Recycled Percussion founder completes 160-mile journey with friend in wheelchair

By Maria Wilson

Click here for updates on this story

    KITTERY, Maine (WMUR) — The inspiring journey of Justin Spencer, founder of the New Hampshire band Recycled Percussion, and his lifelong friend, Kris Prescott, came to an end Tuesday after Spencer pushed Prescott in a wheelchair 160 miles across three states.

The pair began their journey in Brattleboro, Vermont, last Wednesday and arrived in Kittery, Maine, on Tuesday.

Prescott suffered a traumatic brain injury in a serious accident eight years ago.

Inspired by his friend’s resilience, Spencer set out to raise money for others living with traumatic brain injuries.

Spencer said the journey was demanding and one of the hardest challenges he has ever done.

“Two years ago, I ran seven marathons in seven days in all seven continents, and this was 10 times harder, both mentally and physically,” Spencer said.

However, the pair did not make the trek alone. Friends, family members and supporters cheered them on at stops along the way.

“Each day I’ve seen them, either when they stopped for the night or I see them off in the morning, and it’s been wonderful,” said Linda Morgan of Ossipee. “This adventure is just one that you can’t even explain at words.”

“We met so many amazing people,” Spencer said. “We made connections with people that we will carry for a lifetime.”

Throughout the journey, Spencer’s message was simple: keep pushing forward. He said he hopes others are inspired by Prescott’s determination to overcome adversity.

Despite the heat and hills, Spencer said he would do it all again.

“I would do it again every day for the rest of my life if I could feel this” he said.

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.

‘Adds another layer’: New sheriff’s K-9 now working at courthouse

By Maddie Augustine

Click here for updates on this story

    DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nebraska (KETV) — K-9 Bodhi, an English Springer Spaniel, is the newest addition to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, helping secure the courthouse and civic center alongside his handler, Deputy Johnna Kripal.

Eyes constantly scanning the room and nose to the ground, Bodhi is trained to detect threats.

“He’s got a good nose, and that’s what we were looking for, and he’s friendly,” Kripal said.

Bodhi’s role adds an extra layer of security.

“It adds another layer, and Bodhi can do more than what the human deputy can do,” Kripal said.

Captain Kris Peterson highlighted Bodhi’s unique abilities.

“Their noses are so much more powerful than ours. They can smell something from miles away, as opposed to us, which could be inches away,” Peterson said.

Bodhi and Kripal will be stationed at the civic center and courthouse.

“We pretty much just ensure the safety of everyone here,” Kripal said. “There’s a lot of people who come in and out of the courthouse every single day. So with that, I mean, you see deputies here throughout the day. It’s a spot where there could be a threat happening. So to keep everyone safe, we need to be here for that.”

Bodhi is the first threat mitigation K-9 for the Public Building Commission and the Sheriff’s Office.

“He will definitely not disappoint. He’s been doing great work,” Kripal said.

“Sniff out the packages that we receive through the Postal Service, FedEx, Amazon, and so forth, through the entrance screening stations,” Peterson said.

Each day, Bodhi and Kripal can be seen on the job, occasionally taking a quick break to play fetch.

The sheriff’s office credited the Public Building Commission and the CL Werner Foundation for making Bodhi’s addition possible.

In a statement, Werner said they were proud to support the effort by helping purchase K-9 Bodhi and helping fund his training.

“This specialized canine team will provide a valuable new public safety resource, enhancing their ability to detect explosive threats and protect residents, visitors, and law enforcement personnel. We are honored to partner with DCSO on this important initiative and to support the dedicated deputies and canine teams who serve Douglas County each day,” CL Werner Foundation wrote.

If you see K-9 Bodhi and Deputy Kripal, remember they are working, so petting Bodhi is not allowed. However, the sheriff’s office says that he is very friendly if ever need to interact with him.

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.

FIFA World Cup excitement in the South Bay kicks off at Santa Clara night market

By Cameron Bopp and Dryden Quigley

Click here for updates on this story

    SANTA CLARA, California (KGO) — With the first FIFA World Cup match in the Bay Area just one week away, Santa Clara’s monthly night market embraced a soccer theme to build excitement for the upcoming games.

The free event featured food and thrift vendors, live entertainment, cultural performances and soccer-themed activities and games hosted by the San Jose Earthquakes and Bay FC. It had soccer challenges, coloring activities and jerseys, drawing crowds eager to celebrate the sport ahead of matches set to take place at Levi’s Stadium.

“I think a lot of people have heard about this event and then people are seeing the whole soccer side of it. Everyone is swarmed over in this area,” said Ella, a community marketing representative with the San Jose Earthquakes.

Families, soccer fans and visitors filled the market Friday and Saturday evenings, testing their skills at soccer challenges, shopping for jerseys and counting down to the start of the tournament.

“We have jerseys from all over the world,” said vendor Dre Lucero with Pop Up San Jose. “Soccer jerseys are big sellers for the World Cup.”

The event is one of several World Cup-themed celebrations taking place across the South Bay ahead of the Bay Area’s first match at Levi’s Stadium on June 13.

Local teams say the approaching tournament has sparked renewed interest in soccer, with fans stopping by booths to learn more.

“There’s a lot of hype around it. And people come to our booth, especially just asking about the World Cup. And we’re like, ‘Oh, hey, like we’re also the professional women’s soccer team in the Bay Area. You should come watch us,'” said Arlin Guzman with Bay FC.

Longtime fans and newcomers alike gathered at the event, reflecting the sport’s broad appeal.

“I remember it being at Stanford Stadium right down the street. So, 30 years later it’s just amazing to see,” said Santa Clara resident Andres Moreno.

Organizers say creating free events like the night market gives residents a chance to be part of the World Cup experience, even if they don’t attend a match in person.

“We know not everybody can afford a ticket to go to one of these matches, so we wanted to bring some of that excitement to the community,” said Santa Clara spokesperson Janine De La Vega.

“Having friends of all nationalities rooting for their countries and just that little bit of friendly competition — having it here is going to be a lot of fun,” said Bryce with the San Jose Earthquakes.

For some fans, the excitement started in downtown San Jose, where a giant soccer ball installation outside San Pedro Square Market has become a popular destination for photos and social media posts.

“It’s better than I imagined,” said one visitor after seeing the display in person.

Fans proudly represented countries from around the world while discussing which teams they’ll be cheering for during the tournament.

“The day U.S. is playing, we’re cheering U.S., or the day Brazil is playing, the same happens with Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador,” said soccer fan Claudette Bautista.

The Bay Area will host six FIFA World Cup matches at Levi’s Stadium this summer, bringing fans from around the globe to Santa Clara.

With multiple matches scheduled in Santa Clara over the coming weeks, organizers and attendees say the excitement is only just beginning. Even if you didn’t score tickets, there will be dozens of watch parties to choose from.

“Definitely will not be watching it at home. We’re going to be watching with people. Soccer’s meant to be watched in massive crowds,” Moreno said.

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.

Thieves take 39 seconds to steal $15K worth of Pokémon cards from store

By Dryden Quigley

Click here for updates on this story

    BRENTWOOD, California (KGO) — Thousands of dollars worth of Pokémon cards were stolen from a Brentwood store over the weekend in a burglary that was caught on video.

Surveillance footage shows three masked thieves rushing into The Card Lab and leaping over display cases before taking Pokémon cards. The entire incident lasted about 39 seconds.

Video shows the suspects driving away in a Nissan Altima after stealing about $15,000 worth of cards.

“My first thought was, I hope that my employee was okay, and I was relieved to see that she was. And then I also just kind of wanted to see what the damage was, what damage was done,” said store owner Ronnie Hackett.

Hackett said a manager was inside the store when the burglary happened Saturday night. He said she was upstairs at the time.

“I’m relieved that she was not downstairs because that could have been way worse. But she was upstairs doing our end of the day protocol,” he said.

The store opened two months ago, Hackett said.

The theft comes amid what some store owners describe as a growing trend of similar crimes targeting valuable trading cards. In recent years, some cards have surged in value, with certain packs now worth significant sums.

Another Brentwood store, Games of Brentwood, said it has also been targeted and has taken steps to increase security.

“Since we had our incident here we’ve completely rebuilt our security system. We’ve made sure our alarms are much better, we’ve added IR sensors. It’s not going to stop someone if they’re really determined but we’re as ready as we can be,” said Anthony Paoli of Games of Brentwood.

He said the cards can be difficult to trace and easy to sell.

“It’s easy to move on the second hand market it’s not traceable for the most part and they’re more valuable than they’ve ever been,” Paoli said.

Brentwood police are investigating the burglary.

“So I have faith and the only thing I can do now is just let them do their job,” Hackett said.

The Card Lab will remain closed for the next few days while additional security measures are put in place.

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.

Ex-law enforcement officer accused of holding boy’s head underwater at Florida pool pleads no contest

By Malcolm Shields

Click here for updates on this story

    KISSIMMEE, Florida (WPBF) — Days before the start of a trial, a former law enforcement officer accused of child abuse entered a plea in a Central Florida court.

According to court documents in Osceola County, Tiffany L. Griffith, 36, from Fort Myers, pleaded no contest to a child abuse charge on Wednesday, June 3.

She was sentenced to five days of time served in county jail, and must serve 18 months of probation.

Griffith must also complete an anger management class, 50 hours of community service, stay away from the victim and the victim’s family and pay court costs.

Griffith’s trial was scheduled to begin on Monday, June 8.

She is accused of forcing a 6-year-old boy’s head underwater for several seconds by pushing on his shoulders at a pool located at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee on Dec. 19, 2025.

A report from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office noted that Griffith allegedly dunked the kid in the water in response to the boy allegedly forcing her son’s head underwater.

The report notes that when the victim emerged from the water, he was visibly upset and had a nosebleed.

The child then reported the incident to his parents.

During an interview with deputies, the sheriff’s office report noted Griffith said she was a former law enforcement officer.

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.

Photos show police officers jumping into action to save 4-year-old boy from house fire

By Jake Anderson

Click here for updates on this story

    OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — Omaha police released photos from body-worn cameras showing the officers who quickly jumped into action to save a 4-year-old boy from a house fire on Tuesday morning.

The fire happened around 2:33 a.m. near 69th and Mason streets in Omaha.

Omaha police said officers David Eckstrom and Ian Baxter were responding to an abandoned car in the street near 72nd and Pacific streets when they saw an explosion and a large fire.

At the scene, residents told the officers that their 4-year-old son was still in the basement, officials said. Eckstrom kicked out a basement window and called for the child.

Omaha police said the child followed the sound of the officers’ voices to the window, where Eckstrom pulled him to safety.

Eckstrom suffered lacerations to his forearms from the broken glass during the rescue.

Officials said the child was treated at the scene for possible smoke inhalation, but otherwise was not injured.

“Every day, Omaha Police Officers are faced with split-second decisions. Officer Eckstrom and Baxter’s quick response to a life-threatening situation is just one of many examples of OPD officers putting their lives on the line to protect the citizens of Omaha. We are proud of Officer Eckstrom and Baxter, and all our officers’ dedication and service,” Omaha police said in a Facebook post.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by discarded grilling charcoal left on a deck.

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.

Judge orders Deanna Harrell to be held without bond in fatal toll booth crash case

By Pamela Comme

Click here for updates on this story

    DAYTONA BEACH SHORES, Florida (WESH) — A Volusia County judge ordered Deanna Harrell to be held without bond Tuesday as she awaits trial on charges stemming from a crash that killed a toll booth worker at the Dunlawton Beach Approach.

Harrell faces charges of DUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide in connection with the death of Tammy Jo Baker. Investigators allege Harrell was driving under the influence when her pickup truck crashed into a staffed toll booth, killing Baker.

The decision came during a pretrial detention hearing that lasted about a minute.

Harrell’s court-appointed public defender did not oppose the state’s request for detention.

“The state and the defense is not objecting to the pretrial detention hearing this afternoon,” the attorney told the court. “And we would stipulate that if the state were to present evidence that they would be able to meet the standard of the statute.”

With no objection from the defense, Judge Leah Case quickly granted the request.

“All right, then, I will hold the defendant in custody without bond,” Case said.

The hearing was another difficult moment for Baker’s family, who attended the proceeding.

“I forgive her, but I will never forget her actions,” Baker’s daughter, Louella McBride, said. “And she’s forever affected my life. My daughter’s life.”

McBride said her mother’s absence continues to be felt throughout the family.

“My mom was the glue that held us together,” she said. “Mom was in charge of all that. It’s going to be different this year.”

Baker’s son, Shawn Baker, said his family is trying to move forward while seeking accountability through the court process.

“She wouldn’t want me to have anger and hatred in my heart over this,” he said. “At the same time, we would like to see justice done.”

Harrell remains in custody as the case moves toward trial.

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.

Mom says her 9-year-old was beaten on school bus, blames driver and bus company

By Alex Null

Click here for updates on this story

    CINCINNATI (WCPO) — A Cincinnati mother said her 9-year-old son was attacked by two other students while riding his school bus.

Janika Woods said about two weeks ago, she was at the hospital for a scheduled procedure when she got a call that every mother dreads.

“She said ‘Your son, Uriah, is missing,'” Woods said.

The call came from her son’s school bus dispatch, First Student Transportation. She was told he suddenly jumped off the bus and ran.

She said Uriah ran off the bus somewhere around Mitchell and Kenard avenues in Spring Grove Village.

Woods said he was out of sight for at least 30 minutes.

“It was like a panic, cause it was like, ‘Where’s my child?'” Woods said.

When Uriah was finally found, Woods said she quickly realized why he ran.

She told us Uriah had a bloody face, a black eye and a broken nose.

“I was mad, I was sad, cause it was like, ‘Who did this to my child?'” Woods said.

Uriah attends Best Point Education and Behavioral Health in Madisonville. Woods said two older students allegedly assaulted Uriah on the bus.

“Both of them was extremely bigger than my baby,” Woods said.

Woods said she recently reviewed the company’s video from inside the bus.

She said it showed one of the students moving behind her son in the back of the bus. She told us Uriah felt uncomfortable and moved toward the front.

Woods said that’s when the student began to hit her son.

She said there was no bus monitor and that the bus driver failed to protect her son.

“Where was the plan to keep my baby safe?” Woods said.

We reached out to the school and bus company for comment on what happened.

The school referred us to First Student Transportation, saying the incident happened under their supervision.

First Student Transportation sent the following statement to us late last week:

“The safety of the students we transport is our top priority. We are aware of the incident that occurred last week and are working closely with our customer as part of the ongoing review.” First Student Transportation

Woods said she disagrees with that statement.

“It was never a top priority for the driver to protect my baby,” Woods said.

First Student Transportation did not respond to our request for a copy of the video.

As for what’s next, Woods said she’s obtained an attorney and plans to press charges.

“In absolutely no form should that have happened to anybody’s child,” Woods said.

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.

Federal lawsuit filed after Florida man dies following police stun gun incident

By Justin Schecker

Click here for updates on this story

    PALM BAY, Florida (WESH) — Thomas Farley, who was paralyzed after being stunned by a Palm Bay police officer in June 2024, passed away on June 19, 2025, after living for a year paralyzed from the mid-chest down.

The incident occurred near a Circle K when Farley fell headfirst from a six-foot fence after being shocked by a stun gun six times.

“I’m paralyzed, I can’t feel my feet. Sir, I think I broke my neck,” Farley said during the incident.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced Tuesday morning at a church in Eatonville that a federal lawsuit has been filed against the Palm Bay Police Department and the city of Palm Bay.

The lawsuit challenges the department’s stun gun policy, which attorneys argue is unconstitutional.

“It’s so foreseeable that you tase a person’s common offense is dangerous that they can fall and sustain critical, life-threatening injuries,” Crump said.

Farley’s mother, Pamela Farley, reflected on her son’s final moments.

“I stood by his side for a year. My children and I watched him take his last breath on June 19, 2025, and I will not let his name die in vain,” she said.

Attorney Josh Levin criticized the department’s stun gun policy, which he said allows officers to fire on individuals at elevated heights under “exigent circumstances,” a standard he described as “far, far, far lower than deadly force justification.”

Palm Bay police declined to comment on the lawsuit but referred to an October 2024 statement from a sergeant, which said an internal review “determined that the officer legally and justifiably used his Taser.”

Levin argued that officers had no reason to believe Farley posed a threat.

“They had no reason to believe that Thomas had done anything dangerous, that he posed any threat to them or anyone else,” Levin said.

The federal lawsuit also alleges that the officer involved had previously been investigated for deploying his stun gun on a man riding a moving dirt bike.

According to the complaint, the department’s second-highest-ranking official recommended the officer be terminated, but the department overruled the recommendation, kept the officer on the force, and even gave him a merit raise that year.

“But the department, they overruled their number two official, they kept this officer on the force, and get a lot of this; they gave him a merit raise that year,” Levin said.

Crump said the lawsuit seeks millions of dollars in damages.

“To deal with the enormity of all the medical bills, not to mention the value that none can be placed, and that is losing your firstborn, your child,” Crump said.

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.

Real-time drone tech helps Oklahoma City police track suspects and recover evidence

By Meghan Mosley

Click here for updates on this story

    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Oklahoma City police are using real-time drone technology to improve response times and provide critical support during emergencies.

“It’ll automatically deploy the drone, and it will fly autonomously to the scene of that log of that CAD call address,” said Sgt. Dax LaPorte of the Oklahoma City Police Department.

The drones have helped officers track suspects, recover evidence and make arrests. In one case, a drone captured footage of a man ditching a gun in the woods.

In another instance from April, a downtown fight escalated quickly, and the drone provided real-time information to officers.

“As the drone’s getting overhead, they see the physical confrontation, and then they see one chasing another. They’re able to see through the lens of the drone that the person chasing the other has a gun,” LaPorte said. “What started out as just a yelling match or maybe a slight physical match now then transitioning to one person chasing another with a gun in a crowded downtown area, and they’re able to see this with the lens of the drone and update the officers responding.”

Analysts in the department’s real-time information center monitor dispatch calls and prioritize them to determine if a drone is needed.

“We have six different priority levels. If it is priority one or two, they’re pretty much piecing, ‘Do I have a dock in the area of that call, and I want to start sending a drone,’” LaPorte said.

The drone technology averages nearly 1,200 flights a month, with strategically placed docking stations across the city to ensure rapid deployment.

Police say the technology not only aids officers but also provides critical support to local fire departments during emergency calls.

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.