Month: April 2026

By NBC 26 Staff

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    TWO RIVERS, Wisconsin (WGBA) — A Lakeshore pet boutique is helping shelter dogs put their best paw forward before finding new homes.

Lucky Paws Pet Boutique in Two Rivers has been partnering with the Lakeshore Humane Society for about 15 years, offering free grooming to newly arrived shelter dogs.

Owner Stephanie Mueller says giving the animals early care and attention helps them shine for potential adopters.

Mueller estimates she has helped prepare more than 250 animals for adoption, including nine last month alone.

“Adoption is super important,” Mueller said. “You get to go there and meet the dog.”

The grooming sessions often lead directly to adoptions. Lucky Paws customer Tracy Becker experienced this firsthand.

“I took a video of Shadow while he was being groomed and showed my mom and she instantaneously fell in love,” Becker said.

Mueller says the connection people build with pets is priceless. “Their love is unconditional… it’s magical,” she said.

Mueller encourages people looking for furry friends to consider adoption. Those looking for a new pet can visit the Lakeshore Humane Society, and anyone looking for a restraint-free groomer can call or visit the Lucky Paws Facebook page.

Lucky Paws also provides free grooming and discounted dog food for the Two Rivers Police Department and Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WGBA 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 Kyle Langellier

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    APPLETON, Wisconsin (WGBA) — A training exercise at Fox Valley Technical College took a sudden and serious turn late March when an EMT instructor went into cardiac arrest in front of his students. The students’ quick response is credited with saving his life.

EMS instructor Karl Arps was simulating the symptoms of a heart attack for a classroom demonstration inside a training ambulance when he suffered an actual medical emergency.

“And Karl has done scenarios where he plays the part really good, like he deserves an Oscar,” Logan Lehrer said.

Students initially thought Arps was acting, but they soon realized something was wrong.

“You could see discoloration on his face, and we were like, okay, this is real now,” Lehrer said.

Another EMS instructor in the room, Traci Blondeau, jumped into action.

Students said Blondeau took control, and each student had a part to play. They called 911, removed Arps from the training ambulance, and took turns performing CPR.

“You wonder if they’re getting it. I don’t have to ask that,” Blondeau said.

According to the Red Cross, there is about a 10% chance of surviving a heart attack outside of a hospital. Arps survived what he called a “widow maker” and made it out of the hospital in a week.

“I had a heart attack, a widow maker, I was dead, I made it out of that hospital in a week,” Arps said.

Arps recently returned to the classroom where the medical emergency occurred and received a hero’s welcome.

“What can I say to six students who saved my life? It’s something I will, God, never forget,” Arps said.

“I am one in a million, I feel like one in a trillion,” Arps said.

Arps is recovering well and working to return to the classroom as soon as possible. He noted that the students successfully demonstrated the skills they train for at Fox Valley Tech.

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 Darren Cunningham

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    BEVERLY HILLS, Michigan (WXYZ) — How do images of assault rifles and political slurs end up at an elementary school function? That’s the question in Beverly Hills after a celebration of heritage turned into a conversation about discrimination and student safety.

The marquee out front on Wednesday still read “Cultural Night.” It took place on Tuesday evening. The celebration was intended to highlight the diverse backgrounds of the families at Beverly Elementary School. However, the message of inclusion is being overshadowed by a discovery that has left some parents feeling anything but welcome.

“I’m a little shocked because it’s an elementary school,” parent Bridget Forrest told 7 News Detroit. “They’re children. They’re innocent. They don’t know about any of that stuff.”

On a table inside the event were stickers that didn’t fit the theme. Some used profanity to target Zionism and read “Free Palestine.” Others featured a sketch of a high-powered assault rifle.

“Why are we celebrating an assault weapon at a multicultural event?” Steven Ingber asked.

Ingber is the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit. Ingber calls the placement of the stickers an act of “intimidation.”

“I’m not surprised. I’m just disgusted by it, and to find this happening at an elementary school, I think, is just abhorrent,” he told 7 News Detroit.

“We’ve got to stop sweeping this under the rug and saying, nothing to see here, it’s just a sticker, it’s just a slogan, it’s only at a multicultural… This is where I think we have a problem as we’re continuing to say ‘it’s just a’ or ‘it’s OK’. None of this is OK.”

Beverly Elementary Principal Matt Fairchild released a statement to families apologizing for the “inappropriate” materials. He said he personally conducted a walkthrough before the doors opened and that those stickers were not on display at that time, suggesting they were added after the event was already underway.

The Birmingham school district declined to go on camera. However, it sent 7 News Detroit the same letter parents received. That letter goes on to say the school is reviewing its “internal processes to ensure future events have tighter safeguards.”

The full letter sent to parents from Principal Matt Fairchild is below:

Good evening Beverly Families,

At Beverly Elementary, we care deeply about every student and the many cultures that make up our community. Our multicultural celebration this evening was meant to be a joyful opportunity for students and families to share, learn, and feel a sense of belonging.

We understand that some aspects of the event did not reflect those intentions. In one room, there was a table of stickers, some of which were inappropriate, including a sticker with an image of a gun, and a sticker saying “(expletive) Zionism”. To be clear, at Beverly, we will not tolerate intimidation, bullying, discrimination, or anti-Semitism.

Ahead of the event, we shared clear guidelines with participating families to help ensure that all materials and displays were appropriate for a school setting and aligned with our values. I also conducted a walkthrough before families arrived, and these stickers were not on display at that time. The items shared in this instance did not meet our expectations for civility and respect.

I am truly sorry for the impact this has had on our students and families. This does not reflect who we are at Beverly or the environment we strive to create each day.

We are reviewing our processes and planning so we can strengthen safeguards for future events. We also remain committed to creating opportunities for our community to come together, learn from one another, and celebrate in ways that ensure every family feels safe, valued, and respected.

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Thank you for your partnership and for being part of our Beverly community.

Sincerely, Matt Fairchild

“Obviously, they didn’t want this to happen. They’re not happy that they’re dealing with this today. I certainly don’t fault the school district or the school system or the principal or the building staff — that’s not where this is going. But we need to find out how it got there, why it got there, so it doesn’t happen again,” Ingber said.

The Beverly Hills Public Safety director said a school resource officer was at the school for a good portion of the day. He added that no one has come in to the police department to make a complaint, and the school is handling it internally.

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 Faraz Javed , Brian Schwartz

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — A simple solution at Gabriel Richard Park along the Detroit riverfront is making waves in the fight to protect the Great Lakes: rain barrels.

Joshua Rubin, founder of MI Rain Barrel, and his team transform Greek olive barrels into 58-gallon rainwater collectors. The goal is to prevent excess storm water from running into the Great Lakes.

“The mission is to help prevent excess storm water from running into the Great Lakes because, during heavy rainfall, our sewer systems are overflowing, and some of that water is contaminated. And so holding back a rain barrel on every household would do a lot of good,” Rubin said.

Rubin has installed over 2,000 rain barrels in Macomb County alone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, contaminated storm water runoff impairs water quality in approximately 30,000 miles of rivers nationwide.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy along with MI Rain Barrel & Sierra Club Michigan Chapter hosts hands-on workshops to showcase the benefits of rain barrels, which extend beyond saving money on water bills.

“We really wanted to connect Detroiters to the riverfront while also promoting that environmental stewardship piece,” Kamryn Gardner said.

“It can reduce your flooding in your backyards and also be a great resource for things like if you have a community garden and want to reduce your water intake,” Gardner said.

Setting up a rain barrel involves finding a gutter in a backyard. Each barrel comes with a 2-by-3 flex elbow. Users cut their gutter and point it at the top of the barrel. Layering rocks in the lid creates a second filter, and a screen keeps debris out.

Besides the environmental benefits and financial savings, rainwater is better for plants.

“You can see your garden’s going to be growing greener, lusher because the water’s soft water. The water from your hose has minerals in it. It’s harsher, it’s heavier,” Rubin said.

Harvesting rainwater is an ancient practice dating back to the Romans, and Rubin noted that many grandmothers used to have them in their backyards.

Gardner helped set her mother up with a community rain barrel for her garden, calling it the best gift ever.

“It’s just been a great experience to see that sustainable lifestyle kind of become a part of her everyday nature,” Gardner said.

Rain barrels are available through MI Rain Barrel’s website.

Oakland County residents can receive $200 rebates through the Rain Smart program. Rain barrel workshops take place throughout the year.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. WXYZ 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 Darren Cunningham

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — A jury has found Michael Lopez guilty in the murder of Melvindale Police Corporal Mohamed Said in 2024.

Jury deliberations began late Tuesday morning in the trial, and the jury returned the verdict on Tuesday afternoon, finding Lopez guilty on all charges.

The judge has set Lopez’s sentencing for May 22 at 9 a.m.

Lopez testified in his own defense on Monday, but was pulled from the stand after not agreeing to the judge’s rules. He returned to the stand on Tuesday morning. Watch his latest testimony in the video below.

The prosecutor and defense attorney both gave their closing arguments before the judge read the jury instructions.

Original report from Monday below

Similar to Thursday and Friday, Monday’s hearing ended in dramatic fashion.

After barring him from the courtroom for his outbursts late last week, the judge reminded Michael Lopez he has the right to testify.

Monday, she asked him repeatedly if he understood there is certain information that he cannot bring up because it’s inadmissible in court. He hesitantly agreed, but eventually, he had another outburst while on the stand.

His defense attorney asked him, “What substances had you used that evening (before the shooting)?”

Lopez replied, “Uh, crack cocaine, meth, fentanyl, drinking, weed.”

He recalled the moment he ran from Said, after he said the officer reprimanded him for littering.

“I had my weapon in my hand, and he was on top of me and as soon as I had my… as soon as I had the opportunity, I protected myself from dying. Um, I thought he was going to kill me back there in that yard,” Lopez said.

His attorney asked, “What did you do?”

Lopez said, “Um, I shot Mr.

His attorney interjected, “I understand that you shot him.”

During cross-examination, the prosecution referred to two unrelated encounters Lopez had with law enforcement in years past, including a carjacking arrest.

In that case, he disarmed an officer, and in the other, he ran from the officer.

The prosecutor said, “So, fair to say, on three occasions in your lifetime, any time you feel like you’re gonna get caught by the police, you run away. Correct?”

Lopez replied, “Yeah.”

When asked about the gun he used to kill Officer Said, Lopez defied the judge’s order and started discussing information he was told is not admissible in court.

The prosecutor said, “You knew that the officer was going to be investigating you for the gun, right?”

Lopez replied, “I knew that he was the one who my family filed a grievance on.”

The prosecutor injected, “See, I knew you couldn’t comply with the judge’s commands.”

Lopez said, “I knew that this man was targeting me.

The prosecutor said, “No.”

Lopez said, “I’m just telling the truth. You wanna hear the truth.”

The judge called a recess.

A bailiff said, “All rise for the jury.”

Lopez said, “I didn’t think they wanted me to tell ya’ll that.”

The judge repeatedly tells Lopez to stop talking.

As he left the courtroom, he turned to his attorney and said, “Thanks for nothing, John. You hear me?”

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 Malcolm Shields

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    TALLAHASSEE, Florida (WPBF) — A congressional district map proposed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has moved forward in the Florida legislature.

On Wednesday morning, SB 8-D passed the Florida House of Representatives.

The House passed the bill mostly on political party lines with 83 votes in favor and 28 against.

Democratic Reps. Jervonte Edmonds (Palm Beach County), Emily Gregory (Palm Beach County), Rob Long (Palm Beach County), Kelly Skidmore (Palm Beach County) and Debra Tendrich (Palm Beach County) cast no votes on the bill.

Republican Reps. Anne Gerwig (Palm Beach County), Peggy Gossett-Seidman (Palm Beach County), John Snyder (Martin and Palm Beach counties), Meg Weinberger (Palm Beach County), Tobin “Toby” Overdorf (Martin and St. Lucie counties), Dana Trabulsy (St. Lucie County), Robert “Robbie” Brackett (Indian River and Brevard counties) and Kaylee Tuck (Okeechobee, Glades, Hardee and Highlands counties) voted in favor of the bill.

Just after 3 p.m., the Florida Senate voted in favor of the proposed congressional district map by a 21 to 17 margin.

Democratic Sens. Lori Berman (Palm Beach County), Mack Bernard (Palm Beach County), and Tina Scott Polsky (Broward and Palm Beach counties) voted no on the bill.

Republican Erin Grall who represents Okeechobee, Indian River, Glades, Highlands counties and part of St. Lucie County voted no.

Republican Sen. Gayle Harrell (Martin County, parts of Palm Beach, St. Lucie counties), voted yes on the bill.

Gov. DeSantis will likely sign it into law.

Republicans hold supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate, and DeSantis is a Republican.

The bill was filed during a special session to address redistricting. Republicans say that redistricting was needed to account for the population increase the state had after the 2020 U.S. Census was released.

Normally, redistricting occurs every 10 years after the U.S. Census releases data on each state’s population.

Democrats say redistricting efforts are politically motivated. If the bill becomes law, Republicans will have the advantage in 24 of the state’s 28 congressional districts, as Democrats would lose advantage in four congressional districts that currently favor them.

Currently, Florida Democrats have eight U.S. House of Representatives members to the GOP’s 20.

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 Olivia Hickey

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    ENID, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A dog named Pup was rescued after being trapped under rubble for 44 hours following an EF-4 tornado in Enid, Oklahoma, and has been reunited with her owner, Kay Dragoun.

“Pup is Pup, it’s a happy name, Pup, short and sweet just like she is,” Dragoun said.

Dragoun shared how Pup came into her life 13 years ago.

“She chose me being under an apple tree on Labor Day,” Dragoun said. “I thought she was somebody in the neighborhood, and I hunted and I hunted, and she chose me. I like things that choose me. I feel special.”

When Dragoun received a warning about the tornado approaching her neighborhood, she ensured both she and Pup were in safe spaces.

“I heard the warning, so I closed the door. She was lying in her bed,” Dragoun said.

Dragoun took shelter in her closet as the tornado hit.

“What I felt was like someone shaking out a throw rug,” Dragoun said.

After the storm passed, neighbors and loved ones rushed to help Dragoun, but her thoughts were with Pup.

“I immediately said my prayers for Pup,” Dragoun said.

During the cleanup, Dragoun experienced a moment of fear when Pup’s collar was found.

“Somewhere her collar was found, and that terrified me in that the wind might’ve picked her up. I might’ve never seen her again,” Dragoun said.

Pup was discovered 44 hours later, shaken but safe.

“So many hands, so many got us to where we are,” Dragoun said, expressing gratitude for those who helped rescue Pup and supported their recovery.

After a trip to the salon for a cleanup, Pup is ready for her next adventure as Dragoun waits to rebuild and return to their neighborhood.

“She loves the deer and all of the animals. She loves the bunnies, and she hates opossums,” Dragoun said.

Dragoun hopes their story inspires kindness and encourages people to donate to their local animal shelters.

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 Tim Nazzaro, Jennifer Peñate

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    PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island (WCVB) — The Boston Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts released new details on Wednesday about their investigation into Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the man who carried out a mass shooting at Brown University and murdered a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor in Dec. 2025.

Investigators determined Neves Valente acted alone and had no nexus to terrorism.

While his exact motives will never truly be known, federal authorities said he carried out these killings because they were “symbolic” representations of Neves Valente’s own personal failures and shortcomings in life.

Investigators said they came to this conclusion after collecting more than 112 pieces of evidence, running down 490 leads, conducting 260 interviews, looking through more than 11,000 surveillance video files, and analyzing 815 videos and 1,327 audio files found on the shooter’s electronic devices.

Neves Valente’s motives Federal investigators said they took diligent steps to determine why Neves Valente committed these crimes.

“Based on analysis of the information and evidence gathered throughout the investigation, the FBI assesses Neves Valente’s victims were symbolic in nature,” the FBI wrote in a joint press release with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “Brown University as a whole and Dr. Loureiro represented to the shooter his personal failures and injustices he perceived were inflicted by others over time. By attacking them, Neves Valente was likely able to overcome his shame and envy by using violence to punish those communities that he perceived contributed to his downfall.”

Investigators said Neves Valente struggled with how he viewed his life achievements and felt he was marginalized by others.

The FBI believed the shooter experienced a failure to thrive, long-standing suicidality, and his current situation was incongruent to where he felt he should be at this stage in his life.

Neves Valente’s inflated sense of self also contributed to interpersonal conflicts in his life that led him to believe he was being treated unfairly, which prevented him from reaching his perceived potential, according to authorities.

The FBI said the shooter became increasingly paranoid over these perceived injustices, leading him to be mentally unwell and committed to dying.

The mental stressors alone, however, cannot fully explain the attacks, according to investigators.

“It is important to note that only Neves Valente knew the real reason why he committed these heinous acts,” the FBI’s press release read. “However, at this time, the FBI is confident, based on the evidence collected, the shooter’s own writings and recordings, and interviews with those who knew him best, that the above assessment is accurate.”

Federal authorities said they continue to believe there aren’t any ongoing public safety threats associated with these shootings.

The shooter’s background Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48, was born in Torres Novas, Santarem, Portugal.

He came to the United States in August 2000 on a student visa at Brown University after completing a physics program at Instituto Superior Tecnico in Portugal. Nuclear physicist and MIT professor Nuno Loureiro also attended the same school.

Neves Valente enrolled in a doctoral program at Brown in the fall but withdrew in May 2001, according to investigators. He then left the United States.

Authorities did not say where he went afterward, but said he returned to the U.S. in 2017 and obtained lawful permanent residency while living in Miami, Florida.

He worked as a rideshare driver.

At the time of the deadly shooting, Neves Valente was unemployed and had no criminal record or prior documented contacts with law enforcement, according to federal investigators.

The timeline The two 9mm pistols recovered from Neves Valente’s body in 2025 were both legally purchased by him from a pawn shop in Florida, according to FBI.

The first gun, a Glock 34 9mm, was purchased on July 19, 2020 and was used in the Brown University shooting, according to federal authorities.

Officials said the second gun, a Glock 26 9mm, was purchased on March 22, 2022. That gun positively correlated to the murder of Dr. Nuno Loureiro.

Authorities said Neves Valente had been planning the Brown University shooting since at least 2022, the same time he acquired the storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, where he would later be found dead.

The FBI said he used the storage unit so he had a place to transport his guns.

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 WSYM Staff

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    EAST LANSING, Michigan (WSYM) — A 31-year-old man is in jail tonight after police say he operated a meth lab inside a Michigan State University building.

Police arrested Xin Tong after officers found him inside Wells Hall on Sunday. Prosecutors charged Tong with operating a meth lab and malicious destruction of a building.

Investigators say Tong had several chemicals with him, including acid and butane, which can be legally bought in stores or online. Police say the chemicals caused more than $20,000 in property damage to the building.

Tong was arraigned late Wednesday afternoon and is currently being held at the Ingham County Jail. His bond is set at $500,000.

Wells Hall has been closed since Monday and will remain closed through at least Friday. Officials are checking the building to ensure it is safe for people to return.

Police say they will continue to update the community as the investigation moves forward.

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