All articles tagged with #polk county
Iowa reports 226 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across 48 counties, including 32 in Polk County. The CDC notes cases in 45 states since May, with some patients having traveled abroad, while the FDA investigates a broader cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated produce and causing diarrhea and weight loss.
A rabid stray cat in Polk County's Glen Road area attacked five people and a four-month-old puppy in early June 2026; the cat was found dead June 12 and tested positive for rabies. The owner was cited for allowing roaming cats and not vaccinating. Animal Control trapped additional strays, quarantined the attacked dog's exposure, and health officials warned residents to avoid feeding unvaccinated roaming cats and to vaccinate and neuter pets.
North Carolina health officials confirm Polk County’s eighth measles case since December, with exposures at Polk County High School in Columbus, Food Lion in Columbus, and the Tryon International Equestrian Center General Store in Mill Spring. Residents, especially the unvaccinated (12 months and older), are urged to get the MMR vaccine; exposed individuals should monitor for measles symptoms for up to 21 days and contact local health departments if concerned. Vaccinated individuals are not considered high risk but should stay alert for symptoms.
A fatal crash occurred in Polk County, North Carolina, when a truck ran off the road, hit a tree, caught fire, and resulted in the deaths of the driver and passenger, with authorities working to identify the victims.
A child in Polk County, North Carolina, who visited South Carolina during a measles outbreak, tested positive for measles. The child, unvaccinated, has recovered, and health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent further cases. This is North Carolina's second measles case in 2025, linked to the South Carolina outbreak.
A confirmed case of measles has been reported in an infant in Polk County, Iowa, who recently traveled to an area with ongoing measles spread. The child was too young to be vaccinated, and no public exposure sites have been identified. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of measles, which can cause serious complications, especially in young children.
Five people were injured in a two-car crash in Polk County, Iowa, where one vehicle flipped and submerged in water; the incident is under investigation, and traffic on East University Avenue is temporarily closed.
A Florida pre-med student, Emmanuel Espinoza, concealed a knife behind his back as he approached his mother's front door before stabbing her over 70 times. He had been listening to music and charged in to carry out the brutal attack. Espinoza confessed to wanting to kill his mother for years and finally followed through, even continuing to stab her as she tried to get up. He then called 911 and confessed to the murder. He has been charged with first-degree murder, and the community mourns the loss of his mother, Elvia Espinoza, a beloved second-grade teacher.
Elvia Espinoza, a beloved second-grade teacher at Frostproof Ben Hill Griffin Jr. Elementary in Polk County, Florida, was tragically stabbed to death by her son, Emmanuel Espinoza, who has been charged with first-degree murder. The school district is providing grief counseling for students and staff, and all Polk County students have access to free telehealth services.
A 21-year-old University of Florida pre-med student, Emmanuel Espinoza, has been charged with first-degree murder after stabbing his mother, Elvia Espinoza, to death in Polk County, Florida, because "she got on my nerves," according to authorities. Emmanuel drove from Gainesville to Frostproof for a family event and confessed to the slaying after calling 911. The sheriff described the event as a "horrible" and "inexplicable" murder, and stated that the victim, a second grade teacher, was loved by the community.
A 21-year-old University of Florida pre-med student, Emmanuel Espinoza, has been arrested for fatally stabbing his mother, Elvia Espinoza, at her Frostproof home. He confessed to wanting to kill her for years and rated their relationship an 8 out of 10. Elvia was a beloved second-grade teacher. Emmanuel has been charged with first-degree murder.
The mother of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, whose body was found in a river after she was last seen with a family friend now expected to be charged with her murder, posted a heartbreaking message about feeling like she had "failed" her daughter. Cassie Matthews, the mother, defended herself against rumors and criticized those spreading falsehoods, while expressing her anguish over the loss of her daughter. The man last seen with Audrii, Don McDougal, is expected to face a charge of capital murder, and had a criminal history involving another young girl more than a decade ago.
The body of 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who went missing from Livingston, Texas, was discovered in the Trinity River near US 59. An AMBER Alert was issued for her on Feb. 15, and a person of interest, Don Steven McDougal, was arrested on an unrelated charge. Authorities are preparing an arrest warrant for McDougal for capital murder, as he was linked to the case through his vehicle and proximity to the victim's home. The cause of death has not been disclosed, and her body is being sent for examination.
11-year-old Audrii Cunningham went missing after not getting on her school bus in Livingston, Texas. Don Steven McDougal, a person of interest in the case, was arrested on unrelated charges. Investigators are seeking information about McDougal's 2003 dark blue Chevrolet Suburban and are offering a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for Audrii's disappearance.
Texas officials believe Steven McDougal, a person of interest with a criminal history, was the last person to see 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham before her disappearance on Feb. 15. McDougal, arrested on unrelated charges, lived in a camper behind Audrii's residence and had reportedly babysat her. An Amber Alert was issued, and a backpack believed to be Audrii's was found near Livingston Dam. Authorities are seeking video footage and offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.