Month: February 2026

By JT Moodee Lockman, Caroline Foreback

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    COLUMBIA, Maryland (WJZ) — A man was arrested Sunday after Howard County police said he fatally stabbed his roommate with a sword during an altercation in Columbia.

Donavan Townsend, 23, faces charges in connection with the murder of 25-year-old Jaelon Minor, officers said. He is being held without bond.

Police responded to the incident around 1:40 a.m. on Sunday at an apartment in the 7600 block of Woodpark Lane. Officers arrived to find Minor, who was pronounced dead inside the apartment.

Jaelon Minor’s mother was at the apartment when her son was stabbed during a dispute with Townsend, according to charging documents obtained by WJZ. The two were longtime acquaintances.

Police said there was an ongoing dispute over finances. The argument escalated after Townsend allegedly disrespected Minor’s mother.

Investigators said Townsend took off after allegedly stabbing Minor with a sword. Townsend was located and was arrested a short time later.

Anyone with information about this fatal stabbing is asked to call police at 410-313-STOP or email HCPDCrimeTips@howardcountymd.gov.

A neighbor told WJZ she woke up around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday to flashing lights outside her Columbia apartment.

Tiffany Clark said cops and ambulances were at the complex.

“It was scary,” Clark said. “People were out here crying.”

A neighbor who did not want to be identified said that Minor was a nice young man who was known for helping others around the apartment complex.

“He was a nice person, he went to school with my daughter, he was always pleasant,” the neighbor said. “One time I had problems with my truck and he came and he helped me. He’s a very helpful, loving person.”

In 2025, Howard County reported a total of 12 homicides, up nearly 9% from 11 cases in 2024, according to data from county police.

In early February, a Howard County man was charged with fatally stabbing his estranged wife. Alexander Stephenson, 53, was charged with murder and assault after he turned himself in.

Police said Alexander Stephenson killed Amethyst Stephenson at a home in the 3400 block of Huntsman Run in Ellicott City. Amethyst Stephenson’s son called the police after he awoke to “a commotion and yelling’ from his mother’s room, according to officials.

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.

By Pheben Kassahun

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    NIAGARA FALLS, New York (WKBW) — A new hub designed to train and support birth and postpartum doula professionals has launched in Western New York, offering resources to help doulas become credentialed Medicaid providers in New York State.

The Doula Resource Boutique, operated by Calming Nature Doula Center and located in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, is open to both new and experienced doulas, serving families across Western New York and New York State.

The hub offers training, mentorship, professional development and guidance on Medicaid enrollment.

Shannon Jones, CEO of Calming Nature Doula Center, Inc., said the hub was created to fill a gap in support for doula professionals.

“The Doula Resource Boutique is a support system for doulas looking for that support, but also to provide guidance, to be able to help them throughout their career,” Jones said. “So currently, right now, there is no system set up in place for doulas to have that support, to have that resource, so this is one of the reasons why we came up with the doula boutique.”

Jones said the goal is to close gaps in maternal health care and build a stronger, more sustainable doula workforce.

Black mothers who give birth are five times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers who give birth in New York State, according to the New York State Department of Health.

Jones said the boutique works to address those disparities by equipping doulas with evidence-based information and tools to better support expectant mothers.

“Large variety of different things that we support them with is emotional, physical, and informational support,” Jones said. “All of the information that we do provide is evidence-based information, so it’s stuff that has been known through research and studies that say this is actually supportive and helpful to individuals looking to have that type of experience but also have better outcomes.”

Jones said that support extends directly into the labor and delivery experience.

“We do try to push a lot of education and information for those moms to have those resources, but also to have that support that they need and have that education that can aid in the actual labor itself, making labor more comfortable, often times making the length of labor shorter, but also giving them more overall satisfaction with the labor experience themselves,” Jones said.

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.

By Forrest Sanders

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    NASHVILLE (WTVF) — Just days ago, an iconic voice was heard at the Olympics opening ceremony. Monday night, that same voice is performing with local college students at Bridgestone Arena.

The name Andrea Bocelli is pretty big to musicians like Florence Schaumann, violinist in Belmont University’s Symphony Orchestra.

“Of course, he’s a household name,” Schaumann said. “Why he’s so huge with the masses is he includes the classic opera tunes everyone knows and everyone can relate to.”

Bocelli’s also important to the story of Javier Castro. Castro’s part of Belmont’s Chorale.

“My parents actually loved Bocelli.” Castro said. “Super fans. Day one. It was always Bocelli and Barbara Streisand. I grew up listening to him. My dad always promised my mom, one day in the future we will go see Bocelli.”

Castro’s parents got something better than that.

In October, Belmont’s Chorale and Symphony Orchestra got to perform with Bocelli at an event on campus.

“Hey! We’re singing with Andrea Bocelli!” Castro laughed. “Oh my gosh, I was so emotional.”

“This is not a normal experience for college students,” added Schaumann.

It went so well, at the end of the show came a promise.

“He said, ‘I want you guys the next time I come to Nashville,'” Castro said.

Bocelli meant it.

Over the weekend were rehearsals for Belmont’s Chorale and Symphony Orchestra as they practiced for two dates on Bocelli’s world tour. They performed with Bocelli in Birmingham, Alabama on Sunday night. The second show is at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena Monday night.

“Performing in arenas, that’s kinda scary!” said Castro.

“Never before have we had to learn so much music in such a small amount of time, but I really think we’re going to pull it off,” Schaumann smiled. “Andrea Bocelli obviously wanted that to happen.”

To be able to say that sentence is incredible for Schaumann.

“I have one of the top professionals in the industry on my resume,” Castro said.

“What a blessing it is to be among students who are up to the challenge,” Schaumann continued. “This is such an early point in all of our careers, and I’m just very grateful for it.”

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.

By Mallory Sofastaii

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — A Baltimore family is fighting a water bill totaling more than $3,600 for a home where no one has lived since July.

The City says one person uses about 3 cubic feet of water per month, or roughly 2,200 gallons. The vacant Southwest Baltimore home was billed for more than 100 cubic feet or 77,000 gallons. And another 70,000 gallons the following month.

Janeen Sullivan’s family has owned the home for more than 60 years. Her aunt moved out in July due to health issues, and Sullivan has since been checking on the property and paying some of the bills, including water.

“I looked at it, I’m ready to pay it, and it was like $1,000. I’m like, she’s not living here. And then I looked at the usage and it said it was 77,000 gallons of water. I’m like, yeah, that’s a little crazy,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan questioned how that volume of water could go unnoticed at a vacant residential property.

“I think someone would have noticed that kind of water leaking out of a house on the ground down the road. I’m pretty sure the street would have been flooded, pretty sure,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan filed a billing dispute in October. The following month, another $1,700 was added to the balance. She filed another dispute in November.

“They did say they would send someone out to look at the meter, but again, that was October, and we’re in February right now,” Sullivan said.

With the total climbing past $3,600, Sullivan grew concerned the property could end up in tax sale.

“Bill keeps going up. I went online at some point and said just cut off service,” Sullivan said.

After Sullivan contacted WMAR-2 News Mallory Sofastaii, the city scheduled a site visit. A crew arrived the next day, but they were there to address a separate leak at a neighboring property.

A few days later, the city replaced the meter. Crews found no leaks or repairs and recommended Sullivan apply for a bill adjustment. The city could not share specific details about the case, but Sullivan said she was told a running toilet may have caused the spike. She said the sheer volume of water involved should have triggered an earlier response.

Sofastaii asked the city about the process for requesting a water meter inspection. Customers should contact the Department of Public Works Customer Support and Services Division by phone at 410-396-5398, visiting their office at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building, 200 Holliday Street, First Floor, Room 8, Baltimore, MD 21202; or email dpw.billing@baltimorecity.gov. An agen can order a meter investigation if needed. DPW also says most failed meters under-register water use — not over-register it. Click here for more information.

DPW also confirmed that while a billing dispute is active, an account is not eligible for tax sale. As of 2020, a residential property cannot be included in tax sale if the only lien is an unpaid water bill. The city also offers payment plans for water bill balances of $50 or more.

Sullivan has now submitted a bill adjustment request. DPW says reviews typically take about four weeks, and decisions are sent by mail.

“If we decide to get rid of the house, it’s going to be our decision, not the city’s,” Sullivan said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WMAR verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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.