Month: March 2026

By Jill Lamkins

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    OMAHA, Nebraska (KMTV) — Omaha metro neighbors are turning their love for baking into home-based businesses. Nebraska’s cottage food industry brought in over $1 million in 2023.

A law change in 2019 expanded Nebraska’s cottage food laws to allow direct home sales, porch pick-ups, and online orders within state lines. We spoke to two cottage bakers in the Omaha metro who share their passion for baking and how their business has been helpful to support their families. These bakers say the experience has allowed them to make new friendships and do something worthwhile for their community.

From sourdough to sweets, more neighbors in the Omaha metro are turning their love for baking into businesses they run right from home.

These bakers are known as cottage food producers. With more than 3,900 registered in Nebraska, the trend is growing. The University of Nebraska Lincoln’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources found that the cottage bakery industry brought in over $1 million in revenue in 2023.

A law change in 2019 expanded Nebraska’s cottage food laws to allow direct home sales, porch pick-ups, and online orders within state lines. This allowed more people who baked as a hobby to turn it into a business.

Whitney Draheim is a stay-at-home mom who started her own cottage bakery, Crave the Crumb, last month.

“My passion has always been in food and the joy that I can bring to others with my baking and cooking ability. And so it just naturally made sense,” Draheim said.

For Draheim, the bakery is about more than fulfilling a passion; it provides supplemental income.

“We have 4 kids under 8, so we are busy, and there will be college funds and vehicles and things that need to be funded,” Draheim said.

Jackie Coffey started her cottage bakery, Jackie’s Cinnfully Delicious Desserts, in 2024. She also found the supplemental income to be a plus for her family.

“It keeps us afloat. We’re able to take vacations and it’s helping us make memories with our child,” Coffey said.

Coffey takes her homemade goods to local farmers markets.

“It’s on wheels, so I can load it up and take it to markets,” Coffey said.

Coffey said it is easier than ever to reach new customers.

“So social media has been like the main source because without that, I’m not able to do anything,” Coffey said.

These bakers say the experience has allowed them to make new friendships and do something worthwhile for their community.

“It really goes to show how much you don’t really know your neighbors until you bring them a loaf of bread and say, hey, look what I made you,” Draheim said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Scripps editorial team 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.

By Jill Lamkins

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    BENNINGTON, Nebraska (KMTV) — Westview High School students in Bennington used a virtual reality program created by the Army National Guard to learn how to respond to natural disasters.

In a virtual reality program called “Disasterville,” the Army National Guard puts high school students in realistic flood, fire and earthquake scenarios.

“They’re working as a team. They have to communicate. They have to problem solve, you know, they might have to be resilient because they’re struggling to solve the problem within the scenario,” said Jr. Army ROTC Instructor Shawn Griffith. Video shows students working with the VR equipment and what it looks like inside the simulation.

In Nebraska, we’re no stranger to natural disasters. While crews continue to battle the devastating wildfires out west, students at Westview High School in Bennington are getting hands-on experience learning how to respond in disaster situations.

In a virtual reality program called “Disasterville,” the Army National Guard puts high school students in realistic flood, fire and earthquake scenarios. The Army National Guard says it is an opportunity for students to understand what it takes to prepare and protect their communities.

“That can happen any time anywhere and knowing how to help people can benefit not only me but the person you’re helping,” Westview High School sophomore Dora Abekoue said.

“Especially being here in Nebraska with all our volatile weather from severe storms to blizzards. I think stuff like this would be a helpful experience to like get to know different weather patterns and stuff like that,” Westview High School sophomore Alexis Paterson said.

For example, in the flood simulation, Disasterville Tour Manager Autumn Goffigan says participants must navigate the water.

“You’re paddling through the floodwaters and you’re finding survivors and you’re marking them with flashlights in order for the helicopter to be able to find those people and rescue them,” Goffigan said.

While it is a fun experience for students, Jr. Army ROTC Instructor Shawn Griffith says it is also about learning life skills.

“They’re working as a team. They have to communicate. They have to problem solve, you know, they might have to be resilient because they’re struggling to solve the problem within the scenario,” Griffith said.

Throughout the day Tuesday, over 300 students had the opportunity to go through the experience.

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 Anthony Sabella

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    NORFOLK, Virginia (WTKR) — On their second day back on campus, Old Dominion University students – including ROTC cadets – created a new tribute to Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who was fatally shot in Constant Hall on March 12.

The shooting, which is being investigated as a terror attack, led to the school shutting down for Spring Break two weeks early.

When students returned on Monday, the ODU chapter of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) began painting a boulder near the Engineering Systems Building with Lt. Col. Shah’s name and one of the phrases he was known to tell his ROTC classes; “Be bold. Be quick. Be gone.”

On Tuesday, they put on the finishing touch, handprints from students and staff, including Shah’s ROTC cadets.

“Just the support that is coming out today and in general this week is so powerful,” said Andrea Thomas, a junior at ODU and Vice President of the NCNW ODU chapter. ”[Shah] was so involved on campus and, everything that everyone was saying, he was a great person.”

And Shah’s cadets vouched for him on Tuesday. Reporters were asked not to identify the students, but one shared that he chose red paint for his handprint because it was Shah’s favorite color.

“I’ve met a lot of lieutenant colonels and he’s definitely like the easiest one to talk to. Somebody with good leadership skills, somebody to look up to and hopefully, when I commission one day, I’ll be just as good a leader,” said the cadet.

This opportunity to honor Lt. Col. Shah came just days after his celebration of life at Chartway Arena and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll awarded members of Shah’s ROTC class.

They were given eight meritorious service medals and two Purple Hearts for their efforts in subduing and killing 36-year-old Mohamed Jalloh after he opened fire in their classroom.

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 Ja Nai Wright

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    BALTIMORE (WMAR) — In October, the Digi Business Center on Greenmount Avenue was broken into several times.

The suspect or suspects made off with money and supplies housed inside.

Police arrested one suspect, but instead of spending time behind bars, the owner, Tia Hamilton, had other plans for him.

Hamilton said that after police arrested the suspect who broke into her store, she did not want to see the young man go to jail.

“I’m an adult who has not forgotten what we were like when we were that age, right, and I also understand that when children are doing things wrong, they are asking for help in other ways,” Hamilton said.

When the suspect had his day in court, Hamilton came up with a plan to keep him out of a cell. She pleaded with the judge to release the suspect into her care to complete the 360 hours of community service he was sentenced to.

“The courtroom broke down people in the courtroom, the judge, the bailiff, everybody was like, wow, you’re the victim, it doesn’t matter, but that baby hugged me so tight, and I said this is what you needed,” Hamilton said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Juan Issac De La Cruz said they do not see this type of decision often, but it is one that will change the boy’s life.

“A juncture in his life where he could either go down one of several paths, to have Miss Tia be so ready and capable to take him under her wing is an amazing opportunity not only for him to not only make right with the damage that he has done to that particular business, but to the surrounding community,” De La Cruz said.

Hamilton said when she learned more about the suspect’s life, she could not turn away from someone who she says is simply in need of guidance.

“We gotta stop judging and find out why and provide the solutions,” Hamilton said.

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said this type of reform is what his office supports. He said it is not about locking people up; it is about accountability.

“We as an office come across those rare opportunities, our job isn’t about a record, our job is about how we can help make the community better. Giving this young man a record wasn’t going to do that. What makes the community better is allowing him to be with a person to give him the love, to give him the support, to give him the guidance that he needs so that he can be a better member of society,” Bates said.

Hamilton said she is holding more than the youth accountable, but adults as well.

“If you have a community and your worries about teenage rapid uptick in crime, organize your community,” Hamilton said.

The State’s Attorney’s Office said that if the suspect completes the community service hours within eight months, he can have this incident expunged from his record.

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.

KOVR

By Ashley Sharp

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    WOODLAND, California (KOVR) — Following a vicious attack by a large, loose dog on a small dog at a Woodland park, both the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and Yolo County Animal Control are investigating the incident, as potential criminal charges are pending for the owner of the dog responsible.

It happened on Saturday, March 14, at Campbell Park in Woodland.

Neighbor Tom Bowler tells CBS Sacramento he was just wrapping up a walk at the park with his 14-year-old rescue dog, Petey, when a loose dog he describes as a pit bull came running from the garage of a neighboring home.

“I did everything I could to save him. I still feel some guilt,” Bowler said.

Petey was rushed to the vet, where he eventually died from severe injuries to his neck and torso.

“He took Petey into his mouth and he held on to him for about two minutes, mauling him. I did everything I physically could do to try and release the grip of the Pitbull while yelling for help,” Bowler said.

Bowler says mid-attack, the dog’s owner eventually ran out from the open garage to help.

That neighbor, he says, was the first to report the attack to animal control.

“I asked the animal control officer where the dog was. He told me the dog would remain with the owner, because the owner told him that this had never occurred before. Well, if I were the owner, I’d say the same thing,” Bowler said. “I’m being told by the animal control officer that the maximum penalty for this is $500 and I’m faced with $10,000 plus in vet bills, which I could care less about. I’d give every every dime I’ve got to get my dog back. But something needs to be changed in the laws regarding this kind of stuff, because, clearly, a $500 fine, it does nothing. It’s meaningless.”

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig told CBS News Sacramento on Tuesday that they have identified the dog’s owner and they could potentially face criminal charges, pending the completion of the investigation.

The dog responsible has not been taken by animal control at this time.

Across Campbell Park, Bowler hung flyers in Petey’s memory. He hopes other dog owners will be aware.

“It is kind of scary to hear that, because a lot of people here are dog lovers, you know, and so we want to protect our animals,” said Leslie Contreres, a neighbor walking her two small dogs at the park Tuesday evening.

She worries it could happen again and said she has had to run from another loose dog in the park in the past.

“It’s just being aware of what your abilities of your dog are, and if they can get out, you know. Accidents happen, but that’s a pretty serious accident,” Contreres said.

Last Tuesday, March 17, Bowler went to the Woodland City Council meeting and spoke in public comment to explain what happened and advocate for change.

“What I hope can come from this is some more proactive enforcement, maybe some new laws locally,” Bowler said at the podium.

“We’ll see what we can do, perhaps more patrols in that area if there is a continuing problem,” Mayor Tom Stallard responded, saying he, too, had lost a pet cat to a loose dog in the past.

It’s a petition for tougher consequences from a dog owner who says he never expected to lose the dog he adopted from the Yolo County SPCA at just 18 months old in this horrific way. He called Petey his best friend.

“The only reason I’m not crying now is I’m pretty much cried out, but to witness the carnage, the sounds, the sights, that’s something that’s in my head, and it is getting out of my head anytime soon, if ever,” Bowler said.

Almost exactly one month ago, CBS News Sacramento reported on another small dog being attacked and killed by a large dog in Natomas.

The Yolo County District Attorney’s office posted on social media Tuesday, reminding people of local leash laws across the county, sending a message that incidents like these will not be tolerated.

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 Ashley Sharp

Click here for updates on this story

    WOODLAND, California (KOVR) — Following a vicious attack by a large, loose dog on a small dog at a Woodland park, both the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and Yolo County Animal Control are investigating the incident, as potential criminal charges are pending for the owner of the dog responsible.

It happened on Saturday, March 14, at Campbell Park in Woodland.

Neighbor Tom Bowler tells CBS Sacramento he was just wrapping up a walk at the park with his 14-year-old rescue dog, Petey, when a loose dog he describes as a pit bull came running from the garage of a neighboring home.

“I did everything I could to save him. I still feel some guilt,” Bowler said.

Petey was rushed to the vet, where he eventually died from severe injuries to his neck and torso.

“He took Petey into his mouth and he held on to him for about two minutes, mauling him. I did everything I physically could do to try and release the grip of the Pitbull while yelling for help,” Bowler said.

Bowler says mid-attack, the dog’s owner eventually ran out from the open garage to help.

That neighbor, he says, was the first to report the attack to animal control.

“I asked the animal control officer where the dog was. He told me the dog would remain with the owner, because the owner told him that this had never occurred before. Well, if I were the owner, I’d say the same thing,” Bowler said. “I’m being told by the animal control officer that the maximum penalty for this is $500 and I’m faced with $10,000 plus in vet bills, which I could care less about. I’d give every every dime I’ve got to get my dog back. But something needs to be changed in the laws regarding this kind of stuff, because, clearly, a $500 fine, it does nothing. It’s meaningless.”

Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig told CBS News Sacramento on Tuesday that they have identified the dog’s owner and they could potentially face criminal charges, pending the completion of the investigation.

The dog responsible has not been taken by animal control at this time.

Across Campbell Park, Bowler hung flyers in Petey’s memory. He hopes other dog owners will be aware.

“It is kind of scary to hear that, because a lot of people here are dog lovers, you know, and so we want to protect our animals,” said Leslie Contreres, a neighbor walking her two small dogs at the park Tuesday evening.

She worries it could happen again and said she has had to run from another loose dog in the park in the past.

“It’s just being aware of what your abilities of your dog are, and if they can get out, you know. Accidents happen, but that’s a pretty serious accident,” Contreres said.

Last Tuesday, March 17, Bowler went to the Woodland City Council meeting and spoke in public comment to explain what happened and advocate for change.

“What I hope can come from this is some more proactive enforcement, maybe some new laws locally,” Bowler said at the podium.

“We’ll see what we can do, perhaps more patrols in that area if there is a continuing problem,” Mayor Tom Stallard responded, saying he, too, had lost a pet cat to a loose dog in the past.

It’s a petition for tougher consequences from a dog owner who says he never expected to lose the dog he adopted from the Yolo County SPCA at just 18 months old in this horrific way. He called Petey his best friend.

“The only reason I’m not crying now is I’m pretty much cried out, but to witness the carnage, the sounds, the sights, that’s something that’s in my head, and it is getting out of my head anytime soon, if ever,” Bowler said.

Almost exactly one month ago, CBS News Sacramento reported on another small dog being attacked and killed by a large dog in Natomas.

The Yolo County District Attorney’s office posted on social media Tuesday, reminding people of local leash laws across the county, sending a message that incidents like these will not be tolerated.

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 Adam Rife

Click here for updates on this story

    RACINE COUNTY, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Harry Wait has been found guilty on three of the four counts in his election fraud case. The jury found Wait guilty of two misdemeanor counts of election fraud against both Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason. He was also found guilty of one felony count of identity theft against Mason. Wait was not found guilty of a felony count of identity theft against Robin Vos.

The jury deliberated for more than three hours Tuesday evening.

Wait had admitted to requesting absentee ballots using the identities of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason, claiming he did it to expose vulnerabilities in the system. But the state charged him with four counts, two of them felonies.

Wait took the stand Tuesday afternoon in his own defense. He always admitted he requested the ballots, but his defense is that he never intended to break the law.

Wait repeatedly testified he never thought he’d receive Vos and Mason’s ballots, never intended to vote with them and did not personally benefit from his actions.

But the state conducted a lengthy cross-examination that was contentious throughout.

They drilled down the fact Wait knew it was wrong to request the ballots and that people who break the law should be punished.

Judge: “You swore or affirmed things that were not true, right?” Wait: “Yes.” Judge: “And you have said, ‘I’m guilty, I stand ready to be charged?'” Wait: “Correct.” Judge: “You agree with me that people who harvest ballots should be held accountable?” Wait: “Absolutely.” Judge: “What does holding them accountable mean to you?” Wait: “Accountable means that you go to jail.”

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Wait tells us his attorney plans to file an appeal.

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.