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Colombia earthquake: At least 224 dead, people trapped in collapsed buildings, officials say

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — At least 224 people are dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, Colombia’s Public Ministry said.

The country’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a national disaster, with destruction reported in multiple cities.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 5 kilometers east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Along with the 224 dead, at least and 572 other have been injured, officials said.

The U.S. State Department said in a post on X that the Trump administration is committing $15.5 million for the Colombia earthquake response that will go towards emergency shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments.

Some of the hardest-hit regions include the cities of Pereira and Cali. Dozens of people have been reported dead in their respective departments.

At least 61 buildings have collapsed and over 1,600 homes have been damaged or destroyed, the president said. Dozens of health centers, community centers and roads have also been damaged, he said.

In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed and people were trapped, according to the mayor. A rescue effort was ongoing in a building where at least 15 people were trapped, according to officials. A hospital in the city experienced severe damage, with one of the wings partially collapsing, and patients were being relocated, the local governor said.

The Mayor of Cali announced a curfew from 8 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday to “ensure safety in the city and to provide sufficient space and conditions for rescue workers to continue their efforts.”

The governor of Chuco said there were injuries and “severe damage” to buildings in the department’s capital city of Quibdo.

Seven airports have suspended their services, in the cities of Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdo, Buenaventura and Cartago.

There have not been any reports of collapsed buildings in the capital of Bogota, officials said.

The Monday morning earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Survey. It was widely felt throughout Colombia and in neighboring countries including Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, it said.

The Colombian president said in a video on social media that he was headed to Bogota to “focus on addressing the emergency facing our country” and has convened a unified command post to respond to the affected areas, including what’s known as the Coffee-Growers’ Axis.

The Trump administration is “closely monitoring” the earthquake and stands “ready” to support the people of Colombia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

Tyler Boebert arrested on child sexual exploitation charges

August 11, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo.) — Tyler Boebert, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s oldest son, has been arrested on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

Boebert of New Castle, Colorado, was arrested Aug. 9 on a warrant charging him with sexual exploitation of a child as well as “multiple other charges,” the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

Boebert’s bond was set at $10,000, which he posted the same day, the sheriff’s office said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Colombia earthquake: Over 100 dead, people trapped in collapsed buildings, officials say

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(LONDON) — Over 100 people are dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, officials said.

The country’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a national disaster, with destruction reported in multiple cities.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 5 kilometers east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

At least 111 people are dead and 87 have been injured, according to Colombia’s president.

Some of the hardest-hit regions include the cities of Pereira and Cali. Dozens of people have been reported dead in their respective departments.

At least 61 buildings have collapsed and over 1,600 homes have been damaged or destroyed, the president said. Dozens of health centers, community centers and roads have also been damaged, he said.

In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed and people were trapped, according to the mayor. A rescue effort was ongoing in a building where at least 15 people were trapped, according to officials.

The governor of Chuco said there were injuries and “severe damage” to buildings in the department’s capital city of Quibdo.

Seven airports have suspended their services, in the cities of Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdo, Buenaventura and Cartago.

There have not been any reports of collapsed buildings in the capital of Bogota, officials said.

The Trump administration is “closely monitoring” the earthquake and stands “ready” to support the people of Colombia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.

Puerto Rico working with federal agencies on water crisis, governor says

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon said on Sunday that authorities are working closely with federal agencies as they grapple with a water crisis that has left more than 180,000 households facing 48-hour water supply shuts-off and rationing.

Gonzalez-Colon declared a state of emergency in the U.S. territory on July 31 in response to serious drought and falling levels in water reservoirs. On Friday, authorities began implementing rotating 48-hour water shut-offs in parts of the capital San Juan, as well as neighborhoods in the cities of Carolina, Juncos, Gurabo, Trujillo Alto, Canovanas and Loiza.

The governor told reporters during a press conference on Sunday that an “interagency support plan for municipalities” had been activated to coordinate assistance to the island’s communities.

“Mayors have a direct liaison inside the government of Puerto Rico,” Gonzalez-Colon said. “Each head of agency has the responsibility to maintain communication with that mayor, to understand the needs that arise, to channel urgent situations, to support the distribution of water trucks, and to facilitate coordination with the agencies that need to intervene.”

The island’s Public Housing Administration has begun installing community cisterns in different public housing complexes, the governor said, while portable water is also being distributed directly to residents with support from the fire department.

Puerto Rican authorities are working closely with the federal government in their response to the crisis, Gonzalez-Colon said. “We are combining a climate committee, actually a drought committee, with all the scientific people. The federal government is helping us out as well,” she said in a press conference on Saturday.

“In the case of Puerto Rico, a few weeks ago was the hottest day in San Juan in 100 years,” Gonzalez-Colon said on Saturday, telling CNN that the island was also grappling with almost 1,000 fires across the island.

July was the driest month on record for San Juan in more than 120 years and the fourth hottest on record for the capital. The U.S. Drought Monitor said that as of Aug. 4, almost 25% of Puerto Rico was experiencing a severe drought and another 36% was under a moderate drought.

“This situation is out of our hands,” Gonzalez-Colon said last week, blaming the severe weather for the shortages. “Nothing prevents this from worsening,” the governor added.

Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo Jose Hernandez, meanwhile, last week urged Gonzalez-Colon to seek a federal emergency declaration from President Donald Trump. “Faced with the water crisis, Puerto Rico needs an immediate response,” Hernandez wrote in a post to X.

Amid concern over disruption to the island’s vital tourism and hospitality industry, the government-owned Puerto Rico Tourism Company said in a statement that it was “committed to our tourism industry, providing the necessary support to maintain the continuity of operations in our hostels and guarantee services to their guests.”

“Water distribution continues in areas impacted by the scheduled interruption plan, supporting the continuity of services and the care of our visitors,” it added.

ABC News’ Ayanna Martinez contributed to this report.

Deadly New York boat crash: Operator in federal custody, to appear in court

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — The operator of a boat that capsized in New York Harbor, leaving a mother and her baby daughter dead, is in federal custody, prosecutors said.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, is due to appear in federal court on Monday afternoon, ABC New York station WABC reported.

Investigators are looking into whether the boat was an illegal charter operation, the Coast Guard said. Hernandez was initially arrested on state charges — 13 counts of reckless endangerment — according to the New York Police Department.

The boat overturned near the Statue of Liberty on Saturday night, sending all 14 on board into the water, the Coast Guard said.

The New York Police Department identified the two people killed as 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and 5-month-old Antonella Garcia, of Queens, New York. Sources told ABC News the victims were mother and daughter.

The 12 survivors were rescued with minor injuries, the Coast Guard said.

Sanchez leaves behind her husband, who was on the boat and survived, and their 6-year-old son, who was not on the boat, WABC reported.

Taylor Farms pulls jalapeno products sold at grocery stores

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Taylor Farms is now pulling more than a dozen products with jalapenos from grocery stores across the United States.

It’s the latest recall as part of the salmonella outbreak that has made 345 people sick in 27 states. Restaurant chains Chipotle and QDOBA pulled jalapenos last week. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said this weekend grocery stores are also removing meat products that include jalapenos.

The list of 20 recalled foods includes dips, salsas and guacamole sold at grocery stores including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Kroger.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a list of recalled products Sunday, which includes diced jalapenos and rice and bean burritos from Hannaford, as well as spicy pimento cheese dip, spicy Jarlsberg dip and spicy roast beef sandwiches from Kroger.

Stop and Shop and Hannaford pico de gallo salsa was also recalled.

Products recalled from Target include authentic guacamole, spicy guacamole, pico de gallo, mango pico de gallo, and taco dip. Walmart’s recalled products include mild pico de gallo and hot (or spicy) pico de gallo, while fiesta style salad shrimp was recalled from Trader Joe’s.

Whole Foods’ recalled products include salsa fresca medium, mild pico de gallo, spicy pico de gallo, medium salsa roja, and mild pineapple mango salsa.

Recalled products were sold under brand names including Taylor Farms, Trader Joe’s, Private Selection and Freshness Guaranteed. Some recalled products were unbranded.

The products were distributed across 26 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

They include a “best if used by” date up to and including Aug. 16, 2026.

In a statement to ABC News, Walmart said, “Safety is a top priority. When notified of recalls, we move swiftly to remove the impacted products from our stores and implement a sales block at our registers and online. We are working closely with our supplier, and customers who have this should discontinue use.”

This all underscores Taylor Farms’ broad reach within the U.S. food system. Last year, it said it made 40% of all salad kits sold in the U.S. and accounted for 265 million servings of fresh vegetables to Americans per week.

Taylor Farms, the massive food producer also linked to the record cyclosporiasis outbreak, said it received the jalapenos from Coast Citrus Distributors. The FDA had already traced that company to the salmonella outbreak across 27 states. The FDA said the jalapenos from Coast Citrus came from Sinaloa, Mexico.

“Taylor Fresh Foods is no longer sourcing products from this farmer and will be filling orders from alternative suppliers,” Taylor Farms said in a statement. “To date, Taylor Fresh Foods is not aware of any reported illnesses linked to its products containing jalapenos.”

ABC News reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services and GrubMarket, parent company of Coast Citrus Distributors, for additional comment on the recalled foods with jalapenos but did not receive a reply.

At the same time, the scope of the separate cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms is expanding. An update on the FDA’s website says potentially contaminated iceberg lettuce was also distributed to Subway locations in July. Subway did not respond to an ABC News request for comment.

The Consumer Federation of America sharply criticized Taylor Farms for not being more transparent in its original recall notice about the brands and retailers potentially affected by the parasite.

‘She did not do this to herself’: Mother says family ‘devastated’ after woman found hanging in Mississippi

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — The mother of Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old woman whose body was found hanging from a tree on Aug. 3 in Jackson, Mississippi, told ABC News on Sunday afternoon that her daughter’s death has “just devastated” her family.

“This has just devastated us,” Fortune’s mother, Christy Spivey, said. “Tasia was strong-minded, she was full of laughs and love, she had faith in God. … She had so little and gave so much.”

Spivey said that she last saw her daughter, who is a mother of four, on July 26 after she traveled from Mississippi, where she has lived for over a decade, to Kentucky for a family reunion.

When asked about Fortune’s state of mind the last time she saw her, Spivey said, “She was better than I had seen her in a long time. She was at peace.” Asked if her daughter could have died by suicide, Spivey said, “She did not do this to herself. I know my daughter and she did not do this to herself.”

A spokesperson for the Jackson Police Department (JPD) confirmed to ABC News on Saturday night that police are investigating Fortune’s death and confirmed that the Hinds County Coroner’s Office identified Fortune.

Asked about the status of the investigation and if any persons of interest have been interviewed, the spokesperson did not provide further comment.

The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine Fortune’s cause and manner of death, a spokesperson confirmed to ABC News.

Jackson City Council member Kenneth Stokes sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger, asking for help in investigating this case, according to a letter obtained by ABC News.

“We are in dire need of the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office with the death of an unidentified female discovered hanging in the backyard of an abandoned house on the Road of Remembrance in Jackson, Mississippi,” the letter says.

The woman has since been identified as Fortune.

ABC News reached out to Stokes for further comment. Asked if his office is investigating this case, Kruger did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call Crime Stoppers at 601-355-TIPS.

Trump acknowledges ‘no video or proof’ of alleged vandalism to Reflecting Pool

August 10, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump acknowledged on Sunday that there was “no video or proof” of alleged vandalism to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after weeks of claiming that damage to the pool’s surface was the deliberate work of saboteurs.

Even after acknowledging contractor error and a lack of evidence of vandalism on Sunday, the president still went back to the case against former Olympian David Hearn, whose charges prosecutors moved to drop after new evidence revealed that the section Hearn was alleged to have damaged was already in disrepair when he arrived.

Trump nonetheless again accused Hearn — who pleaded not guilty to a felony destruction of property charge in July and has maintained he didn’t damage the pool — of intentional vandalism.

“There was substantial other damage to the Reflecting Pool, also but, unfortunately, there is no video or proof, other than the damage, itself,” Trump wrote on social media on Sunday.

Trump also said that there was “some contractor error done by rushing the job for a July 4th opening.”

The president said that contractors were “working on the Pool, and it will reopen shortly,” but said that “it was a very small area of this massive Pool” which was damaged, calling it “relatively inconsequential.”

“Security cameras have been, and are being, installed,” he added.

On Monday, Hearn’s lawyers said they were “reviewing all legal remedies” for what they described as “continued harassment.”

Norm Eisen of Democracy Defenders Fund, Mary Dohrmann of Washington Litigation Group and Steve Levin of Steptoe LLP said in a statement, “The government is continuing to attack an innocent man. Our first filing in the case on July 10 included photographic evidence from before Mr. Hearn touched the Reflecting Pool proving that he caused no damage. Our other filings provided even more proof.”

“Finally, the U.S. Attorney’s own motion on July 31 admitted the damage was caused by ‘a botched installation and not vandalism,'” the statement added, describing the continued allegations as “outrageous.”

Going back as early as June, the president has insisted that the damage to the Reflecting Pool — which he ordered resurfaced so the bottom would be “American flag blue” — was purposely destroyed by criminal vandals.

“I can’t help it if somebody goes in with a knife and starts hacking it up. And we also have pictures of it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on June 22. But asked if the president could share the photos, he demurred.

“No, at the right time you’ll see it. You’ll see it in court. You’ll see it in court. But all you have to do is call the Parks Department, call the Department of Interior,” Trump said at the time. But that evidence has not been released publicly.

The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against Hearn in July, acknowledging the damage to the pool “was the result of flawed installation by the contractor.” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s motion sought to dismiss the case without prejudice, which could still leave Hearn exposed to a future indictment.

Last week, Associate Judge Todd Edelman issued an order granting in part the Department of Justice’s request to dismiss the case. Edelman said he would wait to determine whether to grant the dismissal with prejudice after hearing more arguments from the government and Hearn’s attorneys.

Trump criticized Pirro after her office moved to dismiss the case, writing in a post to social media on Aug. 1 that while there “may have been some contractor difficulty” in the installation of a new pool liner, “the major damage was caused by VANDALS!”

“I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro,” Trump said in his post.

ABC News’ Alexander Mallin and Peter Charalambous contributed to this report.

Manhunt continues for suspect believed to have killed father, set home ablaze

August 8, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A manhunt continued Saturday for a suspect in upstate New York believed to have killed his father and set fire to the home to cover it up, according to law enforcement sources.

The suspect, Thomas Ryan, 32, is known to frequent the Plattsburgh area in Clinton County and is considered armed and dangerous, New York State Police said in a statement Friday.

On Thursday, investigators responded to a fire at a residence on Greenville Turnpike in Greenville, Orange County. After the fire was extinguished, the body of a dead man was found inside the residence, state police said.

A preliminary investigation revealed the fire was deliberately set and state police are investigating the death as a homicide, police said.

Ring video obtained by ABC News appears to show Ryan running from the burning house.

Law enforcement sources identified the man found dead as 70-year-old Robert Ryan. Robert Ryan retired to Orange County while the rest of the family lives on Long Island.

Investigators are also looking into Ryan’s mental health history, the sources said.

Stephanie Coiro, the victim’s daughter, told ABC News her father did not deserve to be killed.

“My Dad was a pillar in our family and every community he was a part of. He made you feel welcome, he helped when you needed, and then some. He had more character in his pinky than most in their whole bodies, he did not deserve this,” she said.

Ryan is 6 foot 2 inches and approximately 200 pounds. He was last seen in the area of Greenville Turnpike wearing black sweatpants and a black t-shirt, according to police.

Ryan is believed to be operating a 2016 gray Toyota Prius with a New York license plate, HNH-7671, police said.

The New York State Police is asking residents of the Greenville community to review any available home surveillance footage recorded from approximately 6:00 p.m. on Thursday through the overnight hours. Anyone who observes suspicious activity is urged to contact the New York State Police immediately.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to not approach him and immediately contact New York State Police Troop F Communications at (845) 344-5300 or call 911. Tips can be emailed to FBCICrimeTips@troopers.ny.gov.

Louisiana reporting at least 5 deaths from flesh-eating bacteria in seawater

August 7, 2026 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Louisiana health officials on Thursday urged residents to take precautions following an uptick in severe cases of a type of dangerous flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus.

So far this year, the state has reported nine cases, five of them fatal. During the same period in previous years, Louisiana averaged seven cases and one death.

The Louisiana Department of Health said all nine cases reported this year were linked to wounds exposed to seawater and that all of the patients had underlying health conditions.

“Vibrio bacteria occur naturally in warm coastal waters and are found in higher numbers from May to October, when water temperatures are warmer. Infection can occur when an open wound is exposed to brackish or salt water or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, particularly oysters,” the Louisiana Department of Health said in a statement.

Vibrio infection can result in gastrointestinal illness, wound infection, or blood poisoning, officials said.

“Some species, including Vibrio vulnificus, can cause severe and life-threatening infections. People with severe infections may require intensive care or limb amputation,” health officials added. “About one in five people with Vibrio vulnificus infection dies, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.”

Authorities said that people should seek medical care “immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm, or discolored,” and that the health care provider should be told about water exposure.

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