Month: December 2025

By Ed DiOrio

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    UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WTAE) — Latrobe police are asking for the public’s help in finding the person who turned Mister Rogers’ neighborhood into Whoville after a Christmas tree was stolen.

“We have a real-life Grinch in Mister Rogers’ actual neighborhood,” Jack Townsend, who owns the tree, said. “There are a lot of hardships in the world right now. Somebody might’ve really needed a tree. But there are better ways to go about it.”

The Townsend porch Christmas tree was stolen around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Someone — who isn’t covered with green fur — came onto the porch and took the Townsend family’s tree.

Jack knew something wasn’t right when he came back from running errands later that day.

“I was walking up the front steps, and it looked like things were missing,” he said. “It was actually the polar bear being pulled clear across the porch that made me realize that the tree was gone. We’re more concerned about the security of our neighborhood and the safety of our neighbors more than anything else.”

No other homes along Spring Street had items taken from their property.

The Townsends had put that tree on their porch ever since their daughter chose it.

“It is a tree my daughter picked out when she was 2 years old,” Jack said. “It was the first tree she identified on her own and insisted we bring home. She got excited about it every year. She was pretty heartbroken that it was gone.”

She wasn’t the only one.

“This is pretty unusual for this area,” Victoria Townsend said. “We have such wonderful neighbors. It’s a wonderful community. I think that’s why everyone was so shocked.”

After Victoria and Latrobe police put the video on social media, a lot of people reached out offering to replace the tree.

“We just directed them to make those donations to the local food bank,” Victoria said. “There are people who need [those donations] more than we do.”

She continued, saying, “When I was growing up, my family had a lot of food insecurity. We relied on SNAP benefits. I help people move out of nursing homes and into the community. Food is a very challenging thing for people with disabilities. We just redirected them to donate to the food bank or donate disability-friendly food options to your local blessings box because there’s a lot available. I just want to make sure everybody in our community is fed and has the dignity of a meal.”

The family did have a spare tree to put in place of the stolen one.

Whether or not this story ends the same as the classic Dr. Seuss story, the Townsends hope their version makes a difference.

“This kind of seems like a real-life Grinch story,” Victoria said. “Somebody steals a tree, and I think we may be able to make his heart grow three sizes if we come together as a community and take care of our own.”

While it can’t be directly linked to this request by the Townsend family, the Westmoreland Food Bank did confirm to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that this week already has more donations for the second week of December than it did last year.

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By Sophia Venturo

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    MALONE, N.Y. (WPTZ) — Northern New York lawmakers are calling on the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to be more transparent after an incident at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone exposed several corrections officers to blood.

DOCCS said six corrections officers were sent to the hospital and had to receive anti-HIV medication after they had to break up a fight last week between two inmates.

A spokesperson told NBC5 two incarcerated individuals were found fighting in their cell, and did not comply with orders to stop.

DOCCS said the inmates continued to struggle even after officers administered pepper spray, and staff said they were forced to enter the cell in order to break it up. As a result, several officers’ faces and eyes were exposed to the blood of one of the incarcerated individuals.

The incident drew online criticism from state lawmakers on Monday. Now, lawmakers in our region are calling on DOCCs to make the anti-HIV treatment more accessible at area pharmacies.

Assemblyman Michael Cashman (D-115th District) said he’s concerned about the situation and called on DOCCS to share their protocols for blood exposures.

Sen. Dan Stec (R-45th District) also called for transparency Monday night.

He posted a screenshot of a letter addressed to DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello. He expressed frustration after the affected officers were forced to travel to Clinton and St. Lawrence counties to receive treatment.

“It’s unacceptable that officers exposed to blood or synthetic drugs in the line of duty can’t receive timely treatment,” Stec wrote. “Failure to do so is an abdication of its responsibility to care for those it employs.”

DOCCS responded to NBC5 on Monday night regarding the incident, saying that facility staff who were involved in the incident were immediately given the first dose of the medicine needed following blood exposure.

“Out of an abundance of caution, six officers were subsequently sent to a local hospital for further examination and treatment,” the statement from DOCCS continued. “The Department has no control over what medicines local pharmacies carry in stock.”

The blood exposure follows dozens of other chemical exposures inside New York State prison facilities since the beginning of 2025, including at Upstate and Clinton Correctional Facilities.

Multiple staff members at Upstate Correctional Facility were taken to the hospital following exposures as recently as Oct. 3.

DOCCS reported at least 80 chemical exposures at Clinton Correctional Facility in the month of July alone.

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By Zach Rainey

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    SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WYFF) — The assistant principal of a school in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, has been charged with failure to report child abuse.

On Dec. 2, the school resource officer at Beech Springs Middle School was told by staff of an incident involving two juveniles.

The Duncan Police Department said it was determined that the incident took place at an address within Spartanburg County and outside the jurisdiction of Duncan police.

The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the incident and began to investigate.

The school resource officer was also told that the juvenile told Assistant Principal Brian Thompson about the incident on Oct. 24.

Officers said that Thompson is a mandated reporter and the incident disclosed to him met the threshold for a mandatory report to law enforcement.

According to police, since Thompson made the decision not to report the incident, he was charged with failure to report child abuse/neglect. He turned himself in to the Spartanburg County Detention Center on Monday.

Details of the incident have not been released at this time.

Authorities said the reasoning behind Thompson’s decision not to report the incident will not be released until the matter is settled in court.

Spartanburg County School District Five released the following statement:

“District Five is aware of the situation involving the arrest of one of our employees. Because this is a personnel matter and an active investigation, we cannot share details. The employee is currently on administrative leave, pending the results of this investigation.

“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and any further questions related to this investigation must come from Duncan Police and the Spartanburg Sheriff’s Department. As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our highest priority.”

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By Mike Moses

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    NASHUA, N.H. (WMUR) — A man who pleaded guilty to killing his father in 2007 has been accused of strangling his mother.

Ian Delmore, 40, was arrested Sunday and charged with second-degree assault – domestic violence – strangulation, a felony. He was also charged with five counts of domestic violence simple assault, a misdemeanor.

Nashua police said they were called to a home Sunday on a report of a domestic dispute between Delmore and his mother. Police said they were told that Delmore allegedly had been physically abusing his mother and she was in fear for her safety.

Police said his mother was able to leave the home safely, but Delmore was still inside when officers arrived. Delmore eventually left the home but refused to talk to officers about the alleged incident, police said.

Police said that based on statements from the alleged victim and other evidence, Delmore was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was charged with second-degree assault after further investigation, police said.

His mother spoke to News 9 briefly outside her home.

“I would like to commend the Nashua Police Department for their care and their professionalism, and I would like to tell my son that I love him very much,” she said.

Delmore pleaded guilty in 2008 to stabbing his father to death in a confrontation about a remodeling project the year before. Prosecutors said he stabbed his father 22 times in the face and head. Delmore was arrested a short time later suffering from self-inflicted wounds.

At his plea and sentencing hearing in 2008, Delmore apologized to his mother.

“I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my family and my mother for the pain and loss that I’ve caused through my actions, and I am very sorry,” he said.

Delmore was sentenced to 25 years in prison but was released on May 27 this year, corrections officials said.

Legal analyst Patricia LaFrance said a new felony assault charge could trigger a parole violation, but at this point, the situation is unclear.

“It’s a good case study for the parole board, for the prison system to understand what they’re offering and see if there were some red flags that they didn’t catch,” she said.

A probable cause hearing is scheduled for next week.

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By Imani Clement, Peter Eliopoulos

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    DEDHAM, Mass. (WCVB) — The church leaders of St. Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts, announced Monday that a controversial nativity scene would remain until further dialogue with the Boston archdiocese.

A nativity display at the church replaced Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus with a sign that read “ICE was here.”

The archdiocese, Archbishop Richard Henning, says the church did not request nor receive permission for the display and that the church’s norms prohibit the use of sacred objects for any purpose other than the devotion of God’s people.

The archdiocese released a statement last week that read in part:

“The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship—not divisive political messaging. The display should be removed, and the manger restored to its proper sacred purpose.”

A statement released Monday by Rev. Stephen Josoma and the parish council noted that they would be “waiting for an opportunity of dialogue and clarity with Bishop Henning before reaching any final decisions.”

The statement also called out President Donald Trump’s administration, saying that any divisiveness caused by the display reflects American society today, “much of which originates with the changing, unjust policies and laws of the current US Administration, not emanating from a nativity display outside a church in Dedham.”

The Catholic Action League is hoping Henning uses his powers.

“This is really a grave scandal for Catholics, and I think he’s really playing with fire,” said C.J. Doyle, the director of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. “The archbishop can remove him as pastor, he can suspend him from active ministry, deprive him of his ministries, he can close the parish, and he can sell the parish property right out from under him.”

Parishioners who NewsCenter 5 spoke to say the archdiocese is out of step with the congregation.

“I’m very upset about it. And I’m also upset that our church doesn’t stand up for our immigrants in a stronger and more vocal and more active way,” said parishioner Beth Brinkman Cianci. “And I’m here to support Father Steve because he has the courage to do just that.”

Some churchgoers headed into Sunday’s Mass are visitors, telling NewsCenter 5 that they decided to attend Sunday’s service because of the nativity sign.

Avery McClain and Allexis Pillard came from Wisconsin to see the display, and Diane Marrese brought her children.

“Should let them know that everyone is welcome and support Father Steve,” Marrese said.

“This is a community doing exactly what Jesus taught, exactly what Jesus taught. These are good people, and this message is important.”

Some disagreed with the display and felt the archdiocese’s ruling was law.

“I’m not sure what the protocol is, but I think it’s wrong if the archbishop says it’s gotta go, it’s gotta go, that’s all,” said Steve McGowan.

You can read Rev. Josoma and the parish council’s entire statement below:

“We believe our position and practice to be faithful to the Gospel and Catholic teaching, especially as recently put forth by the Catholic bishops of the United States, including our own Archbishop Henning, as well as Pope Leo. The Vatican itself displays different themed nativities each year, highlighting social issues to contemporary life. Some of these have also been controversial (like one focused on the plight of refugees in 2016) all moving beyond static traditional figures and designed to evoke emotion and dialogue. Our hope was to similarly evoke dialogue around an issue that is at the heart of contemporary life. That some do not agree with our message does not render our display sacrilegious or is the cause of any “scandal” to the faithful. Any divisiveness is a reflection of our polarized society, much of which originates with the changing, unjust policies and laws of the current US Administration, not emanating from a nativity display outside a church in Dedham. It is a prophetic reflection that challenges the faithful to find new paths to bring the Good News announced that first Christmas to all of God’s people. We are waiting for an opportunity of dialogue and clarity with Bishop Henning before reaching any final decisions.”

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By WBBH Staff

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    NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WBBH) — A Lee County man was arrested early Monday morning after he was accused of robbing a woman of her groceries and commanding his dog to bite the victim in North Fort Myers on Sunday.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office’s arrest report, Martin Ahkim Amparo, 29, is accused of robbing the victim after she stopped to get groceries at Dollar General on Pondella Road and was heading home.

In the report, the victim said she would not give up her groceries. Amparo is then accused of saying, “Drop your bags and give them to me,” before directing his dog to bite the victim on their right ankle.

Amparo then forcefully grabbed the groceries from the victim’s hands, stole the victim’s bicycle, and fled east toward Cypress Street, the arrest report said.

When deputies arrived at the scene, the victim showed them her ankle, which had fresh blood and marks that looked like they came from a dog bite, LCSO said.

Deputies, including the K9 Unit, Aviation Unit and the Anti-Takeover Special Unit, began searching for Amparo.

Amparo was located on Oak Street near 4th Way, LCSO said.

Amparo was arrested and taken to LCSO headquarters for questioning, but due to his combative behavior, he was taken to Lee County Jail, LCSO said.

Deputies obtained a search warrant for Amparo’s home and found the stolen groceries and bicycle in the kitchen of the home. All of the items were returned to the victim via a property receipt, LCSO said.

Amparo faces charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and robbery.

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