Midwest
Wild Oklahoma dashcam video shows trooper thrown from side of highway crash
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol released gnarly dash camera video capturing the moments a trooper was speaking to the driver of his traffic stop when another vehicle crashed into them.
“This video is difficult to watch,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrote on Facebook Wednesday, sharing the graphic footage.
It shows the moments Trooper Jesse Gregory came to the passenger side of a vehicle as he conducted a traffic stop on Thursday along I-40 at Cimarron Road.
While Gregory was speaking to the driver, another vehicle crashed into the stopped vehicle, which struck the trooper and sent him flying. The trooper is tossed along the ground and rolls over before he miraculously somehow gets up and runs out of frame. At the same time, the stopped vehicle is knocked aside, and the other is seen flipping over several times.
“We show this video as a graphic reminder of the consequences of distracted or impaired driving and the importance of the slow down, move over law,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol wrote. “We are in the middle of a distracted driving emphasis right now in honor of Trooper Nicholas Dees, who lost his life in the line of duty after being struck by a distracted driver.”
“Luckily, Trooper Gregory is expected to be OK. In fact, all three people involved in this incident were treated and released,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol added. “Our investigators are looking into the cause of this crash and the investigation is ongoing.”
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Oklahoma Trooper Jesse Gregory miraculously was not seriously injured when a vehicle crashed into another as he was conducting a traffic stop last week. (Oklahoma Highway Patrol )
In an interview with KWTV aired Wednesday night, Gregory said that “after watching the video, I don’t even remember barrel-rolling to my feet.”
“When it threw me from the vehicle, I think it really just took most of the blow, most of the damage,” he said, showing a scratch on his left forearm to the camera.
“Hopefully, this is my scare of the career,” Gregory said, crediting God for him and the other two drivers making it out unscathed.
But the incident last Thursday was not Gregory’s first scare this year. Earlier this month, a driver barreled into a Canadian County Sheriff’s deputy conducting another traffic stop.
And Gregory was at that scene. Dash camera footage shows Gregory running up to Deputy Jose Tayahua-Mendoza, who was sprawled on the ground, yelling, “Hey, are you OK, brother?”
Mendoza was standing on the passenger side of that car he had stopped for a tag display violation on Jan. 5 along I-40 and Garth Brooks Boulevard when a vehicle veered off the interstate. Authorities say the vehicle sideswiped the deputy’s truck and hit the stopped car. The force was so great that the vehicle then careened through the highway sound barrier wall.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jose Tayahua-Mendoza, 46, of Mustang, Oklahoma, was injured when a vehicle veered off the interstate and struck a vehicle the deputy had stopped along I-40, in Canadian County, Oklahoma, according to authorities. (Canadian County Sheriff’s Office)
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“And he’s actually our neighbor. He lives a couple houses down,” Gregory told KWTV of Mendoza, who is in a long-term rehabilitation facility but survived the crash. “He was struck in the exact same situation. I was less than a mile from him, and I was actually first on scene and called for help.”
“When something like this happens to two law enforcement officers within the same month, you know, this was a month’s period that two of us were struck, in the same county within, I would say, two to three miles of each other is pretty crazy,” Gregory said.
Oklahoma Trooper Nicholas Dees died in the line of duty on Jan. 31, 2015. (Oklahoma Highway Patrol)
“I’m ready to come back and just kind of work through it because I know it’s going to take a little bit mentally to come back.”
Investigations into both crashes are ongoing. The two drivers in the Jan. 5 crash that injured Mendoza also survived, and the driver who was initially stopped by Mendoza is the son of Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat. In a statement to KWTV, Treat said his son was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
“While the healing process will take time, he has recovered remarkably well for the type of life threatening accident he was in,” Treat said, thanking first responders and medical staff.
Treat initially confirmed his son was involved in the crash in posts on X. “For anyone who is unaware, my oldest son, Mason, was in a very serious car accident Friday morning while on his way to school after being pulled over for a minor traffic violation,” Treat wrote on Jan. 6. “Mason suffered serious, life-threatening injuries, which required surgery. He is still in the hospital and is thankfully recovering. Maressa and I are beyond grateful for all of the outreach and support.”
Oklahoma Highway Patrol referenced the Jan. 31, 2015, death of Trooper Nicholas Dees, who, along with another troop, was dispatched to a collision involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 40 in Seminole County.
Both troopers were standing outside their patrol units when a driver failed to yield to their warning lights, traveled into the collision scene and struck both of them. Dees died instantly, while the other trooper was seriously injured. The driver was convicted of first degree manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years suspended, except for the first five years.
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Cleveland, OH
14-year-old girl shot on Cleveland’s East Side
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A 14-year-old girl is in critical condition after being shot at a home Friday.
Police said around 7:15 p.m., officers from the Fifth District got a call for someone shot in the 1400 block of Lakeview Road.
When officers got on scene, a 14-year-old girl was found suffering from a gunshot wound.
Cleveland EMS took her to a nearby hospital, where she is listed in critical condition
A gun was recovered at the scene.
The incident remains under active investigation.
Police said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
Illinois
Who is running for Illinois governor in 2026? What to know as primary Early Voting sites open
With Election Day for the 2026 Primary quickly approaching, many voters are considering who to mark their support for when they cast their ballot.
There are several big races on the ballot, including the gubernatorial race that has the potential to make history.
Though rumors are swirling that sitting Governor J.B. Pritzker has his eyes on a potential run for president in 2028, he’s still in the running for re-election. If he retains his seat, he’ll be the first Democratic governor to secure a third term in office in Illinois history.
While Pritzker is the only Democrat aiming for governor on the ballot, there is a slew of Republican candidates vying for a face-off with the incumbent in November.
Voters with their mind made up on which candidate they support can head to their local early voting site to cast their ballot before Election Day.
Though downtown sites and some across the suburbs have been open since early February, early voting sites will open in all 50 of Chicago’s and in several suburb on Monday, March 2.
For those still deciding how to mark their ballot, here’s a look at the gubernatorial candidates.
Democrats:
Governor J.B. Pritzker and Christian Mitchell
Current Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker is taking aim at a third term, promising to continue building on the work of his first two terms. According to his campaign website, some of his intentions for a third term include “[tackling] the affordability crisis,” continuing to protect access to reproductive health care in Illinois, and investing in education.
Chrisitan Mitchell is running alongside Pritzker for lieutenant governor. After representing the 26th District in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, Mitchell served as deputy governor to Pritzker from 2019 to 2023. Mitchell led efforts to ban assault weapons, make Illinois a leader in clean energy and create jobs through infrastructure projects as deputy governor, according to his campaign bio.
Republicans:
Ted Dabrowski and Dr. Carrie Mendoza
Ted Dabrowski is a Wilmette resident and former president of Wirepoints, a media outlet focused on conservative economic policies and financial data. From 2011 to 2017, Dabrowski worked as a spokesperson and Vice President of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, a right-leaning think tank.
Dabrowski, who has never previously held political office, aims to cut and cap property tax rates, veto any and all tax increases, and repeal both Illinois’ sanctuary laws and zero-emissions energy policy, according to his campaign website.
“We must return power to the people, remove barriers to prosperity, embrace educational freedom, push political power down to its lowest level and restore the rule of law,” his campaign website says.
Dr. Carrie Mendoza, a Chicago-native with more than 25 years of experience as a physician, is running to be Dabrowski’s lieutenant governor, according to her campaign biography. Like Dabrowski, Mendoza has never held political office. Her campaign biography says she is “driven by innovation and a passion for justice.”
James Mendrick and Dr. Robert Renteria
The first Republican candidate to enter the race, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick is campaigning on a push for public safety initiatives.
Sheriff since 2018, Mendrick has partnered with DuPage County Health Department to provide Medicated Assisted Treatment to inmates fighting opioid addiction and advocated for the use of a drug deactivation pouch system to protect people and the state’s waterways from dangerous medications, according to his campaign website.
“He is committed to ending soft-on-crime policies, defending parental rights, and delivering quality education to every child in the state,” his campaign website says.
Dr. Roberta Renteria veteran of the U.S. Army and is a prolific author and activist, according to his campaign biography.
“Dr. Renteria uses his personal story, business acumen and leadership skills to address bullying, gangs, violence, drugs, suicides and school dropout,” his campaign biography says. His books and curriculums are taught in 25 countries around the world, and he has given many Ted Talks.
Darren Bailey and Aaron Del Mar
Former state senator Darren Bailey, who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Illinois in 2022, is giving another go at assuming the political seat. A third-generation downstate farmer, Bailey’s campaign is focused on reducing government spending, cutting taxes, and cracking down on crime, according to his campaign website.
In addition to his farm work, Bailey founded a private Christian school with his wife Cindy.
He fought against spending, raising taxes and sanctuary state policies while in the Illinois House and later in the State Senate.
Aaron Del Mar is an entrepreneur who became the youngest-ever Councilman for the Village of Palatine at 29 years old in 2016. He oversees public safety and infrastructure and guides community organizations in the position, according to his campaign biography.
Rick Heidner and Christina Neitzke-Troike
Though businessman Rick Heidner has never held office, he has led several notable companies, including Gold Rush Gaming, Ricky Rocket’s Fuel Centers, Prairie State Energy, and Heidner Properties, according to his campaign website.
A lifelong Illinoisian, Heidner is “running to make Illinois safe again, affordable again, and full of opportunity again,” his website says.
Christina Neitzke-Troike is looking to step up into the lieutenant governor seat from her current role as Mayor of Homer Glen after nearly two decades in several elected positions.
Neitzke-Troike hopes to bring her “unparalleled understanding of how state mandates affect local budgets, property taxes, and public services” to Springfield, according to her campaign biography.
Indiana
Indiana Pacers Must Manage Two-Way Contract Player Availability Down Stretch
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DECEMBER 20: Ethan Thompson #55 of the Indiana Pacers takes a shot over Derik Queen #22 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at Smoothie King Center on December 20, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images)
Getty Images
WASHINGTON – The Indiana Pacers have a player availability puzzle to put together down the stretch of the 2025-26 season, and it involves all three of their players on two-way contracts.
Currently, the Pacers have Jalen Slawson, Ethan Thompson, and Taelon Peter signed to two-way deals. Thompson and Peter have been helpful at different points this season, and all three players are healthy right now. They each project to have a bigger role in the Pacers’ final outings of the season.
But they can’t all play in every game thanks to two-way contract rules, and the Pacers will have to juggle the availability of each player. Indiana has already played multiple games since the All-Star break with just one or two or their two-way contract signees available to play.
That’s because two-way agreements come with a limit – players on such contracts can only be active in 50 games per season (or a proportionate ratio of 50/82 games at the time of signing based on the number of days left in the season). The Pacers couldn’t get by without their two-way contract players at various moments this season due to injuries, with Peter being active for 23 of the team’s first 25 games and Thompson during every game from December 1 through January 17.
During those stretches, Indiana needed their two-way players to field a team or a rotation that actually made sense. It wasn’t a poor use of their active days. But that two-way usage early in the season now requires the Pacers to be strategic down the stretch of 2025-26. They have 22 more games this season but won’t be able to use their two-way talents in all of them.
Peter, a rookie selected in the second round of last June’s NBA Draft, had a rush of games to open the campaign, and he’s allowed to suit up 14 more times this league year. “He’s figuring out what being a professional basketball player is about,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Peter and his in-season growth earlier this month. “It’s about being who you are all the time, regardless of make or miss. Just keep playing, just keep staying aggressive.”
Thompson was signed on November 30, which permitted him to appear in 39 games this season. He’s only got 10 left – Thompson was effective right away with the Pacers and played often after his signing. He was named to the NBA G League Next Up game, effectively the G League All-Star game, for his performances this campaign.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 13: Taelon Peter #4 of the Indiana Pacers takes a shot against the San Antonio Spurs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 13, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) Getty Images
Slawson signed his contract earlier today and is eligible for 13 appearances the rest of the way for the Pacers. So, with 22 games remaining, none of the team’s two-way contract players can be active for each remaining game. The team will have to figure out the best strategy when it comes to managing two-way player availability during the final months of the season.
Another consideration for the franchise is that two-way players, by virtue of their contract, can be transferred down to the G League at any time. Peter, Slawson, and Thomspon have combined for 64 appearances with Indiana’s G League affiliate team, the Noblesville Boom, this season. Once the Boom’s season ends – their final scheduled game is March 26 but the team currently holds a playoff spot – then the G League is not an option for two-way players.
So the Pacers have to figure out the best way to deploy, and evaluate, their two-way contract signees during March and April. It’s a lot to manage.
“We’re trying to save games for him,” Carlisle said of the Pacers decision to keep Quenton Jackson, who was previously on a two-way contract, inactive for a game earlier this month. “We want to conserve those games as much as possible.”
Jackson had his contract converted from a two-way deal to a standard deal earlier today, and Slawson filled his two-way slot. It was sharp business for the Pacers, but they lost some available two-way days as a result – Jackson had more than 13 games remaining, but Slawson gets fewer because of the day he signed his contract.
“Two-way guys, your life is a lot of unpredictability of where you’re going to be from day to day,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan shared in February.
If the Pacers want to keep their two-way talents around the NBA club as much as possible, their best course of action could be to keep two of the three active in every game and occasionally just have one of the three available. If the team can get to a spot in which they have 15 games left on the schedule and all of their two-way talents have 10+ games left in which they could be active, two of the three could play every night during the final 15 outings. Using all three at once could be difficult, though Indiana may choose to deploy each of Thompson, Peter, and Slawson on the second night of back-to-backs as they manage injuries down the stretch. Putting any of the trio in the G League for a few days is an option, too, but comes with injury risks.
Slawson has not appeared in a game for the Pacers yet this season. Peter is averaging 3.3 points per game while shooting 35.8% from the field while Thompson is posting 4.9 points per contest and knocking down 36.7% of his shots. The Pacers are 15-45 with three back-to-backs remaining and three games left against teams near them in the inverse standings.
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