Month: November 2025

By Ricky Sayer

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    PLUM, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — A domestic cat in Plum died after being shot with a pellet or BB gun, its owner said.

Ronald Amato said Ragnar, his 14-month-old orange tabby cat, was killed outside his home on Sunday. He believes the shooting was an intentional act.

“It was like a nightmare,” Amato said. “I was devastated. I was bawling my eyes out. That cat was the nicest cat you’ll ever meet. He slept with me every night.”

After being tipped off by neighborhood kids, he found Ragnar dead just outside his backyard fence on Sunday. Initially, he thought his cat had been hit by a car, but then he found what was clearly a hole in his cat.

“I felt around on the other side and felt like a pellet or a BB inside of him, so that I knew he was shot,” Amato said.

That’s when he said the sadness turned into anger.

“I’m pretty angry about it, I’m upset,” he said. “It’s kind of disbelief. I can’t believe someone would shoot a cat.”

Some of the pellets that didn’t hit his cat left marks on the siding of his garage, leading him to believe it was intentional, he said. It appeared that Ragnar had been standing on the backyard fence when he was shot.

Amato described Ragnar as an affectionate cat.

“He cuddled me constantly,” Amato said. “He constantly slept on my chest. He rubbed his face against me. When he was a kitten, he’d wake me up every morning with his wet nose on my face.”

He called the police, who said that they were investigating, including looking at security camera footage.

“I hope we can catch them,” Amato said. “People need held accountable.”

It’s especially important because there are so many other cats in the neighborhood, including Ragnar’s brother Rolo.

“I think I’m going to get a kitten, just so [Rolo] has somebody,” Amato said.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Stephanie Stahl

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    WILMINGTON, Delaware (KYW) — It doesn’t take long to see that 5-year-old Emmy Reim is a shining star at the Ronald McDonald House Delaware, where she and her parents have become regulars.

“It really is a home away from home,” Alison Reim, Emmy’s mom, said.

This special relationship started three years ago when Emmy had open heart surgery to repair her aortic valve.

“You don’t know what to think, you kind of go numb on the inside thinking, OK, how can we get through this?” Emmy’s dad, Brandon Reim, said.

Emmy’s parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while she was recovering nearby at Nemours Children’s Hospital.

“It was beyond what we could have ever expected,” Alison Reim said. “It takes the stress off of us because we were so worried about her. We didn’t have to worry about anything while we were here, which was amazing.”

Emmy is recovered now, and when she has checkups with her Nemours doctors, the family, who lives two hours away in Millsboro, Delaware, always stop by to bring donations.

“It just makes sense for us that this place has truly touched our lives in more ways than one and has truly helped our family,” Alison Reim said. “So why not give back to such an amazing organization?”

Their donations include everything from snacks and toys to cleaning products.

“The house has always been there for us, and we are always happy to be there, to return to the house by making donations in any way we can,” Brandon Reim said.

And they’ve helped raise money for the organization, including by making and selling “heart warrior” t-shirts, which raised $2,000.

Donations are critical for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for families when their children are hospitalized.

And for all the kids who stay at the house, there are plenty of activities. The playroom is a favorite for Emmy.

“She is so strong-willed and is able to do everything like a normal kid. She’s playing t-ball. She’s swimming, she’s gonna do dance this fall,” Alison Reim said. “She’s just, she’s amazing. She’s absolutely just one tough kid.”

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Brian Unger

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — A simple car wash might not sound like much — but for Transportation Security Administration officers who haven’t seen a paycheck in two weeks, it’s one small act of care in a time of crisis.

TSA officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport lined up this week for free car washes and gas cards, thanks to a partnership between Caliber Car Wash and Caleb Harmon-Marshall, founder of the travel newsletter Gate Access and a former TSA officer himself.

“They’re feeling unseen. They’re feeling unheard. They’re feeling forgotten because they’re going through this,” Harmon-Marshall said.

For officers like James Drake, the gesture was more than a clean car — it was a reminder that their work still matters.

“Makes me feel better that my car looks good,” Drake said with a smile. “We’re all trying to stick together. We’re a family. We help each other out.”

With the government shutdown dragging on, many TSA officers say they’re relying on donated meals at work, food banks, and dwindling savings to stay afloat.

Philip Simmons, who’s been with TSA for 23 years, says this is his second government shutdown — but his first without pay.

“It’s not a good feeling,” Simmons said. “Sometimes you wonder, okay, if you’re going to impact somebody, why are they impacting us?”

For others, like Allan Lewis, the uncertainty is becoming unbearable.

“Not having a paycheck might put me in a position where I’m really searching now to see what we’re going to do,” Lewis said.

Beyond the financial strain, officers describe deep emotional exhaustion — tears shed in break rooms, private moments of hopelessness between security lines and baggage checks.

“I’ve broken down at work before,” Simmons admitted. “I step to the side. I cry. And then I remember — what is that going to solve? Push right back and get back to work.”

Harmon-Marshall warns that the stakes reach far beyond employee morale. As more officers call out sick and morale sinks, he says air travel itself could be in jeopardy.

“When we are having these individuals work these high-stress jobs now under financial stress, we are putting aviation as a whole in danger,” he said.

For TSA officers, the shutdown feels deeply personal, a political fight with real human costs.

“At the end of the day, it’s like you’re working and I’m working,” Simmons said. “But you’re getting paid, and I’m not. What did I do to be on the other side of not getting paid?”

As the shutdown drags on, one thing is clear: the people protecting America’s skies are struggling to stay grounded themselves.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WBZ

By Tammy Mutasa, Mike Toole

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    FOXBORO, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A construction worker from Pennsylvania, who was in Massachusetts for a job, lost part of a leg in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 in Foxboro. His family said he’s “fighting to survive.”

David Wachinski was working on a construction detail on I-95 north around 2:15 a.m. Monday. Massachusetts State Police said he picked up a sign to start setting up, and that’s when a driver hit him and drove away.

Wachinski, a husband and father of two, was rushed to Boston Medical Center where he’s been struggling through the pain of his injuries and losing part of a leg. His wife, family and sister-in-law came in from their hometown of Donora, just south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to be by his side in Boston.

“It was scary. You don’t know too much, you don’t know what’s going to happen next,” said his sister-in-law, Mina Thompson. “He fought and is still fighting to survive.”

“A lot of people love him. A lot of people appreciate him. He could have just been gone,” Thompson said. “Someone knows something. Whether it’s them who did hit him and they’re scared or they’re having second guesses or they told a family member, you know.”

Troopers have evidence in the case. The driver left behind a passenger-side mirror.

“The Massachusetts State Police offers the victim and his family our deepest sympathy in the aftermath of this senseless crash. Although he is expected to live, the impact of his injuries illustrates the danger of failing to drive with care in and around work zones,” police said in a statement.

“It’s never too late to turn around and be like, ‘Hey I messed up and I want to come forward and that’s what we’re hoping for, just so we can get that closure,” said Thompson. “What gets done in darkness will come out to light, so it will come out.”

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to call Massachusetts State Police at 508-543-8550.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Tammy Mutasa, Mike Toole

Click here for updates on this story

    FOXBORO, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A construction worker from Pennsylvania, who was in Massachusetts for a job, lost part of a leg in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 95 in Foxboro. His family said he’s “fighting to survive.”

David Wachinski was working on a construction detail on I-95 north around 2:15 a.m. Monday. Massachusetts State Police said he picked up a sign to start setting up, and that’s when a driver hit him and drove away.

Wachinski, a husband and father of two, was rushed to Boston Medical Center where he’s been struggling through the pain of his injuries and losing part of a leg. His wife, family and sister-in-law came in from their hometown of Donora, just south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to be by his side in Boston.

“It was scary. You don’t know too much, you don’t know what’s going to happen next,” said his sister-in-law, Mina Thompson. “He fought and is still fighting to survive.”

“A lot of people love him. A lot of people appreciate him. He could have just been gone,” Thompson said. “Someone knows something. Whether it’s them who did hit him and they’re scared or they’re having second guesses or they told a family member, you know.”

Troopers have evidence in the case. The driver left behind a passenger-side mirror.

“The Massachusetts State Police offers the victim and his family our deepest sympathy in the aftermath of this senseless crash. Although he is expected to live, the impact of his injuries illustrates the danger of failing to drive with care in and around work zones,” police said in a statement.

“It’s never too late to turn around and be like, ‘Hey I messed up and I want to come forward and that’s what we’re hoping for, just so we can get that closure,” said Thompson. “What gets done in darkness will come out to light, so it will come out.”

Anyone with information about the crash is urged to call Massachusetts State Police at 508-543-8550.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WBZ

By Matt Schooley

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    FALL RIVER, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Police in Fall River, Massachusetts arrested five people after 50-100 people on dirt bikes, ATVs, scooters and motorcycles performed stunts and blocked traffic during a meetup known as a “street takeover.”

Christipher Frias, Dylan Ploude, Aaron Pimental, Yethziel Medina and Jerron Butler are all facing various charges that include negligent operation of a motor vehicle, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct.

Police said that Sunday between 3:15-6 p.m., packs of off-road vehicles congregated on streets throughout the city “disregarding traffic laws while performing reckless stunts, putting not only their lives at risk, but the lives of innocent, law-abiding drivers and pedestrians at risk.”

In video released by police, drivers could be seen performing stunts in the middle of roads while traffic waited to pass.

Fall River police said that past street takeovers have led to crashes, injuries, property damage, and emergency response delays.

Several units from the Fall River Police Department coordinated efforts to stop the latest street takeover. Police described it as “proactive patrols” throughout the city leading to arrests.

Four motorcycles, one ATV and one scooter used in the takeover were towed away by police.

“These unlawful gatherings pose a significant safety concern to the public. These are not merely bikers peacefully enjoying a law-abiding ride through our city. These are chaotic groups that block streets, operate recklessly and hinder the safe travel of those around them,” Fall River police said. “Many of these riders are uninsured and have little to no experience operating these vehicles, often resulting in crashes, personal injury and property damage.”

A recent street takeover in Boston ended with a police cruiser being set on fire.

In October, Gov. Maura Healey announced plans to combat similar incidents.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Matt Schooley

Click here for updates on this story

    FALL RIVER, Massachusetts (WBZ) — Police in Fall River, Massachusetts arrested five people after 50-100 people on dirt bikes, ATVs, scooters and motorcycles performed stunts and blocked traffic during a meetup known as a “street takeover.”

Christipher Frias, Dylan Ploude, Aaron Pimental, Yethziel Medina and Jerron Butler are all facing various charges that include negligent operation of a motor vehicle, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct.

Police said that Sunday between 3:15-6 p.m., packs of off-road vehicles congregated on streets throughout the city “disregarding traffic laws while performing reckless stunts, putting not only their lives at risk, but the lives of innocent, law-abiding drivers and pedestrians at risk.”

In video released by police, drivers could be seen performing stunts in the middle of roads while traffic waited to pass.

Fall River police said that past street takeovers have led to crashes, injuries, property damage, and emergency response delays.

Several units from the Fall River Police Department coordinated efforts to stop the latest street takeover. Police described it as “proactive patrols” throughout the city leading to arrests.

Four motorcycles, one ATV and one scooter used in the takeover were towed away by police.

“These unlawful gatherings pose a significant safety concern to the public. These are not merely bikers peacefully enjoying a law-abiding ride through our city. These are chaotic groups that block streets, operate recklessly and hinder the safe travel of those around them,” Fall River police said. “Many of these riders are uninsured and have little to no experience operating these vehicles, often resulting in crashes, personal injury and property damage.”

A recent street takeover in Boston ended with a police cruiser being set on fire.

In October, Gov. Maura Healey announced plans to combat similar incidents.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

WJZ

By Dennis Valera

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    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The new design for Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to be completed by the end of November. Until then, the final completion date and cost are still up in the air.

However, on Wednesday, a team with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) assured reporters on a tour of the worksite that everyone involved is working at “breakneck” speed — advancing multiple aspects of the rebuild, on top of finalizing the design — to ensure the fall 2028 goal is met.

MDTA Chief Engineer Jim Harkness said in other cases, some teams could have taken years to get to this point.

Harkness said the design is nearly 70% complete, and it’s expected to be done by the end of the month.

Until then, the completion date and final cost tally cannot be finalized.

“We are still working with our contractor; we’re developing the schedule as well as the estimate on the project,” he said.

The design has the bridge’s roadway about 230 feet above the water. It will have two 12-foot lanes in each direction. There will also be a form of protection for the piers.

“There will be six piers that will have this rigid fender constructed around the base, the foundation of the piers,” Harkness said. “At this time, we do not have dolphins for [protection].”

Crews worked to place large tubes, or piles, carefully into the Patapsco River on Wednesday. It’s all a part of the test pile program to build the necessary support for a strong foundation.

Six piles have been installed so far, driven deep into the river bottom. Once the piles are leveled, the aim is to run load tests on them in a few weeks. These tests will determine if the piles can handle 10 million pounds.

These load tests are done to make sure the piles can handle the weight of the new bridge, as well as ensure the foundation design works in the riverbed.

Brian Wolfe, the MDTA’s director of project development, said the river bottom is the one factor the design can’t account for.

“We know it’s hard. We’ve done testing on it,” Wolfe said. “[The load tests are done] to verify how far down do we need to drive these piles into it in order to get the load we need to carry the bridge. That’ll be [what these tests are] verifying.”

The overall demolition process is halfway done, according to MDTA Deputy Director of project development, Jason Stolicny.

The process started in July, with the removal of deck sections on the north and south portions of the bridge.

Some of the material taken from the bridge will be reutilized in the new bridge.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.

By Dennis Valera

Click here for updates on this story

    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The new design for Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected to be completed by the end of November. Until then, the final completion date and cost are still up in the air.

However, on Wednesday, a team with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) assured reporters on a tour of the worksite that everyone involved is working at “breakneck” speed — advancing multiple aspects of the rebuild, on top of finalizing the design — to ensure the fall 2028 goal is met.

MDTA Chief Engineer Jim Harkness said in other cases, some teams could have taken years to get to this point.

Harkness said the design is nearly 70% complete, and it’s expected to be done by the end of the month.

Until then, the completion date and final cost tally cannot be finalized.

“We are still working with our contractor; we’re developing the schedule as well as the estimate on the project,” he said.

The design has the bridge’s roadway about 230 feet above the water. It will have two 12-foot lanes in each direction. There will also be a form of protection for the piers.

“There will be six piers that will have this rigid fender constructed around the base, the foundation of the piers,” Harkness said. “At this time, we do not have dolphins for [protection].”

Crews worked to place large tubes, or piles, carefully into the Patapsco River on Wednesday. It’s all a part of the test pile program to build the necessary support for a strong foundation.

Six piles have been installed so far, driven deep into the river bottom. Once the piles are leveled, the aim is to run load tests on them in a few weeks. These tests will determine if the piles can handle 10 million pounds.

These load tests are done to make sure the piles can handle the weight of the new bridge, as well as ensure the foundation design works in the riverbed.

Brian Wolfe, the MDTA’s director of project development, said the river bottom is the one factor the design can’t account for.

“We know it’s hard. We’ve done testing on it,” Wolfe said. “[The load tests are done] to verify how far down do we need to drive these piles into it in order to get the load we need to carry the bridge. That’ll be [what these tests are] verifying.”

The overall demolition process is halfway done, according to MDTA Deputy Director of project development, Jason Stolicny.

The process started in July, with the removal of deck sections on the north and south portions of the bridge.

Some of the material taken from the bridge will be reutilized in the new bridge.

This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.

Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.