Virginia’s longest-living state police trooper dies at 102

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By WTVR News Staff

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    MECHANICSVILLE, Virginia (WTVR) — Robert “Rock” Howard, the longest-living Virginia State Police trooper, died May 5 at the age of 102.

Howard was born in Dinwiddie and lived in Highland Springs. He served 33 years with the Virginia State Police in Richmond and Fredericksburg from 1951 until his retirement in 1984.

His funeral was held Tuesday, where a Virginia State Police Honor Guard presented Howard’s family with a Virginia flag. Howard will be buried in his VSP uniform at a later date.

Colonel Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said:

“We are grateful for Mr. Howard’s service and enduring connection with the Virginia State Police Family. We are thankful for the opportunity to stand alongside him – and his family – one final time on the day he’s laid to eternal rest.”

Howard was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Louise, and his daughter, Trudie. He is survived by his sister, his son, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, and his great-great-grandson.

His grandchildren, Angela New and Billy Shaw, said:

“Our grandfather lived a long, fulfilling life, and was truly dedicated to serving others. He would be truly honored to know that the department he dedicated his life to honored him in his final hours.”

On his 100th birthday in 2024, Howard was recognized for his service to Virginia at the State Police headquarters.

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Savannah acid attack victim criticizes mayor over comments, police for withholding information

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Greg Coy

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — The woman injured in a December acid attack in Forsyth Park is criticizing Savannah Mayor Van Johnson over remarks she says were speculative and unhelpful, while also faulting police for not publicly releasing a description of a possible suspect.

Ashley Wasielewski, through a family member, said the mayor’s recent comments during his weekly news conference were “irresponsible” and risked distracting from the search for the person who attacked her.

Mayor suggests attack may have been personal During the briefing, Johnson was asked whether the Dec. 10 attack appeared to be random. He said he would leave that determination to police, but added that the case did not make sense to him and that, in his view, an acid attack “is really a really personal thing.”

Johnson also said he was unfamiliar with any similar acid attack in Savannah and noted that officers he had spoken with could not recall one either.

Wasielewski’s family pushed back strongly.

“From our family’s perspective, we want to be very clear — there is no known personal connection between Ashley and her attacker,” the family said in a statement. “The mayor suggesting on multiple occasions that this attack ‘feels personal’ — without any evidence — not only risks shifting focus away from identifying the attacker but directly undermines the need for credible leads.”

The family added that Wasielewski, her relatives and friends were “personally offended and angered” by the mayor’s remarks.

Family says suspect description should be public The family also criticized Savannah police and city officials for not sharing a description of the possible attacker, saying both Wasielewski and a witness had provided information that could help identify him.

A witness, K. Kendal, told WJCL 22 News in January that he saw a man on the same footpath as Wasielewski shortly before the attack. Kendal described him as about 6 feet tall, with what appeared to be dreadlocks, and dressed in black.

Kendal said the man seemed to calm down before screams rang out.

“That is when I heard her screaming, ‘Help me, help me,’” Kendal said.

The family said authorities should release any information that could help the public identify the person responsible. They noted that more than $100,000 in reward money has been offered in the case.

They also said video recently referenced by officials comes from a heat-sensor camera near the park and does not show visually identifiable features of the attacker.

City defends decision not to release video At the same news conference, Johnson backed law enforcement’s decision not to release the video, saying doing so could fuel speculation, generate unreliable tips and drain investigative resources.

He said releasing the footage could also interfere with efforts to build a prosecutable case.

After Wasielewski’s criticism, the mayor’s office issued a statement defending Johnson’s remarks and accusing media outlets of mischaracterizing them.

“I categorically reject any attempt by WJCL, or any other media outlet, to mischaracterize my words, sensationalize, or capitalize off the pain of the victim and victim’s family,” the statement said.

The mayor’s office added that the city’s “top and only priority is finding justice for Ms. Wasielewski” and said that focus would remain unchanged.

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Detective works full time to revisit decades-old cold cases

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Abner Sosa

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    BENTONVILLE, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — Nearly 20 years after Pea Ridge teenager April Andrews disappeared while walking to church, Benton County investigators say her case is still active and still moving forward.

The Andrews case, which reaches 20 years unsolved in July, is one of more than 20 cold cases now being revisited by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office as the agency dedicates one detective full-time to unsolved investigations.

Lt. Detective Hunter Petray, who has worked in criminal investigations for more than a decade, was assigned exclusively to cold cases earlier this year after previously balancing them alongside active investigations.

“Just in the four or five months, we’ve made significant progress,” Petray said.

The sheriff’s office says the cases range from missing persons to homicides and unidentified human remains, with some investigations dating back to the 1970s.

Petray said modern advances in DNA testing and surveillance technology are changing how investigators approach decades-old cases.

“Technology has changed. DNA technology has advanced,” Petray said. “Something that you had tested, say, 20-plus years ago, you need to have submitted again for retesting just because the technology has advanced so much.”

He said newer cases can sometimes be easier to solve because of cell phone data, digital records and the widespread use of security cameras, tools investigators did not have decades ago.

“You can go on Amazon and buy a Ring or Blink home security system for $100,” Petray said. “Years ago, that wasn’t the case.”

The work often involves revisiting old evidence, re-contacting witnesses and using newer forensic methods to identify previously unknown victims.

Petray said the sheriff’s office recently worked with outside forensic laboratories to identify previously unidentified homicide victims, helping investigators generate new leads. In one case, investigators were able to close the investigation after identifying the victim, though the suspected offender had already died.

Other investigations remain active.

Among them is the disappearance of Andrews, who vanished in 2006 and remains one of Northwest Arkansas’ most well-known missing persons cases.

Another is the 1989 killing of Dana Stidham, a Bella Vista teenager whose death remains unsolved.

Petray said investigators are also working to identify remains found near railroad tracks in Gentry in 1983. DNA testing is expected to play a key role in determining the person’s identity.

Despite technological advances, Petray said time remains one of the biggest challenges in cold case work.

“Every day that goes by, your cold case, it gets more difficult to solve,” Petray said, citing fading memories and witnesses or family members who may have died.

Still, he believes most cases can eventually be solved.

“I’m of the belief that any case is solvable. Just some are tougher than others,” Petray said.

He also believes someone still holds information that could help investigators.

“I fully believe that in every single case that I have on my board, somebody knows something that they’ve not reported,” Petray said.

Petray said the term “cold case” can be misleading for families still searching for answers.

“The case is never cold to the family,” he said. “They live it every day.”

Anyone with information connected to Benton County cold cases is asked to contact the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.

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Fayetteville residents press Swarm Aero at tense town hall over drone development

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Lakyra Banks

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    FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas (KHBS, KHOG) — A heated town hall at the Fayetteville Public Library stretched late into Wednesday night as residents demanded answers from defense drone company Swarm Aero over its operations and future in the city.

For nearly three hours, community members questioned company leaders about artificial intelligence, transparency and whether Fayetteville could become a hub for military technology. The meeting was expected to continue well past 11 p.m.

The often-contentious gathering featured boos, applause and shouted demands for answers as Swarm Aero CEO Peter Kalogiannis defended the company’s mission.

“We are building aircraft that allow humans to operate more efficiently,” Kalogiannis told the crowd.

Before the meeting began, protesters gathered outside the library carrying signs opposing the company.

“I want to see them shut down,” said Abel Tomlinson, founder of the Arkansas Anti-war Alliance. “I want to see the Fayetteville City Council side with the people, that they listen to the people instead of the war profiteers.”

The town hall was encouraged by Fayetteville City Council member Teresa Turk, who said residents deserved a chance to question the company directly. She urged those in attendance to remain calm.

“Please be civil,” Turk said.

Swarm Aero opened a facility in south Fayetteville earlier this year. The company says it develops large, autonomous unmanned aircraft. Kalogiannis told attendees the company is focused on defense and that its initial client would be the U.S. Department of Defense.

That answer drew sharp criticism from some in the audience, who challenged the company’s claim that its work is intended to prevent war and save lives.

Residents also accused the company of operating in secrecy, raising concerns about nondisclosure agreements signed by some city leaders and pressing Kalogiannis on who encouraged Swarm Aero to come to Fayetteville.

Kalogiannis said U.S. Rep. Steve Womack suggested the company look at Northwest Arkansas and said Fayetteville appealed to the company because of its educated and engaged workforce.

When he declined to identify other business leaders involved, the room erupted with shouts of “Name them!”

At least one attendee voiced support for the company, saying Fayetteville “would be fools to turn this down” and asking for a job application.

The debate over Swarm Aero is expected to continue. Fayetteville city leaders are scheduled to hold a hearing Tuesday on zoning tied to the company after a resident filed an appeal.

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Applebee’s operator settles sexual harassment lawsuit for $270,000

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Shannon Delcambre

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — A restaurant operator has settled a lawsuit over allegations that young workers were harassed at a location in Shelby County.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) said Quality Restaurant Concepts, the operator of dozens of Applebee’s restaurants across the Southeast, has agreed to pay $270,000 to settle a federal sexual harassment lawsuit.

The EEOC said a general manager at the Chelsea Applebee’s location repeatedly made unwanted sexual comments, advances, and physical contact toward female employees, including minors, beginning in April 2023.

Despite complaints about this conduct and the general manager’s prior history at another Quality Restaurant Concepts restaurant, the company failed to act, according to the EEOC.

The lawsuit also alleged that other employees and customers engaged in similar behavior.

“Employers have a duty to protect young workers, who are among the most vulnerable employees in the workplace, especially in the restaurant industry,” said Marsha Rucker, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Birmingham District Office. “By enacting strong policies and procedures to ensure that all complaints of sexual harassment are taken seriously and adequately investigated, employers can better fulfill their obligations under federal law to create a safe work environment free from harassment.”

As part of the settlement, the company must implement new training, policy changes, and stronger reporting procedures.

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Walmart curbside trip turns violent after alleged armed carjacking

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Nick Sloan

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — A man accused of robbing a woman at gunpoint outside a Kansas City Walmart was arrested after a chase through an apartment complex and wooded area, according to court records.

Jackson County prosecutors charged Eugene Wallace with first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm after the Saturday afternoon chaos near U.S. 40 Highway.

A probable cause statement on the case said Kansas City police were called around 12:30 p.m. Saturday to the Walmart at 11601 E. U.S. 40 Highway for what started as a disturbance call but escalated into an armed carjacking.

Police said a woman was waiting for curbside groceries inside her Kia when a man wearing a black hoodie and a cast on his left arm approached her with a handgun and ordered her out of the car.

The victim tracked her AirPods after the robbery and told officers they were pinging near an apartment complex elsewhere in Kansas City.

Officers responding to the area saw Wallace behind the wheel of the stolen Kia while another man in a red shirt jumped out and walked away.

Police said Wallace then sped through the apartment complex’s parking lot, hit a dead end, ditched the car and ran into a wooded area.

Court records say Wallace ignored commands from officers before police caught him after a brief struggle.

Officers recovered a Glock 19 loaded with 15 rounds from Wallace’s waistband, along with another loose 9mm round, according to the probable cause statement.

It was later discovered the handgun had allegedly been stolen earlier that same day during a theft from a vehicle case in Independence.

Detectives also recovered a black hoodie allegedly worn during the robbery and prescription medication bearing Wallace’s name inside the stolen Kia, court records state.

Police said surveillance video showed Wallace apparently casing both the victim and her Kia before approaching the driver’s door and carrying out the robbery.

Court records show Wallace is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions.

A judge set Wallace’s bond at $100,000 with 10% authorized. If released, court records show he would be placed on GPS monitoring and house arrest and barred from possessing firearms or contacting victims or witnesses.

Wallace’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 10 in Jackson County court.

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Backyard game guru bets on new soccer-bocce hybrid

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Jerry Olenyn

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    CHICO, California (KHSL) — Skyler Boles has already helped catch lightning in a bottle once.

Now, the man who played a pivotal role in transforming Spikeball from a casual backyard hobby into a national phenomenon is betting his latest invention can do the same.

The new venture is called Futbocce, a hybrid sport that blends the global reach of soccer with the strategic simplicity of bocce ball.

The rules of Futbocce are designed to be intuitive. Much like traditional bocce, the game centers on a singular target known as the “pallino.” In Boles’ version, the pallino is a white soccer ball kicked anywhere across an open field. Players then take turns kicking their team’s balls to see who can land closest to the mark.

“It’s a simple idea,” Boles said. “You’re playing bocce ball, but just playing with your feet. It’s just a new take on a fun backyard game.”

The idea struck Boles two years ago at Community Park in Chico. While playing a round of traditional bocce, he looked over at a nearby soccer match and realized the two concepts could be seamlessly integrated. He trademarked the name that same night.

Boles, a Chico native who currently works for the Bay Area-based lawn game company “Bucket Golf,” believes the crossover appeal is the key to the game’s future success.

“Soccer is the most popular sport in the world,” Boles noted. “Bocce ball is also an internationally known backyard game. I think it has the legs to go global.”

One of the primary draws of Futbocce is its accessibility. Boles says the game is designed for all ages and skill levels.

While the business side is moving forward with trademarks and formal branding, the heart of Futbocce remains rooted in the casual, social atmosphere of a Sunday afternoon at the park.

Given Boles’ track record with Spikeball, local enthusiasts are watching closely to see if this backyard hybrid will become the next staple of American lawn culture. For now, the game is just beginning to find its footing.

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Man’s jail choking death highlights staffing concerns, long Missouri mental health waitlist

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Matt Flener

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    JACKSON COUNTY, Missouri (KMBC) — Timothy Beckmann, 64, started choking on his lunch inside a mental-health jail cell at the Jackson County Detention Center.

He took off his clothes, fell, then hit his head on a desk.

A puddle formed beneath him as he sat motionless beside the toilet on May 19, 2025.

But nobody entered Beckmann’s cell for more than five and a half hours to perform CPR, a KMBC 9 News investigation has uncovered.

He had already spent seven months in jail waiting for mental health treatment after a judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial.

But, until now, the exact timeline surrounding Beckmann’s death has not been publicly disclosed. KMBC 9 News obtained the investigative case file from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office through an open records request.

In that file, a caseworker told investigators, “The whole facility failed Beckmann,” citing chronic staffing shortages that prevented required wellness checks.

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté declined an interview with KMBC about what happened to Timothy Beckmann, instead sending a statement texted by a spokeswoman.

“In accordance with standard procedures,” Forté said, “I will refrain from commenting on the death of Mr. Beckmann as the applicable statutes of limitations for pursuing a wrongful death claim remain in effect.”

THE WAITING LIST Beckmann’s death comes as Missouri’s mental health system struggles with a growing backlog of criminal defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial.

As of this month, 533 people are waiting for placement into mental health treatment after judges have said their trials can no longer move forward due to their mental incompetence.

The average wait time to get mental health treatment so they can stand trial is 14 months.

Most are locked up in county jails across Missouri.

Beckmann, a father of five from St. Louis, spent seven months in jail on the DMH waitlist before his death. KMBC has made efforts to contact his family, but has not heard back.

He ended up in the Jackson County Detention Center after getting released from a long-term care facility.

He was briefly treated at a hospital, “then released onto the street in a city he was not from,” according to Annie Legomsky, Director of Client Advocacy for the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office.

While wandering, Beckmann went into a home, sat at a table to get food, when homeowners called the police. Prosecutors charged him, but a judge said a trial could not move forward until he received restoration to mental competency.

Legomsky believes Beckmann needed mental health treatment, not a lockup in a jail cell.

“He was tortured by his internal demons,” Legomsky said. “He was desperate for help, but he didn’t know how to get it, and he wasn’t able to get it himself.”

Missouri must speed up how defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial receive treatment, Legomsky told KMBC. She pointed to Washington state, where competency evaluations must occur within 10 days, and patients deemed incompetent must either be transferred to treatment or released within a week.

Other states like Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee, California, and Colorado, she said, have all pursued strategies to get people out of jail faster.

“Using the criminal legal system to address severe and persistent mental illness is doomed to fail,” Legomsky said.

Legomsky said Beckmann’s death reflects what advocates have warned about for years.

“If you don’t invest upfront in the resources that people need in evidence-based programming, then the worst that we can imagine is going to happen,” she said.

WAITING LIST GROWS LONGER Beckmann’s story is also part of a class action lawsuit filed last November by The MacArthur Justice Center, the Arch City Defenders, and the ACLU of Missouri, accusing the Missouri Department of Mental Health of failing to provide adequate treatment to people living with serious mental illness and disabilities.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health declined an interview with KMBC about steps to cut down the waitlist, citing the ongoing lawsuit.

In a February budget hearing before Missouri lawmakers, DMH director Valerie Huhn cited several ways the department was trying to keep up within its budget approved by the legislature.

New jail-based competency restoration programs across Missouri. 100 beds to restore are coming online in Jackson County by at least 2030. Outpatient competency restoration programs.

But Huhn acknowledged challenges, including retaining staff and low salary levels.

During testimony, lawmakers also kept coming back to a persistent theme. The waiting list is not dropping.

In the federal civil lawsuit, the ACLU claims people are languishing in jail without treatment.

They cited DMH testimony of the waitlist growing by a third since September 2024 and almost 88% since September 2023.

“NO ONE DIES IN THE JAIL” As for Beckmann’s death, multiple jail employees described what one lieutenant called a longstanding culture inside the Jackson County Detention Center: “No one dies in the jail.”

Investigators wrote that employees believed inmates near death were sent to hospitals so deaths would not officially occur inside the detention center to avoid potential litigation.

A sergeant told investigators when she entered Beckmann’s cell, she found Beckmann cold to the touch, noting rigor mortis had set in.

Jackson County detention officers and jail staff also had several chances to see him struggling or not moving in the jail’s mental health housing unit, according to the investigative case file obtained by KMBC 9 News:

A camera aimed into his jail cell. Jail policy required visual checks of inmates in lockdown every 29 minutes. Multiple officers told investigators those checks of Beckmann did not happen between lunch and dinner on May 19, 2025. Case workers making rounds noticed a slight leg movement about 40 minutes after Beckmann fell. But they didn’t enter his cell.

The Jackson County Medical Examiner eventually ruled Beckmann’s cause of death as choking, saying it was an accident.

The county prosecutor declined charges against any of the jail staff.

Though KMBC obtained the written investigative case file, the Jackson County Sheriff’s office has repeatedly denied KMBC’s request for video of what happened, citing a risk to public safety if video is released, even though the county released video of Marquis Wagner, who died in the jail in 2021. The county told Missouri Sunshine Law applies to each records request individually.

KMBC has also appealed that decision since the county moved inmates into a new detention center last Friday.

KMBC 9 News will continue to investigate the problem and potential solutions to this long waiting list of those deemed incompetent to stand trial and will continue to tell stories with families, attorneys, law enforcement, lawmakers, and Missouri Department of Mental Health officials.

If you have any tips about The Waiting List, email investigates@kmbc.com.

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‘He had planned this’: Mother of attempted abduction victim concerned over sex offender’s sentence

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Beth Carlson

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    PAPILLION, Nebraska (KETV) — Months after her 13-year-old daughter and a friend ran from a man who attempted to lure them into his car, a Sarpy County mother is speaking out about sex offender laws in Nebraska.

63-year-old David Jenkins was sentenced this week for one count of child enticement, to serve 90 days in prison, followed by five years of probation and 25 years on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. Kala, the mother of one of the victims, said horrifying details emerged about what happened during his sentencing.

“As they were walking back to the Dairy Queen, a man circled the block a couple of times, pulled over, blocked them in, and tried to call them into his car,” Kala said. “He had had rope and gloves, bedding and other items in his car.”

Kala said her family is still dealing with the trauma it caused to her young daughter. She said she’s concerned about her family and other families’ safety because of the Nebraska laws set for sex offender sentencing.

“The state itself is ranked highly for being one of the best places to raise a family. But I think when it comes to sexual predators and sexual offenses, I think the sentencing is our lax,” Kala said.

Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Leighandra Hazlett said Jenkins intended to harm the two young girls.

“David Jenkins took a sense of safety and security and innocence from these girls. This is not supposed to happen in Papillion or anywhere,” Hazlett said.

Sarpy County Attorneys worked with Kala and her family after the incident. Chief Deputy Attorney John Reisz said they looked at pursuing the maximum sentence for the charges, which is three years.

“As they were walking back to the Dairy Queen, a man circled the block a couple of times, pulled over, blocked them in, and tried to call them into his car,” Kala said. “He had had rope and gloves, bedding and other items in his car.”

Kala said her family is still dealing with the trauma it caused to her young daughter. She said she’s concerned about her family and other families’ safety because of the Nebraska laws set for sex offender sentencing.

“The state itself is ranked highly for being one of the best places to raise a family. But I think when it comes to sexual predators and sexual offenses, I think the sentencing is our lax,” Kala said.

Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Leighandra Hazlett said Jenkins intended to harm the two young girls.

“David Jenkins took a sense of safety and security and innocence from these girls. This is not supposed to happen in Papillion or anywhere,” Hazlett said.

Sarpy County Attorneys worked with Kala and her family after the incident. Chief Deputy Attorney John Reisz said they looked at pursuing the maximum sentence for the charges, which is three years.

Kala posted online about the horrifying incident, calling for more education around tougher punishments in the state.

“I think the most surprising thing that came from that is my inbox was flooded with hundreds of people that have very similar stories, with people that have had very minor to no sentences, or who have had or been repeat offenders and had nothing really has changed,” Kala said.

She said she’s working with state and local leaders to discuss how they can prioritize safety for families like hers.

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New Hampshire gets its first Safe Haven baby box at Manchester Fire Department

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Kendra Broddus

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    MANCHESTER, New Hamsphire (WMUR) — In a first for New Hampshire, an electronically monitored Safe Haven baby box has been installed at the Manchester Fire Department.

The box will automatically call 911 when the door is opened.

Inside the box is an orange bag with information about the Safe Haven Law, along with forms the mother can fill out about the baby’s medical history if she chooses to.

Once the door is shut, it locks to make sure no one unauthorized can take the baby.

Inside the box, the temperature is kept between 75 and 80 degrees. There’s also a camera to capture when a baby is placed inside.

A baby can be surrendered at any hospital or at a staffed church, fire department or law enforcement facility, but the box offers a new secure option for a mother looking to surrender their baby without a face-to-face interaction.

“This fire station here has been a safe haven for many, many years, and the baby box hasn’t changed that,” said Manchester Fire Chief Ryan Cashin. “It just allows for the anonymity of the mother and that extra layer of allowing them to safely drop off that baby in a time of need.”

The box was installed a year after Manchester first responders found an infant in Pine Island Pond in March 2025. Manchester police lovingly named her Baby Grace.

In February 2026, Hepay Juma, 26, of Manchester, was arrested in connection with the case and charged with reckless second-degree murder.

“That call is one of the calls that will stick with my members for their entire lives. So, that’s not one that ever goes away,” Cashin said. “It was important to us to do something moving forward. To give an option, to give a chance that this wouldn’t happen again.”

To learn more about New Hampshire’s Safe Haven Law click here.

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