Author: CNN Newsource

By Jay Shakur

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    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — A College Hill couple is seeking answers and wants accountability after Cincinnati police shot their dog in the head during a response to an alleged burglary call at their home.

Alicia Wheeler-Stevens called 911 on Tuesday Feb. 10 when she thought someone was breaking into her home on West North Bend Road. When officers arrived, one of her dogs escaped from the house, prompting police to open fire.

police shoot dog during 911 call Alicia Wheeler’s Dog .jpg Photo by: provided Alicia and William Wheeler’s dog By: Jay Shakur Posted 11:47 AM, Feb 14, 2026 CINCINNATI — A College Hill couple is seeking answers and wants accountability after Cincinnati police shot their dog in the head during a response to an alleged burglary call at their home.

Alicia Wheeler-Stevens called 911 on Tuesday Feb. 10 when she thought someone was breaking into her home on West North Bend Road. When officers arrived, one of her dogs escaped from the house, prompting police to open fire.

“I thought that I heard this door open and shut. I was in my living room, which is on the other end of the house,” Wheeler-Stevens told WCPO. “The next thing I know, I heard a gunshot. They shot him in his head.”

Wheeler-Stevens said she watched in horror as her dog, Max, bled on the ground after being shot.

“That’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life,” she said.

Her husband, William Stevens, said he arrived to find police cars blocking the street and officers with guns drawn.

“I walk into the side of the house, grab my dog. They told me not to go in. I’m going in anyway — you shot my dog.” Stevens said. “So I get him, put him on the leash. He’s bleeding profusely. I mean, he’s bleeding so bad my car is full of blood.”

Stevens rushed Max to an emergency veterinarian, where doctors found metal fragments in the dog’s head. Max is now recovering at home, but the couple said veterinary bills have reached approximately $3,000, and the dog may require additional surgery.

Stevens questioned why five officers couldn’t subdue one dog without using deadly force.

“You shoot him instead of (Tasing) him? I don’t understand that.” Stevens said. “And then we don’t get an apology or nothing. I believe they need to pay for all my vet bills, which is totally about $3,000 as of this moment.”

The couple said police left the scene without apologizing or providing a written report about the incident. They have had no contact from Cincinnati police since the shooting.

Ken Kober, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Queen City Lodge 69, said such situations are tragic but sometimes unavoidable.

“These officers walk into these dangerous situations,” Kober said. “They have a right to defend themselves, whether it’s from somebody that’s armed with a weapon, or, in this case, a dog that may be aggressing upon them. If they believe that they’re going to be bit, they have the right to defend themselves.”

Kober, who spent eight years as a canine handler, said officers’ comfort levels with dogs vary and that some situations develop too quickly for alternative responses.

“It depends on whether the officers are even aware that an animal’s involved,” he said. “You could have no idea that there’s an animal involved until you’re on the porch knocking on a door and somebody’s let a dog go.”

To prevent similar incidents, Kober recommends that people calling 911 inform dispatchers if they have pets, especially dogs that might be aggressive.

“If you can contain that dog, whether you put it in your bathroom, put it in a cage, do something like that, it could prevent tragedies like this from happening,” Kober said.

The Stevens family is now also warning other pet owners to secure their animals before calling 911.

“Be cautious when you call 911, make sure you put your dogs in a room so they don’t get shot,” Stevens said. “They’re like your kids.”

Wheeler-Stevens, who recently underwent spinal surgery, said the trauma has affected both her and her pet.

“I believe my dog’s gonna be traumatized the rest of his life,” she said.

The couple now wants Cincinnati police to pay their veterinary bills and hold the officer who shot their dog accountable.

CPD did not respond to requests for comment or body camera footage from the incident.

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 KGO Staff

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    BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) — Authorities have recovered the body of a missing 22-year-old UC Berkeley student.

Saketh Sreenivasaiah was reported missing on February 10. His body was found by county dive teams at Lake Anza.

Sreenivasaiah was an international student from India.

The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley’s student newspaper, reports the Indian consulate and local police have been in contact with the student’s family.

According to his LinkedIn, he was working toward his master’s degree in the chemical and biomolecular engineering department.

The student paper also reports his roommate was concerned about his recent depressive behavior right before he went missing.

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 Anthony Council

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    LOUISIANA (KATC) — From the front, the Crooked Creek house shows little sign of the powerful storm that moved through the area overnight. The front door remains intact, the roof is still in place, and wooden barriers continue to stand.

Behind the home, however, the damage tells a different story.

For the Heflin family, the fact that their house is still standing is nothing short of a blessing.

The home, which has been in the Heflin family for more than 47 years, survived another major test late Tuesday night when a powerful storm tore through the backyard, leaving a path of destruction just feet from the structure.

For Eudora Heflin and her family of five, the night is now a vivid memory—one they say they will never forget.

“We were in the bathroom, and we hadn’t even lost electricity,” Heflin said. “Then all at once the lights went out, the back doors flew open, and everything happened so fast. I was screaming and crying. I could hear things slamming from one side to the other.”

Outside, the storm left widespread damage across the property. Trees near the family’s pond were knocked down, a chicken coop was blown over, and debris was scattered throughout the yard.

“This was everything this morning before we picked up anything,” Heflin said while showing photos of the damage. “There was stuff scattered everywhere—trees near the dog pens, fencing bent and crushed, and damage around the pool area.”

Getting home during the storm proved difficult for Lucas Gicker and Heflin’s husband, who were traveling in a truck as severe weather moved through the area.

“After we dropped off the trailer, we couldn’t get it back,” Gicker said. “That’s when everything went down. I was trying to get home to my dog, but I couldn’t even make it that far. I just saw stuff flying across my window.”

Despite the damage left behind, Heflin said she is thankful the house itself was not touched.

“It’s a lot tore up,” Heflin said. “But the surrounding things can be replaced. We’re just thankful to still have a house in general.”

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 Kim Rafferty

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    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — I woke up the next morning and knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know how critical that really was for another day or so.

DeShawn McClain went to work unaware of what had happened to her body overnight.

“I missed a morning meeting which I never miss and I sent an email that didn’t make any sense,” McClain said.

Tired and confused, McClain says she could not form a sentence. When an ambulance arrived, she says paramedics quickly knew what happened, rushing her to a Nashville emergency room. But doctors couldn’t figure out why.

“There wasn’t anything that indicated that I was at risk of having another stroke or even having a stroke the first time,” McClain said.

McClain says it took about a year of determination to recover from her stroke in 2024.

“Learning to walk, learning to use my left side of my body, I did a lot of speech therapy,” McClain said.

Not knowing what was happening with her heart, McClain got a LINQ ICM heart monitor. Two years later, she says it brought clarity. The device monitors the heart continuously, sharing heart data with McClain’s doctors.

The device is designed to detect intermittent abnormal heart rhythm episodes like atrial fibrillation, which is a major risk factor for stroke. An unexplained stroke requires further testing, and long-term cardiac monitoring can unlock answers.

“I got the device in May of last year and since then I have gotten back seven or eight reports, all of them have been clear,” McClain said.

Now raising awareness during Heart Month, she says her journey taught her how to advocate for herself and live healthier.

“My diet’s a lot healthier, all the things that doctors say to do, I say go ahead and do those because that will save you a lot of trouble down the road,” McClain said.

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

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 WGBA Staff

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    FOND DU LAC (WGBA) — A 35-year-old woman was found dead after a camper fire at Breezy Hill Campground in Fond du Lac County; four others escaped with non-life-threatening injuries

The sheriff’s office received multiple 911 calls just before 11 a.m. reporting the fire at N4177 Cearns Lane. An adult male and three children safely exited the camper, but the woman was still inside when first responders arrived.

Deputies, along with personnel from the Eden Fire Department and City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue, responded to the scene. The woman was found inside the camper and pronounced dead at the scene while fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

The fire appeared to have originated in the kitchen area and was quickly brought under control by fire personnel.

The male and three children received medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries sustained from the fire. The American Red Cross also assisted at the scene.

The incident remains under investigation by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire and the woman’s manner of death have not yet been determined.

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 Demetrios Sanders

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — Fashion trends are constantly changing, but in Detroit, there’s one accessory that’s transcended generations. From officials to celebrities to everyday Detroiters, hats have been an important part of the city’s style.

At the corner of Gratiot and Bessemore, there’s a store with an old school feel that has kept this tradition alive for more than three decades.

“You can kind of just sense it when you walk into the building,” said Dorian Corbett, co-owner of Hats Galore and More.

But make no mistake — the items inside have stood the test of time.

“One thing that has always stood out is a well-dressed man or a well-dressed couple at that,” said Ryan Yeargin, co-owner of Hats Galore and More.

Hats Galore and More was first opened in 1993 by Robert Yeargin. Since 2021, it has been owned by his son, Ryan, and his great-nephew, Dorian Corbett.

“My mom worked here, my grandpa would help out when he could with his brother running the store, so it’s something that’s very important to me,” Corbett said.

The family-owned business offers lots of classic headwear from Kangol hats to fedoras. Many of the looks have become synonymous with the Motor City.

“I came out this hotel, and he said, ‘Man, you’re always dressed.’ I say, well, where are you from? He said I’m from New York, I said well ‘I’m from Detroit,'” said Roosevelt Barnes, a shopper.

Barnes says growing up, his father and uncles always wore a hat. Since then, they’ve become a mainstay in his wardrobe.

“You’ve only got one chance to make a first impression, and how you dress will be how you are addressed,” Barnes said.

And he’s far from the only one who has come to love the fashion statement.

“If you go back to the old Tiger games and all that, everybody wore a suit, a hat, everything was dressed up. Detroit’s got style,” said Dave Edgar, another shopper.

Although many have worn hats for years, Hats Galore and More has even seen new people coming through their doors.

“Who’ve never worn a hat a day in their lives but they’re interested, they want to branch out,” Corbett said.

The owners say this headwear will be here to stay for a very long time.

“It’ll transcend time as long as you take care of it and it’s well maintained, it’ll last you a lifetime,” Yeargin said.

If you want to check out the shop for yourself, Hats Galore and More is open Monday-Saturday.

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

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 Naja Woods

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    INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — This February marks the 100th anniversary of Black History Month. In central Indiana, two women are turning the milestone into a movement, using books to celebrate Black history, culture and joy all year long.

Natalie Pipkin drives a bus toward learning, but most of the seats are now shelves stacked with stories.

“We have so many stories to tell…we make it easier for people to find,” Pipkin said. “The power of the story is when the book is opened.”

In 2022, Pipkin turned her mission into motion, launching the Black WorldSchoolers Mobile Bookstore.

She travels all across the Midwest, working to provide more access to books that wouldn’t typically be in schools or libraries.

“It’s Indiana’s first bookstore on wheels,” Pipkin said. “Black WorldSchoolers was really about positively shaping how first my children were seeing themselves in the world.”

For Pipkin, every stop has a purpose.

“Our mission is to provide access and awareness to our stories as well as excitement and engagement around reading,” she said. “Not only are these just about Black people, these are by Black people.“

Across central Indiana, DeAndra Beard-Ingram is on a similar page.

“I share books into the world that I think are significant and should be shared over and over with, not just our community, but whoever is willing to read,” said Beard-Ingram, CEO of Beyond Barcodes Books.

With her husband’s help, Beard-Ingram relocated her bookstore from Kokomo to Indianapolis in 2021, one of just a few Black woman-owned bookshops in the city.

“It really was a place for people to come and connect, learn about history,” Beard-Ingram said.

The store closed after the tragic death of Beard-Ingram’s husband. Now, her mission continues; she’s launching a virtual book club, Reading Beyond Racism.

“It’s really creating a safe, a virtual safe space for us to heal and walk together through and work toward liberation,” Beard-Ingram said.

Both women say their work is especially important now.

“It’s so important because history, Black history as we know it, is being intentionally erased, reshaped,” Beard-Ingram said.

“They can take it away. They can ban it. They can make laws against it…Make sure you keep your stories,” Pipkin added.

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.