Month: April 2026

By Tanner Kahler

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    MADISON, Wisconsin (WISN) — On Wednesday, a court commissioner ordered the animal rights activist accused of leading a riot and break in at a Dane County beagle breeding and research facility to stand trial.

Wayne Hsiung appeared in court late Wednesday afternoon.

Prosecutors charged him with organizing a violent protest and break-in at Ridglan Farms last month.

They played police body camera video in court from that day of Hsiung confronting police.

A police officer also testified that the video shows Hsiung at the farm that day trying to break in with a crowbar. Video also shows him carrying one of the beagles away.

Police arrested 20 people. 22 dogs were stolen.

The news Wednesday comes as WISN 12 News has learned Ridglan Farms plans to sell a majority of its beagles. In a statement, Ridglan Farms said, “This week, following a series of negotiations, Ridglan Farms reached an agreement to sell a substantial majority of its dogs to groups that offered to purchase the animals.”

A group called Big Dog Ranch Rescue is planning a news conference about the dogs Thursday morning.

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 Peyton Headlee

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    SOLANO COUNTY, California (KCRA) — Memorials honoring fallen first responders and veterans in Solano County were vandalized this week, with bronze stars and plaques stolen from sites in Fairfield and Vallejo, sparking outrage and an investigation by authorities.

The Peace Officers Memorial in Fairfield, which honors 21 law enforcement officers who lost their lives in service to the county, was stripped of its bronze stars and plaques.

Solano County Sheriff Brad DeWall expressed his disbelief over the incident.

“Nothing like this has ever happened in my days here. Nothing like this ever,” he said. “I am outraged at the fact that someone would stoop so low to come and take a memorial star honoring that service and that sacrifice.”

One of the stolen stars was dedicated to Kirk Griess, a California Highway Patrol officer who died in 2018 after being hit by a car during a traffic stop on Interstate 80.

“My husband was a California Highway Patrol officer, rode motorcycle,” said Keri Griess, his widow. “Was just wonderful, loved what he did, was super involved in the community and would do anything for anybody at any time.”

Reflecting on the vandalism, Keri Griess said, “It’s just disheartening that someone would live in such an evil world that people can just walk in and take it all away.”

The thefts extended beyond the Peace Officers Memorial in Fairfield, with plaques stolen from nearby county buildings and the Veterans Memorial.

The first responder’s memorial outside Vallejo City Hall was also targeted.

“Anything that celebrates their fallen, it was all pried off the wall,” DeWall said.

Sheriff DeWall questioned the motives behind the thefts.

“Was it anti-law enforcement? Was it anti-government? Are we being targeted? But that is still being uncovered. Or is it greed for people that are just trying to recover the value of that material?” DeWall said.

In a statement, DeWall called the thefts “cowardly and disgraceful” and emphasized the significance of the stolen items.

“To those responsible: hear me clearly. You did not steal mere metal—you stole symbols of sacrifice, duty, courage, and patriotism. You violated places of remembrance that hold deep meaning for this county,” DeWall said.

The vandalism comes just weeks before the annual Peace Officers Memorial ceremony, where law enforcement, families, and community members gather to honor the 21 fallen officers. Authorities are working on temporary replacements for the stolen items while pursuing a long-term solution.

DeWall assured the community that every available resource is being dedicated to the investigation, with assistance from allied law enforcement partners throughout Solano County.

“We will work tirelessly to find you and ensure you are held fully accountable under the law,” DeWall said.

Anyone with information about the thefts is urged to contact Solano County Sheriff’s Office Investigations at 707-784-7050 or anonymously at 707-784-1963.

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 John Rupolo

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    ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (KOAT) — Isaiah Chavez, 26, has been charged under Bennie’s Law, which allows for misdemeanor or felony charges against individuals who enable minors to access firearms.

According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred Monday when an 8-year-old girl accidentally shot herself in the leg after finding Chavez’s handgun on a kitchen counter. Chavez had reportedly placed the firearm there before going to bed.

Chavez’s family expressed their belief that he should not face charges.

“It was a freak accident. I mean, it was just. It was like. It was just all, like a big storm of everything that happened to it. It wasn’t like, you know, it wasn’t his fault,” a family member said.

In March, Robert Encinio was also charged under Bennie’s Law after his 9-year-old son allegedly brought a loaded gun to Mitchell Elementary School. The child reportedly took the firearm from his father’s office.

KOAT legal expert John Day explained the purpose of Bennie’s Law.

“Bennie’s law is designed to put the burden on adults, on parents, to make sure that basically that their firearms are secured. What it does is it criminalizes the act of an adult or responsible parent,” Day said.

Bennie’s Law was enacted in 2023 following the death of Bennie Hargrove, who was shot by a classmate at Washington Middle School in 2021. The classmate had brought a loaded gun to school.

Since 2024, 22 people across New Mexico have been charged under Bennie’s Law, with the highest number of cases reported in Bernalillo County, followed closely by Chaves County.

Legal experts have discussed whether the law is achieving its intended purpose.

“If the idea is that at least some parents, some adults are understanding that they’ve got to make sure that their guns are safely stored and not accessible to children. So that may be the way you define the success,” Day 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 Addie Meiners

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    LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (WLKY) — An 89-year-old Louisville native in hospice care wants to get in one final Kentucky Derby before he dies.

Bob Weihe has been to 79 Derbies in a row.

But in a wheelchair, unable to walk and unable to afford it, he feared his dying wish would not come true.

But after a public appeal, it looks like he’ll get that wish.

David Begnaud with CBS News shared a video online asking for help to grant it.

Weihe’s passion for the Derby began in 1946 when he attended his first race at the age of 8 with his mother.

“I was in the infield, and she had me climb up under people so I could see the horses,” Weihe said. Watching the horses thunder past, he said he was hooked.

“Once you go, you get a bug for it. Just watching those horses. It’s awesome,” he said.

Weihe’s wife, Barbara, has been his date to 62 Derbies, starting in 1957. “I had never been to the Derby or thought about the Derby. And, so the first year, my girlfriend and his guys, they all, you know, asked us to go out there. I had no idea,” Barbara said. “But we’ve had a lot of, a lot of really good times, you know.”

Over the years, Weihe has kept his streak alive through determination, including sneaking into ticketed sections and even finding his way onto the backside during the attendee-free COVID Derby. “It’s been pretty important. And like you, you know, see all the collections around here and then he has bobbleheads in there, and it’s been just, I don’t know, just part of our lives really,” Barbara said.

As his life nears its end, Weihe said attending his 80th Derby would mean a great deal to him. “It would mean a whole lot, something special,” he said.

Churchill Downs responded to Begnaud’s video, providing tickets to make Weihe’s wish come true.

Begnaud delivered the news, ensuring Weihe will continue his remarkable streak this Saturday.

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 Bryce Oselen

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Maegan McCormick has launched the Birmingham Trinket Trade, a community project located on the side of “The Electric” in Avondale.

“I just wanted to find a way to bring joy and happiness to the community and kind of make like a community project where we could all come by and take something and leave something and just brighten some people’s day,” McCormick said.

McCormick said she started the project after researching similar initiatives and finding none nearby.

“I was researching if there was any kind of close to me and didn’t come upon any, so I figured I would go ahead and start my own,” McCormick said.

The Trinket Trade features a box filled with items such as keychains, toys, stickers, and more. People of all ages are welcome to stop by and trade items, fostering connections within the community. McCormick said the box has been active for about two weeks and has gained significant attention.

“Yeah, it’s going on week two, and yeah, it’s been extremely popular ever since I posted it on TikTok. It got a lot of views on there, and so people have been stopping by kind of all hours of the day, which has been fun,” McCormick said.

Antonio Wright, kitchen manager at The Electric, said the box has drawn visitors even late at night.

“Even at night, from nine to ten to eleven o’clock when I leave from closing, I see a line of people actually out here at the Trinket Box, so a lot of people have been real happy with it,” Wright said.

McCormick said the project has become so popular that the Trinket Box now has its own trinket box. She hopes to expand the initiative and keep it running.

“Yeah, I love to have people stop by any hour of the day. You’re welcome to stop by, and I definitely encourage it, and I love to see the community’s love for it,” McCormick said.

She also expressed her desire to create a Trinket Trade Box for the city of Hoover.

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 Kendra Broddus

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    DURHAM, New Hampshire (WMUR) — Lithium is a hot commodity used to power devices such as phones, computers and electric vehicles.

A new U.S. Geological Survey report found about 900,000 metric tons of lithium oxide in the Northern Appalachian region, concentrated in New Hampshire and Maine.

According to the USGS, the resource could help produce millions of lithium batteries. It also projects global lithium production capacity will double by 2029 due to rising demand.

“This is a new resource that is in demand. So I think it puts us in a position where we can evaluate the potential for extracting that resource for economic good,” said Matt Davis, an earth sciences professor at the University of New Hampshire.

Davis said lithium is found in a mineral called spodumene, which occurs in pegmatite rocks made up of very large crystals.

New Hampshire has a lot of pegmatite, which is extracted through spodumene mining.

“The extraction of the spodumene from the rock then that needs to be processed chemically to extract the lithium from this spodumene. The lithium comprises about 10% of the spodumene crystal,” Davis said.

He said spodumene mining is generally considered cleaner than mining metals like lead or copper because it does not produce sulfuric acid. However, he said an environmental assessment would still be needed.

“I think an environmental assessment of spodumene mining to extract lithium is warranted. It is a different process, it’s a different chemistry than what we have with some of the other metal,” Davis said.

There are no known plans to mine spodumene in New Hampshire, though Davis said there is potential.

“It would be good for policymakers to evaluate what would need to be done to mine spodumene in New Hampshire,” he said.

News 9 reached out to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services about potential requirements for mining. The agency has not yet responded.

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 Marcie Cipriani

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    PITTSBURGH (WTAE) — Residents in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh are mobilizing against a proposal to sell the FOP Lodge No. 1 building and convert it into a reentry facility for federal inmates, with plans to voice their opposition at a city Planning Commission meeting next month.

“The people that are going to be staying in this facility are going to be convicted felons, and these felons are going to be sexual predators, drug dealers and violent criminals,” said Deborah Wiley, of Banksville.

Standing in front of the building on Banksville Avenue, Wiley highlighted its proximity to homes, daycares and schools, calling it the wrong location to house 100 federal inmates transitioning back into society.

“The worry is that they will recommit some of these crimes in the neighborhood. This is a quiet neighborhood that doesn’t have a lot of crime,” Wiley said.

The organization seeking to purchase the building, Dismas Charities, has not responded to inquiries about its plans and programs.

According to its website, Dismas Charities emphasizes values such as integrity, respect, dignity, and accountability, stating that all individuals are accountable for their actions and have the capacity to change.

In February, Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 revealed incidents tied to Dismas Charities’ reentry programs, including a 2018 case in Kentucky where an inmate left a Dismas facility and killed a police officer.

Peggy Rothert, a lifelong Banksville resident and retired Pittsburgh police officer, expressed her concerns about the potential impact of the facility.

“My worry is the crime that may follow, with this kind of facility,” Rothert said.

Rothert is among hundreds of residents planning to attend the city planning commission meeting next week, where officials will consider Dismas Charities’ request to move forward with the proposal.

“I know for a fact that the neighborhood’s going to show up for it because we’ve worked on a petition and we’ve gathered 300 to 400 signatures,” Rothert said.

The planning commission meeting is set for May 5 at 2 p.m. It will be open to the public, both in person and virtually. Residents can also submit their opinions in writing ahead of time. Click here for full information on the meeting and public comment procedures.

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 Matt Flener

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    KANSAS CITY (KMBC) — A simple question potentially saved a south Kansas City woman thousands of dollars.

The question: “What’s my wedding anniversary?”

Terri Cox asked that to a scammer posing as her grandson on Monday. She said her grandkids never miss an anniversary for her and her husband, so she used the question when she got suspicious of the scammer.

The scammer, posing as her grandson, started saying he was in an accident and had an attorney. Cox immediately grew wary when he called her “grandma,” as her grandkids call her by another name. He also talked with a small accent.

Cox did exactly what experts say is necessary to prevent scams — establish a question, a password or a code word only your family will know.

Janet Baker, executive director of the KC Shepherd’s Center, used family codewords growing up.

“Not because of internet scams, because there was no internet or any of that kind of thing,” she said. “But just in case somebody was in the house or it was an emergency.”

Baker and everyone at the KC Shepherd’s Center work with more than 3,000 seniors they serve to keep people safe from scammers.

“I highly recommend that all families have a safety word or a safety question that everybody would know,” she said.

Marsha Smith, who works the front desk at the KC Shepherd’s Center, said she has a friend who recently got scammed by someone posing as a company she trusted.

“I don’t know if she ever got the money back, but it happened that fast,” she said.

She said it’s also a good idea to screen calls, and making sure you put your friends and family on a “safe callers” list inside your phone.

Cox, meanwhile, wanted to warn others about her experience.

“To tell other people what they could do or to look out for,” she 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.