Month: March 2026

By Alexa Liacko

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    ATLANTA (WUPA) — At an alternative high school in Gwinnett County, getting students to show up has long been one of the toughest lessons.

Dr. Candice Richardson decided to tackle that challenge not with punishment, but with compassion — and sneakers.

Richardson teaches at Gwinnett Intervention Education Center East, where students are often placed due to attendance, academic, or behavioral issues. For years, many students struggled to feel connected to school. Richardson believed that had to change.

“We have a problem with attendance,” Richardson said. “And that’s why some of our kids are here. I thought, well, let’s see if we can make a difference.”

Her solution was simple but unconventional: the Sneaker Spirit Squad. Any student with perfect attendance for an entire week earns the chance to trade required uniform shoes for colorful sneakers one day the following week. The incentive, she said, gives students something to look forward to — and a way to express their individuality.

The results were immediate. Richardson said attendance rates are now nearly double what they were before the program began.

“We saw kids who weren’t coming to school all the time,” she said. “All of a sudden, now we have them come to school every day.”

Students say the sneakers mean more than comfort or style. Ninth-grader Kallan Forsyth said the strict dress code can feel discouraging, but earning sneaker day feels rewarding.

“It shows I’m hardworking,” Forsyth said. “I try my best even when I don’t really know what to do.”

Another ninth-grader, Kymir Fraley, said the chance to wear his own shoes boosts his confidence. “You look good, so you feel good,” he said. “That makes me have more drive to do my work.”

Richardson’s approach is shaped by an unusual path to the classroom. She began her career as a medical doctor, practicing in the Bahamas before moving to the United States. After taking a job as a substitute teacher, she realized education — not medicine — was her calling.

“With teaching, I get an opportunity to do more holistic healing,” Richardson said. “It’s the mental, the physical, the spiritual — every aspect of that child.”

That mindset is evident in her classroom, where students are greeted each morning warmly and reminded that they matter. Several said Richardson has helped them through personal struggles far beyond academics.

“It’s given me the motivation to come here every day and do great,” said ninth-grader Shamia Young.

Michel Romero, also a ninth-grader, said Richardson offers guidance when life feels overwhelming. “She’s helped me piece myself together and gave me great advice on how to proceed,” he said.

Principal Brandon Bell said Richardson treats her classroom like a triage unit, drawing on her medical background to meet students where they are.

“She uses that level of care and commitment to help kids become the best version of themselves,” Bell said.

Richardson also makes sure no student is excluded. If a family cannot afford sneakers, she buys them herself so every child can participate.

Her impact was formally recognized this year when she was named Teacher of the Year by the Gwinnett County School District.

“When you believe in people, and they know you believe in them, they begin to believe in themselves,” Richardson said. “And it transcends the classroom.”

For students once at risk of walking away from school altogether, Richardson has shown that sometimes all it takes is someone willing to walk or step alongside them.

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 Mike Hellgren, Adam Thompson

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    HOWARD COUNTY, Maryland (WJZ) — State investigators said three Howard County police officers shot and killed a man early Sunday morning at an apartment complex in Columbia after he refused to drop a knife.

Witnesses showed WJZ Investigates the location of the body, near the entrance to Patuxent Commons, a new apartment complex on Freetown Road in Hickory Ridge, with units set aside as affordable housing for senior citizens and people living with disabilities.

The police response began at 12:09 a.m. Sunday.

Police said they received a 911 call from a man who threatened to harm himself.

In dispatch audio, a first responder said, “We were speaking with a caller on the phone. He began making suicidal statements.”

Police could not find the man when they arrived.

“Can we get another couple units over here to start making checks for this guy?” police asked on dispatch audio. “He’s not in his apartment.”

As the officers exited the apartment building, they said the man was in the parking lot walking toward them with a knife in one hand.

They said they told him to drop that knife several times, but he refused.

That is when three officers opened fire, according to the Maryland Office of the Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division, which investigates all fatal incidents where police are involved.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

WJZ Investigates spoke with witnesses who watched the incident unfold from the windows of the building.

A witness who wanted to remain anonymous told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren said he heard six shots.

“It was very frightening, very frightening,” the man said. “Basically, all he said [was], ‘Let’s party. I want to party. I told you there was going to be a party.'”

The man said he did not see the man’s knife from his vantage point.

The attorney general’s investigators said the incident was captured on officers’ body-worn cameras and police did recover a knife near the man.

“It needs to be investigated to the fullest, to the fullest extent it needs to be investigated,” the witness said. “I just can’t understand how something like this tragically happened.”

The building, Patuxent Commons, opened late last year to much fanfare, including a speech by the county executive steps from where the shooting unfolded Sunday.

“Patuxent Commons is great because it represents our values in action,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball told the crowd at the ribbon cutting in November 2025.

Patuxent Commons is a $44 million public private partnership led by the Autism Society of Maryland. One quarter of the units are set aside for people with disabilities and 40 percent as affordable housing for seniors.

The Autism Society of Maryland and Mission First Housing told WJZ Investigates in a joint statement, “This is a disturbingly tragic event, and we have been in touch with the family to express our deepest sorrow and offer support.”

The organizations stressed, “Our immediate focus is on supporting residents and staff who are experiencing shock, grief, and trauma.”

Howard County police declined to comment on the apartment shooting.

The attorney general’s team has 20 business days to release the body-worn camera footage and two business days to release the name of the man who died and the officers.

This is the second death involving Howard County police this year.

The Maryland Attorney General’s office is still investigating a fatal crash in January that happened as police tried to pull over a teenager for speeding.

Full statement from Autism Society of Maryland and Mission First Housing:

“Early Sunday morning, a resident of Patuxent Commons was shot and killed outside of the property following a wellness check by the Howard County Police Department. The Autism Society of Maryland (AUSOM) and Mission First Housing Group (Mission First) deeply mourn this loss. This is a disturbingly tragic event, and we have been in touch with the family to express our deepest sorrow and offer support.”

“The Howard County Police Department and Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division are conducting a full investigation. They have issued a statement and no further information is available at this time.”

“Any questions concerning the incident should be directed to the Howard County Police Department. Mission First is cooperating fully with authorities and will continue to do so.”

“Together, we support a full investigation of this tragedy on behalf of the family, the residents of Patuxent Commons, the entire Howard County community, and members of the disability community.”

“Our immediate focus is on supporting residents and staff who are experiencing shock, grief, and trauma. Staff members are on site at this time and additional staff and grief counselors will be in the community tomorrow, Monday, March 2, to respond to resident concerns and offer support.”

“Patuxent Commons exists to provide safe, affordable, inclusive housing rooted in community for adults with disabilities, older adults and families. That mission has not changed. We are committed to fully understanding the chain of events that led to this tragedy and learning everything we can once the investigation is complete.”

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 Tessa DiTirro

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    CLEVELAND (WEWS) — If you LOVE mac and cheese, get ready to loosen your belt! The 10th annual Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown is back and cheesier than ever. The delicious day supports W.A.G.S. 4 Kids, Working Animals Giving Service 4 Kids.

The Northeast Ohio non-profit trains service dogs and provides them directly to families in our community. The service dogs help children with mobility assistance, autism, and mental health support.

“All the kids are local, so there’s probably somebody down the street or a friend of a friend’s kid is directly going to benefit from what’s happening in that room,” said W.A.G.S. 4 Kids executive director Sera Nelson.

Fifteen local chefs will be serving up their best take on the comfort food. See the chef lineup here.

Sera Nelson said every year folks ask if the throwdown really is unlimited, and the answer is YES, you can eat as much mac and cheese as your heart desires.

“This is not a tasting, this is not a flight,” said Nelson.

“The rookies that are joining in are people we’ve been begging to join for years. Grumpy’s is coming in with their breakfast mac; it’s going to be really cool. It’s hashbrowns with mac and cheese and bacon,” said Nelson.

She continued, “Irie Jamaican is joining too, for anybody that’s ever been to Jamaica, they absolutely brought Jamaica to Cleveland, it’s ridiculous. I tend to fast a little bit before the event.”

Mac ‘n’ Cheese Throwdown will be held this year at TENK Westbank, located on the west bank of the Flats, at 2111 Center St. The fun begins at 12 p.m. on March 7.

“If you’re getting ready for fest season in Cleveland, this is it. You’re going to have your small business merchants, you’re going to have Cleveland’s scene in the building,” said Nelson.

While you’re chowing down, you’ll be voting on your phone to crown the best-of-the-best mac champs. Chefs are vying for titles like “rookie of the year” and “heavyweight mac champ” among others.

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 Kaylee Olivas

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    NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (WEWS) — Just when you think it can’t get much worse after losing a child, it does.

Denise Williams lost her son, Derrick Armour, in 2020.

“Our favorite times were listening to the old country classics. He was the one that always worked on my car, did my oil changes. He gave me three grandkids, so yeah, he was special. He was my firstborn,” Williams said.

Since his passing, a niche mausoleum has been set up at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in North Olmsted.

Inside the illuminated glass box is Derrick’s wedding ring and a picture of him and his kids.

“It’s a beautiful facility,” Williams said to describe Sunset Memorial.

I spoke to Williams, who told me it’s too hard for her to visit the mausoleum, but that other members of her family do.

“My brother was out there on Valentine’s Day and he went to see my son. After being there a few minutes, he noticed something didn’t seem right,” Williams said.

She said the bud vase, as well as her son’s wedding ring, were missing.

“That’s like his home now. So somebody came into his home, went into it, took something from it. Did they touch his urn? Did they touch the picture of my grandkids? So yeah, that’s bothersome,” Williams said.

According to Williams, her brother reported it to Sunset Memorial Cemetery, which then contacted Olmsted Township Police.

According to an Olmsted Township Police report, Williams’ family isn’t the only one to have been stolen from.

Records indicate a retired Lakewood Police badge, identification card, and wallet had been stolen from Sunset Memorial, too.

On Feb. 13, the badge, identification card, and wallet had been found on a man who was arrested in Indiana due to allegations of theft at a different funeral home outside of Indianapolis.

The man, according to a New Castle police report, told officers he’d found the badge on the ground and didn’t know what to do with it.

Also found on this man were tools believed to have been used during the theft and other potentially stolen items from mausoleums, according to photos snapped by Olmsted Township and shared with us.

The recovered items include a locket, a pendant, a ring, and a cross necklace.

Derrick’s wedding ring was not found, however.

“Does it almost feel like losing another piece of him?,” I asked Williams.

“Yeah, that was his wedding ring, so yeah, it does,” Williams said. “This is all we have left of them. That’s all we have left is special pieces that were obviously important. Money can’t replace it. Money cannot replace this. My son’s never going to wear a wedding ring again.”

She’s not hopeful her son’s ring will ever be recovered.

Sunset Memorial confirms it is aware of the situation, saying, “Sunset Memorial Park is proud of its service to our community and the peaceful beauty and serenity the Park offers to our client families and visitors for reflection. Management is working with authorities to determine how a theft occurred at our park and remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure Park for our client families and their possessions. Steps have been taken and plans are already in place to even further enhance our security measures.”

While Williams appreciates the extra steps in an effort to prevent theft like this from happening again, she said she doesn’t fault the cemetery.

“We never felt unsafe to begin with because who would think somebody would do this. This is as low as you can get. I mean, this is stealing from the dead. It’s something you see in movies. You don’t think this is gonna happen,” Williams said. “The cemetery is also very upset about it because they have family there so they wanna make sure that it’s secure. They feel just as violated as we do.”

The man accused of stealing from Sunset Memorial is due back in Johnson County, Indiana, court on March 25.

As of Sunday night, the man facing allegations of theft in this case is still on the Johnson County inmate roster.

“This is not an isolated incident. This is not just Sunset Memorial. This could be any cemetery anywhere in this area or really anywhere across the country,” Williams said.

Williams’ hope is that the person responsible is held accountable. Not only that, but she wants her tragedy to be a tale of caution for others.

“Take a picture of your niches, put those away, put them with your paperwork for your niches or your important papers. If anything ever happens down the road, you’ll have that to prove that was in there,” Williams said.

If you have any information pertaining to the thefts at Sunset Memorial, contact the Olmsted Township Police Department.

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 Grace Rodriguez

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — A community rally held Saturday at the Hudson Hill Community Center put faces and personal stories behind local efforts to stop gun violence.

Jamario Hazel, a survivor who now uses music to reach young people, described how a shooting left him in a wheelchair.

“Me and a neighborhood friend, we got into an argument, and he shot me, and that’s how I ended up in a wheelchair,” Hazel said. “A lot of my brothers that I went through that struggle with are either doing a lot of time, or dead and in the grave.”

Organizers said the Stop the Violence rally focused on connecting youth with resources and mentors willing to intervene early. One of those groups is Savannah’s Building Bridges.

“We are in the hood. We put ourselves in the hood for that reason, to make ourself available for the people who just don’t know where to run to,” Rashad Jones with Building Bridges said. “It’s not snitching. You know what I’m saying? You’re not telling on nobody. All you’re doing is relieving yourself.”

Organizers say the message for the rally is simple. It’s not just about preventing violence; it’s about saving lives.

“We have organizations. We have leaders that are standing strong in the fight to reduce those numbers,” said Jimmie Johnson, the senior director of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement for the city of Savannah.

Faith leaders and advocates agree that violence doesn’t exist in a vacuum.

“We have too many children being killed by gun violence,” Reverend Alan Maynor said. “If we can attack poverty, maybe we can get a handle on violent crimes.”

Others want people to remember that every voice and every life matters.

“A house divided against itself won’t stand. And so we have to give respect and honor to what they do, and we all have to put down our silos and just come together and recognize that guess what? We need help. We need help, and we need the Lord,” attendee Todd Rhodes said.

For Hazel, he says it’s a reality too many young people don’t think will ever touch them… until it does.

“If I can get one person to listen and that one person can go and find another one person to listen, and then it just keeps going on, and I’m happy with that,” Hazel 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 Ayron Lewallen

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — For many across the country, watching the situation in Iran unfold is a mix of fear and frustration. Some are worried that prolonging the conflict will only bring more suffering to everyday people who have no say in the decisions being made.

Attorney Michael Shabani fears the democracy Iran is fighting for would turn into turmoil and destruction if this continues. He said he already lost some loved ones during the war in Iraq, and he’s hoping the U.S. and Iran solve this conflict soon.

Shabani said the lack of communication has been the hardest part. With spotty service and long outages, he said families are left waiting — sometimes for weeks — without knowing whether their loved ones are safe.

Shabani, an immigration lawyer in central Alabama, has family who lives in Iran. He told WVTM 13 he hasn’t talked to his family in a month, except for a quick conversation with his uncle just two days ago.

While praying for his family’s safety, Shabani hopes no one else loses their life before the U.S. and Iran can come to an agreement. He feels the destruction these strikes caused is a waste, but the innocent lives lost are something he just can’t accept.

“Unfortunately, the history will show in Iraq when Saddam Hussein was there — in Libya, Syria and Afghanistan — we spent so much money and time and efforts there, and lots of our soldiers got killed,” Shabani said. “These people are suffering. They’re not having the infrastructure. They don’t have basic needs after 25 years. My biggest fear is that if this continues and something similar to that happens to Iran that Iran is going to be turned into a rubble like others, and I hate it.”

Shabani hopes the American people will use their voice and speak out against what’s happening in his home country.

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 Jones

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    SPRINGFIELD, Vermont (WPTZ) — A Springfield, Vermont, student is giving back to her local animal shelter by donating her prize money after winning a talent show.

Quinn Carafiello is no stranger to the Springfield Humane Society.

“Quinn’s actually been coming for years to hang out with the animals and has, for her birthday, occasionally gotten presents for them instead of herself,” said Springfield Humane Society Executive Director Marissa Bentley.

She recently competed in Windham County’s Got Talent, taking home first prize for her singing performance.

“This year I was like, I’m going to donate if I win. And then I did win!” said Quinn Carafiello.

Her victory came with a one-thousand-dollar prize. Quinn knew right away what she wanted to do with the money.

“Everybody needs something and I thought they needed it more than me,” she said.

Quinn decided to donate several hundred dollars’ worth of toys, treats, and cleaning supplies to the Springfield shelter. Bentley said she was touched by Quinn’s generosity.

Bentley said that because they are a nonprofit that runs off of donations, the supplies will go a long way.

“We rely solely on kind people to donate to the animals, either monetarily or in item fashion. So, it’s extremely important,” Bentley said.

And for Quinn, the goal was to give the animals a little extra boost.

“I just think that sometimes dogs can have hard lives and sometimes they just need things to help them pick them back up,” she said.

Quinn hopes her donation will bring joy to these animals.

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.