Month: September 2026

By Nikita Ramos

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — The Florida Department of Education is urging school districts to implement stricter book review policies, outlining a 90-day plan for superintendents to address concerns about inappropriate materials in school libraries.

Florida Education Commissioner Henry Mack sent a letter this week to superintendents and charter school leaders, reminding them of their responsibility to ensure library materials comply with state law.

Mack said parents are still finding a shocking amount of material that fails that test and that it should not fall on a parent to take action. Last week, Palm Beach County School Board members discussed the issue, with some individuals speaking out about inappropriate books they found in school libraries. One parent criticized the county’s process for reporting such books.

The memo from the Department of Education called the current process “unacceptable” and emphasized that districts should take the initiative to review materials themselves. WPBF reached out to five local school districts regarding their review processes. St. Lucie County stated that it always complies with Department of Education laws and regulations. Martin County said its staff routinely reviews collections and media specialists follow procedures when selecting new materials. The district added that it will continue to align its practices with state guidance.

The state reiterated that local school boards are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance and superintendents are expected to carry out those duties.

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 Kerry Breen

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — Two 20-year-olds were arrested after police were called to the scene of an alleged hazing incident where over two dozen young men were partially clothed and covered in liquids. Some of them were injured, police said.

The Madison Police Department said they received an anonymous tip about an event at the unaccredited Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. When they arrived at the house, they found about 30 “partially clothed males covered in food, condiments and other liquids” in the basement. The room’s thermostat was set to 81 degrees, police said.

Several of the men had “visible injuries consistent with being abused,” police said.

The “vast majority” of the men were 18, police said.

A photo with the men’s faces redacted shows the group in a dirty space with black walls and the Alpha Epsilon Pi letters painted on a piece of furniture.

Two people, identified by police as Brayden J. Klein and Samuel N. Vane, were arrested for hazing and disorderly conduct and taken to the Dane County Jail. The Madison Police Department said that the president and vice president of the fraternity were present and spoke to responding officers, but did not specify if Klein and Vane held those titles.

The men in the basement were escorted outside and checked for incapacitation and injuries.

“Several of these men had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted,” police said.

No other charges have been announced in relation to the incident. An investigation remains ongoing, and those with information are asked to contact the Madison Police Department.

Alpha Epsilon Pi is an unrecognized and unaccredited student organization at the University of Wisconsin, police and the school said. The school said in a statement that because the chapter is still recognized by the national Alpha Epsilon Pi organization, it is legally allowed to operate as an unaffiliated fraternity chapter.

A spokesperson for the Alpha Epsilon Pi Headquarters said it takes the allegations concerning the Madison chapter “extremely seriously.” The national organization plans to “cooperate fully” with the investigation, the spokesperson said, and members found responsible for criminal conduct will be expelled from the organization.

“Hazing is a betrayal of everything our fraternity stands for,” the spokeperson said.” There is no place for it in AEPi. No exceptions. No excuses. We educate our members about their responsibility to ‘Be Your Brothers’ Keeper.’ This is not an optional value. It is a fundamental expectation of membership. Anyone who engages in hazing forfeits the privilege of being an AEPi brother.”

The University of Wisconsin said it is also investigating the incident as it relates to its nonacademic misconduct process. Campus officials are providing support to affected students.

The Madison Police Department said that anyone whose safety is jeopardized during the Greek life recruitment process should contact authorities.

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By Adam Bartow

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    AUGUSTA, Maine (WMTW) — The woman who was driving the minivan that hit and killed two Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) workers in Waterville in January has now been arrested.

Samantha Tupper, 34, of Augusta, was indicted by a Kennebec County Grand Jury on Thursday and then arrested at a home in Augusta at about 6:30 a.m. on Friday. She is charged with two counts of manslaughter, two counts of aggravated driving to endanger, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and one count of aggravated assault.

Her bail was set at $50,000 and she was being held at the Kennebec County Jail.

Tupper was not hurt in the crash on an Interstate 95 overpass, a collision that killed MaineDOT employees and Waterville residents James Brown and Dwayne Campbell.

Maine State Police officials said the crash happened at about 9:35 a.m. on Jan. 13 near mile marker 127 on the southbound side of the bridge that carries I-95 over Kennedy Memorial Drive.

Police said MaineDOT had closed the travel lane at the end of the southbound on-ramp from Kennedy Memorial Drive by using cones and a posted sign as part of bridge construction work.

Investigators said a gray Kia minivan driven by Tupper failed to stop at the posted stop sign and tried to enter the left lane of I-95 south, where it was struck by a tractor-trailer that was traveling southbound on the highway.

The collision forced the minivan into the work zone, where three MaineDOT employees who were working at the site were struck.

Police said the impact sent two of the three workers, Brown and Campbell, off the bridge and onto Kennedy Memorial Drive below. Both of those workers were pronounced dead at the scene. The third MaineDOT worker who was struck by the minivan was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries that are believed to be non-life-threatening.

The Maine Service Employees Association, Local 1989 of the Service Employees International Union, said Brown, 60, worked for MaineDOT for more than 12 years while Campbell, 51, worked for the agency for more than 23 years.

8 Investigates examined Tupper’s driving record and found that she was caught speeding multiple times and has committed other vehicle infractions. At one point, Tupper’s license was suspended and she was later convicted of driving on a suspended license.

In addition, 8 Investigates found Tupper has a criminal history that includes numerous convictions for drug possession, drug trafficking and theft. Tupper has been in jail multiple times dating back to 2017.

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By Juliana Tornabene and Shaina Nijhawan

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    MADISON, Wisconsin (WMTW) — Two leaders of a fraternity chapter not recognized by UW–Madison were arrested after police said officers broke up an unlawful hazing event Wednesday night.

Madison police responded to the Alpha Epsilon Pi house in the 100 block of Langdon Street around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday after receiving an anonymous tip about a possible hazing event.

“Inside the basement of the residence, officers found around 30 partially clothed males covered in food, condiments and other liquids,” MPD Captain Kipp Hartman said.

Most of the men were 18 years old. Police said several had visible injuries consistent with being physically assaulted.

“Something fresh, potentially like a strike to the body, not an old injury,” Hartman said.

The thermostat was set to 81 degrees, creating what police described as a hot and humid environment.

Fraternity president Brayden Klein and vice president Samuel Vane, both 20, were arrested on suspicion of hazing and disorderly conduct. Both allegations are misdemeanors, according to Hartman.

Klein and Vane were booked into the Dane County Jail. The Dane County District Attorney’s Office will review the case before deciding whether to file formal charges.

Hartman said police collected statements from everyone inside, but some of the accounts conflicted.

“Some statements also did not align with what everybody else’s statements were, so there were some concerns with what was being said,” Hartman said. “I would say we had limited cooperation.”

WMTV asked dozens of students near the house Thursday to talk about what happened. Many declined, and some who would speak only off camera said they were afraid of retaliation.

Police are also monitoring what they believe is misinformation spreading on social media. Hartman encouraged anyone with firsthand information to speak with investigators.

“I think anybody that came forward with additional information may not be prosecuted given the level of cooperation that they could provide,” Hartman said.

The incident happened during rush week at UW–Madison.

“With it being rush week right now, we know that there are various ways that fraternities and sororities conduct these things,” Hartman said. “Our thing is always going to be on student safety.”

Hartman said MPD regularly works with fraternities and sororities to help keep their events safe and legal.

“Our concern is when things are going too far and people’s either life and/or physical harm is at stake,” Hartman said. “That is definitely when we are going to be stepping in.”

UW–Madison terminated Alpha Epsilon Pi’s status with the university in 2015. The chapter is not recognized or accredited by UW–Madison, but Alpha Epsilon Pi’s national organization continues to recognize it.

“Since this chapter continues to be recognized by its national organization, it is legally allowed to operate as a fraternity chapter unaffiliated with the university.”

University of Wisconsin-Madison Hartman said the fraternity continues to control the Langdon Street house.

UW–Madison said its Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards will investigate any students implicated in the incident. Students found to have violated the law, university regulations or university policy could face a written reprimand, probation, suspension, expulsion or educational sanctions.

University officials met with national Alpha Epsilon Pi leaders Thursday to review the incident and discuss possible next steps. UW–Madison said the national organization is cooperating.

UW–Madison said it shares information about unrecognized and terminated student organizations with students, parents and families at the start of each academic year.

The university said its Office of Student Assistance and Support and University Health Services are providing support as needed.

Anyone with information about this hazing investigation was asked to call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014 or submit a tip online.

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By Mike Darnay

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    PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A large amount of cash and nearly two dozen guns were seized during a drug bust in Fayette County on Thursday.

Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said that search warrants were executed on three locations in German Township and Masontown Borough on Thursday morning by members of the Pennsylvania State Police and other law enforcement partners.

The warrants were served as part of what Aubele called “an extensive narcotics trafficking investigation.”

Aubele said that the searches resulted in the seizure of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine, 20 guns, approximately $425,000 cash and other drug-related evidence.

Mendo Love, 52, was arrested in connection with the searches and has been charged with multiple drug-related offenses.

Court records show that Love is facing 31 charges, including 23 felonies. His charges include possession with intent to deliver, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and possession of firearms.

Love was denied bail and is being held in the Fayette County Prison. He’s scheduled to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing early next month.

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By Naveen Dhaliwal

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    New York (WCBS) — A Brooklyn rabbi was brutally attacked and left bleeding outside of his home in Borough Park on Wednesday night.

His wife spoke out Thursday, describing the pain of seeing her husband bruised and suffering after the assault on the steps of their home, which was caught on surveillance video.

The footage shows the moments police say a man walked up to the 66-year-old victim at around 9 p.m. on Dahill Road and began hitting and choking him, leaving him battered and bleeding.

The NYPD said officers rushed to the scene and a suspect was quickly taken into custody, charged with assault and harassment.

Blood spots were still visible at the scene on Thursday.

“Terrible, terrible, we are not safe,” said the rabbi’s wife, who asked that she and her husband not be identified. “It’s traumatizing. The picture keeps repeating in my mind continuously.”

The victim’s wife said her husband was rushed to the hospital, suffering from severe pain.

“He is very badly bruised. He had bad back pain and he’s traumatized,” she said.

Police said it was a random attack and not a hate crime, but members of the Jewish community were rattled, with some saying an attack on a rabbi hits especially hard.

“There are a lot of antisemitic events that are occurring in Brooklyn and around the world. Obviously, it’s very hard to hear these things. I work here and it makes me nervous for sure,” Borough Park resident Daniel Alter said.

For the rabbi’s family, the focus is on his recovery. His wife said she is hoping the physical and emotional wounds from the attack will heal, but added she wants justice for her husband.

“I have no problems with my neighbors. Everyone is nice here, but this [assailant], he belongs behind bars,” she said.

In a statement, Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the attack “horrifying and reprehensible” and thanked the NYPD for apprehending the suspect.

“Every New Yorker deserves to live free from harassment and violence. Our administration will continue to deploy a broad range of interventions to protect Jewish New Yorkers and root out antisemitism and hate in all its forms,” he said in a statement, in part.

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.