Man charged nearly a year after pickup crashed into Wichita home, critically injuring teen

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By KAKE News Staff

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    WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — A 54-year-old man has been charged nearly a year after he allegedly crashed his pickup truck into a Wichita home, critically injuring a sleeping teenager.

Christopher Alexander was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on Sunday. Online court records show he’s charged with three counts of aggravated battery while driving under the influence, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, and driving while suspended. His bond was set at $150,000.

Deandre “Junior” Rogers Jr. was asleep in his bed on the morning of June 2 when a pickup truck crashed into his home near Friends University. The truck entered through Junior’s bedroom and hit him. Junior, who was 18 years old at the time, became trapped under the truck and was quickly extricated by the Wichita Fire Department.

Police said the pickup truck was heading south, allegedly at a high rate of speed, when it left the road and entered the house.

“The truck entered the home through a bedroom, hitting an 18-year-old male who was asleep in bed,” WPD spokesperson Brad Wright said in June. “It continued through the bedroom into the living room, where it struck several more victims who were also sleeping.”

Junior, who had just graduated from Wichita West High School a month prior, was rushed to a local hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. A fundraiser started for him says he had plans to attend Friends University in the fall and play the game he loves, football, according to a GoFundMe to help with medical care, therapy and recovery costs.

After emergency brain and skull surgery, Junior was placed into a medically induced coma and put on a ventilator, the GoFundMe says. A brain monitor was installed to track his brain activity, and doctors later confirmed significant damage to the right side of his brain.

Ten days after the crash, doctors took Junior off the ventilator, and he began breathing on his own. The next morning, he took his first sips of water and a few spoonfuls of applesauce.

In an update that same month, Junior’s parents said he would be transferred to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Nebraska. At the time, doctors predicted it would take him six months to a year to recover. No updates have been provided since.

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.

Rosenberg Turns the Sirens On for the Future: New Fire Station No. 1 Officially Opens in Historic Community Celebration

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By Francis Page Jr

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    May 11, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — In a powerful display of progress, pride, and public safety leadership, the Rosenberg officially unveiled its brand-new Fire Station No. 1 during a celebratory ribbon-cutting and traditional uncoupling ceremony held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 — a milestone moment signaling a brighter, safer future for one of Fort Bend County’s fastest-growing communities.

photo City of Rosenborg Celebrates Ribbon Cutting

Located at 1021 4th Street in Rosenberg’s Historic District, the modernized station represents far more than bricks and mortar. It symbolizes resilience, strategic investment, and the City’s unwavering commitment to protecting families, businesses, and future generations across the region.

The impressive public safety project was made possible through a combination of local investment and state partnership, including a $4.1 million Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) award from the Texas General Land Office. The remaining funding was strategically allocated from the City’s Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 budgets — a move city leaders say reflects Rosenberg’s proactive approach to strengthening infrastructure without increasing the tax burden on residents.

Houston Style Magazine readers understand that communities thrive when leadership invests in the essentials — and few essentials matter more than emergency response readiness. The ceremony brought together current and former City Council members, firefighters past and present, city officials, residents, architects, contractors, and community supporters for an emotional and inspiring celebration rooted in both history and hope. One of the most memorable highlights was the traditional “uncoupling ceremony,” a deeply respected fire service ritual that honors the evolution of firefighting while paying tribute to generations of first responders who have served before.

Symbolically, uncoupling the hose marks the completion of a fire call and the moment a station officially goes “in service.” It is a ceremonial transition from preparation to protection.

“This hose uncoupling bridges our past and our future,” said Fire Chief Maretka during the event. “It marks not just the opening of a building, but the beginning of a new chapter in fire service for the City of Rosenberg. We are proud to place this station into service, and we look forward to continuing our mission of protecting this community with honor and dedication.”

And that future is arriving with strength.

The newly enhanced Fire Station No. 1 features state-of-the-art apparatus bays, expanded operational areas, upgraded firefighter living quarters, and improved emergency response capabilities designed to meet the growing demands of the Rosenberg community for decades to come.

City Manager Joyce Vasut emphasized the broader impact of the project, calling the station a reflection of Rosenberg’s long-term vision for resilience and public service excellence.

“Fire Station No. 1 reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting our residents and strengthening our community’s resilience,” Vasut said. “We are grateful to the Texas General Land Office for their support in making this important project possible.”

As Greater Houston communities continue expanding westward and southwestward, Rosenberg is positioning itself as a city focused not only on growth — but smart, sustainable growth anchored by safety, preparedness, and community-first leadership. For Houston Style Magazine readers, the message is clear:

Rosenberg is not simply building a fire station. The city is building confidence, preparedness, and peace of mind.

For additional information about the City of Rosenberg and Fire Station No. 1, visit City of Rosenberg or call 832-595-3301. #TeamStyleMag #HSM

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Man arrested for killing girlfriend at campground, sheriff’s office says

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By KAKE News, Sydney Ferguson

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    SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kansas (KAKE) — Authorities have arrested a 66-year-old man in connection with the death of his girlfriend at a Lake Afton campground on Friday.

Sedgwick County Jail records show Robert Courchaine was booked Saturday for first-degree murder and aggravated battery. He was held on $1 million bond Monday morning.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said Courchaine called 911 at around 10:45 p.m Friday. Courchaine said his girlfriend, 55-year-old Dorothy Finley, was deceased inside their residence, a camper at the Lake Afton campgrounds.

Sedgwick County Fire was the first to respond and confirmed that Finley was deceased at 10:54 p.m., according to a release. Life-saving measures were not attempted.

Deputies arrived on the scene at 11:07 p.m. and found Finley with multiple injuries to her head, “consistent with blunt force trauma.” Courchaine was taken into custody at the scene.

A man camping at North Island told KAKE that park rangers have had previous issues with the couple and considered kicking them out. Another camper who frequents South Island said the couple was parked at the campgrounds for two or three months, arguing all the time, but he never expected it to escalate to murder.

A friend said she met Dorothy “Dede” Finley while living at the homeless shelter last year.

“We met here at the shelter almost a year ago. She was very kind, loving and she took me under her wing and made me as comfortable as one can be,” the friend told KAKE’s Sydney Ferguson. “Her dream was to get back to California and become a chef. We bonded like sisters. She didn’t deserve what happened to her. Love you Dede fly high. I will never forget you.”

Victims of domestic violence can reach out for help through the Wichita Family Crisis Center, which offers a 24/7 hotline at 316-276-SAFE.

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Family of Boeing worker who died after workplace injury demands transparent investigation

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By Sydney Ferguson

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    WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — The family of a man who died shortly after a fall at Boeing last month says they’re learning that his injuries are ultimately what led to his death. His coworkers tell them safety concerns in the facility have gone unaddressed for some time.

Now the family is taking action to ensure no families ever follow in their footsteps.

Laina Lussier, wife of 53-year-old Daniel Lussier, describes him as a loving father and husband who was always there to help anyone who needed him. It’s this care that was especially evident as she cared for her mother on hospice in recent years.

“He’d say, take a nap. He’d let me sleep six, seven hours, and then he’d take care of mom every hour, and then he’d wake me up,” said Laina.

“I was teasing my mom. She kept telling me, ‘you need to go spend time with your husband,’ and I told her, I said, ‘Mom, I’ve already got 23 years with my husband, so I got another 20 years to go.'”

If you had told Laina in April that time would be cut short, ending in just a few weeks, she wouldn’t have believed you, but it’s true. Laina says it’s a devastating loss.

“21 days later, after my mom passed, my husband’s gone,” said Laina. “He was basically my world.”

Lussier worked as an aircraft mechanic for at Boeing for almost nine years — his wife says it was his dream job.

“We didn’t know it was gonna end up being part of the reason he was dead,” said Laina.

On April 22, Lussier suffered a fall at work. Laina says coworkers who saw it tell her he fell four feet into the belly of a plane and landed on his chest, hitting a crossbeam.

“A kid was bringing in a track, so my husband stepped out of the way and stepped on a cross beam, but he didn’t get his foot completely on it, and he ended up– His foot ended up sliding off,” said Laina. “He gets to the hospital, and we find out he broke ribs eight through 12.”

Laina says Lussier was released from St. Francis the next afternoon despite breaking five ribs. She says things seemed fine at home right up until he died — just three days after his release.

“My son had to do CPR, we called the ambulance and by 1:30 a.m. he was gone,” said a teary-eyed Laina. “If it wasn’t for this accident, my husband would still be here.”

According to Laina, an autopsy revealed the cause of death to be a blood clot in his lung that likely came from his leg. Laina says the coroner told her the accident at Boeing was a contributing factor.

She says it’s a devastating loss for the family, to lose their sole-provider and the family’s foundation.

Since his death, Lussier’s daughter Shandy says they’ve heard from over a dozen workers, past and present, offering more than just condolences,

“It’s very unsettling to see how many people are saying that they’ve either had accidents in the same area… or that they have filed personal complaints about safety, and nothing is being done,” said Shandy.

Sadly, Laina says Lussier complained about safety issues in the facility at home all the time.

“He was always forever telling me that he was worried about how or if somebody would have an issue,” said Laina. “I wasn’t surprised that he was hurt, I was surprised at the severity and the fact that we lost him to it.”

We reached out to Boeing with specific questions about the incident and safety inside the facility, including asking how many times safety issues have been brought up in the past and how they were handled.

The company did not answer these questions, but sent over a statement that reads as follows:

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our valued teammates. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and coworkers during this very difficult time and we will continue to support them. We continue to investigate last month’s workplace accident with a commitment to understand exactly what happened and take any actions to help prevent it in the future.

Across Boeing, we continue to prioritize the safety of our people and our products, including holding dedicated safety stand downs to listen to teammates, review our workplace processes and share ideas for improving safety and quality.”

Laina says her family has hired its own investigator to ensure the incident is properly investigated.

“Safety should not be something that you don’t take care of. It should be first and foremost over the planes, because if you ain’t got the workers to build the plane, you ain’t getting the plane out,” said Laina. “If safety would have been put at the forefront, I might have a husband still… something needs to change.”

Laina says the goal is to ensure no other family ever goes through what hers is.

Friday, the International Association of Machinists, the Union that represents Boeing machinists in Wichita, released a statement demanding transparency. The organization says Lussier was an 18-year member and it will be conducting an investigation of its own into whether safety policies were followed.

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.

The Color of Trust By Ben Jealous

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By Ben Jealous

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    May 11, 2026 (Houston Style Magazine) — In politics, fear has a color. For most of American history, that color has been Black. No ad has taught that lesson more brutally than the Willie Horton ad of 1988. It showed the face of a Black man convicted of murder. It blamed Michael Dukakis for a furlough program. It told voters mercy was dangerous.

After that, clemency withered. Democrats especially learned to treat grace as a trap. To this day, too many Democratic politicians fear using their clemency powers. Even when their cowardice means people receive punishment they do not deserve.

Republican governors and presidents have often been more sweeping. Our nation’s current president has used the pardon power boldly and repeatedly. He has never seemed afraid of the power itself. Too many Democrats still are.

This spring marks 10 years since the Bernie Sanders campaign made a very different kind of ad. Nearly three decades after Willie Horton, I asked the campaign to do the opposite. Put a Black man convicted of murder in a presidential ad. Not to destroy the campaign. To strengthen it.

His name was Chris Wilson.

Chris grew up in Baltimore. He saw violence young. At 17, he took a man’s life. He went to prison.

There is no hiding from that truth. There should not be. But Chris did what we say we want people to do. He took responsibility. He educated himself. He built a master plan for his life. He came home determined to work, mentor, and help others escape the traps that nearly swallowed him.

At the time, Chris was painting my house. When the campaign came to film the ad, Chris helped find the location.

To me, his story was not a liability. It was the point. Real public safety requires redemption. Prevention. Education. Jobs. Second chances.

The idea carried risk. Given the legacy of Willie Horton, some had concerns. That was understandable. This was not a safe testimonial. It was a direct challenge to a powerful racial taboo. But in a nation with the highest incarceration rate on Earth, Willie Horton politics had trained campaigns to distrust voters. My experience told me voters were better than that.

Years earlier, I had been part of polling for a big-box retailer that wanted to know what would happen if customers learned it provided second-chance employment for formerly incarcerated people. Customers said they would be more likely to shop there. The company stood to gain market share, not lose it.

People were ready to believe in second chances. Politics just had to catch up.

Everyone signed off on taking the risk. The campaign made the ad. The name said it all: “Be Bold, Change the System.” There was Chris, looking into the camera, telling the truth. No hiding. No sugarcoating. No mug shot. No monster. Just a man. A Black man. A Baltimore man. A man who had caused harm, paid a terrible price, and fought to become a force for good.

It was the anti-Willie Horton ad.

The Willie Horton ad said Black men are the reason to fear mercy. The Chris Wilson ad said Black men are among the reasons to believe in redemption.

And it worked. The ad drew roughly a million clicks in the first 24 hours. It sent Bernie’s support up fast in Illinois. It was used powerfully in Michigan and Missouri. It moved people because it trusted them.

Chris later received a book contract. The Master Plan told how he refused to let prison be the end of his life. That work became the basis for an education program that has trained more than 100,000 incarcerated people.

Today, Chris is a celebrated artist whose paintings sell for tens of thousands of dollars.

That is what Willie Horton politics never wants America to see. It wants to freeze a Black man forever at the worst moment of his life. Chris Wilson proves something else. Redemption does not erase accountability. It fulfills it.

Ten years later, the lesson is urgent. Willie Horton politics is still with us. It has changed targets. Today, the scary Black man in the old ad has too often become the scary brown immigrant in the new one. Campaigns still take one terrible crime, attach it to a whole people, and tell voters mercy, due process, and fairness will get them killed.

The faces change. The formula does not.

The Chris Wilson ad, and the life he has led since, prove the best way to combat racist, authoritarian propaganda is with the bold and transformative truth.

Bold enough to believe accountability and redemption can live in the same sentence. Bold enough to trust voters with the full humanity of a Black man who changed his life. Bold enough to bury the politics Willie Horton made famous — and build a politics worthy of the people of every color we too often leave behind. In America, the color of trust is the color of the blood in all our hearts — red and blue, flowing together as one.

Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.

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.

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Woman accused of killing adopted children will face death penalty, prosecutors say

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By WTVD Staff

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    FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A Cumberland County woman accused of killing two of her adopted children will face the death penalty, according to new developments in court.

Avantae Deven is charged in connection with the deaths of Blake and London Deven. Investigators allege the children were abused, starved, and ultimately killed at the family’s home in Fayetteville.

Authorities say after the children died, Deven attempted to conceal their bodies by using a burn pit at her home on Berridale Drive to incinerate body parts.

During a court hearing Thursday, Deven was formally appointed a capital defender. Photos from inside the courtroom show her appearance as the case moves forward.

Deven was arrested in June 2024. Her case is expected to go to trial in 2027.

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Donor pays off student loans for NC State graduating class

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By WTVD Staff

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    RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Imagine walking across the stage at graduation and finding out your student loans have just been paid off.

That’s exactly what happened Friday at the North Carolina State University Wilson College of Textiles graduation.

During the ceremony, donor Anil Kochhar announced that he and his wife, Marilyn, are paying off all final-year student loans for this year’s Wilson College graduates.

It’s a gift that some students say may just change their lives.

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.

Shooting at Silver Spoon’s restaurant critically injures man who tried to intervene

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By WTVD Staff

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    DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) — A man was critically injured and another man is facing charges after an argument escalated into a shooting at a business late Sunday morning, according to the Durham Police Department.

Officers responded around 11:31 a.m. to a report of a gunshot wound at the Silver Spoon restaurant on North Roxboro Street.

When officers arrived, they learned two employees at the business had gotten into an argument. Police said a man attempted to step in and de-escalate the situation and shots were fired.

One of the employees involved in the argument allegedly fired a gun, striking the man who tried to intervene. Customers then ran out of the restaurant.

Derrick Parnell, who was there celebrating Mother’s Day, said he rushed to help as the man who fired the shot was being restrained in the parking lot.

“I grabbed the lower part of the gentleman and and we took him to the ground,” Parnell said. “A lot of family members were coming out screaming and yelling. And just really — I was scared that they were going to do harm to him or us.”

Police said bystanders held the suspect until Durham officers arrived.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Police arrested Samar Suliman Al-Mahmoud, 55, in connection with the shooting. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflict serious injury.

Police have not released additional details about what led to the argument. The investigation is ongoing.

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Grand Island resident accused of illegally keeping a spider monkey as a pet

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By WKBW News Staff

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    GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) — A Grand Island resident is accused of illegally keeping a spider monkey as a pet, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The DEC said on April 14, investigators responded to a report of an individual in possession of a spider monkey at a home on Grand Island. They identified a subject who lived at the residence and confirmed the monkey was there.

According to the DEC, the individual acknowledged that she could no longer care for the animal and gave it to investigators who transported it to a licensed primate sanctuary. Investigators then learned it had a broken right wrist and a case of rickets. The spider monkey is being cared for at the primate sanctuary.

“Spider monkeys are illegal to possess as pets in New York State and DEC does not issue licenses for primates as pets,” the DEC said in a release.

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Forget dating apps, this DC couple found love playing kickball

CNN Newsource on May 11, 2026

By José Umaña

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    WASHINGTON, DC (WTOP) — Many people use social media and dating apps to find a romantic partner. Others are veering away from the devices.

For one D.C. couple, they found love on the National Mall playing kickball.

“I found some of my best friends through this league and my husband through this league,” Brittany Keroack told WTOP. “So, it is absolutely worth it.”

Keroack, 32, and Shank Subramani, 31, have been together for seven years after meeting in a kickball league. What started as teammates having fun blossomed into a romance, leading to a wedding with a themed kickball mocktail.

Line drive love Keroack has never been a dating apps person, she said. After graduating from college, she moved to D.C., only knowing two people in the city. She was convinced to join Volo D.C.’s kickball league on the National Mall.

“I thought, well, this would be a great way, not only to make friends, but I could meet somebody worth having a relationship with,” Keroack said.

Meanwhile, Subramani has enjoyed playing rec league sports his entire life. The engineer chose to join the kickball league to blow off steam after work. But, he told WTOP, he didn’t think it would ever lead to “a connection.”

Everything changed when Volo D.C., the organization that runs several adult recreational sports leagues around the area, combined two small teams, forming a large coed team and making Keroack and Subramani teammates.

A few games later, as an opposing kicker, looking to send a lead runner home, fired a line drive toward third base, Keroack made the play that caught Subramani’s eye. She quickly caught the ball in mid-flight and tagged third base to get the unassisted double play to close the inning.

While she walked off to prepare to kick, Subramani told himself she “might be the one.”

“I was like, ‘Oh, OK, definitely let me go introduce myself to that woman,’” he said.

The pair began talking about kickball tactics and soon moved on to discussing common interests. Keroack said they had a “pretty strong connection right away,” and they quickly became a couple.

Subramani credited their chemistry as teammates, which helped them communicate better off the field.

“She’s the best teammate I’ve ever had,” he said.

The pair continued their relationship after leaving D.C. for a time, Keroack to Boston for law school, and Subramani to Atlanta, and their Volo community kept in touch through online trivia leagues.

Once they returned to D.C., Subramani proposed to Keroack in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall — their kickball field.

“That’s just such a special place for us, and it’s kind of what keeps us coming back still,” Keroack said. “Not only just to see our friends and to get that good exercise and be outside and play kickball, but the Mall just holds such a special place for us.”

Last June, the pair got married in a kickball-filled event. With their teammates and friends by their sides, the pair brought up kickball during their speeches while guests enjoyed a blackberry mojito mocktail named after their team, the Global Chug. Then in October, the pair won their first kickball title at Nationals Park.

According to Volo, 75,000 people joined its rec leagues in 2025 seeking connection, with 38% citing meeting friends or a partner as a primary reason for joining. Shane Douglas, managing director of Volo D.C., said the organization has multiple leagues for people of all skill levels, with building community among its core goals.

“We’re all about bringing people together, which is more important in this day and age than ever before,” Douglas said.

Keroack encouraged anyone shy to give Volo a try to meet new friends and maybe, your teammate for life. Subramani added that playing rec sports allows you to have fun and enjoy “genuine human interaction” with others.

The pair continued their relationship after leaving D.C. for a time, Keroack to Boston for law school, and Subramani to Atlanta, and their Volo community kept in touch through online trivia leagues.

Once they returned to D.C., Subramani proposed to Keroack in front of the Washington Monument on the National Mall — their kickball field.

“That’s just such a special place for us, and it’s kind of what keeps us coming back still,” Keroack said. “Not only just to see our friends and to get that good exercise and be outside and play kickball, but the Mall just holds such a special place for us.”

Last June, the pair got married in a kickball-filled event. With their teammates and friends by their sides, the pair brought up kickball during their speeches while guests enjoyed a blackberry mojito mocktail named after their team, the Global Chug. Then in October, the pair won their first kickball title at Nationals Park.

According to Volo, 75,000 people joined its rec leagues in 2025 seeking connection, with 38% citing meeting friends or a partner as a primary reason for joining. Shane Douglas, managing director of Volo D.C., said the organization has multiple leagues for people of all skill levels, with building community among its core goals.

“We’re all about bringing people together, which is more important in this day and age than ever before,” Douglas said.

Keroack encouraged anyone shy to give Volo a try to meet new friends and maybe, your teammate for life. Subramani added that playing rec sports allows you to have fun and enjoy “genuine human interaction” with others.

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.