Black Lives Matter Birmingham co-founder arrested while demanding answers about jail deaths

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Ayron Lewallen, Michal Higdon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Black Lives Matter Birmingham co-founder Eric Hall was arrested Tuesday after occupying Mayor Randall Woodfin’s office while demanding answers about recent deaths at the Birmingham City Jail.

Hall, who was livestreaming the encounter on social media, was charged with disorderly conduct and physical harassment following a confrontation inside city hall that ended with officers taking him to the ground.

Hall said he went to Woodfin’s office seeking a meeting about what he described as failures by city leadership following the deaths of inmates Kalena “Peaches” Croskey, 32, and Kendall Sweazer, 35.

“Those individuals that were in the Birmingham City Jail were in the custody and care of the city leadership, and it’s the city leadership that was neglectful, and they failed these individuals whose lives were taken,” Hall said.

Video recorded inside city hall shows Hall speaking with staff members before tensions escalated. Hall said he was attempting to secure a meeting with the mayor when he was met by several men in suits.

“The leadership always talks about where organizers need to give solutions, but we’re not at the table to provide those solutions,” Hall said. “And so I went there with the intentions and the demands to pull up a seat to the table.”

Hall acknowledged he expected the situation could lead to his arrest.

“I knew that things were going to escalate and that I would probably go to jail, but I couldn’t let that stop me,” he said. “Because it’s bigger than just me.”

Following his arrest, Hall said he’s still committed to advocating for what he views as accountability in cases involving police violence and deaths in custody.

“I’ve been labeled a loud activist,” Hall said. “Well, I’ll continue to be loud when it comes to our people, when it comes to fighting for Black lives, when it comes to police violence and systemic injustice.”

Hall said he wants city leaders to invest more resources in rehabilitation and support services within the jail.

“The jail deserves a social worker. The jail deserves a chaplain. The jail deserves wraparound services so that those who do not have, they can at least come out rehabilitated,” he said.

Hall said he has a court date scheduled for Aug. 25. As of Tuesday, he said he had not heard from Woodfin.

In a social media post, Woodfin said both inmates had previously attempted suicide while in custody. He said jail staff intervened in both cases and both inmates were transported to UAB Hospital for evaluation before being released back to the jail.

Woodfin said jail personnel followed established procedures and that the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office found no signs of foul play. He said both deaths were ruled suicides.

The mayor said community members have a right to be concerned about deaths at the jail and promised additional information as investigations continue.

Woodfin concluded his post by encouraging anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts to seek help through Crisis Center Birmingham.

Take Resource Center, a Birmingham organization serving transgender people of color, plans to honor Croskey during its Juneteenth celebration Saturday afternoon.

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85-year-old among 2 accused of street racing in Florida

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Brandon Hogan

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    LAKE COUNTY, Florida (WESH) — Lake County deputies arrested two people on Friday, one of whom was 85 years old, to face charges including street racing, according to their probable cause affidavits.

Around 11:30 p.m., a deputy traveling southbound on U.S. 27 and County Road 33 in Leesburg reported seeing two vehicles — a red Corvette and a gray two-door sports car — traveling at a high rate of speed. Using radar, the deputy determined that the Corvette was traveling 125 mph and the gray car was traveling at 110 mph, both of them in a 45-mph zone, according to the affidavits.

One deputy pulled over the Corvette south of State Road 48 as another deputy went after the gray car, conducting a traffic stop north of the state road, the affidavits state.

The driver of the gray car — identified as 85-year-old William Bosworth, of Leesburg — said the other driver had swerved at him and should not have done that, according to his affidavit. Bosworth continued, telling the deputy that he was out having a ride in his favorite car and not trying to do anything with anybody before he reacted to the alleged swerving, the affidavit states.

Bosworth faces charges of street racing and dangerous speeding in excess of 50 mph, the affidavit states.

The other driver — 57-year-old Phillip Signorino, of Titusville — faces the same charges, records show. While being arrested, Signorino denied having reached high speeds, claiming his Corvette was incapable of going that fast, according to his affidavit.

Both drivers denied racing and had posted bond by the time of this writing, records show.

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Federal prison in Oklahoma becomes first in US to welcome Prison Fellowship rehabilitation program

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Kilee Thomas

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    EL RENO, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Oklahoma is now leading the way in a new effort to reduce repeat crimes with a first-in-the-nation program inside an El Reno prison.

The Federal Correctional Institution in El Reno is the first in the U.S. to offer a new rehabilitation program aimed at breaking the cycle of incarceration. Joshua Smith, the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, traveled to Oklahoma for the milestone.

On Thursday, leaders launched the program that is built on one simple principle: no one is beyond redemption.

“We are better than yesterday. Not done yet!” a group chanted outside the prison.

Outside the barbed wire and security checkpoints at FCI El Reno was a celebration of second chances. Supporters said the goal is to give the men inside the tools they need to build a different future, one that Smith knows personally.

“At 21, I was sentenced to federal prison for my role in drugs,” Smith said. “It was in prison that I had an experience with God that changed the trajectory of my life.”

Leaders said that kind of transformation is the goal of Prison Fellowship, a faith-based nonprofit that works with inmates to help them change the course of their lives before they reenter society.

“I’m thankful I work in an administration that’s tough on crime but at the same time understanding these people are coming back to our communities, and we better be restorative in nature,” Smith said.

Prison Fellowship’s academies have operated in state prisons for years, including prisons across Oklahoma.

Now, FCI El Reno is the first federal prison in the country to offer one.

“Most of these men in El Reno behind this barbed wire here, they’re going to be our neighbors, and not only can they come home and be good neighbors, they can come home and contribute so much to their families, to their churches, businesses,” Heather Rice-Minus, president and CEO of Prison Fellowship, said.

Ray James once stood where those men behind bars are. Thirteen years ago, he was released from the El Reno prison for drug use.

Now, he works with Prison Fellowship as the academy program manager, helping other incarcerated men believe change is possible.

“I wanted to give back, and I wanted to let them realize change is possible, and they’re not stuck where they’re at,” James said.

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‘Trip of a lifetime’: Iowa family heads to Seattle for Team USA’s World Cup match

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By KCCI Staff

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — The Lucas family from Ankeny is embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Seattle to watch Team USA play Australia in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 19.

Michelle Lucas has been planning the trip for months.

“For me, it’s definitely a trip of a lifetime,” Michelle said. “I don’t think the rest of my life, I probably will have a chance to see USA in USA play for the World Cup.”

Soccer is a family tradition for the Lucas’, with every member either having played or still playing the sport.

“I love the intensity. I love the physical-ness of it,” Michelle said.

When the family learned the World Cup was coming to the U.S., they knew they had to find a way to get into a game. The journey to securing tickets was challenging.

“There was a sign-up for a drawing to see if you get selected to get tickets before they got out for sale,” Michelle said. “We had talked as a family and we’re like, let’s everybody just put your email out there and see what happens,” she said.

When Michelle received the email confirming their selection, she recalled, “I went in, checked my email. I was like, I just got selected. And they’re like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I was like, ‘Nope, nope, mom’s in.'”

The family was able to secure four tickets but needed five. When public ticket sales opened, they faced high resale prices. Michelle described the moment she found one last ticket in their section, saying, “I’m like, do I pull the trigger? Do I pull the trigger?”

Though the final ticket cost three times the price of the earlier ones, Michelle said the experience will be worth it. “I don’t think you could put a dollar amount on being in that stadium at that game, at that time,” she said.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams competing in 104 matches across 16 cities. An estimated 6.5 million fans are expected to attend.

For the Lucas family, this trip is more than just a game — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Police officer accused of excessive force against 13-year-old boy

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Sarah Buduson

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    PARMA, Ohio (WEWS) — A Parma police officer is on paid administrative leave after allegations he used excessive force against a 13-year-old boy during an incident outside the city’s police station last summer.

News 5 Investigators obtained body-camera videos and a security camera video, which show Officer Michael Frinzl pushing the boy’s head into the building’s brick wall and dragging his face along the surface.

The incident began when Parma police were called to Walters Grove Park & Pool for a report of kids fighting just after 6 p.m. on Aug. 13, 2025.

When the boy’s mother, Lisa Gonzalez, came to pick him up from the park, she said he threw a stick at her minivan and ran off.

Officers said pieces of the stick hit them. They ran after the boy, arrested him, and took him to the police station.

As Frinzl and another officer are walking the boy, who was handcuffed, into the building, the video shows Frinzl grab the boy’s head, push it into the wall, and scrape it along the wall’s surface before he was brought into the building.

The boy was later taken to the hospital for treatment.

Gonzalez said the hospital called to inform her that her son was being treated. When she arrived, she said she was surprised to see an injury to his face.

Pictures that Gonzalez shared with News 5 show bruising and scrape marks along the right side of her son’s face.

“To cause that much harm to a child says a lot about their character,” she said. “You don’t hurt children.”

Gonzalez’s attorney, Subodh Chandra, said the boy weighed only about 70 pounds at the time of the incident and was handcuffed.

“There’s simply no reason any officer should ever need to do that,” Chandra said. “That’s excessive force, period.”

“It’s very apparent from the video footage that there was no reason to slam that child’s face against a wall other than anger and retaliation and bitterness and inappropriate attitudes and conduct by a police officer,” Chandra added. “What really escapes me is how such an officer remains employed by the Parma police department. “

He plans to file a lawsuit to hold the officers accountable for their actions.

“This is just simply — from what we can tell from the video — a deliberate and intentional and malicious act of violence towards a child that is not justifiable under any circumstances.”

Gonzalez said her son “is not the same kid he was” before the incident, beyond the scars that remain on his face.

She said he was happy, outgoing, caring — and loved sports. Gonzalez said “nothing that makes him happy anymore” and that he is “petrified” of police officers.

Gonzalez also said her son was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and PTSD by a psychiatrist.

Charges filed by the Parma police related to the incident were dismissed in Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.

Parma Police Department response

News 5 Investigators requested an on-camera interview with Chief Kevin Riley. He declined our request.

Scott Traxler, public information officer, sent us the following statement:

“On May 28, 2026, allegations concerning an officer’s use of force during a prior juvenile detention were brought to the attention of Parma Police Chief Kevin Riley. The incident occurred at the Parma Police Department last year on August 13, 2025. The incident arose during the detention of a juvenile who had been arrested in connection with multiple alleged offenses. Because the matter involves a juvenile, the Department will not provide further details regarding the juvenile case.

Chief Riley ordered an internal investigation, which is still underway. The investigation includes a review of all available evidence, including video footage, reports, witness statements, applicable Department policies, and any other relevant information. The officer whose conduct is under review was placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. Paid administrative leave is not a disciplinary finding, and no conclusion has been reached.

The Parma Police Department takes allegations involving the use of force seriously. Department personnel are expected to conduct themselves professionally and in accordance with law and Department policy. Because this matter involves an active investigation and a juvenile, the Department is limited in what additional information can be released at this time. The Department is committed to a thorough, objective, and fair review of the facts. Written investigative findings will be prepared and handled in accordance with applicable law, Department policy, and confidentiality requirements.”

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Senior center staff saved resident from losing thousands to scammers, here’s how they did it

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Mike Brookbank

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    PARMA, Ohio (WEWS) — A woman in her late 90s nearly lost thousands of dollars to scammers — until a group of people at a Parma senior center joined forces to stop it.

Staff at the Donna Smallwood Activity Center in Parma grew suspicious after a center transportation driver noticed the woman had purchased large amounts of gift cards during a routine trip around town.

Elizabeth Fulkroad with the Donna Smallwood Activity Center said the driver raised the alarm.

“She was a little concerned that one of our seniors had purchased large amounts of gift cards.”

The driver asked the woman about the transaction, but she denied that anything was wrong.

“The resident denied there was any problem.”

The next day, the woman made an urgent request to be taken to FedEx. Staff grew more concerned.

“She wasn’t saying that there was a problem. But there just were enough red flags that we wanted to proceed.”

That’s when Brenda Sneed stepped in. The woman claimed she was sending a package to her son — but something didn’t add up.

“She assured me she was sending this to her son, and I had the driver take a photo and it was not her son on the envelope.”

Staff alerted the woman’s family, who contacted Parma Police.

Investigators quickly discovered she was caught up in three different scams. Fulkroad said the fraudsters used emotional manipulation to reel her in.

“They drew on her heartstrings, like, hey, you’ve won this lottery type thing. Think of all the good things you can do for your family. You know, you just need to send us this.”

The scheme was elaborate. Scammers sent the woman a lock box they claimed contained her jackpot winnings — and told her she would receive the code to open it once she sent them money. Sneed said the scammers had coached the woman on what to say.

“They had groomed her to keep telling us it was her son and she was sending them Amazon cards to buy a car with.”

Because staff alerted FedEx, the payment for the lockbox code was never shipped.

What was inside the package surprised even the staff.

“When we went and picked up the package, we really thought it was going to be this envelope of gift cards. And it turned out to be a blank check for $9,000 that they convinced her to send.”

A separate $1,000 check was also recovered.

That money would have been added to the $1,500 the victim had already lost after giving scammers the gift card serial numbers she had purchased.

Sneed said stopping the scam was deeply meaningful.

“Just a wonderful feeling to be able to help her in this terrible, terrible situation.”

Fulkroad credited ongoing outreach from agencies like the Cuyahoga County Scam Squad — which hosts Scam-O events to educate residents and staff — as a major factor in the outcome.

“And so by that dialogue and programming, it really educated me as well as our seniors of potential things that you might not think are problematic, but really are.”

“These are professionals. They prey on people. And, you know, our job as a community is to protect our vulnerable.”

The community awareness effort appears to be working. Parma Police Public Information Officer Scott Traxler told me more residents are using police as a sounding board — and it’s making a difference.

“Yes, yeah, we’ve seen an uptick in that, which is fantastic because along with that, we’ve seen a downtick in the amount of fraud reports recently.”

Traxler said the number of scams circulating remains high, but the number of people falling for them is decreasing slightly — a sign the messaging is making an impact.

Parma officers regularly visit community and senior centers to discuss trending scams, what to watch for, and how to report them.

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

Fire damages Hamachi Sushi Restaurant in Cathedral City

KESQ on June 19, 2026

María García

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — A fire caused moderate damage to the Hamachi Sushi restaurant in Cathedral City late Thursday night, prompting an overnight response from local firefighters.

The fire was reported shortly after 11 p.m. at the restaurant near the intersection of Ramon Road and Date Palm Drive. Fire crews responded quickly and worked through the night to contain and extinguish the flames.

According to firefighters at the scene, the blaze caused moderate damage inside the restaurant. Officials said there was no fire or water damage reported to neighboring businesses within the commercial complex.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Firefighters were expected to remain at the location for an additional one to two hours before clearing the scene.

No injuries have been reported at this time. Additional details are expected to be released as the investigation continues.

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Street repaving in Woodland Park yet to begin, may not start until early July

KRDO on June 19, 2026

Scott Harrison

TELLER COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Flashing message signs along two streets in Woodland Park previously displayed June 1 as the starting date for repaving work on Fairview Street and Thunder Ridge Drive.

But nearly three weeks later, those projects have yet to begin.

The electronic sign on Thunder Ridge has been turned off, while the Fairview sign simply displays “Road Work.”

There is construction happening at the south end of Fairview, but it isn’t laying new asphalt.

“We’re doing the concrete work,” a crew member told KRDO 13’s The Road Warrior on-site Thursday. “The repaving probably won’t happen for two weeks.”

If you’re familiar with The Road Warrior’s coverage during the past two years, you know that concrete work — building new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and ramps — usually happens well in advance of a repaving project.

The crew member didn’t elaborate on why the concrete work is happening late in the process, and town officials haven’t responded to The Road Warrior’s request for details on the matter.

Thunder Ridge, which was paved with cobblestones when it was built through what was a private subdivision 20 years ago, may present a different challenge.

The street now is within the town’s jurisdiction, and it’s unclear whether crews will simply pave asphalt over the crumbling stones, or remove them first.

Meanwhile, in Colorado Springs, crews continue repaving roughly a mile of Costilla Street, from its west end in the Gold Hill Mesa community, to 8th Street.

As The Road Warrior previously reported, crews are rebuilding parts of that street that have unstable bases, or subgrades, because of possible groundwater infiltration.

A crew member on-site said that the base on the east end of Costilla isn’t as bad as on the west end, so only smaller segments will be rebuilt there and regular paving will suffice on the rest of it.

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Space Force brings Tim McGraw and “Space Cowboys” to Falcon stadium

KRDO on June 19, 2026

Bradley Davis

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) introduces us to a couple of their competitors, both human and bull, live on KRDO13 before Saturday’s Freedom 250 event.

Saturday’s event is called “PBR Space Cowboys.” It’s a collaboration between PBR and the United States Space Force (USSF) to bring fun and education about the branch to Colorado Springs. Country stars Tim McGraw and Chris Janson headline the event.

The “Launchpad” fun zone opens outside the stadium starting at 2 p.m. with live music, games and Space Force activities. The Launchpad is free to the public.

Janson takes the stage at 6:45 p.m. to kick off the bull riding. PBR said it trucked in four million pounds of dirt to transform Falcon Stadium, and its bulls and riders will take to center field following Janson’s performance.

McGraw closes out the Space Cowboy celebration with a live concert following the bull riding around 9:45 p.m. You can find a full schedule and ticket information here.

The Space Cowboy celebration is part of the White House’s Freedom 250 initiative directed by an executive order from President Donald Trump. It’s a separate group from the bipartisan America250 organization charged by Congress in 2016.

Tune into Good Morning Colorado, where KRDO13’s Bradley Davis introduces us to a couple of the bucking bulls for you live!

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Nearly 90 tornado warnings issued across Kansas City region in historic year

CNN Newsource on June 19, 2026

By Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMBC) — The Kansas City area is experiencing one of its most active severe weather seasons on record.

According to KMBC Chief Meteorologist Bryan Busby, 88 tornado warnings have been issued across the KMBC First Alert Weather viewing area so far in 2026.

That’s the highest number recorded through mid-June since record-keeping began in 1986.

For comparison, the region typically sees about 27 tornado warnings in a year.

“Nearly every part of our viewing area has been impacted by severe weather at some point this season,” Busby said.

The unusually active spring has produced multiple significant tornado outbreaks across Missouri and Kansas.

On June 10, the National Weather Service confirmed 10 tornadoes had touched down across northern Missouri during a widespread severe weather event.

Just three days later, on June 13, the National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes in the Kansas City metro area following another round of strong storms.

While not every tornado warning results in a tornado, Busby said the record number of warnings highlights how persistent and widespread severe weather has been this year.

The active pattern continued Wednesday evening, with multiple tornado warnings issued across western and central Missouri, including reports of a tornado on the ground near Clinton in Henry County.

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.