Month: March 2026

By Mary Saladna

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    NATICK, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A Massachusetts woman trying to sell her expensive gemstone in an online marketplace deal said she was almost robbed by the prospective buyer.

Kathleen Sanfacon, a registered nurse, Dunstable firefighter, and mother of two, met up with an online buyer at the Natick Mall on Tuesday.

The buyer said he was willing to pay $27,000 for the heart-shaped diamond she was selling.

The two met near the Bank of America inside the mall.

“I wanted to make sure we’d be safe and on camera and in public,” Sanfacon said.

She also went a step further and introduced herself to two bank employees, explaining that she was there to sell a diamond.

When the buyer showed up, the two went into the bank ATM vestibule.

“I took out the diamond, he had a tester, he looked like he was testing it,” said Sanfacon. “He started to put it back in the little case and I thought he was then going to get out the money, and he just ran.”

That’s when Sanfacon grabbed onto the man and didn’t let go.

“He said, ‘I have a gun and I’ll shoot you. I don’t want to have to use it,'” Sanfacon said.

She said she never saw a gun but she was dragged by the suspect.

Sanfacon suffered a dislocated pinky and scrapes to her knees and elbows.

She is grateful to the two bank employees who kept an eye on the “meet up” and came running to help her.

The employees helped tackle the suspect and called police.

Keyjuan Webb, 23, of Beverly, was arrested and arraigned on Wednesday.

Webb pleaded not guilty and was held without bail. He is due back in court on Friday for a dangerousness hearing.

“It took at least four of us to hold him down and I was able to pry [the diamond] out of his hands,” said Sanfacon.

Her diamond is currently being held as evidence.

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 TJ Dysart

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Surveillance video from Rocky Rococo on Howell and Layton avenues in Milwaukee captured a customer pepper-spraying 18-year-old Vaida Fedikovich at the drive-thru window before driving off.

The customer’s face has been blurred in the footage as she has not been charged.

Fedikovich said the incident was traumatic, prompting her to quit her job the next day.

“My heart is still pounding being here at this location,” Fedikovich said. “I left on my own terms due to the circumstance that I did not feel safe.”

Fedikovich filed a police report, but said no arrest had been made that she was aware of. She explained that the attack occurred because the customer’s order had been taking too long.

“Basically, my manager told me to get ice, and I forgot she was there,” Fedikovich said.

She described it as an honest mistake that did not deserve such a violent response.

“There’s multiple people there, and it’s not just you in line; we have other things to do and it’s just all about waiting your turn and trying to work with us,” Fedikovich said.

A spokesperson for Rocky Rococo’s sent a statement to WISN 12 News. “The safety of our employees and guests is extremely important to us. We are very concerned for our former team member following this incident. The matter was immediately reported to local authorities, and we are cooperating fully with their investigation.”

The Milwaukee police department said they have not made any arrests. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7262 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or P3 Tips App.

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 Emily Maher, Veronica Haynes

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    COHASSET, Massachusetts (WCVB) — A 59-year-old Cohasset, Massachusetts, man has been charged after an investigation into the fatal shooting of a family dog in August 2025, Cohasset police said.

Christopher Lucas, 59, was arrested Monday and charged with animal cruelty, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, hunting without a license and hunting out of season.

Police said on Aug. 16, 2025, Lucas said he was attempting to hunt coyotes from a second-floor window of a room located above his garage on Hillside Drive when he fatally shot his wife’s dog, which was in the driveway.

The 14-year-old dog, named Lise, was shot in the head.

The incident was captured on the home’s security camera system. Investigators said the footage shows the dog being shot and a family member crying over the dying animal.

The incident happened in August, but prosecutors said Lucas’s wife reported the incident to police in February.

Investigators said that Lucas did not possess a valid Massachusetts hunting license at the time of the incident and that the hunting activity occurred outside of the legal hunting season.

Investigators also determined that the residence is located within 500 feet of several occupied dwellings.

According to court documents, Lucas’ wife said that he owned nearly two dozen guns registered in Massachusetts and, over the years, has shot and killed coyotes in their yard.

“Christopher told her he shot the dog, thinking it was a coyote. She explained he liked to hunt coyotes from the windows of their home with rifles, that he baits the coyotes using dog food into their yard and subsequently shoots them,” said Norfolk County Assistant District Attorney Kelsey Shea said.

Lucas filed a police report in March claiming he was being blackmailed by his wife, and said that the two were getting divorced and that she said “if he does not agree to her terms of divorce, she will report a crime she alleges that he committed to the police.”

“There’s more to why she’s waited this long to do this at this time is because theyre right in the middle of separating their assets in the Canton probate court,” Lucas’ lawyer Ken DiFazio said.

Cohasset police suspended Lucas’s license to carry firearms and seized multiple firearms from the residence.

“This was a deeply disturbing incident that involved the unlawful discharge of a firearm in a residential neighborhood and the tragic killing of a family pet,” said Chief William Quigley.

Lucas was arraigned Tuesday morning in Quincy District Court. He was ordered to surrender his guns and not have contact with his wife or family pets.

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 JOHNSTON, Iowa

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    JOHNSTON, Iowa (KCCI) — Triple B’s BBQ in Johnston is serving up delicious food while offering special needs workers the chance to learn real-world job skills, inspired by owner Denny Blackford’s son, Brenden, who has Down syndrome.

“To put opportunity in someone’s life is pretty priceless,” Blackford said.

Blackford says more than 40 special needs students and adults work at Triple B’s, learning how to take orders, serve, and clean.

“A little slower. It takes a little longer to get there, but a lot of them can get there,” he said.

Robert Busch, a dishwasher at the restaurant, enjoys his work, having previously done similar jobs at Woodward.

Server Andrew Sadler appreciates the perks of the job, including a free meal.

Triple B’s is known not only for its special needs staff but also for its special menu, featuring BBQ and baked goods. Regular customer Denny Young has tried everything on the menu and has not been disappointed.

“I’ve not had anything bad here. And I’ve tried everything,” Young said.

Young admires Blackford’s efforts to help special needs kids prepare for life.

“He’s done a wonderful job. I don’t think there’s anybody in Iowa that’s doing a better job of trying to help special needs kids in learning, you know, learning and prepping for life,” Young said.

Blackford admits that supervising an inexperienced staff can be challenging and advises customers to be patient and respectful.

“We ask people to be patient, be respectful. If you’re looking for a smooth, romantic dining experience that goes as you think it’s going to go, we’re not the place,” Blackford said.

For those seeking a hearty meal with a side of smiles, Triple B’s is the perfect spot.

“And the reward comes from their success and it hits you in a different way you never knew you had. And that’s the big goal and dream,” Blackford 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 Lindsay Clein

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    WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (WXII) — Some triplets in the Triad were born on National Triplet Day.

A Winston-Salem woman is now a mom to three baby boys, born on March 3 (3/3).

Because the babies were born premature, they’re still in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The boys are scheduled to get off their C-PAP machines Wednesday, and their health has been improving.

“The news was very shocking,” said Laura Amador. “I was not expecting that at all.”

When Laura Amador found out she was pregnant in September, she couldn’t believe she was carrying not just one baby– but three.

“I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “I just started crying. I was very overwhelmed– it was a whole lot.”

While both she and her boyfriend have twins in their family trees, she never expected she would be giving birth to triplets. She also didn’t expect her pregnancy to become high risk.

“Then, later on, I got placenta previa,” she said. “I was high risk with my three babies and in and out of the hospital the whole month of February.”

On March 3, she underwent an emergency c-section– giving birth to her three bundles of joy on a day dedicated to honoring the unique bond triplets share.

“The nurses were like, ‘oh my gosh, they were born on national triplet day!'” said Amador. Everyone was so excited and I was flooded with love toward me and my babies. I appreciate everyone being there for us.”

But, with that excitement, came some obstacles. The triplets were born about two months early.

“Now, they are in the NICU,” said Amador. “Trying to fight for their lives.”

They’ve come a long way in the last week, and their health has been improving.

“I feel very emotional,” she said. “Every time I go in there, I hold it in to be so strong for them– and it hurts– because I want to keep myself together for them.”

With a support system by her side, Laura says she’s feeling stronger every day.

“I feel so much better,” she said. “I’m ready for them to be here and I want to hold them and create memories with them. I can’t wait to see them grow, be there for them and be the best mom I can be.”

Doctors say the boys should be home by March 6, but Laura is hoping it’s much sooner.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with expenses.

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 Justin Schecker

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    ORLANDO, Florida (WESH) — For the past ten years, the Pulse sign on South Orange Avenue has been a visible reminder of the tragedy that took place at the former nightclub.

Orlando Torres said he had hoped to watch the removal of the sign by crews hired by the City of Orlando.

“I’m one of the Pulse survivors that was nearly three and a half hours in the restroom, waiting to get saved by the SWAT team,” Torres told WESH 2.

By the time Torres arrived Wednesday morning, the sign was already gone.

“It was important to see something that is showing progress,” he said.

Torres recently moved back to the City Beautiful. He said the sign finally coming down as part of the plans to build a permanent Pulse memorial is long overdue.

“We felt like we were sentenced for 10 years of agony, disappointments and delays,” he said.

In the aftermath of the mass shooting on June 12, 2016, Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan said she got to know many of the 49 families who lost loved ones.

“They’re expecting to go to graduations, weddings,” Sheehan said. “They weren’t expecting to go to funerals, and their lives were cut short.”

Commissioner Sheehan remembers how the Orlando community came together.

“Churches welcomed the LGBTQ community that never had before,” she said. “We had, you know, businesses raising money.”

But then, the commissioner said the failures of the onePULSE Foundation to construct a lasting memorial only caused more pain.

The City purchased the nightclub property for $2 million in October 2023 and then restarted the process of creating a permanent memorial.

“I keep telling people if, unfortunately, it’s not against the law to run a not-for-profit into the ground,” Sheehan said. “I think there should be more rules and regulations, absolutely, but that’s just kind of where we’re at, and I think it’s important to move forward.”

The City is moving forward with plans to demolish the former nightclub building next week, now that the sign is down and artifacts from inside have been removed.

“I do think that the more emotional day for me is actually going to be when the building comes down,” Sheehan said, “because that’s a place where I went and had good times.”

The bar top, posters and two chandeliers are some of the Pulse artifacts the City is preserving.

New renderings released last week from the project managers show the permanent Pulse memorial will feature a reflection pool, a survivors’ common, and 49 rainbow-colored tribute columns.

A section of the nightclub dance floor is also part of the design.

“It was a place to look forward to enjoyment and dancing,” Torres said. “That’s all they did, was to come out and dance, not to hurt anybody and get shot.”

After the site is completely cleared, the City said construction of the permanent Pulse memorial will begin in September.

The plan is for the memorial to be finished in the Fall of 2027.

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.