Bond reduced for man charged after human skulls, remains found in basement

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Montse Ricossa

Click here for updates on this story

    FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Benjamin Larson on Monday, Sept. 28, pleaded not guilty in a case that’s gotten a lot of attention after several skulls and human remains were found in his Fond du Lac County home.

Authorities discovered at least six human skulls inside Larson’s home. This was uncovered after a stalking case was brought forward in Dane County, where a woman says 47-year-old Larson stalked her for a decade; they dated briefly for a few months in 2013.

Court records show he wrote in a journal he was “furious” she now has a husband and child, and “ached” for their skulls.

Testing is still being done to identify the remains, some are believed to be Native American.

Eric Toney, Fond du Lac County district attorney said their efforts to identify who the skulls and human remains belong to are “ongoing. With forensic testing necessary that could take some time.”

“It could take months for forensics to identify who a potential victim could be, so it is unfair to keep Mr. Larson for that amount of time while the investigation is ongoing,” said Sara Christensen, Larson’s defense attorney.

Larson’s defense asked for his bond to be reduced from $250,000 which Fond du Lac County Judge Douglas Edelstein conceded.

“I’m not going to be satisfied with mere speculation. I need to look at specific evidence, I need to look at articulatable facts, and not just holding against Mr. Larson because of the macabre subject matter. So, it raises a lot of reasonable inferences, but those inferences can only last so long,” said Judge Edelstein. “Courts should not be making emotional decisions, courts should not be speculating. And so the speculation here is that Mr. Larson presents as an exceptionally dangerous person or having the potential for that. But that speculation is just that.”

Larson’s bond was reduced to $150,000. There was some back and forth regarding Larson’s defense, as he wants a point-appointed attorney given the estimated expense of experts. However, Judge Edelstein is asking Larson to reconsider having the county pay for his attorney, given the judge received Larson’s financial information indicating Larson’s spouse has a gross income of approximately $11,000 per month and their home equity is roughly 100K.

If released, Larson would have GPS monitoring. As of 4 p.m. on Sep. 28, he remains in jail.

Larson is due back in court on Nov. 5 for a status hearing. As for a stalking charge from Dane County, he pleaded not guilty earlier this month, and not court date has been set there yet.

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.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife searching for bear after at least 20 garage break-ins in Jefferson County

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Sarah Horbacewicz

Click here for updates on this story

    COLORADO (KCNC) — A bear breaking into garages across a Colorado neighborhood is now raising safety concerns. Colorado Parks and Wildlife believes the same bear has broken into at least 20 garages in the Ken Caryl neighborhood in recent weeks, with some garages targeted more than once.

CPW says the first break-in from this bear was likely on Aug. 22.

Aimee Labaugh was home when the bear forced its way into her garage in the middle of the night Monday.

“Once he started clawing at it, it was almost like he was just ripping a piece of paper,” Labaugh said about the new hole in her garage door.

While she said she slept through most of it, she added, “I heard dogs in the neighborhood go crazy, and I was like, I bet that bear’s out there. And then, sure enough, he came in,” she said.

Labaugh says her husband tried to scare the bear away by pounding on the door connected to the garage from inside the house.

“He was pounding on the door to scare him away. And the bear, he could feel the bear pushing on the door,” she said, “Then the bear just turned around and left.”

CPW says the repeated garage break-ins are becoming a concern because the bear is learning where it can find food.

Wildlife officials are now putting out traps to try to capture the bear, as CPW says it is concerned activity could eventually escalate to a home break-in. CPW says they currently have two traps in the Ken Caryl neighborhood.

Garages across the neighborhood have similar damage, including at Jackie Treece’s home where she found paw prints and the aftermath of another break-in over the weekend.

“[The bear] hit the jackpot here,” Treece said.

Inside the garage, the bear found plenty to eat as Treece had a fully stocked fridge in her garage.

“I had just stocked up on some gluten-free frozen donuts, muffins, burgers, and I had the beef in there,” Treece said.

CPW is reminding residents that fall is a critical time to secure anything that could attract bears as they continue searching for food.

Wildlife officials recommend bringing all food and trash completely inside the home and not leaving attractants in garages or outside.

CPW also warns residents not to put out their own traps. Bear trapping should be handled by wildlife officials.

For neighbors dealing with repeated break-ins, there’s frustration over how to protect their homes while also keeping the bear from becoming a bigger safety threat.

“I feel sorry for the bear that he’s wreaking such havoc, and the neighbors. I honestly don’t know what we can do,” Treece said.

Any bear sightings can be reported to CPW, or in an emergency, 911.

According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, bears are entering hyperphagia, where they bulk up for winter, and the lack of their usual food sources is pushing them into neighborhoods in search of food.

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.

“Wonderful day, beautiful people” Denmark celebrates first annual soapbox race

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Claire Peterson

Click here for updates on this story

    DENMARK, Wisconsin (WGBA) — The Village of Denmark community came together to watch homemade soapbox cars race down Pine Street, part of the First Annual Denmark Derby.

Saturday afternoon, bales of hay line Pine street in Denmark, marking the course for homemade soap box derby carts.

“Great experience for our community,” Kevin Konkol, the founder of the Denmark Derby, says.

Racers are judged by their speed and creativity.

“I dressed up like Donkey Kong,” Adam Bergelin, race winner, says.

There are seven teams, competing for first place at the first ever Denmark Derby.

“This was meant to be a joke and just help the community and everything, and we ended up winning it, so this is huge, surprising,” Bergelin says. “I still can’t believe I won, like this is insane.”

The event was started by community member Kevin Konkol.

“For the past four years, I had this idea and thought it would be a great little event for Denmark,” he says. “I just thought, lets get something new, something different that people could get excited about.”

More than 50 volunteers, local businesses and local farmers helped make it possible.

“This community is wonderful, just the support they show,” Konkol says. “Whether it’s coming out, whether it’s supporting, volunteering, donating, this community really does a good job, and that’s what I love about small communities.”

Konkol says he’s happy with the turnout, and he’s looking forward for many more years of the now annual tradition.

“I’m hoping next year it’s even gets bigger,” he says. “Wonderful day. Beautiful people.”

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.

Lethal dose of morphine leads to baby’s death; mother arrested, deputies say

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Stephanie Moore

Click here for updates on this story

    ANDERSON COUNTY, South Carolina (WYFF) — A lethal dose of morphine led to the death of a baby in Anderson County, South Carolina, according to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office.

The child died in December 2025 at AnMed Health after being taken to the hospital from a home on Howland Drive.

The coroner identified the child as 10-month-old Talayah Lucille Donaldson.

“One child death is too many and it’s just tragic, it’s tragic for the family, the neighbors, the friends, the first responders, it’s just so tragic and we are so sorry that we had to investigate a death like this,” Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said.

After the death, detectives said they interviewed several people, including the child’s mother, Tynisha Lashae Jones, 34.

They said a search was also done at the home and specimens were sent to be tested.

Lab results – the first which authorities said were returned in April – showed a high dose of morphine in the child’s blood and the death was ruled a homicide, the sheriff’s office announced Monday.

“What this case came down to was, the specimen was sent, the results were received and then our suspicions were immediately raised because children should not have morphine at all in their system, it’s not administered by any hospital or EMS staff that we knew of in Anderson County,” Anderson County Sgt. Kendall Cash said.

Authorities said the lab specimens were retested a second and third time after the initial positive test at the SLED lab.

“When we have a positive test we certainly want to make sure that it is positive and those drugs are indeed in fact a factor in that death, so in this case, the test was run more times,” Shore added.

Through an investigation and follow up interviews after the positive test, detectives said they determined Jones was responsible for giving the 10-month-old morphine.

She was arrested on Sept. 25 and charged with homicide by child abuse. Her bond was denied.

“It would be enough (morphine) for a grown person to overdose,” Sgt. Cash added. “Rest assured , the Anderson County Sheriff’s office remains committed to investigating child abuse cases, any kind of homicide case, whether it be of an adult, or an infant, a toddler.”

WYFF 4 spoke with Jones’ mother Monday morning on the phone. She said the extended family is devastated and surprised by the arrest and said it’s another blow following the death of the child.

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.

Decades of devotion: 86 Vietnamese couples renew vows in Norcross after surviving war and separation

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By La’Tasha Givens

Click here for updates on this story

    Atlanta (WUPA) — Draped in crimson and white, glowing beneath traditional Vietnamese lanterns, and sprinkled with touches of gold, the First Senior Center of Georgia hosted a celebration of enduring love.

Eighty-six elderly couples gathered at the senior center to renew their wedding vows, marking decades of commitment that have withstood war, political imprisonment, and resettlement in a new country.

For many in attendance, the ceremony was far more than an anniversary milestone. Following the Vietnam War, several of the grooms present were detained by the communist regime and sent to reeducation camps, enduring years of harsh confinement.

“The communist government took over and put all of them in prison,” said Von Tran, the CEO and founder of 1st FSC HealthCare. “Most of them sitting in here came here on a program called Humanitarian Operation. Some of them were imprisoned for 10 years, 20 years for political reasons. Now they’re here, and we want to celebrate them.”

Through decades of separation and uncertainty, their wives remained steadfast, holding on to the hope of a peaceful reunion.

“And they overcame it,” Tran added. “They overcame; they came here, and they’re still together. Their love is enduring.”

The marriages celebrated spanned generations, with the longest union reaching 68 years.

Among those recommitting their lives were Thuyen and Tom Nguyen, who are marking 47 years together.

Reflecting on their beginnings, Tom Nguyen joked about whether it was love at first sight.

“She did,” he laughed, before adding, “I loved her from the beginning.”

Now parents to two children and grandparents to five, the Nguyens say unity and mutual support have carried them through nearly five decades of change.

“Always try to help each other out to keep it together,” Tom Nguyen said. “The strength is both, not one. One won’t get far; both will bring you a long way.”

As part of the ceremony’s rich Vietnamese tradition, couples held red infinity ropes symbolizing bonds that grow stronger and tighter with each passing decade.

When asked what wisdom they would pass on to younger generations navigating marriage today, the couples’ sentiment was unanimous: no matter the hardship, hold on to each other.

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.

19-year-old identified as 12th victim in mass shooting during birthday party at Georgia park

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By WUPA Staff

Click here for updates on this story

    Atlanta (WUPA) — A 12th person has now been linked to the mass shooting at a birthday gathering in a Macon park, according to the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office said a 19-year-old man arrived at a local medical facility around 12:24 p.m. Sunday with a gunshot wound that was not considered life-threatening. Investigators later determined he was wounded in the shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park earlier that morning. He was listed in stable condition.

The shooting was reported shortly after midnight near the park’s skatepark area. Investigators said one group was attending a party when a second group arrived across the street. The two groups exchanged words, displayed guns and then fired at each other, according to the sheriff’s office.

The gathering was a birthday party that had moved to the park after the group was asked to leave an Airbnb in Jones County, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said. Several students from Central High School and Northeast High School attended.

The victims include five 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females. One 18-year-old and one 17-year-old remained in critical but stable condition, while the other victims were stable, the sheriff’s office said.

Several victims were taken to a hospital in private vehicles. The emergency room was temporarily locked down because of the number of vehicles and people arriving.

Investigators took seven vehicles to the crime lab for examination and interviewed 10 witnesses. The FBI is also assisting because of the number of people involved, though Davis said the evidence so far indicates the shooting was a local incident.

No arrests have been announced.

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in a Facebook statement that he was closely following the investigation.

“My prayers are with those injured and their families, and I’m grateful for the law enforcement officers who responded at the scene,” Warnock 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.

Iowa Latino Heritage Festival celebrates culture and community

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Savannah Lee

Click here for updates on this story

    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Hundreds of people gathered in downtown Des Moines this weekend for the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival.

The vibrant two-day gathering of the Latino community is the state’s largest and longest-running celebration of its kind.

More than 20 food vendors, 10-plus performances and countless displays of art all came together to highlight National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Executive Director Joe Gonzalez says the crowd didn’t disappoint this year, even though the dreary weather may not have been the most inviting.

“The turnout remarkably has been really good,” Gonzalez said. “With the rain and everything, I know we lost some folks. Could be a lot worse, could be better, but we’re pleasantly surprised with yesterday and today as far as the turnout.”

More than 22 unique Latino cultures were represented throughout the weekend.

“We’re enjoying it, and it’s been fantastic,” Gonzalez said.

National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 until Oct. 15.

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.

‘Did we just see a plane crash?:’ Skydiver recalls jumping into action to help victims in plane crash

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Jasmine Franklin

Click here for updates on this story

    EAST TROY, Wisconsin (WISN) — A group of skydivers alerted emergency crews before jumping into action to help after noticing a small plane crash in a Wisconsin cornfield.

It happened in East Troy Sunday afternoon. Four people were aboard the single-engine plane when it went down in a cornfield near Carver School and Lawlor roads, just south of East Troy Municipal Airport.at about 1:30 p.m.

John Betchel was one of the people who didn’t hesitate to help.

“I’m just glad that we were able to do what we could and get in and help,” Bechtel said.

Bechtel has spent the last three decades skydiving across Wisconsin. But his jump Sunday afternoon was unlike anything he’s ever done before.

“That is my first time jumping out for someone else’s emergency,” Bechtel said.

Bechtel and two other experienced jumpers with Skydive Milwaukee were preparing for their day in the air when they noticed something seemed off with a plane near the East Troy airport.

“He kind of banked up and then he disappeared behind the trees, and we were all waiting for him to show back up. We all looked at each other and said, ‘Did we just see a plane crash?’” Bechtel said.

That’s when the brave group asked their pilot to find a safe spot for them to jump. They immediately rushed to the scene to help and notified emergency crews of the crash. One of the jumpers who was with Bechtel is a former paramedic. He helped one person with a serious head injury before EMS arrived.

“The timing couldn’t have been any better. Had we left five minutes earlier, we wouldn’t have seen it; if we left 15 minutes later, we wouldn’t have been able to get there to assist,” Bechtel said.

All four people on board survived and are expected to be OK. Bechtel said without hesitation that he’d do it again if it meant saving someone’s life.

“To be able to help others in need, I would absolutely do that in a heartbeat,” Bechtel said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

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.

School bus goes off road near Blackstone River

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Veronica Haynes, David Bienick

Click here for updates on this story

    NORTHBRIDGE, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Crews worked for hours Monday afternoon to secure and remove a school bus that veered off the road and nearly crashed into the Blackstone River in Northbridge, Massachusetts.

The crash happened on Church Street at about 1:30 p.m. The bus went through the side of a bridge, leaving it “teetering very precariously” over the Blackstone River, Northbridge Deputy Fire Chief Tony Genga said.

Genga said the bus was “within inches of falling into the river.” Luckily, the rear of the bus snagged something to keep it from plunging in.

“The back side of the bus appears that it just got enough of the roadway to keep it out of the river,” Genga said.

The bus is from the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational High School. No students were on board, and the driver suffered a few scrapes but did not require hospitalization, Genga said.

“We were able to stabilize the bus using our heavy rescue apparatus, stabilizing jacks and the Jaws of Life,” Genga said.

Crews used chains and a tow truck equipped with a crane to stabilize and move the bus back onto the roadway.

“One false move, and it could go in the river. It’s still in a position where it’s dangerous,” Genga said.

The bus driver told officials a tractor-trailer was traveling in the opposite direction before the crash. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

MassDOT will inspect the bridge before it reopens to traffic.

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.

Video: Man in wheelchair rescued after falling into marina

CNN Newsource on September 29, 2026

By Allison Petro

Click here for updates on this story

    NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (WESH) — Officials rescued a 72-year-old man from a New Smyrna Beach marina after he fell from his wheelchair into the water Sunday night, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded around 8:55 p.m. to the marina in the 2700 block of North Peninsula Avenue after a caller reported hearing a splash and a man yelling for help.

The area was behind a locked gate, but Sgt. Leven was the first deputy to arrive and found the man clinging to a pipe to keep his head above water.

Leven entered the marina with a buoy and helped the man stay afloat, the sheriff’s office said.

New Smyrna Beach Fire Rescue evaluated the man at the scene. He declined further medical attention, officials 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.