One of the state's most popular crime and emergency watchdog Facebook groups has gone through several name changes over the years, according to its head administrator, who is known as Tisha Victory on the page. It started as Anchorage Scanner Joe, then it was Alaska Scanner Joe. Today, it's Alaska Scanner John, and Victory said the plan is for it to stay that way for years to come. ... So, who is John? John T. Johnson," Victory said. "We call him JJ. John is a firefighter from out in the Valley, and he's been in this field — I hate to say it — but as long as I've been on the Earth." Altogether, Victory said Johnson committed 43 years of service as a first responder. For the last several years, he's been one of the page's most critical admins. Today, Victory said there are only five, and Johnston has had a huge impact on all their lives in the time they've known him.  

The 19-year-old man accused of stealing a Dallas Fire-Rescue ambulance earlier this month visited the fire station the day before and inquired about becoming a firefighter, police say. Felix Lopez is currently facing a second-degree felony charge of theft of property after being accused of stealing a $230,000 ambulance from Dallas Fire Station 53 on April 5 and leading multiple police agencies on an hourslong chase that only ended when the emergency vehicle got stuck off-road with flat tires. In an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC 5 Friday, firefighter Paul Richter, who is stationed at Fire Station 53, said Lopez visited the station the day before the theft and was asking questions about becoming a DFR firefighter. Richter said Lopez was wearing a mask, gloves and had a wound on his forehead and that something about him made him "very uncomfortable."  

PHOTO: A Vietnam veteran in Stafford County received an unexpected gift from the same first responders who came to his aid when his house caught fire nearly two months ago. On Friday, Robert Mihalak was presented a traditional military shadowbox that contained all of the personal military decorations he earned in the 1960s, but then lost in the Feb. 13 fire at his home. The gift was a labor of love by Stafford County firefighters and retired law enforcement officers who took weeks to prepare it. "Bobby doesn't have anybody," said long-time friend and caregiver Mary Ellen Earls. "He lost his kitten, he lost everything." The soft-spoken 73-year-old was left almost speechless by the gesture, accepting the memento in the small backyard ceremony at Earls' home where he now lives with a simple thank you. "We're very grateful for what you did for our country," said Deputy Fire Marshal Daniel Pappas, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant.  

VIDEO: One year ago, 145 mph winds tore through Chattanooga. First responders jumped into action to help thousands and are now telling their stories of what they saw on that Easter Sunday. "There were trees on top of cars on top of houses through houses, trees on top of trees," recalled Chattanooga Fire Department Battalion Chief David Thompson. Areas like Holly Hills and East Brainerd were covered in tarps one year ago. Homes were destroyed and eleven people in the Tennessee Valley died, including an additional person in Georgia later on. Thompson said it's something that's hard to forget. "I told my family 'I'll see y'all when I see y'all' and grabbed my gear and headed straight into work," said Thompson. First responders left their families to save others. Some lost as much as the people they were helping. "I told him to get Mom, get downstairs and he said 'Son, the house is already blown apart,'" said Chattanooga Fire Department Battalion Chief Terry Knowles.  

A bill to remove oversight on school construction projects could impact student safety in the future, according to some fire chiefs in the state. Proponents of HB 220 say the measure will remove a level of bureaucracy and allow districts to complete projects quicker and cheaper, but opponents, including some fire officials, don't want corners to be cut when it comes to safety. "It's some bad legislation, probably with some good intent," said Alabaster Fire Chief Tim Love. Love is also the head of the Alabama Association of Fire Chiefs. The group is joining several other construction organizations in opposing HB 220. "We are concerned with your large scale issues, say a renovation and we have a fire protection system that fails or we have some sort of building collapse because there is a structural issue," said Love. Love said the proposal allows two year schools and community colleges to plan and construct a building without requiring a third party inspection or plans review.  

As U.S. COVID cases rise, the country is also administering the vaccine shots aimed at preventing the spread of the virus at the swiftest pace ever. Cases are on the rise in 27 states, with Michigan continuing to lead the nation in daily new cases per capita. Following more than 70,000 coronavirus cases reported on Monday, the seven-day average of daily new cases in the U.S. is 68,960, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That figure is up 7% from one week ago. Michigan again reported the highest level of daily new COVID cases on a per capita basis, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data. On Monday, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said the state should "shut things down" as it deals with the surge and that a boost in COVID-19 vaccinations alone will not stop the spread of the virus.