Author: CNN Newsource

By Jennifer Emert

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    FAIRVIEW, North Carolina (WLOS) — Hurricane Helene’s wrath claimed 108 lives to date across western North Carolina. One single family, the Craig family, suffered tremendously, losing 11 loved ones to a landslide. Even in their deep grief, a thread of hope remains.

“You never know what’s going to bring it up. What song or smell or whatever, it just happens,” said Alicia Craig about the storm that forever changed her and her extended family’s lives.

To say Helene ripped apart the fabric of the Craig family hardly describes what they’ve endured over the last year.

“We were very close, we were very good friends, explained Alicia Craig of the relationship with her mother-in-law, Sandy Craig.

Among the 11 family members lost during Helene were her in-laws, Ronnie and Sandy Craig.

“It’s just a relationship you would want a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law to have, so I was very fortunate for that,” said Craig. “The night before the storm, she had come over and got our dog, and she was like I’ll trade you a pizza for a dog. I remember her coming out with Hank, our dog and she had put a raincoat on him because it was raining so bad and I was like I’ll bring your pizza in and she was like no, no, I’ll bring him to the car and I was like if I’d only known, I would have gone in and stayed and talked to them, you know for hours. We didn’t know any of this was going to happen,” explained Craig, as tears gently rolled down her cheeks. “I guess that’s the hardest part, knowing we’re still here, and that they’re not. And we’ll never be able to get that back, at least we have the memories.”

Memories turned into keepsakes after some of Sandy’s treasures were pulled from the mud.

“It was just a picture of my mother-in-law, and it was one of her ficus trees she had, and a little bench that I had here at the house, and just made that her little special corner,” said Craig about the memorial set up in her home to honor her mother-in-law.

A separate tribute for her father-in-law, Ronnie, has also been created in another area of their home, built by Ronnie Craig.

The dress Strangers found countless belongings from the families’ homes and laid them out gently at the Garren Creek Fire Department.

“I kept walking by this dress and Bible. I was thinking to myself, when I would go by the dress, every few weeks, that would be so great if someone could figure out whose dress that is,” said Craig.

Covered in mud, it remained unmistakably familiar.

“I sent a picture of it to her sister, and I was like, ‘Do you think this is Sandy’s dress?’ and she was like, ‘I do,’” said Craig.

Determined to salvage what the storm had nearly shredded, Alicia Craig tried dry cleaner after dry cleaner.

“I’d walk in with this plastic bag, full of mud, with her dress in it, and they were like, ‘We’re not touching that.’ And I was like, ‘Okay, it’s okay if it can’t be restored, I get it, I just want it to be dry cleaned,’ and they were like, ‘No.’” said Alicia Craig.

All seemed lost when something needled Alicia to take it somewhere she hadn’t considered. That somewhere was Best Bride.

“I never thought of them as restoring dresses; I only thought you went there to buy dresses. I didn’t think, and then something just told me to take it there,” Craig said.

“It was a Saturday morning and we were just in here going crazy and my staff came and found me back here in the bridal department and said, ‘We have a lady up front, and she has a bridal gown in a trash bag, and we don’t think she’s real happy.’ and I said, ‘Well lets go find out what’s going on,'” said Denise Knapp, co-owner of Best Bride Prom & Tux.

“When we took the dress out of the bag, the bottom of the dress was shredded, and clumps of dirt were on this gown. And I held it up and I shook it and it just came off on the floor,” said Knapp.

Best Bride works with Wedding Gown Preservation in New York and New Jersey, a business restoring gowns since 1913.

“So, the overlay over this dress is silk chiffon, and they were concerned that the chemicals in the cleaners would just continue to disintegrate it, so they really had to take their time,” said Knapp.

They worked gently, relentlessly to erase the storm’s touch, one stain at a time. Boxed up, it recently arrived back at Best Bride.

“It is perfect, in an imperfect way,” said Knapp about the dress’s return.

The return In a rare bright moment after so much loss, News 13 broke the news to Alicia.

“They have it at the store. Do you want to go see it?” News 13 asked.

“I do, yes, I do. I want to go see it and bring it home,” said Craig.

Just a thread in the greater effort.

“Hey, hey, I think Sandy would be proud,” said Knapp as she opened the box to reveal the dress.

“Oh, it’s perfect,” said Craig as she stared through the plastic at the cleaned, preserved dress.

“Isn’t that great?” asked Knapp.

“It does, it looks so good,” said Craig, gently touching the plastic protecting the cleaned dress.

It’s a thread of hope, stitching healing into the fabric of a grieving family.

“I just hope that this helps your family find some closure,” said Knapp, still looking at the dress.

“Yeah, no, it definitely will,” replied Craig, still looking over the cleaned garment.

“And she talks to me all the time, and so I’m glad to do this. It’s a pleasure,” said Knapp.

“She talks to me too,” replied Craig, though some light tears, “So it’s perfect, it looks so good, thank you. I can just see her, through it, yeah, so, it’s good.”

Honoring those lost to Helene Among the Craig family members killed when the land around their homes gave way on September 27, 2024, were Ronnie and Sandy Craig, Jimmy and Lois Souther, Freddie and Terri Pack, Dan and Evelyn Wright, and Angie Craig, along with Tony Garrison and Brandon Ruppe.

Two other residents unrelated to the family also died on September 27, 2024, as a result of the landslide. Neighbors Chase Garrell and Marsha Ball were also killed.

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By Nick Lentz, Joseph Buczek

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    GRAND BLAC, Michigan (WWJ) — At least two people are dead after a shooter opened fire at a church in Michigan during a Sunday morning worship service. Eight other victims have been hospitalized, according to police.

Worshippers were gathered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc Township around 10:25 a.m., Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said. That’s when the suspect, identified as a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan, drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church, exited his vehicle and fired “several rounds” of an assault rifle at hundreds of churchgoers, Renye said at a news conference.

Ten people with gunshot wounds were taken to the hospital, where two victims were pronounced dead. Renye said at an update Sunday afternoon that one victim is in critical condition and seven others were in stable condition.

According to investigators, the suspect deliberately started a fire at the church at some point, though it’s not yet known how the fire was started. Crews have since contained the blaze, but more victims are expected, Renye said.

Police said the gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, died after responding officers “engaged in gunfire” with him. Law enforcement officials are expected to hold another news conference at 8 p.m. You can watch it at the video player above.

Officials have set up an on-site reunification site at a movie theatre on Trillium Circle Avenue. Anyone who needs to connect with someone who was at the church is asked to call the American Red Cross at 248-705-7352.

“This is a dynamic scene,” Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson said in a video recorded at the scene. “The time where we are right now, there’s going to be more updates. Just know that there’s a lot of things that are happening that we are not able to communicate just because of the work that needs to be done.”

Swanson said there is no active threat to the community.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a written statement that it’s been in communication with law enforcement and that it’s thankful for the emergency responders who are helping the victims and their families.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world,” the statement said. “In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

Officials react to Michigan church shooting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer posted a written statement on social media that said, “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc close.”

Grand Blanc Township police said at least 100 Federal Bureau of Investigation agents are responding to the shooting. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the agency is tracking reports of the shooting and that agents are at the scene to assist local authorities.

“Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy,” Patel said.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has received briefings about the incident.

“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy,” Bondi said.

President Trump also said that he has been briefed on the shooting.

“The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY,” Mr. Trump said in a Truth Social post.

According to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, her agency is in communication with “interagency partners.”

Noem added in a social media post on X that, “Sacred places of worship should never fear violence in America. I am praying for the victims of this heinous attack and their families.”

The New York Police Department said early Sunday afternoon that it was deploying “additional resources to religious institutions across the city,” in response to the shooting.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said Sunday that out of an abundance of caution, the Los Angeles Police Department will be increasing patrols at places of worship across the city.

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department said it will have counselors at its facility starting on Monday and through the rest of the week.

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By Doug Myers

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    MANFIELD, Texas (KTVT) — A Union Pacific train blasted into an 18-wheeler in Mansfield on Friday morning, as all occupants of the truck were able to exit safely before impact, fire officials said.

The accident happened in the 300 block of North Street, according to the Mansfield Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

Residents were asked to avoid the area during cleanup and stabilization efforts after the crash. Both the roadway and rail line were promptly cleared and are fully open.

The Mansfield Fire Department, Mansfield Police Department, and Union Pacific responded to the scene of the crash.

“We are thankful that no one was injured this morning, and we appreciate the teamwork of all agencies involved,” the fire department said in a Facebook post.

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By Logan Hall

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    BOSTON, Massachusetts (WBZ) — A historic Baptist church in Boston is undergoing major renovations with help from some former inmates.

Felipe Colon served 21 years in prison for manslaughter, but less than two months after his release, he found himself volunteering at Tremont Temple Baptist Church. He said the restoration work has given his life a new purpose. He is now helping give America’s first integrated church a much-needed makeover.

“We could’ve made a lot of mistakes. We could’ve burned a lot of bridges. But this church burned down, and then 100 years later, it’s being renovated. This is basically an example of what you can do with our own selves,” Colon said.

Inspired by former inmates

Pastor Jamie Owens said seeing crews of volunteers working on the building has been inspiring.

“Just seeing God work through many people, many hands. This particular occasion that we’re able to see a restoration of our main meeting space. It’s just been incredible to see all these different people from all over the city, all over the state,” Owens said.

The church’s balcony chairs had not been replaced since the 1890s. Volunteers are reupholstering and reinstalling the seats, which many described as a painstaking process, but one that volunteers hope will make the sanctuary welcoming once again.

“People do have the ability here in America to reform yourself, and people will be accepting if you are doing the right thing,” Colon said.

The renovations are expected to be finished in October.

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By Jennifer McRae

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    IDAHO SPRINGS, Colorado (KCNC) — A suspect who fit the description of a masked man with a gun, who prompted a lockdown in a Colorado mountain community, was taken into custody on Friday morning. The man was seen walking around downtown Idaho Springs before CBS Colorado news crews called the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office.

That man, later identified as Richard Applequist, was taken into custody after investigators said he fit the description of the masked man seen on video security cameras in the area. Applequist was detained by deputies near the visitor’s center in Idaho Springs and taken to the hospital for evaluation.

“While media was on scene, the suspect came down Highway 103 and walked right past news cameras as they were recording their stories. This is amazing, this never happens,” said Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jenny Fulton. “This is how we got our suspect. We had media partners at CBS and other media partners, report by calling 911 and saying, ‘Hey, I think we just found your suspect.’ And you were spot-on, and he’s in custody.”

That behavior prompted a shelter-in-place for that community on Thursday night.

The Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office released video showing the suspect trespassing on private property. He can be seen in the video armed with a gun and wearing tactical colors. Deputies say on Tuesday, Applequist trespassed on two properties on Peaceful Valley Lane and stole more than $2,000 in items and caused another $2,000 in damage. Then on Thursday, he allegedly trespassed again on another property on Ute Creek Road.

The sheriff’s office says Applequist was spotted by deputies on Thursday night on Highway 103. After a short chase, he crashed his vehicle and ran off. They said the suspect remained at large until early Friday morning. He was arrested and booked into the Clear Creek County Jail.

The shelter-in-place was lifted about 1:30 a.m. Friday and Highway 103 reopened.

Applequist is facing multiple charges in connection with the reported trespasses and burglaries, including:

– Two counts of first-degree burglary – Possession of a weapon by a previous offender – Eluding – Impersonating a peace officer – Theft – Criminal mischief – Reckless endangerment – Resisting arrest – Third-degree burglary

Investigators believe Applequist may be connected to other burglaries in the same general area over the past several weeks.

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By Riley Rourke

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    ATTLEBORO, Massachusetts (WBZ) — The story of a dog that was abandoned in a cage in Attleboro, Massachusetts, with a sign that said “free” on it was a hoax, police said on Friday.

Originally, police were searching for the owner of a 6-month-old Yorkshire Terrier puppy after it had been left near Bliss Dairy on Park Street on Monday. Two people said they had found the dog on the side of the road and took it to the 24-Hour Seasons Corner Market just before 2 a.m.

They left it with the employee after saying they didn’t know what to do with it. The employee allowed a Pawtucket resident to take the dog home, but later reported the incident to the police after being concerned for the dog’s well-being.

But days later, police confirmed the Attleboro Sun Chronicle’s reporting that the couple who dropped the dog off did not find it on the side of the road, and the story had been made up.

Attleboro Police Chief Kyle Heagney said that the wife had been given the dog by her coworker and brought it home to her husband in Cumberland. Her husband did not want the puppy, so they drove to the store and came up with the story to leave it there, Heagney told the Chronicle.

The dog was handed over to Attleboro Animal Control after police tracked down the Pawtucket resident. The adorable dog will be available for adoption after the city works through the legalities of ownership. Heagney said that there is a significant public interest in adopting the animal.

Police told the Chronicle that they will not press charges for abandonment since it does not meet the legal standard for the charge. The names of the couple have not been released.

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