Author: CNN

KTVT

By Marissa Armas

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    DALLAS (KTVT) — The Dallas Mavericks have narrowed their search for a new arena to two potential locations: downtown or the Valley View Center area in North Dallas. It’s sparking a mix of excitement and concern among fans, city leaders, and local businesses as the team weighs its next move.

“I would hate losing an arena downtown,” said Robert Resneder, a Mavs fan. “It brings so much vitality to the center of the city, but at the same time, I live in the suburb,s so if they were to move somewhere near the north side, I might kind of like that.”

The chatter on the move has a lot of people talking.

“I’m kind of sad about it, I love Victory Park, I love having them here,” said Burt Oliva.

His friend Tony Ruano echoed a similar sentiment.

“If they move this arena, it will be terrible,” Ruano said.

Council member Chad West said no matter what site they decide on, this is a win for Dallas.

“That’s the most exciting part of this whole situation, is that they are a Dallas team, they know that, and this is their home, and they’re going to stay here,” West said.

Dallas mayor pro-tem Jesse Moreno, who represents downtown, where the American Airlines Center currently sits, is pushing to keep the arena in his district. One of the potential sites is the land where City Hall currently sits, though the future of the building is still up in the air.

“Before anything is really evaluating City Hall, and the cost-benefit to stay at City Hall and rebuild, or to look at other options outside of City Hall, and so, that has not happened yet,” Moreno said. “We are still waiting for the results of the assessment of the building itself and the possible economic impact if we decide to go somewhere else.”

A move to Valley View would place the arena near Preston Road and Interstate 635, which Councilwoman Cara Mendolsohn, who oversees that area, said would also benefit southern Dallas.

“We will generate so much additional revenue for this city that we’ll take the budgetary pressure off of things like libraries, will take the budgetary pressure off of our growing payments for the pension, for police, fire, for hiring more officers on our streets,” she said.

Still, some worry that moving the arena out of downtown could hurt local businesses. The Mavericks’ lease with the American Airlines Center is set to expire in 2031. A decision on a new location is expected by July 1.

“They’re not focused on actually winning, they’re focused on the financial aspect of it,” Ruano said.

Some fans say a new arena should be the last of the team’s priorities.

“I think the ownership is ruining our team, honestly, I do not want us to move,” Oliva 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.

WFOR

By Ivan Taylor

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    MIAMI (WFOR) — The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office has released body camera and surveillance footage showing a deadly confrontation between a deputy and an alleged shoplifter at a Walmart in Southwest Miami-Dade.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified that a man was allegedly shoplifting inside the store. Surveillance video shows the suspect walking through the aisles before exiting the building. Deputies say a deputy attempted to stop him as he left.

The man was later identified as 36-year-old Kennedy Graham.

Body camera video shows Graham running from the deputy as a struggle breaks out. In the footage, the deputy can be heard yelling, “Don’t resist, don’t resist,” as the two wrestle on the ground.

Deputies say the officer called for backup while trying to detain Graham.

Investigators say the video was slowed down to show Graham was armed during the encounter. Surveillance footage from outside the store shows the deputy pinning Graham to the ground and holding him by the neck with his legs as Graham continued to fight back.

At one point, investigators say Graham dropped the gun, then picked it up again and ran. The deputy is then seen pointing his weapon and firing.

Two people were in the parking lot when the shots were fired.

The shooting happened in the parking lot of the store located at 21115 South Dixie Highway on the morning of November 6, 2025.

CBS News Miami spoke with a witness the day of the shooting.

“What I saw was a guy in a white T-shirt running outside of the Walmart parking lot. I heard three shots, then all I saw was the police officer with the gun,” said a woman who did not want to be identified.

Graham was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. No one else was injured.

In November, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz defended the deputy’s actions.

“I will say this, this individual had an extensive criminal past. We are grateful at this time. The circumstances could have gotten so much worse,” she said.

Investigators also displayed the weapon they say Graham was carrying at the time of the shooting.

The deputy involved has not been identified.

In a statement released Thursday, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said:

“We recognize that incidents of this nature raise questions and concerns within our community, and I believe the public has the right to see critical incidents involving law enforcement.”

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.

WBZ

By Aaron Parseghian

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    BOSTON (WBZ) — With the Patriots facing the Broncos in the AFC Championship, their highest-stakes game in quite some time, fans across New England and beyond are doing whatever they can to help will their team to another win, no matter how unusual the ritual.

For Ashley “AJ” Jannino, a Radio Host at JAM’N 94.5, that means wearing a tattered 19-year-old Patriots sweatshirt she considers her good luck charm.

“A lot of people said it did look like a Bill Belichick hoodie, which I kind of love that,” Jannino said.

The sweatshirt, riddled with holes and worn down by years of game days, has survived countless wins and remains a must-wear item for her when the Patriots take the field.

“It has been through the ringer, I don’t even know how many games,” she said. “I call it my lucky sweatshirt, right? It has a million holes in it, but I still have to wear it, and they win, right, so I have to wear it.”

Superstition has become a common theme among Patriots fans cheering on what many describe as a magical season.

“We have the game jerseys, wear the same game jerseys all season, and haven’t washed it yet,” said Pats fan Mark Aiksnoras.

“I put on my football pants, and I wear my Patriots shirt, and I sit in front of my big 80 [inch] flat screen TV, and I cheer my boys on,” said fan Terry Hyman.

Assigned seats and strict movement rules are also part of the ritual for some supporters trying to keep the team’s momentum alive.

“If a bad play happens as you entered the room, you are not allowed to come back in,” said Jessica Maxwell. “If a good play happens when you enter the room, you got to stay in that spot.”

Maxwell, an Ayer native who retired to South Carolina with her military husband, keeps the spirit of New England alive well past the holidays. A month after Christmas, her tree, decorated with Patriots-colored lights, remains up as long as the team is still playing.

Her cat, Drake “Squish” Maye Maxwell, also has a role in the routine, getting three pets after every play. Her son wears an old Rob Gronkowski jersey, but no one else can wear Patriots merchandise.

“I’m convinced [my superstitions] work, they have to. No one down the South understands,” Maxwell said. “You got to be from New England to understand.”

One of the Patriots’ motto this season is “We all we got, we all we need,” and fans say sometimes what they need most is for them to keep their game-day routines exactly the same.

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.

KYW

By Joe Holden, Tom Gardiner

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    LOWER MERION, Pennsylvania (KYW) — Dan Gilbert says he’s staying strong and putting on a brave face. It’s been tough.

The Lower Merion Township detective got bad news last April. His wife, Lauren Gilbert, at 42, was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer. She first went to the hospital for stomach pain.

“They took a 12-inch section of her colon, took out a very large tumor and took out some other cancer that had spread,” Dan Gilbert said. “It’s not good. It’s terminal.”

Gilbert, a father to two children ages 4 and 5, has worked in Lower Merion for nine years. When his co-workers heard about Lauren, they wanted him to have the time to spend at home. Each officer was able to donate up to 12 hours.

“We quickly put a process together, and it’s great that it has worked out to help Dan,” Ernie McNeely, Lower Merion Township’s manager, said. “It’s so critical to do something when folks are in need, and that’s what we were happy to be able to do here.”

“We sat down and worked out this program for Dan so additional time from officers could be donated to him so he could spend time with Lauren when needed,” Superintendent of Police Andy Block said.

Sgt. John Iushewitz is the department’s FOP president. He said the idea of donating time came from his 11-year-old son after they watched a video about the value of time over money.

“My idea was, we can donate as much money as we can, but we can never get back time, so in looking at that, I was like, what can we do?” Iushewitz said.

Lauren has taken to writing. That includes a child-appropriate book about cancer. She’s also bought greeting cards for life’s big events she may not be around for.

“Future dates like weddings, college and high school graduation and she began writing notes to them that I could deliver to them in those times,” Dan said.

Lauren has had surgeries and is on trial medications. The costs are a financial burden.

The department’s generosity amounted to 800 hours of donated time off. That’s five months for Dan, Lauren and their children.

“My colleagues are the best,” he said. “The only thing they care about is my family’s well-being during this time.”

“I work with the best,” Iushewitz said. “When I knew it was time to help one of their own, I knew the answer would be yes.”

There was a benefit event scheduled for Sunday. They expected 400 people to come out and support the Gilbert family. But because of the forecast, it will most likely be rescheduled.

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.

WCBS

By Jenna DeAngelis

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    NEW YORK (WCBS) — A Long Island woman has been charged after officials say more than 100 cats were rescued from deplorable conditions at her West Islip home.

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals called several animal rescue groups for assistance Tuesday after receiving an anonymous tip.

When the groups arrived at the Patricia Avenue home, they found about 100 cats inside the house and in a backyard structure.

“Everywhere you looked, there was just cats,” said Renee Kraft, founder of Save a Stray Rescue. “The smell hits you first before you even get into the house. It was gross.”

“The conditions were absolutely horrific. They were living in their own feces,” said Frankie Floridia, with Strong Island Animal Rescue League. “Just absolute filth.”

“You just seen all these animals, and they were just crying, coming up, like begging us to take them,” said Doreen Simonson, with Last Hope Animal Rescue. “It was like they knew, you know, that here’s help, it’s on the way.”

“This is a horrible situation, and I’m glad that these cats will get a second chance on life,” Floridia said. “And we’ll keep on rescuing on, to keep these animals safe and in good hands.”

Last Hope Animal Rescue is now caring for 32 of the cats.

“Right now, we’re just trying to make them all comfortable to let them know they’re safe,” Simonson said.

Paws Unite People, a rehabilitation facility, took in 22 cats. Eight are currently at its facility, and the rest are in foster care. Save a Stray Rescue currently has six kittens from the home, and North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue took 11 cats, which volunteers are fostering.

The rescue groups said some of the cats have health problems – like respiratory infections, skin and eye conditions, fleas and matting – so the next step is for each cat to see a vet. Once they have been checked out, they should be up for adoption within the next few weeks.

“They will have a happy ending,” Simonson said.

The SPCA said the conditions inside the home were the result of a breeding operation.

“Ultimately, we need to educate people why it’s important to rescue from small rescues and shelters,” said Virginia Scudder, with the North Fork Country Kids Animal Rescue. “When we support breeders like this, we’re basically giving them the OK to continue this.”

A neighbor told CBS News New York he had no idea what was happening inside the home.

“Happy someone actually did something about it, that it’s no longer here,” he said.

Grace Etzelsberger, 66, has been charged with animal neglect, and the house has been condemned.

Officials said Etzelsberger also goes by the name Grace Rovtar, and they’re looking into if she was licensed to breed the cats. She’s due in court in February.

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.

WBZ

By Penny Kmitt

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    FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A Massachusetts man was reunited with the first responders who saved his life last month when a massive tree slammed onto his car, trapping him inside and leaving him seriously injured.

With his arm in a sling, neck in a brace, and gratitude in his heart, Eric Freeman helped honor those Framingham first responders on Wednesday along with Massachusetts Sen. President Karen Spilka during a small ceremony at the fire station.

“This could have been a very different outcome but we are here surrounded by Framingham’s finest,” Spilka said. “It was a random, freak accident that was just very unfortunate. Because of those that came, the public safety, because of their expertise, their fast action, their compassion, and knowing exactly what to do during this very difficult time helped save Eric.”

The 67-year-old Freeman was driving through Framingham on an early December night when a pine tree suddenly came crashing down. The tree crushed Freeman’s Audi and nearly killed him.

“I was driving along and all of the sudden my head was on the center console of the car, and I was looking out through my moon roof,” he said. “It took a while before I could finally say ‘Help!’ and put some volume into it which was scary.”

Freeman said it was the epitome of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but the right people at the right time is what saved his life.

“I just shook his hand. I can’t believe he’s standing,” Brewster paramedic Don Avery said.

Avery was on his way to a different call when he happened to come across the scene.

“I didn’t expect to see anybody alive,” Avery said. “The center part of the tree, we were able to get that off with some bystanders.”

Freeman said he doesn’t remember much. But he does remember the sirens, and people helping.

“It gives me a lot of appreciation for civilization, community,” he said. “It’s a lot of people working together. It’s delightful.”

Though Freeman said his recovery has been slow and frustrating, he added that he feels fortunate to be alive. He has a plate screwed into his skull and a bar that goes down into his spine.

Today, Freeman and his wife Kathleen say they have a new appreciation for life, and the community around them.

“It’s nice to hear the different accounts from the first responders and understanding how this all came together and worked so well,” Kathleen said.

Eric is an avid skier and hiker, two activities now on hold as he still faces a long road to recovery.

“Skiing, going back and letting Wildcat know whose boss,” he said. “I may not be able to do what I did before. But hopefully I’ll still be able to hit the mountains hard.”

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.