Mother of severely beaten 6‑year‑old arrested in North Miami Beach

CNN Newsource on January 24, 2026

By Peter D’Oench

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    NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Florida (WFOR) — North Miami Beach police say the mother of a 6‑year‑old autistic boy who was severely beaten this month has been arrested.

Police say Cynthia Hernandez voluntarily turned herself in on Friday at police headquarters. She is charged with child neglect, failure to report child neglect and providing false information to law enforcement.

Police said they are working with prosecutors and noted there were inconsistencies in her statements.

Boyfriend previously arrested in case Her boyfriend, Daniel Eduardo Romero, had recently been arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, child neglect with great bodily harm and giving false information to police.

Body camera video captured officers initially responding to the home and their efforts to revive the child. Authorities said the boy had bleeding on his brain, cuts to his liver and kidney, a broken arm and bruises.

Police said the welfare of the child was a top priority and urged anyone with additional information about the case to contact them.

Grandmother asks for prayers In a statement to CBS News Miami, the child’s grandmother, Elizabeth Garcia, said that because this was an active legal matter and out of respect for her daughter’s legal rights, she was not going to comment about the arrest.

She asked for prayers for Mason and said she hoped charges against Romero would be upgraded to attempted murder.

Family describes child’s personality CBS News Miami spoke with Garcia on Jan. 15 at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

“He is very bubbly and enjoys music,” she said. “He loves karaoke and that is one thing we do a lot. I know he must have been in a lot of pain from this. I am deeply in support of him and he had our heart and our love. No child should have to suffer such an attack. He had a brain bleed and a broken shoulder.”

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.

Atlanta airport rolling out new equipment to keep the runways open after the winter storm

CNN Newsource on January 24, 2026

By Nakell Williams

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    ATLANTA, Georgia (WUPA) — As a massive winter storm threatens metro Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials are executing their plan to keep travelers from being frustrated and stuck on runways.

While GDOT crews treat the interstates, crews at the Atlanta airport are working to keep the runways open.

The airport is rolling out new hardware ahead of the winter storm. They call them “MFEs” — multi-functional equipment.

Officials have been drilling with these massive machines since December, but this weekend will be the first time they are put to the test in a real storm.

The airport leased five of these machines specifically for this winter. Instead of sending out plowers, sweepers, and blowers, the machines do all three jobs — clear, scrape, and brush at the same time.

Hartsfield-Jackson. Deputy General Manager Gus Hudson called the equipment a game-changer.

“So with the old equipment, we were averaging about 30 to 45 minutes to clear a runway. This equipment, I think we can do it in 15,” Hudson said. “That means that they’re not stuck in the terminal. They’re not on the runways waiting for taxiways and runways to be cleared.”

Crews will start 12-hour shifts beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

The airport says it’s in a good position to help people avoid flight delays. However, they say keep in mind the weather can change quickly.

Some airlines have dropped their change fees, so travelers feeling nervous due to the weather can rebook their flights.

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.

Family of four sickened amid wider mushroom poisoning outbreak, officials say

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Daniel Macht, Jaiden Singh, Michelle Bandur

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    SACRAMENTO COUNTY, California (KCRA) — A family of four in Sacramento County recently fell ill after picking and eating wild mushrooms, the county’s public health officer said on Thursday.

Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said the family was hospitalized. It’s believed to be the first cases of their kind in the county involving Death Cap or Western Destroying Angel mushrooms amid a wider outbreak across the state.

At least 35 people who range from age from 19 months to 67 have been hospitalized in Northern California and the Central Coast after experiencing experienced amatoxin poisoning, Sacramento County health officials said.

Most cases are in the Monterey area and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Jim Adams, president of the Sacramento Area Mushroomers said the family found the toxic fungi at the William B Pond recreation area and that two of the family members are still in the hospital a week later.

“When we have above average rains, the organisms know that. And so they come out in an abundance,” said Adams.

He said the poisonous caps are popping up everywhere, but they really like growing in the moist sale and shade under Oak trees.

“These native Oaks are having a pretty big bumper crop of poisonous mushrooms this year,” Adams said.

Health officials said that wild mushrooms can remain toxic even after cooking, boiling, freezing or drying.

Sacramento County also shared photos of the mushrooms that sickened the family:

“The important thing is that these mushrooms, the poisonous mushrooms, look very similar to the safe mushrooms,” Kasirye said. “So we are advising that people do not take or eat wild mushrooms at this time. It is safest to buy your mushrooms from a store or a place where you know that these are. They’re safe. Some of the symptoms related to, eating these poisonous mushrooms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.”

Other symptoms could lead to dehydration or kidney and liver failure, she said.

Adams agrees foragers don’t pick, don’t taste, don’t eat.

“They were coming up everywhere,” he said. “I hadn’t seen them in Sacramento County before.”

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Jury finds security guard guilty of killing man for stealing ‘snack cakes’

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Jessica Schmid

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A Milwaukee jury found a security guard guilty of killing a man shoplifting snacks.

William Pinkin was found guilty on two counts, including first-degree intentional homicide.

Pinkin was working at the Clark gas station near Teutonia Avenue and Roosevelt Drive in 2023 when he shot Isaiah Allen for shoplifting snack cakes.

On the stand Thursday, Pinkin said he did not remember what happened the day of the shooting.

After the verdict, Pinkin asked the court to find him not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The court set a hearing for next month.

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.

Inmate dead one day after arriving at federal correctional institution

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Josh Wallace

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    EL RENO, Oklahoma (KOCO) — An investigation is underway after an inmate was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution El Reno and died on Thursday, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons officials.

Officials said Dujuan Cole, 44, was found unresponsive at the facility at about 12:20 p.m. Thursday.

“Responding employees initiated life-saving measures. Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued,” officials said in a news release.

Cole was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said.

Cole was sentenced in the Southern District of Illinois to a 120-month sentence for distributing methamphetamine, officials said. He had been in custody at the facility since Wednesday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified of his death.

“No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured and at no time was the public in danger,” officials said in the news release.

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.

Homeowners can skip phone calls and book snow removal through new app

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Brian Johnson

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    KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — As winter weather moves into the Kansas City area, a new app is offering homeowners another option for snow removal, without making phone calls or negotiating one-on-one.

GreenPal, a service often described as “Uber for lawn care,” has expanded its platform to include snow removal in the Kansas City metro. The app connects homeowners with local contractors through a marketplace-style system.

“Stay inside. Let the pros handle it. It’s too cold,” said Gene Caballero, founder of GreenPal.

Caballero founded the company 14 years ago. He said the snow removal feature was recently added locally as demand grows during winter storms.

“It’s free for homeowners to sign up and get bids,” Caballero said.

Instead of calling multiple companies, homeowners can send one request through the app and receive several competing bids. Caballero said that competition can work in the homeowner’s favor.

“Also kind of creates a price advantage for the homeowner,” he said. “Maybe somebody is just starting out and like, ‘Hey, I really want this’ or ‘I really need this,’ and they are able to give pretty aggressive pricing.”

Caballero said about 45 companies are currently available for snow removal jobs in the Kansas City area. Each contractor must have a verified ID, along with customer reviews and ratings. Homeowners can also ask contractors for proof of insurance.

With heavy snowfall, Caballero said patience is important.

“Give the next business day, you know, especially when it’s a big snowstorm coming like this one is,” he said.

Homeowners can also pre-book snow removal services if they know they will need help ahead of time. Caballero emphasized that users stay in control throughout the process.

“The power is ultimately up to the homeowner and they can decide who they want to work with,” he said.

Payment is handled through the website or app after the job is completed. GreenPal keeps 5% of each contract.

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.

Man who tried to use Molotov cocktail to damage ICE building is sentenced to prison

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By McKenzy Parsons

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    GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska (KETV) — A federal judge sentenced a Grand Island man to prison for trying to damage a federal property with a Molotov cocktail.

Eulisis Martin, 35, will spend five years behind bars.

Martin spray-painted the words “Kill ICE” on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in June 2025.

He then lit and threw the explosive, but it didn’t work.

After prison, Martin will be on supervised release for three years and pay over $1 million in restitution.

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.

Birmingham crime intervention organization makes ‘Free the Streets’ initiative permanent

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Michal Higdon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WVTM) — The Urban League of Alabama, in partnership with Birmingham officials and other organizations, is expanding its community violence intervention program.

The expansion comes after a successful pilot in 2025 which helped contribute to a 42% reduction in homicides in the city. Birmingham reported a decline in homicides from 152 in 2024 to 88 in 2025, a result attributed to a coordinated effort involving law enforcement, community organizations, data, and residents who reject violence as a norm.

“Our communities have dealt with violence for generations and now it stops,” Uche Bean, the director of the Birmingham Office of Community Safety Initiatives, said. “Public safety isn’t about lowering numbers. It’s not just about data. It’s about people. And I’m thankful that we are now making those decisions that are going to impact the community in the long run, for generations to come.”

The program, which encompasses a partnership between the Urban League of Alabama, City of Birmingham, Trajectory Changing Solutions and Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, targets Birmingham’s 35204 ZIP code. It uses street outreach, conflict mediation, and community-based prevention strategies to prevent shootings.

Leaders emphasize the importance of interrupting violence as a key component of the program.

“Our street team may be out at 11:00 at night,” William Barnes, Urban League of Alabama’s president, said. “If they’re talking with people that now trust them, can they have a conversation about, ‘Listen, I’m really thinking about committing some type of act of violence.’ Can our team actually talk them down from being able to do that? And so that’s what crime prevention, crime intervention really is.”

This initiative is part of the “Free the Streets” program, which focuses on people most likely to be involved in shootings. Leaders describe it as evidence-based and note that many residents, including those at high risk of committing crimes, are grateful for the program’s intervention.

“Many of the residents are very thankful,” Barnes says. “I can tell you this, some of the residents who actually are at high risk of committing the crimes are also relieved because there’s a conversation to give them a way out. Most of the people who commit crimes are not necessarily interested in committing said crimes. They just have no way out. And this is an opportunity for us to address that and help them do something different.”

“We’re not trying to interfere with law enforcement work, we are just trying to complement law enforcement work,” Latonya Tate, who represents Council District 9 and a big proponent of the work, says. “Any time that you’re a high risk individual, your actions, your decisions bring about consequences. So, we want to get ahead of this and offer preventative measures. And as it has been stated here, there’s substantial ability and long-term solutions. We are in this for the long haul.”

Norman Livingston Kerr, chief executive officer for Trajectory Changing Solutions, thanked everyone who is taking part in this initiative.

“These initiatives don’t happen by accident, they happen because someone is willing to push, advocate and stay in the fight long enough to see them supported and sustained,” Kerr said.

Last month, the Birmingham City Council unanimously voted to continue funding multiple violence intervention programs. The Urban League of Alabama is looking forward to this program succeeding and would love to expand the program to all ZIP codes across the city.

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.

Bad art for a good cause; animal shelter makes ugly pet portraits to raise donations

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Charlotte Hancox

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    BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (WPTZ) — An “ugly portrait” may not sound like the best gift at first, but a local animal shelter is challenging that idea by turning bad art into big support for vulnerable pets.

The Windham County Humane Society will be offering these portraits throughout January to raise donations for the shelter.

The fundraiser invites people to send in a photo of their pet, which is then drawn badly, by the staff.

“You’re just like, I’m going to do my best and then it ends up coming out hilarious. And even without the artistic talent, you can see the essence of the animal in the photo,” said Violet Zarriello, the marketing manager at Windham County Humane Society. “I’m always most pleased when that comes through in my terrible drawing.”

She said there’s only one criterion to be an artist here.

“You can’t be good at art. You can’t actually be good at drawing. It has to be authentically folks whose drawing is not their strong suit. They’re funnier that way,” Zarriello said.

Portraits cost $20, with 100% of the proceeds going back to shelter pets. So far, the reaction has been strong.

“The very first one we did was actually for one of our board members. He was like ‘this is perfect. I love how it exaggerates her superhero look. That’s Chloe,'” she said.

And to get your own portrait, you just have to send a picture of your pet with their name to Violet Zarriello, and they will send you the drawing back digitally over email.

Organizers said that the goal is to have fun, laugh at the artwork, and help animals who are in need. You can purchase one through the end of the month.

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Dumpsters fall off truck, snarl traffic on Interstate 95 in Danvers, Massachusetts

CNN Newsource on January 23, 2026

By Katie Thompson

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    DANVERS, Mass. (WCVB) — Three dumpsters fell off a truck and onto Interstate 95 in Danvers, Massachusetts, early Friday.

The truck that was carrying the dumpsters may have struck the Centre Street overpass on the northbound side of the highway near Exit 69 causing the dumpsters to fall onto the road, Massachusetts State Police said.

It appears another truck struck one of the dumpsters and a car hit that truck, officials said.

Three lanes of travel were blocked as crews worked to clear the mess.

WCVB will have more information when it becomes available.

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.