want to be there for you in this moment of trauma than there are people targeting you.”

WJZ Investigates received the following response from DHS about the case, attributable to a DHS official, with capitalized words added for emphasis by the agency:

“On January 3, ICE arrested Arlit Martinez-Carrada, an illegal alien from Mexico, who has repeatedly entered this country illegally. She was previously removed THREE TIMES in 2002, and chose to commit a felony by illegally re-entering the country a FOURTH time on an unknown date. Despite this, an activist immigration judge has released her on bond pending immigration proceedings.

Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $2,600 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the lawful, legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and removed without a chance to return.”

Martinez-Carrada’s lawyer said her client now plans to self-deport back to Mexico.

“If she feels that this journey would be better for her to go back to her home country so she can heal and start a new life, start fresh from this, I guess that is ultimately her decision as to what she wants to do,” Takyi-Micah said.

She noted there are other available legal options for her client.

The Trump administration has touted self-deportations through an app and has offered a $2,600 cash bonus to those who choose to leave.

But because Martinez-Carrada was detained and is now out on bond wearing an ankle monitor, her lawyer noted she has to go through a formal process involving the court and cannot leave immediately.

“Especially when you’re supposed to do ICE check-ins and future hearings,” Takyi-Micah said.

An online fundraiser for the family on the GoFundMe platform has raised more than $80,000 to cover expenses.

“In any group of people there are always bad apples, but in the case of Arlit, she has no criminal record whatsoever. She’s a devoted mother to her children and a good person in the community,” Takyi-Micah said. “…Rather than lump all immigrants in a box to say that they are creating problems for the country, I think that they should really look beyond that—especially with situations like Arlit. She is also human like all of us, and she still deserved the right to be with her son at his deathbed.”

Her son’s obituary called his mother “beloved” and “the heart and matriarch of the family.”

The obituary said, “He found comfort in his mother’s cooking, especially her pozole, tamales, and soups, meals filled with love that tasted like home.”

Martinez-Carrada’s surviving children are ages 16, 12 and 9. Her lawyer said they are all United States citizens.

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.

New Mexico’s trial against Meta begins in Santa Fe

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Alyssa Munoz

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    SANTA FE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Opening statements are set to begin in Santa Fe for New Mexico’s trial against Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with Attorney General Raul Torrez alleging the company has failed to protect children from online sexual exploitation.

The state’s case is based on an undercover investigation in which agents created fake social media profiles posing as children to track sexual solicitations and observed Meta’s response.

“We took three individuals in custody after they thought they were going to be meeting up with kids at a motel out in Gallup. It turned out that those individuals had already been flagged inside the company for having inappropriate interactions with children, and yet they were allowed to stay on the platform. It’s exactly that kind of corporate misbehavior and misconduct that we have to correct,” Torrez said.

In the lawsuit, Torrez argues that Meta has created a “breeding ground” for predators targeting kids. Meta denies these claims, stating it has spent years developing safety tools to protect younger users.

“In much the same way that everyday users are connected to things that they’re interested in, maybe it’s a commercial product or a trip that an advertiser might want them to take, that same engine that connects people with their interests also sadly connects predators on the platform with children,” Torrez said.

KOAT legal expert John Day said, “It’s going to be a very important trial that all eyes of the country and the tech companies, especially in other states, are going to be watching to see what happens in New Mexico and in Santa Fe.”

Torrez is advocating for stronger safeguards, such as real age verification and rules preventing unrelated adults from contacting minors without being asked. This trial is the first standalone case, as 40 other states have also filed lawsuits against Meta. The company maintains that it has safeguards for children and that these instances are exceptions rather than the norm.

Day said the trial is expected to last about six weeks.

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.

Woman tracks down her own car after she says renter never returned it

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Chase Houle

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    ATLANTA (WXIA) — An Atlanta woman is going viral on Instagram after warning others about the risks of renting out their personal vehicles to strangers.

Alexia Wright’s video has racked up 28,000 likes and thousands of shares in just 48 hours. In it, she shares a cautionary tale after renting her car through Turo, an online car-sharing service similar to Airbnb.

“My main thing is just making sure people are aware of these types of situations and that ultimately, it’s not cool to do this to people who work hard for the business. Bottom line,” Wright said.

Wright said her car was rented out as scheduled, but the person who had it stopped responding and failed to return the vehicle on time.

“I contacted them trying to see what time they were returning the car and they kept giving me the runaround and so I kind of let it go a couple more days, like four or five days, and that’s when it triggered me to go see what was going on with the car,” she said.

After days went by without it being returned, Wright decided to take matters into her own hands. Using a GPS monitoring system installed in the vehicle, she tracked down its location.

“When I pulled up, after so long, I was like, no, I’m going to call the police. Like, I need my car back at this point,” Wright said.

She said police responded, detained the driver and helped her recover her vehicle. While she considers herself fortunate, Wright wants to use her situation to help others.

“Make sure you divorce your car. Make sure you’re not married to it. Make sure you have trackers on your car so that if something happens, you can recover it and you need to make sure that you’re ready if your car ever goes off the lot, you’re ready for it not to come back at some point,” she said.

Wright doesn’t advise people to take things into their own hands when dealing with these types of situations, but instead let police retrieve your car back.

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.

Uber’s Super Bowl ad campaign fuels California ballot measure debate

CNN Newsource on February 9, 2026

By Andres Valle

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    SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — Uber’s $1 million Super Bowl ad campaign has sparked a debate in California over a proposed ballot measure that aims to cap attorney fees at 25%, including expenses.

The ridesharing company has invested $12 million overall into the campaign, arguing that the measure will protect Californians from predatory “billboard lawyers” and doctors who inflate medical bills with unnecessary procedures, taking too large a share from victims’ legal settlements.

Trial lawyers, however, contend that Uber is misleading the public. They claim the tech giant is attempting to gain immunity from liability for crashes caused by its drivers.

Some Californians saw a competing ad during the Super Bowl in certain TV markets, highlighting the ongoing advertising war.

Steven Maviglio, a political strategist not involved in the proposed ballot, said, “It’s a real advertising war during the Super Bowl, but also something that probably should have been settled in the Legislature that’s now gone right to the ballot. There is often an attempt by both sides to try to fight each other early in the game in order to reach a compromise and pull these things off the ballot.”

Mindy Romero, the director of the Center for Inclusive Democracy at the University of Southern California, pointed out that Uber has successfully supported ballot measures before, such as Proposition 22 in 2020.

“Proposition 22 was supported heavily by Uber. We think about $200 million to get that on the ballot and passed by California voters,” Romero said.

This measure allowed rideshare drivers to remain independent contractors, exempting them from a state law that would have made them eligible for employee benefits.

Romero emphasized the importance of voters being informed.

“Get all the information you can on the pros and cons, look for trusted sources of information,” Romero said.

She advised voters to carefully review the official wording of the ballot and ensure they understand it.

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.