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The mother of two of Marcus Ragland's children, who were involved in the accident Saturday, said it's difficult to explain what has fully happened to her 5-year-old. ROME, Ga. — Loved ones shared their disbelief Sunday after the death of a north Georgia father in an ATV accident in Alabama. "I'm still waiting on him to come through the door," his mother said, "but I know he's not coming." Marcus Ragland died in the crash at the Indian Mountain ATV Park in Cherokee County, Alabama. The mother of two of his children, Ashley Hawkins, also lost her life in the tragic accident. Audrey Dunn, who shared a 5-year-old and 1-year-old with Ragland, shared with 11Alive's Gilat Melamed the heartbreakingly difficult situation trying to explain what has fully happened to her oldest child. "My oldest son, he's five, he remembers everything that happened," Dunn said. "He told me when we got to the hospital, and I got to go in, he said, 'Mom, my dad died, but it's OK because he'll be back to get me tomorrow... So he doesn't understand that he will never see him again." Ragland's mother, Felicia Towers, described her 34-year-old son as adventurous and someone who lived life to the fullest. He went to the ATV park every weekend, she said. "This time he wanted to take his children with him, you know, to share the fun," Towers said. "They were ready to go, so it just ended up being a tragedy. I just hate it." Seven children were also injured in the accident. Four of them were transported by ambulance to a hospital in Rome and were released as of Sunday night, while three were airlifted to a medical center in Birmingham and, as of the most recent update, were still hospitalized. Hawkins was also airlifted to Birmingham. A GoFundMe has been set up to support Ragland's children. It said he's a father of 10 kids in all, with two more on the way. A little more than $1,300 of a $2,400 goal has been raised as of Monday morning. The accident happened in a side-by-side RZR when they hit another RZR, then overturned and struck a tree. Officials described a difficult rescue response in the remote area. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. The sheriff in Cherokee County, Jeff Shaver, said that witnesses said it happened while the RZR was traveling at a "high rate of speed" on what used to be an old railroad track that was fairly flat with a slight curve. Nobody inside the ATV was harnessed when the crash occurred, according to the sheriff, who said it is not safe to have nine people inside a RZR. According to manufacturer listings, RZRs are sold in two and four seat models. “This is a tragic accident and highlights the importance of operating RZRs and other recreational vehicles in a safe and responsible manner," Sheriff Shaver added in a statement earlier Sunday.

An air quality alert remains for Kittitas and Yakima due to wildfire smoke. KITTITAS COUNTY, Wash. — People in Kittitas and Yakima counties are being warned of potentially unhealthy air quality due to wildfire smoke.  An Air Quality Alert issued by the National Weather Service is in effect until further notice due to current and anticipated wildfire smoke from the Wildcat Fire.  The Wildcat Fire is burning in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, east of Mount Rainier. It's currently burned an estimated 1,100 acres. It was believed to be caused by lightning. When air quality is unhealthy, people in impacted areas are advised to limit their time outside and avoid strenuous outdoor activity. As of Tuesday afternoon, much of central and eastern Washington, as well as the Seattle-Tacoma area, was experiencing "moderate" air quality, according to the Department of Ecology's air quality map. The coast, southwest Washington and areas north of Everett were all under "good" air quality.  Meanwhile, a Red Flag Warning is in effect for a portion of the Cascades until 9 p.m. Wednesday for hot and dry conditions. The warning impacts the western slope of the Cascades generally above 1,500 feet. A Heat Advisory is in effect for the western Cascade foothills until 5 p.m. Thursday. The weather service warns of temperatures in the upper 80s to mid-90s, with low overnight temperatures in the 60s and low 70s. By the weekend, high pressure begins to drift east and a large upper level low will develop off the Oregon and California coasts. This should provide more clouds and gradually cooler temperatures with highs mainly in the 70s. 

Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added. “I didn’t say when.” WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will direct federal law enforcement intervention to combat crime in Chicago and Baltimore, despite staunch opposition from state and local officials in both cities. Asked by reporters in the Oval Office if he had decided to send National Guard troops to Chicago, Trump said, “We’re going in,” but added. “I didn’t say when.” “I have an obligation," the president said. ”This isn't a political thing." Trump has already sent National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., and federalized the police force in the nation's capital. More recently, he has said he plans similar moves in other cities, particularly those run by Democratic officials. The president praised Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser for working with federal forces, but criticized Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has said crime in Chicago doesn’t require federal intervention. Trump said he’d love to have Pritzker call and say, “Send in the troops” — even though the governor has repeatedly said he won’t be doing that. “If the governor of Illinois would call up, call me up, I would love to do it,” Trump said. “Now, we’re going to do it anyway. We have the right to do it.” Pritzker deemed Trump’s comments to call him for help as “unhinged.” “No, I will not call the president asking him to send troops to Chicago,” he said at his downtown Chicago office. “I’ve made that clear already.” Trump also said he has an “obligation to protect this country, and that includes Baltimore.” Local officials there have joined Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in similarly opposing federal law enforcement intervention. Trump said his efforts in Washington have ensured it “is now a safe zone. We have no crime.” The White House announced separately Tuesday that more than 1,650 people have been arrested since the Trump administration first mobilized federal officials on Aug. 7. “And this city was really bad," Trump said. He said, “we're really proud of” federal efforts to curb crime in Washington. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

​The viral video wasn't the only thing the president dispelled during the press conference Tuesday. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump denied claims circulating over the weekend about a video seemingly showing objects being thrown from a White House window.  A reporter showed the Republican president the viral video during a press conference Tuesday where he announced the relocation of the U.S. Space Command. Trump was quick to deny the claims, saying that it wasn't possible as the windows of the White House are sealed because they're bulletproof. He then claimed the video was AI-generated and that artificial intelligence "creates things." “If something happens that’s really bad, maybe I’ll have to just blame AI,” he said during the press conference. The president's comments contradict what White House officials told multiple media outlets over the weekend.  The White House said that the video showing an item being thrown out of a window was a contractor performing maintenance. It was not clear why there was a discrepancy between their version of events and the president’s. The viral video wasn't the only thing the president dispelled during the press conference Tuesday, his first public event in a week.  Fake rumors about Trump's death swirled on social media, despite him being spotted at his golf course during the weekend. When asked seen the weekend social media posts indicating he was no longer living, the president initially said “Really? I didn’t see that” and then talked about his activities over recent day. Trump said despite a lack of public appearances up until Tuesday that he did “numerous” interviews and had some “pretty poignant” posts on his social media site. The president said he went to visit “some people” at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia as well. “I was very active over the weekend,” Trump said. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

The new additions come after some high-profile cast members announced departures following the show's historic 50th season. WASHINGTON — Saturday Night Live is shaking up its lineup ahead of Season 51, adding four new featured players and promoting a familiar face. NBC announced Tuesday that Ben Marshall, a member of the comedy trio Please Don’t Destroy, has been elevated to the cast. Joining him are Veronika Slowikowska, Tommy Brennan, Jeremy Culhane and Kam Patterson. Marshall arrived at SNL in 2021 with Please Don’t Destroy partners John Higgins and Martin Herlihy, quickly building a following for their viral digital shorts, reminiscent of The Lonely Island. The trio also often wrote live sketches together for the show. Shortly after the cast addition announcement, Higgins shared that he would no longer be working on SNL. "I can’t believe how lucky I was to be a part of this show. It was my dream and I got to live it," he wrote in an Instagram post.  Herlihy will remain a writer on the show, however, Please Don't Destroy sketches will no longer appear, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Slowikowska gained a following of over a million followers online with viral sketches and has acting credits on Shane Gillis’ Netflix comedy "Tires" and FX’s "What We Do in the Shadows." Brennan, named a “New Face of Comedy” at Just for Laughs in 2023, has performed on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Culhane is known for his work on Dropout TV, formerly known as CollegeHumor, and with Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. Patterson, a stand-up comic featured regularly on the live podcast "Kill Tony," will soon appear alongside SNL’s Marcello Hernández in Kevin Hart’s Netflix film 72 Hours. The cast changes come as the long-running sketch comedy show, which has aired since 1975, prepares for major transitions. Producer Lorne Michaels has teased big changes before Season 51, and the past few weeks have been filled with cast departure announcements.  Among those leaving SNL after its historic 50th season are Heidi Gardner after eight years, Michael Longfellow and Devon Walker after three seasons each, and Emil Wakim after just one season.  Writers Celeste Yim and Rosebud Baker both also confirmed their departures from the show. Season 51 of SNL kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Washington's Department of Transportation said this start date gives those using the express way time to prepare. SEATAC, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) announced Tuesday that tolling on state Route 509 will begin Sept. 29. In a press release, WSDOT said those using the expressway will pay a toll of anywhere from $1.20 to $2.40. This toll varies depending on the day and is the range when drivers display a Good to Go! pass.  Those driving without a Good to Go! pass will pay by mail with $2 added to the toll.  RELATED: New toll proposal sparks debate for Puget Sound projects WSDOT said the toll only applies to the new portion of the expressway, between Interstate 5 and 24th Avenue South. All other areas that were previously opened will remain free to use. They said the tolling helps cover maintenance costs.  "Tolling is beginning [Sept. 29] to start covering the costs of operating and maintaining the new road," the department said in a press release. "Tolling also will help fund the current and future construction work planned as part of the Washington State Department of Transportation's Puget Sound Gateway [Program]."  The Puget Sound Gateway Program is a $2.83 billion construction operation which completes state Route 509 in King County and state Route 167 in Pierce County. An additional 2 miles of state Route 509 are expected to be complete in 2028.  Between now and Sept. 29, those planning to use the new portion of the expressway should sign up for a Good to Go! pass. The department says those waiting to sign up until the end of September or early October should expect longer wait times.  More information on the specific tolls can be found here. 

The U.S. had recently announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel that departed from Venezuela. The president offered scant details on the operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on X that the vessel was being operated by a “designated narco-terrorist organization.” He described the operation as a lethal strike. The U.S. had recently announced plans to boost its maritime force in the waters off Venezuela to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. The U.S. has not signaled any planned land incursion by the thousands of personnel being deployed. Still, President Nicolás Maduro's government has responded by deploying troops along Venezuela's coast and border with neighboring Colombia, as well as by urging Venezuelans to enlist in a civilian militia. The press office of Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the announcement. The Pentagon did not offer any immediate comment on the reported incident. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.     

When asked if the Bellevue extension would open ahead of the World Cup as planned, Harrell said he "wouldn't make any promises." SEATTLE — Despite a funding shortfall amounting to tens of billions of dollars, Seattle and King County officials are rallying to press forward with light rail extension plans, particularly to Ballard and West Seattle.  Sound Transit's Board of Directors was informed last week that the agency faces a $22 billion to $30 billion funding gap in its quest to expand the Link light rail. The increases are mainly due to inflation, complex project delivery, tariffs, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, increased scope and the purchase or lease of real estate, the agency said.  While Sound Transit is just beginning to grapple with what this funding gap means for its ongoing and planned projects, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Seattle City Councilmember Dan Strauss and King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda urged progress on the Seattle light rail extensions anyway.   "This is real money. These are real challenges. However, we cannot and will not derail our commitment to Seattle voters who overwhelmingly supported this transformative investment," Harrell said. If work on the West Seattle and Ballard light rail extensions were to be delayed, there would be "no new light rail construction in Seattle for at least four years," he continued.  Harrell said Seattle was willing to expedite permitting processes, lend their own engineering and planning employees to the projects and speed up the timelines in order to bring down costs for the two extensions.  The Seattle City Council Transportation Committee will consider legislation Thursday that frees up budget resources to ensure the city has the personnel to commit to the projects as soon as they're ready to move forward.  Whether any ongoing construction will face delays due to budget constraints was unclear. When asked if the Bellevue extension would open by the FIFA World Cup next summer, as hoped for, Harrell said he believed they were in good shape, but that he "wouldn't make any promises."  Executive Director of the Transportation Choice Coalition Kirk Hovenkotter also spoke to reinforce the enthusiasm Seattle residents have for an expanded public transit system.  "Light rail is more popular than the Kraken, or the return of the Supersonics," Hovenkotter said. "The excitement for these projects is palpable. The message from voters, riders and the public is clear: Build the damn trains."  Sound Transit is expected to introduce a cost-saving work plan later this month. Beyond that, the immediate impacts of the budget shortfall are unclear.  

The atmospheric light show could be visible in 18 states, and skywatchers in dark areas should be able to spot it. WASHINGTON — Skywatchers in 18 states may be treated to a colorful light show Tuesday evening as the northern lights could appear across North America, according to forecasts.  The aurora borealis phenomenon began late Monday, and is expected to last through Tuesday night.  The ethereal lights that make up the celestial show may be visible further south than is typical, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. What causes Aurora Borealis? The light show is caused by "a long-duration M2.7 flare that peaked at approximately 30/2002 UTC," according to the agency. "An associated full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed in coronagraph imagery."  In layman's terms: the sun is constantly shooting out charged particles. But sometimes, it emits a particularly violent stream of energy known as solar wind, during solar flares or "coronal mass ejections."  When these energetic solar winds hit the earth's atmosphere, they collide with the gasses in the upper atmosphere and charge them. As that energy dissipates, it lets out light that we can see.  The different gasses produce different colors, which is why an aurora borealis can shift from green and blue to red and purple.  What states will see the northern lights tonight?  Millions of people across much of the northern United States are in the possible path of Tuesday night's northern lights display, according to NOAA's latest prediction.  Viewers in 18 states may be able to see the lights if they're in a sufficiently dark environment: AlaskaMontanaNorth DakotaMinnesotaWisconsinMichiganMaineSouth DakotaVermontNew HampshireIdahoWashingtonOregonNew YorkWyomingIowaNebraskaIllinois How to see auroras Northern lights forecasts can be found on NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center website or an aurora forecasting app. Consider aurora-watching in a quiet, dark area away from city lights. NASA's Kelly Korreck recommended skygazing from a local or national park. And check the weather forecast because clouds can cover up the spectacle entirely. Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.

The news comes as Amazon is making big investments in expanding its network to bring faster delivery to customers in less densely populated areas across the U.S. NEW YORK — Amazon is ending a program that allows members of its Prime membership subscription program to share their free shipping benefits with people who don't have the same primary address. In an update to the customer service section of its website, the online behemoth says it will eliminate the sharing on Oct. 1 and is encouraging users outside the household of the account holder to sign up for their own Prime subscription. Amazon is replacing the so-called Prime Invitee program with Amazon Family, which lets account holders share the free two-day shipping perk with only one other adult in their household, up to four teens (who were added before April 7) and up to four profiles for children, according to Amazon's website. Prime members pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. The news comes as the Seattle-based company is making big investments in expanding its network to bring faster delivery to customers in less densely populated areas across the U.S. The service is available in 1,000 of the more than 4,000 smaller cities, towns and rural communities targeted by year-end, the company said in late July.