Month: October 2025

By Michelle Meredith

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — How could a simple magnolia tree, a homeowner’s association, and a 5-year-old kid create a controversy so hot it set the social media world ablaze?

It started earlier this year, when Ariel Barner, a single mother of five, bought a house in the River Chase subdivision in Orlando. In front of the subdivision is the controversial magnolia tree.

It’s right down the sidewalk where kids wait for the school bus, where they hang out. Owen’s mom says he likes to swing on one branch with his feet dangling.

Ariel says her son is all boy, with a love for monster trucks, dirt buckets, shovels, and the great outdoors.

But according to the homeowner’s association, what seems like child’s play violates HOA rules.

Ariel says without first talking to her, the association sent a certified letter demanding her son stop swinging on the tree and ordered her to pay close to $400 in attorney’s fees.

Ariel expressed her frustration and hurt, saying with tears in her eyes, “So we moved here to feel safe, feel whole, to be a part of something. So, to know that it’s been … I don’t want to say stripped away … I would be lying if I didn’t say I feel intimidated living here, or small.”

The HOA’s attorney, Tennille Shipwash, says they first talked to Airel before sending the letter, and says they sent it for a reason.

“Really, the concern is safety. The branches to me don’t appear that sturdy. They were afraid of the child being injured.”

Ariel, a content creator, shared her son’s story on social media, where it stirred up a lot of emotion, support and even financial help. Reflecting on community values, Ariel said, “Me growing up, neighbors used to step up and say, ‘Hey, I’m going to tell your mom.’ There used to be love and support in a neighborhood.”

But there’s hope on both sides that with a conversation, the neighborhood can, like the magnolia tree, grow love and support again.

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By Edward Franco

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    NAPLES, Florida (WBBH) — Shane Tilley and John Hansen were fishing in a canal in Golden Gate Estates when they discovered two turtles chained together and injured, leading to an unexpected rescue mission.

“I was livid when I left here. I mean, I was, I was crying, I was teary-eyed,” Shane Tilley said.

Instead of catching fish, Tilley and Hansen found the turtles connected by a lock, with a chain pierced through their shells.

“They had this going through it, drilled holes through each of their shells,” Tilley said.

John Hansen expressed his disbelief at the situation.

“I was disgusted, for one. Just thinking that somebody would actually go and do that to an animal is just beyond me,” he said.

“Just seeing a hole literally drilled to the side of the shell and having them chained together, I mean, when struggling for air, and they get low and diving down, it was just one big struggle after another,” said Hansen.

The friends managed to rescue the turtles, removing the chain and setting them free after one of the turtles bit Tilley.

“I just used pliers and just bent the hooks and pulled them out. They weren’t too happy with me doing it,” Tilley said.

Despite contacting wildlife officers, Tilley and Hansen were informed that not much could be done since no one witnessed who chained the turtles. They believe this could be a case of animal cruelty.

“It’s just not proper. It’s not right. And then hopefully people can learn for something like this. You just can’t go around doing that. It doesn’t matter if it’s human or any animal — can’t do that,” Hansen said.

Both Tilley and Hansen plan to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity and report it to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, hoping that people will respect Florida’s wildlife.

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James Willingham
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By DeJanay Booth-Singleton

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    DETROIT (WWJ) — A mother and her child were arrested after a student was stabbed on Wednesday at a school in Detroit, officials say.

The incident happened at the Gompers Elementary-Middle School, where officials say the mother allegedly gave the child a knife and the child attacked a fellow student.

School officials say they are unaware of any other students targeted in the attack.

Officials say the metal detector went off when the mother entered the school, but a security guard failed to search her. The security guard was removed from the school pending an investigation. School officials say the individual could be terminated.

Officials say classes are cancelled on Thursday “to ensure safety protocols are in place at the school.” Additionally, a family meeting is scheduled for Thursday.

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By Jonah Kaplan

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    MINNESOTA (WCCO) — Mark Tasche was so proud that his grandsons learned to fish like him, but there was one more lesson he wishes they would’ve taken to heart.

“Your life jacket — when you’re in a situation that’s even halfway dangerous — put it on,” the 66-year-old Tasche told WCCO News. “My grandsons both should’ve learned from me. They should’ve learned from my example.”

Neither of Tasche’s grandsons, Tyler and Tristan, were wearing life jackets on Tuesday when their fishing boat capsized on the Mississippi River in Monticello, Minnesota. Tyler, 28, was located unresponsive and died, according to the Wright County Sheriff’s Office. Tristan, 18, was able to make it to shore, along with his grandfather.

“I don’t know that I’ll ever go on a boat again,” Tasche said. “I don’t know that I’ll fish again. I would rather Tyler would’ve survived. If I could change places with him laying on that cold slab like he is now, getting cremated like he is now, I would do that.”

The sheriff’s office says Xcel Energy employees, the Monticello Fire Department, the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota State Patrol assisted in the recovery efforts.

Tyler Tasche is also survived by his wife and four children. A fundraiser has been set up to support the family.

“It’s a huge and immense void,” Tasche said. “Everybody liked Tyler. He helped everyone with everything.”

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By Doug Myers

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    DALLAS (KTVT) — A dispute over the failure to say “thank you” after a door was held open escalated Tuesday into a series of arguments, a fatal shooting at a Dallas shopping center, and the arrest of a 22-year-old woman on a murder charge, police said.

Police say Keona Hampton shot and killed 41-year-old Cecilia Simpson in the parking lot outside a PetSmart following a verbal and physical altercation that began at a nearby Five Below.

Shooting reported at shopping center Officers responded to reports of a shooting around 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Wheatland Towne Crossing shopping center in the 2500 block of West Wheatland Road.

Simpson had been shot multiple times and was taken by Dallas Fire-Rescue to Methodist Central Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Hampton left the scene before officers arrived but was located, arrested and charged with murder later that day, according to police.

Affidavit details confrontation timeline According to the arrest affidavit, Simpson held the door open for the suspect — Hampton — as they exited Five Below, but became upset when Hampton didn’t say “thank you,” sparking a verbal confrontation.

Simpson and a witness, who asked not to be identified, drove to PetSmart in the same shopping center and told employees Hampton was following them. Hampton entered the store, argued with the witness, then left and returned a few minutes later.

Simpson and Hampton argued again, prompting PetSmart employees to ask all parties to leave, according to the affidavit.

Fight escalates in parking lot In the parking lot, Hampton allegedly threw a drink bottle at Simpson’s vehicle. Simpson approached Hampton and continued arguing, which escalated into a physical fight. The witness told police that Simpson struck Hampton several times while yelling at her to leave.

When the witness stepped away from the fight, Hampton pulled out a black and silver handgun and fired three shots, striking Simpson and causing her to collapse, according to the affidavit.

Suspect tracked and arrested Surveillance video showed Hampton fleeing in a black 2005 Ford 500 with visible damage. Police later found the vehicle at an apartment complex on John West Road in Dallas, where Hampton was located on a balcony.

Around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday, officers conducted a traffic stop on Trail Glen Drive and arrested Hampton.

During an interview with detectives, Hampton admitted to engaging in a verbal dispute, entering PetSmart twice, throwing a drink bottle at Simpson’s car, fighting with Simpson and ultimately pulling a gun and shooting her. Hampton told investigators she was “just trying to get [Simpson] away from her,” the affidavit states.

Investigation remains ongoing The investigation is ongoing.

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Fenly Foxen
Fenly.Foxen@cnn.com
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