Category: CNN Regional

By Emily McLeod

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — After a Fayetteville woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she saw the need for resources for women living through something similar.

When Kim Airhart said she was blindsided after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020.

“I went and had a couple different opinions with some different doctors and finally was able to discover the fact that I had, in fact, almost a stage 4 diagnosis,” Airhart said. “It was all over my abdomen, my spleen, my liver.”

Through her own journey, she started Harts of Teal in 2021.

“After I got done with treatment, I felt like the Lord was just placing it on my heart for me to start to try to give back and to let people be aware of the signs and symptoms,” Airhart said.

Airhart said the group raises awareness surrounding GUI and ovarian cancers across Georgia and some outside of the state. The group all offers support for women in metro Atlanta and around the country.

“We have what we call our Teal Sisters, who are our other ladies going through treatment or survivorship,” Airhart said. ‘And we do support, get together, and encourage each other.”

Kim’s group meets a couple of times a month. Sometimes there’s an activity. Other times, it can be as simple as sharing a meal.

Jennifer Carroll and Sandra Griffin are part of the support group.

Carroll was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018. She and Griffin became friends when they met at a Harts of Teal luncheon a few years later.

“It was like we had known each other for forever,” Carroll said. “But I guess that’s what it — you know, when you have something in common that is so life threatening and life changing, you just develop deep relationships with people.”

In 2020, Griffin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Her first experience with Harts of Teal was at the group’s annual color run.

She said that day changed her life.

“I tell people sometimes that I would never choose to have cancer, but I have received so many blessings as a result of it,” Griffin said. “Harts of Teal is one of the very biggest ones because it’s people, people like me.”

Even though Carroll’s and Griffin’s recent scans have come back with no evidence of disease, they keep coming back to spend time with their Teal Sisters.

Harts of Teal has its annual Enduring Hope Color Run on June 6 in Fayetteville.

The organization said it’s an opportunity to show support and raise awareness not just for ovarian and gynecological cancers, but for all women who are battling cancer.

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 ABC 10News Digital Team

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    SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Three victims were killed, and two suspects are dead after a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, San Diego Police confirmed in a news conference.

The San Diego Police Department said all three of the victims were adult men. One of the men was a security guard.

The two suspects were identified only as two teenagers. Police said the two suspects appear to have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Police said they were initially called at 9:42 a.m. by a mother of one of the suspects. The woman told police she believed her son was suicidal and that several of her weapons, along with her car and son were missing.

The woman told police her son was with a companion and that they were dressed in camo. As police investigated leads, including responding to Madison High School, where one of the suspects had ties, they received the call about the active shooting at the Islamic Center.

San Diego Police Department officials said they began receiving reports of the incident at around 11:40 a.m. at the mosque at 7050 Eckstrom Avenue, near Balboa Avenue. San Diego Police said they responded to the scene in four minutes.

After arriving on the scene, police said they immediately saw what appeared to be deceased people out front.

Around the same time, police began to receive calls from several blocks away of more active gunfire. Authorities said at that scene, a landscaper was shot at, and may have been struck in a helmet he was wearing.

In an update on Twitter/X at 1:06 p.m., police said, “The threat at the Islamic center has been neutralized.”

A reunification point was established at the Seventh-day Adventist Church at 4125 Hathaway Street, according to police.

As of 10 p.m. Monday, all on and off-ramps of Balboa Avenue from northbound and southbound Interstate 805 will remain closed until the morning hours.

Police also said that the area is now contained to Eckstrom Ave, Cosmo St, Balboa Ave, and Hathaway St. Please continue to avoid the area while investigators work. — San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) May 18, 2026

Sharp HealthCare said its disaster procedures have been activated. According to a spokesperson, one person who sustained a non-firearm-related injury while responding to the incident was taken to Sharp Memorial. “We do not expect additional patients from this incident at this time,” the spokesperson said.

The Islamic Center of San Diego will be closed until further notice.

In a statement on their website, the Islamic Center of San Diego wished healing and strength to those affected by the tragedy:

“Places of worship are meant to be spaces of peace, prayer, reflection, and community. Violence and hatred have no place in our society.

May Allah grant healing to the injured, mercy to those who lost their lives, and strength to everyone impacted by this tragedy.”

Gov. Newsom’s office said he “has been briefed on an evolving situation in Clairemont community of San Diego, near the Islamic Center. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with local law enforcement. We are grateful to the first responders on the scene working to protect the community and urge everyone to follow guidance from local authorities.”

Mayor Todd Gloria also issued the following statement:

Today, our city was shaken by a violent act of hate at the Islamic Center of San Diego and my heart is with every person touched by this tragedy. No one in our city should ever have to fear for their safety in a house of faith and a place of learning.

I am grateful to the San Diego Police Department, our Fire-Rescue personnel, and every first responder who moved toward danger to bring this threat to an end.

I know this tragedy is particularly hurtful for the Muslim community as it comes at the start of Dhul-Hijjah, one of Islam’s holiest periods leading into Hajj and Eid al-Adha — a time of deep faith, reflection, and unity. Hate has no home in San Diego, and an attack on any one of our communities — on any San Diegan because of who they are, what they believe, or how they pray — is an attack on all of us.

And let there be no misunderstanding for anyone who would seek to bring this kind of violence to our city: They will be met with the full force of the law and the full strength of a city that refuses to be turned against itself. Anyone who seeks to do harm here should understand the response will be swift and you will be brought to justice.

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 Allyson Rae

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    FORT MYERS, Florida (WBBH) — Scientists are exploring the use of tagged sharks as mobile ocean sensors to collect critical data for hurricane research and environmental studies.

“Satellites, remote sensing, things like that only look at the surfaces of the ocean, just the skin. And so, what’s really going on below is what drives these hurricane dynamics,” said Aaron Carlisle from the University of Delaware, who is leading the project.

Tracking conditions around hurricanes can be expensive, with ships costing tens of thousands of dollars per day and gliders reaching up to $1 million each. Sharks, however, provide free, 24-hour labor.

“We can leverage the natural behaviors of sharks as they swim around the ocean doing their sharky things and put these ocean observing tags on them that record what’s going on throughout the water column,” Carlisle said.

When sharks resurface, they transmit critical water temperature data from various depths.

Carlisle explained, “If you put out a good number, like a fleet of these sharks, they can basically complement and greatly expand the amount of data we have to make these hurricane predictions.”

Temperature, depth, and location data are transmitted to create a living network of ocean sensors. Some tags have been lost due to battery life or displacement, but Carlisle and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to optimize the design and programming of the tags to maximize data transmission. They hope to tag a handful of sharks this year to begin building the dataset.

Although Carlisle is specifically interested in temperature profiles of the ocean, shark tagging for scientific research is not new. OCEARCH, a global nonprofit shark research organization, has tagged nearly 500 sharks since 2007.

“The goal is to put together the entire life history of the white shark, the white shark, or the great white shark,” said Dr. Harley Newton, an OCEARCH scientist.

OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer emphasized the importance of collaboration in shark research.

“It doesn’t really cost me any more money to throw a scientist in a bunk,” Fischer said.

While OCEARCH is not directly involved in Carlisle’s project, Fischer sees potential in linking shark movement data with weather patterns.

“I think that if we understood how to interpret the dataset around how they move and integrate that around weather, I don’t think that’s a crazy idea at all,” Fischer said.

Newton added, “They are far more aware of our oceanographic features than even we are. So, they make ideal oceanographers, as it were, to show us sort of what’s important.”

Most of Carlisle and OCEARCH’s missions are off the East Coast, but shark research is also active in the Gulf Coast. Pat O’Donnell, a fisheries biologist, has been studying sharks in the region for over 25 years.

Rookery Bay intern Laini Potter explained their use of a permitted gill net for shark research.

“So, the intention is that the shark will be swimming, it won’t see it, and it will swim into it and kind of tangle itself into it,” Potter said.

Potter noted that their research focuses on the effects of the Picayune Strand restoration project on estuaries.

“What we are looking at is the effects of the Picayune Strand restoration project that was just completed. So, we are looking at how well those efforts worked on these estuaries,” she said.

Fischer highlighted the ecological importance of sharks, saying, “They’re the balance-keeper. You know, if you understand how the wolf operates in Yellowstone, the white shark is the wolf, just like the lion in the Serengeti.”

Newton assured that the tagging process does not harm the sharks.

“We liken the fins of these animals to be sort of like your earlobe. So, sort of like a piercing, like there’s not a huge amount of sensitivity there, if any,” she said.

By tagging sharks, researchers hope to uncover secrets beneath the ocean’s surface and gain insights into what fuels the atmosphere above 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.

By Breana Ross

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    HALETHORPE, Maryland (WBAL) — A Great Pyrenees puppy named Hilda is recovering after she was rescued from an animal hoarding situation in Baltimore County earlier this month.

Hilda, who is 3-4 months old, is battling parvovirus, a highly contagious and potentially deadly disease for dogs.

“There’s no puppy that, at 3-4 months of age, should be battling for her life,” said Leah Biddinger, founder of Bring ‘Em Home Animal Rescue and Trapping.

Hilda is one of six dogs that Baltimore County Animal Services officials seized from the home of Kimberly Klein, 52, of Halethorpe. This is the third time animals have been removed from Klein’s home. Authorities previously seized around 40 animals in March and more than 80 last year.

Biddinger stepped in to save Hilda, who was in bad condition when officials rescued her.

“We were not willing to let Hilda lose her life because she’s already suffered enough in her small life dealing with the hoarding situation,” Biddinger told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Biddinger picked Hilda up from the shelter and secured medical care for her just hours before she was scheduled to be euthanized.

“She had until the end of the day when we picked her up,” Biddinger told WBAL-TV 11 News. “I just believe that all animals deserve a second chance.”

Biddinger’s passion for giving second chances stems from her own experience.

“In December 2017, I was diagnosed with stage T4 squamous cell carcinoma, which started in my nose, went through my skull base into my brain,” said Biddinger, who underwent surgery shortly after her diagnosis. “I lost my nose. I have a prosthetic nose, but that is what saved me. I said, ‘I know where my heart is in the world, and my heart is saving animals. I want to give them the second chance that I was given.'”

Hilda is now recovering at a foster home with Jennifer Mahon, who shared her joy in seeing the puppy’s progress.

“She just has tons of energy now. It’s so rewarding,” Mahon told WBAL-TV 11 News. “Just seeing her turn around from where she was in the ER, or where she was in the shelter, to where she is now, and where she is every day, because she gets better every day … there’s no words.”

However, Hilda’s recovery has come at a significant cost. Her two-night stay at the Pet ER in Hunt Valley totaled more than $6,000. Bring ‘Em Home Animal Rescue and Trapping received a $1,500 grant to cover part of the expenses but is seeking additional support for the remaining costs and Hilda’s continued care.

“These animals rely on us. We are their advocate, and this is what we do every day,” Biddinger told WBAL-TV 11 News.

Bring ‘Em Home is accepting donations on its website. It’s also accepting donations via Venmo (@BringEmHome), PayPal (@BringEmHomeRescue), and Zelle (410-622-9527).

Once Hilda fully recovers, she will be available for adoption.

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 Matthew Ablon

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    Texas (KTVT) — First responders had to remove a Tesla Cybertruck from Grapevine Lake late Monday evening, after the Grapevine Police Department said the driver intentionally drove it into the water.

Officers responded to the Katie’s Woods Park boat ramp, located off Katie’s Woods Drive, around 8 p.m. They arrived and found the Cybertruck in the lake near the shoreline.

The department said the driver, Jimmy Jack McDaniel, told them he intentionally drove the vehicle into the lake to try and use its “Wade Mode” feature. However, the Cybertruck was disabled and took on water, police said, prompting the driver and a passenger to abandon it.

The vehicle was removed with the help of the Grapevine Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team.

Police said McDaniel remains in jail as of Tuesday, charged with operation of a vehicle in a closed section of the lake, not having a valid boat registration and other water safety equipment violations.

The department reminds drivers that while a vehicle may be physically capable of entering shallow freshwater areas, doing so could create legal and safety concerns under Texas law.

Can a Cybertruck safely enter a lake? According to Tesla’s online owner’s manual for the Cybertruck, Wade Mode “allows Cybertruck to enter and drive through bodies of water, such as rivers or creeks”. However, the manual warns that drivers have a responsibility to “gauge the depth of any body of water before entering”, and that damage to the vehicle as a result of driving in water is not covered by the warranty.

Additionally, the manual tells owners they need to check water conditions before entering and to use best judgment. The manual also notes the maximum wade depth for a Cybertruck is about 32 inches, measuring from the bottom of the tire.

The manual also warns Cybertruck drivers that soft or muddy underwater surfaces can cause the vehicle to sink, increasing the water level on it. Drivers are also warned against driving in strong currents or rapids.

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 Angela Cifone

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    HONOLULU (KITV) — For more than 26 years, Linda Coble delivered the news to Hawaii audiences, but now she’s telling her story of becoming a victim of an elaborate scam.

“Out of the blue, I got a wonderful message that said that the Publishers Clearing House was proud of me. I won the major sweepstakes, $5,500,000,” said Linda Coble, retired TV anchor and scam victim.

Linda says the scammers claimed to be from the famous sweepstakes and prize giveaway company, and even posed as federal agents.

She received calls, emails, official-looking documents, and constant reassurance.

“Sometimes they’re just so good at what they do that they screw you, and that’s what happened to me,” said Coble.

“They’re friendly, they keep up with me every day, walk me through the steps,” said Coble.

The scammers told her she needed to pay taxes and fees before receiving the money.

Over time, Linda emptied retirement accounts and sent thousands of dollars through checks and money orders.

The scam only unraveled when she brought the supposed winning check to a Bank of Hawaii location, but it was too late.

“Pretty much wiped out everything,” said Coble.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Hawaii consumers reported losing nearly $900,000 to sweepstakes scams last year alone.

“It can happen to anybody. It really can. They just have to catch you at the right moment. You’re distracted,” said Craig Gima, Communications Director at AARP-Hawaii.

Experts say there are signs to look for.

“If they want you to pay the money right away, that’s always a red flag; if they want you to pay in crypto, or they want you to pay in gift cards. No legitimate agency will take money that way,” said Gima.

Linda says even after discovering the fraud, the calls haven’t stopped.

“He’s called, he called today and left a one-minute phone message that I haven’t listened to. I’m afraid,” said. Coble

Now, she hopes others learn from her experience.

“The first thing I should have done was tell somebody,” said Coble.

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 Sara Tenenbaum

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    COOK COUNTY, Illinois (WBBM) — The Cook County Sheriff’s Office recovered $1.5 million worth of laptops when they found a trailer that had been stolen last week.

Law enforcement said their Organized Retail Theft investigators were tipped off last Thursday about a 53-foot trailer that had been stolen earlier in the week from Bridgeview. The tipster told them the trailer might be in the 100 block of North Austin Avenue in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Sheriff’s deputies found the trailer and also confirmed the truck that it was attached to had also been reported stolen. Inside the trailer, investigators found laptops worth $1.5 million.

The sheriff’s office said they believe the laptops were intended to be used to flood the secondary retail market with stolen goods.

It was not clear whether anyone was in custody for the thefts. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is ongoing.

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.