“Operation Trackside” nets 24 arrests, $450,000 and firearms

By Mauricio Maldonado

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    PALM BEACH, Florida (WFOR) — Florida officials on Tuesday announced the arrests of 24 people in a drug trafficking takedown spanning Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office said the 14-month investigation, called “Operation Trackside,” uncovered trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone.

Investigators seized more than 11 pounds of narcotics, $450,000 in cash, firearms, vehicles and a boat.

Detectives obtained 17 search warrants during the case, and on Sept. 3 officers from multiple agencies executed 15 of them at once.

The searches turned up six handguns, two semi-automatic rifles, 11 vehicles, one boat, 5,027 grams of narcotics and $452,026 in cash.

Defendants face wide range of charges

The Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging two dozen defendants in connection with the ring.

Seventeen face conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, while others are charged with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking oxycodone, solicitation to deliver controlled substances and related offenses. Five suspects remain at large.

Multiagency effort backed by state program

The investigation was led by the Boynton Beach Police Department in partnership with state, local and federal agencies.

It was supported by the State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) program, which funds statewide efforts to combat the spread of fentanyl in Florida communities.

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Purple Heart lost for decades returned to family

By Logan Hall

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A piece of family history has found its way home after decades of being lost. The Purple Heart awarded to Sgt. Thomas Lynch for his service in World War I was returned Tuesday to his grandson, Thomas Brigham, during a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House.

Purple Heart found in safety deposit box The medal was recovered by the state’s Unclaimed Property Division after being discovered in an old safety deposit box.

“Something about this being long lost and here it is – reappeared,” said Brigham.

Brigham said his family believed the medal had been stolen and never expected to see it again.

“My siblings are thrilled, my sister and three brothers, it just kind of reconnects that history of military service and now it’s coming back,” he said.

State Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, who presented the medal, said returning the honor to Lynch’s family was a meaningful moment. “It gave me the chills to know that we have found people who deserve these medals and that we are able to honor the families who are so committed to people throughout our country,” Goldberg said.

The Purple Heart is awarded to service members who are killed or severely wounded in combat. Lynch, who served in the Massachusetts National Guard, was wounded in battle while fighting overseas during World War I.

Brigham said recovering the medal has sparked new interest in his grandfather’s legacy.

“It brought his memory to the forefront. He talked about getting gassed in France and being in the trenches, as if that’s just what they did. It was what was expected of them,” Brigham said.

Brigham plans to frame the medal as a tribute to his grandfather’s service and sacrifice.

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Phase 2 of Baltimore Ravens stadium renovation plan nearly complete

By Kaicey Baylor

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    BALTIMORE, Maryland (WJZ) — As football season kicks off, phase two of the Baltimore Ravens’ three-year renovation at M&T Bank Stadium is nearly complete.

The $450 million project is aimed at enhancing the game day experience for fans.

From expanded food options to high-tech displays, the improvements will be noticeable during every home game.

Upgraded entertainment spaces

Construction outside the stadium is wrapping up on a new retail and hospitality village that will be open year-round.

Inside the stadium, fans will see large new video displays, including one that spans 216 feet.

A walk-through drink market with self-serve food and beverage coolers has been added behind Gate A. The goal is to reduce wait times.

The Ravens have also introduced three new club memberships: The Trust, The Raven and Champions Club. Each offers a different lounge experience.

The Champions Club was inspired by the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII victory, according to Brad Downs, Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Baltimore Ravens.

The club areas are multi-purpose and can be used for non-game day events.

The Legends Suites lead straight to the field.

“These suites are supported by seats on the outside. So, you have 16 seats per suite. 12 of those are heated,” said Rich Tamayo, Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations and Guest Experience.

Throughout the new spaces, the Ravens paid tribute to their former players and the infamous poem by Edgar Allen Poe.

Outside, the Flock Shop, filled with Ravens gear, is almost finished. You’ll also find a Tailgate and Concert venue, which, when completed, will include a stage and indoor sports bar.

“Bringing some of that great Ravens traditional tailgate right onto the premises with the plaza. It’s also delivering on what fans told us they wanted,” said Baltimore Ravens President Sashi Brown.

The full renovation project is expected to be completed in 2026.

Menu upgrades

The team partnered with Hospitality Evermore to refresh the stadium’s Flock Friendly Fare menu. The updated menu includes 11 items priced under $5, including a BBQ sandwich, nachos, pretzels and hot dogs.

“It’s been in existence since 2018, I believe,” said Jessica Gomes, vice president of hospitality strategy at Hospitality Evermore. “That’s something that we’re just developing on. Honestly, if you look at the stadiums and the surrounding environments, we want to make sure that our fans can come in and enjoy themselves but also feel like they’re able to get a good price.”

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Masked suspects steal pizza delivery cars after placing bogus orders, police say

By Juli McDonald

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Quincy police say a pair of criminals orchestrated a scheme to steal cars from pizza shop employees who were delivering food. The most recent incident targeted Mama Bear’s Kitchen in Quincy this weekend.

A team of two keeps Mama Bear’s preparing and delivering orders until 3 a.m. After a busy Sunday this past weekend, driver Paul Bates was delivering an order to Southern Artery around 11 o’clock.

“As I turned around, there were two hooded people, all dressed in black, black COVID surgical masks on and everything. I swore at them and asked what they were doing, and they jumped right in the vehicle and off they went,” Bates recalled.

Those suspects had called in the fake order.

Investigators say the same thing happened to a different pizza place over Labor Day weekend. On August 31, around 8:30 p.m. on Berlin Street, a man wearing dark clothing and a mask acted as a decoy by occupying the driver on the porch of the delivery location. While the driver was distracted, a second person entered the vehicle and drove away. The first man then ran off.

“You’re not here to make millions but to make a buck and live and survive,” Mama Bear’s owner Noemi LeBron said. “It causes anxiety. Now you always have to watch your back.”

Bates had the car’s key fob in his pocket, so after a long joy ride on a full tank of gas, the car was found a day later dumped at the mall.

Quincy police are reminding business owners and all drivers to stay alert, lock cars, and limit how much cash you carry. At Mama Bear’s Kitchen, they’ve borrowed a car to make deliveries until they know their own is safe to drive.

“That’s part of the business. The show must go on. Just keep on going, just pray, and hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” LeBron said.

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Prineville Honors 9/11 victims with memorial and flag display

Tracee Tuesday

PRINEVILLE, Ore. {KTVZ} – Volunteers in Prineville are preparing a powerful remembrance memorial to honor the victims of the September 11th attacks. 

The display, which includes canvases recounting the events of that day along with other memorabilia, is a centerpiece of the tribute. Photos from last year’s memorial will show the emotional impact the display carried for the community. 

Across the street from Prineville City Hall, 2,977 American flags will be placed on the Crook County Courthouse lawn—each one representing a life lost in the attacks. 

Event organizer Mona Glade said the memorial is a way to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten. 

“It’s important. It’s important that people never forget what happened that day. It happened to us, to our country. The majority of us remember, a lot have forgotten, and a lot need to learn about it,” Glade said.  The remembrance, happening Thursday, will begin at 8 a.m.

Prineville police and fire crews will gather with residents to reflect and honor the lives lost. 

This year’s event is sponsored by Mid Oregon Personnel

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First Tee – Coachella Valley launches push for volunteer coaches

KESQ-Newsroom

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – First Tee – Coachella Valley is inviting community members to step onto the course as volunteer coaches this fall.

The organization’s mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and promote values through the game of golf.

They’re seeking friendly, reliable adults who enjoy working with kids. Golf expertise is a plus, but not a requirement.

Those volunteers will help welcome parents and participants at check-in, encourage and model life skills during activities, and assist participants as they learn and practice golf skills.

The organization says if you’re interested, email Joy Grant at jgrant@ftcv.org, complete the Volunteer Coach Registration Form at https://tally.so/r/mKr5P7, complete a background check and drug test, then finish Sport: 80 training.

Prospective and current volunteers can join a short orientation and skills session on the following dates:

Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
and Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 10:00 AM

First Tee – Coachella Valley is located at 74945 Sheryl Avenue in Palm Desert.

For more information, visit firstteecoachellavalley.org.

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Barricaded Grover Beach woman arrested after standoff

Caleb Nguyen

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (KEY-T) – San Luis Obispo Police arrested a Grover Beach woman after she refused to leave the Hotel Cerro and threatened harm on hotel staff with a gun or knife Tuesday afternoon.

The 40-year-old woman refused to leave after staying Monday night and barricaded herself in her room at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, according to SLOPD.

SLOPD received help but the woman refused to cooperate with authorities and stayed in the room. SLOPD established a perimeter and all hotel rooms on the floor were evacuated as a precaution.

SLOPD investigators got an arrest warrant for the 40-year-old for felony criminal threats and a Crisis Negotiation team talked her into exiting the room, according to the SLOPD.

SLOPD officers took the 40-year-old into custody without incident and found no guns or knives at 3:00 p.m. when the woman left the room, according to the SLOPD.

SLOPD officers arrested and took the woman to the San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony criminal threats, and her bail is set at $50,000.

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Two people taken to hospital after vehicle vs. pedestrian crash in Indio

Cynthia White

UPDATE: Indio Police Department reports officers responded to the area of Clinton Street and Granada Drive around 8:00 p.m. Tuesday regarding a 51-year old woman and her teenage daughter being hit by a Hyundai SUV.

They add that both pedestrians suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center for further medical treatment.

Officers say DUI did not appear to be a factor, and the adult male driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with the investigation.

The roadway was shut down until just after 8:30 for investigation, which remains ongoing.

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – CAL FIRE reports that two people were transported to a local hospital after a vehicle versus pedestrian collision in Indio Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 8:00 p.m., near the corner of Clinton Street and Granada Drive, just north of Highway 111. One northbound lane on Clinton Street was closed for around 30 minutes while Indio Police conducted their investigation.

CAL FIRE did not provide information on the extent of injury the two people suffered.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Prosecution cross-examines Samson Garner in trial over alleged Smith Rock mass shooting attempt

Claire Elmer

Warning: This story contains graphic discussion of violent threats and suicide. Viewer and reader discretion is advised.

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The trial of Samson Garner — the man accused of planning a mass shooting at Smith Rock in late 2023 — continued Tuesday at the Deschutes County Courthouse in Bend, with Garner returning to the stand to testify in his own defense.

After a morning of testimony by a digital forensics expert and a forensic psychologist, prosecutors had their chance to cross-examine Garner. The state spent hours confronting Garner about threatening messages he sent to both his now ex-wife and Garner’s own friends in the months leading up to his arrest.

In his testimony, Garner repeatedly referenced his heavy alcohol use and depression as reasons why he wrote the extremely graphic messages. 

Through their questioning of the defendant, the prosecution illustrated a timeline of events in Garner’s life over 2022 and 2023. The state questioned Garner about the times of turmoil in his life, implying they allegedly aligned with Garner’s numerous purchases of firearms. 

Garner testified about the decline of his marriage, mental health, and personal relationships with family and friends. Both the state and Garner read aloud some of his most graphic messages in court.

In a text to his friend, Garner described how he should have cut off his head and would love to hear the sound his friend’s wife would make when he did it. 

Portions of Garner’s email to his ex-girlfriend were read, in which he detailed shooting attendees of the Smith Rock Craggin’ Classic in October 2023, and wanted to watch climbers see their loved ones being attacked while helpless. Though Garner testified these were only intrusive thoughts and nightmares that horrified him, the prosecution noted Garner never described his violent ideologies with those words in the email — instead, Garner used the terms ‘fun’ and ‘fantasy’.

As the day neared its end, the prosecution’s line of questioning focused on Garner’s fallout with his family, mounting credit card debt, and trip to Central Oregon in which he was arrested.

The trial is expected to continue through the end of the week. 

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No injuries reported after porch catches fire in southwest Columbia

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No injuries were reported after a porch caught fire Tuesday night in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive in Columbia.

A firefighter on the scene said the fire did not reach the main portion of the house. The cause of the fire is under investigation. A Columbia Fire Department spokeswoman wrote in an email that the porch had minor damage.

CFD spokeswoman Katherine Rodriguez wrote in an email to ABC 17 News that firefighters were called to the 7400 block of Pemberton Drive, but found the small fire on the patio of a home in the 7400 block of Oakley Drive. The streets run parallel to each other.

Fire marshals are investigating.

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