Month: May 2026

By Jeffrey Lindblom

Click here for updates on this story

    LAPEER, Michigan (WXYZ) — Inside a Michigan prison, an unlikely partnership is changing lives on both sides of the bars.

Blue Star Service Dogs pairs prison inmates with rescue dogs — animals pulled from the streets or the pound — and trains them to become service animals for veterans and first responders. The program has shaped more than 200 dogs for first responders and touched the lives of 350 inmates across 4 Michigan prisons.

Every Thursday at Thumb Correctional Facility — the program’s longest-running location — selected inmates teach dogs to sit, walk, pick up a leash if it’s dropped, and assist during medical emergencies, all while ignoring distractions. Handlers keep their dogs by their side 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for between 4 and 6 months.

Trish Barnes, Executive Director of Blue Star, said the mission is personal. A former animal control officer who says she witnessed animals living in disturbing, difficult, and debilitating conditions, Barnes has seen firsthand how the bond between humans and dogs can be transformative.

“God put me in the right place at the right time. It’s amazing,” Barnes said. “And there were times when I thought suicide was the answer. This dog gives you a purpose. I can’t imagine a life without service animals.”

Mathew Sica, Blue Star’s Director of Training, has been with the organization for 15 years. After facing tragedy in his family, his driving motivation has remained the same since he joined in 2011.

“Suicide prevention,” Sica said. “We’re really good at making good dogs great. You can change someone’s life.”

Inmate Kevin Campbell has been a handler for 5 years and is serving a life sentence.

“I’ve been incarcerated for 37 years,” Campbell said. “We broke rules. We broke laws.”

Screenshot 2026-05-22 at 6.33.40 PM.jpg WXYZ-TV Campbell’s current dog, a puppy named Titan, is preparing to transition to his new owner, Army veteran Estin Cantrell.

“To know that we can turn these dogs over to a deserving veteran who served our country — you can’t put that into words,” Campbell said.

Cantrell, who sustained injuries during his service as an Army infantryman and has difficulties getting out of bed, is ready to bring Titan home.

“When that vest comes on, I have to treat him like a medical device,” Cantrell said. “I may say I don’t want to get out today, but the dog will say, I have to get out… because I’m a dog.”

Fellow inmate Darius Huntington is also serving a life sentence and described how the program has helped him through his darkest moments.

“It was a robbery gone bad,” Huntington said. “When I’m going through my worst days, this dog helps me. I’m better than I was. I’m grateful for Blue Star.” Barnes said the impact on inmates goes beyond dog training.

“And they say the first time they felt love is through a dog’s eyes,” Barnes said.

Prison counselor Tonya Wysong echoed that sentiment.

“People love dogs, and they’re learning new things in their lives that they’ve never had before,” Wysong said.

Veteran Alexis Naveen, who has interacted with the program’s dogs, said the work being done inside prison walls carries meaning far beyond them.

“Whether they’re in here or out there, they’re making a difference,” Naveen said.

For Campbell, saying goodbye to Titan after months together is difficult — but the purpose behind it makes it worthwhile.

“He’s a special one for me. He’ll always be a part of this program and a part of me,” Campbell said.

Blue Star Service Dogs is funded through grants and donations.

———————————————————————————————

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 Marissa Sulek, Adam Harrington

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW CHICAGO, Indiana (WBBM) — The chief of police in New Chicago, Indiana, stood accused Sunday of selling a pawn shop a gun that was being held as evidence and then trying to have it bought back, among other allegations.

New Chicago police Chief Earl Mayo was charged with theft, official misconduct, and attempted obstruction of justice, as well as unlawful possession of an anabolic steroid, according to court documents.

Chief Mayo was booked Sunday as an inmate in Clark County, Ohio, after authorities said he tried to evade arrest.

Court documents said this past Thursday, a Lake County, Indiana, sheriff’s police commander received a firearm trace request for a gun associated with an upcoming criminal trial.

It turned out the gun, a Taurus G3, had been sold to a pawn shop in Hobart, Indiana, which a Lake County sheriff’s detective said was unusual as the gun was being held as evidence in a criminal investigation, court documents said.

Authorities later determined that it was Chief Mayo who sold the gun to the pawn shop, Mega Gash Pawn in Hobart, court documents alleged. Chief Mayo was also the arresting officer in the case with which the gun was associated, court documents said.

Another New Chicago officer told Lake County Sheriff’s detectives that he received a call from Chief Mayo asking him to go to the pawn shop where Mayo had sold the gun and buy it back, court documents alleged. The officer said Mayo also told him to go to the chief’s home and retrieve other guns, court documents alleged.

Specifically, Mayo wanted the officer to retrieve suppressors or suppressed firearms from a safe in the chief’s house, court documents alleged. The officer told investigators that Mayo had said he had things inside his home that the “feds” would never find, court documents alleged.

Another person, Taneka Borders, was also charged in the case. Investigators said when a Lake County Sheriff’s commander went to Mayo’s Merrillville, Indiana, home, they found Borders at the front door of the house.

Investigators said Borders tried to destroy several glass vials, and when questioned, she admitted that Mayo had told her to go to his home and collect his testosterone and steroids, court documents alleged.

The manager of the Mega Cash Pawn in Hobart told investigators that a woman came to buy back the Taurus G3 from its new owner while wearing a tracksuit like the one Borders was wearing when questioned by investigators, though the manager did not identify her.

The charging document against Borders accuses her of trying to help Mayo obtain a gun.

Meanwhile, the manager of the pawn shop said he had purchased multiple guns from Mayo in the past, and documents listed Mayo as the seller of 12 guns to the pawn shop, court documents alleged.

Chief Mayo’s father, Jerry Williams, is the Democratic nominee for Lake County sheriff. He released the following statement Sunday:

“My wife and I and our family are deeply concerned over recent information regarding our son, Earl Mayo, of the New Chicago Police Department. We raised all of our children with love, guidance and a strong foundation of values. We’ve always held our children to higher standards, as we have ourselves.

“We are aware there are allegations that are troubling, and we struggle to reconcile them with the values we worked so hard to instill in all of our children and grandchildren.

“Under our criminal justice system, Earl is presumed innocent unless and until proven otherwise. We respect that fundamental principle, and it is important that the legal process be allowed to proceed fairly and impartially.

“If it is ultimately established that Earl engaged in the conduct alleged by the government, then he must and should accept responsibility for his actions and face the consequences.

“This is an extremely difficult and emotional time for our family. Given the seriousness of this matter and the ongoing legal proceedings, we cannot comment any further on the undisclosed details of this situation.”

CBS News Chicago also found that Chief Mayo wrote a self-published book titled, “When Lines Are Crossed: Love, Trust, Betrayal” — a story about a bad cop turned good battling his morals.

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 Julia Avant

Click here for updates on this story

    DETROIT (WWJ) — One hundred men were dressed to the nines on Sunday afternoon in Detroit for the sixth annual 100 Men in Suits initiative.

Hosted by Unity in the Community, the men during the event went head-to-head on Livernois Avenue, also known as the Avenue of Fashion, to win a custom suit. The event also aimed to showcase to men the importance of dressing well and being good to the community.

“It’s an eye-opener for Detroit to let everybody know that this is how men [are] supposed to dress,” Teddy Passion, an event participant, said. “This is how men [are] supposed to act.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan attended the showcase.

“I love the purple suits. I will say the purple suits caught my attention, but I also like the understated suits as well. I just like seeing Detroit in action. I love saying that Detroit deserves its biggest champions, our best voices. You know, that’s all around us here today,” Stevens said.

All proceeds from the event went to Metro Detroit families in need.

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 Christa Swanson

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (KCNC) — A family of black bears is safely back in the wild after they were discovered under a Colorado home.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a mother and her two toddler cubs were discovered underneath the back deck of a home in Colorado Springs’ Northgate neighborhood.

Officers reportedly immobilized the bears and took them several hours south to a better habitat. They were given a “wake up” drug and released back into the wild.

Earlier this month, another five bear cubs were released from the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. The bear cubs were orphaned last summer and were severely underweight when they were discovered.

Some of them were also becoming accustomed to being near developed areas, which could put both the bears and local residents at risk.

They spent the winter in artificial dens at the rehabilitation center. Once they woke from hibernation and gained enough weight and strength, CPW took them to an area with a better habitat and released them.

CPW says there are approximately 20,000 black bears in Colorado. Young bears usually den with their mother and other littermates during their first winter, but are self-reliant by their second spring, they explained. Cubs who become lost from their mothers can fall victim to vehicle collisions or other predators.

CPW encourages residents to contact them at (303) 297-1192 or contact their local police department if they spot a bear in a residential area that needs to be relocated.

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 Nick Lentz

Click here for updates on this story

    KALAMAZOO, Michigan (WWJ) — Fifty pounds of crystal methamphetamine have been seized and a 31-year-old man is in custody in connection with a narcotics investigation, according to the Michigan State Police.

The state agency’s Southwest Enforcement Team seized the drugs and made the arrest following months of work on the probe, which identified the Kalamazoo, Michigan, man. According to officials, he is “suspected of being one of the largest narcotics distributors operating in Southwest Michigan.”

While conducting surveillance on Thursday, investigators observed the man meet with his “suspected source of supply,” the agency said. The man fled from deputies with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office in Berrien County, Michigan, in a vehicle after they tried to conduct a traffic stop.

The man’s vehicle was stopped with spike strips on Highway 31 near Berrien Springs, Michigan, after a pursuit, according to the agency. He then left the vehicle on foot.

Officials said the man was taken into custody on Friday following an eight-hour search that involved K-9 units and drone operators. He was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation before being placed at the Berrien County Jail.

Detectives seized the methamphetamine from the man’s vehicle, the agency said.

Crystal methamphetamine in and around a suitcase that was seized by the Michigan State Police on May 21, 2026, in Berrien County, Michigan.

Charges against the man are pending, according to officials.

“This incident highlights the significant dangers posed by narcotics traffickers to the public, communities, and law enforcement personnel,” the agency said in a social media post on Saturday regarding the seizure and arrest.

Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is urged to email tips to the agency or leave an anonymous message at 269-982-8664.

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 Schooley

Click here for updates on this story

    BOSTON (WBZ) — Veteran Boston firefighter Robert “Bobby” Kilduff Jr. died Saturday night after falling from the third floor of a Dorchester home while battling a large fire.

It happened around 8:15 p.m. on Treadway Road. The Boston Fire Department shared video that show flames raging through the roof of the home.

A mayday call was issued when Kilduff fell. He was rushed to the hospital but did not survive. Early Sunday morning, firefighters stood and saluted Kilduff’s body during a dignified transfer as he was moved from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office.

Kilduff was a third-generation firefighter and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.

“Bobby was known throughout the department as one of those people you could go to for anything. He was just a firefighter’s firefighter. He would do anything for you, he would do anything for the people of the city,” Boston Fire Commissioner Rodney Marshall said at a news conference early Sunday morning.

The veteran firefighter is survived by his adult daughter and son.

“He was our friend, our brother, and a dedicated family man,” Sam Dillon, Boston Firefighters Local 718 president said in a statement.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said during the news conference that “Boston lost a hero tonight.”

“Firefighter Robert Kilduff, Jr. came from a family of firefighters, and he held this calling as the highest duty to serve and protect,” Wu said. “Because of his actions, working alongside his fellow firefighters, every resident came out of the flames safe and sound. On behalf of the City of Boston, we extend our deepest condolences to the Kilduff family and all of Bobby’s loved ones.”

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey ordered flags in the state be lowered to half-staff at all state buildings in memory of Kilduff.

“His heroic actions last night saved the lives of five individuals, in addition to the countless people he rescued throughout the course of his distinguished career. His death serves as a reminder of the dangers firefighters face every day when they put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” Healey said in a statement. “My heart goes out to his family and his brothers and sisters in the Boston Fire Department. On this tragic day and every day, I want all of our Massachusetts firefighters and their loved ones to know that we stand with you, and we are forever grateful for your service and sacrifice.”

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.