University of Denver professor wins Grammy for best instrumental composition

CNN on February 3, 2026


KCNC

By Austen Erblat

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    COLORADO (KCNC) — A music professor at the University of Denver won a Grammy Award on Sunday for best instrumental composition.

Remy Le Boeuf earned the prestigious award for his 2025 album, “First Snow,” recorded with the Nordkraft Big Band, a Danish jazz big band, and vocalist Danielle Wertz.

He described the album as blending genres of jazz, folk, and classical music. In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the collaborative efforts between the different styles, but also between musicians of different cultures and nationalities.

“Bridges between the United States and Denmark, where the Nordkraft Big Band is based — Peter Lund Paulsen and Danielle Wertz, by the way, my collaborators — bridges between people, from myself, my listeners, and you all,” he said in the speech. “Let’s keep building bridges. Thank you so much.”

A saxophone player, professor, and director of the jazz and commercial music program at DU, Le Boeuf enjoyed four Grammy nominations before Sunday’s win. His identical twin brother, pianist Pascal Le Boeuf, won a Grammy in the same category last year for his album “Strands.”

“Pascal, we’re even now. I love you,” he joked in his speech.

Remy Le Boeuf has collaborated with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Linda Oh, HAIM, and others, including his brother, in the Le Boeuf Brothers project.

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

University of Denver professor wins Grammy for best instrumental composition

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Austen Erblat

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A music professor at the University of Denver won a Grammy Award on Sunday for best instrumental composition.

Remy Le Boeuf earned the prestigious award for his 2025 album, “First Snow,” recorded with the Nordkraft Big Band, a Danish jazz big band, and vocalist Danielle Wertz.

He described the album as blending genres of jazz, folk, and classical music. In his acceptance speech, he highlighted the collaborative efforts between the different styles, but also between musicians of different cultures and nationalities.

“Bridges between the United States and Denmark, where the Nordkraft Big Band is based — Peter Lund Paulsen and Danielle Wertz, by the way, my collaborators — bridges between people, from myself, my listeners, and you all,” he said in the speech. “Let’s keep building bridges. Thank you so much.”

A saxophone player, professor, and director of the jazz and commercial music program at DU, Le Boeuf enjoyed four Grammy nominations before Sunday’s win. His identical twin brother, pianist Pascal Le Boeuf, won a Grammy in the same category last year for his album “Strands.”

“Pascal, we’re even now. I love you,” he joked in his speech.

Remy Le Boeuf has collaborated with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, Linda Oh, HAIM, and others, including his brother, in the Le Boeuf Brothers project.

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

Owner of Wichita martial arts studio gets life in prison for child sex crimes

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By KAKE Staff

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    WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) — The owner of a Wichita martial arts studio has been sentenced to life imprisonment for child sex crimes.

According to court documents, 33-year-old Brian Lee Rogers, of Wichita, was charged with one count of aggravated criminal sodomy of a child under 14 and two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under 14.

Rogers was sentenced on Monday to a Hard 25 on each count. The judge ran the two counts consecutively for a Hard 50 sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum of 50 years before parole eligibility.

The case was originally tried in November of 2024 and resulted in a deadlocked jury. The case was retried in August of 2025 and a jury found Rogers guilty of all three counts.

Rogers is the owner of Hybrid Martial Arts at I-235 and Central Avenue in west Wichita. The business states it teaches several forms of martial arts for anyone ages 5 and up.

The Wichita Eagle nominated it as one of the best businesses in Wichita in 2022.

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Woman gets life in prison for role in deaths of 2 Kansas women found buried in freezer

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By KAKE Staff

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    GUYMON, Okla. (KAKE) — One of five people accused in the deaths of two Kansas women in 2024 has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Texas County, Oklahoma court records show that Tifany Adams was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She pleaded no contest in October to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of unlawful removal of a dead body and two counts of desecration of a corpse. Two counts of child neglect and one count of conspiracy were dismissed. Her sentencing is scheduled for January 28.

Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley were reported missing on March 30, 2024. Their bodies were found two weeks later buried in a freezer in Texas County, Oklahoma. Both had been stabbed to death.

Adams and four others were charged in connection with the case: Paul Grice, Tad Cullum, Cole Twombly and Cora Twombly.

Tad Collum and Cole Twombly have pleaded not guilty, and the district attorney said he will seek the death penalty. Their trials are scheduled for October 19, 2026 and February 22, 2027, respectively. Grice and Cora Twombly have already taken plea deals to testify for the state.

Veronica and Jilian were traveling together from Hugoton, Kansas to pick up Butler’s children when the two women went missing. Their car was found abandoned in a remote part of northern Oklahoma near the Kansas border.

Court documents stated that Cole and Cora Twombly were the lookouts the day of the murders and confided in their daughter in the hope of receiving an alibi for the morning of the murders.

Paul Grice in part, allegedly stabbed and killed Butler, sliced his hand “badly” with the knife and accompanied the bodies of both victims to their burial site. The document says Grice threw off his clothing, stun device and the knife used to kill Buter into the burial site. His clothing found in the burial site contained his and Butler’s DNA.

Tad Cullum in part, got permission from the landowners to dig the hole for the burial site and dug the whole with his skid steer the day before the murders.

Cullum is accused of fatally stabbing Kelley and driving the bodies to the burial site. He put his clothing in the burial site, in addition to Butler and Kelley inside a freezer in the previously dug hole. His clothing, found at the site, also contained his and Kelley’s DNA. The accessories to the knife, found at the burial site, were found in his home.

The document said Adams purchased burner phones from Walmart which were used by the conspirators to communicate. She purchased the stun devices at Standard Supply, one of which was found at the burial site. She also bought the yellow straps that were placed around the freezer containing the bodies of Butler and Kelley at Tractor Supply.

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Frozen car mystery leaves Racine woman stuck in ice for over a week

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Zoie Henry

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    RACINE, Wis. (WISN) — Chris Daugherty’s car has been stuck in ice outside her Racine apartment for over a week, leaving her unable to get to work and seeking help from neighbors and city officials.

“I have no idea. I wish I knew, but I have no clue where it’s coming from,” Daugherty said.

Initially, Daugherty noticed a small amount of water icing her car and attempted to free it with 120 pounds of ice melt, but the situation worsened.

“Well, a week ago, I came out on a Saturday, and there was just a little bit of water icing my car, and I got 120 pounds of ice melt to try to get it out, and it wouldn’t come out. And now it’s morphed into this. So from what started out as a couple of inches morphed into up on the sidewalk and everywhere,” she said.

Being stuck in ice has prevented Daugherty from working, impacting her paycheck.

“Oh, it’s going to stink when I don’t get a paycheck this week. I’m not going to get paid for last week because I didn’t work,” she said.

Neighbors have noticed Daugherty’s predicament, leaving notes, rock salt, and shovels to help, but nothing has worked.

“So neighbors are even confused and wondering what’s going on and trying to help,” she said.

Daugherty has reached out to city officials for assistance but has not received help.

“I’ve tried contacting my alderman. I’ve tried contacting the city of Racine. I tried contacting the mayor. I was told that I can’t speak with the mayor for a couple of months. I have to make an appointment. When I called the city, I was told it’s not their problem and I have to deal with it,” she said.

With the source of the water unknown, WISN 12 News contacted her apartment property manager, but they declined to answer questions. Despite the challenges, Daugherty is trying to maintain a positive attitude.

“I have to laugh about it now. At first, I was crying, but now I just have to laugh because I can’t do anything else,” she said.

Daugherty is hoping for warmer temperatures to resolve the situation. Calls to the Racine Department of Public Works have gone unanswered.

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Cat missing for nearly a year found in Raymore, reunited with owner thanks to microchip

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Chloe Godding

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    MISSOURI (KMBC) — A long-lost cat is back home after being found in Raymore, Missouri, this weekend.

Raymore Animal Control shared the story on social media. A concerned citizen in Raymore found the cat Sunday and contacted police dispatch. Officers came out to retrieve the cat and scan her for a microchip.

Good news: She was microchipped, and she had contact information in the system. It turned out the cat, Harriet, had been missing for 11 months. The up-to-date information allowed officers to reunite Harriet with her family.

“Stories like Harriet’s are a powerful reminder of how important microchipping is,” Raymore Animal Control said on social media. “A simple chip can make all the difference in bringing a lost pet home, even after a long time apart.”

Animal Control thanked the citizen who stopped to help Harriet.

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Lincoln police believe pregnant woman, husband and unborn child dead; couple arrested

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Jake Anderson, Aaron Hegarty

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    LINCOLN, Neb. (KETV) — Lincoln police say a missing person case involving a pregnant woman is now a homicide investigation.

Hannah Neville, 26, Roberto Tanner, 27, and their unborn child are believed to be dead, investigators said.

Officials said officers are working to locate their bodies.

Sterling James, 24, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his half-brother and sister-in-law, authorities said.

James’ wife, Sayde Titus, 22, is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting.

After taking over as the lead on the case over the weekend, Lincoln police said officers worked with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the case and put together the timeline.

Investigators said Neville’s roommate reported her missing in Polk County after Neville hadn’t been seen since Jan. 15, when Neville left Stromsburg to pick up her husband in Lincoln. Location data and witness statements put Neville and Tanner at James and Titus’s apartment in Lincoln around 7 p.m. on Jan. 15.

Lincoln police said cell phone data shows Hannah’s device leaving at 8 p.m., arriving at a residence near South 27th and Emiline streets in Lancaster County and remaining there until 1:30 a.m. It traveled to multiple other locations before going offline on Jan. 16.

Around 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 16, Lincoln police responded to a vehicle fire, which was determined to be Neville’s SUV, officials said. Officers called Neville regarding the fire, but her number was no longer in service. Investigators said she was likely deceased at the time.

On Feb. 1, Lincoln police served a search warrant at the residence near South 27th and Emiline streets, where several people were detained and interviewed, officials said.

Investigators said James admitted to shooting Neville and Tanner. They believe James then buried their bodies and set Neville’s vehicle on fire. Titus is believed to have helped James after they were killed.

James was out on parole, records show.

Lincoln police thanked the community for raising awareness and said tips called into law enforcement helped investigators piece together what happened.

Records show James is on parole.

He was incarcerated in May 2024 after he was found guilty of three felonies: possessing meth with intent to distribute, possession of a deadly weapon, and attempted burglary. On July 31, 2025, he was released on parole, eight months after he became eligible.

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Warren County couple accused of drugging, raping child and sexual conduct with animals

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Karin Johnson, Emily Sanderson

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    WARREN COUNTY, Ohio (WLWT) — A Warren County couple has been indicted on multiple counts related to sexual conduct with animals and drugging and raping a child under 6 years old, according to prosecutors.

Tony McCollister, 43, and Erica Grove, 43, are currently in the Warren County Jail and are set to be arraigned on Wednesday.

McCollister starred in the short-lived reality show “Neighbors with Benefits” over a decade ago.

Indictment announced Grove has been indicted on 24 charges including four counts of rape, one count of corrupting another with drugs, five counts of gross sexual imposition, eight counts of illegal use of minor or impaired person in nudity-oriented material or performance, two counts of endangering children and four counts of sexual conduct with an animal.

McCollister has been indicted on 30 charges including four counts of rape, one count of corrupting another with drugs, five counts of gross sexual imposition, three counts of endangering children, 13 counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor or impaired person and four counts of sexual conduct with an animal.

The investigation The investigation began in June 2025 when Google submitted a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) of possible child sexual abuse material (CSAM) associated with a particular IP address.

The tip was forwarded to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for investigation.

The sheriff’s office obtained search warrants and determined the material was associated with an account belonging to McCollister.

In addition to the child sex abuse material, investigators say they also located video files of McCollister and Grove engaged in various types of sexual conduct with two dogs.

McCollister was initially charged for possession of child sex abuse material and sexual conduct with animals, and Grove was initially charged for sexual conduct with animals.

According to Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell, the investigation later uncovered evidence that Grove and McCollister drugged a female child, who was under the age of six, for the specific purpose of raping and engaging in various other types of sexual assault of the child.

“They drugged the girl specifically to rape her,” Fornshell said. “Who would have thought that the sex with the dogs was not going to be the most horrific aspect of this case. I mean, when you get to that, you think what can be worse, and then they continue to investigate and find out that they’re drugging and raping this little girl … it’s just hard to process when you see what these people are capable of.”

Detectives also discovered additional child sex abuse material involving the child, Fornshell stated.

“Just when we thought that sex with the dogs was going to be the most horrific part of this case, the detectives discovered evidence of the drugging and raping of a little girl,” said Fornshell. “I’m sitting in a room full of people who investigate and prosecute child sexual abuse cases on a daily basis, we’re reviewing the evidence, and it’s just silence. It’s really difficult to even process.”

Fornshell noted that detectives are still in the early stages of the investigation, but wanted to bring the case to a grand jury quickly after learning about the alleged rape of a child.

Grove and McCollister are scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.

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Waukee fourth-graders open sporting-goods store to support families

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By KCCI Staff

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    WAUKEE, Iowa (KCCI) — Students in Waukee have opened the Waterford Sporting Goods Store, led entirely by fourth graders, to provide free sporting equipment to families in need.

Before the store’s opening, the students designed posters and recorded commercials. To work at the store, they had to apply and go through an interview process.

“We created a job application and had a lot of students that were interested in working for the store apply. We chose some of the students to do in-person interviews and ended up hiring eight awesome fourth graders who work in the store,” said physical education teacher Joe Burch.

Students collected 188 sporting goods items through a donation drive, making the equipment available for free to families in need. Additional donations can be dropped off at Waterford Elementary any time during the school day.

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Community helps farmer deliver houseplants to seniors

CNN Newsource on February 3, 2026

By Charity Blanton

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    CLINTON, Kentucky (WPSD) — A Clinton, Kentucky farmer delivered houseplants to over 30 residents at two long-term care facilities on Monday, thanks to donations from the community.

Heirloom Acres owner Caroline Webb said the idea for the Houseplants for Seniors program was born from a New Years resolution to give back.

Through the month of January, shoppers were able to donate money and pick out easy-to-care for houseplants and succulents to send to residents at long-term care facilities.

On Monday, Webb brought those plants to residents at Clinton-Hickman County ICF Nursing Facility and Clinton Place.

“You guys that supported this project, I just want you to know that over 30 residents were so excited to receive their special gift from you guys, and so happy to have people thinking about them, whether they knew who you were or not. It really made their day,” Webb said.

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