Couple charged with sexually abusing intoxicated underage female

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By KCCI Web Staff

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    ANKENY, Iowa (KCCI) — An Ankeny couple is accused of providing an underage female with alcohol and sexually abusing her while she was intoxicated.

Authorities have charged Chad and Shannon Biddle with third-degree sexual abuse. According to court documents, the incident happened at the Biddle’s Ankeny home in January.

The couple allegedly gave the victim “liquor and wine,” and both admitted to police that they knew the female was intoxicated, according to criminal complaints.

Documents show the victim says she did not remember what happened when she woke up the next day.

Chad Biddle is set to appear in court on May 21, and Shannon Biddle’s next court date is May 22.

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 law eliminates insurance delays for cancer screenings

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By KCCI Web Staff

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that aims to speed up the process of cancer screenings for patients in Iowa.

The Iowa Cancer Registry reports that the state has the second-highest and fastest-rising cancer rate in the country. Previously, doctors seeking to rule out cancer had to request prior authorization from insurance companies, a process that could take weeks.

Under the new law, insurance companies will no longer require prior authorization for cancer screenings. The legislation also sets deadlines for insurers to communicate with hospitals about the status of patients’ claims.

“By establishing firm timelines for notifications, decisions, and appeals, insurance companies will now be required to provide clear clinical explanations when care is denied. And this helps providers spend less time navigating red tape and more time with the people they serve,” the governor said.

The law will take effect on July 1.

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.

Mother’s advocacy leads to new nitrous oxide law

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Jason Burger

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    SHAWNEE, Oklahoma (KOCO) — A Shawnee mother’s determination to honor her son, who died in a crash involving nitrous oxide intoxication, has led to the passage of the Maddix Bias Act, a new law aimed at restricting the substance’s misuse.

“I was starting to get really down about it, just trying to get it be heard on the senate floor, because that’s all we needed this year,” said Candi Morris, Maddix Bias’s mother.

Mother’s Day was a difficult time for Morris, but the day after, she received a call that lifted her spirits.

“It was a really hard day for me, and the very next day, I got the call that the Governor had signed it,” she said.

The Maddix Bias Act, named after her son, restricts nitrous oxide to medical and dental purposes, as well as automotive and restaurant industries, where it can only be obtained from suppliers. The law makes it a misdemeanor to possess, buy, sell, or transfer nitrous oxide for intoxication purposes. Violators could face up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

When asked how Maddix’s story was received by lawmakers, Morris said, “They understood my goal of not wanting it to happen to another child, and another mother having to bury their child, so they very much understood that.”

Maddix graduated from Tecumseh High School in 2023, where he played baseball and wore the No. 7 jersey. Morris noticed a meaningful coincidence when the bill named after her son was listed as number seven on the Senate agenda.

“It was listed as number 7 on the agenda for the Senate that next day, and that was Maddix’s baseball number his whole life,” she said.

After two years of advocacy, Morris said she feels her son has been guiding her throughout the process.

“It was like a gift from him — and so it seems like I keep getting little crumbles whenever I need lifting up just to keep going,” she said.

The Maddix Bias Act will go into effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session.

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Fire crew saves little league playoff game after power outage

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Michael Chen

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    EL CAJON, California (KGTV) — A power outage almost ended a Little League playoff game in Blossom Valley — until firefighters came to the rescue.

A power line began arcing just before 7 p.m. Tuesday near the Rios Canyon Little League field in Blossom Valley, threatening to cancel a District 41 Tournament of Champions playoff game between two teams of kids ages 10 to 12.

The outage struck in the third inning, knocking out the field lights and putting the rest of the game in doubt.

“Our electrical lights started to flicker, and a few seconds later, we lost all power,” parent and league board member Ryan Abell said.

Abell said the stakes were high. Pitcher pitch count rules could have helped force playoff games to be rescheduled if the game couldn’t be completed.

“We thought we were going to have to cancel the game, potentially the whole week of play,” Abell said.

Lakeside Fire responded to the scene. After securing the area ahead of SDG&E repairs, a fire captain learned the game was in jeopardy.

“Maybe a little heartfelt. He didn’t want the kids to go home and be sad,” said Fire Marshal Jeremy Davis. “Let’s let them play baseball.”

The captain got approval to bring in a rescue unit equipped with a 15-foot-tall LED light tower sporting six powerful lights. The unit was set up right next to the left field line, while remaining available for emergency calls.

When I asked Abell about his reaction when the light tower went up, he said, “The game was saved.”

“It lit up the entire outfield, a good majority of the infield, and allowed us to finish the game,” Bell said.

After the game, the kids got a tour of the fire rig.

“Big smiles on their faces, parents too,” Abell said.

Abell said the moment left a lasting impression on everyone there.

“You’re feeling these guys are true heroes, willing to rally around the community. They saw that these boys and their families mattered. Incredibly grateful for their service, above and beyond,” Abell said. “This is going to be a memory we will never forget.”

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KGTV verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Oklahoma executes man convicted of killing ex-girlfriend and her baby in Tulsa fire

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Chantelle Navarro

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    MCALESTER, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Oklahoma has carried out the execution a man convicted of beating his ex-girlfriend to death and killing her 7-month-old baby in a 2007 Tulsa fire.

Death row inmate Raymond Johnson was put to death Thursday morning at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He was pronounced dead at 10:12 a.m.

Learn more about his case below.

Raymond Johnson murder conviction He was convicted after beating his girlfriend, 24-year-old Brooke Whitaker, to death with a hammer and then setting a fire that killed her daughter, Kya, in June 2007. Their bodies were discovered in a charred home in east Tulsa.

Investigators said Johnson struck Whitaker five or six times with a hammer before dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson and sentenced to death.

Before killing his ex-girlfriend and her baby, Johnson had been released on parole after serving time for a deadly shooting in the 1990s.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond Statement Justice has been served for Brooke Whitaker and her infant daughter, Kya. Their lives were taken far too soon in a heinous act of violence. I pray that Brooke’s and Kya’s family find some measure of peace today after enduring unimaginable pain and grief for nearly two decades.

Raymond Johnson’s last meal Oklahoma Department of Corrections officials said Johnson’s last meal request was a 12-piece boneless chicken, a pint of gizzards, a side of fried pickles, and four packets each of hot sauce and ranch dressing.

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Man charged after allegedly hurling rock at endangered monk seal

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Jeremiah Estrada

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    LAHAINA, Hawaii (KITV) — A Washington man is in custody and faces federal charges after he allegedly threw a large rock at an endangered Hawaiian monk seal in Lahaina on May 5.

A federal investigation began after a video appearing to show a man throwing a large rock toward a Hawaiian monk seal named Lani on Maui spread online. The viral incident involving the endangered animal, which happened on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, led to immediate response from law enforcement and widespread public outrage.

United States Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii announced that Igor Mykhaylovych Lytvynchuk, 38, of Covington, Washington, was charged by criminal complaint on Tuesday, May 12, with harassing and attempting to harass an endangered Hawaiian monk seal after he allegedly threw a large rock at the seal’s head. This offense is in violation of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Following the suspect’s federal charges he was arrested on Wednesday, May 13, near Seattle, Washington by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration special agents.

According to the complaint, Lytvynchuk was seen and filmed on May 5 walking along the shoreline of Lahaina. The suspect was seen tracking Lani’s movements as she playfully pushed a floating log close to the shoreline.

Lytvynchuk then picked up a large rock, aimed and allegedly threw it directly at Lani’s head. The rock narrowly missed her nose, startling her and caused her to rear up out of the water.

Witnesses immediately confronted Lytvynchuk and told him they contacted law enforcement. In response, he allegedly responded that he was “rich enough to pay the fines” before he walked away.

Witnesses also reported that Lani was immobile for a long period of time after the incident, which caused much concern over her condition.

Lytvynchuk is currently in custody and is scheduled to make his first court appearance at the Seattle courthouse at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 14.

If Lytvynchuk is convicted as charged, he could serve up to one year in prison for each charge, along with a term of supervised release. Lytvynchuk could also be fined up to $50,000 under the Endangered Species Act and fined up to $20,000 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

“The unique and precious wildlife of the Hawaiian Islands are renowned symbols of Hawaii’s special place in the world and its incredible biodiversity,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. ”We are committed to protecting our vulnerable wild species, in particular endangered Hawaiian monk seals, like Lani. We pledge that those who harass and attempt to harm our protected wildlife will face rapid accountability in federal court.”

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‘Can save lives’: Teen given a second chance helps donate AED to community center

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Andie Bernhardt

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    FRANKLIN, Wisconsin (WDJT) — A Franklin teen given a second chance in life is sharing his story to make sure his community is prepared to take action.

“It was scary, didn’t know what to do,” said Jeremy Zahn, Carter Zahn’s father.

It’s been nearly two years since now 18-year-old, Carter Zahn, was playing in a basketball tournament when his life changed forever.

“Within five minutes of playing his first game he collapsed,” said Jeremy Zahn. “At first, we weren’t sure what was happening. All of the sudden a teammate’s mom jumped into action and administrated CPR, called for AED and also 911.”

That mom’s quick thinking and an AED on hand saved Carter’s life and now he’s paying that forward to his hometown.

“You never know when something like this could happen,” said Carter Zahn. “It could happen any moment, anytime. I was healthy, I had no underlining conditions, so anyone can experience it. Just having a SaveStation, especially outside can save lives.”

Now, thanks to the help of Carter, the Franklin Community Center has a SaveStation, with an AED at the ready.

The AED talks through each step, so anyone can respond in an emergency where every second matters.

“If the AED wasn’t there, the outcome could’ve been very different,” said Carter Zahn. “Because you only have about a couple minutes to really save that person.”

From youth sports to school extracurriculars and community events, the center is heavily used by residents. Now, they can play prepared and worry free.

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.

Parents outraged after not receiving their teen’s prom dresses from Humboldt Park shop

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Marissa Sulek

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    CHICAGO (WBBM) — A crowd of fired-up parents surrounded a Humboldt Park dress shop, saying the owners never handed over the gowns they paid thousands for, and the dance is this weekend.

Parents were riled up outside Makeda Designs, at 1530 N. Pulaski Rd., on Wednesday afternoon to the point where they called police to file reports after they learned they would not be receiving the custom prom dresses they had waited months for.

“We want to pursue charges against her,” said parent Catherine Smith.

Smith said her daughter has been coming to the location every month since January to get alterations on her prom dress. It was supposed to be ready by this weekend, but Smith said she did not receive any response from the owner, even though she paid her $2,200 for the dress.

The families say they went to Makeda Designs because the owner, Makeda Evans, makes gorgeous gowns as seen on TikTok.

“She recently made my mom’s wedding dress in November, and it was lovely, it was wonderful,” said senior Teriyana Gage.

Gage booked and paid for her dress over a year ago. She says she was supposed to pick up her dress hours before prom last Friday, but it was still unfinished, leaving her with an hour to find a dress at another store.

“And this is the only day that I have for prom, you don’t get another prom at all,” she said.

“I got this two hours before my daughter’s prom,” said Taneshia Lambert.

Lambert actually got a dress. She said she paid over $1,200 for her daughter’s gown, but she showed that the sequins were hot-glued, the ribbon holding the dress together broke, and the bottom was not hemmed.

While parents were on the sidewalk near the store, the owner, Makeda Evans, posted on Facebook saying she apologizes for not finishing their dresses and will work it out with each customer after she deals with what she calls a mental health crisis.

“The police was out here earlier, and I spoke to them, and they said they had been here three years ago, two years ago,” said parent Roy Pierson.

Pierson says he believes Evans is making thousands off his daughter, Rakyra, and the rest of the parents. Rakyra says she just wanted Evans to be honest.

“If you ain’t have the, um, time to finish the person dress, you could’ve just been straightforward,” she said.

So everyone here could have found the dress of their dreams elsewhere.

“It’s sad to say that she’s stealing these moments away from our kids,” Smith says.

Chicago police said at least one person broke the window of the shop on Wednesday evening around 8:40 p.m. They say multiple people then entered and took property from inside, but did not say if any of the items were prom dresses.

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.

Teenager “brings joy to everyone” while braving terminal cancer

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By Tony Peterson, Derek James

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    Minnesota (WCCO) — A Twin Cities teenager is facing an unimaginable battle: terminal cancer. She’s fortunate enough to have family by her side through her fearless fight as they all hope for a miracle.

Sometimes, there are no words to say to someone in times of uncertainty. Charlize Hyser, known as Charlie, is facing one of those moments parents fear.

Last Thanksgiving, normal life changed for the sophomore at Buffalo High School. She started losing feeling in her right arm and shoulder.

“Things got progressively worse. Her strength on her right side, she started to have numbness and tingling in her hand,” said mother Kira Hyser.

After multiple doctor visits, she eventually got an MRI on Feb. 6. That same day, Charlie Hyser was admitted to Children’s Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis. A brain tumor was removed. A rare terminal cancer, called diffused midline glioma, remained.

It was a shock to the family, especially her mother.

“She’s my entire world. The worst feeling, not being able to take this from her. To think, ‘Why couldn’t this be me?’ I want it to be me. She doesn’t deserve this. It shouldn’t happen to a 16-year-old,” said Kira Hyser.

Several months after surgery, Charlie Hyser was moved to the inpatient rehab center at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.

“When Charlie came, she had trouble moving her arm and her leg on the right side. She’s made a lot of progress on her functional recovery,” said Dr. Ian Ackers, who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Gillette Children’s.

She is now relearning how to walk, eat and other daily activities with her mother by her side.

“She shows up every single day. She gets out of bed, she smiles, she laughs. She brings joy to everyone,” said Kira Hyser.

“I know there’s never going to be a cure in the next five years, and you know, maybe with the clinical trials, I’ll live past five years,” said Charlie Hyser.

The family will go home on Friday and Charlie Hyser will hopefully back to school in a week. To follow her journey, visit her CaringBridge page.

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Police K-9 injures dog in off-duty attack, officials say

CNN Newsource on May 14, 2026

By WCCO Staff

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    GRAND RAPIDS, Minnesota (WCCO) — Police in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, say one of their K-9s attacked another dog Tuesday night, causing “significant injury” to the pet.

The K-9, named Murphy, was home in his yard when he ran at the leashed dog who was walking with its owner, according to Police Chief Andy Morgan.

“We are committed to better understanding the event to ensure this never happens again,” Morgan said.

Morgan said the pet dog underwent “emergency care” but didn’t note its current condition.

He said his department “continues to work with the pet owners.”

Grand Rapids is about 170 miles north of the Twin Cities.

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.