ReportWire

Tag: wife

  • Couple escapes house fire in Orange County

    Firefighters in Orange County are investigating the cause of a house fire that forced a couple and another adult to evacuate their home early Tuesday morning.A neighbor captured video of the intense flames and alarms blaring through the neighborhood. “I was asleep, and then my wife came running in, says, told me to get up,” said Ricky Shrock, one of the homeowners.Another neighbor, Brian Arrington, described the scene, saying, “We saw flames probably 15 to 20 feet in the air. We were worried about maybe embers flying over and hitting our roof.”Inside the burning home on Corbett Road were three adults. “When I opened the door, was nothing but smoke. We had to get out of the house,” Shrock said.Even after firefighters arrived, flames continued to shoot through one part of the roof. The homeowners, Ricky and Pepper Shrock, suspect the fire started in the garage but are unsure of the exact cause. “I could smell something. And I thought it was the heater at first, and then I looked around the room and it was a little foggy,” Pepper Shrock said.In the daylight, the damage was evident, with a boat outside the garage and the family’s Christmas canes still lining the driveway. The side of the home showed a stark contrast where black charred marks met the wall’s white paint.”Thirty years in this neighborhood. Thank God we had some good neighbors that brought us jackets and robes because we didn’t have anything,” Pepper Shrock said. Neighbors surrounded the couple, offering blankets in the cold as they watched firefighters work through their home and belongings.As she tried to process the events, Pepper, a fourth-grade teacher, expressed her concern, saying, “My only concern is I don’t want to freak out my students.”Now, just before school resumes, the family is left to pick up the pieces of their longtime home.

    ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. —

    Firefighters in Orange County are investigating the cause of a house fire that forced a couple and another adult to evacuate their home early Tuesday morning.

    A neighbor captured video of the intense flames and alarms blaring through the neighborhood.

    “I was asleep, and then my wife came running in, says, told me to get up,” said Ricky Shrock, one of the homeowners.

    Another neighbor, Brian Arrington, described the scene, saying, “We saw flames probably 15 to 20 feet in the air. We were worried about maybe embers flying over and hitting our roof.”

    Inside the burning home on Corbett Road were three adults.

    “When I opened the door, was nothing but smoke. We had to get out of the house,” Shrock said.

    Even after firefighters arrived, flames continued to shoot through one part of the roof. The homeowners, Ricky and Pepper Shrock, suspect the fire started in the garage but are unsure of the exact cause.

    “I could smell something. And I thought it was the heater at first, and then I looked around the room and it was a little foggy,” Pepper Shrock said.

    In the daylight, the damage was evident, with a boat outside the garage and the family’s Christmas canes still lining the driveway. The side of the home showed a stark contrast where black charred marks met the wall’s white paint.

    “Thirty years in this neighborhood. Thank God we had some good neighbors that brought us jackets and robes because we didn’t have anything,” Pepper Shrock said.

    Neighbors surrounded the couple, offering blankets in the cold as they watched firefighters work through their home and belongings.

    As she tried to process the events, Pepper, a fourth-grade teacher, expressed her concern, saying, “My only concern is I don’t want to freak out my students.”

    Now, just before school resumes, the family is left to pick up the pieces of their longtime home.

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  • Good Samaritan helps rescue family from near-death crash on California highway

    A car lost control along California Highway 50 on Christmas morning, leaving its occupants in a life-threatening situation until a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant stepped in to help.SSgt. Ruben Tala, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was traveling with his family through the Sierra corridor shortly after 8 a.m. when he saw an SUV spin out of control.“During that time, I mean, I think it’s the adrenaline kicking in,” Tala said.The SUV was teetering hundreds of feet above the ground. Video shared with sister station KCRA shows Tala gripping the driver’s side door as the vehicle dangled over the edge.“I thought about my wife and my daughter. What if there’s a family in that car? Somebody has to help,” Tala told KCRA.As Tala worked to stabilize the situation, other good Samaritans stopped and joined the rescue effort. Together, they were able to help the driver and his wife reach safety. The woman was visibly shaken and clutching the couple’s two dogs.Highway 50 is known for hazardous winter driving conditions, particularly during storms, when snow and ice can make the roadway treacherous even for experienced drivers.Tala said the gratitude from the family left a lasting impression. One detail, he added, stood out to him afterward.“It’s funny too, because one of their dog’s names is Luna, which is my daughter’s name,” he said. “I was like, how’s that a coincidence, right?”Tala and his wife, Yvett, share a 22-month-old daughter and were on their way to the snow for the holiday when the crash unfolded.”SSgt Tala and Yvett’s quick action and courage are a direct reflection of our Core Value of Service Before Self,” Lt. Col. Jason Christie, 60th Force Support Squadron commander, said in a statement.”We’re so proud to have them as our teammates and witness them ready to help anyone in need.”

    A car lost control along California Highway 50 on Christmas morning, leaving its occupants in a life-threatening situation until a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant stepped in to help.

    SSgt. Ruben Tala, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was traveling with his family through the Sierra corridor shortly after 8 a.m. when he saw an SUV spin out of control.

    “During that time, I mean, I think it’s the adrenaline kicking in,” Tala said.

    The SUV was teetering hundreds of feet above the ground. Video shared with sister station KCRA shows Tala gripping the driver’s side door as the vehicle dangled over the edge.

    “I thought about my wife and my daughter. What if there’s a family in that car? Somebody has to help,” Tala told KCRA.

    As Tala worked to stabilize the situation, other good Samaritans stopped and joined the rescue effort. Together, they were able to help the driver and his wife reach safety. The woman was visibly shaken and clutching the couple’s two dogs.

    Highway 50 is known for hazardous winter driving conditions, particularly during storms, when snow and ice can make the roadway treacherous even for experienced drivers.

    Tala said the gratitude from the family left a lasting impression. One detail, he added, stood out to him afterward.

    “It’s funny too, because one of their dog’s names is Luna, which is my daughter’s name,” he said. “I was like, how’s that a coincidence, right?”

    Tala and his wife, Yvett, share a 22-month-old daughter and were on their way to the snow for the holiday when the crash unfolded.

    “SSgt Tala and Yvett’s quick action and courage are a direct reflection of our Core Value of Service Before Self,” Lt. Col. Jason Christie, 60th Force Support Squadron commander, said in a statement.”We’re so proud to have them as our teammates and witness them ready to help anyone in need.”

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  • ‘3 days before Christmas’: Florida man shoots wife, daughter, then himself, deputies say

    Just three days before Christmas, a man shot and killed his wife, shot his 13-year-old stepdaughter and then shot and killed himself, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.PCSO is investigating the incident as a murder-suicide.Deputies responded to a home on Lemon Avenue in the Highland City area of Lakeland after receiving a 911 call around 11 p.m. The caller said her 12-year-old neighbor ran to her house and asked her to call 911 because his stepfather and mother were fighting, according to deputies. He told the woman his mom, Crystal, asked him to call 911 as the argument was escalating, PCSO said. Deputies arrived minutes later and said they located Crystal with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead on the scene. PCSO also located a 13-year-old girl, the victim’s daughter, in her bedroom with two gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she is in critical but stable condition. Deputies also found their 1-year-old daughter asleep in her crib, unharmed.Investigators determined 47-year-old Jason Kenney was in his shed when he decided to go back inside the house to watch the end of an NFL game in the living room, where his wife was. Crystal told him that she didn’t want to watch football, and an argument ensued, PCSO said.Deputies said she then shouted to her son, asking him to call 911, which is when he ran from the house and said he heard a single shot go off.Kenney fled the scene in his truck after shooting his wife. He called his sister, who is not in Florida, and told her he had done something bad, and he was not going to jail.Kenney told his sister she would “see it on the news.”After deputies found Kenney at his father’s home in Lake Wales, they told him to come outside. That’s when they heard a single gunshot, PCSO said.PCSO entered the shed on his father’s property to find Kenney had shot himself in the head. Kenney was pronounced dead at the scene. “Three days before Christmas, this man shot and killed his wife, shot his stepdaughter, and then shot and killed himself. This is horrific, but destroying a family and the mental health of these children so close to Christmas is especially horrific. We will do everything we can to help this family get through this difficult time,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.The 13-year-old remains in critical condition, and the other two children are with their grandparents.

    POLK COUNTY, Fla. —

    Just three days before Christmas, a man shot and killed his wife, shot his 13-year-old stepdaughter and then shot and killed himself, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

    PCSO is investigating the incident as a murder-suicide.

    Deputies responded to a home on Lemon Avenue in the Highland City area of Lakeland after receiving a 911 call around 11 p.m.

    The caller said her 12-year-old neighbor ran to her house and asked her to call 911 because his stepfather and mother were fighting, according to deputies.

    He told the woman his mom, Crystal, asked him to call 911 as the argument was escalating, PCSO said.

    Deputies arrived minutes later and said they located Crystal with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead on the scene.

    PCSO also located a 13-year-old girl, the victim’s daughter, in her bedroom with two gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she is in critical but stable condition.

    Deputies also found their 1-year-old daughter asleep in her crib, unharmed.

    Investigators determined 47-year-old Jason Kenney was in his shed when he decided to go back inside the house to watch the end of an NFL game in the living room, where his wife was.

    Crystal told him that she didn’t want to watch football, and an argument ensued, PCSO said.

    Deputies said she then shouted to her son, asking him to call 911, which is when he ran from the house and said he heard a single shot go off.

    Kenney fled the scene in his truck after shooting his wife. He called his sister, who is not in Florida, and told her he had done something bad, and he was not going to jail.

    Kenney told his sister she would “see it on the news.”

    After deputies found Kenney at his father’s home in Lake Wales, they told him to come outside. That’s when they heard a single gunshot, PCSO said.

    PCSO entered the shed on his father’s property to find Kenney had shot himself in the head. Kenney was pronounced dead at the scene.

    “Three days before Christmas, this man shot and killed his wife, shot his stepdaughter, and then shot and killed himself. This is horrific, but destroying a family and the mental health of these children so close to Christmas is especially horrific. We will do everything we can to help this family get through this difficult time,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.

    The 13-year-old remains in critical condition, and the other two children are with their grandparents.

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  • ‘Should not be like this’: Maryland woman who lived in US for 30 years gets deported to Vietnam

    Despite rallying the community’s support, a Maryland woman was deported after living in the country for more than 30 years.Melissa Tran, a wife, mother and business owner, was deported to Vietnam, her home country.”I love her to death. She has been just like a daughter to me,” said Kitty Chamos, a family friend.The community of Hagerstown has rallied to support Tran and her family over the last six months. Tran owns a local nail salon and is a wife and mother of four children.She moved to the United States from Vietnam in 1993.In 2001, when Tran was 20, she pleaded guilty to stealing money from her employer. She said she was pressured by an abusive boyfriend to do it. She paid restitution and served jail time.”She’s such a good person, and you know, she paid her debt. She did wrong, she paid her debt. It should not be like this,” Chamos said.Tran eventually moved on, started a family and opened the successful nail salon, never missing a check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In May, though, she was arrested by ICE and held in detention for five months before a judge ordered her release because Vietnam had not issued her travel documents.”She has always helped everyone she can help. Always. There was a lady there who didn’t speak English at all, and she befriended her and was helping her,” Chamos said.At an ICE check-in Friday, Tran learned that Vietnam agreed to issue her a passport, and she was arrested and taken again to a detention center. Her husband said she was deported to Vietnam on Monday.”I think it’s just absolutely horrible to take her away from her family and her children. They’re going to suffer so bad. They already have. It has just been a terrible ordeal,” Chamos said.Tran’s friends said she has distant relatives in Vietnam, but they are not sure where she will live. In the meantime, they will continue to raise money for her lawyer to try to bring her back to the United States.

    HAGERSTOWN, Md. —

    Despite rallying the community’s support, a Maryland woman was deported after living in the country for more than 30 years.

    Melissa Tran, a wife, mother and business owner, was deported to Vietnam, her home country.

    “I love her to death. She has been just like a daughter to me,” said Kitty Chamos, a family friend.

    The community of Hagerstown has rallied to support Tran and her family over the last six months. Tran owns a local nail salon and is a wife and mother of four children.

    She moved to the United States from Vietnam in 1993.

    In 2001, when Tran was 20, she pleaded guilty to stealing money from her employer. She said she was pressured by an abusive boyfriend to do it. She paid restitution and served jail time.

    “She’s such a good person, and you know, she paid her debt. She did wrong, she paid her debt. It should not be like this,” Chamos said.

    Tran eventually moved on, started a family and opened the successful nail salon, never missing a check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In May, though, she was arrested by ICE and held in detention for five months before a judge ordered her release because Vietnam had not issued her travel documents.

    “She has always helped everyone she can help. Always. There was a lady there who didn’t speak English at all, and she befriended her and was helping her,” Chamos said.

    At an ICE check-in Friday, Tran learned that Vietnam agreed to issue her a passport, and she was arrested and taken again to a detention center. Her husband said she was deported to Vietnam on Monday.

    “I think it’s just absolutely horrible to take her away from her family and her children. They’re going to suffer so bad. They already have. It has just been a terrible ordeal,” Chamos said.

    Tran’s friends said she has distant relatives in Vietnam, but they are not sure where she will live. In the meantime, they will continue to raise money for her lawyer to try to bring her back to the United States.

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  • Commentary: MAGA’s ‘big tent’ is burning down amid explosion of antisemitism, racism

    South Asians have played a prominent role in President Trump’s universe, especially in his second term.

    Second Lady Usha Vance is the daughter of Indian immigrants who came to California to study and never went back. Harmeet Dhillon, born in India and a devout Sikh, is currently his U.S. assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. And the head of the FBI, Kash Patel, is (like potential New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani,) of Indian descent by way of Uganda.

    Some Republicans have taken pride in this kind of diversity, citing it for the gains Trump made in 2024 with Black and Latino voters.

    But these days, the MAGA big tent seems to be collapsing fast.

    Last week, MAGA had a total anti-Indian meltdown on social media, revealing a deep, ugly racism toward South Asians.

    It comes amid the first real rebellion about rampant and increasingly open antisemitism within the MAGAverse, creating a massive rift between traditional conservatives and a younger, rabidly anti-Jewish contingent called groypers whose leader, Nick Fuentes, recently posted that he is “team Hitler.”

    Turns out, when you cultivate a political movement based on hate, at some point the hate is uncontrollable. In fact, that hate needs to be fed to maintain power — even if it means feasting on its own.

    This monster of white-might ugliness is going to dominate policy and politics for the next election, and these now-public fights within the Republican party represent a new dynamic that will either force it to do some sort of soul searching, or purge it of anything but white Christian nationalism. My bet is on the latter. But if conservatives ever truly believed in their inclusive talk, then it’s time for Republicans to stand up and demand the big Trump tent they were hailing just a few months ago.

    Ultra-conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who opposes much of Fuentes’ worldview, summed up this Republican split succinctly.

    Fuentes’ followers “are white supremacists, hate women, Jews, Hindus, many types of Christians, brown people of a wide variety of backgrounds, Blacks, America’s foreign policy and America’s constitution,” Shapiro explained. “They admire Hitler and Stalin and that splinter faction is now being facilitated and normalized within the mainstream Republican Party.”

    MAGA’s anti-Indian sentiment had an explosive moment a few days ago when a South Asian woman asked Vice President JD Vance a series of questions during a Turning Point USA event in Mississippi. The young immigrant wanted to know how Vance could preach for the removal of nearly 18 million immigrants? And how could he claim that the United States was a Christian nation, rather than one that valued pluralism?

    “How can you stop us and tell us we don’t belong here anymore?” the woman asked. “Why do I have to be a Christian?”

    Vance’s answer went viral, in part because he claimed his wife, although from a Hindu family, was “agnostic or atheist,” and that he hoped she would convert to Christianity.

    “Do I hope eventually that she is somehow moved by the same thing that I was moved in by church? Yeah, I honestly do wish that,” he said.

    Vance later tried to do some damage control on social media, calling Usha Vance a “blessing” and promising to continue to “support her and talk to her about faith and life and everything else, because she’s my wife.”

    But many South Asians felt Vance was dissing his wife’s heritage and attempting to downplay her non-whiteness. They vented on social media, and got a lot of MAGA feelings back.

    “How can you pretend to be a white nativist politician who will ‘bring america back to it’s golden age’ … when your wife is an indian immigrant?” wrote one poster.

    Dhillon received similar feedback recently for urging calm and fairness after a Sikh truck driver allegedly caused a fatal crash.

    “[N]o ma’am, it is CRYSTAL CLEAR that sihks and hindus need to get the hell out of my country,” one reply stated. “You and your kind are no longer welcome here. Go the [expletive] home.”

    Patel too, got it, after posting a message on Diwali, a religious holiday that celebrates the victory of light over darkness. He was dubbed a demon worshipper, a favorite anti-Indian trope.

    Perhaps you’re thinking, “Duh, of course MAGA is racist.” But here’s the thing. The military has been scrubbed of many Black officers. The federal workforce, long a bastion for middle-class people of color, has been decimated. Minority cabinet members or top officials are few. Aside from another South Asian, Tulsi Gabbard, there’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez‑DeRemer and HUD head Scott Turner.

    South Asians are largely the last visible sign of pluralism in Republican power, an erstwhile proof that the charges of racism from the left are unfair. But now, like Latinos, they are increasingly targets of the base.

    At the same time anti-Indian hate was surfacing last week, a whole load of MAGA antisemitism hit the fan. It started when Tucker Carlson, who in his post-network life has re-created himself as a hugely popular podcaster with more than 16 million followers on X, invited Fuentes on his show.

    In addition to calling for the death of American Jews, Fuentes has also said women want him to rape them and should be burned alive, Black people belong in prison and LGBTQ+ people are an abomination.

    Anyone who is not his kind of Christian “must be absolutely annihilated when we take power,” he said.

    Turns out far-right Charlie Kirk was a bulwark against this straight-up American Nazi. Kirk’s popularity kept Fuentes — who often trolled Kirk — from achieving dominance as the spirit guide of young MAGA. Now, with Kirk slain, nothing appears to be stopping Fuentes from taking up that mantle.

    After the Fuentes interview, sane conservatives (there are some left) were apoplectic that Carlson would support someone who so openly admits to being anti-Israel and seemingly pro-Nazi. They demanded the Heritage Foundation, historical backbone of the conservative movement, creators of Project 2025 and close allies of Tucker, do something. The head of Heritage, Kevin Roberts, offered what many considered a sorry-not-sorry. He condemned Fuentes, saying he was “fomenting Jew hatred, and his incitements are not only immoral and un-Christian, they risk violence.”

    But also counseled that Fuentes shouldn’t be banished from the party.

    “Join us — not to cancel — but to guide, challenge, and strengthen the conversation,” Roberts said.

    Are Nazis really all bad? Discuss!

    The response from ethical conservatives — Jewish and non-Jewish alike — has been that you don’t politely hear Nazis out, and if the Republican Party can’t clearly say that Nazis aren’t welcome, it’s got a problem.

    Yes, the Republican Party has a problem.

    The right rode to power by attacking what it denigrates at “wokeism” on the left. MAGA declared that to confront fascism or racism or misogyny — to tell its purveyors to sit down and shut up — was wrong. That “canceling,” or banishment from common discourse for spewing hate, was somehow an infringement on 1st Amendment rights or even terrorism.

    They screamed loud and clear that speaking out against intolerance was the worst, most unacceptable form of intolerance itself — and would not be tolerated.

    You know who heard them loud and clear? Fuentes. He has checkmated establishment Republicans with their own cowardice and hypocrisy.

    So now his young Christian white supremacists are empowered, and intent on taking over as the leaders of the party. Fuentes is saying what old guard Republicans don’t want to hear, but secretly fear: He already is dangerously close to being the mainstream; just read the comments.

    Roberts, the Heritage president, said it himself: “Diversity will never be our strength. Unity is our strength, and a lack of unity is a sign of weakness.”

    Trying to shut Fuentes up or kick him out will likely anger that vocal and powerful part of the base that enjoys the freedom to be openly hateful, and really wouldn’t mind a male-dominated white Christian autocracy.

    The far right has free-speeched their way into fascism, and Fuentes is loving every minute of it.

    So now this remaining vestige of traditional conservatives — including senators such as Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell — is faced with a painful reckoning. Many mainstream Republicans for years ignored the racism and antisemitism creeping into the party. They can’t anymore. It has grown into a beast ready to consume its maker.

    Will they let this takeover happen, call for conversation over condemnation to the glee of Fuentes and his followers?

    Or will they find the courage to be not just true Republicans, but true Americans, and declare non-negotiable for their party that most basic of American ideals: We do not tolerate hate?

    Anita Chabria

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  • Wife of suspended Osceola County sheriff transferred to Lake County Jail after 2nd arrest

    A judge denied bond for Robin Severance Lopez after her second arrest on charges related to bond issue.After spending Thursday night in the Osceola County Jail, Severance Lopez was transferred to the Lake County Jail on Friday morning. The estranged wife of the suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez will no longer appear before an Osceola County judge on Friday afternoon.Her attorney, Michelle Yard, told WESH 2 that statewide prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke Severance-Lopez’s $400,000 bond from her original arrest in June on a conspiracy to commit racketeering charge.Statewide prosecutors say Robin Lopez testified falsely about her financial status at the hearing in August to remove her GPS ankle monitor, according to her attorney Michelle Yard, who got the probable cause affidavit Friday afternoon.The judged ruled to revoke bond after prosecutors says she violated pretrial release conditions by failing to refrain from criminal activity. Yard said she fully intends to defend Robin Lopez at her trial, which is set to begin on Nov. 10 in Lake County before Judge Brian Welke.What is she accused of?Robin Lopez was arrested in connection with the illegal Central Florida gambling enterprise that her estranged husband is accused of protecting, expanding and profiting between $600,000 and $700,000.Statewide prosecutors say Robin Lopez helped facilitate the movement of illicit money from the $21-million illegal gambling operation.Yard said she still has not received the new probable cause affidavit to rearrest Robin Lopez on a third-degree felony charge of providing false or misleading information, or omitting material information, in connection with an application for bail or a bail modification.”They sent me the charge and said that everything else is sealed, but there’s a Florida rule of criminal procedure that says they have to produce it,” Yard said in an exclusive interview with WESH 2 Thursday night.Osceola County sheriff’s deputies took Robin Lopez into custody just after 3 p.m. Thursday.”She was home with her child, and you know, just a normal afternoon, and we had no idea that deputies would be arriving to her house or that statewide was pursuing any additional charge,” Yard said.While Marcos Lopez’s attorneys have filed a motion to continue his case and he has waived his right to a speedy trial, a Lake County judge has set a trial date for Robin Lopez in November.The suspended sheriff’s attorneys are also asking the court to move his case from Lake County to Osceola County.A hearing on this motion this week was canceled, and the state has fired back with a motion on why it wants the criminal proceedings to continue in Lake County.

    LAKE COUNTY, Fla. —

    A judge denied bond for Robin Severance Lopez after her second arrest on charges related to bond issue.

    After spending Thursday night in the Osceola County Jail, Severance Lopez was transferred to the Lake County Jail on Friday morning.

    The estranged wife of the suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez will no longer appear before an Osceola County judge on Friday afternoon.

    Her attorney, Michelle Yard, told WESH 2 that statewide prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke Severance-Lopez’s $400,000 bond from her original arrest in June on a conspiracy to commit racketeering charge.

    Statewide prosecutors say Robin Lopez testified falsely about her financial status at the hearing in August to remove her GPS ankle monitor, according to her attorney Michelle Yard, who got the probable cause affidavit Friday afternoon.

    The judged ruled to revoke bond after prosecutors says she violated pretrial release conditions by failing to refrain from criminal activity.

    Yard said she fully intends to defend Robin Lopez at her trial, which is set to begin on Nov. 10 in Lake County before Judge Brian Welke.

    What is she accused of?

    Robin Lopez was arrested in connection with the illegal Central Florida gambling enterprise that her estranged husband is accused of protecting, expanding and profiting between $600,000 and $700,000.

    Statewide prosecutors say Robin Lopez helped facilitate the movement of illicit money from the $21-million illegal gambling operation.

    Yard said she still has not received the new probable cause affidavit to rearrest Robin Lopez on a third-degree felony charge of providing false or misleading information, or omitting material information, in connection with an application for bail or a bail modification.

    “They sent me the charge and said that everything else is sealed, but there’s a Florida rule of criminal procedure that says they have to produce it,” Yard said in an exclusive interview with WESH 2 Thursday night.

    Osceola County sheriff’s deputies took Robin Lopez into custody just after 3 p.m. Thursday.

    “She was home with her child, and you know, just a normal afternoon, and we had no idea that deputies would be arriving to her house or that statewide was pursuing any additional charge,” Yard said.

    While Marcos Lopez’s attorneys have filed a motion to continue his case and he has waived his right to a speedy trial, a Lake County judge has set a trial date for Robin Lopez in November.

    The suspended sheriff’s attorneys are also asking the court to move his case from Lake County to Osceola County.

    A hearing on this motion this week was canceled, and the state has fired back with a motion on why it wants the criminal proceedings to continue in Lake County.


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  • 2 Pennsylvania state police officers shot during vehicle chase, suspect dead

    Two state police officers in Pennsylvania pursuing a vehicle were shot Wednesday in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who was killed, authorities said.The troopers were airlifted by a medical helicopter to WellSpan York Hospital to be treated, according to investigators. They are in critical and serious condition, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement.Officials have not yet released the names of the injured troopers. They were responding to a theft call at a sporting goods store. Several suspects had fled in a vehicle, the statement said. The troopers saw the vehicle and there was a pursuit.Spike strips stopped the vehicle. Two women came out and were taken into custody, the statement said.A man in the vehicle “began shooting at troopers, striking two of them,” the statement said. “Troopers returned fire, fatally wounding the male.”Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them.“Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro said in a post on the social platform X.The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles northwest of Baltimore.

    GREENCASTLE, Pa. —

    Two state police officers in Pennsylvania pursuing a vehicle were shot Wednesday in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who was killed, authorities said.

    The troopers were airlifted by a medical helicopter to WellSpan York Hospital to be treated, according to investigators. They are in critical and serious condition, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement.

    Officials have not yet released the names of the injured troopers.

    They were responding to a theft call at a sporting goods store. Several suspects had fled in a vehicle, the statement said. The troopers saw the vehicle and there was a pursuit.

    Spike strips stopped the vehicle. Two women came out and were taken into custody, the statement said.

    A man in the vehicle “began shooting at troopers, striking two of them,” the statement said. “Troopers returned fire, fatally wounding the male.”

    Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them.

    “Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro said in a post on the social platform X.

    The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles northwest of Baltimore.

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  • 2 Pennsylvania state police officers and a suspect were shot while officers responded to a call

    Two state police officers and a suspect were shot while officers were responding to a call in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, authorities said. The troopers were taken to hospitals, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement.Sister station WGAL reports that, according to Pennsylvania State Police, state troopers responded to a retail theft at Dicks Sporting Goods in Guilford Township, Pennsylvania.The suspects fled the scene, traveling towards Interstate 81. Troopers quickly located the suspect vehicle, and a pursuit ensued. Spike strips were deployed and successfully stopped the vehicle at I-81 southbound at exit 3, where the vehicle came to final rest off the roadway in Antrim Township, WGAL reports.Two female suspects immediately complied with trooper commands and exited the vehicle to be placed in custody. The male suspect began shooting at the officers, striking two of them. Troopers returned fire, fatally wounding the male, WGAL reports.Both troopers were flown to an area hospital and are considered to be in critical and serious condition, according to WGAL.Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them. “Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro said in a post on the social platform X. State police said there was no threat to the public but “the scene remains very active.” The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles northwest of Baltimore.___ Sister station WGAL’s McKenna Alexander, Morgan Schneider and Austin Boley contributed to this report

    CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. —

    Two state police officers and a suspect were shot while officers were responding to a call in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, authorities said.

    The troopers were taken to hospitals, Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement.

    Sister station WGAL reports that, according to Pennsylvania State Police, state troopers responded to a retail theft at Dicks Sporting Goods in Guilford Township, Pennsylvania.

    The suspects fled the scene, traveling towards Interstate 81. Troopers quickly located the suspect vehicle, and a pursuit ensued. Spike strips were deployed and successfully stopped the vehicle at I-81 southbound at exit 3, where the vehicle came to final rest off the roadway in Antrim Township, WGAL reports.

    Two female suspects immediately complied with trooper commands and exited the vehicle to be placed in custody. The male suspect began shooting at the officers, striking two of them. Troopers returned fire, fatally wounding the male, WGAL reports.

    Both troopers were flown to an area hospital and are considered to be in critical and serious condition, according to WGAL.

    Gov. Josh Shapiro said he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the officers and asked others to join them.

    “Pennsylvania’s law enforcement officers are the very best of us — running towards danger every day to keep our communities safe,” Shapiro said in a post on the social platform X.

    State police said there was no threat to the public but “the scene remains very active.”

    The shooting took place in southern Franklin County, which is about 85 miles northwest of Baltimore.

    ___

    Sister station WGAL’s McKenna Alexander, Morgan Schneider and Austin Boley contributed to this report

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  • Bystander recounts jumping in to help after medical helicopter crashes on Highway 50 in Sacramento

    Bystander recounts jumping in to help after medical helicopter crashes on Highway 50 in Sacramento

    YOU’RE LOOKING AT. SO WE MENTIONED ACTS OF HEROISM TONIGHT. TAKE A LOOK AT THIS VIDEO JUST INTO OUR NEWSROOM. YOU CAN SEE THOSE BYSTANDERS WORKING TO LIFT THAT HELICOPTER OFF OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS. OUR TEAM COVERAGE CONTINUES NOW WITH KCRA 3’S CAROLINA ESTRADA. SHE’S LIVE FOR US ALONG HIGHWAY 50. IT IS REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE THERE. CATALINA. AND YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH WITNESSES AND SOME OF THOSE BYSTANDERS WHO THEY JUMPED IN TO HELP, AND THEY HAD NO PROBLEM HELPING. NO. GULSTAN DART. THEY ACTUALLY TOLD US AND DESCRIBED THE MOMENTS RIGHT WHEN THEY SAW THAT HELICOPTER COMING TOWARDS THEM. THEY SAY IT WAS TERRIFYING. THEN THEY WERE IN DISBELIEF WHEN THEY SAW IT CRASH IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 50, AND THEN THEY DIDN’T DOUBT TO JUMP IN AND HELP WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. WE’LL HEAR FROM THEM IN JUST A SECOND. BUT FIRST, I WANT TO SHOW YOU OUT HERE THE SCENE THAT WE HAVE FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT, WE HAVE SEEN THE SCENE CHANGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT THAT HELICOPTER IS STILL HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 50. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE SOME OF THAT DEBRIS AND ALSO THAT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT’S SURROUNDING IT. SO WE HAVE SEEN AT LEAST 15 INVESTIGATORS, OFFICERS TAKING PICTURES. THEY WERE SCANNING THE SCENE. WE SAW THEM JUST MOVE THE LIGHTS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER. SO IT SEEMS LIKE THEY’RE FOCUSING THEIR INVESTIGATION NOW. ON THE OTHER SIDE. EARLIER TODAY THEY WERE ON THIS SIDE. WE CAN NOW SEE TRAFFIC STARTING TO FLOW. WE’VE SEEN HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS GUIDING THESE PEOPLE. YOU CAN SEE THEM DRIVING SLOWLY THERE ON THE SIDE OF THIS CRIME SCENE. SO THAT IS ACTUALLY BECAUSE THEY OPENED THE BARRIERS FROM THE FIX 50 PROJECT, AND THEY’RE ABLE TO LET THOSE VEHICLES THROUGH. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE AT A STOP HERE WHEN THIS CRASH HAPPENED. THERE WAS ACTUALLY ANOTHER INCIDENT THAT CREATED A BACKUP. WE SPOKE TO A WITNESS WHO WAS WITH HIS WIFE WHEN THEY SAW THAT HELICOPTER COMING STRAIGHT AT THEM. TAKE A LISTEN. IT WAS VIOLENTLY SHAKING. THE HELICOPTER ITSELF. THE LANDING GEAR UNDERNEATH THE HELICOPTER ITSELF WAS SHAKING LIKE RATTLING IN THE AIR. SO I KNEW SOMETHING WAS OFF AS IT WAS APPROACHING VERY LOW, I WAS SCREAMING TO MY WIFE, I GO, THIS THING’S COMING DOWN, IT’S GOING DOWN, IT’S GOING DOWN, IT’S GOING DOWN. SURE ENOUGH, IT HIT HIGHWAY 50 AND AFTER THAT, AFTER THAT, WE SAW LOTS OF SMOKE. IT TOOK QUITE A WHILE FOR THAT ENGINE TO, LIKE, WIND DOWN OR EVENTUALLY JUST SHUT OFF. BUT IN THOSE 2 TO 3 MINUTES, IT WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE THAT WAS ENTERING HIGHWAY 50. AND THAT PLUME OF SMOKE IS THE ONE THAT WE SAW IN PICTURES AND VIDEOS. BUT I WANT TO BRING YOU BACK OUT HERE LIVE QUICKLY, BECAUSE WE’RE JUST SEEING THAT TOW TRUCK ARRIVING HERE ON SCENE AS WE’RE LIVE. IT JUST PARKED HERE. WE IMAGINE THEY’RE ABOUT TO REMOVE THIS HELICOPTER. THERE’S A SECOND TOW TRUCK THAT I CAN SEE FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT HERE. CREWS ARE ABOUT TO GET OFF AND THEY’RE ABOUT TO START REMOVING THIS FROM THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 50. THIS IS JUST HAPPENING AS WE’RE HERE LIVE. WE’RE SEEING THE OFFICERS NOW SURROUNDING IT. THEY’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY’RE GOING TO DO THIS. BUT WHILE WE SEE WHAT THEY’RE GOING TO DO IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES, I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LESSON FROM THIS BYSTANDER WHO SAYS SHE WAS IN HER CAR, STOPPED HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 50 WHEN AFTER THAT SMOKE CLEARED, THEY SAW THAT FIRST RESPONDERS NEEDED HELP GETTING SOMEONE WHO WAS PINNED IN THIS HELICOPTER OUT. JUST TAKE A LISTEN TO HER TESTIMONY. IT JUST PLUMMETED OUT OF THE SKY AND IT HIT HARD, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE IT WAS FALLING. AND THEN JUST INSTANTANEOUS BLACK SMOKE EVERYWHERE JUST ENGULFED THE WHOLE THING. AS SOON AS I SAW THAT EVERYBODY WAS MOVING, THE TRYING TO PUSH THE HELICOPTER OUT TO GET HELP, THE FIRST RESPONDERS GET TO THE, THE, THE PASSENGER, I JUST RAN OVER AND I GOT IN ONLINE IN, IN THE LINE OF PEOPLE AND WAS JUST HELP PUSHING IT AS MUCH AS I COULD. AND THEN AND THEN WE HELD IT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES SO THE FIRST RESPONDER COULD GET THE PERSON OUT. AND, YOU KNOW, SHE’S STILL TRYING TO PROCESS EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED. I ASKED HER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU SEE THAT? SHE SAID, THE ONLY THING THAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND WAS TO HELP. AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HEAVY THIS HELICOPTER IS, SINCE THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO TOW TRUCKS HERE ON SCENE. AND JUST IMAGINING THAT GROUP OF 15 PEOPLE LIFTING THAT HELICOPTER JUST TO HELP SOMEONE IS REALLY JUST INCREDIBLE TO HEAR. WE NOW KNOW THAT THREE PEOPLE ARE IN CRITICAL CONDITION, AND ONE OF THOSE WAS THE ONE THAT THEY HELPED SAVE. AND JUST BACK OUT HERE LIVE, WE CAN START SEEING THOSE PLASTIC BAGS THAT ARE COMING OUT. THEY’RE GOING TO START PICKING UP ALL OF THAT DEBRIS. SOME OF IT THAT MEDICAL EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN IMAGINE WAS ON THIS HELICOPTER. WE SAW A LOT OF PAPERS. WE CAN SEE THERE’S SOME CREWS STARTING TO PUT THEM IN THOSE WHITE TRASH BAGS HERE. IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A WHILE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO REMOVE ALL OF THIS. WE SEE THAT DOOR FROM THE HELICOPTER CLOSER TO WHERE WE’RE STANDING. SO REMOVAL EFFORTS OF THIS HELICOPTER ARE ABOUT TO START HERE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW LONG THAT’S GOING TO TAKE, BUT THEY ARE LETTING TRAFFIC THROUGH HERE RIGHT NOW. BUT AFTER ALL, YOU KNOW, THERE’S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS EDIE GULSTAN DART ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY LED UP TO THIS HELICOPTER CRASHING HERE ON SCENE. BUT WHAT WE REALLY TAKE AWAY AS WELL IS JUST THE HEROISM OF THOSE 15 PEOPLE THAT JUST DECIDED TO MISS THE CHAOS, TO GET OFF AND HELP AND, YOU KNOW, GET THAT PERSON OUT. AND THEY TELL ME THAT REALLY ALL THEY’RE HOPING FOR TONIGHT IS THAT ALL THREE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INSIDE OF THAT HELICOPTER WHEN IT CRASHED MAKE IT. LI

    Bystander recounts jumping in to help after medical helicopter crashes on Highway 50 in Sacramento

    Updated: 11:21 PM PDT Oct 6, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    A medical helicopter crash critically injured three crew members and stopped traffic on Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday night. Multiple witnesses watched as the helicopter came crashing down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 near Stockton Boulevard just after 7 p.m.”It was violently shaking,” said Chad Montgomery. Montgomery was stuck in traffic on Highway 50 with his wife when they saw the crashing helicopter getting closer.”The landing gear under the helicopter itself was just shaking, like rattling in the air,” Montgomery said. “So I knew something was off as it was approaching very low. I was screaming to my wife, I go, ‘This thing’s coming down.’”Montgomery said just after the aircraft came down, smoke immediately poured out.”It took quite a while for that engine to like, wind down or eventually just shut off. But in those two to three minutes, it was—there was a lot of smoke that was entering Highway 50,” he said. The model of the helicopter that crashed was an H130, which is designed to prevent post-crash fires by containing the fuel. Learn more about the helicopter here. Some of those who witnessed the crash also became rescuers.”It just plummeted out of the sky,” said Aimee Braddock, another witness. “It hit hard.”Braddock joined around a dozen others who rushed in to help lift the helicopter off a trapped crew member.”As soon as I saw that everybody was moving to try to push the helicopter out to help the first responders get to the passenger, I just ran over and got in the line of people and was just pushing it as much as I could,” Braddock recounted. “Then we held it for several minutes, so the first responder could get the person out.”Crews later moved construction barriers so the drivers stuck on Highway 50 after the crash could move. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty shared a post on X thanking the first responders and civilians who jumped in to help.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    A medical helicopter crash critically injured three crew members and stopped traffic on Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday night.

    Multiple witnesses watched as the helicopter came crashing down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 near Stockton Boulevard just after 7 p.m.

    “It was violently shaking,” said Chad Montgomery.

    Montgomery was stuck in traffic on Highway 50 with his wife when they saw the crashing helicopter getting closer.

    “The landing gear under the helicopter itself was just shaking, like rattling in the air,” Montgomery said. “So I knew something was off as it was approaching very low. I was screaming to my wife, I go, ‘This thing’s coming down.’”

    Montgomery said just after the aircraft came down, smoke immediately poured out.

    “It took quite a while for that engine to like, wind down or eventually just shut off. But in those two to three minutes, it was—there was a lot of smoke that was entering Highway 50,” he said.

    The model of the helicopter that crashed was an H130, which is designed to prevent post-crash fires by containing the fuel. Learn more about the helicopter here.

    Some of those who witnessed the crash also became rescuers.

    “It just plummeted out of the sky,” said Aimee Braddock, another witness. “It hit hard.”

    Braddock joined around a dozen others who rushed in to help lift the helicopter off a trapped crew member.

    “As soon as I saw that everybody was moving to try to push the helicopter out to help the first responders get to the passenger, I just ran over and got in the line of people and was just pushing it as much as I could,” Braddock recounted. “Then we held it for several minutes, so the first responder could get the person out.”

    Crews later moved construction barriers so the drivers stuck on Highway 50 after the crash could move.

    Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty shared a post on X thanking the first responders and civilians who jumped in to help.

    This content is imported from Twitter.
    You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Selena Gomez marries Benny Blanco: ‘My wife in real life’

    Selena Gomez has married music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, announcing the news in an Instagram post showing the couple kissing and embracing on a lawn.”My wife in real life,” Blanco responded to the post Saturday by the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated performer. Gomez wore a white halter bridal dress with floral flourishes, and Blanco wore a tuxedo and bow tie, both custom-made by Ralph Lauren. Video above: Selena Gomez goes cold turkey for good reasonPaparazzi had snapped photos of a massive outdoor tent and other preparations in the Santa Barbara area.Friends in the entertainment industry and brands she’s linked to responded with heart emoji and congratulations. “Our Mabel is MARRIED,” said the account of her “Only Murders in the Building” series, and her Rare Beauty line of cosmetics posted: “so happy for you two.” Best wishes were also sent by Camila Cabello, Amy Schumer and others.Blanco, 37, and Gomez, 33, met about a decade ago and got engaged at the end of last year. They worked together on the 2019 song “I Can’t Get Enough,” which also featured J Balvin and Tainy. Among the songs he’s credited on as a writer and producer: Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “Circus” by Britney Spears and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.”Gomez, whose hits include “Calm Down,” “Good for You,” ”Same Old Love” and “Come & Get It,” has been in the spotlight since she was a child. She appeared on “Barney and Friends” before breaking through as a teen star on the Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.” She earned awards nominations in recent years for her ongoing role alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” Gomez has a massive audience on social media with 417 million Instagram followers, the most for any woman on the platform.

    SANTA BARBARA, Calif. —

    Selena Gomez has married music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco, announcing the news in an Instagram post showing the couple kissing and embracing on a lawn.

    “My wife in real life,” Blanco responded to the post Saturday by the Grammy- and Emmy-nominated performer. Gomez wore a white halter bridal dress with floral flourishes, and Blanco wore a tuxedo and bow tie, both custom-made by Ralph Lauren.

    Video above: Selena Gomez goes cold turkey for good reason

    Paparazzi had snapped photos of a massive outdoor tent and other preparations in the Santa Barbara area.

    Friends in the entertainment industry and brands she’s linked to responded with heart emoji and congratulations. “Our Mabel is MARRIED,” said the account of her “Only Murders in the Building” series, and her Rare Beauty line of cosmetics posted: “so happy for you two.” Best wishes were also sent by Camila Cabello, Amy Schumer and others.

    Blanco, 37, and Gomez, 33, met about a decade ago and got engaged at the end of last year. They worked together on the 2019 song “I Can’t Get Enough,” which also featured J Balvin and Tainy.

    Among the songs he’s credited on as a writer and producer: Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” “Circus” by Britney Spears and Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger.”

    Gomez, whose hits include “Calm Down,” “Good for You,” ”Same Old Love” and “Come & Get It,” has been in the spotlight since she was a child. She appeared on “Barney and Friends” before breaking through as a teen star on the Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.”

    She earned awards nominations in recent years for her ongoing role alongside Martin Short and Steve Martin in Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building.” Gomez has a massive audience on social media with 417 million Instagram followers, the most for any woman on the platform.

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  • Commentary: Nine months after the Eaton fire, ‘moments of wavering, or wanting to give up’ on ever returning

    Nearly nine months after the Eaton fire destroyed something unique, something beloved, something cherished even more in death, the mountains remain scarred and dusty streets criss-cross the vanished neighborhoods of what is still, essentially, a ghost town.

    If it’s true that time heals all wounds, the clock is moving slowly in Altadena, where 9,400 structures were destroyed and 19 lives were lost.

    There will be a resurrection, without question. Building permits are grinding slowly through the bureaucracy, hammers are swinging and a new Altadena will one day rise from the ashes.

    I know one homeowner who hopes to be in his newly built house in a month or two. Victoria Knapp of the Altadena Town Council told me she knows people who sold their lots immediately after the fire and now regret it. And L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said the permitting process has been revamped and she doesn’t sense that many people are bailing on Altadena.

    But as we head for Halloween and Thanksgiving and round the corner of one year into the next, roughly two-thirds of property owners have not yet applied for building permits, and there is widespread frustration, exhaustion and uncertainty.

    People who were fully committed to rebuilding in the immediate aftermath of destruction are now rethinking it, having grown weary of the slog.

    “It could be years of living in a construction zone, and that’s had me awake in the middle of the night with some panic attacks,” said Kelly Etter, who lost the house where she lived with her husband and ran a Pilates studio.

    “When I go up there every week,” said Elisa Nixon, whose home was badly smoke-damaged and needs an interior gutting, “I find it really sad and really depressing. I’m trying to imagine myself living there, and it’s really hard.”

    Taylor Feltner, who lived with his wife in a smoke-damaged Pasadena home on the edge of Altadena, would like to stay in the area because his wife’s Altadena family is a big part of their lives. But they’re no longer sure what to do or how to decide.

    “We have wavered so much throughout this whole process, because every time we have a fight with the insurance company it’s like reliving the trauma of that night over and over again,” Feltner said.

    An aerial view of cleared properties and a home under construction this month in Altadena.

    (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

    He and his wife are in their eighth temporary home since the fire. His mother-in-law, whose Altadena home survived the fire, wears a mask when gardening in the backyard. Feltner said he and his wife planted fruit trees in their own yard, but wonder if it’ll be safe to eat the fruit when they go back home, given widespread contamination and haphazard testing.

    “Everything feels broken apart now,” Feltner said.

    I get it, and I honestly don’t know if I’d be able to endure what people from the Altadena and Palisades areas are going through. I get impatient if a problem isn’t resolved in a day. The fire survivors are in limbo, still, with no idea how many years of upheaval they’re in for.

    Joy Chen, co-founder of the Eaton Fire Survivors Network, has been tracking community sentiment for months. She said an initial, “almost defiant” sense of pride, with T-shirts and property signs declaring “Altadena is not for sale,” still lingers. But “a dose of reality” has set in.

    Here’s what people are sorting through, said Chen:

    How long will it take to get back home? Can we afford to rebuild? Will our kids be safe, given lingering contamination? Is the Southern California Edison settlement proposal a fair deal or a ploy to avoid bigger payouts? Will the new Altadena remotely resemble the place we loved? And will we ever sleep well in an area that has not seen the last of wildfires and frightful winds?

    Even for those who can see their way past all of that, said Chen, there’s a gap between their insurance settlement and the cost of rebuilding.

    “It’s around $300,000 on average,” said Chen, “and that’s a huge hurdle.”

    Barger said the settlement proposal from Edison could help close that gap for some people. But the investigation into the fire’s cause is not yet complete, and some lawyers have advised clients not to accept what they consider a lowball offer. And yet, for those who pass up on the offer, it could take years for lawsuits to play out in court.

    Chen, a former deputy L.A. mayor, has been demanding that insurance companies deliver what their clients paid for, and imploring state insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara to get tough with them. According to the nonprofit Department of Angels, 70% of the roughly 2,000 insured Eaton and Palisades fire survivors who were surveyed said delays, denials and underpayments are “actively derailing recovery.”

    “These delays and denials aren’t just devastating to families, they’re illegal under California law,” said Chen. “It’s Commissioner Lara’s job to stop them. His refusal to act is stalling the entire Los Angeles recovery. Families who spent decades building stability for their kids are watching those futures slip away.”

    Lawsuits are pending against multiple insurance companies, including Feltner’s carrier: Mercury.

    “They’re fighting us on everything,” said Feltner, who has filed complaints with what he called the “toothless” state insurance commission.

    For one Altadena family, whose house survived with minimal damage, it wasn’t an insurance issue that exhausted their resolve. Initially committed to moving back in, they later sold their house and relocated to another area. They asked me to withhold their names for privacy reasons.

    “It boiled down to risk,” said the husband, citing concerns about contamination, years of construction noise and dust, and the impossibility of knowing if the new Altadena will resemble the one that drew them there in the first place.

    A sign adorns a homeowner's Altadena property.

    A sign adorns a homeowner’s Altadena property.

    (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

    “It was a head decision and not a heart decision,” said his wife, who still feels attached to her home, her street, and to Altadena. “I don’t think that will go away. Obviously, this trauma is a part of us now, but our heart and our memories will always be there.”

    Tim Kawahara, executive director of the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate, grew up in Altadena and his mother still lives there in a house that survived the fire. The rebuilding of Altadena is in the early stages, he said. With thousands of separate projects to push through the permitting process, and a construction workforce shortage compounded by immigration raids, the new Altadena is not yet on the horizon.

    “You’re talking about three years to start seeing some considerable building happening, and probably more like five years for something happening at some big level. But it could take up to 10 years,” Kawahara said. “And it’s not just homes. It’s schools, parks, libraries, police stations and infrastructure, too.”

    You could argue that there’s something exciting about the chance to draw a new community on the blank canvas of the old one. But that’s a lot to endure if you’re breathing the dust, and as speculators move in and properties turn over, who’s going to be in charge, what will homeowner insurance cost, and will character and history survive?

    “People are suffering and struggling to find their way, and they don’t trust anyone anymore,” said Nixon. “And with all of that comes this feeling of, this is too much. It’s hijacked my life, I can tell you that. It’s overwhelming, the amount of work it takes to stay on top of this and also just keep your life balance.”

    “Having so many unknowns is just incredibly exhausting and limits capacity for enjoying other areas of life,” said Etter. “The connection to community, to neighbors and fellow survivors has really been a lifeline. There’s shared resources, hugs, and midnight texts in the middle of the night when you’re panicked about whatever.”

    In coming weeks, I’ll be exploring different angles of the Eaton fire recovery story, so feel free to share your thoughts with me.

    What can be done to speed the process?

    What should Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators do to speed fair resolution of insurance disputes?

    Given climate change and the fire-prone natural geography, would you consider a move to Altadena?

    What will Altadena look like in five years, in 10, in 20?

    Who should decide?

    Who will decide?

    steve.lopez@latimes.com

    Steve Lopez

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  • American Airlines failed to divert 8-hour flight after California man suffered 2 strokes, jury finds

    A chef from California’s Central Coast who had two strokes while traveling internationally on American Airlines was awarded more than $9 million after a federal jury concluded employees failed to follow their own protocols to help him.

    In November 2021, Jesus Plasencia, a chef from Watsonville who was 67 at the time, was traveling with his wife, Ana Maria Marcela Tavantzis, on a flight to Madrid from Miami, according to a complaint they filed in federal civil court.

    While the plane was still at the gate, Plasencia suffered a “mini stroke” and temporarily lost the ability to speak or pick up his phone, according to the complaint. His wife alerted a flight attendant and the pilot but instead of alerting medical personnel and following company policy, the lawsuit said the pilot dismissed her concerns, “joked with Plasencia, and cleared him for take-off.”

    Plasencia then had a stroke while the plane was in the air; he was hospitalized after the plane landed in Spain and was in critical condition for more than three weeks before he went back to the U.S., according to court documents. He can’t speak or write and now “depends entirely on daily, significant, around-the-clock, in-home care and intensive rehabilitation,” according to the lawsuit.

    On Thursday, a federal jury in San Jose said American Airlines was on the hook for $9.6 million for its employees failing to follow company protocol in the incident.

    According to the complaint filed in 2023, the flight crew had asked other passengers to monitor Plasencia after he suffered a stroke during the flight, but didn’t tell the pilot about the medical emergency, so the flight wasn’t diverted.

    The couple argued that because American Airlines crew hadn’t followed protocols, Plasencia was delayed getting care for nearly eight hours and could’ve potentially had a better outcome, according to the lawsuit.

    “The safety and well-being of our passengers is our highest priority,” American Airlines said in a statement. “While we respect the jury’s decision, we disagree with the verdict and are currently evaluating next steps.”

    Darren Nicholson of Burns Charest, who represented the couple in the lawsuit, argued that the airline didn’t follow stroke protocol, which calls for immediate medical assistance and diverting the aircraft.

    “It is shocking that American Airlines responded so poorly to a medical emergency like this,” he said in a statement.

    American Airlines was found liable by the jurors under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that governs international air travel.

    Summer Lin

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  • Authorities believe sheriff who inspired movie “Walking Tall” killed wife in 1967

    Authorities in Tennessee announced Friday that they believe a sheriff who inspired the movie “Walking Tall” is responsible for his wife’s death in 1967.During a news conference Friday, officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said there were “inconsistencies” in statements from Sheriff Buford Pusser following the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline. “It’s been said that the dead can’t cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so. In this case, that duty has been carried out 58 years later,” said District Attorney General Mark Davidson for the 25th Judicial District.Blood splatter patterns on the vehicle also contradicted statements from Buford Pusser, officials said.Buford Pusser reported that his wife volunteered to ride along in the dark early-morning hours of Aug. 12, 1967, on a disturbance call. He claimed that a car pulled alongside his and fired several shots, killing Pauline and injuring him in what he claimed was an ambush intended for him and carried out by unknown assailants.Buford Pusser recovered from his injury. No viable suspects were developed, and no charges were filed.After receiving a tip that an autopsy was never performed on Pauline Pusser, the TBI exhumed her body in February 2024. Davidson said the investigation revealed that Pauline Pusser was more than likely shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside the vehicle. Cranial trauma suffered by Pauline Pusser, depicted in crime scene photographs, does not match interior crime scene photographs from the vehicle.TBI officials also said the autopsy determined that Pauline Pusser had a nasal fracture before her death. Investigators now believe the physical evidence points to a staged crime scene and that Buford Pusser’s gunshot wound was likely self-inflicted.“There is probable cause to believe that Pauline’s death was not an accident, not an act of chance, but, based on the totality of the TBI investigative file, an act of intimate, deliberate violence,” Davidson said.Law enforcement officials said the discoveries would be sufficient to seek a grand jury indictment of Buford Pusser if he were alive today.Buford Pusser died in 1974 after a one-vehicle crash. He served as the sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1970 and was known for his crackdown on crime along the Mississippi-Tennessee state line.

    Authorities in Tennessee announced Friday that they believe a sheriff who inspired the movie “Walking Tall” is responsible for his wife’s death in 1967.

    During a news conference Friday, officials with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said there were “inconsistencies” in statements from Sheriff Buford Pusser following the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline.

    “It’s been said that the dead can’t cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so. In this case, that duty has been carried out 58 years later,” said District Attorney General Mark Davidson for the 25th Judicial District.

    Blood splatter patterns on the vehicle also contradicted statements from Buford Pusser, officials said.

    Buford Pusser reported that his wife volunteered to ride along in the dark early-morning hours of Aug. 12, 1967, on a disturbance call. He claimed that a car pulled alongside his and fired several shots, killing Pauline and injuring him in what he claimed was an ambush intended for him and carried out by unknown assailants.

    Buford Pusser recovered from his injury. No viable suspects were developed, and no charges were filed.

    After receiving a tip that an autopsy was never performed on Pauline Pusser, the TBI exhumed her body in February 2024.

    Davidson said the investigation revealed that Pauline Pusser was more than likely shot outside the vehicle and then placed inside the vehicle. Cranial trauma suffered by Pauline Pusser, depicted in crime scene photographs, does not match interior crime scene photographs from the vehicle.

    TBI officials also said the autopsy determined that Pauline Pusser had a nasal fracture before her death. Investigators now believe the physical evidence points to a staged crime scene and that Buford Pusser’s gunshot wound was likely self-inflicted.

    “There is probable cause to believe that Pauline’s death was not an accident, not an act of chance, but, based on the totality of the TBI investigative file, an act of intimate, deliberate violence,” Davidson said.

    Law enforcement officials said the discoveries would be sufficient to seek a grand jury indictment of Buford Pusser if he were alive today.

    Buford Pusser died in 1974 after a one-vehicle crash. He served as the sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, from 1964 to 1970 and was known for his crackdown on crime along the Mississippi-Tennessee state line.

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  • Third suspect arrested and charged in the 2017 stabbing death of hairdressing mogul

    Third suspect arrested and charged in the 2017 stabbing death of hairdressing mogul

    Authorities say they have arrested the mystery man who allegedly teamed up with an accomplice to fatally stab famed hairstylist Fabio Sementilli seven years ago at a Woodland Hills mansion.

    Prosecutors allege Christopher Austin was the second man involved in the killing, along with the lover of Sementilli’s wife.

    Austin was recently arrested in connection with the killing and extradited from Washington state. On Oct. 18, after being sent back to Los Angeles, Austin pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder with the special allegations of the use of a deadly weapon, and pleaded not guilty Wednesday to an additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

    The 38-year-old Austin, prosecutors allege, conspired with Monica Sementilli, the hairstylist’s wife, and her lover Robert Louis Baker in January 2017 to kill her husband as part of a scheme to pocket his $1.6 million in life insurance. Austin’s alleged conspirators have been behind bars for more than five years, but until recently Austin’s identity and whereabouts had been unknown.

    Sementilli was the father of three and an executive at the hair-care giant Wella.

    Baker, 62, last year admitted that he killed the celebrity hairdresser on Jan. 23, 2017, leaving him in a pool of blood on a back patio in what was initially thought to be a home-invasion robbery gone wrong. Baker is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

    Six months after the killing, Los Angeles police detectives arrested Baker and Monica Sementilli, revealing that they had been in a relationship for 18 months. Baker, a convicted sex offender, met her at LA Fitness, where he was a racquetball instructor.

    Baker, after admitting to the crime, has said that Monica Sementilli did not know about the murder plot. Prosecutors and LAPD investigators contend that extensive evidence shows she was tied to the killing.

    Monica Sementilli’s trial is pending, and she and Baker have been held in the Los Angeles County jail system for more than five years. She had pleaded not guilty, and her attorney, Leonard Levine, said that she was falsely accused and that Baker will testify to that.

    Her trial has been postponed a few times, and the arrest of Austin could change the dynamics. Prosecutors allege that Baker stabbed the hairstylist several times with a knife and that Austin stabbed the victim in the neck with a knife.

    Baker is alleged to have told Austin that the victim’s wife wanted to get her husband’s life insurance money. As part of the conspiracy alleged by prosecutors, Baker gave Austin money to buy a ticket to fly from Anchorage to Los Angeles and a roll of gold coins after the slaying, according to the complaint.

    Austin was arrested in Washington state and extradited to L.A. County, where he is being held on more than $2 million bail pending a Dec. 2 court appearance.

    Initially, when LAPD responded to the home and found Sementilli stabbed to death, investigators considered it to be the work of knock-knock burglars who plagued parts of San Fernando Valley.

    But though the home’s master bedroom was ransacked, the assailants never took the hair mogul’s valuable watch on his wrist, piquing the interest of detectives, said then-Robbery Homicide Division Capt. Billy Hayes. Security surveillance video showed two hooded men jogging up to the home before the slaying. Afterward, the men drove away in Sementilli’s Porsche and were recorded on another surveillance camera as they abandoned the vehicle five miles away.

    In an apparent attempt to cover up their actions, the two men took a video recording system hidden in the garage of Sementilli’s home that captured video from six cameras around the house, prosecutors said.

    Detectives closed in on Baker after discovering blood in the abandoned Porsche. His DNA had previously been captured after he was convicted of a lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor in 1993 and forced to register as a sex offender, Hayes said at the time.

    Prosecutors alleged Monica Sementilli told Baker how to remove the home’s video recording system. They presented evidence that she watched a live feed of the area shortly before the killing to ensure Baker had a clear path to her husband. Prosecutors alleged that she also let her 16-year-old daughter come home first and discover the crime scene.

    “Monica fully intended for Fabio to be murdered,” Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. Beth Silverman told a grand jury in 2017. “She wanted him out of the way because she wants to be with Robert Baker. She’s unhappy in her marriage, even though at the same time she’s acting like the loving, adoring wife.”

    Baker pleaded no contest in July 2023 to one count each of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He also admitted the special circumstance allegations of murder for financial gain and murder while lying in wait.

    One of Monica Sementilli’s attorneys, Leonard Levine, told reporters after Baker’s plea that the defense was confident that his plea and his “truthful testimony will finally establish once and for all that Monica Sementilli had nothing to do with the planning or the murder of Fabio Sementilli, her husband. And we’re looking forward to the trial, which we believe will establish that fact.’’

    Richard Winton

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  • God’s Plan for Your Prodigal

    God’s Plan for Your Prodigal

    Before my kids were born, I had an idealistic view of what parenting would be like. But it didn’t take long for my plans to be upended as the beautiful yet challenging adventure began. 

    What struck me most was the independence exerted by each of my kids, an independence that sometimes led them down compromising paths. For reasons I still ponder, I naively believed my children would be immune to compromise, especially when it came to matters of faith. I envisioned them navigating their walk with God with ease and certainty, never straying from His principles. 

    However, I’ve come to realize we’re all on our own journey, and for some, the road back to the Savior is long and difficult. Yet, I rest in the assurance that my family is held in the embrace of God’s sovereign plan. I trust that the Lord is at work, weaving His perfect will through our lives, including the lives of our prodigals.

    With each passing day, I’m learning to release my fears and failures to Him, reminding myself of His promises and the hope He offers. I cling to the belief that no matter how far they may wander, there is always a path back home.

    If you’re wondering what God’s plans might be for your prodigal, take comfort in these promising Scriptures.

    He Desires to Save Them

    “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:1-6 (ESV)

    I probably don’t need to ask this, but is your prodigal son or daughter included in your prayers? Are you diligently praying for them with thanksgiving in your heart? 

    I know how difficult it is to keep interceding when you don’t see the fruit of your petitions. But don’t grow weary! Galatians 6:9 spurs us on, saying, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Imagine the beautiful harvest of your child’s heart ready to receive Christ. What a wonderful day that will be! 

    I love the parable of the persistent widow when Jesus emphasized the importance of praying and never giving up. He said, “And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you he will see that they get justice, and quickly” (Luke 18:7-8). 

    My friends, we are free to call upon the Lord, day and night. He wants to hear our prayers and petitions. Jesus removed the veil so we could enter into God’s presence and tell Him everything.

    Draw near to God today, and let your desires be made known. Be persistent in prayer, believing in faith for your prodigal’s return.

    He Wants Their Eyes to Be Open

    “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Acts 26:17-18

    Paul’s miraculous conversion on the road to Damascus is one of the most comforting passages for parents of prodigals. From murderer to martyr, Paul’s life was transformed in an instant by a glorious encounter with Jesus.

    As we read Paul’s story, we see the great commission Jesus placed on his life. He was sent to open the eyes of the Gentiles, turn them from darkness to light, and deliver them from the power of Satan to God. Paul’s testimony is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone to be captured by God’s love and redemption.

    All along, God’s plan has been to open people’s eyes to His free gift of salvation. We can trust Him to meet our prodigals right where they are, offering them new life in Christ. Let’s remember Paul’s Damascus journey with renewed hope for our loved ones. The Lord still speaks today, drawing people out of darkness and into His glorious light.

    He Seeks Them

    “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

    Does God keep pursuing us even when we run away? This is a serious question that requires a serious answer. For parents of prodigals, it’s tempting to assume our kids have gone too far, pushed too hard, or run too fast. But remember Isaiah 59:1, which says, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.”

    In this post by Debbie McDaniel, she says, “Some days, we just need a reminder, that God is intimately involved in all that concerns us. Maybe we’ve been praying for something and still don’t see the answer. Maybe a door closed that we were really hoping would open. Maybe we’re battling discouragement and defeat, or we’re burdened for the lives of those we love…He knows. He cares.”

    My friends, we can absolutely trust God to keep pursuing our prodigals with His limitless love. The word of His mouth has the power to change even the most wayward heart. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” 

    As you wait for your prodigal to return, pray the Scriptures aloud. Speak life and truth over them, believing God for greater things. Resist thoughts that they’ve run too far and remember no creature under heaven is hidden from God’s sight. He still seeks. He still saves.

    He Makes the Way Clear

    “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

    In one of my previous posts, Why Is There Only One Way to Heaven?, I share, “Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His way is sure, and His path is open to all. What a divine blessing to be given the exact directions to eternity! There is no guesswork. There is no re-calculating the journey. Jesus paved the way once and for all.”

    Sadly, many prodigals feel they’re unworthy of salvation. If we were to take a poll, we’d likely hear answers such as:

    “I’m too lost.”

    “I’ll never be good enough.”

    “I can’t live up to God’s standards.”

    “It’s hopeless.”

    In contrast, Jesus made the way of salvation as clear as possible. God’s greatest plan for your prodigal is to save them. He loves them with an everlasting love and wants nothing more than for them to repent, believe, and be saved. You can trust Him every step of the way. Do you believe this today? 

    More Resources for Your Journey:

    10 Affirmations for the Parent of a Prodigal Child

    7 Prayers for Your Prodigal Child

    10 Reasons to Trust God with Your Prodigal Child

    Photo Credit: ©Halfpoint

    Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth. 

    Jennifer Waddle

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  • The Art of Taming Your Tongue

    The Art of Taming Your Tongue

    Lashing out at my kids one day for a seemingly minor offense, they had had enough. “Why are you so angry all the time?” My son asked. “Yeah, Mom, you yell a lot.” This broke me. Growing up in a home where my mother yelled a lot, I often walked on eggshells, not knowing exactly what her mood would be. 

    I usually hid my true feelings and generally didn’t express myself for fear of rejection or her wrath. This moment with my kids confirmed I had become just like her. I went upstairs and wept. “God?” I asked. “Help me break this generational sin of approval and negativity. I don’t know how to stop hurting my kids with my words, but you do. Help me break this stronghold in my life.”

    I went downstairs and apologized. From then on, I worked hard to make sure I tamed my tongue and ensured that they came home to a safe, loving environment. Since I came from a tumultuous home, I wasn’t sure how to do it. But with God’s help, I could change my attitude and become gentler in responding to them. After a while, I couldn’t remember the last time I yelled at my kids. 

    It’s easy to live what we learn. If we don’t have the skills to change our behavior, we will often become like the people we hate the most. While I’m the type of person who speaks her mind, it is not always good for me to say whatever comes to my mind. I need to weigh and discern which words should come out and which should not. 

    Here’s how I learned the art of taming my tongue:

    Balancing Grace and Truth

    As a writer, I find it interesting that Genesis begins with God speaking the world into existence. This demonstrates that God considers words a critical part of life. He could have created the earth with his hands and mind, but he chose to speak life into being with words.

    In the same way, I need to choose between speaking life or death to the people I know. I don’t want to be the person who constantly criticizes others. I want to be the person who speaks the truth in love and strikes a good balance between grace and truth. Although this balance is difficult to find at times, I know that words are essential, and if I don’t build my words correctly, I can leave a slew of carnage in my wake.

    Recognizing the Weight of Words

    Just as my words are important, they also carry significant weight. This is especially true with the people I love. Because I’m known as someone they can go to for blatant truth, if I’m feeling bad about another situation, it’s easier for me to project my feelings onto someone else. That person is left not knowing why I was so harsh with them, and though it makes me feel better, it’s only for the short term. In the long run, I have strained my relationship with someone I care about. 

    While it is important not to sweep words under the rug, speaking words is equally important so that I can tell the truth—but with grace. For example, instead of, “You were so stupid. Why did you do that?” I can gently ask, “Did you ask someone to counsel you before you did that? That’s not God’s best for you.” Both sentences communicate my disappointment with the other’s actions. But the first one assassinates their character. The second allows me to speak the truth and challenge them to seek other people’s opinions before they do something they may regret later.  

    If I continue to attack someone’s character, it can leave them feeling worthless, and they will likely not want to seek my presence again. This hurts not only them but also me in the end.

    Practicing a Gentle Response

    Several Proverbs talk about taming the tongue. God considers this necessary if he chooses to have almost an entire book dedicated to it. Consider these words from Proverbs 10:11: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”

    As Scripture suggests, when I am gracious and gentle with my words, they are sweet to others’ ears. However, when I’m harsh with others, I incite anger and possibly retaliation or revenge. Even if harsh words are “necessary,” they never yield healthy relationships. 

    Even when it is tempting to be harsh with someone after they’ve been harsh, I must choose to use my words wisely. As someone whose spiritual gift is wisdom, I need to use wisdom when it comes to my words. I need to choose my words carefully and speak to someone I feel can maturely handle a rebuke.

    Building Others Up

    Even when it feels good in the short-term, using harsh words with someone strains (or even severs) relationships. This causes me to go back and apologize and make the situation right. Although this is a lesson in humility, I must learn to never say those words in the first place. Just as we can sin or become more righteous each day, it is the same with our words. I can choose to use my words for good or for evil. I want to be someone who can speak the truth in love but also encourage often.

    The best way I can balance this is to use my words to bless someone each day. Whether through a written note, e-mail, or text, I can highlight something I like about someone and send it to them. Funerals are when we wish we could have said things to people. I choose each day to bless someone with love before they go. This is an excellent way for me to use my tongue to build others up rather than tear others down. 

    Reconciling

    Just as words have the power to sever or hinder relationships, they also can bring reconciliation. When I apologize to someone, I increase humility, rid myself of pride, and allow forgiveness to occur. When I am willing to work on a relationship by changing my words, I make room for the Spirit to work in my life. I can set an example for someone through kind words, but in my challenge to someone, I can choose to be gentle in that rebuke so they can receive it with love and can change. 

    We have the power to bring death or life to others. God chose to use words to breathe life into being. Through our words in prayer, we usher in the Holy Spirit and allow miracles to occur. The ability to speak will enable us to be tangible witnesses of Christ. If I choose to help those in need and only rebuke those whose motives I know and have discerned, I will be the example Christ has set to challenge and inspire hearts.

    Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/shironosov

    Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and a certified writing coach. Her new children’s book Hall of Faith encourages kids to understand God can be trusted. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.

    Michelle S. Lazurek

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  • The Weight of Our Words

    The Weight of Our Words

    “Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of the powerful, even in your own bedroom. For a little bird might deliver your message and tell them what you said.” Ecclesiastes 10:20 (NLT)

    When I was in high school, name-calling was the rage. My mom had warned me about bullies, but I thought times had changed… that was until I, too, became a victim.

    Whispers seemed to protrude through the walls I walked by, echoing secrets of those who had tread the same path before me. Most days, I hung my head low, shuffling from class to class as quickly as I could. Though their accusations were cruel, some made me stop and think. 

    I was used to being called “skinny,” a “twig,” a dog that needed “meat on my bones.” I was somehow mocked and yet praised for my intelligence; someone always wanted something from me, mainly help getting an ‘A’ on the next week’s assignment. Maybe those were compliments. To me, they felt like slaps across the face. 

    But one day, the words went a bit further. I was on my way to pick up fruit for a fundraiser I had participated in when I stumbled upon a new weighted word: Someone had written “Jew” across my order form. 

    While I was initially stunned, a smile erupted within my Spirit. My faith was evident, even in the face of judgment. If I was going to be bullied for something, let it be my unwavering faith in Jesus. I understood the power of standing firm in who I am, regardless of the whispers around me. 

    The weight of our words is powerful. They can hurt and they can build up. It’s a mystery that cursing and blessing can come from the same tongue (James 3:10). But these words, as hurtful as they once were, shaped my understanding of identity, faith, and the power of our speech.

    Here are three truths when it comes to knowing the weight of our words:

    1. The Impact of Words on Identity: You’re Not Who You Think You Are

    In a recent conversation with my therapist, we dug up some deep-seated beliefs I’ve had about myself. Some of them stem back to these days of bullying, while others seem to have come from things I’ve bullied myself into believing. But friend, just because you think something doesn’t mean it’s true. 

    It’s true that the more you think about something, the truer it becomes regardless of its validity. That’s just human nature. We believe what we tell ourselves and listen to. But this is all the more reason to be aware of these thoughts. Ecclesiastes 10:20 reminds us to not say bad things about other people, even within our minds or hearts. But what about the things we say to ourselves?

    At the end of the day, we must remember that we are not our thoughts or others’ thoughts about us; we are who Christ says we are. Maybe like me, you struggle to read and believe reaffirming passages like Psalm 139:14. For years, I refused to acknowledge this passage because I didn’t feel like it was true. I knew it in my head, but my heart hadn’t caught up yet. Here’s the good news: God’s Word is infallible, and it remains the same regardless of whether you internalize it or not (Titus 1:2; 2 Peter 1:19). 

    Recently, I put Psalm 139:14 on my bathroom mirror. Every day, I see it and recite it not because I feel good about myself but because I believe in the power of God’s Word. It’s alive and active to help me believe and acknowledge God’s truth over time. It serves as a reminder that I’m not who I think I am, but I am who God says I am regardless of how I feel at that moment. 

    2. A Change in Perspective: Choosing Faith Over Fear

    The second truth that the weight of our words has taught me is to adapt a change in perspective. Nothing is pleasant about being bullied, made fun of, or called names. I learned this the hard way in adulthood (because, newsflash, the criticism doesn’t stop when you grow older; there are just fewer repercussions for adults who bully). But changing how I view these hurtful words has changed me. 

    John 16:33 is a familiar passage to all of us when it comes to persecution and hardship. Jesus doesn’t promise an earthly world without these kinds of sufferings. But He does promise that His presence will be with us to the end. Learning to see our sufferings this way requires an eternal change of perspective. It doesn’t negate or minimize what we’re feeling here, but it helps us look beyond despite these turmoils. 

    The next time you’re faced with the weight of words, remember to choose faith over fear. Negativity and bullying present us with a choice: to succumb to hurt or to stand firm in our beliefs. Embracing our faith empowers us to rise above the words that aim to tear us down (2 Corinthians 10:5). Being proud of our identity as children of God can transform our perspective on adversity.

    3. Be Mindful: Watch the Ripple of Your Words

    Once we’ve realigned our thoughts with who Christ says we are and learned to stand firm in those truths, we must remember to watch our thoughts and tongues, the third truth that the weight of words has taught me. As much as I’d like to say I’ve never bullied anyone, I’m confident there have been times I’ve thought choice words about unkind people. Ecclesiastes reminds us this, too, is meaningless.

    Just as others’ words can deeply impact us, we must be mindful of the words we speak about ourselves and others. Our private thoughts can have public consequences. God knows our every thought before we ever think them (Psalm 139:1-4), but we’re still responsible for what comes out of us.  

    If we want to change the weight of our words, it begins by speaking life, encouragement, and respect to ourselves and those around us. Not because it’s always easy, or we believe it, but because we know it’s the right thing to do. Want to transform the weight of your words? Here are some practical action steps you can take to implement this practice:

    Practice Daily Affirmations. Begin every day with positive truths found in the Word, like Psalm 139:14 or 1 John 4:4. Reciting these daily affirmations will help reinforce your identity in Christ even if you don’t yet believe them. Speaking these truths aloud sets the tone for your day and allows God’s Word to penetrate the divide between flesh and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). 

    Choose Your Words Wisely. Whether you’re in high school, college, or adulthood, choosing to think before you speak is wise. If we’re honest, most of us find it easier to fly off the cuff and speak what’s on our minds than to pause, be patient, and reflect before responding. But choosing our words wisely has eternal benefits. It allows us to think about the choice of our words to value the weight of each one. Are these words life-giving, or are we saying them out of spite? Making a conscious effort to replace unkind words with thoughtful ones can not only benefit you but also those you engage with. 

    Pray for Transformation. As human beings, we have free will. But this free will is powered by the Spirit’s work within us to transform who we are and bring us from where we’ve once been. Seeking God’s guidance is one of the best ways to transform your heart, soul, and mind. It’s also the best way to transform the words that come out of you. 

    Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) says it this way: “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” When we pray for God’s Spirit to transform us and the power of our words, we receive wisdom—wisdom to discern when to speak and when to listen, even and especially in speaking to and listening to ourselves. 

    Which practical action step will you try this week to transform the weight of your words?

    Agape, Amber

    Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Liza Summer

    Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

    Amber Ginter

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  • 5 Ways to Bridge the Generational Gap

    5 Ways to Bridge the Generational Gap

    In Psalm 145:4, we’re reminded that “generation after generation stand in awe of your work; each one tells the story of your mighty acts” (MSG). This passage encapsulates a timeless truth about the power of generational influence. Yet, in today’s world, where the gap between the older and younger generations seems wider than ever before, we’re often left wondering: how can we bridge this divide? 

    Here are five practical ways we can create a “now generation” — one where the wisdom of the past and the energized perspectives of the future unite to create a legacy of lasting ministry:

    1. Model Consistency and Commitment

    One of the greatest gifts the older generation can offer is to lead by example in consistency and commitment. While society is less concerned with commitment than ever before, our example of faithfulness and consistency is invaluable in raising our children. Just as Jesus’ parents were consistent in attending the Passover festival every year, the older generation can model what it looks like to stick with something — in faith, work, and relationships. Younger generations need to see examples of steady faithfulness to know that success, in any area, comes through persistent devotion to God and respect for others.

    Practical Tip: If you’re part of the older generation, be intentional about sharing stories of your long-term commitments with younger people. Whether it’s how you maintained a career, stayed committed to your faith, or nurtured a relationship, showing the value of perseverance can inspire the next generation.

    2. Lead by Example and Discipline with Love

    The next generation often looks to their elders for guidance on navigating life’s challenges. Whether it’s at home, work or in community settings, the older generation should lead with love, wisdom and necessary discipline. Mary and Joseph guided Jesus to attend the Passover as an exemplary regimen. In the same way, parents and mentors today should lovingly exhort younger people to engage in meaningful activities and valuable disciplines, like consistently engaging in the life of the local church. 

    Practical Tip: Create opportunities for shared experiences where you can offer guidance, whether that’s working on a project together, attending church or mentoring a younger colleague. Be firm but fair, knowing your leadership can steer them in the right direction.

    3. Listen to the Next Generation

    Listening is one of the most important skills when bridging the generational gap. James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen and slow to speak.” Younger generations often have fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, but they may feel dismissed if they aren’t given a voice. In the Bible, Jesus — at only 12 years old — was found sitting among religious leaders, listening, asking questions, and sharing insights. His example reminds us that the younger generation has valuable contributions to make.

    Practical Tip: Make a conscious effort to ask younger people for their input on projects or ideas. Whether you’re a boss, parent or coach, create an environment where they feel heard and respected. Listening to their perspectives makes them feel valued and simultaneously teaches us new perspectives and considerations.

    4. Challenge the Status Quo in a Biblical Way

    For the younger generation, there’s power in asking “Why?” Just as Jesus questioned the religious leaders, it’s important to challenge norms and think critically about the ways in which things have historically been done. This is how innovation happens. As the younger generation seeks to learn and grow from the wisdom of the elder generations, they have the opportunity to also offer new insights and solutions from a fresh perspective of God’s Word that can and will change history for the better. 

    Practical Tip: If you’re part of the younger generation, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Whether it’s in your workplace, church or community, challenge practices that seem outdated or ineffective. For the older generation, be bold in your encouragement and mentorship, urging those younger individuals to challenge the status quo and think outside the box. Ultimately, we must all approach these conversations with respect, knowing that both generations have wisdom to share.

    5. Work Together to Create a “Now Generation”

    Our challenge today is to create a “now generation” — a united generation that transcends age, where both young and old come together to make a positive impact. When the wisdom, commitment, and guidance of older generations combines with the curiosity, energy, and innovation of younger ones, the result for the Kingdom of God is powerful. In Christ-centered love, both groups must be willing to learn from, respect, and submit to one another in areas where they have less experience or knowledge.

    Practical Tip: Seek out opportunities for intergenerational collaboration. If you’re older, mentor or sponsor younger individuals in your community. If you’re younger, volunteer to help older generations with new technologies or innovative ideas. The key is mutual respect and a willingness to learn from one another.

    Building a Better Future Together

    In an era where division seems to be the default, we have a divinely unique opportunity to demonstrate unity across the generational spectrum. Whether you’re part of the older generation or the younger, I challenge you to step up. If you’re an elder, model commitment, teach work ethic, and share your wisdom. If you’re younger, dare to ask questions, challenge the norm, act in loving obedience, and set the tone for today’s culture. But above all, let’s listen to one another and work together to establish a legacy that reflects the heart of God. To build a culture that thrives, it’s time to embrace the power of a “now generation” — one that stands together to reflect God’s glory and tell His story to the world.

    “… and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” Luke 1:47-50

    Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/SolStock

    For more than twenty years, Pastor Troy Gramling and his wife Stephanie have led Potential Church, a fast-growing church with more than 20,000 members at locations in the United States and Latin America. A former teacher and college basketball coach, Gramling is passionate about partnering with people to reach their God-given potential to impact the world for good. Gramling’s latest book, “Potential: The Uncontainable Power of God Within You” released on June 11, 2024.

    Troy Gramling

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  • Still People-Pleasing? Do This Instead

    Still People-Pleasing? Do This Instead

    “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

    One of my earliest memories of people-pleasing was around the age of four when my older cousin took me to one of her college classes. As she introduced me to her friends, I remember the intense feeling of wanting to be liked. It was as if I was center stage, putting on a performance in hopes of gaining their applause.

    Fast forward fifty years and I still find myself getting caught in cycles of people pleasing. I’m more aware of it now, and better able to realign my thoughts, but the desire for acceptance is still a very real issue.

    Sadly, our preoccupation with people’s approval hinders us from the freedom we have in Christ—the freedom to love and serve others. Often, we miss divine opportunities to pour into people because we are so consumed by what they think of us. This isn’t something we like to admit, but it’s true.

    If you’re still people pleasing, here are a few things to do instead:

    Remember Your Audience

    “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Colossians 3:23 (ESV)

    Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “Live for an audience of One.” When I think of this, I picture an auditorium with one person in the front row—Jesus. As I stand on the stage of my life, I have nothing to prove, nothing to perform. In fact, I envision welcoming Him onto the stage, allowing Him to be front and center.

    Through Jesus, we have the acceptance we most desire, as Ephesians 1:3-6 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved” (NKJV).

    My friends, we will never be more loved, accepted, or approved of than we already are. And because we live for an audience of One, we are free to share our gifts and talents without the need to perform. We don’t need the applause of man or the standing ovation of the world. We only need Jesus as center stage of our life.

    A Prayer to Remember Your Audience:

    Gracious God, when I’m tempted to perform for others, remind me that You are my audience of One. Please remain front and center in my life, keeping my gaze fixed on You. Thank You for loving me, choosing, me, and accepting me. I am blessed to live a life pleasing to You. In Jesus’ holy name, amen.

    Remember Your True Desires

    When trying to break the cycle of people-pleasing, it can be helpful to remember your true desires. What fulfills you most? What gives you peace and joy? I’m not talking about superficial desires that often involve man’s approval, but instead, your true desires that bring lasting fulfillment and contentment. For example:

    -Spending more time with God through prayer, Bible study, and worship

    -Loving your spouse openly and lavishly

    -Cherishing time with your family, pouring into them as God leads

    -Valuing people, making them feel seen and heard

    -Serving the Body of Christ with your God-given talents

    -Doing your work with excellence and integrity

    -Taking good care of your temple—mind, heart, body, and spirit

    By listing the most important things in life, you’re redirecting your thoughts away from self-centeredness to others-centeredness. Anytime you’re caught in a cycle of people-pleasing, you can remember what matters most and realign your focus.

    A Prayer to Remember Your True Desires:

    Heavenly Father, please help me stop chasing after superficial things. Remind me of what’s most important—loving You and others. Whenever I get caught in an unhealthy cycle of people-pleasing, redirect my thoughts back to Your will. I truly want to live to please You and serve others with the heart of Jesus. In His precious name, amen.

    Remember Your Focus

    “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2

    People-pleasing is often rooted in insecurity, and there’s a reason the word insecurity starts with the letters “i-n.” When we go through life with an inward focus, we lose sight of our God-given purpose. It’s like holding a pair of binoculars the wrong way, which causes our view to be narrow and limited.

    In contrast, if we turn the lens upward, toward heavenly things, we see the world from a godly perspective. We yearn for the things of heaven instead of Earth’s fleeting achievements. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10) A kingdom perspective can work wonders in turning us away from people-pleasing and toward a life focused on pleasing God.

    A Prayer to Remember Your Focus:

    Lord, please turn my focus away from my insecurities, which so often lead to people-pleasing. Expand my view to see the wonderful future You have planned for all eternity. From a kingdom perspective, renew my purpose to serve others with the gifts and talents You’ve given me, storing up treasures in heaven. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” I offer this prayer to You today, in Jesus’ holy name.

    Get Rid of Doubt and Fear

    “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

    From my experience, doubt and fear are the biggest culprits when it comes to people-pleasing. We doubt we’re capable enough, which leads to fear of failure, which leads to striving for man’s approval. 

    Recognizing what drives our people-pleasing tendencies is an important step towards lasting change. Here are a few helpful questions to ask yourself:

    -Who am I afraid of disappointing right now? 

    -Am I doing this for recognition or because it’s the right thing to do?

    -Would I still perform this act of service even if no one noticed?

    -Am I doubtful people will accept me, or am I trusting my acceptance in Christ?

    Removing doubt and fear is a huge step in the right direction. With the fear of man gone, and God’s peace in its place, we are free to interact with our families, friends, and coworkers with calm assurance of our acceptance in Christ.

    A Prayer to Remove Doubt and Fear:

    Gracious God, please help me recognize when I’m people-pleasing through doubt and fear. In those moments, help me stop and take a deep breath, remembering the assurance I have in Christ. He is my portion and my prize. In Him, I can do what You’ve called me to do without worry or fear. Thank You, Lord, for removing my anxiety and replacing it with Your peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

    Step into Christ-Confidence

    “For they loved human praise more than praise from God.” John 12:42-43

    There’s a big difference between self-confidence and Christ-confidence. The first includes continuously building ourselves up in order to feel worthy or successful. The second involves living from the victory Jesus achieved for us through His finished work on the cross.

    My friends, it’s by His strength that we are empowered to live and move and breathe. So why do we consistently do things in our own strength, depending on others for acceptance and approval?

    One definition of approval is the belief that someone is good or acceptable. The Christ-centered definition, however, is that we’re made good and acceptable through His righteousness. Wow. What a difference Christ-confidence can make!

    1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” This verse sums it up, doesn’t it? Our people-pleasing ways are brought into submission when we surrender our hearts to the King of Kings. He is our focus, our desire, and our devotion. All that we say and do is for Him and because of Him, and when we finally grasp this truth, people-pleasing will become a thing of the past.

    A Prayer for Surrender:

    Gracious Heavenly Father, I have spent far too many years seeking man’s approval, and I’m ready to step into a new way of doing things. I surrender myself to You now. Please turn my focus to heavenly things, reminding me this is not all there is. Please remove the doubt and fear that have held me hostage and replace them with Your peace. Help me step into Christ-confidence and the knowledge of who I am in Your Son. Let His finished work be my focus and the grace upon which I build my life. I pray these things in His precious and holy name, amen.

    More resources for your journey:

    Why People Pleasing Is Not What God Wants for You

    How to Break the Cycle of People-Pleasing

    Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Motortion

    Jennifer Steward

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  • Brittany Furlan, Tommy Lee’s wife, snatches dog back from coyote. Chubbiness saved pooch, she says

    Brittany Furlan, Tommy Lee’s wife, snatches dog back from coyote. Chubbiness saved pooch, she says

    Comedian Brittany Furlan snatched her dog from the jaws of a coyote that ran into her Woodland Hills backyard, according to an Instagram video posted Tuesday.

    Furlan, wife of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, posted Ring camera video that shows a coyote running into her yard at around 1 p.m., attacking her two dogs and grabbing her dachshund, Neena, from beside the pool.

    Furlan begins screaming and chases the coyote out of camera view, eventually bringing the dog back into frame. When Lee runs outside, Furlan pulls Neena inside, screaming, “A coyote grabbed Neena!”

    “Thank God she’s a little bit fat because he couldn’t make it over the wall with her,” Furlan wrote in her post. In the video description, Furlan said she climbed up the wall and grabbed the dog out of the coyote’s mouth.

    “Please be very careful with your dogs,” Furlan wrote on the post. “I’ve lived here for four years and I’ve never seen one coyote and then today this happened. They are desperate.”

    Food becomes more scarce in the fall for coyotes, experts say, and neighborhood pets could look like easy prey.

    One coyote made it into a Simi Valley home through a dog door in May, targeting the family’s Chihuahua.

    If approached or attacked by a coyote, resources from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife advise you to wave your arms, make noise and walk toward the coyote until it retreats, and avoid leaving animals or food in the backyard overnight in residential areas.

    Sandra McDonald

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