Category: CNN Regional

By Kristen Consillio

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — Milton Yoshimoto has called Date Street his home for more than 50 years. But in just a few months, he’ll be forced to move.

“Well, we got to all scramble and fight for the same apartment,” Yoshimoto said.

From keiki to kupuna, dozens of families over the weekend got notices to vacate and are now scrambling to find homes.

“And when they say affordable, I don’t know what affordable is,” Yoshimoto said. “You know, it’s not affordable for Hawaii people.”

Landowner ʻIolani School is beginning a long-planned expansion, knocking down five aging apartment buildings next to the campus.

According to the school, more than 60% of the units are already vacant.

But the redevelopment is forcing Jessica Ramos’ family to make a bigger move this year to Las Vegas.

“I’m still worried. You know, there’s a lot of stuff going around in the world, but the best thing I would do is probably like move to Vegas,” Ramos said. “I know there’s more opportunities in Vegas. Anywhere but here honestly.”

Like many other kama’aina families, moving away from the islands is painful, but necessary for them to live their dreams.

“Like over here we paid $1,300, but like the two-bedroom and one bathroom that I’ve been looking at, like $2,000 that’s crazy,” Ramos said. “Like a crazy jump from what we have to pay right now.”

‘Iolani School is offering tenants up to $4,000 and help relocating to other homes. Tenants must be out by July 31.

“Some people got to decide to move to the mainland,” Yoshimoto said. “Some people got to move in with family, you know. That’s how it is in Hawaii.”

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 James Taylor

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — A California congressman is calling for more railroad oversight. It comes on the three-year anniversary of one of the nation’s most destructive railway accidents and just a day after a derailment in Stockton.

Most of the 17,000 Pacific Gas and Electric customers now have power restored following Monday’s train accident in the Stockton railyards. But that mishap highlights the impact a train derailment can have on nearby communities.

“Millions of Americans live and work along hazmat railways,” said Ed Kelly, general president of the International Association of Firefighters. “We need to protect them.”

This week marks the three-year anniversary of the fire and explosion in East Palestine, Ohio, that was caused by a train derailment.

Congressman John Garamendi says similar tanker cars carrying flammable chemicals regularly come through Davis, Sacramento, and other Northern California communities.

“And we’ve had our share of almost-serious accidents,” Garamendi said.

He is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill that would require new railroad safety standards.

“This rail safety bill covers sensible things,” Garamendi said. “It’s not complex, but it is very, very important.”

It would mandate having at least two crew members on board trains. It also requires railroads to install defect detectors that can spot mechanical problems, and it would force railroads to fund more hazmat training for first responders.

“Too often, firefighters arrive at train derailments with limited information and limited training,” Kelly said.

Penalties for safety violations would also be increased.

The Association of American Railroads says there’s no proven safety benefit to justify the cost of requiring two crew members. They oppose these kinds of regulations and want to adopt modern technologies to enhance safety benefits.

But bill supporters say more work needs to be done to protect communities from any more railway disasters.

The authors of the bill are trying to get it included in a vote for the new federal surface transportation reauthorization act.

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 Michele Gile, Dean Fioresi

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    LOS ANGELES (KCAL, KCBS) — An investigation is underway in Long Beach after the Holy Innocents Parish Catholic School was hit by burglars over the weekend, who left a significant amount of damage behind.

Long Beach Police Department officers were dispatched to the school early Monday morning upon learning of the incident. They were called after school officials arrived and found the school’s chapel in complete disarray.

“We feel violated,” said Principal Cyril Cruz. “I feel just really bad for our families, for our scholars.”

She said that the desecration of religious items is what hits her the hardest.

Among the damage is a smashed statue of The Virgin Mary, other religious artifacts, like the tabernacle that stores communion, and destroyed furniture. The alleged burglars also destroyed the school’s internet devices and musical equipment and tossed learning materials and Bibles around the building. A picture of Pope Leo XIV was also shattered.

“They were starting to stack up musical instruments, and different things like that, but the damage that’s particularly done to the sacred objects like the statues and the tabernacle … they took time to really damage those articles,” Cruz said.

Volunteers, staff members and parents worked throughout the day on Monday to clean up the mess, expressing concerns about a potentially bigger issue.

“I’m concerned. I need to know if there was writing on the walls, if there was hate crime targeted because we’re a specific Catholic setting,” said Patricia Torres. “That’s my biggest concern as a parent right now.”

The statue of The Virgin Mary was replaced early Tuesday morning by two parents, who drove to downtown Los Angeles to buy a replacement.

“Yesterday when I saw the pictures of our blessed Mother, broken, I felt a pain in my heart,” said Cristina Pietro. “I was crying. I said, ‘This is not possible.'”

The five-foot statue was back in its rightful place, on an altar in the chapel, by the time school got out.

“I know what happened; it wasn’t good. But I’m glad it was no damage and kids weren’t hurt, the building is still put, it’s not on fire,” said Teresa Han. “But hey, material things we will, little by little, get them back.”

School officials said that Long Beach police had forensic detectives at the scene to try and recover DNA evidence that could point them in the right direction while they search for the suspects.

Mass was canceled for students on Monday morning due to the damage and ongoing investigation, Principal Cruz said. Families and students still came together to pray at lunch time, focusing on those who took the time to damage their school.

“This is continuing to pray for those that need healing as far as doing something this bad,” said Gary Dyogi, one of the parents. “But also know that they will be forgiven.”

Principal Cruz said that police discovered some blood inside the chapel, which they hope will help them identify at least one of the suspects. She noted that they were initially hoping to have the school restored enough for normal operations on Wednesday, but so much work was done on Monday that mass was held as usual on Tuesday, followed by a procession asking for the protection of staff and students.

“Seeing the damage and seeing what has been done, especially to the sacred objects, I don’t know the heart of the person, but there’s definitely, at least I feel, something behind it,” Cruz said.

On Tuesday, church officials learned that Department of Justice investigators were joining the ongoing probe, and that while Long Beach police continue investigating the incident as a burglary, they haven’t been able to determine if anything was actually taken.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared a statement on the incident, which she called “a horrific violation of a school and faith community.”

“This should be a safe place for families to live their faith and for children to grow and learn,” her statement said, in part. “Instead, it has been desecrated. I stand with the parishioners and families of Holy Innocents.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, an online fundraiser to help the school recover and repair damages had raised nearly $100,000, thanks in large part of a $10,000 donation from Gabriel Iglesias, the Long Beach native and comedian popularly known as “Fluffy.” The fundraiser can be found by searching for the keywords “Restoring Holy Innocents School After Desecration.”

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.

KCNC

By Christa Swanson

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — Police in the Denver metro area made an alarming discovery during the recent arrest of a suspected drunk driver when they found three children in the trunk of the car.

Westminster police officers pulled over the vehicle after they say they witnessed the driver, Thomas Michael Raiola, behaving recklessly near City Center Drive and 93rd Avenue. The officers reported there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. According to body camera footage released by the Westminster Police Department, Raiola denied drinking and initially agreed to do roadside maneuvers, but later changed his mind.

According to the police department, Raiola told officers, “My kids are in the trunk,” after the officers placed him in handcuffs.

“Sure enough, three kids were in the trunk. We’d like to point out it was also freezing temps outside during this stop. Luckily, the kids were unharmed,” the department said.

The officers also said they recovered several bottles of alcohol from the vehicle.

Raiola was arrested and booked into the Adams County Jail. He posted a $2,500 bond and is due back in court on March 16.

He is facing charges of DUI, reckless driving, failure to provide a valid insurance and three counts of child abuse. According to court records, Raiola received a deferred sentence for a 2020 child abuse charge in Adams County after completing a program.

Authorities said the officers contacted CPS, and the children were later released to family members.

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 Christa Swanson

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — Police in the Denver metro area made an alarming discovery during the recent arrest of a suspected drunk driver when they found three children in the trunk of the car.

Westminster police officers pulled over the vehicle after they say they witnessed the driver, Thomas Michael Raiola, behaving recklessly near City Center Drive and 93rd Avenue. The officers reported there was a strong smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle. According to body camera footage released by the Westminster Police Department, Raiola denied drinking and initially agreed to do roadside maneuvers, but later changed his mind.

According to the police department, Raiola told officers, “My kids are in the trunk,” after the officers placed him in handcuffs.

“Sure enough, three kids were in the trunk. We’d like to point out it was also freezing temps outside during this stop. Luckily, the kids were unharmed,” the department said.

The officers also said they recovered several bottles of alcohol from the vehicle.

Raiola was arrested and booked into the Adams County Jail. He posted a $2,500 bond and is due back in court on March 16.

He is facing charges of DUI, reckless driving, failure to provide a valid insurance and three counts of child abuse. According to court records, Raiola received a deferred sentence for a 2020 child abuse charge in Adams County after completing a program.

Authorities said the officers contacted CPS, and the children were later released to family members.

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 Jennifer McRae

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — A student at Fort Lewis College in southern Colorado allegedly tried to hire someone for $500 to kill his teammate over hair in the bathroom. Investigators said that Jackson Keller, a student at the college in Durango, was arrested late last week and booked into the La Plata County Jail.

Keller, 19, faces charges of criminal solicitation for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds.

According to the arrest affidavit from the Fort Lewis College Police Department, the investigation began on Jan. 28 when school officials called police regarding an alleged murder-for-hire plot that involved students.

One student told police that he knew both of the students involved, including Keller and the alleged victim, who both played on the college football team. The suspect and alleged victim lived in two separate rooms on campus connected by a shared bathroom.

The two had played on the football team and had a history of talking “trash” while playing a football video game, and Keller had challenged the alleged victim to a physical fight after the game, according to an arrest report.

The alleged victim told police that Keller had come into his room about a week before the alleged murder-for-hire plot was uncovered, upset with him for leaving hair in the shower. That apparently led to a confrontation between the two about coming into each other’s rooms, which could be accessed via the shared bathroom. According to the affidavit, the alleged victim said Keller challenged him to a fight in the hallway. The document states that Keller stayed in his room, and a witness told the alleged victim that Keller was holding a pair of scissors behind his back and was planning on stabbing the alleged victim if he came into Keller’s room.

The alleged victim also told police that Keller had a firearm in his room at one point, showing the weapon to him. The document states the alleged victim told police he later heard rumors that Keller took it to Colorado Springs during winter break and sold the gun for $150.

The student who knew both Keller and the alleged victim was interviewed by police. In the affidavit, he said Keller asked if he gave him $500 on CashApp, would he “put a hat on him,” referring to the alleged victim. The student told police he thought Keller was asking him to kill the alleged victim, saying he would pay him after he “got it done.” That student told police that he told Keller “no,” and that’s when Keller received a FaceTime call with three males from Colorado Springs.

According to the affidavit, the student observed Keller asking the males over the phone the same question about “putting a hat on” the alleged victim, and told police he saw the $500 CashApp banner for the exchange of money displayed on Keller’s phone. The student told police he saw the males handling firearms on FaceTime, both rifles and handguns. They also showed Keller an estimated time of arrival seven hours later from directions on their phone, and said they were “on their way.”

The student told police that he was worried for his safety and told the alleged victim what had happened. That’s when school officials learned about the alleged murder-for-hire plot and contacted police.

Police took Keller into custody the next afternoon, Jan. 29, in his room, where Fort Lewis College Police officers were accompanied by a Durango police officer and Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents. According to the affidavit, officers did not find a weapon during a search of Keller’s room, but did notice a pair of scissors on the countertop at the entrance to the room.

Before asking for an attorney, Keller told police about the incident with the alleged victim regarding hair in the bathroom. According to the affidavit, officers observed Keller “quickly moving through apps on his phone” while talking to his father on speaker phone in an interview room at the police station. Officers said that before the phone call, Keller had given investigators permission to look at his phone.

After asking for an attorney, Keller was placed under arrest. According to the affidavit, that’s when he told officers that he wanted to add more to his story and said the alleged victim was selling marijuana on campus and he had video evidence on his phone to show investigators. Keller also stated that he believed that the alleged victim and the other student were “conspiring against him.”

Keller was released from police custody that same day on a $50,000 surety bond.

Keller appeared in court on Monday afternoon, where a judge issued conditions for bond that included no possession of drugs or alcohol, no possession of weapons, and a mandatory protection order for the alleged victim and the other student who talked to police.

Keller is scheduled to appear in court for an advisement of charges on Feb. 23.

Multiple messages were left with Keller’s attorney seeking comment for CBS News Colorado.

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.

KCNC

By Jennifer McRae

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A student at Fort Lewis College in southern Colorado allegedly tried to hire someone for $500 to kill his teammate over hair in the bathroom. Investigators said that Jackson Keller, a student at the college in Durango, was arrested late last week and booked into the La Plata County Jail.

Keller, 19, faces charges of criminal solicitation for first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on college grounds.

According to the arrest affidavit from the Fort Lewis College Police Department, the investigation began on Jan. 28 when school officials called police regarding an alleged murder-for-hire plot that involved students.

One student told police that he knew both of the students involved, including Keller and the alleged victim, who both played on the college football team. The suspect and alleged victim lived in two separate rooms on campus connected by a shared bathroom.

The two had played on the football team and had a history of talking “trash” while playing a football video game, and Keller had challenged the alleged victim to a physical fight after the game, according to an arrest report.

The alleged victim told police that Keller had come into his room about a week before the alleged murder-for-hire plot was uncovered, upset with him for leaving hair in the shower. That apparently led to a confrontation between the two about coming into each other’s rooms, which could be accessed via the shared bathroom. According to the affidavit, the alleged victim said Keller challenged him to a fight in the hallway. The document states that Keller stayed in his room, and a witness told the alleged victim that Keller was holding a pair of scissors behind his back and was planning on stabbing the alleged victim if he came into Keller’s room.

The alleged victim also told police that Keller had a firearm in his room at one point, showing the weapon to him. The document states the alleged victim told police he later heard rumors that Keller took it to Colorado Springs during winter break and sold the gun for $150.

The student who knew both Keller and the alleged victim was interviewed by police. In the affidavit, he said Keller asked if he gave him $500 on CashApp, would he “put a hat on him,” referring to the alleged victim. The student told police he thought Keller was asking him to kill the alleged victim, saying he would pay him after he “got it done.” That student told police that he told Keller “no,” and that’s when Keller received a FaceTime call with three males from Colorado Springs.

According to the affidavit, the student observed Keller asking the males over the phone the same question about “putting a hat on” the alleged victim, and told police he saw the $500 CashApp banner for the exchange of money displayed on Keller’s phone. The student told police he saw the males handling firearms on FaceTime, both rifles and handguns. They also showed Keller an estimated time of arrival seven hours later from directions on their phone, and said they were “on their way.”

The student told police that he was worried for his safety and told the alleged victim what had happened. That’s when school officials learned about the alleged murder-for-hire plot and contacted police.

Police took Keller into custody the next afternoon, Jan. 29, in his room, where Fort Lewis College Police officers were accompanied by a Durango police officer and Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents. According to the affidavit, officers did not find a weapon during a search of Keller’s room, but did notice a pair of scissors on the countertop at the entrance to the room.

Before asking for an attorney, Keller told police about the incident with the alleged victim regarding hair in the bathroom. According to the affidavit, officers observed Keller “quickly moving through apps on his phone” while talking to his father on speaker phone in an interview room at the police station. Officers said that before the phone call, Keller had given investigators permission to look at his phone.

After asking for an attorney, Keller was placed under arrest. According to the affidavit, that’s when he told officers that he wanted to add more to his story and said the alleged victim was selling marijuana on campus and he had video evidence on his phone to show investigators. Keller also stated that he believed that the alleged victim and the other student were “conspiring against him.”

Keller was released from police custody that same day on a $50,000 surety bond.

Keller appeared in court on Monday afternoon, where a judge issued conditions for bond that included no possession of drugs or alcohol, no possession of weapons, and a mandatory protection order for the alleged victim and the other student who talked to police.

Keller is scheduled to appear in court for an advisement of charges on Feb. 23.

Multiple messages were left with Keller’s attorney seeking comment for CBS News Colorado.

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 JT Moodee Lockman

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    GLEN BURNIE, Maryland (WJZ) — A second-grade student suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound at an elementary school in Glen Burnie on Wednesday morning, according to Anne Arundel County police.

The accidental gun discharge happened inside a classroom at Freetown Elementary School around 8:30 a.m.

The 7-year-old boy suffered injuries to his hand, police said. Other students were in the classroom at the time, but no other injuries were reported.

“None of us can imagine the terror or the fear that students experienced here this morning, and the teacher,” said Police Chief Amal Awad.

According to police, a teacher secured the weapon and provided aid to the student.

“We are very grateful that the teacher was very responsive in addressing that child’s injuries and making sure first responders were notified,” Awad said.

The child was taken to Shock Trauma with non-life-threatening injuries after the incident, according to county fire officials.

Police are now investigating how the child gained possession of the weapon and why it was discharged.

According to Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell, the building was placed on hold during the incident.

Freetown Elementary will dismiss students at 11:15 a.m., and bus riders will be taken home on their normal routes, district officials said.

“We think that there’s a lot of trauma not only for the students, but for the faculty and staff,” Bedell said.

Crisis counselors will be on site Wednesday and Thursday for students and parents. Bedell said classes will resume on Thursday.

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.