Michigan correctional facilities across Michigan yield over 116,000 pounds of produce

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Nick Lentz

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    Michigan (WWJ) — Gardens at Michigan correctional facilities this year have generated over 116,000 pounds of produce, which has been donated to food pantries and other community groups, state officials said Friday.

The Michigan Department of Corrections provides gardens and horticultural programs for incarcerated individuals in at least 19 facilities across the state.

According to the agency, the gardens yielded 116,455 pounds of fresh produce this year, which was donated to food pantries, residential care facilities, churches and other organizations.

Officials said the Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater recorded 31,896 pounds of produce, the most of any facility in Michigan.

The Macomb Correctional Facility in Lenox Township donated over 6,000 pounds, including 20 pumpkins, to at least two Metro Detroit nonprofits dedicated to helping people dealing with domestic violence.

“Many months of planning go into one growing season,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Horticulture Instructor Brad Dean said in a news release.

Ellen Baron, a horticulture instructor at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti, added, “Almost as soon as the last growing season ends, we are already thinking about and planning for the next season.”

The state agency said it’s donated food and helped raise funds for charities for over 10 years. Nonprofits and pantries interested in partnering with them next year are asked to call Public Information Officer Jenni Riehle at 517-241-0363.

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Horse leads police in Monroe Township, New Jersey on wild chase through neighborhood

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Matt Cavallo

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    NEW JERSEY (KYW) — It was a wild sight to see Friday morning in a Gloucester County, New Jersey, neigh-borhood after a horse led police on a chase through the area.

It all happened in the Hunter Woods section of Monroe Township. A horse police are calling “Seabiscuit” (to protect the identity of the horse) led them on a chase just before 8 a.m.

Officers initially tried to chase the animal and attempted to rein things in, but the horse refused to hoof it back home.

But thanks to some teamwork and some extra horsepower from other officers, the horse was safely secured and returned to its owner.

“These types of calls are not entirely uncommon for us and we do our best to protect all of our animal friends that are a part of this community,” a media release from Monroe Township Police stated.

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Man pursued romance with stolen COVID relief money

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Logan Smith

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    Colorado (KCNC) — A 63-year-old Colorado man wooed a woman he met online during the COVID pandemic with money illegally obtained from the federal government.

The Akron resident was recently sentenced to 15 months in prison and repayment of more than $228,000.

His love interest turned out to be a scammer.

William Chadwick was indicted by a federal grand jury in April on money laundering charges. He pleaded guilty in June to a single count and was sentenced Sept. 30.

According to a court document, Chadwick obtained funds from Unemployment Insurance benefits, Emergency Rental Assistance proceeds, and Paycheck Protection business loans. The latter two programs were created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act, which was enacted in March 2020.

Two months later, according to the plea agreement in Chadwick’s case, applications for aid in Chadwick’s name began arriving at federal agencies. Through August of 2022, more than 100 applications for UI benefits alone were submitted in Chadwick’s name, all with misleading or fraudulent information. He was approved for more than $1.4 million, according to the plea agreement, and received 15 debit cards in other people’s names. He withdrew more than $81,000 from these cards through cash ATMs and bitcoin ATMs across Colorado.

He used that money, according to the affidavit, to send cryptocurrency and gift cards to the unidentified woman.

Thousands more in fraudulent funds were deposited into several bank accounts controlled by Chadwick, according to prosecutors. Chadwick also turned most of those proceeds into cryptocurrency and gift cards and also sent them to the “woman.”

“Chadwick laundered fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance funds intended for Americans that were struggling during the pandemic,” Quentin Heiden, special agent-in-charge of the Western Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, said in a press release.

Prosecutors referred to Chadwick’s arrangement with the woman as a romance scam. Contacted by CBS Colorado on Friday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, wouldn’t divulge more information about the reported scam.

The maximum sentence for the specific money laundering charge, which Chadwick pleaded guilty to, is 20 years in prison and $500,000 in restitution.

Reached at his home on Saturday, Chadwick declined to comment out of fear for worsening his sentence. Like a number of non-violent federal offenders, the serving of his sentence has been delayed by the recent government shutdown. It’s not known yet when he will have to report to prison.

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VIDEO: Police officer saves choking infant at Walmart

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Evan Sery

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    STERLING HEIGHTS, Michigan (WXYZ) — A Sterling Heights police officer is being praised as a hero after saving a 5-month-old baby’s life at a local Walmart earlier this month.

Officer Edwar Talia, who has been with the Sterling Heights Police Department for seven years, was working special detail on the night of November 1 when he received an emergency call that would test his recently renewed CPR training.

“David 90, we have a child choking, report to customer service, so I rushed in there,” Talia said.

At 8:30 p.m., Talia sprinted to what he described as a scene straight from a nightmare. Baby Jameson’s mother, Bayley Simon, was nursing her son when the infant suddenly went blue and limp.

“He was like a wet noodle, there was nothing there, no movement nothing,” Simon said.

Talia, who had been re-certified in CPR training just one week prior to the incident, immediately began applying life-saving measures. He performed several back blows on the infant, being careful not to use too much force.

“I’m not going too hard, just enough to where I could feel it on the other side of my hand, obviously I don’t want to hit him too hard,” Talia said.

After several back blows, Jameson’s airway cleared and he took a deep breath. The baby then started having hiccups, which Talia recognized as a positive sign.

“I know once the baby gets hiccups, they need to burp so I grabbed baby Jameson put him over my shoulder started patting his back and he actually fell asleep on me,” Talia said.

Simon expressed her gratitude for both the bystanders who comforted her during the terrifying ordeal and Officer Talia, who gave her son another chance at life.

“I’m not necessarily sure I would still have my son,” Simon said.

For Talia, the incident represented the true meaning of his oath to serve and protect.

“We pride ourselves on serving and protecting but that day especially that was full on protection mode,” Talia said. “I just wanted to make sure baby Jameson went home alive.”

The officer called the experience both a first and hopefully a last in his seven-year career with the department.

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

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Deputies rescue older woman who fell, became trapped on roof

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Christa Swanson

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    Colorado (KCNC) — Deputies came to the rescue earlier this week when an older Colorado woman fell and became trapped on the roof of a host home for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Arapahoe County deputies were called to the scene in the 6500 block of S. Lisbon Street on Thursday to find the 69-year-old woman lying on her back with her legs dangling over the edge of the roof. She was bracing herself on the gutter as two caretakers on ladders, afraid she would fall, held her in place.

Deputies climbed onto the roof and pulled her back from the edge before helping her back inside through a nearby window. Authorities said the caretakers were hanging Christmas lights when the woman opened the second-story window and walked out onto the roof, where she slipped and fell.

The sheriff’s department said the woman was not injured.

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Morgan Geyser missing after leaving group home, cutting off monitoring bracelet

CNN Newsource on November 23, 2025

By Justin Steffen

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    MADISON, Wisconsin (WDJT) — Madison police say Morgan Geyser, the 22-year-old who was granted a conditional release to a group home in connection to the Slender Man case, is now missing.

In a Facebook post, police say Geyser cut off her Department of Corrections monitoring bracelet and left a group home, on Sat. Nov. 22nd.

She was last seen in the area of Kroncke Dr., at around 8:00 p.m. with an adult acquaintance.

Madison police say if you see Geyser, call 911.

Morgan Geyser, who, along with a friend, stabbed a classmate in 2014 when they were 12, was granted her conditional release by a Waukesha County judge back in March.

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Santa Cruz woman aims for 2028 Paralympics in table tennis

CNN Newsource on November 22, 2025

By Jacquelyn Quinones

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    SANTA CRUZ, California (KSBW) — A 78-year-old Santa Cruz resident is determined to compete in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles, aiming to become the oldest Paralympian and medalist in table tennis.

Cyndi Ranii, who ranks 23rd in the world for women in wheelchairs in table tennis, has been wheelchair-bound since 2005 due to transverse myelitis, which left her with no feeling or motion below the chest.

“Virtually overnight, I went from playing golf and being very active at work and at home to being in the emergency room with really terrible back pain,” Ranii said.

After her diagnosis, she immediately sought rehabilitation and was introduced to wheelchair sports, eventually finding joy and recovery in table tennis.

“One thing really great about wheelchair athletics, at least for me, when I’m playing wheelchair table tennis, I don’t have any feeling like I’m in a chair, like I have any disability at all,” she said.

Ranii has been competing in tournaments for about ten years, including the Parapan American Games, where she has won several medals.

She is now pushing harder to qualify for the Olympic Games, which requires participating in the World Championship in 2026 in Thailand and the Pan American Games in 2027 in Chile.

Ranii practices regularly with friends, including Liz DeFrancesco, whose late husband was a fellow competitor.

“Sebastian was in the USA Hall of Fame of table tennis for all athletes, wheelchair and able-bodied, and so I feel like continuing to play, I always feel his spirit,” DeFrancesco said.

Despite the challenges, Ranii remains committed to her training.

“I practice every day if my health is good… sometimes there’s ups and downs at my age and with my situation. I sometimes have health setbacks, but the focus is always getting strong again, getting stamina back again, getting practice going again,” she said.

Ranii needs to reach the top 16 in world rankings to qualify for the Paralympics, and she plans to continue competing and training over the next two years.

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

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Police warn of holiday porch pirates amid rising thefts countywide

CNN Newsource on November 22, 2025

By Jazmon DeJarnette

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    MARINA, California (KSBW) — Concern is growing as the holiday season approaches and porch pirates are coming around to steal packages off people’s doorsteps.

As the Marina Police Department expects those thefts to rise through the holidays, people who live here say they’re prepared.

“What we do is if we’re not going to be here, we know we’re going to get a package, then we ask our neighbors to take it for us. So it’s a lot of it is communication with your neighbors,” said Rich Andrews, a Marina resident.

“Setting up a camera will be really helpful as well to just catch these porch pirates,” said Jacqueline Joseph, another Marina resident.

It’s not just the Dunes at Monterey Bay neighborhood. Video from Del Rey Oaks police shows someone grabbing a package and taking off.

In Salinas, a Creekbridge resident was also hit. You can see in the video the package being taken and the thief walking away.

“They will typically walk to avoid any kind of, just, interest in the public. Like they just about to knock on the door and they will, grab the package and run back to the car and drive off,” said Michael Ball, sergeant at Marina Police Department.

If you’re ever the victim of something like this, police say to file a police report right away and send them any video you have.

“We will place a still image of the suspect on a wanted poster, and that gets electronically broadcast throughout the area,” said Ball.

Police also suggest requesting signatures for packages, scheduling delivery times and setting up delivery notifications.

This Marina neighborhood, which sees theft year after year, is just hoping these porch pirates leave their packages alone.

“I just hope that nobody has to encounter that horrible experience of losing something they ordered and really want to have,” said Andrews. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. KSBW verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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VIDEO: Man jumps onto car roof after goat gets loose in Detroit neighborhood

CNN Newsource on November 22, 2025

By Meghan Daniels

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    DETROIT (WXYZ) — One very unruly goat is in hot water after spending the day causing chaos up and down a block on Detroit’s west side.

Robert Pizzimenti is the owner of the four-legged troublemaker. The goat, called Smoke, escaped by hopping the fence and taking himself on a self-guided tour of the neighborhood, where he met Dae’lan Scott down the block.

“I go outside and I’m like ‘okay, okay… bah! bah!’ then I see Mr. Bob here come out of nowhere,” Scott said.

“They are very calming for people… not necessarily him but…” Pizzimenti said.

“I don’t want him to walk around, he actually hopped the fence. That wasn’t the idea, I do need to keep him contained,” Pizzimenti said.

According to court records, Wednesday’s escapade prompted the city to cite Smoke’s owner with possessing a wild animal without a permit inside the city. Pizzimenti tells me he’s hoping the city of Detroit will reconsider and see the value these four-legged animals can bring to the community. It’s important to note that court records also show a history of problems with his animals.

“If Detroiters were allowed to farm and garden the way many of us want to, we could have the most unique city on the planet!” Pizzimenti said.

Others on the block, like Maia Campbell, say they appreciate the agricultural diversity in the city.

“I do recognize there are lots of urban farms and there are people who have goats, chickens, all sorts of animals… which is a beautiful thing for our community,” Campbell said.

And meeting Smoke on friendly terms, Scott tells me next time he sees the goat on the street, he knows exactly what to do.

“We would be cool! I know where to take him! So if anybody do see him in the neighborhood,” Scott said.

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

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Lodi pastor thankful for community support following overnight house fire

CNN Newsource on November 22, 2025

By Carmela Karcher

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    SACRAMENTO (KOVR) — It’s a phrase no one is prepared to hear in the middle of the night.

“I was, like, kind of startled and then basically, ‘What’s going on? What’s that noise? And then, ‘There’s a fire,'” Vintage Church Pastor Timothy Stewart said.

That’s exactly what happened to Timothy Stewart and his family, waking up to alarms blaring and heavy smoke Friday morning.

“I woke up everybody. I got our dogs as fast as we could, went out the back sliding glass door and walked around and got out,” he said.

Fire crews quickly came and put out the flames. Their family is safe, but their three cats didn’t make it out.

Due to fire and smoke damage, their house is unlivable. They’re only left with salvaged pictures and boxes of memories.

“Now we’re in this journey of figuring out our next steps, really just taking it, you know, one step at a time,” Stewart shared.

Stewart and his family have given back to the community in countless ways, whether that’s through Vintage Church or their volunteer work with Love Lodi.

Now, it’s time for the community to give back to them.

“Not even exaggerating, there’s probably been 500 people that have been contacted just through text messages,” Stewart’s friend Pat Schumacher said. “I’ve seen probably five other pastors during the morning, come here, just express their condolences and just let them know that they got their support.”

From flowers to food to simple check-ins, the Lodi community has surrounded the Stewarts in support.

“We’re called to be a light to this world,” Schumacher continued. “One of the ways that we do that is we rally around each other and have a community that’s deeper than most people ever experience.”

Even in their time of grief, this family and community still have others top of minds. With help, they still delivered turkeys to families the same day as the fire.

“We can have joy and peace outside of circumstances. That’s kind of where we’re at right now and so we’re just living in that and walking by faith,” Stewart continued. “You reap what you sow, kind of, right? We’ve sown a lot of love and we’re reaping that and it’s, it’s good.”

The Stewarts say they are overwhelmed and thankful for the amount of support their community has shown them.

Friends have also created an online fundraiser to help them during this time.

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