Author: CNN Newsource

By Lydia Blackstone, Graham Cawthon

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    SAVANNAH, Georgia (WJCL) — A 20-year-old Best Buy employee is jailed in Savannah after police said he helped a group of suspected shoplifters walk out of the store with more than $40,000 in merchandise, claiming he was pressured by online blackmail threats.

Dorian Allen is charged with theft by taking, according to a Savannah Police Department report obtained by WJCL-TV. Investigators said the losses were tied to repeated thefts at the Best Buy on Abercorn Street.

Allen told officers he was targeted by what he described as a “hacker group” and received emails identifying shoppers he was instructed to let leave without paying, the report said. He claimed the senders threatened to release nude photos of him online if he did not comply. Police said Allen could not provide names, email addresses or physical descriptions of the people he said were blackmailing him.

The investigation gained momentum after Chatham County Sheriff Richard Coleman publicly called out a group of alleged shoplifters on Jan. 16 and urged suspects to surrender. Savannah police later posted photos of suspects accused of stealing from the store.

Authorities said the stolen items ranged from small goods to $700 PlayStation consoles. Police said three other people connected to the thefts have turned themselves in.

Coleman condemned the thefts in an interview with WJCL, saying, “That kind of behavior will not be tolerated in Chatham County.”

Best Buy did not respond to a request for comment. Police said additional suspects may be identified as the investigation continues.

Initial report:

New details have come to light following an investigation into a large-scale theft ring targeting a Savannah Best Buy store.

A Best Buy employee is accused of letting customers walk out with more than $40,000 in unpaid merchandise in a scheme the worker told police was driven by online blackmail, according to a Savannah Police Department report.

Police were called at about 3:46 p.m. Dec. 26 to the Best Buy at 7929 Abercorn St. after store managers and asset protection detained an employee for questioning about a series of thefts, the report said. Management told an officer the employee had been allowing patrons to leave without paying from early December through as recently as Dec. 22.

The suspect was identified in the report as Dorian Allen, 20, of Savannah. The report lists the offense as theft by deception and describes the case as an employee theft investigation.

Store officials said the activity was captured on video and provided police with an itemized list of stolen goods. The list includes video game consoles and bundles, virtual reality headsets, headphones, computers and accessories, televisions and other items, along with some low-cost snacks and drinks. The report totals the loss at $40,734.19 and describes “143 products via POS manipulation.”

After being advised of his Miranda rights, Allen agreed to speak with the officer, the report said. Allen told police he was being blackmailed by a “hacker group” and claimed he received emails directing him to let specific people leave with merchandise without paying, including descriptions of what they would be wearing, according to the report.

Allen told police he believed the blackmail involved photos of himself he posted on Instagram, the report said. He also told police an older Black woman approached him at his register around Dec. 7 or Dec. 8 and said he helped some people load unpaid merchandise into a vehicle he described as a black Hyundai, according to the report. He could not provide the group’s name, his email address or descriptions of the individuals involved, police said.

A financial crimes detective was expected to follow up, and the store was sent an Axon Capture link to upload video evidence, the report said. Allen was escorted off the property without incident, and the officer’s body-worn camera was activated, according to the report.

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 Jonathan Greco

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    MOORE, Oklahoma (KOCO) — The Moore Police Department helped make a child’s birthday after the winter storm and snow over the weekend changed party plans.

Amias was supposed to have a birthday party this weekend, but it had to be canceled because of snow. That, however, didn’t stop two sergeants with the Moore Police Department from making a special trip to surprise the boy.

In a video posted to Facebook, Sgt. Darwent and Sgt. Teel went to Amias’ home to celebrate his birthday. They gave him a stuffed toy and a little police badge to help remember the cool day.

“No matter the weather, every kid deserves a birthday surprise,” Moore Police Department officials posted.

Amias also got to turn on a police unit’s sirens.

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 Stephanie Moore

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    CRAVEN COUNTY, North Carolina (WYFF) — A woman is accused of romance scams totaling approximately $3 million over the last six years, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said on Dec. 22, 2025, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office received a report involving a romance scam in excess of $100,000.00.

An investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau identified Christina Jane Julian, 56, of Naples, Florida, as the perpetrator.

On January 21, 2026, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Christina Julian was extradited from Florida to North Carolina.

The investigation revealed that Christina Julian received approximately three million dollars over the last six years from multiple victims across the country by scamming them.Julian is charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense in excess of $100,000 and felony exploiting the elderly.

Julian is being held in the Craven County Confinement Facility under a $350,000.00 secured bond.The investigation is ongoing.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of people use online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone.

But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact you through popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook.

The scammers strike up a relationship with you to build up trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day.

Then, they make up a story and ask for money.

People reported paying romance scammers more with gift cards than with any other payment method.

If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Notify the social networking site or app where you met the scammer, too.

Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.

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 Olivia Hickey

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — An Oklahoma City resident spent hours shoveling snow this weekend, helping neighbors clear a path after days of snow.

With one bag of snow and a borrowed shovel, Vicki Weiss spent five hours over the weekend shoveling snow from the pathways, porches and staircases of her apartment building, ensuring her neighbors could safely navigate the icy conditions.

“I just noticed that there was a need to do it for the community. There’s people in my building that have canes and little children and health issues, and I just wanted to help and pay a little bit back,” said Weiss.

She said the experience was a great way to connect with her neighbors, including Rita Rasberry. The two women connected during the snowy cleanup.

“I heard this scraping, and I opened the door. It was Vicki, and she said she was doing what we should all do,” Rasberry said.

Weiss said another neighbor rewarded her with a nice hot bowl of chili and cornbread.

Despite feeling sore, she said she won’t stop until the entire walkway is done.

Weiss advised those interested in helping with neighborhood cleanups to lift with their knees and take the snow one layer at a time. She also suggested that if labor is out of the cards, a simple phone call to a lonely or elderly neighbor could make all the difference.

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 Norah Hogan

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    BANGOR, Maine (WMTW) — Flight records reviewed by 8 Investigates show the aircraft involved in Sunday’s crash carries a federal warning related to cold-weather operations, according to government records.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a directive in 2008 requiring a specific warning in the flight manual for the Bombardier Challenger 600, citing concerns about winter weather and takeoff safety. The directive followed three incidents in Canada.

According to the FAA, even small amounts of ice, frost or slush on the wings could cause a pilot to lose control of the aircraft during takeoff.

It is not yet known whether that history played any role in Sunday’s crash.

Snow and ice can affect any aircraft, and pilots are not permitted to fly with ice on the wings. However, an aviation expert told 8 Investigates the directive indicates the Challenger model is particularly sensitive to ice and requires extra precautions.

During a news conference on Monday morning, airport leaders said that de-icing operations were underway Sunday evening but did not confirm whether this specific aircraft had been de-iced.

“In an airline, there’s a big structure around the decision to de-ice the airplane and all the people who are necessary for doing that,” said aviation expert John Nance. “In a private aircraft situation — this is a Challenger 650 private jet, a fairly new one — that responsibility rests entirely on the shoulders of the captain to make sure it’s done and done right.”

Nance says it is possible for an aircraft to be de-iced and still accumulate additional buildup while waiting to taxi, particularly during inclement weather. There can also be long waits to de-ice. Nance noted that pilots flying private jets may face pressure from passengers to avoid delays, a challenge commercial airline pilots do not typically encounter.

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By Jennifer Peñate

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    BOSTON (WCVB) — For hours on Monday, Bostonians have been shoveling dense snow mounds to have a clearer breakthrough from parking spots by Tuesday morning.

“I’ve been out here almost two hours now, definitely breaking a sweat,” said Scott Ravinovitz.

Look down just about any street in Massachusetts, and you’ll see car after car trapped by tall walls of snow.

“This is like 6 feet tall, 10 feet wide!” said Fiona Gassett. “I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m just picking up snow and putting it somewhere. I don’t know where to put it, it’s everywhere.”

“This is the worst we’ve had in a couple of years,” said Alex Banthung.

The next feat for drivers after shoveling all that snow is to ensure they keep that coveted parking spot.

Space savers are on standby for many to ensure the hard-earned cleared spot is not lost.

“Maybe a beach chair, a yoga mat, I don’t have a lot. I’ll have to see what I put in it, I don’t have cones,” Gassett said.

“I got a cone. Last time I used one, someone unfortunately moved the cone and took my spot,” Banthung said.

On Monday at 8 p.m., Boston Mayor Michelle Wu lifted the snow emergency and parking ban, sending drivers racing to park their cars.

If you are using a space saver, the city of Boston is reminding drivers that they must be removed by 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

Drivers are prohibited from using space savers in the South End and in Bay Village.

“I feel bad for the cars behind me because they don’t even have a way out, so I don’t know. We’re in this together,” Gassett said. “I’ve been talking to my neighbors, we’ve been shoveling together, so at least there’s some community.”

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By Sadie Buggle

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    COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — Fire crews say thankfully no one was hurt after reports of children playing on an ice-covered lake prompted a multi-agency search Monday evening.

At around 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, the Security Fire Department (SFD) said it began receiving 911 calls reporting kids playing on the ice-covered lake off of Fontaine Boulevard.

The department said, unfortunately, all of the callers were just passersby who were not able to verify if the kids fell into the lake or were able to safely get off the ice.

SFD crews responded to the scene and found no one on the ice, but were still unsure if anyone had fallen through, so began searching the area using thermal cameras.

After finding a concerning area of ice that appeared to be broken or melted, the department requested additional resources from the El Paso County Sheriff’s drone unit and the City of Fountain Fire Ice Rescue crew.

The teams initiated a grid-by-grid search of the area, utilizing the teams on scene and the drone’s two thermal imaging cameras. While using the drones, crews say they were able to find evidence of footprints leaving the ice and heading towards a trail leading back to the park.

Crews thankfully determined that no one was in the lake after completing a thorough search.

“Although we are glad we didn’t have body recovery, this should prove as a strong reminder, ice on bodies of water in this area are very unsafe and unpredictable on thickness. It is not a playground for kids!” SFD said in a Facebook post.

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By Angela Rozier

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    PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida (WPBF) — A former labor-and-delivery nurse from Boca Raton is facing backlash for making offensive comments on social media about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, prompting Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to call for the revocation of her nursing license.

When you have nurses, health care officials that are threatening the livelihood, threatening moms going through delivery, the toughest of times for partisan political reasons, that is wrong. These people should not have a license,” Uthmeier said.

The nurse posted on her TikTok page last week, expressing a wish for Leavitt to experience a severe childbirth complication after Leavitt announced her pregnancy with her second child. In her post, she said, “As a labor and delivery nurse, it gives me great joy to wish Karoline Leavitt a 4th degree tear,” referring to the most severe type of tear during childbirth.

In a new 15-second social media post, the nurse said, “So they just murdered a man in Minnesota — they murdered a man in Minnesota and you ‘expletive’ — are coming after me because I used bad language.” She concluded the video by asserting she was on the “right side” and ended with an expletive.

Uthmeier took to his personal X account, stating, “The Florida Board of Nursing should yank this vile person’s license immediately. She doesn’t belong anywhere near patients.”

The nurse was previously employed at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital, which confirmed last Friday that she is no longer employed there. The hospital has not identified her, and her name has not been released.

“If you’re going to make threats saying because somebody is a Republican, you know, I hope they get injured severely during childbirth, that’s unacceptable. That person should not be a health care provider,” Uthmeier said.

Attempts to reach the nurse for further comment were met with a response of “Sorry, no comment.”

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