Month: June 2026

By Liz Crawford, Will Kenworthy

Click here for updates on this story

    DOWNINGTOWN, Pennsylvania (KYW) — During a recent walk in her community, Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Mayor Erica Deuso just couldn’t resist greeting her four-legged constituents.

In November, with little political experience, she was elected mayor of Downingtown, becoming Pennsylvania’s first openly transgender mayor.

“I love this town. I love the people,” Deuso said.

Located roughly 40 miles from Philadelphia, the Chester County borough is home to about 9,000 people. Deuso moved here about twenty years ago and said she loved it so much, she wanted to play a bigger role in its future.

“I decided to run for mayor because this town has given so much to me,” she said.

Back in 2009, when Deuso started her transition, she says she was met with kindness and understanding.

“My neighbors were so great to me, my entire community who knew about it were rallying around me,” she said.

Fast forward more than 15 years, she ran for mayor and won, earning 64% of the vote.

Deuso said she put the work in when she campaigned, door-knocking at more than 2,000 homes to hear what people really cared about.

“We learned what people really cared about in this town. And the one thing that people didn’t care about was my gender identity,” she said.

Instead, she said, people were most concerned about traffic and housing affordability.

Deuso says she’s proud to lead Downingtown and be a voice for all who live here — and maybe even inspire newcomers to put down some roots.

“We’re all neighbors here. It’s not like somebody is going to, you know, unfortunately, steal your parking spot after you’ve shoveled it out,” she said.

With a subtle jab at city life there, Deuso is making history in a community that doesn’t even seem to notice.

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 Madeline Bartos

Click here for updates on this story

    PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — Body cam footage shows a Ross Township police officer catching a panicked fawn that was trapped after falling over a retaining wall.

The Ross Township Police Department shared the video on Facebook on Monday, applauding Sergeant Chuberko and Officer Roy for rescuing the deer.

Police said the fawn had gone over the side of a retaining wall at the high school. The video shows the panicked deer backing itself into a corner, slamming itself against the building and retaining wall. Crying, the deer makes a break for it, scampering past Sergeant Chuberko and right into the arms of Officer Roy.

The fawn jumps at Officer Roy, who scoops the baby deer up, catching it in the crook of his arm.

“Nathan, you’re the man,” Sergeant Chuberko says as onlookers cheer.

“Officer Roy showed the agility, sharp reflexes, and fearlessness of a FIFA World Cup Goaltender with this save!!” the Ross Township Police Department wrote on Facebook.

The video has been viewed on Facebook more than 20,000 times, racking up hundreds of likes. Commenters commended Officer Roy’s catch, with one person writing, “he must have kids.”

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says this is the time of year when humans encounter newborn and young wildlife. If you find baby wildlife that appears to be abandoned, it’s most likely that their parents are off foraging for food and they’ll return. Unless the wildlife is clearly in distress like this fawn, it’s best to leave it alone, the Game Commission says.

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

    WHITEFISH BAY, Wisconsin (WDJT) — An hours-long standoff in Whitefish Bay ended peacefully Monday night, June 22.

The person was inside a home on N. Berkeley Boulevard just south of E. Hampton Road. Bystanders told our CBS 58 crews it started around 6 p.m.

Tension started to build at 9:30 p.m. After several rounds of negotiations, police approached the home at about 9:50 p.m. Flashbangs were fired and yelling was heard. Moments later, paramedics were escorted to the home, and a male was wheeled on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

No gunshots were fired throughout the incident, according to several people at the scene.

Our crews heard negotiators use a megaphone to tell the person, “You’re safe, we won’t hurt you. We don’t want to hurt you.” They also said, “Put down the sharp object,” and “Come talk to me.”

After the situation was resolved, the negotiator said through the megaphone, “Good job, I’m very proud of you.”

Law enforcement from the Whitefish Bay Police Department, Shorewood Police Department, and Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office were on scene.

Whitefish Bay PD has yet to share information on what happened.

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 Montse Ricossa

Click here for updates on this story

    MEQUON, Wisconsin (WDJT) — An investigation is underway and activists are asking for justice after a police officer fired 16 shots at two dogs, killing one. CBS 58 obtained body camera video of the shooting, and we want to warn you, you may find it disturbing.

“It was shocking. I mean, it was horrific and brutal,” said Danielle Dietz, who along with Alicia Hegedus, rescued one of the dogs shot by former Thiensville Police Officer Richard McCormick.

On April 23, around 1:30 a.m. near the intersection of N. Cedarburg Road and Highland Road, Mequon police responded to a call of two abandoned pitbulls. When they weren’t able to get the two dogs into their squad car, the officers agreed they’d try again later. In body camera footage, you hear them say they’re doing so “since it’s night and they’re not bothering anyone, no one’s in danger. It’s not like people are walking around.”

However, two hours later, Thiensville Officer Richard McCormick, in his police report said, while he was out of his jurisdiction, “In good faith, and consistent with my responsibilities as a police officer, I believed I should notify Mequon PD and attempt to safely contain the dogs so they would not pose a danger to motorists or pedestrians.”

Later though, he wrote, “Fearing I could be seriously injured; I fired several rounds directly at the black dog to stop the threat.”

While the dogs ran away, former Officer McCormick reloaded his gun. Eventually, Mequon police arrived, and he joked about the situation with them, saying he “picked up 15 casings, just in case you guys needed to know that,” with a chuckle at the end.

The other dog, now named Ranger, ran into the woods. That’s where he’d stay for 17 days until Hegedus and Dietz could trap him. “He was emaciated, he had a wound to his hip, which caused maybe some nerve damage that resulted in him dragging his paw,” said Hegedus.

While they wait for Ranger to get better, Dietz wonders why Officer McCormick intervened, saying, “The animal retreated. It was writhing in pain across the stream, howling, and then you make a conscious decision to reload your gun and continue firing at the dog?” The women argue the dogs barking did not mean they were being aggressive, simply defensive. They went on to say Mequon officers were originally in the right to leave the dogs alone while they awaited the adequate resources to help the dogs. Hegedus and Dietz hope to be a resource in the future.

The good news is Ranger has been at the Wisconsin Humane Society getting numerous surgeries, slowly getting better. Hegedus and Dietz are planning to adopt him together. They hope he’ll be able to come to a loving home by the end of the week.

As for former Officer McCormick, he was placed on administrative duty and resigned before an investigation was completed. A criminal investigation is being led by the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

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 J.D. Miles

Click here for updates on this story

    PLANO, Texas (KTVT) — Veterans don’t stop being heroes after they leave the armed services.

A group of them in Plano is coming to the aid of an elderly widow of an Air Force pilot, after she says she was ripped off by a contractor for $70,000.

Since her husband Nick, a decorated Air Force pilot who served in Vietnam, died in 2011, his widow, Mary Beth Maier, has been able to manage their Plano home exceptionally well for a woman now in her 90s.

Everything except their nearly 60-year-old swimming pool.

“We had a problem with the pool leak,” Maier said. “So I was looking for someone to renovate and repair and made a bad decision.”

She says she hired an independent contractor who agreed to redo the pool for $35,000, which, within weeks, was raised to $70,000.

“I started checking the books and all the invoices and started adding up stuff,” her son, Robert Maier, said. “And no progress in three months, and found out he was a bad guy and a convicted felon.”

“He did a terrible job,” she said. “It was substandard, it wouldn’t even probably pass inspection … It was just devastating.”

When Ryan Wade Hoffman, with Veteran’s Pool Company, heard about what happened, he was at her house the very next day.

“When I saw this scenario and then got the backstory of it, there was just no way that I could walk away,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman offered to renovate the pool and surrounding area at no charge to the veteran’s widow. He hopes to have the project finished in a few months and has acquired help from a dozen other companies that all believe it’s a fitting tribute to the late veteran.

“I had a spouse who was home alone a lot, and I would hate for someone to be taking advantage of her while I was gone,” said Hoffman.

“They came to my rescue,” Mary Beth Maier said. “Ryan Hoffman and a wonderful pool company.”

The 94-year-old, who’s temporarily in a physical rehab facility, got to thank the pool company owner in person on Monday and says she can’t wait to come home and step into her backyard.

“Oh yes, I’m looking forward to that, and I hope it’s going to be pretty soon,” she said. “And I think it will be.”

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 Lauritsen

Click here for updates on this story

    Minnesota (WCCO) — A St. Cloud couple both recently turned 99 years old. And they just marked another, even rarer milestone: 80 years of marriage.

Betty and Kermit Eastman celebrated their oak anniversary on June 6, joining a remarkably small group. On average, only one U.S. couple each year reaches the 80-year mark. Globally, it is estimated that only one in 6 million couples live long enough to celebrate eight decades together.

Their story began in Thief River Falls, where Betty moved into the neighborhood and caught Kermit’s attention.

“I remember one time her dad said to her, ‘I wonder what that Eastman boy is doing walking up and down the sidewalk,'” Kermit said.

Betty remembered what first stood out about him.

“He had a lawnmowing business when he was really young,” she said.

Before the couple could build much of a life together, Kermit left high school to join the Navy during World War II. His ship, the U.S.S. Mullany, was struck by a Japanese kamikaze pilot.

“We were hit by a suicide plane,” Kermit said. “We lost quite a few guys. About 20, I think.”

After returning from the war, the two married, and both went back to finish high school.

“My senior year, well, I was married,” Kermit said.

They also attended prom together as a married couple.

After college, they settled in St. Cloud, where Kermit worked as a superintendent. They raised two children and now have five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. The couple celebrated their anniversary at their daughter’s house with their entire family.

After eight decades, both said the formula is straightforward.

“Just don’t keep secrets and be honest,” Betty said.

“Tell it like it is,” Kermit said. “Just live every day. Every day is a gift.”

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 Najahe Sherman

Click here for updates on this story

    MIAMI, Florida (WFOR) — Surrounded by family, friends, and supporters, this year’s Walk to Defeat ALS Champion, Lourdes Machado, was shining with hope.

Diagnosed with ALS in May 2025, she’s turned her journey into a mission to raise awareness and inspire others in the fight against the disease.

“Obviously there’s no cure, and that’s why we’re walking,” Machado said. “We’re walking so no one else has to go through this again, and so I can spend more time with my daughter and be there for her.”

By her side through every challenge has been her mother, Marianela Perez, serving as both caregiver and unwavering source of strength.

When she first learned of her daughter’s diagnosis, Perez said there was only one thing she wanted her daughter to know.

“I wanted to say I love you a lot and I’m going to be here for you and here to support you,” Perez said. “And I’ve done it for the last year, and I will continue to do it. I’m very proud of her. Very proud.”

The ALS Association is helping families like Machado’s while also investing in groundbreaking research through its partnership with the University of Miami.

ALS researchers work to find new treatments, new possibilities From clinical trials to genetic therapies, researchers are working to unlock new treatments and new possibilities.

Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, Dr. Nathan Carberry, said scientists are seeing encouraging progress in genetic treatments, including improvements in patients’ strength that were once thought impossible.

“I liken it to the moon landing, where we’re really seeing finally, a true impact on a neurodegenerative disease which is really powerful,” Carberry said.

For families facing ALS, breakthroughs like these are delivering something that once felt out of reach – hope.

All the money raised through the Walk to Defeat ALS stays right here in Florida, helping families access resources, support and care.

The organization welcomes support year-round.

Check out the ALS Association website to learn more about how you can get involved.

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 Joshua Cole

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — As Black Music Month enters its final full week, one famous Atlanta family is already shaping its next chapter.

Heiress Harris is 10 years old. She’s also the daughter of music royalty, and she’s building a name in the music industry that’s her own.

“I want to either be in a global girl group or I want to be a soloist,” Harris told CBS News Atlanta.

Atlanta has long been an entertainment powerhouse — for Harris, stardom may be written into her name.

Her brother, Buddy Red, performed at the Atlanta Jazz Festival this year. Her mother is Grammy-winning artist Tameka “Tiny” Harris. Her father is legendary rapper T.I.

But the 10-year-old is carving her own path. Her sound spans gospel to K-pop, and her collaborator list is already growing and turning heads.

“I have a gospel song I did with Lecrae … and Busta Rhymes, we’ve been talking. He wants to do a song with me,” Harris said.

Harris released her single “In the Wind” on her birthday in March. She has an album in the works.

“I’m really good at it, and it’s fun to do,” Harris said.

The young artist described her approach to performing as a package deal.

“Singing comes with the dancing, it’s like a starter pack,” Harris said.

Harris said her mother is often by her side in the studio, and that both her parents are proud of her work. As for her father —

“Yeah, I think he’s hilarious,” Harris said.

The Harris name carries its own weight in Atlanta’s music scene, but Harris said she isn’t looking to inherit that legacy. Instead, she wants to build her own. She’s already taking steps toward it, holding auditions for what she’s calling, on her own social media, a possible global girl group.

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 Rashad Williams

Click here for updates on this story

    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — For 25 years, Chastain Horse Park has offered a broad range of therapeutic services that utilize their array of horses.

The nonprofit equestrian center in Atlanta continues to reimagine what therapeutic services look like for kids and adults with disabilities.

“We offer therapeutic riding, we offer hippotherapy, we offer equine psychotherapy services all here at the park, along with equine-assisted learning programming as part of our community engagement projects,” said Kate Robbins, Chastain Horse Park’s director for therapeutic programming.

The horse park is the only PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International Premier Accredited Center in metro Atlanta.

Michelle Winer is a physical therapist and Hippotherapy Clinical Specialist at Chastain Horse Park. She said she’s treated patients from the ages of 2 to over 70.

“We see things like genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, post-stroke, multiple sclerosis, anything and everything, autism,” Winer said. “Every second that the horse is moving is therapeutic for them. What we’re doing is purposefully maneuvering that horse through different movements to facilitate rehabilitation goals in our patients.”

CBS News Atlanta was there during a private hippotherapy session with a 5-year-old patient named Charlie. Charlie’s mother, Jenny Harris, said she tried sending Charlie to a standard clinical therapy setting, but it didn’t seem to work for him. She said a friend mentioned hippotherapy to her, and she has been bringing her son for the last three years.

Harris said hippotherapy is not covered by their insurance, but for her son, it has made the biggest impact on improving his condition.

“Charlie has a rare genetic disease that’s called PIP5K1C, and it’s called numbers and letters like that because it’s so rare,” Harris said. “It doesn’t actually have a name. When Charlie came here, he couldn’t run, he couldn’t jump, and his language was lower. Now he’s running. He’s jumping. He’s super chatty, and I really think it’s because of being on this horse. It’s a relief, knowing that there is something we can do to improve his quality of life and allow him to be part of this world as a normal human being.”

Winer said that, depending on a patient’s needs, riding sessions will include a multitude of tasks such as standing up out of a sitting position, sitting up, turning around, and cone placement, all while on the horse, to target core stability strength and overall gross motor skills.

The horse park has also started Specialized equine therapy for veterans.

More information can be found here.

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.